jimmyshoe
01-21-2002, 02:12 PM
Free At Last – Political Assessment of Black Man’s Allegiance
Today is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. birthday. And it is on this day that I reflect upon the political landscape of America and the shortcomings that we as African Americans face. With the thought of freedom, I’m understanding that our shackles are not only with the America but also with her political system and how we as a people suffer in it. So, today I make the first step in removing those political shackles by claiming myself an Independent.
With the mid-term elections upon us, I think it is time that we as a people take a look at our political alliance with the Democratic Party. In the last presidential election, Black people overwhelming supported Al Gore for president by giving him 90% of the Black vote. However, if you look at the makeup of the Congress, there is not a single African American in the Senate. The reason for this is simple. Neither Democrats nor Republicans respect the Black vote. As a matter of fact, neither party respects the vote of minorities.
During the Presidential elections they will court our vote, but it is the off year elections that we see the truth in each of the Party’s agenda. Not a single minority is truly in contention to be elected to Congress this year. This is because the committees of both parties are backing “sure ins” due to a closely divided Senate. Each Party is poised to do what is best to gain or retain seats.
Another reason for this is because we as a people do not demand more from them. We align ourselves with Democrats with a “lesser of two evils” mentality, rather than abort the party and see them as the turncoat suckers that they are.
But I refuse to take part in this political charade any longer. Today, I officially declare that I am an Independent. Never again will a Democrat get my vote for the sake of not electing a Republican. If that is the choice, then I won’t vote. I know some say that not voting is a vote for the other guy, but I think that is a political bug-a-boo that politicians like to put out there in hopes that they look less disturbing to us. They do this to ensure that they would get the “at least he don’t make me sick” vote.
But I no longer buy that argument. I’ll write in my candidate before I vote for a man or woman I can’t trust. Today, I set my own political agenda and vote for the person that best falls in line with me. Today, I say good-bye to my staunch Democrat way of thinking and say hello to “all of them can go to hell” thinking. Today, I am an Independent voter by saying “SO LONG” to the Democrats (who are just Republicans without the Bible). Today, I vow not to vote for the politician that can win, but the politician that makes me feel proud to support. Good-bye Democrats. You’ve played us last millennium, but in this one… I’m up.
And don’t you Republicans get any funny ideas about recruiting those of us in the use-to-be-Dems-but-now-we’re-not crowd. I know that your party is still full of racist hiding behind self-empowerment rhetoric. No matter how you paint your candidates, I’m not voting for them. No sir, you can fool Armstrong Williams, Ward Connerly, J.C. Watts and the ultimate black mutant, Rev. Jesse Peterson, but you can’t fool me. No… Republicans still get the finger.
I figure my campaign contributions are better served in my 401k or with the United Negro College Fund. Yes, from now on, I’ll give my money to a charity in “MY” community that seeks results and not votes. I declare today that I am a free-minded, Independent voter. It is fitting that I come to this conclusion today. For today we celebrate a man that gave his life for us to have the freedom to live and prosper as Americans. And in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday… I can now say that, at least politically, I am free at last… free at last… Thank God Almighty… I am free at last.
- Jimmyshoe
Today is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. birthday. And it is on this day that I reflect upon the political landscape of America and the shortcomings that we as African Americans face. With the thought of freedom, I’m understanding that our shackles are not only with the America but also with her political system and how we as a people suffer in it. So, today I make the first step in removing those political shackles by claiming myself an Independent.
With the mid-term elections upon us, I think it is time that we as a people take a look at our political alliance with the Democratic Party. In the last presidential election, Black people overwhelming supported Al Gore for president by giving him 90% of the Black vote. However, if you look at the makeup of the Congress, there is not a single African American in the Senate. The reason for this is simple. Neither Democrats nor Republicans respect the Black vote. As a matter of fact, neither party respects the vote of minorities.
During the Presidential elections they will court our vote, but it is the off year elections that we see the truth in each of the Party’s agenda. Not a single minority is truly in contention to be elected to Congress this year. This is because the committees of both parties are backing “sure ins” due to a closely divided Senate. Each Party is poised to do what is best to gain or retain seats.
Another reason for this is because we as a people do not demand more from them. We align ourselves with Democrats with a “lesser of two evils” mentality, rather than abort the party and see them as the turncoat suckers that they are.
But I refuse to take part in this political charade any longer. Today, I officially declare that I am an Independent. Never again will a Democrat get my vote for the sake of not electing a Republican. If that is the choice, then I won’t vote. I know some say that not voting is a vote for the other guy, but I think that is a political bug-a-boo that politicians like to put out there in hopes that they look less disturbing to us. They do this to ensure that they would get the “at least he don’t make me sick” vote.
But I no longer buy that argument. I’ll write in my candidate before I vote for a man or woman I can’t trust. Today, I set my own political agenda and vote for the person that best falls in line with me. Today, I say good-bye to my staunch Democrat way of thinking and say hello to “all of them can go to hell” thinking. Today, I am an Independent voter by saying “SO LONG” to the Democrats (who are just Republicans without the Bible). Today, I vow not to vote for the politician that can win, but the politician that makes me feel proud to support. Good-bye Democrats. You’ve played us last millennium, but in this one… I’m up.
And don’t you Republicans get any funny ideas about recruiting those of us in the use-to-be-Dems-but-now-we’re-not crowd. I know that your party is still full of racist hiding behind self-empowerment rhetoric. No matter how you paint your candidates, I’m not voting for them. No sir, you can fool Armstrong Williams, Ward Connerly, J.C. Watts and the ultimate black mutant, Rev. Jesse Peterson, but you can’t fool me. No… Republicans still get the finger.
I figure my campaign contributions are better served in my 401k or with the United Negro College Fund. Yes, from now on, I’ll give my money to a charity in “MY” community that seeks results and not votes. I declare today that I am a free-minded, Independent voter. It is fitting that I come to this conclusion today. For today we celebrate a man that gave his life for us to have the freedom to live and prosper as Americans. And in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday… I can now say that, at least politically, I am free at last… free at last… Thank God Almighty… I am free at last.
- Jimmyshoe