September 2006

Special Event With Star Parker

Special Guest Speaker, Conservative Author, Star Parker

On Tuesday, September 5th, 2006, more than 200 conservatives had a chance to listen, laugh and cheer their conservative values as Star Parker educated and entertained The Conservative Forum throng. Star Parker took a unique path to her conservative points of view. Moving from a background of welfare recipient, she has transformed her life by discovering Jesus Christ.

In her 50-minute talk, she discussed the importance of faith, freedom and personal responsibility. She talked about a multitiude of subjects without using any notes. Her experience and skills as a public speaker were demonstrated as she wove the story of her life into scores of life lessons. She emphasized the importance of self-government and personal responsibilty for our own lives. She said that it was a moral obligation to be morally responsible with our life's decisions.

Star strongly condemned the welfare system that was created in the 1960's. She said it was directly responsible for the deterioration of the African-American community. She pointed out that 78% of black husbands were in the home as part of a two-parent family in the 1960's. Today that number is down to 35%. She emphasized that 70% of African-American children are born out of wedlock. While sharing a substantial number of important statistics, she very capably included a great deal of humor with many references to her past.

Star Parker proposed the "5 Steps out of Poverty."

1. Work Ethic. Develop the skills to become successful in society.

2. Markets. It is important that the government stay out of the way of enterprise. It is markets that keep the economy going.

3. Vouchers. When they offered vouchers in Washington, D.C., there were 40,000 applicants for 1700 openings. The money should be attached to the students, not the schools. The schools are there to serve the students. The NEA would have you believe it is the other way around.

4. Savings and Investments. She indicated that the Social Security System was broken, and it is most damaging to poor people.

5. Charity. Once we are freed up from the shackles of government programs, we need to be a charitable country. Star believes the charities in America do more good than any government programs.

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