Talk About the South: Dayne Sherman's Blog: May 2012

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Louisiana Believes in Corrupt Vouchers

Update - 6/10/12:

Gov. Bobby Jindal's voucher scandal is going viral. It's a national disgrace. Each day more revelations of corruption surface. When will Louisiana State Superintendent John White be fired? When will they admit it was a mistake?

Top Ten Theft Contracts by the La. Dept. of Education: http://www.shreveporttimes.com/comments/article/20120610/NEWS0401/206100316/Treasurer-La-DOE-top-list-contract-abuses

Louisiana watchdog howls about contract irregularities and amounts:
http://www.thenewsstar.com/article/20120610/NEWS01/206100313

Corrupt vouchers. Shame the Times-Picayune did say something before it became law:
http://www.nola.com/opinions/index.ssf/2012/06/with_vouchers_lawmakers_should.html

La. Dept. of Education contract corruption:
http://www.shreveporttimes.com/comments/article/20120610/NEWS0401/206100316/Treasurer-La-DOE-top-list-contract-abuses

Out of state firms make millions:
http://www.thenewsstar.com/article/20120610/NEWS01/206100312/Out-state-firms-reap-millions

Editorial about no more failures:
http://www.shreveporttimes.com/article/20120609/OPINION03/206090311/Another-View-Children-don-t-time-more-failures

Update - 6/8/12:

Vouchers Gone Wild, my June 3, 2012, Hammond, La., Sunday Star column: http://www.hammondstar.com/articles/2012/06/04/opinion/columnists/8251.txt

Dr. Diane Ravitch's "Voucher Follies in Louisiana." Yeah, it's all about the children. It's the data: Louisiana charter schools and vouchers. There's a chart here that maps the madness. What do our senators and representatives have to say about this?
http://dianeravitch.net/2012/06/09/voucher-follies-in-louisiana-continued/

Dr. Ravitch uses this Educate Now chart showing how terrible the RSD-Charters-Vouchers system is. http://educatenow.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/2011_Voucher_vs_RSD_Performance_by_School.pdf

Comprehensive article on Bobby Jindal's Louisiana vouchers - scandal: http://www.alternet.org/story/155802/5_ways_louisianas_new_voucher_program_spells_disaster_for_public_education

Louisiana teachers file suit against corrupt vouchers:
http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/06/teachers_file_state_lawsuits_c.html

Vouchers and the future of public education:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/post/vouchers-and-the-future-of-public-education/2012/06/05/gJQAZ3X6GV_blog.html

JindalCo’s “scholarship” program is looking more like the boondoggle:
http://www.theind.com/re/10651-ill-vouch-for-that-

How bad was this Louisiana legislative session? Bad enough that the dense Advocate newspaper has finally figured it out.
http://theadvocate.com/news/opinion/3032039-123/our-views-jindal-pushes-funding

'Education for $ale': La.'s classroom changes reflect boardroom thinking:
http://www.thetowntalk.com/article/20120603/NEWS01/206030325/-Education-ale-La-s-classroom-changes-reflect-boardroom-thinking?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE

Children don't have time for more failures:
http://www.thenewsstar.com/article/20120603/OPINION01/206030310/Children-don-t-time-more-failures?odyssey=topicpage

Q: School reform? A: Model bills:
http://www.thenewsstar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2012206030312

Hasten: Debate heated over MFP funding:
http://www.thenewsstar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2012120603003

A scary (and telling) school voucher story:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/post/a-scary-and-telling-school-voucher-story/2012/05/31/gJQAxRgE4U_blog.html

Update - 5/31/12:

The Monroe News Star has started a tremendous series on voucher corruption in K-12. If they keep writing it, they'll deserve a Pulitzer. This story is going viral. Pass it around.

See today's Washington Post summary: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/post/a-scary-and-telling-school-voucher-story/2012/05/31/gJQAxRgE4U_blog.html

A little grilling for John White and the school voucher sandal. This one is worth your time. http://www.thenewsstar.com/article/20120530/NEWS01/120530048

Let the BESE members know to quit robbing the state schools: email addresses - James.Garvey@la.gov, Kira.OrangeJones@la.gov,Lottie.Beebe@la.gov, Walter.Lee@la.gov, Jay.Guillot@la.gov, Holly.Boffy@la.gov, Carolyn.Hill2@la.gov, Penny.Dastugue@la.gov, John.Bennett@la.gov, Connie.Bradford@la.gov

BESE Officers Issue Statement Regarding MFP Formula. Read statement at: http://t.co/bUbvqK8g

====================================================

"School willing to take 315 students through vouchers lacks building, computers"

By Barbara Leader / Monroe, La., News Star

May 25, 2012

I can't begin to explain how corrupt this voucher debacle is, but Louisiana believes in education "reform," unless it really matters. This school is not the exception. It is the norm and the whole plan. Read about it and weep.

Dayne

============================

Web & Social Media: http://daynesherman.com/

Talk About the South Blog: http://daynesherman.blogspot.com/

Tweet the South - Twitter: http://twitter.com/TweettheSouth/

Facebook: http://facebook.com/daynesherman

***This message speaks only for the writer, a citizen, not for any present or past employer.***

Saturday, May 26, 2012

A Step-by-Step Guide on How to Communicate

We are in the homestretch with the legislative session that ends on June 4. There has been some great news on the retirement legislation.

They are signaling defeat on the cruel and unconstitutional retirement changes. Keep up the heat this weekend and coming week.

"'I think we've done as much as we can do in this session' on retirement issues, [Sen. John] Alario said." http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/05/legislator_begins_final_week_o.html

But a bill is not dead until it is DEAD, DEAD, DEAD, as the old saying goes. It has to be thrice dead to be done with and gone.

Here’s my summary of what’s left:

HB 61 (Cat Food Retirement Plan- Will leave future retirees on welfare and food stamps. The cash-balance plan with no Social Security is a moral failure of epic proportions. It’s in conference committee. I’m the most fearful of this one. No one will want to work for the state, and it could leave future employees who retire in abject poverty. Retirees will eat cat food if they're lucky. It's that bad. And this one is likely to pass unless it's fought tooth and nail this week.

SB 52 – Will violate the constitution and raise retirement contributions on SELECT state employees (divide and conquer). If this passes, all state employees will pay more and get less when the legislators pull ALL employees into the mix later. Teachers, get ready.

SB 740 - Will stop cost of living adjustments (COLAs) for current retirees for an "eternity." This is plain bad for retirees. It’s unnecessary, cruel, and disingenuous. They should hold off no more than two or three years as a temporary debt fix.

SB 749 (age 67 bill) - Unconstitutional and will change the retirement ages/years for SELECT current employees. All state employees will be attacked after this session if SB 749 passes. It’s a test case.

SB 47 (3 year to 5 year FAC) - An unconstitutional bill that will recalculate how retirement benefits are determined for current employees.

Note: I am for protecting pensions long-term, but I am not for destroying the pensions in order to “save” them. This is about privatizing all government services and giving the contracts to the fat cats. It's about employment reform and not about fixing the pensions’ unfunded accrued liability (UAL).

See the latest analysis of retirement legislation put out by TRSL posted on May 25:

http://trsl.org/uploads/File/News%20releases/Legis_May25.pdf

Here is "A Step-by-Step Guide on How to Communicate" between now and June 4th:

1.) Write a letter to a newspaper ASAP. Better yet, write a letter to 40 Louisiana papers. Write about 300 words and send to your closet newspapers first. Be sure to give your address and phone number. “Dear Editor…” http://daynesherman.blogspot.com/2012/05/why-send-letter-to-only-one-louisiana.html

2.) Send an email to all representatives and senators. Use your home email address and PC. Cut and paste into the BCC line on your email account. All email addresses can be found here: http://daynesherman.blogspot.com/2012/05/emails-for-all-louisiana-senators.html

3.) Drop off a handwritten letter to your senator and representative at their district offices. http://www.legis.la.gov - Go to the bottom of the web page. Click on the question and type in your address. I mailed mine on Sat., May 26, but it's probably too late now to get to the legislative office by Tuesday.

4.) Call and send personal emails to Sen. Elbert Guillory, Rep. Kevin Pearson (Retirement Chairs in Senate and House), and your senator and representative, as well as any other legislators that you know personally.

Contact information for Louisiana Senators: http://senate.la.gov/senators/Offices.asp

Contact information for Louisiana Representatives (House):

http://house.louisiana.gov/H_Reps/H_Reps_FullInfo.asp

5.) Post an open letter on Facebook and your weblog or personal website. Start a blog and send all legislators the link with an email. You’ll be regarded as an activist, which is good. Get a blog free at Blogger: http://www.blogger.com/

6.) Consider joining the Retired State Employees Association - RSEA. It’s important. T http://www.rseala.org. They are having an event at the Capitol on – Thurs., May 31, 2012, 12:00 noon until 1:00 PM. Nothing strikes fear in a legislator’s heart quite like an angry group of retirees. Why? They vote.

Senate seating chart: http://senate.legis.state.la.us/senators/seating.htm

House seating chart: http://house.louisiana.gov/H_seating/H_Seating.htm

If you can't go to Baton Rouge, ask to meet the legislator at his or her office. If they can't see you next week, tell the assistant your position and set an appointment for after the session. They'll know you are coming, and you may not be happy.

8.) Send this email/post to everyone you know on Facebook and your personal email contact list.

9.) Contact all of the retired state employees you know and tell them what's at stake (such as never getting another cost of living adjustment).

10.) Download an app. PAR has a Legislative Guide as an iPhone-android app for $2.99. I downloaded it, and it works like a charm. You can contact anyone in the legislature in seconds. Calls, emails, addresses, photos. http://www.parlouisiana.com/guidetolaleg.cfm

While you are at it, download the FREE phone app for civic engagement: GPO Guide for the 112th Congress. It works great on my iPhone. All you need to contact all of the US Senators and Reps (You can even get the federal budget) - http://www.gpo.gov/mobile/

You may only have time to do 2 or 3 of the steps above. Every little bit counts. Let’s exercise our rights afforded to us by the First Amendment to the US Constitution. It matters now more than ever.

Thanks.

Dayne

==========================

Dayne Sherman, Writer, Speaker, Scholar

Web & Social Media: http://daynesherman.com/

Talk About the South Blog: http://daynesherman.blogspot.com/

Tweet the South - Twitter: http://twitter.com/TweettheSouth/

Facebook: http://facebook.com/daynesherman

***This message speaks only for the writer, a citizen, not for any present or past employer.***

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Bad Bills on the Bayou - Retirement D-Day

BREAKING NEWS - 7:03 PM, 5/24/12

Hold your applause on Bobby Jindal's Cat Food Retirement Plan. It is not defeated yet. The story isn't completely right. I'm consulting with an expert. Developing. Sorry, I believed WAFB. They used the wrong version of the AP writer's story, and it's gone to conference, a delay. Keep fighting and call out those who voted for it.

Great News: Thursday, May 24, 2012, 6:24 PM: Bobby Jindal's "Cat Food" Retirement Plan (HB 61) failed in the House! Thank God.

http://www.wafb.com/story/18618878/house-rejects-final-passage-of-jindal-pension-bill

See how they voted:
http://www.legis.state.la.us/billdata/streamdocument.asp?did=805960

If this one can be defeated, so can the others. Keep fighting this long weekend.

Dayne

================
Update: Thursday, May 24, 2012, early in the morning: My word. They didn't pass the retirement bills on Wednesday. Why? The votes weren't there. Time to keep up the heat on the legislators!

Here's every Louisiana senator and rep's email address: http://daynesherman.blogspot.com/2012/05/emails-for-all-louisiana-senators.html

Send them some love.

===========================================================

Wednesday, May 23, 2012, is probably "D-Day" for Louisiana state employees and retirees. Higher education funding is coming up soon. These proposals could go either way, and your voice is important. Speak out and speak up.

Here’s my summary of what’s coming down the track like the Sunset Limited:

HB 61 – Will leave future retirees on welfare and food stamps. The cash-balance plan with no Social Security is a moral failure of epic proportions.

SB 749 (age 67 bill) - Unconstitutional and will change the retirement ages/years for SELECT current employees. All state employees will follow after this session if 749 passes in my humble opinion.

PAR has a Legislative Guide as an iPhone-android app for $2.99. I downloaded it and it works like a charm. You can contact anyone in the legislature in seconds. Calls, emails, addresses, photos. http://www.parlouisiana.com/guidetolaleg.cfm

This is my hard-hitting guest editorial on higher ed funding - "Gut Check Time for Professors": http://www.hammondstar.com/articles/2012/05/22/opinion/columnists/8269.txt

Read my 10-step guide for communicating about retirement (and higher ed cuts). It's a how-to guide:

http://daynesherman.blogspot.com/2012/05/ten-practical-suggestions-for.html

If you’ve noticed some typos in my recent correspondence, I’m working 10-hour days and spending 5 hours on retirement and higher ed funding issues at night. I do the best I can under the circumstances.

Please share my email, web links, and blog with anyone you think might listen.

Take care. Keep the faith. Stay in touch.

Dayne

==========================
Dayne Sherman, Writer, Speaker, Scholar
Web & Social Media: http://daynesherman.com/
Talk About the South Blog: http://daynesherman.blogspot.com/
Tweet the South - Twitter: http://twitter.com/TweettheSouth/
Facebook: http://facebook.com/daynesherman
***This message speaks only for the writer, a citizen, not for any present or past employer.***

Monday, May 21, 2012

Ten Practical Suggestions for Communicating

There are two weeks left in this legislative session. Some people are calling Wednesday, May 23, 2012, “D-Day” for retirement. Likewise, there are massive cuts to public higher education on the agenda. The reason all of these draconian proposals have not been signed into law is the votes aren't there yet.

Whether or not you agree with me that many of the proposals are going to hamstring Louisiana for decades to come, the point is to let your voices be heard.

There are a number of documents I recommend for your inspection:

Latest analysis of retirement legislation put out by TRSL:

http://trsl.org/uploads/File/News%20releases/20120518_legislative%20update_week%20of%20may%2014%20.pdf

May 21st article on retirement in the Advocate newspaper (revised from May 20th version):

http://theadvocate.com/news/2869730-123/pension-bills-still-in-negotiation

May 19th article on retirement in the Advocate newspaper with chilling quotes on retirees living on welfare: http://theadvocate.com/home/2858507-125/pension-changes-advance

My defense of retirement published by The Political Desk on May 18th:

http://thepoliticaldesk.com/?p=2031

One of many articles on how the cuts are going to harm higher ed and health care:
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505245_162-57434394/colleges-health-care-face-cuts-in-la-budget/

Here are my Ten Practical Suggestions for Communicating about Matters of Public Concern:

3.) Drop off a handwritten letter to your senator and representative at their district offices. It may be too late to send regular mail. “Who are your state Senators and Representatives?” http://www.legis.la.gov - Go to the bottom of the web page. Click on the question and type in your address.

Contact information for Louisiana Senators:http://senate.la.gov/senators/Offices.asp

Contact information for Louisiana State Representatives (House):

http://house.louisiana.gov/H_Reps/H_Reps_FullInfo.asp

6.) Consider joining the Retired State Employees Association - RSEA. It’s important. These retirement bills may need to be litigated. http://www.rseala.org

7.) If you have some time, go to the Capitol. Send notes to your senator and representative, as well as Guillory and Pearson. The sergeant at arms can help, but you need to get the legislators’ seat numbers. Write on the appropriate House/Senate communication slip and give your cell phone number. Say that you want to talk. Be creative with your message.

Senate seating chart: http://senate.legis.state.la.us/senators/seating.htm

House seating chart: http://house.louisiana.gov/H_seating/H_Seating.htm

(Get the PAR Guide to the Legislature as paper or as an Android or iPhone app. The app would have saved me hours putting numbers in my phone: http://www.parlouisiana.com/guidetolaleg.cfm)

8.) Send this email/post to everyone you know on Facebook and your personal email contact list.

9.) Contact all of the retired state employees you know and tell them what's at stake (such as never getting another cost of living adjustment).

10.) Dial in on the LAE teleconference on retirement, Monday, May 21, 2012, 6 PM: http://www.lae.org/

This email has been sent as a private citizen under the protection of the First Amendment to the US Constitution. It is an attempt to get people involved in civic engagement.

Thanks and let me know how it goes. Keep the faith. Louisiana is counting on us.

My best,

Dayne

Friday, May 18, 2012

HB 61 - Cat Food Retirement Plan - Open Letter to Sen. Elbert Guillory

To: guillorye@legis.la.gov / (337) 943-2457

Dear Senator Guillory:

Thanks for your diligent work on retirement reform.

I have but one unanswered question: Will you have to apply for "food stamps, welfare and other government programs" as a retired state employee in order to survive?

This morning’s Baton Rouge Advocate states: “'We cannot protect people from making bad decisions in their lives,' Guillory replied. He said a retiree may have to apply for food stamps, welfare and other government programs."
"Pension changes advance"
By Marsha Shuler, The Advocate, May 18, 2012
http://theadvocate.com/home/2858507-125/pension-changes-advance

The problem is NOT with the lump-sum payment and retirees being irresponsible. The problem is that the state will only pay 4 % into the retirement fund and this is less than the 6.2 % that every private company is paying into Social Security. HB 61 is an immoral bill, a bad decision by the Louisiana Legislature. It is NOT a bad decision being made by Louisiana state employees. The plan will lead future rank-and-file workers into welfare and eating cat food (if they can afford it) during their retirement years.

Without Social Security benefits, HB 61 might as well come with death panels. This is the fact of the matter.

I am posting this online and sending it to all Louisiana senators and representatives, as well as other friends and colleagues. The proposal is reprehensible, the “Cat Food" Retirement Plan. I have said for months that HB 61 and its ilk would lead state workers into abject poverty during their retirement years without Social Security benefits, and now you have confirmed it. Furthermore, Louisiana will be known as the worst place to work in American higher education.

I am writing this as a concerned Louisiana citizen. I have been consistent in my opposition to this and several other retirement plans, and I am being up front in letting you know this is an open letter. My retirement piece is posted on The Political Desk today: "Seeking Safety: The top 10 reasons to worry about public retirement" http://thepoliticaldesk.com/?p=2031. It offers a strong retirement commentary.

Thank you for your service, and I hope to hear from you soon.

Sincerely,

Dayne

==========================

Dayne Sherman, Writer, Speaker, Scholar
Web & Social Media: http://daynesherman.com/
Talk About the South Blog: http://daynesherman.blogspot.com/
Tweet the South - Twitter: http://twitter.com/TweettheSouth/
Facebook: http://facebook.com/daynesherman
***This message speaks only for the writer, a citizen, not for any present or past employer.***

Monday, May 14, 2012

Talk About the South Column: "Let the Fur Fly"

Let the Fur Fly

Talk About the South Column

Byline: Dayne Sherman

Sunday Star - http://www.hammondstar.com/

Hammond, Louisiana

May 5, 2012 / 775 words

I’d like to make a confession: I’m a writer. In this column, I want to explain my goals as a writer and a critic of social and political issues.

Several years ago, I conceived of a series of newspaper columns dedicated to the American South, my home and native region. I wanted to make it light reading. I planned to cover everything from how to raise okra to the loveliness of Oxford, Mississippi. But somehow I’ve gotten derailed from my simple quest for an easy column. “Talk About the South” is like a rusty shovel digging the graves of politicians and a clawhammer banging on the heads of the numbskulls that purchase their votes.

Any honest writer and thinker should be concerned about the current state of affairs in Louisiana. And as the great social critic Edward Abbey says in his essay “A Writer’s Credo,” the serious writer must “Speak out: or take up a different trade.”

I aim to speak out. Indeed, the devious hack job Gov. Bobby Jindal is doing to higher education, teachers, public schools, healthcare, and rank-and-file workers’ pensions is an injustice of epic proportions. It’s anything but conservative. It will conserve noting but the governor’s political power and national status.

I don’t hear much at all from our community’s leaders. Do you? The silence is so profound you can hear a mouse pee on cotton. By staying silent, the leaders approve the utter destruction of this state.

So, it is left to the freelance writer to point out the obvious. A writer must never shy away from calling out the powerful. Thus, my primary goal is to tell the truth. Truth has been on such a long vacation we hardly know it when we see it, and when it comes our way, we often get mad at the person carrying the message.

Let me lay all of my cards on the table. I’m so far right politically that I’m on the left, so far left that I’m on the right. I’m a registered Independent. I rarely miss church, and I’m a practicing Christian. I’m fiscally conservative. I think FDR saved Western Civilization, Jimmy Carter is right about almost everything, and Martin Luther King Jr. was the greatest man in the Twentieth Century. I’m pro-family values, and my worst vice is drinking too much coffee, at least two cups a day. I’ve been a hunter since I was eight years old, but please don’t Dick Cheney me if we go on a dove shoot.

I care about my place of birth, and I’m trying my best to preserve and defend my community, my state, and my nation from insanity, much of which is embodied in Gov. Jindal’s recklessness and limitless ambition.

What I’m finding in my odd circle of friends—Tea Partiers, Libertarians, Independents, Republicans, and Yellow Dog Democrats—is that we are all tired of the lies. We have more in common now than ever before. We just want our politicians, bureaucrats, and business leaders to shoot straight with us and quit spinning every single sound bite.

What can we do to change this culture of corruption?

For almost two decades, I have been studying social movements and the role of the white establishment, particularly white ministers during the American Civil Rights era. Most white Southerners were silent, but a few stood up.

One Southerner who spoke up and stood up was Myles Horton, founder of Highlander Folk School. He outlined three steps that common folks must take in order to make positive changes to society. First, the people must be angry. Second, they must have hope. And third, they must get organized.

Social movements that change society for the better do not depend on the elites sitting together in a backroom and deciding to give up power. The establishment never gives up power willingly. No, it is taken away from them by everyday people working together for change using the methods of nonviolent action. I like to call this the politics of love, democracy in action.

Recently, I spent an afternoon reading the old Hammond Vindicator newspaper on microfilm from the 1930s. The paper had a catchy slogan, “Let the Fur Fly.”

That’s exactly what I plan to do in my column, “Let the Fur Fly.” It feels mighty good to stir the pot. You should try it sometime. It might just make a difference.

Dayne Sherman lives in Ponchatoula and is the author of Welcome to the FallenParadise: A Novel, which was named to Booklist magazine's "Hard-BoiledGazetteer to Country Noir" on May 1^st, a national honor. Follow him on Facebook, Twitter, or his blog at daynesherman.com.

Emails for all Louisiana Senators and Representatives

Senators:

<dorseyy@legis.la.gov>; <erdeyd@legis.la.gov>; <gallotr@legis.la.gov>; <lafleure@legis.la.gov>; <murraye@legis.la.gov>; <perryj@legis.la.gov>; <petersonk@legis.la.gov>; <risern@legis.la.gov>; <wardr@legis.la.gov>; <thompsof@legis.la.gov>; <lasen15@legis.la.gov>; <smithbuffington@legis.la.gov>;
derdey@legis.la.gov, rgallot@legis.la.gov, emurray@legis.la.gov, jperry@legis.la.gov, fthompso@legis.la.gov, ydorsey@legis.la.gov, elafleur@legis.la.gov, smithgl@legis.la.gov, jpmorrell@legis.la.gov, morrelljp@legis.la.gov, dHeitmeier@legis.la.gov, HeitmeierD@legis.la.gov, mwhite@legis.la.gov; whitem@legis.la.gov, <mwalsworth@legis.la.gov>; <gtarver@legis.la.gov>; bnevers@legis.la.gov; <bpeacock@legis.la.gov>; <fmills@legis.la.gov>; <dmorrish@legis.la.gov>; <dmartiny@legis.la.gov>; <glong@legis.la.gov>; <kostelka@legis.la.gov>; <rjohns@legis.la.gov>; <jdonahue@legis.la.gov>; <acrowe@legis.la.gov>; <pcortez@legis.la.gov>; <dclaitor@legis.la.gov>; <nchabert@legis.la.gov>; <cappel@legis.la.gov>; <jamedee@legis.la.gov>; <ballain@legis.la.gov>; <radley@legis.la.gov>; <jalario@legis.la.gov>; <alarioj@legis.la.gov>;<guillorye@legis.la.gov>;<adleyr@legis.la.gov>; <allainb@legis.la.gov>; <amedeej@legis.la.gov>; <appelc@legis.la.gov>; <chabertn@legis.la.gov>; <claitord@legis.la.gov>; <cortezp@legis.la.gov>; <crowea@legis.la.gov>; <donahuej@legis.la.gov>; <johnsr@legis.la.gov>; <longg@legis.la.gov>;
<martinyd@legis.la.gov>; <millsf@legis.la.gov>; <morrishd@legis.la.gov>; <neversb@legis.state.la.us>; <peacockb@legis.la.gov>; <smithj@legis.la.gov>; <tarverg@legis.la.gov>; <walsworthm@legis.la.gov>; <mwalsworth@legis.la.gov>; <jamedee@legis.la.gov>;

Representatives:
abramson@legis.la.gov, adamsb@legis.la.gov, larep021@legis.la.gov, armesj@legis.la.gov,larep102@legis.la.gov, larep100@legis.la.gov,barrast@legis.la.gov, larep029@legis.la.gov, berthelotj@legis.la.gov, billiotr@legis.la.gov,bishops@legis.la.gov, bishopw@legis.la.gov, broadwaterc@legis.la.gov, brossettj@legis.la.gov, browntr@legis.la.gov, burfordr@legis.la.gov, burnsh@legis.la.gov, larep089@legis.la.gov, larep002@legis.la.gov, carmodyt@legis.la.gov, carters@legis.la.gov, champags@legis.la.gov, chaneyb@legis.la.gov, connickp@legis.la.gov, coxk@legis.la.gov, cromerg@legis.la.gov, danahaym@legis.la.gov, dixonh@legis.la.gov, larep052@legis.la.gov, edwardsj@legis.la.gov, larep013@legis.la.gov, foilf@legis.la.gov, franklina@legis.la.gov, gainesr@legis.la.gov, garofalor@legis.la.gov, larep035@legis.la.gov, gisclairj@legis.la.gov, larep066@legis.la.gov, larep041@legis.la.gov, guinnj@legis.la.gov, harrisl@legis.la.gov, harrisoj@legis.la.gov, havardk@legis.la.gov, hazelc@legis.la.gov, henryc@legis.la.gov, hensgensb@legis.la.gov, hilld@legis.la.gov, hodgesv@legis.la.gov, hoffmanf@legis.la.gov, hollisp@legis.la.gov, honored@legis.la.gov, howardf@legis.la.gov, hunterm@legis.la.gov, huvalm@legis.la.gov, jacksong@legis.la.gov, jacksonk@legis.la.gov, jamest@legis.la.gov, jeffersonpo@legis.la.gov, johnsoro@legis.la.gov, joness@legis.la.gov, larep036@legis.la.gov, larep059@legis.la.gov, landryn@legis.la.gov, landryt@legis.la.gov, lebasb@legis.la.gov, legerw@legis.la.gov, leopoldc@legis.la.gov, ligit@legis.la.gov, lopintoj@legis.la.gov, larep094@legis.la.gov, macks@legis.la.gov, millerg@legis.la.gov, montoucj@legis.la.gov, morenoh@legis.la.gov, larep001@legis.la.gov, morrisjc@legis.la.gov, nortonb@legis.la.gov, ortegos@legis.la.gov, pearsonk@legis.la.gov, pierrev@legis.la.gov, pontie@legis.la.gov, poper@legis.la.gov, pricee@legis.la.gov, pughs@legis.la.gov, pylants@legis.la.gov, reynoldsg@legis.la.gov, richardj@legis.la.gov, richardc@legis.la.gov, larep075@legis.la.gov, larep045@legis.la.gov, schexnayderc@legis.la.gov, schrodej@legis.la.gov, seabaugha@legis.la.gov, shadoinr@legis.la.gov, simons@legis.la.gov, smithp@legis.la.gov, larep060@legis.la.gov, talbotk@legis.la.gov, thibautm@legis.la.gov, thierryl@legis.la.gov, thompsonj@legis.la.gov, whitneyl@legis.la.gov, williamsa@legis.la.gov, larep004@legis.la.gov, willmott@legis.la.gov

This is provided as a public service, not as anything done for my employer, nor is this lobbying. I am a citizen speaking as a Louisiana citizen.

Thanks.

Dayne

Sunday, May 13, 2012

Introducing peace and nonviolence advocate Professor Gene Sharp

Much of what I’ve learned about civic engagement (activism) comes from Dr. Gene Sharp, one of the most important thinkers on peace and democracy alive today.

His work and ideas have revolutionized the way I see the world. I guess I’ve only known about him for two years at the longest. (I actually started studying the American Civil Rights movement as a history graduate student in 1994. Professor Sharp has brought much of what I've learned into focus.)

Below is some information on Professor Sharp:

NY Times article on Dr. Gene Sharp. “'That is straight out of Gandhi,’ Mr. Sharp said. ‘If people are not afraid of the dictatorship, that dictatorship is in big trouble.’”

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/17/world/middleeast/17sharp.html

Wall Street Journal piece on Dr. Sharp.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122127204268531319.html

Read Dr. Sharp’s “198 Methods of Nonviolent Action.” I think about this 2-page document daily: http://www.aeinstein.org/organizations/org/198_methods-1.pdf

Most of Sharp’s books are free downloads in dozens of languages. http://www.aeinstein.org/

In my opinion, every Louisiana school teacher and professor should do the following this summer:

1. Watch the biographical film about Dr. Gene Sharp, How to Start a Revolution: http://howtostartarevolutionfilm.com/

It’s available at Netflix, online as a purchase, and through inter-library loan. Many great ideas are illustrated in the film.

2. Read Dr. Gene Sharp’s little book titled From Dictatorship to Democracy:
http://www.amazon.com/From-Dictatorship-Democracy-Gene-Sharp/dp/1846688396/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1336702123&sr=8-2

I prefer printed books. It costs about ten bucks on Amazon.com.

The free book download is available here: http://www.aeinstein.org/organizations/org/FDTD.pdf

Thank you for reading.

Dayne