Activism Across America

Environmentalists in Florida must be feeling a little bit used right now. A few weeks ago, they gave a Obama a great photo opportunity, with a speech about how important it is to preserve Florida’s coastlines by keeping the nationwide moratorium on expanded offshore drilling for oil.

Then, with that photo op over and done with, Barack Obama performed his trademark flip flop yesterday, and declared that he is now willing to support expanding offshore drilling in America’s coastal waters.

So, it’s become clear that Florida voters can’t count on Barack Obama to stand up for them against big oil corporations. Who can they count on, then? Try Environment Florida, who is running a campaign against offshore drilling.

Thanks to them for working for Florida when politicians refuse to do so.

One penny per pound is all that they wanted.  The migrant farm workers who pick tomatoes in Florida are making the same amount of money per pound of tomatoes picked as they made in 1980.  That’s an injustice, given that the value of the dollar has descended dramatically since then.  Workers who pick tomatoes are paid just 56 dollars for picking two tons of tomatoes.

Imagine how you would feel after being paid just 56 dollars for picking and carrying two tons of tomatoes.  Then imagine how you would feel if the tomato growers you worked for refused to pay you just one penny more per pound of tomatoes.  The growers could have passed that cost on.  The average American can afford to pay a penny more per tomato.  Yet, the growers refused to budge.

People who work picking crops like tomatoes deserve better pay for the work that they do to feed us.  America needs a farm bill that’s designed to help agricultural workers like them, but no such law will be signed into law until we get a progressive in the White House.   Those workers also won’t get justice until corporate bullies like Burger King stop helping the tomato growers keep the farm workers down.  Burger King has refused, just like the tomato growers, to pay just one more penny per pound of tomatoes. Teach Burger King the consequences of such decisions.  Boycott Burger King.  (Source: St. Petersburg Times, November 25, 2007)

In 2006, Democrats from all across America worked hard to make sure that Senator Bill Nelson from Florida would get re-elected. How did Senator Nelson thank them? With a spit in the eye.

Senator Nelson betrayed both his Democratic constituents and his oath to uphold the Constitution when he joined the Senate Republicans to pass the Protect America Act.

The Protect America Act rewards the perjury and corruption of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales with expanded powers to spy against the American people using the Internet and telecommunications hubs. Thanks to Bill Nelson’s vote in favor, the government now has the power to act like Big Brother, listening to our telephone calls, watching us on the web, reading our private emails.

Oh, but Bill Nelson is not alone. His Florida colleague in the House of Representative, Allen Boyd joined in the betrayal. Thinking that no one back home in Florida, Congressman Boyd and his new Republican friends waited until the middle of the night on a Saturday to vote for the Protect America Act.

Allen Boyd and and Senator Nelson ought to be ashamed of themselves. But, you know politicians. They won’t truly feel ashamed of themselves until you write them and tell them that you know what they did this summer.

Write to:

Congressman Allen Boyd
1227 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 2051

Senator Bill Nelson
716 Senate Hart Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

Or call Bill Nelson (Toll free in Florida) at 1-888-671-4091
and call Allen Boyd at (850) 561-3979