Entries Tagged as 'Poverty'

The Failure of the Republican Party to deliver anything for Blacks

My good friend, Timothy Johnson, Ph.D., was recently honored by the Buncombe County Republican party.  Timothy Johnson has been elected party chair.  It did not go unnoticed that he is the first black elected party chair in Buncombe County - Republican or Democratic.  In an interview with the Weaverville newspaper, Tim commented on how many blacks are “ignorant” of the bedrock beliefs of the Republican Party.  Dr. Johnson believes that the ideals of the Republican Party line up very well with the ideals of the Black community. 

Before I go on any further, I would like to say that no one and no party has cornered the market on ethics or morality.  There are bad and evil people that are motivated by greed and power in both parties.  But, with that being said, I think we can look over the past 40 years and honestly begin to evaluate which party truly benefitted Blacks and continues to benefit minorities and the underprivileged.  Let’s look at a few issues.

Civil rights.  This one is easy.  There is no contest.  In the 60s the Democrats stood with Blacks.  Southern Democrats who were opposed to integration did not like the direction of the party and slowly but surely left the Democratic Party and joined the Republican Party.  Were there individual Republicans who believed that integration was inevitable?  Were there individual Republicans who believed that segregation was an abomination?  I think the answer is yes on both counts.  Did the Republican party change their platform in 1964 and 1968 to appease Southern Whites?  Yes. 

The Economy.  Republicans like to talk about cutting government spending.  I lived in Texas most of my life.  Republicans rule in Texas.  I saw the state government cut so deeply that some regulatory agencies had to stop regulating.  They had to fire some government workers because there was no more money.  Republicans stood back and smiled but when you go to the DMV and have to wait 2 or 3 hours just to talk to someone before you can begin the process of getting your license?  Please think of those cuts.  When you get a brand new tatoo which gives you a skin infection or possibly even hepatitis because there was not enough inspectors to regularly inspect that parlor who’s smiling now? [Read more →]

Tags: Party Politics, Poverty, Race by ecthompson
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John Edwards Gives Obama Huge Endorsement

Senator John Edwards states in a passionate speak from Grand Rapids, Michigan that “The reason that I’m here tonight is because the Democratic voters in America have made their choice and so have I.”

He went on, “This election is about taking down those walls of the past so that we can see what’s possible.”

Nothing can really stop Senator Barack Obama now.

Tags: Election 2008, Healthcare, Poverty by ecthompson
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Food Crisis Should be Campaign Issue

Rising prices for wheat and rice have created a food crisis in much of the world.

People cannot afford the food they need to eat. Here is an “Economist” story on this subject.

Below is an excerpt from the “Economist” article—

Last year wheat prices rose 77% and rice 16%. These were some of the sharpest rises in food prices ever. But this year the speed of change has accelerated. Since January, rice prices have soared 141%; the price of one variety of wheat shot up 25% in a day. Some 40km outside Abidjan, Mariam Kone, who grows sweet potatoes, okra and maize but feeds her family on imported rice, laments: “Rice is very expensive, but we don’t know why.”

The prices mainly reflect changes in demand—not problems of supply, such as harvest failure. The changes include the gentle upward pressure from people in China and India eating more grain and meat as they grow rich and the sudden, voracious appetites of western biofuels programmes, which convert cereals into fuel. This year the share of the maize (corn) crop going into ethanol in America has risen and the European Union is implementing its own biofuels targets. To make matters worse, more febrile behaviour seems to be influencing markets: export quotas by large grain producers, rumours of panic-buying by grain importers, money from hedge funds looking for new markets.

Here is a “New York Times” story on the topic discussing the global implications of the crisis.

Given that a portion of the crisis has to do with biofuel demand in the United States and that we are all connected in this world, it would be good to hear Senator Hillary Clinton and Senator Barack Obama address this subject as an important campaign topic.

It’s easy to say that we won’t have “cowboy” foreign policy any more. Let’s back up these words with a genuine outreach to people suffering in the world.

Tags: Election 2008, Poverty by Texas Liberal
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Poor in America - it ain’t getting better

There are many ways to look at poverty.  No matter how you slice it, poverty has been worse and tougher under the Bush Administation. 

  • Reuters reports that “he poorest people in the United States are still struggling to recover from the effects of a recession that ended six years ago, making them very vulnerable as the country stands on the brink of a new downturn.”
  • Typically, the time between recessions are periods when poverty declines. But for the last six years, while the stock market boomed, poverty increased from 11.7 percent in 2001 to 12.3 in 2007.
  • “It’s unusual in an economic recovery that … we still have poverty higher than it was in the recession that preceded it,” said Sharon Parrott, a policy analyst for the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
  • Now, with a credit crunch, mortgage crisis, and recession on the horizon, poverty is primed to increase even more.
  • Check out the Center for American Progress’ plan to help the poor (not giving them a check)

    • Tags: Poverty by ecthompson
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    My weekend

    Any weekend that includes the following is problematic - septic tank, my basement, hotel, no DirecTV and spending plenty of money.  That’s my weekend.  More later.

    Tags: Poverty by ecthompson
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    Memphis, Tennessee

    Hernando_de_Soto_Bridge_Memphis Memphis, Tennessee

    A recent heat wave in Memphis, Tennessee led to the death of at least 13 people in that city.

    Many—maybe all—of these people lacked air conditioners. Not having air conditioners, they died from the heat.

    I’ve been to Memphis once. In 1998. I spent an evening walking around Beale Street. Beale Street is the so-called Birthplace of the Blues.

    What I saw on Beale Street were young black kids doing dance moves for mostly white tourists. The kids were hoping for a handout. I did not find Beale Street appealing.

    Martin Luther King died in Memphis while fighting for striking sanitation workers.  

    What progress has been made in Memphis since King’s death? It seems that whatever progress may have been made, much more remains to be done.  

    Tags: Domestic Issues, Poverty, Race by Texas Liberal
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    LKL - Bono

    Outstanding interview.  This interview gives an excellent window into how Bono evolved into the rock star who has cultural awareness.  He truly understands the problems of Africa.  He used a Live Aid analogy.  He said that that concert raised approximate $250 million.  He said the debt that Africa countries owed to Western countries was approximately that per week.  Something had to change.

     
    icon for podpress  LKL - Bono [5:52m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

    Tags: Poverty by ecthompson
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