A few months ago, I talked about games we play keeping up with the Joneses. Experts refer to it as “Wealth Signals”. I outlined why African Americans were much more willing to live beyond their means.

Although I believe “Wealth Signals” is alive and well, I think there might be a larger issue. If I am correct in my breakdown then it will give context to our approach to politics and public policy.

In America, capitalism is the name of the game. Whether you like it or not, it is what it is! We need to look at any and everything that we do relative to that system.

I feel that we base much of our public policy on income development. For example, the minimum wage is a policy designed to increase income. Pell Grants and government-backed student loans are in place to give the masses a chance at a quality education. Education is a strong stimulant of gainful employment and higher paying jobs. Proponents intend for NAFTA and other trade related policies to help Americans get and keep high paying jobs while keeping the cost of basic goods and services relatively low.

So what is the problem with an income based approach? Well… capitalism, although a factor, is not income based. It is wealth based. It is all about the ownership of private property that a person can use for the benefit of his/her self, family and community.

Income based policies are excellent and clearly needed as the income gap between Whites and Blacks has held steady since 2000, with they typical Black family earning a meager $0.59 cents for every dollar ($1) earned by a mainstream white family. I welcome any effort to address this gap.

Capitalism, however, is about wealth. The wealth gap between the races is sad. The typical Black family holds only $0.10 cents of wealth for every dollar held by the typical white family. This gap has remained steady since the late 1800’s.

For the first time in the history of America many African Americans were starting to make a dent in this generational wealth gap, but due to $71 – 92 Billion wealth that being lost due to foreclosures the gap appears permanent.

Studies suggest that it is going to take more than 594 years to make up the wealth gap brought on by the sub-prime loan fallout. With the foreclosure crises, causing the greatest loss of wealth to people of color in modern US history it is going to take a miracle to close the wealth gap.

Equality is America is not about integrating schools. It is not about living next door to folks of another race. It is not about sitting at the front of the bus or drinking out the same water fountain. These are huge steps towards progress, but they do not equate to equality.

If we were playing basketball on a basketball court but you were playing with a football approach you would not be very successful. You would look up at the scoreboard and with much frustration see that the score was unequal.

In America, we play capitalism where the name of the game is building wealth. Building, developing and growing income is important but it does not translate into points. It leads to points.

We must rethink about income-based approach to leveling the playing field. A much more asset-based approach is what we need, but it is up to those that are losing the game, 90 – 10 as it stands right now, to put this issue on the table and make it a central point of American public policy going forward.

Just my 20 cents!

The Republican Party can issue the most whopping blow to the Democrats in the history of the United States with one simple, although not easy, move.

It’s John McCain has finished off his Republican challengers and they have all dropped out of the race. He and the Republican Party now have time to beat up on whoever the Democrats decide upon.

In the general election he will give Obama or Clinton the run of their lives. The big question in Republican circles was never who the presidential nominee will be because McCain appears to have that hands down from the beginning. The million dollar question is who he will pick to be his running mate? Who can John McCain put on his team to give him the best shot to beat Clinton or Obama?

Can you say, “Condoleezza”?

If the Republican Party were able to persuade Condoleezza Rice to join the Republican presidential ticket, they would have one of the best presidential tickets in the history of America.

Many Republicans see McCain as not “Republican enough”. Rice on the other hand has been about as loyal to her boss, George W. Bush, and the Republican Party as anyone in recent history. She has followed them lock, stock and barrel even to her own detriment sometimes.

This ticket could make the issue of national security and the war a non issue. No conceivable Democratic ticket could match up with McCain, a decorated war hero, and Former National Security Advisor Rice.

Rice has testified so much on Capitol Hill that she answers tough questions in her sleep. She would mop the floor with any Democratic Vice Presidential candidate.

Dr. Rice holds a doctorate in International Studies. She has met with heads of state around the world and is highly respected.

With a little bit of looking surely the Democratic Party can find someone with comparable skills to boost the Democratic ticket. The problem is that whoever they find won’t be African American and won’t be a female.

Dr. Rice, a church-going Black woman from Birmingham, Alabama, has risen to the heights of American politics. Can you hear the birds singing? Can you see the heavens open up?

She would be the personification of Obama and Clinton’s campaigns combined. She would clearly be a change, at least on the surface. The Republicans could kill two birds with one stone, squashing Liberalism which is at the root of their existence.

Women would have a hard time voting against her. This weakens Clinton. African Americans would have a hard time voting against her. This weakens Obama. The Republican Party has stumbled across a “trump card” thanks to GW.

The Democratic Party has banked on African American and working class women’s support for the past 70 years. Democrats have been much friendlier to civil rights and women’s rights. In exchange, both have given the party unquestionable support.

But if Rice can be convinced to throw her hat in the ring for Vice President, both of these groups have a dilemma. Do they go with tradition and stick with the Democratic Party or do they cross party lines for the first time since the 30’s to support the Republican Party.

Hmm… What would you do?

Just my 20 cents!

Move over Ringling Brothers. I think I witnessed one of the greatest shows on earth Tuesday night. It was full of excitement. There were clowns. There was roaring. There were stunts that you couldn’t imagine. There was laughing. And sometimes the air had the stench of elephant droppings… or was that bull I smelled? Unfortunately it was not under the big top. It was the Texas Primary and Caucus meeting that I attended.

I got to the polls about 6:00 p.m. I went into the school and walking down the hall looking for the lines. I expected long lines. I could see cars parked down the street. After walking around the school a minute or two a lady stopped me asking if I was there to vote. I told her yes. She directed me around the corner to the auditorium.

Stop!!! Why the hell weren’t there signs at the door, in the hall or somewhere telling me that I needed to go to the auditorium? There should have been a person at the front to make sure people weren’t wandering around the school. Children were still in the building. Can you say security risks? But I wasn’t tripping.

I found the auditorium. There were two lines. One line was shorter so I got in the shortest line. After about 15 minutes in line, I handed the lady my driver’s license. She asked my address. She said I was in the wrong line. She explained that 2 precincts were voting in this location. I was in the wrong precinct line. I needed to get in other line. It was out the door by now.

Stop!!! Why the hell weren’t there signs (or something) telling us what each line was for? How hard would it have been to put up signs with “Precinct #23 Vote Here” and “Precinct #24 Vote Here”? What about a person there with either a laptop or a cell phone so people could verify which precinct they lived in? Was I, or Am I, asking for too much?

I got in the long line which was backing up in the hallway by now. It took about 30 minutes but I finally got my ballot and stepped to the voting partition. There was no pen or pencil there.

Stop!!! Why the hell couldn’t they have simply tied a string to a pencil or pen so no one could/would walk off with it?

I had a pen, so I wasn’t tripping. I quickly marked my vote and took it to the machine to have it recorded.

The guy at the machine asked, “You didn’t use that pen did you?” I replied, “Yes because there was not a pen or pencil in the voting booth.”  He told me I needed to use the felt tip pens that they provided. I should have asked for one.

Stop!!! Why the hell do I have to ask for a pen or pencil? I’m there to vote. You know I need a pencil or a felt tip pen. Either provide one or a least let me know that I need one. He scanned the ballot anyway and the machine accepted it. I had voted so I wasn’t tripping.

Later at in the foyer, waiting for the doors to open for the caucus I heard a lot rumbling about having to stand in line. The air conditioner was off. People were getting hot and cranky. Many had skipped dinner to be there. I thought about trying to be a hero and make a run to go get a few buckets of chicken, but I didn’t want to lose my place in line.

After about 45 minutes waiting we went into the school cafeteria. I gathered that the lady screaming at the top of her lungs was in charge. I wasn’t quite sure though. She wasn’t the only person screaming at the top of their lungs. She was however the loudest. The instructions were nil. I thought, “What the hell is this?”

Nobody knew what to do, including poll workers.  Folks were passing around several pieces of paper. I concluded that we should sign our name on the list, write the name of preferred presidential candidate and we could leave. Some people said we should stay so I decided I’d stay just to see the process. I was enjoying the show by now.

This was about as clear as mud to most people. One older black lady next to me kept echoing, “We ain’t ever had to do no caucus before. Why we gotta do one now? I knew them white folks was gonna try to pull something.”

About an hour later there were approximately 40 people left. It was clear that the people in charge were clueless and the voters were even more clueless.

I asked reasonable questions where I could. I got more contradictory answers than I care to share. Finally that same older black lady told me, “You sound like you know what you talking about. I’m jes gonna stick wit you.” I thought to myself - that’s been her game plan during this whole election. Go with the one that sounds like they know what they’re talking about.

They counted the sign in votes. Then they realized 94 people didn’t write a candidate’s name next to their sign – in. The meeting chair asked, “What should we do with those?” We could either throw them out or we could vote on how we wanted those caucus votes to go. It was 9 p.m. and most of these people had left the meeting by now.

The call for a vote went like this, “How many people want to throw those votes out?” Another gentleman and I raised our hands. “Now how many people want those votes to go to Obama?”

Stop!!! What the hell kind of BS is that? We weren’t voting on who should get those votes. We were only voting on what we wanted to do with them. I said that didn’t make any sense. I didn’t want to be held responsible for voting either way on behalf of people who simply misunderstood the instructions.

A few rational heads (Obama Supporters) suggested that they call the attorneys to see what to do. After 15 minutes on the phone, the attorneys suggested we throw those votes out. Did we need an attorney for that? DAMN!

Next we decided to get the vote count, minus the 94 votes. Then someone realized that only 11 people didn’t properly mark the caucus sheet.

Stop!!! Was it 11 or 94? Now I can understand errors in math, but come on. More importantly what if I didn’t press the issue. If this was going down in favor of Clinton it would have been pandemonium.

Basically, it was total chaos… a Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus. I’d argue that many people won’t look forward to participating in the process again.

But how can we avoid this madness in the future?  I have a few suggestions:

1. The party should provide universal signage to every polling place with information like directions, precinct numbers and phone numbers to report issues.
2. The party should provide a hot-line available, manned by volunteers, to answer questions like: Am I registered to vote? What precinct am I in?
3. The poll workers should use the built in PA system of the polling facility, if they have one. If there is not one, the party should provide a megaphone. A little ole lady should not have to scream at the top of her lungs to give instructions.
4. All poll workers should attend at least 8 hours of training. They must pass a test on rules of the primary as well as the caucus. They don’t have to be election experts, but they need to be able to answer basic questions.
5. The Party should send out caucus rules to all registered voters 10 – 14 days prior to primaries and caucuses. They should also post them in a visible place at the polls.
6. Print basic primary and caucus instructions on the back of everyone’s voter registration card… where applicable.
7. Only elect local officials (i.e. council persons/county commissioners) with a strong voter education initiative.

Just my 20 cents!!!

He should have knocked her out last week. I said in last week’s rant that I was disappointed that Barack had not put the “death nail” in Clinton’s coffin during the Texas primary debate.

The Clintons are pit bulls and you can rest assure if you toy around with them long enough they will bite you. Clinton is biting and biting hard.

Sen. Clinton was quick to make the press aware of the upcoming trial of a Chicago land developer that has financial dealings with Obama. No one has accused him of any wrong doing but you can bet the media will ask questions. Sources say that the defense may even call Obama to testify. People see him as the answer to “politics as usual”. Most people believe that most politicians are “in the pockets of big money”. Obama presented himself as incorruptible and as one who didn’t play the “votes for money” game. He says it was a “boneheaded mistake”, but mistakes like this get the rumor mill going.

Clinton has also conveniently leaked a memo to the press claiming that Obama was simply pandering to the people of Ohio (and Texas) about his true feelings regarding NAFTA. The memo suggests that he said one thing to the people and something different to the Canadian government.

Although Obama is currently “Wonder Boy” and can do no wrong, his grasp of some voters could slip. In a race this close, you don’t want to get “caught slippin”.

The longer this thing draws out the more it works in Clinton’s favor. She and her husband know how to work the democratic machine. You can rest assure that she will continue to push for the Florida and Michigan delegates to be seated at the convention. If these states counted she’d have the delegate lead today. It’s going to be tough to keep them completely out. Florida is the “poster state” for voter disenfranchisement.

Toss in the super delegates and a few back room deals from Mr. Clinton and Al Gore and you got a Clinton upset. Imagine the disillusionment Obama supporters will feel with the whole process. Obama has done an excellent job in getting people to believe in the political process again. Unfortunately, his defeat would only be another example of the voice of the people really not counting after all.

How do we avoid this potential backlash that would virtually cripple the Democratic Party for the foreseeable future?

We need an indisputable winner. It needs to be decisive and clear. There can’t be a decision in this fight. Anything less than a knock out, will leave too many unanswered questions.

So “Wonder Boy” can save us all a whole lot of second guessing and in-fighting at the Democratic Convention in August if he would simply “take her out”! If he can!

Like Obama, Muhammad Ali had rock star status in his quests for the heavy weight championship. Some hated him. Some loved him. But he said what he was going to do and he did it… convincingly!

It is time for Barack to show us that “one thing” that many of his critics are holding out for. He has to show that he understands Ecclesiastes 3.

Yes, there is a time to heal. This country needs a lot of healing. But there is also a time to kill. There is a time to love. This country needs a lot of love. But there is also a time to hate. There is a time for war, which he has avoided with the Clintons and a time for peace.

Has Barack shown that he knows what time it is?

Just my 20 cents!

Let’s get ready to rumble!!! It looks like we have a battle going on for Heavy Weight Champion of the Democratic Party. Even more exciting it’s coming down to G-W’s old stumping ground… where we do everything big, Texas.

I watched last night’s debate. I did something a little different though. I watched with the volume turned off. I wanted to score the debate/fight on how much damage I saw inflicted.

The debate/fight didn’t live up to all the hype. Most fights don’t. The anointed champion of the Democratic Party (Clinton) tried to throw a few punches but none of them really affected the contender (Obama). On the other hand Obama didn’t throw any at all. I admit I was a little disappointed.

Some may say that Obama didn’t have to throw any punches. I disagree. He has not won the nomination yet. As a matter of fact, Obama could have delivered a crushing blow to Clinton in last night’s debate. She’s been calling for a debate. She got it. He could have whipped her on her own terms once and for all. He didn’t in my view.

I gave the fight/debate to Clinton on a “decision”. She clearly was the aggressor with Obama being the deflector at best. I think she finished with a nice flurry at the end. Obama defended himself to most people’s satisfaction, but this was not what party officials wanted to see from him. He’s campaigning as a consensus maker and one who will not revert to politics as usual.

Unfortunately, I don’t think McCain, the Republican Party or the media will quite see the general election in that light. They will go for blood. Obama must show the rest of his party, especially the super delegates that he can fight. His unwillingness to fight is viewed as a strength in the public, but might be viewed a weakness amongst his fellow Democrats.

In any championship fight, the contender needs to land a decisive victory over the champ. Ideally it needs to be a definitive knock out. Otherwise the judges, who are boxing experts (super delegates), have to decide the winner. The experts are very slow to go against the champ. They see the champ’s ability to remain standing as the mark of a champion. You might be able to hurt the champ but you can’t knock out the champ. They also see the contender’s inability to knock out the champ as a sign that the contender is not ready to be champ. The contender has to clearly and decisively take the title.

Obama is letting Clinton hang around. Her supporters see this as resilience. If he allows her to catch her breath and regain her footing it won’t look good for him.

Clinton is clearly on the ropes. The crowd is on their feet screaming and yelling. He is pounding on her in the primaries. Her financial backers (corner men) are questioning her finances. Many are quietly hinting that they should throw in the towel. Her punches aren’t fazing Obama.

But for some reason he won’t knock her out! Now is the time for Obama to knock her out! But while she was flailing wildly at him trying to make it a fight, he wanted to dance. That scores him Kumbaya points in the public, but keep in mind that the general public doesn’t choose the nominee.

Quiet as it’s kept, many of the super delegates don’t think he can! There in lies Obama’s dilemma.

If Clinton is still in the race in mid-march, John McCain will win hands down and here’s why.

Hillary will win the Democratic nomination. What the hell!!!!!! Settle down and let me explain.

If Obama doesn’t show the judges, the Democratic machine, that he can knock her out as weak as she is now they will doubt his ability to fight and beat McCain. Key party officials are going to ask Obama to take a back seat to Hillary. Hillary knows how to fight "with the gloves off". Bill will be right there to get his licks in too.

In exchange, they will pitch Obama sweet deals to boost up his resume for 2012.

Hillary is going to go head to head with McCain.

McCain wins in the end. Republicans think he’s a kindler gentler Bush. He is not Republican enough, but he’ll do. Many Democrats aren’t going to vote for Hillary because they’ll feel Obama got the shaft.

Expect to see a riff soon between the Democratic hardliners and the rank in file Democrat.

The American public, especially the Democrats, are tired of politics as usual and this is Obama’s selling point. However the hardliners on both sides want to win! To win they understand that they need to be able and willing to fight… politics as usual.

The Democratic hardliners want a liberal thug that they can trust sometimes. They want a person who is liberal enough to institute social change, thuggish enough to do fight with Republicans and trustworthy enough to know they won’t lie to them all the time.

The Democratic public on the other hand wants to party all the way to the White House. We’ll see who wins out. It should be interesting.

In the meantime… Party Like a Barack.... Party Like a Barack Star!!!

That’s my 20 cents!

Obama really has Hillary up against a wall. Many voters were on the “Hillary vs. Obama” fence. It seems, in recent weeks, they are dumping Hillary and jumping on the Obama band wagon in droves. What’s the impact of Obama’s early wins? In my view, it has very little to do with him becoming President.

I have to tip my hit to the brother. I am very proud of him. However, he still has not quite won my vote. Sure he tickles the ear. He sounds good. He’s charismatic. This, however, has very little to do with being Commander-In-Chief of the most powerful country in the world. As the saying goes, “charisma lasts about 15 minutes”… after that you gotta be able to execute. Obama hasn’t, can’t, and won’t, in my opinion, be able to execute.

He is a roll of the dice at best. And I just don’t believe the President of the United States should be a roll of the dice. I want a sure bet. I want to know exactly what I am going to get.

That said; I still might vote for him! Here’s why. I understand Obama’s “real” win!

For starters, Washington politics has very little impact on the day to day lives of most. Of course we could make a case on the contrary, but for the most part, what’s going on in hell… I mean on the Hill… has very little to do with how you are living today.

Local politics, if any, impact your life the most. A local school board, who you have perhaps never met, has direct control over your child’s education. Who cares about the Secretary of Education? The actions and values of your local and state elected officials directly affect crime, jobs and quality of life issues. Your mayor has more control over whether you have a job than the president.

Which would have a greater long term impact on your economy…. this is the only economy you really care about…Bush’s plan to give you back $700 or your local officials devising a plan to reduce your property tax burden.

I do, however, think Obama is really paving the way for cities and states to elect more socially conscious, community-minded people. Obama is helping America come to grips with the fact that it’s OK to vote for a person with brown skin.

Barack’s campaign suggests that America “might” be ready to support black candidates. The “right” black person must step up to the plate, though. Barack is stirring up those sharp young brothers and sisters that just might be the “right” person in certain cases. Young people who have what it takes to be effective at the local and state level are saying “If Obama can run for President, then I can run for mayor, county commissioner, governor, etc”.

My hat is off to Barack for being the point man on this one. It stills does not qualify him to be president. On the other hand, I don’t think most Americans stay awake at night worrying about who is president.

Here’s my challenge to all newly converted “Obamians”.

Do you even know who your mayor, city councilman or governor is? You really want to work for political change? You really want to make an impact? You really want to embrace Obama’s victories? Here’s what you do.

Find out who your city councilman, mayor, school board, county commissioner, state representative, state senator and governor is? If there is a black person running, jump on their band wagon. At least you can hold them accountable for what they say in their speeches. If there isn’t one, create a band wagon and you run!

Just my 20 cents!

In 1913 a cartoonist named Arthur R. Momand coined the phrase "Keeping Up with the Joneses" when he created a daily comic strip by the same name. In this rant I share why I think it is still so prevalent today... especially in the black community.

Studies show Blacks disproportionately spend on conspicuous items. In many cases they end up in financial crises more often than their white counter parts.

Economists refer to “Keeping up with the Joneses as playing “Wealth Signals”. Wealth Signals is a game all Americans play. They play to keep score in life. If a person is successful (i.e. doing well financially), they are able to buy more wealth signals. If a person is not doing as well, they don’t have as much disposable income to put on wealth signals.

What I find interesting though, is black and brown people tend to play “Wealth Signals” more fierce than whites. According to the report “Race and Consumption”, Blacks spend as much as 30% more on visible goods like clothes and cars than whites with a comparable income. Blacks are more willing to “break the bank” to win than to simply bow out when the stakes get too high.

It is easier for a poor black family to get “caught up” in the game because they don’t have as far to stretch to stay in the game. A poor white family, on the other hand, would have to stretch much farther to compete. Most simply opt out gracefully.

Imagine you are playing poker. You take a look at your hand. You have a pretty good hand. So you place your bet. You bet an amount you clearly can afford to lose or else you wouldn’t do it. Somebody else at the table has a Royal Flush… a guaranteed winning hand. They have a lot more money than you; hence can stand to bet and lose a lot more. They not only call your bet but raise your bet by 3 times the amount.

Now you have a dilemma. Assume you have the money to match the bet but really can’t afford it. You opt out of the game gracefully because if you lose you are completely out of the game altogether.

Now assume they have the same amount of money as you to bet/lose. They match and raise your bet, but only by a few dollars. You now have no problem matching their bet. It’s more than you can afford, but if you lose it won’t “break you”. More importantly, and here is the issue, you can keep playing!

In the white community the annual median income is $67,000. A white family making $25,000 a year can’t compete on the level of the $67,000 family. On the other hand, the median income for black households is $43,000. A black family bringing in $25,000 a year has a lot stronger pull to keep playing. The $43,000 family is not, “quite” out of their league. They might even be able to appear to win.

The problem is the poorer black family has invested a lot more to stay in the game. They could have used that money to build wealth, educate the kids, etc.

The interesting point is there are fewer leagues in the black community. You have more people competing in a league that they shouldn’t be. For example, in the same Black family there may be a person in jail, a blue collar worker, and a doctor. The family member in jail wants to show that he is as successful as his blue collar brother. He will even aspire in many cases to show that he is as successful as his brother the doctor. When he gets out, he puts $7,000 rims on his car. He pulls up to the stop light with his wheels spinning. Folks look at the car saying "man that dude got it going on!" Side note: You can only see spinning rims can when the car is moving, so clearly the driver is not buying them for himself.

We see wealth leagues in the White community defined a lot more clearly. Also, there are a more of them. Generally a family of doctors live in the same neighborhoods with other white doctors. They hang out with other white doctors. The marry people from families with other white doctors. They generally stay in their same financial peer group. White blue collar workers hang with, go to church with, and associate with other working class people. Poor whites just live in trailer parks...

Until very recently in American history, your "means" dictated what league of the "wealth signals" game you could play in. Access to credit has allowed people to play out of their league.

Are you outta your league?

Just my 20 cents!

In last week’s rant I asked us to honor “Windows of Opportunity”. Life presents us with golden opportunities all the time. However, sometimes the timing just ain’t right. We aren’t quite ready for many of them, just yet. My point was its OK to wait for the “window of opportunity” to open again when conditions are better.

Something hit me like a ton of rocks when I re-read my rant a few days later.

In my opinion, we are too focused on accumulation …“getting”. “Something” is missing. So we need to “get something” so that we can do “something”. We would start that business but we don’t have the money. So we need to “get” a loan from the bank to start that business. We would have a better job, but we don’t have a degree. So we need to “get” that degree to have the job that we want. We would have a happy relationship, but the right person hasn’t shown up. So we need to “get” Mr. or Ms. Right to have a happy relationship. We would be happier with our jobs, but we don’t have a high enough position. So we need to “get” that promotion to be happier on our jobs. We would feel comfortable at home, but we don’t live in the “right” neighborhood. So we need to “get” that house in the right neighborhood to feel comfortable. We would feel like a success if we drove the right status symbol, but we drive a “hooptie”. We need to “get” that car to feel some sense of success. You get the idea!

What if, however, we shifted our focus from one of accumulation to one of appreciation?

Just try it!!!!

Think about the thing that is “supposedly” keeping you from taking advantage of “your opportunity”. Then ask yourself this question. Instead of trying to “get” what I need, how can I use what I have already?

This is where appreciation comes in. Instead of trying to “get” that loan appreciate and use the money that you already have. Let’s try launching the business from that mindset.

Instead of trying to “get” that next degree, how can we appreciate and use the education that we do have. Are we really using it to it’s fullest?

Instead of trying to “get” that woman/man in your life, let’s try appreciating the friends that we have in our lives now. You might be surprised what you find.

I am learning that our culture is one “hell bent” on accumulating. Getting stuff… Gaining stuff… Looking for stuff. This implies that we don’t have all that we need, already.

On the other hand appreciation is about valuing what we do have. Let’s use what we do have. Manage the money that you do have. Value the relationships that you do have. Make the best of the job that you do have.

What we appreciate increases in value… making more room in our lives for bigger and better things.

The more we appreciate the more valuable a thing becomes. We take care of what we value. We protect what we value. We respect what we value. We “keep clean” what we value. We don’t “tear up” what we value.

Over the next week let’s shift our focus from accumulation to appreciation. The next time a thought of “getting” something enters your mind. Stop! Then ask yourself how I can show more appreciation for what I currently have. Appreciate more, then watch how much easier it is to “get”.

You gotta be grateful for some... to get some!!!!

Just my 20 cents!

I receive passionate responses to my rants all the time. I appreciate the feedback. I normally don't respond because in the end of the issue is not about me. My rants designed to encourage the reader to evaluate his/her views.

I got a lot of passionate feedback on my Obama 2012 rant a few weeks ago (you can read it at http://blog.detrickdeburr.com)

One in particular I've decided to respond to... and I thought I'd share my response with you. I have taken the liberty of pulling out the fundamental arguments for the sake of brevity. It's bound to stimulate debate, but this is good.

Lastly, I am not anti-Obama! Honestly, I support him, but truthfully I have not decided whether or not he will get my vote in the primary.

So here it is..... I can feel the heat now... lol

D!
________________________________________________________________________
Respondent:
I am practically seething with all of the black people, especially so called "intelligent”, "educated", black people giving a million tired excuses of why they won't vote for Barack Obama and will vote for a Hillary Clinton:

1. He's not ready/He's not experienced.
Man please. You have the top 3 Democratic candidates with 1 Senate term under their belt. Hillary as the First Lady as experienced? Not one executive decision is made being as the first lady. That's like Stedman recommending a book, endorsing a candidate, or having his own show...SO WHAT.

My response:
For starters, the election is not about just Obama and Clinton. There are other democratic candidates and there republican, libertarian, etc. candidates that might appeal to Black people. We have to stop blindly jumping on the Democratic band wagon. What have they done for us lately?

I totally disagree with your argument. Obama has not won a race, even as senator, where he had to attract voters from the other side per se... Senate races are based on geography. Generally speaking people in the same geographic boundaries have the same over arching concerns. I would be more impressed had he been elected Mayor. Which in my opinion is much more difficult that being elected as Senator.

First lady's run the country from behind the scenes. (Eleanor Roosevelt had quite a bit to do with Blacks being treated fairly in the military in WWWII. It was these Black soldiers coming home and saying “hell no” that was a spark to much of the civil rights activity that came later.) First ladies have more control over the president than anyone else in the world. The first lady might be most powerful person in the world. Have you ever heard of bedroom politics? Every man has, whether he admits it or not, done something due to the influence of a woman. When we vote for president we vote for the candidate's spouse also. Hence Hillary has been president already for 8 years. To flip it, do you really think that Bill won't have any impact on policy if Hillary is elected?
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Respondent:
2. White America is not ready for a Black president.
Whaaa? Was White America ready for slavery to end? Giving us the right to vote? Desegregation of our society? When did black people ever let white people dictate when and where we were getting our just due, our break? We've always stepped up and demanded what we wanted, o! r we we re either hitting the streets and tearin' up some stuff, escapin', marching, or picketing. White America is ready for a Black President because Barack Obama is the right man for President, PERIOD.
Besides, that never stopped anyone from voting for Jesse Jackson, a man with NO political experience AT ALL from almost snatching the Democratic nomination in 1984, and coming darn close again in 1988 20 YEARS AGO.

My response:
2. Well to be honest... until White America, over 75% of the population, is ready to accept a Black face in the White House it will never happen. Was White America ready for slavery to end? Absolutely... the economic foundation of the country, agriculture, had shifted and Slavery no longer supported the new industrial economy. White America needed that cheap labor up north in the factories. This is what the Civil War was all about.

What makes Obama the right man for the job anyway? Right now the only thing that's really working in his favor is (1) We are sick of the Republican Party (2) We are even sicker of the Clintons. Hence he is the candidate of choice by default, at best. This makes him a roll of the dice, at best! Can you say electile dysfunction?
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Respondent:
3. Barak is half black and half white, so he's not really black anyway.
I should back smack anyone who has ever thought that. Ever heard of the one drop rule? It has not only been a social standard for WHO is black, but it also upheld the constitution in keeping us from suing a white person over personal property. No black person ever refers to another black person as "biracial". You black. You might have another heritage in your lineage, but this country as well as any other sees you as black, PERIOD. Lame excuse people.

My response:
3. I'd argue that Bill Clinton is blacker than Obama on any day!!! Blackness is an experience not a skin color. Whiteness is an experience not a skin color. Blackness and Whiteness only exists in America. Both are used to describe a uniquely American experience. That's why when people come here from other countries they gravitate to becoming either Whiter or Blacker with White meaning that you identify with the white American experience more than you identify with black American experience.

Obama grew up in Hawaii and Indonesia. Bill grew up in Arkansas. Now you tell me, who experienced (saw) the realities of being Black or White in America. The white kid from Arkansas saw racism first hand even if it was to his own benefit. Obama on the other hand was raised by a white mother in Hawaii. Mother's generally shield their sons as much as possible. So how much racism do you really think Obama saw (experienced) living with his white mother in Hawaii and Indonesia?
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Respondent:
4. I don't know what issues Barack ! stands f or.
When the heck has that ever prevented black folk from voting for a black candidate, really? I guess now, but the main people saying that couldn't tell you anything about Hillary's or John Edwards platform either. Please stop fronting.

My response:
4. All the candidates are pandering to the largest audience possible... it's really too early to put their real cards (platform) on the table. So you can only use their past record as an indication of they are really passionate about. Obama’s record is simply shorter than the other candidates’. He’s been using this to his advantage by the way. His slate is the cleanest. But this makes him a roll of the dice… like I said earlier.
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Respondent:
5 . All he did was give that one speech.
How many great people have defined their lives, the scope of human history, and changed the world in a speech? Moses, Jesus, Paul, Martin Luther, Frederick Douglas, Abraham Lincoln, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, Martin Luther King, Jr., John F. Kennedy, Malcolm X, Ronald Reagan, Nelson Mandela, Jesse Jackson, and Jim Valvano all have changed the course of history of the world and the hearts of billions of men and women in societies since the beginning of time with a speech.
That is the purpose of a rally. A person speaks, and it prepares all to act in relation to the spirit of what is spoken. That is why we go to church, not to just hear our pastor blather, but to refre! sh God in our hearts and spurn us to take up God's will in our lives.
So save all that ying yang about that speech.

My response:
5. They all may have changed the course of history with a speech but which one of them did we vote for because of their speech. If anything their speech was powerful because they lived the sentiment of the speech in their actions. Hell I give a good speech… you gonna vote for me when I run?
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Respondent:
6. If all of those white people are supporting him, he must be in their back pocket.
Save the conspiracy theory home skillet. He's liked because he comes at a time where a person that looks exactly like them lied to their face (two in a row, if you include Bill Clinton with Monica and of course Bush with Iraq), and flat out said what no politician would admit: We have two Americas, blue and red, black and white. It was not publicly said, and on top of that proposed that we ACTUALLY DO something about it not find more ways to be divided and not come together despite our differences. Noble concept and one to be championed. That's JFK, FDR, and Abe Lincoln material. So they were feeling it, just like I was and you should too. His legislative work has been indicative of this as well, including his Fuel Standard work with President Bush. Check the resume, it sh! ines.

My response:
6. Huh??? Every candidate has a core constituency... In essence the candidate is always in somebody’s back pocket. Just curious, if Obama were to win what in your personal life do you think will really change?

This rant started last night in a class that I teach for people starting their own businesses. Many of you who have read my rants in the past know that I am strongly against debt. I asked the class, how many of them would not go through with their business idea if they couldn’t get a loan from the bank. About 50% of them said that they wouldn’t move forward without some form of outside funding. I think there were others that felt the same way, but could tell I was about to “hit the roof”.

Your dreams are “your” dreams! No bank, spouse, school or company is responsible for ensuring that you live “your” dreams! I believe that if “your” dreams really are “your” dreams and not someone else’s dreams that you’ve adopted then you have everything that you need. Although, my response to class last night pertained specifically to people starting a business, I think the principle I shared with them can be applied to whatever you are aspiring to do.

I once heard that “The Truth out of season is just as bad as a lie”. Saying the right thing… in this case doing the right thing at the wrong time ultimately is wrong. So I told them about “windows of opportunity”.

NASA launches a shuttle only during a window of opportunity. This is the time when conditions are best, the weather is right, the astronauts are ready and meteorologist forecast the weather conditions for the return flight to be at their best.

Business opportunities are the same way. The market has to be just right. This means that there are enough people in the world demanding your product or service. The financial markets have to be right. This means that financial conditions are favorable to you and the customer for doing business together. Most importantly, “You” have to be right! This means your personal finances, relationships, health, etc. can withstand the impact that launching your new idea will have on you.

These 3 windows of opportunity are constantly opening and closing. The trick is to jump in when all 3 are open at the same time. You remember double-dutch… same principle.

I am writing this today to encourage you to “Do You”! Don’t let anyone or anything stand in the way of “You doing you”! However, and this is a big however, honor and respect the principle of “Windows of Opportunity”.

There is a window of opportunity to buy that house. There is a window of opportunity to marry that man or woman. There is a window of opportunity to start that business. There is a window of opportunity to write that book. There is a window of opportunity to get that degree.

If you find that now is not the time, that’s OK. It’s not at indictment of you. It’s simply a sign that you’re not ready yet. The operative word is yet. If you honor and respect windows of opportunity they will open again.

Take a minute a think about something you’ve done in the past that when you look back on it you realize that you weren’t quite ready. The windows of opportunity weren’t all open. Did it work out like you expected? Probably not! Did all the windows of opportunity eventually open up later?

How would your life be different today if you had only honored the “windows of opportunity”?

Just my 20 cents!