I have a lot of reasons to be happy that I recently left Memphis. I certainly don't hate the place, but I am much happier since I moved away. Aside from the fact that in the past month, multiple innocent people have been hit by stray bullets - once at the fourth of July celebration downtown and then this week at the freaking MEMPHIS ZOO, Memphis politics really got under my skin (and i'm not even going to talk about the well-known corruption there, either).
Memphis politics is somewhat legendary in its ability to create a lot of nonsensical controversy, yet actually not do much good for the people of Memphis. It's even more frustrating because most Memphians are REALLY into local politics and many people really want to do some good for that town, but the city just doesn't seem to want to help itself sometimes. For the people who want to do good, and have the energy and resources to make things happen, they often just get burned out trying to change the system. Unfortunately empty words, false promises and skin color go farther than real potential in Memphis.
The recent bill passed by the U.S. House is a great example of Memphis politics. Rep. Steve Cohen, the first white congressman from the overwhelmingly black 9th district in who knows how long, recent got a bill passed through the House extending an official apology to black people for the U.S. government's toleration and advancement of slavery and oppression in America.
I think this apology is a good thing and has been a long time coming, but the problem is the obvious purpose for which it was designed and nearly every commentator in America has been quick to point this out: Steve Cohen BARELY got his seat in the House and his hotly contested seat is set to be lost in the 9th district democratic primaries next week! This is shameless politics, I think, designed to build up his support for next week's primary. The timing is impeccable.
My beef is that while this is a good thing and is a long time coming, some language worries people because of the controversial issue of "reparations" payments to african americans for slavery. That is a bad idea for many reasons, one of which is the fact that it would further bankrupt our already insolvent country!
Here's the open-ended language that most people don't like in the bill:
"[The US government] expresses its commitment to rectify the lingering consequences of the misdeeds committed against African-Americans under slavery and Jim Crow and to stop the occurrence of human rights violations in the future."
No one knows what "rectify" means, but this is how unpopular laws are passed in this country - deliberate ambiguity. If you make a bill open-ended, it leaves room down the road to pass currently unpopular legislation when you get a party majority in Congress and the White House and/or America's social views change over time.
Taking a look at the bills that Cohen has sponsored in his short time in Congress gives a good idea of what he is all about: words and symbolic gestures, not real assistance to the 9th district or this country. Just take a look at the bills he has sponsored.
I support the general meaning and purpose of the apology bill. I don't support the timing and purpose of its sponsor. It is designed more for his gain than the greater good of his constituency and America. Typical of Memphis Politics, I think.
Memphis politics is somewhat legendary in its ability to create a lot of nonsensical controversy, yet actually not do much good for the people of Memphis. It's even more frustrating because most Memphians are REALLY into local politics and many people really want to do some good for that town, but the city just doesn't seem to want to help itself sometimes. For the people who want to do good, and have the energy and resources to make things happen, they often just get burned out trying to change the system. Unfortunately empty words, false promises and skin color go farther than real potential in Memphis.
The recent bill passed by the U.S. House is a great example of Memphis politics. Rep. Steve Cohen, the first white congressman from the overwhelmingly black 9th district in who knows how long, recent got a bill passed through the House extending an official apology to black people for the U.S. government's toleration and advancement of slavery and oppression in America.
I think this apology is a good thing and has been a long time coming, but the problem is the obvious purpose for which it was designed and nearly every commentator in America has been quick to point this out: Steve Cohen BARELY got his seat in the House and his hotly contested seat is set to be lost in the 9th district democratic primaries next week! This is shameless politics, I think, designed to build up his support for next week's primary. The timing is impeccable.
My beef is that while this is a good thing and is a long time coming, some language worries people because of the controversial issue of "reparations" payments to african americans for slavery. That is a bad idea for many reasons, one of which is the fact that it would further bankrupt our already insolvent country!
Here's the open-ended language that most people don't like in the bill:
"[The US government] expresses its commitment to rectify the lingering consequences of the misdeeds committed against African-Americans under slavery and Jim Crow and to stop the occurrence of human rights violations in the future."
No one knows what "rectify" means, but this is how unpopular laws are passed in this country - deliberate ambiguity. If you make a bill open-ended, it leaves room down the road to pass currently unpopular legislation when you get a party majority in Congress and the White House and/or America's social views change over time.
Taking a look at the bills that Cohen has sponsored in his short time in Congress gives a good idea of what he is all about: words and symbolic gestures, not real assistance to the 9th district or this country. Just take a look at the bills he has sponsored.
I support the general meaning and purpose of the apology bill. I don't support the timing and purpose of its sponsor. It is designed more for his gain than the greater good of his constituency and America. Typical of Memphis Politics, I think.
4 comments:
Considering that flyers are being passed out among his constituents saying "did you know Jews were involved in the slave trade," you might cut him some slack.
I say this especially because Steve has done good in his district since being elected. People in his district , which I suspect has the highest poverty level of any in Tennessee, have much to gain from simple constituent services. Toward that end, he has worked very hard.
I think that the reputation Steve has built as someone who works tirelessly on behalf of the his constituents will pay off in the election, but he's still fighting a battle against people who would seek to disqualify him from service due to his race and religion.
With respect, typical Memphis politics is not what the news reports, nor is it usually what happens in the legislature. Typical Memphis politics happen on the ground, helping poor people in the most regressively taxed city in one of the most regressively taxed states in the nation.
On that front, Cohen has performed admirably, whatever one thinks of his politics.
I would add that we are less happy since you moved away.
I knew I had a comment from you on the way! I definitely respect your opinion as you are on the ground there and I am not. I am sure most reader(s) probably know that my opinion on the subject comes from a lack of information and experience, and will never be respected by true "Memphians" (they apparently know who they are), but I just don't like political posturing.
The real irony is that in Birmingham, Larry Langford is running plays from Herenton's playbook, it seems: County bankrupt? Can't afford to pay for anything? Let's have a prayer service while wearing sackcloth and ashes while doing nothing practical to help the situation. Genius.
The latest Nikki Tinker ad is going to feature klansmen, just so you know.
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