Project 21: New Visions

I shake my head in disappointment and disgust that — in the 21st century — so many people are still blinded by bigotry. And nowhere is this bigotry more apparent than in the feelings and assertions about the case of George Zimmerman, on trial for the death of Trayvon Martin. What would seem to be a tragic shooting that occurred in Florida early last year has morphed into a simmering source of racial tension that grips our nation. Zimmerman is Hispanic and Martin was black. So? Those who seek to exploit the situation have now essentially turned the case into ...
READ MORE

Ben Jealous, the president and CEO of the increasingly-irrelevant NAACP, has provided yet recent example of why the NAACP is on life support. It's not enough that, with the help of the ACLU and other identity politics special interest groups, the NAACP is now suing the state of Arizona in federal court to have the "Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass Prenatal Non-Discrimination Act" thrown out. It's a law to prohibit and criminalize all race and sex-based abortions. Apparently, in this case, the NAACP sees nothing wrong with the disproportionate number of abortions happening among blacks and wants more babies ...
READ MORE

Problems infecting and affecting the black community must be addressed in a serious and sincere manner. Many of these problems center around moral values that were once readily available and in abundance among black Americans. Now they are increasingly becoming rare. To deal with this crisis, there should be a focused and concentrated effort, originating within black churches, that renews hearts and minds.  This renewal should focus on Christian moral values as the answer to the pervading psychological ills that now afflict black America. That blacks are in need of spiritual, social and economic renewal is no secret.  A certain ...
READ MORE

As unemployment numbers drop only slightly, it appears President Obama is relying on this as an extremely misleading indicator to claim the economy is recovering. Since unemployment numbers haven't always told the true story of what's happened to the U.S. economy, a more diligent survey of other, broader indicators is necessary to gauge the President's economic stewardship. When defined by gross domestic product (GDP) growth, for example, it's the worst economy in 83 years. Regarding GDP growth, the American economy grew at just 2.5 percent during the first quarter of 2013 — much slower than expected. One cause is a ...
READ MORE

Every month, there sees to be a new ad campaign or initiative attempting to influence what we eat, purchase, or otherwise consume. My favorite food cop is Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York City. He has been temporarily thwarted in his effort to limit soda consumption in New York City, so he has shifted his attention to an ad campaign promoting salt reduction. Numerous establishment environmental groups are also adding to the food police's fight by attempting to convince us to eat one type of fish over another due to "sustainability" issues and current species populations. Other advertising campaigns encourage ...
READ MORE

Popular music superstar Kanye West's new release, "New Slaves," is capturing a lot of attention. The question is whether it deserves that attention or not. Some consider it West's "Marvin Gaye moment" — likening how Gaye shook up the music world in 1971 with his "What's Going On" album that highlighted social ills such as poverty and drug abuse. While Gaye became more sexual with future hits such as "Let's Get It On" and "Sexual Healing," it's more fair to say that West — already known for profanity and pomposity — could be having such a moment in reverse, transitioning ...
READ MORE

In the general election of 1964, racial discrimination existed that made it harder for minorities to vote. Conditions were considered so bad in nine states and portions of six others that the Voting Rights Act of 1965 included a "extreme temporary measure" that these problem areas had to receive federal approval for any and all actions affecting how people vote. This means everything from polling place rules to zoning lines in far-flung places such as Nome, Alaska and Key West, Florida must receive "preclearance" from someone in the nation's capital before they are considered legal. Nearly 50 years later, most ...
READ MORE

It didn't take long for Dr. Ben Carson, the world-renowned pediatric neurosurgeon, to become public enemy number one among liberal circles. At the recent National Prayer Breakfast, in a speech he gave in the presence of President Obama, Dr. Carson essentially came out of the closet as a black conservative. Leaving the liberal plantation is unforgivable! Dr. Carson's greatest crime was likely that he offered commonsense solutions instead of the usual political rhetoric that comes out of Washington. He broke down our nation's problems and offered his wisdom in such a way that even the simplest person could understand. At ...
READ MORE

My father was a teacher, so I know that teaching can be an all-consuming profession. Nonetheless, it's the job that my father chose — as do today's educators. There's no involuntary draft. When I watch or hear some of today's teaching professionals whine about their rights and wages (while sprinkling into their tirades about how it's really all about the children), I could go off on a tangent that would be unprintable in this particular venue. There are unionized public school teachers who make taxpayers — and the lawmakers who are the guardians of their hard-earned tax dollars — the ...
READ MORE

If something is good and it is enjoyable, it's not surprising that people want it to last forever. We want the goodness to be unceasing. We want it to be sustained. But the sad fact is that nothing lasts forever. Even the cosmos is subject to the vagaries of time and will one day cease to exist. Within black America, despite the hardships we have faced, there have been many favorable developments that have benefited our people. They should continue. Unfortunately, many appear to be unsustainable. Consider the example of the black family. Formerly the bedrock of our community, the ...
READ MORE

In a perfect world, Social Security would be a privatized system in which individuals manage their own retirement accounts and adjust the disbursement of their savings and investments — including factoring for inflation — themselves. But it isn't. As it is, Washington bureaucrats exert considerable control over the over 56 million Social Security recipients by controlling Social Security payments and subsequent cost of living adjustments (COLAs). The current COLA system is deemed to cost too much. Hence, there is a proposal being mulled in Washington to change how COLAs are computed. Right now, the Social Security COLAs are determined by ...
READ MORE

On the History Channel, they've turned the Bible into a miniseries. It's a hit. Nielsen reports the first installment had over 13 million viewers — a record for basic cable in 2013. According to one of the network's presidents, the channel "launched an incredible and coordinated [media] campaign" to lure viewers to this faith-based programming. This got me thinking about media coverage of the Christian faith and how atheists choose to attack God. In late 2012, the American Humanists Association targeted American children. The group unveiled a web-based campaign informing young people they are "a bit old for imaginary friends." ...
READ MORE

People think Congress sucks, and there's statistical evidence to prove they do. According to a recent national poll conducted by Public Policy Polling, Congress has a favorability rating of nine percent. The reputation of Congress is so bad that, when given a choice, cockroaches, lice, the NFL's replacement referees, colonoscopies, root canals and used car salesmen are more liked than Congress. France scored higher than Congress. France! Much of the poll was undeniably done with tongue firmly planted in cheek. There's obviously no logical link between federal legislators — most of whom were recently re-elected — and the Kardashians or ...
READ MORE

Had he not been cut down in his prime, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. would now be 84 years old. He was undeniably a beacon of hope and a pillar of light in the midst of the dark and evil times in which he lived. Dr. King inspired many people — including me — to dream and persevere despite the challenges and obstacles that may easily seem to surmount us. Looking upon the accomplishments, courage and wisdom of Dr. King, I ponder about how he might view America if he were still alive today. As our nation continues to see ...
READ MORE

History is a clock that people use to tell their political and cultural time of day. It is also a compass that people use to find themselves on the map of human geography. History tells a people where they have been and what they have been, where they are and what they are. Most important, history tells a people where they still must go, what they still must be. The relationship of history to the people is the same as the relationship of a mother to her child. – J.H. Clarke February is observed as "Black History Month" in America ...
READ MORE

It's cold and flu season again, and people desperately want to remain healthy, avoiding bugs that can linger and keep them down for two or three weeks. For example, there are regularly six daily absences in my daughter's class — with some children out with the flu for an entire week. Our pediatrician's office announced extended hours to meet demand. According to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report, the flu arrived early this season. Doctor visits to treat influenza-like symptoms are up — the worst since 2003. The flu and similar illnesses create not only physical burdens, ...
READ MORE

A pawn, as defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary, is "one that can be used to further the purposes of another." It implies the desires of the used are not being addressed, or are at least secondary to the desires of the user. Politicians often seek influence by leveraging such pawns to support their interests. One obvious example can be seen by comparing the 2011 and 2013 debates over keeping the payroll tax cut. During that 2011 debate over extending the payroll tax holiday, which cut the payroll tax rate from 6.2 percent to 4.2 percent, the White House launched the ...
READ MORE

After the tragedy in Newton Connecticut, I had sudden and irrational thoughts about pulling my kids from the very school district where I serve on the school board. Even knowing all the procedures, safety measures and plan for such crises, the events in Newtown raise instinctive fears. I felt a deep sense of concern for my children's safety and the safety of their friends and teachers. In the end, I realized they are as safe as humanly possible. Watching the Newtown story unfold, I was in a state of disbelief. My heart pounded as I felt a parent's panic. I ...
READ MORE

It is ironic that the city Barack Obama used to demonstrate his capabilities as a leader is now nearly out of cash. During the 2012 campaign, the President and his liberal supporters touted the auto bailout as having saved Detroit. The carmakers may still be alive, but the Motor City itself is in big trouble! According to a December 3 Wall Street Journal commentary, for example, the city is near bankruptcy. To make matters worse, lifelines from the state tied to requirements to correct Detroit's fiscal problems are opposed by its city council. As of April, Detroit's expected annual budget ...
READ MORE

In 1992, now Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke — one of the key players in current efforts to reinvigorate the American economy — collaborated with fellow economics professors Andrew Abel and Dean Croushore to author Macroeconomics. The book looks at fiscal policy from a "big picture" perspective. In that textbook, the trio cite a pre-1982 study by Harvey Brenner, which found that there are high personal costs of unemployment that include the deterioration of job skills, reduced self-esteem and stress. On a social cost basis, the Brenner study found that a one percentage point increase in the unemployment rate ...
READ MORE