[The Cushite]

Wolfman,
I think your point about Clinton is overlooked by most black people. Mandatory Sentencing came in under Clinton, Welfare reform came in under clinton, The Faith based initiative came in under Clinton. I think Clinton is a master Politician in that he used his "charisma" ( I always call him "Pimpin' ain't dead" Clinton) to really serve the interests of "middle America" (which is really a loaded term for rich Americans and those who aspire to be rich). America uses this greed (read as ambition) to really dupe many middle and working class people into believing in political values that really serve to keep them middle and working class as opposed to actually rising up the socio-economic ladder.

Though I am critical of traditional liberal political philosophy, I don't think the answer lies in conservative politics either. Simply put, at it's core, conservative politics assumes 2 things :
1. That all American Social relations are just as is and therefore,
2. Those who are disadvantaged or marginalized in our society are so because they deserve it, or those who are prosperous in our society deserve their prosperity.

I think that these two factors ignore basic concepts in studying social relationships like history, values, and economics. For Blacks to believe that traditional conservative politics (not "values" but "politics") have some solution to our disproportionate suffering I think shows a lack of understanding of where conservatives are comming from and what they are implying with their rhetoric. Conservative politics preaches that black people are not disciplined enough, not moral enough, not smart enough to succeed in America today, and this is why they find themselves at the bottom of so many socio-economic indicators. I always asks those who claim conservative politics as the answer to the plight of black folks how do they explain the disproportionate poverty and suffering of our people, and inevitably it becomes a question of morality. (I have already hashed put my reasons for disagreeing with that notion in earlier posts).

Simply put, a change in morality , or at least banking on a change in morality, I don't think is a good political/ social philosopy. I am reading Mysticism and Social Change: the Social Witness of Howard Thurman By Emory Prof. Alton Pollard and he notes that Thurman believed that society would change if people embrace an encounter with the "Ultimate" (read God) and from that encounter vowed to live better lives. This in turn would lead to more loving and just social relations, that would in turn transform communities and society. While I agree with the Spiritual and religious ethos of this philosophy, I think that socially and politically, it leaves too much to chance. Religious and Spiritual experience is so subjective and random, that it is no guarentee that people will want to experience it, or even if they do, who's to say that they will leave from it with a desire to do anything socially, politically, or economically different? I have the same issues with the morality schtick as I like to call it. Yes, as spiritual people, we want, and need for people to be more just , moral, and loving in their relationships. But is this sound social policy? Can we fully expect to legislate morality? While I wholeheartedly agree that there needs to be considerable debate and conscience raising in our community about our moral selves, the government shouldn't be relying on it as it's chief means to address issues of inequality and discrimination.

The thing that frustrates me the most is that most political conservatives don't come off to me as any more moral or religious that any other poeple. They use morality in order to pacify some and justify vast, immoral disparities in health, wealth, and justice in our society. How come no one ever questions the morality of a society that has a wealth gap the size of America? How come no one ever questions the morality of having $46 billion? What has anyone done in this society to justify having that much money (especially when there are so many in this society that can not meet basic needs)? And do we, as a country founded supposedly on "Christian Principles", exemplify those principles when we justify vast inequalities like we do in the name of "deservedness"? Who derserves to be poor and treated as sub-human? What Would Jesus Do?

Blackwatch!!!!!!