Project 21: New Visions

Just because kids seem to go into heat when they hit puberty doesn't mean our government-run schools should be allowed to treat them like dogs. It used to be that parents were a source of reason and wisdom for whom children could learn valuable life lessons and common sense.  This no longer appears to be the case. Instead, it seems a large number of parents are abdicating their responsibilities and - consciously or not - are condoning their children's destructive behavior.  Is it because they want to seem cool to their kids?  Maybe they want the government to take over ...
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There's a new TV show in the fall network lineup that says a lot about where our culture is these days:  "Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?"   Agreeing to be a contestant on this latest must-see TV will say a lot about contestants before they even open their mouths.  Most game shows challenge participants to demonstrate their smarts.  On this one, they'll do the opposite.  It would appear the creative team at Fox arrived at this theme from watching Congress interact with the American public.  The nation's legislative body regularly does things that assume we are not very ...
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A recent Congressional Black Caucus Foundation conference featured an "energy braintrust" that promised a lively three-hour discussion by oil company, association, government agency and university executives to "transform dialogue into action" and "bolster the relationships between the energy industry and African-American community." Sadly, session moderator Representative Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) squandered the opportunity.  She knows the oil business and recognized that "energy is the foundation of our economy, the engine that drives the world."  She arrived 40 minutes late, however, posed for photos and then bemoaned oil industry shortcomings.  By the time she introduced the speakers, the session was half ...
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An Open Letter to Bill Cosby On Clarence Thomas by Darryn "Dutch" Martin (bio) Dear Dr. Cosby: I've always been a huge fan of your work as an entertainer, philanthropist, family man and example of what can be accomplished with hard work, sacrifice and a love of learning. I supported your crusade to encourage low-income blacks to stop being victims and take responsibility for their own lives.  Your message emphasizing parental responsibility rings truer now than ever before.  I also recently rushed out to buy the new book you co-authored with Dr. Alvin Pousssaint, Come on People: On the Path ...
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  Why Migrate South? by B.B. Robinson, Ph.D. (bio) Beginning with the end of the Civil War, huge numbers of newly-freed black Americans moved from the rural South to metropolitan areas - especially in northern states - in what is now called the "Great Migration." Lately, there is a trend toward reverse migration.  While almost half of blacks leaving the rural South went North and West in the late 1960s, only 13 percent were doing so by the early 1990s.  By that time, most moves were to more urban areas within the region.  Moreover, the black population in the South ...
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In September 2005, Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, and related floods placed thousands of homes underwater.  Now the word is that many homes across the nation soon will likely go under water in financial terms. In these cases, "underwater" means that the value of a home, based on the price that it fetches in the market, will be less than the value of the remaining payments due on the mortgage for the home.  These homeowners will be asking themselves, "Is it logical to permit foreclosure or to continue making payments on a mortgage that has a value greater than the ...
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In November of 1861, as the nation faced the prospect of a long and bloody civil war, a lone preacher from Ridleyville, Pennsylvania wrote to Treasury Secretary Salmon P. Chase with an idea. The Reverend M. R. Watkinson proposed that America's currency be used to remind its citizens of our common religious heritage and the divine inspiration that gave birth to United States.  Secretary Chase agreed, and "In God We Trust" was added to the design of the two-cent coin in 1864. Today, America faces new challenges concerning our national safety and unity.  We must contend with an unpopular war ...
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Hip-Hop Hype Hurts, Just Ask Michael Vick by Kevin Martin (bio) Hip-hop culture has claimed a high-profile victim: Michael Vick. I refuse to have an ounce of sympathy for Michael Vick, who is reaching a plea agreement with federal prosecutors for his role in arranging dog fights on his Virginia property and allegedly killing several of the dogs himself when they did not live up to expectations. It is mind-boggling to imagine what was going through Vick's mind when he first decided engage in dogfighting.  This admired black NFL quarterback was pretty much set for life with the Atlanta Falcons ...
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  Live from New York, It's More Regulation by Deneen Borelli (bio) New York City is known for Broadway musicals, but now there's a reality show that you don't want to miss called "Looting Liberty."  Starring Mayor Michael Bloomberg, it chronicles the ever-dwindling personal choices and freedoms available to city residents. While one may not care about what goes on in the Big Apple, everyone should since Bloomberg seems to have national political aspirations. Attacks on freedom in New York City start with simple pleasures such as dining and leisure activities.  As the city's self-appointed head chef, Bloomberg dictates how ...
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Diversity Doesn't Need to Be Forced by Deneen Borelli (bio) Supporters of racial preferences think the U.S. Supreme Court's recent rejection of preferences in school admissions heralds the death of diversity in America.  Critics of the Court's promotion of race-neutral standards believe enforced diversity diminishes discrimination and is necessary for black children to get a sound education. If these people looked at the world outside of their political prism, they would see diversity is all around us. That is why it is unfortunate that they still consider the 1950s idea of government-mandated school diversity as the primary means of achieving ...
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In a rich nation such as the United States, it can be easy to be green. Americans can often afford heeding the advice of Al Gore and reducing their "carbon footprint" with 40-watt fluorescent light bulbs that are almost 15 times more expensive than traditional bulbs. They can choose to feed their kids Annie's "Peace, Pasta and Parmesan" organic macaroni and cheese at double the price of the traditional Kraft mac and cheese. It's not the same in developing nations - such as those found in Africa - where finding food, water and shelter of any kind is often an ...
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Regulations Rob Black Americans by Stella Dulanya (bio) Americans are increasingly finding their liberty at risk.  The staggering degree to which government regulations pushed by politicians and unelected bureaucrats now harm the average citizen is not only egregious, but also very disruptive. In Shattered Dreams, a new book from The National Center for Public Policy Research, readers find 100 examples of this regulatory abuse and government malfeasance.  It demonstrates how mild-mannered people trying to live their lives and help others too often find themselves running afoul of egregious government rules. These regulations can be particularly onerous to minorities striving for ...
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  NAACP Rejects Life by Akindele Akinyemi (bio) It is disturbing to hear the NAACP rejected out-of-hand a pro-life resolution submitted for consideration at their recent annual conference in Detroit. One would think the NAACP would support life over death, especially when abortion affects our community in such a negative way. It seems, however, that the symbolic burying of "the n-word," which they held a mock funeral for during their convention, is more important to the group than the actual conception of life.  How awful. To make matters worse, this is the second time in three years that leaders of ...
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Proposed legislation to increase Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards - the federally-mandated fuel efficiency rules for cars, light trucks and SUVs - will likely cause more harm to the American people than good. Our nation's dependency on foreign oil and reducing so-called "greenhouse gases" are the stated motivation for empowering 535 people on Capitol Hill and the President with the ability to set arbitrary demands on the automotive industry.  It comes, however, at the expense of consumer choice, safety and economic stability - especially for poor households and the already ailing domestic auto industry. Legislation that was recently passed ...
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Military Service Deserves Respect in the Black Community by Kevin Martin (bio) The number of blacks joining the military has significantly decreased since 2001.  According to a recent report by the Associated Press, the number of black recruits for active duty and the reserves fell 38 percent between 2001 and 2006. The report implies that the declining number of blacks in the military may reflect family members' disapproval of troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.  They are allegedly warning younger relatives against military service.  For instance, Washington, D.C. resident Sean Glover said, "Joining the Army, the military, comes at a ...
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Anti-DDT Policies Are Deadly for Africa by Thompson Ayodele (bio) and Adegoke Anthony Last year, one of our colleagues, his wife and their two children were diagnosed with malaria.  In an instant, their lives were turned upside down.  All other plans were postponed.  The priority was getting better and staying alive. For countless families in Nigeria and the rest of Africa, this horrible drama is repeated over and over, year after year.  Over 300 million Africans get malaria annually, and up to one million of our children will die from it. Meanwhile, in countries that no longer have malaria, environmentalists ...
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Car-Crazy Congress Set to Break the American Auto Industry by Kevin Martin (bio) Barack Obama wants you to drive a car that gets over 40 miles per gallon, but it's a case of "do as I say and not what I do." Obama was one of the 65 senators who voted in late June to raise federally-mandated Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards for cars, minivans and SUVs to 35 miles per gallon. In a May speech to the Detroit Economic Club, the senator said his goal is "to help bring [the auto industry] into the 21st century."  He proposed ...
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House-Passed "Price Gouging" Bill No Relief to Consumers by Deneen Borelli (bio) As the summer driving season begins, consumer complaints and media hype over high gasoline prices have compelled political opportunists in the U.S. House of Representatives to pass the "Federal Price Gouging Prevention Act."  The Act would punish anyone found guilty of so-called "price gouging."  Regrettably, Congress' latest attempt to solve an economic issue is at best shameless political grandstanding and at worst bad public policy that will only lead to higher gasoline prices and more consumer outrage.       The legislation seeks to address the symptom of high prices ...
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There is no denying that racism is a truly pernicious form of discrimination. Despite laws making racial discrimination illegal, social pressure and economic incentives favoring racial harmony, it is an unfortunate reality that there will always be people still wanting to force their will on others because of skin color. There is a discrimination, however, that can be even more pernicious and more painful - and even deadly.  This discrimination appears when people are afflicted with diseases such as sickle cell anemia, diabetes and cancer.  It's similar to targeted racial discrimination, where only a select group feels the sting.  Unlike ...
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Imagine the scene: government agents raid a Washington, D.C. home and find $90,000 in cash wrapped in foil and hidden in a freezer.  Further investigation reveals it may be part of a network of secret financial transactions involving the bribery of African officials and the misuse of American taxpayer funds to advance personal business interests. Is this the plot of the next James Bond movie?  No, it's part of the recent indictment of Representative William Jefferson (D-LA). As Jefferson maintains his innocence, some supporters allege a racial and political conspiracy.  Whatever the case, the bottom line is the congressman's predicament ...
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