Tuesday, September 30, 2008

THE DEMISE OF MATH EDUCATION AND ENGINEERING IN AMERICA, THERE IS A WAY TO REVERSE THIS TREND

In a world where advanced knowledge is widespread and low-cost labor is readily available, America’s advantages in the marketplace of engineering and science technology have begun to erode. There’s a way for students to enhance their math skills while still in high school. I suggest every high school student interested in upgrading their math skills to enroll in a drafting class. Curriculum advisers should encourage more high schools to offer drafting classes, with emphasis on designing small projects and constructing the design. In my opinion, this is a sure fire way to get students interested in engineering and understanding math. Speaking from self experience, enrolling in a drafting course made math easier to understand. After finishing a drafting course, I highly encourage the student to take a Computer Aided Drafting Design (CADD) course. Most colleges and technical institutions offer drafting and CADD together as one course. The student will be introduced to 3D modeling, 3D animation, desktop publishing, ADA codes and guidelines, and much more. The avenues to engineering and science are endless.

This is my driving force for writing this article; when I witnessed Mr. Bill Gates of MicroSoft Inc. testifying to the U.S. Congress stating, “we need to import engineers from third world countries, because there’s a shortage of qualified engineers in America”, hit me in the gut like a ton of bricks. Before I go any further, I want to make it crystal clear, I view Mr. Gates with the utmost of respect in regards to his generosity to underprivileged people, and his computer business savvy to grow MicroSoft into one of the largest and most profitable companies in the world. With that said, we all know, or we all should know, importing engineers from third world countries will drive the salary down for engineers graduating from prestigious engineering institutions such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Virginia Tech, that’s a fact.

A brief history about CADD, CADD was originally introduced as a replacement for the traditional drafting board. I was introduced to CADD in 1980, using a CADD system by the name of Auto-Trol; the system I used was a DOS based system, no pull down menus and no color. All commands had to be typed in from your keyboard, if you wanted to draw a line or circle, you had to manually type it in, and make sure your spelling was correct. Later I worked on a CADD system by Sun Micro Systems, which enhanced my knowledge in regards to 3D capability. Then along came AutoCAD!!! which in my opinion blew the lid off of Computer Aided Drafting. All of a sudden you had pull down menus, short cuts, and color. AutoCAD simplified CADD to the point where an idiot could understand it, and be proficient at it. I have to admit, I don’t believe I would've been able to hit the ground running when I was introduced to AutoCAD, without having the privilege of being introduced to Auto-Trol beforehand.

Sunday, September 28, 2008

Fannie Mae And Freddie Mac

This post is not to try and figure out if Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac participated in wrong-doings, I'll leave that to the legal eagles. I will discuss under who's watch did the debacle of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac happen.

Most economic experts believe if Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac could have remained solvent we wouldn't need a government bail out. But since they didn't the $700 billion bail out was born. Here's what really concern me about the bail out debacle, we see every media outlet, newspapers and TV inviting Democrats and Republicans to explain what's going on with the financial institutions. Democrats blaming Republicans and vice versa, even on cspan Democrats and Republicans are blaming the other party. I sit in disgust watching cspan with people calling in with comments while so uninformed. Common sense should lead anybody to the conclusion if you're hearing two different episodes to one story; somebody has got to be lying. What I've noticed is that cspan have a vast audience of sheeples (people who follow and believe anything they hear, without the benefit of intellect). When people just accept anything they hear and read without doing any investigation to find out if it's true or not, they're actually enhancing their ignorance. Example: We've all heard people embellishing a story to make it more than what the story really was; so what you're really doing when you just accept something without research, you're actually embellishing your ignorance. It's really ironic that the only TV show Americans can tune in to get the truth about anything these days is the Daily Show with Jon Stewart.

OK, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, sorry I had to say all of that to say this. I actually believe Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is a good thing, hold on a minute!!! let me explain. I view it as a good thing when the people who are at the bottom of the totem pole are given a chance to live the American dream. Everything was fine when Freddie and Fannie was making sure the houses these people were purchasing, the mortgage was in range of their earnings. The problem started when the bundling of mortgages flim flam game was introduced. Here's one example, Comcast Cable Co. charge a certain amount for cable TV, a certain amount for Internet access, and a certain amount for phone service. Let's just say cable TV is $75 a month, Internet access is $50 a month, and phone service is $40 a month. At the time the only service you have from Comcast is cable TV, a Comcast representative contact you and tell you if you bundle all three products, you only pay $100 a month for a year. After a year do to the cost of operation of the cable company, every product has increased in price, now your sweet bundle deal has increased threefold; and the only people who can get the bundle deal are new customers. Deregulation allowed the Wall Street guys to bundle mortgages and sell them at a cut rate price for a few years until they ballooned, and all of a sudden the American dream you could afford a few years ago are no longer affordable.

I'll say just one more thing about the Republicans and Democrats blaming each other about America's financial situation, and attach some fact content to it. When Republicans come on nation wide TV and in the print media, and proclaim the Fannie and Freddie debacle started during the Clinton administration; that's an outright lie. First of all there was no Fannie and Freddie debacle during the Clinton administration. Secondly, the Republicans controlled the House of Representatives and the Senate from 1995 to 2006; that's a fact. So if one is to believe the Republicans, what they're actually admitting is that they saw the problem, had the power to do something about the problem, and chose to do nothing; only a sheeple would go for that.

I would be remiss if I didn't say something about the true victims of the financial situation, the middle and lower class workers. Everybody deserves blame in this bundling game, the middle and lower class workers deserve some blame for going for something that just was too good to be true; that's how flim flam artists reel in their victims, ignorance is no excuse. Example: When you are stopped by a traffic cop doing 35 mph in a 25 mph zone, and you say to the cop, "officer I didn't know this was a 25 mph zone." The first thing the cop will tell you is this, "ignorance is no excuse" give you your ticket and move on to the next victim.

Saturday, September 27, 2008

At Last, The $700 Billion Bail Out Bill

This is probably the shortest post I've done. Earlier tonight (September 27, 2008) our Congressional leaders came out and reported they have reached an agreement (heard that before). But not one of our fearless leaders could tell us what the agreement entails, what's the big secret, just tell us what you guys agreed on.

If I'm wrong I'll apologize, because I pride myself on posting facts, well this time I'm going on instinct. I'm willing to bet the Republicans have something in the bill to give rich people a tax break, and Democrats have something in the bill for working middle class people. But above all, Democrats and Republicans have some kind of caveat thrown in the bill that qualify as an Earmark or Pork Barrel Spending.

Stay tuned for this posting to be edited as I research more about the $700 billion bail out bill.

Pork Barrel Spending And Earmarks

I'll be willing to bet that very few Americans knew that the term 'Pork Barrel' derived from slave owners awarding their slaves with salt pork in a barrel when they over-achieved their quota in the fields; under-achievers received bare back lashes.

Here's the main problem with 'Pork Barrel Spending and Earmarks', the people who we voted into office to represent us, Democrats and Republicans, have embarked on a dangerous game. A representative will introduce legislation to allocate funds for poor children ranging from pre-school thru sixth grade to assure they be provided with breakfast and lunch as long as they come to school; it's kind of hard to concentrate on school work with hunger pains. At the same time another representative will introduce legislation to allocate funds for the study of the mating habits of the western caterpillar, and placed in the same bill. Then we have yet another representative to come out and proclaim the bill has 'Pork Barrel Spending' in it. I think it's a dam shame that we have elected officials proclaiming the mating habits of a caterpillar and providing food for poor children are equal; but this is the game that both parties play and it needs to stop. The only way to stop or at least slow down the 'Pork Barrel Spending' and the 'Earmark' non-sense are to re-name bills as priority bills and non-essential bills. This way the only things are permitted in the priority bills are education, funds for fixed income elderly, etc...

Does anyone notice when the lawmakers come out to give a briefing on the progress of the $700 billion bail out bill how many times they say, "the general public don't understand." Instead of them just telling us what they're trying to achieve, they're giving us code talk; which means they're trying to pull a fast one. Every one of these guys who come out to talk to the media are asked the same question by a reporter, "exactly what is the sticking point that's keeping the bill from passing." Each and every time, the answer goes something like, "we just need to work out a few sticking points and caucus with our members." What the hell does that mean? I'll tell you what it mean, we have some people who want something in the bill for people who have become homeless because of Wall Street shady dealings. And we have some people who want to provide funds so America's hardships doesn't affect foreign financial institutions; that way the Wall Street fat cats who have bank accounts overseas can still walk away with millions. I know some of my Democrat friends will be a little angry about this, but it's a fact Democrats and Republicans are trying to protect their fat cat friends.

John McCain's New Attack Dog, Tucker Bounds

Every campaign has attack dogs, both Democrats and Republicans. The problem with the McCain campaign attack dogs, they have no regard for veracity. All of us stretch the truth every now and then, but Thursday (September 25, 2008) Tucker Bounds took truth stretching to a whole new level. Tucker Bounds went on nation wide TV and said, "John McCain's selfless act of leadership in coming back to Washington single-handedly helped push through negotiations on the bail out bill." The lies didn't stop there, Tucker Bounds went on to say, "John McCain put country first and personally saved the economy from disaster." It's as if the McCain campaign has reached the point that they believe their own lies. Sarah Palin went on day after day telling any and everybody who would listen about how she turned down the bridge to nowhere; even though every media organization proved she was lying about her role in the bridge to nowhere, she continued to lie about it. The McCain campaign has reached the point that even if what they're saying are lies, their approach is just keep saying it and the American people will believe it if we say it enough. At some point I think the American people will start to question the McCain campaign mental stability.

Friday, September 26, 2008

McCain - Obama Debate

Usually when I write a post on my Blog I’m excited and just can’t wait to start writing. I must admit, I had to persuade myself to write something about one of the most anticipated debates since the Kennedy and Nixon debate.

One of the main things I was disappointed with the debate was Barack Obama’s demeanor, that’s probably due to my demeanor rather than Barack’s. The guy just doesn't seem to show enough passion and emotion for me; OK, what I really mean is the guy just doesn't seem to get pissed off enough for me. This has nothing to do with whether or not I believe Obama won the debate tonight, I definitely believe he did. But I still wish Obama would be a little more forceful, especially since he’s debating with an older person; and we all know the majority of us allow our elders to talk down to us every now and then in the name of respect.

Barack Obama appeared to be the calm statesman, even when John McCain repeated old lines (lies) he has constantly placed in his campaign commercials (Barack Obama will raise taxes on people earning $42,000). And once again John McCain reminded all of us that he was a POW. McCain continuously reminded viewers about Obama not admitting the surge in Iraq was successful. Obama shot back reminding McCain if he and the Bush administration wouldn't have made one of the worst decisions in American history to invade Iraq in the first place, the surge would have been null and void; even with that, I still believe Obama should have been more forceful with his response.

As for the state of the economy situation most of Americans find themselves in today, I refuse to go into a long dialogue about it. To steal one of Chris Rock lines, we have John McCain worth about $100 million with approximately seven homes and Barack Obama worth about $1 million with one home; if John McCain go into foreclosure on three of his homes, he still have four other homes to live in. If Barack Obama goes into foreclosure he’s homeless; who do you think is closer to the reality of the average American?

The choice is clear, if you believe the people who was wrong about everything about the lead up to the war in Iraq are right about everything now; then you should vote for McCain. If you can look yourself in the mirror and convince yourself that you’re better off than you were eight years ago; then you should vote for McCain. Like I said earlier, I refuse to go into a long dialogue about it. If you believe your life is worst than it was eight years ago, then vote for Obama.

I know a lot of people will ask the question when they read this, why didn't I mention anything about the $700 Billion bail out for the Wall Street guys. I left that out on purpose, I’ll say one thing about this issue; these are the same people who viewed middle class working people as beggars. Now these same people are begging you to bail them out, I’ll leave it up to the readers of this Blog to decide if the millionaires on Wall Street should be bailed out or not.

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Mr. Smith (John McCain) Goes To Washington

John McCain has suspended his campaign to focus on the economic crisis. The majority of the pundits are calling this a political ploy by McCain; I say it's a brilliant move. Here's why, McCain has admitted that the subject of economics is something he doesn't have a clue about. What better way to educate yourself on a subject that you know nothing about but to go to Washington and act like you're there to prevent the country from going into financial chaos.

Let's get real, John McCain is doing nothing more than throwing a 'Hail Mary' pass and hoping the voters are top receivers. Every time McCain starts slipping in the polls, he pulls some kind of stunt (choosing Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate) he thinks the voters will go for. Now all of a sudden the financial crisis is too important to run for President and deal with the financial crisis at the same time; give me a break. Exactly how dumb does McCain think the American voters are?

It was refreshing to see Barack Obama didn't go for McCain's latest ploy. I have to admit, I broke-out into a cold sweat until Obama came out and made a statement contrary to McCain's plot. Let's just face the facts, Democrats have caved on pretty much of all of the garbage the Republicans have tried to shove down their throats. McCain suggested Obama travel abroad, once Obama took McCain up on his advice and won the hearts of every citizen abroad, he was quickly branded as uppity and presumptuous. McCain suggested he and Obama should have debates, once Obama agreed, McCain wants to back out, citing the economic crisis is more important. Enough!!! I honestly believe the American people, even the McCain supporters are fed up with McCain thinking he can dictate what decision Obama make.

Hopefully this is one 'Hail Mary' pass that will be batted down by the voters. If we as free minded voters who doesn't have to risk being blown up while we stick our finger into purple ink to express our freedom of choice, choose to vote for someone who campaign on country first, but does everything to prove it's my campaign first; then we deserve what we get.

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Barack Obama and the White Middle Class Voters

I refuse to mince words here, we're bombarded with questions from the media why can't Barack Obama connect with the White middle class workers. Since everyone from the media to those who want to stay on the tract that the reason White middle class workers won't support Obama is because they just don't know him, is outright bulls$!+. The real reason is this, there is no such thing as a middle class worker in America as we knew it when we grew up with our parents. For the past decade government has relocated the middle class as null and void, therefore the so called middle class is one pay-check from being homeless; which means you're either rich or poor. Poor Whites view Blacks as a threat because they believe Blacks will accept jobs that usually pay $20.00 to $30.00 an hour for $15.00 to $20.00 an hour. Blacks view Mexicans as a threat because they believe Mexicans will accept jobs that usually pay $15.00 to $20.00 an hour for $10.00 to $15.00 an hour. To put things in proper prospective, I've put the pay scale at a high level on purpose, the $20.00 to $30.00 per hour was a status quo to our parents. Corporate America has put all Americans in a position to just accept lower wages while the price of everything from gas prices to a loaf of bread have more than tripled. And we as sheeples just accept it.

I said all of that to say this, some poor Whites have been brainwashed to believe that if they vote for a Black man their way of life are in jeopardy. This was the same mental thought the majority of Whites had in South Africa when apartheid was abolished. Whites in South Africa cried out loud, "They will take everything from us and declare us as slaves!!!" Once Blacks took leadership the panick of Whites quickly subsided. When the Whites of South Africa saw that the Blacks didn't want any form of revenge; they quickly got back to the business of status quo in South Africa.

The bottom line is this, if poor White people want to stick to the lines of, we just don't know Barack Obama or we just don't trust him; believe me, Blacks would have more respect for you if you just tell the truth and say you just can't bring yourself to vote for a Black man. Tell the truth and shame the devil. If White America really face the facts, the first terrorists who presented themselves to America was the KU KLUX KLAN (KKK). Put your hands over your eyes and pretend that you didn't see nothing; that's what the citizens of Germany who knew of Hitler's Nazis did.

White America, people of color don't want your sympathy or apology, they just want you to stop acting like you're privileged. You came dangerously close to the American Indians becoming an extinct people. You prevailed in making the American Buffalo extinct. You benefitted from the slavery and blood of Black people. And after all that, poor Whites don't know the people who benefitted far more than any Black from Affirmative Action were White women; check the U.S. Census Bureau. And 20% of them have the nerve to call Black people lazy.

Monday, September 22, 2008

PAKISTAN SHOOTING AT AMERICAN AIRCRAFT

Pakistan are taking shots at Americans now, to date we've pumped in over ten billion of our tax dollars to the Pakistani government to help us fight the war on terror. One would think those dollars went towards to win hearts and minds of the Pakistanis i.e. to build schools, infrastructure, and the rights of the Pakistani people; especially the Pakistani women. Instead our hard earned tax dollars have went towards building up the Pakistani military, who in return use those weapons we paid for to shoot at our troops.

What’s amazing about all of this, is that our government leaders, the media, and the general population are accepting it as no big deal, so what if a few of our troops are killed in the process; it’s the economy stupid. The way this incident is being ignored is proof in this particular war, only a chosen few are doing the sacrificing. What happened to the days when America went to war, the whole country went to war? I’ll answer my own question, the general population has taken the attitude, as long as I or any of my family members doesn't have to do any of the fighting, let’s just fight on until we accomplish victory. However, not one of these paper tigers can explain what victory entails. These same people who tie ribbons around their trees surrounding their perfect manicured lawns pounding their chest shouting USA!!! USA!!! Are the same people who forget about the young soldier off in a foreign land when their trees they tied those ribbons around are threatened by the economy.

Now we find ourselves at the mercy of the same people who were wrong about everything in the lead-up to the invasion of Iraq and telling us that the economy is fundamentally strong. It’s ironic we see these same people on all of the network talk shows masquerading as think tank experts. In the mean time all of the people who got it right about the war and the economy are not given a platform by the government or the media. The way I see it, we've become a nation of gullible sheeples, (translation: a nation of people who follow along like sheep believing any and everything our government tell us without questioning or challenging any of it).

I’ll end with this, I saw today one of the polls have 20% of Whites won’t vote for Barack Obama because he’s Black. I’m hoping the poll was wrong, as much as I believe in most Americans to overwhelm those who choose to participate in bigotry; I refuse to allow myself to sink to the level of naïveté on this subject. I know some Whites will say, what about the 90% of Blacks that will vote for Barack Obama because he's Black; I don't believe that poll either. I believe the majority of Americans, White or Black will vote for Barack Obama because they want and believe Barack Obama is the only candidate who will bring about the change that will benefit them and their love ones. A wise person said to me long ago, allow your common sense to lead you in the right direction; if for some reason you allow your heart to lead you blindly, make sure it's not a vital decision. (MeMe).

Thursday, September 18, 2008

O.J. SIMPSON AND MICHAEL VICK

O. J. Simpson is back on trial, this time charged with armed robbery. I will not waste my time trying to make sense of the evidence in O. J. case. What I want to focus on is what O. J. Simpson and Michael Vick have in common.

Michael Vick did a dumb stupid thing by participating in a dog fighting enterprise. O. J. Simpson did a dumb stupid thing by participating in a scheme to retrieve his memorabilia. What was dumber and stupider than the crimes they were charged with was surrounding themselves with a bunch of gutless punks. Simpson and Vick surrounded themselves with a bunch of so called friends who portrayed themselves as tough guys. The only problem, these guys portrayed tough guy persona until they were confronted with tough decisions. The minute these guys were confronted with tough decisions, the punkness of them oozed out of them like hot lava from a volcano.

Hopefully this will prove to be a lesson to the youth in this country that believe the only way to prove themselves as tough guys, are to surround themselves with a bunch of tough wannabes. Today America is hemorrhaging with gang-leaders portraying themselves as tough guys as long as they’re surrounded by their posse. These gang members participate in cowardly acts like drive-by shootings with total disregard for innocent bystanders.

The people who participate in gangland behavior are either bullies, or people with low self-esteem. The bullies are the ones who can’t bully other people without their posse with them, and the low self-esteemed can’t function without the protection of the bullies. In return we get an overcrowded penal system with our youth. In return we get some members of society complaining about how our youth are being incarcerated at an alarming rate. The bottom line is this, the only way our youth will pull out of this revolving door of tough guy stupidity, is for parents to start showing tough love. To me tough love means showing compassion, but at the same time letting our children know who’s the boss; even if it means some ass kicking when it’s required.

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

GOV. SARAH PALIN'S EMAIL HACKED

Gov. Sarah Palin's email account was breached by a hacker today (09/17/08) and the outrage was enormous by the media. Some called for a government investigation (Bill O'Reilly) citing it was one of the worst things that could happen in America. I have to admit, I'm totally against anybody hacking into anyone personal email account.

Can we please get pass the phony outrage. A few months ago in August, a crazed gunman walked into a Democratic Campaign Headquarters and shot Little Rock Arkansas state Democratic Party Chairman Bill Gwatney dead. We heard just a snippet of the Democratic Chairman's tragedy shooting from the media.

We have gotten to the point in the eyes of the media, anything Gov. Palin is front page news. Gov. Palin has a headache, every news media outlet will run it as the lead story of the day. Gov. Palin teenage daughter was impregnated while still in high school, and it became the lead story of the day. Oh dam I forgot!!! disregard that last sentence, Gov. Palin's teenage daughter pregnancy is the the personal matter of her and her family and any comments about it are off-limits to the media.

However, if you're Black or Latino, or any other person of color, you and your family are branded as irresponsible and a disgrace to America's Christian heritage. Must be wonderful to be White and privileged in America.

THE REAL MEANING OF WHITE PRIVILEGE

For those who still can’t grasp the concept of White privilege, or who are constantly looking for some easy-to-understand examples of it, perhaps the following will help:

White privilege is when you can get pregnant at seventeen like Bristol Palin and everyone is quick to insist that your life and that of your family is a personal matter, and that no one has a right to judge you or your parents, because 'every family has challenges.' But as Black families with similar 'challenges' are regularly typified as irresponsible, pathological and contributors to social decay.

White privilege is when you can call yourself an 'f-ing redneck,' like Bristol Palin’s boyfriend does, and talk about how if anyone messes with you, you'll 'kick their ‘f-ing ass,' and talk about how you like to 'shoot animals' for fun, and still be viewed as a responsible, all-American boy (and a great son-in-law to be) rather than a thug.

White privilege is when you can attend four different colleges in six years like Sarah Palin did (one of which she basically failed out of, then returned to after making up some coursework at a community college), and no one questions your intelligence or commitment to achievement. On the other hand a person of color who did this would be viewed as unfit for college, and someone who was only accepted in the first place was because of affirmative action.

White privilege is when you can claim that being Mayor of a town smaller than most medium-sized colleges, and then Governor of a state with about the same number of people as the lower fifth of the island of Manhattan, makes you ready to potentially be President. However, while being a Black U.S. Senator, two-term state Senator, and constitutional law scholar, means you’re 'untested.'

White privilege is being able to say that you support the words 'under God' in the pledge of allegiance because 'if it was good enough for the founding fathers, it’s good enough for me,' and not be immediately disqualified from holding office--since, after all, the pledge was written in the late 1800s and the 'under God' part wasn't added until the 1950s--while believing that reading accused criminals and terrorists their rights (because, ya know, the Constitution, which you used to teach at a prestigious law school requires it), is a dangerous and silly idea only supported by mushy liberals.

White privilege is being able to be a gun enthusiast and not make people immediately scared of you. White privilege is being able to have a husband who was a member of an extremist political party that wants your state to secede from the Union, and whose motto was 'Alaska first,' and no one questions your patriotism or that of your family, while if you're Black and your spouse merely fails to come to a 9/11 memorial so she can be home with her kids on the first day of school, people immediately think she’s being disrespectful.

White privilege is being able to make fun of community organizers and the work they do--like, among other things, fight for the right of women to vote, or for civil rights, or an end to child labor; you’re being tough. But if you merely question the experience of a small town Mayor and 18-month Governor with no foreign policy expertise beyond a class she took in college you’re somehow being mean, or even sexist.

White privilege is being able to convince White women who doesn't even agree with you on any substantive issue to vote for you and your running mate anyway, because all of a sudden your presence on the ticket has inspired confidence in these same White women, and made them give your party a 'second look.'

Whit e privilege is being able to fire people who didn't support your political campaigns and not be accused of abusing your power or being a typical politician who engages in favoritism. But if you’re Black and merely knowing some folks from the old-line political machines in Chicago means you must be corrupt.

White privilege is being able to attend churches over the years whose Pastors say that people who voted for John Kerry or merely criticize George W. Bush are going to hell, and the U.S. is an explicitly Christian nation and the job of Christians is to bring Christian theological principles into government, and who bring in speakers who say the conflict in the Middle East is God’s punishment on Jews for rejecting Jesus, and everyone can still think you’re just a good church-going Christian. But if you’re Black and friends with a Black Pastor who has noted (as have Colin Powell and the U.S. Department of Defense) that terrorist attacks are often the result of U.S. foreign policy and who talks about the history of racism and its effect on Black people; you’re an extremist who probably hates America.

White privilege is not knowing what the Bush Doctrine is when asked by a reporter, and then people get angry at the reporter for asking you such a 'trick question,' while being Black and merely refusing to give one-word answers to the queries of Bill O’Reilly means you’re dodging the question, or trying to seem overly intellectual and nuanced.

White privilege is being able to claim your experience as a POW has anything at all to do with your fitness for President, while being Black and experiencing racism is, as Sarah Palin has referred to it, a 'light' burden.

White privilege is when you draw thousands to hear your speeches, you're deemed the best thing that ever happened to America. But if you're Black and draw thousands to hear your speeches, you're labeled as uppity, aloof, presumptuous, and arrogant.

And finally, White privilege is the only thing that could possibly allow someone to become President when he has voted with George W. Bush 90 percent of the time, even as unemployment is skyrocketing, people are losing their homes, inflation is rising, and the U.S. is increasingly isolated from world opinion, just because White voters aren't sure about that whole 'change' thing. Ya know, it’s just too vague and ill-defined, unlike, say, four more years of the same, which is very concrete and certain.

White privilege is, in short, the problem.

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

What The Media Won't Discuss In This Presidential Campaign

The media seems to be quick to have the lead story of the day to be about "Lipstick On A Pig" and other non-sense that doesn't affect the average American. Everyday we hear political pundits ask the question, "with the majority of the American population dissatisfied with the direction of the country, why can't Barack Obama pull away from John McCain." I know the answer to that question. Day after day we see polls indicating that Barack Obama is just not connecting with the 'White' blue collar worker. I know the reason for that. A few months ago Barack Obama was 16 points up in the polls on the question, who is better prepared to fix the economy, today (09/16/08) Obama is 3 points up. With the economy in the shape it's in today, why is it that Obama's numbers are dropping in the polls on the subject of the economy? I know the answer to that question. For months political pundits have said, the reason why Obama can't close the deal is because people just don't know him. One prominent political pundit, Gloria Borger went so far to say, "the reason why the 'White' blue collar workers are not connecting with Obama is because he's different from any Presidential candidate we have ever had." I know what she meant when she said Obama is different. Okay, now I'll address the questions and statements I made. The real plain and simple answer to all of the questions and statements are because Barack Obama is "BLACK". Even Dr. Phil who career was launched by a Black woman (Oprah Winfrey) set there on Larry King and gave nothing but accolades to Gov. Sarah Palin, saying he hasn't made up his mind who he was going to vote for. The only reason Dr. Phil is having a hard time deciding who he's voting for is because he hasn't quite brought himself to vote for a Black man. The majority of 'White' America feel this way, this is the real reason this race is this close; this is what the media refuses to discuss. We go on our lunch breaks at work and talk about everything but race relations in America; the core reason for this is corporate America has deemed it taboo to discuss at work. We all know we have 'White' friends who we socialize with that we dare not to talk about race relation issues that America are confronted with. To prove my point I challenge any journalist and political pundit to pose the question, if Barack Obama was 'White' with the same political views would he have the support of the 'White' blue collar workers; this is what the media won't discuss. We hear political pundits making the point that Barack Obama enjoys 90% of the Black vote. What those same political pundits don't say, since the passing of the Voters Rights Act in 1965 until now, Blacks voted 100% for 'White' men. Are those Blacks to be considered prejudice because they voted 100% of the time for 'White' men? Did any of those pundits ever stop to think until now those Black voters didn't have a choice but to vote for 'White' men.

Monday, September 15, 2008

John McCain: The New Change Advocate

Change is coming!!! Change is coming!!! This is what we're hearing on every campaign trail today. The question is, who is better suited to deliver change? Recently John McCain have hijacked Barack Obama's theme for change. John McCain made a comment today (09/15/08) stating that the economy is fundamentally strong. Other than the high profit big oil companies, exactly whose economy was John McCain referring to? Let's explore how John McCain would be a President of change. John McCain plan to fix Social Security is to have employees invest the taxes they pay for Social Security into a financial institution on Wall Street; sounds like a Bush administration of more of the same to me. Employees need to ask John McCain which one of the more than 117 Investment and Banking Institutions that have went bankrupt, or headed in the direction of bankruptcy under the Bush administration does he recommend? Would John McCain suggest Bear Stearns, Lehman Brothers, Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, or would it be Enron; the company that wrote our energy legislation in a private secret room behind closed doors with Dick Cheney? John McCain wants to continue billion dollar tax breaks for the super rich and the record breaking profit big oil companies; sounds like a Bush administration of more of the same to me. John McCain supporters should ask themselves, does the super rich and the record breaking profit oil companies, or the middle class working families need tax cuts. John McCain wants to continue the Bush administration backed North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) as it presently is. Barack Obama wants to change NAFTA to include the word FAIR in the trade agreement. Fair trade was abandoned by the Bush administration, John McCain will keep our trade agreement as it is. Let's take a quick look at what NAFTA has done for the average working American. Before I delve into the failings of NAFTA, I'm willing to bet the average American doesn't know our national debt includes America is in debt to Mexico upwards of 38 billion dollars. The Bush administration and John McCain says illegal immigrants are taking jobs that Americans won't do. We see advocates of this kind of sentiment put out ads on TV showing immigrants predominately working in the Agriculture industry. Before I go any further, I'll be the first to admit if I was a person living in Mexico earning $5.00 a day, and all I had to do is to climb through a hole in a fence and earn $5.00 an hour; I'd be the first person climbing through the fence. I'll pose a question to John McCain supporters, when was the last time you walked by, drove by, or visited a construction site, workers on our streets and highways, a meat plant, or a landscaping work site and saw anyone but Mexican workers? These are jobs five or ten years ago that paid $15.00 to $25.00 an hour, today these jobs are paying $7.00 to $10.00 an hour. I'm not blaming immigrants for this, everybody know it's our local Department of Commerce and business owners who want to keep wages down. John McCain and the Bush administration voted against to raise the minimum wage for the past ten years; sounds like a Bush administration of more of the same to me. John McCain voted against Dr. Martin Luther King birthday becoming a federal holiday. The bottom line is this, we all remember our Grandparents telling us, you can't teach an old dog new tricks.

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Joe Watkins, The Republicans Favorite Negro

It has become obvious when Republicans feel the need to bash Barack Obama, they unleash their happy Negroes. Joe Watkins has shown up on every major cable news outlet when the subject matter is about the fallacies of Barack Obama. I will not debase myself and go through the many times Joe Watkins have carried water for the Republicans and argued in behalf of the McCain campaign on the many flip flops and gaffes John McCain has made. Before I go any further, I think it’s about time for us to get off of this kick about John McCain being an American hero because of his POW status. There were lots of POW’s, I view them as heroes also, as a matter of fact I view every American who fought to protect America as a hero. Where's the hero status for the forty four people on flight 93 on September 11th who were the only people to fight back on that day? The real point to be made is that everyone is overlooking the fact that the forty four people on flight 93 were the only ones to fight back on that day. Not even the military was more heroic than those forty four people; because at least they fought back. WHERE IS THEIR HERO STATUS? Like everybody else in America I honor John McCain’s patriotism and his sacrifice he and his family gave for America. But by no means do I believe by being a POW, or serving in the military qualifies anybody to be President.

Back to the happy Negro, Joe Watkins and his Republican colleagues continue to bring up the fact that Barack Obama has 90% of the Black vote; it’s the 10% that doesn't have Obama's support that's the main concern of this article. John McCain showed up in front of a 90% Black audience and apologized for voting against the legislation for Dr. Martin Luther King birthday to become a federal holiday. I actually accept John McCain’s apology, what I don’t accept is that John McCain has offered no explanation why he voted against the legislation in the first place. Not one of the 10% of happy Negroes has ever asked John McCain that question. To be fair, not one of the 90% of the Barack Obama supporters has had the guts to ask the same question of John McCain. It seems as if we've gotten into a state in this country that all we have to do is apologize and plead ignorant, and all is forgiven. Example, Georgia Rep. Lynn Westmoreland said, "Just from what little I've seen of her and Mr. Obama, Sen. Obama, they're a member of an elitist-class individual that thinks that they're uppity.” When asked about his comment regarding the word uppity, Rep. Westmoreland proclaimed he had no idea the word uppity had racial overtones when referring to people of color. The problem I have with Rep. Westmoreland’s claim of ignorance is this, people like Rep. Westmoreland and other Republicans seems to have no problem connecting the statement Obama made about lipstick and a pig with sexism. Let’s just face facts, when it comes to promoting an agenda everybody is astute. When the agenda doesn't fit their views, they plead ignorant; to be fair Republicans and Democrats play this game. The question is this; do they think the people in the general public are stupid? If they do, the general public has a duty to prove them wrong by voting for the person who has your best interest at the forefront, and not vote with your heart. Vote for the person who can best help you improve your life, not for the person who you’re affiliated with politically. Don’t just take their word for it, do some fact checking. Anyone can easily check what the candidates are saying are true or false by going to www.factcheck.com.

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

LIPSTICK ON A PIG VERSUS UPPITY, ARROGANT, ALOOF, PRESUMPTUOUS

It's amazing how Republicans have the ability to recognize the phrase "Lipstick on a Pig" can be used in a condescending manner when referring to women. But, they seem to be totally oblivious when the words uppity, arrogant, aloof, and presumptuous are racist code words when referring to people of color. Congressman Lynn Westmoreland of Georgia recently said, "just from what little I've seen of her and Mr. Obama, they're a member of an elitist-class individual that thinks that they're uppity." When asked about his uppity remark, Rep. Westmoreland said he had no idea the word uppity had racial overtones. I'm willing to bet if Rep. Westmoreland was asked does he think Sen. Obama remarks about 'lipstick on a pig' was used in a sexist manner and was he referring to Gov. Sarah Palin, he would say, "yes, everybody knows the phrase made by Sen. Obama was a sexist remark aimed at Gov. Palin."

I guess now we're in the business of just pleading ignorant and apologizing, and everything is forgiven. John McCain recently apologized for voting against Dr. Martin Luther King birthday becoming a federal holiday in front of a 90% Black audience, actually I accept his apology. What I don't accept, Sen. McCain's inability to explain why he voted against the legislation in the first place. Here's the bottom line, everybody know Sen. Obama wasn't referring to Gov. Palin when he made the lipstick comment. Everybody also know, when media pundits say people still don't know Obama, what they're really saying is, there are a lot of White people who are still not comfortable with a Black man as President.

Monday, September 8, 2008

COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS GIVE REPUBLICANS SOMETHING TO LAUGH ABOUT

It seems as if people who cling to their guns and religion view community organizers as jokes. Community organizers are the people who real politicians consult to find out what's really going on in the neighborhood they represent. I wonder do these clingers to guns and religion know that Jesus was a community organizer? Remember him, he was the guy who went around preaching the gospel trying to organize people to live a good life. Jesus the community organizer was the guy who preached to people to be kind and help those who have less than others.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a community organizer. Remember him, he was the guy who went around preaching the gospel trying to organize people to fight for their rights through peaceful means. But as newsreels from the sixties prove to us, people who clung to their guns and religion wasn't having any of that fighting for your rights by peaceful means stuff.

It makes you wonder when these so called Evangelical Christians spew out their hateful rhetoric, if they're just doing this Christianity thing just in case the stuff they read in the Bible, and what their Preachers tell them just might be true.

PIT BULLS AND LIPSTICK

Gov. Sarah Palin said the difference between a pit bull and hockey moms is lipstick. I’m not going to sit here and act like I’m oblivious to where Gov. Palin was coming from. I know Gov. Palin was referring to the tenacity of a pit bull and a hockey mom, and was not comparing herself or other women to a dog. But just think if Michelle Obama would have made such a reference. The media would have been outraged, going on and on about how mean she is. And, there’s no doubt the conversation would have reverberated back to Rev. Wright. It’s obvious Gov. Palin is the darling of the media and all critical questions or comments are off limits. On the other hand, Michelle Obama is viewed by the media as a tough woman, and all questions or comments are fair game. Both women have children and a husband. Both women have successful careers. Both women are outspoken about their views. So why is the treatment by the media so different when it comes to these two women? I’ll let the readers of this blog give their opinion. Should be interesting when I read the comments.

MSNBC BOWS TO REPUBLICAN PRESSURE

I knew it was just a matter of time that MSNBC would give Keith Olbermann the Phil Donahue treatment. When Republicans started complaining about NBC being unfair to Gov. Sarah Palin, I knew Keith Olbermann would be blamed for it. Once again NBC played the role of a coward, and bowed to the pressure of the Republicans. Does anyone at NBC think for one second when the Democrats complain to Fox News about Bill O’Reilly’s talking points start with “the loony left or the left wing nuts” everyday, and Sean Hannity’s blatant bias against Democrats on a daily basis, Fox News would demote them? How do you think Fox News rose to the top of the Cable News ratings; by bashing the Democrats? I guess MSNBC want a format like Hannity and Colmes of Fox News, where even the guests tell the Democrat host to shut-up.

David Gregory is slated to replace Keith Olbermann for the remaining of the Presidential race. It’s obvious David Gregory is in favor of the Republicans, he’s just not as outspoken about it as Keith Olbermann is about the Democrats. I have to admit I’m a little biased against David Gregory. During a recent forum on Cspan about how the media covered the lead-up to the Iraq war, David Gregory was the only reporter on the panel who said he thought the media did a good job reporting on the lead-up to the Iraq war. I hear David Gregory on a regular basis when questioning a Democrat, a Republican said so and so, I don’t see anything wrong with that, what’s your problem with it. I've yet to hear him say to a Republican that he doesn't see anything wrong with what a Democrat said.

Tom Brokaw recently said he thought some comments made by Keith Olbermann during the Republican convention were over the top. First of all, Tom Brokaw has turned Meet The Press one of the most prestigious news talk shows in history into a joke. I know Tim Russert is a tough act to follow, but Tom Brokaw has lowered the level equivalent to an interview on The View. I’m willing to bet Meet The Press ratings plummet with Tom Brokaw at the helm; and the viewer ship of the Presidential race at MSNBC plummet without Keith Olbermann. It's a shame the only places America receive the real truth from the media are CSPAN and The Daily Show; this would be funny if it wasn't an American tragedy.

Saturday, September 6, 2008

THE VETTING OF BARACK OBAMA AND SARAH PALIN

Let's just go through a few things about Barack Obama and Sarah Palin, and see if we can find any differences in the treatment by the media of both candidates.

The New Yorker magazine portrayed Barack Obama as a Muslim with a portrait of Osama Bin Laden on his wall, and Michelle Obama as a sixties radical. There were a few media outlets who made mild comments about the magazine's portrayal of Obama was inappropriate.

US magazine portrayed Sarah Palin as a mother of five with a teenage daughter who became pregnant while still in high school; every media outlet was outraged and came to Sarah Palin's defense. The reaction to the portrayal of Sarah Palin by US magazine was equivalent to Russia invading Atlanta, Georgia.

Barack Obama draw large crowds when he gives a speech on the campaign trail, the media deems him as a celebrity and a rock star, even comparing him to the likes of Britney Spears and Paris Hilton; from the media's point of view, this was a bad thing. They even go on to label him as aloof, presumptuous, and arrogant; we all know those are code words with a different meaning when applied to a person of color.

Sarah Palin gives a speech and drew a large crowd, and just like Obama, the media branded her as a celebrity and a rock star. The difference, the media view Palin's celebrity status as the best thing ever happened to America. The words aloof, presumptuous, and arrogant was nowhere to be found in describing Palin's rock star status.

Barack Obama, Joe Biden, and John McCain after becoming the nominee and Vice President pick of their respective parties immediately went on the Sunday morning talk shows.

John McCain campaign released a statement saying, Sarah Palin isn't ready to face the media for questions, or the campaign isn't ready for her to face the media. We have a person in a position to become the leader of the free world, President of the richest and the most powerful country on earth; but she's not ready to meet the press. In Sarah Palin's defense, an argument can be made that the Presidency is easier than venturing into a media frenzy.

There's no secret Barack Obama got far more media coverage than John McCain throughout their campaign; John McCain even complained about it. Here's the secret, Barack Obama received far more negative coverage than John McCain throughout their campaign; Barack Obama didn't complain.

Friday, September 5, 2008

Gov. Sarah Palin Role As The Attack Dog

Hopefully it doesn't seem as if I’m trying to cover too many topics, but there are a few things that just have to be said about Gov. Sarah Palin's role as an attack dog.

It’s time for the media to stop the talk about the Democrats can’t go after Gov. Palin too hard, because they don’t want to be perceived as beating up on a hockey mom. On the other hand, Michelle Obama was fair game to be punched by every media outlet, especially Fox news. I already know the crazies who read this will automatically jump to their favorite talking point about how Michelle Obama wasn't proud of her country. I won’t even attempt to put Mrs. Obama’s words in proper perspective, because I know the people who took her words out of perspective are just ignorant in the first place. While I’m on the subject of who’s proud of their country and who love their country, this is what John McCain said Thursday night, “I fell in love with my country when I was a prisoner in someone else’s.” Now, am I supposed to stoop to the level of the right wing Republicans and somehow dissect his comment to mean he didn't love his country before he became a prisoner of war; I don’t think so, I’m above that. But once again John McCain reminded us that he’s qualified to be President because he was a prisoner of war.

Friday morning Gov. Sarah Palin mentioned that Barack Obama finally admitted the surge worked during his appearance on the Bill O’Reilly show. Bill O’Reilly went so far as to say to Obama, “why can’t you just say the surge worked. Actually I agree with O’Reilly for asking the question, what I don’t agree with is the double standard tactics applied by the right wing media. I've never heard anyone in the right wing or the left wing media ask John McCain, why can’t he just admit the decision to invade Iraq was wrong, therefore the surge would have been unnecessary. This is the political game the American people are fed up with, I must admit Democrats play the same game also; Republicans just happen to be better at it. When I hear people say "The Surge Has Worked" I have to do everything in my power not to get into a long dialogue about it. But when I just can't help myself, I try to explain it so the dumbest person in the world can understand it. I start by explaining how the phrase, "The Surge Has Worked" is equivalent to a father allowing his adolescent child to play with a fully loaded pistol, while the mother pleads to her husband not to allow the child to play with the weapon, and beg him to put the weapon away out of the child's reach. One evening while the parents was downstairs watching American Idol on TV, thinking their son and his friend was upstairs playing video games; they heard a loud BANG!!! Their son had accidentally shot his friend with the gun, and he was paralyzed from the neck down. The father sought out the best surgeon in the world to do follow up surgery on his son friend. Eventually the young man began to gain movement in his fingers, and feel sensation in his arms; however the young man still needed assistance with the things the majority of us take for granted. The father went out and talked to every media outlet who would listen, declaring "The Surgery Has Worked." His wife met him at the door and said to him, "if you just would have listened to me when I told you not to allow our son to play with a loaded gun, the surgery would have been unnecessary." What part of this analogy that right wing pundits and Republicans don't get?

Thursday, September 4, 2008

John McCain's VP Selection

Can we please speak like adults, John McCain's decision to pick Gov. Sarah Palin was a desperate attempt by Republicans to appease the Hillary Clinton supporters. But in reality, the only thing McCain and the Republicans managed to accomplish was to insult the Hillary Clinton supporters intelligence, and pretty much every woman in America.

Listening to Sarah Palin’s speech Wednesday night, while delivered eloquently, it became obvious to me the woman was just intent on spewing out a bunch of lies about Barack Obama; and about herself. Before I get to the spewing of lies, I got a few questions for the Republicans. I agree with Obama when he said, children should be off limits; evidently the Republicans disagree unless it’s one of their own. The right wing Republican pundits are defining the few media outlets who ventured into mentioning Bristol Palin’s pregnancy as demons straight from hell. They go on to say, this is a personal matter between her and her family, and the media shouldn’t be asking questions about it. My question is this, why is it that Bristol Palin’s teen pregnancy is off limits, and Jamie Lynn Spears, the younger sister of Britney Spears is fair game for all to scrutinize? I recently heard a Republican pundit on Fox News ask the question, why should Gov. Sarah Palin be held responsible for something her seventeen year old daughter did. So I guess this person is saying, if my teen child is responsible for destroying his property, I shouldn't be held responsible for it. My question to this person, why should Barack Obama be held responsible for something his sixty plus year old Pastor said? I cringe to even think about what the response will be.

Back to the lies we heard in Gov. Sarah Palin's speech, here are just a few. Gov. Palin said, “I have protected taxpayers by vetoing wasteful spending, and ended abuses of earmark spending. I told Congress no thanks for the Bridge to Nowhere.” This is the bridge Gov. Palin was for until she was against it. But after being against the bridge before she was for it, Gov. Palin accepted the money for the bridge that she was for before she was against it. Wow!!! What a tongue twister.

According to Jim Kuhnhenn a writer for the Associated Press, during Gov. Palin’s rein as Mayor of Wasilla, she hired lobbyists and traveled to Washington annually to support earmarks for the town totaling $27 million. Gov. Palin’s two years as Governor, Alaska has requested nearly $750 million in special federal spending, by far the largest per-capita request in the nation. Doesn’t sound like taxpayer protection to me.

Here is the most colossal lie of all, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee said, “Sarah Palin got more votes running for Mayor of Wasilla, Alaska than Joe Biden got running for President of the United States. According to the Associated Press, Sarah Palin got 616 votes in the 1996 Mayor’s election, and got 909 in her 1999 re-election race; for a total of 1,525 votes. After dropping out of the 2008 primaries, Joe Biden ended up with 76,165 votes in 23 states and the District of Columbia. I’m not a math major, but even trying to compare 1,525 votes to 76,165 votes is more than a lie.