I was impressed with Joe Manchin’s closing comments on Morning Joe on Monday, December 12, 2011 on why he’s a conservative democrat. Joe Manchin was the Governor of West Virginia and is now a U.S. Senator for West Virginia. Manchin says he will remain a Democrat because society does need a social safety net. His grandparents were entrenched in the community, giving out groceries and the like. However, he also remembers people asking his grandfather for money. If a person would ask him for three dollars he’d say, I’ll give it to you if you go out and sweep the grocery store parking lot. Manchin then says his grandfather would whisper to him, don’t worry because half of them aren’t going to do it.

I can agree with the fundamental premise of why he’s a Conservative Democrat. One the one hand people should pick themselves up, work hard, and fight for success. On the other hand, society has an obligation to help those who can’t help themselves and the working poor. This is where my political thoughts generally led me. There has to be a demand for both personal responsibility and community responsibility.

Your obedient servant,
Rev. George H. Latimer-Knight

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Michael Steele’s article on the connection between the Tea Party and Occupy Wall Street was basically correct but not complete. A recent study of the Tea Party revealed these interesting observations, “The 200,000 are slightly older than average Americans (many in their 60s), slightly more educated, and slightly more prosperous than average Americans, although that is substantially because they are older and older Americans are wealthier than average Americans. They are mostly white. More than half of Tea Party activists are religious, but the movement includes plenty of secular Americans.” Occupy Wall Street and Occupy Our Homes, respectively, are more likely to include younger left-leaning adherents that are not necessarily self-identified Democrats.

Another element that should be thrown in is the voter ID laws pushback across the country. The GOP is the sole backer of these strict voter ID laws. Maine, to their credit, voted down their new stricter voter ID laws. And Ohio voters presented enough signatures to halt their stricter GOP backed laws. Ohio will vote on them in November 2012.

All three movements—the Tea Party, Occupy Wall Street, and the stricter voter ID laws—will converge in 2012. All three are asking for more fairness. The Tea Party feels the government shouldn’t reward lazy citizens with a social safety net. The Occupy Wall Street movement argues for the fat-cats to give their fair share. The Occupy Our Homes movement says housing is a human right. The voter ID laws pushback points out that these new stricter laws disproportionally affect minorities, students, the elderly, and those on the lower economic scale.

Somehow we have to find a way to find the convergence of these movements. We need to find a way to uphold a set of principles that push these three movements toward each other. American politics has become so polarized that little can get done. We need more moderate voices—we need more moderate principles.

Let me give you some brief examples of what I mean. The Tea Party must come to see that all people being carrying by the social safety net aren’t lazy and shiftless. The Occupy Wall Street movement must come to see that regardless of how corporate America is regulated, wealth cannot be governmentally redistributed from the 1% to the 99%. If you gave every American, at say age 25, a check for one million dollars, we know a number of folks would still end up broke. The Occupy Our Homes movement must accept that society can help the less fortunate but must let those who are able and refuse to change to fail. The voter ID law pushback must find a way to acknowledge the right’s general premise and continue to aciculate better ways to enforce their concerns.

Somehow we must find the middle ground. The more I look at these social-political issues the more I discover my own political views. I believe I’m sort of a centrist progressive with somewhat socially conservative views. I will have to study this area more to figure this out.

Your obedient servant,
Rev. George H. Latimer-Knight

Sources
http://www.theroot.com/views/ows-and-tea-party-rallies
http://www.minnpost.com/ericblack/2011/11/11/33095/tea_party_study_whats_really_behind_the_movement
http://hotair.com/archives/2011/12/13/holder-to-push-against-voter-id-laws/
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/dec/1/democrats-push-back-against-voter-id-laws/?page=all

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Chicago Bears wide receiver Sam Hurd was arrested on federal felony drug charges on Wednesday. He is facing upwards of 40 years of jail time. And with current federal policies, he would have to serve 85% of his sentence. Apparently, Mr. Hurd was one of the largest drug dealers in Chicago. In fact, according to an undercover agent, Hurd had an expressed goal of building a major drug network. According to other sources, he wanted $700,000 in weekly drug supplies (10 kilograms of cocaine and 1,000 pounds of marijuana per week). It’s even reported that there may be a list of NFL players who allegedly purchased from Hurd’s drug ring.

We will follow this story for one reason…to show the youth the destructive nature of low-level thinking. Here you have a young man who toiled with his football craft from high school through college. Here you have a 26 years old black man who is currently signed under a three year contract with a total salary of $3,970,000 (yearly average of $1,323,333) and a $1,350,000 signing bonus ($450,000 yearly). His previous contracts with the Dallas Cowboys totaled, with bonuses, a whopping $5,484,000.

So Sam Hurd, with all his resources, money, prestige, and fame has apparently chosen to become a drug lord. How awful! I’m writing this article for the benefit of our young people. Money isn’t everything. Sam Hurd had money. Fame isn’t the ultimate. Sam Hurd had fame. What everybody needs is a solid moral compass, a liberal arts education, and sound financial training. A moral compass to guide us through the many choices life will inevitably present us with. A liberal arts education provides us with grounding in the great books, history, languages including English, literature, mathematics, music, philosophy, political science, psychology, religious studies, science, and theater. A sound financial training teaches us about how to obtain sustainable wealth, investments, real estate, savings strategies, etc.

Father Hurley taught us to think for ourselves. A lack of thinking is why Sam Hurd is in the position he’s in today. He just didn’t think. I don’t have to tear the young man down. I won’t call him names or castigate him. He just didn’t think. If he was a thinking man, he would’ve realized a millionaire black athlete wasn’t going to get away with a crime like this. If he was a thinking man, he would’ve gotten into a legal business and/or found a top-tier investment hawk to multiply his millions. If he was only a thinking man!

Saints and friends I feel the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit led me to write this. Please start thinking. Think, think, and think again. Think about the consequences of your actions. Be positive. See the blessings and opportunities you have been given and take advantage of them. God bless you. Peace & Love to all!

I have the honor to be your obedient servant,
Rev. George H. Latimer-Knight
Written, Friday, December 16, 2011

Sources:
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/sports/53133905-77/nfl-hurd-players-respect.html.csp
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-400_162-57344219/source-hurd-provided-drugs-to-other-nfl-players/
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/984904-arrest-of-bears-hurd-likely-to-spell-end-of-jerry-angelos-tenure-as-gm
http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/chicago-bears/sam-hurd/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberal_arts

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Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said in her speech to the UN that, “Gay rights are human rights and human rights are gay rights.” Some religious right leaders were angered by her speech. Even Republican Presidential candidate, Texas Governor Rick Perry, put out a campaign commercial claiming President Obama has declared a “war on religion”. In reality, the Clinton speech is referring to the many countries around the world that make it illegal to be gay.

Various religious views of homosexuality notwithstanding, I think all thinking men and women can agree that being gay isn’t be illegal. Murdering, harassing, and browbeating the LGBT community cannot be tolerated. I for one was impressed with the United States’ stand. It’s something all of us should be proud of.

Your obedient servant,
Rev. George H. Latimer-Knight

Sources:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/post/clintons-geneva-accord-gay-rights-are-human-rights/2011/03/04/gIQAPUipcO_blog.html
http://news.advocate.com/post/13844217337/watch-the-speech-youve-been-waiting-for
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2011/12/06/hillary-clinton-demands-equal-rights-for-lgbt-people-the-world-over-video/

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All Hail to the Christ Within!

I saw a statistic that caught my eye. It claims 72% of black children are born to unwed mothers. This number is startling but not surprising given our American culture. Having a baby out of wedlock isn’t the communal shame it once was. Now I’m not suggesting that was a positive approach. Society cannot make people get married or prohibit premarital sex, nor should it. In fact, I am opposed, in principle, to couples getting married just because they are pregnant.

I disagree with black intellectuals that feels even discussing this statistic is anti-black or nonsensical. Black feminists Joan Morgan, Jamilah Lemieux, and Susana Morris all feel we shouldn’t discuss this. I can understand some of their concerns. Again, no one can make people get married or not have premarital sex. However, while I respect these feminists’ positions they ignore so other equally startling statistics.

63% of youth suicides are from fatherless homes
90% of all homeless and runaway children are from fatherless homes
85% of all children who show behavior disorders come from fatherless homes
80% of rapists with anger problems come from fatherless homes
71% of all high school dropouts come from fatherless homes
75% of all adolescent patients in chemical abuse centers come from fatherless homes
85% of all youths in prison come from fatherless homes.

What do these numbers mean? I’ll leave it to you to decide. But I will say that the traditional biblical position of getting married before having sex and thereby having children is favored and born out in these numbers. Having a stable two-parent household is the best situation for children—that we can all agree upon. How then do we get young people to see casual sex leads us down a dark road? What do you think?

Your obedient servant,
Rev. George H. Latimer-Knight

Sources:
http://madamenoire.com/26366/72-of-black-kids-born-to-unwed-mothers/
http://www.bvblackspin.com/2010/11/08/72-percent-of-african-american-children-born-to-unwed-mothers/
http://www.children-ourinvestment.org/
http://www.timesunion.com/news/article/High-percentage-of-unwed-black-mothers-stirs-801770.php
http://colorlines.com/archives/2011/10/black_feminisms.html

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All Hail to the Christ Within!

Over the last several months, the Occupy Wall Street or 99% movement has swept the country. The so-called 99% movement is rightly pointing out the income disparities that have developed in our country. And of late, civil rights leaders like Rev. Al Sharpton have exposed the fact that 40 states have passed voting right restrictions like strict voter ID laws, hampering third party voter registration drives, and early voting.

Despite my agreement with the substance and sentiment of the 99% movement, the greater call should be for citizens to vote. I say, let’s have 99% of eligible voters vote in 2012! The highest voter turnout since 1960 was in 1960 with 57.48%. Protesting is important BUT fighting for voting rights, voter registration, supporting early voting, and advocating election turnout will make the difference. Some say, “Your vote doesn’t count.” We as a nation haven’t actually tested this theory. If all eligible voters voted, the current system would collapse and the government would work for us. We would have a national multiparty system again.

Look at the 1960 voter turnout percentage as an example. President Kennedy won 49.72% of the popular vote. With further analysis we see that he only won 28.57% of eligible voters. What if the other 42.52% of eligible voters had voted for candidate X. Candidate X would’ve been President X instead of President Kennedy.

Your obedient servant,
Rev. George H. Latimer-Knight

Sources
http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/national.php?year=1960
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voter_turnout_in_the_United_States_presidential_elections
http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/data/turnout.php
http://elections.gmu.edu/voter_turnout.htm

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau was created to protect the public from such things as pay day loans, unclear credit card agreements, and predatory lending practices. The congressional Republicans blocked President Obama’s original appointment Elizabeth Warren, who is now running to be a Massachusetts U.S. Senator. Republicans seek to also block Obama’s current Bureau Chief appointee Richard Cordra. Some on the left are not excited about Cordra and claim that Obama threw Warren under the bus. A charge that I think is foolish because it was the Republicans that blocked Warren and there was nothing Obama could do.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is operating with no director but can’t fully act without one. This bureau, in my estimation, is critical in rebuilding and solidifying our new economy. Take the foreclosure crisis as a case study. The Occupy Our Homes movement notwithstanding, most of the folks under water in their mortgages will probably eventually lose their homes. The housing bubble has burst and no initiative, congressional bill, or presidential order can fix it. The question for me is—what happens after all these mortgages are processed? If we don’t protection citizens from predatory lenders and educate people on finances, the housing market will bloat up again.

Your obedient servant,
Rev. George H. Latimer-Knight

Sources:
Republicans Continue to Block Financial Bureau Chief Appointment
Senate GOP Blocks Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Chief Appointment to Force Change to Bureau
Shelby Vows To Keep Blocking Consumer Protection Nominee, But Says A Recess Appointment Would Be ‘Devastating’
Richard Cordray is no Elizabeth Warren

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