Green Party of Tennessee

They screwed up change . And many are pointing the error of of their centrist ways.
Peter Doau is just one of many voices pointing out how this tepid centrist third way is destroying democratic chances.

A Coakley pollster had this to say.
The feeling among voters, said Lake, is that Washington prioritizes Wall Street over Main Street and that, despite Coakley's credentials as a state attorney general who has taken on and beaten Wall Street banks, sending her to Washington would not make a difference. "On the eve of the election, Martha Coakley had a 21-point advantage over Scott Brown on who would fight Wall Street and deliver for Main Street. But it didn't predict to the vote, because voters thought, even if they sent her down here that it wouldn't happen. 'Fine, she had done it in Massachusetts, but no one was doing it in Washington,'" Lake said. "Voters are voting for change and we have to go back to that change message. And we have to deliver on change, especially an economic policy that serves working people." -Huffpo

And the stenographers of the status quo AKA the media will give you a lot of BS about how this will kill reform. First, if the house just passes the senate bill then there is no revote in the senate. Though many of us would like to the senate bill die. Second, the Democrats never needed 60 votes. They can still pass Medicare for All by budget reconciliation. That means 50 votes plus the Vice-President.
As Thom Hartmann pointed out you can allow us to buy into medicare. Charge a slight percentage to cover the less well off up 200% of poverty(around $28,000). It is revenue nuetral! The nay sayers can't scream about the deficit. And they can't attack it because they have been using fears about medicare to derail healthcare reform.

But then the White House would have to give up its deals with Big Pharma and the Insurance Industry.
And it is not clear that they get it either. They may take this as a signal to to run even more right.
So we as greens must get active. And yes we must talk to our fellow progressives still in the Democratic Party. We must champion Medicare for Everyone as our healthcare reform.

We help candidates like Kucinich while running against blue dogs and Republicans.
And must get out there and explain to the indepedents that vassilating between two corporate owned parties will not bring the change they are looking for.

Are we up to the challange?

When: Wednesday January 20th, 5:30 p.m.
Where: UTC UC Auditorium
Admission: Free

Film to be screened: "Go Further", the 2003 film by award-winning
documentary filmmaker Ron Mann featuring Woody Harrelson on his bio-fueled
bus-ride down the Pacific Coast Highway.

Host/Discussion Leader: Mike Jaynes

Synopsis of this month’s documentary:

Dear LEAF supporters,

LEAF was in Nashville last week even before the legislative session started.
The goal was to assess our chances of getting a creation care bill passed this session.
As you recall, the bill (SB 1206/HB 899) will end mountain top coal mining in Tennessee. It is possible.
The challenge will be in the State Senate. A short session is expected because many legislators are running for reelection or for various other offices. We plan to move quickly and strategically.
In an election year, constituent input carries a lot of weight. (In any year, prayers carry great weight when hearts need to open. It is time to put the mountains on the prayer list again.)

The Urgent Request is to Contact Your State Senator and Copy the Lt. Governor.

We have lots of other news but because this request is so important we want it to stand alone.

A notice that can be cut and pasted into church bulletins or community newsletters follows.
It includes all the details. A list of all the State Senators is attached.

Our hearts and sympathy go out to the people of Haiti, who's capital Port Au Prince suffered a devastating earthquake.

From Slashdot:
"A study published in December 2009 in the International Journal of Biological Sciences found that three varieties of Monsanto genetically-modified corn caused damage to the liver, kidneys, and other organs of rats. One of the corn varieties was designed to tolerate broad-spectrum herbicides, (so-called 'Roundup-ready' corn), while the other two contain bacteria-derived proteins that have insecticide properties. The study made use of Monsanto's own raw data. Quoting from the study's 'Conclusions' section: 'Our analysis highlights that the kidneys and liver as particularly important on which to focus such research as there was a clear negative impact on the function of these organs in rats consuming GM maize varieties for just 90 days.' Given the very high prevalence of corn in processed foods, this could be a real ticking time bomb. And with food manufacturers not being required by law to declare GMO content, I think I'll do my best to avoid corn altogether. Pass the puffed rice and pour me a glass of fizzy water!"

Study here from the International Journal of Biological Sciences.

Washington (CNN) -- A privacy group says the Transportation Security Administration is misleading the public with claims that full-body scanners at airports cannot store or send their graphic images.

The TSA specified in 2008 documents that the machines must have image storage and sending abilities, the Washington-based Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) said.

Test suggests radioactive leak at Yankee
By Susan Smallheer Staff Writer - Published: January 8, 2010

BRATTLEBORO — Entergy Nuclear announced late Thursday one of its monitoring wells on the banks of the Connecticut River had detected radioactive tritium contamination, the first time such contamination has shown up at the plant.

Tests show tritium levels have risen sharply since it was first discovered six weeks ago.

The well, located between the reactor building and the river, first showed contamination of radioactive tritium at 700 parts per liter in mid-November, but by Wednesday, the contamination had jumped to 17,000 parts per liter. More Here

Not unlike that leak in the Champagne Region of France. Remember this is the French Nuclear system that everyone in the Nuclear Industry thinks is the model.

Radioactive Champagne in our future?
Champagne should be fizzy, not fissionable.

Raise a toast to the French nuclear industry, whose low-level radioactive waste is leaking into groundwater less than 10 kilometres (6 miles) from the famous Champagne vineyards.

By David A. Fahrenthold
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, January 8, 2010; A03

Mountaintop coal mining -- in which Appalachian peaks are blasted off and stream valleys buried under tons of rubble -- is so destructive that the government should stop giving out new permits to do it, a group of scientists said in a paper released Thursday.