Here's an article I found following a link to Herman Cain's Facebook page. I whittled it down by half: "To the extent that poverty can be addressed by public policy, there is a big problem: neither party sees political advantage in really trying to make that happen. Democrats benefit when poverty persists and their political allies in the poverty industry enjoy the steady flow of public funds, especially as low-income voters continue to embrace the illusion that voting for Democrats is in their best interests. Republicans figure there is not much point because venturing into the inner city would eat up lots of time and resources and bring little reward. That kind of thinking drives Robert Woodson crazy. He is a black conservative who has run the Center for Neighborhood Enterprise since 1981, and while politicians give lip service to the question of poverty, he's spent decades in the trenches discovering its causes, and real solutions. Paul Ryan approached Woodson wanting to learn. Woodson's answer was that he would help, but only if Ryan and his people were serious enough to devote significant time to the issue. They were, and to date Woodson has taken Ryan on 12 trips into high-crime, drug-infested neighborhoods. Woodson sees an opportunity for the GOP to do right by the poor without abandoning its conservative principles or pandering. He points to the successful outreach efforts of former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan and former Indianapolis Mayor Stephen Goldsmith, two Republicans who worked with local minority communities to push market-driven urban redevelopment and were rewarded politically by blacks. He assails Republicans who genuflect at the altar of race pimps like Jesse Jackson, saying it's time to stop validating such people. At the same time, he showed up at the recent White House unveiling of President Obama's 'My Brother's Keeper' initiative, saying he doesn't care about partisanship if something works. He expects, however, it will make little difference because most of the money will go to Jackson and Sharpton types."
In another encouraging move in this vein, the Supreme Court voted six-two to uphold the results of the 2006 ballot initiative in Michigan that put the kibosh on affirmative action quotas there. It passed 58%-42%, appalling liberals, who insist on lowering the bar for minorities. This was a refreshing departure from the usual 5-4 judicial vote along liberal/conservative lines. Before retiring, Sandra Day O'Connor suggested that quotas end in 25 years, an admission that they are wrong to begin with, otherwise "why do away with them at all," as Jonathan Podhoretz cited in his op-ed piece in today's
NY Post? Justice Elena Kagan recused herself, as she was involved in the case before her appointment. The ruling does not defend or decry affirmative action. It merely states that citizens are perfectly capable of deciding whether they want it in their state. Californians and New Yorkers could put it on the ballot and vote to make it mandatory if they please.
Fans of the lovely Amy Acker had a chance to see her twice in prime time last night, in contrasting roles. In
Marvel's Agents of SHIELD she played a sweet cellist victimized by a stalker, and in a recurring role on a rerun of
Person of Interest, she played Root, the cold-blooded genius sociopath/psychopath. I hope she stays with the latter until the series ends. She has the part nailed.
As soon as I'd set up shop today a Russian gentleman asked about the nine volumes of Dostoevsky in their original language. He was on his way to the train and did not want to lug them. He asked me to save them, but I said I had regular customers and, if one wanted them, I'd have to defer. Sure enough, it happened.
Spasibo, sir, and to the others who bought and donated books. It got so windy I packed up 15 minutes early. There was a lot of grumbling about the return of winter.
Vic's 4th Novel:
http://tinyurl.com/bszwlxh Vic's 3rd Novel:
http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3 Vic's Website:
http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/ Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle):
http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb Vic's 2nd Novel:
http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6 Vic's 1st Novel:
http://tiny.cc/94t5h Vic's Horror Screenplay on Kindle:
http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3 Vic's Rom-Com Screenplay on Kindle:
http://tinyurl.com/kny5llp Vic’s Short Story on Kindle:
http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx
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