I AM THE FORCE

MILWAUKEE, WI - Congresswoman Gwen Moore will be hosting a community forum to discuss poverty and its effects on our city with Senator John Edwards on February 27 at the Hillside Family Resource Center. The event will gather local community leaders and residents together to begin a constructive dialogue on the issue of poverty and how it contributes to other problems faced by the citizens of Milwaukee, such as rising violence, barriers to education, lack of comprehensive healthcare, high rates of incarceration, and unemployment. Members of the public and the press are encouraged to attend.

What a bold move by Congresswoman Gwen Moore. Holding a discussion about the downside of poverty. Shooting kids, tire-slashing of political opponents, drug dealing, failed public schools, disrespect murders -- all due to poverty. Should be an insightful discussion.

Let me guess, the solution to poverty would be to elect more Democrats and create more social programs. After all, social programs have done so much for Milwaukee's black community. We just need to spend more money with the poverty pimps, and restore the system of dependency that Gwen holds so dear.

Democrats, since Gwen is one of your shining stars, can you please tell me what she's done to make Milwaukee a better place? Can you please tell me even one solution that she's brought to the table? What has all of her social service agency funding done to solve the problems of poverty in Milwaukee?

The Bush administration this week will announce that it has selected Milwaukee as the sixth city in its Urban Entrepreneur Partnership, a program meant to coordinate the often-fragmented efforts to rebuild the urban economy.

I doubt that Moore and Edwards will embrace the Bush initiative, as it is meant to empower individuals rather than bureaucracies. But they should open their minds to new directions, as the Great Society hasn't worked out all that well for Milwaukee's inner city.

The leaders in our state and in Milwaukee need to start calling the Gwen Moore's out, and laughing them out of the political arena for their ineptitude. She is indeed a symbol for many people, it's just too bad that her career also symbolizes low expectations and pathetic results.

Poverty is bad, it makes bad things happen, and George Bush hates black people. That should be one heck of a community discussion. Can any of you actually believe that the Gwen Moore's of the world are the answer? Anyone who really cares about improving the state of Milwaukee is going to have to look in a different direction. Posing for the same tired, old holy pictures with John Edwards just isn't going to get the job done.