Nonconformists or Opportunists?

Colin Powell, in his endorsement, called Sen. Obama a "transformational figure." This term brought to mind Martin Luther King Jr.'s sermon The Transformed Nonconformist, based on Romans 12:2 "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds." King depicted conformism as a tyrant that held people prisoner against acting against prevailing mores by fear of being ostracized. There are consequences for walking to the beat of a different drummer, yet Colin Powell has become the symbol of a growing list of those who have crossed party lines to endorse Sen. Obama over John McCain. Will this momentum turn into an avalanche? Does this striking shift by Republican politicians, publications, and adherents represent true transformation, a renewing of the mind and attitudes or is it a "Jumping of the Ship" in order to save oneself?

All Are Guilty

The most impressive statement, in my opinion, made by Democratic Presidential Nominee Obama today to an electric crowd was the straight talk concerning the difficulties that we will continue to face in the future even after he is elected. "We are going to have to prioritize, make choices, and learn to live without things we don't need." He went on to say that we ALL are guilty (from Wall Street to Main Street - I add even Backstreet) of living beyond our means. Indeed the country has been permeated with a culture of greed and conspicuous consumption/materialism - the Church and the hood not excluded. This statement also exposed the double standard hidden in the ideology of personal responsibility. It is hypocritical to accuse Backstreet (or Blackstreet) and excuse other Streets of behavior that is not decent.
The future will depend upon responsible behavior of us all if we are overcome the deep hole that we are in.

Obama also unveiled a new economic plan. See Fumbling Toward Divinity for a full transcript. The items that I feel are helpful to Backstreet as well as Main Street include a) 90 day foreclosure moratorium, b) the Fed and Treasury to establish a mechanism whereby they can lend to State and Municipal Government, c)elimination of taxes on unemployment compensation, and d) funding for new jobs in infrastructure and alternative energy such as solar or wind. All of these will be beneficial to Backstreet in addition to Main St. even though the benefits may arrive indirectly. It is at the least, a step in the right direction.

In The Nasty Now and Now

The Obama campaign called me late last night and offered an invitation to attend his large rally which comes through our city today. I had not planned to go because of the expected large crowds but could not turn down the offer of VIP seating. We have heard much stump talk regarding Wall Street and Main Street but I am concerned as well about those who live on the Backstreets whose issues are too often deferred to the sweet by and by instead of being provided solutions for the nasty now and now. In this presidential campaign, Who speaks for Backstreet America? Is it taboo or even risky for the two mainstream candidates to even bring up Backstreet's issues?