President Herbert Hoover was determined--to a catastrophic fault in his refusal to allow the Republic’s government to assist the starving, the jobless and the homeless through government sanctioned programs because some say he viewed such behaviors as being a prelude to a Socialist and Communist society.
Is President Obama following the same path?
President Obama faces a situation more akin to the one Herbert Hoover was forced to deal with because the economy is still tanking, unemployment is still rising and consumer spending is still falling.
Hoover had been the American most suited to be president. He had performed masterfully as head of the American Relief Administration after World War I. Hoover came into the presidency as one of the foremost proponents of public-private cooperation—what was termed "volunteerism"-- to maintain a high-growth economy. Volunteerism was not premised on governmental coercion or intervention, which Hoover feared would destroy the foundation of American philosophy based upon individualism and self-reliance, but on cooperation among individuals and groups. Hoover supported regulating industries such as radio broadcasting and aviation that he believed served the public good. But he preferred a voluntary, non-governmental approach to economic matters, the better, he reasoned, to protect what he called the "American character".
The economic crisis that struck the United States in the late 1920s was all-encompassing, however. Having both domestic and international causes and effects, the Great Depression afflicted almost every sector of the American economy, revealing serious structural weaknesses that resulted in high unemployment (25%), low economic growth, and financial instability. Most important, the Great Depression stole the citizens’ confidence and will. The Great Depression was a stern test for Hoover's approach and one that proved too difficult for him to address effectively. His involuntariness-inspired persuasion and programs failed to stimulate the consumption and production needed to jump-start the economy.
During Mr. Obama's first months in office, the president and his chief economic advisers, White House aide Larry Summers and Secretary of the Treasury Tim Geithner, most likely underestimated the economic crisis they faced. Obama would repeatedly refer to it as a "financial crisis," inferring that if the government was able to prevent the banks from going under; they would begin loaning again to the citizenry and small businesses and thereby, stimulate the economy and increase resources.
The stimulus package that Congress passed exceeded any previous attempts to counter a financial downturn. It included funds for improving education and subsidizing the development of green and biotechnology industries--two areas where the nation could find new outlets for private investment and growth. The Obama administration was also quick to bail out the Republic’s automobile industry.
But the question with Obama--just as it was with Hoover is whether his efforts, which are going in the in the right direction, will prove sufficient to the Republic and its citizens. Although the stimulus package has promoted growth, it is largely in non-tradable private and government services. Mr. Obama’s vision of promoting green growth from windmills to electric cars is another good idea, but Asia and Western Europe is way ahead of the United States in these industries and are putting far more resources into them than the Republic is achieving. The size of the stimulus package is valiantly keeping unemployment below double-digits--but for how long? Unfortunately, forced to embrace half-measures, President Obama, like President Hoover, could fail to meet the challenges of the economic downturn.
Hoover's principal failing was ideological. He wasn't willing to do what was necessary because he feared the growth of an all-consuming Republic state and because he thought budget deficits would end up receding rather than spurring economic growth. Obama and his advisers are not so much victims of self inflicted ideology, but rather the politics, geopolitics, and other people's ideology. If Obama wanted to undertake a dramatic government-led re-invigoration of the Republics economy--he has and will continue to be blocked by the Tea/Republicans as well some so-called Democrats.
President Obama is not making the same mistakes as Hoover or facing quite the same situation, but Hoover's example shows that an individual who is highly qualified to be president and who boasts significant accomplishments while in office can still fail because of the enormity of the challenges he faces. Obama has achieved success in getting legislation through Congress, including his national health care policies and is brilliantly calculating initiatives to pull the Republic out of its current starving, jobless and homeless slump; but he could still fail and in the process harm his presidency.
I must reiterate, President Obama did not create the current economic depression in America; but, the Tea/Republican Party will damn sure attempt to pin it on his presidency if he is unsuccessful in resuscitating the economy. Hoover is the scapegoat for the Great Depression when in fact it was under Calvin Coolidge that began America’s free-fall into financial and unemployment purgatory during the 1920’s. See the parallel?
If President Obama is defeated in 2012 and replaced with Romney, Pawlenty, Gingrich or Bachmann, all who are “woefully” ill-equipped to deal with the challenges of the 21st century--this will accelerate the Republic’s decline.
“Progressives will bring balance to the Republic”
Anthony P. Johnson, Candidate for State Representative 180th District, 2012
Friday, August 5, 2011
Sunday, July 31, 2011
“Remarkably Inept”
It would be easy for me to say John Boehner is the worst Speaker of the House the Republic has ever had, but that would be inaccurate. Dennis Hastert, in my opinion, is the worst modern Speaker of the House, pure and simple. As Speaker for 8 years, Hastert allowed the “worst”President of the United States, George Bush to go to war and then implement an occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan without declarations.
Speaker Hastert gave the Bush administration a blank check as they infected the country with their anti-Constitutional assaults on civil liberties. In addition to his failure in serving the citizenry, the most diabolical act as Speaker of the House was Hastert creating an office that was nothing more than an extended mouthpiece for the executive branch of our cherished government.
From stalwart Speaker’s like Thomas Brackett Reed, John McCormack, Tip O'Neil and Nancy Pelosi--we now have John Boehner. A man that has proven that he cannot lead and no matter what happens regarding the outcome of the debt ceiling debate--he is one of the “truly remarkable inept” Speaker’s of the House.
"Progressives will bring balance to the Republic"
Anthony P. Johnson, Candidate for State Representative 180th District, 2012
Speaker Hastert gave the Bush administration a blank check as they infected the country with their anti-Constitutional assaults on civil liberties. In addition to his failure in serving the citizenry, the most diabolical act as Speaker of the House was Hastert creating an office that was nothing more than an extended mouthpiece for the executive branch of our cherished government.
From stalwart Speaker’s like Thomas Brackett Reed, John McCormack, Tip O'Neil and Nancy Pelosi--we now have John Boehner. A man that has proven that he cannot lead and no matter what happens regarding the outcome of the debt ceiling debate--he is one of the “truly remarkable inept” Speaker’s of the House.
"Progressives will bring balance to the Republic"
Anthony P. Johnson, Candidate for State Representative 180th District, 2012
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
“In Your Hands”
In your hands, my angry, bitter, racist and dissatisfied Tea Party elected officials is the momentous issue of raising the debt ceiling. However, you have no interest in doing what is right for the country. By not raising the debt ceiling, you and you alone will be responsible for bringing about a catastrophic financial and psychological disaster on the Republic and its citizenry.
The government, or as you call it: Socialism, Communism and Fascism will not assail you without you first being the aggressor. You have no oath registered in Heaven to destroy the Republic, but that is fully your intention--to destroy the nation. “We the People” seek compromise in raising the debt ceiling, but without fleecing Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and social service programs that benefit millions of middle class, working poor and poor.
We are not enemies, but citizens of the Republic, but you have chosen to be America’s enemy. Your aloofness, lack of knowledge of the Constitution and apathy for humankind is misguided--but will not break the bonds that bind the country.
Your anti-patriotism has given way to the darker angels of your nature. There is still time for you to correct this, although the time is quickly evaporating for you to embrace the better angels of your conscience.
“Progressives will bring balance to the Republic”
Anthony P. Johnson, Candidate for State Representative 180th District, 2012
The government, or as you call it: Socialism, Communism and Fascism will not assail you without you first being the aggressor. You have no oath registered in Heaven to destroy the Republic, but that is fully your intention--to destroy the nation. “We the People” seek compromise in raising the debt ceiling, but without fleecing Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and social service programs that benefit millions of middle class, working poor and poor.
We are not enemies, but citizens of the Republic, but you have chosen to be America’s enemy. Your aloofness, lack of knowledge of the Constitution and apathy for humankind is misguided--but will not break the bonds that bind the country.
Your anti-patriotism has given way to the darker angels of your nature. There is still time for you to correct this, although the time is quickly evaporating for you to embrace the better angels of your conscience.
“Progressives will bring balance to the Republic”
Anthony P. Johnson, Candidate for State Representative 180th District, 2012
Monday, July 25, 2011
"A Has Been?"
The Republic is free falling into the history pages as a "once mighty" nation. America is much too young to fade so quickly into the category of a "has been," but that is where we are headed.
We live in a country that could provide a job, a home, unlimited nourishment, medical care and a first class education to all 319,000,000 people. Instead, our unemployment is 9% nationally, 16.2% are unemployed among the 39,000,000 million African Americans and more than 20% of Americans that possess a college degree are unemployed. At the same time in 2011, over a span of a few months, our government spent some $56,000,000,000 on military defense while banks attempt to foreclose on the homes of soldiers and their families. Economic inequality has never been mightier in the Republic. Why does a country that has everything appear to be throwing it all away and failing the citizenry with perfect regularity?
The Tea Party (the former Republican Party) cannot lead the nation to economic or policy prosperity. And since they lack ingenuity and effective leadership they are attempting with frightening ferocity to destroy our nation. Elected officials within the party of "NO" carry hatred for President Obama that is so intense and perverse they've decided to plunge America--into a backward and chaotic society. And yet, citizens have become so disgusted with the elected body that rather than mobilize and vote--they sit on the sidelines and cry foul while in the meantime political corruption in the heart of the Republic reigns supreme.
American media has failed us, too. When Murdoch's News Corp Inc. /FOX News are considered a "credible" source of information then you know the profession of journalism requires an enema. Where are the journalists with integrity who report honestly without relying on talking points? There are a handful of American journalists like Ms. Goldie Taylor and Cenk Uygur who possess journalistic integrity. Both are having difficulties with being given a platform to report on because networks are afraid to give them a news show--if only they would "play the game" that the "establishment" requires. What makes matters worse is that hand in hand with irresponsible journalism are the many Americans failing to read what international journalists are reporting collectively and "objectively" about world issues. For example, despite what many Americans may believe, many countries in Africa (Africa is a continent, Ms. Palin) are living in poverty and some parts are facing droughts of epic proportion. It is criminal that politicians will often sit and bicker tit for tat about this and that when they have the authority to aid those who are hungry, severely malnourished and deprived of clean water--but time and time again, they simply do nothing.
"We the People" have it within us to change this current outcome of the Republic becoming "a once mighty nation" but we must hurry--time and demise wait for no one.
"Progressives will bring balance to the Republic"
Anthony P. Johnson, Candidate for State Representative 180th District, 2012
* Special thanks to Ms. Terri Willmott.
We live in a country that could provide a job, a home, unlimited nourishment, medical care and a first class education to all 319,000,000 people. Instead, our unemployment is 9% nationally, 16.2% are unemployed among the 39,000,000 million African Americans and more than 20% of Americans that possess a college degree are unemployed. At the same time in 2011, over a span of a few months, our government spent some $56,000,000,000 on military defense while banks attempt to foreclose on the homes of soldiers and their families. Economic inequality has never been mightier in the Republic. Why does a country that has everything appear to be throwing it all away and failing the citizenry with perfect regularity?
The Tea Party (the former Republican Party) cannot lead the nation to economic or policy prosperity. And since they lack ingenuity and effective leadership they are attempting with frightening ferocity to destroy our nation. Elected officials within the party of "NO" carry hatred for President Obama that is so intense and perverse they've decided to plunge America--into a backward and chaotic society. And yet, citizens have become so disgusted with the elected body that rather than mobilize and vote--they sit on the sidelines and cry foul while in the meantime political corruption in the heart of the Republic reigns supreme.
American media has failed us, too. When Murdoch's News Corp Inc. /FOX News are considered a "credible" source of information then you know the profession of journalism requires an enema. Where are the journalists with integrity who report honestly without relying on talking points? There are a handful of American journalists like Ms. Goldie Taylor and Cenk Uygur who possess journalistic integrity. Both are having difficulties with being given a platform to report on because networks are afraid to give them a news show--if only they would "play the game" that the "establishment" requires. What makes matters worse is that hand in hand with irresponsible journalism are the many Americans failing to read what international journalists are reporting collectively and "objectively" about world issues. For example, despite what many Americans may believe, many countries in Africa (Africa is a continent, Ms. Palin) are living in poverty and some parts are facing droughts of epic proportion. It is criminal that politicians will often sit and bicker tit for tat about this and that when they have the authority to aid those who are hungry, severely malnourished and deprived of clean water--but time and time again, they simply do nothing.
"We the People" have it within us to change this current outcome of the Republic becoming "a once mighty nation" but we must hurry--time and demise wait for no one.
"Progressives will bring balance to the Republic"
Anthony P. Johnson, Candidate for State Representative 180th District, 2012
* Special thanks to Ms. Terri Willmott.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
"A Journalistic Enema"
The media has failed us. When Murdoch's News Corp/FOX News is considered a credible source of information then you know the profession of journalism requires an enema.
"Progressives will bring balance to the Republic"
Anthony P. Johnson
"Progressives will bring balance to the Republic"
Anthony P. Johnson
Sunday, July 17, 2011
"Status Update"
"The World Food Program estimates that the drought in East Africa specifically, the Horn of Africa is the worst in over 50 years, and is affecting more than 10 million people. The UN Children's Fund has said that more than two million children are malnourished and need emergency medical help."
This is what it is; they need us! Where are the elected officials in the Republic on addressing this matter? Where is the "immediate aid" to stem this horrible human episode?
Strange, but many of our elected officials are always ready to suit up and go to war--but the minute a humane effort is required they move slower than molasses on a frigid day. But, I think I have figured out why. Perhaps they are waiting for you to respond, my middle class, working poor and poor citizenry. They want us to pay for the aid. You see, we've done it before. Remember Haiti and Japan? We opened our hearts and our check books and now they're asking us to do it again. The citizenry of America strive for humanitarian efforts while politicians make war.
It's up to the citizens--again. I'm asking that everyone contact your elected representatives and ask them to assist in the efforts of providing immediate aid to East Africa. Our humane spirit must come to the rescue once again and bring balance to a society overcome by apathy.
Anthony P. Johnson
Candidate for State Representative 180th District, 2012
This is what it is; they need us! Where are the elected officials in the Republic on addressing this matter? Where is the "immediate aid" to stem this horrible human episode?
Strange, but many of our elected officials are always ready to suit up and go to war--but the minute a humane effort is required they move slower than molasses on a frigid day. But, I think I have figured out why. Perhaps they are waiting for you to respond, my middle class, working poor and poor citizenry. They want us to pay for the aid. You see, we've done it before. Remember Haiti and Japan? We opened our hearts and our check books and now they're asking us to do it again. The citizenry of America strive for humanitarian efforts while politicians make war.
It's up to the citizens--again. I'm asking that everyone contact your elected representatives and ask them to assist in the efforts of providing immediate aid to East Africa. Our humane spirit must come to the rescue once again and bring balance to a society overcome by apathy.
Anthony P. Johnson
Candidate for State Representative 180th District, 2012
Monday, July 11, 2011
“Charlatans Posing As Educators”
It appears that Atlanta School District officials are not the only ones that cheat to get ahead.
According to the "Philadelphia Public School Notebook," a 2009 report has identified dozens of Pennsylvania schools for possible cheating including more than twenty schools in the School District of Philadelphia (SDP). The statistical analysis is available at:
http://www.thenotebook.org/sites/def...rt%20Final.doc
Data files were examined from test score scanners to determine the rate of erasures to right answers, and for certain grade levels, the amount of "correctness" attained per student from a previous test to a current test.
The report dates to 2009, but considering that Harrisburg did not commission a report for 2010 and did not do anything with the 2009 report, it is clear that the cheating has probably gone unmonitored and unpunished.
Once again humanity has given way to the dark angels within. Here's how bad it is in Philadelphia:
DISTRICT SCHOOLS
Elementary Schools:
1. Catherine
2. Cayuga*
3. Franklin Edmonds
4. Frederick Douglass
5. Disston
6. Fitler
7. FitzPatrick
8. Lamberton
9. John Marshall*
10. Thurgood Marshall*
11. McClure
12. Muñoz-Marin*
13. Olney Elementary
14. MH Stanton
15. Ziegler
Middle School:
1. Penn Treaty
2. Theodore Roosevelt*
3. Wagner*
4. Woodrow Wilson
High School:
1. Frankford
2. Northeast
3. Strawberry Mansion
CHARTER SCHOOLS
1. Alliance for Progress Charter
2. Charter High School for Architecture and Design
3. Imhotep Institute Charter High School
4. Maritime Academy Charter
5. Walter D. Palmer Leadership and Learning Partners Charter
6. Wissahickon Charter
7. Philadelphia Electrical and Technology Charter
* indicates schools that had three or more flags in multiple grades
If the cheating is true, then all individuals involved must be rounded up and face termination, permanent banishment from the field of education and hefty fines. However, termination, banishment and fines will never rectify what these charlatans posing as educators have done to our children and our education system. Look away, Horace Mann, look away.
“Progressive will bring balance to the Republic”
Anthony P. Johnson
According to the "Philadelphia Public School Notebook," a 2009 report has identified dozens of Pennsylvania schools for possible cheating including more than twenty schools in the School District of Philadelphia (SDP). The statistical analysis is available at:
http://www.thenotebook.org/sites/def...rt%20Final.doc
Data files were examined from test score scanners to determine the rate of erasures to right answers, and for certain grade levels, the amount of "correctness" attained per student from a previous test to a current test.
The report dates to 2009, but considering that Harrisburg did not commission a report for 2010 and did not do anything with the 2009 report, it is clear that the cheating has probably gone unmonitored and unpunished.
Once again humanity has given way to the dark angels within. Here's how bad it is in Philadelphia:
DISTRICT SCHOOLS
Elementary Schools:
1. Catherine
2. Cayuga*
3. Franklin Edmonds
4. Frederick Douglass
5. Disston
6. Fitler
7. FitzPatrick
8. Lamberton
9. John Marshall*
10. Thurgood Marshall*
11. McClure
12. Muñoz-Marin*
13. Olney Elementary
14. MH Stanton
15. Ziegler
Middle School:
1. Penn Treaty
2. Theodore Roosevelt*
3. Wagner*
4. Woodrow Wilson
High School:
1. Frankford
2. Northeast
3. Strawberry Mansion
CHARTER SCHOOLS
1. Alliance for Progress Charter
2. Charter High School for Architecture and Design
3. Imhotep Institute Charter High School
4. Maritime Academy Charter
5. Walter D. Palmer Leadership and Learning Partners Charter
6. Wissahickon Charter
7. Philadelphia Electrical and Technology Charter
* indicates schools that had three or more flags in multiple grades
If the cheating is true, then all individuals involved must be rounded up and face termination, permanent banishment from the field of education and hefty fines. However, termination, banishment and fines will never rectify what these charlatans posing as educators have done to our children and our education system. Look away, Horace Mann, look away.
“Progressive will bring balance to the Republic”
Anthony P. Johnson
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
