My Healthcare Shouldn't Cost $700 Per Month!

I spoke on the national public affairs show, The Takeway yesterday in anticipation of Obama's address to Congress and the nation. I have many misgivings about this plan because first and foremost it leaves the insurance companies as recipients of our money. What exactly does a subsidized health care plan mean? I discussed that I wanted to hear about Single Payer being put back on the table and coverage as good as those members of Congress get.

When I was employed by a well-financed company the insurance plan offered was pretty good. The premium was 100% employer paid but I was still responsible for annual deductibles, co-payments and other incidentals. It was not cheap and I still tried to find ways to reduce my costs for some things. Typically coverage is divided by major medical, dental, vision and prescriptions. As anyone with insurance knows there's a lot you may get but there's even more that you don't.

I was fortunate to not have any pre-existing conditions or denial of claims (except for one that was due to the error of the medical office). I had to have a surgical procedure that resulted in a $32,000 bill of which I had to pay $1000. Relief - but $32K! Looking at the itemized bill to ensure I wasn't overcharged I found out where the overinflated prices come from. $27 for every pill administered during my stay. A $425 charge for the sheets on the hospital bed - no they weren't new and I didn't get to take them home either.

This is why people go bankrupt trying to pay for their care. I was very disheartened to read about the soldier who'd reenlisted to keep his family covered only to lose his life in Iraq. Tort reform for medical malpractice is an absolute must as well. The insurance companies are gouging everyone involved from all ends!

When I left that position and had to foot the bill myself through COBRA I found out my insurance was a lot more expensive than I'd calculated. Adding up the various fees my insurance averaged $700. That was single coverage - not a family plan. It's a mortgage payment for some people. I figured I seek out an alternative and dropped it. I was very happy when Mayor Gavin Newsom implemented the San Francisco Health Plan that would provide basic coverage. States also tend to cover children through SCHIP, but with the state of the economy have been slashing funding.

Many have praised the President's plan especially with the promise of guaranteed coverage, but color me skeptical. At least I didn't make myself a national laughingstock like South Carolina Rep. Joe Wilson who had the nerve to call Obama a liar on live television. I mean...wow. His house.gov page has crashed. What about Eric Cantor thumbing his Blackberry? It's not the first time he's done this either. Why are these people STILL in office? I am very critical of the President lately but it's because I want the promise he represents to actually come to fruition. That level of disrespect and vitriol is just ridiculous.

On the other hand I don't want my emotions played with or to sold a bill of fake goods. I need to SEE this plan in action to know whether it actually works. I want mental health services that offers more than 5-10 cursory visits with a therapist. I want acupuncture and chiropractic. I don't want to subsidize the insurance companies I want actual medical services. I liked the fact he said preventative care would be automatically covered. I don't really like the idea of individuals being fined if they don't have coverage. There are going to be plenty of people out of work or underemployed whose cost of living expenses just won't allow for any fees despite what this is supposed to do. Yet I do like the idea of straight accountability across the board for individuals as well as companies. We'll see.

I'm being cautiously optimistic and actively getting my ducks in a row regardless of what these politicians do - or don't do. Obama is notorious for dragging his feet and waiting too long to respond to a crisis only to give a great speech. It's like riding a rollercoaster - but it's not amusing because people's lives are at stake. If the non-denial of coverage that insurers pull on so many unsuspecting people is actually banned that will be huge. What will the cost be for that though since the restrictions under a Single Payer won't be implemented? Anything can happen between today and 2013.

**I'll be speaking on The Takeaway again for a follow-up interview this morning at 7 a.m. Click here to listen.

Will Obama's Lack of Fortitude Seal His Lame Duck 1-Term Presidency

When the Democrats Blow Apart the Presidency What Will Black Voters Do?

Maxine Waters Calls Out the Blue Dogs & Rahm Emanuel

The Waning Political Clout of Blacks In America Will Be A Disaster For the Unprepared

John White Went to Prison But (Some) White Men Are the Real Menace to Society

The right-wing white male domestic terrorists have received their marching orders and are out to restore some "post-racial" order by command of the KKK version 2009, aka the Republican Party. Not even their lap dog Michael Steele can attempt to dodge this. They must slowly chip away at all the "hope" this new President brings (however inadequate it may actually be) before people actually start acting on the symbolism and change the infrastructure.

Shall we go down the list of politicians and pundits the corporate media supports with its agenda at keeping people uninformed, emotionally inflamed over rhetoric and chasing after crumbs instead of mobilizing against a common enemy? Let's see we have Beck, Limbaugh, Hannity, O'Reilly, Scarborough and what's his name - Dobbs. Then we have politicians like Bachmann, Coleman, Cantor and Palin. We have former elected officials like Cheney, Robertson and Gingrich getting airtime every single day to continue their disease and spread more lies.

Isn't this so obvious to people? Yet why are they either listening to it and complaining or standing around not counterbalancing it? I know I ask rhetorical questions, but I have to put it out there. This is the time we need to be out canvassing neighborhoods, working phones and reaching out to people. If only to separate the reasonable from the deranged.

I really have a problem with the Black dad convicted of manslaughter for shooting the white teen who formed a lynching party. During the time Obama was working his campaign and "ascending" beyond race, another man was fighting for his very life. We can talk about social mobility and social currency all we want. We can talk about xenophobia and narrow-minded views amongst some Blacks as well. Yet we cannot deny the legacy of racism and the hatred it stems from that will never go away as long as those with power still benefit from controlling and exploiting others. Some might be able to live their lives above the clouds but the majority of us will have to find ways the move around on land without that boot on our necks.

My heart went out to the White family because that father did what he thought was his duty in protecting his family. Somehow the fact that two carloads of drunk, angry white males showing up at someone's house after 11pm can allegedly be resolved by talking. Yeah right! Those kids knew exactly what they were doing - exerting white privilege and continuing the legacy of their ancestors who used to teach Blacks a lesson for stepping out of their place. You know they had to squash the notion of treating the White family like any other white person. What teenager thinks they can just roll up at the house of one of their schoolmates demanding to "fight" them? Perhaps integration was too much the focus for this family when they moved into a formerly all-white neighborhood. 

From the Mayor of the town in FL who quit due to racial taunts and physical threats, to the family that moved out of their CA neighborhood we can see how well this  New World Order is going over. Last week we had a white pharmacist who shot at and killed one of the two Black would-be criminals trying to rob the store he worked in. Now what these teens did was wrong so perhaps all bets are off. But after one was chased off and the other had fallen to the floor why didn't the man call the police? He could've held the gun on the suspect if he thought the kid would stir. Instead he went behind the counter got a weapon and shot him five more times. Eerily it's the same argument that did NOT work for Mr. White - yet the pharmacist is being touted as a hero. 

So why was one sent to prison while the other gets cheers in the press? The collision and collusion of racism of course. So why do I even ask? Black people are being targeted as well as any dissenting whites to the desired status quo. Khadija, blog host at Muslim Bushido has a great post about how Blacks need to remember to have racial discipline. Some of the things discussed can apply to anyone though if you look at it as being under a forced occupation. We have to be aware of our environments and what can and can not be done. Failure to adhere to the silent code can get you killed (or sent to prison). Even in 2009. Even with Barack Obama in the White House.

We're still dealing with the murder of Dr. Tiller whose whiteness did NOT protect him since he was still going against the grain of what some hard-core dogmatics wanted. Now we have a life-long racist who went to a Holocaust museum to kill people. One of whom happened to be the Black security guard, Stephen Johns. These things are not a coincidence. One of the last executive orders of the Bush administration was to lift the ban on carrying weapons into State Parks - which is where the museum was located. 

If people are not connecting the dots I don't know how it can made any clearer. This is the time to put aside individual differences and join together for some sort of consensus however short-lived it may be. Some of us have common enemies that are living breathing people with an agenda of destruction. They have a singular focus to get rid of us  - literally. We must have a plan to counter this. 

Is Trouble In the Republican Party A Head Fake Or An Opportunity?

I've been tuning out the majority of cable news punditry and other media echo chambers as of late because it's almost all the same sound: the bleating of sheep and other public whining and arguing. The self-appointed voices of the Republican Party are all gnashing their teeth it seems over the fact that Barack & Michelle Obama are in the White House. From Dick Cheney vs. Joe Biden, Rush Limbaugh vs. the world and Glen Beck insinuating we're going up in flames I wonder what utterly ridiculous comment is going to be made next. 

Not that I'm giving the Democrats a pat on the back. They're not 100% in unison and as I've stated in previous posts I'm not sure who is actually loyal to the President for loyalty's sake or personal convenience. It's just that Barack Obama has been in office since January 20th. Today is April 11th. He's been in office for 81 days. Some people act as if it's been years and he's been ineffective or something. I haven't agreed with every appointment or every step but I certainly applaud his efforts in such a short period of time. Besides we should know by now that we are the only ones responsible for saving ourselves like it or not!

You'd think Obama was lying to the public, raiding the treasury, antagonizing our allies, starting wars, playing dumb and being obstinate. Oh snap...that was the last guy in office. So are the Republicans just sucking on sour grapes with the face to match or are the trying to push a meme hoping it gains traction? It's not like they don't have help from the corporate media. From those idiotic political comedy shows that were greenlit for Black male comics who couldn't carry their weight, to the modern day slave catcher routine of the wanna be accountability police sent to trap Obama or the pseudo-intelligentsia writers who spend way too much time discussing Michelle Obama's physicality it seems especially virulent doesn't it?

Of course all of this isn't coming from the Republicans exclusively but when one entity is allowed to go unchecked it opens the door for a flood of negativity and depravity from all sides. If you don't believe me look at the the devaluation of R&B and Rap into the cesspool of coonery and derogatory images that is considered "normal" today. It is anything but. So the question remains whether enough people have gotten fed up with the foolishness of their political party of choice because it was hijacked by a rabid minority or if this is temporary amnesia.

I think for some it's all business as usual. They are protected by the system no matter who's in office and their political party affiliation is more of a device of convenience. Others do lean more towards an ideology but again the bottom line are their creature comforts. It's the hard-core followers who let a line of thinking inform their voting choices as well as those that are easily swayed by charismatic leadership that are the most invested. Believe it or not I'm also certain some just follow the same path as their elders, not really questioning why they think they way they do and assuming it's the only way because it's "what's always been done". 

The culmination of the past eight years has forced many people to reevaluate their choices. It wasn't one borne of an exercise in critical thinking outside the lines of what they thought was the norm either. It was borne of necessity. Since the Republican leadership has decided to push their narrow agenda even further they have so far succeeded in making the party less palatable to some while encouraging others to dig in their heels.

If their agenda is to improve the state of the country and for it to be more efficient what do they have planned to accomplish it? Who are they working with? Where were those voices before this new administration came to power? Or is their agenda strictly to obfuscate?  I don't see any workable coalition, just a bunch of wealthy white men who are using fear and a bullhorn to make themselves richer at the expense of those who haven't seen past their tactics - yet. 

As the Obama approval ratings show those who identify as Democrat and Independent have given a majority of their support. So it seems that if the malcontents of the Republican Party don't find a way to get with the program they're going to be left on the sidelines. Which is why this is a great time for people to set a more reasonable agenda and take the reigns from the grouchy grandpas who are up way past their bedtime. 

Primates & Politics In A Post-Racial America

So by now unless you've been living under a rock (or parceling out your daily corporate media brainwashing) you've heard about the cartoon that compares our President to a dead chimp. Ooh somebody's gonna get audited soon! Like for the last 10 years at least. People are outraged I tell ya....but you know what....I bet #44 is just brushing it off his shoulders. He's got more important things to think about, like trying to don a cape to save an ungrateful Amerikkka.

Also our new Attorney General got gully and said people were cowards for not being honest about their racial animus. Now let's see what policies the Just-us Department enacts under his tenure to compare if his words and actions are in sync. Already he's said more than Obama would about race and in a direct but firm delivery. Is he the "bad" cop to Obama's "good" cop facade? 

There's a part of me that thinks thusly: all of the politicians (and private citizens) who'd rather see their districts, their states go down in flames rather than be helped by that Black man they didn't vote for should get their wish. Reject the funding. May your flight off the side of the cliff be swift and take as many of your friends with you as possible. 

Filmmaker Alexandria Pelosi has another documentary "Right America Feeling Wronged" which chronicles the "pain" of those whites that didn't want Obama for President (but who couldn't offer any legit policy objections) and they were shedding bitter tears. Some people may be offended by the more incendiary sentiments expressed but I just laughed. Now they get to have a taste of what it's like for the rest of us. Here's one of the funnier clips though just so you get a taste of the underlying racism that presents itself through the anti-intellectualism of its host:

Last night's Anderson Cooper segment between Roland Martin and Ron Christie discussing the validity of AG Holder's statement on race was indicative of a) Republican obstructionism and obfuscation b) the idiocy of some people c) the lack of honesty about the attitudes in this country d) why getting emotional undermines getting work done. There is something quite unsettling about watching a real-life Uncle Remus in the flesh though.

Take a chill pill Roland, the guy is an eloquent idiot and you know that's why CNN put him on. It's the stealth racist tactics you have to look out for. Christie is being paid to be a professional contrarian and enjoys his role - which is why he can deliver his argument without emotion. Were Amy Holmes or Tara Wall not available? Did anyone else blanch when he used the term proud Black man? 

Here's the kicker though: he probably knows more about Black heritage than the average Black person. This is the danger of touting post-racial politics. He has no alliances to the Black community. You know he was made fun of as kid. I can picture him grinning to his benefactors and see the groove worn at the top of head from its most often patted section like the good little lapdog he's been. He simply has no self-respect but like your average rap artist who touts drug-dealing and rims, he knows what stereotypes to promote to make a buck. Don't hate the player, hate the game. 

I would love to see more Black people offering a thorough critique of the President without partisan punditry. This is why we need more balanced coverage and the Fairness Doctrine back and enforceable. We get it in the blogosphere but not on television. 

Update: Al Sharpton led a protest against the New York Post earlier. True to his race huckster for dollars he has to focus on the trivial instead of changing the infrastructure. It's not sexy or incendiary enough though. I had to ignore an obvious troll at a Black political blog who insisted these Civil Rights organizations and (blowhard) representatives offered equal assistance to both Black men and women when dealing with infringements from white supremacist people/orgs. I asked for specific examples of campaigns that were offering support to Black women who've been harmed/oppressed/insulted and they couldn't provide ONE instance. Which was my point. I think I should add a subtitle to this post: "only applicable to men".

Maxine Waters Lays the Smack-Down to the Robbing Bankers

Now watch this snippet from the Congressional hearing with the Captains of the Universe yesterday and their snide attitudes and you can certainly understand why Rep. Waters (D-CA), Financial Services Subcommittee Chair was just a little peevish. Take note: this is what an advocate for the disenfranchised taxpayer does. 

Will we ever see Obama get gully? Not likely. The extremely compromised stimulus bill pending is the equivalent of using one square of tissue to try to stem a bloody nose. I'm glad the Robber Barons were made to squirm even though they won't be giving the money back anytime soon. Now they claim to have not needed government assistance (corporate welfare) in the first place. Funny how that didn't stop them from taking it plus the extra $70B Shrub handed out as a parting gift. They should all be in prison.

 

Obama Calls Out the Contrarians: Will They Listen?

I just watched PBO's press conference where he presented his Economic Policy Advisory Board. He also reminded the politicians that the people demanded change and not a continuation of the same failed policies. Nice to see him getting out in front of the message even as the Republicans have mounted a full-on public relations attack with a great assist from the corporate media. We still don't know what the stimulus package will contain in the end, but I agree with his assessment that blanket tax breaks are not going fix anything and that the situation is going to deteriorate further before it can begin to level off (if it does). 

I engaged in some feedback with readers about my post where I asked if the agendas of the Obama Presidency are derailed how prepared are the people that voted for him, specifically (non-elite or wealthy) Blacks for the fall out. I posed this question on one of the more popular Black political blogs and was largely smacked down. I supported the candidacy of PBO but I never considered myself one of the kool-aid drinkers. I also don't quite get how so many people are behaving like overly optimistic (blind sheep) thinkers who should know better. I've adopted a pro-active stance of preparing for the pending flood. 

We need to continue flooding the Capitol with calls, emails and faxes about passing this stimulus package, realizing it will NOT be a panacea to the economic meltdown but a place to start to rebuild. In the meantime, I will not be stuck on a roof expecting the government to come rescue me because I couldn't imagine being left to perish. I hope everyone is preparing accordingly as well.

When the Democrats Blow Apart the Obama Presidency What Will Black Voters Do?

It's only two weeks into his Presidency and Barack Obama may just be getting the inkling that he has very few true allies. We know the Republicans have all joined together to gang up on him over the stimulus bill but those crafty Democrats are in fact far more dangerous. They bring new meaning to the word frenemy. They want to derail his entire Presidency in the same way the Republicans did to Bill Clinton. 

He has done nothing but capitulate and they still won't let him join their club. This is what institutional racism is. This is the face and deeds of white supremacy. If Obama thought he could coddle it or dance around it, he is in for a rude awakening. He gets no quarter for being half-white because per all the old slave laws, he's still a nigger to them. That sounds harsh, doesn't it? Well the truth must be told and is best served bluntly. 

Tom Daschle may have thought it was DC politics as usual. After all, Tim Geithner got confirmed and he also had a tax problem. There was no way PBO could have three appointees with the same issues. It was sloppy vetting and it set Obama up to look like a fool. Unless he personally went through all the paperwork - which I doubt - somebody in his ranks is intentionally messing up. Since the buck stops with the President, it's him who looks bad. Plus PBO knows that his pal has been earning money as a lobbyist - so all the change talk is sounding like BS. However, we know Daschle's support was the clincher for an Obama nomination win....so one could say he had yet another debt to be paid. It has not gone unnoticed that those who stuck their necks out early on and supported PBO have not ended up working for him in his administration though. I smell a familiar stench coming from the Clinton camp, but PBO surely knew what he was getting himself into, right? Did he think he was going to get a day off from people who live to eviscerate their rivals? This isn't a popularity contest (which he won) it's a long slow battle to the death. The last one standing wins. 

Even Caroline Kennedy had to withdraw in favor of a fake Democrat who's backed by Clintonistas (i.e PUMAS). If a Kennedy was forced out what hope would anyone else have? I know PBO had a wide range of support from a variety of people, but nobody voted for him at the rate Black voters did. We're talking close to 95%. Since 6 out of 10 Black votes came from Black women those of us not prepared for the fall will be totally screwed. Black people have no power collectively in the Democratic party. Republicans tend to look down on any non-white person unless you are upper class and rich. They want the poor whites as cannon fodder for reliable votes because they can always site their white skin privilege to make themselves feel better. It's a winner take all philosophy. There are no friends, only common interests.

It would be very demoralizing for those that put symbolism above activism and organization to be witness to the "fall" of Obama. Which is just the delusions getting a swift kick of reality. Already the corporate media is standing by with camera crews and microphones ready to record every hiccup - but they intentionally hid the bulk of #43's misdeeds. The question is do Black people have a Plan B? Nope! That's the problem. 

Obama will be fine no matter what - I'm not sure the Black collective would recover from such a massive disappointment. Oh, but I can imagine the excuses people would be willing to make. I love action-adventure stories as well as those epic dramas like Lord of the Rings, but this is REAL LIFE. There is no time for magical thinking, wishing on stars and hoping for the best. 

There is an end run on Obama's Presidency brewing and he hasn't even been in office for ONE MONTH. You know Pelosi, Reid and others have had their hands all over that stimulus plan and although I like most of the things added to it, it will be a fight to get it passed as is. It should not become a test of the strength of his Presidency though. 

He's not going to threaten martial law to get it passed - though maybe he should. His capitulation lies in trying to play fair and be nice to a bunch of bastards that want his head on a platter. They can't stand the fact a Black person is running things but because he's already shown he's willing to do anything to make them feel better about it, they are going to demand it. The question is whether Obama will get gully and draw a line in the sand or give in. Like Dr. Phil says, if past actions are an indication of future actions then we already know what Obama is going to do. He's going to do whatever he has to do to appease the factions. 

When more of those that support him get cast aside who aren't prominent, wealthy or connected what will they do? I'm feeling a little bitter right now as I write this because I want to be wrong, but I can't shake the feeling that what I'm writing will come to pass. Of course I would've been horrified to have McLame in office with Nanook from the Tundra, but I wasn't at all looking forward to the return of the Hill & Bill show either. John Edwards would've been taken out easily with news of his very own baby momma drama series, the Hair and the Sexually Restless and that would've left us with no viable candidate. President Biden? Ha! 

All that work people put into the Obama campaign seems meaningless if it can be unraveled so easily by politicians influenced by dissent with nefarious intentions. This is going to be an even longer, drawn out fight for those that support real progressive values. Now I'm going back to my theory that the complete decay of this country is imminent. The corruption, the violence, the greed, the apathy, the avarice and the blinders we wear have built up a tidy sum of evil that has to be accounted for. The Devil wants his due and we're going to pay up with interest. This is more than political, it's spiritual warfare and perhaps this is the way things were supposed to play out. Sink or swim. Survive or perish. Pay heed to warnings or suffer the consequences. I could be way off base. Or just a little. Either way, we'll soon find out. 

God Bless the Child That's Got Her Own.....

Obama Change Is Starting to Rot Like Day Old Bread

The more things change the more they stay the same.

Tom Daschle withdrew himself from consideration for the Health and Human Services appointment today. Nancy Killefer was another potential appointee who withdrew. Let's not forget about Bill Richardson. This is the big elephant in the room: what is up with these people who make a very comfortable living and have access to undeclared perks not paying their taxes? Or I guess we can say, mishandling their finances and being involved in questionable business activities? Or having personal relationship issues? We know the Obamas personally don't indulge in such folly because it would've been campaign fodder to their detriment, but these other politicians have been prominent political figures for years.

It's not that people aren't allowed to make mistakes either, but this just shows how flawed the "system" is. The people who rise to the top are not necessarily the best examples of human beings or those striving to be their best. Or those that care about improving the lives of the masses. It's just about who can swim with the sharks - or who is a bigger shark. Mediocrity rules as long as you have dirt on someone to silence any opposition.

Now can somebody tell me again it was just griping when some asked why Howard Dean wasn't part of the Obama administration? If Hillary Clinton can get a prominent position from #44 knowing full well she wanted to be #44 and wasn't at all gracious, then it should come as no surprise that the less combative would fall off like flies. Again I will ask why haven't other qualified individuals who may not be part of the "in" crowd but might better serve the country been appointed? I will also say some are not making it easy for President Obama anyway, so this is just an added annoyance.

If all we have to console ourselves with is dodging more incompetence or the flat out self-serving interests from Shrub and his loyalists, this is going to be majorly disappointing. Of course if the last President hadn't been such a disaster I wouldn't be rooting so hard for the success of the new one. It wasn't all because of a campaign slogan. This situation doesn't compare in equal measure but it presents itself as a big pothole on the road to Changeville and shows us how easily a lane change could lead us off the path we want to be on.  

Update: PBO (that's President Barack Obama) has apologized and takes full responsibility for his failure to properly vet his candidates. Good, because things are looking very sloppy! If you look at the paperwork required to work for PBO it plainly asks if there's any "skeletons" and "potential conflicts of interests". So my question is: did those appointees actually read it and complete it? 

Condoleeza Rice Proves How A Black Face In A High Place Is A False Victory for the Masses

Condoleeza Rice appeared on The View Friday. She is clearly a poised and articulate woman. She likes American Idol. Hey, she's just like us! The discussion didn't delve too much into what her role in shaping foreign policy consisted of but the hosts asked her about packing tips and playing piano at Buckingham Palace. The conversation veered towards Iraq and swung sharply towards Katrina. Ah, it's the single biggest failure of the Bush Administration - aside from the fake war, the economy and the dismantling of the Justice Department.

Her disconnect with "reality", the reality of the lives of millions of the non-elite and non-wealthy is palpable. Black people from non-elite backgrounds especially wanted her to have empathy and feel their "pain". People who move in rarefied circles don't hang out with the masses, but to hear her tell it during this interview her parents weren't wealthy. Perhaps not, but I think she was intentionally trying to downplay her upbringing to appear more "common" since the View's audience is predominantly white women. The interview she gave Ebony magazine in 2005 was much more telling.

EBONY: What was it like growing up in the. South during those turbulent times in the U.S.?

SECRETARY RICE: Well, I would divide it into most of the time growing up there and then 1963. The years from the time that I was conscious, which I guess was probably around 1957, 1958--I was born in 1954--until 1962 or '63, it was like living in two separate societies. But I was fortunate. I grew up in a pretty cloistered community and in a place in Birmingham called Titusville, where the families were strongly pro-education, strongly pro-religion, mostly schoolteachers, a couple of doctors, a lawyer here or there, but we were solidly middleclass. And our parents fought to make sure that we had our own ballet lessons, and I was dragged off to French lessons every Saturday from the time I was 9. And the teachers in that community were just exceptional, and almost everybody was a teacher. The schools were totally segregated. I did not have a White classmate until we moved to Denver in 1968. But I didn't feel any sense of deprivation because the community worked so hard ... But then, late '62 and '63 were pretty violent. And bombs went off in the neighborhood all the time, and some of those heroes, people my parents knew really well, like Fred Shuttlesworth and Arthur Shores, their houses were being attacked all the time. And there were Night Riders in the community. And then, of course, when the four little girls were killed in the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church, everybody knew one of them. Addle Mae Collins was in my uncle's homeroom. I knew Denise McNair really well. She was a good friend.

I suppose her family decided if you can't beat 'em join 'em. Become the Model Minority and the Exceptional Negro to gain acceptance, survive and thrive. Well in order for that process to be complete does one have to divorce themselves from "diversity" and be the one raisin in the milk? That might elevate one family's fortunes but that is not progress. Of course I could also discuss the failure of the Civil Rights Movement and how some Black men used white male animus to elevate themselves individually - not the entire "race" - but that's another conversation for another time. I understand that Dr. Rice is but one woman and she isn't responsible for every individual Black person but.....it isn't so hard to believe that people would look to her to offer some leadership due to her position. What may have been appropriate political and social strategies during the 60's don't work now, however.

The ascension of Barack Obama has shown a shift of sorts but even with him being President it only means one more person (with family in tow) got through the "glass ceiling" and only by his bending over backwards to make a core group of white people comfortable. He's not MLK and he most certainly isn't Malcolm X (but guess which one his physical appearance more likely resembles). I see similarities to one more than the other in his choice of a noticeably Black wife and his discipline. Things have changed but not as much as some might believe. I also understand people will bring their own life experiences in evaluating this. 

There are younger people who may not hold any obvious animus who are thrilled to see a President Obama, but they may likewise be operating under a bubble of historical ignorance. That may be "misguided" if they're Black or "unintentional" if they're white but it still smacks of privilege. What about other non-whites who don't acknowledge the contributions Blacks have made in building this country? That's why we hear this ridiculous argument of his election being an impetus for a post-racial society being trotted out. It will be post-racial when reparations are administered and after white supremacy has been dismantled and a balanced system put in its place that includes women of color in positions of power - but not until then. The corporate media is consolidating their talking heads even further by adding more white male anchors in case nobody's paying attention. Now the Republicans have elected Michael Steele as the Chair of the National Committee, but they don't get it. It can't be just any Black person, they have to be "exceptional". There has to be a connection and the masses have to be able to relate - well in theory anyway. 

For Dr. Rice to still tout that weapons of mass destruction lie is inexcusable though. Her excuses for #43's failure to properly address the Katrina situation baffles me. So if she's saying the former President's response to those majority Black people who were left to fend for themselves before AND after Katrina is not based on racial animus, then what is it based on? He showed how much he cared on a personal level as well as politically by his inaction. He was the President and the buck stopped with him. Actually, I have to restate that. The insurance companies were allowed to deny legit claims, all public housing (even buildings unaffected by damage) was razed, people were stuffed in toxic trailers, it has been open season on non-criminals in NOLA by police and racist vigilantes and most of the non-white population has not returned. That is definite action - of opposition. Is it racism or fascism? Hitler or Marie Antoinette?

So whatever you want to call it, that's what it is. Incompetence is a good starting place but it's so much more than that. It's a very powerful disconnection from people's suffering. She's clearly not an incompetent woman. She's become a millionaire many times over during her time serving at the feet of white male patriarchy. I say at the feet because despite all of her servitude she's still not sitting at the table on equal footing with them. Or is she? She might be an occasional special guest or co-host of the party. I could be wrong though, but I'm not sensing the plotting for power antics of Lady MacBeth, er Hillary Clinton. Publicly at least, Dr. Rice is still offering a certain deference that's intriguing. I can't help but wonder if it's because she's being protective and not trying to draw more attention to herself because she's a Black woman with a lot of clout - and we see how the society at large resents Black women who are unbowed. Or perhaps she is more secure with her place in this world and doesn't feel the need to prove anything to anyone.

I certainly don't hold her to any different standards than all the other politicians who stood by and did nothing, but she had direct access to the President at a time when the voice of urgency needed to be shouted at him. #43 was doing flyovers and having birthday cake with McCain when people were drowning. I still stokes my ire to see Sean Penn in a boat rescuing people on television but hearing our elected officials claim there was nothing they could do. I don't think the bulk of his fan base are poor Blacks yet he felt compelled to take action and help people - and he's an actor! So I don't think it's unfair to see his example (and Oprah's) and wonder why Dr. Rice was buying overpriced shoes and enjoying Spamalot even if it was her day off.

So if she's just one of many public "servants" and doesn't owe the community at large (such that it is) anything why should she be given any deference or paid any attention? She was the highest-ranking Black official in the government, but is that an achievement for one person alone or a progression of Civil Rights? Was she the safe exception for a group of white men who made her an honorary white person and did she play a role for them while securing a future for herself? I never saw her or heard of her displaying any of the foolishness we see from certain politicians or entertainers - and do I really need to name any names? She is clearly secure with who she is as a woman - but are we? I am under no delusions that she would've fared better had all the men in power been Black for she wouldn't have likely been appointed at all. That sounds harsh but let's face reality - it's true. 

Colin Powell lied to the U.N. on behalf of a President. I guess some people were fooled, but I wasn't one of them. Even he had a "moment" of clarity at some point and got out of Dodge, leaving the Bush Administration. Of course the biggest irony is that Dr. Rice would be appointed under a Republican administration because the Democrats for all their "we are one" spiel doesn't want to elevate qualified Black women to the highest positions of prestige and authority within the party or in Presidential Administrations. We've had one Black female Senator period! No one is going to convince me it's due to a lack of qualified individuals either. If Black women are waiting for the "right" time to seize power it's already here. If there is a lack of support (which I believe there is from certain corners) then this is a situation that requires strategies and movement. Go to where the door has been cracked open and kick it in.  

Lastly let the last President's inaction be a warning to people to hope for the best but prepare for the worst. Your government will not be there for you when you need it the most if you are poor and non-white. All of the hero worship for President Obama aside, he is now in charge and may not address those horrific loose ends still dangling in a meaningful way to those most negatively impacted by those events. I want to be wrong about this, but if you look at the history of elected and appointed Black officials over the past 20 years, 30 years and even 40 years you will see a big FAIL! Do you think Black people as a whole are doing better today than a few decades ago with the crime, the out of wedlock births, the complete abandonment by Black men, the deteriorated neighborhoods and the standard of living? Individuals - yes. Masses - no! Let the reaction and response of the former Secretary of State to the Katrina survivors (is that being generous?) be ample warning to those that would deny this.

More Inaugural Week Video: Pelosi Meet Up

This was recorded at the brunch thrown by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi for California constituents who were still in town the day after the Inauguration. It's a little choppy in parts because I was dodging other people who were moving in and out of position. She relays a a funny moment about seeing #43 off in the helicopter and her enthusiasm for #44 is evident. I do remember that she is politician though and take all that charm with a grain of salt. Studying how people attain and wield power and influence should be required learning for all of us!

Here are some photos from the event. 

We still need more of the pols to sign up for Twitter accounts and join TweetCongress! Even if it's being monitored by interns we need a direct point of contact.

Why Are So Many Companies Going Under?

Can we got some detailed explanations from economists WTH is going on with the economy?! I do NOT understand why all of these companies from Circuit City to Yahoo to the friggin' Postal Service are reporting millions - and billions - in losses! What have they been doing the past 8 years? This isn't all about bad mortgages and bank mergers either. I suspect this is the result of rampant greed that went unchecked and false religiosity cloaked in ideology by a lot of dishonest people.

It's no coincidence these companies are hitting the bricks right at the beginning of the new Democratic Administration. You know #43 and his cronies and lapdogs have been hiding all the crap under the floorboards, way back in the closet and the levees are about the break (again). Why should #44 be considered a failure for not being able to waive a magic wand over all of this?! It's a no-brainer that infrastructure should be part of the economic relief package because it's BROKEN! You can't build on quicksand. 

Tax breaks for the wealthy will do nothing for those of us on Main Street....or the Alley. This is so far from over it's down right frightening. I sincerely hope all those blocking solutions because of partisan politricks get voted out of office. **Ah-nold still hasn't managed to get his Rethug legislators in line to agree on a budget for California either. No state grants for school or tax refunds. It must be nice to be really wealthy but so divested from concern about the average wage-earner. Ah, but the let them eat cake motto led to a revolution.

So Now the Rethugs Are Concerned About the Budget?!

It's day 8 of the Obama Administration. He was sworn-in approximately one week ago. The President wants a huge stimulus package to make it's way through Congress so he can sign it into law. The economy is in the toilet. While politicians want to add pork and hem and haw over semantics they are still being paid or come from family money. That does nothing for the ever-growing list of unemployed as more companies lay off workers and try to stay solvent. 

When the Bailout plan was initiated last fall, people were rightfully outraged. It was falsely rebranded as a "Rescue" package. As we see the only thing that happened was large corporations and their lobbyists got a very generous parting gift from Shrub. None of that money went to the people. President Obama is using diplomacy and perhaps "begging" all members of Congress to vote for his bill. He isn't threatening martial law - unlike #43. 

So why aren't the Republicans getting on board with this economic recovery plan? Why am I hearing the same rhetoric of how Democrats are "tax and spend" - minus the Republican motto of "fiscal conservation"? Well, they can't claim it anymore. Shall we do the math? The costs of the world domination agenda is very pricey. Iraq has cost us at least 1 Trillion - and counting.   Add to that the Republican-led deregulation efforts of the banking industry and you see why we are here in this mess. 

Yes, individual people overextended themselves and need to clean up their financial messiness. But you couldn't spend on credit unless you were given credit to begin with. The financial institutions made a fortune putting as many people into as much debt as possible. They set the prices for homes and intentionally over-inflated their value to bundle the mortgages and sell them. They offered those shady mortgages. It was the two-fold punch of exchanging paper with no real value, spending all the money in the piggy bank on war mongering and borrowing money from Saudi Arabia and China. 

Oh the Dumbocrats have to take their share of the blame as well, but the rampant disregard for any common sense or sound fiscal principles lay solely at the feet of the political party large and in charge for 8 years. I want to keep a list of all the members of Congress who support and don't support Obama's plan. Don't try to hold it up because you don't want a woman to have access to birth control pills or want $3M for a toilet. If it passes and is successful then President Obama has his first victory; if they can kill the bill on the floor it will be a setback. These politicians are forgetting something in their political posturing: their constituents are going down the toilet. They will not forget who stood in the way of them getting relief. Relief that had been promised by the last Administration but was not delivered. 

If the Rethugs (from Senator John McCain to Rep. Dave Camp) were so concerned about the budget and debt where we they nine days ago? One month ago? One year ago? They stood by and did nothing. So I don't want to hear any of their BS now! Just sign off on the bill. If it doesn't work it will be egg on the President's face and he can fail all on his own. Of course I don't think Obama would put a grossly flawed plan together. I would not underestimate him or rule out him playing hardball. He's not quite the Magic Negro some may think. 2010 and 2012 is not that far away and they need a reminder they may not be in office if they keep this up! 

I urge everyone to contact their elected officials and gently remind them who they're supposed to be working for! We need an additional extension of unemployment benefits, students need their financial aid for school, free clinics must remain open, the banks are supposed to be lending money freely again! It's time to get with the program. He won - now move on!  

Update: From The Field blog: How Obama is setting up a GOP Fall.

Reuters photo of the President, Speaker Pelosi & House Minority Leader John Boehner 

Our Crappy Rethug Governor Just Vetoed the Latest Budget Proposed By Democrats

Thanks for trying Assembly Speaker Bass! You're surrounded by a bunch of obstinate tools. In what can only be thought of as short-sighted and partisan, Ah-nold shot down the Democratic plan to balance a large portion of the $40B + total operating debt for the state. Lovely. New York has a similar amount of debt but their Governor is going to add a few cents to things people like, but don't necessarily need: music downloads, soda, candy and such. The Republicans want to cut an additional $10B from education (because it's for a bunch of illegals and poor folk). Let the little people eat cake, but they won't be able to s-p-e-l-l it. You know they don't send their children to public school. 

Ah-nold has been sticking it to what's left of the working class ever since the Rethugs tricked people with that recall election. It's not possible for me to be silent when it comes to the huge disaster the faded movie star has been as Governor. Thanks a lot, you downstate voters! I'm not going to repeat my thoughts on that. You can see my previous posts in the archives. My head hurts because nearly six hundred thousand people applied for unemployment this month and these power plays don't do anyone any good! They've been squabbling over this for months and not putting the voters first. California is not going back to being a Red State no matter how hard the Republicans try to screw with the infrastructure. 

Palo Alto Police Chief Resigns

My, my, my what a turn of events. Chief Lynne Johnson is out! I've discussed this ongoing inflammatory situation with the Head Officer in Charge who in late October said every Black man in the vicinity was subject to search by the police because there was an increase in crime. 

"When our officers are out there and they see an African American you know, in a, in a congenial way, we want them to find out who they are. The one suspect was wearing a doo-rag. We, my officers see an African American who has a do-rag on his head, absolutely we will be, the officers will be stopping and trying to find out who that person is."

She said this during a public meeting and was given every opportunity to 'clarify' what she 'actually meant'.  She stood by what she said. That is, until the public outcry. By the way, the police have not put out an APB for head gear: they've been harassing innocent civilians since. She still claims she "mis-spoke", but she offered an oops.  

This isn't an offer of praise to the City of Palo Alto for decrying racism and racial profiling as the usual suspects of apologists and excusers are out in full force. Also she wasn't officially fired. She is retiring however, and I hope they do a complete overhaul of their procedures. Apparently 34 years on the force didn't teach her how to get rid of her prejudice. Crime stats don't support the profiling incidents - but one can always find a way to put a spin on things. You can follow my previous posts here and here. 

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As a side note I will offer another take on this. There are crimes being committed and those perpetrators should be held accountable, but the focus should not be on some vs. others. Assuming everyone and no one being guilty based solely on skin tone is just lousy police work.

Republicans Ask: So Now What?

Why is it that so many Black male Republicans who offer themselves up to the news media as the "voice of the party" are such tools? I know I could write something a little more nuanced with a social dissertation of how achievement and politics collide. But let's get down to the nitty gritty shall we? This isn't to say all Republicans of either gender are lacking in humanity. Or that those in the Democratic Party are so divine. It's just I always get that whiff of opportunistic sycophant when I have to listen to them. 

You know it's a flip side of the same coin. Black people trying to position themselves on the receiving end of political favor, but still not getting they need the power and a seat at the table. I think the Republicans are more delusional in that respect. They think by separating themselves and making themselves the "special pet Negro" to the Republican hierarchy they'll be considered equals. Can they really part of the club when they're working the pole as race dancers, blaming real systematic obstacles on the stated deficiency of the working class/lower class Black person to get ahead? 

Ward Connerly tries to do the dirty work (and get rich) for every child or follower of the Southern strategy creators by working on amendments repealing Affirmative Action laws that have merit. He gets the Slave Catcher title for the real acts of betrayal a few did to many to have a perceived gain of favor in the eyes of their Master. 

Former Lt. Gov. Michael Steele wants to be (Head Negro in Charge) Chair of the Republican National Convention. Interesting. Allow me to roll my eyes heavenward. He gets to move from permanent Lawn Jockey status to the Big House, or so he hopes. After all, Condi Rice is still there and now that Colin Powell was put out on the porch for misbehaving, there's a empty spot available! In his current role as Chairman of GoPac, the training and recruiting arm of  the party (and creator of especially vicious attack ads against Obama during the General Election) it would seem a natural fit. 

It's just the Republican Party is being run by racists and religious zealots! They were decimated this election season and with good reason. What is that saying about the road to hell being paved with good intentions? The party has dominated for nearly 30 years since Reagan with an increasingly dogmatic approach to governance. They wrested away the keys to the kingdom, got bloated on power and self-destructed. Look at the economy and a host of other problems. They did everything they said they stood against. 

So now they might be willing to add a color commentary. Desperate times call for desperate measures, huh? Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal's name is being floated around as a potential Presidential challenger to Obama in 2012. I have no idea if he'd be a formidable candidate or what qualifications he has (or doesn't). I'm inclined to think he should get everything he wants in order to run, though. I just wonder how well another brown-skinned man would perform in the red (historically slave-holding) states if they had such a problem with the one coming to the Oval Office. But he's not a bi-racial Kenyan so maybe they'd make him their exception.

It will be very interesting to see how the Republicans regroup and whether they learn anything. You can't just slap some paint on a pig and call it - wait - didn't they try that already? Perhaps the least tolerant amongst their shot-callers will have to recede in the background and let more sensible people emerge. That might bring back so many who ran away in disgust. Vengeance and intolerance isn't power. There is a class fight as well as one of ideology. 

I see more opportunities where more PoC can position themselves for parity and reciprocity, hopefully neutralizing these race hustlers. I am diametrically opposed to much of the Republican rhetoric, but this will keep the Democrats on their toes as well. 

No more taking voters for granted! A little upward mobility is a great thing. I know I read on certain blogs the opinion that Obama is a compromised politician who will (continue) to capitulate to white interests and I may have my questions to what extent, but with Republicans like these I already know it to be true! Right now we don't belong to them and they don't belong to us. Perhaps things will change in the immediate future.

This isn't Monopoly the game, it's real life.  

P.S. I'm adding this segment from last night's Hardball disagreement between Pat Buchanan and Strategist Mike Paul, who's trying to tell members of his party to get a clue. 

Now This Is What A Surrogate Does

So I'm settling in for my weekly viewing of "Real Time with Bill Maher" on HBO to get my kicks and jollies of this week's political foibles. I really enjoy Bill's sarcasm and wit not withstanding the cringe-factor of some of his jokes. I am so glad he is back from his hiatus. In a perfect world Chris Rock would also be producing a daily or weekly satirical look at politics ala the "Daily Show" and "Colbert Report". It would star Wanda Sykes and Pootie Tang would be a regular correspondent. Seriously. Hey why should white guys have all the fun?

This week's panel included former Lt. Gov. of MD [R] Michael Steele, former White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan [R] and actor/activist Kerry Washington [D]. 

I had written to the show before the last hiatus to complain that Bill did not put enough panelists who were women of color and it looks like that criticism was taken to heart as he has remedied that and then some. Last week he had Michelle Martin of NPR who made an eloquent plea to the Democrats to not take the nomination of Sarah Palin lightly. Somebody's been listening. 

Michael Steele is cut from the same cloth as Ward Connerly meaning there's not a Black person out there they're not willing to legislate against to get close to Massa. He's compared stem cell research to the Holocaust. He also shares a similar platform as Sarah Palin particularly in his anti-abortion stance even in cases of rape or incest. 

I do not subscribe to the theory that one's affiliation with a specific political party is the be all and end all of your political participation. In fact, I'd argue we need to be loyal to our interests not party affiliation. As we have seen during the course of this election cycle it is small groups with singular platforms that wield the most power. They threaten to not support the candidate selected or say they'll stay home. I despise the platform of the Republican party and how they do the opposite of what they claim to be about, but I admire their organization and focus. It is something we can all learn from.

Kerry Washington was an excellent surrogate for the Democratic party platform and the Obama campaign. She was clean, articulate - ok let me stop! She made all of her points without being mean and combative. She did attempt to steer the conversation towards focusing on policies and not the Palin (Lack of) Family Values as so ordered by the Obama campaign. Michael Steele came across as the sputtering fool he is. Interestingly enough Scott McClellan was gracious and engaging - and seemed to stay on the right side of sanity and composure. See he really really likes George Bush, he just doesn't agree with him. Good move Scott for staying alive and wealthy. 

After that my favorite segment of the show was columnist Dan Savage's outrage over the Republican hypocrisy of dictating morality standards that they don't follow. I loved his zinger about how out gay men don't have to fly to various cities to use random bathrooms to get 'serviced'. They.Can.Go.Home. Classic. 

h/t to JJP, Jed Report and heathr456.