By John Coston
Now anyone who knows me well understands my disdain for discussing politics. I try to keep my conversations simple. I talk life, a few deep thoughts, and a sizable amount of pick up lines and silliness. When the subject of politics comes up, I try to stay away from the fray because 1.) Sometimes I'm not educated enough on a topic and I would rather research it before saying something ridiculous; 2.) I know I'm going to hear some fool who's not educated enough on a topic and who didn't research it say something ridiculous, and 3.) Politics, along with religion, is a tool of division used by the masses (government, media, etc;) to keep the people ignorant from the real issues that go on. So I choose to keep it moving.
But recently some comments were made which made me feel kind of offended and upset. Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan said, in an interview with Bill Bennett that there was a "tailspin of culture, in our inner cities in particular, of men not working and just generations of men not even thinking about working or learning to value the culture of work." Now anyone slightly intellectual can read between the lines and see he was describing mainly black men, basically saying that we were lazy. Ryan since has said that he was "inarticulate about the point I was trying to make." But he never really apologized for the comments nor did he offer any solutions to the "cultural" issues presented.
Let me be brief on this. I would like to sum up my opinion of his comments with one word: Thanks!!! I would like to thank Paul Ryan for showing why Republicans lack any support from blacks and other minorities. I can understand if he was looking to spark a conversation about culture and changes that are necessary. But once you use terms like "inner city", you automatically put a black face on it and you eliminate any productive discussions that may have been able to be conducted. Good going, champ!
I would also like to thank Rep. Ryan for offending every hard working black man (hell, all minorities) I've ever known. Now Rep. Ryan can make amends for this by repeating this statement to the faces of every employed minority making a living the best way they can. He can start with my father who helped raise a family when my mother passed, worked hard every day and, at 69, recently received an insurance license, still setting goals and working to reach them. Or how about my homeboy Tony, who is a recent college graduate working 40+ hours a day and looking to move further in life. Hell, say it to my face. Wait, I wont have time to talk to you because I work full time and go to school full time so I don't have time to waste on clowns like you!!!! This is why people need to think before they say something ridiculous!!
Sheesh!!! Most of all, though, I would like to thank Rep. Ryan for bringing my mind back to a concept I'll be exploring in the near future, which is community reinvestment. It is basically putting money into a run down neighborhood with the goal of not only bringing jobs and opportunity to the people of the neighborhood, but also doubling and tripling the money you put into it!!! Quick explanation of what I mean. Lets say you are a successful ballplayer looking to invest some money. Instead of investing in descending assets such as cars and clothes and jewelry, how about investing in a piece of land in a hood. What you do is (and if you don't have enough doe, go in with some business partners) build a strip mall on that property. You move different businesses in such as grocery stores, hair salons, Laundromats, etc. Then you take people from the neighborhood and employ them. Now these people have money in their pocket plus places within the strip mall to spend them at. Now you, as the investor, act as landlord because all of these businesses will be paying you rent. If the business is sustainable, you now have residual income coming in that you can really retire on. Plus, the fact that you've allowed poor people to receive jobs and create an economy for themselves is the icing on the cake.
People reading this may think I'm crazy. But give me a few years and I will show you what I am talking about!!!!!! This is my longest article ever!! It will probably be the last time I talk politics for a while too!!! Next week, the foolishness returns!!
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