Silence is a recipe for acceptance/ Crimes and Communites

I have no relationship with this child yet I got goose bumps when I read an Associated Press headline “ Boy’s body found on Chicago’s West Side”. Whether it is Jennifer Hudson’s nephew or not, this discovery should touch the heart of every human being. It would be exceptionally difficult for Ms. Hudson whose mother and brother were killed just a few days ago. No one should have to suffer so much in such a small time frame. My heart goes out to her.

Unfortunately, Jennifer Hudson is not the only person who has had to suffer because of rampant crime. In many communities, violent crimes are just a part of life. They are the norm and residents seem to have gotten accustomed to such. Most people say nothing as if to allow room for all of it. It is a quiet acceptance of crimes. Families live and raise their children in such communities. Many are victimized yet the silence continues. Many see no end; they resign to it while some simply flee giving in to further decay. A silent community becomes demoralized, gets swallowed and reinforces the vicious killing circle.

I do hope that Ms. Hudson’s tragic loss helps to bring light to what appears to be a disease in many communities. Obviously, the police force alone cannot and should not do it all. The community has to be a part of the remedy. No one can afford to be tolerant anymore. It will not go away by itself.

What I despise is that these tragedies too often go silent. A community intimidated, a police force unaided and left alone to play God is the perfect recipe for rampant crime. It is obvious that none of them can be successful without the other. I hope they cozy up.

If any community doubts that their hesitation to get involved in their own lives, to redefine the roles, the set the boundaries, their silence will no doubt continue to thicken the circle to their peril. I hope that Ms. Hudson’s celebrity status forces entire communities to re-examine, to feel and to see the reality of how silence is partly responsible for the killing spree disease that many American communities experience. Talk Jennifer, talk loudly Jennifer.

Recipes for Dictatorship

Recipes for Dictatorship

Indefinite political terms are recipes for dictatorship.

Sometimes, someone can be so charming, that many folks lose all common sense. The fear of something new or of innovation brings such discomfort, that many of us would prefer not to proceed for fear- of perhaps what we might discover.

Imagine if Thomas Edison were perfectly content with just candlelight. Imagine if Christopher Columbus had chosen to live his life just within the boundaries of Portugal, if Alexander Bell had not given us the intrusion of telephones. Envision Louis Pasteur, Mahatma Gandhi, Winston Churchill and Golda Meier. Today, thanks to Bill Gates, we simplify tasks with Windows. Mr. Gates’s billions now plant seeds in many places. Imagine our lives had it not been for those few yet important changes and how they’ve impacted our world. Yes, there is always room for improvement. Progress is good and no one should impair advancement.

Political term limits are also good. They open the door for challengers to bring in new ideas and to make continued progress. Political term limits are set forth for valid reasons. We should not amend them just to suit any particular individual. Term limits restrict the number of terms politicians can serve in a particular office. Term limits prevent indefinite terms, protect against dictatorship and ensures political challengers. Term limits are not reserved for politicians that are not liked.

When we remove term restriction on the number times a politician can stay in a particular office we invite corruption, complacency and we exclude challengers. When we do it on a personal request, we undermine the democratic system- the very core that the restriction is set forth to protect. Most importantly, the removal of political term restriction is undemocratic and it is the perfect recipe for dictatorship.

A term limit self-corrects and it is inclusive, it prevents dictatorship, abuse and complacency. Everyone should advocate for restrictions on the number of terms that politicians can remain in office. The world has enough Fidel Castros, Hugo Chavez and Russian style government. Political term restriction is not only for politicians that we do not like; no one should be excused

The marriage of Citi and Wachovia

Not even the ploy of the Mcain/Obama campaigns can overshadow the mortgage crisis. Citicorp and Wachovia bank have been the key players for the last few days. It’s a “hell has no fury over a” bank deceived.

Citicorp, jilted by Wachovia, took its case to court. Citi is trying is to keep Wachovia from continuing a deal that it entered with Wells Fargo while under a signed “exclusivity” agreement with Citi. Worst of all, City is asking for punitive damages for in the billions that will likely bleed Wachovia to death and before Wachovia has a chance to go bankrupt. http://online.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/citicomplaint20081006.pdf
In a country, where fast food and consumerism reign supreme, the combination of Laws and Regulations is a perfect recipe to ensure fairness and justice even in the competitive world of business.

It is no news that Wachovia would have failed had it not been for its last minute deal with Citi. Clearly, Wachovia used Citi. Wachovia’s move kept the bank afloat while it shopped for and got a better deal from Wells Fargo. it was a smart but deceptive move. In reality, Wachovia got itself a bridge loan from Citi that not even Wells Fargo was willing to extend at the time that Wachovia needed it to avoid certain death. That was not fair. And yes, for those of you who say that fairness has no place in business and in law, think again. Fairness is why there are laws and regulations. Ethics and trust must again matter.

If Wachovia is allowed to get away with this tactic, then people will lose faith.
Wachovia signed an agreement and accepted money as part of that agreement, Wachovia approved Citi’s public announcement of their deal, then Wachovia is bound.
As the mortgage mess plays yoyo with the market, it appears that many people have not learned anything. Where do we draw the line between taking risks and Gambling?