Tues 5/26: You really want to honor ALL the “warriors,” Mr. Trump? 2 actions.

To the 100,000 victims of the pandemic – Our president gives you “thoughts and prayers.” We demand more.

The “White House Proclamation on Prayer for Peace, Memorial Day, 2020,” states “As we pay tribute to the lives and legacies of these patriots on Memorial Day, we also remember that they sacrificed to create a better, more peaceful future for our Nation and the world.  We recommit to realizing that vision, honoring the service of so many who have placed love of country above all else.”

We’re confident Trump has never read this, as he spent last weekend driving his golf cart over the “better, more peaceful future” with racist and misogynistic tweets and  refused to mention, much less “honor the service” of our nation’s latest sacrifices – the front line  “warriors” drafted into an army of necessity and economic convenience. He only lowered the flag for them after being publicly shamed. On Sunday, a White House spokesman stated: “President Trump’s prayers for comfort and strength are with all of those grieving the loss of a loved one or friend as a result of this unprecedented plague, and his message to this great nation remains one of resilience, hope and optimism.”

He didn’t read that either, but the NY Times gave our pandemic “warriors’ their proper due. “More Americans have died of the coronavirus in the last 12 weeks than died in the Vietnam and Korean Wars combined and nearly twice as many as died of battle wounds during World War I. The death toll has nearly matched the number of people killed by the initial blasts of the world’s first atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. In terms of American deaths, it is the equivalent of 22 Iraq wars, 33 Sept. 11 attacks, 41 Afghanistan wars, 42 Pearl Harbors or 25,000 Benghazis.Continue reading “Tues 5/26: You really want to honor ALL the “warriors,” Mr. Trump? 2 actions.”

Sat. 2/1: The resistance is strong with this county! TODAY is packed with activities – pick some and join in!

Find local resistance events here. Have one to share?  Send to indivisibleventura@gmail.com.

#1. Is single-payer health insurance a viable system? Is it a desirable system? You got questions? Get them answered here! – 3:00- 5:00 PM

Go to this  public informational forum on single-payer healthcare, with an experienced panel of speakers/physicians.

  • WHO: Physicians for Progress – Ventura County is a chapter of Physicians for a National Health Program (PNHP)
  • WHEN: Saturday Feb. (TODAY!) 1st, 3:00- 5:00 PM
  • WHERE: Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura, 5654 Ralston Street
  • COST: None

Why is this so urgent now? Read more about the issues here!

#2. Go see a movie! The League of Women Voters is hosting “On the Basis of Sex – Celebrating 100 years of Women Voting” – 6:30- 9:30 PM

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Facebook link here. More information about the film, the League and getting tickets here.

  • WHO: League of Women Voters of Ventura and the Museum of Ventura Co.
  • WHEN: Saturday Feb. (TODAY!) 1st, 6:30- 9:30 PM
  • WHERE: Museum of Ventura County, 100 E. Main Street, Ventura
  • COST: Tickets – $8- $12. Eventbrite link here.

#3. Ventura CAUSE Action Fund Election Kick Off! – 10 AM – 1 PM

Continue reading “Sat. 2/1: The resistance is strong with this county! TODAY is packed with activities – pick some and join in!”

Mon. 1/13: Mark your calendar! The Ventura County Healthcare Forum is Feb. 1st!

Physicians for Progress is organizing an public informational forum on single-payer healthcare, with an experienced panel of speakers/physicians.

  • Who: Physicians for Progress – Ventura County is a chapter of Physicians for a National Health Program (PNHP)
  • When: Saturday Feb. 1st 3:00- 5:00 PM 
  • Where: Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura, 5654 Ralston Street

Why is this so urgent now? Here’s a selection of issues that affect every person living in America.

  • Profit over people: A veteran had his prosthetic legs repossessed by a private company. The former UN Secretary denounced our healthcare system as “politically and morally wrong.
  • Young people: Young adults who’ve aged off their parents’ plans are dying trying to stretch out expensive insulin supplies.
  • Children: 400,000 children have been dropped from Medicaid under this administration. Poor healthcare in childhood could have ramifications throughout their lives.
  • Medical bill “bake sales”: A third of GoFundMe campaigns are for medical bills, and that 25% are to aid under-insured patients. Begging strangers for help to pay medical bills does not happen in other first world countries.
  • Corporations are cutting back: Even big companies, like FedEx and Amazon, are paring back health benefits to their workers and restricting out-of-network coverage. Many are now steering employees towards telehealth options and in-plan provider networks.
  • “Choice” is a myth: The healthcare industry pays millions to gaslight Americans  into supporting the private insurance model. Read the whole thread here.

Continue reading “Mon. 1/13: Mark your calendar! The Ventura County Healthcare Forum is Feb. 1st!”

Thurs 6/20: 3rd Thursday is going to be busy – Pizza, Camaraderie, & Postcards. PLUS an evening forum with VC Brady United.

Action #1 – Meet at Santino’s for pizza, camaraderie, and social justice – every Third Thursday starting at 11:30 am

Where: Santino’s Pizza. It’s at 4231 Telegraph Rd., Ventura, 93003

When: Thursday, June 20th, 11:30am – 1:30pm.

RSVP: Nope. Just come. Invite your friends.

What to bring: We provide the pizza, postcards, stationary and stamps! If you prefer, you may bring your own stationary. Donations of stamps are always gratefully accepted.

Questions? Email indivisibleventura@gmail.org

We eat, we write, we talk, we plot, we share. Come and join in the fun!

Action #2 – Ventura County Chapter of Brady United against Gun Violence meeting – All are welcome! 6:15 pm.

When: Thursday, June 20, 6:15-8:15 PM

Where:  Ventura County Community Foundation – The Board Room at 4001 Mission Oaks Blvd Camarillo, CA 93012 (The building has two main entrances- one on the freeway side, the other in the back or mountain side. Both work, but the “back or mountain side” is closest to the “Board Room” where we are meeting.)

Continue reading “Thurs 6/20: 3rd Thursday is going to be busy – Pizza, Camaraderie, & Postcards. PLUS an evening forum with VC Brady United.”

Third Thursdays – Pizza, Camaraderie, & Postcards on May 16th! That’s TODAY!

Let’s meet at Santino’s for pizza, camaraderie, and social justice – every Third Thursday.

Where: Santino’s Pizza. It’s at 4231 Telegraph Rd., Ventura, 93003
When: May 16th, 11:30am – 1:30pm.
RSVP: None. Just come – we provide the pizza and postcards and stamps! If you prefer, you may bring your own stationary.
Questions? Email indivisibleventura@gmail.org

On May 16, we’ll focus on:

“Get Well” cards to former president Jimmy Carter.

“Thank you” cards to Rep. Barbara Lee. Last week, the Trump-Pence administration finalized a refusal of care rule that would allow virtually any health care entity, provider or worker to use their personal beliefs to dictate patient care. Congresswoman Lee successfully offered an amendment to attack this dangerous and discriminatory rule, now the FY20 LHHS bill that will prohibit funding for the implementation of the rule.

Senator Feinstein, Please Support S.546 – the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund
“Never Forget the Heroes: Permanent Authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Act.” It didn’t pass last year and now the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) is running out of money before its 2020 expiration date, cutting payments between 50-70% at the same time cancer rates among first responders are going up. Brownley, Carbajal, and Harris are all on board; Feinstein is the odd man out!  More info here.

Continue reading “Third Thursdays – Pizza, Camaraderie, & Postcards on May 16th! That’s TODAY!”

Third Thursdays – Pizza, Camaraderie, & Postcards on April 18th! That’s TODAY!

Let’s meet at Santino’s for pizza, camaraderie, and social justice – every Third Thursday.

Where: Santino’s Pizza. It’s at 4231 Telegraph Rd., Ventura, 93003
When: April 18th, 11:30am – 1:30pm.
RSVP: None. Just come – you provide your own stationary and envelopes (bring an extra for a new friend!), we provide the pizza and postcards and stamps!
Questions? Email indivisibleventura@gmail.org

On April 18th, we’ll focus on:

The Pennsylvania Congressional District 12 Special Election – we’ll be sending postcards to voters in the district to remind them to vote for Marc Friedenberg – his website is here – in the newly vacated seat most recently held by a Republican. Let’s keep the House Blue! We’ll provide the postcards.

Medicare for All support from Senator Feinsteinthe Medicare for All bill has dropped in the Senate! Senator Harris has signed on as a co-sponsor, and we will urge Ms. Feinstein to do the same. Bring your own stationary if you want to participate in this issue. More info here

No Gun Shows at the Ventura County Fairgrounds support from Governor Newsom – Gavin Newsom, in his campaign for governor, told the fair board he is against gun shows on state property. Let’s hold him to his word.  Bring your own stationary if you want to participate in this issue. More info here

Words of comfort to  Continue reading “Third Thursdays – Pizza, Camaraderie, & Postcards on April 18th! That’s TODAY!”

Wed 4/10: Medicare-For-All is now in the Senate! Remind your legislators to sign on to the House version, & that “Medicare Advantage” is an HMO, not a safety net!

Action #1: Call your senators  if they aren’t a “YES”. Thank them if they are.

“At least in my view, the current debate over Medicare for All really has nothing to do with health care. It has everything to do with greed and profiteering,” he told a room full of supporters in a Senate office building. – Bernie Sanders

Bernie has finally introduced S.1129 the reworking of his 2017 bill, with improvements in long-term care and disabilities that mirror Pramila Jayapal’s H.R 1384. The bill is still unnumbered.

Explainer: Bernie Sanders’s Medicare-for-all plan, explained. (vox)

Minimal script for senators: I’m calling from [zip code] and I want Senator [____] to know that I voted for [him/her] to put “Medicare For All” on the map, just like Social Security in 1935, and Medicare in 1965.

Minimal script for supporting senators: I’m calling from [zip code] and I want to thank Senator [____] for supporting “Medicare For All”.

Sen-check here. (Harris is a cosponsor, Feinstein is not! CALL her!)

Continue reading “Wed 4/10: Medicare-For-All is now in the Senate! Remind your legislators to sign on to the House version, & that “Medicare Advantage” is an HMO, not a safety net!”

Sunday 3/31: “Swap Meet Justice!” citizenship fair! Come join us!

Note: We are rescheduling the Medicare4all door-to-door canvassing.

Action #1 – THIS Sunday, 3/31 – Come join us at “Swap Meet Justice!” and help spread the word!

You do not need to be a lawyer. You do not need to speak another language. However, all volunteers with bilingual skills are appreciated.

Every last Sunday of the month!

When: 8am-3pm,  3/31, 4/28, 5/26, 6/30, 7/28, 8/25, 9/29, 10/27, 11/24, and 12/29. You may come for a shorter amount of time, but please come at 8:30 for new volunteer orientation. We also don’t start new applications after 1:30 or 2:00, so we can finish in time for the marketplace’s closing.

Where: Oxnard College Marketplace & Swap Meet (Map below, more information, hand-outs and posters for printing all here.)

Action #2 – THIS Sunday, 3/31 – Door-to-door Medicare4all canvassing activity to be rescheduled. Stay tuned.

We will be updating with new date/time soon.

Continue reading “Sunday 3/31: “Swap Meet Justice!” citizenship fair! Come join us!”

Sunday 3/31: 2 activities!!! “Swap Meet Justice!” citizenship fair & Medicare4all neighborhood canvass!

Action #1 – THIS Sunday, 3/31 – Come join us at “Swap Meet Justice!” and help spread the word!

You do not need to be a lawyer. You do not need to speak another language. However, all volunteers with bilingual skills are appreciated.

Every last Sunday of the month!

When: 8am-3pm,  3/31, 4/28, 5/26, 6/30, 7/28, 8/25, 9/29, 10/27, 11/24, and 12/29. You may come for a shorter amount of time, but please come at 8:30 for new volunteer orientation. We also don’t start new applications after 1:30 or 2:00, so we can finish in time for the marketplace’s closing.

Where: Oxnard College Marketplace & Swap Meet (Map below, more information, hand-outs and posters for printing all here.)

Action #2 – THIS Sunday, 3/31 – Medicare4all neighborhood canvass!

While we’re at the Oxnard Swap Meet doing our normal “Swap Meet Justice!” immigration clinic and voter registration fair, we will be coordinating clipboards of volunteer materials for Medicare4all volunteers. Map to find us is below.

Continue reading “Sunday 3/31: 2 activities!!! “Swap Meet Justice!” citizenship fair & Medicare4all neighborhood canvass!”

Saturday: Come help us crowd canvass for Medicare4All at the Ventura St. Patrick’s Day Parade!

We will be crowd canvassing on March 16th. Come join us, even if you’ve NEVER done anything like this before!

Where: St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Main Street, Downtown Ventura
When: March 16th, 9:00am. Meet at Marie Shannon Confections – 27 S. Chestnut (near Main)
RSVP: None. Just come – coffee, delicious sweet & savory baked goods, and training is all included!
Questions? Email indivisibleventura@gmail.org

The Medicare for All Movement has begun!

Continue reading “Saturday: Come help us crowd canvass for Medicare4All at the Ventura St. Patrick’s Day Parade!”