CubPub - get your fill

Obama and the Black Agenda

Baileys Original — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 06:06:55 +0000

Mr. West's opinion fails to take that reality into account. In his mind, President Obama exists a the sole political actor capable of bringing economic relief to African-Americans. He doesn't factor in the failure of Black politicians such as Bobby Rush, Charles Rangel, Maxine Waters, and others in forcing Black suffering into the national spotlight. Neither does he take into account the timidness of Black intellectuals such as himself, Glenn Loury, and others when it comes to drawing attention to and decrying unemployment and poverty in the Black community. Thus, he fails to understand that the hopes of an entire community cannot be pinned upon one person, no matter how historic or transformative we view his presidency to be.

All of this is to say that Mr. West doesn't seem to understand, at least in this instance, that any solution to the economic challenges facing the Black community cannot be enacted by a single person - let alone an embattled Democratic president who sometimes has trouble crafting a coherent political message. Any solution to Black unemployment and poverty will take a concerted effort by activists, advocates, Black lawmakers, intellectuals, and sympathetic political leaders. People of Mr. West's ilk don't seem interested in building such a coalition, though. They persistently peddle a political fantasy that seeks to discredit President Obama while doing nothing to advance African-American interests.

Perhaps most importantly, people like Mr. West continue to frame Black interests in terms that are not conducive to progress. The simple fact is that even the best economic arguments will fall on deaf ears when they are couched in racial rhetoric. Even if the racial rhetoric is absent, conservatives will misconstrue calls for targeted jobs programs as racial or discriminatory in nature. In order to better communicate to the national community and head off race-baiting politicians, Black leaders must re-cast the debate in terms that all Americans can understand: African-Americans are American first and foremost, and any policies that help them are not helping some inscrutable Other at the expense of everyone else. Rather, those policies are helping fellow Americans who are sorely in need. Furthermore, it must be emphasized that the very same policies that will help reduce suffering in Black communities can also be applied to the nation at large, and to great advantages.

As long as leaders such as Mr. West continue to lay the Black agenda at Obama's feet and insist that he take up the cause single-handedly, though, there is little hope for change. African-Americans must realize that no politician can do for them what they must do for themselves - exercise the political power accorded to all democratic citizens.

Who Sacrifices?

Baileys Original — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 23:46:23 +0000

Consider the example of Governor Cuomo in New York. His budget, which passed earlier this month, makes huge strides towards reducing New York State's deficit. It will supposedly reduce spending by two percent, the first decrease in state spending the State has seen in fifteen years. However, this accomplishment is regressive at heart, and lays much of the burden of austerity upon the middle class. $1.3 billion has been removed from education spending, with poorer school districts bearing much of the pain. State workers are being subjected to wage freezes and layoffs. Medicaid is taking a $5 billion dollar cut.

Strong cases can be made for each of those measures, especially the Medicaid cut, which largely follows the recommendations of the Medicaid Redesign Team. It is inexcusable, however, that Governor Cuomo and the legislature shielded the most fortunate New Yorkers from sacrifice. New York's tax surcharge on individuals making more than $200,000 expires at the end of the year, and Governor Cuomo did not advocate for its renewal. This surcharge is not unreasonable, and would help ease the sacrifices being made by the middle class. While the Governor has vowed not to approve any new taxes, the surcharge is a sensible policy that will lift some of the burden that the State is placing upon its most vulnerable citizens. Besides, it makes no sense that the Governor is willing to countenance tax decreases in the face of a staggering deficit. When you factor in the probability that these austerity measures may further decrease tax revenue by placing additional financial burdens on the middle class (an outcome we are currently witnessing in David Cameron's British experiment with "expansionary austerity"), the Governor's choice is both morally and economically problematic.

This unfair and counter-productive path is being taken in many states, perhaps most notably in Wisconsin, which was the site of a showdown between Republican Governor Scott Walker and public employee unions. One governor, though, provides us with a glimpse of how our leaders can balance the well-being of the middle class and the need to reduce the deficit by spreading fiscal sacrifice more equally. In California, Governor Jerry Brown is in the midst of a fight to extend tax increases set to expire in July. He understands that California's deficit cannot be eliminated through spending cuts alone, not only because it places an undue burden on the middle and poor classes, but also because it is bad for the state's economy. He is attempting to put the tax increases up for a vote in a June special election.

Governor Brown has not been afraid to stand against the political tide that favors spending cuts and vilifies tax increases. Rather, after talks with California Republicans broke down, he took his message to the state's voters. His efforts have paid off - sixty percent of Californians now believe that tax increases should be used to attack the deficit. Even more revealing is the fact that support for an all cuts approach to the deficit falls to twenty-five percent when voters are informed that further cuts must be forced upon school systems that have already been put under the knife.

This change of opinion in California shows that, with strong leadership, voters can be made to understand that cuts alone will not reduce the deficit or benefit the majority of citizens. Instead, sacrifice must be borne by all Americans - the wealthy, the middle class, and the poor. Hopefully other leaders are paying attention to Governor Brown's sensible approach to the deficit.

Missed the Safe Space Forum?

Captain Morgan — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 04:18:36 +0000

Obama's Reelection Bid

White Russian — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 05:30:35 +0000

In fact, looking at the one of the more recent polls by Reuters/Ipsos, only 31% of all Americans believe that the country is on the right track versus 64% who think that the US is on the wrong track. Unemployment is still hovering at about 9% even though the Obama adminstration had claimed that it would remain under 8% with the passage of its omnibus stimulus legislation-- which in itself added an additional $760 billion to the deficit that year and contributing to the ever burgeoning federal debt level.

Partisan bickering still exists just as it always has-- as evidenced by the near shutdown that was barely averted on Friday. Now, one might think, "No president can change the way politics is done. That would be unrealistic." While that statement may be fairly true, it is, in fact, what President Obama claimed he would do time and time again in 2008. For this election, voters now need to decide on Obama's record for all that he has done and not done, not on his rhetoric.

Budget Battle for This Year Over; Next Year's, On Tap

White Russian — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 03:09:35 +0000

The deal came just an hour before the government would have run out of funds and would have initiated the first shutdown of the federal government in 15 years. Although agreeing to the compromise in principal, both sides had to pass another temporary spending bill so that lawmakers could actually draft the budget legislation to be eventually signed by President Obama.

Thus ends the budget battle for this year's fiscal budget. But, to be sure, this solution is only the solution for the current year's budget. The bigger and, in many ways, more important battle will be over next year's fiscal budget. Leading Republican on the House Budget Committee Paul Ryan made a bold step last week by putting out the GOP plan which looks to slash $6 trillion in government spending over the next decade. Rather than waiting for the President and Democrats to put out their plan, Republicans have now open the doors to criticsm to their own proposal. But, give them credit, they've also showed leadership and a type of political courage that Democrats-- President Obama, particularly, included-- have not.

The Safe Space Debate

White Russian — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 21:21:27 +0000

Safe Space Forum THIS WEDNESDAY

Captain Morgan — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 18:44:13 +0000

ROTC and the Columbia Legacy

Fuzzy Navel — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 01:47:15 +0000

Perhaps it's flattering that there is so much attention regarding the Senate's decision, but on the other hand, it certainly raises questions about the extent to which Columbia's history plays a part in its political alignments and image today. Some students are unhappy about the somewhat proactive and possibly aggressive role the university administration has had in the proceedings. During one ROTC townhall meeting, Dean Moody-Adams made some opening remarks that were much more pointed than some students had expected. Some question whether the ROTC issue received the amount of deliberation and consideration it deserved, judging the three months of debate to be rather inadequate. Others laud the university for its ability to consider the issue without Columbia's past obscuring new developments.

In any case, the groundbreaking decision will certainly lead to further discussion about the place ROTC has on campus and how we can best change with the times.

Safe Spaces Poll

Captain Morgan — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 04:14:49 +0000

USenate votes to bring back ROTC

Captain Morgan — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 21:02:14 +0000

ROTC protestors outside Law School

Captain Morgan — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 18:49:37 +0000

Qaddafi Not About to Break Despite Obama's Prediction

White Russian — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 20:59:29 +0000

Safe Spaces UPDATE

Captain Morgan — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 20:20:11 +0000

(written on the back:)

The Problem with Safe Spaces:

The establishment of “safe spaces,” such as the Stephen Donaldson (for LGBTQ) and Malcolm X (for Blacks) lounges, is troubling on many levels. These lounges require swipe access that is awarded to students based on membership in certain student groups. While all students should feel comfortable at our university, the designation of particular areas as “safe” suggests that the rest of the campus is in some way dangerous. Rather than promoting inclusivity, “safe spaces” emphasize the differences between students and legitimize a mentality of on-campus victimization. Their creation implies that certain minorities should have genuine fears when on campus.

Beyond this, the notion that particular zones are needed to make minorities welcome is an insult not only to the minority groups themselves but also to the Columbia community as a whole. Individual students affiliating with a minority group do not need special treatment to be fully part of this university.

An inclusive society cannot be created by constantly emphasizing difference. We should celebrate the diversity of this university's individuals rather than that of its factions. Yet the Office of Multicultural Affairs consistently works to make sure that students identify as part of a particular social group rather than as individuals: although it sounds absurd, at Columbia there are even separate graduation ceremonies for particular minority groups (LGBTQ, Black, Latino and Asian).

While discrimination should be rooted out at all levels, university subsidized and promoted labels do nothing but perpetuate stereotyping. We look forward to the day when society is free from discrimination, but the creation of “safe spaces” both hampers progress towards this goal and is fundamentally illiberal.

Shots: In Case You Missed It (Libya Edition)

Captain Morgan — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 17:19:51 +0000

Obama Making Bold Predictions... That Could Haunt Him In Future

White Russian — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 02:50:01 +0000

The American public, as the news media more than happily reinforced to its readers and viewers during the Bush years, punished Bush in the polls after it became clear that America's involvement in Iraq would last much longer than Bush was telling Americans. As a case in point, Obama should be very wary of using the kind of rhetoric that he is using now. Even if his administration decides to arm the rebels, the anti-government forces are so undisciplined and untrained that there may very well be a see-sawing swing of territorial gains and losses that have so far characterized the war, and a victory by the rebels would be far from certain.

As much as Obama liked to criticize-- and should even be said, still likes to criticize-- his precessor, he should be wise to take the lessons that President Bush learned the hard way.