The Black Union
"You know that tough times for America often mean tougher times for African Americans. This recession has been no exception," Obama told the 10th annual "State of the Black Union" gathering, noting that the unemployment rate among African-Americans is five points higher than the national average.
Man! It sucks to be black! I thought we changed all that when we elected Puddin' Head to the White House. And evidently the blacks have this union, and yet they still have terrible trouble.
I always figured that poor white people suffered as much as poor black people, but evidently that additional melanin makes a big difference.
But I think it's important that Obama keeps talking up our differences and inequities... and our general racial complaints. That's always been good for progress and interracial harmony. Then maybe after another 40 or 50 years of the "war on poverty" poor people of every color whose families have a deep seeded tradition of unemployment and leeching off the lives of those who work... Will suddenly have an epiphany and get real ambitious!
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14 comments:
I wonder where we would be today if LBJ hadn't declared war on poverty and instead had declared an alliance with principles of prosperity. I truly believe in charity and even a government safety net for those who cannot provide for themselves, but our welfare system does not function as such. It's more of a trap. According to Wikipedia (check it out) poverty, in absolute and percentage terms, was dropping dramatically until we declared war on it. It's managed to hold pretty steady or rise since then. Hoo-ah.
"but our welfare system does not function as such. It's more of a trap."
Grammy,
Good intentions took legally and physically marginalized people, and turned them into psychological cripples.
Shame on the those who use this cruel political device to acquire power.
Grammy,
Since I live in Marine (not Army) territory, I must second your comment with: Oo-rah!
Skye - Oo-rah back at you. My son is Army, but we love our Marines, and all the services. Where would we be without them?
Another interesting factoid... I channel surfed a few months ago into a History channel presentation on hippies. What caught my attention was that very early in the movement, those choosing to "drop out" of society converged for some reason onto Harlem. Prior to the the movement into their neighborhoods, African Americans in Harlem were making very good progress in their personal quests for family & economic stability. After the movement, though, lives and families were shattered from drug addictions, crime, and diminished self-respect. The end result has been a very deep and long cycle of poverty.
Collectivism/socialism is tyranny. It always fails.
Chuck,
You're so right! The Democrats and their policies are nothing less than cruel.
Ouch!
Malott,
A question: are ALL people who are receiving help lazy, people of color who leech off of others?
I hope you don't think that!
Our veterans has become a very large group of people whom the government is giving food and checks to. The veterans gave more than they had for our country. They deserve it.
The disabled need help, being unable to find work. Actually, right now, even the able-bodied are having problems finding work.
It's not easy, Malott.
Tsofah,
I would never use the word lazy to describe any group of American people... That would be racist, certainly stupid, and fly in the face of my personal experience with persons of every race, creed, and color.
But the "war on poverty" has destroyed the ambition and families of every color.
Surely you agree with me.
Socialism is bad. Liberal racism, when it is used to promote socialism, is disgusting and cruel.
Tsofah writes, "Actually, right now, even the able-bodied are having problems finding work. It's not easy, Malott."
This is true, and there are always those who face unique situations. However, there are also many more (in my opinion) who could have done a lot more to prepare for economic downturns. Those who have been steadily employed for the last decade or so should be able to weather 3 to 12 months of unemployment (or longer depending upon unemployment benefits). I challenge anyone who balks at this to a personal comparison of employment, pay, & benefits. I went 10 months in 1996 without work. Because of my chosen profession, my salary has frequently been well below national averages. Yet during this time of unemployment, we never missed any mortgage, utility, or other payment.
That being said, why is it now OK to extort funds from me to cover those who failed to adequately prepare for economic challenges?
JFK was so right when he said "Ask not what your country can do for you..." We've done a 180 from JFK's old philosophy. Voting has become all about "What can my country do for me?" I'm afraid we have many hard lessons yet to learn. Poverty is so concentrated in impersonal urban centers where welfare is dysfuncionally systematic. It becomes like the family business to hand down from generation to generation. I fly over the US almost every week, and I'm so impressed by the usable open space we have. I know it's easier said than done, but if I were in the urban poverty trap, I'd get the hell out of a big city.
Malott:
Not everyone has has their ambition destroyed. I'm all for those who need help while they are looking for another job being able to get it. When families lived close together, then families helped one another out and the government didn't have to. Now we are miles apart.
But to live on the small amount of money given in the welfare system (which those who get it are grateful for), is not a joyride.
I instill the ambition to try, even if you fail, to do better in my family every day. Otherwise, we would all just sit and veg out.
And we know, you don't have to be a part of a socialist society to be one of those who "veg out". Couch potatoes come in all races, and sizes.
Tsofah,
As I noted, there are individuals/families with genuinely extreme circumstances. I do not know anyone who makes an extreme claim that everyone abuses "the system."
My comments are directed at the many who have had genuine options with their resources. For instance, i was downsized out of military active duty during the wonderful, heady days of the Clinton administration. While at the transistion assistance program classes, I heard some retiring members of the military (at least 20 years constant employment & advancement leaving with a pension & benefits) comment during breaks that they would be in financial troubles if they could not get another job in a couple of weeks. Those facing that prospect were not planning ahead! Do you know of any good reason why any other American citizen should have to foot their bills for their shortsightedness?
Now, for a situation like yours. Even as extreme as it is, what makes it ethical to force, upon threat of fine and/or incarceration, those costs on anyone else?
I submit that the hardships that you face have been compounded by liberalism. Instead of responding with the compassion that we should, your fellow citizens simply turn you over to the government. They promise to take care of you, and they take our money to do so. At least, that is what we're told. But you tell us differently. Bigger government does not take care of you. At the same time, because a higher percentage of our resources are forcibly taken from us, there are fewer private volunteer service organizations available to provide genuine assistance.
This is why conservatism makes more sense in every situation. Every time Americans have been moved by the ideals prevalent with our Founders (individual liberty, property rights, and limited government), we as a whole flourish. We have more mental, emotional, and physical resources with which to act out our compassion.
The problem with the "war on poverty" is that its proponents contend that it can only succeed through a centralized planning by a collectivist government. Every time this is tried, it fails. When it fails, it hurts everyone (except a few elites), especially people in your situation. You see, there really is a difference between extortion and compassion.
Once again life provides the reality of the results of centralized planning...
http://skyepuppy.blogspot.com/2009/03/hawaiis-health-insurance-lesson.html
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