"The People vs. the People"

Only when the citizenry demands that elected officials be accountable can the government be effective in serving the will of the people.

Accountability and integrity in journalism can reign once more, but only when citizens break the "shackles of media mediocrity" by demanding that 24/7 news cycles report truthful, fair, and balanced news and zealously fact check elected officials who maliciously give erroneous information.

When citizens don't participate in the electoral process--a privilege that was obtained only after the sacrifice of millions of American lives--you not only dishonor the dead, but you also dishonor the living.

Because of political and social apathetic ideology, we've created a political cartoonist's version of a nation in which the government is the antagonist and the people are the protagonist. However, if you take a longer look in the mirror, you begin to see the government that many citizens despise is actually the "people" themselves. No matter how one may disagree with bloated, greedy, career-elected officials, they were elected through the Republic's political process that can be truly effective when able-bodied Americans can vote. And for those that can vote but are not registered to vote--register!

We still reside in a country where the "government of the people, by the people and for the people" is the foundation that stubbornly binds America to its people.



"Progressives will bring balance to the Republic"
Anthony P. Johnson

"The Cart Ahead of the Horse"

I'm curious as to why Mayor Nutter would hold his budget address and talk about "no new taxes" to Philadelphians when many of us are bracing for Governor Corbett's state budget address that is expected to cut or eliminate many programs that will directly affect Philadelphia to close Pennsylvania's $4,000,000,000 deficit.

Furthermore, the federal government will also soon unveil its budget that is filled with wholesale cuts to programs like LIHEAP, and AmeriCorps--programs that will undoubtedly affect Philadelphia.

Why couldn't Mayor Nutter simply table his budget--at least until Gov. Corbett had the opportunity to present his? Mr. Nutter has been mayor for more than 3 years. This election year, he'll probably be reelected; but alas, he continues to woefully lack effective leadership that Philadelphia requires to guide us through a modern day version of the Great Depression.


"Progressives will bring balance to the Republic."
Anthony P. Johnson

"Dangerous and Asinine"

Governor Scott Walker admitted to having considered planting "trouble makers" in the crowd of demonstrators to disrupt the peaceful rallies in support of unions held in and around the Wisconsin state capital.

So why has he not been made accountable for admittedly attempting to violate citizens' 1st Amendment rights?

Americans have focused their attention on the rallies, and the 14 Wisconsin Democrat state senators that refuse to return to work until Governor Walker acts like a servant for the people instead of a pint-sized wanna-be dictator.

But I firmly believe we must also address the fact that an elected official was contemplating perverting one of the most fundamental rights of every citizen in the Republic by implementing cowardly thugs and instigating what could have resulted in a full scale riot. In case Mr. Walker doesn't know, this isn't the 1960's, and he is not George Wallace--nor is he Mubarak or Khadafi for that matter. This dangerous and asinine behavior by Governor Walker should be met with vehement condemnation.

I find it extremely uncomfortable and troubling that an American public servant was weighing his options to physically endanger the lives of citizens and law enforcement to score political points. Any elected official participating in this type of behavior should be immediately removed from his post with the utmost zeal.



"Progressives will bring balance to the Republic."
Anthony P. Johnson