Hello! Here are the three hottest progressive videos and graphics that we found on the web today, December 08, 2011.

Some Millionaires Made A Video And This Is What They Said

by TheAgendaProjecton Jun 6, 2011

Ten year ago, Republicans made a mistake. They gave tax cuts to millionaires. They decided our country needed less money and millionaires needed more.

Now our country doesn’t have the money we need to build an economy that will work for all of us.

We need better roads to transport our products; faster internet for our technology companies; and more research at universities to spark our innovation.

Taking money from our future and giving it to millionaires is un-American.

Put America ahead of politics: END TAX CUTS FOR INCOMES OVER A MILLION DOLLARS.

ACT: Sign the petition supporting the Patriotic Millionaires as they demand higher taxes then call Boehner‘s office at (202) 225-6205 (PatrioticMillionaires.org)

JOIN: Friends of Patriotic Millionaires on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Friends-of-Patriotic-Millionaires/108886172517978)

A Powerful Response To Jonah’s Extremely Viral Video

by AcousticJonathonon Dec 3, 2011

This is for you, Jonah Mowry. I support you. I believe in you. Hang in there!

THANK YOU to everyone for the support towards Jonah. He needs this right now!

www.twitter.com/yourcoverboy

$2.6 Trillion Is A Very Large Number

Found on Bernie Sanders’ Facebook wall. Originally submitted by volunteer editor Laura S.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Make this Convention a “Slam Dunk”

12/12/2011 Nativegrl77

Dear Charlotte in 2012 supporter,You may know that during my matriculation at the University of North Carolina, I played basketball for the Tar Heels. That was an exciting time in my life. Now, another exciting time in all of our lives will soon be upon us. It is the 2012 Democratic National Convention in Charlotte.I am committed to doing anything I can to help, starting with this video. The 2012 Democratic Convention will be different than any other in history. I ask all of you, from around the country, to invest $5 or $10 to make sure that next September is a “Slam Dunk”.

Will you join me in making this convention a success? Please watch…

Vince Carter

Make sure you receive email from charlotte in 2012. Add info@charlottein2012.com to your approved senders list.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Pell Grants help millions of Black students access higher education … by Matt Nelson, ColorOfChange.org

12/12/2011 Nativegrl77

Tell Congress to stand up for educational opportunity:

Black families across the U.S. are finding it harder to pay the rapidly-increasing costs of higher education, and now some members of Congress are trying to dramatically cut the Pell Grant program — a lifeline that makes college possible for more than 9 million low-income students each year.1

The Republican-led proposal would put educational access and advancement out of reach for millions of prospective Black students. $900 million in cuts would mean dumping 1 million students from the program within the next five years — half of whom could be kicked out before the end of this school year. The plan would also shrink the size of the award for many current recipients.2

The entire 2012 budget is under negotiation and Congress must vote by next Friday to avoid a potential government shut down. This debate is about funding priorities, and important programs like Pell will be cut unless enough members of Congress stand up to support education. Our elected officials should be working to expand opportunities for economic growth, not decimating higher education programs that help put low-income students and students of color in good jobs. Please call on members of the House of Representatives, where Republicans pose the biggest threat to Pell Grants, to vote down any attempts to cut or restrict the program:

http://act.colorofchange.org/sign/PellFunding

Tuition and fees at colleges and universities continue to skyrocket, increasing more than 400% since 1982 — more than 4 times the rate of inflation.3 Access to a good education dramatically increases a person’s chances for solid employment and pay. Young adults with a college degree are nearly 3 times more likely to be employed, and earn almost twice as much as those with just a high school diploma.

Defunding Pell Grants will hit Black and low-income students the hardest. Nearly half of Black undergraduates rely on Pell Grants to attend school, and families with incomes below $40,000 constitute 90% of awardees.4 Republicans have used racially-charged language as part of their attack on Pell. One Congressman called Pell “the welfare of the 21st century.”5

Of course, Pell isn’t welfare. In fact, the average grant size is much less likely to cover a sizable amount of college tuition costs than when the program began 40 years ago. Back then, Pell covered 100% of the average cost of tuition while today’s maximum Pell award generally covers one-third.6

Pell Grants are a cornerstone of our nation’s student aid program and greatly influence the makeup of our nation’s colleges and universities, providing much-needed racial and economic diversity within the overall student population. Tell Congress to fund higher education, and when you do, ask your friends and family to do the same.

http://act.colorofchange.org/sign/PellFunding

Thanks and Peace,

— Rashad, James, Gabriel, Dani, Matt, Natasha and the rest of the ColorOfChange.org team
December 10th, 2011

Help support our work. ColorOfChange.org is powered by YOU—your energy and dollars. We take no money from lobbyists or large corporations that don’t share our values, and our tiny staff ensures your contributions go a long way. You can contribute here:

http://www.colorofchange.org/donate

References

1. “House Budget Committee Is Searching for Excuses to Cut Pell Grants,” Center for American Progress, 11-15-2011
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/1070?akid=2320.1174326.5nh0Fe&t=7

2. “Fight for Social Programs Looms Anew in the House,” New York Times, 10-03-2011
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/1071?akid=2320.1174326.5nh0Fe&t=9

3. “Is college still worth the price?” CNN Money, 04-13-2009
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/1073?akid=2320.1174326.5nh0Fe&t=11

4. “Pell Grants: The Cornerstone of African-American Higher Education,” Journal of Blacks in Higher Education
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/1072?akid=2320.1174326.5nh0Fe&t=13

5. “Rep. Denny Rehberg: Pell Grants Are Becoming ‘The Welfare Of The 21st Century’,” Huffington Post, 04-01-2011
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/1074?akid=2320.1174326.5nh0Fe&t=15

6. “Infographic: A History of the Shrinking Pell Grant,” Campus Progress, 05-23-2011
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/1075?akid=2320.1174326.5nh0Fe&t=17

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Finish This Sentence: Thanks to the health care law… Judy Waxman, National Women’s Law Center

12/12/2011 Nativegrl77

Two years ago, Christine Turner shared her story of surviving a rape that insurance companies considered a “pre-existing condition,” denying her coverage.

Her story cut through the political noise, helped change the dynamic of the fight over health care reform, and helped us win passage of the landmark Affordable Care Act. Now we are fighting to keep the law. Your stories can help illustrate what statistics and fact sheets can’t always do: show us how the health care law is changing the lives of every day Americans.

Share your story of how the health care law is helping you on our story blog. http://action.nwlc.org/site/R?i=NWaDKd_EpRV04F6GIYsfuw The story blog is an open forum where people can upload their photos and write about how the law is helping them. After you’ve shared, read some of the amazing stories from women across the country about how the health care law is helping them.

Were you one of the 3.8 million women on Medicare this year who received mammograms without co-pays or other out-of-pockets costs? Is your child one of the nearly one million young adults who gained health coverage due in part to the new law’s provision that allows young adults up to the age of 26 to stay on their parent’s health plan? Are you no longer paying that $20 co-pay for preventive care ?

Stories help cut through the political noise and show others why the law is important and how it is helping Americans from coast to coast. Join the story blog today. http://action.nwlc.org/site/R?i=5c8vCHxiW3uEW3lllBqZHg

Thanks to people like Christine and supporters like you, the health care law is improving the lives of women and their families. Thank you for all you do.

Sincerely,

Judy Waxman
Vice President for Health and Reproductive Rights
National Women’s Law Center

~ my 2cents ...

mashup Monday &some News …

12/12/2011 Nativegrl77

Today, President Obama and Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki held a joint press conference at the White House . In other news, Occupy Wall Street has decided to block or interfere with Ports along the West Coast while The Supreme Court will hear arguments on the constitutionality of: the Affordable Health Care Act, the Arizona immigration law though Justice Kagan has recused herself from the case due to her involvement as a solicitor general with the Obama Admin. The high court’s ruling will have implications for 44 states considering their own immigration policies.

just another rant …

If Congress does not act in 18 days Middle Class Americans will have an increase of approximately $1000 in taxes

The official date of winter is 12/20 but the weather outside is getting frightful …well, depending upon what part of the country you live in. The Politics is getting uglier and people on the Hill are downright rude; Republican rude that is. Speaking of Republicans… who do you want as the Teapublican Presidential challenger – Newt the Grinch, Willard the flip flopper or Rick Perry the Secessionist. I know someone has to challenge Barack Obama though like he said last night; it really does not matter whom because Teapublicans all seem to have the same core values and it is a stark difference from the guy who is getting my vote, Barack Obama in 2012. The notion that the difference between Obama and Teapublican Ideology is a close as the nose on your face is obvious to me yet if you listen and I suggest listening – just don’t believe everything you hear main stream media, TV hosts, or those so-called reporters say. It is as if listening to a drumbeat of misinformation misguided misunderstood hitting the airwaves daily. The meme and the person delivering the crap should be held accountable -listen the 2010 elections had help from TV pundits, hosts etc. that put not only unqualified into both Chambers of Congress they are extreme and represent only a small percentage of their own constituents. I hope everyone gets informed with the facts use YouTube and watch the many town halls the interviews of my fellow Americans suffering from not just their status in life. Teapublicans have put their States at risk, rising unemployment numbers; situations that these new Teapublican Governors and Mayors promised. Now, a big dose of buyer’s remorse has led Americans in various States to become pro-active with progress made by the Middle Class to gain back control that will turn around that downward spiral being offered up by Teapublicans. The latest news is an effort to recall Teapublicans who do not believe in regulations, comprehensive immigration, the right to choose, Medicare, Medicaid, social security or that there is even an worker emergency that needs to be addressed, unemployment given and a real sincere effort to get America back on track instead of using their fellow Americans as pawns. If you listen to folks discuss the so-called “Polls” with strange survey question you have to wonder just how much are they being paid. I also wonder if anyone else wonders, where our economy would be if Teapublicans had not gotten into office in 2010 or got there but did what we all pay them for … To do the Peoples Business but they are not. The People’s Business is far from done and what are coming out of the Republican led House of Representatives are on most days an embarrassment and a big waste of taxpayer money. If you have not seen what goes on in Congress; the bills, the nasty attached amendments, the votes and the comments from Teapublican leaders yet you must take the time. The behavior of grown men and women working to gain whatever they can for their individual States is the job but these lawmakers seem to have forgotten the country. I have to say watching Congress some days the rhetoric is silly, the lack of action upsetting. It brings to mind what some members of the Democratic Party have referenced and I wonder why it took so long for them to get it. It is that football scene on snoopy; an animated cartoon that can be watched and laughed at by millions then forgotten but a look closer at the actions by Teapublican Leadership lately and it is a look at Lucy (Teapublicans) pulling that football(AmericanJobsACT) away from Charlie Brown(Dems) though in our case the scene(story) affects millions watching the crap go down.

I still have the audacity for hope and change …the possibilities to make America better with reforms to counter the corruption that almost brought us to our knees are as far as you can see, yet Teapublicans continue to do us all dirty with those filibusters hurting our entire social and economic system. I have to say if this is, what they think qualifies them to be trusted or to govern the beautiful United States of American then We the People have to make sure Teapublicans do not gain more power in 2012 because the changes they will make will disrupt and dismantle our Democracy as we know it.

Other News …

British Prime Minister on Refusal to Join EU Treaty

President Meets With Iraqi Prime Minister

House Prepares to Debate Payroll Tax Cut

Ben and Jerry Support Occupy Movement

Gingrich & Huntsman Debate Nat’l Security Issues

Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Talks About Military Cuts