The Era Of Vicious Politics

 By Wayne Shemwell

I've been involved in politics for nearly 40 years in one fashion or another. I worked with my mother when she was involved in local politics. I actually worked at the polls for a number of elections and helped local alderman with their daily activities. Additionally in both high school and college I was involved in campus politics. So I'm no stranger to the antics and tactics politicians use to make a point.

My first presidential election was 1976 and yes I voted for Jimmy Carter. I don't think I've missed a presidential election since 1976 now I can't say the same for the local and state elections. But I am involved in politics in one form or another even today. I've had the opportunity to address state Senate committees on several issues of concern. I also ran for city Council when the county and city merged here in Louisville. The attempt was unsuccessful and it did get a bit contentious. But I understand that a certain level of animosity and clear competition are to be expected in a political campaign.

But what I see today is the lack of a better word is disgusting; it is the vilest form of mudslinging I have ever witnessed. Now don't get me wrong I know that this is big boy politics and to be fair President Bush took his share of insults when he was in office. But it seems to me that the level of animosity has reached a new high. It seems that the Republican Party is entrenched in opposing whatever president Obama suggests. Now we learn that during his inauguration the Republicans were meeting to form a strategy to make Mr. Obama a one term president.

And now as the election gets closer the Republicans just seem angry. I watch all of the news channels CNN, Fox, and MSNBC so I can get a full picture of the political landscape. But watching Fox this morning all of the commentators seem so angry at President Obama. I remember some of the things said about President Bush, he was a C student and all of the jokes about his intelligence. But none of those attacks are as vicious and vile as the attacks president Obama has endured during his first term.

Right from the beginning there were those that questioned whether or not Mr. Obama was even an American citizen. And unfortunately there are those on the right who are still advocating that president Obama is not an American citizen. It doesn't matter that the Republican governor of Hawaii offered proof of Mr. Obama's citizenship, with an official Hawaiian birth certificate. Then you have the other faction that insists president Obama is a Muslim.

I don't want to raise the specter of race, but I do wonder if Obama was white with we have the same type of opposition. Washington has been mired for the past three years in partisan bickering. While the average American suffers in the worst economy as the Great Depression. Republicans refuse to work with President Obama on any issue. I recall the president Obama was giving the state of the union in someone from the gallery yelled liar. This is the level of contempt that exists between the parties in Congress today.

So what are we to do, we the people are suffering as our elected officials in Washington act like children? I do not have an answer just these observations, I hope the distinguished gentleman in Washington will wake up and realize they are there to help the people.

The House That Stood Alone

Life is fragile, life is fleeting and life will end. This is a fact that each of must face and it is inevitable that no matter how we try change will occur. In the bible the book of James 4:14 declares,” You do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.”

My family and I moved into the west end of Louisville in 1966, we were among the first black families to buy property in this area of the city. My parents bought a home in the 500 block of south western parkway, The west end at the time was an area that was predominantly white. There were a few black families in the neighborhood, but foremost part it was still a white conclave. However, as a child in the second grade this didn’t matter much in my limited view of the world.

In short order I had made many friends in my new world and many of them didn’t have the same pigment. That was never a problem, we played and enjoyed the things that all the same games and things. But time moved on and things did change for us, it was not a racial change it was a change in the physical appearance of our neighborhood.
The Jefferson county school system needed to build new schools and the west end was slated to get some new schools. There was a plot selected for one of the new schools and it was located down the street from my home. It would entail the demolition of a number of homes that were located on south western parkway.

I as a child was not privy to the nature of the transactions that occurred but the results I am very clear of the results. The 500 block of the parkway was to be cleared for the new school and most of the home owners at the time agreed and sold their homes. I had a number of childhood friends who lived in that block and I watched as the packed up and moved away.

But there was one family that refused to give up their dream home and they fought and they stayed. That was the Elmore family and their home has stood as a testament to the fact that a man’s home is his castle and eminent domain has its limits.
So when I read in the paper today, that the school system had finally acquired the property after nearly fifty years of trying without success. I knew that there would not be any fanfair; there would probably not be any real notice that there will be a change in the landscape of the parkway.

The late reverend A.J. Elmore was a friend and his wife Mrs. Ann Elmore was my English teacher in high school. I played with and grew up with their children in a time when it was a village that raised the kids of our neighborhood. I know from personal experience that they were proud of the fact that they held on to their home and raised their children in the place that they had selected. The government and the powers that be could not move them, they fought and won the right to stay in the home that they had worked for and God was with them.

So when I read that the school system plans to demolish their home it felt as though another part of my childhood was being destroyed. But the bible I think says it best, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.”

They will eventually demolish the home but the principle will live on in the hearts of many of the house that stood alone on the Parkway.

Where have all the Statesmen Gone?

I think we all can agree that America is facing a serious economic crisis, one that is comparable to the great depression of the thirties. We see unemployment and foreclosures destroying the hopes and dreams of the middle-class.

We have a debit and deficit that are threatening the futures of our children and grandchildren. Underlying all this disparaging news is the fact that America is losing ground in every major category we use to measure the status of a nation on the world stage. We can no longer claim the title of number one in many extremely important areas. We have fallen behind in education, specifically in math and science.

The three-yearly OECD program for International Student Assessment (PISA) report, which compares the knowledge and skills of 15-year-olds in 70 countries around the world, ranked the United States 14th out of 34 OECD countries for reading skills, 17th for science and a below-average 25th for mathematics.

Although we still are ranked number one world –wide in GDP according to several sources the United States is still the number one producer on the world stage. However, the European Union and The People’s Republic of China are close on our heels.

With that said we can’t forget that China is the United States number one creditor holding over 900 billion dollars of U.S. bonds. This equates to approximately $3000.00 for every man woman and child in the United States. We arrived at this point because of numerous factors and the actions of both political parties.

So why now do we see our elected officials fighting as though they were children on the playground. We see petty political posturing and polarizing rhetoric. We have republicans politicians using terms like “let’s take our country back.” This is a blatant attempt to play the race card and cause even more division among the electorate. We have democrats wanting to raise taxes on the wealth as though it was the fault of the wealthy that we are in this predicament.

So how do we get beyond all the name calling and bitterness? What good does all of the political positioning do when it comes to addressing the serious problems we as a nation now face? What happened to working for the good of the people? What happened to compromise to move forward?

Why have we developed an all or nothing mantra toward each other? What happened to statesmanship? What happened to true leadership? Let’s face the truth we are all going to have to sacrifice if we are to solve our nation’s economic woes.

Look households across the country have to make hard decisions for their financial health. Basically the adults in the home make a plan that will bring the family finances back to a healthy status. In other words they live within their means.

Will the adults in Washington PLEASE STAND UP!!!

It July 2, 2011 and I am sitting here in my nice home, enjoying all the things those who have made the ultimate sacrifice have given me and all of us who live in this the greatest democracy the world has ever known.

I am listen to the young people set off their fireworks and I wonder if they really understand why? Why do you really celebrate this day? Why is the fourth of July such an important day for our nation? These teenagers who are outside my home setting off these fireworks are doing this because they can. But the truth is they are doing this because of those have made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation.

On July the fourth as we did with Memorial Day, there will be backyard barbecues and all sorts of fun. Will any one of us really consider what we are celebrating? There will be ribs and potato salad, and many other culinary delights. We will consume copious amounts of adult beverages. We will spend our time in a family oriented may lay that will not even find a moment to considered what the day is really about.

I am not trying to put a damper on any of the Fourth of July activities. I just think that there should be a moment when we all gather together. Before the meal, before the party when we say thank you. Thank you for allow us to be born in a country with options. Thank you for those who felt compelled to stand up and fight for our way of life.

No matter where you live or how you live, if look at the world, this is still the greatest nation on the planet. The world looks to us for just about everything. So as you do what you do on the fourth, remember it’s not about the department store sales. It’s really not about all the food you will consume.

It’s about the lives that were lost and continue to be lost so that you and I can have a day like the fourth of July.

The day Our Music Died

I don’t how many of you remember the movie “La bomba “ that highlighted the death of Richie Valance, the “Big Bopper and the legendary Buddy Holly. Don McCllean immortalized this incident in his iconic song “The Day The Music Died.”

That tragedy was the biggest tragedy of the original rock and roll era and for many of our parents and grandparents they can tell you where they were when the news broke. But we in our generation have had our day of tragedy as well on June 25, 2009 the world stood still and cried a collective cry.

Michael Jackson was dead, I personally can't believe that it has been two years but the facts are the facts. MJ is gone and despite what some may think of him and his personal life, he was the greatest entertainer that the world has ever seen.

This not just hyperbole on my part the numbers support the statement that he was the best this world has ever seen. In an earlier post I spoke of how was blessed to see him on two occasions. But what I have found the most remarkable is how the world embraced and loved this little boy from Gary, Indiana.

This morning while watching the news I saw where a grandmother in China who gets up every day and goes to the town square and with her boom box, dances for hours to Michael’s music. I forgot to mention that she is also dressed like Michael, leather jacket and glove.

Although I am sad that one talented is gone, I am glad there have not been any sighting of Michael as we have had with the late ‘Topuc shukur.” Michael the undisputed king of pop is gone but his musical legacy will remain forever.
He now forever enshrined in the pantheon of musical royalty. Yes he was just a man, but what legacy, rest in peace Michael, we will always LOVE YOU!!!

Breaking The Law?

This week I’ve been conducting an experiment, it’s not according to any of the scientific norms. There are no control groups or surveys. This is simply the observations of one man me. The experiment is very simple in scope and will not win any awards for originality.

The experiment was the result of a very innocent question posed by my 17 year old daughter, who is now learning to drive. It has been a great experience for me to spend time with her as she achieves this milestone in a young person’s life.
She has made it her duty to not only read but take to heart the regulations set forth in the driver’s manual.

A few weeks ago while we were driving on the expressway she asked “daddy isn’t the speed limit 55 miles an hour.” I told her yes it is then she replied “then why are you doing almost 70 miles an hour?” My response was “because everyone else is going 70 miles an hour.” Then she looked at me and said, “So everybody is breaking the law.”

I had no viable response, what could I say. She was right, we all were breaking the law. The says we are suppose to travel 55 miles an hour but no one travels on the highway at the speed limit. Why do you do this on regular basis, without thinking about the fact that we are breaking the law?

So this week I decided to do something radical, I traveled the speed limit. This was an eye opening experience. While travelling the speed limit I was the enemy of everyone I encountered. There were several drivers who gave me the international greeting know as the “bird.” I encountered one woman who let her window down and questioned whether my parents were married.

I also had several gentlemen who wanted to it seemed resurrect the age old custom of a duel, right there on the highway. In short by following the law I became public enemy number one. I can look at my daughter and try to stand up as a person of morals and law abiding when daily I am breaking the law every time I get in my vehicle, I break the law.

But I am defiantly not alone as my experiment, although not scientific showed. We watch the news every night and look at those persons who in court with disgust. But the fact is breaking the law is breaking the law, we are such Hippocrates. We choose to obey the laws that we feel are important, but the others we ignore because they are an imposition on are time.

I know this little experiment of mine won’t change any driving habits, but maybe, just maybe the next time you get behind the wheel that little voice we call our conscience will whisper, YOU ARE BREAKING THE LAW!!!

Are all Men are dogs?

Hello, wake-up America, men and women are sexual by design, and affairs don’t occur in a vacuum. I said it in order to have an affair a man must have a willing partner. Before I go any further, it must be said that an affair cannot occur if didn’t women enjoy an occasional roll in the hay. The sexual drive of human beings is the study of many social disciplines.

We seem surprised as a nation when our leaders are caught in a sex scandal. It makes the headlines and we sit back and enjoy every moment of the individual’s discomfort. It’s the same instinct that cases us to slow down at vehicle accident sites.
So now we move on to the next scandal, with Congressman Wiener and what the media has named “wiener gate” in an effort to take this mans indiscretion and turn it into a major issue. Does anyone remember that we are facing an economic crisis that rivals the great depression?

Does anyone look at the fact gasoline is nearly $5.00 a gallon. But seriously, I too would like to have people in congress who where perfect. However, there are no perfect people. We all struggle with the skeletons in our closets. Those things that if they came to light might make us and our friends ask questions about the way we live.

So what do we do? So how do we get beyond this situation?

Look deep into your heart and see if there is something there you need to overcome? This is the latest and believe me he won’t be the last person in a position of power who makes a mistake. Did congressman wiener put a dent in his reputation? Yes, unfortunately he did and now he has caused us to take the focus off the serious problems America faces and we Americans must deal with this crap despite who congressman Weiner sends text too. Who this man sent pictures too is not relevant to the stark economic problems we face.

Yes, in the long run, in his next election, he might be defeated. But anyone considering that challenge may won’t to consider their own personal demons.
The people he represents will have to make the choice of whether he will remain on the job.