Don Roach

If I’m ever elected to a political office, I’m doing this all the time. Period.

Cranston Mayor, Allan Fung, is going to be holding a series of community discussions addressing community concerns, the first of which will be held at the Church of Annunciation Greek Orthodox Parish this Wednesday at 6 o’clock.

To me, being a real public servant is all about addressing the community, collaborating with them to attack concerns, and executing on what you’ve promised them. While Kmareka seems to want to focus on who Fung’s opponent will be next year, doesn’t it make more sense to focus on what issues we’d like the mayor to address – I’m speaking to Cranston residents now.

Indeed, with Mayor Fung stating that we may have to spend more than a 1/3rd of our rainy day fund to make up for the current deficit, is the major issue who will be the Democrat’s choice for mayor next year? As we’re slashing, bobbing and weaving, and ducking for cover in this minefield of an economy why must the left always focus on getting their man (or woman) into power while ignoring the difficult times facing the nation? I’m casting a wide net here and it isn’t that wide, but here’s my generalization for the day, liberals in this state try as hard as they can to negate the positives of any Republican/conservative without regard to whether or not what they’re doing is good or bad. Why? Because it’s all about the D…the big D…in D-emocrat.

I’ll get off my little tangent and just ask that Cranston residents try to attend these meetings and ask the Mayor hardhitting questions about your concerns. Because regardless of his party label, we’re facing difficult times ahead and we need him to make the best possible choices he can.

The feds have given money to 12 organizations around the country in order to help legal residents attain their citizenship. Yes, you read that correctly. The program is designed to help current legal residents become citizens. One of those groups is Progreso Latino here in Rhode Island.

This is money well spent in my opinion. Giving into programs aimed toward those immigrants who have attained a legal status here and are looking to empower themselves further is great.

Some of you on the left might be thinking that the previous statement implies that there are many here just bogging down the system and living off the rest of us. You might be thinking of a cousin, aunt, uncle, brother, et. al. in said situation and becoming angry at the perception of my tone. Rest assured ladies and gents that I am not a person who believes every illegal immigrant is an unsavory character trying to beat the system.

On the contrary, I am glad to see our government rewarding those taking the steps to do things the right way versus seeking to sing “Kumbaya” to everyone without a legal status. I think it spits in the face of those who’ve worked diligently to attain their status in this country. I’m glad to see these dollars coming to Rhode Island wish Progreso Latino well in their efforts.

Here’s a query I sent over to Senator Whitehouse. I’ll post the reply.

Dear Senator Whitehouse,

Can you please provide your reasoning for not voting for the defunding of ACORN? You are one of my two Senators, I’ve never written to a sitting Senator before, but I am hoping that you can provide more insight into your decision.

I am troubled by the actions of these ACORN employees and glad to see they have been punished for their actions. But, if ACORN allows such a culture in various cities how do we ensure federal funding is used properly.

More personal and even more anecdotal, I attended an ACORN event a few years ago as they were seeking to help people buy a house. Before going to meet with the various banks and lending organizations I had to sit through a 30 minute – what I call – indoctrination video on ACORN. I was prodded to join ACORN and scolded when I refused to join. It turned me off to the organization right away but I’m sure there are many good people within the organization seeking to do as ACORN’s mission defines.

Having said all of that, your response would be greatly appreciated and this constituent would find it very helpful in understanding your beliefs a bit better.

Regards,
Don

Before I begin, I want to disclose that my son has been on Medicare for the last two years as he has received services for his autism. Those services are pricey and my private insurance doesn’t cover it whereas the Medicare does.  Now, that that’s out of the way here goes nothing…

From my cursory exploration, Medicare is going to be insolvent by the year 2017. According to the 2009 Medicare brochure, “Medicare & You”:

Medicare is health insurance for people age 65 or older, under age 65 with certain disabilities, and any age with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD).

So folks like my son or very old people are eligible for Medicare. It would seem that as a country we have decided that the elderly and those who have some form of disability need health insurance and that our government will pay for it. That sounds great and makes you feel a bit warm and fuzzy inside, right?

Well, if our current “public option” is going to be insolvent in a few years what’s the incentive to allow the government to create an even broader-based healthcare program? In other words, if the government is unable to handle  Medicare/Medicaid what makes us think it will be able to drive health care costs down, provide proper health insurance to the un and underinsured, and all of the other things caught up in public option proponents’ messaging?

Not much if you ask me.

To me universal healthcare should be our last resort. I agree that the government should play a role in driving healthcare costs down and doing all it can – without a public option – to provide a framework where most Americans can be insured, if not all. I don’t think we have yet exhausted all of the things the government can do in lieu of a public option. Listed below are two ideas, the second being my preferred method:

• Health care co-ops: This is getting some run in national media but no-play at the local “liberal” blog level. Essentially, members of the health plan would own it. As a mostly fiscal conservative, I love the idea, as it would put my dollars to work for me as I saw fit. Obviously, there are some drawbacks such as how to get one of these off the ground such as determining what, if any, savings co-op members would enjoy versus say Blue Cross Blue Sheild members. Still, this option represents a fundamental mind-shift – if you will – away from the public option as it puts the power back in the hands of the people and not the government.
• Massive overhaul of health insurance rate regulations: I like this idea a lot. Like I said earlier, the government is in the health insurance game today via Medicare and prices continue to soar. What they need to do is not just become another player but begin to regulate the market. I know that runs counter to my general fiscal conservatism but to me health care should be looked at like a utility. We all need it at some point in our lives so why should a utility be regulated less than health care?

Thus, I think there are at least two alternatives we should explore before going down this road. Once we have a public option there will be no turning back and while insurance companies would hate it, they’d hate it even worse if they were treated like a utility.

What do you think?

What’s an oxymoron? Putting two words that seemingly have no similarities together. That’s what you get when someone is labeled a “black republican”. Black people have been one of the most loyal and die-hard adherents to Democrats for decades.

I have not ever beat the that drum, however. Here in Rhode Island I could easily wear the Democrat label and be as conservative as I am without sticking out like a sore thumb. In this Democrat dominated state, party label is paramount to personal conviction. Not naming names, there are many politicians in the state calling themselves Democrats but upholding many Republican philosophies.

Getting back to the point, why have I chosen to wear a label that I a) don’t need to wear in this state to be effective and b) runs counter to many of minority brethren? It’s simple. Any change starts with someone taking a stand for what they believe in. When the first person who thought women should have the right to vote spoke up, it’s unlikely he or she was applauded and given a ticker-tape parade. Yet, slowly and through effective persuasion more and more people became convinced that women should have the right to vote.

In my case, my desire is to convince others that being a Republican is not some crazy idea and that being a black republican isn’t ’selling out’ or showing no compassion to my fellow man. On the contrary, Republican philosophy is one that I believe is better than Democratic philosophy and hope to with this blog demonstrate so. Do Republicans do dumb things? Sure they do and I don’t plan to blindly follow anyone or anything – neither should you.

I voted for our president, taking a lot of heat. Unfortunately, I thought he was the best option. I didn’t like either option from a political standpoint so I went with what I believed was least objectionable. So, while I consider myself a black republican and I’m not ashamed of that label, I encourage you and do myself think independently.

This past week I attended a young republicans event. I was the only black face in the crowd and while that happens to me often in my workplace or other settings, I had forgotten how different a feeling that is in a political setting. I’d like to see more black republicans and more minority republicans in general.  I think one of the major hindrances to any minority group is groupthink. With groupthink you can be pigeonholed and thereby marginalized. As black people, we cannot allow that to happen and while we have a black president we don’t always need to follow him like some pied piper and should be willing to challenge him and other leaders sans fear of being labeled a sell out.

Being black and being a republican is an interesting experience, even within my own home as my wife certainly does not share all of my political leanings – to put it mildly. But, just like the person who said women should have the right to vote I say that blacks and republicans can work hand in hand. If you can’t see it, just give me some time.

I’m not sure what this blog will be about. I plan to write about things political and some things personal. Many of you may know me from other blogs I have contributed to in the past. This blog may be a bit different but, as always, I invite constructive criticism and new ideas.

see you in blogosphere,

don

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