Important Drinking Age Story Tonight on 60 Minutes

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Sunday February 22, 2009 · 1:55 PM PST

2009/02/22 · 13:55

Some of you may remember the stories at the end of last summer about The Amethyst Initiative, a petition by Choose Responsibility, an organization dedicated to lowering the drinking age to 18. So far it has been signed by over 130 college and university presidents who support legislation to end "Legal Age 21."

From The Amethyst Initiative's website:

Launched in July 2008, the Amethyst Initiative is made up of chancellors and presidents of universities and colleges across the United States. These higher education leaders have signed their names to a public statement that the problem of irresponsible drinking by young people continues despite the minimum legal drinking age of 21, and there is a culture of dangerous binge drinking on many campuses.

More after the jump...

Poll

317 votes Show Results

Should the drinking age be lowered to 18?

317 votes Vote Now!

Should the drinking age be lowered to 18?

Yes

251 votes

66 votes

UNITE HERE! - Don't split!

AZDemDude

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Sunday February 08, 2009 · 8:51 PM PST

2009/02/08 · 20:51

This story has not gained much traction yet other than in a story in yesterday's New York Times. However, UNITE HERE, one of the most prominent unions in the country, is on the verge of splitting and is currently engaged in what amounts to a civil war.

Ironically, I think the lead in the story puts the whole conflict into perspective:

With the economy in crisis and a new labor-friendly president in the White House, this should be a time when labor unions pull together.

Labor has had its fair share of conflicts lately, in 2005 with the creation of Change to Win (which I supported), and an ongoing and very public conflict within SEIU to undermine the leadership of Andy Stern, who I support at the helm of that union but with whom I disagree on the UNITE HERE issue.

It seems like the UNITE HERE problem is simply the product of egos that need to be brought under control. Both parts of the union complements the other - UNITE with the money and HERE with room for expansion. The problem is simply managerial.

Poll

79 votes Show Results

Should UNITE HERE split?

79 votes Vote Now!

Should UNITE HERE split?

Yes

21 votes

43 votes

I need to learn more about the issue

15 votes

Publicly Financed Campaigns Are Bad (In Their Current Form)

AZDemDude

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Sunday February 01, 2009 · 11:11 PM PST

2009/02/01 · 23:11

OK. I know that this topic is most definitely close to many of your hearts, as it is to mine. I also know that you probably feel very differently than I do on this issue. I am, in fact, one of the only Democrats I know who feels that the progressive movement as a whole is on the wrong side of the campaign finance debate. Naturally, I expect a cold reception, but will soldier on.

I just ask that before you jump on me, you hear me out and read my entire diary. Maybe I will make you think twice about the issue, maybe we can agree to disagree.

I will not deal with all of the issues surrounding campaign finance in this diary - that would be impossible. However, I think I can help to open a dialogue and bring a unique perspective to this debate. I plan to continue writing about it on Kos, and maybe after reading several entries you will see that maybe this liberal from a red state has a point.

My perspective after the jump...

Poll

9 votes Show Results

Has this diary affected your thoughts on Publicly Financed Campaigns?

9 votes Vote Now!

Has this diary affected your thoughts on Publicly Financed Campaigns?

Yes

0 votes

9 votes

Let's End '100 Days' Talk

AZDemDude

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Sunday January 25, 2009 · 1:12 PM PST

2009/01/25 · 13:12

One of the smartest things said by any pundit on election night was Paul Begala's assertion that the incoming Obama administration needs to end all talk of "The First 100 Days," something that the media will be thrusting upon the new president continually, and has already done so.

Nearly every major news outlet currently has entire '100 Days' sections or headlines. Politico, for example calls it the '100 Day Sprint.'

Certainly, the first 100 days can be full of defining moments for the new administration, however I feel that the importance placed on the first 100 days is a creation by the media to create an ongoing story from which they can build a theme around which to write their stories until his 100th day in office has passed, and he is then judged on his accomplishments by the media.

All that encouraging '100 days' rhetoric will do is raise the media's expectations to unrealistic levels.

Poll

33 votes Show Results

What do you think?

33 votes Vote Now!

What do you think?

The Netroots Should Encourage '100 Days' rhetoric

5 votes

The Netroots Should Discourage '100 Days' rhetoric

19 votes

It is a non-issue

9 votes

Drawing Inspiration from Progressive Music

AZDemDude

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Sunday January 18, 2009 · 4:13 PM PST

2009/01/18 · 16:13

Pete Seeger is nothing short of a legend in folk music circles, and it was amazing to see him perform today at the "We Are One" concert, alongside one of my other favorite artists, Garth Brooks.

For those of you unfamiliar with the incredible resume Seeger has amassed over his expansive career, he has spent over 60 years advocating on the local and national stage for labor rights, the environment, civil rights, and many other progressive causes.

Poll

19 votes Show Results

Were you in Washington for "We Are One?"

19 votes Vote Now!

Were you in Washington for "We Are One?"

Yes

0 votes

19 votes

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