If you have not been living under a rock or on another planet for last year then you are well aware of the housing crisis that has hit America hard. Besides falling home prices there has been a record number of home foreclosures in the last year. In fact, in the first 6 months of this year foreclosures are up 136% in comparison to last year's record number. And just this past Sunday the federal government had to bail out Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac mainly because of predatory lending that was made easier by Phil Gramm, Senior Economic Adviser to McCain, and other congressional leaders (more details about this soon).
So how could the G.O.P possibly use record home foreclosures to their advantage? Well in swing state of Michigan there is a swing county named Macomb where the chairman of the Republican Party is planning to use the list of foreclosed homes to block people from voting in this upcoming election. WHAT?! It's true.
The GOP is declaring that they want a "fair" election and are arguing that if you no longer live in the home or county that you are not allowed to vote for that address. Like many arguments this party is spewing they pepper truth on to a false statement and generally try to alarm people. To the people of Macomb County and any other person in a foreclosed home you have the right to vote!
1) If your home is in the process of foreclosure you are still a resident of the home and county and as such are entitled to vote.
2) Even if you have been evicted from your home and do not have a new address you are entitled to vote at that address.
It amazes me that nearly 140 years after the 15th amendment passed that this is still going on in one way or the other. It is no surprise to me that the GOP is targeting this county and not Riverside, CA or Maricopa, AZ both hit hard by foreclosure but both not swing states and with low African-American populations.
This is just another way that the McCain campaign is trying to profit from the difficulties average Americans are facing. And to drive the point home McCain has set up its regional headquarters for the Macomb county in the office for foreclosure specialist Trott & Trott oh yeah and its founder, David Trott, has raised nearly $250,000 for McCain.
Showing posts with label McCain. Show all posts
Showing posts with label McCain. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
A History of Community Organizers
It is clear from the GOP Convention last week and over the past few days that the republicans have decided to make a hard right and make their campaign about disparaging the character of their opponents. And Rick Davis, Mccain Campaign Manager is certainly not trying to hide this strategy, as you can see here.
But that is for another post; here I want to dive into the history of the community organizer. Sarah Palin and Rudy Giuliani and the rest of the right-wing talk radio believes that the job of community organizer is void of responsibilities and they are also generally unsure of what these organizers do. So in an effort to clear that up I am going to list a few community organizers from American History and World History.
1) Susan B. Anthony is credited as a leader who helped bring about women's rights and women's suffrage in the United States. She founded the National Women's Suffrage Association an organization dedicated to gaining equal women's rights. She was ahead of her time when she declared "Where, under our Declaration of Independence does the Saxon man get his power to deprive all women and Negroes of their inalienable rights?"
2) Martin Luther King Jr. a man that needs no introduction and is considered a leader in civil rights and human rights. He successfully organized peaceful protests during the civil rights movement and for his work was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, Presidential Medal of Freedom, and Congressional Gold Medal.
3) Mohandas Gandhi The leader of India's Independent Movement. By organizing rural and urban citizens, farmers and peasants he managed to pioneer the resistance to tyranny through non-violent protests. He is credited with expanding women's rights, easing poverty, and establishing India's independence among many other noble causes.
These are only a few, others include Cesar Chavez (co-founder or National Farm Workers Association), Dorthy Day (founder of Catholic Worker Movement), Harriet Tubman (Antislavery and the underground Railroad), Jesus Christ (founder of the Christian Faith).
I am not arguing that these people are fit to be President of the United States, but they all made a decision to put the interests of their community, state, or nation above their own. They did so without violence and without asking for anything but justice and equality in return. It should also be noted that each of these figures while working as community organizers were also agents of change and often ridiculed and attacked for doing so.
But that is for another post; here I want to dive into the history of the community organizer. Sarah Palin and Rudy Giuliani and the rest of the right-wing talk radio believes that the job of community organizer is void of responsibilities and they are also generally unsure of what these organizers do. So in an effort to clear that up I am going to list a few community organizers from American History and World History.
1) Susan B. Anthony is credited as a leader who helped bring about women's rights and women's suffrage in the United States. She founded the National Women's Suffrage Association an organization dedicated to gaining equal women's rights. She was ahead of her time when she declared "Where, under our Declaration of Independence does the Saxon man get his power to deprive all women and Negroes of their inalienable rights?"
2) Martin Luther King Jr. a man that needs no introduction and is considered a leader in civil rights and human rights. He successfully organized peaceful protests during the civil rights movement and for his work was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, Presidential Medal of Freedom, and Congressional Gold Medal.
3) Mohandas Gandhi The leader of India's Independent Movement. By organizing rural and urban citizens, farmers and peasants he managed to pioneer the resistance to tyranny through non-violent protests. He is credited with expanding women's rights, easing poverty, and establishing India's independence among many other noble causes.
These are only a few, others include Cesar Chavez (co-founder or National Farm Workers Association), Dorthy Day (founder of Catholic Worker Movement), Harriet Tubman (Antislavery and the underground Railroad), Jesus Christ (founder of the Christian Faith).
I am not arguing that these people are fit to be President of the United States, but they all made a decision to put the interests of their community, state, or nation above their own. They did so without violence and without asking for anything but justice and equality in return. It should also be noted that each of these figures while working as community organizers were also agents of change and often ridiculed and attacked for doing so.
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