Contributing Writers: Azad Ali, Tangerine Clarke,
Nelson King, Vinette K. Pryce, Bert Wilkinson
GENERAL INFORMATION (718) 260-2500
Caribbean Life, N 10 OVEMBER 12-18, 2021
By Hank Sheinkopf
It’s a sure sign they got
clubbed the day before when
you get the email telling you
how good they did, how bad
the world is, how the other
guys are really criminals,
and that you should give
the email sender your credit
card so the battle they didn’t
win but want you to believe
they won goes on.
The U.S. Rep. Alexandria
Ocasio-Cortez e-mailers
were busy the morning after
the Nov. 2 election where the
nation overall rejected her
and the Squad and much of
everything identifiable with
them along with their word
valued survey research generated
rhetoric.
“In politics,” the AOC
emailer wrote,” it’s easy
to get discouraged. Losing
the Governor’s race in Virginia…
was a huge bummer.
But there were some huge
wins…”
Then she tells the truth.
Uh-oh. It’s not politics
she and her followers are
engaged in. No, it’s the
creation of a mass movement.
After that admission
and citing campaigns she
had nothing to do with, she
writes, send the dough. No
dough, how do the consultants
get paid? How does she
pay for the travel she and
her buds can’t shift over to
the taxpayers? How will the
mass movement keep growing
its mass?
Political scientists and
social movement observers
will tell all who listen the
story of Townsend. Quite
the fellow this Townsend.
His idea wasn’t to be posthumously
recalled by having
his name placed on
the front walls of the local
post office located near his
hometown, Fairbury, Illinois.
Francis Everett Townsend
had a plan. Every American
60 or older would receive
$200 each month. It was the
old-age retirement pension
to be paid for by a 2 percent
sales tax. You couldn’t accumulate
the dough. It had to
be spent.
People loved it. Townsend
Plan clubs opened throughout
the country. A national
social movement was born.
The result? Social Security.
The movement had achieved
its goal, and Townsend will
forever remain a post office.
Few remember him, and
when the battle was won,
goodbye social movement.
So it is with others. Progressives
boycotted grapes
because farmworkers needed
support. Farmworkers
are allowed to organize,
grapes back in vogue. Next.
President LBJ keeps his
word and passes the Civil
Rights Act of 1964. Nothing’s
been the same in the
battle for fairness since.
Anti-Vietnam War movement
finds its goal met.
Goodbye.
When the movement gets
its goal enacted, it’s over.
Now you understand the
problem of AOC and her
group of deep thinkers. Get
something done? The movement
is out of business. And
so are they.
So now we can explain
why AOC–who chased
25,000 Amazon jobs away–
voted against us by saying
nay to the infrastructure
bill. Doing nothing or doing
her best to make sure nothing
gets done is what she
needs to do. If something
happens the clamoring will
stop, the angst might end,
the curtain could drop on
her theatrics. She would be
forced to be a protector of
those who work and want
to work.
She would really have
to work for the people, not
for her movement. After all,
would we really want that?
By Dr. Dave A. Chokshi
Recently, important updates
about the COVID-19 vaccine
were announced—that certain
people are now eligible
for a “booster” dose. Since the
beginning of COVID-19, our
scientific understanding of the
virus has constantly evolved,
and many New Yorkers understandably
have questions about
this new development.
I would like to provide the
“who, why, and where” about
boosters.
Who should get a booster?
All three brands of booster
shots are available for many
New Yorkers—Pfizer, Moderna,
and Johnson & Johnson—and
“mixing and matching” of the
vaccines is safe. But who is
eligible for a booster depends
on the vaccine you originally
received.
At this time, the Pfizer and
Moderna boosters are approved
for certain people vaccinated at
least six months ago—specifically,
people who are aged 65
or older, adults with underlying
medical conditions (like diabetes),
and adults at higher risk of
exposure due to their job (like
health care workers) or due to
where they live (like nursing
home residents).
The Johnson & Johnson
booster is approved for anyone
ages 18 or older who received
at least two months ago—as I
did. Since “mixing and matching”
is now authorized, Johnson
& Johnson recipients can
get a booster of any of the three
authorized vaccines (Moderna,
Pfizer, or Johnson & Johnson).
There is limited data showing
that Moderna or Pfizer vaccines
could result in higher
antibody levels.
Why get a booster? The science
continues to show that all
three of the authorized COVID-
19 vaccines are safe and save
lives. That’s why getting more
New Yorkers vaccinated with
their first and second doses
remains the most important
thing. The booster adds another
layer of protection—it is meant
to “boost” your immunity. This
is particularly important for
people who are most at risk for
severe illness.
Where can New Yorkers get
a booster? In New York City,
booster shots are available at
sites in all five boroughs, and
for in-home vaccination. To
find a location near you, go
to nyc.gov/vaccinefinder. The
vaccines are free at City sites to
all New Yorkers, regardless of
immigration status.
Already, over 250,000 New
Yorkers have received a booster
shot. That means thousands of
New Yorkers will have stronger
protection from COVID-19.
They will be able to gather with
friends, family and loved ones
more safely. And for any New
Yorkers who are still unvaccinated,
I urge you to take the
first step today—join 6 million
other New Yorkers and get vaccinated.
It is our single best
way out of this pandemic and a
return to normal life again.
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Sheinkopf Speaks: The
Progressive Conundrum
What to know about
COVID-19 vaccine
boosters
Hundreds of protesters gathered and chanted in unison
towards the building across the street where Senator
Chuck Schumer resides. Photo by Tsubasa Berg
/vaccinefinder
/schnepsmedia.com
