Welcome to USSR, 1920

"When the president announced last week that he would 'cut out the middleman' and make direct government loans to students, he laid bare his contempt for free enterprise. He is fulfilling a campaign promise by overhauling the system through which he claims, 'Private lenders are costing America's taxpayers more than $15 million dollars every day and provide no additional value except to the banks themselves.'

"Consider the philosophy behind his statement. If government cuts out the middleman and performs the service instead, it will be cheaper and more efficient, he reasons. Apply this same reasoning to, say, the entire banking industry. Government's direct involvement in the banking industry can eliminate all those bonuses paid to greedy executives and profits earned by greedy share holders, and make sure that loans are extended to low-income borrowers whether they qualify or not. Direct government control of the banking business will surely make it fairer and more efficient.

"What a fantastic idea! Someone should have thought of this before.

"Apply this reasoning to, say, the auto industry. Government's direct involvement can force the auto industry to dump the management that failed to produce the toy cars the government said would abate global warming. Government control of the auto industry can eliminate those nasty, unnecessary monster cars, such as the Pontiac, and more. Direct government control of the auto industry would certainly be more efficient and would operate the industry in a more environmentally friendly way.

"Direct government control of the auto industry could eliminate the wasteful duplication of products and services. Why should there be three major auto manufacturers? The status quo requires three design departments, three different manufacturing operations, three different but duplicative sales networks, and three different repair and maintenance systems. Imagine all the savings that can be achieved by simply combining the auto industry into a single operation managed by government.

"This principle, applied to all industry, could result in enormous savings, ensure social justice in the workplace and avoid unsafe operations that jeopardize the environment. Wow, who can object to this change? This new direction by this new administration sounds great to a generation who can't remember, or never knew, why America became the strongest, most prosperous nation on earth.

"America's greatness is due to the absence of government control."

Are we blind, nuts or just stupid?

"Do you get it now? This Orwellian scenario is where we're headed – as that old Bible on your shelf has foretold for 2,000 years. Blow the dust off and read it."

Now That the National Holiday of Obama’s First 100 Days Is Over…

"Yes it’s been 100 days since we sent President George Bush packing and rolled out the red carpet for the Obamas. And in that 100 days, Los Angeles continues to be plagued with gang violence and homicides, our state’s budget is beyond repair, and don’t even get me started on our dilapidated public school system. In a few short weeks, we’ll be headed to polls to add more taxes on top of the new taxes that were just legislated, yet and still we have the audacity to be celebrating President Obama’s first 100 days.

"I was afraid of this happening. I was afraid that once Black Americans saw the election of a Black man to the presidency that any chance of us focusing on what’s going on at home in our city and state would be overshadowed by the fact that, 'we got a Black president now' mentality. As if, all is well with Black people.

"How about we get together for the first 100 days of the new session of the Legislature and discuss whether we’re happy with the new taxes forced on us? Better yet, how about we get together after the first 100 days of the new school year to address how we’re feeling about the way our children are being educated in our public school system? Maybe after the first 100 students dropout this year we could meet to see what’s really going on. Ooh ooh, I know—what say you to getting together after the first 100 shootings in our neighborhood between rival gang members to figure out what can really be done to end this shit once and for all?

"Yes, I went there and now I am going here.

"Do you know why your rent went up?

"It’s not because your landlord is a greedy *******—ok I could be wrong on that. It’s not only because your landlord is a greedy *******, but when property taxes are raised, who do you think the landlord is going to pass the cost off to? You.

"Underpaid, unemployed, welfare receiving, Section 8 having, Food Stamp using, you.

"You, who just registered to vote for the first time in 2008 but haven’t been back to the polls since then, even though there’s been two elections in the past several months.

"You, who couldn’t tell me who represents you in city council or the State Legislature to save your life, but can tell me everything about what Obama has done in the last 100 days in office.

"You, who hasn’t visited your child’s school since the last time you were a student there but yet and still want to bitch and complain about your child’s report card.

"You, who wants to be out on the corner hustling Obama t-shirts and memorabilia screaming, 'we gots us a Black president now—get your t-shirt!' but isn’t even registered to vote.

"You who rolls around in your 2009 BMW with your 'Obama Biden' bumper sticker, and a matching lawn sign on your neatly manicured greens that belong to the house you rent on top of that hill looking down on everyone else, but won’t donate some chump change to the local candidate running to represent you, your Beamer, and that castle you call a home.

"Yeah, you.

"And that’s just one example of what’s wrong with Black people’s fixation on all things Obama and our ignorance when it comes to the what’s going on in our very own backyard.

"Let me tell you that the Obama’s sleep well at night. There’s no loud *** ghetto bird hovering over their neighborhood with a bright *** light shining at all hours of the night.

"The Obama’s eat well everyday and don’t have to decide whether or not to go to KFC for chicken because it’s cheaper than buying the ingredients to make the same meal at home.

"And I seriously doubt there’s any question about the quality of education that their daughters are receiving.

"Can you say the same? I didn’t think so.

"I may follow President Obama’s every move, but I’m an equal opportunity cynic. I do the same for those who represent me locally. I’ve got enough pessimism to spread around.

"What’s it going to take to get that message through to the hood, that what happens locally affects us directly and faster than anything coming out of Washington? How come that message isn’t being drilled into our psyches in the manner that vote for Obama was?"