One way South Side Drive Magazine helps guide our readers to the good life is by keeping you informed of important events. The most important events for our futures are the national conventions of the two parties. Earlier in July the Republicans held their convention in Wisconsin. August 19 – 22, the Democrats will hold their convention here in Chicago.
We commend our Mayor and join city leaders, our readers and advertisers and fellow media entities in welcoming delegates and Democratic convention-goers from all over the United States.
A very important item on the Democratic Convention agenda is the discussion of a document prepared by The Heritage Foundation called, “Project 2025” You’ll hear it discussed at the Convention, on the news, and on Social Media because of the big changes that it could bring. Over 200 former Trump administration officials and 140 people who worked directly for Donald Trump had a hand in writing Project 2025: The Presidential Transition Project.”
For instance, about 2.87 million people are employed by the Federal government, working for various agencies like Social Security Administration, Department of Education, Environmental Protection Agency, FDA, Homeland Security, and many more. Under the Project 2025 plan these agencies and more will be eliminated, and the responsibilities of the agencies will come directly under the President of the United States. African Americans account for a great many of the jobs that will be eliminated under this plan.
Who will replace the 2.87 million workers? Project 2025 calls for a Presidential Administrative Academy, which will be an online training program for potential employees under the rule of a conservative president.
Some agencies that will be eliminated entirely are NDAA, which is responsible for tracking storms and hurricanes; the Environmental Protection Agency, which is responsible for controlling emissions in the environment. Many climate change initiatives would be stopped and there would be an emphasis on the fossil fuel industry and the reinstatement of Arctic drilling.
All Civil Rights and DEI protections would be eliminated.
Also, unions would be banned African American Studies would be banned at all levels of education, and books and curriculum about slavery or Black History would be banned.
Abortions and contraceptives would be banned nationwide. Obamacare (Affordable Care Act) and Medicare, and all Medicare advantage insurance programs would be cut out.
There would be no more free or discounted lunch programs in Public Schools; Christian Religion would be taught in Public schools.
In the name of uplifting family values, the plan calls for the elimination of single mother benefits.
Right now, some states do not carry the death penalty. This would change under Project 2025, when the death penalty would become a federal law.
There are many more plans for new policies and laws in the 922- page document, however, we’re just listing some of the policy changes that would be of special interest to African Americans.
If you find these policies appealing, your VOTE can help make them happen. If you find these policies appalling or even frightening, only your VOTE can stop them from happening.
Whatever you do, please:
1. Make sure you’re registered, or register to vote.
2. Find out where your polling place is.
3. If you can’t go to the polling place on Tuesday, November 5 to vote – go to the Chicago Board of Election, 69 West Washington Street, Suite 600/800 and inquire about a mail-in or absentee ballot,
4. If you can get there in person, go to your polling place and vote.
The National Association of Black Journalists convenes in Chicago, July 31-August 4. Thus as we reflect on the Black print legacy here, we take this opportunity to acknowledge Dorothy R. Leavell, Editor and Publisher of the Chicago Newspaper Group (Chicago and Gary Crusader Newspapers). The Crusader, represents the power of small Black media entities, without which we’d be misinformed and misled. Join us in saluting Ms. Leavell, a publishing elder still speaking truth to power, and continuing decades of local and national influence.
