I do not like the direction America is going in as evidenced by the fact that Mr. Toupee will likely choose Indiana governor Mike Pence as his running mate.
Pence is the guy who signed into law in that state discriminatory policies against LGBTQ individuals. It caused an uproar and companies refused to do business in Indiana afterwards.
There is no sane and logical civil discourse in American society anymore–as evidenced by the comments posted to the right of recent Charles M. Blow articles in the New York Times.
I think the ongoing dilemma is systemic of our failed government.
Unlike Blow I don’t accuse ordinary Americans of being culpable. Yet certainly no one we’ve voted into office has followed-through with helping ordinary Americans get a financial foothold in society–either so-called Liberal politicos or Republican politicos either way.
I’ve always written in here that people need to “break bread” with each other. And a lot of times this still isn’t happening.
Unlike Blow I believe the trouble cuts across all races and ethnics in America though I can see how African Americans might have it harder.
What is the solution?
The solution is not to continue to attack the very people who you want to change their beliefs. It’s the classic quote of catching more flies with honey than vinegar.
As it goes, I align myself with the Green Party no other political party. First of all because I think street drug use should be legalized and taxed and regulated to cut down on crime. Yet I regret that this might not happen in my lifetime nor anytime soon.
Reading the comments section in response to the Op-Ed articles I’ve come to see that we need a sane and healthy approach to fixing the economic disparity in America.
The comments are unbelievable–people attack each other. I believe none of what people write in their comments is false. Each side of the story as presented in the comments is valid.
How then can we bridge the divide?
In the same day I read the Charles M. Blow article I read an article about two twentysomethings searching for an apartment in Brooklyn–Florida transplants. This is where the real story about America takes place: the New York Times rarely shows real estate transactions involving people who can’t afford these exorbitant rents.
I’m proud that I was not ever part of a wave of people who moved into a neighborhood and gentrified it. If you click on my Staten Island category link for this blog you’ll read what I wrote about a saner approach to choosing where to live.
Bed-Stuy is no longer “Do or Die.” Neither is most any other neighborhood in Brooklyn these days. It’s a sad day when rents in Bed-Stuy have reached $2,000 and up. What ordinary city folk can afford that?
One thing: I’m not going to blame other people for their misfortune like some people did in the comments section. Generational poverty can be intractable. Unless you’ve lived in what’s traditionally been called the inner city how can you judge a person who lives there?
I met a guy who ran for local office on the Green Party. I told him: “It doesn’t matter who is elected.” He responded: “That’s right.” I had voted for the guy.
I’m going to end here and post shortly another blog entry about my experience with a real estate agent that I had to stop doing business with. Her behavior was unethical and points to the fact that bad apples like her give everyone else a bad name.
Something has to change.
Left of the Dial 