Weekly Report from Boulder
I just got my latest bulletin from Move On and I can’t believe how mad this is making me. As if our government did not already make complete fools of themselves in the immediate aftermath of the hurricane, the “how we pay for it” piece is now even more absurd. While Bush wants to preserve the tax cuts for his buddies programs, he says that we must cut Medicare and Medicaid, the funding for public broadcasting that we already fought to preserve once, and the “highway” bill. Interestingly, Bush always refers to this as “the highway” bill. It’s not.

SAFETEA-LU, or the Safe, Accountable, Flexible Transportation Equity Act –a Legacy for Users is a comprehensive transportation bill that has been in the works for many years. The funding of programs goes far beyond just highways and includes a congestion mitigation and air quality improvement division, the safe routes to schools program, and transportation planning components that assure a seat at the table for bicyclists and pedestrians.

According to Move On, the cost of the reconstruction could be more than offset by rolling back the tax cuts on the wealthiest 1% of Americans. Which would you rather see, the rollback of their tax cuts, or continued support of Medicare, Medicaid, alternative transportation, AMTRAK, the NEA, the NEH, the Peace Corps, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the Global AIDS Initiative, schools for the Bureau of Indian Affairs, or the Hydrogen Fuels Initiative? See this link for the full list of proposed programs to be cut. HYPERLINK "http://www.political.moveon.org/images/operation_offset/operation_offset.htm?id=6041-135363-FjG1gHjB8_Bpmc6Kpl3.Kg&t=4" http://www.political.moveon.org/images/operation_offset/operation_offset.htm?id=6041-135363-FjG1gHjB8_Bpmc6Kpl3.Kg&t=4

Last week it was a treat to watch Dave Letterman on Wednesday night. He featured Men With Banjos (Who Know How to Use Them) featuring Steve Martin, Earl Scruggs, and Pete Wernick. Pete Lives in my little town outside of Boulder and accompanying them were his wife Joan, a KGNU DJ herself, and their son Will. How great to see them on national TV. And yes, those guys could play those banjos!

Thursday George and I headed over to Wind Over the Earth for Maxine’s going away party. She’s heading back to England after many years of living here. Mickey, who runs WOTE, seems to know an amazing array of people. George and I spent a good bit of time talking to great local musicians Dexter Payne and Michael Stanwood.

Friday night found Sharon Jones and the Dapkings making their first ever Boulder stop. I sure hope it’s not the last. That woman has soul coming out of her like Aretha. She knows how to put on a show! The band is so tight and did a classic style of an opening set before bringing on the singer. Then Binky Griptite, the wonderful guitarist and emcee, brought on Miss Sharon Jones. It wasn’t long before everyone in the house had a big smile as the funk poured over us. What a great time! I haven’t danced like that in a long time.

Elaine C. Erb. KGNU Music Director. <º))))><
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