First installment of John Mertens TV show available on YouTube

Dr. John Mertens discusses U.S. Drug Policy on his 30 minute monthly TV show with Cliff Thornton of Efficacy, and Joseph Brooks of L.E.A.P.
Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tuFjpQR4Z4
Part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBhb8JZkdjQ
Part 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HExcNLoUyos

John Mertens is Guest on TV Show “Eye on Windham”

U.S. Senate Candidate Dr. John Mertens is the guest on “Eye on Windham” on Wednesday, November 18, from 9-10 PM. “Eye on Windham” is a one-hour, live, unscreened telephone call-in show that is broadcast to 16 towns on Charter Communications Cable TV Channel 14. The show is co-hosted by Marvin Edelman.

Dr. John Mertens Leads in U.S. Senate Internet Poll

Dr. John Mertens has received the most votes in an online poll conducted by GroundUp CT, a blog described as “A place to talk about the issues that are important to us.” Ground Up CT is also connected to Organizing for Connecticut (OFC), “a statewide, non-partisan, grassroots organization that is 100% volunteer.” GroundUp CT and OFC have no involvement with the Mertens campaign.

The poll has been ongoing since Nov. 6, and can be viewed at http://groundupct.wordpress.com/polls/

The poll asks:
2010 US Senate Race. Which one will you vote for?
Christopher Dodd (D) US Senator

Merrick Alpert (D) Software Executve, Ex-Aide to Vice President Gore, Attorney & USAF Veteran

Harold Burbank (G) Attorney, Peace Activist & '08 Congressional Nominee
Sam Caligiuri (R) State Sen., Ex-Waterbury Board President & Attorney
Roger Pearson (D) Ex-Greenwich First Selectman, Attorney & Sports Agent

Tom Foley (R) Ex-US Ambassador to Ireland & Businessman

Vincent Forras (I) Businessman & Volunteer Firefighter

Linda McMahon (R) World Wrestling Entertainment Ex-CEO, State Board of Education Member & Sacred Heart University Trustee

John Mertens (CFL) College Professor, Mechanical Engineer & Progressive Activist

Jack Orchulli (R) Ex-Fashion Clothing Company CEO & '04 Nominee

Peter Schiff (R) Stockbroker & Anti-Tax Activist

Rob Simmons (R) State Business Advocate, Ex-Congressman, Ex-Congressional Aide & Ex-CIA Agent

Too Big to Fail: Chris Dodd's proposed regulatory bill falls short

You can read a discussion about Chris Dodd's proposed regulatory bill (announced yesterday) here:

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/business/july-dec09/banks_11-11.html

I believe that the proposal would do some good things (create better oversight of some banking functions), but that it consolidates too much oversight into one agency (imagine the still powerful banking lobby being able to target just one agency!), and that some parallel oversight should be left with the FDIC. Here's a statement from Simon Johnson, MIT Professor of Economics and Senior Fellow of the Peterson Institute for International Economics: "Well, the key is, obviously, you want a tough regulator going forward. You want an institution or a set of institutions that aren't going to be captured by the banks."

PROPOSAL FAILS TO PROPERLY ADDRESS "TOO BIG TO FAIL"

But this is not the biggest weakness of the proposal; the most important thing that new regulatory legislation should do is prevent banks from becoming "too big to fail". This is the biggest reason for our current economic disaster. Again from Simon Johnson, MIT Professor of Economics and Senior Fellow of the Peterson Institute for International Economics: "there's a little progress on this issue in the Dodd bill." and "But, really, that issue, what we do with these massive banks that, if they fail, they bring down the system, is not being addressed enough, either in this bill or in the Frank bill, and definitely front and center of the administration's original proposal."

It's very disappointing that during this relatively narrow window of opportunity to pass real regulatory reform, Chris Dodd has produced a 1,100 page bill that does not solve the biggest problem of all. From Joe Nocera, NY Times financial expert: "So, you know, if you have one Goldman Sachs, maybe you should have five Goldman Sachs, or five Morgan Stanleys that are smaller in size. These are issues that this Congress just does not want to tackle."

Our senators should listen to experts and create a regulatory agency that has the power to prevent banks from becoming "too big to fail", and prevent a repeat of what has happened. How can someone craft an 1,100 page bill and not include this?

Video of John Mertens Speech Posted by Independent Videographer

On September 26, 2009 John Mertens spoke at the Federation of Connecticut Taxpayers Organizations breakfest meeting. Rob Simmons, Sam Caligiuri, Peter Schiff, Linda McMahon, and Tom Foley also spoke.

http://www.mefeedia.com/watch/24006492

Excellent Column by Tom Condon Discussing Energy Use

I'm going to discuss this in my class tomorrow: "The Engineering and Public Policy of Global Sustainability"

http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/editorials/hc-plc-condon-dave-owen.artnov08,0,5274266.column

Nice to see accurate blog coverage of the campaign!

http://www.independentpoliticalreport.com/2009/10/independent-candidate-for-us-senate-from-connecticut-wants-multiple-party-nominations/comment-page-1/

Dr. John Mertens Produces First Monthly Television Show

Candidate for U.S. Senate Dr. John Mertens announced that he is producing a monthly television show that will be shown on public access television stations around the state. "John Mertens for U.S. Senate" features 30 minutes of in-depth discussion of a different issue each month between the candidate and guests.

The first show addresses U.S. Drug Policy, with guests Cliff Thornton, Green Party Candidate for Governor in 2006 and founder of Efficacy (www.efficacy-online.org), and Joseph Brooks, retired Connecticut police captain and spokesman for the national organization L.E.A.P. (Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, www.LEAP.cc)

The show will be broadcast November 6th, 9th, and 16th at 9:30pm on West Hartford Community Television, and will be shown on numerous stations around the state in December. It is available now on DVD to media representatives upon request: John@Mertens2010.com

Joe Lieberman is Wrong

Joe Lieberman's opinion piece in the Hartford Courant today is misleading and wrong:

http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/hc-commentarylieberman1101.artnov01,0,5275431.story

He has oversimplified the problem. See my posting on healthcare for a detailed explanation:
http://mertens2010.blogspot.com/2009/08/healthcare.html

The bottom line: we must reduce the cost of health care per person, and confront the $36 trillion shortfall that we face in Medicare over the next 75 years. The public option is a component of comprehensive health care reform that will help us do that.