Eric Wattree

The primary reason our government doesn't work, and the institutions that are supposed to be protecting our rights have become monuments to the maintenance of the status quo, is because We the People have allowed ourselves to become so distracted by the corporate promotion of social hedonism that the most ruthless among us have taken control of government.

Happy Birthday, Mr. President,

I’ve been a steadfast Obama supporter since the day he arrived on the political scene. It hasn’t been easy.

Re “Does West/Obama Controversy Constitute Airing Dirty Laundry?”

Young and curious, cruisin' the street, my partner and I, with life at our feet. Beautiful days of summer’s ilk, and beautiful ladies with legs of silk. Miles on the box with Thelonious in tow, playin’ “Round Midnite,” with nothin’ but soul. Miles was moanin’, Thelonious was Monk, our senses were spinnin’ — our top in the trunk.

Re “Obama: What’s the Difference Between Zionism and Racism”

I’m about to do something I generally avoid – discuss the collective nature of white folks. I don’t want to add to the disinformation disseminated by Black racists that something is more intrinsically evil in white people than other racial groups.

Unfortunately, the corporatocracy seems to understand Black people much better than we understand ourselves. That is understandable since they’ve had centuries of experience in observing our behavior.

• The greatest lesson in wisdom, intelligence, and class is the understanding that one doesn't corner the market on any of them.

Some in the Black community feel that it was a counterproductive controversy that was ignited after Dr. Cornel West called President Obama “a black mascot of Wall Street oligarchs and a black puppet of corporate plutocrats,” and said he felt threatened by “free Black men.”