Posts tagged with "op-ed"

DNC “Joy”: Democratic Elites Shamelessly Rejoiced in the Face of Immense Domestic and Global Suffering

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The irony and cynical nature of our American history, political culture and troublesome patriotism.

Full Speech of Vice President, Kamala Harris.

“For the People”

The DNC convention in Chicago has come to a close after four days of “Joybilee” and self adulation. Attendees, cloaked in the spirit of all the promises of The Declaration of Independence, fanned their happiness, prosperity and all the virtues America espouses. Have you ever seen a more enthusiastic crowd outside of a Beyonce or Taylor Swift concert? Probably not. And it’s strange because for the life of me I can’t understand what their cartoon-like expressions of joy are based upon. What do these people know that the rest of us don’t? 

They ignored the mass protests miles outside their comfort zone, thanks to the “democratic” barriers erected around the DNC “Joy” festival to keep up the appearance of their own version of democracy in action. Huh, what fire?! The gaslighting and perception changing strategy was so profound and on-point, the DNC, Israel and mainstream media deserve an award for their effort to corral a weary American public away from cold hard truths.  

Accepting her nomination for president, Vice President Kamala Harris spoke of how her childhood friend help shape her passion for law because, she said, “… I believe everyone has a right: To safety. To dignity. And to justice.” We must ask, however, safety for who? Who is deserving of dignity? And if elected, how and to whom will this passion for justice be delivered?

Harris also spoke of her late mother, saying, “She taught us to never complain about injustice. But…do something about it.” If this is truly her belief, why did the DNC circle their carnival wagons with barricades to silence protesters doing something about what’s happening in Gaza and across the country? What do her words mean outside of political posturing and proving, once again, that our elected officials have only perfected the art of lying and gaslighting us. Mind you, since Ronald Reagan not much has “trickled down” to the working class of America. As a matter of fact, the gap between rich and poor is greater and the American people, with so-called inalienable rights, are slowly and meticulously losing them, including their grip on the American Dream long ago promised. And Black folks can’t even mention reparations without indignation, including a loud and clear Harris response when the question of reparations was posed to her, “I’m not gonna to sit here and say that I’m gonna do something that’s only gonna benefit Black people. No.”   

“A Bold Vision for America’s Future”

Our nation is in peril and these empty vessels full of arrogance, hypocrisy and self delusion brought The People a perfectly organized circus disguised as the second coming of the Obama era, as if hope and change are real options today. Compounding our serious domestic woes, including an out of control immigration problem, is the ongoing genocide being carried out in Palestine with American weapons of mass destruction by our “staunchest ally” and financial benefactor, Israel. Unfortunately, the truth of the state of America would put a real damper on all that Joybilee we witnessed at the convention. I’m surprised Truman Burbank from The Truman Show didn’t make an appearance to solidify the shit cake the DNC served in Chicago as an appetizer before the main course is delivered to We, the People after November. 

Corporate media’s insidious censorship of independent journalism and pay-to-play tactic – forcing blatant lies, hypocrisy and double-standards down our wide-open conscientiousness – must also be noted and seen for what it is; an attack from a bona-fide enemy of The People. Man’s basic understanding of truth is no longer reliable by their measure and posturing. This, in spite of what our eyes are seeing, our empty wallets are experiencing, the loosening grip on that so-called “American Dream” is feeling like … our elected officials, compromised by AIPAC dollars and influence, demand We, The People believe that the fires raging across the country and the globe are just a figment of our imagination. And although Kamala Harris is serving America as a historic Vice President, she isn’t responsible for the trouble we are in, not just domestically, but globally. And Israel isn’t really slaughtering children by the thousands and actively carpet bombing Palestinians, piece by piece, safe zone by safe zone, school by school. First, it’s all Hamas’s fault because of October 7, and the atrocities most of the world is condemning is a mirage of what could be going on if you vote for Trump. And the public can be reassured of the DNC “truths” by simply turning on their TVs to listen to Joy Reed and all the other sycophants discuss what’s really happening from their prop news desks. 

“I will always stand up for Israel’s right to defend itself. And I will always ensure Israel has the ability to defend itself, because the people of Israel must never again face the horror that a terrorist organization called Hamas caused on October 7, including unspeakable sexual violence and the massacre of young people at a music festival.” – Harris

America’s dependable corporate media was naturally happy to oblige our government by turning all these elected, once grassroots people, into the “stars” (not leaders) they truly are meant to be for us. The message is clear. Public service and identity politics is your golden ticket to stardom when Hollywood fails to discover you. Accepting the nomination the vice president reminded us of the five words she spoke in front of a judge during her days as a prosecutor, “Kamala Harris, for the People.” The American people need clarity on who “The People” are that she’s referring to because from any logical standpoint, it’s not We, The People. 

“A Fight for our Freedoms”

As expected, Democratic voters have lined up as usual to fawn and worship at the feet of the people they elected to serve them in a government supposedly for The People, and by The People. What we witnessed in Chicago was akin to the imagery of Sodom and Gomoriah. And these fawning people were worshiping hard, too. So hard, they forgot about the state of our economy. The state of housing all across America with the backdrop of the DOJ filing suit against a software company accused of colluding with landlords to price gouge Americans out of their money and homes. They forgot about all the wars our politicians are signing us up for. They seem to also have no recollection or interest in the fact that a foreign government, Israel, is deciding the outcomes of our elections. 

And women’s right to an abortion and basic health care is still being debated and barbarically managed, as if Donald Trump didn’t spell out his own vision for his America First dream many, many moons ago. Even as he packed the courts to fulfill his Aryanism dreams, Democratic leaders and their “elites” only cared about themselves and all the money they were making while Trump was planning. 

They counted on strong rhetoric to fool Americans into believing that they were working overtime to protect us from the boogeyman… until the boogeyman overturned Roe v. Wade on their watch. THAT’S how good Democratic pockets were getting lined to turn a blind eye to the political scheming taking place in Congress, including with their own AIPAC dollars to curry favor. All while illegal immigration is crippling large cities, and pitting poor people against each other. 

Local lawmakers high on virtue didn’t just break their oaths to The People, they also broke their budgets to help the tired, the poor, the huddled masses yearning to breathe free, streaming across our borders like a scene from The Walking Dead. This, while their own residents go hungry, become homeless and jobless in a country built from their labor and sacrifice. Lawmakers in New York even wrote bills to give illegal immigrants a right to vote. Still, the DNC wants us to focus on what our former First Lady Michelle Obama said, “We don’t get to change the rules so we always win” … it’s true. Sad, said Trump. And California lawmakers, turning a blind eye to their homeless problem, are also working hard to ensure undocumented individuals benefit from the American dream of homeownership with AB1840 … a dream yet to be realized by most Americans who have waited generations for a bite of the apple from the trees they planted. We truly must be dreaming because the reality of America is unreal. 

“I fought against cartels who traffic in guns, drugs, and human beings. Who threaten the security of our border and the safety of our communities. Those fights were not easy. And neither were the elections that put me in those offices. We were underestimated at every turn. But we never gave up. Because the future is always worth fighting for. And that’s the fight we are in right now. A fight for America’s future.” –  Harris

Across the horizon of these empty words, the same cartel Harris fought against is granted asylum today and put up in hotel rooms where they can adequately plan their American dream while the rest of us pay for endless wars and Israeli socialism. 

 

 “For our Future”

As tension in the Middle East escalates, Americans are duty bound to ask our leaders where they are leading us. More than three years in office, and the Biden-Harris administration has not adequately lifted our tremendous burden, or keen on stopping the genocide being carried out by Israel. We live in a country that makes living, hell. And the Democratic Party is so indignant and cynical of the needs of the working class, they choose instead to fight culture wars. The management of American statecraft was laid bare in front of the American people in Chicago. We can no longer afford categorization as the future of our democracy, including humanity, is at stake. 

Whether you’re on the right or the left, a progressive or an independent voter, we are at the precipice of change in the course of our nation and the world. Political categorization has cut us short. Democrats and Republicans are fighting against each other for control of the country, not for We, The People. And truth tellers are called to transcend partisan affiliation to heal our country and revive hope for a better world. Americans are at a crucial juncture in our unique history and culture where only truth can lead us from the grips of partisanship, stop the theft of our wealth by our government and military industrial complex wreaking havoc across the globe, and face the uncomfortable dilemmas of our nation. 

Truth is uncomfortable because they outline our failures. Americans may believe they’re exceptional in the world, but it’s time we appreciate that there are limits to our power. We, The People are propagandized to believe many untruths, including that we only have two choices this November: Identity Politics or the racist Boogeyman. It’s time to face the irony of our own sins in the face of national and global crises and make a new beginning in a corrupt world.    

An op-ed by ePa editor.

Op-Ed: Solutions to Address Food Insecurity Facing Black Seniors

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Food insecurity for Black elders is an escalating crisis with untold costs to individuals and society at large. It’s time to demand a more dignified path for this often invisible group.

I met Henrietta, a retired Washington, D.C. resident in her 60s in a meeting of the Client Leadership Council at the Capital Area Food Bank. I was there doing research for the University of the District of Columbia and I was struck by her continued advocacy around ensuring her neighbors have access to adequate and nutritious food and the infrastructure they need to create a resilient community.

Henrietta (not her real name) has a bright presence and speaks often of “opportunity,” even though she, her family, and her community are living through some of the darkest times in terms of not having the resources they needs from day to day.

She is diabetic and has been advised by her doctor to seek out vegetables, healthy proteins, and whole grains—but given her limited income, she struggles to afford those foods. Instead, she has resorted to buying Nestlé Boost, a drink designed to help her control her glucose intake. She buys a case every month and relies on it to fill the nutrition gaps in her diet. “A lot of stuff that I need to eat, like vegetables and stuff, I don’t get it. So, at night, when I get ready to go to bed, to keep my sugar from dropping too low, I drink a Boost,” Henrietta told me.

“It really makes me feel bad because I’m used to buying what I need,” she added. Now, when she goes to the store, the prices of gas and food are so high that she finds herself putting back a number of basic items—Spam, bread, eggs, milk­—because they’re just not in her budget. Grocery prices have gone up and Henrietta only receives a limited amount of federal support; even with the increased support during the pandemic, she continued to face challenges accessing a balanced diet.

“A lot of time when I didn’t have any meat, I would get me a couple of eggs, and eat them [instead], but now they’re almost always what I put down,” she said.

Henrietta is just one of many Black seniors in urban areas facing similar struggles. In the kaleidoscope of modern America, where supermarkets overflow with abundance and food trends flash across social media, a disquieting truth lingers in the shadows: An alarming number of seniors can’t secure sufficient and nutritious meals.

The latest State of Senior Hunger report from the nonprofit Feeding America revealed that 5.5 million seniors (60 and up) and 3.8 million older adults (50-59) experienced food insecurity in 2021. At that time, Black seniors and older adults were 3.8 times and 2.5 times more likely to experience food insecurity compared to their white counterparts, respectively.

This isn’t just about hunger; it’s a systemic problem rooted in socioeconomic disparities, geographic limitations, and ingrained barriers. The pervasive nature of food insecurity among Black seniors demands our attention and collective action, as it underscores the depth of inequality embedded within urban landscapes. Many Black seniors find themselves trapped in food deserts with limited transportation options.

Predominantly Black neighborhoods have fewer supermarkets, leading to restricted options for fresh and nutritious foods. The consequence is a reliance on convenience stores and fast-food outlets, perpetuating a cycle of poor nutrition and health disparities. Socioeconomic factors compound the problem. Limited financial resources mean that Black seniors are often forced to choose between paying for life-saving medications and nutritious meals.

And while many of these seniors and older adults may not be visible to people outside their communities, it’s our responsibility to change the structure that allows these patterns to continue. Often, it’s easy to overlook the disparities that exist in our backyard. Here in Washington, D.C., I’ve heard from a number of seniors who don’t have cars and must travel outside Wards 7 and 8 to get decent groceries. If they don’t have friends and family members close by to assist them, getting enough healthy food can feel nearly impossible.

It’s time to break the chains of food insecurity and demand a more dignified path toward support for Black seniors. In the wake of a fast-moving world, we must take a step back to unpack the current crises to create impactful opportunities for change and other critical developments.

Larger Implications of Food Insecurity for Black Seniors

The impact of food insecurity on the health and well-being of Black seniors is profound. Inadequate nutrition is intrinsically linked to an increased susceptibility to chronic illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease. Black older adults experience those illnesses—and the lower life expectancies that go along with them—at a significantly higher rate than their white counterparts.

According to the American Geriatrics Society’s Health in Aging website, the most frequent causes of death for older Black women are heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease. The vicious cycle of poor health further exacerbates these women’s struggles, creating a scenario where the most vulnerable continue to experience a web of preventable health issues. Uncertainty about where the next meal will come from also has an emotional and mental toll that we cannot underestimate for seniors, often leading to anxiety and depression.

The repercussions of this crisis extend beyond individuals to permeate the fabric of society. Reduced productivity and elevated healthcare costs become the collateral damage of a population struggling to meet basic nutritional needs. The impact is not only felt in the health of our citizens but also in the economic burden borne by taxpayers. When diet-related illnesses, such as diabetes, heart disease, and obesity escalate, people often end up in emergency rooms and hospitals.

According to recent studies, the economic cost of treating these illnesses amounts to billions of dollars annually, placing a significant strain on public healthcare systems and taxpayer funds. Addressing the nutritional well-being of our population is not just a matter of individual health; it is a fiscal imperative for the sustainability of our healthcare infrastructure and the economic prosperity of our nation. Lawmakers must recognize the interconnectedness of these issues and respond strategically.

A Path Forward: Solutions and Initiatives

Now is the time to confront and dismantle the barriers that perpetuate food insecurity among Black seniors. We need to advocate for a shift in perspective—from viewing Black seniors as victims of circumstance to recognizing their resilience and agency and naming the racist, capitalist system that has long extracted their labor without meeting their needs. It underscores the urgency not only to address immediate food insecurity but also to rectify the systemic injustices that perpetuate inequities among Black seniors.

There are some successful community-driven programs doing this work. For example, the Michigan Center for Urban African American Aging Research has created the Healthier Black Elders Center, which is ensuring Black seniors in the region are getting fed and working to reduce health disparities through research and education. There is a low representation of older African American adults in research and the program also aims to increase their participation.

As the echoes of the pandemic linger, the disparities among different populations of seniors are still present, exacerbated by the fact that pandemic-era assistance in now the rearview mirror. Along with rising inflation, the loss of those supports has intensified the economic challenges faced by seniors, particularly those in the Black community.

Notable organizations such as the National Council on Aging, AARP, Justice in Aging, Senior Medicare Patrol, and the Long-Term Care Community Coalition are advocating for policies that support seniors each and every day. They’re calling on lawmakers to recognize the silent struggle of Black seniors and actively engage in solutions.

If we want to ensure that Black seniors have access to the nutritious food they need, the following key actions are critical:

Increase Improvements to Quality Healthcare and Intervention Initiatives

Access to affordable long-term care services is crucial for improving health outcomes and addressing food access challenges among Black seniors. These services, empower Black seniors to maintain independence and give them control over their meals. Critical initiatives such as Food is Medicine programs and produce prescription programs are targeted strategies designed to connect healthcare institutions at the national level that will wider efforts to improve health through food. They have also been shown to improve participants’ quality of life, reduce work in hospitals, and cut healthcare costs, according to experts studying Food is Medicine efforts.

Expand SNAP and Other Federal Nutrition Programs

This would help reach the millions of older adults eligible for SNAP but not enrolled while also helping current recipients maximize the monthly assistance they receive from the program. Only three out of five older adults who are qualified end up enrolling in the SNAP program. Many others receive only the minimum benefit of $23 a month. Recently, the end of the public health emergency triggered a sharp decrease in SNAP support for millions of people. Many saw the assistance they receive drop by $250 per month. Policymakers should focus on the long-overdue adjustment in benefits to increase the minimum monthly amount for older adults on fixed incomes. This would also help alleviate financial burdens related to both healthcare and medical expenses.

Dial in Support for Nutritious Foods

In addition, federal programs should shift the focus from just ensuring food access to ensuring equitable access to nutrient-rich foods. Such an approach could have a profound impact on promoting healthy aging and reducing the prevalence of chronic diseases among Black seniors. In the long run, we need to take the new USDA-defined concept of Nutrition Security much further.

I was raised in a family of resilient Black seniors; in my formative years I witnessed their indomitable spirit amidst profound struggles. Their daily battles with food insecurity—and the moments of quiet dignity—were embedded into the fabric of my childhood, a poignant reminder of the harsh realities faced by many in our community.

These experiences have etched in my heart the imperative to delve deeper into the intricate challenges that contribute to food insecurity among Black seniors. It goes beyond statistics; it’s about the lived experiences of those who many of us hold dear. Let us use our collective empathy and determination to propel us toward meaningful, sustainable solutions.

As a food justice advocate, I want to see today’s Black seniors break the chains of food insecurity—not just for themselves but for every grandparent, aunt, and uncle who has weathered the storm before them. The time for comprehensive, systemic change is now.

Mya Price

Mya Price is a Washington, D.C.-based researcher focusing on racial equity and food justice. Her research has identified socioeconomic determinants contributing to the Black–white                                                        food insecurity gap at state and county levels, and her qualitative studies shed light on the disparities older black adults face in accessing food resources in U.S. metropolitan areas.

Dear White House “Resister”: A Response To The Anonymous NYT Op-Ed Writer

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BY JEANETTE LENOIR

 

Here’s a perspective. Like Drake, I’m upset. The timing of this letter is suspect.

Never in the history of modern day America has a White House administration exhibited such disarray and dysfunction endangering the country and the world. The Trump administration isn’t just dysfunctional; it is downright dangerous.

And this anonymous “resister” wants it all; to not only eat the cake, but to throw it in the faces of the American people by way of being part of forcing one-sided legislation down our throats and help do the bidding for the most prosperous among us who don’t need more wealth in a country losing its middle class to poverty.

Pointing out the president’s “amorality” as the root of America’s problem is equivalent to telling us that water is wet. Was “grab them by the pussy” not enough to “resist” or help thwart his political advances? What about his long documented business practices of cheating hard-working people? Why speak out now when the world is watching us crumble within, fighting amongst ourselves, and showing us to be the fools destined to perish by not coming together like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. warned during the civil rights movement.

“I would know. I am one of them,” the anonymous “resister” boosts about the sabotaging of an American president as if he or she is a Marvel character in a super hero movie. Unfortunately, this is real life and the attempts to take away healthcare from the common man has real life consequences; giving “historic” tax cuts to the rich by taking more from the poor is the opposite of what a super hero would do; being silent when the president attacks minorities and shows support for racists is complicity in its true form; not writing sooner, you know, like when the president banned Muslims from entering the country, ripping Mexican and Latin American children from their desperate parents’ arms at our southern borders, calling Mexicans rapists, disrespecting the needs of those affected by Hurricane Maria, suggesting that black immigrants are less desirable in America because they come from “shit hole countries,” … I can go on but I think you get why I’m upset.

Your “dear America” letter is disrespect.

If your first duty is to this country, as you put it, why would you want Donald Trump to succeed in his efforts to “Make America Great Again” when all this campaign slogan embodies is a call to revive the atrocious history of a country still working to overcome it; a past that had black people in bondage and living as second class citizens in a country they built through slave labor. The extreme ideological platform you and your fellow “secret resisters” chose to build upon is exactly why America is in the pickle jar. From selecting Sen. Jeff Sessions to lead the Department of Justice despite the warnings of Coretta Scott King, putting Scott Pruitt in charge of protecting the environment when he’s only shown that it’s for sale to the highest polluter, looking to Betsy Devos to lead our nations education system despite her lack of experience or ability to even identity with people who attend public schools or live below the billion dollar income line; blatantly disrespecting long standing federal bidding practices by grossly handing out FEMA contracts to well connected friends with no business managing natural disasters, and handing out pardons like Mardi Gras beads…Thank God Joe Arpaio didn’t have to show us his man boobs.

The list of corrupt behavior is long. How many times has Jared Kushner changed his answers on his security clearance form? Against federal rules, Ivanka Trump’s clothing and jewelry line is being pimped out on television by top advisors like Kelly Anne Conway, and Fox News has turned into a propaganda machine for hate and intolerance, something the president and his enablers feed and supports. The entire family is benefitting financially from the blatant nepotism taking place and costing Americans millions in tax dollars. Let’s not forget, you “top advisors” blessed Kushner, a wealthy out of touch and inexperienced realtor, to be the savior of the Middle East while birthing peace between Israelis and Palestinians.

I’m upset; despite your letter full of regret.

You say the president shows no affinity for conservative ideas as if he hasn’t switched political parties before or shown the world his true colors. Just because you’ve enabled and made excuses for Trump along the way to this pile we’re now sitting on doesn’t mean majority Americans, decent and good hearted people, don’t see him exactly for who and what he is; a pathological liar and an all around terrible human being. Your house of cards is crumbling and like a rat you’re trying to jump a sinking ship. You may have changed your cloth but you’re still the being behind this new resister frock.

The same people that saw fit for then press secretary Sean Spicer demand the American people accept that their eyes were lying to them when he said Trump’s inauguration crowd was the biggest ever. Video and photographic evidence wasn’t enough to stop this perpetual lie; another attempt to cloud truth and blur the boundaries of right and wrong to appease Donald J. Trump, the 45th president of the United States. And let’s not forget, Chief of Staff John Kelly has yet to apologize for lying about statements Rep. Frederica Wilson made about the president’s disastrous phone call with the wife of a fallen soldier and for insulting her using racially insensitive language.

Nonetheless, you want the American people to believe you all are the Space Force Avengers.

The disbelief of senior officials at the president’s words and actions is laughable considering Trump hasn’t changed since becoming president. He’s simply more powerful. And this is exactly what Trump’s base loves about him. “He’s not your typical politician” and “He speaks his mind” they excused no matter what Trump did or said. Even evangelicals found loopholes in their bibles to justify every sin Trump committed and turned a blind eye to every one of his hypocritical moves or ungodly behavior.

The adults in the room colluded with Russia to win an election and made Trump their messiah despite all the warnings and push back from the American people. And now, seeing a steady drop in his approval numbers, they want him returned to sender before the blue wave hits.  Ironically, the adults who stood silent while the president attacked the media as the “enemy of the American people” now turn to it for salvation.