Urban News Features

Government Health Care Success: 49 Years of Medicare and Medicaid By Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr.

August 3, 2014

Government Health Care Success: 49 Years of Medicare and Medicaid
By Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr.

(TriceEdneyWire.com) - Last week marked the 49th anniversary of two of the most important “big government” programs ever — Medicare and Medicaid. On July 30, 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed these two critical health care programs into law. At the signing ceremony, LBJ handed the first two Medicare cards to former President Harry Truman, who had called for the program years before, and his wife, former first lady Bess Truman.

Contradicting the conservative fable that “big government” programs never work, Medicare has made the lives of millions of American senior citizens more secure and healthier. Medicaid has improved the lives of millions more poor Americans, by giving them access to health care at a fair price. These programs are among the most important legislation passed during LBJ’s Great Society, and are so popular that Republicans spend every election cycle pretending that they really support expanding coverage, while spending a lot of their legislative time in the House and Senate trying to whittle down both programs.

Today is no different. Conservatives on the Supreme Court have just ruled that a key provision of the Affordable Care Act is invalid, putting an important national law in jeopardy — on a technicality! This law was argued and debated over two long, arduous years. Everyone voiced their opinion, and still does. Lies were told about what “Obamacare” would supposedly do. Dire predictions of failure were made by conservative pundits — too few people would sign up; too few young people would sign up, it would kill millions of jobs. None of that proved true. Poor and middle-class Americans have signed up for the Affordable Care Act at rates higher than expected, among them millions of the young. No death panels have emerged, despite the predictions of Sarah Palin and Michele Bachmann. And the economy has continued to grow, despite right-wing attempts to obstruct progress.

Yet far too many Republican governors and legislatures, especially across the South, continue to prevent the expansion of Medicaid to their own citizens. Medicaid expansion is a key part of the Affordable Care Act, an opportunity for millions of “near-poor” Americans to gain access to health care at a low cost. Yet despite demonstrated need, despite dire health problems, despite the negative impact this denial of Medicaid is having on both individual families and many existing hospitals, the fear of reprisals from Tea Party voters has made GOP governors afraid to help their own citizens. So they block Medicaid expansion to their own people, even though the federal government will pay almost all the costs, and even though there is demonstrated need.

This is just wrong. In 22 states, many of them among our nation’s poorest states, Republican governors and state legislatures are refusing to expand Medicaid. Almost half of those refusals come from the states that made up the old Confederacy (10 out of 11, with only Arkansas, headed by a Democratic governor, attempting to find an alternative solution to expansion). Wisconsin and Maine and Alaska, along with another nine states across the Midwest and in the Upper Rockies, are also refusing to expand Medicaid — almost all of them headed by Republican governors.

This is just wrong. Their constituents need access to health care, too. As we mark the 49th anniversary of the signing of Medicare and Medicaid programs into law, we should consider that poor families today also need health care, just as seniors did in 1965, just as poor people did in 1965. Medicare and Medicaid were two of the greatest accomplishments of President Johnson’s Great Society. If Republican governors would set aside their partisan hostility toward President Obama and the Affordable Care Act, they could ease the worries of millions of their constituents, and make their lives both healthier and more secure. It’s the right thing to do. It’s the moral thing to do. The 49th anniversary of Medicare and Medicaid this week reminds us that an expansion of Medicaid everywhere could help America be a better, healthier nation. I call on the GOP to keep hope alive for all their constituents, even their less affluent constituents, and their minority constituents. I call on them to stop blocking access to Medicaid. It’s time to do the right thing, and end their partisan obstruction.

Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. is president/CEO of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition

All Quid and No Quo By James Clingman

August 3, 2014

Blackonomics
All Quid and No Quo
By James Clingman

(TriceEdneyWire.com) - The term “Maát” is familiar to many of us. I give credit to the youth at the SBA (“Saba”) Academy in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, under the superb leadership of Brother Kweku Akan and his staff, for enlightening me on the exact meaning of the term and the principles it embodies: Truth; Justice; Righteousness; Balance; Harmony; Order; and Reciprocity. We have scholars among us who know far more than I on these principles, so I will not even attempt to discuss them in total. I do want to speak about one principle, however: “Reciprocity.”

It simply means something for something, for mutual benefit, between two parties or entities. In politics they use the Latin term “quid pro quo” probably because the majority of the electorate does not know what the term means. It sounds nice and sophisticated but it simply means reciprocity. You give me something and I will give you something. In political circles, of course, it could be boiled down to dollars for votes, or votes for dollars.

Blacks are the most loyal voters in this country but not the most generous when it comes to campaign donations. So our quid pro quo should be “votes for dollars.” Although we call them programs and benefits, nonetheless, our “quo,” in return for our “quid” should be flowing back to us like a rushing stream. We should not have to beg, march, demonstrate, or fight for our quo; if reciprocity is the name of the game Black voters should be sitting pretty right now. But for all of our quid election after election, we have little quo to show for it.

Politically speaking, Black people are being played. The sad part about it is that we don’t seem to care. The lower we sink, politically and economically, the more we are available “to get off the couch and put on our marching shoes” to demonstrate our dissatisfaction about the political system, as though our anger will change it.

The mis-leaders keep telling us how powerful our vote is, but in spite of turning out in greater proportionate numbers that Whites in 2012, we still suffer from a lack of reciprocity. Despite our undying loyalty we are still an all quid and no quo voting bloc. Frederick Douglass warned, “When we are noted for enterprise, industry, and success, we shall no longer have any trouble in the matter of civil and political rights.” Makes me almost wish he had said, “When we give all of our votes to one political party, we will achieve full political reciprocity.”

To many Black folks, Maát has real meaning. We recite the principles, chant, sing, and teach them, but a relative few of us actually practice them. As for reciprocity, Black people have far to go in the marketplace and in the political arena. We give but we do not receive. All quid with no quo.

Why do we accept such a one-sided deal, especially from those to whom our loyalty is pledged and given? Politically we are taken for granted, obviously because of our staunch loyalty; and economically we suffer the same result because we do not command and demand a reasonable return on our dollars. One example that captures both the economics and politics of this issue is the $1 billion in President Obama’s 2012 campaign war chest contrasted by the measly $985,000 spent with the Black press. In exchange for our 93 percent-95 percent quid, our quo was one-tenth of one percent, or 0.1 percent in media buys, and that was up from the planned spend of $650,000, which was raised due to ”pressure” on the campaign managers. Taken for granted is putting it mildly.

Rep. Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL), in an article written by George Curry, NNPA Editor-in-Chief (January 2013), accused President Obama of “consistently disrespecting the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), the Black Press, and graduates of historically Black colleges, key groups that were critical to his re-election in November.”

Considering the number of years that Blacks such as Douglass, Booker T., Garvey, and Malcolm have been telling us how to play the political game to win, we continue to play it just to play. Considering our penchant for ancient African principles and tenets, such as reciprocity, we insult the memory of our ancestors by giving our quid without demanding and receiving a quo.

So what should we do? Well, my contention is that Black people must move beyond the politics and voting issues, and the only way to do that is achieve the lofty goal of 100 percent Black voter registration and voting. Once that is off the table, our attention can then be directed to the economics of it all. See next week’s column for an expansive view on this solution. We must have more quo for our quid, y’all.

Economic Growth is Up - Will It Trickle Down? By Julianne Malveaux

August 3, 2014

Economic Growth is Up - Will It Trickle Down?
By Julianne Malveaux

(TriceEdneyWire.com) - Last quarter’s rate of economic growth is good news, especially after the economy stalled, losing momentum in the first quarter of 2014. Many said it was an aberration, caused by bad weather, especially since economic growth in the last half of 2013 was more than three percent. On the surface the economy is, indeed, recovering, not only because of growth rates, but because other indicators (excepting unemployment) are positive signs.

Of course, consumer spending explains two-thirds of economic growth. If people don’t put their money into the economy, buying durable goods like cars and refrigerators and non-durable goods like clothing and food the economy stalls. Yet while the economy is growing overall, the 99 percent have captured most of the growth. Wages have not yet risen, and according to one report, job creation dropped from 281,000 in June to 218,000 the month before. As of this writing, unemployment data has not been released. But here’s what we do know – the Dow Jones industrial average is under 10,000 as of 2009; it has grown by 60 percent in 2014.

In contrast the official unemployment rate in 2009 dropped by a third, indicating that those at the top have gained more in recovery than those at the bottom. How can the stock market expand so rapidly while the bottom 99 percent are stuck? Low wages mean high profits. Some of the stock market gains that have been realized are a function of wages that have not increased. Indeed, some corporations have chosen to move their headquarters away from the United States.

Fortune Magazine’s Alan Sloan reports that Ireland, Bermuda and Switzerland are the tax havens for the top ten corporate tax - tax avoiders. While these companies hit the road to avoid taxes, they have no hesitation in enjoying the benefits that come from tax protection, and regulation.

When these corporations underpay their workers, who supplement their inadequate wages with government-funded income subsidies (like food and housing assistance). When these countries need securities protection, they don’t hesitate to use the SEC (securities and exchange commission) though the United States government pays for that regulatory agency. While these corporations operate like foreign corporations for tax purposes, then expect the services of the United States government for their protection.

Meanwhile, the leaders of these companies are some of those who argue for lower estate taxes, and lower taxes for the wealthy. Give me a break! These corporations are ripping off United States taxpayers in two ways. First, they don’t pay taxes on the benefits they receive. Secondly, their advocacy to cut personal taxes is yet another attack on the tax base.

Those in the bottom 80 percent gain little from the Securities Exchange Commission and other financial regulatory agencies. They gain little from the regulatory agencies that force corporations to play nice. They’ll pay for these regulatory agencies because they are part of the budget, part of the tax bill.

Can we do something about this? Either those corporate deserters should be heavily taxed before they go (or their products should be taxed), giving their competitors an advantage because of lower prices. Similarly, the companies who choose to stay in the United States ought to gain a tax benefit for their loyalty. The tax system can be used to level the playing field. Some legislators get it, but too many use the free market excuse to say their hands are tied.

Legislation that prevents corporate rip-offs makes sense, but it is likely to be swallowed by the legislative gridlock that is a permanent feature of this Congress. As long as runaway corporations push their tax burden on the rest of us, economic recovery is rushing up instead of trickling down.

Julianne Malveaux is a DC based economist and author.

NUL 2014 Conference: “Bridges to Jobs and Justice” Brings 13,000 Plus Attendees By Marc H. Morial

August 3, 2014

To Be Equal
NUL 2014 Conference: “Bridges to Jobs and Justice” Brings 13,000 Plus Attendees

By Marc H. Morial

(TriceEdneyWire.com) - “We have no permanent friends, no permanent enemies…only permanent interests.” Former Congressman William Clay, Sr.

In a sign of the ongoing strength of the civil rights community and the Urban League Movement, more than 13,000 people joined us in Cincinnati last week during our 2014 National Urban League Conference for four power-packed days of diversity and dialogue about where we have been and where we are heading in our search for solutions to the pressing problems facing urban America. We also celebrated the 15th anniversary of the National Urban League Young Professionals, the 25th anniversary of our Youth Leadership Summit and the 10th anniversary of our Women of Power awards. Over the past 15 years, the Young Professionals have changed the trajectory of the Urban League Movement – producing strong, effective CEOs who are infusing a new energy and passionate leadership into our affiliates across the county. This year’s Youth Leadership Summit was held at Cincinnati’s Xavier University where 400 14-18 year-olds were exposed to the college experience and the important skills they will need for success in college, work and life. As a part of the National Urban League’s investment in STEM, we teamed up with GE Aviation in a unique experience day for Youth Leadership Summit participants, titled STEM Rising: Uplifting STEM Learning through Aviation, where they had an opportunity to visit the GE Aviation campus and learn about aviation industry technologies and innovations, as well as developing their leadership and teamwork skills.

A highlight of the conference was Vice President Joe Biden’s keynote address on Thursday, July 24 during which he noted the National Urban League’s role in advancing civil rights and the many economic and social gains for African Americans since the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The Vice President also touted the Obama Administration’s focus on job creation and infrastructure spending, quoting a National Urban League finding that "Every $1 billion in investment creates 30,000 jobs, 14 percent of which go to African-Americans." The Vice President echoed the National Urban League’s opposition to recent attacks on voting rights, pointing out that, “This year alone, there were 83 initiatives in 29 states to limit access to the ballot box, in the name of preventing corruption where no corruption was found, in the name of preventing widespread fraud where none was occurring.” He added, we should call it what it is – “an attempt to repress minority voting masquerading as an attempt to end corruption.”

In addition to the Vice President’s views, as a non-partisan organization, the National Urban League has always welcomed ideas and dialogue from across the entire political spectrum, and this year’s conference attracted a number of notable voices who were eager to share their ideas and reach out to the African American community. U.S. Conference of Mayors President and Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson addressed conference attendees, noting that “Mayors don’t have time to deal with the partisan bickering that goes back and forth between Democrats and Republicans. We’re pragmatic, practical and problem-solvers, and we are with you in the trenches. We are your allies in the movement.” During a session that immediately preceded the Vice President, seven mayors – Akron, OH Mayor Don Plusquellic; Columbia, SC Mayor Stephen Benjamin; Columbus, OH Mayor Michael Coleman; Denver, CO Mayor Michael Hancock; Gary, IN Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson; Jacksonville, FL Mayor Alvin Brown; and Memphis, TN Mayor AC Wharton, Jr. – participated on a panel that focused on strategies for addressing underemployment, including education and training, transportation, small business development, technology and innovation, and healthcare. The following day, Republican Senator Rand Paul made a strong argument for criminal justice reform, announcing legislation that eliminates any disparity between crack cocaine and powder cocaine, and revealing that he and Senator Cory Booker have teamed up on ideas to overhaul the criminal justice system, including legislation that expunges non-violent felonies from a person's record. While some of these ideas hold merit, there are many others that diverge from the interests of the Urban League Movement including opposition to a raise in the minimum wage and any support of voter ID laws. However, as I’ve previously stated, history has shown us a consistent truth - that it is only by talking, listening and reasoning together that we build trust, end stalemates and transform conflicts into solutions. We don’t have to adopt every view that is presented to us, but we should never devolve to a place where we stop listening to – or worse – respecting each other.

Our 2014 Conference was a resounding success – thanks in large part to the support of our 94 affiliates in more than 300 communities across the nation, the people of Cincinnati who welcomed us with open arms and the dedicated and committed companies who provided their support, including our title sponsors, P&G, Toyota, and Western & Southern. Many lessons were gained during the course of our four days together, but perhaps the most important was the ongoing need for coalition-building to address the nation's many challenges. In order to build bridges to jobs and justice, we must first have meaningful dialogue that leads to action. As former Congressional Black Caucus member William Clay, Sr. famously said, “We have no permanent friends, no permanent enemies…just permanent interests.” I hope our 2014 Conference was an example of the type of respectful and insightful exchange necessary to defend the permanent interests of urban America and lead to lasting change.

Ray Rice: The New Poster Boy for Domestic Violence by Dr. E. Faye Williams

August 3, 2014

Ray Rice: The New Poster Boy for Domestic Violence
By Dr. E. Faye Williams

(TriceEdneyWire.com)—Last week I was in Jacksonville, Fla. on the Marissa Alexander case. She’s the Black woman who received a sentence of 20 years for avoiding shooting her abusive husband by firing into the ceiling to back him off from beating her up again. He’d already done so, causing her to have premature delivery of her baby just nine days before the shooting incident. She’s currently out on bail, facing a new trial and State Attorney Angela Corey who prosecuted the Trayvon Martin case is threatening to ask for 60 years this time.

While in Florida, I became aware of the Ray Rice case where he hit his fiancé so hard that he knocked her unconscious. Domestic abuse is common place, and many think this should make Rice the new poster boy for domestic violence. As if the role Rice played in this case, Steve Smith--the brash, big mouth sports analyst-- used the occasion to comment on women provoking such abuse. The reaction to his comment quickly made him want to take it back!

Months went by after the 2014 Valentine’s Day incident was widely publicized. This happened only after Rice received a little slap on the wrist from the National Football League for his egregious behavior. Admittedly, we don’t know what happened before we saw Rice dragging a woman we now know to be Janay Palmer out of an elevator. We understand both were arrested and released. The police report indicated they were not sure of what happened. Rice and Ms. Palmer were not married at the time of this tragic event, but they were married soon thereafter—which leads one to wonder if their marriage occurred to dampen the impact of his brutality—possibly to prevent her from testifying in case there was a trial in the matter.

There was a time when something like this happened, nothing would be said. To show how far the women’s movement has come, there is more outrage about how the NFL handled the matter than about the act itself. That outrage has shown that the NFL should get the message that violence against women cannot continue to go on. People are paying more attention to the punishment rendered in cases like this involving people in the limelight.

In these incidents, the good old boy network must look long and hard at public reaction to cases like this because no longer will men with money have a walk in the park in domestic violence cases. The reaction to the penalty was overwhelming and sent a message that that says team executives must be very careful how they handle these cases.

All of us who work against domestic violence daily, and sympathizers, can sleep just a little bit better--not because of the action taken by the league, but because of the reaction of the public to the penalty.

Smith, who got more time off the air than the perpetrator, must be wondering if what he said was that bad! People responded to his comments, which he had a right to say, but again it was the reaction of the people that made even ESPN respond by suspending him with a little slap on the wrist like Rice’s. It wasn’t much of a punishment, but poor Steve got more suspension time than Rice!

When Rice came on the practice field the other day his fans cheered for him. I wonder if the reaction would have been the same if Janay had been their sister, mother, grandmother or someone the fans loved.

This case puts colleges and universities, sportscasters, the NFL and others on notice that the misconduct of athletes will no longer be resolved in the locker room!

(Dr. E. Faye Williams is President/CEO of the National Congress of Black Women. www.nationalcongressbw.org. 202/678-6788)