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Corporate greed will destroy America

January 24, 2014 admin Leave a comment

In what he called “a financial lynching of the 99%,” Dr. Samori Swygert explains how corporate greed and the failed economic policies of America are ultimately going to destroy this country. Check it out. It’s a great article:

by Dr. Samori Swygert

We’re witnessing the systematic dismantling of the middle class, and permanent crippling of the poor in real time. We’ll see the reincarnation of serfdom and feudalism if the greed of capitalism proceeds unchecked by the United States government.

How the United States government has failed the tax paying citizen

The government is complicit in the current financial crisis. Too many favors have been granted to corporate America. We’ve bailed out the banks, and can’t trace the “trickle down” effect of the bailout to the average citizen?

Nobody, and I mean NOBODY is publicly addressing the TRILLIONS of dollars in offshore tax havens that has circumvented the inspection of Uncle Sam. It’s as if politicians have a GAG ORDER to not mention this. The U.S. government should tax properly, that tax revenue could sustain America’s economic demands. However, the government chooses to overtax the average citizen to subsidize and finance governmental expenses.

Furthermore, we’ve allowed elected politicians to rendezvous and cozy up with corporate lobbyists. The laws and policies passed, are not representative of the constituents that put our officials in office. Many policies passed are derived from yielding to the monetary might of corporate America.

Our government has been effectively, but unofficially purchased by an oligarchy whose only concern is their coffers.

Let’s keep this real funky, and I mean FUNKY!!!

We’ve allowed jobs to go overseas to curb payroll expenses for these corporations. We’ve allowed the cuts to the SNAP (supplemental nutritional assistance program), we’re allowing pensions to be raided, and raises to minimum wage are fought against like terrorism, we’re cutting long term unemployment insurance to 1.3 million Americans, we are considering cutting pensions for U.S. veterans that fought for America, recently the IRS wants to tax the tips that waiters and waitresses earn. Social security is even volleyed around quietly and softly for cuts.

We’re eager to release funds to engage Syria, we spend billions on new drones and drone bases in West, North, and East Africa, we spend billions to construct thousands of square feet of the State of the Art NSA spy center in Utah, we have a private $52.6 Billion dollar Black budget for spy intelligence, then holler broke when we talk about the poor!!!!!!!??????

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/black-budget-summary-details-us-spy-networks-successes-failures-and-objectives/2013/08/29/7e57bb78-10ab-11e3-8cdd-bcdc09410972_story.html

Politicians discuss safety nets, yet our own tax dollars go to other countries. Whenever a natural disaster happens in another country, America has money and aide to donate. I respect our international benevolence. However, our very own citizens are suffering, and communities are decimated while foreign countries get food and money? We invested in this system of democracy through our taxes right? However, gentrification and elevation in property taxes has many citizens moving around like nomads seeking affordable housing, and food.

They are playing ECONOMIC MUSICAL CHAIRS, and the seats are disappearing daily! The current situation is choreographed to siphon off the last penny from the average tax payer. This is one of the reasons the American Revolution was fought right?

To add insult to injury, once individuals are unemployed and broke, they turn to predatory title loans with variable APRs that balloon in interest that keep them in debt-slavery. Ultimately, credit scores are shattered, and they can’t get a job because companies are rejecting employment off poor credit reports. This is psychotic cycle has been masterfully engineered.

What will unemployed individuals do to keep their babies fed, bills paid, and roof over their head? Yes, some commit crimes to finance their expenses. This cascading algorithm of events filters directly into the prison industry. This disregard for American citizens fosters increased anti-American sentiments and unpatriotic emotions. The American majority are not sharing in the benefits that arise from the marriage between Mr. America and Ms. Wallstreet.

MAKING SENSE OF IT ALL AND POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS

Plans work best when everybody or the majority get what they need and want. Everybody or the majority of America doesn’t want or need high tech surveillance of their email, phones, texts, online activity or the last bowel movement they had monitored by the NSA. We do need and want jobs to provide for ourselves and family. Since many Americans prefer gainful employment over surveillance, let’s redirect that $52.6 Billion dollar Black budget to the people.

I’ve done the math! 1.3 million Americans have the threat of long term unemployment benefits being permanently cut. $40,000 is a manageable amount of money to control a household. $52.6 billion dollars divided by 1.3 million people would give each long term unemployed person $40,000. That amounts to roughly $20.00/hour for an 8-hour work day salary.

Take all this surveillance money and create gainful employment. Currently that $52.6 billion dollar budget only employs around 150,000 people and covers the facilities, equipment, and miscellaneous. This increases if we cut drone expenditures. $14,400 (annual total) as paid unemployment insurance, versus a $40,000 job for 1.3 million Americans, is a good start!

I’m analyzing the surveillance expenditures because an overwhelming majority of citizens don’t want it. It’s smart to spend money on job creation that people need. Otherwise, we will be bragging that we have the safest poor people on earth, and the most secure and protected slaves on the globe! This is also like having a leaky roof, bad plumbing, a broken furnace, an empty fridge, and you blow your whole check on an ADT Security System! LOL, YOU HAVE NOTHING WORTH PROTECTING INSIDE STUPID!

These economic times require belt tightening and community investment. The government clearly can’t help. Many economic programs are practicing group economics. The Nation of Islam has Muhammad’s Economic Blue Print, Dr. Claud Anderson has the Harvest Institute, Warren Ballentine has Investinus2.com, and the Around the Way mobile app locates black businesses to patronize. Initiate your own investment groups among 4-5 family members/friends and contribute monthly to purchase land and finance your kids’ education to avoid student loans.

We can buy $220 Air Jordans, hundred dollar concert tickets, Gucci bags, bottles of Rose’, so we can uplift ourselves. Recognize the severity of our current times, prioritize, and execute. Selfishness will be our demise.

National & Local Politics

Crackhead Congressman Escapes Prison And Unemployment, Blacks Should Be Outraged

January 24, 2014 admin Leave a comment

by: Dr. Samori Swygert

The rapture-like incarceration of African Americans has decimated the African American community. It’s blatantly clear that two systems of justice exist for blacks and whites. The selective enforcement of authority and skewed application of justice are at work NOW.

The African American community needs to flood their local congressman, President Obama, state legislators, and civic organizations’ offices with letters, emails, and phone calls.

Tea Party-Backed, Republican Florida State Representative of the 19^th district, Trey Radel, is allowed back to work as a UNITED STATES CONGRESSMAN after being caught and arrested for purchasing cocaine in the Nation’s Capital.

HOW CAN TREY RADEL RETURN TO STATE LEGISLATURE AND PASS LAWS, WHEN BLACKS THAT SERVE TIME ARE PAROLED AND NOT ALLOWED TO VOTE??? I remember when this occurred at the close of 2013, and it quietly got swept under the rug and muted. I knew this was going to happen.

When a congressman who knows the crime of narcotic possession and use, intentionally ignores the law and conducts an illegal narcotics transaction, he should be punished to the fullest extent of the law and serve the same FEDERAL MANDATORY MINIMUMS that the average young black male has been incarcerated for. He went on an apology campaign and enrolled in a rehabilitation program, and has been vindicated.

Countless African Americans have said “sorry,” and the judge accepts their apology, but reads them their sentence, bangs the gavel, and sends these young men and women away for 10 years. Why is Trey Radel different?

He is a lawmaker, he is fully cognizant of what the law and penalties are. This sets up the precedent for “above the law” behavior, impunity, and carte blanche attitudes.

So I’m not just asking to relieve him of his position, I’m encouraging each and every reader to either call for his imprisonment, or release all nonviolent drug offenders that have been jailed!!!!! If you are African American and have any concern about the unjust incarceration of our people, you need to flood social media the and airwaves about this. This is a slap in the face of JUSTICE.

You all should be tired of seeing black family members and friends doing time in jail, but white offenders either receive rehabilitation, hours of community service, a $1,000 fine, or are characterized with a mental illness to defer and reduce the full criminal punishment.

Here are further examples of the differing systems of justice that exist for black and whites:

Paris Hilton, Heidi Fleiss and Lindsay Lohan versus Darrell Padget

Paris Hilton (white female actress and heir to Hilton family) was pulled over in 2010, and lied to an officer, saying that one gram of cocaine in her purse was not hers and doesn’t know how it got there. Later she admitted that the cocaine was hers, and apologized. The felony cocaine possession charge was dropped, and she was granted a misdemeanor and a fine.

Lindsay Lohan (white female actress) crashed a car while driving drunk, and fled the scene of the crime. Lindsay also admitted to using cocaine, she only did 14 days in jail, and underwent psychotherapy and performed community service. She has had numerous subsequent brushes with the law and narcotics. Technically, Lindsay Lohan should be serving 25 years -to-life in prison, according to the California 3 Strikes Law, because she has exceeded her 3 violation threshhold!!!! However, she is not. She is as free as freebase!

Heidi Fleiss (famous white female call girl pímp) was busted with 392 marijuana plants at her home without a manufacturing and growing license, but was considered cooperative and had exotic birds to take care of, so she was not arrested.

Why are black drug offenders not offered the same opportunities to remedy their drug violations and receive exoneration? Dr. Boyce Watkins alerted many people to the story of Darrell Padget (an African American male) who served 20 years in jail for possession of one gram of crack and charged with intent to sell. Click here to read more about his case.

The investigators should mandate they reveal who their supplier is. Failure to do that makes them complicit and allows drug dealing to continue. The media and their suppression tactics of stalling and deliberate failure to report, perpetuates this “under the radar” Cottonelle Charmin justice.

Winona Ryder versus the average African American thief In 2001 Winona Ryder (white actress) was busted trying to steal $5,500 worth of high-end fashion clothes and accessories at Saks Fifth Avenue. That amount of money fits the eligibility criteria to charge her with Grand Larceny. Ultimately, she was sentenced to 3 years probation, 480 hours of community service, and ordered to pay fines and reimburse Saks Fifth Avenue. How many African American youth are serving jail time for petty theft?

The list goes on and on, and I can furnish the comparisons. However, the first stop is TREY RADEL! This is a horrible example of American Justice, and a perfect example of its double standard. Again, specifically call for his resignation and time in jail. Call for the release of nonviolent drug offenders and provide rehabilitation and job training. We don’t need drug addicts making and passing our laws. What type of sick society are we condoning?? EQUALITY, EQUITY, AND NON-BIASED, UNIFORMED APPLICATION OF THE LAW IS WHAT WE DEMAND REGARDLESS OF RACE OR SOCIAL CLASS!!!

LOCK HIM UP, STRIP AWAY HIS RIGHT TO VOTE, AND HAVE HIM ASSEMBLE OFFICE FURNITURE AND APPLIANCES FOR UNICOR IN THE PRISON INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX, LIKE THE REST OF THE INMATES! ARE YOU COOL WITH YOUR TAX MONEY FURNISHING THIS COKEHEAD’S HABIT?

Socio-Cultural Commentary

Black Apathy

January 24, 2014 admin Leave a comment

Dr. Samori Swygert: Black Apathy

There comes a time when your genuine care and concern brings your greatest frustration and disappointment. Merriam-Webster defines the word; Apathy, as a lack of feeling or emotion. The more time progresses, I find myself getting frequently frustrated with my conversations among people.

I can bring up Jay-Z, Real Housewives, Scandal, Kim Kardashian, Lil Wayne, some new song, some crazy trend/fad, who’s h**o$*xual, what designer dress Beyonce wore to an award show, a controversial statement made by a star, some Hollywood pregnancy, some Hollywood divorce, what Twitter war is happening, the latest Facebook post, and everybody has a comment. Everybody has a soapbox and everybody has a copious amount of dialogue.

However, when I initiate discussion on issues of substance that has a true impact and ramifications on our lives and future, people become mum. I mean people literally go mute, silent, and comatose.

If a tree falls in the forest does anyone hear it?

You can forward an email with an article about the erosion of your civil liberties and privacy, the misuse of your tax dollars, closing of schools, an elementary school kid gunned down, raiding of your pension plans, government fiscal plans that threaten your retirement, HBCUs closing, corporate control of our food supply and environment, the Neo-Colonization of Africa, urban gentrification, incarceration, police abuse, technology phasing out human labor, or something of historical significance that bares relevance to current conditions, and you’re lucky if you get 2 responses.

It’s like as long as problems don’t affect their immediate circumstance, and disturb the norm of their status quo, then they don’t care. The attitude is like: ”as long as my family ain’t shot”, ” well I have a house, and I ain’t homeless”, “well I’m employed so….”, “he must have done something for the police to arrest him so…”, “well I live in America, not Africa..”. This lackadaisical, cavalier, nonchalant disposition that a good portion of our people walk around with kills me.

I’m not stupid

I’m not stupid. I’m fully aware that people have the demands and responsibilities of their daily lives. Many people have the obligations of work, children, spouses, school, caring for aging relatives. The ease of watching TV, movies, listening to music, and just “kicking it”, allows for a release from the stress. I get it, I really do!! However, where is the balance????

Lawrence Fishburne Screams “WAKE UP!!!!”

We can’t continue to ignore real issues. Ignoring issues doesn’t remove them. At some point in time we have to be proactive and intervene on our own welfare, and the welfare of our fellow human beings. Am I my brother’s keeper? Where is our community? Does, “What you have not done for the least of my brothers” ring a bell?

We are in society where a conglomeration of forces are plotting, dictating, choreographing and orchestrating our future, and we are sitting back unconcerned and mute. Corporate, governmental, media, and social Think Tanks are steadily crafting legislation, laws, and policies to be incorporated into our daily lives and a good portion of us are sitting docile.

Moves are being made incrementally, and gradually, but we choose to smirk and laugh at the nuances as if they are nonthreatening. We sit and believe in this imaginary moral code of our politicians when they are bought by high-paying lobbyists. People even prefer that you not mention or talk about these issues with them.

What will it take for us to wake up? Will the government have to take away our right to vote, lock up our spouse, take our kid, ration our food supply, place us on curfew, move us to the far outskirts of town, prohibit our education, dictate who we worship, dictate how many kids we have, force feed us medication, and put us in a uniform before we click our heals and realize we are not in Kansas anymore? This has happened before you know…..slavery in America, Japanese camps in America, Vagrancy Laws, apartheid in South Africa, certain policies in China, Nazis in Germany. History does repeat itself you know. Don’t think this can’t happen!

The atrocities of dictatorship are only prevented by the vigilance, and diligence of the people it seeks to dominate. Currently we show little interest in vigilance and diligence. It hurts when you have to conveniently “dumb down” your conversation to sports, entertainment, gossip, and other BS to get any communication.

So many people got a wake up call when the debt ceiling and fiscal cliff happened. People were furloughed, out of work and crying. People were trying to figure out how to pay mortgage, student loans, buy food, pay car notes, pay child support, and etc. When congress came to a deal and ended the standoff, people receded back to their old ways and habits. Did anybody learn anything from that? Just as easy as that happened, it can happen again at a moments notice.

People please help me ring this bell. Do as they do in church and “nudge your neighbor”, and tell them ” it’s time to wake up”, sleep time is over.

Human and Civil Rights

Dr. Samori Swygert: How do we fix police brutality?

January 24, 2014 admin Leave a comment

By: Dr. Samori Swygert

One of the benefits as taxpaying citizens is the provision of public safety. Tax revenue finances the payroll of police departments. Police officers take an oath to serve and protect the citizens. The police have a fiduciary obligation to stop, and prevent crime. The title of a police officer carries a form of valor and respect, because they place their lives at the frontline of defense against criminals that lack respect for the rules and regulations that govern the rights of law abiding citizens.

My concern is the abuse of the badge. Cops are allocated privileges that the average citizen can’t exercise. Certain police cases force me to contemplate the abuse of privilege, over-exercising of authority, and the corruption of duty. I worry about the perversion of privilege with police officers, and the malfeasance behind the “Blue Wall of Silence”. I’m a reasonable and rational person. I’m aware that certain operations and investigative strategies may require nontraditional methods of catching criminals.

What happens when privilege and authority are compromised? How do officers operate under the influence of bias, racism, financial incentives, substance abuse, mental illness, and pure power rush?

I think of case studies like: Oscar Grant, Rodney King, Sean Bell, Amadou Diallo, Abner Louima, Ramarley Graham, Sammie Davis Jr (Macon, Georgia). Now handcuffed are men dying from alleged “self-inflicted gun shots” to the head (Chavis Carter). This makes you ask, “Are cops stopping and frisking David Blaine?”

Scores of police are indicted annually on participating in drug conspiracies. There was a NYPD officer (Gilberto Valle III) accessing a National Crime Center database, to track potential female victims to cook and eat in a cannibalistic plot!

The overkill of unarmed citizens with a barrage of bullets is an increasing trend.

The investigations are poor, and explanations are shoddy. The loss of family members over a mistaken cell phone, or shouting match with police officers typically results in desk duty, and loss of gun privileges for a few months.

Where is the accountability? It will require the bravery of cops to expose cover-ups and scandals, like Frank Serpico of the NYPD in 1971.

With Stop and Frisk, police are overexerting their authority on innocent citizens in most stops. Many Black and Latino citizens are stopped and harassed for no reason. Statistics for stops and arrests were conducted. Whites and Asians stopped by police compared to Blacks and Latino were staggering single digit percentages. Failure to practice policy homogenously and uniformly across state demographics is discrimination. This style of policing is unethical.

Unpredictable ramifications occur when racism is deputized by a badge. April 15, 2011 a NYPD cop named Michael Daragjati in Staten Island, New York, falsely arrested Kenrick Gray because he didn’t like Mr. Gray’s response. Mr. Gray spent 2 days in jail. Officer Daragjati was already under investigation by the FEDS for a prior incident. He was recorded bragging that he “fried another n****r”. This officer used his position of authority to manifest his own racial hatred and bias. Officer Daragjati engaged Mr. Gray in plain clothes. Why would citizens submit to the commands of a person they don’t know is an officer? Citizens nationwide are being victimized by this style of policing. Many citizens have criminal records because of this.

A Chicago police officer Gildardo Sierra shot a man over 3 times in the back while on a parkway on June 7, 2011. What underscores this case is this officer admitted to consuming several beers before starting his patrol shift. This shooting was also this officer’s 3^rd shooting and 2^nd shooting death in a 6 month time frame. How do you admit to drinking several beers and performing a patrol? First, driving under the influence is a crime. Second, you shoot a man in the back over 3 times, and kill him while under the influence of alcohol, and get off! The scales of justice need to be recalibrated, HELLO!!!!

The moment police remove the right to due process, and authority of the judicial system, the fragility of citizen’s lives dangle in the hands of officer’s mood swings. The legal system was created for a specific reason. The system allows discourse and mitigation in a controlled and legal atmosphere where people accused of violations can defend their positions without the threat of death. Police officers should not play lawyer, judge, jury, and executioner.

Many officers get verbally, and physically aggressive if a citizen doesn’t respond in the exact verbiage the officer prefers. Many cops precipitate altercations with condescending tonality and behavior that automatically belittles the very citizens that pay their salary. The disrespect provokes a response, which usually results in calls for back up, guns being drawn, and arrests being made.

Many police videos reveal officers firing a barrage of bullets at unarmed citizens that were at nonthreatening distances, as if shooting a gun is their only alternative.

I think officers should undergo quarterly mental health screenings in a public hospital to avoid potential influence or corruption of results and diagnoses. This is important because they operate a lethal weapon. Mental illness diagnoses and antipsychotic prescriptions should be furnished to the police department, so departments can conduct effective risk management strategies. War veterans have developed PTSD and other mental illnesses from their experiences.

Many times courts behave as if officers are undisputedly right and flawless.

Officers should take Breathalyzers, mouth swabs, and blood samples pre and post duty to detect the consumption of alcohol and other drugs (if diabetics can take blood samples 3-5 times a day, why shouldn’t someone with a lethal weapon. Laws should address multiple officers firing at once. There are numerous cases of overkill and excessive force like Sean Bell, Amadou Diallo, or Timothy Russell in East Cleveland.

I’m not trying to besmirch cops. My objective is to generate constructive solutions from the readers in the comment section for improvement strategies to be implemented. Tell us some practical techniques that can be implemented in policing.

Global Issues

How China Is Poised For Global Economic Domination

January 24, 2014 admin Leave a comment

by Dr. Samori Swygert

China is strategically positioning itself as the real superpower. Many economists, pundits, and news media outlets would like to reduce China to an over-crowded, communist country with a one-child policy, and a pollution problem. However, China has been meticulously calculative and shrewd in their foreign affairs.

America boasts about being the most mightiest nation on earth. However, we are faltering and requiring continuous infusions of dollars from the Federal Reserve to preserve economic stability.We’re struggling with a $17 trillion debt. We spend billions upon billions of dollars on defense, war, and national security. We’ve seen how Greece and other nations in Europe are struggling with austerity, and the crippling ripples of economic imbalance. However, China has managed to stay above the monetary carnage, and remain independent of World Bank welfare.

China and Oil Trade

First, according to a New York Times article, China purchases approximately 1.5 million barrels of oil a day from Iraq. The Chinese government is reportedly investing $2 billion dollars a year into Iraq. They have constructed their own airport in the desert that borders Iraq and Iran. The Chinese government uses the airport to fly their own oil workers into Iraq, and they are developing direct flights into Baghdad from Shanghai and Beijing. The article even explains how China has trained their workers to speak Arabic with an Iraqi accent! The U.S. eliminated Sadaam, but China really benefited. Iraq is the 2nd biggest oil producer after the Saudis, according to OPEC. This is beneficial to Iraq because they use oil revenue to fund military and other governmental operations.

China and the Rare Earth Metal Market

Many nations (including America) use rare earth metals and oxides like Neodymium, Praseodynium, and 15 other rare earth metals in that class to build your favorite iPhones, computers, tablets, and even our very own missile defense system. Well, China controls 95% of the global trade of these rare earth metals. This dynamic is not necessarily due to their economic acumen, but because most of these metals are geographically located in China!

However, China is aware of the need and demand for these metals in modern technology, and put an export quota on these precious minerals. This drove the stock prices soaring through the roof. One of the major Chinese rare earth companies, China Nonferrous Metal Industry’s Foreign Engineering and Construction Company, is even building a new plant to increase production of the metals. This new plant is primed to produce ~7,000 tons of the metals per year. Their only real competition is an Australian company named the Lynas Corporation. The demand is high as China has pumped out ~ 31,000 tons in one year. Apple should keep relations nice and cozy!

China and South America’s Emerging Economy

China is also heavily invested in South America. The Southern Pacific Review published an article this October. The author, Walker Rowe, stated that Chile is looking for foreign investors, and has invited a Shanghai investment banking company to attend their International Investment Forum Chile 2014, which is scheduled for January 13-16 in 2014. He reports that China already has 3 mining companies in Chile ( Jia He Wei Ye, Golden Resource, Sky Solar), and the National Development Bank of China is involved. Moreover, Chile lacks the natural resources of oil, natural gas and coal on a sustainable scale. China has already worked out plans to develop solar power for Chile. According to the article, “Sky Solar is set to operate 75,600 solar panels over 42 hectares of desert”. To put the cherry on top of the sweet deal, Chile signed a free trade agreement with China that exempts 97% of goods from import tariffs!!!

In Argentina, Lenovo (Chinese technology manufacturer) has partnered with an Argentinian based company named Newsan, in a tax-free locale called Tierra del Fuego, and are building computers, tablets, and other electronic devices.

The Aluminum Corporation of China has setup their copper mining operations in Toromocho, Peru. Brazil has allowed two Chinese car manufacturers (JAC and Chery) to build plants there. They’re projecting to build at least 100,000 cars per year, per company. Ecuador has reportedly signed a $1.4 billion dollar agreement with China’s ECSA mining company to operate its’ El Mirador copper mine. Bolivia has agreed to let China’s CITIC Guoan Group conduct research into Bolivia’s lithium and potassium reserves. This is huge potential for the lithium ion battery market. The article stated that Bolivia has 10,582 square kilometers of salt flats, and that’s where the lithium reserves are located.

China and America

China has already taken over Detroit. An article in Forbes Magazine by Gordon Chang describes how Chinese investors are purchasing property in bulk, by the hundreds. The Dongdu International Group of Shanghai has already purchased the David Scott, and Detroit Free Press Buildings for $9.4 million in a September auction. Over the past few decades there has been an influx of products that are stamped with “Made in China”. These products include various technologies, home furnishings, entertainment consoles, and yes the Nike Airs that teenagers die over.

Unfortunately, China is aware of America’s financial status and has repeatedly vocalized trade concerns over the growing impotency of the American Dollar, and whether to even honor it.

China and Africa

Anybody that follows geopolitical events and economics, knows that Africa has become the global kiosk for natural resources. I wont go in depth about this, I’ll encourage you to read an article I posted about Africa on BlackBlueDog.com

Conclusion

In conclusion, China does an amazing job at remaining neutral in global conflict. This semi-congenial approach allows them to establish amicable rapports internationally to their economic benefit. Their global posture permits them to conduct trade agreements with countries that have an aversion to U.S. foreign policy. Where do you think we fit in this as African Americans?? America can take notes from China, ……and obviously, I should have asked Santa for the Mandarin edition of Rosetta Stone for Christmas. Peace!!

African American Legacy

The Flyest Black Woman- Bessie “Queen Bess” Coleman

January 24, 2014 admin Leave a comment

Dr. Samori Swygert

Who is Bessie Coleman, and why is she the flyest black woman to me? Bessie “Queen Bess” Coleman was the first African American Female Aviator, and entertainment pilot. Bessie Coleman was born January 26, 1892 and died April 30, 1926. American History makes a big fanfare about Amelia Earhart, but Bessie Coleman got her pilot license the same year Amelia Earhart got her first flight lesson in 1921.

Ms. Coleman has a very intriguing story. She was born in Atlanta, Texas in 1892. Her parents were Susan and George Coleman. Her family moved to Waxahachie, Texas. The family sharecropped cotton to live, sadly the father left and retreated to the Choctaw Reservation of Oklahoma. The mother commandeered the family reigns and continued providing by picking cotton, and enrolling Bessie and her siblings in the labor. Her mother purchased books for Bessie from a traveling library that graced the town twice a year.

Bessie’s interest for flight was sparked when she moved to Chicago to stay with her brothers in 1917. Based on my readings, one brother was a Pullman Car Porter, and her other brother (Johnny) was a cook for Al Capone. Johnny was a World War I veteran that amazed Bessie with all his combat stories. She got a job in the beauty industry and worked as a manicurist. She was trained at the Burnham’ School of Beauty Culture.

Ready for lift off!

Working as a manicurist in the local barber shop, she overheard countless tales and stories from African American World War I veterans. She learned about the discrimination that black pilots experienced in the New York 15^th and Illinois 8^th black fighter regiments. These two groups had fought in France. She decided that she wanted to fly, so she quit her job. She looked for aviation schools that could teach African Americans and women. America didn’t furnish the training institutions to accommodate her demographic (black women). However, France did, and the French had female pilots in World War I. Bessie started a Chili Parlor on 35^th street and Indiana Avenue, and got two prominent African American investors, Robert Abbott (founder of Chicago Defender) and Jesse Binga (founder of Binga State Bank) to fundraise capital for her plans.

By the time Bessie was 24 years old, she had mastered the French language, sailed to Le Crotoy Somme, France, and matriculated into Condrau School of Aviation. 1921 the Federation Aeronautique Intenationale awarded Bessie her international pilots license, and this was the first ever granted to any American woman!

Bessie honed her skills and moved to Paris. When she decided to return to America, she ordered a 130 horsepower Neuport de Chasse plane to be delivered to America, just in case America prohibited her from acquiring one within the country! Unfortunately, the ugly double-headed monster of racism and sexism in America denied her employment in commercial aviation. Frustrated she went back to Europe, and sharpened her skills. She did advanced training in Germany, Holland, and Switzerland. She flew 220 Horsepower Benz motor planes. She was said to be an “ACE PILOT” by countless European aviation companies and stuntman.

Remembering her African American Roots

She returned to America in 1922 performing Nosedives, figure eights, climbs and other difficult flying maneuvers. She would even take black audience members on her flights for $5 rides. Bessie was so bold that she even parachuted out of her planes in airshows. She never forgot her roots of African American inspiration. During her flight exhibitions, she paid homage to the 8^th Regiment of Illinois that she always heard tales about as a manicurist. The band leader of the 8^th escorted her to her plane, and they serenaded the audience with Jazz music as she flew through the heavens.

Keeping true to her African American roots, she returned to Waxahachie, Texas. Historically speaking, the South was far from ready to see a black female pilot. However, her tenacity weakened the system. She was permitted to perform, but there was a catch. African Americans were not allowed to see. Bessie said she would not perform unless they permitted African Americans to enter… and they did!

She gave back to her community by giving speeches to African Americans at churches, schools, and other available venues.

Tragedy Strikes

1926, Jacksonville, Florida, the Negro Welfare League had invited Bessie to perform and honor her. The availability, and accessibility of planes to African Americans had many restrictions and limitations at the time. Many instances she had to fly refurbished, repaired, lower quality planes. Sadly, the day before her show, she died in a practice run with a white co-pilot/mechanic. Bessie was sitting in the back without a seatbelt, and was ejected from the plane. Her mechanic died also died in the crash. Sources say that an unsecured wrench had slid into the gearbox and jammed it. Bessie tragically fell 500 feet.

Three funerals were performed in her honor and remembrance. Her body was transported by train from Jacksonville to Chicago, and thousands swarmed to pay tribute. Pastor Junius C. Austin conducted the services. It is said he chastised the community for lack for financial support in helping her acquire quality standard planes.

Bessie wanted to start an Aviation School for Black Women, but tragedy struck and intercepted her dream. However, I feel her dream, hard work, diligence, faith, fortitude and execution was enough. I also love the fact that she came back to her community to enhance it. I reread her story, and I really almost came to tears….for real. However, she is another prominent example of our rich heritage. Let’s continue to carry the torch and fly to higher heights. The story of Bessie Coleman also highlights the greatness of our black women.

This makes her the flyest Black Woman to me! We’ve got to redefine the title Queen B, because Queen Bess was granted this decades ago. Rest In Peace Bessie Coleman (January 1892- April 1926).

Source: The African American Century by Henry Louis Gates Jr. and Cornel West

Here are two YouTube videos to checkout:

1. Bessie Coleman

2. Bessie Coleman: An American Hero

National & Local Politics

America Sends $1.7 Billion To Syria While Americans Go Poor

January 24, 2014 admin Leave a comment

by: Dr. Samori Swygert

John Kerry has just pledged another $380 million dollars to Syria for humanitarian aid, and this brings it to a total of $1.7 Billion dollars… Okay, let that linger and simmer for a second.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/15/world/meast/us-syria-aid/

So what’s all this talk about debt ceiling, sequestration, fiscal cliffs, recession, furloughs all about? What’s all the talk about cutting SNAP, cutting long term unemployment insurance, destruction of pensions about?

We are not in a war with Syria? We haven’t destroyed Syria? So why are your tax dollars going over to Syria, while people are going poor right here in America? America’s priorities are in complete disarray! How many families are getting displaced daily due to increased cost of living compounded with low wage jobs that stubborn companies refuse to raise despite booms in revenue?

Unemployment reports come out that hold no water. They drop a half percent and the news media acts like the citizens should be jumping for joy. They don’t comment on the type of jobs that are obtained. Many of these jobs don’t provide gainful employment. By that I mean this, a job that generates enough revenue to cover your living expenses with adequate surplus for savings and an opportunities to progress in the field. I mean slaves had jobs, and they were paid in food, water, and whips. Yes, the unemployment rate for slaves was extremely low, all of them had a job, right?

Don’t act like 1000 people getting hired at McDonald’s is a step in the right direction. Certainly it is work, but lets be real, you cant work at McDonald’s and support yourself in today’s economic atmosphere. Why do you think McDonald’s employees are striking all over the nation. Their income doesn’t compliment their routine expenses.

So when we can send a total of $1.7 billion dollars to a country we don’t have any ownership to, we are contributing to the bankrupting of America and subjugation of the poor and middle class. We are completely ignoring their issues. Is America being economically and fiscally patriotic to it’s own citizens? This is fiscal negligence.

However, we sit quietly by, assuming or hoping that things will change, but our apathy is shocking. Are you okay knowing that we still have to readdress the debt ceiling of $17 Trillion dollars, but your taxes go to Syria for ___________(you fill in the blank)? So each and every time a foreign government makes poor choices on governing their people, the American citizens have to pick up the tab?

Hmmm lets see,….. we’ve bailed out the banks, bailed out the housing market, bailed out the auto industry, now we’re bailing out Syria. All of this done with our tax dollars. Well who is bailing out the American citizen that is bankrolling the bailouts for everybody else?

I’m not saying that I wish ill will and hatred on Syrian people, because I don’t. However, imagine this ladies and gentlemen. Suppose your baby had pneumonia, your wife is unemployed, and bills are due. How would the husband look taking his paycheck and spending it on a family around the corner to help get their kitchen remodeled? Who is this man’s loyalty, and allegiance to? The only other reason I can think about is if the nation is engaging in “global loan sharking”, lending money to foreign nations at high interest rates in exchange for control, and I hope it’s not that!

Either way I hope we see this. The American citizens can use that money right here and right now in America for job creation, and other social services. I highly recommend that you read my other article to see the perspective I’m coming from as we pop bottles, watch the game, watch TV, but not watching our own destruction. Many of us are in denial and can’t see that we are being slow walked off the plank. How many of you know someone that is unemployed, just laid off, lost their home, or you’re helping a relative get back on their feet from today’s economy?

Until next time… wash your hands, exercise 30 minutes a day, love your family, save and invest your money, help somebody, eat healthy and pray…..Dr. Swygert signing off.

http://financialjuneteenth.com/dr-samori-swygert-explains-corporate-greed-will-destroy-america/

National & Local Politics

The Clandestine Plan Behind Drug Testing Welfare Recipients

January 24, 2014 admin Leave a comment

By: Dr. Samori Swygert

WARNING- Behind the curtains and beneath the veneer of drug testing welfare recipients lies a deeper ulterior motive. Many people are either ignoring, or plain unaware of a revenue generating scheme conjured by corporate America. Capitalists will make Windfall profits from the passage of Drug Testing legislation being ushered in. This will have a direct impact on you and your family.

Addressing the stigma and myths of public assistance

Drug testing welfare applicants, is the tip of the Iceberg. Corporate influence on politicians is disguising a scheme under the hypothesis and belief that most welfare seeking applicants abuse drugs and are “milking” the system. This creates a loathing notion of resentment among non-welfare, tax paying citizens.

Many times you’ll hear people say something like: “they’re getting over on me” or “their using the system to get paid”, or “these people are just lazy and don’t want to work”. Politicians mention “the welfare queen” in political discourse.

This is true for some recipients, but that isn’t representative of the whole. Many people receiving public assistance want to work. However, the job market lacks the vacancies to accommodate each citizen. Jobs have become highly specialized, outsourced, and in many cases, obsolete because technology has replaced human labor.

Understanding the game

We’re missing the undercurrent in the rise of a stealth and wealth industry. Legislation is being crafted that calls for the drug testing of the long-term unemployed, welfare recipients, food stamp recipients, school students, and increased testing of the American labor force.

I’m not spewing rhetoric. Why did the Carlyle Group spend $4.15 Billion to purchase Johnson & Johnson’s testing division last week? Click Here to Read

The Johnson & Johnson’s testing profile (the first column) includes a myriad of tests including Marijuana, Ecstasy, Amphetamines, Barbiturates, Cocaine, PCP, Methadone, Oxycodone, and Benzodiazepines. Click Here

Private Equity firms only conduct purchases off thoroughly researched data. Their return on investment must be essentially guaranteed. The same way they speculate on markets, they are quietly and unofficially speculating on the passage of future legislation that mandates drug testing millions of citizens to generate exponential profits as a prerequisite for government assistance.

Always ask, “Why” and “how”. We must thoroughly read legislation from front to back using critical thinking.

Examining Exhibit -A

Isabel Macdonald wrote an in-depth article in the Nation Magazine April 2013 entitled, The GOP’s Drug Testing Dragnet. She methodically deconstructed and illuminated the lobbyists, hidden funding of congressmen, drug testing industry titans, and their strategies to generate income. It’s imperative that you as the reader research DATIA (Drug and Alcohol Testing Industry Association). Examine their ties with ALEC and the laws that are being implemented. For example, Rick Scott (R-Florida congressman) wanted to test welfare recipients, but his wife owned a chain of drug testing clinics in Florida….hmmm, conflict of interest. The article is deep, you can read the original here, and the ACLU’s statement below it:

1) http://www.thenation.com/article/173654/gops-drug-testing-dragnet#

2) https://www.aclu.org/blog/criminal-law-reform-racial-justice/drug-testing-dragnet-widens-poor-continue-be-swept

Let’s do some math, get out your pencils and paper

You must ask, “How much does each drug test cost?”, and then multiply that toward each demographic that’s targeted for testing.

For example, if a drug test costs $50 and 46,700,000 Americans are on food stamps, then you just multiply for the revenue generated. The answer to the preceding example is $2.33 Billion generated from mandatory drug testing of just food stamp applicants.

Projection, Extrapolation, and Speculation

This goes deeper, because when recipients fail a drug test, many state bills require recipients to enroll in a SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER TREATMENT PROGRAM (not free). Enrollees must be retested (cha-ching$), and at the completion you must be retested (cha-ching$), and then you must still be retested again by the state for your benefits (cha-ching$).

Now apply that $50 arithmetic to the number of applicants for welfare, long-term unemployment insurance. Many states want to drug test students from junior high to high school. The aim is to deter drug use, and provide intervention and treatment for students. How many millions of children are enrolled in junior high to high school across America? Whatever that number is, multiply that by a $50 drug test. Please read what the National Institute on Drug Abuse says about students here http://www.drugabuse.gov/related-topics/drug-testing/faq-drug-testing-in-schools

Don’t forget immigration. Don’t forget the scrutiny and review of the millions of immigrants that the country must conduct to grant citizenship to. It’s only logical that they’ll want to grant citizenship to drug free immigrants right? Well multiply a $50 drug test per immigrant.

Random police checkpoints for alcohol and drugs are popping up all across the country now. Well those drug tests aren’t free. Read this article from Breaking Brown

The battle for the legalization of weed is underway, right? Legalization of marijuana is a hot topic. However, legalization of marijuana will create reason for testing in DRUG FREE WORK ENVIRONMENTS. Do you want your neurosurgeon high on weed??

The failing American economy only supports a chronic cycle (no pun intended) of unemployment, welfare, long-term unemployment insurance, and food stamp demand. Consequently, this fuels constant drug testing every month that disbursement of funds is allocated for food stamps, welfare, and unemployment insurance. Don’t forget that individuals will have to retest several times.

According to the National Institute on Drug abuse, there are several means and reasons to test: pre-employment testing, random testing, reasonable suspicion/cause testing, post-accident testing, return to duty testing, and follow up testing.

These motives appear noble in scope, but the true intention behind the law is questionable, and raises ethical concerns on profiteering via mandated legislative policy. Does abuse occur in the public assistance program? Yes, but won’t lawmakers and corporate America be equally exploitive via this practice? I don’t have the answers, but READ the links I posted front to back just like I did before rushing to comment.

Here is a Youtube link with Isabel Macdonald

Lastly, Trey Radel should’ve been drug tested and ousted from congress for cocaine purchases.

Article also available at: http://www.kulturekritic.com/2014/01/news/dr-samori-swygert-clandestine-plan-behind-drug-testing-welfare-recipients/

Science & Technology

New Technology Will Soon Monitor Your Body’s Every Move

December 2, 2013 admin Leave a comment

Dr. Samori Swygert: New technology will soon monitor your every move

Have you noticed the increasing trend and fascination with corporate America and our bodies? Lately, there’s an obsession to integrate their technological devices into our bodies. I’m not talking about insulin pumps, pacemakers, or ankle monitors.

I would like to start with the incorporation of Bluetooth technology into our social settings. Initially Bluetooth emerged as a breakthrough mobile convenience that allowed for hands-free maneuvering of vehicles, and allowed users to multitask with the availability of phone-free hands. Bluetooth then paved way for streaming of music and other wireless functions. Yeah go Bluetooth!

However, the most recent innovations of technology have me raising my eyebrows in surprise and skepticism. In one quantum leap, nanotechnology has taken innovation to a whole new level.

“Take two pills and call me in the morning”

A company named Proteus Biomedical has created a biochip that is the size of a grain of sand. This microchip will be embedded in your medicine tablets in the future. The FDA approved this technology in 2012. The purported purpose of this invention is to increase medication compliance with patients. Many doctors claim that patients are not improving because patients don’t take their medicine at the correct time and consistency. This pill is “said” to give doctors real time data about their patient’s adherence to a medication regimen. The patient takes the micro-chipped pill, and wears a patch on their skin. The silicon chip contains magnesium and copper, this allows the pill to stay powered off the patient’s bodily fluid. The pill may transmit info like temperature, heart rate, breathing rate, time of ingestion and other biometric data. The information is then relayed to the patch and into the physician’s cellphone or other digital device for the data. It is not listed, but I say it is a matter of time before they upgrade it to relay your DNA.

“Open wide and say, ahhhh”

The Tooth-fairy will be snitching on your wisdom tooth with this BLUETOOTH invention, really! I read an article from the Economist Magazine entitled, If Tooth Be Told. They reported that in Taiwan, the National Taiwan University has developed and are modifying a device that can be implanted in your dentures, and artificial tooth. The goal is “oral activity recognition”. By implanting this device in your mouth, researchers will be able to analyze dietary consumption patterns. The device will also determine coughing, speaking, respiratory secretions, and an array of other oral activity. The information will then be transmitted to an external smart device. The research was displayed at a Wearable Technology Symposium in Zurich this past September.

“They never saw it coming” says Ray Charles

The revolution will happen right before your eyes with Google Glass. This eyewear provides the wearer of the eyeglasses with access to texting, web-surfing, email, and other computer functionalities in the corner of the lens. The glasses can also capture photos and video footage. This invention also comes with the accoutrements of wireless integration and hands-free comfort.

“Not on my watch!”

Driving the technological revolution forward is Nissan. Nissan has created a Smart-watch that will monitor your heart rate, body temperature and other biometric data from a watch on your wrist they have created. The information also will be displayed on the dashboard. The watch will also inform the driver of information such as mileage and gas consumption.

“Twin Peaks or peaking on the twins!”

Moving along, we now have companies making implants in your implants! Yes, breast implants are soon to be implanted with a RFID (radio frequency ID). The New York Daily News published an article this October that details how a Florida and Belgium based company, Establishment Labs, has developed a new silicone implant with an RFID microchip. The newest product called, Motiva Implant Matrix Ergonomix, will provide manufacturers the serial number, make and model, integrity and condition of the implant, and of course… other data. This is said to empower women with the comfort of knowing their implants are safe and provides a medium of communication if a “health scare” occurs. I guess this will help if your breast make and model get “recalled”, or other hazardous phenomena happens to surface.

Revelation 13:16-17

Saving the best for last, sounding like the mark of the beast from Revelations, comes Google again! This digital behemoth that we all use has filed a patent for an electronic digital tattoo. This tattoo is reported to be the size of a stamp or band-aid and worn placed on your neck. The tattoo is supposed to sync with wireless Bluetooth devices like cellphones, tablets, games, Google Glasses, musical and other handheld devices. They declare that it improves sound quality in phone conversations, and yes, it can also be used a POLYGRAPH MACHINE (lie detector).

My Take On This Topic

We’ve seen how countries have conquered and colonized land. We’ve seen how everything digital has been compromised by either hackers, or by the NSA going beyond our approval to peer into our personal lives under the name of safety and surveillance. We now have private corporations that want to get even more intimate by intruding into our bodies. Our bodies are the last bastion of freedom, independence, and liberty we have as humans. Many of our most devious inventions start out as noble motives and then mutate to something more sinister in nature. Based on Eric Snowden we see that the government either paid or forced private companies to surrender their users private information. Now imagine the same thing happening with these biometric wearable devices. Sometimes convenience is not correct. Maintain your autonomy and protect your freedom. GPS could mean Global Prisoner Sensor.

We are in a battle for our body and minds. You may not be a Christian but I encourage you to consider this biblical passage: 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 . Okay, until next time, be blessed. Peace…

you can also read this at: http://www.kulturekritic.com/2013/11/news/dr-samori-swygert/

Socio-Cultural Commentary

Fox News contributor calls for arms to combat the “knockout game”

December 2, 2013 admin Leave a comment

By: Dr. Samori Swygert

This is a wake up call and word to the wise. This “knockout game” is not a joke! To all the youth and young adults out there that are engaging in this sick psychotic form of entertainment, BEWARE!! We already saw how one individual was shot with a 40 caliber handgun twice! Well the dog whistle has been blown and you have now been marked.

I happened to run across a tweet by a Fox News Contributor, Katie Pavlich, her twitter post said ”With all the knockout “game” news I highly suggest people take @nra‘s Refuse to be a Victim…”. Katie Pavlich is a conservative news pundit with a Twitter following of over 85,000 people.

This program she referenced is sponsored by the NRA, and provides training and instruction on firearm use. This is an indicator that people are not willing to tolerate this type of violent activity, and are ready to take up arms to defend themselves. So, to all my young people, stop playing around with your life because other people are not! Many individuals have been waiting for this type of behavior to have an excuse to execute young black kids. Moreover, this is blatantly wrong, point blank period! This fuels the flame for stand your ground laws.

We saw the sad and unfortunate outcome of Trayvon Martin, and he was just minding his business when George Zimmerman instigated a deadly altercation. However, with the news spreading about youth playing a potentially deadly game for enjoyment, many black youth are setting themselves up to be profiled for execution. Fear alone can make an armed person use a firearm in an unwarranted circumstance just off a perceived threat. This animalistic game makes all innocent and harmless black youth potential targets when walking in a group, just because the word is out.

Approximately 85,000 individuals now have a seed planted in their head about getting armed and prepared for violent encounters.

Parents I encourage you to get this message out to our children, nephews, nieces and other family members to stop this foolishness. If a youth gets killed from participating in this behavior, people are well within their rights to defend themselves at all costs to save their lives. The black community can not and will not rally behind you and vouch for you under these circumstances. I myself am angered at this nonsense.

Okay village, lets develop some more engaging and constructive activities for our youth to participate in to cultivate their interests, develop ideas, and provide opportunities for success, because this is not it!

you can also read this article at: http://www.kulturekritic.com/2013/11/news/dr-samori-swygert-fox-news-contributor-calls-arms-combat-knockout-game/

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