Geo T. Johnson, Executive Director

Abusive Power Respects No Borders

I’m blessed in a lot ways, including having family members who live in Zambia on the African continent, where I spent a month in August. It gave me time to re-assess issues that affect Africans and our folk here – poverty, access to health care, government accountability, and more. 

Right now, in the capital of this democratic country, we’ve got a mayor who arrogantly and routinely tramples two key pillar of democracy – consent and accountability.

Mayor Fenty’s administration does not consult nor do his appointees disclose. Now, a whiff of corruption is in the air, and Mayor Fenty just can’t seem to find the OFF Button to stop his tumbling political career.

Pay-to-Play in Zambia

Still, I can tell you – emphatically -- that I saw a government in Zambia that mocked accountability even more than the Fenty administration and fell in bed with massive corruption, taking the “pay to play” game to a whole new level.

Corruption has a more direct and profound impact on the Zambian people, because they don’t have a social safety net of public services to bridge disparities between the rich and the poor. Zambian kids regularly skip school to hustle on street corners to help their unemployed parents make ends meet. Corruption always steals the most from those who have the least.

The exception to this bleak picture was health care in Zambia (if you can get pass the fact that they don’t have ambulances to take urgently sick people to a hospital). Zambians, especially those who live in major urban cities, can get affordable, good health care – something denied to millions of Americans every day.

Affordable Hospital Care and Cost Get Thumbs Up

I can vouch for their hospital service. During my visit, I came down with a severe bacterial infection that put me in the hospital. Five days later, when I walked out of that university teaching hospital, I was healthy again.

Still, I nearly had “the big one” when I looked at the final medical bill. I couldn’t believe it cost me only $200 for all of the medicines and the tests as well as the fine team of doctors, nurses and other hospital staff who took good care of me for five days.

My experience in Zambia reinforced my strong belief that we MUST pass real health care reform now in the United States. I’m proud organized labor and our union, AFSCME, have been the backbone of the public drive for genuine reform of the health care system.

Abusive Power in District Government
Must Be Challenged

Many of you have responded to our calls for volunteers to attend rallies, make calls, get voters to the polls, and circulate information. You’re making a real difference that is visible. Don’t let up! 

After seeing Zambian unions too weak to challenge corrupt power, I am more determined than ever to confront abusive power in the District government. Abusive power must be collared because it preys on the fabric of community, stifles civic participation and breeds negativity.

The clouds are gathering. But under our umbrella of unity, as Council 20 AFSCME, we can and we will stand our ground.

Ever forward.