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Posts Tagged ‘moderates’

Occam’s Razor and Southern Politics

Posted in politics, tagged , , , on January 30, 2010| Leave a Comment »

William of Ockham

“One should not increase, beyond what is necessary, the number of entities required to explain anything.”  William of Occam (1285-1349)

“Make things as simple as possible – but no simpler.” Albert Einstein

The simplest solution is often the correct one.

“KISS” Keep It Simple, Stupid

William of Occam was on to something: simpler explanations are better than complicated ones and using the term “razor” to refer to shaving away unnecessary assumptions to get to the simplest explanation is too cool.  I should have been doing this years ago. 

William of Georgia: Southern moderates would help this nation by openly stating what government shouldn’t do and what people should do. (My government name is actually William Terence)

Is that simple enough?  People talk about JFK all the time but fail to remember his classic quote “ask not what this country can do for you, but what you can do for this country.”  Heaven knows the Left means well with their efforts to find governmental remedies for every problem in the world.  Here’s an idea: have few problems.  Heaven knows the Right is also well-intended with their tough love/disciplinarian approach for those in need.  However, someone gets fat on their watch also. 

When the Right produces Black congressional candidates, they say the same mean-spirited rhetoric as their brethren and it does not play well in my community.  Liberal candidates can be equally detrimental with their promises and hopes that government can save us…from us.  I listened to every word candidate Obama said and rarely did he give the impression that this presidency would miraculous improve our lives.  He spoke of creating conditions favorable for achievement for those ready to focus and work hard.  Obama actually sounded like Newt Gingrich but people’s eyes were too gazed over with pure affection to hear his plan.  If you want to be like the Obamas, keep your game tight like the Obamas.

The natural dip in the president’s poll numbers reflect the awaking of those new to politic and policy.  There won’t be a Ford in every garage because your home is in foreclosure since you tried to buy a 200K house on a 31K salary.  Is that any president’s fault or did you sleep in high school econ class.  

William of Georgia’s Razor: Change Washington by producing congressional candidates or incumbents who simple encourage people to plan lives that function and prosper with minimum governmental involvement.

Execute home economics…plan families…conserve energy…build a nestegg…stay out of court and jail…diet and exercise to avoid the healthcare system…don’t believe D.C. can help…listen to your elders’ wisdom…trust heaven.

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Weddings and Marriage

Posted in politics, tagged , , , , , , on October 28, 2009| 1 Comment »

(Ignore Bradgelina…hear Mrs. Patti Labelle)

From watching Bridezilla (since I don’t have a life) and noticing weddings for four decades, I have concluded that some people want the pageantry of a wedding without thinking about the long-term commitment of being bonded “until death do you part.”  Some women think about being lovely brides (queen for a day) without thinking about being a wife with all the ups and downs of cohabitation.  Too many fellows ignore the “forsaking all others” part of the vows; “thick and thin” could refer to the times or waistlines. I know guys who got married before they start making money and now complain that women are checking them out since they have $40K cars. 

There are some women who actually seek to “date” married men for reasons that escape me.  If you met him creeping, he is a creeper, genius.  Since birds of a feather often flock together, keep us single guys out of your mess—don’t start with that “if you see my wife at the store, you and I have been hanging out more lately” stuff to cover where you have actually been.  Oh no, my name is Paul and that mess is between you’ all.

Speaking of Paul, the local newspaper has a Bible verse everyday and today it was Titus 2:1 “But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine.” Since I didn’t half pay attention in Sunday School as a kid, I just learned today that the Book of Titus is Paul’s letters to Titus who was on Crete. The rest of Chapter 2 was good information for couples.

http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Tts&c=2&t=NKJV#

Titus 2:9 is controversial in some Black circles because it is one of the “servants obey your masters” selections that was used to justify American slavery.  Hey, Titus 2:5 deals with women being in subjugation to their husbands and the sistas I know don’t and shouldn’t play that.  I better leave that alone.

This topic appears on a political blog because my friends and I are talking about a new brand of moderate/conservative thinking that grows from the particular needs of our community and functions without validation, approval or authorization from the current political establishment.  At some point, you get tried of waiting and realize “we are who we have been waiting for.”  Some things need to be said by those with constructive intend.  Since government should play a limited role in the lives of Americans, we need more leaders who will say that, give examples of life planning that reflects that and help young people learn the possible consequences of poor planning.  Policy needs teeth because reasonable people are weary of taking care of others’ poor decision-making. 

If you are not ready to be a spouse or parent, skip the process. The problem is that many who aren’t ready don’t realize it.  Contrary to popular believe, single folks are very happy to see positive families.  Single people like me respect the institution of marriage so much that we would never think about entering into it lightly and the same can be said about parenthood. 

A couple that is truly ready should consider the Patti Labelle song from the Waiting to Exhale soundtrack “My Love, Sweet Love” for a first dance at their wedding. (You know Patti is from Albany, Georgia.)  If the jam “No Diggity” fits your situation, wait awhile…you have some growing to do.   

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iN84sixVRGM

blackstreet – No Diggity (Das Diggity Radio – Greatest Remix

At 3:00 in this song, the DJ put in the best remix feature ever.  A Native American is chanting so smoothly.  

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Christie Whitman’s Centrist Plea

Posted in politics, tagged , , , on August 4, 2009| 1 Comment »

HBA just emailed me the following article about Christine Todd Whitman and centrists.  I must admit Whitman’s book “It’s My Party Too” was a classic and she would be a great presidential candidate  if her party “dug” her vibe.  But again, that is not how they generally get down. 

http://www.riponsociety.org/forum309a.htm

Christie Whitman’s Centrist Plea

Former New Jersey Gov. Christie Whitman offers her advice for Republicans to begin their rebuilding process.

Fifteen years ago, Christine Todd Whitman was widely touted as one of the bright young stars in the Republican party — having defeated Jim Florio (D) in the 1993 New Jersey gubernatorial election.

After spending two years as the head of the Environmental Protection Agency under President George W. Bush earlier this decade, however, Whitman was relegated to the sidelines of a party not particularly interested in hearing her centrist message.

With Republicans now at their lowest electoral ebb in decades, Whitman is lending her voice to the conversation about how the party should go about rebuilding in a new essay in the summer edition of the reform-minded Ripon Forum.

“This is still a center-right nation and I am sure the President views his declining popularity among that groups with great concern,” writes Whitman, highlighting the fact that in 2008 exit polls the largest ideological group in the country was, as it had been in 2004, moderates.

In order to capitalize on President Barack Obama‘s slipping poll numbers, Whitman recommends two things: a focus on ideas-oriented messaging and an avoidance of controversial social issues that serve to thin rather than grow the party.

Whitman criticizes her party for their recent debate over Obama’s
“cap and trade” energy policy, noting that the Republican attacks centered on dismissing the proposal as “cap and tax” rather than offering solutions of their own. “The irony here is that the cap-and-trade concept was first used almost 20 years ago, under a Republican president, to successfully reduce acid rain,” she writes.

She is also critical of the recent focus by Republicans on a concealed weapon amendment sponsored by Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) even as the health care reform debate was raging.

“Instead of issues that appeal to a minority of voters, we should focus on the core conservative principles of limited government that have served our party well and made our country great,” said Whitman.

Whitman has been making this sort of centrist argument for years without much impact as the party under Bush moved to the ideological right.

But, with moderates like Reps. Mark Kirk (Ill.) and Mike Castle (De.) as well as Gov. Charlie Crist (Fla.) leading the Republican Senate recruiting class, Whitman’s message may well find more fertile ground within the party over the coming months and years.

 

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Tennis and the Blue Dog Democrats

Posted in African Americans, Georgia, politics, tagged , , , , , , , on August 4, 2009| Leave a Comment »

On the tennis court this morning, I faced the old “go left, go right” decision several times.  If I chose the wrong direction, my opponent could hit the ball in the opposite area and I would be burnt like toast.   A deeper consideration of that situation states that a player can accelerate in the current direction but changing direction is almost impossible.  In the 70s, we called that “the wrong foot” or “caught you leaning.” 

Politics mirrors sports at times and a person’s temperament on the field, court, or even playing chess tells you about his nature in business and elsewhere.  My opinion on “what’s next” in American politics was incorrect.  If I thought center, the South when right and I “got caught” leaning. 

When the conservative movement swept the nation, the Blue Dogs emerged as a moderate division of the Democrat Party, a home for those who felt the Right was too far right.  I naturally assumed that a similar moderate subdivision of the Republican Party would materialize after the election results of the last few years.  At this point, the situation is the opposite.  If you listen to conservative friends, you will learn that the commitment the Right has to their core principles is unwavering and inflexible.  If the general public wants to vote differently, those voters must be collectively mistaken about the best interests of our nation.

As I have written in the past, the GOP has a short bench of rising stars who could challenge the Democrats on issues, budget and logic; Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin comes to mind.  Unfortunately, others are more appealing to their base. We likely will not see a fresh crop of positive GOP candidates against the Blue Dogs in the South next year.  As General Colin Powell recently pointed out on Larry King, there are legitimate concerns with the speed and spending of the Democrats.  However, the GOP is opting for red meat candidates from the far right rather than those who could appeal to the center—great idea for the primary season but the general election is a different matter.  Of course, it is their party and they will live with the results of their strategies.    

The alarming part to me is that the leader of “what’s next” from the Right will not be Gingrich with his intellect or Romney with his command of the business world and financial markets.  You and I both know who is the next leader of the Right and what she will need to do and say to win; put on your seatbelt and prepare for a bumpy ride. 

I personally like Michael Steele and hope that our community will have an opportunity to better connect politically with our obvious conservative nature in the South.  However, going from a Blue Dog moderate to the far right is seriously wrong foot.  We will see how this situation plays itself out but don’t asked me because I often lean wrong. 

Bottomline: Will we see smoother GOP candidates or will others prevail?  If the GOP wants to push all moderates and centrists out, I am sure the Blue Dogs will take them. To finish the tennis parallel relative to politics, I tend to hang in the middle and go short distances left or right.  If you drift far left or far right, the other guy can pass you with ease.

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Bridge the Divide

Posted in Georgia, politics, tagged , , , , , , on December 6, 2008| 1 Comment »

talmadge-bridge

We created Project Logic Ga (P.L.Ga) during the 2008 election season as a blog for African Americans to discuss political and policy issues in an effort to foster political diversity for our community.

 

P.L.Ga evolved into a meeting place for anyone (regardless of race) to debate and interact on these matters.  In short, the topics were unique and new to people in Georgia and the South with an interest in hearing and learning what is on Black moderates’ minds. 

 

Government functions better when leaders and policymakers take the time of become familiar with the whole community—not just their “base”- because our system of government is design for all voices to be heard.  Americans are impressed with leaders who know all sides of the issues and recognize that every group has many sub-groups. 

 

Our focus has been pushing the fact that African-Americans in the South are more moderate and conservative than the nation might think.

 

P.L.Ga will spend the next year posting only one or two new post a week.  Our aim is gradually discussing federal, state and local matters so our readers will develop a deep knowledge and insight over time.  Also, the range of topics might seem unrelated to public policy at times but the goal is to address indirect and direct concerns and solutions.

 

We have a new administration in the White House; our nation is in a period of transition. An African-America President with mid-western roots will have plenty to say to every community about choices, decisions and consequences.  Contributors on this blog will analysis his actions with the same fair, constructive approach we have given previous presidents and congresses. 

 

The ultimate goal for reasonable Americans is a better America.  It is not the government’s role to fix every problem in everyone’s’ lives.  Good Americans always want the country to function soundly and those who hope for failure of any leaders so their party can make political gains are misguided. 

 

When the current President Bush was Governor of Texas, he operated with a consensus-building technique that should have been the model for his federal administration—I don’t know what happen.  Clearly, President-elect Obama is trying to “bridge the divide” and this blog will support him as we would have supported President McCain’s efforts to do the same.  Yes, some people have unrealistic anticipation and some campaign ideas won’t pan out but know this: this new young president is a respectful listener and the country wants more of that. 

 

Readers of this blog will gain a better understand of the southern African American community so future debates and dialog will be based on facts and reason rather than hastily conceived misinformation.   The core principles of conservatism are needed in every community on some level; the presentation and political techniques current employed my some could use improvement. 

 

If you want to function in the southern political arena which includes our community, reading this blog could be beneficial to your research efforts and growth—get prepared because talking nonsense makes our great region appear backwards and justifies economic opportunities going elsewhere.   “Moving the company or plant south would be sunny and affordable, but what we see on T.V. makes us question the traditional divisions there and the social livability.”

 

In the future, I will work on brevity—first New Year’s resolution. 

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