One Progressive’s View: A Message from and to Black America Part I
60I have been with Hub Pages for over 8 months and I find the process of writing therapeutic, a way to get a lot of things off of my chest that I don/t like to carry around. I was most disturbed when I saw this online article entitled “Obama Jobs Plan Heartens Frustrated Blacks”. I read the article with the usual interest, but was taken aback when I saw all the comments. They were of a nature that was well beyond the discussion of the merits of his program and the political differences that would be expected in such a forum.
The comments seem to come from everywhere with the overwhelming tone being clearly negative. It was what they were commenting about that was so disturbing. So, many insisted that the President was pandering to blacks with his program. I listened to the President’s address that evening and I did not hear any specific reference to race based solutions to the national unemployment crisis. What kinds of things swim in those minds of theirs? Then there were other Anglos that stated that if blacks were to benefit, somehow it would be at their expense, “a zero sum’ game. Never mind the fact that blacks are experiencing unemployment at rates that whites would consider at depression levels. There was no consideration, no compassion, just us verses them.
Then comes all the usual stereotypes, racial slurs, indicating that blacks are lazy and are just looking for another way to ‘game the system’ The sheer quantity of vitriol from people who would never say these things to another, face to face, was overwhelming. When I looked at all the photos of the lynchings that occurred in United States and the literal crowds standing around with the vendors selling refreshments, I have to wonder have we really changed or is all of this rather than being part of the past just merely redirected, not ameliorated. All the resentment and rage so many Anglos seem to harbor about this President has got to be having psychological effects. Do so many of you really carry all this angst around with you all of the time?
Just beneath the thin veneer of civility are the fundamental attitudes and beliefs of bigotry and racism made evident without even the desire to conceal it and be polite. Well, so much for the idea of a post racial society. The disrespect of this President and the office he holds has got to be more than coincidence. The trouble the President has had with congress is just a mere extension of the racial resentment and fear that is clearly among the masses. Perhaps I was naïve to expect more from those at such a high stature within our society.
First of all, is it unnatural for blacks to express hope in the President’s effort to assist in providing jobs in this troubled economy, when they are so adversely affected, unexpected? I no more expect this president to look exclusively to the interests of the black community any more than I expected Anglo presidents to look exclusively toward the interests of white communities. But, when you visit history, you know that many of them have. We only have a black president because of the overwhelming support for Mr. Obama by non-white voters. Plus, when you consider how the Republicans and their economic philosophy virtually destroyed the economy over the first decade of this century culminating with the September 2008 meltdown, it was hard for any Democratic contender to lose, even if he is black and considered ‘not one of us’ by many Anglos
Whites have always asked me, expecting an impartial answer, why haven’t your people pulled themselves up by their bootstraps? Until very recently the net worth of the average black family was 10 cents to every dollar of the white family. I had heard recently that because of the housing crisis, that ratio is now closer to 5 cents to the dollar. When the Anglo can go to Uncle Joe or Aunt Sue for seed money to start a business, most of us and our extended families have insufficient resources to do the same. This advantage whites have enjoyed over many generations relative to blacks and Hispanics. I never bought into the conservatives’ line about it being the “virtue of hard work”. My parents worked hard and I saw plenty of Anglo ‘dingbats’ that were the very antithesis of hard work or otherwise.
This gap in wealth is the reason that during hard economic times, we are the ones lacking the economic buffer to ride out the situation. It is always why I wondered why white people always seem to have so much money. It was why, while at the university, a white classmate told me that she was going to take a sabbatical for a year or two to find herself and then return ready to work. I know what my father would have told me if I made such a suggestion, I would have been more than likely to find a boot in my rear end within a nanosecond after the suggestion left my lips.. This lack of net worth forces us to the edge, with limited resources, thereby having only one chance to make good of an opportunity which was not likely to come again. Whites are 10 times more likely to have a substantial inheritance than blacks.
So, there is your seed money to advance your interests and that of your progeny. We all know that there is a fundamental difference between being rich and being wealthy. Prior to 1950 everybody is aware that the dearth of opportunities for people of color in the wider society was evident through overt and institutionalized racism. So, it is difficult to build a foundation when merely acquiring the resources to survive was a challenge Wealth is accumulated over time, I know, as my sister has married into a wealthy family (old money), where everybody takes their time as to achieving the things that they desire to accomplish. Any number of indiscretions of their members can be absorbed, with their financial resources providing each a ‘second chance’.
Wealth means having the resources to invest in the long term in the financial markets. Most minorities had their wealth in their homes and when the housing market failed, that wealth went with it.
Many of you are going to say, ‘what about Oprah or I was the son of an Appalachian coal miner’s daughter’, or other such thing. We are talking about the average and if you wish to dispute the veracity of data provided by the US census, go ahead, but I suggest that you read another article, elsewhere.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Household_income_in_the_United_States
Then, of course, it is this argument about welfare and those playing the system. It seems to be an overriding theme of our adversaries. They say that the media is liberal, but I question that, how are so many lured to these eternal stereotypes? Those in the disaffected groups generally have to work harder to sustain themselves and their families without the help of Uncle Joe, who most probably has even less. Yes, there are many blacks using the social services safety nets. But as I have stated earlier, the people as a group are generally poorer. Is it any surprise that they are going to need to use the resources in greater and disproportionate numbers? The racial slurs, of course, speak for themselves
In spite of all this, history and the racial climate is only part of the problem. We bear a certain amount of blame for our current plight which I will address in Part II
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I read part 2 first. This is elemental, I can hear it and see it in the many ways the POTUS is refered to in the media and how ordinary folks think of him. Thanks you credence for a quick lesson in humility, your friend
Peter
"We must take our country back" has been the rally cry for both sides of the aisle for several generations now. So when the Dems said that while trying to defeat Bush, was it racial then? Now saying "Barack Hussein Obama" is racist. is the name Hschneider racist? It is the Presidents name, not a racist rally cry. There is enough real racist BS to deal with without making up more crap.
Cred2, Sadly, you are right about the wealth differences between race. Despite efforts to change that, it has not changed all that much. In our current economy, blacks have been hit the hardest when it comes to unemployment.
I think part of that is because there are not enough small businesses owned by blacks. They are mostly just employees.
As for loans, I can tell you there are unfair lending practises in each race. I can tell you that one time when my construction business was hurting and needed a short term loan. I called a program that was suppose to be in place to help small business. I was told on the phone I was wasting my time because she could hear in my voice I was the wrong race and would not get approved. I got pissed and applied anyway and was turned down. I reapplied this time I changed the spelling of my last name but everything else was the same. I was approved. Of course I told them what they could do with the loan and I proved my point.
Credence2, thanks for sharing your perspective. I am reminded of Dr. King and his followers, whose perspectives are chronicled in the archives of a movement, so preserved that the injustices permitted in a separate and unequal society are never again legitimized by political and popular will. I too fear we, as a nation, have failed to honor the creed of equality for all. Your argument is scholarly, useful, and worthy of this reader's thumbs up!! Regards, Robert
Credence2
On Mon. Sept 5, 2011 the nation celebrates LABOR DAY. Today unemployment stands at 9.1% and there are 14 million citizen workers out of work. The unemployment rate for black men is 18% and among black youth it is close to 24%. The US Economy 0.7% growth rate in the first half of 2011 was the slowest since the recession officially ended in June 2009.The Obama administration’s projections had to be lowered from 1.3% to 0.7%. The Obama administration’s estimates have been wrong over 40% of the time
Illegal alien immigration is not a solution to the country’s labor problems. How many jobs have the illegal immigrants taken away from our legal citizens? The government estimates that there are 11 million illegal immigrants in the country.
‘’ We are a nation of the rule of law ‘’, our politicians proclaim daily. The law is broken when you enter the country illegally, that’s a fact.
Is Government the SOLUTION or the PROBLEM?
Wonderful insightful article. In all my years, i have never seen such vicious attacks on any previous president. There should be a law against the kinds of hateful, hurtful lies that people spew from their nasty mouths about ANY president. To deliberately defy the people for the sole purpose of destroying this president is unbelievable, and hopefully unacceptable by the majority of Americans. I have never seen the GOP (or the Democrats) sink to this level of absurdity and meanness. Therefore, the only logical conclusion is that it is NOT his politics but rather his color that has made people so publicly nasty. The GOP has made it quite clear that they would rather see this country go down the tubes than allow any progression towards the betterment of the people in order to destroy this president. It is appalling.
HUBBERS
President Obama wants a socialist progressive form of government based on the environment and radical socialism. He was a ‘’ neighborhood organizer ‘’ in Chicago and is 100% backing unions and their ideology.
The office of the Presidency, highest in the land, has been tarnished by his actions and despise of the Constitution and the Laws of the land.
Sadly the poor become poorer and the middle classes are moving down to the poor class. A past President once said ‘’ government is not the solution, government is the problem’’. The President’s arrogance, inexperience, incompetence and integrity are part of the problem. Obama claims that others are taking a position of ‘’ my way or the highway’’. Truly Obama has the top title.
Credence2
'Did you know that percentage of Americans in poverty today has broken a record not seen since 1983''.
The Democrats have had 2/3's control of the Government since 2007 to Sept. 30,2011. How come no one mentioned their contribution to the American Dream, whatever that means .
The American Dream in 2009 to the present.
The Pew Hispanic Center reported that 6.1 million Hispanic children are poor compared with 5 million non-Hispanic white children and 4.4 million black children. The number of poor Hispanic children is at a record high, black children have a higher rate of poverty, 39%, compared with 35% for Hispanic children. The overall rate for white children is about 12%. The recession put more children of all races and ethnicities into poverty. The poverty rate for black children increased twice as fast. The 50,000 on food stamps, the 14+ million on unemployment and all time poverty rates are records of the Obama- Democrat majority control of the government.
Have aa great day
Credence2
''I do not expect the President to solve problems of this magnitude overnight''
''is not the place to bash the president. I do not see any solution from the right to our economic problems.'' JUST A LITTLE INFO as to why ?
Costly Regulations Cost Us American Jobs
According to a September 2010 report from the Small Business Administration, total regulatory costs amount to $1.75 trillion annually—enough money for businesses to provide 17.5 million private sector jobs with an average salary of $100,000. As of 2008, small businesses—which have created 64 percent of all new jobs in the past 15 years—face an annual regulatory cost of $10,585 per employee, which is 36 percent higher than the regulatory cost facing large firms.
The Obama Jobs Bill gives business a tax credit ( tax credit is short term, ends in 2012) which is not enough to hire new workers. Again Smoke and Mirrors.
PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE CAIN said that he wants everyone to be rich and to be able to have a job. The Obama Administration has been told that NEW government regulations are hurting the opportunity of business to hire.
HERMAN IS THE ''MAN'' TO tell the TRUTH!REALLY
Credence2
THE GOP PLAN IS SIMPLE,stop the spending,cut government WASTE and tell the american peole the whole TRUTH.
SENATOR COBURN identified $9 trillion of waste in the government.
The House Republican PLAN for America’s Job Creators
A blueprint to JOB recovery
http://www.gop.gov/indepth/jobs
Obama tells the public that the republicans have no plan, Obama lies again.
The President's jobs bill is scheduled to be debated in the Senate this coming week. Check c-spans program listings, they should have some hearings to show.
The 5.4 surtax on millionaires reminded me of the luxury taxes Congress placed on high expensive products some years ago.
The millionaires just stopped buying airplanes, boats, cars and stopped investing. Many of the effected industries went down the tubes and many workers were laid off.
Credence2
''but not those that protect the health, safety and FAIRNESS concepts betweeen the American people and the so called Job Creators''
Allow me to repeat
1.Costly Regulations Cost Us American Jobs, WHY?
http://www.gop.gov/indepth/jobs/regulations
2.The Senator Coburn Report July 21, 2011
DEFICIT WASTE IN the US GOVERNMENT see video
Back in the black, the SOLUTION
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tVJ2gqqKWs
It's now time for the government in Washington to step up. There is $9 trillion in wasteful operations, $4 trillion could be a starter.
FUNNY, HOW THE SUPER COMMITTEEE CAN’T FIND $1.5 in savings.
Credence2
You said ''We bear a certain amount of blame for our current plight which I will address in Part II''
I SAID ''The 50,000 on food stamps, the 14+ million on unemployment and all time poverty rates are records of the Obama- Democrat majority control of the government.''
MY reply to another hub
On the way to the poverty rolls. LOST 6% on my small IRA, paid $3.67 /gal for gas on my 1988 beater, got a 25% INCREASE in my healthcare insurance, paid 20% HIGHER for food and utility bills that have gone UP 20%. The kicker on my electric bill is a surcharge to pay for green energy regulations to build alternate energy projects. Just another hidden tax that Obama don’t tell people about because people are DUMB. OH, I forgot to include the value of the dollar worth 20% less and value of my small house losing 25% of it’s value in the marketplace.
Followers of Obama believe that the president is doing a great job. Smoke and mirrors covered with a big dose of propaganda helped by the mainstream media and the press.
Americans wake up, seek the whole truth not just a half truth of what Obama is selling. THE RESULT IS POVERTY, HERE WE COME!Just another one of the 14.3 million group.
Have a great day
Credence2
''Obama offered major cuts 4 trillion''
ONLY TALK, NEVER put on paper or submitted in detail.
ALL PROPAGANDA- SMOKE AND MIRRORS.
Wake up and find the whole truth, not just a half truth.
Try to have a good day.
Credence2
How about letting us all in on where you found the truth.
Share your information with us so that we too can have the truth.
Please tell us the WHOLE TRUTH, not any half truths.Anxiously waiting.
Thanks in advance.
Credence, Mr. Ewall seems to have the ear and the voice of the Almighty since he is laying claim to be the only one with "the Truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth". I think his ministry is lacking in followers though. Many have claimed "Divine Truth" but few have proven it. Even though he may claim not to be religious in intent he is in fact preaching. so no matter what anyone says his answer will always be "the One". Sorry for butting in but your discussion was going nowhere and will continue to do so, Thanks
Peter
This is a well thought out and brave hub. It seems when anyone tells certain truths, the backwash can be overwhelming. Keep it up and don't quit!!
Credence2
Obama continually blames the Republicans for delaying a jobs bill. The Republican CONTROLED HOUSE has sent the Harry Reid , Democrat controled Senate, some 15 jobs bills that HS has not even taken the time to put the legislation on the floor. Obama and company speak with forked tongue, the mainsteam media hasn't woke up yet,their silence is golden.
The people are getting a steady diet of OBAMA PROPERGANDA.
Credence2
If you get information from whitehouse.gov, you need to get out in the world and find out what I mean when I say '' the whole truth and nothing but the truth '' or '' a half truth is not a whole truth''. I recently reviewed some of my old hubs only to find out that Obama is still using the same old dung and fodder he used in 2008,2009,2010 and now again in 2011.
Hubbers get over it, come out of the dark and wake up!
Have a wonderful day and hoping that you all will find the TRUTH ONEDAY.
Credence2
That was a terrific response, I loved it.
Try c-span, local business section of news papers, scan CNN and FOX news. Funny how the news looks from 2 sides. Try Saturday morning business programs. Some how Fox shows clips of the past and present of our favorite public servants. Not much of value from the blogs, many only give biased opinions. Looking at a website ,check who the principals are who are in charge. in the end use common sense truthful un biased reporting.
That's it my friend, love the reply.
That was a terrific response, I loved it.
Try c-span, local business section of news papers, scan CNN and Fox news. Funny how the news looks from 2 sides. Try Saturday morning business programs. Some how Fox shows clips of the past and present of our favorite public servants. Not much of value from the blogs, many only give biased opinions. Looking at a website ,check who the principals are and who are in charge. In the end use common sense truthful un biased reporting.
That's it my friend, love the reply.
PS all the rest of the mainstream media reporting is mostly liberal propaganda.
Credence2
Watch CAVUTO on Fox News during the week and on Sat. morning. CAVUTO will always have a Democrat and a Republican on at the same time, ask questions from both. Afterwards make your own decisions on what they say in relation to what President Obama is saying. Obama says good stuff but what his administration is doing don't coincide. On Monday, Nov 7, 2011, Obama held a rose garden press conference ( took no questions as usual) regarding Congress not passing his jobs bill. The President threatened Congress that if Congress don’t pass the veterans job act, he will take actions to pass the bill without Congress. Note that our Constitution don’t allow the President to make law. The President blaming Congress and the Republicans is not a truthful statement. The facts are that the Republican controlled House has passed 15 jobs bills, they are sitting in the Democrat controlled Senate. If Democrat Senator Reid don’t allow the bills to get to the floor for debate, amend or vote on, nothing moves forward. The Republican Senators have NO control in the Senate, hence they are not allowed to provide a vote. President Obama blaming the Republicans has not been truthful to the American people. Note that Obama NEVER mentions Democrats , who are holding up passage of the jobs bill.
The mainstream media does not report the whole story, sad to say.
HAVE A GOOD DAY
Credence2
Veterans Day was yesterday,11-11-11. Today the President and wife left for a nine day asian trip (vacation) to hawaii,bali and indonesia while the super committee works on how to cut $1.2 BILLION out of the budget, how covenient for him to leave the nation.
Credence2
''I will always err on the side of Obama over the unsubstantiated criticism ''
WONDERING WHY OBAMA CAN'T LEAD? The Super committee needs to come to an agreement before thanksgiving, a continuing resolution to keep the government open is needed next week and a 2012 budget has not been presented by the Senate.
The President continues to blame Congress for not passing his jobs bill, mentioning only that the Republicans are the cause of why the bills are not passed.. The Republican House has passed 15 jobs bills that the Democrat Senate has not voted on as yet. Please tell the people that ''THE MAN '' is incompetent of performing the duties of the highest office in the land.
Credence2
'' I am satisfied ..... with his current performance,''
WHAT do you consider his performance?
Can you list some?
Credence2
Will patiently hope for a reply.
The Senate passed a continuing resolution (a CR )TO FUND THE GOVERNMENT TO DEC. 15,2011.Obama and the Democrat contolled Senate has yet to pass a 2012 budget, wonder why?
The Republican House passed a bipartisan 2012 budget in Feb. as required by congressional rules.
SOMEBODY IN WASHINGTON ARE NOT DOING THE JOB.
Credence2
IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW OUR GOVERNMENT WORKS, you need to understand that the leader of the House and the Senate are in command of what bills and legislation gets to the floor to debate, amend and vote on. In order for the president (3rd party of control)to give his approval by signing a bill, both the House and the Senate needs to agree by voting to pass the legislation before any action by the president.
The Republican House has passed 15 jobs bills that are sitting in the Senate waiting for Democrat Senator Reid to act on, meaning a debate and vote.
The President ,if he told the whole truth would not be complaining about the Republicans, it is his party that is the hold-up to getting any thing accomplished.
With due respect, please find another source of information and I mean no offense to you in anyway.
Credence2
Thank you for your response. For all one sided hubbers, I was a longtime registered Democrat, recently changed to Independent. HS and others have attacked my writings as right-winger, sad to say .What I write are facts, many of the attackers don't reply to what I write. They are entitled to their opinions which in most cases are not the whole truth but a half truth similar to what the president does when he speaks to the public.
Take notice that in many of his press conferences he leaves without ALLOWING QUESTIONS.
I always enjoy a debate with HS, TELL HIM I MISS THE ACTION.
@ Credence 2 - Is there room in this sandbox for one more?
before I start, an aside - hey guy - throw a few paragraph breaks in Part II - my eyes are wore out from reading this one.
But it was a good one - (except for the paragraph formatting)
I do not support Pres. Obama's agenda for social change, I don't agree with any type of forced wealth redistribution.
But I also don't agree with many of the right wing's pro-business mantras either, nor do I agree with responses that are merely reiterations of tired talking points.
I do agree with the "pull yourself up by your bootstraps"
theory of self-improvement, but do understand some folks might not even have bootstraps, or the strength to pull on them - so they may need a little help.
In the discussion of welfare programs and recipients, both in your hub and the comments here, why is no one mentioning that there are more white folks enrolled in the social assistance programs than blacks?
Referencing Pres. Obama's lack of accomplishments due to congressional obstructionism (ie. Republican), what about the almost three years that Democrats controlled both houses, and the Executive branch? Don't blame it all on the Republicans.
High marks to him for his handling of his Commander-in-Chief responsibilities though. I was very worried about several of those type issues when he was elected.
I hope you don't get too caught-up in the "rich don't pay their fair share" thing, unless you can define what their fair share is of course.
It appears to me that Democrats/Progressives live by the credo - spend what we need to get what we want, (ie. programs), and then just take the money we need from wherever we can get it. As the saying goes... when you rob Peter to pay Paul, Paul ain't going to complain.
On the other hand - the Republicans are as "bought" by BIG Money and BIG Business, as the Democrats are "bought" by the BIG Money Special interests(read: Unions)
So I would just as soon throw them all out and start over.
That was just a long-winded attempt to get acquainted, I liked your well-thought our effort, above, salient and articulate, and anticipate a few more visits.
GA
ps. don't forget those paragraph breaks
Credence2
It was reported today that the US government ‘’taxpayers ‘’ owe the social security trust fund $2.66 trillion. The President and the Democrats believe money grows on trees somewhere in Washington.
The Democrats in 2007 won majority control of Congress, the recession started in Dec. of 2007. Just now viewed a news clip ,July 14, 2008, of Congressman Frank on CNBC telling the public that Fannie and Freddie Macs were not in trouble of failing. Today Congressman Frank was on MSNBC blaming the Republicans for Fannie and Freddie’s failure. The difference between the parties, the Dems continually are blaming others while the other side is trying to solve the problems without blaming the Dems, so funny.
It is remarkable to always blame the Republicans when the Democrats have had 2/3’s control of our government since 2007.The Democrats passed Tarp, the Stimulus, take over of Student Loan programs, Dodd/ Frank banking regulations and the Healthcare Bill, all without the help of the Republicans. THEY JUST ADDED $4.5 TRILLION to the national debt without a return on the investment.
The Healthcare bill was passed by intimidation and deal making for votes. The 72 hours to review the bill was rammed thru with members not even reading the bill or debating the unwritten bill that was not on the House floor as required by House rule.
Famous words of wisdom from Speaker Pelosi ’’ we need to pass the bill so that we will know what’s in it ’’.
The people should demand that the super committee hold the coming meetings OPEN to the public .The public needs to find the truth of what is actually happening behind closed doors. Call your representative and demand to open meetings. President Obama promised a transparent and open administration and government. Just another broken promise!
Please excuse the long reply.
Credence2
VERY VERY GOOD! Maybe you are closing in on the middle of the road.Check out Cavuto on Fox News during the week and give me an opinion.
Be good and have a terrific thanksgiving holiday.
@Credence2 LOL - My eyes thank you. Just to be clear on one point.
I believe in the betterment of society, but I am not in line with with is usually label progressive/liberal ideas of what that is.
As for our views differing - isn't that a great thing! The ability to do so and still live in the same societal group is much better than the historical examples of the alternative.
GA
I am also not a Republican - what logic is there in supporting a dog that is biting you - just because he isn't sharing you with the rest of the pack?
No, I don't oppose the 16th - taxes are necessary, and it is easy to understand the hardship it would be, and the inability that is a reality, for too many families to have to come up with a mulit-thousand dollar check at tax time.
oops - the order of my last response got jumbled in edit - but I'm sure you can piece it together
GA
Credence2
''both sides involved in using the SS Fund ''It started with the President Johnson administration.The answer is yes they both are guilty.
A copy of an e-mail that I sent to the Speaker,Senator Reid and all members of the super committee on Sat.
Dear Speaker Boehner/ Senate Leader Reid
The President promised open and transparent government. The Super Committee working behind closed doors have not agreed to a resolution on the deficit and 2012 budget.
We the people have had enough of the statements coming from the party leaders.
We the people DEMAND that future meetings of the Super Committee be held in OPEN session without any censure of the proceedings. It is important for we the people to witness each sides positions in the debate.
We the people will be making a decision in the near future as to whom we will cast a vote for in the coming months. To deny our request would be a dereliction of duty to the electorate who sent you to Washington.
You are the 2 leaders in Congress who have the power to grant our request to open meetings. There should be complete cooperation in the matter.
Sincerely,
Troubled voters and taxpayers.
It’s time for Congress to make the cuts necessary to approve the agreement. There is $9 trillion in waste in the government, cutting $ 4 trillion should not be a problem. It was reported today that the US government ‘’taxpayers ‘’ owe the social security trust fund $2.66 trillion.
THE TIME FOR BIPARTISANSHIP IS NOW!
PASS IT ON, IF YOU BELIEVE IN WE THE PEOPLE.
Credence2
It's all about smoke and mirrors, the cuts if it happens don't take effect until 2013.The Democrat/Obama plan is a stall tactic, the Obama administration continues spending while the Senate delays voting on job legislation passed by the House. President Obama held a press conference today, Nov. 21,2011, again blaming the Republicans when it is the Senate's inability to act on legislation passed in the House. Typical Obama press conference where no questions are allowed from the news media. Congress next move should be to start cutting waste out of government,$4 TRILLION for starters.
Hello credence,
First, let me say this is a great hub and it is well said and well thought out. Secondly, I am Caucasian and live in the Mid-West; an area where racism and all manner of prejudices seem to be acceptable; however, I am not, nor do I condone or accept these.
When one begins to consider racism in all of its malevolent stations, only the closed-minded see it as a correct or moral thought. Racism, indeed prejudice, knows no intellectual level or station in life. No authority needs to be given to the angle of spin which may be put upon it, nor from which group or entity from which it is extended; prejudice is wrong and rotten to its very core.
It is unfortunate, that in our times, race is still an accepted mode of argument; a route to take on a troublesome issue, or a weapon to be wielded at the hands of someone less than informed about the subject for which they argue. It is often the libretto of troglodytes who lay their problems at the feet of those they wish not to understand. Therefore, it is assimilated into the political arguments of today, just as it has been throughout our nation’s history.
There is no doubt as to the extended period of time for which the African-American has endured the darkness of oppression and financial hardship. These facts are charted throughout our history and continue to be a chartable issue today. If you will allow, I wish also to include another segment of the populous into these numbers, that of whites, those poor in station, in rural America.
As aforementioned, I live in a small town in the Mid-West. Here, we continue to experienced much of the same plight as other minorities. Education is cut off from these people and the unemployment rates are calamitous. Here, we are experiencing unemployment rates at depression era levels. There are no jobs to be found and many have alighted to other areas of the country to find relief. The reason I bring this to your attention is not to belittle or equate your argument, but only to inform that these people are many times forgotten. Our media, (which I too question as to their liberality) as well as our government, only speak of the “middle-class,” thus leaving the poor and worker poor completely out of the issue.
While I support the Occupy movement, I believe that if it were not for the middle-class becoming affected by our present economic plight, the much-maligned poor and working poor would still be a forgotten group. In the end, these whites, have not the advantages for which some may think they are accustomed, nor is the experience something removed from their grasp as a result of our governments ineptitude.
It is correct that those in the disenfranchised groups must work much harder to sustain their families and themselves. Additionally, while there are many blacks using social services, many poor and working poor are as well, regardless of color or creed. However, this should not be viewed as some kind of a deduction of the human being. For, survival is embedded within the genetics of every one of us, and those who point a condemnatory finger at those who are less fortunate, should be relegated to these lower stations for a time to gain some understanding of these trails.
In closing, it is this writers belief that race should never be an ax used to chop at the neck of a problem…societal or otherwise. It is prejudice, in all of its many renderings, that is causative of many or most of our present happenings and problems. Prejudice is the demon guarding the gate of avariciousness, and it bites at the flesh of anyone it deems a threat. It is present in the racial problems we experience still today, and it is present in our current class war as well.
Thanks for posting your Hub.
Thomas Thyros.
@Credence2 - I'm surprised at you!
Revenue enhancements? Come on say the real words - tax increases!
and seriously - MSNBC? Would you expect them to announce a poll with any other outcome? about the same chance as Fox news announcing a negative GOP poll.
Even so - You are correct on the point that the GOP has blame to shoulder - but only half of it.
The Dems get the other half for their obstinate behavior also.
SC was a doomed blame game from the beginning - the only thing either side was bargaining for was the upper hand.
GA
Credence2
‘’I blame the GOP ‘’ so does President Obama and the Democrats. The failure is ALL President Obama’s failure to show up to the party! Wow, why BLAME THE PRESIDENT?
IF ONE UNDERSTANDS how legislation becomes law , you can agree that the President has failed to provide the leadership necessary ( a third party ) to arrive at a solution to FINALIZE a deal between the rival ideologies.
The founders of the US Constitution produced a document ( US Constitution ) that provided checks and balances in how the government makes laws. Congress, the House and the Senate, must agree on legislation before the legislation goes to the President for his signature. Without the agreement by ALL 3 PARTIES nothing becomes law, THAT’S A FACT.
The super committee was made up of equal members of each party who failed to arbitrate an AGREEMENT to present to the President (3rd party ). President Obama was AWOL in the final days of the debate and in addition of not providing his leadership to wrap up a deal to solve the problems. Shameful neglect of his duties as the President.
Today, Nov.22, 2011 while campaigning in New Hampshire , President Barack Obama again blamed the Republicans for the failure of the Super Committee , forgetting to place any blame on members of his own party. One can recall some of Obama’s past words ,’’ THE BUCK STOPS HERE’’. Somehow one can see through him and who he really has become. Remember these words, ‘’ you can fool some of the people some of the time but you can’t fool all the people all the time’’.
Hello Cred2: All valid points for sure. It is too bad people cannot step aside of themselves and experience the world through the eyes and emotions of those they oppress or defame. This, of course, would be the ultimate in understanding. However, since we have not this ability, (nor do I think that it is a necessity) we have to understand that we are all of mankind.
The best way to remove the “crumb” analogy, is to remove the table itself from the equation. A leveling, if you will, to cause a conjoined existence. Some religions speak of the races being separated by God for a reason. They point to this as their escape from responsibility. However, they miss the inference that we are “all of one blood.”
This prejudice, this racism, has baffled this writer for the entirety of his life. I, in the past, studied the KKK and several other racialist groups at length trying to get an understanding of why these people proclaim their ideology as right. I came up empty handed of deeper understanding, and remorseful that these people and their progeny were amongst us. It is unfortunate that even the media tends to these lines to some extent. It has not been lost on me either of the unbalanced coverage between black and white, on whatever the issue or occurrence. The thing is…will these depressive prejudices ever be removed from the psyche of mankind?
Thanks for commenting back, the fan mail, and following. I, too, look forward to our conversations.
Thomas Thyros.
Cred2
Just to fill you in to the past:
On 9/28/11, Senator Reid announced that he will not bring up the President's Job Bill to the Senate floor. Senator Reid sponsored the bill in the Senate and it is becoming clearer that the Republicans are not holding up passage of the Jobs Bill as the president says on the campaign trail. President Obama needs to make a call to Senator Reid.
On 11/23/11, IN RESPONSE TO PRESIDENT OBAMA'S accusations, Speaker Boehner requested Obama to instruct Senator Reid to pass the 25 jobs bills passed by the House sitting in the Senate. The true battle is all about a Pay-Go law passed by Congress. The democrats want to spend more without cutting somewhere to pay for the spending.
The mainstream media and press has not reported the events. One needs to get by the propaganda being fed to the people by President Obama & company.
2/13/10 2:04 PM EST NOTE ! TODAY IS NOV. 23,2011
President Barack Obama is hailing pay-as-you-go BUDGET legislation he
signed Friday night as one in a series of crucial steps needed to snap
Washington out of a destructive pattern of overspending.
“Now, Congress will have to pay for what it spends, just like everybody
else,” Obama said in his radio and Internet address released Saturday
morning. “After a decade of profligacy, the American people are tired of
politicians who talk the talk but don’t walk the walk when it comes to
fiscal responsibility. It’s easy to get up in front of the cameras and RANT
against exploding deficits. What’s hard is actually getting deficits under
control. But that’s what we must do.”
The PAYGO compels NEW spending or tax changes to not add to the
federal deficit. Not to be confused with pay-as-you-go financing, which
is when a government saves up money to fund a specific project. Under
the PAYGO rules a new proposal must either be "budget neutral"
or offset with savings derived from existing funds.[1] The goal of this
is to require those in control of the budget to engage in the diligence of
prioritizing expenses and exercising fiscal restraint. The interest on
the national debt is $1 billion a day and rising. The unfunded
liabilities of the country is $104 trillion.
The Republicans simply don’t want to break the law, they are fighting for the TAXPAYERS.
Obama and the Democrats don’t tell you the whole truth, do they?
Note that the House has approved a 2012 budget, the President and the Senate has not. ONLY 1/3 of our government is working, the other 2/3’s want to talk and BLAME THE OTHER GUY.
@credence2 - followed your link....damnn...
It was obvious that you had a point you wanted to make, but I am not familiar enough with this "Norquest(?)" thing, yet, to comment specifically, but I will return there when I have more time.
It was only a quick read, as I said time is tight, but it did seem a little overstated
as to the OP here, yes we will have to agree to disagree.
seems true the GOP did have their feet planted, reasonable or not
but it also seems the cuts the Dems are touting as "honest efforts" to compromise weren't really cuts at all, but reductions in proposed increases.
but, let me qualify that - gotta admit that is a very topical response, I haven't really dug beyond the shouted accusations of either side yet
from the beginning the SC thingie seemed like just such obvious political theater that I never really got interested enough to dig deeper.
to me, even its creation was an embarrassment, and the outcome is no less than I would have expected.
hmmm... still think it's a circle-jerk, so I probably won't look any deeper. It's yours if you want it.
talk to ya later
GA
CRED2
2/13/10 NOTE ! TODAY IS NOV. 25,2011
President Barack Obama is hailing pay-as-you-go BUDGET legislation he signed Friday night as one in a series of crucial steps needed to snap Washington out of a destructive pattern of overspending.
Simply a beautiful move before the Nov 2010 election. CRED2 IT'S ALL ABOUT SMOKE AND MIRRORS.
Do you remember Obama approved the Bush Tax cuts, later on after the election he said he shouldn't have passed the legislation.
CRED2
Black Heroes in American History
Save our Country
http://www.foxnews.com/on-air/glenn-beck/index.htm/v/4256317/black-heroes-in-american-history/?playlist_id=163229
Credence2
WHEN YOU GET TO THE SITE LOOK IN THE OTHER VIDEOS.
It's in'' Founders' Fridays (11 videos) ''
check becks other videos. the red phone line was a direct to the whitehouse. idea was if he did not report the truth , the white house can call to correct him online. the PHONE NEVER RANG!
@Jon Ewall - your mention of the "red phone - direct line" was a tongue-in-cheek" reference wasn't it?
You don't really think it was anything more than a gimmick do you?
I was a HUGE Beck fan, until his format for his message changed - he went off the deep end with the religious tone. And he got too "cutsey" with the sarcasm.
I was a diligent viewer during the series of shows with the "red phone", and I cringed every time he tried to use that to validate his point. It was a ploy - nothing more.
GA
GA
''validate his point. It was a ploy - nothing more.''
Yes it was to validate the truth about what he was saying. Are you aware that president Obama predicted what is happening in the middle east and what has happened on wallstreet and other city protests?
Beck exposed Soros, the AFL-CIO and SEIU unions, the media and what our dear President is doing to the country.
I heard he is on the internet. CHECK THIS SITE, a little background info.http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/printgroupProfi
@Jon - thanks for the effort to find and post the link
but...I would not have been an avid Beck viewer if I doubted the accuracy of his points - I believe he presented many important "connections" the public would not have known without him
but... I still believe the "red phone" was a silly gimmick
GA
GA Anderson
''
but... I still believe the "red phone" was a silly gimmick' yes , I guess so.















HSchneider Level 6 Commenter 8 months ago
This is just another example of the racial attacks that are made against the President. Most are cloaked in other language, "We Must Take Our Country Back" or "Barack Hussein Obama". This is just another example of the Far Right's racial and ethnic attack on the President. They have been using underhanded tactics since Lee Atwater did it in the 1980's. Remember Willie Horton. They are playing upon people's insecurities and ignorance during this economic downturn. Excellent Hub Cred2.