As a lot of you understand, I’ve by no means been one to tug punches with regards to critiquing politicians, no matter their celebration affiliation. Trump, Biden, Harris – they’ve all felt the sting of my keyboard at one level or one other. Why? As a result of for my part, they’re all taking part in the identical sport, dancing to the tune of their donors slightly than genuinely serving the American individuals.
At present, we’re turning our discerning gaze in the direction of Vice President Kamala Harris and her newest marketing campaign promise. Particularly, we’re dissecting her try and woo younger Black male voters with guarantees of hashish reform and financial alternatives. Now, do not get me flawed – these are essential points that deserve consideration. However there’s one thing concerning the timing and presentation that is obtained my bullshit detector working additional time.
Let’s be actual for a second. Harris’s assist amongst Black voters, particularly younger Black males, has been surprisingly low in comparison with her predecessors. It is a development that is been worrying Democratic strategists, and this new “Alternative Agenda” looks like a calculated response to these polling numbers.
Whereas I wish to consider within the sincerity of Harris’s newfound ardour for these points, I am unable to assist however see it as a basic case of political pandering. It is the form of transfer that treats voters as monolithic blocks slightly than people with various considerations and aspirations.
So, buckle up, expensive readers. We’re about to embark on a journey to unmask what I am calling “The Black Pander.” We’ll discover why counting on racial points and stereotypical assumptions might be the worst strategy to achieve reputation in a presidential marketing campaign. It is time to lower by the smoke and mirrors and get to the center of what is actually occurring right here.
let’s dive into this “Alternative Agenda” and see what Kamala Harris is serving as much as younger Black males. On the floor, it is a smorgasbord of guarantees aimed toward addressing financial disparities and creating pathways to success for Black Individuals. However as we peel again the layers, we would discover it is extra reheated leftovers than a contemporary, nourishing meal.
The final gist of the Alternative Agenda is to supply Black males with instruments to “construct wealth, assist their households, and lead of their communities.” It is a noble purpose, to make sure, however one which’s been trotted out by politicians time and time once more. The plan touches on numerous areas together with entrepreneurship, schooling, healthcare, and felony justice reform.
Let us take a look at a few of the key guarantees:
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Offering 1 million forgivable loans of as much as $20,000 to Black entrepreneurs and others going through obstacles to beginning or rising a enterprise.
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Increasing pathways for Black males to safe good-paying jobs in high-demand industries.
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Supporting a regulatory framework for cryptocurrency and digital property to guard Black buyers.
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Legalizing leisure marijuana on the federal stage and creating alternatives for Black Individuals within the hashish trade.
Now, let’s hear it straight from the horse’s mouth. The agenda states, “Vice President Harris is aware of that Black males have lengthy felt that too usually their voice in our political course of has gone unheard and that there’s a lot untapped ambition and management inside the Black male neighborhood.”
On the subject of schooling, the plan guarantees to “construct a pipeline of Black male academics, together with by investing in applications underneath the Division of Schooling, which Trump desires to eradicate, to collaborate with Traditionally Black Schools and Universities (HBCUs) and Minority Serving Establishments (MSIs).”
One significantly intriguing facet of the agenda is Harris’s stance on digital currencies. The plan states, “Greater than 20% of Black Individuals personal or have owned cryptocurrency property. Vice President Harris appreciates the methods during which new applied sciences can broaden entry to banking and monetary companies.” It goes on to vow a regulatory framework to guard Black males and others who take part on this market.
Now, I am all for monetary inclusion and defending buyers. However I am unable to assist however elevate an eyebrow on the particular give attention to cryptocurrency in a plan concentrating on Black males. It feels a bit like pandering to stereotypes slightly than addressing elementary financial points.
As for the promise to legalize marijuana federally, nicely, you understand I am at all times going to perk up at that. The agenda states Harris will “break down unjust authorized obstacles that maintain Black males and different Individuals again by legalizing marijuana nationally, working with Congress to make sure that the secure cultivation, distribution, and possession of leisure marijuana is the regulation of the land.”
It is a daring promise, and one which’s lengthy overdue. But it surely’s additionally one which comes with a hearty dose of irony, given Harris’s historical past as a prosecutor. We’ll dive into that may of worms a bit later.
For now, let’s take a step again and take a look at the larger image. Whereas the Alternative Agenda touches on many essential points, there’s one thing about its strategy that does not sit fairly proper. It is as if Harris is making an attempt to verify off an inventory of what she thinks younger Black males care about, slightly than addressing the systemic points that create disparities within the first place.
In our subsequent phase, we’ll dissect what’s flawed with this strategy and why it’d do extra hurt than good in the long term.
hile on paper, this plan goals to empower Black males, it reeks of last-minute vote-grabbing earlier than the election. It is like watching a politician all of a sudden bear in mind they want the Black vote and rapidly cobbling collectively a want record of guarantees.
Now, do not get me flawed – addressing the affect of prohibition on Black communities is essential. However let’s not overlook that the Warfare on Medication did not discriminate in its destruction. Certain, racist cops used weed as an excuse to focus on Black of us for many years, however Latinos, poor whites, and numerous others additionally discovered themselves caught within the crosshairs of those draconian legal guidelines. By focusing solely on one group, Harris is lacking the forest for the bushes.
Furthermore, this race-directed strategy is a slippery slope. Whereas it might sound noble to particularly empower Black males, it inadvertently excludes everybody else who’s been screwed over by prohibition. Race-based politics is a harmful sport that usually backfires, creating extra division than unity.
If Harris actually needed to stage the taking part in area, she’d give attention to creating a regular of entry into the hashish market that offers everybody an equal shot. As a substitute of handing out loans, why not decrease the obstacles to entry? Create micro-licenses which can be simply obtainable by younger entrepreneurs of all backgrounds. However that might imply much less regulation, and everyone knows how a lot the federal government loves its pink tape.
Let’s speak about these loans for a second. A million forgivable loans of as much as $20,000? That is a possible $20 billion giveaway. Now, I am all for investing in communities, however let’s put this in perspective. Victims of pure disasters like Hurricane Helene and the Maui fires solely obtained $750 loans from the feds, and so they may lose their property if they do not pay up. Discuss a slap within the face to of us who’ve misplaced every little thing.
And let’s be actual – getting Congress to approve these loans is about as possible as Jeff Classes becoming a member of a hashish cultivation class. We have seen this playbook earlier than with Biden: promise huge, stall larger. It is a basic transfer that leaves voters feeling betrayed and cynical.
On the finish of the day, this Alternative Agenda feels much less like a real try to deal with systemic points and extra like a rigorously worded doc aimed toward securing the Black male vote. It is pandering, plain and easy. And I’ve obtained a hunch it won’t work in addition to Harris hopes.
Look, I am not in opposition to empowering marginalized communities or offering alternatives for individuals who’ve been locked out of the system. However true progress comes from inclusive insurance policies that raise all boats, not only a choose few. If we’re critical about righting the wrongs of prohibition and creating a good hashish trade, we’d like approaches that unite slightly than divide.
As we barrel in the direction of November, it will be fascinating to see how this performs out. Will Black voters purchase what Harris is promoting, or will they see by the smoke? Solely time will inform. However one factor’s for certain – this hashish chronicler will likely be watching carefully, able to name out the BS wherever I see it.
SOURCES:
https://www.cnbc.com/2024/10/14/harris-forgivable-loans-legal-marijuana-trump-black-voters.html
https://kamalaharris.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/FMfcgzQXJZxzLGgcKmSNQSXCRKXShwxJ.pdf
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