In the crowded race to be Tucson’s Congresswoman, Mary Matiella stands out as the candidate who has experience in the federal government, a personal story of succeeding against big odds and a relatable presence that appeals to voters.
Experience, accessibility, and personality are the primary reasons she can beat incumbent train wreck, Rep. Martha McSally, but there are actually 8 good reasons:
1. Matiella’s positions are well fleshed out, favoring progressive ideas like Medicare for all and debt-free higher education, along with centrist positions like creating jobs by rebuilding infrastructure and eliminating waste in government. And she is “100% against the border wall.”
She bills herself as an unapologetic progressive candidate, but adds, “I’m not too liberal for the congressional district. Everything that I believe in has resonated with the vast majority of the people. I’m pretty well in line with the Democratic constituents here in the district. The folks I would like to swing over to our side are the independents — that’s one-third of the voters.”
In contrast, McSally avoids taking a stand on most issues. But McSally’s votes betray her right-wing positions, as she voted to repeal Obamacare, voted to cut funding for Planned Parenthood, and voted 95% in line with the Trump position.
2. Matiella has attracted key endorsements from US Rep. Raúl Grijalva, the progressive PAC Democracy for America, Pima County Supervisors Sharon Bronson and Richard Elias, Tucson City Council members Regina Romero and Paul Cunningham and TUSD Board member Adelita Grijalva.
Progressive Democrats Sponsor “UnKoch My Campus” with Prof. David Gibbs
David Gibbs, Professor of History and Government
Alarmed by dark money subverting Arizona’s public education system, the Progressive Democrats of America are sponsoring a special lecture, “UnKoch My Campus” on Thursday, September 28, 2017, 6:30 – 8:00 pm at the Ward 6 City Council Office at 3202 E. First Street, Tucson.
The speaker is David Gibbs, Professor of History and Government at the University of Arizona. He has cited the “extreme danger” that Trump poses in climate change and nuclear war, and has criticized US military interventions in foreign countries.
The Koch Bros’ tentacles are everywhere, including in Tucson at the University of Arizona campus. Their “Freedom Center” at the UofA is a think tank designed to turn students into future lobbyists for the right-wing, anti-education foundation. See the blog post Anti-Public School Lecture Set at Koch-Funded UofA Class in Tucson. The comments on the post are noteworthy also.
The corrosive influence of “dark money” has undermined the democratic institutions of the United States, but not just in our political system. The same wealthy donors and corporations have also been polluting our universities.
Recordings and documents from the Charles Koch Foundation and its network of professors shows how Koch’s academic programming is political rather than educational, “leveraging science and universities” for political gain.
Koch Industries and their network of wealthy donors use an “integrated strategy,” called the Structure of Social Change that uses targeted funding of universities, think tanks, and political groups for the “implementation of policy change.”
Discover this and more at this not-to-be-missed presentation.
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Posted in Activism, Commentary, Education