HHDL arrives at Seeds of Compassion

Ken has been helping me build a new site to showcase my consulting work.  My first draft is up, and I’ll be making edits for the next few weeks, but for now check out www.laurawilliams.org.  I love the fancy headers that Ken built for me from his photography.  So pretty.

The other thing I learned is after 10 years of work, I have almost no pictures to document my events.  No campaign pics, no rally shots. . . So today’s advice. . .in the midst of working to change the world for goodness sake take a few pictures along the way.

I don’t much about the world, but I do believe love is the answer.

Countdown: Special Comment on Prop 8

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat. “

– Teddy Roosevelt, 1910

I learned this morning that the state of Vermont has lost more soldiers per capita than any other state. 30 soldiers lost — just to put that into perspective, I graduated from high school with 30 students in my class. Ten of the soldiers that died were under the age of 24.

I’ve never been one to put soldiers on a pedestal. There are a lot of people who give their lives to help their country or community. I see the numbers rise each day, and see the stories from neighboring towns that I have old friends and teammates in — I have to ask. . .

WHEN WILL THIS END?

Students from Norwich Academy, created a documentary Vermont Fallen that follows that families of fallen soldiers. Not only are we sending young men to their death, but they leave behind family, friends and loved ones who have to try and heal.

WHEN WILL THIS END?

The Burlington Free Press has all of the names of the fallen soldiers.

I used to follow every vote and every issue in detail daily. However, as I have moved away from working on capitol hill or in a political campaign I find it difficult to stay in the loop.

That’s why I love my favorite new widget — Vote Watch!

It is an easy way to keep track of the “up and down” votes in Congress. You can also click on any vote and see how your particular representative or senator voted.

Currently, the Iraq War is being debated. Stay informed. Know the issues and hold your elected officials accountable.

Click the thumb to download Vote Watch.

Each US Supreme Court Justice makes $200,000 per year ($199,200 to be exact)
The US Supreme Court Chief Justice makes $210,000 per year ($208.100 to be exact)

(via How Stuff Works)

There are 8 Associate Justices and One Chief Justice . . .let’s do the math . . .

Is it just me or are our priorities a little out of whack?

As most women, I have a very strong opinion – I honestly believe that if men could get pregnant the abortion debate would no longer exist. We have a hard enough time passing legislation making assault weapons illegal (and all they do is rip apart anything they touch whether it is a deer or a child who gets into daddy’s gun cabinet).  Americans scream from the hilltops that they have the “right to bear arms.” So if men won’t even let us tell them what they can do with their guns – there is no way in hell they would ever let the government tell them what they can do with their own bodies.

But that is just the politics – and this is not a political issue . . .

There is one thing I understand – this decision belongs between a woman and her doctor. I have several friends who were truly torn about this important decision. It was not easy. In fact, most of these women would say it was one of the most difficult decisions of their lives. They are educated, in committed relationships, and were often using other forms of birth control at the time. It was not a decision made on a whim.

But also, they were completely prepared and they were the only one that could make the final decision. At the end of the day the consequences were theirs alone.  As friends we could love them, sit with them, talk with them.  However, each woman knew in their hearts what choice was right for them.  I have no doubt in my mind that whatever they chose – to have a baby or not – was absolutely, without question, the best choice for them and their lives.  No legislation, no law, no religious doctrine could tell them what to do. Their hearts and minds were strong and prepared for the choice.

No law could have made that decision any easier, but because they had this essential right to choose I believe the quality of their lives as women was protected. For those friends who continued their pregnancy they have beautiful families and for those who chose another path they have continued to be caring friends who will – when the time is right – have families that they can support they way they feel children should be.

Today is the 34th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision in the US Supreme Court.  I vow to support this right for women to have power over the their own bodies and celebrate the quality of life this choice has brought to women.

Bottomline, I trust women.  I trust that they know what is best for them. I  know this because I trust that I know what is best for me.

Check out the other posts by women who Blog for Choice.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., said passing the boost “is simply a matter of doing what’s right, what’s just, and what’s fair.”

“If the minimum wage had been adjusted with the cost of living on an annual basis since 1968, a minimum wage worker would not be making $5.15, not be making $7.25, would be making $9.05,” he said.

Associated Press – January 10 – 10:30am

It is about time. I’ve never made tons of money in non-profit work, but recently I’ve been looking for a possible career change. In the meantime, I thought I would get an “easy” job to keep a little money coming into the house. However, as I looked for blue-collar jobs working in coffee shops, retail, or doing hard labor – the little that people are paid an hour almost makes it “not worth my time” to accept a job. When I include the time and money for the commute my profit would be very small. The job market has amazed me.

However, I do understand that raising the minimum wage has a sincere effect on small business. My dad owns his own business with about 5-10 employees. My family has owned the business for 60 years. The store supports a small town – without it they would be lost. This is not a million dollar venture to say the least. It is a lot of work for him, and he is constantly fighting to keep his head above water. So an increase in minimum wage will literally affect his ability to retain current employees and change how many part-time workers he can hire. It might not sound like a big deal at first, but if you have ever tried to be a student looking for summer work in a small town the options are few and far between. So it does affect people. I would not pretend otherwise. It is not as black and white as television news would lead you to believe.

At the end of the day workers must be respected and supported, they make our world go round.  I used to get paid $5.00 in 6th grade for my allowance. That is not a wage people can live on. I applaud our elected officials for supporting a bill that gives a couple of bucks an hour for hard work. It is well deserved. Back to Craigslist for me . . .

For more information about the minimum wage:

• Wiki: Minimum wage
• DOL: Wages state to state
• Economic Policy Institute

Don’t believe the hype. Fight Back.

You must be the change
you want to see in the world. — Mahatma Gandhi

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