Ward 5 friends and fellow citizens ...
I am late to the table here. I have been missing from the community dialog since the CUA a.k.a Monroe Market project ... I have also chosen to absent myself from some of the recent acrimonious debates that have permeated our list serve here in Brookland. It will be no secret to anyone who knows me that I am supportive of Rob Ramson's positions on social and economic justice and the pernicious nature of racism as it is practiced here in the District. Many think that Obama's election conclusively proved to white America that racism was dead. All people of color in America know that is an illusion. I say this as a 'white man,' from one of the most racist parts of America. South Boston Massachusetts.
As Mark Twain said, '... it's easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled." The problem is that the nature of the deception is partially self-induced. We have been lied to in our history books, classrooms, and churches for 300 years. Anyone who has taken the trouble to educate themselves on the issue must know that, in truth, America is only a representative democratic republic in form. In truth we are a Oligarchy and a Plutocracy. Ostensibly, the system has not changed but those who actually wield that power are not necessarily even part of the government. The 1% have placed themselves (Goldman Sachs etc) or their minions in positions of power and have been consolidating it ever since Teddy Roosevelt forced many of them out of office with his reforms ... like Standard Oil, they have simply changed names and carried on. Taft Harlley has been eviscerated. The is effectively no anti monopoly law at work in America.
As RobbyCU says, each and every person has to be responsible for their own well being, at a fundamental level, I do NOT dispute his statement. I would be more in agreement if it were not for the fact our economy it is NOT a level playing field! A child born into poverty has a longer ladder to climb, a new small business has a more difficult time competing with the monopolistic practices of say, a WalMart, clearly a monopoly in practical terms.
The media message would have us believe that there is an economic comeback, that our economy is on its feet again. Anyone who is without a job knows that's just bullshit! There are no decent jobs for people at the bottom of the pyramid. Yet, the non profit/gov't establishment would have us believe that is not true ... we are being fooled into thinking that our gov't is doing all it can. Well, it's certainly not true for those who purport to provide job training and 'job readiness,' These folks whom I call the "Poverty Pimps,' have made a killing! Although obviously not all jobs programs are a shame ... most are! How can I say that? What are my credentials? For years I was head of technical training for Honda America Mfg. I had responsibility for training and therefore the quality of most Honda's made in America ... 12,000 employees in Marysville, Oh.
Like in ancient Rome, the government is trying redistribute the money through the tax system ...(Foodstamps, medicare, and Housing) it ain't working! The question is what do we do about structural unemployment and poverty? Charity, although one of the highest expressions of compassion, is not the answer. Charity is for emergencies only! We need to solve this problem and fast. It is not only a race issue (predominantly) but it is an age issue, a youth issue, a nationality issue. As technology continues to reduce the value of labor and workers, those who are investors will gain more and more of the capital, the value of America. In order to prosper an economy needs both production and consumption. When the economy reaches the tipping point where production is not met by consumption, the wheels come off the wagon. What will we ever do then?
We are playing a fools game, a short term, greed based, laissez faire game of economic Russian roulette ... it can only end one way! We have to solve the problem, not delay it. We can't let the bankers, the money mechanics, and the real estate development growth machine fool us into thinking that what's good for them is good for us. It ain't.
Jerry
----- Original message -----
Subject: Re: [WardFive] Jonetta Rose Barras: The return of 'separate but equal'?
Date: Mon, 11 Aug 2014 21:37:21 -0700
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The hard truthis that people fail.Failure isa part of life. Being poor is not a piece of cake it is not fun it is not enjoyable. If you want to sugar cold blindfold put blinders on the pole or to make yourself feel good you go right ahead but the last time I remember being poor sucks. If you want to truly help people you would not have been wait for theladder. You would only be building your own ego like the rest of the advocacyindustrialcomplex. They exist to help people if people to help they would not have jobs same for certainjournalistthey have to be warriors for the underclass in order for them to be warriors they have to proliferate anunderclass..If we were truly focused on helping people we would recognize that the only salvation of mankind ismanhimself. All the bluster all the accusations all the name calling does not result in anything other than a culture of dependence of failure of poverty of shame of addiction of dependence. It is useful for the valves that advocated because they have people to advocated for it is useful for generous because they canstand for the people but what the people don't get isanything. Howmanytimeshavepeoplecome254poorpeoplereally have no interest in helping the poorpeople because withoutthe poorpeopletheywillhave no platform.
RobImean this with all sincerity you need to give up the ghost .Ifyou want to help poor people then the best thing you can dois remindthem theyarepoor.Isto say to men there is a notherwaybutyou must fight for yourselfyourself. You are your own Savior your effortis your own salvation and if you are unwilling to pull yourself up andyou will be where you areand thatis where you choose to be
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From: Rob <indianrob@gmail.com>;
To: Ward 5 Google Groups <wardfive@googlegroups">wardfive@googlegroups.com>;
Subject: Re: [WardFive] Jonetta Rose Barras: The return of 'separate but equal'?
Sent: Tue, Aug 12, 2014 12:44:15 AM | People often work towards something they can see. It is truly discouraging when options are limited and becoming more limited. And depending on circumstances, it is really tough to seemingly "spin ones wheels"! I think that providing a better environment coupled with mandatory education/job training/drug testing/rehab (attendance required) and job placement, folks have a chance. We almost have to hold the hands to guide them out. I have never seen a rescue team only put 1/3 of a ladder into a 10ft well and expect the person to jump the rest of the way. Hell, even with a full length ladder, we still seem to give the person a hand when they get to the top. This is the same approach that needs to be taken with our folks who are not as prepared to do it without easily being distracted. So your "anesthetizing" comment sounds like some mid-level of elitism to me. It doesn't hurt for Mrs. Barras to advocate for better conditions for our under achieved/performing community if the Developer is receiving City funds and/or getting bond money, etc.. Why is there negativity if she is trying to bring light to a situation in order to make it better/more humanely equal? Rob Ramson.
On Aug 11, 2014 7:00 PM, "'RobbyCU' via WardFive" < FastMail WARNING: URL text contains a possible JavaScript attack on your machine. URL disabled. Original URL='javascript:return'. For more information on phishing click here.> wrote: | No one has ever liked being poor. That's 1 big reason people work to get out of poverty. Our goal should not be to anesthetize the poor.
Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android |
From: Rob < FastMail WARNING: URL text contains a possible JavaScript attack on your machine. URL disabled. Original URL='javascript:return'. For more information on phishing click here.>; To: Ward 5 Google Groups < FastMail WARNING: URL text contains a possible JavaScript attack on your machine. URL disabled. Original URL='javascript:return'. For more information on phishing click here.>; Subject: Re: [WardFive] Jonetta Rose Barras: The return of 'separate but equal'? Sent: Mon, Aug 11, 2014 4:29:00 PM In addition to the separate entrances, why does the city need to put up $2 million to keep the place part "affordable". What is the profit margin of the developer at completion and what is the long term return. If the city is putting up $2 million, then the City should be getting a Return On Investment over the long run. As a matter of proper usage of funds, the city should be getting that $2 Million back and then the long term return for their part of investment should go to the residents who utilize the "affordable" aspect of the building so that they would eventually be on their own and others can utilize the "affordable" aspect. This is not an attack on CM Bowser. This is a responsibility of all the CM's. There is no reason to fund any of these developers when they are going to develop in DC anyways. We should be passing legislation to come up with regulations of how to structure the funding so as the City becomes a REAL partner in the Public/Private partnership. These developers should have to produce the projected financials and the City should have a right to share in those proceeds; with the ability to get part of the surplus that is not part of the projection. But, thinking through and properly addressing issues are not the top priority. Most legislation passed and most of the funding they do have loopholes big enough to sink a ship. Look at the Living Social benefit package -- and with all the testimonial warnings that was received. That's why we still have no legislation to make our City Council positions FULL TIME so they could stop PIMPING the system. That is the first bit of legislation that needs to be put into place. At some point, we need to really be serious about a realistic approach to who really needs assistance. As to Robby's thinking -- that says a lot. Easier said than done " takes effort and drive to climb our of poverty". There was a movie made about that called trading places. It is easy to sit in a "Robby's" position and say those things. The reality is no one likes being poor and with some guidance and help, it is much easier to muster up the Effort and Drive to climb out of poverty. It is sad that in today's world, we still condone this "front and rear" door entrance. Actually, it is worse when our own justifies it. Rob Ramson --
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