FALL 2009 

“Whenever we dumb down the political debate, we lose.” 

 

-Barack Obama

Be the Change Baederwood has  many things to be proud of this quarter. Our Job Seekers Forum in August drew great speakers and great job seekers. In our meetings we have in depth discussions on pressing topics  from Health Care Reform to local issues. Organizing canvassing and phone banking.  We are making a place for Time Banking and urging members to make use of timely opportunities to  Meet the Candidates and communicate with our elected officials by spreading the word through email bulletins. 

We support our members. We pay attention to and promote concerns like Nate Kleinman’s two-week fast in solidarity with the non-violent resistance in Honduras. We volunteered at the Elkins Estate. We helped to fundraise for a family who has illness and lost insurance. 

Be the Change 

MONTHLY MEETINGS 

Fourth Wednesday of every month

7-9 PM THE ELKINS ESTATE - located on Ashbourne Rd between Old York Rd and Washington Lane 
For directions: http://www.elkinsestate.org

• JANUARY 10 @ ABINGTON FRIENDS LIBRARY 

 "Should the Cheltenham Township Charter be amended to add a Bill of Rights which recognizes the right to local self-government, asserts that corporations do not have the same rights as people or other constitutional rights nor a right to unearned profits, and that recognizes the right of residents to approve or reject land development proposed by certain corporations known as public benefit corporations?" 

I am increasingly concerned with this ballot question being asked in Cheltenham township!Cheltenham is a “home rule” township. This means it creates its own laws on any topic not exclusively regulated by the state or federal government. This Home Rule amendment has ramifications far beyond what I hope the writers and signers intended.!If this passes, it will cost the residents of Cheltenham township a fortune. 

If the home rule passes, Cheltenham taxpayers will have to foot the bill to defend it in the courts as it will assuredly be challenged. Because the home rule change calls for corporations to no longer labeled as persons, corporations will no longer be charged taxes.

Our tax law states that only persons are charged taxes. It is unconstitutional and violates the 14th amendment. 

I feel I must mention that in the 1960’s in the south these types of home rule charters were used to enable segregation. 

Meg Makransky Sheketoff 10/26/09 

www.bethechangebaederwood.org