Comments by vlhamilton
Posted on March 15 at 12:37 p.m.
This is the consistent message that Progressive Democrats of America in Santa Barbara has been delivering to Congresswoman Capps office for the past 15 months in our Brown Bag Lunch vigils on the third Wednesday lunch hour of every month since January, 2010. The spending problem in this country is all about the "Defense" Spending that now comprises three quarters of our GDP and totals over $1 Trillion per year. I wish that the Tea Party would take a hard look at this and include it in their effort to "decrease government spending". Why is this ignored by their crowd? Hmmmmmm
"When a country continues year after year to spend more money on 'national defense' than it does on programs of social uplift, it is approaching spiritual death." (MLK Jr) Guess what Tea Party? You are attacking and trying to cut the WRONG THINGS. This is your wake up call. Leave our investments in programs of social uplift alone and go after this outrageous war spending. Stop letting the military/industrial complex continue inventing new enemies for us to attack. We, the American tax payers, are tapped out!
Posted on January 18 at 1:21 p.m.
This event has been postponed until February 22nd due to a conflict with the Fund for Santa Barbara's showing of the film "Gasland" at the Lobero Theater the same night. Please mark you calanders for Tuesday, Feb. 22nd--same place & time!
Posted on January 6 at 2:44 p.m.
Couldn't have said it better myself! Great job, Cathy!
Posted on December 23 at 11:59 a.m.
Earmarks are NOT the "spending problem" that plagues the United State's government. The Outrageous War and Pentagon budget represent over half of our GDP. This is WAR spending, not Defense spending. We need to call it what it is. The "War Department" was changed to the "Defense Department" in 1948, when the American people had caught on and were sick and tired of warfare after World War II. The Military Industrial Complex that controls our government needed to mislead the people into continuing to fund the perpetual wars of our Empire State, so they tried to convince us it was all about national "defense".
The other major "spending" problem is that the richest 2% of our population do not pay their fair progressive share of taxes! Wake up. There IS MONEY, we just need to change some things to get it where it is needed and away from those who don't need it!
Posted on October 2 at 5:15 p.m.
I entered medicine because it was my calling, and the fit has been better than I expected.I do not have to hide behind an anonymous name because I have nothing to hide. I will stand up for what is right and altruistic. It does bother me a bit that cops earn more than primary care physicians, but I in no way denigrate their service to us all. What really bothers me is the fact that the insurance and pharmaceutical companies profit enormously at all of our expense. It is long past the time for us to have a government funded and privately run health system in this country. Our recent recession has only worsened the problem because loss of jobs has often led to loss of health care. Perhaps the knuckle dragers who oppose sanity in health care will understand better when their insurance company denies their claim or they reach their cap and still owe a fortune for their care. Yes it happens all the time but some people are just not paying attention.
It is time for sanity to prevail in this discussion. We need to get the emotion out and the facts in. Perhaps turning off Fox News [if you can call it that] would help.
I sign this proudly but also humbly,
Van R Hamilton M.D.
Posted on August 25 at 3:07 p.m.
As the last affordable housing left in California's coastal Goleta community for senior citizens and low income families, it is imperative that these mobile home park rents remain reasonable and that condominium conversions of these parks are blocked. Times are too critically tight for most people to allow this to happen! These park owners must have some compassion and humanity. Money, greed and profit cannot be placed above the basic housing needs of our senior citizens! What if these were your elderly parents or grandparents?
Posted on July 31 at 2:02 p.m.
This just shows once again what moral integrity this fine young man possesses. I will be working hard to make him our next CA State Assembly representative! Thanks to Das for never letting us down.
Posted on July 19 at 11:26 a.m.
YES! this is really a "WIN-WIN" decision for our community and the growing number of homeless workers trying to exist in an expensive area like Santa Barbara. Conservationists and Community leaders should feel proud! Compassion and sense came together beautifully on this one!
Posted on May 7 at 11:50 a.m.
The cost for some things is just too high to consider. Anyone who witnessed the tragedy off our coastline in 1969 and sees what is now unfolding in the Gulf of Mexico and wants to take that kind of risk with the safest and most beautiful beaches in the area is just plain short-sighted and foolish. The seals, the birds, the surfers, the world famous Rincon--these things are just not replaceable for any price! Oil drilling is a very dirty business and our coastal waterways and ocean waters and the wildlife that live there can be damaged beyond repair if we trust these oil men. Thank you, Mr. Mayor, for your thoughtfulness and hesitation to approve of this potential disaster.
Previous Month
Posted on March 18 at 9:04 p.m.
This tragedy was felt by everyone in our community. Thank you for sharing Danny's story. It makes it all even sadder for his loss. Take care of yourself, Greg.
On Danny Lee McLaughlin, Jr.: 1966-2011