In This Newsletter:

Ukraine Matters
Arambula’s New Redistricting Plan
The Possibilities of Medicare for All
Biden Nominates Supreme Court Justice
Supporting Freno Unified Trustee Veva Islas
Trivia Night Thursday
Precinct Captains
Fellowship Program
Covid-19 Booster Shot Phone Bank
Celebrating Black History Month
Democratic Party Website and HQ

Ukraine Matters

Democracy and openness, without constant strenuous support, will be pushed back by the aggression of totalitarian imperialism that can easily possess a greater stomach for violence, as the common people who bear the cost are not the ones who choose the direction of the state. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine could signal the beginning of a new global age of despotic imperialism.

Political scientists have been warning for several years that democracy is in decline around the world. The last half century has not been one of peace. But the world’s most powerful countries have rarely used force to expand their boundaries or set up client states in their region. Instead, they have generally abided by the treaties and international rules established in the 1940s.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine is a kind of war that has been largely absent in the past 80 years but that was once common. It involves a powerful nation setting out to expand its regional dominance by taking over a neighbor. A war like this—a voluntary war of aggression—is a sign that Putin believed that Pax Americana was over and that the United States, the European Union and their allies had become too weak to exact painful consequences.

A Message to Local Candidates

The Fresno County Democratic Party can add your candidacy posts on our social media and website. We want informational items about your campaign and not blatant requests for donations. Items will not be posted that denigrate another Democrat.

Until our endorsement process is completed, we will include the following disclaimer: “The Fresno County Democratic Central Committee has not endorsed any candidate in this race.”

After the endorsement process, only postings for endorsed candidates will be accepted.

Arambula’s New Redistricting Plan

When elected officials get to choose who will handle their own redistricting, there is an overwhelming incentive to preserve the existing regime. In Fresno County, the Board of Supervisors chose the members of its own redistricting commission.

Assembly Member Joaquin Arambula has put forth a proposal that would put redistricting in the hands of an independent commission. The independent redistricting commission would follow similar bodies that have been established in such California counties as San Diego and Los Angeles.

Fresno County’s district lines have changed little since the 1990s, despite the city undergoing great shifts in population, development and demographics. This resistance to shift the lines despite the citizenry moving under them shows the current system does not adequately reflect the needs of the voting public.

Opponents of the independent redistricting model have criticized it for the potential of granting more voting power to the large concentrations of voters in urban areas than the smaller populations in rural areas. When the criticism is that the proposal would increase democratic representation, the heckles start to sound like endorsements.

The Possibilities of Medicare for All

The United States has a massive healthcare insurance industry that employs hundreds of thousands of people. Any effective single-payer healthcare law would decimate that industry and cost all those people employed in association with it money.

With no insurance companies in the mix, there will be no administrative overhead, marketing costs or CEO and shareholder profits. The single-payer system will allow for negotiation of provider rates and procedures, and for the negotiation of drug prices.

Our state and country are already spending billions on healthcare, and this legislation would redirect those dollars and do it in a way that provides care for everyone, with a better standard of care.

Every resident of California would be covered by one plan with comprehensive benefits.

For Medicare beneficiaries, there would be no need for supplemental insurance to “wrap around” Medicare in order to pay for the 20% that Medicare doesn’t cover, including outpatient care and prescription drugs. Medicare for All would cover all these services with no more premiums, deductibles or copayments.

Biden Nominates Supreme Court Justice

President Biden is nominating Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court. 

Judge Jackson would not just be an incredible addition to the Supreme Court but also a historic one. Judge Jackson is one of the brightest legal minds in the country and has exceptional credentials, unimpeachable character and unwavering dedication to the rule of law.

It’s long overdue that a Black woman serves on the Supreme Court and is in a bipartisan tradition to ensure the richness of our country is represented in its leadership and on the highest court.

Judge Jackson and our country deserve a respectful process that focuses on her exceptional qualifications and record on the bench. However, Merrick Garland’s blocked confirmation under President Obama shows that the Republican Party does not value such things above any possible advantage they might seize. We must be prepared for Republicans to again fight against any non-conservative entering the Supreme Court.

Supporting Fresno Unified Trustee Veva Islas

The Fresno County Democratic Party stands in support of Fresno Unified Trustee Veva Islas and her efforts to push back against medical misinformation that threatens public health. Moreover, the Party condemns the Fresno County GOP’s calls for her resignation.

One of many false rumors used to discourage Americans from taking the vital Covid-19 vaccine is that the jab somehow renders men sterile. This has been debunked, as Trustee Islas shared in a tweet that drew right-wing outrage. 

Covid vaccines do not impact long-term fertility; that is a fact. It is also a fact that women who are pregnant or were recently pregnant are at increased risk for severe illness with Covid-19 and are more likely to give premature birth or face an increased risk for problems such as pregnancy loss. Anti-vaxxers, who are much more likely to spread Covid, are thus an unnecessary risk to any pregnancy they are involved in.

There is nothing Islas can do to “promote infertility of unvaccinated men,” as neither their vaccination status nor their fertility are under her control. As a public official, all she can do is use her platform to combat disinformation and discourage risky behavior.

In a GOP press release, Islas was also “accused” of supporting a mandate of masks for our children; for that, we thank her.

Precinct Captains!

Want to help us win in 2022? Be a precinct captain! Join and become a part of our team!

Sign up here!

Fellowship Program!

We are helping create the next generation of Democrats in the Central Valley! Are you a student interested in getting involved and learning more about the political world? You would be perfect for our Fellowship program!

For more information, e-mail  [email protected]

Covid Booster Shot Phone Bank!

Join us to phone bank in our community and help schedule our neighbors for a booster shot. We will have a short training before the event to get you ready! Sign up here!

Democratic Party Website and HQ

Visit Your Democratic Headquarters! Our office is now open, and we can’t wait to see you again! Help us register people to vote or change to vote by mail. Pass out candidate or issue literature and pick up candidate swag too! Sign up to help us around the office!

News and events will alway arise faster than this newsletter can come out. That is why the Fresno County Democratic Party website is the best place to get regular updates on upcoming events in the area, as well as information on ways to get involved. There is also information on scheduled meetings of the many Democratic clubs in Fresno County, so you can find one that most suits you and your interests

https://fresnocountydemocrats.org/

The Democratic Party HQ (1033 U St.) is open 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Monday–Friday. Call 559-495-0606 or e-mail [email protected] for information or to volunteer.

Support your local Democratic Party by donation via ActBlue or by mailing a check to Fresno County Democratic Party, P.O. Box 5795, Fresno, CA 93755.

Our newsletter is prepared by Francis Horan.

Democratic Party Headquarters: 1033 U Street, Fresno, CA 93721

[email protected]
559-495-0606

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