Monday, February 11, 2008

My Fear of African-American in Political Office

We're seeing a phenomenon in American politics with the candidacy of Hilary Clinton and Barack Obama for the office of President. As individuals, I don't fear either. However, I've long thought that African-Americans (A-As)are black first and American second.

There's a joke about having Irish Alzhemers - one forgets everything except the grudge. The fact that Senator Barama does not wear the American flag in his lapel signals to me that me has a grudge - he's a member of an African-American nation and is not one of us.

Speaking of the Irish, we are proud of our Irish roots. However, I don't know any who are Irish first, American second. The majority of us came to America better equipped - we had a shirt on our back, our strong faith, and we spoke English. That's about it.

The ancestors of most Americans did not arrive on these shores as slaveholders or with gold in their pocketbook. Neither did they have the economic value that slaves had. Southeners will tell you that, in the case of the Irish, they were given the jobs that blacks wouldn't be given. Why? Slaves had value and Irish laborers did not. I've also read accounts about Civil War era slaves who were obviously better fed than the soldiers in both camps.

What could we expect from an A-A President? Let me leave that to your imagination. However, the American Left has rarely taken issues head-on. They can't win them with a direct approach. But, when they've been able to open the door to a political issue just a crack, it has then been kicked open. What would happen with an A-A President? The first thing that comes to my mind is the issue of reparations.

I'm not writing this because I'm anti-black - I'm pro-American. The big issue in the upcoming Presidential race should be about investment in America. Our national economic policies continue to force capital to flee our country as fast as water over Niagara Falls. What is now disappearing is the industrial backbone of this nation - the American working class. No, not unions, Democrats or Republicans - American jobs. And our bankrupt American government, which would have been called "Red" in the old days, is the cause.

If you believe the Democratic candidates for President, Republicans are the problem. I you believe Republicans, Democrats are the problem. Both say their style of Government is the answer. However, Americans who incorrectly perceive this are the problem - they elect people who would like us to believe that Government is the answer. It is not. Americans are the problem.

Quit treading on me.

Sunday, February 10, 2008

American News Media - How to Speak With A Forked Tongue.

A man went berserk in Kirkwood, Missouri this month, killing several people. The dead included police officers and citizens who held political office. A picture in the news showed the killer to be African-American.

I suppose those killed were all white as there was no mention in any reports of their racial background. If they had been black, and the shooter white, American news media would have applied a different standard and certainly would have spun the story in a different fashion, e.g. it would be portrayed as a racial event. And we would see the City Hall protests. Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson et al would be flown in to give the outcry of injustice a sense of legitimacy in the eyes of the press.

However, because the shooter was black, this story does not further the agenda of the American left.

Friday, February 01, 2008

I CAN SEE CLEARLY NOW

I've always been puzzled by the fact that Ohioans can go to West Virginia, Michigan, Canada, New York and elsewhere to gamble, yet Ohio has successfully fought it.

I picked up the Plain Dealer this morning and saw the headline "CAN THIS NUMBERS GAME HELP FIX OHIO'S BUDGET?" State-run Keno, they profess, could raise $73 million smackeroos in a year. This is occurring five months after Ohio outlawed video gambling games in bars and taverns. They stuck it to veteran's clubs too. How can the State of Ohio have their cake and eat it too? Well, here's their fork-tongued, crafted answer.

Governor Strickland opposes casino gambling. State-run Keno is not a casino game, it's a lottery game. Well, thanks for pointing out the difference to me. I thought for a minute there you were trying to take over the gambling trade in Ohio.

This past December Governor Strickland launched another program called "Connect Ohio." According to lw.pennet.com, Strickland says it "will help expand broadband services across the state by working with local communities and providers to map gaps in access and facilitate local technology planning teams that will encourage adoption of broadband and other technologies."

Does anybody else think this is akin to the attempt by the state to, degree by small degree, eventually control the Internet in Ohio (read $$$), just like the attempt to have state-controlled gambling?

If the Gov. was smart he'd say it's all to benefit Education. That's worked in the past.