Random Thoughts From Marybeth

Just Go Vote Foundation (Again)

I had noticed an increase in the number of visits to my blog that came from searches for the Just Go Vote Foundation. I was wondering if they were making phone calls again...I just got my answer. (Previous posts here and here.

A robo-caller who claims to be "Bob Franklin" called to let me know about the horrors of outsourcing. Bob (I'm sure he wouldn't mind me calling him by his first name) said that we are going to lose 3 million jobs to outsourcing. Poor Bob is worried about our high school and college graduates not being able to find jobs.

He only seemed to be bothered by jobs that were going abroad, not ones where human workers were being replaced by robo-callers. I can see his concern though. He probably doesn't want the robo-kids moving back in with robo-mom and robo-dad because their potential jobs are being done by a call center in India.

Bob encouraged me to vote in the November election to make sure our jobs stay here. He didn't mention who he thought I should vote for...but I do know who has been ranting talking about outsourcing. Remember "Benedict Arnold CEOs"?

Sorry, Bob. You and Senator Kerry may think that voters are ill-informed and will be swayed by your propaganda but even Kerry's economic advisors "say the number of jobs involved in outsourcing represents less than 1 percent of all U.S. jobs."

The Heritage Foundation has a list of Ten Myths about Jobs and Outsourcing that's worth reading if you're concerned about jobs being moved overseas.

I rechecked JustGoVote.org, which I'm assuming is the same group that's behind the phone calls. A blurb from their index page says, "Since the tragedy of 9/11 communities across the U.S. have been rocked by the Iraq War, terrorism, corporate and religious scandals, job and retirement issues, a weakening economy, and deep concerns about the direction our country is taking. If our Democracy is to prevail now more than ever every potential and qualified voter must turn to their neighbors and say...Just Go Vote."

When I first looked at the site, all but a small section was under construction. There isn't much more there now but they have added a "links" page. You would think that an organization that promotes voter registration and voting wouldn't still have the link to download a registration form still under construction.

Update: I got another call. This time from "Susan". She's worried about the high cost of drugs for the elderly. I tried to tell her to try the local high school but she wouldn't listen. She just kept going on about how her parents may not be able to afford their medications and how the evil government won't let them get the drugs from Canada.

Medicare can't negotiate for lower priced drugs from Canada but I don't think they can stop Susan's parents from doing so on their own. Susan didn't tell me why more of my tax money should be going to buy drugs for her parents. She also left out any mention that the Medicare Act of 2003 put some limitations on court delays of generic drugs and that the drug discount card gives a 30 to 60% discount off generic drugs. Susan is not a savvy shopper.

Update #2: Gloria Johnson, mother, called. Said she was a volunteer for Just Go Vote. Her issue is education. She said she made a mistake by not voting in the last election.