This has to be one of the most embarrassing stains to come on the White House since the President took office. A loyal non-racial employee is fired for talking about all people loving each other and coming together. Yet Shirley Sherrod was fired for being just that—a peace maker.

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Ms. Sherrod was fired not based on being a racist, but for a 2 minute clip on fox news from a blog post by Andrew Breitbart. What kind of government do we have that reacts from a 2 minute clip? In fact this government got so mad that Ms. Sherrod was forced to pull over and give her resignation over a blackberry phone. I have to ask this government is Fox News your DADDY? Over and over again this administration has reacted to a clearly right winged media outlet that has been nothing more than divisive and the main perpetrators of hate and race baiting of all Americans.

The White House is saying that they had no idea that Tom Vilsack was going to fire Ms. Sherrod. To that I say bull crap. This government knew and if they didn’t know that’s even worse. Either way if this administration has any testicle fortitude they will do the right thing here and say they were wrong.

As an American and as a voter I must say this is one of the most disappointing events I have seen since this administration has taken office. This is truly a teachable moment for us all. IF THE PRESIDENT DOES NOT FIX THIS, IT IS CLEAR TO ME THAT FOX IS THIS GOVERNMENT’S DADDY!!

I plead to this administration to do the right thing, admit you made a mistake, and give Ms. Sherrod her job back. Since we are talking about doing the right thing Mr. President, you should fire Tom Vilsack and make sure all the Black farmers who proved in court that America discriminated against them get their money.

Mr. President you are a great man, now be the great leader I know you are and do the right thing. I once heard a great man say, “I am not going to be perfect I am going to make mistakes but I promise you when I do make a mistake I will do my best to fix it.” Well Mr. President do the right thing here and fix it.

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Mel Gibson has made big news again for a racist rant against African Americans saying to his ex-girlfriend that, and I quote, “If you get raped by a pack of niggers it will be your fault.” With that line he may have angered millions of people. But I ask you is this Mel’s fault alone?

Then this week on The View Whoopi came out and said “I know Mel, and I know he’s not a racist…He may be a bonehead. I can’t sit and say that he’s a racist, having spent time with him in my house with my kids.” I must say this before I go any further if this was a black man who had said such things about a white man or any other race his career would be over. I do not believe this the case for Mel Gibson.

Click below to view our gallery of famous racists:

Whoopi just because he was in your home and around your kids doesn’t mean he wasn’t thinking some choice words about you and your family. Now many folks, including my listeners, would say, “Whoopi, he used the N- word, it is clear that he is a racist.”

Now let me make this clear before I go on: I do believe that Mel Gibson and many other Americans have hidden racial tensions against other races but, I ask how much of a role the media plays in that? Let’s look at the statement Mel Gibson made “If you get raped by a pack of niggers it will be your fault.”

As a black man who grew up in the hood in Chicago I must say that I have never seen a pack of black men walking or riding around looking to gang rape a woman. The mere fact that Gibson would make such a statement tells me two very important things. First the influence the media has on us as Americans is so great that even the most affluent amongst us can be conditioned to believe a certain way about another race. Second Mel knows NOTHING about BLACK men.

Let’s look how the media portrays Black men everyday in TV, radio and print. In the movies black men have been reduced to either playing a thug, killer, drug dealer, singer, or any other role that’s has us as a cheater or a good for nothing bum. In fact Denzel Washington had to play a bad guy to win a Oscar although I would argue his role in Malcolm X was more deserving. The news in local cities shows us every night how much of a danger Black men are to the community and on the national news we are good enough to come on as pun dents but not good enough to have are on shows. Oh I forgot you cannot be OWB “opinionated while black” on TV because then you are an angry black man! And on radio in order to be deemed a success you must crack jokes or talk like a sex crazed person.

Now you may be saying Warren this is not always the case and I say don’t you see how we are being conditioned everyday to hate? We hate in this country because of race. We hate each other for religion. We hate each other because of class and education. Now ask yourself where did you learn all this hate? THE MEDIA that’s where.

It’s obvious to me that Mel Gibson has no clue about Black men with the statement that he made. For the record Mel as a black man we love ourselves and we are taught from birth to love and respect women. Most of us are very protective of women due to our relationships with our mothers, sisters, grandmothers and other family members. In our community one of the most disgraceful things you can do is rape a woman.

Now I personally think that Mel is just like many of us in this country. We think we have no racial distinction in us but we do we all do. It’s been planted in us from the first time we followed the media. Mel Gibson just has chosen to say it out loud.

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What are you thinking Chicago Public Schools?

The Chicago Public School (CPS) Board approved a $61,000,000 contract with Compass/Chartwells and several of the companies that sub-contract to make up the minority participation mandates, are “pass-thru” companies and brokers. Reggio’s Pizza, the only African American manufacturer of any food product for CPS, was kicked off of the contract after eight (8) years and replaced with a pass-thru company by Chartwells. The negative effect of this action will require Reggio’s to lay off about forty (40) African American employees, at a time when the unemployment rate is between 20-25% in the African American community.

Chartwells, a Compass Group company, has been charged with racial discrimination where eleven (11) African Americans in Philadelphia filed a $200 million dollar lawsuit that has been expanded to a class action suit involving 1,000 present and former employees. The Compass Group and its affiliate companies have been involved with bribery, bid-rigging and violations of the Sherman Anti-Trust Act.

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Further, when doing business with the city of Chicago, vendors and contractors are required to file an Economic Disclosure Statement and Affidavit, which presents another interesting scenario as to the legality of the contract signed by Compass, Chartwells and Thompson-Hospitality, as a joint venture partner for the contract that was approved by CPS beginning June 21, 2010.

Furthermore, there is an ongoing investigation by the CPS Inspector General, Mr. James Sullivan, at the request of Reggio’s, regarding the manner in which Chartwells and the Manager of the OBD (Office of Business Diversity) apply credits for minority participation, when obviously several of the sub-contractors on this contract are either pass-thru companies or brokers, and do not perform the work on the contract, using their own forces, as required by the Remedial Plan of CPS, revised March 1, 2007,

It appears to be extremely poor public policy, insensitivity or arrogance when CPS will sign a contract with a company charged with racial bias against its Black employees, when the Chicago Public Schools is 85% minority. There is a tremendous amount of anger and frustration in the African American community regarding Chartwells non-renewal of Reggio’s contract.

So again I ask what are you thinking Chicago Public Schools?

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The hypocrisy of America is unreal: Helen Thomas is being crucified by the media for her recent statement in which she said Jews should “get the hell out of Palestine” and “go home” to Poland and Germany. Now, don’t get me wrong I am not defending her comments but a lot worse has happened since President Obama has took office.

If we as Americans are going to call her out why not Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh and others? Mr. Beck recently said “This president I think has exposed himself over and over again as a guy who has a deep-seated hatred for white people or the white culture….I’m not saying he doesn’t like white people, I’m saying he has a problem. This guy is, I believe, a racist.” Yet he is still on the FOX news station and on the radio. Mr. Limbaugh said on his radio show that he wanted the President to fail. That statement only made his listenership grow. He also stated about Haiti, the disaster enables Mr. Obama to highlight his “compassionate” and “humanitarian” credentials and to “boost his credibility with the black community,” Limbaugh said.

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He also decried the White House’s promotion of charitable organizations through which people can contribute to the disaster relief. “We’ve already donated to Haiti,” he said. “It’s called the U.S. income tax.” Why is the world coming down so hard on Mrs. Thomas when there’s much worse being said about the President?

I will tell you why: because the world views the Holocaust different then slavery although they really are the same. In the Holocaust the Jews were locked up and separated from their families. They were killed and treated as in-human. Well America the same thing happened on the shores of this country and it was called slavery.

Our country has come so far to the point we elected a black man as the President. Yet we still cannot talk about race when it comes to black and white in this country. We see and hear everyday how blacks are still treated as less than in this country. We see it in the media not one station on cable or regular TV has one show hosted by a Black person that’s opinionated? We see it in the movies were Black actors have to play thugs or sex starved people to get an Oscar.

We have come a long way, no one can deny that, however until this country realizes that another Holocaust took place on its shores we will always be a hypocritical country and that’s why when an 89-year-old woman speaks against the Jewish community all hell breaks loose.

Again Mrs. Thomas was wrong but, if we are willing to give Beck, Limbaugh and many other Americans a pass why not her?

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I have read and listened to many different people give their take on the choice made by President Obama for the Supreme Court of the United States. And, after listening to both Republicans and democrats I realized one thing; THIS IS THE PERFECT CHOICE for WE THE PEOPLE!

Elena Kagan’s recorded speaks for itself: As a law clerk, Kagan clerked for Justice Thurgood Marshall, whom Kagan considers a hero and mentor. As a White House aide, Kagan worked on issues such as strengthening hate crimes legislation and civil rights enforcement. As a law school Dean, she worked to ensure a diverse student body and faculty. Recently, Kagan authorized the filing of an amicus brief by the Department of Justice and the Department of Education in a Fifth Circuit case, Fisher v. University of Texas. The brief defends the constitutionality of the University of Texas’ affirmative action program. In Lewis v. City of Chicago, Kagan filed a brief supporting African-American firefighters (represented by John Payton and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund), who challenged a hiring test used by the City of Chicago under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.

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Also, for the six years Kagan was dean, the percentage of African-Americans in the entering class was 11.6%, while in the previous six years it was 9.3%. During this time, the average number of black men enrolled in the entering class was 28 and the average
number of black women was 37, compared with 19 and 33, respectively, before Kagan’s deanship. Additionally, during Kagan’s deanship, the percentage of Hispanics in the entering class was 6.4%, while it had been 4.6% prior to her becoming dean. The average number of Hispanic men in the entering class was 20, compared to 14 in the previous six years. The average number of Hispanic women in the entering class was 19, compared to with 12 before Kagan’s deanship.

However, it’s not the record of fighting for equal rights that makes her the right choice. It’s three other reasons Kagan is the right choice here:

1. Kagan is what we want all Americans to be. Recently she was criticized for not being in touch with main street America because she went to the top schools in our country. The Washington Post’s Kathleen Harrington summed it best by writing, “…a New York City girl who attended a prep school, Ivy League colleges and law school — who once barred military recruiters from Harvard’s recruitment office and was an adviser to Goldman Sachs — can’t be characterized as anything close to mainstream America.” When did it become a crime to go to the top schools and work for corporate America? I was taught by my mom who was a single mom that education was the key to a great life and to try and go to the best of the best. I thought that this was a fabric in the American dream?

2. Kagan is being attacked from both the Republicans and the Democrats and that in its self tells me she is the right choice. We have a Court right now that for the most part decides cases by the parties lines in which they relate with the most. Kagan is an independent thinker and thus a wildcard and not under the control of a political party.

3. Lastly, Kagan will bring common sense to the law. As an attorney myself I have seen many brilliant lawyers forget to add that one key element when looking at the facts of the case and applying the law. I have no doubt that Kagan will do this just by looking at the decisions she has made thus far.

It is very clear to me that WE THE PEOPLE need someone on the Supreme Court who will be about protecting the Constitution and using common sense in the process. The Constitution is only 4543 words but we must always remember the words of Chief Justice John Marshall “We must never forget that it is a constitution we are expounding.” With the times we will face ahead legally in our country we need someone like Kagan on the bench for WE THE PEOPLE to have a voice.

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Lawrence Taylor has had a long history of drug use and trouble in his life but, this latest charge takes the cake. LT was caught in a HOLIDAY INN with a fifteen year old girl. The cops also found alcohol in the room—oh, by the way did I say he was in a HOLIDAY INN? Many of us remember this great football player and Super Bowl champ. It’s obvious that LT has demons he just can not break free from. LT is charged with third-degree rape which is a charge levied when the victim is under the age of consent, which is 17 in New York.

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The state statue reads:

130.25 Rape in the third degree.

A person is guilty of rape in the third degree when:
1. He or she engages in sexual intercourse with another person who is incapable of consent by reason of some factor other than being less than seventeen years old;
2. Being twenty-one years old or more, he or she engages in sexual intercourse with another person less than seventeen years old; or
3. He or she engages in sexual intercourse with another person without such person’s consent where such lack of consent is by reason of some factor other than incapacity to consent.
Rape in the third degree is a class E felony.

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This is a statutory rape charge which means he doesn’t have a defense if he had sex with the minor child. Looking at his past criminal history, LT if found guilty will do at least three years. Here is his rap sheet:
Feb. 14, 1986: Enters six-week drug-rehab program in Houston, stays one week.
March 20, 1986: Admits in public statement that he has received help for substance abuse.

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Aug. 29, 1988: Given 30-day four-game suspension for second violation of NFL’s drug-abuse policy for cocaine use.
March 1989: Fails breath test when police find him asleep behind the wheel of his Jeep beside the Garden State Parkway in N.J.
May 10, 1989: Acquitted in Saddlebrook, N.J., of drunken driving charges.
Sept. 20, 1995: Tries to choke a reporter after a Giants practice.
April 16, 1996: Driver’s license suspended for outstanding parking tickets in Newark, N.J.
May 3, 1996: One of 15 arrested in Myrtle Beach, S.C., for allegedly trying to buy $100 worth of crack from undercover police while in town for a celebrity golf tourney. Charges dropped when LT agrees to 60 hours of public service.
June 4, 1997: Pleaded guilty to filing false 1990 income-tax return and failing to report $48,000 income from the now-defunct LT Sports Club in East Rutherford, N.J.
May 13, 1998: Arrested in his New Jersey home in a roundup of deadbeat parents. Released after about 10 hours in jail when a friend pays $6,000 in child support and for an outstanding traffic violation.
Oct. 19, 1998: Arrested again, this time in Florida, for allegedly buying $50 in crack from an undercover cop and for possessing drug paraphernalia.
Nov. 2009: Arrested in Miami for leaving the scene of an accident.
May 6, 2010: Arrested and accused of raping a teenage girl at a hotel in Suffern, N.Y.

LT has already lost endorsements: Nutrisystem dropped him and others are soon to follow. Also, LT will now have to register as a sex offender. So I have to ask why someone with so much to lose even put himself in this position. Only LT and God know but now he has the whole world watching to see if he gets sacked.

The precipitating event of the financial crisis was the financial collapse or near collapse of several large financial institutions including Bear Stearns, Lehman Brothers, AIG, Citibank and Bank of America. The unsophisticated view blames this collapse on exotic financial instruments like credit default swap (CDS), CMO’s and other derivatives. In my view, these institutions did not properly analyze the risks in their portfolios; or they understood the risks but decided to take the risks anyway because of the profit potential. Since these institutions were sophisticated investors with some of the best investment analysts on Wall Street working for them, I must assume that they were not stupid. If they were not stupid, then they decided to undertake the high risks in their portfolio to make more money. The nature of risk is that sometimes, even with the best of information and analysis, you lose.

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A risk-free banking system is neither possible nor desirable. A capitalist economy needs banks to make commercially viable loans to businesses that are inherently subject to risks. If congress wants to minimize financial stress in the future, it should begin by seeing what worked in the past. I believe that Congress should consider several reforms.

First, Congress should consider re instituting a modern globalize version of Glass-Steagall and separate commercial banks from investment banks. The FDIC can guarantee the deposits of the commercial banks and the Fed can impose strict regulation on portfolio risks of loans and securities. This will protect the major commercial banks, retail depositors, and the basic (M-1) money supply. The commercial banks will be protected and would not fail. On the other hand, investment banks would be able to take whatever risks they want. If their portfolio is very risky and things work out, they can make a lot of money. If they misjudge the risks and things don’t work out, they would be allowed to fail. In order for this system to work properly, Congress needs to update Glass-Steagall for the realities of the globalization of finance.

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Second, Congress should consider applying the medical profession’s first principal “Do No Harm” to the financial system. Regulation always has unintended consequences. Notwithstanding the SEC’s inability to detect fraud in several high profile cases like Madoff and Stanford, it has done a good job imposing full disclosure on Wall Street. Congress should not saddle it with impossible regulatory responsibility to determine capital requirements, credit standards or approving securities.

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Third, we the people must start targeting our money. We keep depositing our monies into banks that continue to act in an irresponsible way. When you look at the last banking meltdown in this country very few community banks or credit unions where involved in the mortgage crisis meltdown. These banks and finical institutes acted responsible and not greedy as most of the major banks did. These community banks or credit unions are where Americans should bank this would force big banks to change their greedy ways.

Finally, Congress should not create a bank tax to fund future financial bailouts. This fund would create a huge moral hazard by shifting responsibility of solvency of financial institutions from their board of directors to the government. Banks that are too large to fail would have an implicit federal guarantee of their obligations and as a result a competitive advantage in raising funds.

Given Congress’ need to find a scapegoat for the financial meltdown of the Great Recession other than itself, it will no doubt make a least a cosmetic effort at financial reform to show American voters that it has heard their cry to immediately overhaul these financial institutions.

Ballentine is a nationally syndicated radio talk show host and writes a weekly column for Jet Magazine.

My entire life I have been hearing how the white man and the government are the reasons so many of us were poor, uneducated, and unemployed. Now, don’t get me wrong, I do understand that the holocaust of slavery, the unjust justice system of Jim Crow and the civil rights disparities crippled Black Americans in many ways. But, can we still say that today?

Click below to view GALLERY: Slavehouse to White House

We must take accountability for our actions as well. Today we have a Black man as President but he is a President, not the Savior of Black America. We have more Black millionaires then any other time in the history of this country. Yet our schools are worse than they were before integration. Our unemployment rate is higher than ever before. Our kids are killing each other like they were living in the old west. And we own almost none of the businesses in our communities. Is this what Dr. King gave his life for? Is this what Thurgood Marshall fought for?

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Why is this all happening now? Lack of ACCOUNTABILITY in our RACE. We blindly support singers, actors, rappers, and athletes to the point that we make them gods. We spend our last dime supporting them but do they support us? How hard would it be for ten or twenty of them to come together and buy properties in cities and towns and open up businesses and trade schools? Where are the Dick Gregory’s, Muhammad Ali’s, Bill Russell’s, and Jim Brown’s of this generation?

I know some of you will say, “Warren these folks don’t owe us a thing. Why do we keep asking for handouts?” To you I say a great majority of these stars voted for our current President. And his message is clear: That we have a duty to the greater good of all rather than a small few. And what I am proposing isn’t a handout at all. I am not asking for fish, I am asking them to teach us how to fish.

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If a group did this it would allow people the chance to save their homes. Help keep our children off of drugs and out of the black hole that a majority of them seem to be in. It would help destroy the process that most of our kids and (many parents) seem to think that the only way to be successful is to be a rapper or ball player. It would help fund the education of theses children to the point that the schools would truly be equal not just integrated.

ACCOUNTABILITY!! We must change this stupid no snitch rule in our communities. We must call the cops on our kids who are on the corners selling dope. We must stop blaming the white man for all the ills of Black America. We must stop all these town halls and State of Black America meetings. And we must stop supporting these singers, actors, rappers, and athletes who don’t do anything for us.

If you continue your current path Black America well Shame on you.

For weeks now I have sat back and watched how many people in the media have used different code words when describing the president and many issues involving African people. I am writing this open letter today to ask you to honest with your thoughts. Many of you are using code words such as: Communist, Socialist, Marxist or other phrases such as “we want our country back”. This is letter is to ask you to say what you really mean…And that is you don’t want a Black man in the White House.

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Many Americans of Caucasian descent listen to and follow Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh on an every day basis. These are some of the main perpetrators of this code language involving the President and many African Americans in this country. I issue this challenge to the three stogies and any of their counter parts to a presidential style debate on the issues.

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When I hear the code words that you all are using such as: We want our country back, isn’t this all of our country? If my history is correct my ancestors helped to create this country as we know it today. Even in slavery time we created inventions and a work force that fueled the economic development of this country. So whose country is it anyway? Some of you make the argument that we need to get back to the constitution, what the framers of the constitution had in mind. Again, if my history is correct the framers never had the poor or the blacks in mind when they were framing the constitution. So I ask you again, stop speaking in code and just say what you feel. You cannot take a black man being president of the United States.

Furthermore, I often wonder, are the powers that be in the media trying to stir this hatred in our country for our president? When I look at the television I see no African Americans with a show like either of the three above or any show that is an opinion based show. Surely there is some qualified African American who could combine political facts with opinions.

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Unlike you I will not speak in code. I think you are idiots, I think you are uneducated and I think you are a stain on the face of America. For the hatred that you teach and spew is even a disgrace for your ancestors to look at. Now if any of you have the testicular fortitude to answer my challenge to debate or say what you really mean I eagerly look forward to that day.

Sincerely,

One who speaks what he means

What is involuntary manslaughter? What is the definition of involuntary manslaughter? Conrad Murray’s involuntary manslaughter charge has people asking what exactly is at stake now for the former doctor of Michael Jackson.

Murray, 56, was charge by the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office with involuntary manslaughter in the death of Michael Jackson last year. The charge read that Murray “did unlawfully, and without malice, kill Michael Joseph Jackson.”

RELATED: Conrad Murray Charged With Involuntary Manslaughter For MJ’s Death

The Los Angeles Coroner’s office ruled Jackson’s death a homicide by acute propofol intoxication.

California Penal Code 192 defines “manslaughter” as the unlawful killing of another person without malice.¹ “Involuntary Manslaughter,” which is the least serious variant of manslaughter, gets charged when the killing occurs:

1. in the commission of an unlawful act, not amounting to a felony, OR

1. by way of a lawful though dangerous act, that is done in an unlawful manner or without due caution or circumspection.

When someone dies under any kind of “suspicious” circumstances, law enforcement officers and prosecutors are bound to get involved. Police want to hold someone accountable. And often times, as a result, they jump to conclusions or rush investigations, leaving innocent people to defend against false accusations and wrongful arrests.

Once again, referring to the Michael Jackson case, the Los Angeles D.A. stated in its complaint that Dr. Murray “did unlawfully and without malice kill Michael Joseph Jackson” by acting “without due caution and circumspection”.

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Prosecutors will attempt to prove that Dr. Murray acted with criminal negligence when he administered such a large dose of the anesthetic…an anesthetic that they contend is meant to be used in preparation for surgery, not as a sleeping aid. They will argue that a reasonable doctor in the same situation would not have administered this medication.

Penalties, Punishment, and Sentencing for Involuntary Manslaughter:

California Penal Code 192 (b) PC involuntary manslaughter is a felony. A conviction subjects you to⁷

• formal probation,

• a two, three, or four-year California State Prison sentence,

• a maximum $10,000 fine, and

• possible professional repercussions (if you hold a professional license).

In addition, California involuntary manslaughter law also addresses civil wrongs. If, for example, you are found liable for unlawfully causing another’s death in a civil suit (in a medical malpractice case, for example), you could face substantial additional fines.

This going to be a very interesting case from both sides. Do not be surprised if a deal for probation is cut. Furthermore, is this charge about the death of Michael Jackson or the possible huge lawsuit against AEG? Keep watching as I keep you in the know about the case.

By now, some of us are getting used to seeing footage of the horrific earthquake in Haiti. But there’s more than one reason we shouldn’t let ourselves become numb to those haunting images.

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Not only do they remind us that there’s work to be done to rebuild for millions of Haiti’s survivors, but they remind us that it’s time to be grateful for what we have. Our struggles with the economy in recent months have been real – but they also could have been a lot worse. Most Americans are in debt and millions are unemployed, in danger of losing their homes to foreclosure or both. That’s no picnic, to be sure. But the truth is, most of us will go home to a hot meal and running water tonight. Most of us will have a roof over our head, whether we own or rent. And most of us will go home to our families. Most Haitians can’t say the same.

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I know getting out of debt is no easy task. If it was, we’d all be rich – or at least financially stable. But unlike the weather or geography, debt is something within our control.

The more of our debt we pay off each month, the less we’ll owe in the future. Not sure where to get the money to put towards your debt? It’s probably easier than you think. Nearly all of us have some hidden costs, whether it’s the DVD rental service we don’t really use or the fancy coffee drinks we buy. By making simple changes like buying generic brands, eating out less or cutting out some cable channels, you might save enough to start making a dent in your debt. If you can’t bear to completely cut anything out, try reducing your consumption.

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These past couple years have been rough economically, but it’s nothing from which we can’t recover. Some of us can afford to donate part of our paycheck – however small – to help the Haitian people. For those of us who can’t, though, maybe the best we can do is to take care of our own finances so that in the future, we’ll be better able to help ourselves – and others.

We often hear about how we shouldn’t rely so much on credit. But rarely do we hear the other side of the story – the fact that many of us could no longer qualify for more credit if we wanted it.

Just a few years ago, lenders were handing credit out like candy – in the mailbox, at stores, on college campuses and through subprime mortgages. Heck, I even know 5-year-olds who were offered credit cards through the mail. But if banks are at fault for giving out credit consumers couldn’t afford, we have to take some blame for spending what we couldn’t afford. Many folks (myself included) once used that credit as an excuse to spend more than we earned. The end result? An economic meltdown that’s caused consumers to default on their debts – and scared banks to get stingy with future credit.

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So if credit is so dangerous, what’s the problem if we have less of it? Because our economy needs some credit to get back on track.

Some lending is necessary for people to buy houses, get car and start businesses – the kind of investments that make the wheels of the economy turn. It’s about balance. We have to rebuild our credit enough to stimulate lending again – but not so much that we end up right back where we started, drowning in debt.

You might not be able to control the economy as a whole, but you can start by fixing your own financial situation. If you want to repair your credit, you need to show you can manage what you already have. Instead of cutting your cards up, start paying them off on time. You don’t need to use credit to show you can handle it – just keeping a zero balance is proof that you can manage an account.

Now, I realize that paying the bills is easier said than done, especially when you’re dealing with the situations that land most folks in debt – i.e. high medical bills, a lost job, car repairs, just to name a few. But by paying down debt, you can free up extra cash to help pay the mortgage, utilities, gas and groceries and all those other necessities. One of the most effective ways to do so is bankruptcy.

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If you’re in debt, you already have a form of consumer protection. It’s called bankruptcy, and it’s your legal right. Filing for Chapter 13 can stop foreclosure, protect you from creditors and re-organize your debt so you can afford the bills.