A Crucial Decision

 America is electing a new president, and two major contenders are vying for the office. One has distinguished herself as a leader for women's rights. Many characterize the other as a charlatan with his best interests at heart. The country will have the opportunity to turn the page or get mired in the past. 

By choosing the latter, the nation risks repeating ideas that failed or being further divided by a man who evidently chose style over substance. Trump, the man seeking a non-consecutive second term in office, has vowed to destroy the country from within by rebuking his opponents and setting the stage for a culture war with various institutions at his disposal. To that end, he will rely heavily on the Supreme Court, which he packed with conservative ideologues and those in his inner circle unwilling to tell him no.

Trump will employ the federal judiciary to halt criminal actions against him. For instance, Trump will nominate judges who can manipulate the system, or he will bank on the recent Supreme Court ruling, which granted him immunity from prosecution in matters involving official White House business or Constitutional duties. If interpreted correctly, nothing the former president is accused of should meet the guidelines. Conservatives have often petitioned the courts to overturn longstanding precedents, such as with Roe v. Wade. Trump will pick up the mantle if granted four more years in office. 

There is also worry that if granted a second term, Trump will govern recklessly with no guardrails. Even though there is a system of checks and balances, Trump, with a possible Republican-controlled Congress and a Conservative-leaning Supreme Court in his pocket, could introduce legislation detrimental to the country, such as overturning Brown v. Board of Education, the Voting and Civil Rights Acts, Miranda v. Arizona, and Loving v. Virginia. A total abortion ban may also be on the docket, as well as police immunity in cases involving brutality or officer wrongdoing.  Lastly, Trump may take extreme measures on immigration, even for those entering the country legally, such as travel bans.

The past should be a guide to Trump's leadership style. The forty-fifth president is betting the country has amnesia or is blindsided by the inflation he laid the foundation for. He gave tax breaks to those who didn't deserve them and flatlined the economy with his mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, the supply chain is gradually rebuilt amid corporate greed and mistakes of the previous administration. Trump inherited stellar economic conditions but squandered them.

When Americans go to the polls, they should reflect on how millions lost their lives to COVID-19, how corporations were given the green light to overcharge consumers, and how controversy rocked the Whitehouse four short years ago, which created the situation we find ourselves in today.

They Should Rethink Their Choice

 I have listened to African Americans who have turned their back on the Democrats. I am not a Democrat or a Republican, and I have voted for both parties. On this issue, however, I side with the Democrats. Often, when Biden advanced legislation that would have benefited African Americans, such as the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, it was voted down by Sen. John Manchin, Democrat of West Virginia, who held the party hostage, and Kyrsten Sinema, Democrat of Arizona, after receiving money from donors who supported her. Their votes were crucial to the slim Democratic majority in the Senate. Republicans and the conservative-leaning Supreme Court also played a significant role in dismantling the president's agenda, such as the student loan forgiveness program.

Biden bashers also claim Trump poured money into historically black colleges and universities. If so, it was done to curtail black enrollment at predominantly white colleges. It is the oldest trick in the White Supremacy playbook. For example, when the Supreme Court outlawed segregation in public education in 1954, Southern States rushed to upgrade segregated schools or abide by Plessy v. Ferguson 1896. In other words, they sought to stalemate or hinder the court's decision. 

President Biden and the Democrats have enacted legislation beneficial to the African American community despite what critics may claim. At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the American Rescue Plan of 2021 issued stimulus checks to struggling Americans. It also provided parents $300.00 a month for each child under six and $200.00 for those between the ages of six and eighteen. It lifted millions of kids from poverty before its demise and could be resurrected with Republican support. Moreover, the historic bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act has allocated billions for roads, bridges, and other projects in so-called red and blue States, translating into construction opportunities for young black men. And to stimulate the supply chain after the COVID-19 shutdown, Democrats passed the Inflation Reduction Act, which capped the cost of Insulin at $35.00 and added jobs. Lastly, the Emmett Till Anti-Lynching Act finally saw the light of day nearly seventy years after the young boy was brutally murdered, something his mother and others fought so hard for.

Aside from passing historic pieces of legislation, Democrats claim to be keeping White Supremacists or MAGA Republicans at bay, who long for the past. It is believed by many that they desire to overturn the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments to the Constitution and undo the 1954 ruling on segregation in public education if Trump is re-elected and Republicans take control of Congress. Such actions would dismantle the hard work of the Civil Rights Movement.

Critics also worry that if Trump and far-right Conservatives take control in 2025, other laws this country takes for granted will be at risk. They include Virginia v. Loving (1967), Miranda v. Arizona (1966), and the Supreme Court ruling affirming gay marriage (2015), for instance. There is also concern that abortion rights will be totally banned, the Affordable Care Act abolished, and both the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 invalidated. Finally, Trump has pledged to give police federal immunity in office brutality cases. 

Since Biden is no longer on the ballot, it is up to Vice President Kamala Harris, the presumptive Democratic nominee, to convey to the American people that the country may not survive another Trump presidency unscathed. The nation must rally around her for the best possible outcome, regardless of one's views on the issues. 

The Redlining Factor

De facto segregation existed in most American cities during the dark days of Jim Crow, with the effects felt today.

It involved the separation of black and white Americans, based on customs, choice, or institutional racism rather than law. It was upheld by those in power with harsh penalties for anyone who dared defy the system.

Redlining played a major role by denying African Americans the right to buy a home wherever they chose. It kept blacks confined to a particular area as lending institutions refused to approve mortgages for them in affluent or white neighborhoods. Black homeowners were also prevented from getting home improvement loans, and the value of their property was often deflated when they tried to sell or move up the social ladder. It was common practice in the North as a covert form of discrimination with federal backing. Southern whites, however, relied on overt measures to keep blacks out of their communities, such as lynching, physical assaults, intimidation, and death. 

In many instances, redlining resulted in ghettos or poor inner-city neighborhoods. The value of homes often plummeted as homeowners found it difficult to borrow money for upkeep, sometimes falling prey to shady loan deals or rent-to-own schemes. Also, African Americans who were lucky relocated to the suburbs, leaving behind the less fortunate. As a result, black students attended segregated schools or were bused to areas less welcoming. In later years, food deserts developed as once proud bodegas and corner markets closed their doors, and chain stores and strip malls avoided the areas. It was common practice across the country in so-called blighted communities.

Lastly, de facto segregation, strengthened by redlining, impacted rural areas particularly hard. In the 1970s, an African American businessman and future mayor of a predominantly black community in Southwest Georgia went on the local radio station to voice concerns about how the black neighborhoods were less developed than the white ones.  Many needed tree-lined streets and paved roads, which made driving difficult, and were built without sidewalks, parks, or streetlights for safety. To add insult to injury, older homes lacked indoor plumbing, with outhouses in the back.  

As a result, a law was passed that mandated homes within the city limits be equipped with an indoor toilet, sink, and bathtub. Landlords often attached small rooms to the back of older homes. They could be entered from inside or the back porch. The dirt roads disappeared during the Funk and Disco era, but the sidewalks never materialized. 

 

It Would be Difficult to Replace Biden, Who Deserves the Nomination

In the past, political bosses picked their party's nominees for president even after the advent of the primary system. This was to ensure the best possible man, as it were at the time, would get the job if there was no agreed-upon candidate or the convention deadlocked. It could mean as many as thirty or more ballots were cast before a leader was deemed suitable to those involved in the time-consuming process. Sometimes, it bore fruit, and at others, it didn't. 

In the 1960 Democratic presidential primaries, John F. Kennedy aspired to win as many primaries as possible to prevent a brokered convention. He enlisted his brother, Bobby, to keep his delegates in line or loyal to him and poached other delegates from rival candidates. After winning his party nomination, Kennedy narrowly defeated Vice President Richard Nixon in the general election.

Eight years later, in 1968, following the assassination of Bobby Kennedy, Vice President Hubert Humphrey was awarded the Democratic nomination. Humphrey had not competed in the primaries, and Senator Gene McCarthy held the delegate lead, likely after picking up Kennedy defectors. Humphrey lost a nail-biter to former Vice President Richard Nixon on election night in November.

Finally, in 1976, President Ford nearly lost the Republican nomination to Governor Ronald Reagan of California, even though he accumulated more delegates while campaigning in the states that held primaries and caucuses. Ford suffered a narrow defeat to Jimmy Carter, an unknown governor from Georgia. 

It would be difficult to pull this off today or replace Biden since the rules are stricter, and he has met the delegate threshold.  If I am not mistaken, the Democratic delegates are bound to the presumptive nominee, or what is a closed convention. 

Male Bonding

 Men need male companionship no matter how hard they try to avoid it.  A woman is his wife, sister, mother, aunt, or partner.  She is not intended to be his buddy, homeboy, or someone he can discuss women's issues with or hang out with. 

Boys form pivotal relationships, some lasting a lifetime or in spirit. It is a rite of passage for young men on their path to manhood.

The black barbershop has survived for this reason. It is a sacred place where black men fellowship or air their differences. They get a fresh cut and feel they belong. Some come without needing the barber's service and depart better than when they entered.  

The church, lodges, fraternities, nightclubs, colleges, and other hangouts provided similar services, strengthening the Civil Rights Movement.

Men need friends or the proper male companion, whether someone in the community, a son, or a long-lost buddy. I learned this growing up or being around guys my age at work or in the community. Having friends, and someone to talk to or ask a favor makes life easier and a joy to be alive.

We all Matter

Everyone has a story. Don't overlook anyone or think they have nothing to contribute or bold to say.

Ordinary Americans participated in the Civil Rights Movement. They were Sharecroppers, like Fannie Lou Hamer, or a retired soldier, such as Jimmie Lee Jackson, who was murdered protecting his mother and grandfather from racist state patrolmen.

I hate it when people don't see or go out of their way to avoid me because of my status in their eyes. They think they are better based on their assets. They should get to know the man behind the glasses or simple clothes.  

I am delighted, however, when a beautiful woman or upscale guy speaks or says hello.  It shows positive home training or someone who did not put themselves on a pedestal.

Whitewashing

The whitewashing of history is a strategy that dates back to the post-Civil War South. It involves attempts to omit the contributions of back people in fields such as Science, Math, and other areas. Additionally, it seeks to rewrite the past in favor of white individuals by downplaying the effects of Slavery, Jim Crow laws, and racism.  This includes banning the teaching of subjects in schools that shed light on the struggles faced by people of color at the hands of their oppressors, as well as highlighting their resilience as a community.

Gaslighting is a key component of this strategy. It is blaming black people or victims for their circumstances in society or for any cruelty they experience. In simple terms, it is "flipping the script." For example, if an unarmed black man is shot in the back while fleeing the police, a biased legal system may criticize him for being afraid, without considering whether he would receive fair treatment in court.

Black individuals and like-minded allies must reveal the truth and keep our story alive. This may involve building our own schools, calling out bigots, and holding wrongdoers accountable. Doing nothing is not an option; we have a rich history and are making significant contributions today. We must be prepared Black people- have important work to do. 

Biden and Trump: Round Two

President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump have secured their parties' nominations for president for 2024, with no contender on the horizon. Trump's remaining opponent recently dropped out, virtually assuring he will be the Republican choice in the Fall with a sizable delegate lead. Biden also lacks a formidable challenger among Democrats and has accumulated big wins in the primaries. The question is which candidate can convince the American people of four more years in office, similar to the Election of 1892, which featured an ex-president challenging a sitting commander-in-chief for reelection.

As for President Biden, the economy has grown at a rate not seen in fifty years; ironically, it is hammered by inflation, which could work against him. Record-low unemployment, rising wages, and a booming stock market have strained the supply chain, weakened by the COVID-19 shutdown, which has robbed ordinary Americans of their spending power. Greed has also played a role, as the marketplace is dominated by a handful of corporate giants who raise prices with impunity. Even though the cost of eggs has tumbled, the same can't be said for meat, poultry, bread, and other staples. The price of gasoline has also trended upward, along with clothes, cars, and dining out.  Moreover, renters are paying as much as thirty percent of their income on a place to live amid a national housing crisis, as construction of new homes has lagged far behind demand, and corporations are buying up available property in many communities, with the administration deeply concerned.

Aside from the economy, the Biden Administration is confronted with concerns over Israel, Ukraine, and African Americans reportedly abandoning the party in droves. A growing number of Democrats are convinced Benjamin Netanyahu has gone too far in his pursuit of Hamas, causing the death of thousands of innocent Palestinians, including widespread destruction of property. They fault the administration for not doing enough to halt the violence. 

 Although the war in Ukraine rages on, it is believed it won't hurt the president's chances as much as losing the black vote. Support among African Americans has dropped by thirty percent in most polls over voting rights, the economy, and a general belief that the White House has not done enough to address their concerns, even though it was black men and women who voted him into office. The Biden Administration is working on ways to bridge the gap between black voters, like reaching out to black radio stations. If not, it could result in one of the most lopsided turnouts by people of color for Democrats since the 1950s.

There is one issue, however, that could work in the president's favor. The Supreme Court's recent decision to strike down Roe v. Wade has galvanized women and progressives. The conservative-leaning court was viewed as caving to right-wing pressure. Following the historic ruling, Democrats held on to the Senate by adding seats in the 2022 midterm elections and suffered minor losses in the House. The party also scored victories in key local races. Biden warned the high court in the 2024 State of the Union that women would come for them in the Fall. 

Meanwhile, Trump is attempting to become the second president in U.S. history to serve two non-consecutive terms. Although he is leading in polls, nothing can be taken for granted.

Trump is haunted by a past that Americans, including his own party, can't get past. Memories of COVID-19 are fresh in the minds of millions, and the January 6th insurrection, which many viewed as a threat to Democracy. As a result, the former president scores poorly among independents, which could cost him crucial votes in Georgia, Pennsylvania, and other battleground states. Moreover, a large share of Americans, including Republicans, are fed up with Trump's antics or tendency to go off the rails and simply want to move forward if it means throwing their support behind Biden.

In addition to his tattered image, Trump's legal issues have Americans wondering whether he could hold office if convicted or stomach a felon serving in the White House. White Republicans with a four-year college degree or higher think not, while GOP voters with a high school diploma or less seem to not mind. They worry re-electing him could send the wrong message to young people and hurt the nation's image abroad. They plan to write in another candidate or stay home on election day. 

Despite his mounting negatives, Trump could capitalize on the crisis at the Southern border that has Americans worried. Immigrants from Central America and parts of Mexico have crowded American cities, putting a strain on services and causing tension with locals, notably African Americans. Southern Republican governors have strongly criticized the current president on this issue despite the former president encouraging the GOP to block a plan in Congress that might have curtailed the problem. If Trump can gain traction on immigration amid a stalemate on Capitol Hill, it could flip votes in close states. 

Other issues that might work in Trump's favor include Biden's age, which has created waves in the press, the housing crisis, and other concerns that may not be the fault of the current commander-in-chief.

In November, we will see which man will lead the country for the next four years. 

Shirley Chishlom

Racism is so universal in

this country, so

widespread, and

deep-seated, that it is

invisible because it is so

normal.

Choose life

 Tupac Shakur said we have to change the way we eat. We can eliminate inflammation and fight heart disease, obesity, and other chronic ailments. We can then live healthier lives, enjoy the fruits of our labor, and spend more time with friends and loved ones. This year, we must make a change for a brighter future. 

In Retrospect: Southern Backlash To The Affordable Care Act

In 1954, when the U.S. Supreme Court outlawed segregation in public education, Southern states fought it tooth and nail, like the Affordable Care Act of today, claiming it would expand the size of government; however, the real reason may be rooted in race or class.

Republicans control most of the state legislatures in the South. Within their borders are those who would benefit the greatest from the new healthcare law: minorities and the poor, who tend to vote Democratic. Republican Governors have refused to expand Medicaid as authorized by the Affordable Care Act, which could aid the unemployed or low-wage earners, despite widespread support for it.  In Georgia, for instance, at least 60 percent of respondents in a recent poll back such a move, but the governor refuses, as in other states.  In most instances, Southern governors, with the full backing of Republican-controlled legislatures, have opted out of any part of the recently passed healthcare bill, causing the federal government to intervene, like during school desegregation in the 1950s and '60s, by setting up the healthcare exchanges or the Federal Healthcare Marketplace for thousands of uninsured Americans to obtain coverage.

Other Southern states headed by Republicans tend to oppose the Affordable Care Act simply because it's the president's or a Democratic plan.  Republicans largely supported Mitt Romney's version of the law during his time as governor of Massachusetts.  The conservative Heritage Foundation even threw its support behind such a measure in the 1980s to ease the healthcare burden in the United States.  However, as soon as Obama proposed the idea, the G.O.P. bolted for the hills.

However, not all states in the South have backed away from or circumvented the Affordable Care Act.  Those with Democratic governors, such as those in Kentucky and Arkansas, have adopted the new law and expanded Medicaid for low-income citizens.

Nothing much has changed in more than ten years since the passage of the historic bill, which enjoys overwhelming support from the American people. Republican governors, such as Brian Kemp of Georgia, have denied citizens the full benefits of the measure, such as Medicaid Expansion, which uses Federal dollars to help the poor and uninsured and can help prevent rural and urban hospitals from closing, something that has occurred a lot during his tenure.  Maybe one day the governor will wake up and bow to the will of the people.

 

• GOVERNMENT & POLITICS

COMMENTARY

Bookman: The truth is that it is Kemp, not Trump, who is the candidate of the past

JAY BOOKMAN

APRIL 20, 2023 1:00 AM

     

 Columnist Jay Bookman writes that Gov. Brian Kemp’s recent speech to GOP donors that it’s time to move on from his former political ally is a compelling message, but it is the governor, not Donald Trump, who is the candidate of the past. Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder (File July 2020)

In a high-profile speech over the weekend in Nashville, Gov. Brian Kemp told national Republican donors that it’s time for the party to look forward, to the elections and issues of 2024, rather than backward to the debacle of 2020.

“Not a single swing voter in a single swing state will vote for our nominee if they choose to talk about the 2020 election being stolen,” Kemp told the audience, in a clear if not explicit warning about the dangers of renominating Donald Trump.

It’s a compelling message, but the truth is that it is Kemp, not Trump, who is the candidate of the past. Kemp is calling upon his party to return to its pre-Trump roots, but he is doing so at a time when its base shows no sign of having learned its lesson, no sign that it is willing to give up the emotional gratification of another Trump candidacy in return for a better if more boring chance at victory. They have no interest in incrementalism; what they want is an outlet for their fury, and Trump provides it.

Right here in Kemp’s home state, in a recent poll among Georgia Republican voters conducted by the University of Georgia, Trump outpaced Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, his nearest rival for the 2024 nomination, by more than 20 percentage points. And DeSantis, as Kemp seems to recognize, is hardly the candidate of normality and sanity. All you need to know about the mood of the GOP electorate is that he and Trump are by far the most popular candidates.

It must be frustrating. Here in Georgia, by any definition a crucial swing state, Trump-backed candidates have lost three consecutive Senate races to the Democrats. In that same time frame, the more pragmatic Kemp has soundly defeated a Trump-backed challenger in the 2020 GOP primary and went on to thrash Stacey Abrams in November as well. In an earlier University of Georgia poll, this one taken in January, voters gave Kemp a 62% job approval rating.

Kemp also can boast of a significant conservative record. He signed a six-week abortion ban long before DeSantis did in Florida. He signed a bill allowing open, unpermitted carrying of firearms well before DeSantis followed suit. He gutted state campaign-finance safeguards with his creation of “leadership PACs” that can accept unlimited donations, and he has never let ethical niceties interfere with his pursuit of power, even if he is more subtle about it than the rampaging DeSantis and Trump.

He’s also been pretty sly. In the recently concluded legislative session, Kemp offered just enough late backing for a school-voucher bill to be able to portray himself as a supporter, but not enough to push it through to passage, which would have required him to sign the controversial legislation.

In essence, Kemp operates within the traditional boundaries of politics. He generally doesn’t stoop to being an Internet troll; “owning the libs” might be fun but hasn’t been a high priority. He doesn’t bash gay Americans for sport or call them groomers. He’s not trying to ban drag queens or books from school libraries. He doesn’t hint darkly at a second American civil war, or pay homage to Vladimir Putin. He doesn’t play on Twitter, and while he offers enough lip service to the Fox News hysteria of the day to maintain his conservative credibility, he doesn’t allow the conservative entertainment industry to set his agenda. He’s not interested in blowing everything up, he wants to make it work for the causes in which he believes.

Oh, and he knows better than to try to overturn lost elections through violence or through cockamamie schemes to trash the Constitution. That’s something.
All that said, though, Kemp has not been a good governor. It’s been lunacy to encourage people to carry guns, as he has done with multiple changes to weaken state gun laws. The more guns that are carried, the more people feel compelled to arm themselves, and the quicker they are to use those weapons. It’s wrong to let government dictate the most intimate, important decisions of a woman’s life, and the stubborn refusal of Kemp and his fellow Georgia Republicans to accept Medicaid expansion and the billions in federal aid that comes with it has forced hundreds of thousands of working Georgians to live without health insurance for no reason other than petty political spite.

But if Kemp hasn’t been a good governor, he has admittedly been an effective one. Once upon a time, Republicans and Democrats alike could build a career on that. Now, in a Republican Party more and more disinterested in governance, and less and less serious about the nation’s future, Kemp’s call is falling on deafened ears.

Source: Georgia Recorder