Pictured above is not money. We have been schooled and taught to believe that this is money and we should work hard to earn it. Yet, what you see above are actually Federal Reserve Notes not U.S. dollars or money. Money has value because it's tied to and valued against a precious metal usually gold or silver as in the British Pound Sterling. But, what we circulate here in the United States is a piece of paper not worth the paper its printed on. In 1971, then president Richard M. Nixon completed the final phase of devaluing the U.S. dollar by removing it from the gold standard.

By taking the U.S. dollar off the gold standard this virtually ensured that inflation would become the order of the day and that you and I would be dealing with fiat currency. Basically fiat currency has no value at all, other than a mental value assigned to it by the people using it. Thus, to get a handle on a piece of whats happening in this economy we have to gain an understanding of how the word currency plays in this scheme of things.

When thinking of the word currency, of course we can notice the word current as its root. In the United States economic system, its of the utmost importance for people to spend money not save it. If you recall president George W. Bush urging people to go out and travel, and spend as if nothing had happened only a few short days after the planes crashed into the World Trade Center in Manhatten, New York. He and his advisors knew what the impact would be if people stayed home and and did not spend (move) the currency. In other words, if the currency stagnated there would be serious ramifications in the economy. There must be a movement of the currency to keep the economic system intact.

When this "downturn" occured one of the first things Dubya did was call for Congress to pass an economic stimulus package and send out checks to the people, knowing the U.S. public would go out and spend. I did warn this was only to put funds into the hands of the people to spend to give the appearnce that the third quarter would have a better showing. They had learned from the poor spending on "Black Friday" in November of 2007 that something needed to be done to keep the currency flowing, since the economy stalled out in the 4th quarter last year. Now president elect Obama is calling for another stimulus package to keep the economy stimulated probably for the first or second quarter.

We have to look to the future as we see the collapse of the U.S. economic system set in motion starting as far back as the Aldrich-Vreeland act of 1908, the Federal Reserve Act of 1913, the infamous Gold Confiscation Act by Franklin D. Roosevelt in April of 1933, and finally Nixon removing the dollar from the gold standard as mentioned above.  Maybe we are actually heading to the North American Union's fiat currency called the Amero.

Many years ago when the Night of the Living Dead film was about to be released, we youngsters would watch the trailers on TV and become afraid just watching the commercials, yet we couldn’t wait for the release so we could rush downtown to go watch it. That alone is a psychological issue within itself. At any rate, when the movie was released off we went to be entertained and scared all at the same time. I remember returning home and asking my father were zombies real and of course his answer was, “no son that’s only Hollywood.” Fortunately, I didn’t dream about the film as is turned out to be more comical then scarey.

Today, I wonder how insightful my father really was concerning zombies. Each and every day as I navigate my way through the Atlanta metro area, it seems I am living in the film itself. People appear to be unaware as to how serious the situation is with our economy and actually the worlds economy, and how it may truly affect their lives. I know I have watched my own 401K bleed out as if it were a victim of a Hutu machete used against a Tutsi victim’s throat in 1994. Yet, most of the population feels as if there is nothing they can do so they medicate themselves on TMZ, or The Real House Wives of Atlanta.

The average citizen is being indirectly taught they cannot understand economics. Jargon like “fractional banking” puts fear in the average Joe or Joetta and they flee from the slight possibility they may understand what's happening with their Federal Reserve Notes, for I dare call it money because it's fiat nature disallow such a moniker. But, Joe and Joetta are of so little faith in themselves that they fall upon their knees and pray to the “Lord” to make a way when they have the power right in their own minds. So, instead of watching Zeitgeist the Addendum, Life and Debt in Jamaica or read a book like The Confessions of an Economic Hit Man, or even pick up the Wall Street Journal, they drink their beer or wine, swallow down MSG laced “feed“, watch a game, try and release their stress through sex, then pray that they will have a job tomorrow.

This is a zombie. The zombie my father told me didn’t exist. I see them every day, fearful. Afraid of their own ignorance and continue to revel in it. Ok, I sound harsh and you may say “what am I supposed to do? Walk around sad and depressed?” No. Educate yourself make your world view bigger, gain an understanding, no, an overstanding of what is going on and make your congressman and senator aware that you are aware of what’s going on. The people in Washington, including President elect Obama are counting on your ignorance in order to control you, like a wicked priest controls the zombie he made with puffer fish toxins.

Here we are. After almost two years the country has decided that Sen. Barack Obama is the best man for the job and elected him President of the United States. The sight of Grant Park in Chicago was fantastic.A sea of humanity in ecstatic jubilation, tears falling, and smiles from ear to ear. Even my house erupted into jubilant noise as if the clock struck midnight moving from New Year’s Eve to the New Year. Yet, I sat silent feeling nothing. I must admit, I felt happy when I called and heard the joy coming from my mother’s voice, who had been an NAACP worker during the 1950’s in Memphis, TN. I know for her this was a great night fulfilling a personal dream for many Black people of that era.

However, my eye has sharpened since over the decades I have witnessed Black people elected into office only for things to remain the same or even get worse. Thus, the mere fact that a Black person has been elected into an office no longer brings immediate joy and satisfaction for me. I feel no since of pride or accomplishment. I have long lost the mentality of the “let us show them we are just as good as them.” This smacks of a slave mentality. We should be of the mind to rule ourselves, to become sovereign and no longer subject. Why should I feel a since of pride because a Black woman and her children will be running and playing in the white house?

The house white still belongs to “massa.” If there were a re-writing of the Constitution or an new constitution where Black people had a full voice in its construction and a Black family occupied the, lets call it the people’s house, then I would swell with pride knowing we had an equal share in the building of the nation's foundation.

But, as it stands the new president will be a Black face (mulatto face) fulfilling the requirements of the Office of the Presidency which has very little to do with the will of the people, but is becoming more and more obvious that it’s fulfilling the will of the banksters. And, this new president has shown his agreement with the lame duck president Dubya,in stripping the last vestiges of restraints of the Constitution. Oh, really? You say. Remember his vote on FISA, the Patriot Act, and the quick vote to provide 700 billion to the banksters. No money for the people. And I should feel jubilant?

A Black face, (because most white folk discount his Caucasian half) in the white house doing much of the same under the guise of change means little. So,I will wait and see if I can grow to feel proud. His election is not and should not be the source of pride alone. Pride should rise inthe fact that a man, especially a Black man will bend to the will of the people, not the banksters. Pride should rise in a Black president that rules on behalf ofand by the people. However,foremost and most importantlyit's incumbent on the people to educate themselves on their/our rightsand truly become a part of the process beyond voting.

While flying to San Diego to prepare to bury my father, who died yesterday mornng, more than likely from just plane ole, old age since he lived to the ripe age of 81. His death got me to thinking about the healthcare plans being touted by each presidential candidate and universal healtcare in general.  I know there are millions of people living in the so called greatest country in the world without access to adequate healthcare.  But, is healthcare alone the answer?

In our world, here in the U.S., adequate healthcare seems to be the answer to all the people's woes, at least if you listen to Obama/Biden or McCain/Palin.  In the United States there are hundreds of thousands of people living with HIV/AIDS and many many more living with diabetes, high blood pressure, cardio pulmonary disease or some other illness that has become common place in our society today.  Yet, it seems the clamoring for healthcare is really a coded effort to fatten the coffers of the pharmaceutical companies and managed healthcare.

As I mentioned earlier I am on a flight as I write this to go and bury my father.  Approximately 19 years ago my father was preparing to retire from his job with the federal government.  He and my mother decided that they should go and get physical exams.  It was almost like they felt they were reaching their latter years and wanted to get detailed physical exams with blood draws and various screenings, which makes good sense.  After about a two to three hour stay with their primary physician they returned home, both with prescribtions for high blood pressure medications.  My mother had one particular medication and my father had another that was a heart medication being used to control his blood pressure.

Now, as I look back, I remember how the doctor they both love and trust so much had prescribed them medication without suggesting they change their diet, start an exercise program or increase their water intake then set up an appointment at a later time to recheck their blood pressure. In fact both my parents were not physically active at the time of the initial physical exam and could have benefitted from an exercise program and diet change.  Never the less, the medications were prescribed, filled, and taken by each one of my parents religiously.  However, I do consider the fact that my parents are of the generation that looks up to doctors almost as if doctors have  been deified after residency, whch explains the religious like faith in which they took their medications.

Within an eighteen month period they both were diagnosed with diabetes and prescribed more medication, which they both took religiously without question.  Still no exercise program was advised by the doctor they love and trust and still no advice to change their diet.  I have been told by friends that live with diabetes that they must eat a certain way and avoid certiain drinks and sugars and begin an exercise program, but curiously not so with my parents.  They kept eating the same way they did before their diagnosis and only began to walk on a daily basis of their own volition.  This prescribing of medication without diet change and exercise was curious to me, I questioned my parents on it, but they protested and said their doctor didn't tell them they had to change their eating habits nor exercise, so they did nothing differently than before their diagnosis.

In October of 1997, my father thought he was suffering with a cold that persisted for some time.  He put off going to his physician until he felt the cold was becomng the flu.  By the end of the year he found it was not a cold or the flu and was diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure, often called Chronc Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD ) today.  He was prescribed a seres of medications, his blood pressure medication was changed, and his diabetes medication was increased.  In the meantime my mother developed asthma and was prescribed Prednisone, an inhaler, a breathing machine and an increase in her dosage of the diabetes meds she was taking.  Still no change in diet suggested nor an exercise program, my mother was told by her doctor that he wanted her to move around a little more and no advice concerning exercise was given to my father.

This is the American healthcare system.  My father wa a 20 year veteran of the U.S. Navy, worked another 27 years for the federal government before he finally retired.  Once he retired he never worked another day in his life (thanks to his excellent savings and investment choices), not even to break bordem, he preferred the soaps, gardening, visiting his friends and his duties as a Baptist church deacon to stave off any possibility of bordem.  Thus, his health benefits were more than adequate, but considered excellent by today's standards.

So, as Obama/Biden and McCain/Palin battle for our votes while calling for better healthcare, I wonder what that really is.  Is it a system of doling out medications as I witness with my parents?  My mother is still under this same physician's care.  Do the candidates really have our interest at heart or managed healthcare and pharmaceutical companies?  We know that physicians are given incentives to push a certain drug or recommend a certain procedure when a patient has adequately covered by a health insurance provider.  Is this what each campaign is pushing when they push their healthcare agendas?

What I hear when they speak of healthcare is more money for managed care and pharmaceutical companies.  I hear nothing of a plan such as President John F. Kennedy's Presidency Project on Physical Ftness during the 1960's.  There seems to be no emphasis on wellness or prevention by either campaign, just a call for adequate healthcare.  Funny the call is for just adequate healthcare rather than good, great or excellent healthcare.  Its too bad many will live and die such as my father, believing that whatever the doctor says is the gospel and is looking out for their good health, when it may very well be the doctor is looking out for her or his own financial health.

I will be away due to a family emergency and I hope to speak with all of you soon!

Troy Anthony Davis is scheduled to die on September 23rd 2008.  He is accused of killing a police officer in Savannah, GA. August 1989.  Officer Mark Allen MacPhail was moonlighting at a Burger King on the night of his murder, a murder Troy Anthony Davis maintains he did not committ. The Georgia Board of Pardons and Parole have denied a plea for clemency for Mr. Davis despite an enormous amount of doubt in his case.  They issued the death warrant for Troy Anthony Davis even though last year the Pardons and Parole Board said they would "not allow an execution to proceed in this State unless and until its members are convinced that there is no doubt as to the guilt of the accused." 

As we have witnessed daily our governments and other associated institutions care little about the sanctity of human life.  All witnesses in the Davis case have recanted in sworn affidavits that they were coerced or pressured by the police with the exception two people, one man, Sylvester "Red" Coles a principle alternative suspect , according to the defense maintains his version against Mr. Davis.  There was no murder weapon tying Troy Anthony Davis to the murder, no powder burns on Mr. Davis, or any other physical evidence against Mr. Davis.   The case against Troy Anthony Davis is built entirely on witness testimony which contained inconsistancies even during the trial.  The attorneys in the Troy Anthony Davis case working on getting the case before the U.S. Supreme Court before this Tuesday.  You to can help please send a letter to;

TAKE ACTION-send a letter to The Georgia Board of Pardons and Parole. 

I had to take a minute and observe.  This presidential election, the ecomomic fiasco, and the state of our minds that seem to be deteriorating along with the economy.  The marketing tactics of the elections are playing to the lowest mentality of the people.  The images of Sarah Palin on the front of Newsweek magazine holding a shotgun over her shoulder, is surely playing to the lowest mentality of a certain group of AmeriKKKins who were not going to vote since they couldn't see themselves voting for an African American, will almost certainly vote for the person that  APPEARS to be one of them. 

Sadly, most Black Americans are voting for Barack Obama because he is highly educated, articulate, good looking and most of all he is an African American.  Yet, his brilliance somehow does not allow him to move forward on his game, but to play the McCain/Palin game of personality/image politics that his campaign most certainly used against the Clinton machine. 

What a shame!!

Prolific writer and attorney Khadija has posted a most enlightening article as a guest writer at Black Women Blow The Trumpet entitled Why Black American Muslim Women Follow Muslim Ike Turners hosted by Rev. Lisa Vasquez. Her post brought eye opening information concerning the maltreatment of Black American Muslim women. Khadija assesses that “the core problem is Black women’s idolatry. Instead of worshipping God alone, some Black women are worshipping God + the Black man they want to be/stay with + Male Clergy/Religious scholars…” I agree with her assessment, I can feel it when I am watching T.D. Jakes doing his pork chop strut across the pulpit/stage entertaining his mostly female Christian congregation/audience. Or Rod Parsley showcasing his watered down imitation of a Black country minister extolling the virtues of prosperity to his mostly lower middle class to poor Black and white female congregation/audience. Khadija mentions a case of a Muslim wife killing her husband just as a case of murder that was uncovered in the Christian world on July 30th this year. Anthony Hopkins, so called Evangelist, is accused of murdering his wife, cutting her up and storing her body in a freezer in the house for the last four years! Obviously, this male (obviously he is not a Man in the image of The Most High) has serious mental issues. Could his religion have influenced his thinking however warped it may be?

Khadija’s post hit a chord in my mind, something I see as the base for the problem of a male centered and dominated form of worship. Not only am I talking about Islam, but Christianity and Judaism and any other male God centered religion. We can safely say the male God image came into prominence approximately 8,000 to 10,000 years ago,when Sun worship began to be the major influence on humankind. Eventually the worship of the feminine was supplanted by the Hebrew Levites naming Yahweh (YHWH) as the God of Creation. Dr. Yosef Ben Jochonan teaches us that religion is culture deified, and can be witnessed in the cultural life of the people of the so called Middle East, where women of the times were in fact treated as chattel property, and not too differently today. Thus, we have adopted such backwards beliefs as the “male carries the seed” when we speak of reproduction, the male is the “head of the household”, leaving women to defend themselves by saying they are the neck turning or "manipulating" the head. The symbolism of this alone gives us the image of the male on top and the female on the bottom with the female as manipulator. All these symbols and images play a damaging role in the individual psychology and make up of the society. It also speaks against nature. The human brain does not function on an upper and lower hierarchy, but functions within the ebb and flow of left brain-right brain. Day does not seek to struggle against night, nor does the sand stand against the tide but, all work in a systematic flow with their natural function. So, men and women should function within our true and natural state. As long as we, men and women continue to call upon Him and exalt Him alone, the road to abolishing the idolizing of the Black man that she wants to be/stay with will be a long and rocky road.

Attorney & Talk show host Warren Ballentine

Talk radio programs have become a part of the American fabric here in the U.S.  Black talk radio listenership is increasing by leaps and bounds due in part to the increase of Black talk radio show hosts.  Yet, we have to be aware of what we are listening to and who is guiding your thoughts. Thats right, these talk radio programs help to guide and influence how you think.   But, you and only you are responsible for your personal education, your personal uplift.  I am not advocating that radio talk program hosts should not be responsible for the content they are putting over the airwaves I'm simply saying you should discern what it truth and what is an untruth.  An untruth is defind by Meriam-Webster as 1archaic : disloyalty 2: lack of truthfulness : falsity or : something that is untrue : falsehood, such as this Attorney Ballentine has just committed on his show today, not more than 5 minutes ago. 

Ballentine, was speaking on history repeating itself and he gave an example of the war in Iraq being similar to the quagmire in Viet Nam during the 1960's and 1970's, which we can draw similarities to each conflict, neither were or are wars declared by the Congress of the United States.  But, what I object to is, using his talk radio program to mis-educate rather than educate.  During this segment about history repeating itself he says that "they IMPEACHED  Nixon, and they tried to impeach Clinton", referring to the 1974 charges filed against former president Richard M. Nixon.  But wait, was Nixon impeached?  Warren Ballentine is an attorney.  Warren Ballentine is a talk radio program host.  As an attorney he should know that Law.com defines impeach, impeached, impeachment as n. the charges brought (filed) to impeach a public official. In regard to the President, Vice President and federal judges, the articles are prepared and voted upon by the House of Representatives, and if it votes to charge the official with a crime, the trial is held by the Senate. 

History shows in fact former President Nixon resigned in 1974 to avoid impeachment, to avoid the trial.  And, in fact former President Clinton was impeached in 1999 by the U.S. Senate and he prevailed, won his case.  Ballentine, as a talk radio host and attorney should know the difference in the cases of Nixon and Clinton.   I'm inclined to believe as an attorney he does know exactly what he is talking about, but has become the one that misleads rather than leads his listeners into the light.  I am concerned about what appears to be a little "somthing", because it appears to be a symptom of a larger issue.  We have people with the power of the microphone that misuse and abuse the lack of knowledge of the people.

I can hear the words of power coming from her mouth right now, "amandla amandla!"  Born 26 Sept 1936 and given the Xhosa name Nomzamo meaning "Trial" which almost seeems as a prophecy more than just a name.  She met Nelson Mandela in 1957, they married in 1958 and fought the great fight against apartheid in South Africa, she coming out as a leader in the African National Congress (ANC) during her husband's 27 year incarceration on Robben Island and her own exile to the Orange Free State.  Her trials continued in 1991 through accusations of kidnapping and assault for which she was convicted and given a suspended 6 year sentence and fined.  She was tried  and convicted in April 2003 for 43 counts of fraud and 25 counts of theft which were overturned in 2004, the judge sited that "crimes were not committed for personal gain."  In 2007 the Canadian High Commission in South Africa denied her a visa to visit Toronto, Canada to attend a world premiere of the opera The Passion of Winnie based on her life and trials.  On July 5th, 2008 she lost a bid to become president of the African National Congress Women's League (ANCWL).

Winnie Madikizela-Mandela is indeed an woman of power!  We should continue to speak her name and speak of her as one of our heroes.  Unfortunately, all to often politicians, like Jessie Jackson Jr (repudiating his father recently), Sen. Barack Obama (repudiating Rev Jeremiah Wright) and Nelson Mandela will bend and compromise much to meet their political goals.  Nelson Mandela divorced his wife/queen that stood by him during his nearly 3 decade stay in prison and as soon as politically expediant he dumped her.  Fortunately she still fights for the people standing against the anti immigrant riots taking place in South Africa today,  going so far as to offer her home to people that were victims of the immigrant riots in South Africa, while fleeing from the genocide in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.