“Why History?”

I believe that history provides us with topography for moral contemplation. In studying the stories of individuals and situations in the past allows us to test those individuals from the past moral sense and to grasp the real complexities they faced in difficult settings since humanities existence. For me, history is indispensable to understanding why the historical perspective changes occur. In many ways, historical analysis is a more challenging kind of exploration than genetic experimentation.

In my assessment history provides us with extensive materials available to study the human condition and highlights the complex processes of social change, including the factors that are causing change around us today. These are the reasons why I’ve been enthralled with the examination of the past and why our society should require and encourage the study of history as a major subject in schools across the Republic and throughout the world. When history is accurate and explained effectively it plays like a well orchestrated symphony.

I believe that history also helps provide identity, and this is unquestionably one of the reasons why all modern nations should encourage its teaching. Historical data include evidence about how families, groups, institutions and whole countries were formed and about how they have evolved while retaining cohesion. For many of us, studying the history of one's own family is the most obvious use of history, for it provides facts about genealogy and a basis for understanding how the family has interacted with larger historical change.

Many institutions, businesses, communities, and social units, such as ethnic groups in the United States, use history for similar identity purposes. Merely defining the group in the present pales against the possibility of forming an identity based on a rich past. Alas, people also use history for distorted purposes. Histories must be protected to ensure accuracy that tell the national story, emphasizing distinctive features of the national experience, meant to reinforce an understanding of national values and a commitment to national loyalty.

History provides data about the emergence of national institutions, social justice, injustices, equality and inequality, and values--it's the only significant temple of such available data. History offers evidence also about how nations have interacted with other societies, providing international and comparative perspectives essential for responsible citizenship. Further, history helps us understand how recent, current, and prospective changes that affect the lives of citizens are emerging or may emerge and what causes are involved. More important, history encourages habits of mind that are vital for responsible public behavior, whether as a national or community leader, an informed voter, a petitioner, or a simple observer.


“Progressive will bring balance to the Republic”
Anthony P. Johnson

"Weak is the Word"‏

So, once again President Obama is considered “weak” from the perspective of the Tea/Republican Party.

This episode of "Weak is the Word" from the party of the "disillusioned" accuses President Obama of cowardice for bringing the troops home at the end of the year. If we left it up to Senator McCain, the troops would be in Iraq and Afghanistan for another 100 years. Do you remember the banter of Senator Lindsey Graham?

Mr. Graham was one of the leading voices demanding an investigation into Iraq's possible role in protecting Bin Laden, while taking billions of American dollars to assist our forces in capturing him. Graham and the 2012 Tea/Republican presidential candidates think that what President Obama's decision is wrong.

Now that Bin Ladin and Khadaffi are dead however, Graham doesn't mind investing billions of American dollars in the Middle East, but says, "NO" to creating jobs and providing health care among other basic needs for every citizen in Republic.

Let me be blunt when I say that taking any advice from Graham and the elected officials from the Tea/Republican Party would be like having a Proctologist give you a root canal. Honestly, how do these people sleep at night?



“Progressive will bring balance to the Republic”
Anthony P. Johnson

"An Economic Menace"

I know you're scared because economic inequality will no longer be tolerated in the Republic.

The middle class and working poor are uniting world wide. Change your way of thinking Wall Street. Elected officials representing the will of their master--corporations, prepare to be removed from office. The middle class and working poor are rising against the tsunami of greed and corruption.

For so long you kept the middle class and working poor divided, each thinking the other was responsible for the economic disparity between the two. Now the truth has come to fruition as to the true culprit--YOU! Average wages among the 99% have continued to decrease for more than 20 years while at the same time the wealth of the 1% has increased more than 400%. That's no capitalism, that's an "economic menace" preyed upon the masses.

I know you're scared because economic inequality will no longer be tolerated. The people of the Republic have been awakened.


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

“Progressives Will Set the Republic’s Agenda”

By large margins, the American people support progressive policies. A new progressive America is growing as the citizenry demand the end to political and societal corruption. The demography is an array of growing demographic groups that have aligned themselves with the progressive philosophy and movement. The new geography refers to the close relationship between pro-progressive political shifts and dynamic growth areas across the country, particularly within contested states. The new agenda is the current tilt of the public toward progressive ideas and policy priorities.

All this adds up to big change that is reshaping the Republic in a fundamentally progressive direction. Consider some of the components of the new demography. Between 1988 and 2008, the minority share of voters in presidential elections rose by 11% points.

Some other points to consider:

• By 2042-the United States will become a majority-minority

• By 2050-54% of the country will be a minority

• Hispanics double from 15% to 30% of the population

• Asians increase from 5% to 9%

• African Americans will increase from 14% to 15%

The progressive ideology will continue to gain influence.

Other demographic trends accentuate progressives’ advantage. Progressive gains since 1988 have been heavily concentrated in not just the urbanized cores of large metropolitan areas, but also the growing suburbs around them. Progressive gains were only minimal in the smallest metropolitan areas and in small town rural America.

As the Republic is growing and changing, so are the American people’s views on what government can and should do. This is shaping progressive policies to go with the new demography and the new geography, starting with the likely diminution in the culture wars that have stymied American politics for decades.

For Republicans, Log Cabin Republicans, Conservatives, Neo Conservatives, the Tea Bag movement and some Democrats, I know you do not embrace the direction America is heading, but Progressives will soon lead the Republic. The citizenry have had enough of “weak and vacillating” Democrats that straddle the fence and throw President Obama under the bus and extremists calling themselves Republicans that place corporations and personal agendas ahead of the people. You call it “silly talk” but Progressives will bring balance to the Republic—because “balance” is what the citizenry demands.


“Progressive will bring balance to the Republic”
Anthony P. Johnson

“A Chaotic Platform…Conclusion”

Herman Cain has no concept of racism and it is embarrassing to listen to this educated fool pretend that he is an expert when it comes to racism. Asking Mr. Cain about racism is like asking a child predator about child protection laws.

Mr. Cain says his “999” plan is the blueprint to set the Republic back on the right financial track. However, from Nobel Laureate economist Paul Krugman to "Skree Rock" from 30th and Lehigh Avenue and most economists in between would agree that Mr. Cain's plan would balloon the deficit at its highest since 1945. Mr. Cain responds with, "That is inaccurate." When pressed to explain his response we get _____________ (Flat lines). In addition, the $9.99 plan calls for the end of Social Security, Medicare and a tax increase on every day products such as milk.

Mr. Cain is a successful businessman in the pizza industry and should be commended for his success. But, Herman Cain, like the rest of the Republican presidential candidates is some of the worst the Republican Party has ever assembled. Mr. Cain, Romney, Perry, Bachmann and the rest of the forgettable group of misfits cannot--MUST NOT lead the great Republic.



“Progressive will bring balance to the Republic”
Anthony P. Johnson

“A Dichotomy of Epic Proportion”

Not only is Philadelphia ranked as the 16th most corrupt city in the Republic, it ranks 8th in the nation with the highest unemployment among African Americans. In 2010, unemployment among African Americans living in Philadelphia was 14.6% compared to 7% in 2007. The unemployment rate for African American families is also a major dichotomy. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, African American adults had the highest unemployment rate in 2009 at 14.9% while Philadelphia’s overall unemployment rate was 6.7%.

From a national perspective, African American unemployment is at a staggering 16.7% compared to 9.1% nationally. According to the Economic Policy Institute, the unemployment rate for African Americans is projected to reach 17.2 % before 2012. So why is African American unemployment consistently high in the Republic year after year and decade after decade? According to a study conducted by the U.C. Berkeley Department of Labor, it’s because there is a lack of public sector jobs available to African Americans. The study concluded that “the public sector is the most important source of employment for African Americans and a key source of high-paying jobs, specifically for African American women.”

From 2008-2010, 21.2% of African Americans workers were employed in the public sector, compared to just 16.3% of non-African American workers. Some financial experts say some of the other factors of consistently high African American unemployment include:

1. A younger workforce.
2. A smaller proportion of college-educated job candidates.
3. A higher population of citizens living in areas that have been most affected by the recession.

What is also deeply troubling is that African American unemployment has always been high in the Republic. For example, in 1933 during the Great Depression, while the general unemployment rate was 25%, unemployment among African Americans was 50%. Further, unemployment among African Americans has been in the double digits under the previous four United States Presidents:


President Reagan: 17.0%

President Bush (I): 12.0%

President Clinton: 10.0%

President Bush (II): 12.6%


Fact is, President Obama inherited a high African American unemployment rate. Thus, under his presidency, “unemployment among African Americans increased by roughly 4.1%".

The past and current presidential hopefuls have all given the same weak, flat dish-watery response that their focus is to create jobs for “every” American. However, from Carter-to-Reagan, Reagan-to-Bush I, Bush I-to-Clinton, Clinton-to-Bush II, and Bush II-to-Obama, judging solely on the high unemployment rate, African Americans appear to not fall into the category of “every” American. Instead of partisan politics and political pandering, perhaps a significant and effective amount of time should be spent on initiatives in reducing African American unemployment that stubbornly hovers year after year in the double-digits. Until then, rhetoric about creating employments opportunities for "every" American rings hollow.



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

"Do You Hear the Citizenry?"

You thought you were going to run over the citizenry and we were just going to take it. You thought you could just steal and the people were going to stay silent. Did you really think you were going to get off so easy?

You declared war on every middle class, working poor and poor citizen by speculating prices on gas, wheat, oil and our future--at our expense. Did you expect us to be afraid of you?

You re-ignited this declaration of war on the middle class, working poor and poor American. You wanted to rekindle the dream of your master, J.P. Morgan and his ilk. His vision which was that only a few would possess all the wealth to rule over the majority of the citizenry with an iron fist. However, contrary to your misguided arrogance, there are some citizens that know American History from the financial perspective and now those voices are being heard.

Reform Wall Street! Reform your arrogance, reform your greed, reform your apathetic behavior toward the citizenry and reform your dastardly way of doing business. Do you hear the citizenry? You should, because we are at this very moment standing on your doorsteps. If you refuse to embrace the Reformation of Finance--the people you attempted to trample up will soon be cast as the ones that will bring effective change to Wall Street.

Wall Street, do you hear us now?



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