Thursday, April 15, 2010
"A New Day is Coming to the 180th District."
Dear Members,
The “darkness” has engulfed the 180th District. Our broke, bleeding, and bankrupt community is currently facing several crisis of epic proportion:
• 23.4% of families are living below poverty in 2010
• Unemployment is 11.4% in 2010
• Only 23.9% of the population has completed high school in 2009
• 63% of Latino children will drop out of school in 2010 without a high school diploma
• 30% increase in crime and violence, making the 180th District one of the highest in Philadelphia
The 180th District is mired in peril as the elected officials that are supposed to represent the residents do nothing to improve the current situation--pure and simple. To say that the incumbent State Representative for the 180th District, Angel Cruz, has failed miserably would be an understatement. His “lack of leadership” in serving the public-at-large has become legendary. The basic needs for the 180th District is extensive, and most importantly “vital,” to returning to its rightful place as a “vibrant and safe” community.
But the “dawn” is coming…
The “180th Watchdog Coalition” will be a powerful and vocal voice for the 180th District that will hold all elected officials accountable in serving the needs of its residents. We seek to effectively and efficiently transform the 180th District with programs and reform to improve and enhance the lives residing in the community.
Specifically, the “180th Watchdog Coalition” seeks the following from elected officials representing the 180th District:
• Secure funding and push for neighborhood patrols
• Address crime in the community by increasing police patrol, creating stricter penalties for drug dealers, pedophiles, and violent gangs
• Provide the community with Literacy and GED Programs
• Re-implement extracurricular activities back into the public schools in our communities
• Implement effective recreation centers in the communities
• Partner with local food markets, pharmacies, and retail stores to hire residents that support these businesses as loyal customers to decrease unemployment and poverty
A “new” day…
Conversely, the “180th Watchdog Coalition” can be a part of the outcome in revitalizing the 180th District. We can achieve this vision, and in so doing, give rise to the dawn of a new day in the 180th District. The "180th Watchdog Coalition" needs you to join this fight for neighborhood preservation. Please join me in making this committee a meaningful entity that can help us reach our goals of safety, education, employment, and solutions for our children and elderly.
Best Regards,
Anthony P. Johnson, the “180th Watchdog Coalition”
“Keeping Politicians Honest & Effective”
The “darkness” has engulfed the 180th District. Our broke, bleeding, and bankrupt community is currently facing several crisis of epic proportion:
• 23.4% of families are living below poverty in 2010
• Unemployment is 11.4% in 2010
• Only 23.9% of the population has completed high school in 2009
• 63% of Latino children will drop out of school in 2010 without a high school diploma
• 30% increase in crime and violence, making the 180th District one of the highest in Philadelphia
The 180th District is mired in peril as the elected officials that are supposed to represent the residents do nothing to improve the current situation--pure and simple. To say that the incumbent State Representative for the 180th District, Angel Cruz, has failed miserably would be an understatement. His “lack of leadership” in serving the public-at-large has become legendary. The basic needs for the 180th District is extensive, and most importantly “vital,” to returning to its rightful place as a “vibrant and safe” community.
But the “dawn” is coming…
The “180th Watchdog Coalition” will be a powerful and vocal voice for the 180th District that will hold all elected officials accountable in serving the needs of its residents. We seek to effectively and efficiently transform the 180th District with programs and reform to improve and enhance the lives residing in the community.
Specifically, the “180th Watchdog Coalition” seeks the following from elected officials representing the 180th District:
• Secure funding and push for neighborhood patrols
• Address crime in the community by increasing police patrol, creating stricter penalties for drug dealers, pedophiles, and violent gangs
• Provide the community with Literacy and GED Programs
• Re-implement extracurricular activities back into the public schools in our communities
• Implement effective recreation centers in the communities
• Partner with local food markets, pharmacies, and retail stores to hire residents that support these businesses as loyal customers to decrease unemployment and poverty
A “new” day…
Conversely, the “180th Watchdog Coalition” can be a part of the outcome in revitalizing the 180th District. We can achieve this vision, and in so doing, give rise to the dawn of a new day in the 180th District. The "180th Watchdog Coalition" needs you to join this fight for neighborhood preservation. Please join me in making this committee a meaningful entity that can help us reach our goals of safety, education, employment, and solutions for our children and elderly.
Best Regards,
Anthony P. Johnson, the “180th Watchdog Coalition”
“Keeping Politicians Honest & Effective”
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
"Sometimes...You Must Break the Rules for a Greater Good."
It’s easy to say "we followed the rules."
The Nazi Generals said they were "following the rules" when they murdered nearly 30 million innocent children, women and men; the hospital personnel said they were "following the rules" as an individual lay dead on the floor of an emergency waiting room while his watch was stolen in the process; and the military personnel at Abu Grab said they were "following the rules" when they tortured and murdered Iraqi prisoners.
When a SEPTA driver is told by her supervisor not to assist an elderly man on her bus that was unresponsive, urinating, and finally died because her route could not be delayed, there is no longer any doubt that we’ve become desensitized to the point that we’ve lost our humanity.
We must be willing to break the rules for a greater good. From the Nazi Generals down to the privates, to the military personnel from Abu Grab, they were in position to say “No! I will not follow the rules nor participate directly or indirectly where I am to perform acts of fear and violence on others." The SEPTA supervisor and the hospital personnel had the authority to forgo the organization and hospital standard policies and procedure and address the individuals that required immediate medical assistance. Unfortunately, they chose “rules” over human compassion.
As we continue down this slippery slope of quickly losing our humanity and becoming “compassionately and emotionally void” to one another, imagine how difficult it will be in our efforts to regain it.
Anthony P. Johnson
The Nazi Generals said they were "following the rules" when they murdered nearly 30 million innocent children, women and men; the hospital personnel said they were "following the rules" as an individual lay dead on the floor of an emergency waiting room while his watch was stolen in the process; and the military personnel at Abu Grab said they were "following the rules" when they tortured and murdered Iraqi prisoners.
When a SEPTA driver is told by her supervisor not to assist an elderly man on her bus that was unresponsive, urinating, and finally died because her route could not be delayed, there is no longer any doubt that we’ve become desensitized to the point that we’ve lost our humanity.
We must be willing to break the rules for a greater good. From the Nazi Generals down to the privates, to the military personnel from Abu Grab, they were in position to say “No! I will not follow the rules nor participate directly or indirectly where I am to perform acts of fear and violence on others." The SEPTA supervisor and the hospital personnel had the authority to forgo the organization and hospital standard policies and procedure and address the individuals that required immediate medical assistance. Unfortunately, they chose “rules” over human compassion.
As we continue down this slippery slope of quickly losing our humanity and becoming “compassionately and emotionally void” to one another, imagine how difficult it will be in our efforts to regain it.
Anthony P. Johnson
Monday, April 12, 2010
"It’s Just Entertainment."
In the recent issue of Forbes Magazine, Glenn Beck said, "I could give a flying crap about the political process. We’re an entertainment company."
If you haven't done it yet, add Glenn "I could give a flying crap about the political process" Beck to the list of "buffoons of entertainment" such as Rush “I say what I say for the ratings” Limbaugh and Michael “Stark Raving Mad Dog" Savage to name a few. If you continue to think that these individuals were ever speaking out against tyranny, racism, and bigotry while uniting America--I implore you to re-evaluate your support.
When individuals use the airwaves to promote vitriol and "factless" ideology, we should switch channels post haste.
Many Americans believe that we are entitled to free speech, i.e. say whatever we want without facts--but freedom of speech is not free, pure and simple. It is to be used with intelligence and with the utmost rigor of truth. We are entitled to our opinions, but we are not entitled to our own facts.
President John Adams was vilified for 200 years because he implemented the Alien Sedition Act making it a crime to criticize elected officials without facts. Censorship isn’t an option in the great Republic. I would be treading on dangerous grounds by asking for censorship. Some of us are all too familiar with the history that has shown the problem with censorship in which people that promoted peace and tolerance were censored, and those that spewed fear and hate were given free reign.
Conversely, we must hold individuals responsible when they use television, radio, and newspapers to spread deception, chaos and anarchy that only divide America. Whether it’s Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, Keith Olbermann, the N.Y. Times, Fox News, Michael Savage or elected officials at every level, "We the People" will hold them all accountable when they cross the line from journalistic integrity into "journalistic deception and entertainment."
Anthony P. Johnson
If you haven't done it yet, add Glenn "I could give a flying crap about the political process" Beck to the list of "buffoons of entertainment" such as Rush “I say what I say for the ratings” Limbaugh and Michael “Stark Raving Mad Dog" Savage to name a few. If you continue to think that these individuals were ever speaking out against tyranny, racism, and bigotry while uniting America--I implore you to re-evaluate your support.
When individuals use the airwaves to promote vitriol and "factless" ideology, we should switch channels post haste.
Many Americans believe that we are entitled to free speech, i.e. say whatever we want without facts--but freedom of speech is not free, pure and simple. It is to be used with intelligence and with the utmost rigor of truth. We are entitled to our opinions, but we are not entitled to our own facts.
President John Adams was vilified for 200 years because he implemented the Alien Sedition Act making it a crime to criticize elected officials without facts. Censorship isn’t an option in the great Republic. I would be treading on dangerous grounds by asking for censorship. Some of us are all too familiar with the history that has shown the problem with censorship in which people that promoted peace and tolerance were censored, and those that spewed fear and hate were given free reign.
Conversely, we must hold individuals responsible when they use television, radio, and newspapers to spread deception, chaos and anarchy that only divide America. Whether it’s Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, Keith Olbermann, the N.Y. Times, Fox News, Michael Savage or elected officials at every level, "We the People" will hold them all accountable when they cross the line from journalistic integrity into "journalistic deception and entertainment."
Anthony P. Johnson
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