THE BALLOT, SO WHY THE BULLET?
The Democratic party at some point in the nation's history overtook the Republican party for control as the party of the "common man," the doer of good deeds, the free thinker, the social justice manufacturer. Black American's more than many others became the trusted confidante of any Democratic candidate at the local, state or national level. Today, the Democratic party has taken that confidence for granted and African-America has fallen into a trap of familiarity that damages progress.
The Republican party, with it's economic and social paradigms of do-it-yourself, seems to have not taken into account or dealt in a real way with the foundation America was built on. A foundation one of their own, Abraham Lincoln, found to be wanting when he, despite his political reasons, put an end to slavery and backed that sentiment with the civil war. Today's version of the Republican party has itself to blame for the distrustful and cyncical gaze cast upon it by the black community. However, this reality should not be a free card to Democrats. Black voters will never get the best of any politician or political system until Democratic candidates are made to acknowledge, through action, issues of import across large sections of black America. Should a Republican candidate be the one to address these issues, in a way that makes sense, black voters owe it to ourselves to listen, and yes, vote for this candidate, in spite of what the traditional thought lines are regarding the GOP amongst many in African-America.
Some politicos might say issues are addressed during every election as it relates to labor, gender, and racial issues. However, the type of acknowledgement Americans of all stripes needs from their politicians is not the standard political talk; slogans, catch phrases, and buzz words that taste good, but leave their patrons malnourished. Black America needs some meat on the bones of candidate offerings. Education, health care, a living wage and equality always seem to be issues revolving in the orbit of black America. We need plans; a direct way for community objectives to be accomplished. If presidential candidates are not offering this then black people need to pass on their candidacy and move on to the next option.
As shredded as the relationship between a throng of black America and Republicans has become, the black voter needs to, at least, take in what the Republican potentials are saying, as well as the Independent candidates. Black America must become a well rounded voter in 2008 or be faced with a knowledge of problems that are not going to be solved in a manner timely enough for children, parents or neighborhoods.
Like the stunning girl hovering in the shadows of a red-light house party, black voters will have to play hard to get to see the agenda of politicians change. In making black votes a fluid entity instead of money in the bank the black agenda will become more important than it has been in some time. If one disputes the importance of black America all they need to do is look at the state of public education in inner-city America, unemployment in inner-city America and working poverty in inner-city America. If the black agenda, which calls for an address and quick change of these circumstances, was important, there would be qualified teachers leading class rooms, school buildings that are in repair instead of dis-repair, meaningful tax relief for the shrinking middle class and a living wage for those who work one job, two job, three job, four, to make ends meet, yet have no official health coverage outside of substandard care at county facilities.
The ballot has overtaken the bullet, but today, black voters, who will not present themselves as a people to be courted and catered to, by politicians across party lines, have taken the bullet and shot ourselves in the foot.
The Republican party, with it's economic and social paradigms of do-it-yourself, seems to have not taken into account or dealt in a real way with the foundation America was built on. A foundation one of their own, Abraham Lincoln, found to be wanting when he, despite his political reasons, put an end to slavery and backed that sentiment with the civil war. Today's version of the Republican party has itself to blame for the distrustful and cyncical gaze cast upon it by the black community. However, this reality should not be a free card to Democrats. Black voters will never get the best of any politician or political system until Democratic candidates are made to acknowledge, through action, issues of import across large sections of black America. Should a Republican candidate be the one to address these issues, in a way that makes sense, black voters owe it to ourselves to listen, and yes, vote for this candidate, in spite of what the traditional thought lines are regarding the GOP amongst many in African-America.
Some politicos might say issues are addressed during every election as it relates to labor, gender, and racial issues. However, the type of acknowledgement Americans of all stripes needs from their politicians is not the standard political talk; slogans, catch phrases, and buzz words that taste good, but leave their patrons malnourished. Black America needs some meat on the bones of candidate offerings. Education, health care, a living wage and equality always seem to be issues revolving in the orbit of black America. We need plans; a direct way for community objectives to be accomplished. If presidential candidates are not offering this then black people need to pass on their candidacy and move on to the next option.
As shredded as the relationship between a throng of black America and Republicans has become, the black voter needs to, at least, take in what the Republican potentials are saying, as well as the Independent candidates. Black America must become a well rounded voter in 2008 or be faced with a knowledge of problems that are not going to be solved in a manner timely enough for children, parents or neighborhoods.
Like the stunning girl hovering in the shadows of a red-light house party, black voters will have to play hard to get to see the agenda of politicians change. In making black votes a fluid entity instead of money in the bank the black agenda will become more important than it has been in some time. If one disputes the importance of black America all they need to do is look at the state of public education in inner-city America, unemployment in inner-city America and working poverty in inner-city America. If the black agenda, which calls for an address and quick change of these circumstances, was important, there would be qualified teachers leading class rooms, school buildings that are in repair instead of dis-repair, meaningful tax relief for the shrinking middle class and a living wage for those who work one job, two job, three job, four, to make ends meet, yet have no official health coverage outside of substandard care at county facilities.
The ballot has overtaken the bullet, but today, black voters, who will not present themselves as a people to be courted and catered to, by politicians across party lines, have taken the bullet and shot ourselves in the foot.
Labels: Black America, Democratic, Education, Health Care, Independent, Republican, Taxes, Voters
posted by KHARI WYATT @ 9:54 AM
1 Comments:
At February 8, 2007 11:47 AM ,
DIGABLE-POET said...
Welcome Khari! It's about time. A man with many thoughts, my solutions, many perspectives deserves to be read and heard, and transformed by. Blog your life away!!!
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