So, sometimes we all get busy and forget to check the mail. Yesterday, was one of many. However, while most of the mail wasn’t anything to write about, the catalog taking up space in the box was once a great source to look through for shipping boxes, bags, and things. I admit to having a tendency to go right to the back cos they sell what looks like random and fun or funny stuff.

Then there it was… a byline or whatever they call it. I was taken aback by the pictures of the late Ronald Reagan and his wife and then thought Oh shit, this clearly isn’t going to be good, and dang, I wanted to toss this thing out, but I just had to read the post, if not for the fact of being a Democratic Voter but for the new information given and maybe a change in where I buy supplies.

So, this post is just my opinion, but it was like reading what so many right and or extreme right conservative rich biz owners are doing … saying the quiet and unspoken thing very loudly.

The owners of this company have been a couple for years, but the wife was at one point in her young life, or as she states … politically active, she was very liberal during the era of Reagan. The byline she writes lists 3 things she misses or is currently upset about, and we can all agree, we miss some things like Democracy, and Equity, but, people should know overt Racism on any level is bad… she states that she was longing for days gone by, specifically the days during “the just say no,” campaign, “Three Strikes, and you’re out,” and for her, the worst thing for her currently, is the “No Cash Bail laws,” she includes quite a few criticisms about the laws and political movements of today.

While some or all of those programs were good attempts to redirect crime, and drug use… one must do some research into the effectiveness and impact of all of these programs on people of color. The other obvious thing would be to question the intent implied because the programs referred to were historically forced on Blacks by white privilege, who were clearly racists

President Reagan, a former POTUS, created the term “Welfare Queen.” !

The problem with the programs listed below is obvious… they only seem to be applied to People of Colour!

I am no expert, but, the “Three Strikes Law”, scared the police more than anything else. I have to admit, it seemed like a good idea that could decrease or eliminate recidivism. Apparently, not only did it not work, it did the opposite of what seemed to be the intended purpose…and yep, that depends on who was creating this law, but deterring crime and violence seemed directed only at black and brown men. The research found that innocent people, mostly people of colour were caught up, among other things, in a horrible web of making it fit… and wanting to lock folks up when they should have been asking… does the crime fit the punishment. Unfortunately, juries and judges were handing out a disproportionate amount of charges to people of colour and longer sentences even if the time given didn’t fit the crime, while white folks were getting less or little time for the same crime.

“D.A.R.E” might have been the program that started the School to Jail pipeline. It definitely brought cops into the classroom and unfortunately, certain kids were targets, mostly black and brown kids.

As for the, “No Cash Bail” law; the results are still not clear if, in fact, folks are re-offending more often or if it has managed to keep the discrimination down that allowed folks with money to get out while making the poor and possibly not guilty, stay behind bars.

Bottom line:

This somewhat liberal voter will not be ordering from their catalog… again. I am only one of thousands or more who were sent this catalog and while I have no idea what their value is in the marketplace, it is very important to research the companies you want to do business with…

• Nativegrl77