Some Americans actually feel that they are more American than others. When those other Americans get wind of that notion, they often blow off being productive, engaged members of society and live as part of a sub or counter culture. In these subcultures, the people are at war with the government and particular the police. Really? You hate local, state and federal government as the enemy. Some of that distrust fuels what we are seeing in Ferguson, Missouri.
First, we must still teach young Black men to “come home to night and wake up in the morning.” Yes, you have the right to not be attacked unlawful by the police or a Stand Your Ground zealot. But, you should consider defusing the situation while mentally recording the injustice so big lawsuits can be filed in the future.
I am going to ask a risky question: how does someone who is benefiting from “temporary” government assistance not voting? They should be the first people to vote. Secondly, voting out the elected officials who make bad laws and oversee the police is one of the best forms of protest—mess with their power and paychecks.
Conservatives have some good points about the limited role of government but they turnoff everyday people by allowing the nuttiest in their ranks to run the show. The worst method of the far Right involves discouraging elected officials’ dialog with the other side.
While we are in this election season, we should watch the Democrats botch the opportunity to get our community voting and engaged. If they listened to (and funded) my political friends and me, the face of the electorate would change for the better and more Americans would be at the discussion table.