The Black Informant | African American Commentary, News and Community Building

Greetings,
This is the first time I have read blackinformant.com. Most interesting. I hope to be able to get back soon and ask questions and post comments. We in the Black community do not have a monolithic world view. We must be open to sharing views. I know that I can learn even from those that I disageree with. I was born in D.C. but raised in NYC. I get back to D.C. as often as I can. Thanks for the info. on Orange County. Things happen by plan and reason and benefits those who fight for their interest.

Michelle Rhee, Arne Duncan and Joel Klien(NYC)are all enemies to Black education. What are your thoughts?

Its crystal clear to me that Black elected officials represent the political party they belong to and not the Black community. 50% Black unemployment and Obama,Conyers, Sharpton and Acron walk right past us and worry about illegal immigrants! Black voters need to be independents
and leverage all politcal parties for concessions.

At this point in time Blacks of all political and ideaological persuaions need to ask what impact a policy will have on the Black community regardless of ones ideaology. Other ethnic groups got large stimulus money. Where is ours? They not waiting for Obama to find time to get to them.

Talk to you later.

Eric

Michelle Rhee, Arne Duncan and Joel Klien(NYC)are all enemies to Black education. What are your thoughts?

Michelle Rhee – Anybody who is fighting for the right of parents to have school choice, willing to fight against unions who have not proven their worth in that district, and cut down the bureaucracy is alright with me.

Arne Duncan – Did virtually squat for Chicago and only got the job because of his hook up with Obama.

Joel Klien – Don’t know enough about him to comment, but I will certainly keep my ears open for him.

Black voters need to be independents and leverage all politcal parties for concessions.

You are preaching to the choir here, but unfortunately it is an unrealistic hope.

I mentioned a few days ago a comment made by the Federal Reserve Chairman, Ben Beranke. In short, he told a group of Morehouse college students that a major contributor to the wealth gap between Blacks and Whites is our lack of financial literacy. Why am I talking about money? Because money is what fuels the political world. While most American voters regardless of race are marginal when it comes to the inter-workings of our economy, we as Black folks are very low on that scale. So, like most folks who are not knowledgeable about money, we rely heavily on the basic soft skills of our politicians. The personality of the politician goes a lot further with us than the millions/billions he/she has wasted with various pet projects. That is why there was very little interest in much of the Black community on how billions of dollars get wasted every year in government. That leads to another point. Because Blacks are heavily reliant on the government (welfare, social programs, employment, education), the only main requirement for our elected representatives is to keep–government–growing. Conservatives on the other hand believe in a government system that is efficient, yet effective. In other words, cut what does not work and keep what is working. Therefore, suggesting to the Black electorate that government should be reduced in size is will not win elections in most Black districts.

Bottom line, our knowledge of how money flows in the political arena has a direct correlation on how we vote.

Welcome to the site!