If you do not know your history, you cannot survive today’s political climate. You will become a victim because you do not know what is going on in your community, your State Capitol, or across the nation. It is sad and pathetic that this same group of people live in food and banking deserts infested by gang activity and high crime rates. Many of the younger ones can figure out everything there is to know about weed, weave and where to get boot-leg DVDs. Yet, they do not use the same investigative skills or “Google” to find which candidates they should vote for or when elections are held annually, not just in presidential election years.
So let’s look at the recent CD-6 special election in Georgia last week, three other special elections this year, and why Democrats got close, and still lost. Political pundits, college professors, think tanks and both major parties have heir own opinions. However, the real reason why this battle ship takes a while to turn is that the plan to get us to this point has been in place since the Brown vs. the Board of Education decision in 1954 that ruled segregated public schools unconstitutional. While civil rights activists and moderates won that court battle, some very powerful people, including economist and libertarian, and Nobel prize recipient, James McGill Buchanan, started planning back then, one legislative initiative at a time, over time; to make sure they win the war. This included gerrymandering districts so that as demographics change, the minority will control the majority. Buchanan has written and taught extensively on this subject with a body of work hidden in plain sight. That’s right, it is out there for all to see. However, most do not know they need to look for it!
If you have not read, Democracy In Chains by Duke University historian Nancy MacLean, you need to read it and start a discussion about it on social media, during your July 4th barbecues, and within your circle. We must understand how we arrived in this climate of greed, not caring about the poor (including veterans, mentally challenged, and seniors on fixed incomes), and political incorrectness.
If you have not studied or “Googled” the Koch brothers to see how they have been strategically investing big money in causes, institutions, and political campaigns, etc. to help us arrive in this current place, you have a lot to learn. This has not happened haphazardly. It is part of a well thought out plan. Once you know the real plan about “less government” and what that really means, you will continue to scratch your head, be disappointed, and think there is no hope. The masses, our friends, families and young people can no longer afford to say, I don’t get involved in politics”, or “I don’t have time to go to one or two community meetings”. Those community meetings are one of the best ways to will learn how the system works so you won’t become its’ victim.
As my late Godmother, Rev. Willie T. Barrow, use to say, “If you are not at the table when decisions are made, YOU are on the menu.” Once we win court cases, and other civil and human rights victories, we have to stay engaged or lose that was gained. Think of this as all you do to prepare for a career. Once you get the position or start the business, you still have to show up everyday to do the work. With that, here is a quote that explains my point:
“In 1970, Koch joined the Mont Pelerin Society. Once he got in, he began to advertise his many different organizations and efforts and try to recruit and get people to events and so forth, through Mont Pelerin. Buchanan helped with the founding of the Cato Institute and with various other intellectual enterprises that were close to Charles Koch’s heart, like this thing called the Institute for Humane Studies.
And then Koch funded Buchanan’s center, as well as other projects, at George Mason University. One of Buchanan’s ideas that Koch liked was the concept of making a flurry of changes all at once so that people have a hard time opposing them.”
The full article can be found at: http://www.slate.com/articles/life/history/2017/06/james_mcgill_buchanan_s_terrifying_vision_of_society_is_the_intellectual.html#lf_comment=705496860
We have to get engaged and stay engaged. From slavery to women’s rights to civil rights to voting rights; decades of planning, protesting, complaining to elected officials, etc., we have to show up and keep plodding along. Jesus started with twelve to try to save the world. Surely, we all can get 2 to 12 people in our circle to step out of the shadows to stand up for our rights and make sure they are registered to vote at http://www.myvoterpage.com and research and get a sample ballot (online or in the mail from your county elections office) discuss candidates before each election.
