TheWiseOldFart

In August of 1619 the first slaves stepped onto the New Land. This vile and inhuman act began what has become pervasive racism in the United States for more than 248 years. Republicans, with assistance from their propaganda machine, FOX News, continue to confirm that their party is composed of racists, bigots, homophobes, religious bigots, and sexists. This tells us that about one-half of all 340 million people are prejudiced without reason. One event which I never read in history class, and only learned about later in life, is demonstrative of how destructive racism has been for our nation’s future. The Black community in Tulsa, Oklahoma, had a very successful business district in 1921. However, on March 31 and June 1 st , an angry crowd of about 10,000 angry white men stormed into the Black part of Tulsa on March 31 and began attacking Black men and women while setting fire to their stores and shops. At the end of a well-planned attack on June 1 st , more than 300 Black men and women...

Op-ed by TheWiseOldFart   Let’s take an honest look at America in the 21 st century. Where do you think our nation stands on issues which are most important, and where do you think one-half of our dysfunctional government stands? This rating includes 15 nations included in an overall rating of quality of life. Here’s a clue; the United States does not rate first in any category. Inf fact, we are last in the group at number 15. However, in the free world America is ranked 23 rd in healthcare. Only wealthy Americans receive the finest care because only the wealthy can afford the most expensive medical services and personnel available. Even for working class men and women who have healthcare plans at their place of employment, co-pays create hardships for millions of our nation’s people. Our failed healthcare system has become the most expensive and inefficient in the world. I, personally, had two friends die in a hospital after being misdiagnosed. America is the only nation in the ...