Progressive Democrats of America & Progressive Democrats of Santa Barbara NEXT MEETING FEB 17! “Progressive Democrats of America (PDA) " is a grassroots PAC that works both inside the Democratic Party and outside in movements for peace and justice. Our goal in 2009: Expand progressive influence in Congress as we build on our 2008 electoral successes. PDA's advisory board includes seven members of Congress and activist leaders such as Tom Hayden, Medea Benjamin, Thom Hartmann, Jim Hightower, and Lila Garrett." www.pdamerica.org Progressive Democrats of Santa Barbara (PDSB) is a chapter of PDA. PDSB meets at least monthly, usually on the third Wednesday of every month at 6:30 pm (but schedule may vary). To see what's happening at our next gathering click here. Our immediate goal as a group of concerned community activists is to organize a caring and intelligent local response to the financial calamity now besetting our nation and the world. We ask the question: In this time of economic crisis how do we respond in positive & sustainable ways that respect the dignity of all people?Whatever can be done to alleviate suffering and human tragedy among our friends and neighbors should be done. PDSB Issue Areas Include: 1. Economic Justice 2. End the War, Redirect Funding 3. Health Care for All 4. Clean, Fair & Transparent Elections & Government 5. Protect our Environment & Stop Global Warming 6. Civil Rights and Civil Liberties ![[PDA - Progressive Democrats of America - Stand Up. Take Action. Vote.]](http://pdamerica.org/images/ads/pdalink-150x200.gif)
![[PDA - Heathcare NOT Warfare - Sign the Petition.]](http://pdamerica.org/images/ads/HealthNotWar_final.jpg)
MOST VALUABLE POLITICAL GROUP: The Nation Magazine Progressive Democrats of America Paul Wellstone's "Democratic Wing of the Democratic Party" finally has a functional voice, in the form of PDA, a national group that has over the past several years struggled mightily – and often effectively – to pull the party to the left on issues of war and peace, health-care reform, economic justice and presidential accountability. While Democratic "leaders" in Washington compromised on matters of principle, PDA pushed for a fixed timeline for the withdrawal of troops from Iraq, questioned Barack Obama's talk of surging more U.S. troops into Afghanistan, worked with Michigan Congressman John Conyers to promote a single-payer response to the health-care crisis and argued that, yes, George Bush and Dick Cheney should be impeached. When Obama secured the Democratic presidential nod, PDA forged an essential bridge to independent lefties, mounting a Progressives for Obama campaign, successfully pressuring party platform writers to improve language on health care and trade issues and organizing (with support from The Nation) a busy program of policy events on the fringe of the Democratic National Convention in Denver. In a measure of the PDA's expanding role within the party, those convention sessions attracted a dozen key members of Congress including Conyers and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Maryland, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, actor Sean Penn and dozens of delegates. As 2008 ended, PDA was still taking on the most daunting issues – urging Obama and other Democrats to do more to promote a ceasefire in Gaza – and proving that this group understands the importance of keeping the pressure on party leaders in Washington to serve not just as Democrats but as progressives. |
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