Voter Education
By: Clyde “Jocco” Baccus, President
The Learning Tree, Inc.
INCOMING! We are hearing a lot of commentary about what to expect from the 911 political white washing call from folks that don’t live in our community but understand the soon to be release of census data. They will have a clearer definition of the word minority.
At the top of our voter action agenda is redistricting. A grouse smell of foul play and tom foolery is in the air. In North Carolina, the Democratic Governor will not be able to veto any redistricting plan the legislature passes. Georgia, the 2005 re-redistricting case of Bartlett v Strickland took a bite out of the voting rights act as a result of lawsuits in Texas. Those decisions set precedence for challenges to a one party drawn 2012 redistricting map.
NEW RULE! Limits on “community of interest” definitions.
Let’s look at Communities of interest:
The Latino and Asian American communities are intertwined into the culture of the African American method of operation. You can track their influence by following where we spend our money. Take a serious look and analyze the number of Latino and Asian American businesses in black communities all over this country. Analyze the number of Latinos not only living but working in our and now their community…forming a coalition to address the (by-law) maze of political guidelines we’re operating under instead of buying into the hype when you look like me, talk like me, and act like me you’re going to check with the powers that be before agreeing with anything I have to say.
What does this mean?
Close contacts between cultures bring about some friction, but also a need for tolerance and understanding. Minorities tend to retain their own culture with minimal changes because they fear the impact of the majority. The real problem is to find an approach suitable for the constantly changing needs in a multicultural community. Some political observers view multicultural communities as a number of cultures existing side by side, with one of them conveniently playing a leading role. The plan to keep us separate and un-equal is updated regularly without giving any forethought as to what would happen if we joined together as one minority group.
Yes, in today’s multicultural communities we have our differences but the one destination we meet at is the polls. Once the certified vote count is in, we’ll take a look at the margin of victory in this election. Remember, in 1994 the republicans gained the majority in congress by less than 20,000 votes nationwide!
FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
While walking down the street one day a Corrupt Senator was tragically hit by a car and died. His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance.
"Welcome to heaven," says St Peter. "Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, you see, so we're not sure what to do with you."
"Welcome to heaven," says St Peter. "Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, you see, so we're not sure what to do with you."
"No problem, just let me in," says the Senator.
"Well, I'd like to, but I have orders from the higher ups. What we'll do is have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity."
Really? I've made up my mind. I want to be in heaven," says the Senator.
"I'm sorry, but we have our rules."
And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell.
The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of a green golf course. In the distance is a clubhouse and standing in front of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked with him.
Everyone is very happy and in evening dress. They run to greet him, shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at the expense of the people. They played a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster, caviar and the finest champagne. Also present is the devil, who really is a very friendly guy who is having a good time dancing and telling jokes.
They are all having such a good time that before the Senator realizes it, it is time to go.
Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator rises.
The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens in heaven where St. Peter is waiting for him, "Now it's time to visit heaven...”
So, 24 hours passed with the Senator joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have a good time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St. Peter returns.
"Well, then, you've spent a day in hell and another in heaven. Now choose your eternity."
The Senator reflects for a minute, then he answers: "Well, I would never have said it before, I mean heaven has been delightful, but I think I would be better off in hell."
So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell...
Now the doors of the elevator open and he's in the middle of a barren land covered with waste and garbage. He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags as more trash falls from above. The devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his shoulders.
"I don't understand," stammers the Senator. "Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and clubhouse, and we ate lobster and caviar, drank champagne, and danced and had a great time. Now there's just a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable. What happened?"
The devil smiles at him and says, (Tuesday, November 02, 2010) "Yesterday we were campaigning, Today, You Voted!!!"
"Well, I'd like to, but I have orders from the higher ups. What we'll do is have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity."
Really? I've made up my mind. I want to be in heaven," says the Senator.
"I'm sorry, but we have our rules."
And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell.
The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of a green golf course. In the distance is a clubhouse and standing in front of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked with him.
Everyone is very happy and in evening dress. They run to greet him, shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at the expense of the people. They played a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster, caviar and the finest champagne. Also present is the devil, who really is a very friendly guy who is having a good time dancing and telling jokes.
They are all having such a good time that before the Senator realizes it, it is time to go.
Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator rises.
The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens in heaven where St. Peter is waiting for him, "Now it's time to visit heaven...”
So, 24 hours passed with the Senator joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have a good time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St. Peter returns.
"Well, then, you've spent a day in hell and another in heaven. Now choose your eternity."
The Senator reflects for a minute, then he answers: "Well, I would never have said it before, I mean heaven has been delightful, but I think I would be better off in hell."
So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell...
Now the doors of the elevator open and he's in the middle of a barren land covered with waste and garbage. He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags as more trash falls from above. The devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his shoulders.
"I don't understand," stammers the Senator. "Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and clubhouse, and we ate lobster and caviar, drank champagne, and danced and had a great time. Now there's just a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable. What happened?"
The devil smiles at him and says, (Tuesday, November 02, 2010) "Yesterday we were campaigning, Today, You Voted!!!"
Foot note: Georgia, unlike some other states, does not offer candidates any public funds for campaigning. Georgia law also prohibits candidates from paying personal expenses with campaign funds. Leftover funds may be transferred to another campaign, saved for a future campaign, spent to retire campaign debt, donated to a political party, or donated to charity. A candidate will sometimes make a personal loan to his or her campaign with the expectation that once campaign contributions begin to arrive, the loan will be paid back. This practice is legal under both Georgia and federal law. What will this year’s final campaign finance disclosure reveal?
Finally, special thanks for all the support from the cyber communities. The best is yet to come because, “Whispers Getting Louder”
*COMING SOON TO THE BLOGGING COMMUNITY: Information you can use from "The Black Caucus of Former Congressional Staffers."
“If you have questions concerning communicating with your elected official at all levels of government about the issues that affect your quality of life, The Black Caucus of Former Congressional Staffers will be available to work with you through the red tape.”
“Sometimes the most important thing in a whole day is the rest we take between two deep breaths.”
Thank you
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