"What do 'Black people' want?” is what Bill O'Reilly bellowed to guest, Dr. Lamont Hill on a segment of "The O'Reilly Factor." Well, first some facts:

• African Americans have the highest unemployment in the nation at more than 16%.

• Of the 47,000,000 Americans without medical coverage—20% are African Americans.

• 27% of African Americans are living below the poverty level.

Isn't it woefully apparent what African Americans "need"?

Not to waste too much ink on O'Reilly; he said if his taxes are raised any higher he may have to pack up and leave his show possibly the Republic. So leave! What does he expect--That millions of Americans are going to take to the streets wearing a Bill O'Reilly mask chanting "Bill Don't Go." As you can see, O’Reilly' dream of grandeur is pathetic.

If O'Reilly does in fact pay 45% in taxes as he was quoted, then the conversation that the wealthy citizenry pay their fair share of taxes doesn't apply to him and he should stay out of grown folks business. But, this is just O'Reilly attempting to make himself appear to be self-sufficient and important to the majority of the citizenry that deems Bill O’Reilly as "Mr. Irrelevant" to the greatness of the Republic.



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

“So Much for Job Creators”

Recent polls show President Obama’s chances for a second term will not necessarily be assured. Factoring in the debt-ceiling fight, Standard & Poor's subsequent downgrade of the nation's credit rating and even extending the Bush tax cuts for the super wealthy; the president’s approval rating has slipped under 50%. On the economy, only 19% of the citizenry think the country is headed in the right direction. However, with the aforementioned stinging data, here is a poll question that I pose to the citizenry:

"How can President Obama get meaningful legislation passed that will benefit every citizen from a group of elected officials whose allegiance belongs to 1% of the population aka, the super wealthy and no loyalty to the middle class, working poor and poor American?"

Do you really want to give the Tea/Republican Party another opportunity at destroying America? The Tea/Republican Party version of job creation is to damage the United States economy. Time and time again, the Tea/Republican Party members have shown that the party is more important than the Republic.

Not that any of you need an economics lesson, but the actual economy is based on money changing hands --I pay you, you pay the other person, etc. More tax breaks for the wealthy and putting more money in their pockets has little or no effect on the "real" economy. The economy has always blossomed when the middle class and working poor have more money. This is largely because we spend most of what we earn.

If you look at most large United States companies, there’s absolutely nothing about taxation preventing their economic growth. Apple Inc. for example, has accumulated more than $70,000,000,000 just in cash, and that’s the case for many of America’s big businesses. Record profits by big businesses in the Republic have never been higher and yet, layoffs at these companies are staggering. So much for the job creators! Small business--the backbone of America is similarly affected; only they don’t have the option of building up cash reserves. When the consumers, i.e. the working poor and middle class are not there--they simply fail.

I believe that President Obama must remain at the helm and that is why he must be re-elected in 2012, and continue moving forward despite the current economic crisis infecting the Republic. I sincerely believe that beyond this economic stupor we’ve endured since 2007 awaits an economic rainbow of prosperity. President Obama’s $447,000,000,000 job’s plan will be beneficial to the citizenry and the economy will recover. It will!

If President Obama is defeated in 2012 and replaced with Romney, Perry or Bachmann, whose track records on job creation in their states is so pathetic—they make George Bush’s 5,000,000 created jobs in his 8 years look like Bill Clinton; it will most assuredly accelerate the Republic’s demise.


"Progressives will bring balance to the Republic"
Anthony P. Johnson, Candidate for State Representative 180th District, 2012

“Facts vs. Baseless Propaganda”

Fact: President Obama is about as responsible for the Republic's high unemployment as Rick Perry is responsible for reducing unemployment in Texas or Michelle Bachmann becoming President of the United States. The Bush Wars and Tax Cuts will account for nearly half of the Republic's public debt by 2019. Facts will always supersede baseless propaganda.


“Progressives will bring balance to the Republic”
Anthony P. Johnson, Candidate for State Representative 180th District, 2012


* This posting is printed in today’s Philadelphia Metro Newspaper.

"Vote for the Candidate--Not the Color"

I've been told that an African American will never represent the 180th District as an elected official in any capacity.

It has been mentioned to me that the Latino community in the 180th District, which accounts for about 64% of the population, will never elect an African American against a Latino American because it would be considered an "act of betrayal."

If we continue to make an individual's ethnicity a prerequisite and the deciding factor in electing public servants, we will continue to receive the type of corrupt, incompetent and weak government the 180th District has endured for decades. Continuing to vote for Angel Cruz, the incumbent State Representative from the 180th District or Jonathan Ramos who has lost to him on two occasions based upon his being Latino is as flawed as Mitt Romney's view that a corporation is an individual or the misguided opinions that say Barack Obama is not fit to lead the Republic because of his African American heritage. This kind of thinking has held the 180th district back for far too long; we can do better.

Fact: As a resident I've witnessed very little of the legislative successes of Mr. Cruz and I'm deeply troubled by his lack of effective governing. One thing is clear however--Mr. Cruz has won re-election several times, so defeating him will not be an easy task.

Since his second straight defeat to Mr. Cruz, (2008 and 2010) Jonathan Ramos has been nonexistent in the community. He hasn't produced any plan on how to revitalize the 180th District. Mr. Ramos, as you will remember in 2010, was involved in attempting to unseat Angel Cruz by cheating. He received resources from Ms. Renee Tartaglione, a city worker which she and Mr. Ramos knew was "highly inappropriate." Tartaglione would eventually resign from her post.

In my opinion, neither Mr. Cruz or Mr. Ramos represent the needs and concerns of more than 50,000 residents composed of Puerto Ricans, Colombian Americans, Dominican Americans, Mexican Americans, Asian Americans, Caucasian Americans and African Americans residing in the 180th District. It appears that the only action plan that has been acted upon has been based on "unethical violations and arrogance".

I do believe as an African American, a resident of the 180th District and a candidate for state representative in 2012, I can win. I have a plan--a written initiative that can improve the 180th District. There those who may not agree with my "Vision" plan and "Feed the Children" bill and that is to be expected. However, there is a stark contrast between empty rhetoric and policy that will garner results.

Conversely, I issue a challenge to the incumbent, Mr. Cruz, candidate Jonathan Ramos and anyone else seeking the office of state representative for the 180th District to a series of public debates and let the residents decide which one of us is worthy to lead the community to prosperity.

I am also asking that the residents of the community in which I wish to serve carefully weigh the character, integrity & willingness to work for the people as a measure of standard when voting in the 2012 primary election for state representative. It is time we vote for an individual, not an ethnicity. I am committed to serving my community, not my own self interests.


"Progressives will bring balance to the Republic"
Anthony P. Johnson, Candidate for State Representative 180th District, 2012

“FEED THE CHILDREN”

Title of Bill: "Feed the Children"

Principal Author: Anthony P. Johnson


Preamble: Millions of children throughout this country are living below the poverty level creating failure in the present and in their future. Part of their problem is undernourishment due to a lack of nutritional food. There are certain steps that can be instated to help end the hunger of the children. Poverty is unlikely to be solved in our lifetimes, but measures can be put into place to help feed the children in a way they are worthy of.

Children who are hungry cannot possibly succeed in school because they don't have the ability to focus on lessons while contemplating a way to stop their hunger. According to information stated by the Food Stamp Program: For over 40 years, the federal Food Stamp Program, now officially named SNAP - the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program - has served as a mainline federal social assistance program designed to help low-income families and individuals buy the food they need for good health. The SNAP (Food Stamp) program now helps put nutritious food on the tables of 28 million people every month.

In this statement, it says that the program is designed to help low-income families to buy the food they need for good health. But is the food people are buying with the food stamps nutritious like the Food Stamp Program claims it is? To answer that question, stand in line at your local food market for one hour on any given day and see what people are purchasing with their food stamps. You will see them buying fancy half-sheet birthday cakes, bottles of sugared soda, candy, cookies, snacks, and numerous other unhealthy types of food. Is this the way we are stopping hunger for our children?

Here are some realistic solutions to the problem that could be easily implemented immediately:

SECTION 1: Revamp Food Stamps using the model of the WIC program. Recipients of Food Stamps should be allowed to use these stamps for the same types of items as WIC allows people to buy which is healthy food for the children. This means if people want to buy junk food or fancy cakes, they will have to pay for it out of their cash allocations.

SECTION 2: Every recipient of Welfare Benefits will be issued a valid state identification card for items purchased with food stamps. This will help decrease food stamps “fraud” where people sell their food stamps at a discounted price for cash to support a drug or/alcohol addiction instead of using the Food Stamps to feed their children.

SECTION 3: Every recipient receiving public assistance for more than two years is to be tested for drugs randomly. Individuals that are on medication prescribed by a physician are exempt, but all others must be tested. If they test positive for an illegal substance, the recipient will be provided with drug recovery services and a social worker/child advocate will be appointed to ensure that the children are being fed and clothed properly by way of the welfare benefits.
If the individual tests positive a second time, the allocation of public assistance will be suspended until he/she goes for help.

SECTION 4: Subsidize the working poor who are working-not staying home on welfare--with more benefits such as subsidized healthcare and additional food stamps.

SECTION 5: Provide free mandatory nutritious meals in public, private, and parochial schools throughout the school year with the money saved by Food Stamp abuse.

Copyright, 2011

“The Value of Effective Educational Leadership”

So at long last Dr. Ackerman is out as Philadelphia's School District Superintendent. We cannot celebrate her departure as if she is exiting the stage triumphantly nor should we dance with glee because the successes were far and few during her tenure.

Dr. Ackerman is leaving but there are still far too many people that remain in place at the School District of Philadelphia, including, the SRC that will continue to place politics and personal gain over resources that the children and dedicated teachers require.

The SDP is in the mist of an uncertain future and until "effective" educational leadership is finally at the helm and corruption is eradicated there will be many more Hornbeck's, Vallas' and Dr. Ackerman's making big promises and delivering on mostly none of them.



“Progressives will bring balance to the Republic”
Anthony P. Johnson, Candidate for State Representative 180th District, 2012

We Can End Poverty in the Republic

Creating, developing, and establishing a plan to end poverty means it will cost money, but it is worth every penny that will be spent on eradicating a pestilence that continues to envelop the nation. Let’s stop talking about how great the Republic is and address the issues that are eroding the nation such as poverty.

According to the Census Bureau, statistics establish two grades of food insecurity. Very low food security: In these food-insecure households, normal eating patterns of one or more household members were disrupted and food intake was reduced at times during the year because they had insufficient money or other resources for food. 6.7 million US households (5.7% of all US households) had very low food security at some time during 2008, a 39% increase from 2007 (4.1% of US households). This was the largest increase ever recorded since nationally representative food security surveys were initiated in 1995, as well as the largest year-to-year percentage increase.

The defining characteristic of very low food security is that, at times during the year, the food intake of household members is reduced and their normal eating patterns are disrupted because the household lacks money and other resources for food. On average, households with very low food security at some time during the year experienced it in 7 or 8 months during the year and in 1 to 7 days in each of those months. In 2010, 97% of those classified as having “low food security” reported that an adult had cut the size of meals or skipped meals because there was not enough money for food and 27% reported that an adult did not eat for a whole day because there was not enough money for food

So, who represents the food “insecure?”

• Households with incomes below the poverty line (19.3%)
• Families with children, headed by single women (13.3%)
• Black households (10.1%)
• Hispanic households (8.8%)
• Households in principal cities of metropolitan areas (6.6%)

• In 2009, 43.6 million people were poor, up from 39.8 million in 2008 and 37.3 million in 2007. The nation’s official poverty rate in 2009 was 14.3%, up from 13.2% in 2008--the second statistically significant annual increase in the poverty rate since 2004.

• Between 2008 and 2009, the poverty rate increased for children under the age of 18 from 19.0 percent to 20.7 percent. Thus, 1 in 5 children in the United States live in poverty. Almost half of these children or 9.3% live in “extreme” poverty.

• 16 million low-income households either paid more for rent and utilities than the federal government said is affordable or lived in overcrowded or substandard housing.
There are three main causes of poverty in the Republic:

1. Poverty in the world.
2. The operation of the political and economic system in America which has tended to keep families impoverished.
3. The culture of inequality.

• Poverty in the world: There are a lot of poor people in the world. There are more than 2,000,000,000 people that are poor, and the same amount hungry. As can be imagined, people do not want to be hungry and desperately poor.

• The operation of the US economic and political system: The operation of the US economic and political system has led to certain ethnicities being relatively disenfranchised.

First, in a free enterprise economy, there is competition for jobs, with jobs going to the most qualified. On the other hand, there is almost always a significant amount of unemployment, so that not everyone will get a job, with the major unemployment falling on the least qualified. In the African American community alone is currently at 16%. It might be tempting to indentify them as ‘unemployable’ but what is in fact happening is that the private enterprise system is not generating enough jobs to employ everyone. Second, the top echelon of business has the power to allocate the profits of the enterprise, and certainly they have allocated these profits to themselves in recent years. In essence, the current operation of the Republic’s political system, which should address the major problems of its citizens, is to a great extent not focused on fundamental concerns of poor people.

There are various aspects to the culture of poverty. For example, people are typically segregated by income and often race where jobs are low paid and scarce. This can lead to crime as a way of obtaining income, and also to unemployed men not willing to marry, which can play a significant role in developing a cultural model of single parent families.

The lack of income creates problems, including poor housing, lack of food, health problems and the inability to address needs of one’s children. As a result of this situation, people living in poverty can themselves have patterns of behavior, such as alcoholism or a ‘life of crime’ that are harmful to them and the community.

There are ways that “we, the people” can end poverty in the public:

Politicians:

• Revisit and implement parts of President Johnson’s War on Poverty/Great Society.

• Increase the minimum wage, which currently is estimated to be a wage that keeps people and families well below the poverty line.

• Provide more resources, guidance and opportunities for the poor.

Church, Masjid, Synagogue/Community:

• Empower the poor through education, opportunities for growth, social networks, information, and inclusion in society.

• Empower the poor to challenge the political process and social structures which in fact, keep them poor, such as the current welfare system which encourages welfare dependency instead of economic independence.

School Administrations:

• Provide guaranteed meals in public, private, and parochial schools

In summary, this is not a red state or blue state problem--this is an “American crisis” that’s affecting all of us. So, we can continue to waste time on debating who is or isn’t a citizen and why the wealthy should continue to receive tax breaks after more than two decades, or we can turn our attention to families living next door that are without one of the basic necessities for survival--food. Once and for all-time, let us eradicate poverty in the Republic.



“Progressives will bring balance to the Republic”
Anthony P. Johnson, Candidate for State Representative, 2012