Vachon For Senate: The Write-In Wrevolution

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74749203529630227582011-10-04T18:04:53.780-04:00Vachon For Senate: The Write-In WrevolutionStatements, opinions, facts and stances on issues by Todd Vachon, write-in candidate for US Senate in Connecticut. Learn more at: www.votevachon.comTodd Vachon for Congress, CT District 2http://www.blogger.com/profile/10556926284993597458noreply@blogger.comBlogger961100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7474920352963022758.post-72966346420608174872011-10-02T22:35:00.002-04:002011-10-02T22:38:17.345-04:00Occupy Hartford!

Starting Wednesday, October 5th, there will be General Assemblies held daily in Bushnell Park at 8am and 5pm.Follow #OccupyHartford on twitter.New Facebook page to Like and follow:https://www.facebook.com/pages/Occupy-Hartford/115295498577478?sk=wallFreedom from Corporate Rule.Democracy Now.Get Active!

Todd Vachon for Congress, CT District 2http://www.blogger.com/profile/10556926284993597458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7474920352963022758.post-74714415015724415962011-09-13T22:00:00.000-04:002011-09-13T22:01:34.108-04:00Record 46.2 Million Americans Live in Poverty

Record 46.2 Million Americans Live in Poverty, Census Bureau Says "At the same time, analysts say other factors understate the reallevel of poverty in the U.S. Many more young adults have stayed ormoved back home because they can’t find jobs, and others have doubledup with friends and relatives. Moreover, experts agree that thepoverty thresholds, designed in the early 1960s, doesn’t capturepeople

Todd Vachon for Congress, CT District 2http://www.blogger.com/profile/10556926284993597458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7474920352963022758.post-69635712932387176812011-08-30T22:06:00.000-04:002011-09-13T22:07:03.666-04:00A Civil Society Strategy

Reposted from:http://www.socialistproject.ca/bullet/543.php#continueSteve D'ArcyWhat happened to the North American Left? Why is it that, even now, when capitalism seems so obviously unappealing, unsustainable and unfair, the Left cannot mount a more serious challenge to the Right or its grim austerity agenda?Indeed, what happened to the Left's former ability to mobilize huge numbers into

Todd Vachon for Congress, CT District 2http://www.blogger.com/profile/10556926284993597458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7474920352963022758.post-8657779202794127772011-07-23T22:08:00.000-04:002011-09-13T22:09:42.412-04:00Banks Again Depress US Economy

There is a basic lesson about capitalist (in)efficiency in this sad story.by Rick WolffBanks are once again depressing the broader US economy. Its all collateral damage as they take care of their own business, making money and shoring up their balance sheets. This time the issue for them is how profitably to dispose of their accumulated homes acquired when they foreclosed on delinquent mortgages.

Todd Vachon for Congress, CT District 2http://www.blogger.com/profile/10556926284993597458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7474920352963022758.post-42225473379381817962011-06-15T08:12:00.001-04:002011-06-15T08:12:49.762-04:00Urge Mayors to Demand War $$$ Home Now!

The SPCT has voted to support this effort (thanks to everyone who replied yesterday in such a timely fashion). If you have a moment, please copy this letter and send it to your mayor if you live in a somewhat large city (such as Hartford, West Hartford, New Haven, Bridgeport, Stamford, Waterbury, etc..). If you live in a smaller town, you can still send it to the mayor of your closest city or to

Todd Vachon for Congress, CT District 2http://www.blogger.com/profile/10556926284993597458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7474920352963022758.post-75525834902184522162011-02-20T21:46:00.001-05:002011-02-20T21:47:43.594-05:00Democracy in the Streets: Madison Mobilizes to Defeat the Anti-Labor Wisconsin Governor

by Omar Mohamad, Socialist Party of South Central Wisconsin and Billy Wharton, co-chair Socialist Party USAThe mass protests led by public employees unions in Madison, Wisconsin have been presented by some mainstream commentators as a labor’s last stand. They are not. They are a spark, a spark with the potential to create a new protest movement capable of revitalizing our unions, radicalizing

Todd Vachon for Congress, CT District 2http://www.blogger.com/profile/10556926284993597458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7474920352963022758.post-67607804762545022742011-02-15T08:42:00.003-05:002011-02-15T08:57:56.996-05:00Support Students Right to Organize in CT

Good Morning Everyone,I’m writing to share some important information about the right of students to organize as well as to ask those who support this right to take action in CT.There is currently a bill in the Labor and Public Employees Committee of the CT legislature that modifies the language of the existing labor relations bill. The proposed modifications expressly define graduate student

Todd Vachon for Congress, CT District 2http://www.blogger.com/profile/10556926284993597458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7474920352963022758.post-45299074678759076352011-01-31T18:44:00.006-05:002011-01-31T21:01:33.857-05:00SPCT Joins QLF to Protest Discrimination in Middletown

The SPCT was proud to stand tall with the members of QLF and the Middletown LGBTQ community to demand amends from the owner of the Middletown coffee shop, Javapalooza. The owner has developed a reputation for using hateful speech and harassing workers and customers alike. On Sunday, Jan 30th, approximately 75 supporters showed up in Middletown to conduct a teach-in inside the coffee shop and set

Todd Vachon for Congress, CT District 2http://www.blogger.com/profile/10556926284993597458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7474920352963022758.post-66474201719968410622011-01-28T20:42:00.002-05:002011-01-31T20:52:54.169-05:00Petition for a Connecticut State Economic-Conversion Commission

Petition for a Connecticut State Economic-Conversion Commission1. A significant amount of Connecticut industry relies on contracts from the Department of Defense for weapons systems. Often the jobs held in weapons factories are well-paid, union jobs with good benefits. Yet the number of these jobs in CT is declining.2. Studies have shown that the for a given amount of money fewer jobs are created

Todd Vachon for Congress, CT District 2http://www.blogger.com/profile/10556926284993597458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7474920352963022758.post-703403958040309022011-01-26T10:40:00.001-05:002011-01-26T10:40:49.730-05:00Socialist Response to the State of the Union

Obama Out of Touch with the American People by Billy Wharton, co-chair, Socialist Party USA Tonight’s State of the Union speech revealed just how far out of touch President Barack Obama is from the reality of working people in America. What a distance from the White House to the unemployment line. From the Rose Garden to the food pantry. Tonight’s State of the Union sent the message one final

Todd Vachon for Congress, CT District 2http://www.blogger.com/profile/10556926284993597458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7474920352963022758.post-62029524898708188722011-01-23T10:49:00.004-05:002011-01-23T11:10:46.824-05:00Protesting Koch Brothers, but the Problem is Capitalism.

http://www.alternet.org/story/149546/angry_progressive_coalition_to_protest_billionaire_gathering_hosted_by_koch_brothers,_major_tea_party_fundersI just read the piece linked to above by Don Hazen at AlterNet. The title was: "Angry Progressive Coalition to Protest Billionaire Gathering Hosted byKoch Brothers, Major Tea Party Funders,"and in short, it said that "progressives are planning a huge

Todd Vachon for Congress, CT District 2http://www.blogger.com/profile/10556926284993597458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7474920352963022758.post-87185985066784087722011-01-17T11:22:00.002-05:002011-01-17T11:28:11.366-05:00"The Bravest Man I Ever Met" by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr

The bravest man I ever metby the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.Pageant magazineJune 1965Last December, 2000 Americans gathered at New York's Hotel Astor to celebrate the 80th birthday of Norman Thomas. I could not be present because I had to go to Oslo to accept the Nobel Peace Prize. But before I enplaned for Norway, I take the following message to be sent to America's foremost Socialist:"I can

Todd Vachon for Congress, CT District 2http://www.blogger.com/profile/10556926284993597458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7474920352963022758.post-7315641409056023162011-01-13T22:28:00.001-05:002011-01-13T22:29:44.639-05:00Protest FBI Attacks on Free Speech! 1/25 in Hartford and New Haven

A CALL FOR DEMONSTRATIONS IN DEFENSE OF THE 9 NEWLY SUBPOENAED ACTIVISTS TO APPEAR BEFORE A GRAND JURY! CALL OFF THE GRAND JURY! END THE ISSUANCE OF SUBPOENAS AND GRAND JURY INVESTIGATIONS OF ANTI-WAR ACTIVISTS! NO FBI/DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE INTIMIDATION OF THE ANTI-WAR MOVEMENT! DEFEND FREE SPEECH! Regional Demos: Tuesday, Jan 25th - 5:00pmDemonstrate at the Hartford Federal Building! 450 Main

Todd Vachon for Congress, CT District 2http://www.blogger.com/profile/10556926284993597458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7474920352963022758.post-20954267849654105032011-01-06T11:54:00.001-05:002011-01-06T11:57:07.958-05:002011: Calling Time on Capitalism

2011: Calling Time on CapitalismFirst appeared in the Guardian: Comment is Free Americaby Richard Wolff.Published on January 1, 2011Recent decades have seen a massive redistribution of wealth, imposing the cost of successive crises on the poorest. Enough!Workers' protest at the New Fabris factory, France, 2009An employee of the New Fabris factory, in Chatellerault, central France, walks next to a

Todd Vachon for Congress, CT District 2http://www.blogger.com/profile/10556926284993597458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7474920352963022758.post-76628189602329530442010-12-14T18:17:00.002-05:002011-01-06T11:47:14.416-05:00Socialist Party of CT Denounces Obama Tax Plan as "Class Warfare from Above"

For Immediate Release: 12/14/2010 Socialist Party of CT Denounces Obama Tax Plan as "Class Warfare from Above" Amidst the worst recession since the Great Depression, with persistent "official" unemployment rates of 10% and real unemployment rates closer to 20%, the Democratic President has again shown the true colors of our "democracy;" cash rules. Plain and simple, the two-party corporately

Todd Vachon for Congress, CT District 2http://www.blogger.com/profile/10556926284993597458noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7474920352963022758.post-49965670310981847322010-11-09T16:13:00.005-05:002010-11-13T21:05:45.576-05:00Hartford Courant: Vachon's Votes Now Being Counted (finally...)

From The Hartford Courant:http://blogs.courant.com/susan_campbell/2010/11/a-little-more-reading-with-tue.htmlConnecticut's election? What a prize.By Susan CampbellNovember 9, 2010In a brief phone conversation Monday morning, Av Harris at Connecticut’s Secretary of State office must have said “We have a small staff in the elections department” three times.The state’s midterm election last Tuesday

Todd Vachon for Congress, CT District 2http://www.blogger.com/profile/10556926284993597458noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7474920352963022758.post-13998385614940072972010-11-05T22:51:00.004-04:002010-11-05T23:30:14.025-04:00Was Your Write-In Vote Counted?

Three days after polls have closed, there are still several towns that have not reported write-in votes. The Vachon Campaign began recieving complaints from voters Thursday morning, after the Secretary of State posted the official vote-tally spreadsheet(available at: http://www.statementofvote-sots.ct.gov/StatementOfVote/WebModules/ReportsLink/USSenSumStat.aspx). Voters from Hartford, New Haven,

Todd Vachon for Congress, CT District 2http://www.blogger.com/profile/10556926284993597458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7474920352963022758.post-49362532933913542192010-11-01T09:33:00.002-04:002010-11-01T09:35:13.781-04:00A Final appeal: Bring a Pen and Vote For Jobs, Peace and Freedom Tomorrow!

Good Morning Everyone,Today is the final day before the election and I wanted to reach out one last time to make an appeal for your vote.Albert Einstein once defined "insanity" as engaging in a similar action repeatedly and expecting a different outcome. Expecting the Democratic Party to ever create real change is a quintessential example of practicing insanity. Not only will they fail to deliver

Todd Vachon for Congress, CT District 2http://www.blogger.com/profile/10556926284993597458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7474920352963022758.post-86190598573353808292010-10-30T09:28:00.001-04:002011-01-06T11:50:31.887-05:00DJing Socialist Calls for Write-In Wrevolution

from The Bronx County Examinerhttp://www.examiner.com/bronx-county-independent-in-new-york/dj-ing-socialist-calls-for-write-revolutionWant to join a write-in revolution? If you reside in Connecticut, Tuesday will be your big chance. A feisty third party candidate named Todd Vachon is squeezed in between a well-heeled Democrat and a professional wrestling magnate Republican . He’s a DJ, a

Todd Vachon for Congress, CT District 2http://www.blogger.com/profile/10556926284993597458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7474920352963022758.post-20276265126799084532010-10-29T12:58:00.000-04:002010-11-05T22:49:16.602-04:00Top 10 Reasons Obama is NOT a Socialist

(and what an actual socialist would do)10. Bailouts. As Senator and Presidential candidate, Obama voted for the Bush bailouts of the banking industry. This measure took workers' hard earned tax dollars and gave them to the filthy rich corporate executives who screwed up the economy in the first place. This is the opposite of what a socialist would do.9. Healthcare. Instead of pushing for a

Todd Vachon for Congress, CT District 2http://www.blogger.com/profile/10556926284993597458noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7474920352963022758.post-37621522441440726772010-10-28T14:36:00.000-04:002010-11-05T22:50:02.029-04:00Vote Socialist on Tuesday!

by Andrea Pason and Billy Wharton – co-chairs Socialist Party USA http://www.socialistparty-usa.org/votesocialist2010.html America’s re-introduction to socialist politics continues this Tuesday as voters head to the ballot booths. In many parts of the country, Socialist and other Independent candidates will offer viable alternatives to the budget cutting politics of Democrats and Republicans.

Todd Vachon for Congress, CT District 2http://www.blogger.com/profile/10556926284993597458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7474920352963022758.post-86699649597563584162010-10-19T10:49:00.003-04:002010-10-19T10:56:07.024-04:00Vachon Campaign Endorsed by AFQOTP

copied from A Few Queers on the Prowl:http://queerartist.wordpress.com/2010/10/19/we-have-a-real-choice-for-senate/We have a real choice for Senate.By queerartistTodd Vachon, who I met years ago as Mista Mayday at a fundraiser for the Food and Allied Workers Union I.U. 460/640, is running for U.S. Senate in Connecticut as a write in candidate. Todd is a member of the Socialist Party of

Todd Vachon for Congress, CT District 2http://www.blogger.com/profile/10556926284993597458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7474920352963022758.post-15763810293163065072010-10-05T23:41:00.005-04:002010-10-16T23:57:07.574-04:00Socialists of Labor March on DC

Greetings friends,I am delighted to share some great images with all of you!Here is a link to a video clip from the Oct. 2nd Organized Labor March that brought hundreds of thousands of workers to D.C. to demand jobs and an end to the wars. At about 2:25 into the video you will see "The Socialist Contingent." I highly recommend that everyone view this and pass it on. The corporate media gives an

Todd Vachon for Congress, CT District 2http://www.blogger.com/profile/10556926284993597458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7474920352963022758.post-76984840367200240542010-10-01T23:46:00.000-04:002010-10-16T23:49:20.059-04:00Let’s Have a Protest, Not a Dem Pep Rally

This is a piece by Glen Ford, reproduced from The Socialist Webzine (online publication of the Socailist Party, USA)Let’s Have a Protest, Not a Dem Pep Rallyby Glen Ford -“The character and importance of the ‘One Nation’ rally will be determined by the demands that are made on Power, most especially on the White House.”The October 2 rally in Washington to demand jobs and “stop moving money out of

Todd Vachon for Congress, CT District 2http://www.blogger.com/profile/10556926284993597458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7474920352963022758.post-84277194971469096672010-09-11T09:07:00.000-04:002010-09-11T09:09:26.691-04:00Stand in Solidarity with European Workers

September 29: Day of Action or General Strike? The financial crisis of 2008-2009 has resulted in the most sweeping austerity measures in recent European memory. These budget cuts, which are crippling everything from Romanian hospitals to English schools, have come amid a trillion-euro public bail-out for crooked financial services companies and banks. The Great Recession – now the longest in

Todd Vachon for Congress, CT District 2http://www.blogger.com/profile/10556926284993597458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7474920352963022758.post-11962118361790388872010-09-10T09:14:00.000-04:002010-09-11T09:15:23.755-04:00Free Troy Davis! Stop the Prison Industrial Complex!

by Billy Wharton, co-chair Socialist Party USA & Erik Toren, convener, People of Color Commission Socialist Party USA Saving the life of Troy Davis has become a rallying point for anti-death penalty activists. Rallies, teach-ins and petitions have been organized throughout the US to stop the state of Georgia from carrying out the death penalty. Despite this grassroots campaign, a Federal judge

Todd Vachon for Congress, CT District 2http://www.blogger.com/profile/10556926284993597458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7474920352963022758.post-47728261384507903042010-09-04T21:01:00.002-04:002010-09-04T21:04:25.033-04:00Millionaire Lawmakers Get Richer as Economy Tanks

Would this be a democracy, a republic, or just plain old aristocracy of the corporate type?Please stop voting for Democrats and Republicans. I mean, seriously. Please.www.votevachon.com for U.S. Senate in CTChris Hutchinson is on the Ballot for U.S. Congress in District 1, CTWe're not billionaires. We're not millionaires. We're not even thousandaires!But we are working class Americans who stand

Todd Vachon for Congress, CT District 2http://www.blogger.com/profile/10556926284993597458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7474920352963022758.post-63200109212220849842010-08-05T17:52:00.000-04:002010-08-05T17:53:49.697-04:00Top 5 Social Security Myths

Myth #1: Social Security is going broke.Reality: There is no Social Security crisis. By 2023, Social Security will have a $4.6 trillion surplus (yes, trillion with a 'T'). It can pay out all scheduled benefits for the next quarter-century with no changes whatsoever.1 After 2037, it'll still be able to pay out 75% of scheduled benefits—and again, that's without any changes. The program started

Todd Vachon for Congress, CT District 2http://www.blogger.com/profile/10556926284993597458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7474920352963022758.post-72959919610890851332010-08-03T12:13:00.001-04:002010-08-03T12:18:10.141-04:00Socialist Party of Connecticut News: August 2010

News and Views: Stop The Wars and Defend Our Civil Liberties: By Andrea Pason and Billy Wharton The recent disclosure of thousands of top-secret documents by Wikileaks and the Washington Post media project “Top Secret America,” makes one point perfectly clear – the American people need to act now to stop the US military and the growing security state.Read More: http://www.socialistwebzine.org/

I just have one quick question and then an appeal. Question: How can we really expect any corporation to make things in America? Seriously. Even if we worked for $2 per/hr it would still be more profitable for a corporation to outsource and exploit labor abroad. Now, it is common on the right in America to blame "greedy" unions for outsourcing, but that simply isn't true. Heck, even without

Todd Vachon for Congress, CT District 2http://www.blogger.com/profile/10556926284993597458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7474920352963022758.post-18686033137165973032010-07-13T16:07:00.004-04:002010-07-13T16:10:44.167-04:00Regarding Peter Schiff’s View of History

Peter Schiff, one of the wealthy capitalist candidates vying for the Republican ballot position, was recently interviewed on WNPR’s “Where we Live.” Here is a bit of what he had to say:"I think the workers benefited dramatically from the transition from an agrarian economy to an industrial economy. We eliminated women labor in the country, child labor, because of capitalism. You know the reason

Todd Vachon for Congress, CT District 2http://www.blogger.com/profile/10556926284993597458noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7474920352963022758.post-44318104069650175612010-07-10T21:55:00.000-04:002010-07-13T08:48:21.560-04:00Flawed Logic # 7: Outsourcing, Unions and Cheap Labor‏

During the course of a wonderful family reunion visit with my grandfather in Mid-Coast Maine I encountered a case of.......(Duh,Duh,Duh!) "Flawed Logic!" This time it came about in a discussion with a family member while paroozing the isles of a local grocery chain. The subject was jobs, and more specifically, the lack of them in America. The discussion, quite logically, led to the topic of

Todd Vachon for Congress, CT District 2http://www.blogger.com/profile/10556926284993597458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7474920352963022758.post-30859544662514252912010-07-01T20:55:00.002-04:002010-07-01T21:01:50.523-04:00Freedom of Political Speech on Public Campuses

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Open Letter to the Dean of MCC:------------------------------------------------------------------------------------It has come to my attention that there is some controversy regarding the collection of signatures by a minor party candidate on your campus. I am writing to express my deep concerns regarding the

Socialist Party of Connecticut News: June 2010News:Socialists March Against SB1070: On May 25, members of the Socialist Party USA joined the mass demonstration protesting the racist law SB 1070 in Phoenix, Arizona…. Read More: http://www.socialistwebzine.org/2010/06/socialists-march-against-sb1070.htmlSPUSA Co-Chairs Condemn Israeli Attack on Humanitarian Aid Boat: As co-chairs of the Socialist

Todd Vachon for Congress, CT District 2http://www.blogger.com/profile/10556926284993597458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7474920352963022758.post-50320547933906815432010-06-01T17:32:00.001-04:002010-06-01T17:59:54.648-04:00Response to Attack on Humanitarian Aid Flotilla

May 31, 2010 As co-chair’s of the Socialist Party USA we condemn the attack by the IsraeliDefense Forces on the unarmed humanitarian aid boat The Spirit of Humanity. The boat was carrying desperately needed aid supplies meant to break theinhuman Israeli blockade of Gaza. The death of at least 10 people, theinjuring of dozens and the arrest of 20 stands as one of the most egregiousattacks on

Language matters, especially at times of crisis. The explosion on BP’s Deepwater Horizon rig that released hundreds of thousands of gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico has been called a “disaster” by many. It isn’t a disaster. It is a crime. Early estimates are that the spill will cost more than $14 billion to clean, will devastate local fisheries for generations and will result in untold

Socialist Party of Connecticut News: May 2010 News:+May Day on the New Haven Green was a tremendous success! Thanks to Kristin, Jim, Tiffany, Adam and Chris for joining me and distributing over 100 copies of TS to a mostly friendly crowd on a nice sunny day. Pictures and video footage to come on our FB page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Socialist-Party-of-Connecticut/194963850971 +SPCT Endorses

Todd Vachon for Congress, CT District 2http://www.blogger.com/profile/10556926284993597458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7474920352963022758.post-39575885289322851202010-05-01T07:39:00.000-04:002010-05-03T22:40:10.571-04:00Repeal Arizona's Anti-Immigrant Law

Repeal Arizona's Anti-Immigrant Law The Socialist Party USA calls for the immediate repeal of the “Support OurLaw Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act” (SB 1070) in Arizona. This lawsanctions racial profiling and gives cover to the repressive actions ofofficials such as the racist Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Further, we call for animmediate moratorium on all police raids of immigrant communities; we

“Ideas,” someone once wrote, “move rapidly when their time comes.” As we gather to celebrate May Day, the continuing capitalist crisis makes socialism an idea ready to move rapidly. While the banks have received trillion dollar bailouts, working people still face mass unemployment, state and local budget cuts and deepening personal debt. Capitalist crisis has made the socialist vision of a

Socialist Party of Connecticut News: April 2010Our Calendar of Events for this Month:Saturday April 10th:*12:30-2:00 SPCT Central/Eastern CT Local Membership Meeting- Russell Library Room 2 or 3, Middletown, CT- planning for May Day, US Social Forum, Nuclear Disarmament Actions, Jobs Rallies and more…. http://www.socialistpartyct.org*2-4pm: Marx’s Kapital Discussion Group (Chapters 2 &3)

Socialist Party of Connecticut News: March 2010Our Calendar of Events for this Month:Thursday March 4th:*Defend Education- dozens of events around CT and the nation to stop budget cuts and end the war on public ed. List of events http://groups.google.com/group/ctmarch4th?lnk=srgSaturday March 6th:*1-2pm: SPCT Member Meeting: Russell Public Library-Reading Room 2, Middletown, CT*2-4pm: Marx’s

Karl Marx in a NutshellBy Todd VachonBeing a self-identified socialist, it would be remiss to not say a few words on Karl Marx. However, the first thing that should be noted is that Marx never wrote a single book or even an essay on the subject of socialism. This will probably come as a surprise to most readers (maybe even the folks who already consider themselves socialists). Marx wrote

Todd Vachon for Congress, CT District 2http://www.blogger.com/profile/10556926284993597458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7474920352963022758.post-51539204079097185762010-01-28T07:16:00.002-05:002010-01-30T09:25:03.909-05:00Socialist Party Response to The State of The Union 2010

Obama’s State of the Union: Year One of a Corporate PresidencyBy Billy Wharton, National Co-Chair of the SPUSA From the start, Barack Obama’s presidency has seemed like one big publicrelations campaign. Tonight’s State of the Union address did little todissuade one from this view. Sagging under the weight of depressed dreams ofhope and change, he desperately needed to appear as though he was

Todd Vachon for Congress, CT District 2http://www.blogger.com/profile/10556926284993597458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7474920352963022758.post-64367114444898850162010-01-13T23:56:00.001-05:002010-01-15T00:01:34.769-05:00Solidarity with the People of Haiti

The Socialist Party stands in solidarity with the people of Haiti after thedevastating earthquake that hit the island. Estimates of the dead are more thanone hundred thousand and significant parts of the capital cityPort-Au-Prince’s infrastructure have been destroyed. The full extent of thedamage will not be known for days and the country seems certain to be thrustinto a humanitarian crisis even

Todd Vachon for Congress, CT District 2http://www.blogger.com/profile/10556926284993597458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7474920352963022758.post-41004672921756668432009-12-09T23:21:00.000-05:002009-12-09T23:21:00.178-05:00Health Care Is Still A Human Right; Socialist Party of CT Stands with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on 51st Anniversary

For Immediate Release Thursday, December 10th, 2009 Contact: Todd Vachon, socialistpartyct@gmail.com On this day in 1948, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Among it's thirty articles which detail the basic rights of all human beings is included the right to health care. Article 25 states that all people have the right to "

Todd Vachon for Congress, CT District 2http://www.blogger.com/profile/10556926284993597458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7474920352963022758.post-86405917296519492542009-12-01T22:11:00.003-05:002009-12-01T23:56:22.940-05:00The Socialist Party of CT Opposes Escalation of War in Afghanistan; Demands Money for Jobs and Health Care

Amidst the largest economic crisis since the Great Depression, President Barack Obama has mistakenly chosen to dedicate yet more resources, manpower and lives to military interventionism. The Socialist Party of CT finds this course to be foolhardy and wasteful. We advocate instead for an immediate withdrawal of all troops from Iraq and Afghanistan. The seemingly endless pool of public money spent

Horatio Alger was an author in the mid 1800's whose books, such as "Ragged Dick", promoted somewhat of a "rags to riches" theme. In a very formulaic fashion, his working-class protagonists would always come out on top by working hard, abstaining from pleasures and often times having a lucky break. I like to characterize the American psyche's understanding of the Horatio Alger myth to the American

From LuxemburgnetJOBS FOR ALL!Ten months after the stimulus law passed, one in six Americans is unemployed or underemployed. Despite trillions of dollars in subsidies, the private sector is destroying jobs, not making them. Yet everywhere there is work that needs to be done—schools and hospitals are overcrowded and understaffed, housing and infrastructure is crumbling. Enough of this insanity!

Todd Vachon for Congress, CT District 2http://www.blogger.com/profile/10556926284993597458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7474920352963022758.post-88161911851358042042009-10-31T10:17:00.000-04:002009-12-02T18:11:32.586-05:00The SPCT Calendar Listing: November, 2009

1. Peace/Economic Conversion Symposium: Nov. 14“Symposium on Conversion to a Peace Economy in Connecticut”Sat., November 14, 9:00 AM to 1:00 PMKonover Auditorium, Dodd Research Center, UConn/StorrsContinental Breakfast as of 8:15Public invited free of charge.Parking available in the South Garage at $1/hour within a short walkto the Dodd Center. For handicapped access, use contacts

Todd Vachon for Congress, CT District 2http://www.blogger.com/profile/10556926284993597458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7474920352963022758.post-30481409091455788812009-09-03T08:34:00.000-04:002009-09-05T21:20:05.595-04:00My Town Hall Experience

After waiting 90 minutes with my hand raised to speak, I was finally selected. The entire town hall meeting about healthcare had been unfolding just like all of the reports I'd been seeing and hearing in the media. Loud and disruptive naysayers overpowering any voice that proposed modifying our broken health system. My heart and mind were racing. So many things that I'd like to say. So many

Todd Vachon for Congress, CT District 2http://www.blogger.com/profile/10556926284993597458noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7474920352963022758.post-79542536588045439562009-08-28T23:17:00.002-04:002009-08-28T23:25:49.115-04:00Bringing Single-Payer InToThe Media

Friends,In case you have not heard, Representative Courtney will be hosting a town hall forum on health reform this Wednesday, September 2nd at 6:30 p.m. at Montville High School.I would like to make an appeal to progressives, folks on the left and anyone who wants a real discussion about our broken health care system to attend:1.) To counter the right-wing nonsense about death panels, Adolf

Todd Vachon for Congress, CT District 2http://www.blogger.com/profile/10556926284993597458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7474920352963022758.post-61037842073644813232009-08-20T20:24:00.001-04:002009-08-20T20:27:58.663-04:00Norwich Bulletin Column on Health Reform

http://www.norwichbulletin.com/opinions/columnists/x769901449/Todd-Vachon-Some-health-care-proposals-answer-issue-of-wasteSome health care proposals answer issue of wasteGuest ColumnBy TODD VACHONFor The Norwich BulletinPosted Aug 19, 2009 @ 10:49 PMLast update Aug 19, 2009 @ 11:46 PMHealth care reform is the topic of the day. One cannot pass by a radio or television without hearing some mention

Meeting to Organize Transportation to Protest The G20 Sunday, August 30th at 2pm Location: TBA in Middletown, CTDiscussion List: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ctg20workgroup/Join us as we come together and organize for the G20 protests in Pittsburgh this Sept 25th.Why We Protest: Working people and the poor continually carry the burden of suffering during economic crises; struggling to keep

Todd Vachon for Congress, CT District 2http://www.blogger.com/profile/10556926284993597458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7474920352963022758.post-29157687673038503502009-08-11T22:17:00.002-04:002009-08-11T21:41:14.449-04:00Single-Payer: Highlights for The Curious and Advocates Alike

HR676, the House Bill to create a National Health Insurance Plan, has been promised a floor debate and vote when congress returns from recess. Please take a few minutes to review these highlights and then contact your representative to support this measure; the real cure to our health care problem, not just another band-aid. Think it's "politically unfeasible"? We'll never really know if we don't

Todd Vachon for Congress, CT District 2http://www.blogger.com/profile/10556926284993597458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7474920352963022758.post-4977140453415198942009-08-11T21:34:00.001-04:002009-08-11T21:37:05.529-04:00Town Hall Thugs Just Sore Sports

For progressives, folks on the left and especially socialists; it’s nothing new to see legislation we despise come to fruition. For example, we were opposed to both wars, the USA PATRIOT Act and countless forms of deregulation just to name a few. In each case we organized non-violent protests, wrote about our dissatisfaction and then respectfully took our losses, brushed ourselves off and got

Todd Vachon for Congress, CT District 2http://www.blogger.com/profile/10556926284993597458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7474920352963022758.post-10424772371039174022009-07-10T09:01:00.000-04:002009-08-10T09:06:48.745-04:00Single-Payer: Myths and Facts

Financing Single-Payer National Health Insurance:Myths and Facts:Myth: Employers fund the majority of health care in the U.S. Fact: Private business funds less than 20percent of total health spending. (Government employees have taxpayer-funded coverage through theFEHBP program and employer payments for private insurance receive a substantial tax subsidy).Myth: The U.S. has a privately financed

Todd Vachon for Congress, CT District 2http://www.blogger.com/profile/10556926284993597458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7474920352963022758.post-65988309425065680842009-06-17T12:34:00.001-04:002009-06-17T12:35:20.153-04:00The Neo-Liberal Media

The “Liberal Media”?The Telecommunications Act of 1996 And Corporate Control Of The AirwavesBy Todd Vachon“You will not be able to stay home, brother.You will not be able to plug in, turn on and cop out.You will not be able to lose yourself on skag and skip,Skip out for beer during commercials,Because the revolution will not be televised.”-Gil Scott HeronMany people take serious offense when I

"It was not by gold or silver, but by labor that all the wealth of the world was purchased" -Adam SmithEven the most die-hard and utopian free-market capitalists admit that labor creates all wealth. If you have any doubt, just consider any corporation on an average day. What would happen if no workers showed up?That's right, the company would make no products or render no services and hence make

Todd's opening remarks at The Holleran Center for Community Action's Panel:"What’s Fair? Current Issues in Trade and Labor Organizing"Thank You for that wonderful introduction. I should start with a quick disclaimer and that is this: I’m here today sharing my personal thoughts and experiences, and not as a representative of any organization that I am affiliated with. The brief bio is meant merely

Todd Vachon for Congress, CT District 2http://www.blogger.com/profile/10556926284993597458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7474920352963022758.post-52883520407235553232009-03-04T16:24:00.000-05:002009-05-08T21:51:41.978-04:00Demand HR676: National Health Insurance for All!

Hello All,HR-676, the house bill for National, single-payer, health insurance has been reintroduced onto the house floor.It currently has 93 co-sponsors including exactly ZERO from CT.You can learn more about HR676 at: www.hr676.orgPlease consider writing an email, a letter or taking a minute to call Congress and contact the white house, too! Rep. Joe Courtney's Email Page: http://

Todd Vachon for Congress, CT District 2http://www.blogger.com/profile/10556926284993597458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7474920352963022758.post-2237535606979268322009-02-18T14:43:00.003-05:002009-02-18T14:54:52.999-05:00Testimony Before CT Legislature Regarding Ballot Access and Vote Counting

Testimony of Todd Vachon to the:Government Administration and Elections CommitteeRegarding HB6436 and HB6441Wednesday, February 18th, 2009 My name is Todd Eugene Vachon and I reside in Colchester CT. I am here today on this 18th day of February, 2009 to testify before the Government Administration and Elections Committee in support of HB6436 and HB6441. The relevance of my testimony today stems

Todd Vachon for Congress, CT District 2http://www.blogger.com/profile/10556926284993597458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7474920352963022758.post-36672273159816025482009-02-16T12:31:00.001-05:002009-02-16T12:34:13.946-05:00Agitate! Some events for a Rabble-Rouser's Calendar

February 21st, People’s Bailout CT- 2nd Community Meeting1:00 p.m. location in Hartford TBA. Building a grassroots movement in CT to stand up for economic and racial justice during a time of recession and beyond. No Cutbacks, No Layoffs, No Evictions or Foreclosures! Bank Protests being planned for March and April.More Info at: www.peoplesbailoutct.wordpress.comMarch 6th: Protest Bailed Out

Todd Vachon for Congress, CT District 2http://www.blogger.com/profile/10556926284993597458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7474920352963022758.post-27757484396580201912009-02-12T22:07:00.005-05:002009-02-13T08:16:04.031-05:00A Letter to Governor Rell and CT General Assembly Regarding The Budget & The Economy

In case you have not already done so, please consider contacting Governor Rell to express your opinion on her budget plans...She stated on Channel 3 news the other night that she would like to hear thoughts and suggestions from CT residents.You can also use the same letter to contact your state representative and senator in the CT General Assembly.Below is the friendly letter that I just sent her

Todd Vachon for Congress, CT District 2http://www.blogger.com/profile/10556926284993597458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7474920352963022758.post-84189892226817557372009-02-11T13:37:00.001-05:002009-02-11T13:39:12.242-05:00Cut Military Spending to Save Us All

Below is an open letter to our senators, representatives and the Obama administration.Please consider copying or writing your own and sending it to your representatives and the president.I will let the letter speak for itself:---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Dear Legislator,I am writing to urge you to cut the military budget

Todd Vachon for Congress, CT District 2http://www.blogger.com/profile/10556926284993597458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7474920352963022758.post-57954976880105108642009-02-09T22:19:00.003-05:002009-02-09T22:24:22.808-05:00Debate The Socialist: opening remarks

Text from a talk given at E.O. Smith High School, in Storrs CT on Feb. 9th 2009These are the opening comments of Todd Vachon on the four topics: 1. Israel/Palestine, 2. Obama and Dems, 3. Economic Crisis and 4. What is socialism?_________________"So, the first topic of debate is The Israeli/Palestinian conflict.The prevailing understanding of this conflict as portrayed in the mainstream media is

Todd Vachon for Congress, CT District 2http://www.blogger.com/profile/10556926284993597458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7474920352963022758.post-16426608956754856792009-02-06T13:11:00.000-05:002009-02-06T13:12:24.250-05:00Something's Wrong Here

We of the working class have sweated and toiled in blue and white collar jobs alike to generate tremendous profits for American Corporations. We have all paid our fair share of taxes to Hartford and Washington seeing little in return. We are now expected to pay for the cleanup of an economy that we have no power over.Why must we pay for the mistakes of the top capitalists?Congress and Governor

Todd Vachon for Congress, CT District 2http://www.blogger.com/profile/10556926284993597458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7474920352963022758.post-77822335881331465642009-01-13T15:32:00.001-05:002009-01-22T19:49:24.592-05:00CT People's Bailout! Meeting Feb 7th in Hartford

Wall Street Got One TRILLION Dollars of Our Tax MoneyWhen do WE get bailed out?That's the question that people everywhere are asking. In the Hartford area, the recession means that the real unemployment rate of 12% could double in 2009, while thousands of people lose their homes and the state slashes social services, education and health care.The federal government spent a cool trillion dollars

Building a Movement for Economic Justice in ConnecticutExcerpted from The CT People's Economic Justice Coalition page: http://peoplesbailoutct.wordpress.com/Posted on January 11, 2009 by pdgoselinThis is a coalition of which I'm proud to be a member and strongly urge others to join! -Todd...Hurricane Katrina was not a natural disaster. It was a dangerous situation that became a man-made disaster

Todd Vachon for Congress, CT District 2http://www.blogger.com/profile/10556926284993597458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7474920352963022758.post-44008116978378972072008-12-11T22:54:00.000-05:002009-01-11T22:55:30.928-05:00Economic Democracy Now!

What is Economic Democracy?Economic Democracy is real socialism, period. It is a state of society in which all people work cooperatively as equals for the common good of all. It is achievable only when democracy has been extended from the political sphere to also include the economy. The titles democratic socialism, economic democracy and participatory economics have been used lately to

Todd Vachon for Congress, CT District 2http://www.blogger.com/profile/10556926284993597458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7474920352963022758.post-1214201041083277392008-11-12T21:38:00.002-05:002008-11-12T21:42:38.697-05:00Please Complain! The CT Write In Vote Count is Flawed

Dear Friends,As you may have heard, there have been serious vote counting errors regarding write in candidates in Connecticut. The Green Party and Socialist Party of CT have each filed complaints with the State Elections Enforcement Commission. I am now asking you to support the efforts to have every vote counted. Whether you chose to vote for a write in candidate or not is irrelevant, what is at

Todd Vachon for Congress, CT District 2http://www.blogger.com/profile/10556926284993597458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7474920352963022758.post-4501916990119395362008-11-09T22:49:00.000-05:002008-11-09T22:50:39.595-05:00Every Vote Must Count.

Letter to the Editor:Unbeknown to most voters, last week’s election revealed many flaws with the statewide write-in ballot system. While the immediate response from most voters is that “the write in candidate isn’t going to change the outcome of the election,” further consideration would lead one to be more concerned. Whether one chose to vote for a write-in or a major party candidate does not

If you enjoy your freedom, thank a protester; thank a dissident, because dissent protects democracy. Be it a stingy two-party democracy, it is still better than a really stingy one party totalitarian state. False patriotism, flag waiving and unquestioningly supporting your government is not defending freedom, it's opening doors for fascist minded folks to eliminate our freedoms right from under

Todd Vachon for Congress, CT District 2http://www.blogger.com/profile/10556926284993597458noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7474920352963022758.post-63360737402384843352008-10-16T18:28:00.002-04:002008-10-16T18:33:31.729-04:00Meet Bruce The Plumber, Joe's Employee

Meet Bruce the plumber, Joe's trusty non-union employee who makes a few bucks more than minimum wage, does side jobs on weekends after doing 40 for Joe and still barely makes the mortgage. Bruce only has health insurance because his wife works full time as a nurse at the hospital, which thank god is unionized. Bruce's lungs aren't doing so hot either and the medical bills are enormous even with

Todd Vachon for Congress, CT District 2http://www.blogger.com/profile/10556926284993597458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7474920352963022758.post-82592795425565436532008-10-01T14:51:00.002-04:002008-10-01T15:03:49.718-04:00No To The Wall Street Bailout.

29 September 2008 Socialist Party USA -National Action Committee The current "financial crisis" is not just a temporary setback because of poor regulation in the financial sector. The collapse of the financial sector is indicative of the total failure of the capitalist economy. In recent years, the leading recipients of this proposed bailout have attempted to justify their “Washington

NYC Local of the SP-USA Rejects the "Banker Bailout" Proposal. www.spnyc.org/main/ The Socialist Party USA (NYC local) protests againstthe proposed $700 billion Wall Street bailout. Thisproposal caters to the wishes of Wall Street bankerswhile disregarding the increasing indebtedness andeconomic squeeze which most working people areexperiencing. The corporate “bailout culture” sendsthe message

Todd Vachon for Congress, CT District 2http://www.blogger.com/profile/10556926284993597458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7474920352963022758.post-73466021350990409652008-09-24T15:44:00.001-04:002008-09-24T16:33:20.000-04:00No Bailout Without Penalty.

By Todd VachonThe President has unveiled his plan for a $700 billion bailout of Wall Street; a move that equates to nothing less than big-time welfare for big-time capitalists. Looks like the free-wheelin' free market privatizers have come to the same conclusion as their predecessors 80yrs ago: unregulated capitalism works only for the richest few and only for so long.Unfortunately the

Todd Vachon for Congress, CT District 2http://www.blogger.com/profile/10556926284993597458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7474920352963022758.post-28778041336457834302008-08-29T18:13:00.001-04:002008-08-29T18:17:07.348-04:00Built From The Ground Up

Statement by Socialist Congressional Candidate, Todd VachonFrom The Socialist, Fall 2008 (Election Issue) Greetings fellow readers of TS. For those of you I haven’t had the pleasure to meet, my name is Todd Vachon and I am running as the Socialist Party candidate for congress in Connecticut, District 2. I am not a politician. I am not a lawyer and I don’t have a speech writer. I am a

Todd Vachon for Congress, CT District 2http://www.blogger.com/profile/10556926284993597458noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7474920352963022758.post-22692067480198551562008-07-08T00:53:00.002-04:002008-07-08T00:57:02.544-04:00Stop Oil Speculators

Skyrocketing energy costs are effecting all of us in CT, especially those of us with long commutes and who have no choice but to drive automobiles. While I feel that the ultimate solution is to develop alternative sources of energy and mass transit, we must address the problems of our current system in the interim. As a candidate for congress I support legislation aimed at closing loopholes

Todd Vachon for Congress, CT District 2http://www.blogger.com/profile/10556926284993597458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7474920352963022758.post-67920851758026519982008-06-16T08:23:00.001-04:002008-06-16T08:27:25.376-04:00TV Interview with Todd: Music & Activism

Marsh Karp interviews Todd on her West Hartford Community TV program "Camera's Rolling".Learn about Todd's background, personal history and involvement in music and political activism. 28 min.

Over the past few days I have received the following letter frommany district 2 voters concerning U.S./Iranian relations: Mr. Vachon:Thank you so much for committing yourself to a campaignfor the U.S. House of Representatives.In the last few weeks, a number of prominent politiciansin both the United States and Iran have begun talking aboutthe possibility of a war. Yet many observers in the

Todd Vachon for Congress, CT District 2http://www.blogger.com/profile/10556926284993597458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7474920352963022758.post-72916373809021379422008-05-12T23:15:00.002-04:002008-05-12T23:17:53.004-04:00Joe Bageant on Todd Vachon

With Todd Vachon in Connecticut ( from www.joebageant.com) By Joe Bageant A couple of weeks ago I spent a few days of hard traveling back and forth across Connecticut's Second Congressional District. The Second District is not the Connecticut where Paul Newman lives and Katherine Hepburn is buried. The one with the marvelously tasteful old homes set against magnificent Yankee New

Todd Vachon for Congress, CT District 2http://www.blogger.com/profile/10556926284993597458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7474920352963022758.post-5661757024085716442008-05-12T23:12:00.001-04:002008-05-12T23:14:00.682-04:00HOMELESSNESS IN CAPITALIST AMERICA:

A Socialist Perspective By Todd Vachon , The Socialist Vol. 34, No. 2, Summer 2008 What’s the Problem? Homelessness, as defined by Wikipedia, refers to “the condition and societal category of people who lack fixed housing, usually because they cannot afford a regular, safe, and adequate shelter.” According to The Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio, 2.5 to 3.5 million Americans

Todd Vachon for Congress, CT District 2http://www.blogger.com/profile/10556926284993597458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7474920352963022758.post-13572253620973092432008-05-07T21:38:00.002-04:002008-05-07T21:40:34.966-04:00Grassroots Politics & Direct Action: Let's Make The Alternative

Dear unaffiliated voters who vote for Democrats, or just don't vote:It's election season again. Let's ask ourselves: Who represents our interests? Who stands up for the working middle class and the poor? Is it the Democrats? The Republicans?Hmmm…Neither. So why bother voting? Well, by not voting we’re obviously not changing anything and simply handing more power over to the wealthy folks who

May Day Greetings brothers and sisters of labor. On May 1, 1886, nearly 1 million workers throughout the US went on strike in support of the eight-hour workday. The events that followed led to the Haymarket massacre on May 4th 1886. Today, as I speak before you, the Longshoremen’s union in California is shutting down all ports for the day in protest of the war and occupation abroad, and we are

Todd Vachon for Congress, CT District 2http://www.blogger.com/profile/10556926284993597458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7474920352963022758.post-1477931149993364662008-04-30T18:12:00.002-04:002008-04-30T18:16:12.514-04:00Text of Speech @ CCSU Forum: War, Healthcare, The Economy & Elections

“War, Health Care, The Economy and Elections 2008” is the topic. Another World is Possible……Another World is Necessary is the theme. The challenge is of course to remain positive and upbeat considering the current state of affairs. Here is brief synopsis of where we stand in 2008: - The U.S. is still illegally occupying Iraq in year number 5 – a war built on lies and manipulated intelligence.

Todd Vachon for Congress, CT District 2http://www.blogger.com/profile/10556926284993597458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7474920352963022758.post-36542465722770246172008-04-22T00:07:00.003-04:002008-04-22T00:15:08.197-04:00Top 3 Reasons To Vote Vachon

#1.) Universal, not-for-profit, single-payer National Health Insurance.No more "for-profit" health care. These are people's lives, not business opportunities.See http://www.hr676.org/.#2.) End The War Now!Congress can stop writing checks for war and start writing checks for veteran care.The people have spoken, but our representatives havn't listened.#3.) Finish The Rt. 11 Greenway.Save lives,

Dear Friends,As many of you may already know, I am running for congress outside of the two-party system. A system that a growing number of Americans have found to be bought and paid for with wealth and large corporate influence. Changing the nature of this electoral system is one of my major campaign planks; I feel that apolitical system where candidates must raise money from private interests in

United States, 2008. Behind a rather large curtain of deception lays the true nature of society. The working class has been unknowingly masquerading as the middle class. Low-paying and part time work have been masquerading as temporary stepping stones, and the Democratic Party has been masquerading as the people’s party. It’s time to unveil these myths and expose the truth. The vast majority,

Todd Vachon for Congress, CT District 2http://www.blogger.com/profile/10556926284993597458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7474920352963022758.post-82342372393939734512008-02-10T15:10:00.000-05:002008-02-10T15:17:50.985-05:00Another World Is Possible... And It's Necessary!

THE MOTTO: Another World Is Possible…And It’s Necessary! THE PROBLEM: “We, The People” have been excluded from decision making. WHAT HAPPENED TO DEMOCRACY? (PUBLIC AIRWAVES AND CORPORATE MEDIA) The endless pursuit of corporate profit has guided our government policy onto a perilous course that must be changed. Private campaign contributions, lobbyists and personal business interests

Todd Vachon for Congress, CT District 2http://www.blogger.com/profile/10556926284993597458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7474920352963022758.post-53117023200023749632008-02-10T15:02:00.000-05:002008-02-10T15:09:20.970-05:00Analyze The Media, Think Critically

Whenever something is fervently supported or opposed in the media I like to stop and ask a few questions: Whose interest is it in? Who benefits from supporting or opposing it? And why do they have to support or oppose it? Example 1: Publicly Funded Universal Health Care Whose interest would it be in? Well, everybody’s, but especially the millions of people who do not have coverage right now.

Todd Vachon for Congress, CT District 2http://www.blogger.com/profile/10556926284993597458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7474920352963022758.post-8977698570638006722008-02-10T15:00:00.000-05:002008-02-10T15:02:47.054-05:00A Message To Progressive (Liberal) Voters

The Democratic Party is where social movements go to die. It is the home of progressive talk but not progressive action. Socialists hold representative seats in parliaments around the world and truly stand up for and act on these progressive ideas. They of course embrace the ideals of Democratic Socialism, but must work within the framework of a capitalist political economic system. They stand

Todd Vachon for Congress, CT District 2http://www.blogger.com/profile/10556926284993597458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7474920352963022758.post-53294106843626702382008-02-10T14:58:00.000-05:002008-02-10T15:00:08.996-05:00A Message To Hardline Conservative Voters

You are probably on the wrong page unless you are trying to turn over a new leaf and incorporate words like "empathy", "equality" and "compassion" into your vocabulary.

What is Economic Democracy? Economic Democracy is real socialism, period. It is a state of society in which all people work cooperatively as equals for the common good of all. It is achievable only when democracy has been extended from the political sphere to also include the economy. The titles democratic socialism, economic democracy and participatory economics have been used lately to

Todd Vachon for Congress, CT District 2http://www.blogger.com/profile/10556926284993597458noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7474920352963022758.post-85202930683662819162008-02-10T14:27:00.000-05:002008-02-10T14:47:53.673-05:00THE ECHO CHAMBER, Chamber, chamber…

Here are some issues that the corporate media would likely emphasize if they were to acknowledge my candidacy, let’s call it my pre-emptive rebuttal. 1. I am pro-choice. I feel that a woman's decision regarding her ability to bear children is her own decision to make and not ours. That is a choice she must make for herself or in confidence with her partner. End of story. Furthermore, the

Todd Vachon for Congress, CT District 2http://www.blogger.com/profile/10556926284993597458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7474920352963022758.post-86217291457990575242008-02-10T14:24:00.001-05:002008-02-13T18:00:11.333-05:00State of the Union: Two Big Parties & You're Not Invited

1/28/2008 In the past 7 years our nation has become less and less free. Our government no longer values the right to privacy, has abandoned habeas corpus, has embraced torture and continues to justify unjust military invasions and occupations. More than a year ago, Americans went to the polls (well 48% of eligible voters anyway) and registered their disapproval of the current path our country

Todd Vachon for Congress, CT District 2http://www.blogger.com/profile/10556926284993597458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7474920352963022758.post-13820088731589820382008-02-10T13:43:00.000-05:002008-02-10T14:23:05.520-05:00Democracy is THE Isuue in 2008

1/14/2008With the primaries and election campaigns dominating the news I feel that the time is ripe for us as a society to critically analyze our system. We pride ourselves for being a democracy and yet we suffer from one of the lowest voter turnout rates of any democracy in the "developed" world. It seems ever more difficult to consider our system a democracy when candidates are required to

Todd Vachon for Congress, CT District 2http://www.blogger.com/profile/10556926284993597458noreply@blogger.com0