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Remember the 230-year-old quote: “We must all hang together or we’ll surely all hang separately.” I haven’t wanted to use that sentence since my state, Washington, revived the bizarre practice of hanging for Westley Dodd and Charles Campbell, but I can’t help recalling it in reference to Saddam Hussein.

Hanging’s a small matter among elements that make it possible, even urgent, for an individual, a state, or a people to kill a fellow human being, but it’s still worth reflection.

It’s worth pondering who carried out the hanging. How were executioners found who could be entrusted with this important homicide? How was their pay determined when, we are assured, thousands of people would have been glad to hang Saddam (or render him lifeless through some more dramatic or glamorous means) for nothing more than their own self-righteousness and satisfaction?

We are also assured that Saddam was tried, convicted, and executed by the government of Iraq. How comforting to know that the government is ready for matters of life and death, even if it’s not ready to assume the lead in making its people a little more secure.

It’s also comforting to know that this former lapdog of the U.S. power elite was not hanged at the behest of George W. Bush, who once confessed he was after Saddam because “He tried to kill my daddy!” It might be pointed out that Bush has never been known to hang anyone, although he set records for dispatching incarcerated people as Governor of Texas. Legal murder in Texas switched from hanging to electrocution before Bush was born, and to lethal injection before he became governor. The only hangings in Texas over the past 80 years or so have been lynchings. Nobody has a good count on those, and there’s no federal law against lynching.

When it comes to the extermination of healthy human beings, hanging is not really much different from beheading or shooting, a couple of options that must have been considered for Saddam. Even so, PJALS did go on record in support of ending hanging in Washington. It seemed to be a step in the right direction, and it seems clear that the state does not have the enthusiasm for executions that it did 15 years ago.

Perhaps lethal injection puts the public to sleep more efficiently than it does its pitiful victim. Certainly Texans hardly notice anymore when their state kills another prisoner, while Washingtonians and Idahoans can’t even imagine an appropriate form of execution for several killers whose palpable evil challenges the vocabularies of pundits, officials, and reporters.

Abolitionists understood that Saddam Hussein would be executed in spite of any rational arguments against sinking to his own worst standards of problem solving. We could see that stemming the cycle of violence in the Middle East was no substitute for spilling the blood of our most demonized enemy. What troubles us is the suspension of conscience and justice in the international arena, the silence of the states which have long since abandoned the tried-and-failed tradition of executions.

The new Secretary-General of the UN has even backed away from the human rights standard demanded by the European Union. He says capital punishment is a matter to be decided by individual states. One would think he is one of the less enlightened justices of the U.S. Supreme Court, unable to identify cruel and unusual punishment because it’s too close to home.

It is a shame that Saddam has, again, used his U.S.-granted prestige to set back the clock, because he was not executed for crimes against humanity. He was hanged for his arrogance. The U.S. and the corporate rulers of the world have no quarrel with savagery, or even genocide. But they will not abide a pretender to their hegemony, nor do they care if Saddam’s murder sets off a new wave of violence against anyone who might be vulnerable.

Murder rates have recently been lower in the U.S. They rise with executions, especially high-profile executions. Higher levels of violence after Saddam’s death will not be confined to Iraq. The Saddam problem has not been solved. It’s been institutionalized.

Stop the war, and bring the troops home now, please. Perhaps then we can make progress on stopping other state killings. - RN

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“Common sense about defense” is the way I’ve often thought about the Center for Defense Information and its publication, The Defense Monitor, but I’m disappointed, now.

In its final edition of 2006, the Monitor featured an expert opinion on the F-22. Several reasons are given why this $350 million jet fighter “fails to improve America’s fighter force and degrades our combat capability.”

I agree that the F-22 is a stupid mistake and has nothing to contribute to making the world safer or even more reasonable. The writers of the article hate it because they want American fighter pilots to have the best fighter in the sky, and 750 copies...and these planes were only supposed to cost $130 million apiece.

Suddenly, I’m an expert on fighter jets. These guys have studied, designed, and analyzed combat aircraft for decades, and I know more than they do. We don’t need no stinking jet fighters.

What if we had a fighter jet that would knock Luke Skywalker’s socks off, run on batteries charged by solar power, and could roll off an assembly line at under $50 million per copy? What good would it be? What would you do with one, let alone 750 of them?

The Secretary and the Chief of Staff of the Air Force may not know it, but you and I and junior grade officers do. Military contractors like Boeing and General Dynamics know it, but they’ll never confess. We don’t need jet fighters.

There’s a mural in a chapel at Fairchild Air Force Base. It depicts a U.S. jet fighter strafing terrified Asians in a bizarre ritual of sacred war. Some Fairchild personnel think it’s a strange place for such a mural. After all, Fairchild is a B-52 base-turned Tanker base. We don’t need jet fighters.

The Center for Defense Information often points out the imbalance of our security priorities, runaway budgets heavy on nuclear weapons and other useless extravagances to keep military contractors rolling in dough. At some level, all of these wise people know that we don’t need jet fighters.

They can’t say that, because they might next confess that we don’t need aircraft carriers, nuclear submarines, antique B-52s and WMD usually associated with these dinosaurs, and they would be at odds with prevailing wisdom on the economy and not just the military. One may still be called a realist if one demands a second opinion on a 250-billion-dollar expense, but not if one clearly states, “We don’t need jet fighters.”

So, what shall I do, when I feel like there are better options than pouring more money down the bottomless pit that passes for Pentagon R&D? I’m going to write my Congresswoman and Senators and ask them if they are going to protect me and my family with F-22s so we can continue to flirt with the poverty line, and how much they think is a reasonable amount for my country to spend on war-preventing peacemaking. But, their aides may never show them my letter. Elected officials are rarely confronted by unstable constituents who make statements like, “We don’t need jet fighters.” - RN

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Carla,

Thank you for taking time to speak with me today. I am looking forward to working with you and the LGBT Community in Spokane as the Equal Rights Washington Field Organizer. I will now be the main contact for ERW on the Vow To Take A Stand meetings and Equality Day. This change will allow Josh Friedes - ERW's Advocacy Director - to concentrate on other important duties. However, he will still be available for advice and support when needed.

I recently moved to Washington from Kansas City, Missouri. During my time in Missouri, I worked as the Program Director for Missouri Progressive Vote Coalition, unions and community groups working to build progressive power in Missouri. During my time at Pro-Vote, I worked on various campaigns and issues such as raising the minimum wage, increasing health care access, and preserving retirement security, in addition to working on various state legislative races.

I am a long time activist in the LGBT community. I served on the board of directors of the Lesbian & Gay Community Center of Kansas City and on the board of Four Freedoms Democratic Club, working for LGBT equality at the local political level.

I look forward to traveling to various areas of the state, listening to members of the community about their concerns, challenges, and hopes as we move forward toward full equality in Washington. I hope I can be a resource and help foster communication among the LGBT community and allies.

I am excited to be working on the upcoming Vow To Take A Stand meetings
and Equality Day at the Capitol in the coming months. I look forward to meeting you in person soon.
I hope you had a wonderful holiday and have a Happy New Year!

Thanks! - Nathan Riding
Field Organizer - Equal Rights Washington

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Only 35 percent of military members surveyed approve the way President Bush is handling the war in Iraq, down from a peak of 63 percent in 2004, while 42 percent say they disapprove.

The 2006 Military Times Poll released last week also found that half of those
surveyed say additional troops are needed in Iraq, while 13 percent say all troops should
leave. About 1 in 5 service members say large numbers of US troops can be replaced by
Iraqi forces within two years. More than one-third say it will take at least five years.
Only 41 percent believe the US should have gone to war in Iraq in the first place.

                          - Christian Science Monitor, 1-2-07

Now, can we try a little peacemaking?

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The PeaceWorks action group thinks it’s time for PJALS to get back on the streets. We have much to say and many opportunities to join with activists across the country in standing up for justice and human rights.

We start on January 13th with a walk through downtown to show our outrage over five years of shameful human rights abuses at Guantanamo. January 11th marks the anniversary of disgusting treatment of untried and uncharged suspects in the animal cages that pass for a prison at the U.S.’s last Cuban refuge. Saturday will work better for our demonstration.

We’ll meet at noon at the STA Bus Plaza, on the second floor. We’ll have guards and prisoners parading through the skywalk system with appropriate signs and light-duty chains. Whether or not you can join us, we’d like to know of a source for orange jumpsuits.

Letters to elected officials will also be in order. Ask what they are doing to stop this arrogant and racist behavior.

Another ongoing outrage is the treatment of servicemen and women who try to do the right thing in serving our country. Suzanne Swift, whose mother Sara Rich, spoke to us last year, has been coerced into signing papers in order to keep her rank and be transferred to a new unit rather than face court martial for being raped by a sergeant in her old unit. Ricky Clousing has completed a prison sentence and been kicked out of the army.

Ehren Watada, the only officer to refuse assignment to the illegal war in Iraq will be tried for a number of ridiculous charges beginning on Feb. 5. From 1-3 pm on the 5th, we will vigil at the Armed Forces Recruiting Center by the Spokane Valley Mall. Please come and bring a sign or use one of ours. Lt. Watada deserves our support for his integrity and courageous position against the war.

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The second of three forums on Police Accountability co-sponsored by ACLU, PJALS, and the League of Women Voters/Spokane Area, will be Tuesday, January 30, at Gonzaga Law School from 6-8 pm.

Where the first session provided a look at ways to hold police accountable, this forum is designed to focus on process.

Spokane Police Chief Ann Kirkpatrick, who attended the first session, will be part of the program. Joining her on a panel will be investigative journalist Tim Connor, and Rick Mendoza, outgoing chair of Spokane Citizens Police Advisory Committee.

A Question and Answer session will follow the panel presentations.and Spokane Police Chief Ann Kirkpartrick.

There will be a third session February 21, at the same time & place to examine the next steps in having accountable law enforcement in our community.

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ACLU of Washington will host an Advocacy Workshop on Wed., Jan. 17 at the Community Building from 6:30 – 8:30 pm.

According to Field Director Genevieve Aguilar, this event will help give people the background that they need to Lobby and will prepare them for Lobby Day in Olympia on Tuesday, February 13.

To register or learn more about joining the ACLU lobbying effort go to:

Action.aclu-wa.org/LobbyDay07

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Perhaps you’ll notice some changes in our newsletter. The primary difference, however, is that this issue is designed for January and February, with the possibility of only five more issues in 2007.

It is hoped that, if you have an opinion about an issue every two months, you’ll share it with the editor or the steering committee...soon. We have a habit of promising 11 issues with a year of membership in PJALS, so we should ask your permission to change the schedule.

It is also hoped that we’ll take up the slack with more timely information at www.pjals.net. If you feel left out by web activity, we are hoping you’ll request additional information by mail.

We want you to be in touch, so if we’re out of touch, get in touch. - RN

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The Green Party stands for fair wages for all - wages that enable employees to support themselves and their families. Ordinances are being passed across the country, but more needs to be done.

The Green Party urges Congress to pass a living wage for all Americans. Now that the Democrats have control of the House and Senate, one proposal is raising the minimum wage 70 cents. That would increase the minimum wage from $5.15 to $5.85 after 60 days, and $7.20 after two years! Minimum wage laws do not ensure that individuals working full-time will earn enough to support themselves and their families. The Green Party does not consider $5.85 or $7.20 a living wage.

Working full time should yield enough income to live on. The Green Party considers inadequate wages as unfair business practices. There is absolutely no reason for employees of multi-billion-dollar companies to struggle to make-ends-meet.


Americas’ working-families deserve our support. Help the Green Party advocate for a living wage system. Help us narrow the continually widening fairness-gap between corporate heads and working families.

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WA taxpayers paid $18.6 million in 2006 to subsidize world's largest corporation, according to a report from the Center for a Changing Workforce. The Center also released a fact sheet offering a more detailed analysis. (Note: After 2004 figures on this subsidy were leaked last year, Wal-Mart claimed it had vastly improved health plans, saying: "It's an apples and oranges comparison from 2004 to Wal-Mart today.")

Two new Washington state surveys show Wal-Mart still ranks No. 1 for the number of employees using public health care programs, even though it is not one of the state’s largest employers. An analysis of the report by Seattle’s Center for a Changing Workforce projected the cost to state taxpayers at $18.2 million for 2006, based on state survey reports released November 30.

The report is likely ammunition for legislators who hope to pressure such companies to spend more on health care benefits. They argue Wal-Mart essentially pushes its health costs onto taxpayers. “I hope this report will serve as a kind of catalyst” said state Rep. Steve Conway.

An LA Times article says to forget the critics, labor unions, activists and politicians who have tried to stir up trouble for Wal-Mart Stores Inc., as the company's latest problems come from consumers. Despite price cuts, November was the retailer's worst month in a decade, and analysts wonder if rapid growth is possible anymore.

2006 surveys by the Health Care Authority and the DSHS counted 3,194 Wal-Mart employees either enrolled in Medicaid or the Basic Health Plan (BHP), or with enrolled dependents. An additional 2,943 dependents were enrolled. The agencies placed the total cost to state taxpayers at more than $1.5 million/month, based on 2006 budget figures.

While Wal-Mart is again the largest beneficiary from state health programs, it’s not the largest employer. Boeing, Microsoft, Safeway, and Kroger each has more employees, but combined have fewer using public health care.

The cost of Wal-Mart’s state health care subsidies for 2006 exceeds:


Wal-Mart ads claim ‘our people make the difference,’ said David West, Director of the Center for a Changing Workforce, and the company calls itself a 'family-friendly' business, but this report reveals that Washington's taxpayers really make the difference in taking care of Wal-Mart employees and their families.

In January ‘06, the Washington St. Senate Committee staff estimated the cost of Wal-Mart's combined Medicaid and Basic Health subsidies to be $12,100,464. Based on the new reports, the previous estimate was 50% too low. New figures have 11% of Washington Wal-Mart employees in the adult Medicaid program, double the figure Wal-Mart claims. Another 11% have children in the Medicaid kids program.

A majority of Wal-Mart's Medicaid beneficiaries work full-time (35+ hrs/wk), according to an analysis of 2004 numbers by the Seattle Times. At Wal-Mart's average wage of $9.68/hr, full-time employees can qualify for Medicaid. Workers at other companies on the list were primarily part-time.

The number of Wal-Mart employees on Medicaid and the BHP in 2004 was slightly higher, but because the agencies used a different method to count, comparisons to 2004 aren't meaningful. The 2006 numbers are a large jump from 2002, when a state survey found 794 Wal-Mart employees as Medicaid and BHP clients. This year, the comparable number is 1,512 direct clients (not counting dependents), a 90% increase from 2002. During the same period, the company's employment increased by about 30%, from 12,000 to 16,000.
In the 2006 session, the Washington State Legislature considered but did not act on legislation to require large employers to contribute more to the cost of employee healthcare.

The Center for a Changing Workforce is a non-profit public policy organization that provides research, education, and policy analysis on employment and benefit issues facing low-wage and nonstandard workers. For more information, contact David West, at 206-622-0897 or wslc.org.

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Reflection on the ethics of faith in action -

Policy briefings -


Advocacy training w/local legislative staffers -

Presenters on -

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Travel to southern Mexico to see how U.S. policies and corporate practices affect food security and migration there.

Meet activists, farmers, indigenous groups, and others struggling for justice and food security. Stay with a Oaxacan family.

Learn how these communities are impacted by NAFTA and migration. Learn about resistance strategies and alternatives for more viable, healthy lives, and a more just future.
Hear first-hand accounts of the popular uprising, and the reasons behind the struggle.

Act! We provide tools and materials to help you bring these experiences back to your own community, and advocate for change!

Oaxaca has one of the largest indigenous populations in Mexico. Its immense cultural and geographic diversity contrast with deepening poverty and ever-increasing migration to the US. It is also home to vibrant small farmers' and indigenous peoples' movements. Learn about complexities of this state and the movements being formed to make a better world possible!

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Can you support PJALS?

 

The Peace and Justice Action League of Spokane depends upon gifts and dues from members to continue to work for peace and justice, locally and globally.  We welcome anyone who favors free exchange of ideas and nonviolent action to war or to inaction and ignorance.  PJALS, 35 W Main, Spokane, WA 99201.

        You determine your own level of support and participation.  Members also determine issues and projects that get the most attention and effort.