September 17, 2008
Page A6
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O pinion
Improving Our
Financial Health
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The next president must he
ready on day-one with both a
short-term and a long-range
plan o f his own to fix our
broken economy and put
America back to work.
Clarence Thomas is at it Again
Dismantling
affirmative
action
J udge G reg M athis
Supreme Court Jus­
tice Clarence Thomas
recently spoke to a group
of leaders from the nation’s
Historically Black Colleges
and Universities.
True to form, the African-
American conservative could
not resist discussing his anti­
affirm ative views.
Thom as has often been
comm ended by some for his
support of the HBCUs and
the opportunities they offer
blacks to pursue higher edu­
cation. However, his efforts
to dismantle affirm ative ac­
tion leave many wondering if
he truly believes in equal op­
portunity for all.
Affirmative action prac­
tices were instituted to coun­
teract generations of d is­
crimination in schools and
the work place. Though the
practice has come under fire
in recent years, it is partly
responsible for the large num­
bers of African Americans
graduating from college and
taking on management level
p o s itio n s in c o rp o ra te
by
America.
Thomas has voted to out­
law the use of race in college
admissions and in determ in­
ing which public
sc h o o ls s tu d e n ts
will attend.
Appointed to the
Supreme Court in
1991 by then-presi­
dent George H. W.
Despite his education and
status, Thomas is not an inspi­
ration to most African Ameri­
cans.
His viewpoints only serve
to dismantle the work of our
elders, who fought forequal­
ity so young men and women
like Thomas could ascend to
the heights they are at today.
Instead of paying homage
Despite his education and
status, Thomas is not an
inspiration to most A frican
Americans.
Bush, Thomas replaced out­
g o in g J u s tic e T h u rg o o d
M arshall, the court's first
African-American judge.
It is believed that Thomas
received the appointm ent,
despite his lack of judicial
experience, because he was,
in fact, black. Thomas him ­
self has said that he was
allowed to attend Yale Law
School in the 70s because of
his race.
Despite knowing that af­
firmative action played a key
role in his historic career
path, Thomas says the prac­
tice is detrim ental, not help­
ful, to blacks.
to those leaders through ju ­
dicious use’of his influence
on the’ court, Thomas has.
through his voting, slowly
chipped away at and weak­
ened affirmative action.
However, Thomas alone
cannot be blamed for the
current state of affirmative
action. He and his fellow
justices are simply doing the
bidding of the president -
and political party - who ap­
pointed them to their posts.
When you vote for Presi­
dent o f the United States
you are also playing a role in
selecting future Suprem e
Court Justices. It is impor-
Minimum Wage Hike Helps
tant to know where candi­
dates stand on critical is­
sues, like affirmative action.
Sen. John McCain has said
that he believes in equal op­
portunity but does not sup­
port affirm ative action or
quotas. Sen. Barack Obama
supports affirmative action
when there is evidence of
prolonged discrimination. He
also supports efforts to in­
crease educational opportu­
nities for all low-income in­
dividuals, regardless of race.
The next President of the
United States may have the
opportunity to appoint up to
three justices who will serve
in that post until they retire.
Wisely choosing a presiden­
tial candidate will help to
ensure the country also has
a Supreme Court that works
for and not against the people
of this country.
Judge Greg Mathis is vice
president o f Rainbow PUSH
and a board member o f the
Southern Christian Leader­
ship Conference
M ike L eachman
The 45-cent hike to Oregon’s minimum
wage starting next year will be welcome
news for the state's lowest-paid workers,
who have been hit hard by escalating food and
gas prices.
The increase from $7.95 to $8.40 means an
extra $936 a year for a family
with one full-time minimum
wage worker.
But the pay raise may not be
enough to make up for the rise
in prices at the supermarket or
the pump.
During the 12-month period
ending in August, it'sestimated
that the price of food leaped by
7.5 percent and gasoline by 36
percent.
The pain is greater for low-income workers
because a larger share of low-income work­
ers' overall spending goes to cover these two
necessities, compared to the spending of bet­
ter-paid workers.
More than four years after Measure 25
upped the minimum wage and pegged annual
There's no doubt about it, we are in a recession. Unemployment
continues to rise, consumer spending continues to fall, the hous­
ing market is in real trouble and it's tougher than ever to get a bank
loan.
The next president must be ready on day-one with both a short­
term and a long-range plan of his own to fix our broken economy
and put America back to work.
During the National Urban League's annual conference this past
July, both McCain and Obama endorsed our set of recommenda­
tions to close the economic gap between White and Black Ameri­
cans - our Opportunity Compact. Additionally, both candidates
agreed with our call for another stimulus package to address the
flood of job losses and the rise in inflation.
In the next few weeks, the National Urban League will release a
study conducted by our Council of Economic Advisors that
outlines and analyzes the candidates' positions on jobs and the
economy.
I urge all Americans to review our analyses and add it to your
information tool belt. This year's election is not only a historical
one. but an absolutely critical one as well.
Everyone needs to cast their vote for the candidate of their
choice, not in a vacuum, but based on intelligent information that
will help improve our nation's financial health.
We at the National Urban League intend to do our part to make
sure you are armed with the right facts to make the right choice on
Nov. 4.
Marc Moriai is president and chief executive officer of the
National Urban League.
1st Time Homebuyers
Now is a great time to buy! Why rent when you can own??
The US Goveminent is offering a $7,500 tax credit to
1st
Time home buyers.
his won't be available forever so, act quickly to take
advantage.
IN VEST IN YOUR FUTURE
But won't make up for the rise in prices
by
M arc M oriai .
Some very important news about America may
have been drowned out in the din of high decibel
speeches, celebratory music and balloon drops at
the recently concluded national party conven­
tions.
While the candidates and the delegates were focused on who
is going to be the next president, millions of Americans were
wondering who was going to provide them with their next pay-
cheek.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ August jobs report, released on
Sept. 5, revealed a startling loss o f84,000jobs for the month, putting
the unemployment rate at 6 .1 percent. With 9.4 million Americans
currently out of work, the highest number of unemployed since
1992, the African-American unemployment rate is at 10.6 percent,
its highest level since 2004. Both presidential candidates are
promising change. There is no better place to start than with our
economy.
changes to inflation, the dire predictions of its
opponents have yet to materialize.
The restaurant industry argued that Mea­
sure 25 would dampen job growth and the
farm industry claimed that Oregon agriculture
would be rendered uncompetitive. Both in­
dustries have flourished.
John R. Paris
Broket-/Kertoi
r tla n d M e tt e r v i k a n
The pain is greater fo r low-
income workers because a larger
share o f low-income workers' overall
spending goes to cover [food and
gasoline] compared to the spending
o f better-paid workers.
From 2002 through this year the number of
restaurant jobs in Oregon has grown by nearly
21 percent. Similarly, Oregon’s net farm in­
come nearly tripled over five years, easily
outpacing national growth in farm profits over
the same period.
Mike Leachman is a policy analyst fo r
the Oregon Center fo r Public Policy.
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