So You Voted For This?

Before you read this, think about how many Republicans receiving unemployment benefits voted for the Rethugs in the midterms. I'll bet you the majority of them did simply because a Black man is the POTUS!

Let's see. Brother has been Hitler, a Communist, the anti Christ, a Kenyan born imposter, a Kenyan born colonialist, a Muslim, a drug dealer, a drug whore, unpatriotic, a racist?

Whoa wait a minute, racist? I thought this guy was half White. Just goes to show you what we Black folks have always known. No matter how much blood you have that is non-Black, you're still Black.

Well anyway I bet these folks never saw this coming. And before you call me a racist, how many presidents have had to deal with gun toting morons at their political functions? NONE! Let's get even deeper. I call on all of my Black friends to get together at the capitol while strapped just to see how long before we all end up in jail (please leave the blunts at home). And leave us not forget the Democrat traitors. The Democrat slaves to money. The Democrat ASSHOLES! And to make matters worse the Rethugs are now on the tube night after night proclaiming that their first order of business is to get rid of Obama. I thought their first order of business was to create jobs. Liar, liar pants on fire. PEACE!

Senate Republicans Block Middle Class Tax Cut

Republicans have threatened to block all Democratic legislation until the tax cut issue is resolved, pressing them to cave before time runs out on other key initiatives like the ratification of the START treaty and the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

Sens. Jim Webb (D-VA), Ben Nelson (D-NE), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Russ Feingold (D-WI), and Joe Lieberman (I-CT) voted with the Republicans on the former plan. The vote was 53-36. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Tom Harkin (D-IA) Lieberman and Feingold voted with the GOP on the second. That vote was 53-37, and reflected progressives' unease with redefining the middle class at the $1,000,000 income threshold.

Senate Republicans blocked legislation Saturday to let upper-income tax cuts expire on Jan. 1, a showdown scripted by Democrats eager to showcase GOP lawmakers as defenders of millionaires.

"Do we want to extend those tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires at a time of huge deficits. I would argue vociferously we shouldn't," said Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., shortly before the votes.

Republicans countered that no taxes should be raised at a time the economy is recovering from a recession. "It is the most astounding theory I have ever seen, raise taxes to create jobs," said Sen. John Thune of South Dakota.

Both measures would have extended expiring cuts for the middle class.

Ironically, the votes were widely seen as a prelude to a possible agreement next week between the White House and congressional leaders on legislation that would avert tax increases at all income levels, as Republicans want.

Any agreement is also expected to extend jobless benefits for the long-term unemployed, a Democratic priority, and possibly renew tax breaks the White House wants for college students, companies that hire the unemployed and lower- and middle-class wage earners.

The Senate took the two votes on bills that would have permitted tax cuts to remain in effect at most incomes.

A proposal to let tax rates rise on Jan. 1 on incomes over $200,000 for individuals and $250,000 for couples fell on a vote of 53-36, seven short of the 60 needed to advance.

An alternative advanced by Schumer and others -- but opposed by the White House -- would have let rates rise on incomes over $1 million. The vote was 53-37, also seven short of the 60 needed.

Schumer supplied the political context. "I'm going to be here for the next year, next two years, to remind my colleagues that they were willing to increase the deficit $300 billion to give tax breaks to people who have income over a million dollars," he said in a reference to the 2012 elections.

The 72 super PACs, all formed this year, together spent $83.7 million on the election. The figures provide the best indication yet of the impact of recent Supreme Court decisions that opened the door for wealthy individuals and corporations to give unlimited contributions.

"Super PACs provide a means for the super wealthy to have even more influence and an even greater voice in the political process," said Meredith McGehee, a lobbyist for the Campaign Legal Center, which advocates for tighter regulation of money in politics.

Crossroads, which was founded with the support of Bush administration adviser Karl Rove, raised $70 million, much of it used to support 10 Republican Senate candidates and 30 Republican House candidates.

John Childs, founder of Boston-based J.W. Childs Associates, gave $650,000 to the Club for Growth, an anti-tax group. Dalea Partners, a private-equity firm based in Oklahoma City, gave $250,000 to the First Amendment Alliance, which spent money opposing five Democratic Senate candidates, including incumbents Harry M. Reid (Nev.) and Michael Bennet (Colo.).

Senate Republicans and a handful of Democrats Saturday defeated a bill to reauthorize unemployment benefits for the long-term jobless and a plethora of tax provisions for the middle class not because of the bill's trillion-dollar deficit impact, but because it did not include tax cuts for the rich.

"In economic times like these, 9.8 percent unemployment, you should not raise taxes on anyone," Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) told HuffPost.

After Saturday's vote, it seems the only way Democrats will be able to overcome Republican opposition to the benefits will be by attaching them to a reauthorization of tax cuts for the rich.

Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) said after the vote that he expected a tax cut deal to be reached by Thursday. Corker declined to say whether he thought unemployment would be included in the deal, as did Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).

Senate Republicans Defeat Reauthorization Of Jobless Aid, Tax Cuts

First Posted: 12- 4-10 11:42 AM | Updated: 12- 4-10 07:39 PM

• Senate Republicans and a handful of Democrats Saturday defeated a bill to reauthorize unemployment benefits for the long-term jobless and a plethora of tax provisions for the middle class not because of the bill's trillion-dollar deficit impact, but because it did not include tax cuts for the rich.

"In economic times like these, 9.8 percent unemployment, you should not raise taxes on anyone," Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) told HuffPost.

Two bills were defeated. By a vote of 53-36, seven short of the 60 needed to break a filibuster, the Senate rejected a measure by Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) that would have preserved Bush era tax cuts for lower- and middle-income taxpayers, but would have allowed cuts for people earning more than $200,000 a year to expire. Democrats Joe Manchin (W.Va.), Ben Nelson (Neb.), Jim Webb (Va.), Russ Feingold (Wisc.) and Independent Democrat Joe Lieberman (Conn.) joined Republicans in voting nay. The Senate also rejected a bill by Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) that would have extended all the cuts, but not for anybody making more than $1 million.

The Baucus bill would have preserved Emergency Unemployment Compensation and Extended Benefits Programs created in 2008 as a customary response to rising unemployment. The programs provide up to 73 weeks of federally-funded benefits for when layoff victims exhaust the standard 26 weeks of state-funded aid. The programs lapsed last week, threatening a holiday cutoff for two million unemployed.

After Saturday's vote, it seems the only way Democrats will be able to overcome Republican opposition to the benefits will be by attaching them to a reauthorization of tax cuts for the rich.
Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) said after the vote that he expected a tax cut deal to be reached by Thursday.

Sen. Schumer said at a press conference that some Democrats would be willing to drag the tax debate on into January. "There are lots of people in our caucus who do have that appetite, there are some who don't. We'll have to see what happens."

Corker declined to say whether he thought unemployment would be included in the deal, as did Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).

Republicans and conservative Democrats have opposed reauthorizing the benefits without offsetting their deficit impact by cutting spending from elsewhere in the budget. But those same lawmakers have not insisted that tax cuts for the rich, estimated to cost nearly $700 billion over 10 years, be offset in any way. A yearlong reauthorization of unemployment benefits would cost roughly $60 billion.

During debate on the Senate floor before the vote, Schumer asked Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) about Republicans' different positions on deficit reduction.

What Else Would $60 Billion Buy?

By DAVID LEONHARDT

$60 Billion: The approximate amount that extending the Bush tax cuts on income above $250,000 a year — which Congress seems on the verge of doing — will cost a year, in inflation-adjusted terms. On average, the affluent households that benefit from these cuts will save $25,000 annually. What else might that $60 billion a year buy?

•As much deficit reduction as the elimination of earmarks, President Obama’s proposed federal pay freeze, a 10 percent cut in the federal work force and a 50 percent cut in foreign aid — combined.

•A tripling of federal funding for medical research.

•Universal preschool for 3- and 4-year-olds, with relatively small class sizes.

•A much larger troop surge in Afghanistan, raising spending by 60 percent from current levels.

•A national infrastructure program to repair and upgrade roads, bridges, mass transit, water systems and levees.

•A 15 percent cut in corporate taxes.

•Twice as much money for clean-energy research as suggested by a recent bipartisan plan.

•Free college, including room and board, for about half of all full-time students, at both four- and two-year colleges.

•A $500 tax cut for all households.

Blowing Billions on War While American Workers Go Under

When asked by USA Today's pollsters last week, sixty-eight percent of Americans said we worry that the cost of the Afghanistan War hurts our ability to fix problems here in the U.S. This week, we learned just how right we were about that. Friday's terrible jobs report shows that a crushing 9.8 percent of us are unemployed. And, millions of us are about to lose our lifeline because Congress refuses to extend unemployment insurance benefits. We're spending $2 billion per week -- per week! -- in Afghanistan while millions of people face going hungry during the holidays.

Do our elected officials not get it? We're drowning out here, and the administration is throwing money that could put Americans back to work at a failed war on the other side of the planet. In fact, that's where the president was when the jobs report came out this morning -- in Afghanistan, talking about "progress" again.

Here's one way to think about it: just one Hellfire missile fired in Afghanistan costs $58,000.00. That's enough money to provide unemployment insurance benefits for almost 4 people for a full year. For the full cost of the war for one week, about $2 billion, we could extend unemployment insurance for about 6.7 million people for a week. What are the 2 million people who are about to lose their unemployment insurance benefits supposed to think when they hear senators yelling about the cost of keeping them from going hungry, while at the same time those senators shove enough money to keep the benefits going into that money pit of a war?

Here are a few myths, half-truths and short-hand distortions that have marred the debate:

_ Under the Obama plan, taxes will increase for families making more than $250,000.

Wrong. Actually, a family could make a lot more and still not face higher taxes. Obama wants to raise the top two brackets from 33 percent to 36 percent and from 35 percent to 39.6 percent. The first of the two – 36 percent – is widely assumed to kick in at $250,000. Obama says that himself.

But that's not right. The higher rate would apply to families with $232,000 or more of taxable income, or what's left after personal exemptions and deductions have been subtracted from income. Deductions can be sizable, especially for wealthy people. Think state and local taxes, mortgage interest and charitable contributions. The result is that a family making $300,000 or even more could have taxable income of less than $232,000.

"A lot of people making more than $250,000 won't be paying higher taxes," says Clint Stretch, a managing principal of Deloitte Tax.

Another Black Graduate

I am a 57 year old Black man. As a young man I was by most folks opinion CRAZY. But through the years I have mellowed, and I've been truly blessed. I can remember as though it was yesterday. Seventeen years old and standing among thousands of people on Lockhart Road in Hong Kong China. It was at that moment I realized there was a completely different world away from the hood, and from that day on I became Mr. Hyde.

Somehow after a couple of years I met Valerie Day. I say somehow because I did not deserve this woman. But we met, fell in love, and started a family. After 33 years and some bumpy road we are still together. The children are grown, and there are two grandchildren. I have to honestly say that I never thought this day would come.

But I wouldn't do it any other way. I am blessed to have three children that no man or woman could be prouder of. First born is Stephen, then Stephenie, and then Ian.

I've been blessed that my children have never given me or their mother a reason to be ashamed of. No gangs, no drugs (well no heavy drugs), No problems other than the norm for teenagers.

Next month Val and I will be even prouder when the first of three children walks across the stage to receive their diploma.

Ian Hamilton Williams will graduate from the University of Colorado on December 18th 2010, with a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Film.

Ian got his start his first year of high school with the help of director and producer Donnie Betts. Donnie helped Ian win the Oscar Brown Jr scholarship with a short film that was shown at the Starz Film Festival, and The Pan African Film Festival. After a year at Clark Atlanta University, Ian decided to come back home, and enrolled at CU. This past summer Ian released his latest film entitled Mile High (check Youtube). I had hoped he would have taken to the trumpet, but after a few school concerts we all were in agreement that music may not be the way out for Ian.

It didn't bother me though. Young son worked his butt off to graduate early. After many nights of sweating, nose running, convulsing, head aches and more over the dinner table doing homework Ian got it done.

We did it Mommie (Val). We got another young Black man through college. A feat that is damn near impossible these days.

So to Ian I say well done young man. Your Mom and Pops are proud of you, and can't wait for your move to the next level.

And lastly, I love you son. I always knew you could do it, especially when you thought you couldn't. OOh Rah!

America - He's your President for Goodness Sake!

By William Thomas Posted: Friday, October 1st, 2010 There was a time not so long ago when Americans, regardless of their political stripes, rallied round their president. Once elected, the man who won the White House was no longer viewed as a Republican or Democrat, but the President of the United States . The oath of office was taken, the wagons were circled around the country’s borders and it was America versus the rest of the world with the president of all the people at the helm. Suddenly President Barack Obama, with the potential to become an exceptional president has become the glaring exception to that unwritten, patriotic rule. Four days before President Obama’s inauguration, before he officially took charge of the American government, Rush Limbaugh boasted publicly that he hoped the president would fail. Of course, when the president fails the country flounders. Wishing harm upon your country in order to further your own narrow political views is selfish, sinister and a tad treasonous as well. Subsequently, during his State of the Union address, which is pretty much a pep rally for America , an unknown congressional representative from South Carolina , later identified as Joe Wilson, stopped the show when he called the President of the United States a liar. The president showed great restraint in ignoring this unprecedented insult and carried on with his speech. Speaker Nancy Pelosi was so stunned by the slur, she forgot to jump to her feet while clapping wildly, 30 or 40 times after that. Last spring, President Obama took his wife Michelle to see a play in New York City and republicans attacked him over the cost of security for the excursion. The president can’t take his wife out to dinner and a show without being scrutinized by the political opposition? As history has proven, a president in a theatre without adequate security is a tragically bad idea. Remember: “Apart from that, Mrs. Lincoln, how did you enjoy the play?” At some point, the treatment of President Obama went from offensive to ugly and then to downright dangerous. The health-care debate, which looked more like extreme fighting in a mud pit than a national dialogue, revealed a very vulgar side of America . President Obama’s face appeared on protest signs white-faced and blood-mouthed in a satanic clown image. In other tasteless portrayals, people who disagreed with his position distorted his face to look like Hitler complete with mustache and swastika. Odd, that burning the flag makes Americans crazy, but depicting the president as a clown and a maniacal fascist is accepted as part of the new rude America . Maligning the image of the leader of the free world is one thing, putting the president’s life in peril is quite another. More than once, men with guns were videotaped at the health-care rallies where the president spoke. Again, history shows that letting men with guns get within range of a president has not served America well in the past. And still the “birthers” are out there claiming Barack Obama was not born in the United States , although public documentation proves otherwise. Hawaii is definitely part of the United States , but the Panama Canal Zone where his electoral opponent Senator John McCain was born? Nobody’s sure. Last month, a 44-year-old woman in Buffalo was quite taken by President Obama when she met him in a chicken wing restaurant called Duff’s. Did she say something about a pleasure and an honour to meet the man or utter encouraging words for the difficult job he is doing? No. Quote: “You’re a hottie with a smokin’ little body.” Lady, that was the President of the United States you were addressing, not one of the Jonas Brothers! He’s your president for goodness sakes, not the guy driving the Zamboni at “Monster Trucks On Ice.” Maybe next it’ll be, “Take Your President To A Topless Bar Day.” In President Barack Obama, Americans have a charismatic leader with a good and honest heart. Unlike his predecessor, he’s a very intelligent leader. And unlike that president’s predecessor, he’s a highly moral man. In President Obama, Americans have the real deal, the whole package and a leader that citizens of almost every country around the world look to with great envy. Given the opportunity, Canadians would trade our leader, hell, most of our leaders for Obama in a heartbeat. What America has in Obama is a head of state with vitality and insight and youth. Think about it, Barack Obama is a young Nelson Mandela. Mandela was the face of change and charity for all of Africa but he was too old to make it happen. The great things Obama might do for America and the world could go on for decades after he’s out of office. America, you know not what you have. The man is being challenged unfairly, characterized with vulgarity and treated with the kind of deep disrespect to which no previous president was subjected. It’s like the day after electing the first black man to be president, thereby electrifying the world with hope and joy, Americans sobered up and decided the bad old days were better. President Obama may fail but it will not be a Richard Nixon default fraught with larceny and lies. President Obama, given a fair chance, will surely succeed but his triumph will never come with a Bill Clinton caveat – “if only he’d got control of that zipper.” Please. Give the man a fair, fighting chance. This incivility toward the leader who won over Americans and gave hope to billions of people around the world that their lives could be enhanced by his example, just naturally has to stop. Believe me, when Americans drive by the White House and see a sign on the lawn that reads: “No shirt. No shoes. No service,” they’ll realize this new national rudeness has gone way, way too far. OCTOBER 2010 SENIOR LIVING MAGAZINE VANCOUVER & LOWER MAINLAND

8 Nasty Conservative Lies About the Democrats and Obama That Must Be Debunked Before the Election

By Dave Johnson, Campaign for America's Future Posted on October 25, 2010, Printed on October 28, 2010 http://www.alternet.org/story/148614/ There are a number things the public "knows" as we head into the election that are just false. If people elect leaders based on false information, the things those leaders do in office will not be what the public expects or needs. Here are eight of the biggest myths that are out there: 1) President Obama tripled the deficit. Reality: Bush's last budget had a $1.416 trillion deficit. Obama's first budget reduced that to $1.29 trillion. 2) President Obama raised taxes, which hurt the economy. Reality: Obama cut taxes. 40% of the "stimulus" was wasted on tax cuts which only create debt, which is why it was so much less effective than it could have been. 3) President Obama bailed out the banks. Reality: While many people conflate the "stimulus" with the bank bailouts, the bank bailouts were requested by President Bush and his Treasury Secretary, former Goldman Sachs CEO Henry Paulson. (Paulson also wanted the bailouts to be "non-reviewable by any court or any agency.") The bailouts passed and began before the 2008 election of President Obama. 4) The stimulus didn't work. Reality: The stimulus worked, but was not enough. In fact, according to the Congressional Budget Office, the stimulus raised employment by between 1.4 million and 3.3 million jobs. 5) Businesses will hire if they get tax cuts. Reality: A business hires the right number of employees to meet demand. Having extra cash does not cause a business to hire, but a business that has a demand for what it does will find the money to hire. Businesses want customers, not tax cuts. 6) Health care reform costs $1 trillion. Reality: The health care reform reduces government deficits by $138 billion. 7) Social Security is a Ponzi scheme, is "going broke," people live longer, fewer workers per retiree, etc. Reality: Social Security has run a surplus since it began, has a trust fund in the trillions, is completely sound for at least 25 more years and cannot legally borrow so cannot contribute to the deficit (compare that to the military budget!) Life expectancy is only longer because fewer babies die; people who reach 65 live about the same number of years as they used to. 8) Government spending takes money out of the economy. Reality: Government is We, the People and the money it spends is on We, the People. Many people do not know that it is government that builds the roads, airports, ports, courts, schools and other things that are the soil in which business thrives. Many people think that all government spending is on "welfare" and "foreign aid" when that is only a small part of the government's budget. This stuff really matters. If the public votes in a new Congress because a majority of voters think this one tripled the deficit, and as a result the new people follow the policies that actually tripled the deficit, the country could go broke. If the public votes in a new Congress that rejects the idea of helping to create demand in the economy because they think it didn't work, then the new Congress could do things that cause a depression. If the public votes in a new Congress because they think the health care reform will increase the deficit when it is actually projected to reduce the deficit, then the new Congress could repeal health care reform and thereby make the deficit worse. And on it goes. Dave Johnson blogs at Seeing the Forest and is a Fellow at the Commonweal Institute. He has over 25 years of technology industry experience. © 2010 Campaign for America's Future All rights reserved. View this story online at: http://www.alternet.org/story/148614/

Wilburn makes it to another birthday!

I had planned to answer everyone individually for their birthday wishes, but seeing that I received far more than I ever thought, I decided to post a thank you to you all at once. For those who really know me, you know that I have been many different people in my life time. But age brings a subtle mellowing and growth as each year passes that has helped me become a far better person than I ever thought I would ever be. I thank my wife Valerie, with whom I've been married to for over 33 years, and my children, and grandchildren. But I can never forget all of the people around the world that has been my pleasure to meet, and all of the musicians I've had the pleasure of knowing, and the opportunity to learn from. Thank you all. Without you I wouldn't be the person I am today.

PEACE!

Another Young Black Woman on Her Way!

This is a shout to Kai Day!

Just graduating from Florida A&M with her Masters in Business Administration, and Marketing Concentration. Oh, and let me not forget Magna cum laude. (a Latin phrase meaning “with great honor.) It is a distinction awarded to students who have displayed remarkable academic distinction.

To be Black in American history is to know hardship. Just think, years ago having to ask permission to make basic choices such as, "May I eat. May I walk. May I whatever," is a beat down no matter where you happen to be from, or what you may believe in. Laborers, cooks, maids, were the top tier jobs that most Black folks felt lucky to get. And still today in the year 2010 some Black folks are still receiving their beatdown. But these days, more often than not, that foot they feel on their necks comes from willful refusal of some to grab hold of the tools it will take to make it in this world today.

So today I am celebrating the graduation of the class of 2010 in every college, and university in the land. Teaching, Business, Economics, Science, Law, Health, Engineering, are the goals of todays Black graduate. Congratulations to you that chose the harder path for success. We always knew you could do it.

And an extra shout out to my niece Kai Whitney Day for not only being the smartest apple in the barrel, but for being the shinning star for the rest of the children in our family to follow to their own successes. OOH-RAH Kai Day!

You all have a great and blessed day.

PEACE!

The KINGDOM CLARION

By Larry W. King

Volume III, Number VII

April 26, 2010

Get Out Of Jail Free!

“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good tidings to the afflicted; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor ...” – Isaiah 61:1-2a (RSV)

Most of us at one time or another has played the game of Monopoly. As a youngster, I was something of a Monopoly fiend – cunningly buying, selling and trading real estate, collecting rent and building houses or hotels. I played often, enjoying every minute spent moving around the board of simulated Atlantic City, New Jersey streets. In fact, my friends and I created our own wild brand of “Double Monopoly”, using two boards in the shape of a figure-eight - joined together at free parking. We adopted our own rules – allowing travel in all four directions, doubling the initial allotment of $1,500 cash, making free parking a lottery winner space, etc. - generally turning an already lengthy game into an all-day, all-night, greed-fueled marathon. As I am currently in the process of selling my home, I’ve lately pondered about just how many real estate agents got their start playing Monopoly …

Of course, anybody who’s ever played the game knows that at one point or another everybody goes to jail. You went there by landing on the ‘go to jail’ space on the board, by rolling doubles three consecutive times or by drawing the chance/community chest card which read, “Go to jail. Go directly to jail. Do NOT pass go. Do NOT collect $200.” Anytime you went to jail it was always handy to have a “Get Out Of Jail Free” card. That card saved you from losing up to three turns and having to pay $50 to bail yourself out.

OK, I’m sure some of you are asking yourselves, Larry, what on earth does any of this have to do with the text? Well, as many of you know, for the past several months, I have been deeply involved in Prison Ministry. Prison Ministry typically consists of teams of Colorado Department of Corrections (CDOC) approved, trained and certified volunteers going into various correctional facilities throughout the state, sharing the good news of Christ through worship services with the prisoners. These services include music, prayer, scripture reading, an exhortation and a sermon.

Unlike the prophet Isaiah in our text, there is phenomenal irony centered on me doing Prison Ministry. Irony, you ask? Because my lifelong plan was to stay as far away from jails or prisons as humanly possible. Ironic, because there were times in my life when I simply knew that the only way I’d be going into prison would be in an orange jumpsuit and handcuffs. Yet, now I go there each week willingly, eagerly and happily – anticipating great things through the power of the Holy Spirit. We worship with offenders who anticipate the day when they are freed. I, on the other hand, gratefully look forward to every day or night of voluntarily getting into jail free! Say what?!?!

Doubtless, Prison Ministry has been a fundamental and transformational blessing in my life. It has enhanced my faith, provided a new avenue for service in God’s Kingdom, and multiplied my zeal for Christ and love for all his people – even in their most trying circumstances. I have grown from initially bringing music only, to offering all aspects of the worship service - including preaching (yes, preaching) – which wasn’t just off the radar, it was not even in my universe! And, praise God, my spiritual evolution is far from complete.

Aside from the obvious misconception I had about just taking music into prison, Prison Ministry soon relieved me of another thought distortion. I believed I was there to bless the offenders, when in fact they bless me. What do I mean? Hear well the words of James: “But he who looks carefully into the faultless law, the [law] of liberty, and is faithful to it and perseveres in looking into it, being not a heedless listener who forgets but an active doer [who obeys], he shall be blessed in his doing (his life of obedience)” – James 1:25 (AMP). Preparing to enter prison every week compels me to read and study the Bible more carefully, prayerfully and thoughtfully because, the consequences of this ministry can be life-changing and eternal. Indeed, many of the offenders truly know the Word. Make no mistake, in prison God Almighty can get your undivided attention!

Moreover, it is inspiring and wholly affirming when inmates are set free. The pitiable fact is that 80% - four out of five – Colorado parolees will return to prison in less than 3 years, unlessthey are connected to a faith-based program. My steadfast prayer and constant motivation is that what we are privileged to do via Prison Ministry will both encourage these men and women while they’re there, and (in some small way) inspire them to find a church home and build new, productive and faithful lives when released. I cannot fathom a greater honor or reward. God is AWESOME!

Finally, all of us have our own private prisons – mental and spiritual – from which we need deliverance. Sin is a prison. No matter what the sin is – substance addiction, excessive anger, lust or sexual perversity, abuse, greed, pride, etc. – anything and everything which separates us from the love of God imprisons us. Our sinful behavior builds walls between us and God, and also separates us from each other. But God wants to set us free. When we repent of our sins and turn to the Lord, His love and mercy drops the charges. He forgives us and grants us – not a reprieve, not a suspended sentence, not a commutation, not time off for good behavior, and not even parole but – a full and complete pardon. Hear well Jesus’ own words: “… I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” – John 8:34b-36 (NIV).

God, in His infinite mercy, simply wants to slam His wrecking ball of liberation through our prison walls. He wants to break every chain that binds us and destroy every guilty shackle and fetter which holds us down. The Creator loves His creation so much that He wants us free to love, adore, worship and serve Him. He wants us to sing, dance and praise Him in overflowing love and unspeakable joy. His very nature is to totally emancipate us through the powerful, free gift of the Holy Spirit. When it comes to all His precious children, God wants us to get out of jail free!

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Larry W. King is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and heads the Denver-based music group, Kingdom Kru. He’s a founding Board member of Faith Community Baptist Church, pastored by Rev. Douglas and Rev. Katherine Farley, and is active in Prison Ministry.

The SAFE Banking Act: Break Them Up

By Simon Johnson, co-author of 13 Bankers.

On Wednesday, Senators Sherrod Brown and Ted Kaufman unveiled a “SAFE banking Act” with a clear and powerful purpose: Break up the big banks.

The proposal places hard leverage and size caps on financial institutions. It is well crafted, based on a great deal of hard thinking, and — as reported on the front page of The New York Times this week — the issue has the potential to draw a considerable amount of support.

The idea is simple, in the sense that the largest six banks in the American economy are currently “too big to fail” in the eyes of the credit market (and presumably in the leading minds the Obama administration — which saved all the big banks, without conditions, in March-April 2009). The bill put forward by Senator Christopher J. Dodd, the chairman of the Banking Committee, has some sensible proposals — and is definitely not an approach that supports “bailouts” — but it does not really confront the problem of the half-dozen megabanks.

In the American political system — where the power of major banks is now so manifest — there is no way to significantly reduce the risks posed by these banks unless they are broken up.

These banks are so powerful that they can confront and defy the government, as seen in the twists and turns of the S.E.C. versus Goldman Sachs case. They are also powerful enough to threaten a form of extortion: If reform is tough, according to JPMorgan Chase’s chief, Jamie Dimon, credit will contract, the recovery will slow and unemployment will stay high. Given the size of his bank, that’s a credible threat.

The big banks give a lot of money to politicians on both sides of the aisle and they are now digging in hard to defeat reform. Indeed, there are credible reports of various “front” organizations being used for this purpose.

Under such circumstances, the Brown-Kaufman approach might be thought unlikely to succeed.

But consider how the Republicans are already starting to counterattack the Dodd proposals, the ways in which the broader Dodd-White House approach remains vulnerable, and how exactly the Brown-Kaufman approach can help the Democratic leadership as it becomes increasingly hard pressed.

The Republicans are saying: the Dodd bill does not end “too big to fail.” Most of their reasons are misleading (“it’s all about Fannie and Freddie really,” “there will be a permanent bailout fund,” “the Federal Reserve needs to lose some of its powers,” etc.). But there is no question that this message will seriously confuse people who are only just starting to pay attention.

As the Republicans have astutely spotted, the Dodd-White House proposals will not actually reduce the size or seriously limit the activities of the megabanks — and a broad cross-section of society completely understands that these institutions brought us into the trauma of September 2008, have become even bigger since then, and still have the incentive to take on an excessive amount of risk.

The S.E.C. case against Goldman has created a great opportunity for the Democrats because it exposes details regarding exactly how big banks are mismanaged and why they treat many of their customers in an unreasonable manner. The electorate now completely understands — even more clearly than a week ago — that the attitudes and compensation structure of the largest banks lie at the heart of our current macroeconomic difficulties.

The Brown-Kaufman bill therefore addresses not just the substantive financial issues of our day but also the tough political situation now facing Democrats. If their SAFE banking bill can come to the floor of the Senate (for example, as an amendment to the Dodd bill) and be voted on — up or down — then we will really get to see which of our elected representatives support overly big banks and which want to bring them down.

The bill might fail, of course, on that basis — but then anyone who opposes it can be branded as a “too big to fail” fan in November and beyond. This would be a clear identifier that would cut through the noise and the disinformation. Did this candidate vote for or against the too-big-to-fail banks? It’s a simple yes or no.

As political logic inserts itself more and more into the economic debate on banking, there is a real possibility that Senators Brown and Kaufman have exactly what the Democrats (and the country) needs.

This post appeared this morning on the NYT.com’s Economix; it is used here with permission. If you would like to reproduce the entire post, please contact the New York Times.

Written by Simon Johnson

April 22, 2010 at 7:00 am