Thursday, November 4, 2010

Can we talk

James Russell Lowell stated: “what men prize most is a privilege, even if it be that of chief mourner at a funeral”…. The recent election actually reinforce that truth, after all, wears a different face for everybody, and at times it is just too tedious to wait until all were to agrees. Leadership is the art of formulating a dream and more importantly providing some tangible and visual forms of success. The birth of an idea is born as rampant radicalism, then it becomes progressivism, then liberalism, then it becomes moderated conservative, outmoded and gone. The democrats lost the election because their ideas became outmoded and they did not provide any tangible results that the people could actually see. Consider the voting pattern of the coalition that voted in 2008 and compare how this coalition voted in 2010. Latino 30%...Gays 45%...and African-Americans 35% voted in 2010.

The democrats did it to themselves. Once in office President Obama while still dealing with job losses and massive foreclosures, his focus was on Health Care. Although this was a noble act, those changes would not become policy until 2014. It is estimated that a 100 billion dollar infrastructure deal that would have created at least a million Job's. What many people actually heard was not only African Americans (who have had twice the burden of losing jobs) but the whole nation would have to wait.

Once you are in the 'big chair' the problems are your problems. I believe that the Black community facing in some places 20% unemployment made a personal decision and there was a 19% decline in those who voted in this midterm election. Additionally there is a mis-conception that the Black Community is liberal voting bloc. This theory does not pass the test of time. Secondly, President Obama appointment of Senators, House members and Governors to cabinet positions actually put many of these seats into play. History speaks in harmony that all midterm elections will always have a lower voter turnout. Essentially, it is the responsibility of all of the members of the house/senate/and administration to communicate the message to the masses. Clearly, that was not a priority. Anyone can dream, turning a dream into reality therein lays the difficulty. The TARP worked for major business...however, those individuals who faced massive economic devastation did reap or they did not see the same benefits. If I had the opportunity to advise President, or Congress or the voters, I would have a discussion on the following topics...Insurance companies have created some of our problems. The people must make a decision: We can stop investing in these companies and make them less profitable or we can continue allowing our investments (retirement) to grow and accept what happens. Second, we can change education by changing how school receives monies (property taxes) or we can continue the course that we are on. Third, the citizens need to establish what an acceptable level of unemployment. Fourth, we need to phase out the all volunteer military and re institute the draft. Fifth, we need to explain the difference between a balance budget and the deficit. Finally, in the final analysis...most of the manufacturing jobs are gone and they are not coming back. Of course there are other issues that could fall into this discussion. DuBois, wrote about the "talented ten", college graduates within the Black community. 17% of the Black community have college degrees...it is time to do something about our situations. There are no programs funded by the government at any level that will change what is going on within our communities...it is our term. It is time for members of our communities to develop our own business....I understand that message will not be heard by anyone. State simply...leadership is about telling the truth and understanding that most of the people will dislike what you are saying. ~Cope