Concern over the NDAA (National Defense Authorization Act) united peace activists, Occupiers and progressive liberals standing together with gun rights activists, Tea Partiers and social conservatives to address the Coos County Commission today. Limited to three minute increments people spoke for the better part of an hour to ask the commissioners to put a resolution opposing the NDAA on the July agenda for a vote. Obviously, the speakers today hope the board would pass the resolution but ultimately, all that was asked today was for the board to put it to a vote.
You can read more about efforts to repeal the NDAA by following these links
Stop NDAA – Hedges vs Obama
Commissioner Bob Main has expressed willingness to support a resolution opposing the NDAA but John Sweet and Melissa Cribbins are disinclined to take up what they have indicated is a federal issue. A resolution is basically a symbolic act but as with all grassroots efforts they start local and move on to the state legislature and eventually back to Congress. Several communities have adopted resolutions opposing the Act which allows the indefinite detention of American as well as foreign citizens without being charged.
For reasons unknown, neither Sweet nor Cribbins wants to vote on a resolution. By voting they would have to declare a position and despite an impassioned plea from a young veteran of the war in Afghanistan sickened by their complacency and the occasional rudeness of the board, (Cribbins kept playing with her phone throughout the testimony), it looks like they will ignore their constituents and take the cowardly approach and drop the matter all together. If my impressions are correct they may not have this option, however, as liberals and conservatives alike are willing to work together on a citizen initiative if necessary.
Contact the commissioners and tell them you want this matter placed on the agenda to begin the important process of public debate and information sharing necessary to retain our civil liberties. All change begins at the grassroots.
Bob Main
(541) 396-7540
John Sweet
(541) 396-7541
Melissa Cribbins
(541) 396-7539
Open statement to PANDA (People Against the NDAA) from Senator Jeff Merkley.
‘Thank you for your advocacy in fighting for our constitutional and civil liberties. A constituent contacted me sharing your efforts to make Oregonians aware of the indefinite detainee provisions in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).’ -U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR)
Public servants that refuse to defend the rights of the people they are elected or appointed to represent should be removed from office at the earliest electoral opportunity.
To borrow a phrase from a patriotic American in Statuary Hall (the old House Rotunda, Capitol Hill),
When you find you have scoundrels and scalawags in office, you need to turn them out, and you need to keep turning them out until you send honest men (or women) to the Coos County Commission.
Carlin knew them well, different faces, same bullshit. I saw hundreds of young people protesting Monsanto in Coos Bay, families, teens, etc. These young people deserve honest news reporting, I feel so strongly about it, an informed population is essential to a functioning society. The World refuses to provide honest (my opinion only)reporting of the critical issues we face in Coos County, they have shown they will not waver in their determination to bring Stuart Smiley to Coos Bay,and they question why no one wants to pay for what should be news, even those young uns are paying attention now, thanking them again.
Cribbins the follower is a cruel joke. We elected all three to represent the people – all people – but to support the wishes of the majority. Sweet and Cribbins, the majority want your support in this matter and they expect it now.