Audio Report - Results Of the Michigan Primary
I know it seems that I am on a run about my favorite distressed city - Detroit.
I have been running through the audio reports on the two NPR programs "News & Notes" and "Tell Me More".
This particular audio report is chock full of interesting comments and scenarios that are too tempting to pass up.
First was the comment about Detroit being a "segregated city". Upon hearing this I couldn't help but ask if people would view Salt Lake City UT or Boise ID as "segregated cities" as well BUT make note of the vast differences in economic fortunes that both of these cities has in comparison with Detroit. Clearly the state of being "racially segregated" alone does not produce poverty or economic abundance. There must be some other underlying truths that produce these ends.
In addition the Black Republican guest hit upon some key difficult truths that need to be accepted by the Black community. He talked about how the homogeneous partisan slant of the city of Detroit does not serve it well in the state legislature which has more of a partisan spread.
The fundamental question needs to be asked of the Black community - are we in the game to be the Best Democrats We Can Be? Are we in the game to be Ideological Fundamentalists and Purists - remaining true to what is POPULAR despite the little that we have to show for it? OR are we in it to bring the maximum amount of resources and benefit home to our community thus we adapt to what is needed to do so - or we flip the script and not even operate in the framework of the system that is assumed to be the defacto channel for operations?
I have little doubt that in facing the situation that is the case between the city of Detroit and the state legislature the people with power over the political machine in Detroit will choose to run to the Federal government and charge RACISM BASED DISCRIMINATION IN THE ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES. Thus either by policy or by court mandate the state government will be forced to allocate its funds via mandate and the entire machine that dominates Detroit without any sort of accountability for its outcome will remain. Yet another step toward total nationalization of all government functions will have been achieved.
Is it possible that it was not RACISM as the primary operator but partisan political reality that was being shown in the relationship between the city and the legislature? Certainly this point is argued each time we have a redraw of the voting boundaries. Any move against "Blacks as Loyal Democrats" rather than "Blacks - the dastardly Blacks" is seen as racist. The fact is that if Blacks were loyal Republicans, the opposition party would seek to do the very same thing as a means of gaining advantage.
I continue to scratch my head as I attempt to understand exactly what we as a people are receiving from this arraignment? I could easily be shut up IF:
* Our school were in top notch shape having been administrated by people we favor
* Our streets safe for community bonding having been administrated by a favorable mayoral administration
* Our business districts with plentiful help wanted signs detailing the master work in zoning that the city council that we put in place has done
There are only a few examples of this to speak of yet the machine that is presiding over all of this seem more entrenched than ever.
Maybe its just me? What do I know anyway? I never marched with King.
7 comments:
Instead of the passive, crypto-malignment of 'Black' voters and Democrats, why not come up with ideas toward an alternative plan for revitalizing Detroit?
MIB:
I am but one man.
The current allotment of voters don't seem to require an EFFECTIVE "revitalization plan" but keep voting for who they have be. Why do you place such a higher burden on ME?
The evidence is clear. I have detailed for the masses the hard truth about how the very forces that made Detroit prosper are departing to the South because the environment is more favorable for them to conduct business.
Detroit and many of the other industrial belt cities must rid themselves of the current "John Edwards-esque" anti-corporate populism and instead seek legitimate PARTNERSHIPS with those forces that have proven to be key ingredients in the "vitalization" ("re" left off intentionally) that everyone is seeking to REcapture this time around.
Detroit and its people need to see the region as being in COMPETITION with other areas, know why they are attractive, fix what is not and MARKET themselves to entities that can assist them to stand tall again.
Oh... stop crying.
Without presenting some cogent ideas of your own for revitalizing Detroit, what you may have intended as a critique is nothing more than a petty remonstration. Pots and kettles. Your entire commentary is nothing more than fingerpointing and scapegoating. That would suggest you're part of the problem.
I took the commentary for what it is, commentary on a sad situation in Detroit. I agree with the assessment. Why waste time giving people alternatives who are obviously not interested in solving any problems, but only blaming others, which is the case of most people with a blind loyalty to the Democratic party or any other party as for that matter.
[quote]Your entire commentary is nothing more than fingerpointing and scapegoating.[/quote]
MIB - Which bout of "fingerpointing" has been and is more detrimental to "Detroit"?
That of the Political Machine of Detroit who points 527 miles Southeastward to Washington DC as the source of their problems?
Or my pointing which focuses on THE POLITICAL MACHINE that is actually GOVERNING THE CITY OF DETROIT and the state? I can through in the region as well because their general labor policies and concepts of regulation are very similar.
It is clear to me that in your book "finger pointing" is only acceptable when YOUR index finger is pointing outward to your adversaries while your middle, ring and baby finger is pointing back at YOU.
At the end of the day MIB if your goal is to defend and obfuscate for this elected leadership in places where Black people live and are being harmed by their policies - what ultimate good are THEY or YOU?
You need to ask yourself - who and WHAT are you REALLY working for? Certainly it can't be for the real "best interests of Black people" to come forth after much consternation. No way, indeed.
You remind me of the tale about the man who ridicules another man's suit while wearing one just like it bought from the same store.
Scapegoating is scapegoating, regardless of who's doing the scapegoating. It's not a productive activity. Therefore, you can include me among your targets as you wish, but it will not compensate for your intellectual bankruptcy.
MIB:
The bottom line is that the mayors of the wilting cities of Detroit, Newark, Camden, Buffalo, Cleveland, Baltimore and Pittsburgh HAD BETTER come up with a plan that promotes the inherent values that his city possesses and work to identify the synergies that were present when this patch of land applied for their city charter OR he needs to get to stepping and allow more competent leadership to stand in his place.
Do you agree?
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