Important: Watch out for potential scams during the shutdown. VIRGINIA ATTORNEY GENERAL MARK HERRING.

“AG Herring warns Virginia of scams targeting those impacted by the shutdown” – WRIC News

Dear David,

As President Trump’s senseless shutdown drags on, it puts furloughed federal workers, including tens of thousands here in Virginia, at risk of being scammed or falling victim to a predatory loan. Even caring Virginians trying to donate to charities supporting furloughed workers could be at risk.

If you’re one of our fellow Virginians who has been caught up in President Trump’s stupid shutdown, please take a minute to check out these tips to help keep yourself safe.
(NEEDLESS TO SAY, THESE ARE PRECAUTIONS THAT ANY AMERICAN CAUGHT UP IN THE SHUTDOWN SHOULD TAKE.- DAVID)

There are unscrupulous criminals out there who will try to take advantage of furloughed workers and sympathetic donors with fake job offers, scam charities or phony interviews. They might even try to solicit donations that line their own pockets. So keep your guard up, and contact my Consumer Protection Section at the OAG if you encounter anything suspicious.

Several localities with large numbers of federal workers, especially in Northern Virginia, have created dedicated websites to connect federal workers with support and resources:

• Alexandria
• Arlington
• Fairfax
• Loudoun
• Prince William

This shutdown is inflicting real pain and hardship on millions of Americans, especially our fellow Virginians who work for or contract for the federal government.

It needs to end now.

But until the president comes to his senses, I know we’ll continue to rally around one another and support one another.

Take care,

Mark

LESSON FROM THE PAST: THE 2015 SOTUS. PT 1.

The following was taken from then President Barack Obamas 2015 SOTUS, with my commentary included. What do you think we could learn from it, that would help end the Current Government Shutdown?

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Having Listened to President Obamas STOTUS, and read the Full Transcript, to me the MOST IMPORTANT WORDS COME NEAR THE END.

Don't get me wrong, the POLICIES and ISSUES he Discusses are Very Important, and I will look at these in the Near Future. 

Unfortunately, if the Attitudes Toward Properly Addressing Divisive Topics doesn't change, it will be an uphill battle to Find and Pass Solutions that are in the Best Interests OF THE PEOPLE LIVING, WORKING, AND RAISING FAMILIES IN THE U.S.

Line #1-  

"Understand – a better politics isn't one where Democrats abandon their agenda or Republicans simply embrace mine."

Translation-  "You're not Always Right, and Neither am I.  Lets find Common Ground and Work from there.  The "IT'S MY WAY OR NOTHING ATTITUDE, IS THE ROAD TO FAILURE."

Line #2-  

"A better politics is one where we appeal to each other's basic decency instead of our basest fears."

Translation-  "If we Live in the Gutter, nothing gets accomplished, and Failure, Distrust, and Enmity is the Result.  IF WE LOOK FOR THE GOOD, INSTEAD OF PROMOTING IRRATIONAL  HATE AND FEAR AS AN AGENDA, THE RESULT WOULD BE SOMETHING WE WOULD ALL BE PROUD OF."

Line #3-  "A better politics is one where we debate without demonizing each other; where we talk issues, and values, and principles, and facts, rather than "gotcha" moments, or trivial gaffes, or fake controversies that have nothing to do with people's daily lives."

Translation-  "As Lawmakers, and Elected Representatives of the American People, OUR JOB IS TO PRIORITIZE REAL ISSUES THAT AFFECT PEOPLES LIVES, NOW AND IN THE FUTURE.  THE ETHICAL AND PRACTICAL APPROACH IS THE BEST SOLUTION, NOT IMMATURE INSULTS AND GLIB ONE LINERS THAT DO NOTHING TO ADDRESS REAL PROBLEMS. CONCENTRATING ON NON- ISSUES IS JUST ANOTHER FORM OF 'POLITICAL GRANDSTANDING', AND A CONTINUATION OF THE TYPICAL 'POLITICS AS USUAL' BRAND OF GOVERNMENT THAT SO MANY AMERICANS DESPISE.''

APA- Undergraduate summer diversity institutes accepting applications for 2019.

Dear DAVID, The APA is pleased to announce that several student applications are open for 2019 summer diversity institutes in philosophy. Diversity institutes give young philosophers the support and information they need to pursue a successful and meaningful career studying philosophy. The institutes were founded to address a lack of diverse representation in academic philosophy and thus focus on preparing women, people of color, LGBTQ+ folks, people with disabilities, first-generation students, and other diverse scholars for graduate study in philosophy. PIKSI Rock at Penn State will occur June 17–29, 2019, and PIKSI Boston at MIT will occur June 20–27, 2019. Both institutes share a student application, found on the PIKSI application page. Applications are due for both PIKSIs on January 31, 2019. Rutgers Summer Institute for Diversity in Philosophy: July 21–26, 2019. Accepting applications soon. Summer Immersion Program in Philosophy at Brown: July 21–August 3, 2019. Apply now. Applications due March 1, 2019. Summer Program for Women in Philosophy at UC San Diego: July 22–August 2, 2019. Apply now. Applications due March 1, 2019. Pittsburgh Summer Program 3: July 15–19, 2019. Apply now. Applications due March 1, 2019. COMPASS at Michigan: September 12–14, 2019. Apply now. Applications due April 15, 2019. Diversity institutes offer a unique and supportive educational experience. In an APA survey sent to diversity institute alumni, two anonymous respondents shared these positive remarks: “PIKSI made me see that there are many people actively working on improving the state of the profession, and that I was not alone in recognizing that there are huge problems that need to be addressed. PIKSI also helped me foster relationships with successful people in the field (both graduate students and faculty), which has helped me several times throughout my own application and graduate school experiences.” “These institutes are real treasures. I wouldn't be in graduate school if it wasn't for them, and I wouldn't be as successful as I have been in graduate school if it wasn't for them.” We encourage you to share this information with any undergraduate student who you believe would be a good fit for a diversity institute in philosophy. For more information, please visit the APA pages on Undergraduate Diversity Institutes in Philosophy and Undergraduate Institutes in Philosophy. Sincerely, Lucy Pawliczek Program Assistant

The American Philosophical Association University of Delaware 31 Amstel Avenue, Newark, DE 19716

Democrats: Don't compromise with Trump's extremism. CREDO action.

Democrats: Don't compromise with Trump's extremism.

Donald Trump is a hostage-taker, and Democrats must refuse to pay him any ransom.

Yesterday, Trump announced a plan for ending his government shutdown: give temporary protection to Dreamers and TPS holders in exchange for more ICE agents and billions for his border wall.

From Democrats, there can be only one answer: No.

Tell Democrats: Don't rescue Trump from his shutdown by compromising on his racist immigration agenda.

This is Trump's shutdown. He created the border crisis to sanction attacks on immigrants and coerce the public and Congress into backing his border wall and his extremist immigration agenda more broadly. But the shutdown isn't the only crisis Trump has manufactured to try to get his way, and federal workers aren't the only ones he's thrown under the bus to try to to achieve his racist goals.

He also ended DACA, creating a crisis for more than 700,000 Dreamers whose parents brought them to the United States as children and were granted the ability to work and be safe in the country they call home. And he created a crisis for hundreds of thousands of immigrants from countries shattered by wars, natural disasters and other humanitarian crises by taking away their Temporary Protected Status.

Yesterday, Trump offered relief to federal workers, Dreamers and TPS holders in exchange for billions for his border wall and thousands more deportation agents. Democrats must take a clear stance now: People aren't bargaining chips and we won't compromise when it comes to Trump's anti-immigrant agenda.

To protect our immigrant neighbors, friends and family members, we need to make sure Democrats continue to hold the line and refuse to cave to Trump's threats and hostage taking. Speak out now to make sure they keep standing strong.
Sign the petition to tell Democrats: Don't give an inch. No compromises with Trump's racism.

Trump's extremism

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We've reached 65,380 of our goal of 75,000.

Sign the petition

Petition to Democrats:

"People are not bargaining chips. Don't give an inch when it comes to Trump's shutdown. Refuse to trade Dreamers and TPS holders for Trump's wall and the expansion of ICE and CBP."

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