Where the "Action" Is??
All Black American readers might recall an earlier blog about state legislatures (SMART-ALEC? - 4/17/12) in which I raised the question whether these law-writing bodies were undermining Democracy in the United States. As more states turn "red" during this period of political/social/economic transition in our country, we all need to stay focussed on these law-makers.
The fact that we have been in a long transition away from a Peonage Economy, lasting from the end of Reconstruction (1877) until 1965, obscures the economic meaning of many events since 1965. Instead, we've been consumed with the political and social aspects of our transition.
During the transition of 1877 - 1965, the various states enacted laws (Codes) to re-define the economic relations between former black slaves and whites in their state. Those "black codes" addressed every aspect of economic and social relationship that existed between blacks and whites in their states.
Our Supreme Court is currently reviewing an Alabama law regarding the lifting of provisions of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. As the operations of ALEC reveal, the state legislatures are busy re-fashioning economic relations between the races in many other ways. The Media pays very little attention.
Citizen/voters in the various states of the United States are notorious in their neglect of code-writing at the state level (from City Councils to State Legislatures). Yet, the laws they write; some of which seriously impact our daily lives, go un-noticed! This is especially true for minorities -- blacks in particular. In the "old" days, legislatures were free to state openly their racial motives. Today, everything has to be more "implicit".
Our mind-sets and habits have to change; if any "gains" from this transition are expected to last.
Stay Vigilant! Run for Local Office!
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