Stimulus efforts not enough to halt economic decline

Marc H. Morial

The news is in. In 2007, 1.3 million U.S. households faced some stage of foreclosure, up 79 percent from the previous year, according to the real estate Web site RealtyTrac. This startling statistic, coupled with declines in housing starts and sales, explains to some extent why our nation’s leaders want as soon as possible to stem the tide of economic decline in which the subprime mortgage debacle has no doubt played a role.

In light of topsy-turvy markets and skittish investors, and especially in the midst of a competitive election year, it should come as no surprise that the “powers that be” would spring to action. What they ultimately agree upon will determine just how stimulating their efforts will be. Full story

The ‘wilderness years’ may now be behind us

Charles R. Stith

From Hillary Clinton’s campaign theme (“Ready for Change”), to the stances of Mitt Romney (which continue to change), to Ron Paul’s cash-strapped campaign (which could use some change), politicians and the American people alike have grasped that there is something different about this election season. That something seems to be personified by Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama. While many commentators, and now the Kennedys, see Obama’s magic as reminiscent of the Camelot era, I would suggest that what we’re seeing has even broader implications than the Kennedy connection.

As I have watched the Obama phenomenon unfold, it has become clear that there are many layers for examination. Beyond everything I’ve heard, there is something that has struck me about this election season — something that is allegorical in a biblical sense. Full story

Enough is enough

Andrea J. Cabral

Over the course of my career, I’ve been asked many times: Do you identify yourself first as a black person or as a woman? I’ve always thought it was an odd question, the answer to which would depend on the situation in which I was called to “identify myself.” Moreover, it seemed silly to assess permanent supremacy to one immutable characteristic over another when I’ve always felt so shaped by both.

This presidential race has changed that. Because I deeply care about my country’s future and my gender’s progress in it, I have learned to prioritize. Full story