I agree with a lot of what you said, but substituting the Food Stamp program (LA Purchase Card) with the old style commodity program is a terrible idea. The commodity program still exists in many communities, and has been a driving force in giving big Agrobusiness more share of the market and destroying healthy diets. One great thing is that nowadays you can use your LA Purchase Card at the farmers market to buy fresh produce. Commodity programs can’t deliver fresh fruits and veggies. As Michael Pollan says, “Eat food, but not much, mostly veggies.”

Your first assumption was correct. I was referring to Dr. Sowell. I’m not sure what makes him a national treasure, but I will defer to your opinion. However, your second assumption was totally off. You assumed that I am in favor of refusing to allow African Americans to fulfill their human potential. I will be the first to admit that some of the social programs of the 1960’s were ill-conceived, especially a mother’s eligibility for cash payments being based on the child’s deprivation of one parent. If the Democrats have ever tried to undermine the family, as so many Republicans believe, this would definitely qualify. The food stamp program is another one that should go. We need to go back to the commodity system. We would not allow truly needy people to go hungry, but we would determine what they would eat. This would be more nutritious and the public would not be paying retail prices, much of which is for advertising. I am a firm believer that each individual should be pushed towards self-empowerment. So, no, I do not believe in not letting blacks get off the “democratic gravy train.”

One problem I have with Dr. Sowell is that he is a free-market economist. My libertarian leanings led me to support this line of thinking at one time. However, since our current economic crises began, I no longer support this stance. For me, the pivotal point was Alan Greenspan finally admitting that unregulated markets will not work. Economics is possibly the most inaccurate science known. Yet, these free-marketers are still convinced that deregulation is the answer.

The other problem I have is that he talks down to his own people on behalf of the party of the rich. I will save this opinion for a later thread.

Getting back to the original topic, the Town Talk, I see them using Sowell as a tool to fluff their white, far-right readership. These pseudo- thinkers like nothing better than to see a successful black person reaffirm their beliefs about their superiority over the black race. I do not for a second think that Dr. Sowell shares those views. But, I can’t help but think the TT stokes the fire.

“The Town Talk’s blog seems to be a hotbed of hateful and racist rants, personal attacks, and unchallenged ignorance. ”

and

“When an article appears about a promising project in a struggling neighborhood, it is swiftly met by anonymous commentary that, in many instances, seems racist and discriminatory. (And 99.9% of the time, the criticism is leveled by people who obviously have no connection to or knowledge of the neighborhood in question). ”

You are so right Lamar. I am so embarassed about the comments on the TT, that I do not even attempt to comment anymore.

The Red Cross building progress news has been met with ugly anonymous commentary by persons who were/are not involved with the project and do not know what they are talking about. Most live in Pineville. I wish some persons, before they spouted their ignorance, would research and get their facts straight before blasting off.

As you know, I happen to live in a struggling neighborhood, and anytime anything negative happens, persons are quick to shove that down my throat. However, when something positive like, new business, American Red Cross, etc. happens, they don’t have anything positive to say. Also, every time an insurance inspector or some other tradesman comes to my house, they are quick to point out that “you live in a bad neighborhood,….blah blah” and then look to see what my reaction will be. They act like they are telling me something I don’t know (which I think only a few spoil it for the rest of us, this area has some good, hardworking people), because you know, I am a naive Christiana girl who obviously doesn’t have her eyes open. What do they want me to say? “Oh, thank you so much for pointing that out. I have not noticed in the three years that I lived here. I am going to go pack my bags right now and move! Thank you so much!” Give me a break!

Sometimes when people really get on my nerves…for example, they may say: “You heard about that drug bust a few streets over from where you are”, I remind them of the meth bust that happened last year in a supposedly GOOD neighborhood. When they say: “You hear about the robberies that are happening in your area”, I remind them of the string of burglaries on 28W in that brand new neighborhood by the golf course. Several houses were cleaned out….appliances, wiring and everything. It doesn’t happen just here.

Anyway……

Andrea