Letters to the Editor
Jerm
Published Letters: 100 Editor's Choice: 3
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Clinton's results with African-Americans (and Hispanics)
[Read the article: Barack Obama, working-class hero?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I've seen, and heard, so much on the Clintons' great track record with African-Americans. I'm wondering what record is being cited?
The 1990s were tougher on African-Americans (in particular) than any decade since the Civil Rights Act was passed...worse even than the Reagan years. I find nothing substantial that was done by Clinton's administration to remedy the situation during the 90s.
Some context:
65% of metropolitan area African-Americans live in central cities. Central city poverty grew, during the Clinton years, to nearly double the suburban poverty rate (16.1% vs. 9.1% nationally). 75% of all new jobs created during the Clinton years were created in the suburbs. 65% of those jobs, including low-skilled jobs, are unreachable by any form of public transportation. Central city joblessness increased 15%, while suburban joblessness decreased .3%. African-American unemployment reached an historical peak at 41.6% in 2000, before Bush Jr. took office.
Hispanic support for the Clintons is equally confusing to me, since much of the above applies to them (as a group) as well (Hispanic unemployment also reached an historic peak at 32.8% in 2000).
The economic realignment of the 80s and 90s was especially harsh on African-Americans (and Hispanics to a lesser degree), and, again, I can't find any evidence of a Federal policy to counter the effects. ...it's not like they didn't know it was happening.
To be fair, all of this did start before Clinton came into office, but his administration doesn't seem to have helped any. Why would any African-American or Hispanic person think a Hillary administration would be any different? Barack was in Chicago at least trying to help before and during that period.
Hillary was talking about job retraining, etc. to counter effects of deindustrialization and off-shoring the other day. Where were those policies during the 90s? Why should anyone believe her now?
The rust belt was hit hard by economic realignment, and we have two Democratic candidates who seem to care. The trouble is that one has experience helping, and the other has a speech. Now, where have I heard that before?
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John Adams
[Read the article: Barack Obama, working-class hero?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]...would have passed a sedition act, and locked up anyone who criticized him. ...I think.
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@Shawn - Facts
[Read the article: Barack Obama, working-class hero?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I thought I was pretty clear that I was writing about central-city poverty. Any census report from the 1990s through today confirm that the poor (overwhelmingly minority) residents of central cities have suffered an increase in the income gap during the last business cycle (some ups, but mostly downs). Poor people became poorer during the 1990s, and the trend has been continuing.
The stats you cite, "median income" and "African-American poverty rate", are blended across the entire constituent population, and they leave out the details of the most distressed. This is the real problem with poverty: people just keep getting left out. The last business cycle tended to be good for the economy at-large, but had either no effect or a worsening effect on the most distressed central-city communities in the country.
I actually do believe both Clintons care, and their track record is pretty good for children and middle-class minorities, but not good for central-cities, where significant impoverished minority populations live.
Sorry for being off-topic, and a little nuanced, but I just don't think these problems get solved with broad strokes. That is also why I particularly honor Barack's community organizing in Chicago.
(and sorry if I was a bit hyperbolic in parts of my previous post. I am guilty of painting with a broad brush at times too.)
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Rocky and Rambo
[Read the article: Rocky is not running for president]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I have a long-held opinion that the Rocky and Rambo movies were some of the most influential movies ever made. Unfortunately they were icons of a conservative cultural shift in this country. They also go a long way toward proving how dumb we can be for even paying attention to them. Rocky wasn't a terrible story, but it sure did play up some ugly stereotypes. Rambo was MUCH worse, but that's not my point.
The invocation of that crap is the point. It proves the influence of those movies. And it probably does more to get Stallone on the flat-screen endorsing McCain than it does for Clinton. Please bang a different drum. Leave Sly alone with his honor-through-blood fantasies of invading South-East Asian countries and beating up loudmouthed black guys and Communists.
Speaking of tired thugishness, the "Obama lied, and does in fact take money from oil interests...if you count the small donations made by individuals who work for oil companies" line is a bit over-the-top. Who cares? And, are you serious?
I also personally don't give a hoot about Clinton being fired from a job when she was 27 years old. I mean, come on, she was hardly an adult. She had only just received her law degree. It's ridiculous to hold people accountable for their actions at such a tender and inexperience juncture in their lives.
When will the sarcasm and negativity end!?
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@meffert - Sarcasm
[Read the article: Rocky is not running for president]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]27 years old with a law degree? ...I was being ironical.
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I don't care if they're rich
[Read the article: Why did Clinton wait to release her tax return?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]...but I do care where the money came from, and what, if any, quid pro quo may be attached to any of it. They haven't released their entire tax returns, and have filed for an extension. The devil's in the details, and most of those details have yet to be disclosed.
I will withhold any judgment until more info is released. As for the extent of their wealth, I'm ambivalent, if not a bit jealous.
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Chris Matthews
[Read the article: From bowling to orange juice]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Notorious misogynist and lesbian groper, and, God, how he loves Tim RussertI love his show though - it reminds me how goofy and inconsequential all of this political theatre really is. At least Matthews has fun doing whatever it is that he does. I honestly can't imagine cable news without him. Keep talking Chris. I totally GET you.