Dee Sanford

DETROIT -- Marc Morial has been called a "true Renaisssance guy" who loves music and sports, but it is history that he loves, which has became the cornerstone on Thursday's DEC podium at The Masonic Temple. He calls this "one of the most important podiums to discuss" the economic and housing problems that has crippled both the state of Michigan and the entire nation. Here's where we are in 2008, he stated: a 2000 election decided by one vote; the 9/11 attacks that propelled America into two ongoing wars; Hurriance Katrina hitting in 2005 with a failed government response, and now 2008 brings us to the Great Recession since the Great Depression. Anyone of these events singularly could be considered the story of the decade.

(Note: Recession is where people are out of work, but business is still going, while depression is where people are not only out of work, but also out of business.)

Morial believes that American History is "at a crossroads", and like Barack Obama, it is time for a change for the better on how we discuss issues directly. "What we need", he goes on, "is to disconnect ourselves and not look for a scapegoat, and stop blaming others. What we need is a plan." The plan, he went on, involves four investments:

1. We must invest in the infrastructure of our nation. Money spent on the war should've been spent on investing of fixing water systems, railroad systems, etc.

2. We must invest in people. The power of the economy must rest on the people. There'd be no automotive industry in Michigan without this. We must invest in people through educating our children and training our teachers.

3. We must invest in a new system of oversight and regulations. We need boundaries, new oversight systems of regulations.

4. We must invest in a plan. We look to the federal government as our provider; we need an national government. The plan must be coherent.

Mark Morial

About Mark Morial

Though President/CEO of the National Urban League, Morial does sound like a politician considering his experience. Since the age of fifteen, he has started several companies as an enterprenuer. Born into a family dedicated to public service, he has been successful as a lawyer, State Senator for Louisiana, and Mayor of New Orleans -- the only electoral candidate that left with a 70% approval rate. He was involved in the Presidental candidacy the Rev. Jesse Jackson in 1983.

"[He] was a pioneer," Morial said. "Jesse was a door opener. He ran. He didn't drop out." Maybe he should have run for President, or better yet, be the running mate of Barack, whom he calls "a historic candidacy" from the "post-Baby Boom generation". Still, race shouldn't matter when it comes to running for office, he said, but about the issues and agenda of each candidate stands for. "I tend to take a feet on the ground view of politics," he answered.

Over the course of over half a century, our Presidents have made a New Deal (FDR), a Raw Deal (Reagan), and a Quick Deal (George W. Bush).

Now, according to Morial, it is time for both a Fair Deal and a Fresh Deal. Because economic growth and easy credit had been comfortable, he stated, there hasn't been warnings of a credit crisis. When crisis occurs, it requires change and thoughtfulness as well as asking how and why we came and got here. If you don't like our plan, come build your own plan, but you got to have a plan. We have to be educated on the economic choices we make, and it starts with our children. We must learn from the past and prepare for the future.

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