With the increase in real estate homeowners are able to get more value out of their homes. But where does this leave renters? Where does this leave first time home buyers?

Finally, you’re going to have to give me some numbers when it comes to the older Daley. Washington runs for office not just because black people are being left out, but because Daley isn’t doing anything for the poor and the working class citizen.

I will also give you that Young Daley is no Liberal Democrat. He has been aligned with just right of center on some of his views. He has some Liberal views as well. Don’t let the fact that he is a power broker and aligns himself with Big Business get you to thinking that he’s a Conservative. He’s increased the sales taxes twice while in office. He’s also run some of the businesses away because of his tax structures. He’s, as I call him, King Richard. How many people can destroy Federal Property and get away with it – ala Meigs Field.

If you look at the Census data, you will see that more blacks have opted to move to suburbs or leave Illinois all together. Blacks are slowly declining in population in the city of Chicago. For one, the cost to live here is increasing. With that, the taxes on property are increasing. The bulk of “OUR” property taxes go to Public Education and the Parks. We have a mayor in a city that is majority black, who hasn’t been able to get a formidable opponent since he’s been in office. The current opponents are looking for him to get indicted for them to slip in – not gonna happen.

I will say though Daley has done something that has been lacking in the black communities – urban development. There has been so much housing construction going on that it’s not even funny. Some of the poorest neighborhood are getting real estate boosts from this. Check Englewood & Garfield. These are “black” areas that are starting to see gentrification. With this gentrification is coming grocery stores and neighborhood banks (with a national connection).

I did say I “benefitted” from the tax cut. I saw more in my paycheck. I also play around with my W-4 to insure that I am not giving more than “MY” share in taxes. Finding loopholes is not only for the affluent. Yes, that may be chicken feed as opposed to what some of the Fat Cats are getting, but I did see a benefit. I will have to get back to you on the exacts about the taxes in the city.

but they are two different animals. political parties are organizations that run candidates. political ideologies are the beliefs that we hold about what government should or shouldn’t do.

because the job of political parties are to get and maintain majorities they have to at some level attract people of different ideologies. in the republican party for example you’ve got racists like pat buchanan who are staunch conservatives ideologically, and you’ve got people like colin powell who are moderate to liberal on many issues.

so when you talk about chicago, ideologically speaking chicago hasn’t been run by a liberal democrat since harold washington died. both before washington took office and after the city has been run by people who largely believe that the poor should fend for themselves, that building bigger and better downtowns will trickle down to everyone else.

If anything, this is neo-liberalism.

You say you benefit from the tax cuts?

What do taxes provide for in the city, generally speaking?

This is not science, but I’ve lived in Liberal Democrat run Chicago all my life – 40 years. Every election, I hear how Education is so important to the candidate, but we see lack luster results – if any. To get a decent public education in Chicago, you have to live in a certain area, bus your child, have connections, or work overtime filling in the gaps yourself that the poorly trained teachers are leaving for our children. They (Democrats) say how much they will do for us and do very little. The whole blame the Republicans can’t be used in Chicago.

On the other hand, Conservatives don’t have a chance of even putting forth a miniscule piece of legislation in this city. I understand that the Republicans say that it’s the responsibility of the people to do this or that. For some reason, we look at tax cuts as breaks for the rich/affluent (Republican). I have benefitted from the tax cuts, and I am so far from being affluent – it’s not even funny. Things like the No Child Left Behind legislation or the Tax Cuts are things that some do not want to hear. I think it’s primarily class envy. Notice, I said “primarily”.

I don’t have a problem with Liberal versus Conservative. I do have a problem when some of our people lock themselves “SOLELY” behind the Democratic Party primarily because they promise to do something that they rightly know that they can not deliver.

When Carter was in office there was Democrat run Executive and Legislative Branch. Public schools were piss poor. During Clinton’s first term, there was that same ordeal. That changed in his second term, but the Public schools were still piss poor. When Bush (GDub) took office there was that Republican controlled Executive and Legislative Branches in place. Public schools were still piss poor. Look at the state now – they are still piss poor. Now, I ask you, is it because of the Republican Legislation or the failure of local governments, which are primarily Democrats in the most poor and struggling areas?

I truly do not have faith in man. Not saying that you do, but I’m sure that you know some people who are crying that the 2000 and 2004 elections were stolen. There’s nothing solidifying that and had Gore challenged the entire state of Florida, people would have that excuse to use anymore.

Gore would not have done anything better than promise better education. Kerry would not have done anything better than promise better education. Education, which is something Mr. Obama touts as well. Can you look up the District he was over in Illinois as a State Senator and see how well the students are fairing? Campaign promises are all well and good, but we can’t pay bills with a promise, and I feel strongly about the Bankruptcy thing because as I look back, I could have filed bankruptcy to get rid of my bills, but I didn’t think that was right. “Some” people use the bankruptcy just like some use abortion – a quick fix. I understand that there are some dynamic depths to some cases, but that’s not always the case. Having the ability to run up credit and wipe it out is wrong. Especially, if you are doing solely to clear debt that you purposely run up because you have that option. I’ll give you health and unemployment. Not feeling the divorce thing.

spedy! i missed your line brother by about fifteen minutes just the day after we talked.

but the defintions of liberal and conservative are pretty straightforward. liberals tend to support some combination of government intervention on the side of the downtrodden. conservatives tend to support government intervention on the side of those who are NOT downtrodden.

at least in this case.

the bankruptcy legislation was supported by conservatives because it was supported by credit card companies, and because it purportedly was designed to support the very values of thrift and empowerment that you tout. unfortunately though the realities are simple. there are three reasons that the vast majority of people end up declaring bankruptcy–divorce, health issues, unemployment. a bad bad bad bill.

not bad meaning good, but bad meaning BAD. ford should be ripped for it.

the obama attacks are fake. i don’t really like clinton but i know the news reports are fake.

I’m Black (not African American), but I have both so called Conservative and so called Liberal views. Why is it that a black man gets landbased for agreeing with things like Bankruptcy Legislation? Any so called Christian or so called religious person understands that they can not spend more than they can earn. I guess there is a problem with that here, in America. The land where Capitolism rules.

I guess to disagree that Bankruptcy Legislation is needed would be tantamount to saying that it’s okay to continue to entrench oneself in debt. When that is allowed Debt becomes your master. Of course, having the so called safety net, only will continue to rely on such without once thinking – HEY MAYBE I SHOULD STOP SPENDING WHAT I DON’T HAVE….

On the is Obama black issue. Who really cares? I don’t. Really, I don’t. Obama is very charismatic. A plus in the eyes of many. So much so that he may get votes on that alone. I still think that Clinton/Obama ticket would be best. I know that some will say to hell with her due to the alleged Obama Attacks. I would say to them, this is politics. Get a cup and guard your grill.

Kind of hypocritical to suggest Black people should eschew the expectations of other black people and then write an essay talking about how “not black” another black person is, isn’t it?