Women, Religious History, and Cultural Impacts

Economic Policy and System Money Flows

Previous blog posts have discussed inequality and the current changes being experienced throughout the American economy. I put together a simple graphic presentation of how I see the impact of economic policies and the money flowing through the financial system as it relates to the American populace. An actual representation is a lot more complex than this graphic depicts, but this does reflect the basic impact of the differing philosophical economic policies. I am open to discuss other interpretations and possible oversights.

Historical Connections? Part 2

The United States society and economy really began to distinguish itself during and after WWII. The war required change in social policy allowing the inclusion of all members of society to contribute to the build of necessary industry support. This inclusive policy also allowed Latin American immigrants to join the effort in the United States contributing to increased earnings distribution and wealth across American communities. The expansion of industry and labor (skill development) aided the economy during increased worldwide industrial demand from capacity impacted regions after the war. The quarter century or more after WWII redefined the American society from the church to the military defense build-up strategies for US interests to include all citizens and share economic prosperity.

WWII also provided the early need for integration initiatives ultimately leading to Civil Rights legislation of the 1960’s. Although serving in segregated units, the soldiers proved to be exceptional contributors to the US efforts despite fears of enemy cooptation. These fears were promoted within the conservative circles of the military contributing to the limited usage of the diverse manpower and reflected the prevailing psychology of Conservative protection ideology. Protection through the need for precise and insulated organizational structures; the new Homeland security developments; current forced adoption of order through war actions (Middle East); and an overestimated need to conserve capital resources. Many of the human projections were derived from stereotypical assessments as evidenced in the correlation among the social structure; community economic impacts; and morality definitions to preserve human ethnic identifications (DNA vulnerabilities).

Although I am briefly introducing the topic of stereotypes and impacts here, I plan a future blog post to clarify the personal assessment analysis connecting fraternal organizations and social relationships. My perspective is obviously that of a "Black" American male (w/ Native ancestry) growing as a youth in the American South during the integration policy introduction. I am relating personal observations & experiences, reading of history, and stories heard to eventual social outcomes. During that period of the 1^st generation integration, much time and energy was spent trying to prove against a critique of inability to perform [any task outside of manual labor - assumptive human capital value] ignoring the variability in relative levels and quality of education and experience of the time. The social integration resistance was supplemental to the efforts to prevent further sexual, racial interrelations by limiting the desirable mate trait appeals of intelligence and economic success. Current day impacts are the conservative emphasis of “family values” and the fallible individual morality related to sexual activity, particularly interracial. The Latino stereotype consistent with this labor social impact is the association with non-citizenship and “illegal status.” Counter to the promotion of prosperity is the moral fallibility design that is comparable to the Black church traditions/expectations to provide support and spiritual comfort for those actions deemed “short of God” by "decision makers" [with no mention of involvement, corporate influence, or Florida connections]. Moreover, the design reflects the American cultural differences with large, continental African family traditions. Given this history and traditional role, exploitation of stereotypes is consistent with activities indentified in the J. Edgar Hoover autobiography, The Man and The Secrets (ISBN-13: 9780393321289), of “political pressure” based upon documented sex lives (many stories that are not true) in files using tactics described in the 1976 Church Committee findings with relevance to current day internet technology.

Looking back at the 2006 Marriage data tables in my Gatekeepers and Modes of Incorporation and Integrative Social and Economic Systems blog posts provide at least one reason for the separatists' position (unless they are willing to admit some other human difference). Males outnumber females in the White and Latino/Hispanic racial groups by a combined 2.745 million according to census data. Black women outnumber Black males by 1.2 million encouraging further belief of the stereotypes. It appears the gender with the numerical advantage of greater mate choices tend to receive the more negative behavioral stereotype. The imbalance provides less incentive to stay committed upon discovery of deeper personality differences among mates not including social progress of equality and can impact leadership judgments in certain environments. The additional competition from others only compounds the imbalance in smaller communities. Moreover, the lack of available male mates support the dependence of non-married Black women on spiritual reliance of the church and emotional connections to its Male leadership (I give this perspective from perceptions outside the formal organization and have no intentions of changing positions or activity relative to this explanation). As with stereotypes and impacts, concept expansion of the church definition (and “God hierarchy”) will come in a future blog post. I am not sure how many others support my positions, but I do believe there are many others for varying reasons. However, my position is based upon constitutional rights, desired relationships of mutual agreement, partnership and definitely not for any fraternal (“family”) manipulative, sexually exploitative use of women.

The 1^st generation of adults to integrate U.S. society after legal changes for inclusion now views the next generation partially through the lenses of personal experiences of required compromises for career advancement and assimilation. During my youth, most of the adults within my sphere of influence developed careers within government institutions such as local and state police associations; fraternal acceptance; and military groups (Army, Air Force) where strict adherence to defined rules is the standard. Such societal strict adherence allows perpetuation of Hoover type activities. This next generation has grown up incorporating the policy of inclusion and freedoms without compromise of rights. These progressive, inclusive conditions and rights are expected within all social and corporate environments. Children are not required to accept ritual commitments of their parents particularly without full and complete explanation & understanding of the implication on expected rights and freedoms upon adulthood.

Corporate Financial Snapshot

Updated 7/10/2010: Corrected Industry Summary cell referencing due to company sort issue. (There has to be an easier way to coordinate these documents and blog!!!)

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During my introductory level business and economic courses, I can recall the professor referring to economic activity as “stocks” (holdings or inventory) and flows of money. I put together a group of spreadsheet slides to give some perspective of the cash flowing through the U.S. economy. The US corporate snapshot looks at about 60 of the largest corporations by revenue, taxes paid over the past three years and the cash levels reported on their respective balance sheets. Another group of analysis slides looks at the potential contributions of citizens to the church assuming a given participation rate of tithing. The third estimates the impact on the average American household using the previous 2008 mean income information for comparisons.

The reason for the comparative look was to check the political position statements relative to those in the best position to grow economic activity from post-recession levels. The Corporate Tax expensed percentage reflects the relative percentage of taxes paid to other operating expenses. If the tax expensed in the income statement was accounted as a line item of operating expenses relative to revenue. Given this adjustment, United Technologies is the company that really stands out as paying taxes at a higher level relative to other operating expenses (30% of revenues). (10/19/2010 Update: See related blog post of this date.)

These top companies were holding $3.6 Trillion in cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of FY2010 which is about 25% of US GDP. Below is a snapshot listing of the included companies and industry summary. Just for comparison based upon participation levels and because of the corporate confirmation role played in the US South, the American churches receive anywhere from $300 Billion to almost $1 Trillion in contributions from the American people.

Updated Document 10/19/2010 : (See post on politics and data manipulations from system intrusions)

To Be Continued

I am working on a couple of new posts. But, it appears that my Internet access is being jammed/blocked.

Stay tuned!