Newspapers / The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, … / May 19, 1988, edition 1 / Page 7
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Opportunity For Jelly Makers Jesse Jackson has consistent ly defended his inability to fol low through on new Ideas - his brilliant ability to coin complex problems with simple, catchy slogans notwithstanding - by calling himself the "tree shaker" and exhorting his followers to become the "jeUy makers." In other words, once he exerts the external pressure and creates the climate for change through boycotts or verbal as saults against offending busi ness interests, a more special ized cadre should step In and provide the follow up with policy directives that will achieve the stated objectives. Recently, the "jelly makers" shook the tree of big business, and with his new clout within the Democratic party, he can do something about It. District of Columbia Delegate Wcilter Fauntroy, a Jackson campaign spokesman and a long-standing advocate of eco nomic self-development, has served notice that Jackson will insist that the Democratic plat form give "specific pledges" on reducing mllltaiy spending. In creasing social programs and Increasing taxes on the wealthy. All three proposals are an anathema to the countiy's elite who benefit from the custom- made welfare programs In de fense and preferred taxation. And they will naturally rally to resist even a mention in the Democratic platform. But their very resistance will create an opportunity for the 'Jelly makers." For example, why not help them avoid higher taxes by pointing out that the money needed to help the poor can be raised by the poor themselves - If you fat-cats will help them to help themselves? However, If you resist this solution, the only alternative Is to tax you. But you can't have it both ways, the rich should be told. You cannot continue to get rich er, while the rest of the countiy gets poorer. The truth of the matter is that neither political party is going to do anything but offer lip ser vice. But the "jelly makers" can use the Jackson-created cli mate to push the business sec tor to do something meaningful to relieve a charged atmosphere. If the business sector could have Incentives to provide seed money (a Republican priority) to fund enterprises of the poor and truly needy, the poor and truly needy (a Democratic priority) could become self-sufficient without taxing the rich or doom ing the poor to a permanent cy cle of poverty. No, I am neither suggesting Black Capitalism (a method to convince Blacks that capitalism will work by creating one Black millionaire) nor Free Enterprise Zones (new patronage machines for politicians). I am suggesting various crea tive ways, utilizing the $200 bil lion already in the hands of the Black consumer (who spends only 6.6 percent with other Tony Brown's Commentaries blacks) and the massive re sources of the business sector that can be utilized to help recy cle 50 percent of it back into Black hands — while getting an increased share of that $200 bil lion market for those business es participating. The black community could, in turn, fund its own revival with a $100 billiori windfall from its own resources. It sounds good in a political party's platform to be promised Heaven on Earth. When the campaigns end, however, dirt is still under your feet. Politics as usual has never worked for us in the past. The new demands of Jackson can provide a new opportunity for the 'Jelly makers." TONY BROWN'S JOURNAL W series can be seen on public television Sunday, on Channel 42 at 5 p.m. It can also be seen on Channel 58, Saturday, 1:30 p.m. Please consult listings. The Stars Come Down On Don Regan Don't get angiy, get even. Is that the rule that Don Regan tried to follow In his new book about his years as a top official in President Reagan's adminis tration? j' Don Regan's book, FOR THE RECORD, damns the adminis tration of which he was an im portant part. His inside disclo sures confirm our worst fears about how It really worked. Some of the things he tells us are too bizarre for us to have im agined. Was it sweet revenge for Don Regan to tell us that he had to schedule the President's activi ties within restrictions esta blished by Nancy Reagan's as trologer? Was it sweet revenge for Don Regan to tell us that while he ' was Secretaiy of the Treasury for four years the President nev er offered any direction on eco nomic pollc}^? Maybe so. Don Regan hurt the President. No question about that. He tells us so much about D.G. Martin One-On-One the crazy way that our countiy has been run that it will be hard for President Reagan ever to claim a role as decisive leader again. It has got to hurt. ,, But...Don Kegan broke the old rule. He got angiy. He is still an gry. And his' anger runs all through his descriptions of the way Ron and Nancy Reagan run the White House and the coun try. In his angry disclosures about the Reagans, Don Regan tells much about himself, it is not flattering. He discredits himself even more than his targets. Why? because he never ex plains why he went along for so •long. If things were so bad, why didn't he act more decisively to change them? Why did he allow the President's schedule to be restricted by the advice of an as trologer? Wh}!? Why? Why? Don Regan was the President's chief of staff. He had more con trol over the President's public life and work than any other person in the countiy — includ ing Nancy. Yet he went along with everything — until he got fired. He did nothing to make a difference when he had a chance. When you get to the bottom line, there is something more worrisome than the President's passivity, Nancy's assertive ness, and the influence of the stars. More worrisome than all of that is how a person of Don Regan's angry temperament and narrow minded judgment stayed in power so long. Pardons Can Reduce Crime In Areas The electronic media is full of stories about youth gang kill ings. These killings are a na tional disgrace. They suggest that America's civic leadership does not understand the plight of America's poor. A former welfare recipient tells a story that supports my lack of understanding the poor case. This lady developed her skills to where she holds a good job at a multi-national corporation. She has even won a Director's Award for excellence in job perfor mance at this corporation. This lady says she was taking a college course where the pro fessor asked that they write on America's welfare system. A young fellow read his paper where he stated that all welfare people were black and lazy. This former welfare lady was the only black person in this class, so she felt compelled to straighten out this young man's story. She purportedly sprang to her feet and climbed all over this young fellow. The college pro fessor made the fellow apologize Miller Says By Sherman Miller to her befoi'e the class. As we talked about the seri ousness of this incident, we both recognized that this young fellow was merely reflecting his parental training. He also knew that his parents are America's ci-vic leaders. On the other hand, this story highlights that HOPE is the missing ingredient in America's poverty-stricken communities. Our forefathers recognized the importance of maintaining hope if America is to prosper. They started a pardon system for crimes against society. This pardon system offers ex offenders an opportunity to get their records expunged so they may become integrated back into the economic mainstream. I once started to pursue the of fice of Lt. Governor of the State of Delaware because I firmly be lieve crime will be reduced by re instituting hope in America's depressed neighborhoods. The chances of a person grow ing up in America's ghettoes without being involved with the law are small. My dream was to reduce recidivism amongst ex offenders by judicially using the pardon system to offer them an opportunity to obtain signifi cant jobs. I, therefore, challenge political office seekers, with responsibil ity for administering pardon systems, to come forth with plans to make the pardon pro cess an upward mobility tool in America's depressed communi ties. Thursday, May 19, 1988 - THE CHARLOTTE POST- Page 7A Why Lack Of Blacks On Local TVNews? Dear Editor: I think its a shame that a progressive city the size of Charlotte does not have a sin gle weekly TV anchorperson who is African American. Our youngsters need these types of role models. So I have written to WBTV, WSOC and WPCQ expressing iny concern. Cullie M. Tarleton, WBTV's Senior Vice President, replied that his station does not as a matter of policy set out to hire a white male, a black male, a black female, a white female, 't hey set out to hire the best person for the job to be filled: i.e., Darryl Lloyd was the best applicant for the position of meteorologist. My reply to Tarleton was in creased concern that either blacks are not applying, the blacks that apply are not qualified or WB'PV's very high standards are at the present time unattainable by the blacks that do apply. I re quested information as to which situation applied. Jeff Davidson, WPCQ Vice President and General Manag er, said that WPCQ in its ex panding news commitment hired Rick Jackson to become lead male anchor for weekend newscasts. My letter of appreciation to WPCQ included the desire for a fulltime, black, newscast lead anchor in the very near fu ture. WSOC-TV did not see fit to reply. My sincere hope is that the community's increased view ing of WPCQ-TV will evidence their appreciation. DAISY SPEARS STROUD Thanks To A Commendable Writer Dear Editor: Thanks to Charlotte Post writer Jimmy Brock for his super article "Double Vision." The moving force and fluency with which he composed this master piece is commendable. I dare say this is the best arti cle ever written about my ar tistic endeavors. His style of writing Is dy namic and magnetic. His sense of design is ingenious. I have lost track of the times I've read the article. Family members and friends have re quested copies which I hope are still available at the main office. Thanks to Jimmy Brock again, and may our Divine Creator smile upon him al ways. ETHEL GUEST Another Door Will Open For Walton Dear Editor: Although 1 live in Kansas City, Missouri, 1 read the Charlotte Post with interest, eager for the paper to arrive each week. (I also read the Ob server). I am especially inter ested in the race between Bob Walton and Nasif Majeed. On a human level, it's under standable that many voters support Bob Walton for com missioner for District 2. Not only has Walton done a good job in the past, he is a warm and personable man. On a practical level, howev er, Walton cannot be effective any longer on the County Commission -— at a time when economic development depends upon strong, innova tive political leadership. It's simply common sense and surely everyone under stands this. Walton doesn't need irrational loyalty. He needs to do some serious soul searching regarding his long- range goals. Another door will open for him and he will con tinue to make significant con tributions, I'm sure. Regarding Majeed, he has keen analytical powers, com passion, skill at negotiation, and total commitment to eco nomic development -— all of which make him an ideal can didate. He commands respect all over Charlotte. He's a man who will help transform an arid desert into a lush garden. Change is difficult and scary. Yet it is crucial if Char lotte is to reach its potential to become the Promised Land. The way I see it, it's a matter of the right leadership. If religion is a real issue for some, then just remember Ghandi and Martin. We are all Christians, Hindus, Muslims and Jews — sisters and broth ers struggling to become what we should be. MAGGIE BROWN Thanks For CPCC Training Coverage Dear Editor: I was very surprised to see lirree weeks of coverage on the Graphic Arts Program at CPCC. (Main Street by Jimmy Bi'ock). We do have a very serious shortage of skilled people in Charlotte and I hope your cov erage will encourage prospec tive students for our program. I would, however, like to point out some facts to avoid a misunderstanding by your readers. The 17,000 people em ployed in Charlotte in Graphic Arts represents all employees of graphic communications firms and all other graphic employees working in inplant shops, sales and service. Graphic Arts wages for our graduates average between $6- 8 per hour. The highest wages reported by my students are between $12 and $15 an hour. 1 know of only a few that are slightly higher. I would also like to point out in addition to Jobea Lrndley and Jerry Howell, we have sev eral part-time instructors. I play a minor role by compari son to these people. Thanks again to Jimmy Brock and your paper for this coverage of very good employ ment opportunities for your readers. W. FRANKLIN GRANGER CPCC Director- Graphic Arts Questions About Walton's Performance Dear Editor: As the May 31 runoff for the county commission District 2 seat approaches, a number of questions arise that need to be answered by the incumbent, Robert "Bob" Walton. They are questions that speak directly to the incumbent's 10-year performance as a County Commissioner. Voters should reflect on these questions and make up their minds as to whether Walton deserves to continue to represent this community as a County Com missioner. Why, Bob, have you not ad vocated programs that will en courage economic develop ment in District 2? (What major new businesses or hous ing or job development have occurred during the incum bent's terms in District 2 that ar e a result of his actions?) Why, Bob, have you not fought for the elimination of substandard housing units in the county by being an advo cate for the County Communi ty Development department? (The department was without a permanent head for one year, has only two code in spectors assigned to it to in spect 5,000 units and was re cently turned down for its request for one additional in spector). Why, Bob, did you do nothing to fight against the disman tling of the county's affirma tive action program and why did the community have to learn of the county's action from reports in the newspaper a year after it was first dis cussed? Why, Bob, did you fight for district representation imply ing that you would run at- large and thus enable a second black on the commission and then run for the "safe" District seat you created? (At that time the incumbent could have eas ily won at-large, he already was doing it). Why, Bob, did you consider switching to the Republican Party and what changed your mind? Why, Bob, did you justify your yes vote for the LaSalle Street garbage dump to the au dience at the First Friday fo rum in April 1988, by saying that all sections of the city must accept their fair share of , negative facilities. Yet, in sub sequent forums you have told people that your yes vote was a parliamentary maneuver? And lastly. Bob, why have you never apologized to this community for taking a young boy to your church to partici pate in sexual activities? Why did you, a Presbyterian mini ster, call the young boy's accu sations "damn lies" and then ) turn around and plead guilty when confronted with irrefut- ' able evidence? Why, Bob, don't you have the courage to stand up, accept the inevitable and stop tearing this community apart by put ting your personal interests above the community's inter ests? J.O. POTIRR ■ Appreciation Of Post's Part In Classic Dear Editor: Thanks very much for the Charlotte Post's recent public ity article on the 1988 Teen Role-Model Allstar Classic held this past April 11, 1988. This event was truly a suc cess and we are grateful to you for your part. The voice of the Charlotte Post is a strong, dependable one. We appeciate your being a vital member in this great community of caring and look forward to a lasting relation ship with you. B. STANLEY GRAHAM Mecklenburg County Health Department What's On Your Mind? Let us hear your comments, ideas and opinions. Write to;
The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, N.C.)
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May 19, 1988, edition 1
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