Open Letter to The Honorable Barack Obama, President of the United States

I watched your State of Union address as well as the response from the Republican Party. Your message inspired me to compose this letter to identify and resolve what I think is the problem with political reform in America.

I listened to a friend of mine, The JRil Show on Blogtalkradio and he vowed to not watch what he termed the “monday morning quarterbacking” that going on with pundits who have never ran anything in their lives that ever compares to the size and scope of your responsibilities try to tell you how to do your job. He also railed against, and I agree, the notion that the leadership of the GOP could brazenly complain about your inability to rescue in a year a disaster that it took 8 years of their leadership to create.

Along that end I honestly believe that in order for you to go down in history as one of greatest Chief Executives to ever hold the office of the Presidency, you must make the remaining three years of your first term about poverty. Not crime, not even Terrorism, but poverty. If Katrina and now Haiti did not teach us anything it should have illustrated the abject poverty that exists even in the developed world. Haiti may have been the poorest country in the western hemisphere but people fail to acknowledge that according to the International Monetary Fund, Haiti is number 132 in Gross Domestic Product. Meaning it has a larger GDP than such countries as Nicaragua, Kyrgyzstan and Laos. In fact, among the world's poorest countries, Haiti is relatively nice. There are people in Africa that would swim the ocean to get to Haiti, at least Haitians have water.

I believe that a partnership forged between you, and not necessarily every Democrat, and poor people would guarantee you a second term. What must be sacraficed is a message about how safe we are. The only real threat against U.S. interests either here or abroad comes from lone individuals slipping through the inevitable cracks in our security protocols. That will happen no matter who is in the White House. Remember, 9/11 happened to the Honorable George W. Bush and he was no slouch in inhibiting personal freedoms for security purposes. He was about as vigilant as could be and his Administration totally missed it. You can say this though, that was a one trick pony, that will never happen again. Not to that degree at least.

Here's the thing though, a mistake has been made in our conviction that Terrorism is at its heart a religious movement. There is a common misconception among the populace, even if to be politically correct most won't say it aloud, that Terrorist are forged in the fire of religious indoctrination. This is true to an extent, but what can't be diminished is the effect of abysmal poverty on his worldview. This country did a curious thing beginning after World War II we began in earnest the virtual support of many a country's food suppy. We dropped metric ton after metric ton of aid upon developing countries. What we also dropped was a free market economy along with the tools to reach that economy, i.e. cell phones, televisions, satellite transmissions, etc.) We showed the poor of the world exactly what life in the first world is like. We showed people who almost never see or eat fresh produce whole stores brimming with it. We show them life with more than one pair of shoes and they all match. We show a man who supports his family on $21.00 a month how to renovate their bathroom for a mere $50,000.00 when this man doesn't have indoor plumbing. We show a shower with 8 full body showerheads to a village with no running water not even to drink.

We, in effect, show the people of the world the life that they can never have, no matter how inventive, no matter how persistent. We assist poor people in their belief that we care little for those who are not like us. We provide poor people with the same access to information that we have and wonder what the recruitment tools are that terrorist groups use to influence the young. People all over the world know that the U.S. wastes over 100 Million pounds of food each year. We leave more food on our plates each day than the average poor child eats in a week. We televise this madness to people all over the world each day.

Poverty and our response to poverty will be Issue #1 for this decade. Not just the poverty that exists in the developing world but the poverty to be found within the borders of this country. Before we can lead the rest of the world, we must deal with our own shortcomings. In America 35.9 million persons live below the poverty line of which 12.9 million were children. 3% of America's children experience hunger every day in the richest country on the planet. Therein lies the real issue, its always been that way for poor people in America and by that I mean minorities. What is happening in America now is that more and more of the majority are being trapped in this whirlpool of credit debt, crushing mortgages, job loss and lost confidence in our elected leadership no matter the party. That's your new audience. The households that live paycheck to paycheck. Those individuals who in a spate of coincidental events can be the face of the new homeless. Just as some surmise that the wing flap of a butterfly can produce a hurricane a world away, some families are a car wreck, a bad infection, a sick child or parent, a plant closing or a house fire away from financial ruin, even with insurance.

If you reach out to those people and try to be the first President to address the inequities that exist right here in America, you create a peculiar political environment. You in effect say to your opponents that a vote against you is a vote against poor people whether working or not. There are more people in America that are on the borderline between lower middle class and upper lower class than is realized in the political discussion. This potential voting block can go to the leader who listens to their plight and responds in ways that actually helps them not just talks about it. Doubling the Child Care Tax Credit is a good example of this. It puts money in their hand that hopefully they'll save but also a portion of it will be put back into the economy necessitating the need to expand the business that provides the products they want to buy, which incidentally does a little thing like create jobs.

Respectfully

Kenneth Pitts
kenneth.pitts@rocketmail.com

Health Care Reform

I had a dream. No not a MLK type dream but a dream about the health care debate. Don't ask me why but the debate was set up like an episode of JAG. There were three representatives on each team. The for and against teams. The debate lasted all of thirty seconds, the “for” team stood up and asked “how could you not be for health care reform, premiums are too high, co-pays are ridiculous, you can be denied for preexisting conditions or for no reason at all. We want to change that.” The “against” team responded, “socialism, the government should not be involved in your medical care.”

I woke up and thought to myself, that for the most part is how simplistic this “debate” has become. We went to sleep one night last spring and the health care debate that began when Democrats took over the Federal government became politicized. The Democrats ran on the promise of changing the health care system to a form more fair and effective for everyday Americans. The Republicans almost overnight became the part of “no.” Not no because health care did not need reform but no because if the 'crats were successful, then they would not be relevant in the coming years.

We must remember that like anyone else in society, politicians are interested in self-preservation. They don't want to lose their jobs any more than any other worker in America. So their every decision is calculated toward the effect it may have on their chances of retaining their jobs in two to four years. Democrats do the same thing. Even though according to their own polling numbers that show that even the majority of their constituencies want reform, as a body politic, they believe that their only option is to oppose the party in power. Is that what we elected to represent us? A party that just says no for no other reason than to oppose?
Lets be real and talk real. Most of us that are not considered upper middle class or wealthy in America are one really bad injury or sickness away from bankruptcy. Sure we have health insurance, usually provided by our employers but what happens if that company drops our policy. What if our only option is a high deductible plan. What if we don't have $5000 to pay for the deductible, or even $500? Sure, in some cases we can get the treatment but how do we pay back the debt? What has been proposed is a public option to compete against the private companies. The party of no immediately responded with attack ads indicating that this option would lead to socialized health care. We should ask them “and???” What exactly is wrong with so-called socialized health care. Other countries have had it for years and it seems to work. Sure there are problems, but is private health care so much better?

What must be realized is that there has been “socialized” health care in this country for decades, its called Medicaid and Medicare. It seems to work fairly well. Yes there are issues with the two, yet there are literally thousands of Americans that would literally be dead without it. What is amazing is that the observer cannot see why there is opposition to the public option. The party of no could care less about their constituents that have reservations about it. They do, however, care that lobbyists and special interests in the insurance industries do not want it.
Ostensibly the argument against the option centers around cost, and taxpayer support. Keep it real, according the to nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, enactment of health care reform will actually reduce the deficit as opposed to increasing it. What that means is that our “grandchildren” will not be paying for this reform and even if they did, they will be paying for Bushes wars for decades to come, so at least they will get something out of health care reform. What will they get out of the “war on terror,” that's right, protection against terror. You know what terrorizes me, to need an appendectomy and not have the money to pay for it. I'm terrified that my son will need braces in a few years and they cost as much as a new car. It terrorizes me that I have only a few options, options that cost too much and are totally dependent upon decisions made by others to maximize profits.

We need to resist the urge to be blinded by statistics and opinions, mine included as my personal reality differs from everyone else's. We need to look at the debate realistically. Will reform improve my situation or harm my situation. Do I need someone to tell me what is best for me or can I simply go to my mailbox and remove the past due bills from the specialist that my PCP referred me to that happened to be “out of network?” We are a smart, intuitive people, why don't we act like it?

I'll tell you why and continue the thought in my next blog. Because we have a President that happens to be African-American and some of us are naturally resistant to anything he may suggest.

Consciousness

The subtitle of all my blogs is real talk from real people with real problems. I wonder sometimes whether all my readers really know what that means. Back in the mid to late 1980's there was a consciousness movement going around, a consciousness movement that was quickly co-opted by society for monetary gain. It began when rappers began producing music that spoke of our cultural heritage as African folk. You remember, it was the KRS Ones, Arrested Development, Native Tongues, Queen Latifah (before she started making G rated comedies and CoverGirl ads), Paris Jackson, Digital Underground (featuring this new youngster named Tupac before someone convinced him that being an asshole was more lucrative than being conscious), Tribe Called Quest and X-Clan. I'll post some of their music on my page one day (short for when I figure out how).

These groups had one thing in common, they believed that the time had came for us to raise our voices and serve notice that we are not just passengers on this train ride to nowhere that America seems to be going. The wanted everyone to know that we had thoughts, deep, reflective thought that “others” needed to hear. For decades we had been an afterthought in America with only a handful of representatives in the mainstream of society. Remember when not too long ago, the richest of us were athletes and R&B singers? That was a time when we had no Senators in Congress, a few Representatives but they were relegated to the “Congressional Black Caucus” that couldn't pass gas without an act of Congress. Yeah, they named a few post offices, even named a few streets in honor of prominent black preachers, but for the most part did not and still do not represent us. Anyone who disagrees, list the major initiatives that have benefited us as a whole not just the relative few in their constituency.

I, however, digress. As you can see I have problems with our political structure. Back to the point, We as Afrikans (spelled with a “k” to differentiate us from our cousins from the continent) in this country seemed to be looking around and noticing for the first time that the world was passing us by. That we were spectators watching the game instead of playing in the game. What then happened was nothing less than tragic. Slowly, insidiously, we began being more concerned about the fashion statement made by wearing a medallion shaped like Africa than what was actually happening in Africa. Suddenly there were Dashikis and Kufi hats for sale on every street corner. Rap degenerated into boast contests about who had the biggest car, the most gold and the most bullets in their gun. Our Queens became My Bitches. Hard work and sharing among us became puttin in work. Education became soft and credibility became linked to tattoos and “bids.” (going to prison)

Let me digress again. To all you children out there who idolize the Lil Waynes, Jeezies, T.I.'s and Jim Jones of the rap world. Real drug dealers don't get record deals. Who approaches you on the corner serving and tells you “I wanna make you a star?” Real drug dealers don't wear makeup and shoot videos. The only videos that exist of real drug dealers are in the hands of the Feds and believe me when you see it, it will be in an interrogation room before you're charged under the RICO act and sent away for a good portion of your life. If you don't believe me, ask an uncle or cousin, maybe even Mommy and Daddy what prison is like cause we are all related to someone who knows. Ask them if they had it to do all over again would they sacrifice a decade or two for a few dollars. Prison doesn't make you hard, it just makes you old.
That is the new consciousness, we are conscious of our immediate surroundings, many times of only what happens on our block. We cry and moan about the level of violence in our community, about the pervasiveness of poverty around us but we refuse to take the steps to change it. We look for outsiders to change it for us. The common remedy for our situation is to send in the troops and lock more of us up, or give us more food stamps or TANF. That is what we vote for. That is the solution for the fools that we send to Washington. Ask yourself, would you invite someone from across town into your home to resolve a dispute with your spouse or child? Then why do we ask someone in Washington to solve our problems in the community? Its the same thing. You want the violence to stop, then stop it. You want to rise out of abject poverty, then invest your money in your community. You want to stop giving your money to the vultures that inhabit our communities, then instead of buying rims or plasmas, pool your resources and YOU own the minimarts and gas stations. Don't believe it can't be done because the Arabs, Pakistanis and Indians (from India) that do own the stores did it and they came here poor too.

In other words, our consciousness has to change. We have to stop looking at ourselves as being powerless as opposed to being powerful. We have to begin to command respect as opposed to demanding respect. We're not respected because we don't have a rudder, we just drift from one latest thing to another. Our desire to separate ourselves and define ourselves as a people are misdirected into hairstyles, modes of dress, manners of speaking and conspicuous consumption. That MUST change, and until it does we will remain the led not the leaders.

Togetherness

Recently talked with a friend of mine who lamented on the lack of unity among our people. Truth be told, I have to agree with him. I simply have a different take on the situation. Has anyone noticed that out of all of the different groups there are in America, only us as Afrikans have a totally fragmented existence. Northern Afrikans are distinctly different from Southern Afrikans. Eastern Afrikans are different from Western Afrikans. Afrikans that are 40 years old or older have a completely different mindset than those younger.

There are many reasons for this, but I choose to take it all the way back to our slave heritage. Unlike our Caucasian neighbors, we didn't come here in groups. We came here like luggage, with bags of all different types thrown together. We never had the chance to develop distinct cultural identities. Instead, we learned to coexist with each other and pass along this supposed homogeneity to our offspring. Even a casual glance at the continent of Africa will evidence a hodgepodge of different cultures even physical features. We, on the other hand, all look essentially the same. Sure some of us are lighter, some heavier, etc, but for the most part you can tell an Afrikan from here from an African from there fairly easily.

So why the difference? Its because like the old adage, water only rises to its natural level. Some of us are standing in ankle deep water, while some of us are drowning. We try to lead the blind out of darkness but sometimes darkness is comforting. If I stay in the dark, no one can see just how ignorant I really am. If I maintain this job and pay all my bills, then I'm okay, never once giving thought that the purpose of work is to not have to work eventually. We don't think high enough. We are content to let all other groups be at the forefront. We relegate ourselves to being eternal consumers. We place more value on buying the rims than selling the car. Even if we do make a "come up" by whatever means, we spend it rather than invest it. I know that bills have to be paid, what I'm referring to is disposable income. An extra $2000 instantly makes the average one of us think about flatscreen tv's or maybe dvd player for the backseat of the car, even if we don't have children to sit back there and watch it.

I have become convinced that it is my job to raise the bar. It is my job to pull the blinders off those of my people that want to listen. Of those that don't want to listen, I can only hope that the work that we put it will benefit them in the long run. In Islam it is said that only a small group of people can make a change. Let me be the first one.

We think of conflicts as happening "over there" where "those people" live not realizing that its everywhere. Don't misunderstand, I am not a naysayer, not a gloom and doom prognostictor, neither am I a hero nor am I a villian. I'm just that guy that will tell you what he feels and truth of things. (at least as I see it.)

What I feel is a sense of urgency in our lives. As if some mystic sixth sense is telling us collectively as a infestation of this planet to "hurry, shit is coming." You better get what you can get and enjoy what you can enjoy because somethin' ain't right. That sense of urgency, whatever it is caused by, has us . . . what's the word . . .scurrying around mostly for crumbs. That's what tells a brother to go in back yard of a not so run down neighborhood and throw up his hands with a Go-rilla. I'd be scared of that cat with a gun. Imagine that: "BANG, BANG!!" A cold distant voice replies, "Nigga that's all you got!" Anyway, that's life for some of us, literally getting my eye put out for a piece of the money that my "guys" are going to get the most of. Damn, a veritable cornicopiea of hoodness. But guess what, its happening all over the country. Those could have been two white boyz ( I know a few and believe you me, some of these white boyz can bump, remember, this ain't prize fighting where there are rules. I can beat your ass into a coma and you just lost the fight. People are doing this shit to feed their kids all over Amerikkka) AIDS is an epidemic but not being poor is pretty good insulator from dying because of lack of good medical care. Where you at Gates, Buffington, Allen, etc.?) This could also have been two Asians, two Native Americans, two Hispanics. Poverty is the great equalizer. A poor white guy suffers probably less than a black guy but he also suffers in a different way. That's what we need to tackle. There is no logical reason why a country that can spend billions to fight an unpopular war in a country 5000 miles away cannot find money to provide even the most basic universal health care for all its citizens.

That's where I came from Ladies and Gentlemen. A world that few of you could possibly understand. A world that affects your outlook on life as well as your response to that life. I believe that life is both external as well as internal. You live your life but life around you forces you to respond to it. Litmus test:: how you respond to a life or death situation. Fight or Flight. My position is that a person never knows what they will do until they are presented with the situation where their decision may affect their life as well as the lives of those they love. I say that we have become as a loose gathering of conflicting interests much more selfish and violent. Where we use to avoid danger, we now respond to it with such overwhelming force. A man crawls through your window, you hear it, you turn on the lights and its Boo Boo the crackhead, Ms. Lucy's son. Who kills him even though Boo Boo is soft as doctor's cotton? I say 80 to 85 percent of us kill him. Hey, he shouldn't have been in my house. I'm with it. I kill him too. Principle of the thing. We'll have a thousand reasons why and very few reasons why not. We have become a nation of people who support politicians who pass laws that give police officers the right to kill a fleeing felon for shoplifting. Boo Boo didn't have a gun and was shot in the back running away. His ass shouldn't have been stealing. His theft makes my prices higher. He may get high on drugs one day and rape and kill my great-grandmother (which ironically has become much more common these days but STILL not nearly as numerous as us over the years getting executed by law enforcement agencies.) Again, don't misunderstand. I love the police, I call them so they can kill Boo Boo, that way my ass stays out of jail. No one reading this blog knows better than me why we need prisons. One day I'll tell you how I know.

That's it for now. I must go and destroy my old ass eardrums with truly loud music. Peace, hit me back with thoughts about that piece. (the poem, for you Denise Hayes because that may be a reference that you're not "hep" to. Peace to the DFR in Seven Nina (G.I. or Gary, Indiana) to all over like 30 years old. Hit the blog up, any ideas?