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January 13. 2010
M artin L uther K ing J r .
Page '
2010 s p e c ia l e d ii ion
Correcting a Bush Injustice
Renewing the fight for Civil Rights
Civil Right Division signaled a
drop in the enforcement of sev­
by J udge G reg M athis
vestigate several allegations of eral major laws that promote
George W. Bush’s term as civil rights violations but were equality and justice.
president ended nearly a year often not allowed to do so by
The division fded about six
ago but America is still feeling their supervisors. Among the lawsuits per year in an effort to
the effects of his presidency: an
economic recession, two wars
that drain both human and finan­
cial resources and a less than
stellar reputation in the interna­
tional community.
Thanks to a recently released
report, we can now count ne­
glecting civil rights among the
many injustices former Presi­
dent Bush and his administration
inflicted upon this country.
cases not investigated were al­ enforce anti gender and race
According a report from the legations of voter intimidation discrim ination laws whereas,
Government Accountability Of­ and violations of employee rights. under Clinton, it fded about 11
fice, which reviewed activities
The report also notes that, such suits each year. There was
of the federal Civil Rights Divi­ when compared to the tenure his also a decrease in actions taken
sion from 2001 to 2007, lawyers predecessor, former President to enforce the Voting Rights Act,
within the division wanted to in­ Clinton, Bush’s oversight of the a law that prohibits discrimina­
Though Bush is gone
from office, the effects
of his actions remain.
tory electo ral rules. U nder went to President Bush.
Clinton, the division filed four
Though Bush is gone from
suits per year; during Bush’s office, the effects of his actions
tim e in office that num ber remain.
dropped to two cases a year.
Just as Obama has to work
To many, it may seem that we tire le s s ly to clean up the
economy, he will also have to
work to boost the efforts of the
Civil Rights Division. This par­
ticular area of government was
allowed to falter under Bush and,
as a result, many entities may
have gotten away with serious
over the last civil rights infractions.
year. Subtle and not so subtle
The President will not only
discrimination and bias is alive have to clean up the department,
and well in the work place. And, he’ll also have to put the most
if you believe that the voting serious offenders on notice, let­
booth is free from such bias, we ting them know that their actions
have to only think back to the will no longer be tolerated.
2004 election, where blacks in
Greg Mathis is a retired
Florida reported being turned Michigan District Court judge
away from the polls. If you re­ and syndicated television show
call, the controversial election judge.
The Curse of State Lotteries
Going for the gold
by
W illiam A. C ollins
In not-so-ancient times,
gambling was viewed as a
tool of the devil, much like
sex or liquor (this was before
illegal drugs).
People played the horses
and the numbers through convenient
newsstands and accommodating run­
ners. The mob organized this efficient
system, and the judicious application
of hot lead settled any disputes. Las
Vegas was Satan’s embassy in the
U.S., where he also practiced sex and
divorce.
•
T im es change. Las V egas has
morphed into a “family entertainment”
center while gambling has cleverly
donned the protective garb of “recre­
ation.” Other wagering centers have
followed suit, as state after state and
tribe after tribe have shed religious
anathema and gone for the gold.
The gaming industry is now con­
ducted in art-filled chambers of gov­
ernment, rather than in smoke-filled
chambers o f crime. Some feel that's
not such a big step, but at least it
provides for public input. If the town
fathers of Black Hawk, Colo., want to
hitch their wagon to a towering casino,
it gets voted on. If the gaming public in
Missouri wants penny slot machines,
there's formal debate. If Bethlehem,
Penn., wants to try turning steel
into gold by converting the aban­
doned mill to a casino, it's a public
issue.
These high-profile decisions
generate plenty of ink because
borhood w here people can only af­
ford to spend a little at a time. We'll
make a big deal out of the w inners so
poor folks will erroneously feel that
they have a re a so n a b le shot at
riches. This is how the devil has made
his comeback. Only this time it's not
the mob that is strewing temptation
The gaming industry is now conducted in
art-filled chambers o f government, rather than in
smoke-filled chambers of crime.
average citizens see themselves as
stakeholders. Maybe not so much in
terms of morality, but rather in terms
of taxes, traffic, crime, image, jobs and
various other side effects of a profit­
able if ethically challenged industry.
As much as casino owners love
gambling addicts, public pressure has
forced them at least to keep an eye out
to protect such folk, and to fund sup­
port groups to help them get treat­
ment.
Not so with the states them selves.
They are totally m ercenary. If we're
going to extract money from the
m entally ill, let's do it first-class.
W e'll put wagering outlets in every
convenience store and gas station.
W e'll advertise on billboards and
TV. W e'll go into every poor neigh-
before the masses; it's us.
Satan promotes other sly schemes
as well. The recession is a hot one just
now. With the resultant sag in gam­
bling revenue, some states have cho­
sen to throw another shovelful of dirt
on morality's grave.
New Jersey, for example, always in
our nation's ethical spotlight, decided
to reinstate smoking in casinos, look­
ing to attract more patrons. Illinois is
looking at allowing free drinks on the
gaming floor.
The only potentially deeper degra­
dation of the industry would be to turn
over the whole business to Wall Street.
No doubt that's coming.
William A. Collins is a former
state representative and a former
mayor o f Norwalk, Conn.
better to
the (Süditor
Make Heath
Care Better
We've come farther along on health care
reform than ever before in the bills that have
come out of the House and Senate. Now it
is time to combine the bills into something
even better for our citizens.
Americans need a public option for real
competition, greater choice and lower costs.
The House got that one right and it should be
in the final bill.
Both bills impose dangerous new restric­
tions on women's reproductive health care,
especially the House bill, and need to be
removed from the final bill. The Senate
proposed taxing benefits packages on some
working Americans. The House did better
by putting a small surcharge on the wealthi­
est Americans.
We also need to hold insurance com pa­
nies to the same anti-trust laws as other
companies to prevent monopolies and price
gouging. The House bill would fix this, so it,
too, should be included in the final bill.
Brian Anderson
Southeast Portland