The Jewels of Socialism

The Supreme Court decisions in the 1960’s struck down the Jim Crow laws that denied blacks access to the opportunities and freedoms enjoyed by other Americans. It was long overdue. The staggering poverty of blacks, especially in the South, was the genesis of President Johnson’s Great Society—his promise to end racism and poverty.

The welfare legislation passed in this era enticed the last three generations of black Americans to the Democratic Party. But the trillions upon trillions of dollars of welfare legislation they ushered in the last fifty years created a social quagmire for black self-reliance and self-confidence. And the programs all but eradicated black family unity.

The law of unintended consequences has always dogged Democratic initiatives. Their entitlement programs and embrace of affirmative action, although well intended, branded blacks as a race that requires more than just an even playing field to succeed. They institutionalized black dependency on government aid—which created an economic dead end. And how many prisons were built to hide the consequences of their legislation?

It’s nearly miraculous that any blacks survived this form of subjugation. Yet, many have. By their own strength, resolve and personal pride they managed to achieve the American dream. They are the foundation of the black community that has earned the right to shout, “Damn right we’re equal.”

Class warfare, illiteracy and ignorance are the foundation upon which the Democratic Party builds its success. It needs class warfare to perpetuate its own existence. Without the minority vote the Democrats would drift into obscurity. That’s why blacks that flee the Democratic Party are loudly defiled as Uncle Toms.

The Democrats’ spokespeople must deride successful blacks that oppose their welfare agenda, lest those still mired in poverty take advice from blacks who beat the system. What evidence? Does the slander of Condoleezza Rice and Bill Cosby ring a bell?

The backbone of financial success is a good education. Isn’t it strange that the Democrats limited school choice? What motivates them to prevent black children from attending better schools? Why do they protest against a national testing program that identifies schools that provide sub-standard educations?

Education leads to prosperity, and the prosperity of blacks undermines the left wing’s influence.

Now, hordes of illegal immigrants are crossing our southern border. They are poor and uneducated—perfect targets for the Democrats’ siren call. They hope to addict these people to entitlements, which will buttress their political ranks for generations to come. This strategy was exemplified by Senator Kennedy when he railed against a proposed amendment to restrict the Income Tax Credit (a $1700-$2000 stipend) to only poor Americans.

He used the standard “It’s for the children” refrain to justify broadening the eligibility for the largest welfare subsidy in the nation. Of course, this is in addition to the entitlements of food stamps, subsidized housing, free education and medical care, Unemployment Compensation, Social Security, etc., etc., for all illegal aliens and their families.

The left’s rush to welcome illegal aliens is sinister. Business will scoop up these unskilled workers and pay them a lower wage than they would have to pay unskilled Americans. This practice will devastate black opportunity. In addition to this betrayal, their immigration agenda will lead ten to twelve million poor down the same dead-end road.

Entitlements, the jewels of socialism, are just stones that anchor the poor.