Blogmocracy in Action!
Guest post by: Bumr50!

How our cities and towns are at the heart of Federal budget woes.

The local rag reported that one of the newly elected Pittsburgh City Council was going to “Meet with Obama.”

Being the concerned citizen that I am, I clicked the link to see just what they are “meeting” to discuss.

To my lack of surprise,it appears she is there for a big whinefest about lack of Federal funding for urban type projects:

Pittsburgh councilwoman to meet Friday with Obama
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Pittsburgh City Councilwoman Natalia Rudiak will meet with President Barack Obama and other administration officials Friday in Washington, D.C.

Ms. Rudiak, who’s in her first term, was invited as part of a delegation from the American Way Foundation’s Young Elected Officials Network.

She said she plans to speak about federal funding cuts, public safety and community development issues.

As I’m more than a little concerned about the indoctrination of our youth, ESPECIALLY “urban” youths who sadly often have no counterbalancing and reason at home, and have no other resources to learn other than their local city school, I decide to investigate this organization with the overly long progressive-sounding name.

A little Googling:

About the YEO Network
Mission Statement

The mission of the Young Elected Officials (YEO) Network is to unite and support progressive elected leaders who share a passion for building communities that reflect values of freedom, fairness and opportunity.

The YEO Network supports elected leaders ages 35 and under, as they define issues, develop solutions, and respond to the needs of their communities. By exchanging ideas, developing leadership skills and connecting with policy development organizations, YEO Network members will be empowered to transform their political vision into progressive action.

Through these means, the YEO Network will connect the progressive agenda at community levels across the country, ultimately producing an enduring pipeline of well-prepared national and world class leaders.

YEO is a subsidiary of the People for the American Way Foundation.

Here are there boards(?) of directors:

Boards of Directors
People For the American Way Board of Directors

Lara Bergthold — Chair
David Altschul
James A. Autry
Alec Baldwin
Dr. Arthur J. Bellinzoni
Mary Frances Berry
The Hon. Julian Bond
The Hon. John H. Buchanan, Jr.
James Hormel
Dolores Huerta
Madeline Janis
Michael B. Keegan
Howard Klein

Norman Lear, Founding Chair
Seth McFarlane
Rev. Timothy McDonald
Yolanda Parker
John Payton
Deborah Rappaport
David S. Rose
Joshua Sapan
Carole Shields
Clyde (Ev) Shorey
Margery Tabankin
Reg Weaver
Geraldine Day Zurn
People For the American Way Foundation Board of Directors

James A. Autry — Chair
David Altschul
Alec Baldwin
Arthur Bellinzoni
Mary Frances Berry
Barbara Bluhm-Kaul
The Hon. John H. Buchanan, Jr.
Brian Cohen
Bertis Downs
Ronald Feldman
Daniel Katz
Michael B. Keegan
Norman Lear, Founding Chair
Rev. Timothy McDonald

Deborah Rappaport
David S. Rose
Joshua Sapan
Rabbi David Saperstein
Clyde (Ev) Shorey
Kyrsten Sinema
Rev. William Sinkford
Margery Tabankin
Kathleen Turner
Ruth B. Usem
Reg Weaver
Nate Westheimer
Geraldine Day Zurn

Now, what do any of these people have to do with Pittsburgh? (It’s a rhetorical question, I just thought I’d shine some light on the progress of these fascists.)

A-ha. Bought and paid for:

Natalia earned her Bachelor’s Degree from George Washington University through scholarships from the Pennsylvania and national AFL-CIO. During her undergraduate career, she studied at the London School of Economics and Political Science as well as Jagiellonian University in Poland.

http://nataliarudiak.com/about/

Operation get stuff:

Through finding creative solutions between non-profits, foundations, and businesses – and through old-fashioned community building – we can bring our neighborhoods into the fold and improve the quality of life for all residents. It is time we had a voice on City Council who will fight to bring the resources that we deserve!

http://nataliarudiak.com/nataliasplan/

Now while you may initially write this off as a local issue, keep in mind the original story. She’s headed to Washington. Cause I can assure you that the City of Pittsburgh ain’t got no money. It’s in receivership.

Now, how many other towns have this same representative going to DC to beg for money. It adds up.

Remember : it starts local. Elections have consequences.

– Bumr50