GUEST COLUMN
THE FOLLOWING IS THE FOURTH INSTALLMENT OF MY GUEST COLUMN SEGMENT. THE VIEWS ARE THOSE OF THE WRITER AND NOT THOSE OF D. JACOB MILLER OR SPOON, FULL OF TRUTH (ALTHOUGH I MIGHT AGREE WITH THEM). PLEASE ENJOY! CHECK BACK SOON FOR ANOTHER OFFICIAL SPOON, FULL OF TRUTH POST.
Turn on television news in the United States these days and, if you
avoid the Murdoch Empire, you're liable to see segments criticizing
Republicans. Liberal bias, however, this does not make.
avoid the Murdoch Empire, you're liable to see segments criticizing
Republicans. Liberal bias, however, this does not make.
Steven Freeman, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania's
Wharton Business School, knows business. He has spent most of his
career teaching business and starting up businesses. He says the U.S.
political landscape resembles a "very common configuration in
business."
Wharton Business School, knows business. He has spent most of his
career teaching business and starting up businesses. He says the U.S.
political landscape resembles a "very common configuration in
business."
"You have a dominant firm in an industry and you have a secondary firm
that provides the illusion of competition or competition around the
edges," he says. "The classic example was GM and Ford — they wouldn't
compete on price, safety or anything of real importance. All they
competed on was tailfins and car colors, and I think we have that
situation among the two political parties. They ought to be sued for
anti-trust.
that provides the illusion of competition or competition around the
edges," he says. "The classic example was GM and Ford — they wouldn't
compete on price, safety or anything of real importance. All they
competed on was tailfins and car colors, and I think we have that
situation among the two political parties. They ought to be sued for
anti-trust.
"Neither Republicans nor Democrats, for the most part, contest the sad
state of discrimination — blatant or concealed — in America.
Systemized hatred should have no place in a land for free people.
Whether the media follows the decision makers' lead or vice versa,
news outlets don't stir the pot.
state of discrimination — blatant or concealed — in America.
Systemized hatred should have no place in a land for free people.
Whether the media follows the decision makers' lead or vice versa,
news outlets don't stir the pot.
On a national level, we see reports of the war on Iraq and the latest
scandals in Washington or on Wall Street. On a local level, we see
weather, sports and fluff.
scandals in Washington or on Wall Street. On a local level, we see
weather, sports and fluff.
Only on rare occasions do we see televised reports — or written
reports, for that matter — about blacks' experience on Election Day.
From this Election Day in age. Not from the Martin Luther King Jr. or
Paul Robeson days.
reports, for that matter — about blacks' experience on Election Day.
From this Election Day in age. Not from the Martin Luther King Jr. or
Paul Robeson days.
PBS recently re-aired Eyes on the Prize, a documentary on the black
suffrage movement in 1960s America. Back then, the conflict was more
violent, more press friendly. A reporter needed little more than a
camera and a notebook to write a society-shaking story. Nowadays, they
need the persistence and intrepidity to take on critics as well as
their corporate bosses.
suffrage movement in 1960s America. Back then, the conflict was more
violent, more press friendly. A reporter needed little more than a
camera and a notebook to write a society-shaking story. Nowadays, they
need the persistence and intrepidity to take on critics as well as
their corporate bosses.
In the past two U.S. presidential elections, anti-democratic tactics
in key swing states have defied the Fourteenth Amendment. Purging
felons — and, worse, people with names similar to felons ¬— as
occurred in Florida in 2000 was not only racist, based on inmate
demographics, bit also immoral.
in key swing states have defied the Fourteenth Amendment. Purging
felons — and, worse, people with names similar to felons ¬— as
occurred in Florida in 2000 was not only racist, based on inmate
demographics, bit also immoral.
Those punished for breaking the laws should, on principal, have a
voice to question those laws. In a perfect democratic world, the vote
should be that voice. Yes, we then must include murderers and sexual
offenders in the electoral process. But who honestly believes that a
majority of voters would ever favor legalizing killing or rape?
voice to question those laws. In a perfect democratic world, the vote
should be that voice. Yes, we then must include murderers and sexual
offenders in the electoral process. But who honestly believes that a
majority of voters would ever favor legalizing killing or rape?
Track the pedophile party's success in Holland. If anything, parties
with bigoted ideologies — such as the neo-Nazis in some regions of
Germany — have had more success in recent elections than parties with
ideology based solely on the right to violate women or children.
with bigoted ideologies — such as the neo-Nazis in some regions of
Germany — have had more success in recent elections than parties with
ideology based solely on the right to violate women or children.
In 2004, black voters in Ohio — and Florida once more — were
intimidated (through phone calls and letters), deceived (again, with
phone calls and letters) and abandoned (by lawmakers). An insufficient
supply of election machines in predominantly black districts, for
example, forced minority voters to wait exponentially longer than
voters in well-equipped white districts.
intimidated (through phone calls and letters), deceived (again, with
phone calls and letters) and abandoned (by lawmakers). An insufficient
supply of election machines in predominantly black districts, for
example, forced minority voters to wait exponentially longer than
voters in well-equipped white districts.
But if the Democrats cared about race, they would call out the
Republicans on the issue. If the media cared about black
disenfranchisement, they would call out both parties on the issue –
repeatedly.
Republicans on the issue. If the media cared about black
disenfranchisement, they would call out both parties on the issue –
repeatedly.
Instead, hard news just becomes urban legend. And as brothers and
sisters, we should acknowledge the American dream remains the realm of
deep sleepers.
sisters, we should acknowledge the American dream remains the realm of
deep sleepers.
--Joshua Miller
WEEKEND WARRIORS
I hope everyone enjoyed today's guest column. I am off for a little weekend at the shore with the wife for our 2 year anniversary. I hope you all have a great weekend and that you check back next week when I will unveil some juicy truth that I've been brewing. In the meantime, enjoy a gem or two from the archives and share the Spoon with some friends.
posted by D. Jacob Miller | 10/20/2006 12:41:00 PM
2 Comments:
Good points. Both parties are failing us.With that said ,we need to drive the scoundrels who control the White House and both houses of Congress ,from office.
I am concerned that the upcoming elections will be tainted as were the elections in Ohio and Florida.This is why we need a vigilant media , who knowing what has transpired in recent elections, will be front and center investigating any claims of voter intimidation or of people being disallowed to vote.Hopefuly the media will do its job leading up to the midterm elections and in the aftermath , if any fraud is alleged.
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