All Entries Tagged With: "Politics"
President Barack Obama’s 2013 Inauguration Speech [Full Text]
President Barack Obama was officially sworned in, for a second term, as the 44th president of the United States. His inaugural speech was heartfelt and timely as he spoke on climate change, the gay community, jobs, and more. In case you want to read President Obama’s speech in its entirety, we’ve captured it in full text below. Enjoy!
Vice President Biden, Mr. Chief Justice, Members of the United States Congress, distinguished guests, and fellow citizens:
Each time we gather to inaugurate a president, we bear witness to the enduring strength of our Constitution.
We affirm the promise of our democracy. We recall that what binds this nation together is not the colors of our skin or the tenets of our faith or the origins of our names. What makes us exceptional – what makes us American – is our allegiance to an idea, articulated in a declaration made more than two centuries ago:
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”
Today we continue a never-ending journey, to bridge the meaning of those words with the realities of our time. For history tells us that while these truths may be self-evident, they have never been self-executing; that while freedom is a gift from God, it must be secured by His people here on Earth. The patriots of 1776 did not fight to replace the tyranny of a king with the privileges of a few or the rule of a mob. They gave to us a Republic, a government of, and by, and for the people, entrusting each generation to keep safe our founding creed.
For more than two hundred years, we have.
Through blood drawn by lash and blood drawn by sword, we learned that no union founded on the principles of liberty and equality could survive half-slave and half-free. We made ourselves anew, and vowed to move forward together.
Together, we determined that a modern economy requires railroads and highways to speed travel and commerce; schools and colleges to train our workers.
Together, we discovered that a free market only thrives when there are rules to ensure competition and fair play.
Together, we resolved that a great nation must care for the vulnerable, and protect its people from life’s worst hazards and misfortune.
Through it all, we have never relinquished our skepticism of central authority, nor have we succumbed to the fiction that all society’s ills can be cured through government alone. Our celebration of initiative and enterprise; our insistence on hard work and personal responsibility, are constants in our character.
But we have always understood that when times change, so must we; that fidelity to our founding principles requires new responses to new challenges; that preserving our individual freedoms ultimately requires collective action. For the American people can no more meet the demands of today’s world by acting alone than American soldiers could have met the forces of fascism or communism with muskets and militias. No single person can train all the math and science teachers we’ll need to equip our children for the future, or build the roads and networks and research labs that will bring new jobs and businesses to our shores. Now, more than ever, we must do these things together, as one nation, and one people.
This generation of Americans has been tested by crises that steeled our resolve and proved our resilience. A decade of war is now ending. An economic recovery has begun. America’s possibilities are limitless, for we possess all the qualities that this world without boundaries demands: youth and drive; diversity and openness; an endless capacity for risk and a gift for reinvention. My fellow Americans, we are made for this moment, and we will seize it – so long as we seize it together.
For we, the people, understand that our country cannot succeed when a shrinking few do very well and a growing many barely make it. We believe that America’s prosperity must rest upon the broad shoulders of a rising middle class. We know that America thrives when every person can find independence and pride in their work; when the wages of honest labor liberate families from the brink of hardship. We are true to our creed when a little girl born into the bleakest poverty knows that she has the same chance to succeed as anybody else, because she is an American, she is free, and she is equal, not just in the eyes of God but also in our own.
We understand that outworn programs are inadequate to the needs of our time. We must harness new ideas and technology to remake our government, revamp our tax code, reform our schools, and empower our citizens with the skills they need to work harder, learn more, and reach higher. But while the means will change, our purpose endures: a nation that rewards the effort and determination of every single American.
That is what this moment requires. That is what will give real meaning to our creed.
We, the people, still believe that every citizen deserves a basic measure of security and dignity. We must make the hard choices to reduce the cost of health care and the size of our deficit. But we reject the belief that America must choose between caring for the generation that built this country and investing in the generation that will build its future. For we remember the lessons of our past, when twilight years were spent in poverty, and parents of a child with a disability had nowhere to turn. We do not believe that in this country, freedom is reserved for the lucky, or happiness for the few. We recognize that no matter how responsibly we live our lives, any one of us, at any time, may face a job loss, or a sudden illness, or a home swept away in a terrible storm. The commitments we make to each other – through Medicare, and Medicaid, and Social Security – these things do not sap our initiative; they strengthen us. They do not make us a nation of takers; they free us to take the risks that make this country great.
We, the people, still believe that our obligations as Americans are not just to ourselves, but to all posterity. We will respond to the threat of climate change, knowing that the failure to do so would betray our children and future generations. Some may still deny the overwhelming judgment of science, but none can avoid the devastating impact of raging fires, and crippling drought, and more powerful storms. The path towards sustainable energy sources will be long and sometimes difficult. But America cannot resist this transition; we must lead it. We cannot cede to other nations the technology that will power new jobs and new industries – we must claim its promise. That is how we will maintain our economic vitality and our national treasure – our forests and waterways; our croplands and snowcapped peaks. That is how we will preserve our planet, commanded to our care by God. That’s what will lend meaning to the creed our fathers once declared.
We, the people, still believe that enduring security and lasting peace do not require perpetual war. Our brave men and women in uniform, tempered by the flames of battle, are unmatched in skill and courage.
Our citizens, seared by the memory of those we have lost, know too well the price that is paid for liberty. The knowledge of their sacrifice will keep us forever vigilant against those who would do us harm. But we are also heirs to those who won the peace and not just the war, who turned sworn enemies into the surest of friends, and we must carry those lessons into this time as well.
We will defend our people and uphold our values through strength of arms and rule of law. We will show the courage to try and resolve our differences with other nations peacefully – not because we are naïve about the dangers we face, but because engagement can more durably lift suspicion and fear. America will remain the anchor of strong alliances in every corner of the globe; and we will renew those institutions that extend our capacity to manage crisis abroad, for no one has a greater stake in a peaceful world than its most powerful nation. We will support democracy from Asia to Africa; from the Americas to the Middle East, because our interests and our conscience compel us to act on behalf of those who long for freedom. And we must be a source of hope to the poor, the sick, the marginalized, the victims of prejudice – not out of mere charity, but because peace in our time requires the constant advance of those principles that our common creed describes: tolerance and opportunity; human dignity and justice.
We, the people, declare today that the most evident of truths – that all of us are created equal – is the star that guides us still; just as it guided our forebears through Seneca Falls, and Selma, and Stonewall; just as it guided all those men and women, sung and unsung, who left footprints along this great Mall, to hear a preacher say that we cannot walk alone; to hear a King proclaim that our individual freedom is inextricably bound to the freedom of every soul on Earth.
It is now our generation’s task to carry on what those pioneers began. For our journey is not complete until our wives, our mothers, and daughters can earn a living equal to their efforts. Our journey is not complete until our gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law – for if we are truly created equal, then surely the love we commit to one another must be equal as well. Our journey is not complete until no citizen is forced to wait for hours to exercise the right to vote. Our journey is not complete until we find a better way to welcome the striving, hopeful immigrants who still see America as a land of opportunity; until bright young students and engineers are enlisted in our workforce rather than expelled from our country. Our journey is not complete until all our children, from the streets of Detroit to the hills of Appalachia to the quiet lanes of Newtown, know that they are cared for, and cherished, and always safe from harm.
That is our generation’s task – to make these words, these rights, these values – of Life, and Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness – real for every American. Being true to our founding documents does not require us to agree on every contour of life; it does not mean we will all define liberty in exactly the same way, or follow the same precise path to happiness. Progress does not compel us to settle centuries-long debates about the role of government for all time – but it does require us to act in our time.
For now decisions are upon us, and we cannot afford delay. We cannot mistake absolutism for principle, or substitute spectacle for politics, or treat name-calling as reasoned debate. We must act, knowing that our work will be imperfect. We must act, knowing that today’s victories will be only partial, and that it will be up to those who stand here in four years, and forty years, and four hundred years hence to advance the timeless spirit once conferred to us in a spare Philadelphia hall.
My fellow Americans, the oath I have sworn before you today, like the one recited by others who serve in this Capitol, was an oath to God and country, not party or faction – and we must faithfully execute that pledge during the duration of our service. But the words I spoke today are not so different from the oath that is taken each time a soldier signs up for duty, or an immigrant realizes her dream. My oath is not so different from the pledge we all make to the flag that waves above and that fills our hearts with pride.
They are the words of citizens, and they represent our greatest hope.
You and I, as citizens, have the power to set this country’s course.
You and I, as citizens, have the obligation to shape the debates of our time – not only with the votes we cast, but with the voices we lift in defense of our most ancient values and enduring ideals.
Let each of us now embrace, with solemn duty and awesome joy, what is our lasting birthright. With common effort and common purpose, with passion and dedication, let us answer the call of history, and carry into an uncertain future that precious light of freedom.
Thank you, God Bless you, and may He forever bless these United States of America.
Source: TruthDig.com
Photo Credit: GettyImages
4 More Years…
Congratulations are in order for our President of the United States, Barack Obama. Tuesday night in a landslide Obama was re-elected for another term beating out Republican Mitt Romney. While he only needed 270 electoral votes to win the race, Obama easily brought in a cool 303 electoral votes. While many have said Romney put up a good fight in the end it was Obama’s solid campaign and vision of “hope and change” that won the people over.
Now that the battle has been won, it’s time for the President to get on with his business of winning the war. While many are not happy about the outcome and are not in support of Obama, the reality of it all is that as a people we’re in this together. Whether you’re a Democrat or Republican, we’re first an American citizen. During his victory speech, President Barack Obama couldn’t have said it better… “We rise or fall together as one nation.”
Congratulations President Barack Obama!!!
Respect YOUR Vote!!!
Alright good people, we’re down to the wire. It’s officially V-day, so if you didn’t get your ballots in early, it is a must that you go to the polls today and cast your votes.
Now for those of you that think that this is a laughing matter and no big deal at all. Let me be if not the first to tell at least another one to tell you that you are flat out wrong. While you may not think so, the outcome will have an impact of your life and way of living. So it your responsibility just as much as the next person, that your voice be heard.
While I could, I’m not going to beat you over the head with all the reasons why you should get out and vote. Just know that it’s your civil duty, that there is power in numbers and that yes your vote does count. I won’t even try quilting you by reminding you of the trials and tribulations endured for many of us to even have the right to vote. Just know that a price was paid and it’s your turn to pay the piper. So I encourage you to RESPECT YOUR VOTE!
Remember….polls close at 7pm!!!
Jay-Z & Beyonce Raises $4 Million for Obama Campaign
Well, the $40,000 a ticket private fundraiser thrown by Jay-Z and Beyonce paid off. It’s being reported that the Carter’s were able to raise $4 million for Barack Obama’s presidential campaign!
President Obama and one hundred supporters were in attendance on Tuesday night at Jay’s 40/40 Club. While partaking in Champagne and food, the building was full of pre-congratulatory spirit as everyone mingled and showed grand support for Obama. Jay-Z and Beyonce have been firm supporters of Obama since his first run four years ago. Even Beyonce said a few words celebrating the POTUS.
“I can’t tell you how proud we are to host tonight’s event with President Obama,” said Beyonce, in a stunning red cocktail dress and blond curls. “We believe in his vision.”
In appreciation for the special fundraiser on his behalf, President Obama took time out to express his gratitude and crack a joke about the similiarities of his wife Michelle and Beyonce.
“We both have daughters and our wives are more popular than we are. So, you know, we’ve got a little bond there. It’s hard but it’s OK,” the president said of he and the “Watch The Throne” rapper.
“Beyonce could not be a better role model for my girls,” said Obama
You got to love President Obama. He is one cool dude!
If you’re not yet register, please go register to vote. Elections are November 6. Remember, your vote count!
Photo Credit: Obama/Biden Official Twitter
Stacking Chips For Obama: $40K Will Get You In The Carters’ Fundraiser @ 40/40 Club
We’ve heard of $5000 a plate fundraisers for political fundraisers. But, for hip hop’s richest couple, it will cost you a wayyyyyy more than that to even enter the door.
Coming up on Sept 18, Jay-Z and Beyonce Carter will do their part to help fund President Obama’s campaign. According to the NY Post, this exclusive event will cost $40,000 to wine and dine with Obama, The Carters, and other VIPs at the 40/40 Club. And if you’re a true baller, you won’t mind dishing out another $12,500 for a family photo with the President. Word is that Obama will visit a family oriented fundraiser early in the day on the 18th. Location is unknown.
New York is believed to Obama’s last stop before the elections.
Hard Times: Millions of Americans Lack Food
When the recession hit, millions of Americans found themselves rationing everyday household purchases. From home foreclosures to loss jobs, the average middle-class family received a harsh-but-quick dose of reality. Without funds, things such as trips to the grocery store have become less and less.
Recently CNNMoney listed a few statistics on their website that proves that this increasing epidemic has caused greater economical impacts on millions of people.
More than 50 million Americans couldn’t afford to buy food at some point in 2011, according to federal data.
Children in some 3.9 million households suffered from food insecurity last year, with their families unable to provide them with adequate, nutritious food at times.
Nearly 17 million Americans suffered from “very low food security,” meaning they had to reduce the amount they ate, saying the food they bought did not last and they didn’t have the funds to buy more. They typically found themselves in this situation a few days a month for seven months of the year.
The number of people in this category shot up by more than 800,000 from 2010, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture report released Wednesday. Women living alone, black households and the poor and near-poor were affected the most.
Overcoming this issue of lack of food may take some time. But in the meanwhile, the U.S. government need to do more to solidify employment for those who are not working. We’re sure their are plenty of jobs still being outsourced. So, if the government can mandate corporations to open up more jobs in America, household finances could escape from red. Therefore, allowing life necessesities such as food to become more abundant for the everyday family.
What do you think? Are there other ways in which the “lack of food” can be no longer an social issue?
Quote Love: Michelle Obama’s Speech @ Democratic National Convention 2012
My favorite quote of the night “…reach back and give others the same chances you had to succeed”, was spoken so passionately by the First Lady Michelle Obama during Tuesday nights Democratic National Convention. With conviction and enduring respect, all of those in attendance (and the millions that tuned in) were captured by her spirit, her love of President Barack Obama and the United States of America.
While Michelle traveled down memory lane, like speaking on their struggle as young lovers, the First Lady words touched families worldwide. Her speech was more like a continuous Hallmark card. Not choosing to give direct opinions on topics up for debate (such as healthcare reform), Michelle used her 20 minutes or so to express her family background and the values they share. Within each sentence she spoke, all that listened could snatch several great quotes to Tweet or Facebook about. In case you missed it, here are few standout quotes I love:
“Well, today, after so many struggles and triumphs and moments that have tested my husband in ways I never could have imagined, I have seen firsthand that being president doesn’t change who you are. No, it reveals who you are.”
“And believe it or not, when we were first married, our combined monthly student loan bill was actually higher than our mortgage. We were so young, so in love, and so in debt.
That’s why Barack has fought so hard to increase student aid and keep interest rates down, because he wants every young person to fulfill their promise and be able to attend college without a mountain of debt.”
“Barack knows the American Dream because he’s lived it, and he wants everyone in this country to have the same opportunity, no matter who we are, or where we’re from, or what we look like, or who we love.”
To see Michelle Obama in her entirety, check out the video…
Source: AP
Real Boss Ladies: The Four Most Powerful Women In The World
It’s one thing to have money. It’s another thing to have everyone’s respect. But, you can definitely call the shots when you’re considered one of the most powerful.
Women have always held a secondary place in the world when it came to business and politics. Slowly but surely, women have been planting their stake by becoming more influential and business savvy. Many would think Queen Elizabeth or Oprah would be considered powerful. Don’t get us wrong, they are. But according to Forbes, there’s only four women who ranked among the “World’s Most Powerful People”.
Meet the Real Boss Ladies…
#64 – Jill Abramson, 58, is the first lady to EVER run one of the largest newspapers in the world. She’s the Executive Editor of the New York Times. Annual earnings are unknown.
#16 – Hillary Clinton, 64, is the Secretary of State for the United States of America. Annual earnings, $191,300.
#11 – Sonia Gandhi, 65, is India’s most powerful politician. She is the President of the Indian National Congress. Annual earnings are unknown.
#4 - Angela Merkel, 57, is the Chancellor of Germany and listed as the most powerful woman in the world. Annual earnings , $303,800.
Can Refinancing Solve Our Recession Woes??
This is the smartest thing I’ve heard in a minute.
The housing market and predatory lending is the primary reason why the U.S. experienced a “recession”. So in order to counter act this and get the U.S. citizens out of financial hardships, why not allow mortgage owners to refinance! Glenn Hubbard, dean of the school of business at Columbia University, expressed his views on the current mortgage crisis and how the banks can fix it. He states…
“If everybody who’s current in their payments could refinance at a low rate. It will be equivalent to a tax cut of nearly $70 billion a year for several years. A very large stimulus for the economy. And would help reset expectations in a big way in the housing market.”
Check out his interview with WSJ Marketwatch’s Greg Robb below:
Political Moment: The Sky Is Falling, Raise The Ceiling
President Obama and Congressional “leaders” have reached an agreement on a deal to raise the debt ceiling. I put leaders in quotation marks because the deal still has to pass the smell test with the members of both houses. There are items in the deal and more accurately some things that are not part of the deal that are sure to raise the ire of Tea Party Republicans and Progressive Democrats. Most believe that the leaders of both parties, with the support of the President, can garner enough support to get the deal passed. For several weeks we have all been inundated with reports about the impending doom of the American economy, and it all centered around the now infamous debt ceiling. The August 2nd deadline hung over our collective heads like the Sword of Damocles. Furthermore, the eyes of the world have been watching with keen interest, and not just the Chinese who are the largest holders of US debt. The American economy is vital to the health of the world economy. In the days and months to come this impasse will become fodder for endless debate about the efficacy of our system of divided government .
The United States Constitution gives Congress the sole authority to borrow money on the credit of the United States. In 1917 the United States had finally entered World War I and Congress passed the Second Liberty Bond Act. In short, the act was intended to make it easier to finance that war effort. Congress essentially modified the manner in which it authorized debt. Prior to 1917 debt matters were handled by Congress individually. The Second Liberty Bond Act changed this procedure by setting a limit or “ceiling” on the total amount of bonds that could be issued, and eliminated the necessity of coming to Congress anytime the Treasury wanted to issue bonds. The debt ceiling as we understand it today was further established in 1939 and 1941 with the Public Debts Act.
“The United States Public Debt Act of 1939 eliminated separate limits on different types of debt. The Public Debt Act of 1941 raised the limit, and consolidated nearly all federal borrowing under the US Treasury.”
There have been many subsequent Acts and laws that have had an impact on US government debt but the aforementioned acts essentially laid the foundation for what we understand today as the debt ceiling. Now, everyone agrees that the US debt situation is completely out of control. The schism develops when we begin to discuss solutions. Democrats want to protect entitlement programs like Social Security and Medicare. They want to increase taxes on the wealthiest members of our society and eliminate tax breaks for corporations and the like, essentially rolling back the Bush era tax cuts. Republicans, especially those affiliated with the Tea Party, want a balanced budget amendment, far deeper budget cuts than the Democrats and no tax increases or new taxes. This is a simplification of the issues on both sides, but these are the basic battle lines for what has become an epic struggle. It is nothing less than a battle over what the nature and size of American government will be in the 21st century. I don’t know what the answers are but I have my opinions and in the coming days and months we are going to examine these issues and others from stem to stern. Right now there is a deal, but regardless of what happens between now and midnight on August 2nd there is still a glacial divide between Democrats and Republicans. There is still tons of work that needs to be done and if the lunatic fringe in both parties are allowed free reign we may see this scenario play itself out over and over again. I never believed in slippery slope arguments, but America we are sliding down a hill and its not into a valley overflowing with milk and honey.
Written by Kevin A. McLeroy, contributing writer for STACKS Magazine
VOTE…November 2!
November 2 is your time to vote! STACKS Magazine would like you to stress the importance of voting to all of your family and friends. No one should believe that their vote doesn’t count. It does! You can start by spreading the word online at the COMMIT TO VOTE challenge.
Former NBA Star Elected Mayor
Also making history during the nomination season is retired NBA star Kevin Johnson. Defeating his competition, two-term incumbent Heather Fargo, Johnson recently became the first black mayor of Sacramento, California. Much like our very soon to be president, Barack Obama, Johnson’s campaign theme focused on change. “No more business as usual” said Johnson.
During his campaign, Johnson had the support of billionaire investor Warren Buffet and fellow NBA stars like Charles Barkley, Magic Johnson, and Shaquille O’Neal.
Once again….YES WE CAN!!!!!
(Source)
As If We Didn’t Already Know
It’s still amazing how just a couple of days ago reports of the results of the economic research studies were popping up on almost every media outlet officially confirming that we are now in a recession and have been since December 2007. While it’s good that they could finally admit it, it’s funny how they had the nerve to call it BREAKING NEWS!
If you somehow missed it, check out the video below for your briefing!
Ebay to stop selling FREE Inauguration tickets
Ebay is in the news again.
Ebay is being pressured by the Feds to stop selling the FREE inauguration tickets to Obama’s swearing-in ceremony. The tickets are free to the public and are scheduled to be rationed out, by state, a week prior to the January 20 event. But on Ebay’s website, the ticket sales were already booming…racking in major dollars up to $7500.
A spokesperson for eBay, says that the federal government questioned their distribution method and monetary value of the tickets. No further details has been revealed. (Source)
I AM C.H.A.N.G.E.
Photo Credit: Terrence Jennings (photographer)
L to R: Londell McMillan – Co-CEO/Publisher of The Source Magazine, Tyson Beckford, Vince Carter,
via press release:
L to R: Dr. Benjamin Chavis, President/CEO of the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network, Valeisha Butterfield, Executive Director of HSAN., Russell Simmons, Lil Kim and Kevin Liles.5 Days….and Counting/History in the Making
See you at the polls!
T.I’s First Vote
Photo courtesy of The Hip Hop Summit Action Network
In Atlanta today, multi-platinum artist T.I. “respected the vote” by heading to the polls early to vote for the first time.
As the national spokesperson of the “RESPECT MY VOTE” non-partisan Get Out The Vote initiative, Clifford “T.I.” Harris has been very vocal in getting young people to register to vote. Even at one point believing that he wasn’t eligible to vote, due to his prior legal troubles, still made well by traveling nationwide to 18 cities on a crusade to make people recognize that it is important to cast your vote.
After some diligent research, T.I. found out that he was indeed still eligible to vote and made his way to the polls this morning.
Barack Obama’s Victory Speech
If you were somewhere under a rock, had already had one too many, or fell asleep because you couldn’t hang, here’s President Barack Obama’s historical victory acceptance speech on Tuesday night.
Barack Obama made a “BOOYAH” in history by becoming the first, oh yes, the first African-American President of the United States of America. YES WE CAN! YES WE DID! YES WE WILL!
Don’t Block the Vote
Russell “Big Block” Spencer, CEO of Block Entertainment has jumped on board and launched his own campaign in an effort to encourage voter participation in the November 4th presidential election.
The campaign is a series of weekly video messages covering various topics surrounding voting in the 2008 Presidential election including; registration deadlines, former felon eligibility rights, determining your polling location, and what not to wear to the polls.
According to Block, “Don’t Block the Vote is my way of
encouraging my community to go to the polls and make history!”
Can Your State Pay For Itself?
A study ran by the Center for Budgets and Policy Priorities determined that several states where seeing a huge downfall in their tax revenues. For instance, the state of California is asking the federal government to give them $7 billion to help cover their budget shortfalls. In 2009, California is certain that they will not be able to pay the incomes of its teachers, firemen, policemen, and other state workers.
Per BusinessWeek.com, of the 51 states in the U.S., 31 are experiencing the alarming affects of the financial crisis. In total, the potential costs that all 31 states could be facing is $53.4 billion.
The top states are: 1) California 2) Arizona 3) Florida 4) Nevada 5) Rhode Island 6) New York 7) Alabama 8) Georgia 9) New Jersey, and 10) Maryland.
For more detailed information regarding the financial “state” in which these states are in, click here!
America’s Financial History , The Federal Reserve Bank, and The Secret Circle
Even though I’d been hearing about this documentary series, I had not had the chance to sit and watch it. But today I decided to give the first installment a peep (thanks to my mother reminding me to watch it).
The Zeitgeist movie is factual “researched” insights into American history and our financial make-up. Originally banned from the internet (can you spell C.O.N.SPIRACY), the documentary series were finally permitted to be posted online and have since been viewed by over 1 million viewers on YouTube alone.
The producer of Zeitgeist, Peter Joseph, created the movie as a nonprofit expression to inspire people to start looking at the world from a more critical perspective and to understand that very often things are not what the population at large think they are.
To view the movie in its entirety, go to www.zeitgeistmovie.com.
The video below is part 1 of the Federal Reserve segment. If you’ve ever wondered how our banking system ever got started and why the nation collapsed financially in 1907, this is the movie to watch. This movie should give you more understanding as to why we are experiencing the same situation again today.
You can find more segments on YouTube, here!
After you view Parts 1-5 of the Federal Reserve series, let us know what you think. STACKS Magazine would love to see how the urban community feels about this new found information.
$85 Billion Loan…from a $9.5 Trillion Deficit???
According to the
AJC, the federal government has agreed to loan AIG $85 Billion dollars! So, where do we (you know, the low and middle class folks that are really suffering from the Bush tactics) send our loan applications?
In a bid to save financial markets and economy from further turmoil, the U.S. government agreed Tuesday to provide an $85 billion emergency loan to rescue the huge insurer AIG. The Federal Reserve said in a statement it determined that a disorderly failure of AIG could hurt the already delicate financial markets and the economy.
It also could “lead to substantially higher borrowing costs, reduced household wealth and materially weaker economic performance,” the
Fed said.
Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said the administration was working closely with the Fed, the Securities and Exchange Commission and
other government regulators to “enhance the stability and orderliness of our financial markets and minimize the disruption to our economy.”
The Fed said in return for the loan, the government will receive a 79.9 percent equity stake in AIG.
I am all for helping out, but isn’t it funny how we jump in to protect our corporations, but not our most valuable resources… our people? Is this the equivalent of a $600 tax rebate check?? huh!
Obama camp raises $66 million
According to the New York Times last week, Barack Obama hauled in $66 million in campaign money in August. This was the biggest monthly gross since his February funding of $55 million.
Update: A recent press release from Obama’s camp states that they actually took in $87 million (which can be confirmed through their bank accounts). They also stated that now Obama has more than 2.5 million people who’ve contributed to his campaign.
On the other side of the coin, McCain brought in $47 million in August. But since the GOP convention, McCain must use the $84 million in campaign funds received by the federal government.
Confused or Convinced? “Hip Hop Republicans”
Article by Karyn Allen
Maybe I don’t get it!!! In an article written by Manav Tanneeru and John Blake of www.cnn.com entitled “Obama Giving Some Black Republicans Heartburn”, I became extremely frustrated. As I began to read the article, the thing that stood out the most was the comment by Armstrong Williams. He is a nationally known radio talk show host, who happens to be a Republican. The story told of his dilemma of who he would vote for in this November’s upcoming election. In his own words, Williams’s main reason for voting for Barack Obama will be, “history brother, it cannot be anything else.” I understood his reasoning and actually respected his honesty on why he might jump the party lines and vote for a Democratic candidate.
As I continued to read the story, I embarked upon an iReport produced, edited and directed by Travers Johnson on www.cnn.com. The term ‘Hip Hop Republicans’ caught my immediate attention; I had to view the video to find out exactly what that term meant. There was a young man, Richard Ivory, who was the founder of the website www.HipHopRepublicans.com. He was confident in his views about why he was a supporter of the Republican Party. I was convinced that if I indulged in a debate with him, he could stand his ground as a Republican. He was confident in his answers as to why he made the decision to be a Republican; though I don’t agree with his views, I respect him as well.
***Karyn Allen is a contributing writer for STACKS Magazine.
(Pic Source)
Is Sarah Palin Ready to be Vice President?
Photo courtesy of US Weekly MagazineArticle by Karyn Allen
Sarah Palin has been chosen as the Vice Presidential candidate for the Republican Party. She is the first female to be chosen for this position in this party’s history. Which leads me to this question…Is this choice strictly about strategy? Did the Republican Party choose Sarah Palin as the running mate to Senator John S. McCain, because Barack Obama did not choose Hillary Clinton as his running mate? As a former supporter of Hillary Clinton and now an avid supporter of Barack Obama, I would say, “YES!” I think that the Republican Party wanted to capture the votes of those undecided on whom to vote for as the next President of the United States of America. They assumed that women like me, who were “Hillary” supporters in the Primaries, would flock to Sarah Palin because she is a woman. WRONG!!! I am intelligent enough to sort through the political jargon, and focus on the REAL issues that we face as Americans.
I am a licensed real estate agent; for me and others related to my field, the housing market and economy are huge issues. Sarah Palin did not convince me that she had a plan to help promote a thriving economy. She did not explain how she would bring jobs back to the American people. Governor Palin seemed to want to convey how tough she is comparing herself to a “pitbull”, just with “lipstick”. I’m not a “hockey mom” and cannot understand how that qualifies her to be our next Vice President. I believe that each of us has pit bull tendencies if we feel threatened. That doesn’t make her tough, it makes her human.
According to www.Ask.com, the population of the state of Alaska (which is the state that she has been the Governor of since 2006) is 655, 435. She criticized Barack Obama for being a “community activist”, but it seems like her entire state isn’t as large as the community that he served on the south side of Chicago. Being President of the PTA (Parent Teacher Association) and being the Vice President of the country are definitely not parallel paths. I was on the Steward Board at my church, but that in no way qualifies me to run for the Senate or the House. I encourage each of us as American citizens to look at the facts. This is our future that hangs in the balance. We deserve to live in a progressive country and not one that only offers that opportunity to those in higher social and economic classes.
Obama’s Acceptance Sets Record
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Network-by-network: CNN won the hour with 8.1 million viewers (up 102% from Kerry’s speech four years ago), followed by ABC (6.6 million), NBC (6.1 million), CBS (4.7 million), Fox News (4.2 million, up 63%) and MSNBC (4.1 million, up 88%).
Obama – Versace
Fashion Meets Politics
Fashion maestro Calvin Klein backs Barack Obama
Calvin Klein, Vogue editor Anna Wintour,and Andre Leon Talley were among the hosts of a high dollar fund-raiser Tuesday night headlined by Michelle Obama in Manhattan. Among the guests were famous designers Catherine Malandrino, Erin Fetherston, Cynthia Rowley, Thakoon Panichgul, Ralph Rucci, Nicole Miller, Tory Burch, and Zac Posen; and celebrities Cynthia Nixon, LL Cool J, LeBron James, Spike Lee, Harvey Weinstein, Georgina Chapman, Monique Lhuillier, Isaac Mizrahi, and Iman.
Calvin Klein arrives with his daughter Marci Klein.
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Calvin Klein hosted the gala in a New York art gallery (Sikkema Jenkins Gallery) at the tune of $1,000 per person. And for dessert – an intimate after party at his plush NYC apartment for the price of $10,000 per person. Such events normally allow reporters and famous people that draw the attention of reporters in for free, while the other attendees pay the price. But this fundraiser was so exclusive that everyone paid to attend.
The next day when Michelle went on The View she wore a dress from White HouseBlack Market. (Source)
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Trendy Politics
Lepore’s VOTE bag
Fashion Designer Nanette Lepore, who believes strongly in the power of voting, recently teamed up with actress Kerry Washington and the Creative Coalition to encourage voter registration at her boutique opening on Melrose Avenue.
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Designer Nanette Lepore, actress Kerry Washington (in a Lepore original) and Creative Coalition Exec. Director Robin Bronk
A little history: Nanette Lapore became interested in fashion at the pubescent age of 9. She dressed a young friend in a bedspread and choker, and with a makeshift logo “Lepore” the young girl posed in the family’s front yard. Nanette grew up free spirited, her parents encouraged her creativity. She went on to complete her undergraduate studies at Youngstown University, then moved to New York and attended New York City’s Fashion Institute of Technology.
After working in design studios for a while, Nanette grew anxious and decided it was time to strike out on her own. In 1992 her father granted her a $5,000 loan to set up shop in a penthouse office in the garment district.
Nanette is now known worldwide with boutiques in New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Boston, Chicago, London and Tokyo; her brand includes two fragrance lines and a shoe collection. Her designs are described as “Suitable for a tea at The Ritz or a night out on the town, each collection balances feminine details with a seductive sensibility”, and are worn by the likes of editors, chic style-makers and celebrities such as America Ferrara, Eva Longoria, and of course Kerry Washington. You can find her designs at nanettelepore.com.
