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OP/ED c\ebra<> . Q?y^, Ernest h. pltt Publisher/Co-Founder 7, * s Elaine Pitt Business Manager ?Atyearn ? .?/ T. Kevin Walker Managing Editor "oity ? Health Care Lies Bill Fletcher Guest Columnist The on-going debate about healthcare reform hit me this week when 1 became quite ill. 1 am one of the lucky ones. I have an employer-provided healthcare plan, so I was ulti mately able to go to a medical facility, get diagnosed and begin treatment. My co-pay was minimal, and certainly would not have put me under water. But what if I had not been so lucky? I use the term "lucky" quite specifically since having healthcare, at least until President Obama's reforms, has been the luck of the draw: Did you belong to a union? Did you have an employer that provided insur ance? Did you have enough money to pay for it on your own? Not to mention the actu al quality of your plan, if you were, like me, lucky to have one. Obama's healthcare reform did not go as far as it needed to, and, with all due respect, made too many compromises with private-sector interests. In that sense, the struggle is not over for universal healthcare. President Obama, both because of his connections with corporate America and his early belief in bi-partisan ship, sincerely seemed to believe that reasonable people could strike a compromise. He could -not accept, and perhaps still cannot completely accept, that the Republicans from Day One of his administration ? have been out for blood. We needed and still need full healthcare reform. We need, in other words, the extension of Medicare to cover us all. We have to reject the false notion that this means a loss of jobs. While I have been ill this week I have considered many of the arguments raised by the Republicans against Obama's plan, a plan that has now been upheld by the Supreme Court as constitutional. The most ironic of the arguments comes from Mitt Romney, who is in no position to criticize the plan since it is largely based upon the one that he initiated as gov ernor of Massachusetts. But the arguments of the Republicans actually are deep er and meaner than Romney's flip-flopping. They go to the question of whether there are, or should be, a "deserving" population and an "undeserv ing" population. This may sound vaguely familiar, and so it should since it goes back to the Reagan era separation of the poor into the "deserving" and the "undeserving." In both cases, a right-wing moral judgment has been cast against a segment of the population. In today's situation, the notion is simple: the right-wing argues that there is a segment of the population that has done little to earn any of the so called entitlements that they receive. Therefore, these should be cut. Flowing from this fuzzy line of thinking is Republican opposition to Obama's plan ? Romney's hypocrisy notwith standing ? becomes more understandable and equally unsettling. As far as they are concerned, let the so-called undeserving swing in the wind and look out for themselves. And if this means that this undeserving population cannot get access to quality health care, jobs, food, housing, prop er education, etc., as far as the right-wing is concerned, so be it. Just in case you think that the right-wing is not talking about you, let me clarify who they see as the undeserving populations: the poor (the right-wing is not making the distinction anymore between a 'good' and 'bad' section); peo ple of color; youth; immigrants of color; low-waged workers; and in many cases, anyone who makes less than $100,000/year. Do you see yourself in that picture? This is what the November 2012 election is all about. It is not about Obama and his record. It's really about whether you have a right to be treated for illnesses in such a way that you are not cast into the bottomless pit of debt and poverty. Sick or not, there is no way that 1 am staying home on Election Day. Bill Fletcher, Jr. is a senior scholar at the Institute Policy Studies, the immediate past president of TransAfrica Forum, and the co-author of "Solidarity Divided." He can be reached at papaq54@hot mail.com. Blame GOP for High Unemployment Julianne Malveaux Guest Columnist The unemployment rate has hovered above eight per cent for several months, most recently holding ground at 8.2 percent, the same as last month. Meanwhile, the African American unemploy ment rate went up, officially to 14.4 percent, and we all know that means the real rate is even higher, probably in excess of 25 percent. Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney inter rupted his vacation to gloat about the number of Americans who are experienc ing misery, and his gloating might be at least somewhat amusing were this not the same man who says he likes to fire people. The 8.2 percent unemploy ment is not in President Obama's best interest. Many who are feeling the misery and pain are open to an alternative, even if it is one as muddled and confused as Romney who doesn't support health care reform now, although he engi neered a similar plan as gover nor of Massachusetts. This man has so talked out of his mouth that a simple reel of his contradictory quotes would make it clear how confused, or deliberately deceiving, he is. The good news for President Obama is that the lower the unemployment rate goes, the better his chances for re-election. The better news for President Obama is that many people don't snap into campaign mode until after Labor Day. People want jobs, to be sure, but the summer numbers, even if they are level, don't alarm everyone. The employment reports that our president has to pay the most attention to are those released the first Friday of September and October. This is when Republicans will get all cranked up and suggest that President Obama can't handle the fractured economy he inherited. Can the unemployment rate drop? Well if Republicans would pass the American Jobs Act, an actual plan for employ ment, it might. It is in the interest of the nation's unem ployed, but not in the interest of Republican chicanery, for the American Jobs Act to be enacted. In some ways. Republicans are starving their constituents to thwart President Obama. Similarly, when state and local govern ments have to lay people off because their budgets are tight, the federal government has previously stepped in to help. Part of the recovery funds went to state and local govern ments, some who turned the money down in the interest of fiscal conservatism. There the Republicans go again, hurting their constituents to thwart President Obama. Part of the reason Republicans can get away with this is because no one is pres suring them. Just like the Tea Party has pushed these people to the right, somebody needs to push them back to center. The Tea Party has virtually obliterated the notion of a moderate Republican, but there must be some out there, and what has to happen is that somebody needs to push back. The African American community has to push. too. While few of us are Republicans, many of us-live in districts with Republican representation. These repre sentatives need to hear from us, and from our neighbors, not only African Americans. And these representatives need to hear from our mayors, not only Democrats, who can pres sure them to do the right thing by our cities. Meanwhile, Republicans fiddle while Rome burns because no one has called them on it. Whenever Romney says the president has no plan, somebody needs to remind him of the American Jobs Act. Whenever Romney starts babbling about health care, someone ought to throw Massachusetts in his face. And when the braying bunch of bobbleheads who call them selves the Tea Party get worked up over the economy, we need to ask them: How many people in your family are unemployed? How much Social Security does your mama have? Don't your kids have student loans? Does everyone in your family have health care? Fuelled by race matters and rhetoric, working class White people are organized for Romney, someone who would cut education, health care, and Social Security and put those "savings" into military spend ing and tax cuts Tor the wealthy. In other words, and not for the first time, working class White people are work ing against their own econom ic interests. Meanwhile, if House Republicans want to move an economic agenda that helps some 14 million unemployed people, perhaps they can see their way clear to pass the American Jobs Act. We don't need all the Republicans, maybe just a third of them, and I'll wager that perhaps that many have sense enough to see what their leader. John Boehner (R-Ohio), does not. In any case, let's make it plain. The unemployment rate is stagnant because Republicans have failed to act. Julianne Malveaux is a Washington, D.C.-based econ omist and writer. She is President Emerita of Bennett College for Women in Greensboro. Bearden from page AG Columbia University. "In creating a black Odyssey series, Bearden not only staked a claim to the tales of ancient Greece as having modern relevance, he also made the claim of global cultural collage?that as humans, we are all collages of our own unique experi ences," said O'Meally. "Indeed, Bearden does not merely illustrate Homer, he is Homer's true collabo rator, and he invites us as viewers to inherit Homer's tale and interpret it as our own." There will be series of exhibi tion-related events, including an academic symposium entitled, "The Global Homer: The Odyssey in the Context of Diaspora," on Saturday, Oct. 27 from 1-5 p.m. and a visit by writer Isabel Wilkerson, in conjunc tion with the Forsyth County Public Library's On the Same Page project. Romare Bearden Foodborne from pane A5 mouth/throat, dizziness upon standing, and or diarrhea for more than three days. How do we prevent food borne illness? According to the Partnership for Food Safety Education, there are four basic steps to remember to prevent foodborne illness: CLEAN: Wash your hands and surfaces (counter tops, stoves) often. It's also important to wash all produce before consuming it. SEPARATE: Don't cross contaminate! Keep your meats and produce (vegetables and fruits) separate when preparing, and don't put pro duce on a plate/surface where raw meat has been. COOK: Cook to proper temperature. All meats should be heated all the way through. For steaks, roasts, and fish, this means 145 F. For all poultry, 165 F. Eggs should be cooked where the yolk and white are not runny. Leftovers should be heated to 165 F. CHILL: Refrigerate promptly. Keep your refrigera tor at 40 F or below and your freezer at 0 F or below. Refrigerate meat, produce and other perishables (milk, eggs) as soon as possible. Don't let food sit out for more than 1 hour. Defrost and marinate in your refrigerator. For more information and materials appropriate for ail ages, check out www.fight bac.org, which is sponsored by the Partnership for Food Safety Education. Do you need further infor mation or have questions or comments about this article? Please call toll-free 1-877 530-1824. Or, for more infor mation about the Maya Angelou Center for Health Equity, please visit our web site: http://www.wakehealth.edu/M ACHE. Covington from page A" oping the potential of the students and the university. He brought together leaders from across the city to raise funds for scholarships to support the recruitment of academically talented stu dents while he also worked to develop programs for stu dents who were not as well prepared academically. Covington worked closely with local government, busi ness, professionals and civic organizations to support the economic and social devel opment of the area as well. Covington held leadership roles on government boards of numerous civic and pro fessional organizations at the state and national level and was a life member of the NAACP and a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. Covington was preceded in death by his wife. He is survived by two sons, Anthony Covington and Jeffrey Covington; two grandchildren, Christopher Slade Covington and Olivia Marie Covington; his broth er-in-law, Arthur Mitchell; and his sister-in-law, Ozzie Topps. wssu from pane AS in nursing programs at HBCUs and PBIs throughout the United States," said Dr. Sylvia Flack, director of the Center of Excellence for the Elimination of Health Disparities at WSSU. "In addition to the discussions and pre sentations, the Institute focused on mentoring those who aspire to lead ership positions and individuals who are new Adams in leadership positions as well. We support ? intergenerational mentoring because it enables both generations to learn from, enjoy and assist each other. It also addresses the need to devel op leaders who are prepared to address the seri ous problems facing students, faculty and HBCU/PBI nursing programs." This year's Institute also discussed some of the broader issues that affect the success of HBCU and PBI nursing programs. Presenters included Dr. Carol Easley Allen, a consultant, co-owner of Twin Solutions and immediate past chair of the Department of Nursing at Oakwood University; Dr. Virginia Adams, a consultant on global and diversity initiatives for the National League for Nursing and the former dean of the School of Nursing at UNC Wilmington; and Dr. Danita R. Potter, interim dean of nursing at Grambling State University. 1 FORSYTH COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS 2012 Second Primary Election July 17, 2012 <r\ All Forsyth County precincts will be open on Election Day. Unaffiliated voters are eligible to vote with the same party preference as voted In the Primary Election. Unaffiliated voters who chose the non-partisan ballot in the Primary Election are not eligible to vote. Libertarian voters are not eligible to vote. No one may register and vote during the Second Primary Early Voting. ?atur 3y?du y Forsyth County Board of Elections (336) 703-2800 www.fcvotes.com If your mortgage company changed your homeowner's insurance without your consent, or forced you to buy insurance you did not need, you may be entitled to recover money damages. ? Did your mortgage company force you to pay for expensive homeowner's insurance? Call today ? Did the cost of your homeowner's insurance coverage Consultation more than double because of a change in the Wo Obligation insurance company? Toll Fre. ? Did you receive an after-the-fact notice about ? QQO OA1 Q07A. expensive force-placed or lender-placed insurance? rOOO-oUI-"a/*l ? Did you receive a large bill or have a large expense RALEIGH OFFICE added to your mortgage insurance? , 410 G|enwood Ave. 6 ? Did your homeowner's insurance lapse and your nccirc mortqaqe company replace it with a more expensive DURHAM OFFICE policy? 302 E. Pettigrew St. ? . , , .. Offices also in Protecting Your Lcgol Rights WILMINGTON If you answered yes to any of the questions above, call the . Akrr. law firm of Martin Si Jones, PILC for a free consultation. ana Al LAPI We will help you determine if your rights have been violated and if you are entitled to recover money damages. I
Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
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July 12, 2012, edition 1
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