The past week has not been a good one for the Democrats.
In New Jersey the bribery scandal involving political leaders in Hudson County as well as in the State Government structure has demonstrated again the dangers of the "pay to play" practices of local, county and state governments. I and others have consistently expressed our opposition to the awarding of contracts to "approved providers' without competitive bidding. Citizens interested should study the agenda acted upon at Council meetings. I am not accusing the members of our City Council of wrong doing but trying to point out the inherent dangers in this practice.
On a national level both the President and Vice President made damaging gaffes; the President overreacted to an incident involving the police and an Afro-American Harvard professor. How effective damage control will be remains to be seen. Let us hope that there will not be too great a negative reaction affecting his popularity among all ethnic groups. Until all the facts are known and made public we can not determine that it was racial bias as the sole provocation for the police officer's inappropriate action.
When bias issues arise it would be helpful if all concerned would not act in haste and not exhibit a thin skin and react aggressively creating escalation of the situation. Unfortunately, ethnic groups tend to be insular, defensive and resentful. It would help all if every one could establish personal relationships with members of other racial, religious or ethnic affiliations. Perhaps then there would be a better understanding of others and less incidents too often tragic.
Vice President Biden seems to be suffering from foot in the mouth disease. The latest was his demeaning remarks about Russia which smack of the same self authoritative image characteristic of the Cheney Vice Presidency. He certainly did nothing to smooth relationships between Russia and us. Pallin would have made a better VP, and that ain't saying much.
On a pleasant note, as of this writing two of the Councilors have posted their views on tax abatements. I urge you to read them. This is transparency in government.
(note; last night I posted a second post on health care financing)
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Doc, you yourself are jumping to conclusions! How do we know that any of the officers actions were inappropriate. You seem biased to assume that they were. I do not know, and as you say we need to let those tasked with finding out what happened do their job.
ReplyDelete7:44am,Although as you state we don't know for certain if the officer' actions were inappropriate.
ReplyDeleteHowever;(1) There was no report of Professor Gates even threatening to attack the officer. I certainly don't believe that it was appropriate if as reported Gates' arms were handcuffed behind his back like a dangerous criminal. No one would have critized the officer for a humane deviation from protocol.
Don't you believe what took place here was a variation on Road Rage by two individuals resulting from an over quick anger trigger fueld by years of racial problems.
Doc.
ReplyDeleteIt appears that the Vice President might not be the only one who occasionally suffers from a "foot in mouth" disease."Ethnic groups tend to be insular, defensive and resentful", strikes me as the kind of idea you might not have printed if you take your own advice and get to personally know more of us who belong to certain ethnic groups. In fact I would suggest, "Physcian heal thyself."
Margaret Lewis
Margaret, Perhaps the one word "resentful" could be considerd out f line. Can you point out any ethnic group which has not congregated in a specific area when first becoming Americans. It is the first USA born generations that tend to mix in the general population. But even that generation has a defensive shell which may be well hidden but exists.
ReplyDeleteBack to "resentful", it is a rare person who can ignore being discriminated upon in some manner. Housing areas denied, second rate treatment in snobby places etc.
I think this phrase is factual not a function of bigotry and welcome amy other's opinion.