by email
Dear Activists and Supporters,
Congress is now on recess and I am back in my district in Ohio for the month of August, where I am finalizing plans for a major organizing effort. As you know if you follow the news on
http://www.kucinich.us, I have been relentless in Congress this session. I will be asking for your help on these issues and more:
I have been continuing my challenge to the war in Iraq, and helped to develop a bi-partisan withdrawal Bill to hasten the return home of our troops without partisan wrangling, deadlock or defeat.
I have developed a detailed response to the Administration's attempts to privatize Social Security, which we will see build to full steam when Congress reconvenes after Labor Day.
I am continuing to shine light on the positive benefits of - and the critical need for - national single-payer health care which, along with universal coverage for citizens, offers significant economic advantages for employers.
I continue to spearhead positive alternatives to destructive and misguided policies which set America apart from the rest of the world's aspirations for peace, harmony and a sustainable planet.
We are beginning a nation-wide organizing effort which will focus on issues as they are slated to come up in Congress. Our initial focus for August and September will be Iraq, a Department of Peace, and Social Security.
The tragedy of the war in Iraq continues to be compounded by increasing casualties of US troops and Iraqi civilians. I need you to contact your congressional Representative and ask him or her to join in co-sponsoring H.J. Res. 55, which will require the Administration to submit to the Congress a plan to withdraw from Iraq by the end of this year and to begin the withdrawal no later than October of 2006. Congressmen Walter Jones (R-NC), Ron Paul (R-TX), Neil Abercrombie (D-HI), and I have organized this effort which will be instrumental in the United States taking steps to finally end the war.
The readiness to go to war in Iraq points to a larger problem in our society, one which the creation of a Department of Peace is intended to address. In September, thousands will travel to Washington in support of legislation to create a Department of Peace, to make nonviolence an organizing principle in our society. We will focus on the domestic purposes of the legislation: programs to address domestic violence, spousal abuse, child abuse, violence in the schools, racial violence, violence against gays, police-community disputes and more. I have gathered more than fifty members of Congress to support the legislation. Help us gain more. The bill will be introduced in September.
The leadership of the House plans to bring up Social Security legislation in September. The attempt to privatize Social Security is theft, pure and simple. I spent a considerable amount of time studying this issue and have produced a 55 minute DVD which is available for house parties, town hall meetings, or broadcast on local television. This video is the definitive response to privatization. Order your copy from
http://store.kucinich.us.We will soon deliver tools on kucinich.us to help you organize town hall meetings, house meetings and teach-ins on these issues, but don't wait for us. Organize events now and write to us at info@kucinich.us with event details and, if appropriate, we'll help with publicity. I will participate as my schedule allows by calling in to meetings or, where I can, arranging to be present to speak.
We must ignite fundraising during August as well. I have not bothered you with frequent fundraising pitches. But I need your help to fuel our work on these and other important matters such as universal prekindergarten, fair trade, sustainable energy, stopping weapons in outer space, and more. Help us. Please hold informal fundraising gatherings in your home and forward this email with a personal appeal to your friends asking them to contribute. Our online contribution form is at
http://www.kucinich.us/contribute. A downloadable form to print and mail - for use at house parties and for those who prefer to contribute by check - is at
http://www.kucinich.us/contribute/donation-form.pdf. Remember when we began this journey a few years ago? That same vision which animated my involvement on the national scene is more important than ever: Peace and social justice. Peace and economic justice. Peace and human rights. Peace and human freedom.
You are an essential part of everything I do in Congress - thank you. I work for you, but I can't do it without you.
Dennis
Watch
http://www.kucinich.us for updates.
Please support Dennis's work by making a contribution at
http://www.kucinich.us/contribute, and by forwarding this message widely.
Paid for by the Re-Elect Congressman Kucinich Committee