Manns Medium

Media commentators, pundits and reporters would have all of us believing that the mid-term elections are lost to democrats and control of Washington is mostly in the hands of Republicans, an opportunity for them to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.  This is a lie and the proof of this is abundantly clear if those who have the microphone could look past big money and their own personal ambitions.  They need only to get out of their comfort zones and mix with the locals.  Not just those who think like them but spend a little bit more time with those who don’t. The next time you hear anyone say that the Affordable Care Act is a job-killer and their only reason is it restricts business from creating more jobs because it cost business more to do so.  Ask them whether the business they refer to are the same business that has stashed away over 21 trillion dollars in off shore accounts?  As them if these are the same businesses that have been making record pr...

For as long as any of us could remember, there has always been a gap between those who fared well and those who didn’t.   Those who have, enjoy the pleasure that comes with being able to buy when and whatever they wish while those who haven’t could only dream of such expenditures.   What began as a spark to ignite those who were good in sports to get better or for those who dreamed of improvements to existing products was the drive to reach that level enjoyed by those who fared well.   With the growing divide and the selfishness and greed of those who have, this is becoming more and more difficult. The poor and the middle class had an avenue to getting up on their feet through homeownership but greed from those who have so much has managed to partially destroy that.   The poor and the middle class had an avenue to getting up on their feet by securing jobs with retirement savings but those who have so much has managed to almost destroy that.   The poor and m...

I have seen a trend but until recently never really thought about it until now. I would wonder, sometimes, how Blacks could be a part of something that refused to respect their history, a business or organization that looked upon all that they have endured as nothing more than a fluke or irrelevant in many ways.   A business or organization that never considered their struggles or sacrifices but was only useful to have around for no other reason than “window dressing”.     Then it occurred to me, maybe it was for the same reason that women were paraded around in front of the cameras.   Something to use and show that some was not as exclusive as their rhetoric describes them.   I speak about the current GOP and its leaders. During the reign of Herman Cain, I did not see too many Blacks paraded in front of the camera in the GOP to comment on his policies and ideas about what was wrong with this country and his vision of where we should be headed.   Th...

Republican National Committee (RNC) offers Political Action Committees (PACs) “access to top RNC leadership throughout the Convention and an opportunity to network with other Fortune 500 Companies and Trade Association executives,” for a fee.   The fee is “a contribution of $15,000 to join the Majority Fund for 2011 and making an additional contribution of $15,000 in 2012.”   The two year membership commitment opens PACs to access to “four credentials and two hotel rooms in Tampa.” What does that really mean and how does this prove how money has taken control of our politics and election?   It is quite safe to assume that any entity that pays this much to have access to our political representatives will eventually get something in return.   No one will pay this much and get nothing in return.   This contribution promises contributors a “Grand Majority Fund status and will be invited to attend and receive premier credentials to special events at the 2012 RNC Co...

Was watching the Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell and saw a piece of the interview which was shown on the Today Show with Charlie Sheen.   At first I was truly not interested in hearing some spoiled Hollywood multi-millionaire whine about how everyone was being mean to him but because it was Lawrence O’Donnell bringing it up, I listened.   I must now admit that the way Lawrence portrayed the story was nothing like the message that I got from watching that piece of it.   I saw much more than that. What I saw was a man, who was more determined than I had ever seen, speaks about something that I had never thought about before.   He spoke out about Alcoholic Anonymous (AA) and how less than impressive they were at making him better.   He had decided to stop wasting his time in an organization where he did not get better by following the rules created by someone else.   He decided to tackle this problem on his own and rely only on those who to believe that bef...