The DISH

Unbossed and unbought news and information you can use

Volume 9 Issue 2…Dedicated to the Dialogue on Race…January 13, 2004

Intuit’s Vibe

Living For The City ("Innervisions" (1973))

By Stevie Wonder

A boy is born in hard time Mississippi

Surrounded by four walls that ain't so pretty

His parents give him love and affection

To keep him strong moving in the right direction

Living just enough, just enough for the city.

His father works some days for fourteen hours

And you can bet he barely makes a dollar

His mother goes to scrub the floor for many

And you'd best believe she hardly gets a penny

Living just enough, just enough for the city.

His sister's black but she is sho 'nuff pretty

Her skirt is short but Lord her legs are sturdy

To walk to school she's got to get up early

Her clothes are old but never are they dirty

Living just enough, just enough for the city.

Her brother's smart he's got more sense than many

His patience's long but soon he won't have any

To find a job is like a haystack needle

Cause where he lives they don't use colored people

Living just enough, just enough for the city...

His hair is long, his feet are hard and gritty

He spends his love walking the streets of New York City

He's almost dead from breathing on air pollution

He tried to vote but to him there's no solution

Living just enough, just enough for the city.

I hope you hear inside my voice of sorrow

And that it motivates you to make a better tomorrow

This place is cruel no where could be much colder

If we don't change the world will soon be over

Living just enough, just enough for the city!!!!

Politics Y2K6

Bush v. EPI

In a campaign-style speech before the Economic Club of Chicago, George W. Bush declared the state of the US economy is strong. Recent polls show a majority of Americans are unsatisfied with his handing of the economy. Similarly low poll numbers on the war in Iraq seemed to have been positively impacted by a series of upbeat speeches on that unfortunate conflict. Hence, Bush advisers no doubt hope an economic speech or two will convince the public its pessimistic perception of Bush economic policies is wrong.

Ignoring anemic job growth numbers for December 2005, Bush cherry-picked through national economic data to cite tax cuts, which are credited with keeping the economy from sliding into a deeper recession and low interest rates for fueling a booming housing market. As a result, the US enjoys an historically high home ownership rate. In addition, Bush claimed credit for the unusual combination of low unemployment and inflation rates. To keep this prosperity train on track, Bush called on Congress to make his tax cuts permanent. He told the rather receptive audience that his tax cuts and cuts in discretionary spending on social programs will reduce the budget deficit by half in five years.

The Economic Policy Institute (EPI) has a decidedly different take on the economic situation. For example, EPI shows most of the recent growth in income went to corporate profits. Adjusted for inflation, median family income has declined as profits rose. Worrisome issues include household debt and negative saving rate. More people live in their own homes, but they are deep in debt. Many have no equity in these homes. Slow job creation, which has failed to keep pace with population growth, means people are out of work longer; many have become discouraged. Under Bush, poverty and the cost of health care have increased. For the complete EPI economic analysis, log on to www.epi.org/.

Bit of History

John Rogers Commons (1862 - 1945)

Born October 13, 1862 in Hollandsburg, Ohio, John R. Commons was reared in Indiana. He studied at Oberlin College and did graduate work at Johns Hopkins University. After two years at John Hopkins, Commons taught at several places, before going to the University of Wisconsin, where he taught from 1904–32. During his tenure at Wisconsin, Commons made significant contributions to economics in the areas of social reform, labor economics and graduate education.

In Distribution of Wealth (1893), Commons rejected neoclassical theory, especially its laissez faire approach to government’s role in the economy. His empirical observations showed the unregulated capitalistic economy produced a host of undesirable social consequences, which required governmental intervention. He understood injustice harmed working people and led to societal instability.

Commons has been described as “the intellectual origin of the movement toward the welfare state.” He did not merely object to orthodox theory; he actively participated in the passage of social legislation that brought about major changes. He drafted a civil service law for Wisconsin and influenced the regulation of public utilities, industrial safety laws, workmen’s compensation, child labor laws, minimum wage laws for women and unemployment compensation. Commons drafted much of the reform legislation that made Wisconsin an example for other states. Not all of his efforts were successful; he did not succeed, for example, in achieving a national health insurance program.

A pioneer labor economist, Commons published A Documentary History of American Industrial Society, 10 Vol. (1910–11), and History of Labour in the United States, 4 Vol. (1918–35). After World War I, he broadened his reputation with the publication of Legal Foundations of Capitalism (1924) and its sequel, Institutional Economics (1934). Commons played a pivotal role in the passage of legislation on all aspects of American labor from apprenticeship to social security.

Legions of economists trained at the Wisconsin school; they went on to serve in government, at research agencies and in universities with Commons’ predilection for applied economics and social reform. During Commons’ tenure, Wisconsin became the leading university for producing labor economists. Commons died on May 11, 1945 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. (Sources: www.britannica.com, http://en.wikipedia.org, and www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/1989/05/art4exc.htm)

Hood Notes

Debt Trap Un-Sprung?

Starting January 2006, credit card issuers must comply with the January 2003 guidance on minimum credit card payments issued by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) or incur examiner criticism. Under the previous industry standard, customers were required to make at least a 2 percent minimum payment on the total balance, which often did not pay off the monthly interest and fees or pay down any principal. The system guaranteed perpetual debt, since unpaid monthly interest and fees were rolled over into the principal, a practice called “negative amortization.”

Credit card companies must require customers to pay at least 1 percent on the principal every month, plus all the interest, finance charges and over-the-limit fees on the remaining balance. This will assure a possibility of a future payoff of the debt. News reports of sticker shock as a result of increased minimum payment requirements on consumers that live on credit may have been largely exaggerated. Most major credit card companies were either already in compliance or quickly changed their minimum payment requirements to comply with the new guidance. Those that have lagged behind in coming into compliance are sub-prime lenders, which frequently engage in predatory practices.

Payday Loans

Predatory lending is generally associated with the bottom-feeders of the financial services industry. However, most sub-prime lenders are subsidiaries of major banking institutions. While these financial giants rake in the cash from preying on poor people and those with poor credit histories that do not otherwise qualify for loans at their banks, their sub-prime subsidiaries take the blame for engaging in shady practices, such as “payday loans.”

Thousands have fallen prey to the ‘payday’ loan cycle of debt. In some cases, borrowers pay interest in excess of 100% on these short-term loans.

Congress has looked into the situation and proposed legislation to rein in these vultures. However, the financial services industry has powerful lobbies with hefty budgets, a combination known to sway members of Congress.

Venue for an Artist
Georgia Black Chamber Remarks (Excerpts)

By Rep. Cynthia McKinney (D-GA)

It was at the dawning of the Poor People's Campaign, the submission to America of the "bounced check to the Negro," and launching of the demand to Congress for an economic bill of rights that Dr. King was cut down by snipers' bullets. In 1968, Dr. King was demanding $12 billion for jobs for those able to work, incomes for those unable to work, and an end to discrimination. A decade later, President Carter signed the Humphrey-Hawkins Full Employment and Balanced Growth Act.

How far from the ideals of Dr. King and this legislation has this Administration taken our country! When Congress reconvenes and takes up the budget, the Republican majority will be forced to raise the debt limit beyond its current $8.2 trillion. They will try to hide that vote from you because it exposes the dismal fiscal stewardship of the party that is supposed to represent fiscal restraint. Our economy teeters on the brink due to the profligate spending of the White House and the Congress. Record deficit. Record national debt. Record trade deficit.

And sadly, this month I will be forced to vote on an extension of the Patriot Act and a budget that takes $40 billion away from the sick, the poor, the elderly, single parents needing child support, college students and their families. No segment of the American population is left outside the crosshairs of this budgetary weapon of mass destruction called the Bush Administration and the Republican Congress. Except, of course, for the wealthy who roll away with an additional $70 billion in tax cuts and the no bid, sweetheart deal government contracts to which they've become accustomed.

What is happening to our country is "sinful." There was a time when the United States government was known as caring and nurturing of people at home and abroad. Now, I have to agree with Kanye West. Not only does George Bush not like Black people, his policies hurt all of us. As a Democrat in a majority Republican House, Senate, White House, and Supreme Court, you can count on me to do what I can to keep up the good fight in Washington, DC.

About Me: U.S. Rep. Cynthia McKinney is considered a radical for her views on issues affecting this nation. She represents Georgia's 4th Congressional District. For more, visit www.house.gov/mckinney. You can email Rep. McKinney at hq2600@gmail.com.

Kudos! Kudos!

Black Contractors Protest for Jobs

For the past decade or more, jobs usually performed by blacks on construction sites and with road crews building bridges and paving highways have gone to illegal immigrants. The excuse for this changing dynamic has been, ‘these are jobs blacks do not want,’ when nothing could be further from the truth. Blacks do want these jobs and others; they simply do not want to work for free or damn near free, which is slavery, a legacy blacks are still struggling to overcome in the 21^st century.

In the time-honored tradition of civil disobedience practiced by Dr. Martin Luther King. Jr. and other civil rights activists to raise public awareness and combat socioeconomic and political injustice, black contractors in Ohio are picketing to demand a share of public works contracts. Led by Norman Edwards, vice president of Nolan Contracting, the Black Contractors Employers Association (BCEA) are targeting construction projects that have received tax dollars and failed to hire black workers. According to Edwards, “It is an issue of economics. Blacks are paying taxes, but they are not getting any work on these projects. It is as if apartheid is going on in the city of Cleveland." Predictably, those in charge of hiring have criticized the group for its ‘confrontational’ tactic. But, the criticism has not swayed Edwards and BCEA.

Most recently, the group protested outside Cleveland State University, where a $38 million publicly financed project to turn Fenn Tower into student housing has no minority workers. In 2005, the group picketed outside the $450 million Cleveland Clinic project, Cleveland City Hall and Winpisinger Senior Apartments. BCEA is accusing officials on these projects of refusing to hire black firms.

While public protest is unorthodox in the area of contracting, the group is drawing much-needed attention to the plight of black workers. And, that is a good thing! Kudos to BCEA for getting noticed.

Comments from the Bat Cave

The Dark Knight-Batman/White Ninja/Zorro got his report card on Monday. It showed significant improvement, but his grades failed to surpass those of his sidekick, who again made the honor roll. When confronted with failing to get the big money prize again, the Dark One/Ninja/Zorro complained, “This system is not fair. He has easy work!”

Disgruntled says: Judge Samuel Alito is expected to be confirmed by the Senate to replace Associate Justice Sandra Day O’Connor on the US Supreme Court. George W. Bush once famously declared that strict construction of the US Constitution was his litmus test for judicial appointments. Of course, no one in mainstream media remembers that declaration, so now, Bush can get away with saying he has no litmus test. But basically Bush and the conservative right, especially its neo-confederacy wing, will expect Alito, if confirmed, to interpret the Constitution as the framers intended. In that case, Alito will not respect black Americans. After all, the framers embraced slavery and codified the notion that blacks contributed less than white men with property in creating the wealth of the nation. Do not expect Alito to say he will honor the 3/5 compromise of Article I Section 2 in making his judicial decisions. Instead, he will do as other conservatives and disguise his personal biases and say he will honor settled law, whatever that means.

Disgruntled feels: Amazed! War is peace, and naked aggression is not a violation of international prohibitions against such acts. We have entered the Twilight Zone, where images are distorted and nothing is as it seems. In this flipped script world, you must think outside the box! The good guys and gals wear black hats and quote from “The Godfather.” The bad guys break their backs to distance themselves from the mud and muck they once gleefully wallowed in with guys now singing for the entertainment of federal prosecutors. We should all be amazed federal prosecutors can keep the good and bad guys straight. With such switching roles, we will be more amazed if anyone goes to jail.

Disgruntled wants to know: The Jack Abramoff scandal shows the power and influence over Congress exercised by those with money. There is sufficient evident to suggest he had some influence with the executive branch as well. After all, Abramoff was a Bush pioneer, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions. He also served on the Bush transition team for the Interior Department. People like Abramoff and big businesses benefit from US government policies. They grease palms and gain access to the halls of Congress and the Oval Office to press for passage of pieces of legislation that benefit them, their clients and shareholders. From the Abramoff scandal, we know at some level buying our government is illegal. Question is, should services for the poor and needy be cut to satisfy the endless appetites of the greedy?

Mailbox: E-Mails, Faxes and Telephone Calls

Email KarimAG@euro-comm.co.uk Ariel Sharon, Israel's Prime Minister was a ruthless military commander responsible for one of the most shocking war crimes of the 20th century, argues Robert Fisk. George Bush acclaims Ariel Sharon as 'a man of peace', yet the blood that was shed at Sabra and Chatila remains a stain on the conscience of the Zionist nation. As Sharon lies stricken in his hospital bed, his political career over, how will history judge him?

Email www.truthout.com The Pimping of the Presidency…By Lou Dubose..The Texas Observer..Friday 06 January 2006...Four months after he took the oath of office in 2001, President George W. Bush was the attraction, and the White House the venue, for a fundraiser organized by the alleged perpetrator of the largest billing fraud in the history of corporate lobbying. In May 2001, Jack Abramoff's lobbying client book was worth $4.1 million in annual billing for the Greenberg Traurig law firm. He was a friend of Bush advisor Karl Rove. He was a Bush "Pioneer," delivering at least $100,000 in bundled contributions to the 2000 campaign. He had just concluded his work on the Bush Transition Team as an advisor to the Department of the Interior. He had sent his personal assistant Susan Ralston to the White House to work as Rove's personal assistant. He was a close friend, advisor, and high-dollar fundraiser for the most powerful man in Congress, Tom DeLay. Abramoff was so closely tied to the Bush Administration that he could, and did, charge two of his clients $25,000 for a White House lunch date and a meeting with the President. From the same two clients he took to the White House in May 2001, Abramoff also obtained $2.5 million in contributions for a non-profit foundation he and his wife operated.

Email www.business.bostonherald.com Treasury Secretary John Snow said yesterday the United States could face the prospect of not being able to pay its bills early next year unless Congress raises the government’s borrowing authority, now capped at $8.18 trillion. Snow, in a letter to lawmakers, estimated that the government is expected to bump into the statutory debt limit around the middle of February. Economists doubt Congress will refuse to raise the limit. A federal default is considered unimaginable because it would rattle bond markets, force interest rates higher and shake the economy.

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