Oct. 16, 2016
Hello All:
Most of you never hear me talk about politics in 
my articles. First of all, I don't like politics period!!!! Even though I am on many of the "proactive" and "progressive" news entities groups, I DON'T WATCH TV!!!
As an Empowerment Speaker and unlike most of you, I am not easily swayed by all 
the GARBAGE that is out there on TV. When you allow all this garbage to fill your mind, you won't have room for all the good 
stuff in life and there is a lot of GOOD STUFF.
It's important for everyone to turn off the TV and become a business owner and educate others. You could write articles or books; become bloggers; get your own internet radio show; and get your own audience.
We are drowning in information but starving for real knowledge. We especially need to monitor what our children read and watch on TV. 
I went back to my "article's vault" from 12 years ago and found this article I wrote on Oct. 16, 2004, when I was 48 years old preparing to retire from the Customs Service in 2005.
This was before I ever became a business 
owner, when I was an activist and advocate living in Atlanta.
Not only was I deep into politics back then, but I was even asked back then to run for Congress and the Senate as both a Republican and Democrat, but of course I wanted nothing to do with such a corrupt entity.
The below article is so timely and relevant with what is happening to elections today. Hope you enjoy it and share with others.
The 2000 Election Was A Wake Up Call for Reforms
and Changes
Oct. 16, 2004
by Cathy Harris
Everyone remembers the debacle that took place in the 2000 election, especially in the state of Florida. For weeks following the November 2000 election, especially in the state of Florida, our nation was gripped by the unfolding drama of the Florida recount.
As you know Florida is one of the states where felons are not allowed to vote. Greg Palast, a British reporter exposed that thousands of black voters were disenfranchised in the 2000 election in the state of Florida. He visited Katherine Harris, the Secretary of State's office and exposed that her office deleted many potential voters from the rolls - stating that they were felons.
To find out more check out Greg's website (www.gregpalast.com) and book "The Best Democracy Money Can Buy." As you know Katherine Harris was later given the position of Congresswoman after she and George Bush's brother Jeb Bush, who was the governor of Florida, handed George Bush the state of Florida.
The Florida experience should serve as a wake-up for election officials throughout the nation. Some of the changes that the state of Georgia have implemented are early voting where potential voters can elect to go to voting precincts in each county the week before the elections. The state of Georgia has also placed electronic voting machines at the voting precincts.
While early voting will eliminate the fear of long lines on voting day, November 2, 2004, it's been discovered by those who work in the computer field including Bev Harris, who wrote the book "Black Box Voting" (www.blackboxvoting.org) that these electronic voting machines can be manipulated.
Diebold electronic voting machines are the main electronic voting machines used in the state of Georgia. Diebold is headquartered out of Ohio, where their owners, two Republican brothers have already announced that they will give President Bush the 2004 presidential election in Ohio.
There are many tactics being used to suppress the black voters in Florida and other states where law enforcement officials are visiting elderly African Americans, showing them they are armed by allowing their jackets to come open or their pants legs to rise to show that they have a gun. They are intimidating these elderly persons from voting.
Two years ago during the elections, white men pretending to be FBI agents went into black neighborhoods and paid neighborhood kids money to pass out flyers. These flyers stated that if you owe child support, or any type of ticket, you will be arrested when you go to the polls. This of course has kept many African American potential voters away.
There must be a greater presence at the polls. Even though over 300,000 new voters have registered in the state of Georgia - how many will actually show up to vote?
Voting precincts must be more convenient and accessible. Making these big churches voting precincts - only serve to deter potential voters from voting. Many times these churches will block potential voters from voting because they will not have signs directing voters to which buildings to enter, causing voters to become frustrated and discouraged. Huge congregations such as these should not be allowed to serve as voting precincts.
This time during the elections, we must be out in full force to monitor the practices of law enforcements. We know that voters are being stopped - racial profiled - on their way to and from the polls, which is a deterrent to keep blacks from voting.
We must have poll watchers at each voting precinct. We must have our video cameras, digital cameras, tape recorders, and report any voting irregularities to elections' offices, Secretaries of States and to civil right organizations - such as the NAACP, Rainbow PUSH and Urban League.
We need aggressive campaigns to register voters especially felons. We need to introduce legislation in every state to allow felons to vote. People don't understand if they were wrongfully jailed and not convicted of a crime, they can still vote.
A massive black voter participation in state and local elections is just what's needed. We need more courageous and visionary legislators. If we can't change their minds then we must change their faces.
Any elected official who doesn't have a plan for dealing with police brutality and racial profiling is not worthy of the office they seek. That goes for anywhere in America.
That means examples must be made. We need to from legislative watchdog groups/report cards on all legislators especially incumbents. Elected officials must be voted out of office over these critical issues.
That lets all the politicians who are left know we're serious. Sending incumbent politicians home without a job is what gets their attention. Then, they will come to us and ask what we want.
Some other solutions might be to form a Black Political Action Committee to make sure that black legislators get what they need so they can assist the black community. We need to have full time well-organized lobbyists assigned to deal with Congress.
Cathy Harris is a community organizer and activist. She can be reached through her organization, CEADA, P.O. Box 870555, Stone Mountain, GA 30087, phone: (800) 797-8663, fax: (678) 254-5018, website: www.ceada.com email: [email protected]
Today Cathy Harris is an Empowerment and Motivational Speaker, Non-GMO Health and Wellness Expert, Self-Publishing and Business Coach. She is also the author of 23 non-fiction books, including 4 health books and 2 business books. She provides webinars, seminars and workshops through her speaking and training platforms at
http://www.cathyharrisinternational.com and can be reach through her empowerment company, Angels Press, CEO, President, Publisher, P.O. Box 800511, Dallas, TX 75380, Phone: (512) 909-7365, Website: http://www.AngelsPress.com,
And most of you probably don't even know I have a political book. Remember in most cities you can run for office at the age of 18, if that is what you want to be when you grow up - a politician.
The United States Congress is comprised of 435 Representatives and 100 Senators. These two bodies are important because they decide all of our laws, including how to tax and spend your money.
How do they make their decisions? Usually their decisions are based on the views and opinions of their constituents or taxpayers, just like you.
Here are the ways for you to contact the Congress and Senate about issues that concern you. You can visit their official websites -- Congress at House.gov and the Senate at Senate.gov or call (202) 224-3121.
If you support or oppose the President of the United States on an issue, or if you want to let your voice be heard on any issue you feel the President should address, you can contact the White House directly.
Mail a letter to the White House:
The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20500
Call or fax the White House: Comments: (202) 456-1111
Switchboard: (202) 456-1414; Fax: (202) 456-2461
Doesn't it strike you as a little odd that politicians will take millions of dollars in campaign funds to run for an office that pays less than $100,000 per year? What is wrong with this picture?
The problem is evident. What happens when someone running for office takes that first dime in campaign contributions? They owe someone something, don't they? Would that someone have a special interest in the way that politician votes? Of course they would!
Might that politician be swayed in his or her judgment and vote a certain way, when it comes to making tough decisions that affects all of us, when he or she owes someone something?
Would these special interest people or groups want something in return from the politicians they helped elect? Of course they would, and they do! Wouldn't those millions of campaign dollars be better spent providing some benefit or service to the people?
Legislators must do the right thing and the people must demand it! We must learn to support candidates financially both before and after they are elected into office, if they truly speak for the people.
If we can't change their minds and they are not committed to being more courageous and visionary legislators, then we must change their faces and vote them out of office.
