Let’s take a look at Democratic mayors

By Lou Major Sr.
Published/Last Modified on Monday, August 31, 2009 9:52 AM CDT


Now here’s an interesting question:

Do really poor people elect Democratic mayors, or do Democratic mayors produce the highest percentage level of poverty in America?

    Hmmm.  Something to consider.

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Taking the latest numbers out there, look at these cities with more than 250,000 population, the top 10 in the nation with the highest level of poverty

1.  Detroit       32.5 percent below poverty

2.  Buffalo              29.9 percent

3.  Cincinnati               27.8 percent

4,  Cleveland                27.0 percent

5,  Miami                26.9 percent

6.  St. Louis               26.8 percent

7.  El Paso          26.4 percent

8.  Milwaukee          26.2 percent

9.  Philadelphia        25.1 percent

10. Newark            24.2 percent

 

    So what, you say.  Yeah, so what?

It seems that all of the 10 cities listed above have something interesting in common.

    Detroit hasn’t elected a Republican Mayor since 1961.

    Buffalo hasn’t elected a Republican Mayor since 1954.

    Cincinnati hasn’t elected a Republican Mayor since 1984.

    Cleveland hasn’t elected a Republican Mayor since 1989.

   Miami has never elected a Republican mayor.

   St. Louis hasn’t elected a Republican Mayor since 1949.

    El Paso has never elected a Republican mayor.

    Milwaukee hasn’t  elected a Republican Mayor in 101 years.

    Philadelphia hasn”t elected a Republican Mayor since 1952.

    Newark hasn’t elected a  Republican mayor in 102 years.

    Dare I mention New Orleans?

    Is it just coincidence, or what?  What hold is it that the Democrats seem to have on our poorest in so many places across the country?

    Much of it has to do with the perception that the Republican party is more closely associated with big business, huge corporations and the filthy rich.         There are some arguments to be made for that belief, but it is not entirely accurate.  Nor is it accurate to deduce that those top 10 cities above fully represent all American voters.

    Yet, consider the undeniable fact that minorities who are in the lower economic mix of the country vote heavily for Democrats .  The wealthy, as an economic class, most frequently vote for Republicans. Exceptions abound, of course, colored by geography, history, gender and, who knows, maybe even global warming, these days.

The numbers are interesting, to say the least.

    Do they prove that the poor will always vote for Democrats in large cities?  Do they show that elected Democratic mayors in large cities are going to produce poverty or fail to reduce it?  Perhaps we need more than 100 years of political history to make a determination.  In the meantime, maybe it is time we had a czar in Washington to investigate this phenomenon and, if true, have a mandate declared that all 10 cities listed above have special mayoral elections next year in which only Republican candidates could compete.

    Now, that’s change for you.

Lou Major Sr. was publisher of The Daily News for 34 years (1963-1997) and retired as CEO of Wick Communicaations.

Comments

    old school wrote on Sep 18, 2009 3:46 AM:

    " Facts are stubborn things, but statistics are more pliable.
    Mark Twain

    If you can't win on facts use the race card. "

    old school wrote on Sep 17, 2009 7:59 AM:

    " Personal responsibly, self respect, the will power to get back up after you fail is all lost when you hold out your hand and say “take from those that work and give to me”. I am lazy, stupid or don’t care to better myself “take from those that work and give to me”. 1.7 million in DC to protest out of control spending and the race card is played yet again. "

    Q wrote on Sep 14, 2009 7:50 PM:

    " AriesTaurus,

    Great post!! But, it's no use....they still want us to go back to how the founding father's intended the constitution to be. Where slavery was legal, women had no right to vote, and God was expressly left out.

    And for those who don't know, only the first 10 amendments were the original Constitution...the original intentions of the founding fathers. "

    AriesTaurus wrote on Sep 13, 2009 12:28 AM:

    " Mr. Chandler, you should be elated as we elected an honest, competent leader to take us into the future! His name is Barack Obama. Neither "saint" nor "demon", the reference of such is offensive and ignorant in nature. "

    AriesTaurus wrote on Sep 12, 2009 12:00 AM:

    " Illegal immigrants fall under the immigration dept. They work for cash and don't take jobs that withhold taxes. Rent money is cash flow. As poor as Mexico, families are helping to support one another, that's what families do.

    The inscription on the Statue of Liberty reads...

    "Give me your tired, your poor,
    Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
    The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
    Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me.
    I lift my lamp beside the golden door." "

    Edmond Chandler wrote on Sep 10, 2009 3:57 PM:

    " ... It's interesting that I have not mentioned RACE in anything I write, YET the RACE CARD keeps popping up! NOR, have I suggested that EITHER the Democrats nor the Republicans have all the answers to our problems, YET SOME folks TRY to put me in the middle of each. ALL I WANT IS A FAIR SHAKE FOR BOGALUSA, LOUISIANA, AND MY AMERICA! I WANT HONEST COMPETENT LEADERS TO TAKE US INTO THE FUTURE! Is that asking too much? "

    Q wrote on Sep 9, 2009 3:48 PM:

    " Marcus,

    You can't argue with someone who's ears are closed. They will never understand, so don't even waste ur energy.

    Mr Chandler, I am a God fearing, Pentecostal, tax paying, hard working, successful, pro life, conservative minded wife and mother who would not touch the Republican party with a 10-ft pole. It has become the party of the white male southerners, no place for me as an African-American.

    Character goes a long way, and repubs have none! "

    Joe wrote on Sep 8, 2009 11:20 PM:

    " The comments posted here only magnify the problem with our country. Party first, country second. I'm no longer affiliated with either corruption filled party. Bush was a disgrace and spent like a liberal. Obama has alreay broken dozens of his campaign promises. The sad thing is that people excuse corruption as long as it's within their own party. You are no longer patriots and don't deserve to call yourselves Americans. As Rome did, we'll fall too! "

    yvonne wrote on Sep 8, 2009 10:33 PM:

    " people in this town need to wake up...white and black..black and white fighting among our selves.this town has a problem that's been growing since katrina.bogalusa is being invaded,yes i said invaded by mexicans,which i am sure the majority are illegal immigrants.they are taking away jobs,rental properties and other housing.yet you might say that they are spending the money they make here..but think again.i am a retired store manager and delt with them on a daily basis.they are sending the vast amount of their money home to mexico,so how is that helping bogalusa's economy? wake up citizens and demand whyourpolicearenotdoingsomethinkaboutthis "

    AriesTaurus wrote on Sep 8, 2009 9:40 PM:

    " We the people elected the most qualified candidate, President Obama. Mr. Obama is neither a master deceiver nor questionable. Face it people, all that are unhappy that he is president, are so, due to the color of his skin and not his qualifications. A prime example is today, he was banned in certain states from giving a speech to school children. If we can't trust our president to address our children, then who can we trust? Ignorance personified is what it is. "

    Edmond Chandler wrote on Sep 8, 2009 7:18 PM:

    " ... only in AMERICA! SO MUCH PASSION EXPRESSED HERE! I read all comments with intense interest and try to decipher their true meanings. At no time did I mention race, yet, I see it's ugly head raised. Is President Obama a saint or is he a demon? YOU are all right in one way or another ... PROS and CONS expressed here are always welcome, Folks. Keep on speaking your hearts and be heard! This is great! God Bless America! "

    Tricia wrote on Sep 8, 2009 5:00 PM:

    " Lou Major, if you worked for a real newspaper, you would have done some extensive research first! For the 10 cities you named, I can give you 20 more to fit my generalization. Simple- you are just that... you deserve no rebuttal! Mr. Chandler- I didn't realize you were in charge of judgement day. When the Republicans actually start living by the words they're so quick to throw out ( family values, christian) maybe I can get behind them. Until then, I say anyone with the least bit of sanity run far away from the Retardicans! "

    Bob Lawrence wrote on Sep 8, 2009 11:50 AM:

    " Oh yes, Simple. You slipped up and Identified yourself as a closet racist in your September 2, 4:02 posting. You said, "The U. S. has given minorities more chances than any other country in the world and they still don't appreciate it. They still want more."
    In that you defined what you refer to as poor people in your hate speak -- African Americans. You, Simple, are a racist who hides in a closet behind the camouflage of phoney words. Just come out and say what you mean, and mean what you say. "

    Bob Lawrence wrote on Sep 8, 2009 11:41 AM:

    " Simple asks if I am a racist. That is a smokescreen! I just say it like It is. It seems to me that quite a few people in Bogalusa cannot voice an opinion without thinking of race. You don't have to say the words. You can hide the racial slur by saying the "poor, lazy or unwilling to work", but you are thinking African Americans. The hatred some show toward the President just because he is black is totally out of step with the 21st Century and the national conscience. "

    Marcus wrote on Sep 8, 2009 10:57 AM:

    " Mr. Chandler, I think that President Obama is an honorable man , I also think that he is a good man, I am very proud to have voted for him.I will re-elect him in 2012. "

    Marcus wrote on Sep 8, 2009 10:46 AM:

    " Mr. Chandler, You are very wrong about the 2008 Presidential election, The election was decided by, the Un-decided Voters The Independent Voters, and The Young Voters of this Nation. "

    Marcus wrote on Sep 8, 2009 10:37 AM:

    " Mr. Chandler, You, and Lou can say anything that you want on here, but, any candidate the Republican Party nominates
    for the Presidency in 2012, and all the money in the world will not defeat Obama-Biden in 2012. "

    Q wrote on Sep 7, 2009 9:39 PM:

    " Funny,

    Didn't two of the biggest names in the republican party just get busted for having affairs? And,one confessed that his mistress was his soulmate in front of the entire world, while his wife and 4 children sat with egg on their faces. Then decided to reimburse his state taxpayers $$$ for travel to these trysts only AFTER it was brought to light? There's that family values for ya!

    I am Independent, and I guarantee that I have more family values in my pinky finger than those hypocritical Republicans. "

    Edmond Chandler wrote on Sep 7, 2009 7:44 PM:

    " ... "" Marcus,
    The Republican party represents people who work hard, pay taxes, believe in family, God, traditional marriage, small government, Pro life."

    Thank you, Marcus for daring to speak the truth! This is WHY bad people get elected! TOO many people want "something for nothing" ... "Let big government take care of me!"... WHERE ARE THE RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS? WORK is four letter word!

    ... exists on the local level, state level, Federal Level!

    ... and the people are the victims of their own making! "

    Edmond Chandler wrote on Sep 7, 2009 7:36 PM:

    " Lou Majors states, "Dare I mention New Orleans?" Ray Nagin really spoke his "true" sentiment when he revealed that he is a racist. NAGIN " At the end of the day, God wants N. O. to be chocolate." ... what a stupid thing for a Mayor to say!! It all began with Lynden Baines Johnson, He BOUGHT his second term in office by playing the race card! "Afirmative Action" ... straight from the pits of HADES! "

    Edmond Chandler wrote on Sep 7, 2009 7:25 PM:

    " Democratic Mayors ... Democratic Presidents ... same breed of dog! Face it folks, most elections are black against white ... always has been, always will be... It is so predictable. WHY CAN NOT VOTERS LOOK BEYOND RACE AND VOTE FOR THE MOST QUALIFIED CANDIDATES? ... and, where are all the "Good Guys"? Is not the electorate at fault? Do we not get what we vote for? Folks, there is no such thing as a free lunch counter! SOMETHING FOR NOTHING! THINK ABOUT IT! "

    Edmond Chandler wrote on Sep 7, 2009 7:16 PM:

    " It is a sad commentary that a very bad Democrat won the presidency! America is in serious trouble, and still Obama WON the election! He won by being "all things to all people" The "Master Deceiver" ... At least Lou and I can stand and tell all that WE DID NOT VOTE FOR OBAMA! Obama is giving away the store, folks... Can we elect a worse president in the future? Everything about Obama is questionable. GOD HELP AMERICA! "

    Edmond Chandler wrote on Sep 7, 2009 7:02 PM:

    " When Bush was in office, I prayed, " Lord, send us a Democrat! Bush is wrecking America" ! Little did I think we could do WORSE ... I'm glad I didn't vote for Bust nor did I vote for Obama. Let's hope Obama turns out to be a "ONE TERM PRESIDENT" ... we thought Bush was the worse president ever! Now we have SUNK to a NEW LOW with OBAMA! Can America survive 4 years of Obama? Worse yet, 8 YEARS!!!! God Help America! "

    Dee wrote on Sep 7, 2009 3:36 PM:

    " This is one of the most senseless/stupid article that I have ever read and I am a writer for a major newspaper. Can you just put any garbage in the paper and call it news. I don't know this Lou Major, but no other paper would accept this junk. What a shame and the undertone, wow. Just terrible! "

    Marcus wrote on Sep 7, 2009 4:23 AM:

    " Mr. Chandler, Your statement of 9/6/09, is very disturbing, The exact people you describe that the Republician party represents are white people only. I am a white male, but, im not that politically naive not to see what your statement represents. The Republician Party elected a Black Chairman to head their party, all this is , is a joke, and a sham, to try to get a part of the black vote, this will never happen, The Republican Party has never represented blacks, they never will. WE THE PEOPLE, Mr. Chandler. "

    Funny wrote on Sep 6, 2009 11:09 AM:

    " Marcus,
    The Republican party represents people who work hard, pay taxes, believe in family, God, traditional marraige, small government, Pro life.
    The Democratic party represents all the people who are against what I just listed. They like gay marraige, like abortion, like big government, don't care about marraige, don't care about family(Unless minority)(Votes).
    You know its true and I can prove it. Look at the prison system.(who's in it?) look at the minority families(wheres daddy?) look at the crime. (whos doing it)
    You will be very surprised come next election. People know they made a big mistake. "

    Marcus wrote on Sep 5, 2009 8:38 AM:

    " I disagree with Mr. Chandler, and Major, The Republican Party represents two kinds of people, older white men and women.That's why they got their you know what handed to them in the Presidential election. Until the Republican Party represents all of the people, and races in this country, it's going to be a very long time until Mr. Chandler, and Major will see a Republican in the White House. "

    Q wrote on Sep 4, 2009 9:36 PM:

    " You actually went there. I am crying from laughter. The poorest states in America are traditional "red" states. Federal money is given to the states not the cities, and cities are constrained by the decisions of the states. Studies have shown that red states receive more federal money than they actually pay out....and the blue states foot the bill. Amazing how Mr. Major tell only one side of the story. That's that southern strategy for you. I'm still laughing!! "

    Edmond Chandler wrote on Sep 4, 2009 8:28 AM:

    " NO SIMPLE SOLUTIONS! but, we know that poverty breeds poverty! Race and Gender and Party affiliation aside. Isn't EDUCATION, PRIDE IN SELF, HARD WORK, PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY the CURE? Unfortunately, MONEY and GIVE-AWAYS BUYS VOTES! hence, The present Obama administration won! When will America recover from the hang-over brought about by the idea that the Government can solve all problems? We are a nation of ":spoiled brats".

    Your comments, please. Thanks, Lou, for making us THINK! "

    Bob Lawrence wrote on Sep 2, 2009 7:35 PM:

    " Talking about Republican depressions coming one after another when the GOP almost totally controlled the country after the civil war, the city of Bogalusa's sawmill opening was delayed by almost a full year by the depression of March 13, 1907 under Republican Theodore Roosevelt and a GOP congress. Others were Black Friday of 1869, 5-year depression of 1873-'78, 1893-'97 four year depression, and in 1929 Republican Albert Fall was arrested in the Teapot Dome scandal and the great Depression began under another Republican President. There were smaller depressions in between these, and all were Republican. "

    Simple wrote on Sep 2, 2009 4:02 PM:

    " I have an idea. Lets give the poor people Medicaid, Section 8 housing, government check, school grants, food stamps, etc. These things will help them get out of poverty and educate them. Oh Yeah!!! I forgot they already get all this and have for several decades and they are still poor people. You give someone something for nothing, your training them to be lazy. Look at the projects, Section 8 housing, etc... The U.S. has given minorities more chances than any other nation in the world and they still don't appreciate it. They still want more!! "

    Simple wrote on Sep 2, 2009 3:40 PM:

    " Bob, Isn't it funny that nowhere in the entire column Mr. Chandlier wrote or the comment I made did it mention African Americans. But you immediately single them out. Are you a racist? The people are getting tired of our tax dollars being thrown away, or should I say spread around. Trying to bring lazy people up to hard working people standards. Its simple. "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country" "

    Scott Martin wrote on Sep 1, 2009 5:45 PM:

    " This column is based on a logical fallacy. Correlation does not cause causation, as Mr. Landry himself alludes to with his line about geography, history, and gender.

    Want some data on whether people fare better under Democrats versus Republicans? Check this out (it even has causation):
    w!w!w.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2005_05/006282.p!h!p (w/o the exclamation marks) "

    Common Sense wrote on Sep 1, 2009 10:36 AM:

    " It is incredibly curious that someone would make the claim that Republicans could help "Poor People". Give me a break! We have 8 years of leadership from the Republicans in Washington and we are in the worst economic situation in recent history. Create more jobs for all people just not the select few and allow individuals to be able to afford college to better educate themselves. Hmmm, now that would be change but it would help too many African Americans and Latinos, although there are a lot of poor Whites look around Bogalusa! "

    Bob Lawren ce wrote on Aug 31, 2009 5:52 PM:

    " Yes, and enough fertilizer makes the grass grow green. If we lump everything into generalization and blame Democrats and blacks for all the trouble in the world, maybe we can go back to the glory days of the George W. Bush administration or the GOP's golden years of the late 19th and early 20'th century when there were Republican depressions every few years. In the 1910's and '20's they shot striking rail workers, used tanks to drive veterans out of Washington, etc. Grand old Party? Fertilizer for discrimination, hatred, and fear I think. "

    Simple wrote on Aug 31, 2009 10:20 AM:

    " You give a man a free check he doesn't have to work for. Or supply him free housing he doesn't have to work for. Free food he doesn't have to work for. Tell him the democrats will make sure he gets these things if they vote for them. How do you think they will vote. Otherwise, if he votes Republican he may have to get a job!!!!!! Boy would that be a major problem. Democrats pass bills that supply the free programs so they can control the votes. "

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