June Newsletter
Upcoming Events
Algoma First Friday Art
June 6, 5-7PM
Last month protest posters were made. Stop in the Algoma office on June 6th to help Stan and Amy Johnson make posters for the No Kings Day protest. Snacks will be available. Algoma’s art galleries and studios open their doors for an evening of exhibitions. Please support these businesses.
No Kings Protest
Saturday June 14, 1-2 PM
Algoma Legion Park
On June 14—Flag Day—Donald Trump wants tanks in the street and a made-for-TV display of dominance for his birthday, estimated cost $45M. A spectacle meant to look like strength. But real power isn’t staged in Washington. It rises up everywhere else. No Kings is a nationwide day of defiance. We are taking action to reject authoritarianism and show the world what democracy really looks like. We’re not gathering to feed his ego. We’re building a movement that leaves him behind.
On June 14th we’re showing up everywhere he isn’t—to say no thrones, no crowns, no kings. Bring your posters, children, grandchildren and your voices to Legion Park, 620 Lake Street, Algoma.
Speaking Of Democracy
Tuesday June 17, 6-8 PM
Red’s Pub & Grill, N6318 State Hwy 42, just south of Algoma
Becky Rasmussen—Training Director for Wisconsin Progress (recruits, trains, elects and develops progressive candidates and leaders at local and state levels. Amy Trader—Director of Human Resources at Willow Creek Behavioral Health and newly elected 1st Vice Chair of the 8th Congressional District Democrats. Amy will speak on recruiting and helping candidates in the upcoming elections.
Pizza provided. Cash bar during the social hour 6-6:30pm
“Where justice is denied, where poverty is enforced, neither persons nor property will be safe.”
Mark Your Calendars
July 10-13 Kewaunee County Fair, Luxemburg. Sponsoring an indoor booth. Volunteers needed.
August 1 First Friday, Algoma office
August 10 (Sunday) Shanty Days parade, Algoma, Noon—need parade volunteers
August 17 (Sunday) Annual summer picnic. Heritage Park, Algoma, 1-3pm
There is a lot to do! The party needs some help—send a message if you can help out with an event/activity at kcdpwi@gmail.com
In Case You Missed It
Speaking Of Democracy May Event
Crystal Brown, Executive Director of the Clean Water Action Council presented on PFA’s—toxic chemicals dangerous to health, found just about everywhere, in non-stick pans, shampoos, fast-food wrappers, fire fighting foam. Click here for a link to Crystal’s presentation.
What to do?
By member John Rybski
In a March talk at UWGB, retired six term Congressman Adam Kinzinger outlined the steps necessary to pull our nation out of its current political malaise. He recommended demanding in-person town halls with our members of Congress, passage of a Constitutional Amendment banning unlimited dark money in political campaigns, and revision of the primary system used to select Presidential candidates.
Current efforts to unconstitutionally expand the powers of the Presidency and mindlessly dismember federal services at home and abroad must stop. He suggests voters demand the House of Representatives stand up for its Constitutional powers and responsibility to control the purse strings of the federal government (Article I, Section 7, US Constitution) and Congress’ responsibility and authority to create, fund, and rescind federal programs and services (Article I, Section 8).
Kinzinger suggests voters demand in-person town halls through letters, phone calls to District and Washington offices, demonstrations at fund-raisers, and Letters to the Editor in local newspapers. Should this fail, he recommends picketing the in-district offices of our Representative. The current problem is not about a different party taking power in 2025. The crisis today is a result of two structural changes which took place in the last fifty years: the legal entry of unlimited, dark money in political campaigns and a revision after 1968 to the way Presidential candidates are nominated.
Kinzinger’s first structural change is straightforward: pass a Constitutional Amendment to ban unlimited and dark money in politics. The second structural change is to require ranked choice voting in primaries to generate a winner by a majority of votes cast (>50%) and elimination of the lowest choice nominees in each state. With ranked choice voting the winner achieves a majority through the sum of first, second, and subsequent choice votes, as needed.
Judging by the political rhetoric of Republicans, Democrats, and Independents, the public shares a concern with extremism. The road to moderating extremism requires reforming campaign financing to eliminate unlimited dark money and reforming the way we nominate candidates to ensure the emergence of the will of the reasonable majority.
Make 5 Calls
Contact Your Legislators
Calling your congressperson is the most effective way to influence policy. Use your laptop, desktop or smart phone application (app) 5calls.org to contact your elected officials on all critical issues. There are 66 issues (up from 61 last month) available to contact your legislators. If you need help to figure out how to use the app contact kcdpwi@gmail.com
Juneteenth
Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day, Jubilee Day and Cel-liberation Day is an American holiday celebrated on June 19th. On June 19, 1865, the Emancipation Proclamation, which had been issued on January 1, 1863, was read to enslaved African Americans in Texas by Gordon Granger. Two and a half years after the proclamation.
The Big, Beautiful Tax Bill
On May 22, House Republicans approved a legislative package that combines tax breaks, spending cuts, border security funding and other priorities. Several of the provisions would be temporary, lasting through Trump’s term in office. Republicans are using the package to reward allies and disadvantage political foes. No taxes on gun silencers (supported by the NRA), no money for Planned Parenthood. Naming a child’s saving account as “Trump” accounts, which would contribute $1K for babies born between 1/1/2024 and 12/31/2028. More drilling, mining on public lands. The bill is now passed to the Senate. Here is a diagram of how the tax cut provisions may affect you.
Office Hours
Location: 305 Steele St, Suite 102, Algoma. Office hours: Mondays 3-6 p.m. The office will be closed on Friday, July 4th.
Fridays 4-7 p.m.
Stop in to see the poster display about the National Popular Vote (NPV) campaign. All public officials in the U.S. are elected by popular vote except two, the President and Vice-president of the U.S. Five U.S. presidents were not elected by the popular vote, including George Bush and Donald Trump.