Author: Rock Hackshaw

I haven't published a column on Room Eight New York Politics for about six weeks now. Truth be told, I am politically depressed: that's all. Hopefully I'll be back in swing soon enough; since I am still intent on regularly contributing to this political-writers colony. At least that's where my head is in general, but my heart's in a different place right now, so I am reading poetry and literature to cover up the disappointment that is today's political landscape (local, national and international).

So last week, the state court held that the unqualified Cathie Black can become our next school's chancellor in New York City. Happy New Year!!

This should be a letter to the present mayor (and to all wanabee future mayors of New York City). Instead of just some political column, I could title it:“Start treating the outer-boroughs right; enough is enough”.

THIS WAS SENT TO ME BY E-MAIL RECENTLY AND I HAD TO SHARE IT WITH YOU ROOM EIGHT READERS:
Take this test and pass it on to your more literate friends.

This is what it took to accomplish an eight grade eduction back then.

Remember when grandparents and great – grandparents stated that they only had an 8th grade education? Well, check this out. Could any of us have passed the 8th grade in 1895?

Well, some people aren't going to like this column, but what's new? I think I have found a good female candidate for the next election for the office of Brooklyn borough president. If she runs and wins, then history will be made, since she will be the first female borough president of Brooklyn.

In 2006 we finally got a female NYC council speaker in Christine Quinn; and I know that for the forces of empowerment, inclusion and diversity, she fits two bills: she is also a lesbian. Fine.

It was written by a young Otto Rene Castillo: a Guatemalan born writer -now deceased.

One day
the apolitical intellectuals of my country
will be interrogated by the simplest of our people.
They will be asked:
“what did you do,
when your nation died out slowly;
like a sweet fire, small and alone?” 

I have been told that presently the NYC public school system has close to 1.25 million students. I am also told that only around ten per cent of these students are white; and that the vast majority are Negro and Hispanic; with significant East Indians and other Asians: in other words black and brown, and yellow, and red all over.

Before I go further with my political writings, I need to clear up a few things. After more than five years on these here blogs (mainly Politicker, Daily Gotham and Room Eight New York Politics); after numerous local radio and television appearances; after some of my political columns have been published in a few newspapers, and after some others have appeared in various other media outlets (particularly of the fifth estate variety); I need to openly reflect and/or retrospect.

Some wise-ass political thinker once said that “we get the government we deserve”. Another went even further when he said that “we get the exact government we voted for”. And on most elections nights you would hear commentators saying things like: “the people have spoken”; or that  “the voice of the people is the voice of God”; or that “these results are the people's will”. But are these cliches correct in terms of their deeper messages?

It's 5:00am. It's the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November: so even a grade school student should know that it's all about elections today. All over the country we are going to witness what is called the early “mid-term” elections. This is when a new president is in the middle of his first term, and voters get a chance to express their views in terms of the direction the new president is taking the country. History shows that for the new president's party the congressional results are generally disappointing in mid-term elections.