President Mitt Romney?
- Saturday, August 4th, 2012 at 11:15 AM
Dickson Igwe
Two-part series on why a President Romney may be better for the Virgin Islands and West Indies
Barack Obama’s Inauguration at the Capitol in Washington D.C. on January 20, 2009 was a profoundly historic day for modern America. Beginning with freedom from slavery 150 years ago, the election of a coloured US President was a crucial page in the story of the American Negro. Freedom for blacks in the US was an incremental process that started at the time of fratricidal Civil War in the 1860s. But true freedom came with the end of Jim Crow a century later.
Jim Crow was a pseudonym for state and local laws that mandated racial segregation in the Southern States. This legacy of slavery ended with the signing of the Civil Rights Bill into the Civil Rights Act on July 2, 1964. The establishment of a new Civil Rights Law was a profoundly historic and momentous event. It came after years of struggle by a Civil Rights Movement that led to the beatings, jailing, and ultimately murders and deaths of activists and protestors, tragically culminating in the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Junior in Memphis, Tennessee, on April 4, 1968.
The second day of July 1964 was the start of a new chapter in US race relations and social history. It was also a powerful moment in a White House occupied by one President Lyndon B Johnson. Johnson was successor to the late John F Kennedy, the first Roman Catholic US President.
Sadly, Kennedy, a friend of the Negro, was tragically gunned down in Dallas, Texas, on the 22nd of November 1963. Kennedy’s younger brother and US Attorney General, Robert Kennedy, also considered a fighter for civil rights was shot dead on the 8th of June 1968. Conspiracy theorists believe the connection to the Civil Rights Movement was a reason for the killings of these two very powerful brothers.
In any event, racial hatred did not end with a modus Vivendi of segregation against blacks being made illegal and unconstitutional. Jim Crow was still entrenched in hearts and minds. Race hate simply became intangible and invisible, going under the radar. Racism remains a sad feature of the American subculture, a horrible idiosyncrasy and anachronism, driven by cold, hard hearted and intolerant attitudes and beliefs.
Barack Obama, a mixed race American, was born on US soil in the Pacific. His ascension to the free world’s highest office was at the time of his election a song to Black America. Martin Luther King’s I have a Dream epiphany had finally become a reality. Politically, some degree of equality for blacks in the USA is de jure, but socially and economically, true racial equality with whites remains elusive, even in August 2012. The quality of life of the white American eclipses that of African Americans and Latinos by far.
Barack Hussein Obama was a historic first, however. And if his name did not signal powerful change, the fact is here was a mixed race US President, and constitutional law professor, with a black Kenyan father. His minority credentials further buttressed by his African American wife, whose origins were in the Old South, a law graduate of Princeton, born in Chicago. But even more interestingly was the fact that Obama’s late white mother was progeny of John Punch, the first documented slave who lived in the early 1600s in York Town, Virginia. This was an enormous paradox and a very American story. It appears that relations between slaves and their white owners were more than servitude.
Obama’s election was truly seismic, and a testimony to the power of US history, constitutionality, law, society, and democratic freedom. And all of this taking place in a country still haunted by decades of racial inequality, race hate, and segregation.
Ironically, from the start of his historic Presidency in 2009, to just before another US Presidential General Election in November, 2012, the standard of living and quality of life of both the African American, and Latino American is today much worse than before Barack took office. Blame this on a crushing recession that went on well into the Obama Presidency, after Barack set up shop in the Oval Office over three years ago. This was a recession that hit the Black and Latino minority in the USA hard.
A long and painful recession sourced in banking and financial imprudence which began during the presidency of Barack’s predecessor, George Walker Bush. Financial infamy on the banking high street, fueled by a culture of spend and easy credit, led to a steep decline in the housing market and wider commercial environment that went on for 2 years. This further resulted in anemic economic growth after the recession ended in 2009, and stubborn jobless numbers that continue to persist to this day.
A Pew Research Publication of July 16, 2011, an analysis titled, ‘’ WEALTH GAPS RISE TO RECORD HIGHS BETWEEN WHITES, BLACKS, AND HISPANICS,’’ described how, ‘’ the median wealth of white households is 20 times that of Black households, the largest since government began publishing such data a quarter century ago.’’
The study showed that, ‘’in percentage terms, the bursting of the housing market bubble in 2006 and the recession that followed from late 2007 to mid 2009 took a far greater toll on the on the wealth of minorities than whites. From 2005 to 2009 median wealth fell by 66% among Hispanic households and 53% among black households, compared with just 16% among white households.’’ Interestingly, since 2011, the wealth gap has actually increased. Whites in the US are 22 times wealthier than blacks today: putting this in simple terms; for every dollar a black consumer possesses, a white possesses 22, a huge inequality.
Barack cannot be blamed for this economic inequity, but he can be blamed for taking the black vote in the USA for granted. And he is way out of line on one matter. Blacks in the USA are supporters of traditional marriage, and see the Presidents support for gay marriage as a moral issue on which the President is on the wrong side. Then, his not appearing at the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People on a campaign stop in July, 2012, was seen as a snub to his core constituency. Black pastors, a very powerful social group, are already questioning the President’s moral stances.
One thing is clear; Barack will not win a second term without the black vote. The white liberal vote will not win him the election in a very tight race. Republican Mitt Romney has locked in the blue collar and white male middle class voter. This is the reason the race remains neck and neck, despite Romney’s lack of charisma and ‘rich boy credentials,’ in a race becoming a war between the rich and the rest.
Now, one cannot blame President Obama for a recession that started under the watch of the previous President. However a politician who takes his or her natural constituency for granted is making a serious political misjudgment. And know this, in a weak economy; voters have very short memories.
To be continued
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38 Comments
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In my next life I am going to return as an Immigration officer and stamp DENIED entry to the USA in Mr. Igwe’s passport.
Your ignorance and small mindedness speak for themselves- calling Igwe names and you go about with a name that talks of gross hypocrisy and a unique lack of intelligence- I guess you get your two minutes of fame on these blogs- IDIOT!
Will the real Billfargo please stand up! This Billfargo sure didn’t call anyone out of their name. Thank You.
In 2008 Mitt Romney earned $23,425,316 and paid $412.18 in federal income taxes. This calculates to a federal tax rate of 0.0018%.
http://www.freewoodpost.com/2012/07/28/anonymous-hacks-irs-database-publishes-romney-tax-returns/
Of all the Presidents… which Idiot tried hard to impressed the illegals by speaking Spanish during election?
Interesting and surprising position on President Obama presidency and a potential Mitt Romney ‘s presidency. Clearly, American politics is being experienced vicariously and there is perhaps lack of a full grasp of its inner workings with all its twists and turns and push and pulls.
President Obama has a presidential record and has fleshouted his plans for a second term. On the other hand, Mitt Romney is playing hide and seek with his plans; he is running on generalities and offering no specifics on either his domestic or foreign policy plans. The only thing that he has done thus far is hitched himself to the disastrous Ryan plan. Perhaps later on he will lay out more. But at this juncture, there is a blank slate.
What happens in the US impacts the BVI’s economy, standard of living and quality of life. The twin towers—tourism and financial servicess—are directly linked to the US economy; most of its hard currency flows from industries. Consequently, we have an interest in the outcome of their election but we should exercise diplomacy and keep our thoughts and preferences close to our chest.
The rap on Prez Obama by some is that he has not done much for African-Americans and Hispanics. Well Prez. Obama can issue executive orders but he cannot pass laws on his own; laws require approval in both houses of Congress (Senate, House of Reps.) before being signed by the President. The reality is that there 3 branches of government:Executive, Judicial, Legislative. Though the Prez. may have the desire for certain actions, he/she needs the support of both the Senate and House to make it happen. This is extremely difficult with a divided government that currently exist. The Republicans control the House and Democrats have a slight majority in the Senate. But the Senate is dysfunctional due to the filibuster rule.
Blacks and Latinos share some of blame for getting less of the pie. They turn out in droves in the 2008 presidential election but they got complacent and stayed home during the 2010 mid term election. And as a result the Republicans clean up by taking the House, governorships and statehouses, along with gains in the Senate. The lack of turnout by democrats during the mid term handicap the Prez.
Further, as other bloggers have noted that Prez Obama is president of all the people, not just Blacks and Hispanics. As such he enacts policies and programmes that have to pass the constitutional test.
Moreover, Prez Obama inherited an economy that was hemorrhaging badly, losing thousands of job monthly. But through some unpopular stimulus funding and bailouts….etc, the economy started to turn around, gaining jobs monthly; it has seen 30+ months of job growth. Some 3M jobs were created. This turn around happen without Republican help; they put up road block after road block. The Republicans have no interest in helping the Prez improve the economy; they will get some glee if the economy crashed.
None of the other 43 presidents have been disrespected and challenged and hated as much as Prez Obama. No other Prez had to face the birther nonsense. Prez Obama is so hated that if he discovered a cure for cancer the haters will proclaim that this is a bad thing.
Mitt Romney is a rich opportunist running for president. He is not acting presidential. If he were he would not enable the TEA Party birther nonsense. He lacks to courage to say simply that he and the Prez are both Americans and knock the nonsense off. And the elections should be debated on policy. Nonetheless, we do not know what Romney’s policies are. It appears to be that he is afraid to lay them out. Instead he is running on the hatred by some of the Prez. Consequently, no one can say that his policies are better for the Caribbean than Obama’s. His policies are a mystery.
There seems little beneath Dr. Igwe’s hat.
Dr. Igwe should be arrested–forthwith!
What Dr. Igwe has failed to recognise is that President Obama has been lynched politically by the right-wing Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives who perpetually NEGATE his legislative agenda to enhance the U.S. economy; sabotaged economically by the the U.S. Corporate Structure which has minimised the hiring of personnel while amassing huge profits (whilst supporting myriad right-wing Political Action Committees); and attacked socially as a consequence of the racial and historical disposition of U.S. Corporations to hire lastly and fire firstly Black, Latino and other non-White workers!
With the Hope that these Minorities–so oppressed by unemployment and associated stresses–would stay away from the polls this November and DESERT Obama!
Rush Limbaugh said it publicly in reference to President Obama’s possibilities: “I hope he fails.”
With fascist Republicans Dr.Igwe has apparently found “earnest company.”
But President Obama will be re-elected 2012.
Typical Igweism: “Blame the victim (Obama) ideology.”
This man dont have anything better to do? come off the page and stop with ur 1 Dislike lol
To Diaspora, well said.
Harry, u have rolling with jokes lol
Mr. Igwe is probably a victim of the halo effect (using 1 issue from among a myriad to rate a person’s performance either a success or failure) and letting it cloud his judgement of Pres Obama ‘s policy compared to a Mitt Romney’s presidency. He is judging President Obama’s value to Virgin Islanders and West Indian base on his support of gay rights.
Further he is asserting that the President’s tenure has been a disaster for sustaining the standard of living and quality of life for the Latinos and Blacks. This position and statement is shortsighted.
Yes, Blacks and Latinos are more unemployed and underemployed than their White counterpart. This is a historical norm that did not start with the Prez. Obama’s presidency. Further, he came into office with the economy tanking and in a depression. But inspite of lack of support, obstructions and pushback from Republicans, he has been able to stabilize the economy. Millions of jobs were created or save as result of his bold leadership and initiatives, i.e. auto industry. Mitt Romney wanted the auto industry to go bankrupt bailout. Black and Latinos work in auto plants.
Yes, some Black and Latino leaders believe that he has not done enough for these two groups. Perhaps. But he is the president of all Americans: Democrats-Republicans-Independents, Blacks-Hispanics-Asians-White, Gay-Straight. As they say a rising tide lift all boats. The Prez sets policy and citizens use them to climb the economic ladder. The economy could be healthier if Republicans were willing to be a partner with the Prez. But for political reasons their focus is on social issues, not job creation, for job creation may help the Prez’s re-election effort. Selfish.
In comparing the Prez’s economic plan with Mitt Romney’s non-specific and non-committal economic plan there is no comparison. The Prez plan is head and shoulders above Mitt Romney’s. What do we know about Mitt’s plan. We know that he fabors lowering taxes for millionaires and billionaires at the expense of the poor and middle class; he is a 1 percenter. He is noncommital on both domestic and foreign policies so how do we know that his policies will be better for the Virgin Islands and West Indies. We do not.
I usually enjoy Dickson’s articles but this one is off target. We have our own political issues to deal with. And we should probably let the Americans deal with theirs. Furthermore, we have too much too lose if we choose the losing side. It is best if we stay neutral.
Bravo !!! Applause!!! Very nice, very accurate, and so very true. Diaspora, I salute you with much respect.
Great response. You are better than me in outlining the obvious. While, Mr. Igwe is entitled to his opinion, I could not disagree with him more.
I do disagree with you on your last point, however, in that we “should probably let the Americans deal with their” own political issues. Unfortunately, while some of us would like to think we are an island nation unto ourselves, the truth is, we are not.
We live within a global economy, and what happens in America affects us. Specifically, the so-called twin pillars of our economy being tourism, and offshore finance can be positively or adversely affected by what happens in America. And what happens there at any time depends on who controls the White House and Congress. Therefore, it’s wise for us to pay attention.
Of course our government should stay neutral publicly as any wise government should, but they should likewise be paying attention, and be prepared for any political outcome privately to make whatever adjustments necessary to keep our economy growing and sound. As for the average Joe, American citizens or not they too should be aware of what is happening around us, including the U.S. as our destiny is inherently tied to theirs. That’s just the reality.
When will people not wake up and see Politricks for what it really is? Barak was the perfect candidate for the so called change people was looking for when the financial system was crashing in 2008. People were desperate for change and would have taken Gilligan for president at that time. Now we are 4 years later and people cannot see that we have a one party two headed snake in the republican and democratic party. The entire congress in the US have been bought and paid for by the bankers. It does not matter who the puppet president is, he does not make any decisions without being told what to do. Fact: Mitt Romney now has the same Bankers supporting him for president that Barak had back in 2008. Fact 2: The Obamacare was not 1st proposed by Obama but by Mitt Romney. Here is the facts of the 2 headed party one bodied snake!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQusaGv-oMw&feature=player_embedded
So when you all finish watching the link, does this sound like two candidates running against each other? No voter told Mitt or Obama to run for president. But the sheeple are being led astray to vote for things they never even asked for. Wake up!
Your weekly articles on political, economical and other issues have contributed immensely to the national discussion. But this article detracts from this contribution. It probably violated diplomatic norms, for it presents the appearance that we are taking sides in the US presidential election. We need to appear neutral in their elections as they ours.
It may have been unintended but the article appeared to be something directly out of Mitt Romney’s and the Republican Party’s playbook.
The statement that the standard of living and quality of life for Blacks and Latinos has worsen under Pres Obama is looking at the glass half empty instead of being half full. Like Dr. Smith is Premeir of all Virgin Islanders, not just NDP supporters, so is Pres Obama president of all Americans, not just just a segment of his base.
Just for the record when Pres Obama took the helm, the US economy was hemorrhaging and losing hundred of thousands of jobs. The Pres without any help from Republicans turn this around, creating about 3 million jobs so far. I’m sure that both Blacks and Latinos benefitted from this upward trajectory. Further, research shows that historically unemployment is always higher among Blacks and Latinos. As such it is exacerbated by recessions or depressions.
The US economy is improving slowly and has improved under Prez Obama. And it will probably be in a better position if the Republics were willing to help. Lets remember that it was their stated policy to make the Pres a one- term president so it is clear that they are in no mood of helping the economy to improve.
What is the specifics of Romney ‘s plan for addressing any issue? Thus far he is content to do the opposite of the Pres.
Thanks for sharing a little truth with some of these foolish people. This Guy is living in the Virgin Islands and writing a whole lot of foolishness based on the facts that if he lived in the United States, with all his Mail-Order Degrees, he too will not be able to find a job; Not even cleaning the white-mans’ horse stable in Texas dressed-up in that stupid looking Cow-Boy hat.
Good article Igwe. A good article does not rely on most people agreeing or liking what is written. You made your observations. Most Caribbean people only support Obama because he’s “Black”. Ask them what he’s done to help better the lives of Black people in general and I bet you they can’t even answer.
Someone said he’s black and not mixed because the KKK considers him black. I guess the KKK consists of Scientists and Biology teachers….
That’s like saying I have a half Pit Bull, Half Rottweiler Dog. But can’t be mixed, because my friends say he looks like a Rottweiler. That’s essentially what that clown who commented about the KKK is saying.
The way you write makes you appear to be fairly intelligent. What you write makes you look like an ignoramus.
You obviously don’t know anything about race relations in the U. S.
I could not agree with you more. If I was a US Citizen my choice of who to vote for would be based on whose policies I consider to be best for the country and the masses instead of the colour of the candidate’s skin or their race. If the white voters voted based on skin colour in 2008 they all would have voted for John McCain. Instead, many of them voted for Obama.
Mr. Igwe,
While I find your article provocative, I also find it to be quite shallow. Take one issue in particular: equality/equity. How can you in the first part of your article outline the progress in the acquisition of Civil Rights in the US as well as the remaining gap in the acquisition of social and economic rights so eloquently; and then spend the rest of the article largely criticising President Obama for taking a stance to extend Civil Rights (in terms of marriage equality) to more Americans? There is a major disconnect there. On issues of equality and equity, whether social, economic or political, it is clear that President Obama far out-thinks and out-acts Mr. Romney.
And, I really was encouraged by the title and intro sentence of the article, as I figured the article would be a literary struggle examining Barack Obama’s ideals which seem to largely fit with the Virgin Islands’ conscience, and the actual economic reality in the Virgin Islands, in terms of our reliance on offshore financial services -and how the two interact in terms of President Obama’s ideals and policy positions. That article I would read and appreciate as it would show mature thought and grappling with real issues. So, please sir, come again!
Oh boy…. Mr. Igwe sure stepped in it this time. First his ridiculous concepts for the airport expansion and a world class BVI Airline, and now this. Beginning to think he is just playing with our heads.
Hey Trellis Man. Ironically enough, if my observations are correct, Igwe’s picture background is Trellis Bay….Don’t worry, when we extend the runway, we’ll take good care of Trellis Bay for you. HAHA…
This is such a cliche, it’s a joke. Africans usually don’t accept western black people as equals, viewing them as “not really black.” There is usually this same sense of superiority and disdain that Mr. Igwe displays.
I must say, I find the repeated reference to President Obama as “mixed race” particularly offensive. As someone recently commented in response to Morgan Freeman’s similar remarks, when the police or the KKK see someone with President Obama’s racial heritage, they don’t see them as “mixed race.” they see them as black.
Why do we in the BVI care what an African thinks of an American President anyway? Hello, irrelevent?
And by the way Dickson, your hat looks idiotic.
Nothing like a ‘black’ man trying to dress up as G. W. Bush without a trace of irony.
I mean not a TRACE of irony. SMDH all day long.
I think sir that ur narrow evangelical view has so skewed ur judgement that u would support Satan if he opposed gay marriage
“head no good”
I think he is Campaigning for the Republicans
I have never seen a President that has been Persecuted, like how President Obama has been by the Republican Party,and its because of the colour of his skin.They are RACIST.
I never heard of any other Presidents or Presidential Candidates been questioned about their place of birth before.
To Mr Chat #hit, please let History Reign.
I bet he did not write half of this,just copied and pasted it !
I was thinking the same thing!!!!!!
ARE YOU SERIOUS???!!! MITT ROMNEY LAID OFF ALOTS OF PEOPLE. HE HAS NO CLUE ABOUT MIDDLE CLASS JUST THE “rICH” AND YOU WANT HE FOR THE BVI DUDE LOOK AT THE NEWS MORE!!!
Mr. Igwe. Whatever you are smoking, please do not blow it in my direction so that I may be subjected to your second hand smoke, and the resultant bad health. You have lost your marbles if you sincerely believe that a President Mitt Romney would be better for the Virgin Islands and the West Indies. I cannot even get beyond that ridiculous proposition to continue reading your article in full, take it seriously, and provide a contrary argument.
I do not know if by this article you are attempting to be provocative in thought, but that proposition on it’s own makes absolutely no sense to me given my understanding of the President’s and Mr. Romney’s political ideologies and foreign policies. Don’t even bother to write the second part of this article. Call it a day. The first part is a non-starter.
Just that you know, President Obama will handily defeat Mitt Romney come November. You are on the wrong side of history my friend. Get with the program before it’s too late.
This guy does not know what he is talking about.
This does not know what he is talking about.
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