My Drive Down MLK Drive In Atlanta - Part 2 - The Politicians

My Drive Down MLK Drive In Atlanta - Part 2 - The Politicians



Where ever there is cluster of poor people there seemingly are always a bunch of politicians hovering around to insure that their "equal votes" are gathered up with the intention of "helping them" if these votes are traded for the hope of a better future.

I realize that "the Ghetto" is the symbolic soul of the Black community. At some point, however, the community had better pull out some tape recordings about the last set of promises to confirm that these promises are being delivered upon.

Having spent the summer driving through the "Pittsburg" community of Atlanta which is the only area that matches the level of depression of the Vine City section - was carpet bombed with political campaign posters.

(Note - I like both Lisa Borders and Ivory Young. Still - both are a part of the present presiding machine over the city and thus both bear their share of the blame for the problems that persist - where the government is the problem that is. And yes I do hold this distinction dear.)

Sadly the "Lisa Borders" headquarters building was on the same block as the closed off "James P Brawley Dr" - the scene of the unfortunate murder of the Spelman student that took place last week. Ms Borders is well aware of the crime problems that the city has as she was robbed twice this year at her 2 homes in the city.

Ms Borders is the present city council president who is running for the mayor's seat in the upcoming election.

This sign upon City Councilman Ivory Young's campaign headquarters caught my eye.


First he says"Still A Public Servant Not A Politician" and then he says "We Still Have Work To Do"

After years of going to various awards dinners over the years I have to give credit to the various Black elected officials in metro Atlanta. There is no group better at stepping off the stage upon which they are talking "AT" their constituents and then standing "WITH" them, becoming one of them. Or at least play their hand that way.

This sort of "I am one of you" type antics effectively work to allow the POLITICIAN TO DEFINE THE TERMS UPON WHICH HE WILL BE EVALUATED BY THE BLACK COMMUNITY.

I recall a week after Obama's presidential victory listening to a Fulton County official run through the details regarding how screwed up the public schools were. Then he too made a "WE have a lot of work to do" type of speech.

I was actually stunned to see that he tapped into the crowds happiness about Barack Obama's victory but no one noted that he is a part of the machine that is running the key institutions within their community. Instead of "holding himself accountable" he told the masses about what they must do.

After seeing all of the campaign signs for the 100% Democrat Mayor's race, City Council President Race and various city council seat races I believe that these signs have a stronger intoxicating force than does this "Old English 800" sign that I saw further down the street.

(Please note: Atlanta officially has "Non-Partisan" elections. You can see their party membership, however, when the Democrats hold party events around town. Why bother having a "party-based general election" in a city that is so dominated by one party?)