Tuesday, August 31, 2004
Republican Convention letters
Your Assignment:
From supporting the outsourcing of American jobs to turning surpluses into record deficits to putting the interests of HMOs and drug companies over the interests of patients and families, President Bush has turned away from the middle class and the American dream.
The Republican National Convention starts today. Write a letter before Wednesday and submit it to your local newspapers so that it will be timely. Tell your community that the Bush's economic record in OH speaks for itself -- the Bush economy is bad for OH's middle-class.
Everything you need is in this email. To increase the likelihood of you getting published, write your letter in response to an article on the economy published in your local newspaper.
Statistics on Ohio's Bush economy and other info are below.
Go to OhioTalkingPoints.com for links to Ohio and national newspapers.
When you're done, report back to the Media Corps and post a copy of your letter at the OhioTalkingPoints.com Big Board.
P.S. To get a sense of how this assignment ties in to the broader political context, check out these articles recently published on the economy. The Las Vegas Sun published "Job slump tied to cost of health care" and The Arizona Republic led with this article about the economy, "More in U.S. live in poverty."
Perhaps more useful are articles from Ohio papers about the economy. Use these as springboards for your letters. Mention each newspaper's particular article in your letter to its editor--it'll be more likely to be printed.
Columbus Dispatch: "Poverty plight worsens in Ohio"
Cleveland Plain Dealer: "Cleveland No.1 in big-city poverty" and Sunday editorial, "The capital of need"
Cincinnati Post: "Census: 170,000 Ohio jobs lost"
Dayton Daily News: "Poverty and Insurance data provide presidential political fodder"
Toledo Blade: "Poverty rate rises for local children"
Or pick an Ohio paper from this list. Chances are it had an article on August 27 about the Census Bureau's report on income and poverty statistics.
Download the DNC's "Mission Not Accomplished" talking points sheet for Ohio.
Ohio's Bush Economy:
Since Bush took office:
* 114,000 people in Ohio have lost their health insurance.
* 170,000 manufacturing jobs have been lost in Ohio since Bush took office.
* The average wages for growing industries in Ohio pay $11,869 less than in contracting industries.
* Ohio family health insurance premiums increased by an estimated $2,704 to $9,300.
* College tuition has increased by $2,026 at Ohio's four-year public universities.
* Bankruptcy skyrocketed as 116,615 Ohio households filed for bankruptcy in 2003, a 68% increase from 2000.
* Child care costs increased by $2,050 to $12,910 for an Ohio family with two children under age 5 in full-time daycare.
