As both houses of Congress continue work on major farm legislation this month one of the central issues to be resolved is how much money can they take away from food assistance programs.

Yes, at a time when more than 50 million Americans (including 17 million children) are considered “food insecure” by the Dept. of Agriculture, our senators and representatives are haggling over how they can effectively cut back on feeding hungry children, seniors, and veterans, while at the same time continuing traditional subsidies for big Ag. and its allies.

Is it possible that men and women with the background and wherewithal to get elected to the U.S. Senate would not understand that there are limits to how deeply they can offend public sensibilities without paying a price?

By now we’ve just about heard it all regarding guns—call it what you wish: gun control, stopping gun violence, protecting gun rights, “second amendment remedies”—it’s all been covered, and I’ve doubted I could hear anything truly new.

And with this past week’s showdown vote in the Senate, I’d say we’ve felt it all as well. The sense of disappoint and outrage has been palpable here on the left coast. We have a hard time assimilating the utter venality of politicians so cowardly that they cannot conceive of doing the right thing even when it’s a matter of lives to be saved versus dollars to be raised.

When President Obama urged Congress in his State of the Union address to raise the federal minimum wage from $7.25 an hour to $9, he got plenty of support from his audience—well, not Republicans, of course. Still more applause, though, for linking future increases to the cost of living. He said even Mitt Romney had agreed with him on that point. But the cameras cut straight to a tight-lipped Paul Ryan, looking a bit peeved over the president’s presumptuous assertion.

The fate of this item in Congress is not clear yet, but certainly it will be vigorously opposed by conservatives in both houses. Not surprisingly, it was Herman Cain—fast food magnate and former President of the National Restaurant Association—who led the charge the next day on Fox News, tearing down the concept of paying low-rung workers something closer to a living wage.

Anyone who hasn’t seen this little “talking chart” video about wealth inequality in the U.S. that’s been circulating recently should take six and a half minutes of their time to check it out. It’s not news—at least it shouldn’t be—just concise exploration of basic truths that are becoming more and more self-evident.

Once we understand how stark the contrast is between what would be a fair or healthy distribution of wealth for our country and how things actually stand these days, we can’t help but wonder how it got this way and what can be done to at least stop the disease from worsening.

Some of you may have already had the chance to watch the inaugural events of this morning. The president gave a stirring and progressive speech, and gave us a road map for the next four years.

Join your fellow Democrats this evening to celebrate this historic event.

Monday, January 21st
5:00PM - 8:00PM

Las Aves Cafe At the Best Western Encina Lodge
2220 Bath St, Santa Barbara (Near Cottage Hospital)

Suggested Donation: $30 / $25 Student and Low-Income
(No one will be turned away)

Please RSVP here so we know to expect you.

You can also purchase tickets online here. Checks or debit/credit cards accepted at the door. 

Here are a few of the SB County Democratic Party's offical endorsements:

Check below for a full list!

President Barack Obama & Vice President Joe Biden

US Senate Dianne Feinstein

US Congress Lois Capps

State Senate Hannah-Beth Jackson

Statewide Propositions

Proposition 30 YES

Proposition 32 NO

Click here for a full list of all candidates and propositions endorsed by the party. 

“Because for Barack, success isn't about how much money you make, it's about the difference you make in people's lives.” -

Michelle Obama, Democratic National Convention, September 4th, 2012

Dear Dedicated Democrat,

I was honored to serve as a delegate to our Democratic National Convention last week, and I saw our party present a very different set of priorities than the 

Republicans--priorities of standing up for the middle class, women, seniors, young people, and the LGBTQ community. The Republican vision of America is about acquiring wealth at all costs, while ours is about looking out for one another and making things better for our children and grandchildren.

We are up against a party that is light on principle but very heavy on funds. To be
successful in this election, we must beat back the moneyed attacks on our amazing local candidates. We've also got to beat Proposition 32- a deceptive measure that would keep the floodgates open for corporate money while eliminating the rights of working people to contribute to campaigns.

Many of you have already contributed to re-elect our President, Barack Obama. That's important. Please remember that the funds that Obama raises don’t "trickle down" to the local Democratic efforts- and we are the ones who contact the voters on the phones, at their doors, and in their mailboxes. We do that with donations from local Democrats like you.

Help make this election a success here on the Central Coast, and give what you can to help our efforts--$250, $100, $50 or whatever you can afford. You can also sign up to give a smaller amount monthly.

Donations are crucial, but whether or not you are able to give, please contact us to volunteer by emailing info@sbdems.org or call 805-965-8030.

We've got less than 2 months to go--let's do this together.

Sincerely,

Daraka Larimore-Hall
Chair, Santa Barbara County Democratic Party