I know when I say this people are going to say it's expected. But, I ask you to read this post with an open mind. When Colin Powell endorsed Barack Obama, there were some (Rush Limbaugh) who took the attitude that the General's actions were expected. He - and others - ignored the well thought out statement made by General Powell and those, rather, to focus on trivial nuances. So, let me reiterate: I ask you to read this post with an open mind.
I endorse my father Krim Menelik Ballentine for the Virgin Islands Legislature from St. Thomas. Shocking, eh? But, here's why:
A Constitution has been written for the Virgin Islands.
Over the past few months, you and I have engaged in a dialogue about the issues facing the Virgin Islands - mostly surrounding "the struggle for self-government." Using that framework, together we have established a rough definition of "the true Virgin Islander." As we discussed, the true Virgin Islander is someone who is fighting for the VI and understand the role of a constitution.
Several of you made mention that we fail to understand the nuances of government. Yet, no one thinks the task should be that difficult for our leaders to resolve. Although we do not necessarily agree on how they should assert themselves, we all agree that our leaders must assert themselves towards an end of Liberty and Democracy for Virgin Islanders. We also agree that it is a travesty of immense proportion that Virgin Islanders are treated as second-class citizens and denied the right to vote in National Elections.
My father has been fighting for the Virgin Islands for many years. He filed suit for our rights as United States citizens (see here). This is what Yale Law School had to say. And although this effort has been - so far - unsuccessful, the effort was made.
Now I read this. As we see the Fifth Constitutional Convention extended without end, we are reminded about the fundamental chaos that exists in the Virgin Islands. (Frankly, as we read the news we are reminded of the chaos and corruption.) You may agree with the language in his Draft Constitution...you may disagree. But, we all should agree that a draft was completed that we could discuss. What are your thoughts?
This is the type of leadership that is long overdue.
While other candidates offer us fish frys and boat rides, my father is offering a passion for the Virgin Islands and the rights of her people. What is more important?
While we get "hung up" on Party affiliation, the people suffer. What is more important: Party or people?
No - I'm not asking you to ignore ideology. I am asking you to embrace ideology...an ideology that looks first to the Virgin Islands. We need Democrats for Virgin Islands empowerment. We need Republicans for Virgin Islands empowerment. We need everyone for Virgin Islands empowerment.
Don't you think that should be the primal goal? What do you think is more important?
We've elected smooth talking folk for decades, who either rape the Virgin Islands economy or preside over the pillage. Can you tell me a reason to vote against someone who is passionate about the rights of Virgin Islanders?
Honestly, I don't know. Maybe I'm too close...but, it seems to me that if 96% of you believe that Virgin Islanders should be considered Americans, and 91% believe all Americans should have the right to vote, and 95% of you believe Virgin Islanders should have the right to vote, then we must seek out those who will fight for that right. Am I missing something?
I can take critique, so please don't spare me - hit me hard if I need to be hit. But, I would love to know: what do you think of the Draft Constitution? Did you even know about the law suit? What are your thoughts on that? Do you think these things even matter? And, if they matter, what bearing should they have on defining someone's character and committment to the Virgin Islands and Virgin Islanders?
Let your voice be heard!
Answer the call: Virgin Islands for the Virgin Islanders...those at home and those abroad!
I endorse my father Krim Menelik Ballentine for the Virgin Islands Legislature from St. Thomas. Shocking, eh? But, here's why:
A Constitution has been written for the Virgin Islands.
Over the past few months, you and I have engaged in a dialogue about the issues facing the Virgin Islands - mostly surrounding "the struggle for self-government." Using that framework, together we have established a rough definition of "the true Virgin Islander." As we discussed, the true Virgin Islander is someone who is fighting for the VI and understand the role of a constitution.
Several of you made mention that we fail to understand the nuances of government. Yet, no one thinks the task should be that difficult for our leaders to resolve. Although we do not necessarily agree on how they should assert themselves, we all agree that our leaders must assert themselves towards an end of Liberty and Democracy for Virgin Islanders. We also agree that it is a travesty of immense proportion that Virgin Islanders are treated as second-class citizens and denied the right to vote in National Elections.
My father has been fighting for the Virgin Islands for many years. He filed suit for our rights as United States citizens (see here). This is what Yale Law School had to say. And although this effort has been - so far - unsuccessful, the effort was made.
Now I read this. As we see the Fifth Constitutional Convention extended without end, we are reminded about the fundamental chaos that exists in the Virgin Islands. (Frankly, as we read the news we are reminded of the chaos and corruption.) You may agree with the language in his Draft Constitution...you may disagree. But, we all should agree that a draft was completed that we could discuss. What are your thoughts?
This is the type of leadership that is long overdue.
While other candidates offer us fish frys and boat rides, my father is offering a passion for the Virgin Islands and the rights of her people. What is more important?
While we get "hung up" on Party affiliation, the people suffer. What is more important: Party or people?
No - I'm not asking you to ignore ideology. I am asking you to embrace ideology...an ideology that looks first to the Virgin Islands. We need Democrats for Virgin Islands empowerment. We need Republicans for Virgin Islands empowerment. We need everyone for Virgin Islands empowerment.
Don't you think that should be the primal goal? What do you think is more important?
We've elected smooth talking folk for decades, who either rape the Virgin Islands economy or preside over the pillage. Can you tell me a reason to vote against someone who is passionate about the rights of Virgin Islanders?
Honestly, I don't know. Maybe I'm too close...but, it seems to me that if 96% of you believe that Virgin Islanders should be considered Americans, and 91% believe all Americans should have the right to vote, and 95% of you believe Virgin Islanders should have the right to vote, then we must seek out those who will fight for that right. Am I missing something?
I can take critique, so please don't spare me - hit me hard if I need to be hit. But, I would love to know: what do you think of the Draft Constitution? Did you even know about the law suit? What are your thoughts on that? Do you think these things even matter? And, if they matter, what bearing should they have on defining someone's character and committment to the Virgin Islands and Virgin Islanders?
Let your voice be heard!
Answer the call: Virgin Islands for the Virgin Islanders...those at home and those abroad!
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4 comments:
SO you're Krim's son. Interesting, that's how old I am.
This is sobering. No, I was not aware of the law suit. I do find it very troubling that Virgin Islanders are able to serve in the US military and die, yet neither vote for President or be eligible to run for President. I remember learning about that in grade school.
Further, I generally do not think the US has a good track record with its colonies. Look at the per capita incomes of the British trust territories and compare that to the US territories.
However, and this is where the rubber meets the road. You can't have it both ways. The VI pays no Federal tax; its residents pay no Federal tax. The Federal tax is remitted to the VI as a funding mechanism from the US government; so is the Rum excise tax. Thus, while in spirit this document and the notion of self governance is laudible, the Virgin Islands is still on the dime and completely and wholly dependent for nearly one billion dollars per year to the U.S. government. That, my friend, negates any request for self governance.
Further, independence is a naive prospect. Look to your south and west at how hard it is to run an insular economy. You have to manage a currency, stand up a military, educate a populace and provide an infrastructure. In spite of spending one billion US dollars per year for 100,000 people (that's $10,000 per person living in the USVI!), the actual record of achievement is abysmal.
I applaud Governor de Jongh's efforts, but the situation he inherited is truly appalling when you consider the massive amounts of money spent. To put it in perspective, the USA has a budget of $2.5 trillion for a population of 320 million people. That's ~ $7500 per person. The USA has a GDP of $12 trillion. It is the world's super power and stands up the military needed by its hegemony. The USVI has a GDP of $1.57 billion, according to the World Factbook published by the CIA. The USVI does not stand up a military. You can't run a budget that's 2/3 your GDP and expect to be self governing. You would need to find foreign aid and we have. We have the best foreign aid source imaginable. It's not debt. It's not forgivable debt. It's not loans from the World Bank. It's a straight transfer payment from the world's hegemon, the USA! And, it confers citizenship in that best of all nations. You can not beat that deal, so I respectfully and wholeheartedly disagree with you on this one.
You're right - no one can have it both ways. And, Liberty comes at a price. But as they say, give me liberty or give me death!
You are right - the VI is wholly dependent to the US Government. Nothing about dependence is a good thing! And, nothing should "negate the request for self governance." That would be paramount to the slave who beggs massa to not send him away from the plantation because of all the "blessings of slave life."
So what: we will have more responsibility. Responsibility for ones own affairs forces one to think differently about circumstances and situations. That doesn't mean we must be independent...it could mean interdependence. But, that will only come once we - as a people - are able to shape our own destiny.
What you espouse is the same principle that leads to the perpetual welfare cycle that keeps families addicted to government assistance for generations. Now, while we don't want to head to the other extreme, we do want to liberate ourselves from a dependence that infringes upon our rights. Such dependence is fundamentally opposed to the Republican principles (as I see you - Mike - are a Republican). Further, the Constitution guarantees a "republican form of government," or local control. I know Alexander Hamilton was raised in the Virgin Islands, but that doesn't mean we must subscribe to his view that the Federal Government should control everything (sic).
The question is, do we remain "wholly dependent" upon the US, or do we begin to stand up as free men and women - capable of managing our own affairs? We can't let people scare us into thinking that means independence. It may - but it doesn't necessitate such a status. There are many other levels of status between unincorporated territory and independence.
Taxation without representation was a cliche term after 1776 when no one paid taxes to be an American/citizen; and, in the early 1900's indidvidual income taxes were discovered. Actually, the VI Government by accepting federal mirror tax system where they do not pay federal taxes is tantamount to paying the cost of a hotel destroyed by hurricane because we allow you to rent space on our property called the US Virgin Islands. Added, taxes must never be made a litmus test to enjoy American/citizen proffered opportunities; even birthright must never be reason to deny opporutnities; and, surely, the rich do not pay taxes because of our allowed tax write off system. Even citizens made by our assigned soldiers in wars overseas make citizens, with voting rights, with their interaction with prostitutes and non-citizens by birth of children who at 18 can declare citizenship with the US or their birth country. Take a rest and move away from reasonable sounding denial. Krim M. Ballentine
Also on the tax issue, I want to share this:
Governor Charles Turnbull of the U.S. Virgin Islands offered a proposal to replace Section 936 of the Internal Revenue Code with a provision that would be designed to promote investment in the territories. He also noted that, since the U.S. Virgin Islands tax code mirrors the Federal Internal Revenue Code, the territory often has difficulty shouldering the costs of Federal tax benefits such as the Earned Income Tax Credit for the working poor. Governor Turnbull offered a proposal whereby the Federal Government would share the cost of the Earned Income Tax Credit with the territory.
And...
The Governors addressed a wide variety of topics, but each requested relief from the Federal funding caps and local cost-sharing requirements that are applied in the territories to the Medicaid medical program for low-income residents.
So, it's not as simple and "beneficial" as one might believe. Check out that link and let me know what you think!
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