Sep 10, 2007

Who are you guys going for?

After all the presidential debates and the inevitable entry of Fred Thompson, which candidate are you voting for? Since I'm in Tennessee you may be able to guess but tell me about your opinions.


Nathaniel Peete Jr.

Jul 27, 2007

Taxing Issues

I have for sometime wondered what the forefathers felt about the size of the federal government and its powers. What would they say about the social programs like welfare, the health program, and the taxation system. Looking at the taxation in particular, what are the rights of the people and the IRS in terms of how we're taxed. An interesting case on the topic involved a lawyer in Shreveport, LA, who went up against the IRS in his pursuit to not pay taxes. The key of the case was that there aren't any laws that give the IRS the right to impose on citizens outside of "profits". What are profits? Well I'll tell what it isn't....income earned through labor! The definition would state the positive number from the equation revenue-expenses (at a basic level). According to this lawyers interpretation taxable income is for example dividends from a stock purchase, lottery winning, etc.. The Louisiana supreme court voted unanimously for the lawyer on tax evasion. I'm not crazy enough to think this would become federal law or anything but just made me think what would the country do if this was a law. Many unneccesary government programs would be abolished in order to create a balance from the income lost wouldn't it? I can only imagine the power of community institutions such as the church, for example to lead in community development and welfare in our community instead of underfunded inadequate governmental programs where are tax dollars get sunk into. Regardless this case was interesting read nonetheless. To find out more
http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007707130321
as well as many other links.




Nathaniel Peete Jr.

Jul 2, 2007

Desegregation

With the historical Supreme Court decision reversing the Brown v. Education I found an interesting article from Juan Williams of Fox News and NPR.

The New York Times
June 29, 2007
Don't Mourn Brown v. Board of Education
By JUAN WILLIAMS Op-Ed Contributor

LET us now praise the Brown decision. Let us now bury the Brown decision.

With yesterday's Supreme Court ruling ending the use of voluntary schemes to create racial balance among students, it is time to acknowledge that Brown's time has passed. It is worthy of a send-off with fanfare for setting off the civil rights movement and inspiring social progress for women, gays and the poor. But the decision in Brown v. Board of Education that focused on outlawing segregated schools as unconstitutional is now out of step with American political and social realities.

Desegregation does not speak to dropout rates that hover near 50 percent for black and Hispanic high school students. It does not equip society to address the so-called achievement gap between black and white students that mocks Brown's promise of equal educational opportunity.

And the fact is, during the last 20 years, with Brown in full force, America's public schools have been growing more segregated — even as the nation has become more racially diverse. In 2001, the National Center for Education Statistics reported that the average white student attends a school that is 80 percent white, while 70 percent of black students attend schools where nearly two-thirds of students are black and Hispanic.

By the early '90s, support in the federal courts for the central work of Brown — racial integration of public schools — began to rapidly expire. In a series of cases in Atlanta, Oklahoma City and Kansas City, Mo., frustrated parents, black and white, appealed to federal judges to stop shifting children from school to school like pieces on a game board. The parents wanted better neighborhood schools and a better education for their children, no matter the racial make-up of the school. In their rulings ending court mandates for school integration, the judges, too, spoke of the futility of using schoolchildren to address social ills caused by adults holding fast to patterns of residential segregation by both class and race.

The focus of efforts to improve elementary and secondary schools shifted to magnet schools, to allowing parents the choice to move their children out of failing schools and, most recently, to vouchers and charter schools. The federal No Child Left Behind plan has many critics, but there's no denying that it is an effective tool for forcing teachers' unions and school administrators to take responsibility for educating poor and minority students.

I have to agree with alot of Mr. Williams said, this is a step in the right direction. There needs to be an overhaul in alot of ways in the public school systems and families, teachers, administrators, and of course students need to take more responsibility. This can be a great moment in America if we embrace it and use it to our advantage.


Nathaniel Peete Jr.

Jun 19, 2007

Uncle Tom or New Negro

One of the must read books of the summer is the Booker T. Washington: Uncle Tom or New Negro. The book in many aspects shows how many black celeberties (P. Diddy, Jay-Z, etc..) are following some of the same philsophies generations later. The book is based pretty much on interviews from 20 interviees broken up into essays. From the American Heritage magazine Christine Gibson writes:

"20 prominent African-Americans weigh in on those questions in Uncle Tom or New Negro: African Americans Reflect on Booker T. Washington and Up From Slavery 100 Years Later (Harlem Moon, $15.95), a new compilation of essays drawn from interviews conducted by the author Rebecca Carroll. Washington serves as a jumping-off point for a debate about issues of tribalism, permissible vs. impermissible blackness, what’s right and wrong about hip-hop culture, the gains and shortfalls of the civil rights movement, and modern black leadership."
Going further into the book review:

"Although most of the interviewees in Uncle Tom or New Negro believe Washington had the best interests of blacks at heart, they disagree about the morality of his methods. To build Tuskegee and keep it afloat, he relied on white benefactors, since no black Americans at the time had enough wealth to donate, and he had to play a game with those whites. He charmed huge sums from the Carnegies and Rockefellers, but many feel that to keep the money flowing he sold blacks short, by saying what whites wanted to hear.
Nearly everyone agrees that Washington was looking for the best way to prepare blacks, who had just emerged from centuries of slavery with little or no formal education, to make their way in a horribly racist society. Northern intellectuals could perhaps afford to think about education and social change in the long term; impoverished Southern blacks needed to put food on the table right away. The author Debra Dickerson reminds us that Washington risked being lynched because of what activism he did show. Others, like the filmmaker Avon Kirkland, argue that regardless of the context Washington’s segregationism held blacks back and may continue to do so today.
The book’s consensus, if there is one, is to favor Washington’s economic policy, which encouraged self-sufficiency, and ignore the outdated accomodationist parts of his message. Washington sought economic equality for blacks first, expecting it to serve as a base for political and social equality. But as history has shown, true economic parity comes last if and when it comes. Whether because blacks have forgotten Washington’s teachings or because his tactics were ineffective or harmful, 40 years after the civil rights movement, black business ownership today is still nowhere near on a level with that of whites. Now may be the time to focus on the economic advancement Washington concentrated on 100 years ago. As Cora Daniels says in Uncle Tom or New Negro, if Washington were alive today “his approach would be much more on point; now is when we need black folks to care more about ownership of self and work, more so than of material excess.""




Nathaniel Peete Jr.

Apr 10, 2007

I Guess I'll Say It

I don't know what is more offending, the fact that Michael Richards and Imus said what they said (I'm really not offended because I won't give them that much power) or that they go to the so called "voices" of black people. What ever happend to apologizing to the people that you hurt directly instead of cowarding to the "publicity pimps" as if their the moral authority, judge, and jury on race relations. The fact of the matter in Don Imus's case, is that he's been doing this for a long time to Jews, women, and blacks and he should have been punished a long time ago.
I can only say that we as the "hip hop generation" should follow suit in the matter. How can we demand respect from others, in regards to our black women, when we (I've been guilty myself in the past) don't even have the same respect. On a positive note, what I did see in all this, was a group of women on the basketball team, represent themselves in a way that showed, publicly, how foolish Imus really was.




Nathaniel Peete Jr.

Apr 8, 2007

Just A Thought

The immigration issue stirs so much emotion in every discussion, I've seen. Nothing better illustrates that than the exchange last week with Geraldo and Bill O' Reilly. When I actually heard what was really being said closer, the whole discussion appeared more and more absurd. This is an interesting illustration I heard about recently:
How would you react if you come home and see a group of people if your fridge, using your bathroom, driving your car, etc... How would you react if you had to pay for whatever they needed, cook for them. feed them, cloth them, and everything else just because they decided to invite themselves in your house and yet if you kick them out and force them to ask before they ever come back, you're considered racist, cold, and insensitive. Lets be real, if we see people using what we pay for (and work hard for) in our personal homes many of us may embrace the gun laws willfully and happily. (LOL). Isn't this the same predicament we face in our country? The fact is that the United States is our house (may want to watch "Pride: to appreciate that one) Illegal immigrants come to our country, use our benefits, expect the rights than many people died for in our history. (and yes I do know the history of hispanics in the United States). Hispanics do have a great standing in our economy and there are many bigger issues at work but my point is when discussing the issue, its time to stop the justification and excuses being used and get to some real logical conversation.



Nathaniel Peete Jr.

Feb 11, 2007

Barack Obama Unfit for Presidency.

Barack Obama has successfully masked his naivety and weakness through resiliency in rhetoric and speech, and now that he has taken his political game to an entirely new level, the implications behind his declaring himself a presidential candidate must signal to both the American public as a whole and more specifically the black community to call him out on his incapability of representing our nation at this critical point in United States history.

In speech, Obama spends countless lines of sweet-sounding rhetoric that only criticizes the current administration and societal structures, without offering solutions with substance. The war is bad, blah blah, we need to bring our troops home, blah blah... but when it comes to specific strategies on how to bring home our troops without jeopardizing their safety and the safety of American interests in the region and without completely compromising all of the hard work and initiatives invested to this day, Barack merely suggests '(working) with our military commanders to map out the best plan...' Question: what military background and experience does Obama have to factor into such discussion? (Aside from his work on the Veteran's Committee.) He goes on to tell the importance of diplomatic political discussions as the key avenue for peaceful relations between the conflicting factions in Iraq. His merely suggesting that simply talking through their problems is going to be the winning solution alone identifies Barack Obama's weakness and lack of political backbone and vision.

Aside for his lack of substance with regards to viable solutions to rectifying Iraqi inter-factional relations, Obama has not offered any insight whatsoever on how he as president would intend to approach Iraq as a potential ally and avenue for future business and trade. Then again, doing so may be too much of a Republican move, but it seems to me as though identifying all of the problems and conflicts and controversies does nothing in the way of encouraging Iraqis to take their country in the direction it needs. Obama offers no encouragement for promoting Iraqi nationalism, and his neglect in this arena only stifles whatever patriotism might be forming. This lack of faith certainly shoots down potential avenues for both American and Iraqi commercial growth and economic development, and this degree of empty pessimism is certainly not United States Presidential material.

...but enough about Barack Obama as an incapable president; time to analyze Barack Obama as an incapable black American president. By announcing his presidential candidacy, Barack Obama has taken America into a bold new direction. His every expression, word, and wave of the hand will now have implications for the black community as a whole, and because of our vested interests resting on his shoulders, we must be his worst critic. We must test him on every level possible and imaginable: his strength, resolve, and competencies must meet our highest standards, and we must not settle. Barack Obama must earn our vote, and must show that he is deserving of our vote--not because he is black, but because he is the most qualified, most fit candidate. As of yet he has not proven to us that he is this person. Hopefully though, the population of black Americans who take the time to vote will be the same population who truly analyze their options before making their decision.

Jan 30, 2007

Freedom of Speech

When going through other blogs I stumbled upon an interesting article about the government's proposal to require force bloggers and online grassroots to regularly report their activities to Congress or go to jail.

"Section 220 of S. 1, the lobbying reform bill currently before the Senate, would require grassroots causes, even bloggers, who communicate to 500 or more members of the public on policy matters, to register and report quarterly to Congress the same as the big K Street lobbyists. Section 220 would amend existing lobbying reporting law by creating the most expansive intrusion on First Amendment rights ever. For the first time in history, critics of Congress will need to register and report with Congress itself"

As I've seen John McCain is apart of the attack as well but its an actually interesting article on both ends. If you want more info on this http://infowars.net/articles/january2007/180107Bloggers_Prison.htm



Nathaniel Peete Jr.

Jan 10, 2007

Your Perception Our Reality

The NAACP had a fascinating conference that aired the 6th of this month discussing the The Future of the Black Man, YOur Perception, Our Reality apart of their Leadership 500 series. The panelist involved were Dr. John Jackson (Professor at Georgetown University)Minister Daryll Simms (CEO of Evangucation), George Curry ( Editor and Chief of the National Newspaper Publishing Association Washington Bureau), and Lt. Gov. Michael Steele. I am proud to say no oreos were pelted at him this time and even prouder to say that his message was articulated in the hearts and minds of the crowd and to the reality of the black community. (To me showing that getting past the emotions most of us are conservative). Here are a few highlights of the discussion I found interesting:
Steele emphasized that It starts with us in our community. No excuses and what are we going to do for our community and our lives. Waiting for government is not an option. He then went along to his business procurement record citing his increase in minority governement procurement from 8% to 21%. As a MBA student, I know how key education and entrepreneurship are in disparities. Where are we in the discussions in government? If we don't have black officials at the table discussing issues representing out interest.
Darryl Simms: There has to be a self-actualization of being black and proud to be black. Look at our history. Our public school system and (white) teachers benefit from the miseducation of our kids. "The one that teaches you is the one that decides your destiny in which applies to parents and role models young children accept."
George Curry: We don't have anything to counter the Supreme Court discussing affirmative action. Conservatives like Ward Connerly have all this money and do study groups on this topic and the left has nothing to counter this with. Having your daddy not home is no excuse look at Barack Obama, Jesse Jackson, etc.. We need more mentorship programs done by black professionals at their specialty for example if you are a journalist working with students in a journalism workshop works. The sooner our kids know what they want to do, the better off they'll be.
John Jackson: The problems going on in the black community are social policy issues more than anything else because to acknowledge the other would say that black men are socially deviant and educationally deficient. Schools such as Harvard have professors that aren't intelligent enough to educate students from 2.25 to 4.0 high school GPAs like the HBCUs and thats why their important and key to his success in Harvard and life.
Me: First it was great looking at a program without the same ol "Publicity Pimps" who are said to be the voice of black America. Steele said something very powerful to me " Hope is not a strategy, its how we put hope into action so what are WE going to do. "We are not the generation of sitting at the diner, we are the generation of owning the diner". This reminded me of the history of greatness of blacks from Booker T. Washington to CJ Walker to Reginal Lewis and all the amazing individuals in between and thereafter. When these discussions come up I am always reminded of the reasons why I am conservative in the first place. We are born with the essentials of what we need to become successful. It is up to us to attack the public school issues funding and otherwise, it is up to us to mentor our younger generation, it is up to us to become role models and empower our community in more productive ways, it is up to us to vote and produce more quality public officials, and it is our responsibility to get the family and church in order. This goes to us controlling our money and investing more on cars than our children's education. There I go discussing problems instead of solutions which is usually the premise of the panels anyway. As Alice Walker said, "this is the best time in history to be alive because theres so much work to be done". The solution is almost always personal or begin there and we have a lot of ground to cover, so as Michael Steele asked, What will you do?



Nathaniel Peete Jr.

Jan 9, 2007

Any Comments, Concerns?

Well, i got the info i needed, so the show is on. I am hosting an open forum at my University. This will be held in February. The forum will be held on the basis of history, educating my peers on THEIR party. Starting with the history of the radicals, detaililng how blacks were literally beaten and slaughtered into voting Dem, and then leading into to the face of the NEW black conservative. I dont know about you guys but I despise the fact that every time something needs to be said or done Politically, congress calls on Al " I ran for president 2 years after i got out of prison" Sharpton and Jesse "i'm milking this nonprofit for what its worth" Jackson to speak for the ENTIRE black community! This is seriusly getting out of hand- But at any rate- My officers and I will be discussing different topics with OUR liberal peers and answering their questions. What i need from you guys are topics of interest, with facts that can back them up. I want to talk about things that are affecting us as the younger generation, political awareness, the economy around us, and analyze hypothetical situatioins like; "What if our ancestors followed someone like Sharpton instead of Booker T. Washington?' - Can i get some help on this?

Jan 7, 2007

Iraq?

With the death of Suddam and all the conroversy in the press, one is to wonder what does success in Iraq look like? As Saddam was hanged and taunted at the same time by his many enemies, there appears to be a definite civil war that will occur no matter what we do. The rhetoric from the Dems is to pull out immediately basically according to speaker Pelosi. Bush says to see it through. My question is what is the short/long term goal? The next question is if there anything we can do there that can be a long term fix or good as long as we make them? Are we in a sense imposing our ideals, beliefs, and cultures unto a culture that cannot digest it? If the same people who believe and support the war so much be as willing if there lives were on the line? This is not a shot against the war, the administration, or anyone involved but as a black conservatives we have proven to be critical thinkers if nothing else and this is a great platform for the conversation.



Nathaniel Peete Jr.