We are Indivisible Champlain Islands
We are Indivisible Champlain Islands, a non-partisan group of citizens in northwestern Vermont. We’re one of thousands of Indivisible groups across the country taking action to build grassroots power to save democracy and defeat authoritarianism. We are no longer Democrats, Republicans or Independents. We are united as neighbors, concerned about our shared future, for our children, our community and our country. And we are united as patriots who believe that this is a time for courage and collective action. Each of us has a role to play in this rapidly growing national movement.
More information and registration at https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/861110/
Message from Marilyn
Hello Indivisibles,
A REMINDER TO JOIN OUR VETERANS DAY RALLY
WHEN: TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 3:00 – 4:00 PM
WHERE: Intersection of Ferry Rd and Rt 2 in Keeler Bay in South Hero (in front of the now-closed Coldwell Banker real estate office)
WHAT: Honk and Wave in support of our Veterans
WHO: Anyone who wants to honor our Veterans
DO: DRESS WARMLY. Bring flags or signs that support Veterans
(If we run out of space, we will open a second rally location and direct you there)
Bring a friend or a neighbor. Carpool.
See you tomorrow.
GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN
Last night a few more Democrats broke ranks and voted for a procedural bill in the Senate that broke the filibuster and will allow a majority vote to move a “compromise” funding bill.
There is good news and bad news here. I do not have the full details yet of the ‘compromise’, but here are a couple of major points:
– there is an agreement to hold a vote on the ACA enhanced premium subsidies by late December. This is almost certainly an end to the premium enhancements. This would probably not pass the Senate and will almost certainly not pass the House or be signed by the President. But it will put the loss of the enhanced subsidies and the devastation it represents for millions of Americans back in the spotlight in December and squarely, unequivocally, on the Republicans and Trump. Or there could be a miracle and the Republicans could decide to do something that is good for the American people. And avoid political suicide.
Who uses the ACA for health insurance? People who don’t work for a company that offers healthcare benefits, like small business owners, people who work for small businesses, farmers, people in the gig economy, people who work one or several part-time jobs, people who have to stay at home to care for elderly or disabled family members or children. Many will find their health insurance will suddenly cost $20,000 or $30,000 or more per year. In some cases it will be more than half of their yearly income. Welcome to America. The American Dream is rapidly becoming the American Nightmare, as more and more working Americans are forced toward poverty. Yet, for large corporations and the ultra-wealthy, times have never been better.
There is also the real possibility that this will be the end of the ACA altogether, eventually. More people who are younger, and relatively healthy, will choose not to participate (i.e. go without health insurance) because it is unaffordable. This means a huge loss of premiums to support the program, while the people who remain in the program are older and sicker and much more expensive. So premiums go up even more. Until, puff. It is gone.
(Of course, the underlying problem is that we have a system that requires health insurance, in the first place. In other countries, the government runs the health care system. Everyone is guaranteed care. No one goes bankrupt and loses their life savings or their business because of an accident or a diagnosis. And the health care/health insurance industry does not bleed billions of dollars off to stockholders. But we can’t fix that just yet.)
So, this is a disaster for Americans. But it is also a disaster for the Republican Party.
So.
These are the cards we have been dealt. Now we figure out how best to play them to help Americans and to take power away from this regime.
There were a couple of positives. The government shutdown will hopefully end in a week. The government will be funded until sometime in January. Then we get to do it again? The damage being done by the shutdown is unsustainable. It needs to end.
Federal workers who were laid off (fired) during the shutdown will be called back. Federal workers will get back pay that they were denied during the shutdown. And there can be no new reductions in workers until Jan 30.
The Government Accountability Office will be protected. That office helps Congress keep track of spending. It has twice ruled that Trump violated rules that prohibit him from unilaterally cancelling funding. The original House bill would have cut funding to this agency by half and prohibit it from suing the Administration to release illegally withheld funds. That part will go away.
This is sort of like watching a fish swim through water. It is hard to keep in focus and you never know which way it will turn. Indivisible should put out their weekly email from Ezra later this evening. Check there for more information if you are signed up for those emails.
Stay strong. Stay positive. Support your neighbors.
See you soon,
Marilyn Lagrow
What a Day it was!!
Celebrate Freedom, October 7 @ SnowFarm Winery
Thank you!
Thank you to the Indivisible PATRIOTS that walked in the South Hero parade today [July 4]! It was so nice to hear the roaring support from all of us onlookers as they marched on by. It was awesome to see a group of folks standing up for what this day is actually commemorating – Freedom and Liberty!
-Front Porch Form, July 5
