This weeks segment of “Something You May Want to Know” deals with an issue that has been gaining support in Congress for the past three years. Right now since we have a new administration, it seems as if the measure is being silenced but we need to be educated on the matter so when it shows its ugly head, we can make sure that it’s defeated. You ask yourself, what is Political Little talking about???

We are talking about something that was very popular the past century that affected familys nation wide. Many participated voluntarily, but many did so against their own will. Some of our own presidents flew towards it and ole President Clinton flew away. If you havent guessed by now; I am talking about the military draft. In today’s age we identify the word draft with sports players from college who are chosen to play on a team by an organization. Although this draft has the same concept, the game is much more complicated.

This is one of the reasons I try and stay up to date on what’s going on in the countries that we currently are occupying and helping start democracy. My perception is that the government feels we are over extended in our troop levels. With Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iraq all with governments in turmoil, it makes the US have to keep decent troop levels in those countries to make sure they dont have a relapse in communism or dictatorship. Not far away are potential conflicts with the George Bushs self defined axis of evil which includes North Korea, Iran, and where ever Chavez is the president. In the previous times when America mandated a draft, troop levels were high, but so were the casualties since you had a lot of teenage boys who could have been trained better and not ready to engage in life threatening missions. Many came home as war heroes and would still fight to death for America, but a large number didn’t make it home and are remembered various times throughout the year for their life ending service. Since I didn’t live around that time I don’t know how Americans felt about the draft as a whole, but I remember there were numerous stories on people burning their draft cards.

A poll conducted by CBS when the draft was gaining momentum in Congress stated 68% of the respondents were against the draft. The kicker about this poll was that an even higher number of respondents didn’t want the draft when it was tied to the Iraq war in 2006; which says volumes since we felt we needed to invade Iraq to protect America. In case you thought you were going to outsmart the government by going to college and seeking refuge in another country; well that’s pretty much a wrap. A total of 28 million more in funds were appropriated in the selective services budget to make sure they are able to catch draft dodgers. What that means is no going to college so you wont be drafted or running to Canada. If you ever received any financial aid need you my friend are registered for Selective Service which is the entity that issues the draft cards in case it was ever reinstated. Although most of this information was relevant in 2006, before our new president, I choose to reveal it now because President Barack Obama has been contemplating on what to do with troop levels in Afghanistan and if he see’s the need to increase well this item of the draft more than likely will be put back on the agenda. Please do a quick google search to get more in depth information, and call your elected officials and let them know you oppose any measure to reinstate the draft.

http://www.capmag.com/article.asp?ID=3202

http://www.helium.com/knowledge/14332-the-case-for-reinstating-the-military-draft-in-the-usa

http://economics.gmu.edu/wew/articles/04/draft.html

Political Little

Labels: military draft

To understand certain issues that affect me and they seem like they aren’t right or it doesn’t make sense, I usually ask myself a question. Why? At midnight this is what I’m asking myself. To my generation and younger generations, who are Farrakhan, Al Sharpton, NAACP, Urban League, Jesse Jackson Sr. and even to that point his son Jr. The reality is they are irrelevant. These so called Black figure heads are irrelevant in the community, but to America, these are the individual that represent our interest. No disrespect because I’m a member of groups like the NAACP. But my membership simply says “hey I support you, and I won’t abandon you when you need help.” I hope they will rebound. Whether these organizations, or persons realize they need a new take on the new millennium, I think they are like still remembering the glory of the 60’s and 70’s when they meant something.

To be the minority, we sure do have a lot of groups that promote their self interest. If I could create an organization and I sat down and created principles I would use unity, empowerment, and education. The last component which is education wouldn’t focus on your traditional view or education in a class room, but more of social education. In Nashville, TN, the NAACP filed a lawsuit that said the recent rezoning of their public school was unconstitutional and illegal. When the NAACP gets behind something that is unjust, it has to be true, because we want to believe they have credibility. Sad to say, weeks later, a local credible newspaper stated that from the data it reviewed from district reports the schools are more racially balanced and since the school system was already majority African American, rezoning really didn’t serve a role in the resegregation of the schools like the picture they painted.

Success has been proven to those who have shown superb organizing abilities. From the recent presidential campaign to the tea party who are opponents of the health care that we as Americans voted for when we elected our current president and the proponents of President Obama’s health care plan, both sides of the aisle have been doing some great organizing. To accomplish the organizing feat, the two groups have had unity and if we are ever to get other leaders other than President Barack Obama, we have to relate to the common people, empower the common people and their listen to their needs. Then we will get more traction with our grass roots in different communities. I’ll end with "Listen to the people before you speak for the people." Without it you have no credibility.

Every time I look at a political news station or read the paper, I hear about this health care plan that a lot of people agree with and some rude people disagree with. Since our president who was elected by the people and for the people has taken office there have been some sore losers who attempt to discredit the president’s agenda. In reality the president’s agenda for more access to health care isn’t any thing new. I remember on many occasions when he was campaigning that he said he would bring more access. So why all the frowns, and un-American comments from people at these town hall meetings?

This is an attempt from right wing conservatives whose nominee was defeated in November to save face. We need more advocates and supporters to step up who supported the president in November to support him now as we get close to November once again. History always finds a way to repeat itself and the angry mobs that are appearing all over the country will only get worse and more radical in their approach to prove a point.

Although I have to admit that there are a great number of people who disapprove of this health care plan, there are even more who approve of it. The best way to help the president is to make sure you understand the plan by reading up on online or in a magazine about the plan and then getting active . The best way to make a point is to make sure as voter that you have a voice. That voice should be used to call your elected congressman in your district and let them know that you support President Obama’s health care plan for America!

When you hear Republican, Democrat or even third party affiliations like the Green Party or Libertarians, you think of a very different world. Many think its corrupt, some thinks it fun and a few dont even know how to spell politics or vote for that meaning. Acronyms like GOTV, ED, VAN, and TV, may seem like go T.V., Education, some type of vehicle and something you watch. But no, they stand for Get out the Vote, Election Day, Voter Action Network, and targeted voter are really what these acronyms mean. Many people come and volunteer for a campaign on their own. They may see a candidate at a local event and agree to vote for the candidate and do some phone calling to friends for the candidate to show their full support. Most volunteers come out during the presidential elections. They see the opportunity to affect change and hope on a national level and begin to call around looking for the candidates headquarters.

Once they are in the door, they enjoy the atmosphere; Election Day is here and then the race is over. The volunteers and supporters long to have that excitement continue with door to door knocking, phone banking, and holding signs up around busy intersections to notify voters that there is an election going on. With that, they start to get involved in smaller campaigns, like school board or council races. As the election season gets closer to November, you will start to see more candidates yard signs go up in your community. If it is your neighbor, a simple question like where did you get the sign from could spark a conversation that gets you the information for the headquarters and gets you in the door to volunteer.

Volunteers are so crucial to campaigns because they generally cant afford to pay the sizeable staff they need to execute their objective. So college students have become a big target. One who is willing to work for little or nothing to get the experience, come in early, leave late, and has an expendable amount of energy. A lot of people think you have to major in something like political science or some major remotely similar to politics, but that is not the case. My major just so happened to be business administration and a friend of mines was nursing. That just shows you that all walks of life participate in this process and that your only qualification is the passion to help the candidate get elected to office.

If you find yourself wanting to do more in upcoming election and have the urge to volunteer and dont know where to start, then call the national parties of each and see what you can do to find campaigns locally!

Why would I want to vote? Not a question that usually asked aloud, but many people ask themselves this every election season. Sure you voted for Barack Obama or even John Mc Cain, but in 2010 or 2011 when there are other local, state or federal elections will you think it’s important to cast that ballot? I’m here to appeal to you to vote and vote often. No, don’t vote more than once for the same candidate in the same election year; that’ll get you sent to prison…lol. What I’m saying is vote every time there is an election. I’ll tell you why. We all have all the argument that people have suffered mentally and physically for our fundamental right to vote and while I don’t discredit what they have done because I really commend the movement. My rational is that appeal hasn’t worked for young professionals. So instead of trying to appeal to your emotions, I will appeal logically.

When you vote for the top of the ticket, you vote for what you believe in and the promises that they are making to get you to support them in the election. What you don’t realize that is that in order to make those promises they committed to, they need support down the ticket. A good analogy is like having a car with no wheels. Although your car cost you 15,000 when you got it from the dealership, it still can’t go anywhere with out those tires that cost 800.00. Barack Obama right now is flying around the country promoting his health care and many of you may agree or disagree with that agenda. There are crazy tea baggers going around with weapons protesting it, they’re even ripping up posters of Rosa Parks from older ladies who simply to make sure their voices are heard. All of this could be avoided if all those state and U.S. representatives and senators would support the plan.

This health care, immigration and Supreme Court nominees are big issues that get heavy exposure on all media outlets, but what about the smaller issues that affect us and our pockets. In 2007, a few candidates for mayors pledged no new tax increase. This is something that was already approved by the voters of Davidson County and it takes a majority vote in favor of raising taxes by the voters to make an increase which is difficult. Sad to say not many people came out to oppose or approve it although it was approved. Those small opportunities to vote are just as important because they affect you and your pockets.

All this to say is when I asked you “Why would I want to vote?” This is why. It’s because perceived small races for councilman and school board are just as important as that vote for Phil or Barack. Because you want to keep taxes low or you want your child to go to a good well funded school.

So please vote, and vote often!

Labels: Elections

My name is John Little and I write weekly political blogs weekly about what’s going on locally, through the state and through the country. From President Barack Obama to governors, even down to your local councilman. My first writings are going to touch on the political climate in Tennessee’s gubernatorial race. As history has it, the governor’s mansion usually interchanges every eight years between Democrats and Republicans. But this gubernatorial race it seems as if there is going to be a real game changer and the past can’t stop what change is bringing. I will give a brief overview on the democratic gubernatorial candidates so you can see whose has the opportunity to guide Tennessee the next four possibly eight years.


Jim Kyle
Senator Kyle recently entered the race as of Tuesday, August 11th. He has served various leadership roles in the state senate and hails from Memphis, TN. Kyle has various connections through out the state and if he unifies Memphis, TN, he has the best chance to win. That’s a big “IF”. Kyle has the knowledge and knows how to continue where the previous leadership left off. Don’t know how good his fundraising will be but that’ll tell you how long he will stay in the race.


Kim Mc Millan
Mrs. Mc Millan has been in the race the longest and to me is the most diverse. She was State House Majority Leader; she served in Governor Bredesens administration, practicing attorney, college professor and family woman with children. With all the pro’s for Mc Millan, I’d like to think that she’s holding back from pulling out her secret weapon, but with all her contacts, she lagging in fundraising. One thing I have learned from knowing this woman is that you never count her out.


Ward Cammack
Mr. Ward Cammack has been a successful business man for the past twenty years. His campaign has typically been about being green. The wild card to Mr. Cammack is that he used to be a bona fide republican. I guess he woke up and smelled the coffee or he just got tired of being an elephant. Either way Cammack is serious or he said he’s willing to self finance if need be. Recently he has been releasing his campaign plans to turn the state around and make it profitable again. Although his fundraising has been lack luster as well, I don’t think you should count him out since he can drop two million easy. That could go a long way in a crowded primary.


Roy Herron
State Senator Roy Herron like two of his primary competitors are from West TN. Senator Herron has been involved in politics for a long time and is very credible when it comes to knowing how to effectively lead. Honestly, on paper he’s a great candidate. Former pastor, attorney and many said he was the protégé of former governor Ned Ray Mc Wherter. Like his senate counterpart he has the knowledge of the legislature to continue where the previous administration left off. The last financial disclosure Herron had impressive numbers, but the report revealed there was a big share from his senate account. All in all, he still has a good amount of money in the bank and will be trying to make his name stronger in the east part of the state and work to get all the support from his West TN competitors.


Mike Mc Wherter
Last, but not least, I offer you Mike Mc Wherter. Self proclaimed front runner, top fundraiser, successful business owner, and family man. I also forgot to mention that his dad was a former governor and was loved from each tip of the state and still is today. He has the staff in place that worked on Governor Bredesens race as well as most major races in the state. Although he is from West TN like the other two state senators, he has an advantage because his dad is very much respected throughout the whole state. If all the candidates stay in the race till the end, I think it will be favorable for Mike. Not saying he will win, but favorable.

Although all of these are great candidates, there are still rumors of more. Maybe we do, need some more candidates who bring more star power and has the ability to out raise the republicans. Because sadly most of the republican candidates have outraised most of the democratic candidates by 400,000 or more and money talks. What if we had an African American candidate? Someone who had credibility and the ability fundraise to get the message out. Any takers????

Labels: Governors Race

Live out your ideas, or risk not living at all
By Cortez Smith
Business & Politics Editor
SOTG Magazine

The entrepreneur with passion and organization is a mighty combination. Typically, however, you may find that they have either passion or organization. Ideas in this world come in abundance. God speaks to people in spirit, and thus we discover the birthplace of ideas.

Because a human being is a hybrid of spirit, mental, and physical entities, the passage of the idea from the spiritual to the physical is often times interrupted by a mentality that is not tuned in with the spirit.

It goes something like this: "I should create a new innovative type of flip flop that has style, is comfortable and durable. That's a good idea isn’t it? No no, that doesn’t make sense. No one is going to like that idea. No one would event think about buying that product."

That's what happens to a lot of people even here in the Nashville urban area. They were blessed with a tremendous idea that could lead them to unlocking the door that leads to all the things they need and desire, and what happens? That little insecure self gets in the way, disrupting the natural flow of human activity.

There is an Xhosa saying "once one has had a vision, they cannot return it. Have the vision and deliver the mandate. All who share in the vision can no longer ignore or turn their backs on it."

That's what every single entrepreneur needs to embrace. Believe in yourself, empower yourself; only then will the right people appear ready and willing to help you manifest your vision.

Passion is that emotion, which is so intense it cannot be suppressed. When you get that next idea, I encourage you to become passionate about it. Meditate upon the concept day and night. Allow yourself to become one with the idea. This is a natural process. Doing so is not work, and is definitely not difficult. That's why so many entrepreneurs have the passion it takes to be successful.

Now the key to ultimately putting your product or service on the map as a powerful brand is: maintaining a consistent ability to be organized. And it all starts with sitting down at your desk and beginning the process of depositing the ideas from your mind onto your paper to formulate your mission, your vision, and your goals.

Once you have done that, success is right around the corner. You simply have to remember not to let your mental come in conflict with your spiritual and everything will flow according to the divine plan that is destined for your life.