official-blog

Kim Hinton and JTYPL fight against poverty

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 21:12:12 +0100

Despite having to walk through the rain to get to my destination, I was thrilled to finally meet the president of “Journey To Your Promise Land”, Kim Hinton. For those of you who are not familiar with JTYPL, the Maryland based, nonprofit organization’s model is, to address global poverty with an integrated approach that combines advocacy efforts, which help eliminate conditions that allow poverty. “We want to create a comprehensive strategy that will empower woman and youth to overcome existing obstacles, and take the journey to their promised land!” From Kim’s opening response, I noticed her confidence immediately.

Kim Hinton, 41, wife of Kevin Hinton, and mother of two, is a fourth generation Washingtonian who grew up in the tough community of Anacostia (Southeast Washington DC) with her mother and older sister. When asked about her childhood, Kim responded, “Our mother insisted on enrolling us in the best public schools in the Washington DC area – which were not in our neighborhood. I attended public schools on Capitol Hill, Georgetown, and the Tenleytown area. For us, it didn’t matter that we had to travel hours to get to school, nor did it make us feel like we were any different. It was our life and our reality, we didn’t look at it as a hindrance.”

As I circled Kim’s office, it was brought to my attention that she has a bachelor degree in organizational management from Columbia Union College (which is now Washington Adventist University) and a master of business administration degree, with a concentration in Finance, from Trinity University Washington. With my love of social entrepreneurship, it was a pleasant surprise to find out that Kim has spent most of career working in the nonprofit arena in areas such as scheduling, membership development, grant management, program development, youth development, training, and strategic planning. “I want to build a company where our name is synonymous with excellence, trustworthiness and passionate. All has to start at the top – starting with me. That’s how I live my life, successful or not.” she replied.

Following our brief stint together, I decided to remove myself from the originally scripted interview questions, and to find out what inspired her to create JTYPL. With a down to earth smile, Kim responded, “I took a sabbatical and became an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer, working in an at-risk community in Washington DC. I spent a year living in poverty (as a volunteer you don’t get a salary – just a stipend equal to the poverty level in that community) working with the community on a day-to-day basis. My role was to help the residents obtain housing, employment, food, education, and so on, through strategic partnerships, empowering residents, and designing programs. What I learned is that it is not as easy to just get a job, or pull yourself up from your bootstraps. It is much harder if you are not given the right resources. With the right resources and right kind of support, people can overcome obstacles and take the journey towards their destiny.”

Looking at the logo on the business card, I had to ask what the tree symbol was all about. Kim informed me that the oak tree is a symbol of courage and strength. “Throughout your journey in life you will need courage to overcome your fears and strength to deal with the pressures of change. Once you prune off the dead areas and re-shift your life, you will start your journey towards your destiny. JTYPL is here to support women and youth as they take the journey.”

Kim and JTYPL are currently working with 1up Entertainment Consulting to promote a national “Stop The Abuse” campaign. Kim makes it known that she is partnering with individuals and organizations to help spread the word about domestic violence among youth. The goal of the campaign is for young people, ages 12-24, to talk about abuse, using self-expression and the arts. Her board and staff are working to build the organizations brand. Kim hopes to create a buzz about JTYPL’s mission, and get people to learn more about global poverty. While shaking her head, Kim stated, “I think people look at poverty and see skinny kids with a huge stomach. That is the extreme level of poverty. What people don’t understand is that the 46 million Americans are living in poverty. Because of the economy, the poverty level increased not decreased - where people are earning less and the costs of basic needs are increasing. These numbers are staggering! The statistics and research goes deep. The direction of JTYPL is education! Educating people about poverty, educating people on how to overcome poverty, and educating people on how to take control of their lives, so that they can reach their destiny.”

JTYPL’s stop the abuse campaign focuses on bringing domestic violence awareness to women, men, teenagers and young adults using arts. The organizations international programs build on existing grassroots systems, where the focus is on practical solutions that empower and educate women, which leads to the reduction of poverty. Kim mentioned that they currently have a presence in Nigeria, and that her programs are based around family strengthening, advocacy, educational training conferences, and educational scholarships.

· Capital Chippers Scholarship Fund for Youth

· Mini Grants for Women for Entrepreneurship Purposes

At the end of my interview with Kim, it was clear that she wanted me to inform my readers that she is in need of professional volunteers to serve as mentors and life coaches. She is also in need of donations. Those who are interested in becoming a mentor for JTYPL should email info@jtypl.org for additional information. Anyone who wants to make a difference in the lives of women and youth can donate or pledge a donation. JTYPL is a 501©3 tax-exempt organization and all donations are 100% tax deductible. You can also follow JTYPL on facebook at, www.facebook.com/jtyplinc, or follow the organization on twitter at, www.twitter.com/jtypl.

Umi of P.O.W/RBG aims towards social entrepreneurship path

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 21:17:07 +0100

Schohreh Golian Esfahania

With all due respect to the reader, some of the language in this article is strong, but none of the language was used in malice, or meant to disrespect anyone, or any group.

As an advocate of social entrepreneurship and critical thinking education, I was thrilled when the artist, Umi, of, P.O.W/ RBG, reached out to be concerning the, Rap Music Manifesto, amongst other issues. Actually, let me rephrase that. Umi, an original native of Tuskegee Alabama, who currently resides in Brooklyn New York, is more then just an artist, he is also known as an activist, public speaker, writer, leader, owner, brother, and the list goes on. Including that long list, many have grown to respect him for his stage presence, and the substance in his lyrics. Having performed on stage with the likes of Dead Prez, The Roots, Dave Chapelle, and many others, Umi is what we consider to be a “seasoned veteran.” So begins our interview, nothing short of substance, inspiration, confidence, and moxy, just as expected.

Saye Taryor: As a 30 something year old veteran in the music industry, what is your overall message to the younger generation of artists who wish to pursue this business?

Umi: First and foremost, I want to shout out all the hoods through out the world, all the oppressed people struggling, trying to reclaim their legacy out here … and I want to big up you and 1up Entertainment for the opportunity, and for playing a part in helping bring real information to our younger generation.

Saye Taryor: Thank you. That’s what it’s all about family.

Umi: For those who may not know, my name is Umi, and I am the last of a dying breed. From the beginning of my career to present date, I’ve embraced a message of empowerment. I’ve tried to motivate my community with tactful, yet entertaining music, and to push the agenda on content that others have ignored. For the younger cats trying to get into the music game, my advice is stay honest and true to you. Don’t allow others to build your image, let your personal experiences do that. I would also like to say… don’t wait around for someone to “put you on”… put yourself on! True success comes from hard work!

Saye Taryor: I hear that you are looking to start working with younger artists in the near future. Could you elaborate a little more on that?

Umi: I’m currently building up a non-profit organization called “Humble Moments” that serves as a launching platform for upcoming artist. The organization helps talented young artists polish their craft, and gain recording, film, and business experience, as they embark on a career in the world of entertainment. As a young artist, I often times found myself needing advice and assistance. I would love to provide that for upcoming artist. I hope I can inspire young cats to sharpen their content and play bigger roles in their communities, more than current artist do.

Saye Taryor: What are your overall perspective and outlook of the Rap Music Manifesto, and current status of the music industry?

Umi: I definitely checked out your, Rap Music Manifesto, and I was feeling it. In my opinion, hip-hop is merely a reflection of our community. Look around, our whole sh#t is in shambles… The dude’s look like chicks, the chicks look like dudes… we’re lost at the current moment, still searching for our identity. I really don’t expect much from the younger artist. This is because most of their fathers, and their family structures, failed them. N####’s is out here lost. We have no attachment to each other. We make no attempt to tie our flags and lives together. Until we build up a bridge of communication, where we can all see eye to eye, and really start helping and motivating each other, don’t expect sh#t from the younger generation. N####’s is trying to get rich, so their music is only going to fit the fold of the check writer. It’s up to us to become the check writers, fully extend ourselves, and then we’ll expand the young artist’s content and options.

Saye Taryor: How do you feel about the codes and philosophies of the original black panthers, in reference to today’s society?

Umi: When speaking on the Black Panthers, I could only stand at full salute. I give them ultimate props. For the strength, the organization, and the examples. The Black Panthers more than inspired me, they made me active! When you go back and revisit their, ten-point platform, all 10 points are still issues we are struggling to acquire today. Do I think we need to go out with the gats and murder some pigs? Well, sometimes (jokingly) … but I know that is not the answer. The panthers were fighting the same oppressor we are fighting today, but the oppressor has revised its schemes and tactics, so we too must revise our schemes and tactics. We have to come with an agenda that the masses of people can gravitate towards. Back in Huey, Bunchy and Fred Hamp’s day, cats were G’s, now day’s, cats are chumps. Besides my RBG and Outlaw riders, whom else could we depend on? We have to gain wisdom from combining their experiences and insight, with our strategies and efforts.

Saye Taryor: Are you familiar with the term social entrepreneurship? What is your outlook on the concept?

Umi: Yea, I take that to mean building a business that helps benefit the community or a social problem. I think that’s the only reason we should be doing sh#t! In my opinion, our country is Swiss cheesed out (full of holes) because everyone is doing for self. Our values no longer extend beyond our households, so our communities suffer. The minority community will never know its worth until we learn to pool our resources. Practicing social change by creating or organizing a profitable venture is a dope way of offering support to a cause or community.

Saye Taryor: Did you just say social entrepreneurship is “ a dope way of offering support to a cause or community?” That may be my new slogan. To move along, is there a particular business model, or individual, you pattern your business style from?

Umi: You know I never look at one thing or person for anything. I have a tendency to take from multiple things, and add all that to the loud noises I hear in my head. That’s with everything I’m into. With business, it’s no different. I find myself studying the models of corporations like Scion and Kia, to filmmakers and writers like, Spike Lee and Mario Puzo. I learn from entertainers like Sam Cooke and Chris Rock, and I even study Obama, Oprah, and of course Gates, and the late, Jobs. Each model offers pieces of info that I can relate to, and then adapt, to help me build my sh## up.

Saye Taryor: Where do you see your movement, and your career, ten years from now?

Umi: Ten years … sh##, that’s right around the corner! We’re moving in light years! In ten years, I will be doing a number of things. In the music game, I will be strictly in a executive position. I will be helping to brand artist, and distributing product. In the film industry, I want to be directing movies, and creating historical driven TV series. And of course, I’m going to be back and forth to South America rolling up my signature brand of cigars. Expect big things from your boy!

Saye Taryor: How do you balance time between family and career as an artist?

Umi: Well my immediate fam is all those around me. We balance each other. I need real people around me to stay motivated. I don’t have any kids yet, so my comrade’s sons and daughters are my kids! My sister has three kids, so as far as I’m concerned, I have three kids … sh##, my career is my family! I’m from down south, and I live in Brooklyn, so I just try to get down to Bama, and SC, any and every time I can. That’s where my heart is ... down there with my pops, my moms, and my 2 sisters.

Saye Taryor: That’s real Umi. Why don’t you go ahead and talk about the current projects you have going on.

Umi: Check for me… I got a lot of new videos that I directed and shot with my guy, Dynomite Tony. You can see the most recent ones here: The next few records I’m dropping are all compilations… In no particular order, I have: Umi Ft. Justin Kase, Umi Ft. Duo Live, Umi and DJ Child ft. M1, and of course, a couple of surprises in the bag from RBG affiliate Mic Blaque. It’s def going down!

Saye Taryor: How can the reader’s track future projects?

Umi: Look for me on the Web… right now we are working on building our on line presence. Just goggle, UMIRBG, and the latest should pop up. Umisworld.com, or itunes, can be used to purchase the latest music. Don’t be out here supporting no bullsh##. Play your part, help spark a change, and catch me on the frontlines! Follow Umi on Twitter and Facebook.

Zayd Malik, Rap Artist, Family Man, & Revolutionary

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 14:21:14 +0100

Those familiar with my writings know I am not a big fan of artists who promote messages of sex, drugs, and violence to our youth. As a fan of, Los Angeles born rapper, Zayd Malik, whom now resides in Georgia, I decided to interview the socially conscious artist, who sometimes pushes the envelope, while finding room for substance and reflection. Read the entire interview below.

Saye Taryor: For individuals who may not be familiar with you, would you please give them a little background information about yourself?

Zayd Malik: Yes. My name is Zayd Malik, and I was born in LA, California, into a politically conscious family. My parents are founding members of the New African Peoples Organization, and Mutulu Shakur is my God Father. It is he who got me started in hip-hop. When I started rapping, he gave me the opportunity to help produce an album called, "Dare to Struggle", which was in part a tribute to his son, my god-brother, Tupac, as well as a tribute to political prisoners such as himself. Later in my career, I began the Outlaw “Rbg movement”, in response to the different crews I came up through, which I studied under for years. I’ve learned from groups like the legendary, "Outlawz", as well as the founders of the, "Rbg movement”, Dead Prez. It only made sense for me to do this, because it was so natural to my person. It was how I came up.

Saye Taryor: What are some of the watered downed content, and stereotypes in the music industry, you would like to educate people about?

Zayd Malik: I want to educate our followers and fellow generals and soldiers alike about the imbalance that we see in hip hop so much. There’s nothing wrong with the music in and of itself, for music is just an expression of what’s really going on, but what we see taking place is a lop sided account of black life, as portrayed by hip hop. In my opinion, there’s nothing wrong with stating what’s negative about your hood, your life, or the people around you, its just that, I would like to hear just as much, what you love about your situation, in a positive way, so that people outside our community get a better picture of “Nu Afrikan” life within the empire of “Amerikkka”, and not only for outsiders, but for our children as well.

Saye Taryor: Do you allow your son to listen to your music, and what lessons do you wish to pass down to him, as a father, and as a musician?

Zayd Malik: I don’t allow my son to listen to all of my music, only that in which I deem his ears ready to understand. He's only three, so something’s are just simply out of the reach of his consciousness. I would hate for him, at his age, to get a snapshot of what I may say in a song, without gaining a full understanding of it, so I spoon feed him, and watch his mental growth like a hawk, to see what he may be ready to be introduced to. The main lesson I want to pass down to him are to consider other peoples opinions, but first always think for yourself, and to be aware of where your ideas actually derive. Too many of us think other people thoughts without even knowing it. That, as a father, I believe is a good basis to a good life. As a musician, I would like him to understand that music is our most powerful tool for healing and getting through to people, and if so inclined to do it, be good at it…LOL.

Saye Taryor: Describe the relationship in which you have with your son.

Zayd Malik: Aw man, my son is like my lil brother. I love him more than life. We train, and we have great conversations. He might walk up to me out the blue like, "Baba, lets talk", and we talk about anything from Star Wars, his favorite movie, to Malcolm X, or even ice cream. I just try to keep him talking to me, so when he gets older, he'll be used to it. My biggest fear is that we wont be able to talk when he becomes a teen, so I’m riding on that. He can do twenty push ups straight, and about two pull ups with no help. He's on his sit up game, he’s got a “cooooold” fighting stance, and I let him hit me in the face every now and then, just so he can see what it feels like. I try to let him keep his lil manhood in something’s, if you feel where I’m coming from, which comes back to bite me sometime, but overall, we have a good balance and a good relationship.

Saye Taryor: What are your spiritual or religious philosophies?

Zayd Malik: I tell people all the time that, I’m not religious, and, I’m spiritual. What I mean by that, or what I’m saying, is that there's never been one way to believe in God. I take the best of all religions and attempt to apply it to my life. I treat my life like a research paper, and any good research paper has multiple sources. In my opinion, a life that only knows one truth is more limited, than that which knows three.

Saye Taryor: Describe the blueprint of a political philosophy in which you would support?

Zayd Malik: I support the philosophy of Malcolm X, when he said something to the effect of, “when they come at you, they not coming at you because of your different ways of life, they come at you because you black", and with that said, me, and some of my comrades, from the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement, have come up with 6 principles that any conscious “Nu Afrikan” (black person) can agree with. Those are, reparations, an end to sexist oppression, human rights, an end to genocide, freedom for all political prisoners and prisoners of war, and the right to self-determination, which we lack as a whole. These are the things we believe have been used to oppress us, and if we were to attain these principles, freedom will be actualized.

Saye Taryor: When you prefer to yourself as a revolutionary, what exactly are you trying to revolutionize?

Zayd Malik: Understand that all revolution means is change. All of the things I referred to in the last question are things that need to be revolutionized. When we talk about self-determination, were talking about everything from what “Nu Afrikan” children are taught in schools across this country, to how we spend our money. We must support ourselves, period. Our concept of a woman's role must be revolutionized to the tune of Nehanda Abiodun, Assata Shakur, Queen Mother Moore, Cynthia McKinney, etc. "A revolution without women aint happening.” These things would be a good start. I’m sure the readers of this interview got some ideas also.

Saye Taryor: Beyond the music, what other methods do you use, as a revolutionary, to educate others and to promote values, organization, and discipline?

Zayd Malik: Music is my main way to speak to people. Apart from that, the actions I take are being a living example of what my music says. We train because we understand that health, or bad health for that matter, is an issue in the “Nu Afrika” community, as well as self-defense. I raise my family, because I also understand that the family is the first unit of struggle. I believe it to be important for people to see me with my family, to contradict the thought that black men aren't there for their families. As a general, I must say comrade; I can’t go into too many details about how I move. I hope our readers understand that.

Saye Taryor: I can dig it. So what does the term, “Nu Afrika”, mean to you?

Zayd Malik: The term “Nu Afrkan” means this. We are Africans, in the empire of America, with a new experience. We must give acknowledgement to that which occurred in relation to the Maafa (slave trade) and how it has affected “us” here in “Amerikkka.” A brand new struggle was born when we came here from our homeland, creating a new culture, thus the term, New African. In this way, we pay homage to those that died on the shores of Africa, fighting to stay, those that sacrificed their lives by jumping off slave ships, refusing to be a slave, and those that were murdered once here, due to countless atrocities levied upon us by our slave masters. The way we have struggled to survive in this country has pulled us together, creating by default, a new breed of African, no better, or worse, than continental Africans.

Saye Taryor: What is your outlook on the current political and economic landscape of America?

Zayd Malik: I believe we are moving into the "next phase" of capitalism. The kind of capitalism that is built on fear of government, which is what its always been built on, but still, I believe we're going into yet, another phase of it. The most dangerous thing that can happen to a person is to loose hope, and with the election of a black president, I fear a lot of people are becoming even more disenfranchised than they were before. For some of us, this was our "last chance", which was wrong to think in the first place. After he's out, it may be harder to get people to fight for self-determination. For black people particularly, it’s getting progressively worse at an accelerated rate. Optimistically, I sometimes think maybe this is a good thing that'll force us to stick together, at an "accelerated rate".

Saye Taryor: What is your opinion, or outlook, on my article titled, “Rap Music Manifesto”?

Zayd Malik: I agree with this article. I believe the manifesto can be improved if we were to add a list of priorities. A list of where do we begin, and where do we end, as it relates to improving the hip-hop industry. A good beginning toward that end would be to start with the labels, the program directors, and then the artists themselves. As I've stated before, I believe the problem isn't content, but balance and programmers control that because they choose what gets played and what doesn’t, and the labels control what the directors pay attention to. More often than not, they choose to play what may be considered, a "negative" song, under the guise of, "that's what people want to hear.” We know this not to be the case, just by looking at the change in music from the 90s, to now. In the 90's, music had more balance. You heard artists like Tupac, Arrested Development, Public Enemy etc., alongside gangster rap. To me, that speaks to the industry heads, and not to the artists themselves, though they hold some responsibility in the matter. They can choose collectively what kind of music they make. Even still, should it all be "positive" rap? No. That would create another imbalance. How we go about these things remains the question for another article, I guess. Zalute comrade! (For the “Rap Music Manifesto” article) Great work.

Saye Taryor: Thanks. I hope you and I can have a more in depth conversation about this, in the near future. To move along, do you have any current or future projects you would like to let the readers know about?

Zayd Malik: Geah…My current project out now is "The South Is, “Nu Afrika Vol.2: OUTLAW RBG in the FLESH", which was released in March. I am currently planning to release two more albums soon. I also have a good size catalogue of music videos, interviews, and performances on, www.youtube.com/zaydmalikoutlawrbgz. I am featured on Dead Prez's latest mixtape, "Revolutionary But Gangsta Grillz", hosted by Dj Drama, “RBG til I Die”, and also on Stic.man of Dead Prez latest solo album, "The Workout", on the song, "Joe Louis", as well as the Outlawz mixtape, "Killuminati2k11", on the song, "Bring it Back". I will also be on the, "Tupac Family and friends Tour", In Africa, coming up in January, with the legendary Outlawz, and Tupac's brother, Mopreme.

Saye Taryor: Sounds like you’re on the grind, as a fan, I hope you continue to stay 1up brother. I’ve enjoyed this interview so much; I just realized I’m down to my last question. Where should the readers go to purchase previous and new musical projects, and how can they contact you if they are interested in booking you for performances, or public speaking engagements?

Zayd Malik: All of my music can be purchased at www.zaydmalik.bandcamp.com. "The South Is Nu Afrika Vol.1, and 2” are also available on Itunes, and most online distributors. Anyone interested in my services may contact zaydmalikmusic@gmail.com Zalute! Free the Land! Find on Facebook and Twitter

What is the 1up Movement, and 1up Entertainment?

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 12:36:35 +0100

Most people see the name “1up Entertainment” and think it’s just another independent record label. Others see the articles, and figure I’m just another individual letting out his frustrations, and scripted opinions with the pen. This is so far from the truth. So what is 1up Entertainment, and what is the purpose of all these articles you continue to see being circulated across the web? For starters, 1up Entertainment/Consulting is only one aspect of the 1up Movement. When I use the phrase, “stay 1up”, it means to stay focused on making positive self-elevation and social change. It means to avoid the evils and traps of the world, and to think more critically, to make good decisions. Staying 1up means avoiding the drama, confusion, deceptions, and daily pitfalls. It does not mean to 1up someone in a malice way, or to out do someone to belittle them, or to brag and boast in success. The idea of the 1up movement is for individuals, and organizations, to collaborate, to enhance economic and social conditions, using a process of social entrepreneurship, while maximizing critical thinking techniques. We do not promote any religious organization or theology, but we accept those who promote non-divisive values and morals, while acknowledging their creator. Our codes and values are the guidelines we expect all individuals involved in our movement to always uphold, promote, and follow. For example, we believe people can say whatever they want, but we just monitor the moves they make. We put them on the spot by offering to give them a hand, then they have no choice but to show if they are serious or not. Strategically, we like to reach out to start up nonprofit organizations that have great missions and ideas for problem solving, but limited manpower and resources. Instead of waiting for financial resources from the government (or the establishment), we figure out ways to work together to create revenue, awareness, and to obtain resources. We are anti capital greed, and pro social collaboration and wealth building and sharing. We encourage positive social change, and we denounce anything that has proven to be harmful and destructive, to enhancing the minds and lives of young men and women. The articles I send out daily reflect a new wave of effective media coverage, which highlights problems, but counters with solutions. We avoid hate mongering and verbal attacks, while addressing real serious issues. We allow debates, or perspectives, from both sides of the argument, to be presented side by side, for the readers to evaluate both sides of the coin, without using vulgar dialog and hateful rhetoric. When interviewing musicians and entertainers, we go beyond the music, and we deal with issues about their family, and their codes and philosophies in life. For those who may not be on board with the movement, we ask that they to try to be more conscious in the content of the work that they create, and to try to be involved in some of the activities that we create for social awareness. 1up Entertainment/Consulting is the organizational, and business part of the 1up movement. Five links you should read to really understand more about the movement are below: Thank you for reading this document, and please contact us if you would like to build together.

The 1up Codes
Rap music manifesto
Example of the 1up Entertainment Business Strategy Broken Down into its Simplest Form
Currency, the exploitation and slavery of humanity (part I)
Currency, the exploitation and slavery of humanity (part 2
Join us on Facebook
Join us on Twitter

Ten Alarming Issues Within Society

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 15:58:31 +0100

Below is a list of ten alarming issues that I feel society needs to address and take more seriously. This list by no means eliminates many of the other serious issues going on in society, it just happens to be the ones that have caught my attention for some time now.

1) It’s more expensive to purchase food and gas in low income, and urban communities, compared to wealthier, suburban locations. The idea that people can set up shop in low income communities, knowing that there are limited resources, and to hijack the rates of goods, for capital gain, is tragic and unethical. Not to mention the fact that people with more wealth have more options and resources, often paying cheaper rates, allowing them to save more of their wealth.

2) Parents and high school counselors are still pushing young men and women to begin their adult life going into debt, by acquiring student loans for college. You would think by now, there would be a curriculum provided to students to avoid going into debt behind student loans. If a student cannot earn an academic scholarship, it’s best that he or she only apply to affordable institutions. Graduating in the middle of the pack in college, while owing $60,000, is far from a good career move, being that they will spend most of their working lives in debt, subject to paying off a loan, that is constantly growing with interest.

3) We are told that professional athletes and entertainers make millions, and not once have the wealthiest of these individuals have the conscious mind to collaborate and invest their earnings to create a dynamic network, which primarily deals with economic empowerment through social entrepreneurship, community development through the creation of education and training centers, investment in production oversight, or team management and ownership, and investment in creating or jumpstarting some form of political movement, or agenda.

4) There are too many communities with more liquor stores than parks, resource centers, and economic and structural development. That makes no sense at all. Where I currently reside, there are three liquor stores north, east and west of me, all in walking distance. Not to mention that the one north of me is next door to a day care center. There is nothing 1up about that.

5) Corporate tycoons, who own alcoholic beverage companies, always seem to be the ones to sponsor local, and many national, hip-hop events. Let’s not forget that most of the music promoted, and played on mainstream radio, often promotes sex, dugs, violence, and alcohol use. There seems to be a perfect marriage with the two.

6) I’m always amazed at the divisive role of religion within society. Members of each organization all have a testimony to support their organizations beliefs and theology. I personally like when individuals introduce their congregation to me by asking me to participate in functions, which directly effect individuals within the community. The pantry and food drives are cool, but I’m talking about social entrepreneurship structures that help create jobs, and that that provide learning, and financial resource centers, not just for members of the church, but for the entire community. I also dig programs that deal with communication skills and relationship problem and resolution techniques.

7) It’s amazing how we can live in a society where two separate news channels can tell us the exact opposites, on so called factual events. It’s one thing to have a different perspective, but it’s and entire different issue to hold opposite and conflicting facts. This creates the lane for manipulation and social divide, when everything is based on perspective, and nothing is based on facts. This creates an uncensored and dogmatic society, which does well for opportunist, con artist, and exploiters.

8) As long as government has existed, isn’t it strange that there are no bi partisan evaluation systems in place to monitor the success and failures of legislation and bills, once political leaders pass them? Isn’t it strange that there seems to be no regard for fact checking and accurate historical record keeping of results and accomplishments? I understand that people have different opinions as to what is good or bad, based on their individual outlook, but the fact that politicians are given a pass to spread information without having to be held accountable for the accuracy of their words, and outlooks, is ridiculous. Even more ridiculous is the fact that old ideas and old legislations are constantly reintroduced to society, with no regards as to what effects they have had previously. Each political party has organizations that speak on their behalf, but there is no neural process, or guideline, that separates the facts from the opinions. Worse, there is no structure in place to clearly define the objective of bills and legislation, and then to monitor its accomplishments, rather annually or quarterly.

9) There seems to me an unsolved mystery, and hidden message to American society, surrounding the deaths of Martin Luther king Jr., Malcolm X, John F. Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, and many other leaders during the 60’s. The fact that so many leaders, having influence and impact, were all maliciously removed, is something that surely needs to be examined and explored.

10) The pain, suffering, and misery of the world, that is presented to us by the local news and by television, and the entertainment industry in general, is very alarming. As presented to us by the media, it seems that most musicians/entertainers suffer horrific tormented, miserable, and depressing lives. Beyond the money and material wealth, how often do we hear about entertainers committing suicide, dying of drug abuse, being killed in disputes or accidents, or just being miserable and depressed? The list goes on from Gary Coleman, Biggie Smalls, 2-pac, Kurt Cobain, Brad Renfro, Michael Jackson, Jimi Hendrix, etc.

With that being said, I hope I can work along side individuals to improve our individual condition, and to help create the necessary awareness, within society, that will be needed for a massive self evaluation, and collaborate social change. I’m willing to work along side religious leaders, educators, musicians, and even politicians, if your objectives are in line with promoting social entrepreneurship and critical thinking education, with regards to treating others, as you would like to be treated. I say, let’s stay 1up and shake off, avoid, and remove the evils and traps of society.

The 1up Codes

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 21:44:45 +0100

Over the years, I've come to embrace certain values, while creating what I call, "survival codes." Recently, I decided to share them with the rest of the world. They are called, "The 1up Codes"

There is absolutely no room for fear

Trust has to be earned

They can say whatever they want, just monitor the moves they make. Put them on the spot by offering to give them a hand, then they have no choice but to show if they are serious.

Always look to work with others. Never look to work for others.

Acknowledge your creator as often as you can

Observe and acknowledge the contradictions around you

Treat others as you would like to be treated. And if they continue to disrespect you, try to avoid their pressence.

Never, speak or make a decision while angry. Your decision making is best in a calm state of mind.

Laziness is unacceptable, but working smart keeps you from working hard without reward

Search for the individuals who can make you laugh without degrading themselves or someone else.

Promote critical thinking techniques and social entrepreneurship values to the youth

Using alchol and drugs keeps you from staying 1up

You are always in total control of your behavior, no matter how angry or fustrated you become. Staying 1up means no one can push your buttons.

Recognize the actions and words of others that are not in your best interest. Know your enemy.

Don’t become your own worse enemy. Always take time out of your life for self evaluation.

Constantly search for truth, while practicing critical thinking techniques.

In search of truth, its often best to first denounce everything you’ve ever known, and start from the beginning.

Love and respect yourself

Mentally be ready to adapt to any situation

Place no value in material wealth

The Saye Debates - Capitalism vs Socialism

Sun, 13 Nov 2011 18:18:37 +0100

With all the problems of this world, I advocate for more civil debate and less hate. I’ll debate, while you decide.

Debate Topic: “Capitalism vs Socialism” In this segment, Saye debates Peter Gray

Saye: If you make $10 an hour, working 10 hour shifts daily, why should you not make a profit when the corporation has a successful quarter, due to your labor? At the end of the year, if the corporation makes millions in profits, why should you have to continue to earn $10 an hour, or have a yearly review in which you only receive a 5 or 10 cent raise? That is exploitation of one’s labor, and pretty much free labor. Your labor creates wealth for the already wealthy, and you do not get to enjoy the wealth that your labor has created…that is complete foolishness and highway robbery. They also determine what “your” labor is worth, and they control if you work, or make money as an entrepreneur, through monopolies and the banking system.

They will send jobs overseas for cheaper labor, if you decide to join ranks (unite with other workers) and demand fair paying wages and reasonable work demands. And then they (the elite) will find a spokesman to speak against those who are demanding fair treatment, by using terms that describe the opposition as Marxist, or just plain un-American (not a “True American”). This is a divisive way to relate to the ignorant and uneducated, while promoting their cause and agenda of exploitation, in disguise of freedom and justice. Capitalism has no monopoly on freedom, since we all know that people of color were oppressed during America’s rise under capitalism. The mere fact that we conclude that socialism takes away freedoms and capitalism gains freedom is a false and misleading observation.

Peter Gray: You do make a profit! Your share of the profit is the wages you received that you agreed to work for. If a corporation continually loses money, at some point in time, there would not be any profit to even pay your wages.

Many corporations do also have profit sharing plans that will pay bonuses when the corporation has a great quarter. If they are more profitable, they are also more likely to increase wages, to keep a happier and loyal workforce. It is in the corporation’s financial interest not to have to incur the expense of having to retrain workers constantly. If the corporation loses money at the end of the year, do you have to give back some of those wages paid to you? Why not? If one expects to receive a greater share of the profits if a corporation makes greater profits, (which usually does happen through wage increases) why should one not receive a lesser share (a retroactive pay cut) if the corporation loses money? A corporation can lose money as well as making money. The corporation does not have “a successful quarter” ONLY because of your labor. A corporation must utilize various factors of production to make a profit. Labor is just one component. The most important factor of production is capital. As a worker, you do not risk the loss of your capital, the shareholders do. Why should a worker get an equal share of the profits without owning and risking any of the capital that is required to create the production? If you want an equal share of the profit, then own an equal share of the capital, and put that equal share of capital to the same risk as the shareholders do. A corporation has to invest in machinery and equipment, buy or rent buildings, pay licensing fees, business taxes, property taxes, insurance, and pay for the costs of electricity and other utilities, plus a whole lot of other expenses. All of this is paid for with capital investment, and there is no guarantee that a profit will be made for this risk taken. A corporation actually gives the laborer an income well in advance of the revenue from the goods they produce. Labor can only be paid in advance in relation to the estimated present value of any foreseeable output. It is possible that the value of the output will be less than the estimated value at the time of production. This is a further risk that the corporation takes. “That is exploitation of one’s labor.” This view is reflective of the “labor theory of value”. The “labor theory of value” is that the value of a good or service is directly proportional to the input of labor that is utilized to create that good or service. This view has long been refuted in the discipline of economics. If it were true that labor was the measure of value in production, then if one spends 10 hours digging a hole and filling it back up again then this should have the same value to society as one spending 10 hours digging a hole and retrieving the gold ore that is buried in that hole. Labor that is utilized in creating production that the mass of consumers do not want to consume is not valued as highly as labor that is utilized for production that consumers do want to consume.

“They also determine what “your” labor is worth,”

Labor is the same as any other price in the economy. In a free market, it is determined by supply and demand. If it was true, that “they” determine what your labor is worth, then why do “they” not pay $1 per hour or nothing at all? After all, they “determine what your labor is worth”. You speak of “fair paying wages” and “fair treatment”. How is this determined? What is “fair”? In a free market, there is a market for labor. If corporation A pays less for the same labor requirement than corporation B, then all else being equal, labor will move to corporation B. The only way this would not be true would be if all corporations colluded in a giant conspiracy to pay the same lower wages, and if this was true, then all wages for labor would be at the legally mandated lowest level, which is obviously not the case. There is nothing wrong with deciding to “join ranks (unite with other workers)” but labor should not have the right to force others to purchase only their labor, at the price they want to be paid. Are you suggesting that an individual has to buy gas at the station that is charging $4 per gallon, instead of the one charging $3.50 a gallon? Why should it be any different for labor? You speak of the “elite”. Most of the overall employment is created by small business. Are the owners of small businesses part of the “elite”? As for “socialism taking away freedom”, this is true in the sense that for socialism to achieve its desired “economic” ends or results, it only can create these economic ends or results through the political power of enforced and mandated centralized decision making. For if the desired economic results or ends were the actual choices of free individuals, there would not be a need for socialism to intervene and attempt to create the economic ends or results.

Saye: Let’s be serious here. If you make $15 hr at your corporate job, what happens when revenue increases in the millions? You get a ten-cent raise, or some times, you get no raise at all. But when revenue falls, you are fired, or others are fired, then they expect you to do just as much work for the same pay as before, or sometimes, even take a pay cut. I embrace the socialist concept that rewards workers as a collective group, for production and revenue success. If the corporation makes a 1 million profit, the workers pay should move up from $15 hr to at least $20 hr. After taxes, it'll be a 2 or 3 dollar raise. My idea of an ideal working condition is this. 500 people live in a community. Many have different strengths and weaknesses. For the longevity of the community, they decide to work WITH one another, to improve their conditions. They are expected to use their talents, and they will all combine their resources, so that all of them can improve their conditions. The harder they work as a unit, the more each individual makes. Yes, they are mostly making the same, (spreading, or balancing the wealth) but no one individual, or group, is exploiting the majority. Hard work in this socialist economy means, more production for the group. More production for the group means, more wealth for each individual in the group, and the community.

In all seriousness, I understand that it would never work if every single person played the role of a king, within society. Here is the problem with the capitalism you are promoting. Self-pride and self worth can come as a result from working hard, but economic empowerment has little to do with working hard. The mother who works as a bus driver, and a cashier at the local grocery store, works hard, and is dedicated to her employers, but she struggles to pay her bills. She may be a great driver, and awesome at dealing with customer service issues, but she may never be as great of a doctor, or engineer, even if she attends school for it, and receives a degree. The engineer, or doctor with a degree may fail, if they are put in a situation where they have to manage driving a bus. No matter how long they train for handling customer service, their results and outcome may never be the same as the mother, because her instincts for the job just comes natural to her. The personality of the individual may determine how complex certain jobs are to them. No matter how one studies the position of the professional athlete, he or she may never excel at the job, which would have nothing to do with their lack of hard work. In life, there will always be people able to do some things better than you, just like you will be able to do some things better than others. The objective should be to find out what you are best at, and to try to train, and expand your skills in that particular field. If you excel in physical labor, and you find more comfort in digging ditches, or moving heavy boxes, than in sitting near a desk, at a cubicle making spreadsheets, and talking on the phone, why should you be penalized? Everyone cannot handle physical labor and perform at a high rate, while others find it more difficult to concentrate while sitting in one place for a long period of time. If both individuals spend hours of their lives to fulfill the job requirements of each job, why should one make greater wages then the other, or one struggle to make ends meet, while the other does not? The idea is that individuals work together, in a process, to accomplish a goal, and every contributor is needed, or the operation does not flourish. For efficiency, you find out which person is best at which duty, or responsibility, and you assign duties to individuals based on their strengths. Only in a backwards society do you reward the decision makers more than the individuals who actually do the work on the ground. Good decision-making, and hard and smart labor, unfolds well when combined. One is no more important than the other. Compensation, and currency wages, creates the divides, and adds the false sense of superiority, and importance, among individuals. It creates the, “I’m better then you”, complex. Have you ever heard of the term monopolies, and crony capitalism?

Peter Gray: “I embrace the socialist concept that rewards workers as a collective group for production and revenue success.” Does this mean that the workers as a collective group all have equal shares in the capital invested in the production enterprise? Do they all pay the same costs and take the same risk if the enterprise fails? If so, then yes they all should get an equal share of the profits. Capital is required to create and operate a business. The creation of capital requires saving. If an individual does not consume all of his/her income, he or she saves. This saving is known as capital. The reason why the “real” average standard of living is greater today than 100 years ago is a result of this capital formation (saving). For if all the production is consumed and none is saved, there cannot be the capital formed to invest in more efficient means of production. It is more efficient means of production (creating more output with the same or less input per capita) that lowers the real price of production and because of this the aggregate average “real” wage rate increases. If we increase the total production with the same population, we get a higher production per person, and the aggregate average “real” standard of living increases. Savers sacrifice and are rewarded for this sacrifice, and the society as a whole is also rewarded with greater production and a higher average real standard of living. What is so objectionable about this? As I see it, you want some people to not share in the costs and risks but get equal rewards to those that do. Why should someone who did not sacrifice and save, get to have an equal share of the returns on the capital risked in a business venture? Why is this fair? “My idea of an ideal working condition is this. 500 people live in a community. Many have different strengths and weaknesses. For the longevity of the community, they decide to work WITH one another to improve their conditions.”

“The harder they work as a unit” Hard work in this socialist economy means, more production for the group.” There are a number of problems with this scenario. We do not live in an ideal community of 500 people; we live in a world with billions of people. The question of WHAT to produce and HOW much of it, apparently would have to be decided by a central decision making apparatus. How can this centralized decision making apparatus, answer these above questions? Who decides what to work hard at? How does the central decision making apparatus know that what is being produced is being produced efficiently or not, or how much value the individuals who make up the community have for THIS production over THAT production, or that more of THIS should be produced than THAT?

For production efforts to be centrally planned and directed requires the “community” to choose what it values, more of THIS production, or more of THAT production. However, to speak of the “community” valuing this or that is erroneous. Value is subjective, only individuals value goods and services, and they value goods and services differently. That is why trade exists. You value your orange less than my apple. I value your orange more than my apple. We trade one orange for one apple. Does the “community” value one orange more than one apple or one apple more than one orange? Here is an excerpt from a previous article I wrote, “Unpredictable changes in consumer preferences and the supply and demand of the economic factors of production, is not something that can be mathematically, deduced, calculated and computed. Unforeseen technological breakthroughs, political upheavals, and natural events (i.e. earthquakes, hurricanes) can change all the variables, including the demand and supply for oil, wheat, rice, steel, gold, bonds, etc. The necessary economic information or data is so dynamic, dispersed, complex, voluminous, and mostly un-ascertainable that there is no way for central planners to know beforehand to calculate what the ‘best’ economic use of the factors of production is. Therefore, there is no point in having a ‘ central plan’ or ‘directive’ to attempt this, or that end. It is an exercise in futility!

The price system, and profits and losses in a free market, allocates economic effort to produce what the consumers desire most. The price system conveys information that is not possible for a single mind or a small number of minds to acquire. It is simply impossible for central planners to know all of this information and superfluous to attempt to guide and micro-manage production when the price system does it anyways, much more efficiently and effectively than central planning could ever do! “Self-pride and self worth can come as a result from working hard, but economic empowerment has little to do with working hard.”

“If you excel in physical labor, and you find more comfort in digging ditches or moving heavy boxes than in sitting near a desk, at a cubicle making spreadsheets and talking on the phone, why should you be penalized? “If both individuals spend hours in their lives to fulfill the job requirements of each job, why should one make greater wages then the other, or one struggle to make ends meet while the other does not.” An ounce of gold is valued more than an ounce of copper. Is it unfair that gold is valued more than copper? Quite simply, there is less gold than copper! As with gold and copper, the supply and demand for labor determines the price of labor (wages).

One is not “penalized” by the market. One’s reward is based on the value one creates for others. The value preferences and free choices of individuals, determine what one’s work is worth. The aggregate of individuals in society value the services of doctors more than the services of school bus drivers. If there were as many doctors as school bus drivers, then their wages might be similar. The professional athlete’s work is valued to a greater degree to more individuals in society, than the school bus driver, and this greater value is displayed by the fact that individuals are willing to pay such high wages to them (through tickets sales and endorsements etc.).

Hard work is essentially irrelevant. What matters is the value the production has to the consumers who make up society. If one spends one’s day working very hard at sewing clothes or spends one’s day performing life saving operations what has more value to the individuals that make up society? The value preferences of individuals (the consumers) who make up society, determine that some goods and services are valued more than other goods and services. The consumers prefer more of THESE goods and services, than THOSE goods and services As a result of these individual preferences the price of the more preferred goods and services are bid up higher than the price of the lesser valued goods and services. The bid up higher price encourages more production of these goods and services, and results in the lowering of the price of these goods and services, therefore satisfying more consumers’ preferences to consume these good and services. This is how the free market works (short of government-imposed interference). Is it not worthy to satisfy the majority of consumers with what they as individuals choose to consume? “but no one individual, or group, is exploiting the majority.”

You frequently speak of “exploitation”. This concept of exploitation is an offshoot of the Marxist philosophy and the untenable concept of “surplus value”. Marx’s idea of surplus value comes from the fact that we use the medium of exchange “money” (the price system). If we lived in a world, where only barter existed (apples for oranges etc.) there would be no concept of surplus value. If I trade some of my onions for some of your potatoes, am I exploiting you, or are you exploiting me? I sell my neighbor a watch that I own and I happily receive $100 for it. Then later my neighbor takes the same watch and sells it to Mr. X and Mr. X happily pays $150 for it. Would Marxist economic theory say have I been exploited? If not, why not? I work for my neighbor and receive $100 for my labor in making a watch, and then my neighbor sells the finished watch for $150 making a $50 dollar profit. According to Marxist economic theory the $50 profit that my neighbor received by selling the watch I worked on, is “surplus value” and I have been “exploited”. Why is it surplus value in one case and not the other? The theory of surplus value is quite simply not logically sound, and I might add that a good deal of your argument rests upon this erroneous concept.

Saye: Let me make sure the readers understand what has taken place thus far. I asked you if you had ever heard of the terms monopoly, and crony capitalism, and you did not provide me, or the readers, with a response. I asked, “why should you not make a profit when the corporation has a successful quarter, due to your labor?” You responded, “The Corporation does not have a successful quarter, ONLY because of your labor.” I asked, “If you excel in physical labor, and you find more comfort in digging ditches or moving heavy boxes, than in sitting near a desk, at a cubicle making spreadsheets, and talking on the phone, why should you be penalized?” Your response was, “The professional athlete’s work is valued to a greater degree to more individuals in society, than the school bus driver, and this greater value is displayed by the fact that individuals are willing to pay such high wages to them (through tickets sales and endorsements etc.).

Hard work is essentially irrelevant. What matters is the value the production has to the consumers who make up society.” All your responses explain how the capitalist system works. None of them give solutions to the problems, which I have presented in my arguments. Yes, we all already know that more people in society have a higher demand for corporate ran commodities, like professional sports, and that they are not willing to economically invest in the educators, and the education of their children. This sad fact that you have pointed out is the very reason that some forms of socialism in society are very needed, and why many forms of capitalism, have been very damaging to society. The fact that corporate driven sports leagues are more valuable to citizens in a capitalist driven economy, than the value of investing in good educators for our children, explains the heart of the problems I have with capitalism. Greed, materialism, and limited form of critical thinking, is what it all boils down to. If you read my article, “We need more balance” I clearly explain the implementations of socialism, I would like to see in our current capitalists economic system, and I explain how the dynamic of wages should be reevaluated. Your entire argument, thus far, has been to use the old term and definitions that are always used to explain the current form of a failed capitalist system. For example, I said, “My idea of an ideal working condition is this. 500 people live in a community.” Instead of evaluating the substance and ideals of the sample working conditions, which I presented, your immediate response was to attack with a statement “We do not live in an ideal community of 500 people; we live in a world with billions of people.” The fact that we live in a world of billions, has nothing to do with rather or not my ideals were morally just, or impractical. In the world of billions, many do not live in a capitalist society. You did however ask one question that I think the readers deserve for me to answer. You asked,

“Does this mean that the workers as a collective group all have equal shares in the capital invested in the production enterprise? Do they all pay the same costs and take the same risk if the enterprise fails? If so, then yes they all should get an equal share of the profits.” If you noticed, when I explained my ideal working conditions, I noted: Yes, they are mostly making the same, (spreading, or balancing the wealth) but no one individual, or group, is exploiting the majority. In the initial stage of implementing this socialist concept, of course only a few will be able to provide the means for the others to have access to the resources. Everyone may not have the financial capital of $10,000 to acquire the natural resources needed for eventual production, which then will require labor investment. But there are so many factors of this argument, which have been untouched. We can debate for whom the natural resources belong to within a community, but this is my last response. The working community can allocate a certain amount of agreed ownership, or shares, for those who have invested more capital in the beginning stage, but have to work out a way where the group can eventually buy that additional ownership back to the group, to balance back the equation of the wealth. If there is a risk involved, and the capital investment of few are lost, then the others are responsible, through their labor and combined resources, to compensate for their losses. For example, if 20 of the 500, who invested in the financial capital, in the early stage, lost $10,000 after purchasing resources for the group, the remainder of the group can work together to help build, or prepare, $10,000 of those individuals private property. This is just one of many things the group can collectively decide to do, to cover the risk of the initial investors. As a reader, please do not feel pressured by anyone to accept old economic principals, and to feel that current economic principals are the only way that modern society can operate. There are many forms of socialist concepts, which exist, and no, I am not trying to promote old forms of failed state dictatorships. There are ways to go about new socialist democracies, or even to create productive forms of market socialism. Please examine the specific points, which were made in my arguments, and please reexamine your outlook on modern capitalism, as seen around you everyday. Thank you.

Peter Gray: You stated, “All your responses explain how the capitalist system works. Non of them give solutions to the problems which I have presented in my arguments.” I explained how many of your claims about capitalism are not conceptually sound. With all due respect, some of the claims you make are strongly indicative of someone who does not have a good grounding in what the philosophy of classical liberalism/capitalism actually is. The solutions to the problems you pose are not workable. They are not the result of “critical thinking” that you claim to promote. You have a misconception of what capitalism actually is. You misunderstand the nature of the price system and profits and losses and the role they play in the allocation of factors of production to their most efficient uses. You do not comprehend that economic value is subjective, and evidently you also do not appreciate the nature of legal contracts.

Additionally and most importantly, you cannot explain how a centrally planned economic decision making apparatus (that would be necessary for your solution to the “problems”) can more efficiently and effectively direct the factors of production to their best use rather than the free market pricing system. The “economic calculation problem has never been satisfactorily answered by any proponents of socialism, and you are no exception. You routinely talk of “exploitation”. You stated, “but no one individual, or group, is exploiting the majority” “that is exploitation of one’s labor and pretty much free labor.” “while promoting their cause and agenda of exploitation” However, you never give a philosophical justification of what exactly constitutes “exploitation”. From your writings, apparently the main “problem” you have with capitalism, is that some labor is valued higher than other labor. I explained that this is due to the laws of supply and demand. Some factors of production are scarcer than other factors of production. Skilled labor is less plentiful that unskilled labor, so it is paid a higher wage. This is the world that we live in however much you may dislike it.

You apparently think that the laws of supply and demand are somehow “old terms and definitions” and are apparently outdated. Please explain to the readers of this article why the laws of supply and demand are “old economic principals” and are not valid anymore. Your “dictator” style desire to control and direct society to your preferred state is exhibited in the following quotes from your entries.

“If both individuals spend hours in their lives to fulfill the job requirements of each job, why should one make greater wages then the other.” “Only in a backwards society do you reward the decision makers more than the individuals who actually do the work on the ground.” “Good decision-making and hard and smart labor unfolds well when combined. One is no more important than the other.”

“This fact that you have pointed 0out is the very reason that some forms of socialism in society are very needed, and why many forms of capitalism have been very damaging to society” “I clearly explain the implementations of socialism I would like to see in our current capitalists economic system, and I explain how the dynamic of wages should be reevaluated.” “Your entire argument thus far has been to use the old term and definitions that are always used to explain the current form of a failed capitalist system.” “In all seriousness, I understand that it would never work if every single person played the role of a king within society.”

The last quote is ironic, because the reality is that you want to play the role of “king within society”. You are the judge of what is of value to society. You are the arbiter of what wages individuals should receive for their work. You want to control and direct the economic efforts of individuals according to your master plan of creating some kind of socialist collective “utopia”. You decide what is more “important” to individuals in society and how wages “should be reevaluated” according to your judgment of what is of value and worthwhile. You have the audacity to conclude what is “backwards”, what is “failed” and what is “damaging”. From the general direction of your arguments, one can infer that your philosophy is that you prefer restricting individuals from having the freedom to choose what is of value to them. You object that they value this, more than that, and because of this, you reject individuals earning higher incomes for creating more value to consumers. You essentially abhor the economic actions of free individuals, the consumers who decide what they prefer to consume and not consume. You presume to have the “intellectual superiority” and “higher morality” to know better than the mass of the consumers what is in their best interests and what they should want. As with all socialists, you are arrogant and delusional in your “fatal conceit” (as F.A. Hayek would have called it) that being the misguided belief, that you have the knowledge and means to shape and engineer society exactly to your liking to create your ideal utopia. The truth is; the results and ends you desire, the aggregate of free individuals would not voluntarily choose! To move society towards your “better” socialist end or result, necessitates that you have the power of government mandated force and coercion to direct and manipulate the setting of prices, wage rates, worker’s economic roles, etc.)

All of this is the very antithesis of freedom that you supposedly support. It would be hard to believe that the American people would freely choose to live in this socialist “utopia”. My preference is for individuals to be free to choose what they value. The original topic of this debate was that “capitalism has no monopoly on freedom”.

I submit that capitalism may not have a “monopoly” on freedom, but it allows individuals to have MORE freedom than your preferred socialist utopia where the “proper” values are decided by “wise philosopher kings” who are essentially just central planners (dictators?) who enforce their dictates on individuals by the force of the state. Therefore, I can conclude that true free market capitalism provides greater freedom for individuals that your preferred state socialism.

Let's Redefine Who's The Best Rapper

Sat, 12 Nov 2011 12:01:22 +0100

With all due respect to the children, and mother, of the late Christopher Wallace, why are we embracing or celebrating the fact that many agree with the idea that Biggie was one of the best, or most influential rappers ever. If this is true, then the message of MLK, Malcolm X, and the Original Black Panther Party has been lost. This is no attack against the late Wallace, as a person, but most of his music spoke of selling drugs, violence, and promoted the drinking of alcohol and having sex. Yes, "Juicy” was a positive feel good single, but the rest of the album was crack to the minds of the youth, or anyone else who embraced it. And I mean crack in the “bad” way, (I also enjoyed it, just like many others). If only he could have been coasted to use his talents, to promote the ideals of social entrepreneurship. Imagine Biggie painting a perfect picture of how to go about community building, and political posturing. But then I remember how young these artists are, when they are enticed by the record industry. As a young man who had never really read the messages spoken by past leaders and organizations, I have to remind myself that I was also ignorant and blind as a youth. Often drinking alcohol, smoking weed, and putting my energies in rapping about sex, drugs and superficial concepts, which are cement blocks in our society. Christopher just happened to be better then most, introducing new rhythms, and wordsmith styles, while rapping about those flawed ideals. Imagine how more effective of an orator (for good) he would have been, if he was conscious enough to have taught the codes of the original panthers, in his music, or if he was in agreement with the values of King, or if he had the knowledge of Malcolm, or Garvey. Imagine if Biggie had a jam talking about self-reliance and collective building as a community, as spoken about by Marcus Garvey. So with all the current rappers, it’s up to us to decide, whom are the most influential (in a positive way) to us, moving forward. I also have an article called “The Rap Music Manifesto” I hope you read this, and the dialog continues to spread. There is a war going on between good and evil. We have to choose which side we are on.

I Pledge Allegiance

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 10:38:09 +0100

By Saye Taryor - Monday 27 Jun 2011

Don’t pledge allegiance to a flag, a flag is but a cloth to me.
You tell me that the flag I see, means freedom, one in unity.
You tell me no place will I find, the liberty with which I seek.
Say if I can’t salute this flag, then find another place to sleep.
But listen closely to my words, and heed the message I reveal.
Allegiance that I pledge is real, no symbolism gives me thrill.
A country is but made of men, and mostly men will disagree.
A country changes year to year, and noble men are whom I hear.
So brothers home, or ones abroad, who speak within a noble cause.
With liberty, for one for all, no matter where the land or shores.
The freedom and equality are not the things I’ve yet to see.
Must pay to sleep, must pay to eat, must pay to live, your pledge you keep.
Will work from morning deep to dawn, to build the love I speak upon.
Deceive and use the flag no more, I’ll break divides and reach out more.
To all of those around the world, who share the values that you hear.

I pledge allegiance to the ones, who join me in the quest we dare.

Six Simple Solutions To American Politics

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 02:42:38 +0100

Over Population of American Jails

Jails should only be owned, and run, by the state. No state, or individual should be able to make a profit from the creation of a jail or prison. Wages earned by inmates should be the same as the minimum wage rendered within the state in which the jail , or prison, is located. If inmates have children, some of the monies, earned from their labor, should go to their children to aid for their living expenses. For individuals who will be released in the future, some of the monies they have earned, (from their hard labor) should be set aside and handed to them during their release date, so they will not have to depend on the state immediately for financial assistance. This option would of course only be given to individuals displaying good behavior, having had no prior criminal record.

On States Making People Take Drug Test Who Receive Government Assistance

Mandate that all individuals, who request for federal or state financial assistance, be required to first pass a drug screening. If CEO’s ask for bailout money, make them take drug test. If small business owners ask for loans, make them take a drug test first. Equal treatment is the theme. If you are not willing to drug test all groups of individuals, do not mandate drug testing for hand picked groups throughout society. Treat others, as you would like to be treated.

Monitoring Elected Officials/ Unemployment

Mandate that each state examine their unemployment outlook, and allow each state to provide a detailed proposal for federal assistance, showing specifically how each dollar will be spent. Demand that a progress report be given each quarter, and have bullet points that describe how progress will be monitored. This helps to hold selected state officials to more accountability to the failures, and successes, of their governing. It also helps to document, in more detail, specific projects successes and failures. Using this method, government officials are no longer able to hide behind failed legislations, philosophies, or to play politics behind party lines.

Taxes

Individuals should not have to pay federal taxes. The federal government should only collect taxes from states. Individual states should be able to decide if they want to use the fair tax policy, the 9 percent policy, or if they want to tax the wealthiest 2 percent of corporations, or individual incomes within each state a little more. If a state decides to tax less, it can do so, the state will still be responsible for paying federal taxes, based on the amount of federal money and assistance it receives annually.

Allow individual states to control and dictate corporate regulations, mandates, and taxes. That way, people can better hold elected officials accountable. Results showing the cost of living, job creation, job growth, the quality of schools, will eventually determine which philosophical outlooks and strategies work.

Corporate mandates and pricing, nationally, should not be based on the laws of the state in which the corporate headquarters are located. Corporate pricing, or mandates, for national customers, should vary, via individual states. If I live in Maryland, and government officials in Maryland decide to enforce strict corporate regulations, if I want to maintain a chain store in Maryland, I would have to agree to the mandates and the pricing guidelines set by the state of Maryland. If Rhode Island state laws are different, customers in Maryland might receive a different price or interest rate on similar items. Corporations can choose, and decide, if they want to sell their products or services within each state. This should eliminate corporate monopolies. It also allows people to decide if their elected officials are looking out for their best interest, and it allows governing and political philosophies to be dissected. In years time, if the methods, used by government officials in Rhode island, increase the cost of living for individuals living in the state, and corporations decline selling products and services in the state, people living in Rhode Island will eventually vote for political leaders who suggest (based on factual evidence) that the state adopt to different policies used by other states, having more success rates in cost of living, job creation, school quality, etc.

Evaluating the Job of Presidents

Make a list of how many proposals the president creates and presents to congress. Make a list of each item within the proposal that was passed by the house and congress. Document the ideas that were not passed by congress and the house. Follow the life of the legislations that were passed quarterly, and monitor it’s effectiveness. Note and document why it did or did not work quarterly make it public. Some time legislations work for some and not for others. Make sure to follow this closely while documenting results. Some time legislation does not go into effective immediately, so take all things into consideration. Watch video of previous elections, and document promises and political platforms taken by the president. Monitor immediate explanations, if promises are not kept. Monitor attempts for solutions, roadblocks, and challenges that exist. Read bills and legislations which are vetoed by the president. Make a list of bills and legislations that are passed by the president. Decide which legislations and bills effect you directly, (for the bills which have gone into effect) and read them (as much as you can) to try to figure out if you agree with them or not. Don’t let political pundits dictate your reality. Don’t assume some one else analysis is the truth. Even those who may be affiliated with your political philosophy may not be trusted to not have biases, when they are evaluating. Try to eliminate bias, and look more at, results, production, and how “you”, have been affected, by bills passed, or not passed, specifically.

Self Evaluation and Moral Conduct

Treat others how you would like to be treated. Examine and critique others how you would like to be examined. Criticize others how you would like to be criticized, and talk about, and to others, how you would like to be spoken to, or about. Ask questions to self examine who you are, and what you feel about the world around you. A good self evaluation read is “What do you Think”,

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