Gen. Shinseki & Asian Ams. as Cabinet Secretaries

News: Gen. Eric K. Shinseki, A Japanese Am. was chosen as the Veterans Affairs Secretary. As the Army Chief of Staff, he told Rumsefeld the truth -- needing more boots on the ground in Iraq -- & earned Rumsfeld's wrath. Had he been listened to, the Iraq war and our nation would most likely have fared better.

Question: Is having an Asian Am. Cabinet Secretary important?

Answer: Before 2000, YES. Then, we wanted the historic first Asian Am. secretary for its symbolic significance. After 2001, NO! We are way beyond wanting a token Asian Am. Cabinet Secretary now.

In 2000, Norm Mineta made history by being the first Asian Am. Cabinet Secretary under Pres. Clinton. President Bush invited 2 Asian Ams into his cabinet. Mineta made us proud. He insisted on no racial profiling in airport checks during those emotional days following 9/11. At the end he proved to the nation the worth of his judgment.

Elaine Chao was a different story.

She taught us that having an Asian Am. cabinet secretary does NOT necessarily benefit our community.

Q: How did Elaine Chao disappoint or harm our community? Give facts please.

A: In 2001, 80-20 approached Sec. Elaine Chao about the apparent non-enforcement of the Exec. Order 11246 for Asian Ams. Her Labor Dept. was explicitly charged by Exec. Order 11246 to secure equal opportunity in workplaces for ALL Americans. She used various excuse to avoid discussion.

In 2005, 80-20 presented irrefutable data, shown at the end of this email that had been read into the Congressional Record by Sen. Tom Carper of Delaware. It showed that

"Asian Ams have the least opportunity to enter management and the slowest rate of progress towards equal employment opportunity, despite having the highest educational attainment."

She still refused to enforce the law although it was her duty as the Labor Secretary*.

Q: Could Sec. Chao be right and 80-20 be wrong?

A: NO. She could have held a public hearing to examine the merits of 80-20's request. Note that 16 Democratic presidential candidates including John Kerry & Joe Lieberman in 2004 and Barack Obama & Joe Biden in 2008 have agreed to this 80-20 request.

Her Deputy Sec. Steve Law sent comments intended to refute the our argument. Instead, when 80-20 researched to verify their validity, we found facts diametrically opposed to the comments. Why the Labor Dept. didn't seek the validity of its own comments before sending them to 80-20 was a puzzle. It seemed to suggest an unprofessional way the department was run.

For details visit http://www.80-20educationalfoundation.org./projects/equalopp_washingtonpost.asp.
Go to "6. Frequently Asked Questions," where 80-20 EF answered all the questions sent by the Labor Department under Sec. Chao.

Q: So what did the lesson teach us?

A: As George Santayana said, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to 
repeat it." We don't just want an Asian Am. Cabinet Secretary. We want

"qualified Asian Am. Cabinet Secretaries and/or any Cabinet Secretary who share our community's rightful concerns. "

Q: How do we ensure that the lesson learned will benefit us with the Obama Administration?

A: Ever since Obama's victory, 80-20 has worked hard to ensure that we have qualified Asian Am candidates who will share our community's rightful concerns. President-elect Obama's Transition Team has been most helpful.

Remember the past! Don't worship Asian Ams with impressive government titles. Such worshipping betrays a servile and feudal mentality. Respect them only if they serve the nation and our community well. Otherwise reject them.

Respectfully yours,

S. B. Woo
President, 80-20 Educational Foundation.

* 80-20 seriously considered suing Sec. Chao. We instead decided to go through the political process with presidential candidates which would be less time and money consuming.

View the full-page Washington Post ad (September 6, 2006)

Good news - a great Talent Bank

A great Talent Bank of Asian Am. jurists is in the forming!

In 3 days, the list of Asian Ams jurists expressing interest to be appointed an Article 3, life-tenured Federal District or Circuit Court judge already includes

2 supreme court justices of large states,
a Law School Dean,
a General Counsel & a Chief Legal officer of Fortune 500 companies,
a Deputy Mayor of a large city,
a Managing Partner of a law firm,
many distinguished law professors, and
many prominent lawyers.

The above is only the beginning of a FABULOUS talent bank of qualified Asian Am. jurists in every Federal judicial district, and of course every circuit of the appeals courts is forming.

Apologists used to say that the lack of Asian American Federal judges (Only 7 out of 875) was due to the lack of interest by Asian American jurists.

With your help, 80-20 is proving the apologists wrong.

In the past, Asian Ams might not have applied for such positions, because they know that good jobs are usually NOT available to them regardless of their qualifications.

With your help, 80-20 has given all Asian Ams the courage and the backing to fight for equal opportunity.

Cynics still say don't trust President-elect Obama. See Q4 to Q6 of President-elect Obama's commitments at the end of this email.

With your help, 80-20 trusts President-elect Obama & shall deliver.

Forward this email to your friends in legal professions. Ask them to send their resumes to President@80-20EducationalFoundation.org. Hurry! Don't miss out. TOGETHER, we can help make America "a more perfect Union."

Notice how many times we've said "With your help." We meant it. We need your help to win equal opportunity for us and our children. Visit http://www.80-20EducationalFoundation.org and DONATE. Thank you.

Respectfully,

S. B. Woo
President, 80-20 Educational Foundation, Inc.

Acknowledgment:
Woo's Foundation -- $7,000 Dr. Kenneth Fong -- $2,000
Mark Chen -- $1,500 Baltimore Family Foundation -- $1,000
Dr. Steven S. Ko -- $1,000 Dr. Mimi C. Yu -- $1,000
Dominic Ng -- $1,000

Commitment from President-elect Obama

YOU & A Talent Bank for AsAm Judges‏

80-20 Educational Foundation announced today to set up a Talent Bank of qualified Asian Ams to serve as Article 3, life-tenured federal District or Circuit court judges. Interested individuals may send their resumes to sbwEF@80-20.us. Forward this e-newsletter to your lawyer friends please.

Such a talent bank becomes necessary, because President-elect Obama has promised 80-20 Educational Foundation (EF) "to make it a top priority to nominate qualified Asian Americans to serve as Article III life-tenured District and Circuit Court federal judges, whenever such vacancies are available." Wouldn't it be a shame if the President is ready to appoint, but qualified Asian Ams couldn't be found? (See Q4 to Q6 of the commitment, at the end of this email)

About 50 vacancies already exist. Although the Transition Team (TT) is currently focused on filling cabinet and sub-cabinet positions, it will turn its attention to filling the vacant judicial positions. So hurry. Don't be left out.

The list of talents will be confidential with the EF. When needed, the list will be shared with the Transition Team or the White House.

The top leadership of the TT has committed that 80-20 will be "kept in the loop" regarding the nomination of the Federal judges. In addition, "We would very much like the input of 80-20 on qualified Asian Americans" regarding appointments.

80-20 has accomplished many tasks for our community which were considered by cynics as "impossible." So don't miss out this time. If you know Asian Am. lawyers seemingly qualified to be nominated as Article 3 Federal judges, pass this e-newsletter to them.

Finally, to do this job right, 80-20 continues to welcome the opportunity to work with national and/or state and/or local Asian Am. Bar Associations. Please contact sbw@udel.edu.

One of the commitments made by President-elect Obama is that "Two years upon my taking the office, I shall meet with a group of Asian American leaders, put together jointly by 80-20 and other Asian American national organizations to review the progress in adding Asian American Federal judges."

TOGETHER, we shall overcome the extremely paucity of Asian Am. Federal judges. Do your share please!!

Respectfully yours,

S. B. Woo
President, 80-20 Educational Foundation, Inc.

Commitment from President-elect Obama

A Warning! Don't repeat our mistakes

"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." -- George Santayana

Our community is unfortunately politically relatively immature. We may have an inordinate fraction of people who are really eager to get a government office without a commensurate sense of justice, integrity and obligation to the Asian Am. community.

Don't Let such people take over

We've seen such people in the past. When the community was in trouble e.g. the Asia Gate of 1997, they hid. When there was work to do e.g. winning equal opportunity and justice for Asian Ams., they were too busy. When we needed to mobilize the Asian Ams. in battleground states
to get a bloc vote for Obama, they sat idle. Indeed some of those folks were the same ones who got the entire Asian Am. community into deep trouble in the 1996 fundraising scandals. However, when there are appointments, these same people come out and want to take over. :-(

How To Learn a Lesson From the Past

I am not seeking any appointment nor will accept any*. So I don't have the turf motive. I just want our community to examine our mistakes of the past and NOT repeat it. It may be that we want to discuss

1) how our community allowed those mistakes to occur,
2) why did people hide and not fought for our community when things got tough, and
3) what kind of people our community should be supporting to represent us, instead of just letting the greedy and the selfish take over again.

We've had bad political role models

We have also had bad role models -- people who were in high government positions & who would not care if Asian American enjoy equal opportunity or not. They considered themselves the high class Asian Americans and are loath to hear our grievances. They should follow President-elect's urging: CHANGE.

Stopping the bad apples

Our community has politically matured a great deal, partially owing to the e-newsletters of 80-20 PAC and 80-20 Educational Foundation. But many of the rotten apples may not hear us, because they have such a different value system from the rest of us. Because they are greedy,
they are also very aggressive.

This e-newsletter is a clarion call to let these folks know that we'll not sit idlely by. They need to show their awareness of and willingness to address the grievances of our community first.

Do your share to nominate the good folks

Do your share to nominate the good folks. The best way to block the bad folks from getting office is to come up with our own good nominees. President-elect Obama wants an open government. So please take time to nominate the good folks. To write to the Transition Team, click on http://www.80-20initiative.net and then "Send your view to the Transition Team."

"People who don't work for good government deserve to be ruled by those are worse than themselves." Source Unknown

Yearning for you to do your share,

S. B. Woo
President, 80-20 Educational Foundation, Inc.

* An irrevokeable promise by me to the community since 1999.

Transition Team & Empowerment‏

80-20 Educational Foundation's (EF) press release of a few days ago reported to you that it has achieved its 2008 election goals. They are:

1) to help elect a President who shares Asian Americans' rightful concerns in equal opportunity and justice. Please recall the written commitment by President-elect Obama to the Asian Am. community through EF.

2) to have input into the Presidential Transition Team (TT) so that incoming high level appointed officials will share the rightful concerns of Asian Americans. 3 Asian Ams are in the transition groups (TT & its Advisory Board) of 28 persons. Two are top leadership of the TT.

EF has worked with the TT, and things are proceeding smoothly. In a correspondence with EF, Chris Lu, Executive Director of the TT said,

"The fact that President-elect Obama has asked Pete Rouse and me to assist with the transition planning is an example of his strong commitment to including Asian Americans in his administration."

One main focus of EF is to ensure that the next Secretary of Labor is committed to enforcing Exec. Order 11246 for ALL Americans. Currently Asian Americans are left out of the enforcement, unlike all other Americans.

When that law is enforced, YOU, indeed every Asian American, will be greatly empowered. The number of Asian American managers is estimated to double from the current 500,000 to 1,000,000 in private industries, universities, and the Federal government, over a period of 10 years. Let's assume that each promotion represents a pay increase of $5,000 only; the combined increase in salary income will be $2.5 billion dollars. If parts of that sum flow into the Asian American related businesses, every Asian American will benefit including those in Korea- /Japan-/India-/Filipino-/Vietnam- and China-town. Bear in mind that a rising tide raises all ships. Above all, we become equal citizens and will enjoy increased opportunities to contribute to America.

Our members are those who really made the above possible. Will you join them in helping 80-20 please? Thank you.

Respectfully yours,

S. B. Woo
President, 80-20 Educational Foundation, Inc.

Our real battle begins!

Because of you, Obama won & we are a giant step closer to enjoying equal opportunity.

However, YOUR battle to win equal opportunity for YOU & YOUR children does NOT end with Obama's victory. It begins!

Q1 in 80-20's questionnaire to presidential candidates Obama & Biden is:

"If elected, will you direct the Labor Secretary to hold public hearings regarding the validity of the huge amount of statistical data strongly suggesting discriminatory practices against Asian Americans in workplaces today?" *

"YES," answered our President- & Vice President-elect.

Rise, therefore, Asian Americans! We need to get ready for those public hearings! We need superb witnesses to testify before the hearings.

We already have

a US Senator,
a Congressperson,
a Former Dean of a Law School,
a scientist, and
a labor expert with EEOC experience

on our list of witnesses.

We need more, however. Again, we come to YOU for help.

If YOU know Asian Am. witnesses who have won court cases involving the glass ceiling, please let me know sbw@udel.edu . Those individuals know first hand how painful it was to be denied the opportunity to live to the maximum of their ambition and ability. They also know how punishing the court procedure was in suing against an American company.

Now these same individuals can be our community's heroes and e. Working with 80-20, they can relieve the 14 million Asian Ams. of that kind of pain & suffering, while making America a "more perfect Union."

A year ago, did we think Obama could beat Clinton and the become then first black US president?

If Obama can win, we can be equal citizens of the USA. All we need to do is "To sustain, plan well & be DOERS!"

If you have time, please give time. If you have money, DONATE. Go
http://www.80-20educationalfoundation.org./donate/donate.asp. Donation to 80-20 Educational Foundation is tax deductible.

Because of you, we will win the next battle -- "the battle of the public hearings."

Respectfully yours,

S. B. Woo
President, 80-20 Educational Foundation, Inc.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
* If you are wondering what happens AFTER we've won the "battle of the public hearings," please read questions 2 and 3:

Q2: If the data were shown valid, will you issue a directive to the Labor Department asking it to focus on enforcing Executive Order 11246 on behalf of Asian Americans, since in the past similar efforts have already been made on behalf of women and other minorities?

In other words, if and when we win the "battle of the public hearings," we'll finally get to enjoy the protection of the law that all other Americans have already enjoyed. Now do you believe that YOU have been and are still second class citizens until we win this battle?

Q3: Two years after you have issued the directive described in Q2, will you meet with a group of Asian American national organizations, put together by 80-20 and the Labor Department, to review the progress in extending equal opportunity to Asian Americans?

In other words, 80-20, being utterly dedicated to winning equal opportunity for you, has gained President Obama's promise to review the progress together. This review will provide the pressure for due progress.

For the complete reply, click HERE.

Feedback on "Racism: Why & How"

1) Many thanks for this enlightenment. It's very timely -- and I'm deeply grateful for sharing same with me. Take care -- and God bless! Ernie Ramos

2) Very good read. I recommend it to all. Zarrine Banerji

3) Your thoughtful article reminds me of a couple of things. In the era of the Chinese Exclusion Act, Anglo-Saxons were enjoying the Free Homestead Act, up and down along the Mississippi river. My relatives-in-law from Ohio to Iowa were telling me that they were given the property-deeds of hundred of acres once they settled there for five years. However, others, as long as they were White, could buy the same for a nickel an acre. Teddy Leung

(Note: The above is another example of earlier form of racism against Asian Ams. The current form is to ask us to meet higher admission bars in attending first tier university or becoming managers.)

4) I am often surprised at how Asiams can be racist when we have experienced racism ourselves. I understand when people have been victims of crime by other races, but I do not buy this as an excuse. If one of their "own" had been the perpetrator, would they say all people of that kind are no good? I don't think so. Christina

(A great point! S. B.)

5) Well Said!!! Kam, Chicago

6) Thank you for sending me the information. We have urged members of the One China Committee to vote for Obama. Tze-chung Lia

(Note: 80-20 doesn't take positions on US foreign policies.)

7) A fabulously well-written and persuasive piece!! Thank you. Ed

8) "Racism against Asian-Americans in this country is unlikely to be overcome, no matter how hard we try individually. Hopefully, with Obama winning the election, something can be done collectively to promote the course, at least as a belated start. And this is only a beginning. Even the Jews who have succeeded in integrating completely in this country still periodically like clockwork, remind the public of the evils of " Anti-Semitism " and . . ." S. Cheng

9) I admire your drive for fighting for our rights through 80-20. A small nitpicking, in the article below, it seemed the word "stereotypical" was inadvertently truncated as "stereo." Bernard Yang
(Thank you, Bernard. SB)

10) I am astonished that there is so much racism against the Chinese. The blacks and the Indians are treated better. Bush is right now giving India special privileges and many Indians are in top positions, but I don't see any Chinese. Frank

(Note: Having qualified Asian Ams in top positions is important. However, just having them, whether Chinese-Ams or other AsAms, in top positions is not. We've had Asian Americans in top positions who actually ignore or even betray Asian Am. interests. That is why we need input into the transition team.)

11) Truly appreciated your work. I am currently facing this situation and looking for a good attorney. If you know any effective attorney, please contact me. Sherman

(Note: An attorney's name was forwarded.)

12) How can I join your organization? I keep getting your newsletter this is a great way to let people know what their rights are!!! Please keep up the good work. Ali Khan

13) I totally agree with you. Parker

14) Bravo! Dan Feng

Combat Racism!

PS: "Racism: Why & How" was featured in "That Minority Thing," and was invited to "submit articles on a regular basis" by American Chronicle.

Racism: why & how

Racism is often created by the "Haves" to deny the "Have Nots" the chance to share power, good jobs, and good properties. All have two common features:

1) to deny power, good jobs and good properties to the discriminated, and
2) to justify the denial to "Have Nots", a persuasive negative stereo image about the "Have Nots" is created. It grossly exaggerates a perceived weakness of the discriminated.

Every race or group, with individual exception, has unique cultural mores. The unique mores of the "Have Nots" are grossly esaggerated and made into a universal weakness for all in the "Have Nots."

Here are two examples.

[A] 144 years after the declaration that "all men are created equal," white women were NOT allowed to vote. Reason? "Women are too soft-hearted and soft-minded to make hard political decisions." Today, having political figures like Hillary Clinton and Condoleezza Rice, people see through the fallacy of such stereo negative imaging.

[B] At the time of the Chinese Exclusion Act (1882), Chinese were considered to be of such low human quality, a law was passed to not let Chinese emigrants to the US. It was the only law against letting a specific race into US in American history.

During that period, the Chinese were called "children of darkness," "yellow peril," "pagan, almond-eyed heathens" and "a disgusting scab upon the fair face of society--a putrefying sore upon the body politic*." Today, the above seem so ridiculous.

However, another negative stereo image has been created against us. Asian Ams are "good work horses, but not capable of leading;" "timid even in situations when aggressiveness is called for;" "more loyal to our old countries than to America i.e. perpectual foreigners."

Our Own Ugly

The more things change, the more things remain the same. There are ugly whispers in some Asian Am. communities these days about the "lazy people."

Wake up! Haven't we suffered enough from that we now mouth such non-sense ourselves? Help to stop it whenever and wherever it rears its ugly head. Don't let such pass without a challenge.

Be gentle, however. Some of our merchants in Chinatowns and Koreatowns have suffered from unscrupulous people including youth gangs of African, Chinese and other races eating free food and taking goods without paying. Such incidents have affected their attitude. Tell them to work with 80-20 to rely on the political process to give them the protection of law that they need.

Respectfully yours,

S. B. Woo
President, 80-20 Educational Foundation, Inc.

* A PLACE CALLED CHINESE AMERICA by Diane Marks and Ginger Chih

Feedback on "Am. CEOs always knew"

This piece contains more than feedback to "Am. CEOs always knew it is unfair to YOU." It also discusses how the prejudices against us are to be removed. Best, it contains the timed-tested Am. solution to combat discrimination -- through the political process.

See the end of this page for the Obama's commitment to us which 80-20 fought so long and hard to obtain for YOU.

1) I greatly appreciate the work of 80-20. I have tasted the dirty water of discrimination and unequal opportunity. H.D.

2) You have a good point and we should fight for the fundamental right of equal opportunity. Bin Ke

3) This is really the most important issue facing the Asian-Americans in this country. Before we cast our votes in this Presidential election, we should at least, get a hint from the two candidates of where they stand on this issue. Our future hinges on their acknowledgement of That would be at least a beginning. S. Cheng

[An answer pointing to the solution]
Obama gave an unequivocal commitment and McCain refused after repeated requests/pleas. In approaching Sen McCain, 80-20 worked his fellow statesman in the Republican Party (Sen. Dan Evans and Cong. Mike Castle) and Asian Americans who have raised big bucks for McCain. But alas, Sen. McCain steadily refused. See Obama's commitment at the bottom of this email.

4) Thank you very, very much for the informative and interesting data. Ping K. Tse

5) You are absolutely right. If we don't take action the ceiling will never break even when there is an existing law that is supposed to break the ceiling for ALL of us. Helen Yu

6) I was very surprised to find that many Chinese Americans knew so little of the Chinese Exclusion Act! Please, if they are Chinese Americans, or Chinese living in this great country of ours, ask them to read it! They can go online to read if they cannot go to the library! Do you agree that America is getting better? No more lynching or ? What do you think? pc (Answer: Getting better and needing more.)

7) Thank you, thank you for doing this. Alice (An elected official in CA)

8) I totally agree with what you said. I have personally experienced it myself, first in private industry, then in the federal government, and then as a CEO of my own company, rubbing shoulders with other CEOs. I am retired now, and still keep busy with the community at. It is not that we are not aware of the statistics, but what are we going to do about it?

I may be biased, but from my own observation and personal experience, most first generation Chinese Americans do not know how to express ourselves effectively, do not speak English fluently, and do not articulate our points of view convincingly. I consider myself part of the first generation Chinese Americans. Maybe it is culture. Maybe it is lack of training. Maybe it is national characteristic. On top of that, we have professionals and academia coming from China and settling in the US on a continual basis. Most of their English language speaking and writing ability definitely needs improvement. Most of them do not socialize with and be part of the mainstream society. No wonder we are always considered as foreigners.

To take a positive step, I suggest that 80-20 and OCA organize some massive training opportunities and round-table discussions and encourage Chinese Americans' participation. We also need to nurture and encourage the younger generation, especially the ABCs, to excel in this area. They are the future of the Chinese American community. Harold xx

[Answer to Harold suggesting the only real solution]
I agree with you in terms of some of the "weaknesses of first generation Asian Ams," but respectfully disagree with you in term of a cure.

The blacks, the women, the hispanics and even earlier generations of European immigrants had social and language difficulties too. Such weakness, are easier to overcome than getting a Ph. D. which many Asian Am. are apparently good at. Such weaknesses could be overcome, when the folks know that they have a chance to rise to the managerial levels.

The only real solution is to win our equal opportunity through the political process, as Irish, Polish, Italians and Jewish did.

Will the affirmative program damage the quality of the management? Certainly not. Look how well managed are such companies like the Formosa Plastic (USA), Honda (USA) and Bank of Tokyo (USA). To be good managers, it take s a combination of communicative skills, analytic ability, work ethnics and business trainings, .., etc. Communication skill is NOT the only requirement.

To post your own view, go http://www.80-20educationalfoundation.org/politicaledu/posterboard.asp.

Warmest regards,

S. B. Woo
President, 80-20 Educational Foundation, Inc.

Click HERE to view an Iron-clad commitment by Sen. Obama to help us win equal opportunity.

Am. CEOs always knew it's unfair to YOU

Some Asian Am. were surprised to realize, after reading 80-20's Washington Post ad, that
"Asian Americans have the least opportunity to enter management and the slowest rate of progress towards equal employment opportunity, despite having the highest educational attainment."

After realizing those facts, they think: "Glad that 80-20 dug up the data and publicized them. When my CEO finds out about it, he/she will, out of a sense of fairness or outrage, be acting to correct it. My career future is now looking brighter."

Unfortunately, wrong!

The American CEOs knew such statistics LONG BEFORE 80-20 dug them up. They were well aware that "Asian Americans have only 1/2 the average chance in private industries to rise to the management, 40% the chance in the universities and 1/3 the chance in Federal government." Their "Human Resources Managers" kept them well informed of such national averages. The companies/universities simply follow the national averages in order to be "out of the trouble with EEOC."

How did I know about this situation? When I was a trustee at the Univ. of Delaware I called for such statistics and were so surprised to find that the U. of D's averages, broken down to races, tracked exactly the national averages. The same was true in almost all American institutions as 80-20 supporters began looking into the situation in their own places of employment, after reading 80-20's Washington Post ad.

Hence, if you ask for such data in YOUR company, if shown, the data will be right at the national averages shown in 80-20's Washington Post's ad below.

The very low glass ceiling over Asian Ams was NOT an accident. It was carefully managed by American institutions to be that way. YOU will continue to face the lowest glass ceiling, unless the national political system demands a change to equity as it did for women, Hispanics and blacks.

When your superior heap praises on you, there could be a knowing smirk in his head that says, "This guy may be competent in his job but he is politically ignorant and too timid to ever make waves."

Object lesson? Don't ever rely on others' sense of fairness or outrage to help you out. Rely on your own sense of fairness and outrage to demand equal treatment through the political process that this presidential election is all about.

All earlier generations of American immigrants, be they Irish, Polish, Italians, Jewish, and Hispanics, used the political process to gain equal treatment. Asian Ams are no different. None of us, as an individual, is powerful enough to cause that change. But united as a group, acting during the presidential election, we do have that power.

Don't bury your head in the sand. Face the irrefutable statistics shown below. Think about your children's future and act!

View the full-page Washington Post ad at
http://www.80-20educationalfoundation.org/projects/equalopp_washingtonpost_wpad.asp

Respectfully yours.

S. B. Woo
President, 80-20 Educational Foundation

July 4th and Patriotism‏

On July 4th, we celebrate the blessings of liberty which we enjoy as Americans. Let's all display a flag, shall we?

Patriotism is "love and devotion to country. The questions are how we love it and how we express our devotion."

There is a great article in Time magazine by Peter Beinart on patriotism (July 7 issue). I can't do it justice by summarizing it. Nevertheless, I'll try with the aim to entice you to read the article itself. He wrote and I paraphrase liberally:

American patriotism wears two faces. Conservatives prefer the patriotism of affirmation. Liberals choose the patriotism of dissent. Conservatives think that being born into a nation is like being born into family. You love it because it is yours. Liberals think patriotism is a struggle to narrow the gap between American ideals and America's reality. To conservatives, the devotion to America must come first, struggle to improve it is secondary. To liberals, America must earn our devotion by making good on its ideals.

Both brands of patriotism have defects. Celebrating America too unabashedly risks becoming self-righteous and turn patriotism into nationalism. However, loving America purely because of its ideals could lead to switching allegiance to other nations too easily.

America needs a mixture of both brands, because love of country requires both affirmation and criticism.

Many Asian Americans are personal embodiments of this ideal mix. We give America our primary allegiance*. At the same time, we are engaged in a great struggle prodding America to fulfill its core value -- equal opportunity for all Americans.

Please display a flag. July 4th is affirmation time.
Comments are welcome at http://www.80-20educationalfoundation.org/politicaledu/posterboard.asp

Warmest regards,

S. B. Woo
President, 80-20 Educational Foundation, Inc.

* What if a naturalized citizen still has strong feelings for his/her old country? That is quite OK, so long as he/she gives first allegiance to America. America is a great and wise nation. It knows that people who can forget their old country over one naturalization ceremony could easily forget America the next moment.

Asian versus Am. View regarding Politics -- easy quizzes

Do you hold an Asian or American view regarding politics?
Take 4 easy quizzes.

1) What a presidential election is about:
Asian View: To vote for the best candidate according to national interest, although what national interest is could vary widely according to individuals.
Am. View: To maximize one's own self interest or enlightened self interest.

2) Standard for judging if Affirmative Action (AA) is good/bad?
Asian View: The standard is whether AA serves the national interest, although what national interest is may vary widely from "need to correct historic wrongs" to "meritocracy is supreme." Am View: what is best for one's own self interest or enlightened self interest.


Digression

Question: If the above representation of the American view regarding politics is correct, how could the US survive if most Americans are for their self interest, enlightened or otherwise?

Answer: America applies the principle of market economy to politics. That is, let every individual/group/community maximize his/her/its own interest. The struggle between different interests will create the "checks and balances" which shall serve as the "invisible hand" guiding the conflicting interests towards the the best interest of the nation.

Question: Is there evidence that American politics is centered upon "self interest comes first"?

Evidence: When obsolete military bases are to be closed to eliminate waste, every senator/congressman will state: "Obsolete military bases should be closed, but not the ones in my state/district, because they are still serving vital functions." Why? Because in American politics, one is expected to take care of self-interest first.

Question: Any evidence that educated Americans hold the same belief?

Evidence: President John Adams said, "It is not true, in fact, that any people ever existed who love the public better than themselves." President John F. Kennedy referring to the heroes in his book "Profiles in Courage" wrote, "not because they 'loved the public better than themselves.' (but) because they did love themselves -- because each one's need to maintain his own respect for himself was more important to him than (a list of other needs)."


3) View towards a political action committee e.g. 80-20 PAC:
Asian View: 80-20 seems politically effective in fighting for the rightful concerns of the Asian Amercian community, but 80-20's approach to politics is so different from the politics practiced in Asia.
Am. View: How can a small minority of recent immigrants like the Asian Am community not have at least one organization like 80-20? How else is the smallest immigrant minority to defend its rights in the rough and tumble world of politics?

4) Attitude towards High Officials:
Asian View: High officials are like parents to whom we should respect & devote. Many Asians subconsciously expect high officials to whom they've donated generously to "take care" of them when they are in real need. They expect the officials (acting as parents) to come to their aid (suffering as children in need). Is such an expectation realistic? Not in America!
Am View: Officials, high or low in ranking, are public servants who are subject to reward or punishment by American citizens who are the bosses. They expect law to be applied equally.

Concluson: While being proud of our Asian heritage, when it come to politics, do as Americans do.

For feedback, visit http://www.80-20educationalfoundation.org/politicaledu/posterboard.asp

Warmest regards,

S.B. Woo
President, 80-20 Educational Foundation, Inc.

Are Gov. Officials Our Parents or Servants?‏

Believe it or not, in America
GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ARE OUR PUBLIC SERVANTS.
Therefore, we, the citizens, have the right to "hire or fire" them. That is what our elections are mainly about.

However, many Asian Americans subconsciously think of
government officials as their parents,
owing to the Confucian philosophy that is popular in East Asia. Confucius' humanitarian views are very wise, but he didn't know about democracy, American style. That part of the Confucian ethnic has caused our community great political harm.

Want to check out our conjecture? Take the following fun quiz.

A FUN QUIZ: Does your "average" Asian Am. friend

1) ask for accountability from government officials?
2) ask for deeds instead of sweet words from government officials?
3) highly value a photo with a high ranking government official?
4) buy tickets to a fundraiser for an official, simply because a friend is pushing tickets, without asking for that official's record of service to our community?
5) get somewhat turned off by 80-20 which advocates to "reward or punish" government officials?
6 ) think it may be illegal for 80-20 to advocate a bloc vote against an official or a presidential candidate?

If your answer are
1) No,
2) No,
3) Yes,
4) Yes,
5) Yes, and
6) Yes,
think how ridiculous your "average" Asian Am. friend's behavioral pattern actually is when you replace the words "government officials" in the above 6 questions with "public servants?"

Remember please: GOVERNENT OFFICIALS ARE OUR PUBLIC SERVANTS. We ask for deeds and accountability from them. We need to apply "carrots and sticks" to induce them to perform.

Your feedback to this newsletter will be welcome via http://www.80-20educationalfoundation.org/politicaledu/posterboard.asp. Please consider forwarding this newsletter to your Asian American friends.

Best regards,
S. B. Woo
President, 80-20 Educational Foundation, Inc.

PS Sen. McCain is traveling across the nation to reach out to what he described as the "forgotten people." At the same time, 80-20 has mounted a HUGE effort to reach out to Sen. McCain regarding the grievance faced by Asian Ams. as stated in 80-20's questionnaire. We shall keep you posted, whether Sen. McCain responds positively.

How 80-20 Has Empowered Asian Ams - Part II

80-20 has empowered the Asian Am. community in two ways. One was to empower us with equal opportunity to rise to our maximal potentials*.

The other is to empower our community's spirit. Of the two, the second is paramount. Here is how.

Times were that our community considered elected officials as our parents -- a feudal tradition in Asia. We respected and feared them. We were often subservient to them.

Six years ago, a well-known Asian Am. political leader publicly and proudly asserted the following. "The ONLY way Asian Ams. will become equal citizens of America is if we serve top government officials' election/re-election needs (i.e. give money) with such devotion that they will be moved to help us back." That subservient mentality made many rich Asian Am. individuals display pictures with top officials at home which they "bought" with huge amount of money with NO return benefits for our community.

80-20 advocates the diametric opposite.

80-20's position: In a democracy, officials are public servants regardless of their ranks. We, as voters, are the bosses. If the officials share our rightful concerns, we reward them. Otherwise, we punish them!

However, talk is cheap. Other enlightened Asian Am. organizations have advocated similar principles.

Where 80-20 is unique: 80-20 goes beyond talk. 80-20 demonstrates to YOU how the above principle works in America's elections.

In the current election, 80-20 has firmly pressed the presidential candidates, including Sens. Clinton and Obama, to make iron-clad commitments to give us equal opportunity, if elected. To see the signed commitments, visit
http://www.80-20initiative.net/news/preselect2008.asp .

That was how 80-20 has empowered our community, indeed all of us, in spirit. We changed from a subservient mentality toward elected officials to that of a good boss. **

Please do your part. Forward this newsletter to your friends & relatives. To give your feedback, visit our poster board at http://www.80-20educationalfoundation.org/politicaledu/posterboard.asp.

Respectfully yours,

S. B. Woo
President, 80-20 Educational Foundation (EF)

* Go to EF's Poster Board to see its last email -- "How 80-20 has empowered Asian American - Part I." It talks about "A rising tide raises all ships." Indeed, 80-20 empowers even those Asian Ams who oppose 80-20.

** Note that a good boss always respects and understands the difficulties of his/her employees. However, if an employee doesn't share your rightful concerns, then fire the employee.

How 80-20 Empowers Asian Am. Community

A lot of organizations talk about empowering Asian Ams. In varying degrees, we all try to. Here is how 80-20 UNIQUELY empowers Asian Americans.

Direct empowerment:

(1) The next Democratic Presidential Nominee gave iron-clad commit- ments to help us achieve equal opportunity in workplace & to be Federal judges. To see the commitments, visit http://www.80-20initiative.net/news/preselect2008.asp

How it empowers us: The number of Asian Am. managers will double from the current 500,000 to 1,000,000 in about 10 years. The number of Asian Am. Federal judges will double or triple in about 4 years.

(2) Our 3 to 1 bloc vote for Sen. Clinton, whom 80-20 endorsed*, shocked America's political establishment. It was a stronger bloc vote than that of the Hispanics.

However it empowers us: Henceforth, our rightful concerns when taken up by 80-20 will get a fair hearing from America's power elite. Does 80-20 have proof for having such a claim? Yes. here is a recent example.

CNN did an unbalanced 2-minute report explaining why Asian Am. voted 3 to 1 for Hillary. 80-20 led a petition to ask CNN to a more balanced report. CNN nicely consented. See the new 2-minute CNN report below. Just click on the link: http://www.80-20initiative.net/success/media_mainstream_080215cnn.asp

Indirect empowerment & those who benefited recently

1) Asian Am. political leaders
For example, those Asian Am political/community leaders who negotiated with 80-20 on behalf of Senators Clinton & Obama were empowered by 80-20. Surprised? The first question 80-20 asked of those leaders was whether they had the full power to negotiate. If not, why bother negotiating? Inevitably, those leaders were then thusly authorized! In future elections, big name politicians will court them more, knowing that our votes count.
2) Scholars in Asian American studies
Their studies/views will be more sought after by Am's political elite including the media. The power elite realizes that given a politically cohesive Asian Am. community, it needs to understand our community more. Our government will surely fund more studies of Asian Ams.
3) Asian American ethnic media
America's power elite will now want to maintain a relationship with our media. They or their surrogates will begin to seek meeting with the editors of ethnic papers. Soon, our presidential candidates may begin advertising in our media just like they had with Hispanic media.

Every example given above actually happened recently.

Conclusion: A rising tide raises all ships. YOU, whatever you do, will be empowered. When our community has more managers, Federal & state officials/judges, and gains more clout with America's political elites, all Asian Americans will directly & indirectly benefit.

Respectfully yours,
S. B. Woo President, 80-20 Educational Foundation

*80-20 could have endorsed Obama, had Obama reply with all yeses but Clinton refused.

Feedback: http://www.80-20educationalfoundation.org/posterboard.html.

Political Secrets VIII: How did 80-20 build a 3 to 1 bloc vote?

Q: How dare 80-20 claim credit for building a 3 to 1 bloc vote?

There are 3 million Asian Am. voters, you don't have an email list to reach 75% of 3 million voters, do you?

A: Blacks have voted about 9 to 1 for the Democratic presidential nominee for decades. Jewish Ams deliver a 8 to 2 bloc vote. Neither the black nor the Jewish community has large email lists. That is not how a bloc vote is created.

Q: So how did 80-20 create a bloc vote?

A: Have you ever attended large meetings with tens or hundreds of people? At these meetings, if 20% or more of the people speak enthusiastically for a given idea and provide good reasons while the opposition is weak, 80% of the people will end up voting for that idea. So 80-20's email list is used to create that critical mass of enthusiastic supporters and arm them with good reasons in voting for a given candidate. After that, their daily interaction with other Asia Am voters, aided by commercial ads paid for by 80-20, will naturally produce the bloc vote. Hence, most of the Asian Ams. who vote for the candidate endorsed by 80-20 may not even have heard of 80-20. That is how a bloc vote is built.

Q: Why are some Asian Am. against a bloc vote?

A: Most new immigrants don't realize that in America, every racial and/or interest group advocates a bloc vote. They include the Democratic Party, Republican Party, blacks, Jewish Ams, Hispanics, Cuban Ams, women's organizations, gays, labor unions, corporations…, etc. These groups have practiced bloc vote all along. Persuasion for a bloc vote is not necessary for them. In contrast, 80-20 needs to help new Asian immigrants climb a steep learning curve about American politics. Hence 80-20 must explicitly & repeatedly advocate and discuss the need for a bloc vote.

What if we don't? Our children will continue to face a higher admission standard to elite, schools. Our adults will continue to face a higher "admission" standard to good jobs, e.g. managerial positions and Federal judgeships.

Q: Are things improving owing to 80-20's effort?

A: Definitely. Here are facts that you've personally witnessed in recent months:

11/29/07, 80-20 began to pressure Sen. Clinton with a "Call to Action."
12/11, Sen. Clinton replied with all yeses, while suggesting rightful modifications.

12/12, Sen. Edwards signed with all yeses.
12/31, Governor Richardson signed with all yeses.
12/28, 80-20 began to get Sen. Obama on board with a "Call To Action -- Defeat Obama."

1/18/08, 80-20 held a press conference in SF endorsing Sen. Clinton for the Calif. Democratic primary.
1/31, Sen. Obama replied with all yeses, while suggesting modifications to strengthen his commitment to the Asian Am. community.

Q: What about media attention to Asian Americans?

A: Definitely increasing. "Goggle or Yahoo" to see how many articles have been written in the mainstream media about the Asian Am. bloc vote since Super Tuesday. They lack understanding of the Asian Am. community owing to the long "benign neglect" by both media and political parties. Hence, the initial coverage may even be bad. An example is the CNN's Anderson Cooper report. But under 80-20's leadership we've reacted civilly but strongly. See our petition site:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=tHYZlyz32wF0OLEZacHNWA_3d_3d

Things will improve. A new article in Time Magazine is coming. Another by a news group called the New America Media is coming Support 80-20 EF financially please.
http://www.80-20educationalfoundation.org .

Post your comments at
http://www.80-20educationalfoundation.org/posterboard.html .

Respectfully yours,

S. B. Woo
President, 80-20 Educational Foundation.

- - - - - - - --

PS: For those who forgot why a bloc vote is so powerful, here is the illustration for the 5th time. :-)

Two candidates run against each other in a political division, which for simplicity is assumed to have two constituent groups only. One group has 1 million votes (8%) and the other has 11 million votes (92%). Candidate A, a novice, courts the larger group, not being aware that the smaller constituent group has the internal political cohesion to deliver a bloc vote in the ratio of 8 to 2 while the larger group does not. When the ballots are open, candidate A wins the larger community by the ratio of 52/48. The margin of difference is 4%. Since the larger group has 11 millions votes, 4% of 11 million votes provides a winning margin of 440,000 votes to candidate A. His opponent, candidate B, is a seasoned politician. She courts the
smaller group and wins that community by a ratio of 80 to 20. The difference between 80% and 20% is 60%. 60% of 1 million votes is 600,000 votes. As a result, candidate B wins the election by (600,000 – 440,000) or 160,000 votes.

8% of the vote is what Asian Ams have in Calif, which has by far the largest impact in a presidential election. 80-20 has designed the above strategy to increase our GROUP political clout since 10 years ago!