Inland Empire Progressive

Not liking Microsoft Word's blog feature or my work place internet right now! Can't post thoughts! GRRR

In addition I would like to thank Messrs. Ezra Klien and Matt Yglesias and Brother Paul Krugman. These folks inspired me to write about my community.

I was looking at my last post and though OMG has it been almost a year since my last post! I've wanted to write for awhile but something always seems to distract my attention, or more likely I've made up excuses not to post. So I decided to redesign my blog to try and motivate me to post at least daily. I can post on the go using my mobile and I've added static pages to add texture to the general posts I will be making throughout the day. The static pages will stay up longer (about a week) while the home page will be updated daily. Everything I cover will try to be local (IE specific) but I might throw in some state or national stuff as the impulse arises. One thing I do promise is to try to be as fact based as the information will allow, given the mission of this blog, interpret these in the context of the Progressive values of Equality, Sacrifice, and the Greater Good. I hope you will enjoy reading as much as I will enjoy writing. Your Fellow Traveler, William Valle Citiz...

Excited about the upcoming elections this year. With less than 60 days to go I am fired up and ready to work hard and win!

I just wanted to say that Progressives Democrats in the House Rule and Blue Dogs suck!! Progressive Representatives Anthony Weiner (NY), Alan Grayson (FL), and Raul Grijalva (AZ) deserve the respect and admiration of Progressives around the nation. Even though some are in swing districts facing difficult fights (Grayson), have taken on their own state (Grijalva), and have on occasion have gotten a little angry (Weiner), these Progressives have shown backbone by calling Conservatives out on their obstructionist tactics. My own " honorable" Congressmen, "w orking " Joe Baca, being the Blue Dog Devil that he is has shown no leadership in the Inland Empire and gets bitch-slapped by the surrounding Conservatives in the area. Where was he on immigration, health care, energy, and financial reform? While he did vote for some of these things, he has not shown the kind of leadership necessary in the District. Where are you Joe Baca? Why are y...

With unemployment at 14.5% you would think Conservatives will wake up to unleashing carbon entrepreneurs across the I.E. However their sight is blinded by their dogmatic view that 19th Century technology of coal mining and offshore drilling will be the panacea to all our energy problems. With "Drill Baby Drill" as their mantra, this mentality will keep the unemployment rate where it is while rendering us to the technological Dark Ages. We as Progressives need to make the case that in order to develop and maintain a competitive edge in the 21st Century and provide jobs to relieve unemployment, we have to have a national energy policy in place to keep America economically secure at home and nationally secure abroad.

11 Mechanics, 20 something Coach Operators, 11 Management Personnel  are about to get laid off at Omnitrans. These are working families whose income depends on transportation funding from local sales tax, state revenue and federal revenue. "Working" Joe Baca provides transporation funding, but for construction projects  throughout San Bernardino. Isn't this Blue Dog Democrat supposed to be looking out for the working families of Omnitrans. How about stop gapping us $7.8 million in order to help working families keep their jobs?

When most of us think of the Free Market we think of businesses providing goods and services to individuals through the act of buying and selling. This is most seen most by the cathedrals of capitalism (and in my opinion the source of Inland Empire decadence and decay) the mall and big box stores. However, what some people don't realize is that these publicly traded companies also buy and sell on Wall Street. Wall Street, although kicked when its down, is revered when the market is up so it is pretty much like a sports team. This ivory tower of information and capital and the captains of industry who manage them hide one fact though. Trades are not based on people on the floor yelling buy or sell like in the movie Trading Places, but through complex algorithms in which one glitch can cause a "Flash Crash". So is our Free Market really comprised of free traders? I think not. Here is the link that inspired the story.   http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0510/37975.ht...

In 2008, California more than any other state helped elect Barack Obama President of the United States. We canvassed in the harsh desert terrains of Nevada and Arizona. Also, we made over 3 million calls, the most out of every state! However, much to the chargrin of the California State Democratic Party, that victory did not translate into the much of the down ticket flipping of Republican seats because of the intense focus on getting Obama elected. Now, in 2010 the importance of activating these grassroots networks and applying that laser like focus to our own state cannot be ignored or marginalized. Organizing for America (OFA) should not be relied on to heavily contribute to victory in 2010. Every swinging Progressive in every county should be going all out making calls and knocking on doors to encourage the 1st time voters and persuade elusive independents to vote Democrat in November. Three is the magic number and we can do it, if we hit the streets hard and fast. The Inla...

In 2010, the Inland Empire will finally go from being the bastard cousin of Democratic Party politics to a nascent power player in the setup to 2012. Why do I say this? First, many Congressional districts and Assembly districts in the Inland Empire went for Barack Obama in 2008. The flurry of Progressive activism in this area was euphoric and in it lay the beginnings of a new foundation. Secondly, we have recieved peripheral attention from major Democratic power players such as Barbara Boxer who announced her 2010 senatorial bid in Riverside County and Gavin Newsom who came to the Inland Empire during his exploratory bid for Governor. Finally, the Progressive faction in the Inland Empire is finally achieveing the organizational structure to compete against the Blue Dog faction which has consistently won and whose performance has been circumspect in the California Legislature and Congress. While much work remains. I remain optimistic about our prospects in 2010 and beyond. If we h...