Politicians, Plutocrats and Trust Magnates.

 

file photo shows Honorable Governor Rick Perry before indictment for abuse of office.

In light of Texas Governor Rick Perry’s indictment, We must remember that, Politicians, Plutocrats and Trust Magnates are not demigods. They are servants obliged to serve and create an enabling environment for the masses to pursue their God given purposes, talents peacefully, secure and harmoniously. There should never be anarchy at any given time. There should be no discrimination and racism whatsoever! BUT once anyone of us or people start worshiping some of these politicians like what has been happening here in Prince George’s County, we turn them into demigods competing for space in your heart with the Living God and then you or any else will stand accused of IDOLATRY.  Let us stop looking up to men and women as the source of our livelihood or source of supplies! They are NOT!

No one else has better power than God himself to ensure that goodness prevails. Who has the power to ensure that justice is done and that God’s will is done on Planet Earth?

WE HAVE THE POWER AS PEOPLE! Yes we have that power, undiluted.

Institutions or corporations or even local Governments like Prince George’s County,  State of Texas, State of Maryland and others around the world have no life of their own, despite what we typically think about bureaucracies. They are only a group of people. People like you and anyone of us. Making choices, wrong or right choices to enable or disable God’s will being carried out on planet earth. However,  each choice made individually or collectively has moral consequences!

Leadership is consistently identified as a critical factor in effective economic development. Although leadership can come from many places within the community, local elected officials are particularly well-positioned to take on this role in many aspects if it is done the right way.

One way in which we can address these issues is through protections of individual rights whether immigrants, resident, citizen etc.

Human rights, as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and subsequent covenants, have provided an internationally agreed set of principles and standards by which to assess and redress inequality. Conversely, a just society is one that understands and values human rights and the dignity of all human beings.

The international human rights system is an important way of advocating for or enforcing fairer distribution of resources in the world. However as Baldry and McCausland note, obtaining “… remedies under the human rights system requires a significant degree of understanding of that system, and the resources and skills to advocate for the rights that are breached. Ironically, it is those most in need of assistance when their human rights are breached that are often least able to access such a system”.

There is, therefore, a need for social justice to facilitate such access. For example, while indigenous people are entitled to the full protection of the individual human rights system that has existed for the past sixty years, their rights have continued to be violated and they often experience poverty and disadvantage to a greater extent than the rest of the population. The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples recognizes the difficulty in realizing human rights for Indigenous people who have been disadvantaged on a systemic level by historical discrimination and dispossession over past centuries.

Some view the human rights approach as being inadequate in ensuring that all members of the community meet mutual responsibilities and obligations, especially obligations to protect disadvantaged members of society, as rights are often stressed in preference to obligations. Others argue that a human rights vision is concerned with delivering the best society possible, as it is not concerned solely with negative rights to do as one pleases. Rather, it is concerned with positive entitlements such as rights to work, leisure, education and cultural participation, which involves a more positive outline of what a good and just society, will look like.

• Fairness and mutual obligation in society
•  Responsibility for each other,
• Equal chances to succeed in life
• Redistribution of opportunities,
• Balance between social equality and
  individual freedom.
• Based on principles of equality and solidarity

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A just society both understands and values human rights, as well as recognizing the dignity of every human being.

Joint responsibility to address systemic/structural poverty, inequality and unfairness (emphasizes responsibility of system or government to provide)

• Fair redistribution of resources
• Equal access to opportunities and rights
• Fair system of law and due process
• Ability to take up opportunities and exercise rights
• Protection of vulnerable and disadvantaged people

Individual responsibility

• Moral responsibility ‐ behavior of those who are poor, excluded or disadvantaged)
• Workforce participation ‐workforce participation as the only legitimate way for an individual to contribute to society and be socially included)
• Individual capability ‐ the personal characteristics that enable people to take advantage of opportunities)
• Recognition of human value and well being emphasizes human value beyond status and economic productivity

Social Justice – Economic Justice

• Social justice encompasses economic justice. ‐the virtue which guides to create organized human interactions called institutions
• social institutions, when justly organized, provide access to economic resources.
• Social justice also imposes on each of us a personal responsibility to work with others to design and continually perfect institutions as tools for personal and social development.

Addressing Democratic Deficit

• Strengthening/empowering communities
• Decentralized services
• Decentralization to local government and town councils
• Politically neutral local government system
• Minimizing inefficiencies with overlap of jurisdictions, services, accountability
• An education system more integrated with community – build interact and incorporate community into schooling;
• Service/community hours, care for elderly – mentorship and care.
• Identifying localised resources; promoting entrepreneursip and building self‐sufficiency within communities.
• Minimizing wastage/streamlining private sector‐community initiatives

• Self sustainable development
• Every child has a talent: setting talent at the heart of preparing for life of work – from preschool
• For example areas  considered underdeveloped in the world should allow children at least one third of their day to attend to a trade/skills or talent ‐ such vocation developed the agri sector, agro tourism sector, cultural industries – art, craft, dance, music, etc – had something to fal back on own initiative if couldn’t find public job placement.
• Reversing view of culture and arts as hobby/secondary to education and placng it at centre of educational development.

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Map of the State of Texas

Map of Prince George’s County.

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County Executive Mr. Rushern Baker III for Prince George’s County.

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