[Libs-Or] Civics for Adults - Lakeview, Bend, PDX workshops! Lots of good resources, too

Tue May 6 14:05:24 PDT 2025

Civics for Adults Update April 28, 2025

Thank you Lake County Library District for inviting me to Lakeview for
workshops on June 17th and 18th - Misinformation and Propaganda - Telling
Truth from Fiction, and, Representation, our Federal Government and the
Constitution! On the way back, I'll head to Bend for a workshop on June
20th!

I'd love to do my Representation, our Federal Government and the
Constitution workshop in the Portland Metro area, too!

Upcoming workshops!

Misinformation and Propaganda-Telling Truth from Fiction

Are you overwhelmed with messages from politicians, news sources and other
media? Distinguish truth from fiction using real-world examples 

June 17, 2025. 6-7:30. In-person. Lake County Library District, 26 S G St.,
Lakeview, OR. 

Representation, Our Federal Government and the Constitution

We'll look at the Constitution's creation, trace major changes and examine
current limitations. In so doing, we will shatter some myths! Current status
of democracy- The Constitution-Current issues of representation-Are changes
needed?

June 18, 2025. 6-7:30. In-person. Lake County Library District. 26 S G
Street, Lakeview, OR. 

June 20, 2025. 10-11:30. In-person. Deschutes County Public Library, 601 NW
Wall St., Bend, OR.

Citizen Activism 101-Making Change Happen 

Want to improve life for yourself and your neighbors? Strategies for change.
Examples of successful advocacy. "Tracking" legislation and providing
"testimony".

Tuesday, July 8. 6-7:30 PM In-person. In-person. Multnomah County Library -
Midland Branch, 805 SE 122nd Ave., PDX, OR

Tuesday, August 5. 6-7:30 PM In-person. Multnomah County Library - Albina
Branch, 216 NE Knott Street, Portland, OR  

Selected Civics for Adults Facebook posts:

If you know of any federal employees who have been fired, here is a resource
that might be helpful.

Civil Service Strong  <https://www.civilservicestrong.org/>
https://www.civilservicestrong.org/ 

**

This week [for later broadcast] I'm going to be interviewed by phone by a
law professor from Kentucky, Joshua A. Douglas, who does a podcast series
called Democracy Optimist - cool name!

I like what he says is his criteria for who he interviews: "Do they believe
in democracy? Are they working to ensure the voices of ALL voters are
paramount?" He has interviewed some powerful people. I'm honored that he has
asked me to join him. Check out the short Intro linked near the bottom of
the list at this page:

 <https://esweku.org/democracy-optimist>
https://esweku.org/democracy-optimist

**

CISA has been a big help to election offices throughout the country. It is
_very_ unfortunate that the federal administration is kneecapping the
agency. CISA Budget Cuts Weaken US Election Security, Officials Warn

<https://www.govinfosecurity.com/cisa-budget-cuts-weaken-us-election-securit
y-officials-warn-a-27858>
https://www.govinfosecurity.com/cisa-budget-cuts-weaken-us-election-security
-officials-warn-a-27858 

**

Many Don't Know Key Facts About U.S. Constitution, Annenberg Civics Study
Finds

Annenberg Civic Knowledge Survey. Annenberg Public Policy Center. September
14, 2023

<https://www.annenbergpublicpolicycenter.org/many-dont-know-key-facts-about-
u-s-constitution-annenberg-civics-study-finds/?fbclid=IwY2xjawJ94mJleHRuA2Fl
bQIxMABicmlkETFnYVpwNWx4QnVvMnFoWVdhAR4dk3ZMciGHHu0fgDiJO_ci7Qefn8n2TNhVLrd9
O0tcde3SYZKlWJ4F-cdo6A_aem_CjSU-Wk2GJNpJAoQeumBdw>
https://www.annenbergpublicpolicycenter.org/many-dont-know-key-facts-about-u
-s-constitution-annenberg-civics-study-finds/?fbclid=IwY2xjawJ94mJleHRuA2Flb
QIxMABicmlkETFnYVpwNWx4QnVvMnFoWVdhAR4dk3ZMciGHHu0fgDiJO_ci7Qefn8n2TNhVLrd9O
0tcde3SYZKlWJ4F-cdo6A_aem_CjSU-Wk2GJNpJAoQeumBdw

** 

We are, indeed, living in a new Gilded Age.

<https://www.cbpp.org/research/poverty-and-inequality/a-guide-to-statistics-
on-historical-trends-in-income-inequality?fbclid=IwY2xjawJ96ABleHRuA2FlbQIxM
ABicmlkETFnYVpwNWx4QnVvMnFoWVdhAR6hmW6AX_zEEw05d-F02NIgJQsIGzmEdCMv_n-s19jF8
Ymtm67A9EBH8_0UIA_aem_NRa8xW_8J_oJpwbg5fZ4NA>
https://www.cbpp.org/research/poverty-and-inequality/a-guide-to-statistics-o
n-historical-trends-in-income-inequality?fbclid=IwY2xjawJ96ABleHRuA2FlbQIxMA
BicmlkETFnYVpwNWx4QnVvMnFoWVdhAR6hmW6AX_zEEw05d-F02NIgJQsIGzmEdCMv_n-s19jF8Y
mtm67A9EBH8_0UIA_aem_NRa8xW_8J_oJpwbg5fZ4NA

**

I know some things look rather discouraging right now but it's important we
have a sense of what we'd like to see change, to guide us ahead. And, there
are so many issues that we could tackle, once we, as a country, decide to do
so. This is something my Representation, our Federal Government and the
Constitution workshop seeks to do. 
One thing I'm reading is a report from 2020, a result of an intensive 2-yr
study and public input process from a wide variety of people....Reinventing
American Democracy for the 21st Century. Our Common Purpose. American
Academy of Arts and Sciences. 2020.

<https://www.amacad.org/sites/default/files/publication/downloads/2020-Democ
ratic-Citizenship_Our-Common-Purpose.pdf>
https://www.amacad.org/sites/default/files/publication/downloads/2020-Democr
atic-Citizenship_Our-Common-Purpose.pdf

**

Do you know a senior or person with disabilities that is low-income and
might qualify for various assistance programs? If so, they can use this
website to access information, and possibly determine their eligibility, for
a variety of programs.  <https://benefitscheckup.org/>
https://benefitscheckup.org/ From the National Council on Aging.

**

Here is an interesting short video about how crazy gerrymandering can get.
We need independent redistricting commissions in every state, imo.

 <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFRAQGzU-9A>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFRAQGzU-9A 

**

This is NOT a legit email from the Social Security Administration. Check the
From: email address

**

We "hear" our federal government is bloated. In fact, the size of the
federal workforce has been amazingly stable - even over 60 years, while the
population has grown considerably. Executive Branch Civilian Employment
Since 1940. Office of Personnel Management [of the federal government].
Accessed 4/29/25. 

<https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/data-analysis-documentation/feder
al-employment-reports/historical-tables/executive-branch-civilian-employment
-since-1940/>
https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/data-analysis-documentation/federa
l-employment-reports/historical-tables/executive-branch-civilian-employment-
since-1940/ 

How does the U.S. federal workforce compare with those in other countries?
Chappell. NPR. March 6, 2025

<https://www.npr.org/2025/03/06/nx-s1-5310542/federal-workforce-other-countr
ies-compared?fbclid=IwY2xjawJ94-1leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFnYVpwNWx4QnVvMnFoWV
dhAR5LzTXEf0cuw7zT-0sDF3Lp35hK_PBcMpQ2y-qmi9JDsRYUEoZJkui0RMmpNg_aem_avRl9Lw
d6PaADMd2rdYu0A>
https://www.npr.org/2025/03/06/nx-s1-5310542/federal-workforce-other-countri
es-compared?fbclid=IwY2xjawJ94-1leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFnYVpwNWx4QnVvMnFoWVd
hAR5LzTXEf0cuw7zT-0sDF3Lp35hK_PBcMpQ2y-qmi9JDsRYUEoZJkui0RMmpNg_aem_avRl9Lwd
6PaADMd2rdYu0A 

How many people work for the federal government? USA Facts. Dec, 2024.

<https://usafacts.org/articles/how-many-people-work-for-the-federal-governme
nt/?fbclid=IwY2xjawJ95BJleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFnYVpwNWx4QnVvMnFoWVdhAR4jWGJ
k-4lerVEH627yZ8KCTm5BUdUJ_h1244Kz0o_R9XlStvBvNCMoedneFQ_aem_6zZXujRXsEvVbsAI
o8L0nQ>
https://usafacts.org/articles/how-many-people-work-for-the-federal-governmen
t/?fbclid=IwY2xjawJ95BJleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFnYVpwNWx4QnVvMnFoWVdhAR4jWGJk
-4lerVEH627yZ8KCTm5BUdUJ_h1244Kz0o_R9XlStvBvNCMoedneFQ_aem_6zZXujRXsEvVbsAIo
8L0nQ

**

The ratio of average worker compensation to CEO compensation in the 50s/60s
was about 1:30 [CEOs made about 30 times what the average worker made]. The
ratio now is about 1:300 - the average CEO makes about 300 times what the
average worker makes.

<https://www.epi.org/publication/ceo-pay-in-2023/?fbclid=IwY2xjawJ95f5leHRuA
2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFnYVpwNWx4QnVvMnFoWVdhAR4snrVau-uVZuyOtky0id6vAx1BSw9meU9Gu
tBj6HbA3gGKrObcPYYc6IbRqA_aem_Nai6sVeoJXDWt2ISJh_iRw#:~:text=Over%20the%2020
09%E2%80%932021%20period,was%20290%2Dto%2D1>
https://www.epi.org/publication/ceo-pay-in-2023/?fbclid=IwY2xjawJ95f5leHRuA2
FlbQIxMABicmlkETFnYVpwNWx4QnVvMnFoWVdhAR4snrVau-uVZuyOtky0id6vAx1BSw9meU9Gut
Bj6HbA3gGKrObcPYYc6IbRqA_aem_Nai6sVeoJXDWt2ISJh_iRw#:~:text=Over%20the%20200
9%E2%80%932021%20period,was%20290%2Dto%2D1 

**

Lots more good stuff on my Civics for Adults Facebook page!

More at  <https://www.facebook.com/Civics-for-Adults-1490728887922036>
https://www.facebook.com/Civics-for-Adults-1490728887922036 

Ask your local library or community group to sponsor a workshop! Thanks. 

Flyer describing workshops:
https://files.cdn-files-a.com/uploads/2516289/normal_68015bff67a68.pdf 

Donna L Cohen, MLIS, MEd

Portland, Oregon

503-737-1425

dcoheninfo at comcast.net <mailto:dcoheninfo at comcast.net>  

Civics for Adults - and Others - Workshops: To Enhance Civic Knowledge and
Inspire Political Engagement

Webpage www.civicthinker.info <http://www.civicthinker.info/>  

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Civics-for-Adults-1490728887922036/

"My philosophy is very simple. When you see something that is not fair, not
right, not just - stand up, say something, speak up!" Rep. John Lewis
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6lzPpqc2WY 

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