The Petition Process and the State Constitution

All around the state people are hustling trying to get you to sign these documents that contain any number of subjects. The Housing Trust Fund has a version and there are ones for many other issues that are being sent, if they collect enough signatures, to the November election. In much of this work professional companies coral you at the entrance of super markets, on street corners and in general, anywhere that an event occurs.

Democracy in action is what this is called. One friend of mine stated, "I do not support constitutional amendments on anything." I wondered about that statement as I considered the reason for the Housing Trust Fund flurry of support and thought that this rolls back another constitutional amendment, which is the one having to do with a zero deficit spending limit and paying back any unused revenues to the tax payer. The reason for the amendment in the first place is that the author felt that it was the right of the voter to put whatever one wishes on the ballot and therefore, he felt obliged to make it impossible for the state of Colorado to collect revenue for anything for which it did not receive money from the public and, which the tax payer did not authorize.

Unfortunately, the consequences of this choice of the public are that we have less money for higher education, roads, transit, public safety and anything that we generally have accepted as necessary.

I went to the hospital this morning to investigate the clinic. The experience reminded me that whatever we do with our revenue and whatever constitutional amendment is pushed forward that the people without any resources are generally the ones who lose their way and their ability to function. When referendum C ends in 2010 we are in store for more loss of higher education, of health care, of care for the sick and elderly, of care of people in the byways of life, in our hallowed places and sanctuaries. We are looking forward to a world that requires one to be well heeled or suffer.

To all of you who see the constitutional provisions as a burden of your time and eye sight, remember that without freedom and without protections of our human rights that we would be refuges seeking a place of safety.

We all, for the most part, come through the birth canal the same way. Again, for the most part, those who are responsible for our rearing determine the character, the characteristics, the conduct and behavior that makes us who we become.

There are, of course, exceptions to every rule, however, I am going to speak in generalities.
Children reared by decent, honest parents usually model that behavior.

If the females in a man’s life are not ladies, it is difficult for those men to know a lady when they see one. The conduct and behavior of one’s mother, sisters, aunts and other female relatives become the standard for males in that environment. If the morals of the females in that family structure, or if they are amoral, then men tend to have a low opinion of women in general; and assume that all women are like the only ones they know. For a man to refer to a lady, especially a highly educated, decent married woman as a “baby mama” illustrates perfectly their mind set based on their own experiential background.

A case in point is Mrs. Barack Obama, Michelle Obama. Michelle was reared by a lady and a gentleman, and she married a gentleman. Michelle Obama graduated from Whitney Young High School, one of the best public schools in the Nation. She later matriculated at Princeton University, one of the best universities in the Nation. Not satisfied with that attainment, she later enrolled and graduated from Harvard University Law School, renowned throughout the world as a leading university. She then began a fruitful career working with a prestigious law firm where she met her future husband, also a Harvard Law School graduate. At Harvard, Barack Obama distinguished himself by becoming head of the learned Harvard Law Review and graduating magna cum laude.

Michelle is on leave from her administrative position at the University of Chicago, one of the leading universities in the world that has produced many Nobel laureates.

This patriotic, power couple are the epitome of what all good parents want their children to become. They are true patriots which is why they have, and are contributing so much to American society.

I ask all those critics, how many trees have you planted? I ask all those critics, how many Americans have benefited from anything that you have ever done? I ask all you critics why didn’t you go far enough in school to become proficient with the English language? I ask all you critics why you don’t get a life for yourself that you can be proud of?

I am proud to know that our future will be in the hands of one of the most competent people the world has ever produced, presumptive Democratic Presidential Nominee, Barack Obama. I envision that Michelle Obama will become one of the greatest First Ladies in the vein of another valued and valuable First Ladies, Eleanor Roosevelt. There have been none others who can compare to Eleanor Roosevelt, the wife of Franklin Delano Roosevelt. We will be blessed to have a Michelle Obama to set an example for females all over the world. for she will demonstrate that in a male dominated world society, women can make a significant and lasting contributions, not just as mothers, but as change agents to make this world a better place for all of us to coexist in peace and harmony.

After marriage to Barack Obama, Michelle gave birth to two beautiful and talented daughters who she is rearing according to the mold from which she came – to be young ladies. This is not a “baby mama.”

Now to get back to those who are critical of her, I forgive them for they seem to be illiterate based on their limited use of the English language. The fact that they have to revert to colloquialism, street talk, or slang to express themselves demonstrates their lack of breeding, education, character, morals, and self respect. People with self respect, respect others. People reared in socially unacceptable environments have low self esteem and are lacking in self respect. Because they have no worthy accomplishments in order to develop a healthy ego, they resort to what they know, slandering and trying to bring someone down in order to elevate themselves. This is a very sick ego deserving of attention by professionals who can help them find their self worth. Even the most debased persons have something that they can contribute and be proud of. After a lifetime of debauchery, illiteracy, and self hatred, they can be redeemed. First they have to acknowledge and confront their problem whether it is race hatred, gender hatred, success hatred, or any other type of hatred, there is help for them. Having turned so much hate inward to the point where their psyches can no longer carry the burden, they project and turn that hatred outward to anyone whom they envy for whatever reason.

I say to all those mentally disturbed people, get help before it’s too late. You still have time to learn to love yourself and to learn to love all whom God has created. You still have time to learn self respect and self love so that you can accept and embrace people who are different from you because they have more class, more talent, more money and/or more success.

It is NEVER to late to CHANGE! When your ego is in tact, you will no longer have to try to pull someone else down in order to feel good about yourself. I pray for you that you may be restored, and there can be sufficient intervention for you to chart a new course, one of which you and all of society can benefit from.

Tearing other people down is not a value or a virtue. It is a sin. It is a crime against mankind and against God. We have been instructed to love one another, won’t you join the legions of people who have already learned that lesson? I pray that you do!

For further information, contact:

Helen L. Burleson, Doctor of Public Administration, (708)560-6303

American Legacy of Convenience and Profit: America Must Embrace Stewardship of the Earth.

Three civil rights workers' lives were destroyed in Philadelphia, Miss. on June 21, 1964. Their bodies were discovered two months later. Even though there was a conspiracy against these citizens fighting violence and abuse of power, the eight members of the Ku Klux Klan who were responsible served minimal time behind bars.

What is the legacy of this specter of violence that American citizens level at, and which is related to America’s relationship as a nation to people throughout the world? What is our personal role in this tyranny of individual freedom? Who is responsible for the torture and violence associated with America? From where does this strain of violence emanate? In the Civil War there were elements of fanaticism, which are self –evident in our treatment of children, women, minorities such as Native Americans, immigrants, people who have disabilities and in those who possess characteristics that are distinct from the mainstream, everyday, common values of America.

June 20 was the anniversary of refuges throughout the world. At least 26 million refuges span the globe. We live in a world of global apartheid. 5,000 refuges from Iraq were allowed to enter this country, since the occupation of this sovereign nation. We did nothing to curtail the violence of the “Axis of evil,” which we have created and serve. Every single candidate for office has supported the abuse of power and neglect of other people who worship and live differently than Americans. Many, many other people are victimized by exclusion and separation of the poor as being a nuisance. Americans did nothing to stem the tide of violence in most of the rest of the world unless it suited our interests. Americans created the values of oppression and subjugation, destroyed the infrastructure of communities, and allowed violence to fester in emerging nations on every continent on earth.

Who is responsible for this bigotry and injustice? Who will end the war motivated solely by profits and bring to terms the true value of human beings as citizens of the earth? Will it take the destruction of the earth for Americans to realize that all Americans are responsible for this despotism and rancor toward the rest of the people?

In a long history of educating children throughout North Philadelphia of different races and religious experiences there was never a question whether America deserved the luxuries to which it has become accustomed. People advanced based on being born male, White and free to do whatever they wished everywhere else on earth. America built the economy and the system of democracy to support and suit its purposes. The Mercantilism trade route of slavery was economically advantageous to business and thus was allowed to flourish. Examining history of civil and human rights it is a simple paradigm of power that excludes those who stood in the way.

Ruthlessness and vengeance cannot seek peace and over turn injustice. Only by worshiping communities of faith and inclusion of everyone as equal participants in the world can we hope to survive.

Housing Works For Colorado Petition Drive to Go on the November Ballot: Call 720 407 3385 and go to www.HousingWorksforColorado.org

The is an investment fund based on a real estate transfer tax of .04 cents on every $100.00 of assessed value of the sale or purchase of a property, which will bring 38,000,000.00 a year annually to affordable housing in Colorado. We are asking for a constitutional amendment to change the Bruce law, which will permanently raise revenue for people to determine in their communities what are their priorities and devote these resources to housing for diverse local needs.

We need your support for this vital housing. Call Chris Lee at 720-407-3385 or email him at chrisadmslee@gmail.com. We need 130,000 signatures of registered voters in Colorado by August. If you wish to circulate a petition please note that you must be eighteen years old, a resident of Colorado and a citizen of the United States. For further information please contact www.HousingWorksforColorado.org or 720 407 3385.

Cultivating Healthy and Sustainable Neighborhoods at Manual High School Saturday June 28th, from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Come and learn what we can do to improve communication and connections in our community.

This annual event is being held at Manual High School Saturday June 28, from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

To register you have to connect Heather Barry by calling 720 865 9103. They will have sign language interpreters CI. CT, SC:L and if there are questions about this please contact 720 913 8487.

Mayor Hickenlooper is opening the event at 9:00 a.m. and Councilwoman Carla Madison.
Neighborhood Vital Signs will be a major topic of the morning by Bill Fulton of the Civic Canopy and Barbara Fromwell with Denver's Community Planning and Development.

This is followed by workshops including consensus building, foreclosure, green your neighborhood, neighborhood safety, inclusive problem solving and Blueprint Denver. Lunch follows and a discussion of "How the Democratic National Convention" will impact the neighborhood.

Involvement in the community is vital and Vital Signs is a means for sharing and community coalition building. Please put this important event in your plans for this Saturday June 28th at Manual High School.

Muhammad Ali: Stood Tall for the Rights and Principles of Expanded Democratic Process

On June 20, 1967 Muhammad Ali was convicted of violating the laws, sentenced to prison and stripped of his world heavy weight boxing title. Muhammad Ali refused to be drafted. He stands defiantly as one of the ultimate sports heroes of all time for violating the draft of young people to serve in the wars we have created abroad. He was inscrutable in his conviction that all people have certain inalienable rights to vote with their conscience against tyranny.

Although the Supreme Court over turned the ruling, Muhammad Ali, the greatest boxer of his generation, returned to the ring to regain his title, not for the purpose of earning the title alone, but for the rights and privileges of all oppressed peoples. He stands on the precipice as the giant of leaders, which we sorely need to return to the public domain.

In the Olympics in China and throughout the world we need his ilk to combat the injustice of dictators and obsession of despots like the present leaders of the United States, Great Britain, Israel, Russia, China, many other industrialized nations, and in many less developed nations of the world. We need to call upon the wisdom and courage of leaders of the world of sports to raise their right-gloved fists in solidarity with all oppressed people in ending slavery, famine, exploitation of children, abuse of power of sovereign nations, gluttony of the world’s resources and the devastation of the earth. We need to raise our voices in solidarity with the working poor that their freedom and courage is not a voice that goes unheard.

Between Aurora, Denver, Lakewood, Englewood, Commerce City, Thornton, Boulder, Longmont, Centennial, Parker, Castle Rock, Golden, Broomfield, The Denver Regional Council of Governments, the Metropolitan Area County Commissioners, the Metro Mayor's Caucus, the Municipal League, the Chamber of Commerce and any other official government entity we must devote our talents and energies to a plan of action. Representative from these entities will create a plan of action for emergencies that includes indigent people from families, motels, those who are about to be evicted, those who are discharged from any institutions of their jurisdictions, anyone who is a new member of these communities, or who is passing through on their way elsewhere, and is in a situation where they require emergency assistance. These people will receive a service which includes and is not limited to, shelter, counseling, a discharge plan, and direct services leading to a safe, stable and humane response to their predicament. It is time to develop a disaster relief effort in response to any catastrophe that involves all of the entities of the community at large and a public-private covenant, which will provide the necessary response in any and all circumstances.

A board should be directed to develop this proposal with a timeline to finish the recommendations to every entity by the beginning of 2010.

The costs for all staples have risen sharply. The costs for all basic living expenses continue to escalate. In this time of scarcity who is impacted by these shifts in the financial stability of people?

Children are impacted the most as soaring costs mean that there are inadequate places for families to maintain stable homes. In Europe there have been extraordinary demonstrations by fishermen and truckers, across the borders of the Common Market. The effects of the strains of economic hardship are more directly felt by the people living below the federal poverty levels, people who are elderly, people with dementia, people who are living marginally are all suffering. Children are not able to find work and the older Americans are working more in entry-level jobs, and as long as possible.

Economic conditions are impacting the quality of life of hereto before unheard numbers, in ways that rival the experience of the 1930's. People think that there will never be an opportunity to live in their own homes. The demand on social services is ever increasing the pressure on the poor to survive. The impact of these changes is most directly felt among the young, who have less and less opportunities to survive. The emotional and physical stress on their psyches creates a crisis for the main proportion of our country's people.

In responding to these times we must funnel our energies on grassroots efforts to work across all spiritual, social service provider, business, citizen and community lines to provide an emergency response network. We need to come to the table as partners to make sure that there is a disaster relief model, such as in catastrophes that prevents people from losing their will and feeling hopeless. This challenge must be born by all of our social, economic and political infrastructures.