Candidate for 17th Congressional District......Dan Moadus

[Dan Moadus]

Just remember folks. The founder--a self proclaimed communist.

[rusty river]

Perhaps consumers benefit, but those benefits must be weighed against the job losses created by free trade.

As I stated in a previous post, free trade is an unfair deal for the US due to our regulatory and labor structure.  So why not change your position to one that favors FAIR trade, since free trade doesn't work for the more highly developed nations.

I agree. Free trade leads to domestic job losses which equals LESS CONSUMERS which leads to more job losses...etc.

[irishbobcat]

Our Mission
The Apollo Alliance is a coalition of labor, business, environmental, and community leaders working to catalyze a clean energy revolution that will put millions of Americans to work in a new generation of high-quality, green-collar jobs. Inspired by the Apollo space program, we promote investments in energy efficiency, clean power, mass transit, next-generation vehicles, and emerging technology, as well as in education and training. Working together, we will reduce carbon emissions and oil imports, spur domestic job growth, and position America to thrive in the 21st century economy.

Background
Apollo was launched in the aftermath of the 9/11 tragedy to catalyze a clean energy revolution in America, a revolution in the way our country generates and uses energy so profound that it will touch literally every quarter of American life. Harkening back to President Kennedy's visionary call to restore America's technological leadership by landing the first man on the Moon within the decade, the Apollo Alliance spoke directly to the core values we share as Americans: our can-do spirit, our inherent optimism, and the pride we feel (or want to feel) about our country's place in the world. The subtext was clear: we did it before, we can do it again. This is America, the richest, most technologically advanced and industrious country in the world. If anyone can do it, we can. And we will.

Not surprisingly, the Apollo message captured the imagination of people throughout the country. Soon our phone lines were buzzing with calls from political leaders of all stripes wanting to find out what they could do in their states, in their cities, and at the national level to advance Apollo's clean energy agenda. Apollo responded to the increasing demand for our work by establishing Apollo coalitions in nine states and five cities to promote policy change consistent with our Ten-Point Plan for reducing America's dependence on foreign oil. We released highly regarded energy analyses that confirmed the economic benefits of converting to a clean energy economy and published guides outlining specific strategies for investing in clean energy, greater energy efficiency, and innovative transit and transportation solutions.

Apollo's unique role in the climate debate is our ability to mobilize a coalition unprecedented in its strength and diversity by speaking directly to the economic benefits of moving toward a clean energy economy. In 2008, as the economy and energy rose to top Americans' concerns, we released The New Apollo Program, an update of our original Ten-Point Plan developed for the 2004 elections. The plan identifies priorities for federal action and investment, including a "cap and invest" program to reduce carbon emissions; investments in energy efficiency, renewable energy, and mass transit; a plan to revitalize the manufacturing sector; and specific strategies to expand opportunities for American workers in the clean energy economy.

The New Apollo Program outlines a comprehensive economic investment strategy to build America's 21st century clean energy economy. Released at a critical juncture in our nation's economic future – as Congress and the administration called for a $700 billion rescue package to shore up our unstable financial infrastructure – the Apollo program would generate and invest $500 billion over the next ten years to accelerate the development of our vast clean energy resources, dramatically reduce carbon emissions that are destabilizing our planet, and transform America into the global leader of the new green economy.

In addition to releasing The New Apollo Program, our key accomplishments in 2008 included:

Publishing The Apollo Economic Recovery Act, Apollo's proposal for a comprehensive quick start, clean energy economic recovery strategy to immediately create or retain 650,000 direct green-collar jobs and an additional 1.3 million indirect jobs in communities across the country.

Gaining inclusion of $25 billion in the 2008 federal economic rescue package for low-interest loans to auto manufacturers who retool their factories to make cleaner vehicles. Apollo worked with Michigan Senator Debbie Stabenow to secure the loan provisions and funding.

Securing funding to launch Apollo organizing campaigns in Missouri and North Dakota to build broad state, local and federal support for clean energy, good jobs initiatives.

Convening a roundtable of policymakers and national business, labor, and environmental leaders to develop recommendations supporting the domestic manufacture of renewable energy systems and components – our "Made in America" manufacturing agenda from The New Apollo Program. We are working with several Midwest senators to incorporate these recommendations into recovery and stimulus packages, and in a broader energy bill expected to be introduced next year.

Organizing Newark's Green Future Summit in partnership with Newark, NJ Mayor Cory Booker and other national and local partners. The September 2008 summit and the year of planning leading up to it were the products of a commitment we made together at the Clinton Global Initiative last fall to help establish Newark as a national model for clean and efficient energy use, green-collar job creation, and green economic development.

Writing and publishing Imagining Newark's Green Future, a report documenting our year working in Newark. The report reviews our Newark project in depth and presents it as a model for how other cities and communities can organize green-collar job programs.

Writing and co-publishing Green-Collar Jobs in America's Cities, a guide for urban leaders about ways to expand local green-collar jobs. The guide explains how to link job creation and economic development strategies to methods of reducing CO2 emissions and meeting other energy goals. At the same time, we co-wrote (with the Center on Wisconsin Strategy and the Workforce Alliance) a state version of the report, Greener Pathways.

Co-convening, with Green For All, a roundtable for local green-collar job practitioners (within the Apollo network and beyond) to discuss best practices and identify shared priorities. Like our reports and the summit, the roundtable is a tool for moving the idea of green-collar jobs from a theory to a reality across the country.

2009 Program Priorities
Apollo's 2009 program priorities are to:

Promote federal policies, within the framework of The New Apollo Program, to spur national economic recovery through strategic investment in America's clean energy economy.

Strengthen and build state and local Apollo coalitions to promote policies, implement programs to speed investment in clean energy and energy efficiency, and put people to work in well-paid, green-collar jobs.

Organization
In late 2007 Apollo spun off from its founding organizations, Campaign for America's Future and Center for Wisconsin Strategy, formed its own Board of Directors, and expanded its staff and program to better meet the critical challenge of promoting clean energy and good jobs. The Apollo Alliance is a project of the Tides Center, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization.


Phil Angelides Joins Apollo As Board Chairman, Other Prominent Americans Also Join Apollo Board

Former California Treasurer Phil Angelides recently took the helm as Chairman of the Apollo Alliance Board of Directors. Commenting on his new role at the Apollo Alliance, Angelides said, "I believe deeply that we can curb global warming and create a new wave of economic opportunity for our people. We can spark a clean energy revolution that will reduce our dependence on oil and create millions of good jobs for American families." Angelides recently addressed mayors from across America at the Sundance Summit.

As California's Treasurer, Phil launched the ground breaking Green Wave initiative under which California's two largest public pension funds, CalPERS and CalSTRS, committed to invest $1.5 billion in clean energy and cutting edge technologies, as well as in environmentally responsible companies. Prior to joining the Board, Phil served on Apollo's National Advisory Committee for a number of years.

A number of other prominent Americans are also lending their energies to Apollo as new members of our incoming Board. They include: former Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality Kathleen McGinty (also former head of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection); Sierra Club Executive Director Carl Pope; Silicon Valley pioneer Regis McKenna; United Steelworkers International President Leo Gerard; and Natural Resources Defense Council President Frances Beinecke.

[Dan Moadus]

While we wait for Dennis to fill us in, i'll provide a little background. One of the founders of the Apollo Alliance is Van Jones. Jones is a Yale Law School graduate who was recently appointed to be the "Green Jobs" czar by Obama. Jones was a black nationalist, a radical community activist, and a self described Communist. He was arrested in the Rodney King riots and became a communist in jail. Here is a couple of his quotes:

   "I was a rowdy nationalist on April 28th [1992], and then the verdicts came down on April 29th. By August, I was a communist. (...)"

    "I met all these young radical people of color – I mean really radical: communists and anarchists. And it was, like, 'This is what I need to be a part of.' I spent the next ten years of my life working with a lot of those people I met in jail, trying to be a revolutionary."

More on this group, and these people later..........Dan Moadus

[Dan Moadus]

Dennis, so tell us about the Apollo Alliance. Which organizations are in it, who heads them up, and a little of their backgrounds, and purpose?

[irishbobcat]

Dan, what a sad, strange, little man you are.

[Dan Moadus]

Start paying attention to posts from the "Left", and you will start to see references to "Appolo". Our friend Dennis has referenced it in a post. This alliance will give us a glimpse at the heart of the "Statist" beast. It represents the achievement of "Critical Mass" in the world of radical leftist politics, and is the combining of most of the socialist, communist, anti-capitalist and America hating groups and organizations in our country. They sense opportunity in the election of Barack Obama and are starting to panic as they see it slipping away as America awakens to who these people are. Watch as they make a last chance push, to enact as much of their agenda before they have to beat a hasty retreat.

[Rick Rowlands]

Perhaps consumers benefit, but those benefits must be weighed against the job losses created by free trade.

As I stated in a previous post, free trade is an unfair deal for the US due to our regulatory and labor structure.  So why not change your position to one that favors FAIR trade, since free trade doesn't work for the more highly developed nations.

[Dan Moadus]

Free trade has always been good. Whether its between partners across town, across state lines, or across international borders. When trading is done honestly, and without artificial barriers, both partners benefit, or the trade wouldn't occur. Who loses? Companies who previously enjoyed selling products for higher prices because of government protection from world wide competition. Who wins? Consumers, and companies that previously were shut out of markets out side our country, because of foreign government imposed tariffs designed to protect their companies.

When you come right down to it, there are only three choices available when it comes to trading. The first would be to bar entry into the United States of all products from other countries and just allow Americans to buy from American companies. There are those who support that, though it exists no where in the world but some third world countries.

The second option would be to allow trade outside our borders, but let our government decide which American companies to protect, by placing high enough tariffs on certain products to prevent Americans from buying the imported goods. The problem with this of course is it raises prices for American consumers and forces companies to purchase protection by contributing and supporting  politicians who will decide which company is deserving of protection. Usually of course, its the companies that donate the most to the politician's re-election efforts. It also bears an uncanny similarity to the old Mafia protection racket. It is also bad because other countries would follow suit, essentially banning American products by placing high enough tariffs to force their citizens to by only from their domestic producers.  I'm sure you heard of cases where Japan levied thousands of dollars of tariffs on our cars while we only added hundreds in tariffs to their cars. That's unfair trade.

The third and best option, I think, is to make an agreement that each trading partner will not place any tariffs or artificial barriers on each others products. Kind of let the chips fall where they may type of deal. I'm sure you can see that with this third option consumers benefit because of lower prices and greater choices. Of course there are companies that can no longer can compete that will go out of business, but happens all the time within countries, as can be seen when a Walmart store moves in. Of course there are people who would ban Walmart stores as well.

Oh, and by the way, that third option I described is NAFTA.

So, to those who disagree, how about describe a fourth option, or tell me why you think we would be better off with the first or second option I described?

[irishbobcat]

I OPPOSE NAFTA......

[sfc_oliver]

No Dennis , Mr Moadus said he supports Nafta, if I remember correctly. he was rather open about it.

[irishbobcat]

So Dan, your lying to us too......

[Dan Moadus]

dan i wonder if you would have the same position if you were of the working class such as the steelworkers, autoworkers, and other manufacture jobs that left the state of Ohio to Mexico, and other Asian countries due to the nafta agreement.

I am of the working class. I worked in all those industries you wrote of.  Face it, any politician that tells you he will do something about NAFTA, is lying to you. They all support it.

[Rick Rowlands]

Oh ok, gay, lesbian, transgender and bisexual.  Now I got it. 

[sfc_oliver]

gay, lesbian, something, something