Copyright 2007. 80-20 Educational Foundation. All rights reserved.

Join the "JUSTICE FIRST" Movement

2012-01-30T08:11:00.000-08:00

Join the "JUSTICE FOR DANNY CHEN FIRST" movement. Why?

There are people emphasizing "TRAINING PROGRAMS against bullying/
hazing." It could be an attempt to REDIRECT our attentions, we must
keep our eyes on the ball -- JUSTICE.

If the guilty were let off easy, even the best training program will NOT
be effective in stopping bullying/hazing. The guilty must be punished
justly. After that good training may have an impact.

Be Smart. Watch How Events Are Developing

1) Danny Chen was reported as having committed suicide.

2) EIGHT GIS were charged for causing the death of Danny Chen.

3) The relatives and friends of the EIGHT started lobbying their own
Congressional Delegates to find a way to get the "guilty" ones off easy.
Human nature. Don't blame the friends and relatives of those EIGHT.

4) Some politicians begin scheming how to let the "guilty" off easy.
RE-DIRECTION of our attention such as emphasizing "training
programs" could be one way.

5) Are we catching on to it? No! Indeed some Asian American elected
officials and organizations might even have unknowingly helped
along the REDIRECTION game.

On Jan 23, Asian Am. elected officials, Repts. Judy Chu and Mike
Honda joined NY Senator Gillibrand and Congresswoman Velazquez to
send a letter to Army Sec. McHugh. The letter asked detailed questions
about the "TRAINING PROGRAMS" WITHOUT emphasizing "JUSTICE FOR
DANNY CHEN FIRST." This is likely done with the best intentions. However,
the letter is less than thoughtful. Is a training program our focus
or JUSTICE?

6) On the same day, the most serious charge against the first soldier
who went through a pretrial investigative hearing was "recommended
to be dropped."

7) 80-20 was alarmed. It sprang to action.

o Next day S.B. sent a letter to Army Sec. McHugh stressing the
importance of justice for Danny.

o In addition, SB contacted US Senator Chris Coons and
Congresswoman Judy Chu urging them to take a stand for
"JUSTICE FIRST."

o Senator Coons wrote a letter to Army Sec. McHugh, stressing 2 KEY

ELEMENTS of possible Injustice:

"Specifically, the recommendation by the recent Article 32 hearing to
not pursue involuntary manslaughter charges, and the discussion over
the location of any future courts martial have sparked frustration among
many in the Asian Am. community, which I take very seriously." See his
letter at the end of this email. Thank you, Senator Chris Coons!

o Congresswoman Judy Chu and her Asian Pacific Am Congressional
Caucus issued a press release "expressing outrage against the
dropped charge."

o 80-20 EF urges Rept. Judy Chu and her Asian Pacific Am Congressional
Caucus to express their outrage to Army Sec. McHugh! None of her 2 letters
to Sec. McHugh regarding Danny Chen has stressed "Justice First." We'll
deeply appreciate your doing it.

No amount of training against bullying will do any good,
if the "guilty" will be let off easy!

Join the "JUSTICE FIRST" movement. Speak up at the poster-board please. Click on
http://www.80-20educationalfoundation.org/politicaledu/posterboard.asp Thanks.

SB, President, 80-20 Educational Foundation, Inc.
http://www.80-20EF.org

CLICK ANYWHERE WITHIN SEN. COONS' LETTER TO SEE A LARGER COPY.

Announcement and Acknowledgments

(A) S.B. Woo will be in LA attending a CAFA convention ( www.cafasc.org) to
accept an award:

DATE & TIME: Feb 4th (Saturday), Social hour at 6 pm; dinner at 6:30 pm
LOCATION: Quiet Cannon Restaurant, 901 N. Via San Clementa,
Montebello, CA 90640 Tel. 323-724-9284
To Reserve Tickets: Email "U.J. Fan" ujfan@csupomona.edu

(B) We gratefully acknowledge these generous contributions:
Francis W. Chow, Matawan, NJ: $1,000 to 80-20 PAC
George W. Lee, Montville, NJ: $1,000 to 80-20 PAC, and
Ping S. Chun, Santa Barbara, CA: $1,000 to 80-20 Edu'l Foundation

More on Justice for Danny Chen/ SB's letter and ...

2012-01-25T10:11:00.000-08:00

Background Information

(1) The most serious charge against the first of the 8 soldiers, accused of
causing Danny Chen's death, was recommended to be dropped at the
conclusion of a pretrial investigative hearing. Click on a NY Times article of
yesterday:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/24/nyregion/soldier-may-not-face-involuntary-manslaughter-charge-in-danny-chens-death.html

(2) There is an alarming NEW development!!! It's discussed below SB's letter.

80-20 EF Immediately Took Actions.

(1) 80-20 EF President S. B. Woo sent a letter to Army Secretary McHugh,
return receipt requested. The letter is copied to Secretaries of State,
Secretary of Defense and the Joint Chief of Staff.

(2) He also enlisted the help of Senator Chris Coons of
Delaware, who is a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Comm. See
Sen. Coons reply this morning to S.B.'s emailed to him of yesterday
afternoon.

"Dear S.B., Thank you for bringing this terrible situation to my
attention. I will ask my office to prepare an appropriate letter to
Army Sect'y McHugh and any other appropriate contacts raising
concerns that this be handled swiftly and appropriately.
Best wishes, Chris"

A Letter From S. B. Woo To Army Sect'y McHugh

This letter is very different from other letters regarding this matter -- what sets 80-20 apart!
Click anywhere within the letter, a very large image of the letter will appear.

Note that S. B's letter does NOT ask the Army to institute programs to
stop hazing or bullying. 80-20 EF believes that we should focus on
securing justice for Danny Chen first, because if the guilty is not
punished, no amount of training against bullying will have any effect.

Indeed, when due punishment is handed out, it is the best training program
against bullying and hazing. Watch out! Some orgs. and politicians may
attempt to thwart justice by redirecting your attention to emphasizing "training
programs." Don't fall for it!

Should Justice For Danny Be Ahead of Training Programs?

Don't forget to comment 1ff whether justice for Danny Chen is MORE

important than training programs against bullying/hazing. Show your
integrity. Voice your view openly at EF's posterboard. Click on
http://www.80-20educationalfoundation.org/politicaledu/posterboard.asp
GET INVOLVED!

S. B. Woo
President, 80-20 Educational Foundation, Inc. (http://www.80-20EF.org)

Justice for Danny Chen; Most Serious Charge dropped?

2012-01-24T08:57:00.001-08:00

Background Information

The most serious charge against the first of the 8 soldiers, accused of
causing Danny Chen's death, was recommended to be dropped at the
conclusion of a pretrial investigative hearing. Click on a NY Times article of
yesterday:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/24/nyregion/soldier-may-not-face-involuntary-manslaughter-charge-in-danny-chens-death.html

80-20 EF Immediately Took Actions.

(1) 80-20 EF President S. B. Woo sent a letter to Army Secretary McHugh,
return receipt requested. The letter is copied to Secretaries of State,
Secretary of Defense and the Joint Chief of Staff.

A Letter From S. B. Woo To Army Sect'y McHugh

This letter is very different from other letters regarding this matter -- what sets 80-20 apart!

Note that S. B's letter does NOT ask the Army to institute programs to
stop hazing or bullying. 80-20 EF believes that we should focus on
securing justice for Danny Chen first, because the more one demands
the larger the resistance to giving justice to Danny's family. Tactics!

Discussion of the BIG picture will continue soon

This space was designed to mostly discuss the BIG picture facing our
community. We'll discuss topics of overriding interests to our community
that are so big, complex and sensitive that few dare to touch.

However, thinking big is not that useful, unless it is also related to the real
world. So occasionally, this space will deal with the real world. The above
lightening fast reaction to the news of possibly dropping the most serious charge
against an accused is an example.

Don't forget that you may comment or even start your own discussion at
EF's posterboard. Clic 145 k on
http://www.80-20educationalfoundation.org/politicaledu/posterboard.asp
GET INVOLVED!

S. B. Woo
President, 80-20 Educational Foundation, Inc. (http://www.80-20EF.org)

Examine the BIG picture together with S. B. Woo

2012-01-17T07:44:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends:

As you know I had retreated to the 2nd line regarding
80-20 Political Action Comm. A PAC is NOT tax exempt, but
may help elect or UN-elect any politician. Hence, a PAC is a
MUST-political-weapon for us to defend ourselves.

I'll still lead 80-20 Educational Foundation (EF), a tax exempt
organization engaged in political education. With your help,
I'll issue a monthly EF e-newsletter to discuss the BIG PICTURE
faced by our community -- topics so BIG & COMPLEX that we
don't normally have the time/courage/experience and knowledge
to tackle. But tackle we must, because they are the CONTROLLING
elements of our destiny.

EF has a poster-board enabling dialogues!!! You may critique,
comment, & start your own discussion via the poster-board. To see
the poster-board, click on
http://www.80-20educationalfoundation.org/politicaledu/posterboard.asp

S. B. Woo
President, 80-20 Educational Foundation, EF
http://www.80-20educationalfoundation.org

The Topics We'll Examine Together

o What is more important to Asian Ams politically today? Why?

a) More elected Asian Americans (Governors, Senators & Representatives)?
b) More high-ranking appointed officials e.g cabinet members?
c) More national civic organizations like JACL (Japanese Am. Citizens' League),
NFIA (Nat'l Federation of Indian Ams) & OCA (Organization of Chinese Ams)?
d) More Political Action Committees (e.g 80-20 PAC, CAPA)?

In short, will AsAms ever become politically strong, if we don't know how to
INVEST politically?

o How to apply our political knowledge to help Asian Am youngsters even
the playing field in their college applications, and secure justice
in the tragic death of Danny Chen?

o Why are our politicians always bashing Asian countries (first Japan,
now China and possibly next India), especially during election time?
Why are politicians so accommodating to Israel but so harsh on Asian
nations (Japan in the 1980s; China & Pakistan now) during election times?

In short, does such bashing help or hurt our struggle to be equal citizens of
the USA?

o Why aren't the rich and powerful Asian Americans helping out
their own community's struggle to be equal citizens of America?

In short, those who are in the best positions to help their own folks sat on the
side line. Is that a shame on them, or us or on us ALL?

o The extreme injustice in Vincent Chin's case was partially helped along by AsAms
-- a mistake rarely publicized and discussed. Should that be a lesson to us in
Danny Chen's case? Are we making a mistake in Danny Chen's case even today?

In short, should we do frank self-examination and seek immediately remedy?

Tune in to this space. We discuss essential topics
that others don't dare to touch.

Illuminating "Ivy League Admission Policies"

2011-05-06T11:17:00.000-07:00

The following is by far the most informative and educational
email regarding Ivy League admission policies that I have EVER received.
If one is truly interested in this issue, you MUST read it. The author is
apparently himself a Harvard graduate. I learned so much from it.

The email is long. If you don't have the time to read it now, just read the
highlighted part shown in red (emphasis added by me). You'll get the gist
of it.

Please post your reaction to this email below at
http://www.80-20educationalfoundation.org/politicaledu/posterboard.asp .
You don't have to sign your name or leave your email address. Please answer
a question for me though. Are our youngsters more or less likely to be admitted to
Ivies if they see their parents mostly acting unreasonably scared and lacking in social
consciousness and perhaps even integrity?

Before ending I want to thank the author for sharing his insider's view on
Ivy League admissions policies with our community

S. B. Woo
President (a volunteer), 80-20 Educational Foundation, Inc.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"Dear SB,

I would like to bring your attention to a book about how the Ivy League
admission policies evolved since the 1920's to solve the "Jewish Problem"
which shares striking resemblance to the challenges faced by Chinese
American applicants today, namely good academic performance and the
perceived lack of social engagement (neither desire nor skill). This book,
titled "The Chosen: The Hidden History of Admission and Exclusion at
Harvard, Yale, and Princeton" by Jerome Karabel*, (published by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2006 , 711 pages) is available at Amazon.com.
This historical episode teaches us two important lessons: (1) Nothing is
static, even for institutions that are hundreds of years old, so is the
American politics. (2) Collective efforts can change public/private
policies. (The schools responded to the social pressure to restrict Jewish
admission, the Jewish activist fought back which eventually led to a more
accommodating admission policy.) This episode was also succinctly and
proudly captured on the website
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/anti-semitism/harvard.html
(Content attached). With so many Jewish students and faculties at the Ivy
League nowadays, who would have imagined it had happened ~80 years
ago?

Ivy League admissions policy’s impact on Asian American applicants is a
complex issue. One should not over-simplify as "discrimination" because
Asian Americans are not a monolithic group. The SAT scores for some AA
subgroups, such as Chinese Americans, are indeed way higher than others, < 1000 br>but they fall under the "over-represented" category, whatever that means.
However, the schools also actively sought out students in the "under-
represented" category, including some AA subgroups, to achieve diversity.
After interviewed ~50 Harvard undergraduate applicants in recent years, I
would agree with the statistics cited by the Boston Globe article regarding
test scores. However, the focus was too narrow. Schools evaluated
candidates based on "merit", which encompass academic performance,
extracurricular activities, personal qualities, and overall impression. Even
academic performance is not just a list of the test scores; it includes the
love of learning, intellectual curiosity, intellectual originality. Is there
evidence of original work such as writing, poetry, mathematical or
scientific research? Are there unusual factors such as language or
economic opportunity that might have affected the performance?
Extracurricular also include athletic, community, employment, family
commitments. Personal qualities include maturity, character, leadership,
self-confidence, warmth of personality, sense of humor, energy, concern
for others, and grace under pressure. All these thoughtful considerations
were directly copied from the 2011 Harvard Interview Form. If anyone
wants to prove "discrimination", quantifiable data must be compiled in
areas other than the test scores.

I would contend the Ivy League schools are genuinely interested in
achieving diversity. I have seen situations that the schools go out of their
ways to recruit socially disadvantaged students (including Asian
Americans). Such effort should be applauded. However, from the
perspective of Chinese American applicants, especially for those from an
upper-middle class background, they are in a tough spots. Near 800 SAT
scores, superman extracurricular activities, level 10 piano certification
merely levels the playing field against other Chinese American competitors
rather than achieving an advantage. Is there a hidden quota? No school
worthy of its salt would admit to any quota.

The question is how merit should be evaluated? How should personal
characters such as overcoming disadvantaged social economical
background be weighed against achieving overwhelming excellence from a
more privileged background? How can the schools balance the need for
diversity without unduly hurting others? This is an intellectual challenge
the schools (and the society in general) are constantly exploring and the
public opinions from various interest groups can effectively influence the
public and private policies. Frame the question from this perspective
could alleviate unnecessary antagonism. After all, receiving an Ivy League
ducation is a privilege, not an inalienable right of any individual no
matter how good he/she is. In fact, Harvard does not even offer any
merit-based scholarship precisely because it can’t easily tell who is better
than whom among the admitted. It only offers “need-blind” admission
based on “merit” only and pays anyone who can’t afford the offer. Here is
this year’s statistics for Harvard: 34950 applicants, among them 3800
valedictorians, 2158 offer letters were sent (6.2% admission rate). As
commented by other alumni interviewers, it's a lottery for the top
candidates, really hard to predict who would get in. The admitted class is
17.8 percent Asian-American, 11.8 percent African-American, 12.1 percent
Latino, 1.9 percent Native American, and 0.2 percent Native Hawaiian.

I also disagree with Ben's point-of-view somewhat. Even though there may
be some truth with the perception that Chinese American applicant 1000 s in
general are more academically focus, it is not true that the top candidates
are in anyway less socially skilled than their competitors. Some of these
kids are amazing in both the depth and the breath of their extracurricular
engagements. Are they being discriminated in the evaluation process?
Who has collected data outside the test scores to support such an
assertion? Regardless of where the truth lays, please remember the Jewish
students were accused of the same sins of being academically focused and
socially awkward a century ago. They took the beating standing and,
through activism, achieved their admirable status nowadays. I would
contend they are our role models. However, I suspect most Chinese
American parents, upon reading unfavorable statistics, would be
invigorated enough to give their kids an extra doze of piano lesson. That
would be a real tragedy."

Xxxx (Name deleted by S.B., a consistent policy of 80-20 in order to
encourage INSIDERS to write 80-20 & discuss sensitive topics
of immense interest to the AsAm community.)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

*Here is Amazon's introduction to the book:
"A landmark work of social and cultural history, The Chosen vividly
reveals the changing dynamics of power and privilege in America over the
past century. Full of colorful characters (including Woodrow Wilson,
Franklin Delano Roosevelt, James Bryant Conant, and Kingman Brewster),
it shows how the ferocious battles over admissions at Harvard, Yale, and
Princeton shaped the American elite and bequeathed to us the peculiar
system of college admissions that we have today. From the bitter anti-
Semitism of the 1920s to the rise of the “meritocracy” at mid-century to
the debate over affirmative action today, Jerome Karabel sheds surprising
new light on the main events and social movements of the twentieth
century. No one who reads this remarkable book will ever think about
college admissions -- or America -- in the same way again."

Followed by an Editorial Review - Reed Business Information (c) 2005,
"The emphasis in college applications on balancing grades and
extracurricular activities appears benignly positive at first glance. Yet, as
Karabel explains, the top Ivy League schools created this formula in the
1920s because they were uncomfortable with the number of Jewish
students accepted when applicants were judged solely on their grades. The
search for prospective freshmen with "character" was, with varying
explicitness, an effort to maintain the slowly declining Protestant
establishment. At one point, Karabel says in this stimulating study of
admissions policies, Harvard codified a policy of accepting applicants with
weak academic credentials who could better appreciate the school's social
opportunities, while Princeton promised to accept any alumnus's son with
even the faintest hope of graduation. Karabel, a sociologist who once
served on UC-Berkeley's admissions committee, extensively covers the
"Jewish problem" at the Big Three colleges, but also tackles the cultural
shifts that lowered the barriers for African-American students and
ultimately led to the admission of women. The detailed analysis of the role
of university presidents and other campus administrators in first stifling,
then abetting ethnic diversity in the student body is so comprehensive,
however, that his final remarks on the remaining lack of socioeconomic
diversity feel like tacked on. (Oct. 26)"

When I searched on-line commentary about this topic, I found an even
more blunt discussion abou 6c55 t "Harvard's Jewish Problem"

Here is the quote from

http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/anti-semitism/harvard.html
"During and after World War I, American Jewry became the target of anti-Semitism by a
variety of social groups, including the Ku Klux Klan and
various immigration restriction advocates. Ivy League universities were no
exception, and several of these venerable schools moved to restrict Jewish
enrollment during the 1920s. Some Jewish students at Harvard, the
bellwether in American education, did not take admission restrictions
lying down.
Nativism and intolerance among segments of the white Protestant
population were aimed at both Eastern European Jews and Southern
European Catholics. In higher education, Jews were particularly resented.
By 1919, about 80% of the students at New York's Hunter and City colleges
were Jews, and 40% at Columbia. Jews at Harvard tripled to 21% of the
freshman class in 1922 from about 7% in 1900. Ivy League Jews won a
disproportionate share of academic prizes and election to Phi Beta Kappa
but were widely regarded as competitive, eager to excel academically and
less interested in extra-curricular activities such as organized sports. Non-
Jews accused them of being clannish, socially unskilled and either
unwilling or unable to“fit in.”
In 1922, Harvard's president, A. Lawrence Lowell, proposed a quota on the
number of Jews gaining admission to the university. Lowell was convinced
that Harvard could only survive if the majority of its students came from
old American stock.

Lowell argued that cutting the number of Jews at Harvard to a maximum
of 15% would be good for the Jews, because limits would prevent further
anti-Semitism. Lowell reasoned, “The anti-Semitic feeling among the
students is increasing, and it grows in proportion to the increase in the
number of Jews. If their number should become 40% of the student body,
the race feeling would become intense.”

The fight against Jewish quotas at Harvard was led by Harry Starr, an
undergraduate and the son of a Russian immigrant who established the
first kosher butcher shop in Gloversville, New York. As president of the
Menorah Society, Harvard's major Jewish student organization, Starr
organized a series of meetings between Jewish and non-Jewish students,
faculty and administrators to discuss Lowell's proposed quota. The
meetings were frequently heated and painful. As Starr recalled in an
account published in 1985, which can be found at the American Jewish
Historical Society, “We learned that it was numbers that mattered; bad or
good, too many Jews were not liked. Rich or poor, brilliant or dull,
polished or crude—[the problem was] too many Jews.”

Starr insisted that there could be no “Jewish problem” at Harvard or in
America. Starr observed, “The Jew cannot look on himself as a problem....
Born or naturalized in this country, he is a full American.” If admitting all
qualified Jews to Harvard meant a change in the traditional social
composition of the student body, so be it. Starr refused to hear any hokum
about 'pure' American stock as a way to limit Jewish admissions to
Harvard. “Tolerance,” he wrote in the Menorah Journal, “is not to be
administered like castor oil, with eyes closed and jaws clenched.”
Lowell received a great deal of public criticism, particularly in the Boston
press. Harvard's overseers appointed a 13-member committee, which
included three Jews, to study the university's “Jewish problem.” The
committee rejected a Jewish quota but agreed that “geographic diversity”
in the student body was desirable. Harvard had been using a competitive
exam to determine who was admitted, and urban Jewish students were
scoring highly on the exam. Urban public schools such as Boston Latin
Academy intensely prepared their students, many of whom were Jewish, to
pass Harvard's admissions test. The special committee recommended that
the competitive exam be replaced by an admissions policy that accepted
top-ranking students from around the nation, regardless of exam scores.
By 1931, because students from urban states were replaced by students
from Wyoming and North Dakota who ranked in the top of their high
school classes, Harvard's Jewish ranks were cut back to 15% of the student
body.

In the late 1930s, James Bryant Conant, Lowell's successor as president,
eased the geographic distribution requirements, and Jewish students were
once again admitted primarily on the basis of merit. Harry Starr, who lived
until 1992, became a national Jewish communal leader, including a term
of service as a trustee of the American Jewish Historical Society.
Professionally, he became the director of the Lucius N. Littauer
Foundation, which was established by a Jewish congressman from
Gloversville and which over the years has given many generous gifts to
Harvard. Harry Starr held no grudges against the university which in 1922
he lovingly battled on behalf of his fellow Jews."

Below are attachments which are not shown:
1. Harvard Gazette Article
2. Harvard Interviewer Handbook
3. Harvard Interview Form 2011.doc
4. Interview Instructions.doc

S. B. Woo's View On Ivies & AsAm Applicants

2011-04-22T11:08:00.000-07:00

Below is my personal view, not representing any organization.

I read tens of letters on the topic of Ivies' admission of Asian
American applicants, many were for my eyes only and therefore honestly
expressed. They helped to educate me. Most were very thoughtful. A few
were astoundingly self-centered. At the risk of speaking too soon, I want to
share my unique perspective gained from reading those letters.

We Are Again Our Own Enemy

Asian Ams too often emphasize success but not "paying forward"
in life. As a result we lack social conciousness. We frequently view education
as a means to achieve fame and fortune and give too little weight to
helping the society and the world. Many parents are that way. Even
our youngsters, having taken so many pictures of their parents' priorities,
are often that way. Even when our youngsters volunteer for a public cause,
it was to shine up their resumes.

Once we've added social conciousness to our focus on education and
diligence, once the earlier AsAm Ivies graduates have begun to
distinguish themselves in not just making money but also to bettering
the community, nation and the world, Ivies are certain to want AsAms more.

Why? Because it makes Ivies proud to have such graduates. Ivies
already have their share of graduates who know how to make money. Is
it Ivies' fault that they want more of their graduates to be leaders who
try to benefit the nation and the world?

Is It All Our Fault? No. Ivies probably Discriminate.

Having said the above, I personally also suspect, with only indirect
evidences, that Ivies discriminate against Asian Am applicants.

Evidence 1: UC, Berkeley has admitted much higher % of Asian Ams, after
it adopted a race-blind admission policy, although it has NOT de-
emphasized the need for diversity in all other aspects. If anything, UC
probably added weight to the value of diversity except race. Hence, the
typical conjecture that Ivies reject many Asian Am applicants with superb
academic achievements owing to their lack of other talents is probably
false.

Evidence 2: When our nation clearly discriminates against Asian
American adults in their career path to managerial levels in workplaces,
(See irrefutable evidence in the full page announcement in Washington
Post shown below, sponsored by 80-20 & published on Sept. 6, 2006), why
would it hesitate to discriminate against the Asian Am youngsters? Note
that the analysis shown in Chart 1 has been verified in writing by
EEOC's Chief Statistician Ronald Edwards.

A Simple Win-Win Solution

Asian Ams need to keep the good part of our culture (emphasis
in 483 education, work ethic, caring for relatives, . . , etc.) and add a heavy
dose of social conciousness to our value system. It'll not only result
in less discrimination against our children in Ivies but also less discrimi-
nation against our adults in workplaces. Note that a general increase in
social conciousness among Asian Ams will inevitably add to greater Asian
Am GROUP political clout which is the best way to deter discrimination
agains an immigrant community. America will win too. It'll become a
"more perfect Union" and will have more talented citizens more motivated
to serve our nation

Respectfully,

S. B. Woo, A volunteer President
80-20 Educational Foundation. In this
article, he speaks for himself only

A Washington Post Announcement Sponsored by 80-20, Sept. 6, 2006

A Lunar New Year Resolution?

2011-01-31T22:46:00.000-08:00

Want a meaningful New Year Resolution? Here is one for you to
consider.

The right REWARD SYSTEM must be adopted to get the right amount of
usefulness/fire-power out of an institution or community. Have we, Asian
Americans, adopted the right REWARD SYSTEM towards our political
leaders in order to get the proper amount of political service for our
community and children?

Answer 4 questions to find out where you stand. If one hasn't adopted
the right REWARD SYSTEM towards politicians, make a New Year
Resolution to change. When an average Asian Am. exercises the right
reward system, it will be 100 times more powerful than what 80-20
Initiative can ever do for our community.

Q1: In a presidential election, do you take more pride in having voted for
the eventual winner than the candidate who has done more service for the
rightful aspirations of Asian Americans?

Q2: Within the Asian American community, do you respect more those
who hold the highest government positions than those who have done the
most service for the rightful aspirations of Asian Americans?

Q3: Are you more likely to associate with Asian American organizations
that issues a lot of press releases on all "hot button issues" than those
which diligently gets a few things done for the rightful aspirations of Asian
Americans?

Q4: Are you more in favor of Asian American organizations that will
condemn every little slight of our community but never caring whether
it'll succeed in punishing the condemned than those that are slow to
condemn but once having taken up the battle will usually get the
desired punishment?

If you answered "I do" one or more times, you may need to reexamine
your REWARD SYSTEM towards our politicians and activists. Will you
make a lunar New Year resolution to change? We need your strength!

If you answer "I do" but don't agree/understand how that could be the
WRONG reward system, please state your view at the poster board:
http://www.80-20educationalfoundation.org/politicaledu/posterboard.asp. I
promise to cordially discuss our differences with you in public.

Respectfully yours,
S. B. Woo
President (a volunteer), 80-20 Educational Foundation, Inc.

Pres. Obama Urged by 80-20 EF ….

2010-08-28T16:11:00.000-07:00

80-20 Educational Foundation, EF, gratefully acknowledges
a $10,000 donation to 80-20 Educational Foundation, from the Fidelity
Charitable Gift Fund, through the generosity of The Emily and Savio
Woo Foundation, New York, NY.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Subject: S. B. Woo wrote Pres. Obama urging RE-nomination of two
Asian Am. judges "killed" by Senate Republicans.

When Pres. Obama took office, only 8 of the federal judges were Asian
Ams, all at the lowest rank of District Courts. Thanks to Pres. Obama's
nominations, that number could increase to 15 by the end of the year,
with 2 at the Appeals Courts, only one rank below the Supreme Court.

Unfortunately, on Aug. 4th the Senate Republicans, using a rarely
applied Senate rule, "killed" two of the outstanding AsAm nominations -
those of Goodwin Liu for Appeals Court and Edward Chen for the N. CA
District Court. Both obtained the highest rating by the American Bar
Association -- "unanimously well qualified."

Think about that!

If the Asian Am. community sits idly by, the number of Asian Am. judges
by the end of the year will be reduced to 13 , with only one in the
Appeals Court. Think about how you'll want to vote in the coming 2010
Congressional election -- a message that politicians understand.

S. B. Woo has written Pres. Obama urging the RE-NOMINATION of
these two noted jurists when the Senate comes back in session on Sept.
6. It is hoped that 80-20 PAC will take political action to stand up for our
community.

Publicize your idea on how we may win this battle at EF's poster board
http://www.80-20educationalfoundation.org/politicaledu/posterboard.asp .
Thank you.

Respectfully yours,

S. B. Woo
President, 80-20 Educational Foundation, a 501 c-3 org.

Easiest Way to Register & Vote. SAVE!

2010-06-28T09:44:00.000-07:00

For US citizens only! If you are a citizen and have NOT
registered to vote, or have moved to a new address, then
read on. Otherwise, this email doesn't concern you.

Empower yourself! Be a voter. Here is the EASIEST WAY to register
to vote! Time required? 10 minutes.

Click on https://ssl.capwiz.com/congressorg/nvra/ . you'll be on page 1.
Go to the map and click on your state. That leads you to page 2.

On page 2, fill out the form. Check the 3 square boxes on top and fill in
required info next to blanks with a red *. For "Choice of Party," we suggest
that you choose Republican, or Independent or Democrat. When you get
to "ID Number," click on the (instructions) immediately below "ID Number"
to know what to fill in. After you have filled in the required information, go
to the bottom of the page to click on the "Preview My Voter Registration."

On page 3, you proofread the information, then click on "Download Form" -
my registration application at the bottom of the page.

Print out the first 3 of the 4 pages. P 1 has instructions which you need
BEFORE you MAIL the registration form in. P 2 is the form you've just filled
out which has to be SIGNED & DATED. P 3 has the address you need to
send your application in.

Upon receiving your application, your state will mail you a" voter
registration card." YOU NEED TO FILL THAT OUT AND MAIL IT IN. Only
then are you registered. Note that registering to vote is ALWAYS A TWO-
STEP PROCESS, whether you register via a website  or go to a
registration place in person.

GO TO: https://ssl.capwiz.com/congressorg/nvra/ NOW! Take 10 minutes
only!!! Be a voter for your children's and grand-children's sake.

When the "Voter Registration Card" comes,
you may want to choose to vote by absentee PERMANENTLY. That is you
can VOTE BY MAIL instead of going to a polling place. In many states,
including CA, no excuse is required. It is again the easiest way!!!

Most states allow it. About 20 days before Nov. 2, you will receive a ballot
on which you may check whom to vote for. Put the ballot in an envelope,
sign on the back side of the envelop, mail it and you will have voted. You will
have fulfilled you sacred duty as a citizen, and AS AN EDUCATED
PERSON.

SAVE this e-mail & forward it to your relatives & friends. Thank you.

Respectfully yours,.

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

PS Did it take you more than 10 minutes? Just give me a "yes" or "no" at
http://www.80-20educationalfoundation.org/politicaledu/posterboard.asp . Thanks.

Grateful acknowledgement: $2,000 from Thomas Shen, Lexington, MA

Opportunities Lost by AsAms

2010-06-09T09:53:00.000-07:00

This e-newsletter affects Asian Ams. nationwide!

Opportunities Lost by AsAms !

The following are IMPORTANT CALIFORNIA ELECTION STATISTICS.
Please read and internalize. Our becoming first class citizens
depend on YOUR understanding of their implications!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

2008 CA general election statistics*:

Number of CA voters in 2008 presidential election: 13.7 million
Number of CA Asian American voters in 2008: 1.1 million

2010 CA primary election statistics**

Number of voters in 2010 Rep. primary: 1.6 million
No. of votes for Fiorina, winner, US Senate GOP primary: 0.9 million
Number of voters in 2010 Dem. primary: 1.6 million
No. of votes for Harris, winner, Attorney General: 0.55 million

Note: Only 3.2 million CA voters voted in yesterday's primary, i.e. only 1
out of every 4 persons who voted in the 2008 general election
bothered to vote in the 2010 primary -- a common pattern
throughout USA. Yesterday, was when AsAms in CA could have been
political kingmakers, Opportunities Lost!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Seize the Next Opportunity !

Irish, Polish, Italian and Jewish immigrants gained their first class
citizenship through the POLITICAL PROCESS! What? Translate that please!
Be of sufficient influence in elections so that politicians will share your
rightful concerns.

How? Through California's primary elections.

Why? Because we have the highest % of voters in CA, & because
only 1 out of 4 other voters bother to vote, so we'll have
sufficient influence in primary elections if all AsAms vote &
vote in a bloc.

Do you have empirical facts to back up your proposal?
Yes. 80-20 secured Pres. Obama's extremely significant
commitments to the Asian Am. community through the 2008
presidential primary in CA.

OK, I'm with you now. Does that mean we don't pay attention
to all other elections?
No. CA primaries will be the most cost-effective. But other elections are
still important. Examples are CA's next gubernatorial and US senate
elections, and all other Congressional elections which are very closely
contested where our bloc vote can play the deciding role.

Do you see a connection between your own interests & US elections?
Please comment via
http://www.80-20educationalfoundation.org/politicaledu/posterboard.asp . Thanks.

Respectfully your,

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

* http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/sov/2008_general/3_voter_part_stats_by_county.pdf

** http://vote.sos.ca.gov/

The "ABCs of US Elections"

2010-05-24T14:09:00.000-07:00

Empower yourself by understanding the "ABCs of US elections."
Please forward this email to your friends.

What is a PRIMARY election?

Every Am. officials, whether federal, state, county, city or local,
normally go through two election -- a PRIMARY election (P.E.) & a
GENERAL election (G.E.).

In a P.E., only party members are allowed to vote. Purpose? To select a
representative for their party (e.g. Republican or Democratic or
Libertarian Party) to run in the GENERAL election. In CA, the
Democratic Party allows Declines/Independents to vote in its primary.

Which Is More Important, the PRIMARY or GENERAL?

The GENERAL is the more important, most will say, because the persons
who win the GENERAL become the officials. BUT!!!! For a small minority
like us, the PRIMARY is often the better instrument to protect our rights.

How so? Remember the CA primary of the 2008 presidential election?
That was where and when Asian Ams. got Sen. Obama to reply to 80-20's
questionnaire. More explanation will be given later.

A current example of how Asian Ams may have a larger impact in a P.E.
is Ted Lieu's campaign for Attorney General. He faces at least 5 other
opponents. However, if all Asian Ams. Democrats and Declines vote for
him in CA's Dem primary on June 8th, Ted will win. No endorsement of
Ted is implied in this email.

How could the 8% AsAm voters in CA control the Dem Primary?

Think more carefully! Most CA Dem's don't vote in a Dem. primary. An
even smaller fraction of Declines vote in a Dem. primary. Hence, if all
Asian Am Democrats and Declines vote in that primary, our % vote in the
6/8 primary will increase from 8% to about 20%. If those 20% will do a
bloc vote, Ted Lieu's victory will be guaranteed. For the power of a bloc
vote see the footnote.

Understanding the US elections enables you to protect your rights, often
better than hiring lawyers. It gives you the equal opportunity to become
cabinet secretaries, life-tenured federal judges, managers in Fortune
500s, administrators in universities. It short, it enables you to live to the
maximum of your potentials in whichever profession you are in.

80-20 has repeatedly demonstrated that every election can be used by
us to secure our rightful interests by the casting of a bloc vote.

Comments are welcome at
http://www.80-20educationalfoundation.org/politicaledu/posterboard.asp

Respectfully yours,

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

A numerical example demonstrating the power of a bloc vote
Two candidates run against each other in a political division, which for
simplicity is assumed to have two constituent groups only. One group has
one million votes (8%) and the other has 11 million votes (92%). Candidate
A, a novice, courts the larger group. 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 knowing its ability to deliver a bloc vote in the ratio of 8 to 2, as the
black and Jewish communities can. B 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. Astounding? Does that knowledge
empower you?

Reactions to "Courage Needed"

2010-04-02T19:06:00.000-07:00

3 days ago, 80-20 EF asked these questions:

Why Is Courage Crucial to the Asian Am. Community?
Why So Few Asian Am Orgs. showed Courage?
What YOU Can Do To Deter Meekness?

EF asked for readers' reactions, explicitly inviting negative comments. The
above questions seem to strike a resonant cord in our readers' hearts. No
negative comments. The consensus is that Asian Am. orgs need to
fight the hard fight -- win equal opportunity in workplaces for the 15
million Asian Ams.

Here are some excerpts. Apologies to all for not being able to use all
your good comments.

1) "That's so true! Thanks and I'll forward it to other AsAm." Sherman

2) "pls read, share and forward with as many possible! this is really
important!" Seema Agarwal who forwarded "Courage
needed" to his friends.

3) "Great communique, SB! Thank you for your courage in raising this
systemic weakness in the Asian-American leadership circle. The diagnosis
may be unpleasant but it is what we need if we want things to
fundamentally improve. Thanks again for your leadership." Man

4) "Excellent article!"

5) "I strongly agree that AA leaders need to fight the hard fight. Continued
work for the enforcement of equal opportunity for all Americans. through
Exec. Order 11246 will be a good start…."

6) "agreed. we all need to get involved. one person at a time."

7) "i like it the most." J. C. Khurana

8) "Agree and support your view, thank you for your effort."

9) "I am 100% agree with you and hope to see some activities to have
younger people to recognize and proud of their race."

10) "Thanks, SB. You always lead by your example. We will follow." Quan

11) "The wealthy Asians should contribute more money for the fight,
again, like the Jews, but few seem to be doing it even as we keep hearing
about lots of Asians getting rich and being rich. . . . "

12) "I agree with you that Asian American organizations often shy away
from hard fights and pat ourselves on the back on small achievements.
Discrimination against Asian Americans is still very obvious. One salient
feature is the emasculation of Asian American men. . . . . . " Bob

13) "Thanks. I am keeping this email as new so that I can read every time I
open the inbox. " Teddy

14) "We are organizing a conference here in Fresno with the SE Asian
community (Hmong, Lao, Khmer, Mien….) . . . " Dr. Toulu X. Thao

To see many other comments, click on
http://80-20nj.info/cgi/dm?l=/8/bb/b41&work=bbsubj .

Asian Am. Activists:
Together, we can make more of a difference. Let's
share our knowledge, skills & leadership in the
service of our community? Unity adds power to all our
projects.

To comment on this e-newsletter, click on
http://www.80-20educationalfoundation.org/politicaledu/posterboard.asp Thanks.

Respectfully yours,

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

Courage Needed

2010-03-29T08:41:00.000-07:00

Let me be brutally frank & discuss a topic seldom talked about.

Why Is Courage Crucial to the Asian Am. Community?

Courage is particularly important to the Asian Am. community. Read
what a US senator told me decades ago, "Your community needs to act
with more gusto. Even your activists, when ignored long enough or told to
go away, would quietly go way. Both political parties and the national
media knew that. The US is a nation where the squeaky wheel gets the grease."

Why So Few Asian Am Orgs. showed Courage?

When leaders of Asian Am. organizations fight for our community, they
unavoidably displease the powers they are fighting against. As a result, the
invitations, favors & appointments from the governors, cabinet officials &
the president may stop going to those leaders.

If our community honors such leaders for their dedication, as is the
tradition in the Jewish community, the psychological compensation
may be enough to keep our dedicated activists going. However, our
community is neither politically mature nor cohesive enough to
reward our community servants. That punishing combination makes leaders
of many Asian Am. orgs. attend to the mundane rather than the
unique needs of the Asian Americans. Mundane is safe, requiring no
courage and no extraordinary effort.

EXCEPTIONS

There are noteworthy exceptions. To name a few, they include 1)
organizing to redress US government's internment of Japan Ams, 2)
outcries against the injustice shown in the death of Vincent Chin.
Perhaps the defense of Dr. Wen Ho Lee may be another example.

For sure, a lot of our orgs have protested against racist disc jockey of
radio stations, and celebrities who cracked bad racial jokes. While these
actions were called for, they required no courage. There would be
no repercussion against individuals leading such fights.

Our better future Requires Courage

The Asian Am. community has unique needs. There are irrefutable
statistics and government reports that Asian Americans have been
severely discriminated against in workplaces. While 80-20's expose` of
such systemic discrimination, and its political actions have begun to get
government attention to corrective measures, the length of our
government's attention and the strength of the corrective measures are
as yet uncertain.

Only a UNITED Asian American community can assure truly equal
opportunity for the 15 million Asian Americans and their children.

We look to leaders of Asian Am orgs for guidance and cooperation
and together get the job done.

What YOU Can Do To Deter Meekness?

YOU can do a lot. You can speak out publicly, if you agree that our
community has been too meek, and that too many of our community
leaders are seemingly addicted to "being the big fish in a small pond"
and attending to the mundane! Your voice will have impact. Public
scrutiny is effective.

Please post your comments at
http://www.80-20educationalfoundation.org/politicaledu/posterboard.asp
Negative comments are welcome too. We want to learn from you.

Respectfully yours,

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

Important Reply from DOL (forward to others!)

2010-02-15T19:46:00.000-08:00

After a meeting with DOL in Jan., 80-20 Educational foundation, EF,
wrote DOL to seek written verification of EF's understanding of the
outcome of the meeting -- DOL will enforce Exec. Order 11246 for Asian
Ams.

DOL's reply is seen below. Please read.

". . . . As you requested, I am offering the clarification below to
portions of your meeting summary. The information below may
be shared with others.

OFCCP intends to enforce Executive Order 11246 on behalf
of all protected persons, including, but not limited to, Asian
Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI). OFCCP will broaden
its enforcement efforts and focus on identifying and resolving
both systemic and individual discrimination cases. … Very truly
yours, Patricia S. Shiu"
For the complete letter, see
www.80-20initiative.net .

The enforcement of EO 11246 will remove the glass ceiling from about
2 million Asian Ams working in private industries and universities.
Consequently, it'll benefit about 6 million Asian Ams, when their family
members are taken into account.

To help YOU understand what is really going on, 80-20 EF offers 3
observations:

1) The proof of the pudding is in eating. Whether OFCCP is truly
enforcing EO 11246 for Asian Ams. depends on a steady improvement in
the statistical odds of Asian Ams. being promoted to the managerial levels.
This result will be reviewed in a meeting with Pres. Obama, organized by
80-20 and DOL, in 2 years.

2) In words, the DOL under Pres. Obama says the right things. It is in
strong contrast to the negative attitude of the DOL when Elaine Chao was
the DOL Secretary for President Bush. See a letter from DOL in 2006 to
satisfy yourself. Visit www.80-20initiative.net .

3) The vigorous enforcement of EO 11246 for Asian Ams is not
guaranteed, just because DOL says the right words to us. It depends on how
vigilantly YOU & 80-20 will together pursued this matter.

Dear Friends: There is no free lunch. 80-20, its members and supporters
have pushed our fight for equal citixenship this far. Now, YOU need to do
YOUR share of the work. It includes forwarding this newsletter to
friends who have sought, are seeking and will seek promotion to
management. If depends on whether you will file a complaint with
regional offices* of OFCCP, DOL
when you have been discriminated against by federal contractors & sub-
contractors. It also depends your giving strong moral and financial
support to 80-20. 80-20 is only as strong as YOU!

Respectfully yours,

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

* The 6 OFCCP, DOL Regional Offices

Northeast Regional Office
New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Connecticut, Maine,
Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont

Mid-Atlantic Regional Office
Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West
Virginia

Southeast Regional Office
Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South
Carolina, Tennessee

Midwest Regional Office
Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska,
Ohio, Wisconsin

Southwest and Rocky Mountain Regional Office
Arkansas, Colorado, Louisiana, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota,
Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Wyoming

Pacific Regional Office
Alaska, Arizona, California, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Washington

The Ugly Truth about AsAm Inequality (Part 6)

2010-01-07T13:02:00.000-08:00

Part I: 80-20 will meet with DOL's Director of Enforcement, Pat Shiu.
When & where? Jan. 11 (Monday); DOL, Washington, D.C.
Purpose? To show how we still face discrimination in workplaces and
urge DOL to implement what Pres. Obama has promised us: "to
focus on enforcing Exec. Order 11246 on behalf of AsAms."
Impact? 2 million AsAms directly; 4 million through family connections,
and 15 million directly and indirectly -- a rising tide raises all ships.
Who'll attend for 80-20? Prof. Chenming Hu & S. B. Woo, both flying
into D.C. at their own expenses.

Part II: Presented evidence that AsAms are discriminated in workplaces.
It'll take us 75 years or 3 more generations to reach EQUAL odds to
rise to the managerial level, if things are left at its current pace.

Part III: Presented irrefutable proofs that 80-20's evidence is VALID!.
The Chief Statistician of EEOC verified 80-20's data, methodology &
calculated numbers. After a year's study, EEOC on its own, reported
"discrimination against AAPI employees" in the federal government.

Part IV: Debunking 2 popular myths perhaps designed to confuse us
and keep us down.

Myth 1: AsAms don't have business degrees, only science &
engineering degrees. Therefore, not many managers!
Truth: We are our nation's number 1 in % of people with MBAs.

Myth 2: AsAms are already 2nd only to Caucasians in individual
income. What more do they want?
Truth: We want JUSTICE -- equal pay for equal work, & equal opportunity,
which are America's core values. The truth is that if AsAm are paid
the national average for our educational attainment, our individual
income would be 15% higher than Caucasians instead of lower. Does
America believe in its own core value any more?

Part V: Debunking 3 more popular myths against us.

Myth 3: AsAms simply don't have the "makeup" to make managers.
Truth: Identical charges were made against blacks, women & Hispanics
decades earlier. No one believes in such non-sense any more.

Myth 4: AsAms, with so many new immigrants, just don't have the
average seniority to have equal % of managers.
Truth: We have significantly more seniority than Hispanics. Yet Hispanics' %
of managers is at least 50% higher. Why? Hispanics have the political clout
with the federal government to get EO 11246 enforced for them.

Myth 5: AsAms certainly don't face as much "latent prejudice"
as blacks. How come blacks have a large % of managers?
Truth: Blacks may face more latent prejudice in many streets. However,
AsAms face more blatant dicrimination in private industries and universities.
It is because black 6e9 s have the political clout with the federal government to
get EO 11246 enforced for them.

CONCLUSION:

[A] AsAm's lack of GROUP political clout is the main reason for
the discrimination against us in getting the good jobs.

[B] We must Act to strengthen OUR OWN GROUP political clout!
Actions may include but not limited to,

(1) SAVE & FORWARD to your AsAm friends this 6-part series on
"Ugly Truth."
(2) Donate! Make your check payable to "80-20 Educational Foundation," &
send it to 80-20 ; P.O. Box 603 Osprey, FL 34229. For using a credit
card, go http://www.80-20educationalfoundation.org/donate/payment.asp .
Even $5 will show your commitment!
(3) Rate this article as "Informative," or "Somewhat informative," or "Not
 informative," & wish all of us luck on the coming DOL meeting. Comments
are welcome.
http://www.80-20educationalfoundation.org/politicaledu/posterboard.asp .
PLEASE do your part! "God helps those who help themselves."

Sincerely,

Thousands of AsAms who toiled for
equal opportunity for you and America

The Ugly Truth about AsAm Inequality (Part 5)

2010-01-04T13:21:00.000-08:00

Why is 80-20 sending you the "Ugly Truth" series? To whine
or to prepare for community-wide action?

Additional popular MYTHS against us are debunked below.

MYTH 3: AsAms simply don't have the ambition, language ability, social
and communication skills, & sense of humor to make managers.

Truth:
The same accusations were made against women, blacks, and Hispanics
earlier. Now that there are hundreds of thousands of female, black and
Hispanic managers, on account of the enforcement of EO 11246, such
nonsense are no longer spread or believed. The same will prove to be case
for AsAms, once EO 11246 is enforced for us. For more details,
see Footnote 1.

MYTH 4: AsAms are mostly new immigrants. So most AsAms don't
have the seniority in workplaces to make managers yet.

Truth:
Hispanics are mostly new immigrants too. When compared to Hispanics.,
AsAms have MORE seniority with their current employers. When we don’t
have the GROUP political clout, then the lack of seniority is used as a lie
to keep us beffudled. For a table of comparison, see Footnote 2.

MYTH 5: "Latent prejudice" against blacks is certainly higher. If blacks
are making managers, and AsAms are not, it proves that
AsAms just don't have the ability to be managers.

Truth:
"Latent prejudice" against blacks is indeed higher on many streets in
America, not that prejudice should be tolerated anywhere against anyone.
However, blatant discrimination against AsAms is higher in workplaces,
because AsAms don't have the GROUP political clout to get EO 11246
enforced for us.

Have you heard enough "Ugly Truth"??? Are you ready to join the
fight for equal opportunity?

Dear readers:

What will it take to get a minority in the USA equal opportunity in
workplaces? Tell us your views/conclusions. There are no
clearly right or wrong answers. We just want to know your views.
http://www.80-20educationalfoundation.org/politicaledu/posterboard.asp .
Do your part! "God helps those who help themselves."

Respectfully yours,

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

Footnote 1

How come the same myth is still held against AsAms? Two main
reasons. (1) Women, blacks and Hispanics have more GROUP political
clout. People who utter such stereo negative image against them face
severe repercussions. (2) Once the individuals in those groups become
convinced that they have the equal opportunity to be promoted, they
worked in earnest to develop the skills they need to become managers.

If AsAms are smart & hard working enough to get advanced degrees,
AsAms can certainly learn how to communicate tactfully, and crack jokes in
cocktail parties with a little hard work. The latter is the easier skills.

Footnote 2
See the Table below for worker with 5 or more years with their current
employers comparing Asian to Hispanics:

The Ugly Truth about AsAm Inequality (Part 4)

2009-12-29T19:06:00.000-08:00

This is Part 4 of the "Ugly Truth." To catch up on earlier parts,
go to the bottom of each web page:
http://80-20nj.info/cgi/dm/8/bb/b35 or /b36 or /b37 …

People who want to preserve "good jobs" for themselves
spread MYTHS against us.

They try to falsely explain away the irrefutable statistical evidence
of discrimination against AsAms as if it's AsAms' own faults. Here are
some popular MYTHS against us:

MYTH 1: To be manager, business training is important. However,
AsAms are mostly trained in Science and Engineering.

Truth:
When compared to other races, AsAms have a significantly HIGHER
% of people with business degrees. See Footnote 1.

MYTH 2: The average AsAms income is higher than that of every ethnic
group, except for Whites. That is proof positive that AsAms are
not being discriminated.

Truth:
Wrong. That statistics proves just the opposite. The fact that AsAm
receive LOWER pay even though they have on average HIGHER
educational attainment than Caucasians is consistent with our charts,
which show AsAms having the lowest manager to eligible pool ratio
among all major population groups. This means that many AsAms in
the eligible pool are denied equal opportunity to realize personal
aspirations by the glass ceiling. They deserve equal opportunity, which
is America's core value and what makes America a great nation. Any
injustice in our system towards ANY group, regardless of that group's
ethnicity or gender, ultimately saps the vigor and competitiveness of
our nations; and festers to our nation's detriment. See Footnote 2.

Indeed, we are discriminated in workplaces in 2 ways:
(1) having lesser chance to be promoted to management, &
(2) getting paid less for the same job. See Footnote 3.

Join the fight for equal opportunity. You owe it to your children
and truth to show up.

Why is 80-20 telling you the "Ugly Truth"? To whine or to prepare for
action? What action is 80-20 preparing for? Leave your comments at
http://www.80-20educationalfoundation.org/politicaledu/posterboard.asp .
Please do YOUR part. YOU hold the key to 80-20's success in its
coming meeting with DOL.

Respectfully yours,

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

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Footnote 1:
Having a large % of AsAms in science and engineering does NOT equate
fewer % of us who are trained in business. The percentage of AsAms with
business degrees is much HIGHER than the national average. It is because
very small % of AsAms are in such other fields as English, history,
psychology, liberal arts, …, etc.

Indeed, AsAms have the highest percentage of all people with MBAs, and
the second highest percentage of people with either a bachelors or
doctoral degree in business. See Table 1 below.

Bachelor's Degrees (business):
http://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d04/tables/dt04_263.asp
Master's Degrees (business):
http://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d04/tables/dt04_266.asp
Doctor's Degrees (business):
http://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d04/tables/dt04_269.asp .

Footnote 2:
Income is tightly coupled to educational attainment according to the Census 2000.
If Asian American workers were paid the average national salary according
to their educational attainment, the average Asian American income should
be about 15% HIGHER than the average Caucasian income, owing to their
much higher average educational attainment than the Whites. See Chart 2 of
http://80-20nj.info/cgi/dm/8/bb/b35 However, in reality, the income of
the average Asian American is LOWER than that of the average Caucasian.

Footnote 3:
A 2009 salary survey by Scientist documented the same point. See the chart
below:

Or visit http://www.the-scientist.com/fragments/salary_survey/2009/ss-charts.jsp .

How come our bars are normally the shortest? Are we doing right by
our children?

The Ugly Truth about AsAm Inequality (Part 3)

2009-12-22T10:29:00.000-08:00

This is Part 3 of the "Ugly Truth." To catch up on earlier parts,
go to the bottom of each web page:
http://80-20nj.info/cgi/dm/8/bb/b35 or /b36 or /b37 …

Is the statistical evidence compiled by 80-20 valid?

We'll let EEOC's Chief Statistician plus a formal report from EEOC
tell you about it. EEOC stands for Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission, a government agency.

(1) 4/6/2006, 02:57 PM email from EEOC Chief Statistician Ronald Edwards:

" Subject: Odds Ratios Calculations
Dr. Woo,
Attached is a spreadsheet showing my calculations. I am
sure it's consistent with your calculations. I would just
stress the value of comparing to white males.(WHTM).
I enjoyed talking with you today. Good luck with your
research and related activities. Thanks."
(The attachment is NOT included, since it takes up huge
space but is not related to the validity check.)

"Odds ratios calculations" mean calculations of the chances of each
minority to rise to management in private industries, universities and
the federal government. It determines the lengths of the bars in Chart I.
To see chart 1, go to the bottom of this webpage:
http://80-20nj.info/cgi/dm/8/bb/b35 .

(2) After a year's study, EEOC publicized on January 9, 2009 its report on
"Bamboo Ceiling over Asian Americans". The report examined the
lack of advancement opportunities for AsAms in the Federal government,
the bastion of affirmative action. Ironic? Our punishment for not
paying attention to GROUP political clout? To see the EEOC report, go
http://eeoc.gov/federal/reports/aapi.html .

EEOC's recommendations include the following: (emphasis
added by 80-20). "Promulgating an Executive Order that addresses issues of
discrimination against AAPI employees in the federal sector …" and
"Create requirements that hold senior leadership accountable … for …
promotion of qualified AAPI candidates to the highest levels. …. "

Note that EEOC didn't shy away from using the phrase "discrimination
against AAPI employees."

Need you more evidence? Join us in this fight for YOU and YOUR
CHILDREN.

Rate this article as "Informative," or "Somewhat informative," or "Not
informative," or leave other comments at
http://www.80-20educationalfoundation.org/politicaledu/posterboard.asp .
Please do YOUR part to support & forward this message to others. Happy Holidays.

Respectfully yours,

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

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Names & short bios of members of 80-20's DOL Meeting Team.

596 Ved Chaudhary of NJ, President, Educators Society for the Heritage of
India (ESHI), Former Member, Board of Trustees, Rutgers Univ., N.J.,
Assistant Commissioner, Dept. of Environmental Protection, NJ,
Chenming Hu of CA, Member of The US Academy of Engineering,
Distinguished Chair professor of electrical engineering at Univ. of Calif,
Berkeley, Chinese Academy of sciences; Academia Sinica,
Alice S. Huang of CA, President-elect of The American Assoc. for the
Advancement of Science (AAAS), retire Porf. From Harvard, retired Dean
of Science at NYU, retired member of the Divison of Biology, Calif.
Institute of Technology, Member of Academic Sinica,
Henry Lee of NY & FL, President, The Financial Marketing Group, worked in
McDonnell Douglas (Missile & Space Systems Division), Northrop Corp
(Space Systems), General Electric, and Arabian American Oil Company,
S. B. Woo of DE & FL, President, 80-20 Educational Foundation; Lt. Gov.
of Delaware (1985-89), former trustee, Univ. of Delaware, and
David Yang of DC, Associate Political Scientist, Rand Corporation, Former
research fellow at Stanford Univ. specializing in democracy promotion
and international development.

The Ugly Truth about AsAm Inequality (Part 2)

2009-12-21T14:39:00.000-08:00

This is Part 2 of the "Ugly Truth." To see Part 1,
go to the bottom of the web page:
http://80-20nj.info/cgi/dm/8/bb/b35

President Obama made an iron-clad promise to AsAms that he
would
"issue a directive to the Labor Department asking it to focus
on enforcing Exec. Order 11246 on behalf of Asian Americans."
The above is valid provided that there is
"statistical data strongly suggesting discriminatory practices
against AsAms in workplaces today"
A copy of Pres. Obama's signed commitment is attached at the end.

What Statistical Evidence Does 80-20 Have?

80-20 has data to show that
"Asian Americans have the least opportunity to enter
management (See Chart I below), despite having the highest
educational attainment. (See Chart II). We also have the slowest
rate of progress toward equal opportunity (See Chart III)."

Such data & more have been provided to the Dept of Labor, DOL, since
a month ago. Indeed, earlier in 2006, 80-20 bought a full page ad in
Washington Post to publicize these data.

Be sure to focus on the small pillboxes above each of the bars in chart III. A
yellow/black pillbox denotes respectively the lengthening/shortening in each bar
from 1996 to 2001. Note that the increases in AsAm bars are only about ½
the sizes of those for women and Hispanics, although our bars are by far the
shortest. At this rate of progress, it'll take 75 years or 3 more generations,
before Asian Americans will enjoy equal opportunity. Are you OUTRAGED? .

Are WE to continue being patient or timid? Or are WE to begin a
determined NATIONWIDE bid for equal opportunity?

Respectfully yours,

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

Names & short bios of members of 80-20's DOL Meeting Team.

Ved Chaudhary of NJ, President, Educators Society for the Heritage of
India (ESHI), Former Member, Board of Trustees, Rutgers Univ., N.J.,
Assistant Commissioner, Dept. of Environmental Protection, NJ,
Chenming Hu of CA, Member of The US Academy of Engineering,
Distinguished Chair professor of electrical engineering at Univ. of Calif,
Berkeley, Chinese Academy of sciences; Academia Sinica,
Alice S. Huang of CA, President-elect of The American Assoc. for the
Advancement of Science (AAAS), retire Porf. From Harvard, retired Dean
of Science at NYU, retired member of the Divison of Biology, Calif.
Institute of Technology, Member of Academic Sinica,
Henry Lee of NY & FL, President, The Financial Marketing Group, worked in
McDonnell Douglas (Missile & Space Systems Division), Northrop Corp
(Space Systems), General Electric, and Arabian American Oil Company,
S. B. Woo of DE & FL, President, 80-20 Educational Foundation; Lt. Gov.
of Delaware (1985-89), former trustee, Univ. of Delaware, and
David Yang of DC, Associate Political Scientist, Rand Corporation, Former
research fellow at Stanford Univ. specializing in democracy promotion
and international development.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

ATTACHMENT: President Obama's signed commitment to our community:

The Ugly Truth about AsAm Inequality (Part 1)

2009-12-17T18:35:00.000-08:00

This is Part 1 of the "Ugly Truth." Please save it for reference &
forwarding purposes. Other parts will follow shortly.

80-20 will be meeting with the Dept. of Labor (DOL) in a few weeks.
It is about eliminating discrimination against YOU & YOUR KINS in workplaces.

Will 80-20 succeed? Yes, if YOU thoroughly understand the issue, express
YOUR outrage against the UNequal treatment, and respond to possible 80-20 calls
for action.

TOPIC: The removal of the glass ceiling above Asian Ams. through the
enforcement of Exec. Order 11246 which threatens sanction against
employers that receive any Federal contracts for discriminating employees
on the basis of ethnicity or national origin, among other things.

CONSEQUENCES: If DOL agrees with 80-20, it'll enforce E.O. 11246 for AsAms as it
did for other minorities and women. Effective? Extremely! If enforced,
we would have more AsAm presidents, vice presidents, directors and
other managers in the corporate world and more AsAm deans, provosts,
VPs and presidents in universities. In addition, all non-management
AsAm workers benefit from a diverse management at times of
performance review, hiring and firing. AsAm bar charts will look like
other minorities. In the graph below, see that our bars are by far the
shortest. Why? That is what we want to find out from DOL.

NUMBER OF AsAm WORKERS AFFECTED:
2,000,000 AsAms working in private industries; and
71,000 in universities, and
Total: About 2 million AsAm workers.

NUMBER OF AsAms directly AFFECTED: 4 million. This assumes that each
AsAm worker has on average 1 non-working family member.

NUMBER OF AsAms directly & indirectly AFFECTED: 15 million. "A rising
tide lifts all ships." Once we achieve equal opportunity in
workplaces in the mainstream community, everyone benefits.

DOES AMERICA BENEFIT: Yes. America becomes a "more perfect Union."

WHO will attend the MEETING(S):
From DOL: Patricia Shiu, Director of Office of Federal Contract Compliance
Programs (OFCCP), & perhaps Betsy Kim, White House Liason stationed
at DOL & perhaps others.
From 80-20: 2 persons from 80-20's 6-member "DOL Meeting Team".
See * for their names and short bios.

They've spent immense amount of time studying the issues, participating
in conference calls among themselves to prepare for the DOL meeting, and
will travel from hundreds to thousands of miles away to attend the
meetings, probably paying their own way. They are our role models.
This Team will need your great support.

Respectfully yours,

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

*Ved Chaudhary of NJ, President, Educators Society for the Heritage of
India (ESHI), Former Member, Board of Trustees, Rutgers Univ., N.J.,
Assistant Commissioner, Dept. of Environmental Protection, NJ,
Chenming Hu of CA, Member of The US Academy of Engineering,
Distinguished Chair professor of electrical engineering at Univ. of Calif,
Berkeley, Chinese Academy of sciences; Academia Sinica,
Alice S. Huang of CA, President-elect of The American Assoc. for the
Advancement of Science (AAAS), retire Porf. From Harvard, retired Dean
of Science at NYU, retired member of the Divison of Biology, Calif.
Institute of Technology, Member of Academic Sinica,
Henry Lee of NY & FL, President, The Financial Marketing Group, worked in
McDonnell Douglas (Missile & Space Systems Division), Northrop Corp
(Space Systems), General Electric, and Arabian American Oil Company,
S. B. Woo of DE & FL, President, 80-20 Educational Foundation; Lt. Gov.
of Delaware (1985-89), former trustee, Univ. of Delaware, and
David Yang of DC, Associate Political Scientist, Rand Corporation, Former
research fellow at Stanford Univ. specializing in democracy promotion
and international development.

How American are we?

2009-09-17T13:32:00.000-07:00

This e-newsletter (from the 80-20 Educational Foundation, EF) takes
a look at the value systems of most of the first and second general Asian
Americans and compares them with those of most other Americans.

To our credit, we probably emphasize education, saving, work ethic
and helping out our family members more than most Americans.

Not to our credit, we might not have sufficiently absorbed some of the
better values, listed below, of most other Americans:

1. Speaking out against injustice. (Some of us don't even speak out
against injustice when it is against us.)

2. Turning the negative energy of a personal tragedy into the positive
energy of helping a project designed to prevent others from experiencing
the same tragedy. (A huge fraction of Asian Ams. have encountered
discrimination at work or in the society, few have channeled their negative
experience to establish positive relief for other Asian Ams or other new
immigrants.)

3. Committing a certain amount of time, money and energy to help a
community's needs. This is especially so among the highly educated, and
especially after they've retired. (We have a very high share of the "highly
educated." Our community is not known for volunteering or giving for
community needs.)

4. Having individuals like Bill Gates, Warren Buffet and Ted Turner.
(We have a couple of equivalents. Hopefully, there will be more.)

The above have been my observations through my 54 years living in
America. I am NOT a sociologist. Nor did I do research in any of the above
topics that I am blabbing about. So, if I am way off base., please
forgive me. If you think I may have a point that is worthy of your
attention, examine thyself first, and then share the e-newsletters with
others.

Why is 80-20EF sending this e-newsletter to you? EF
believes that we can be the first generation of Americans possessing the
best of both Asian and American cultures. Besides benefiting ourselves,
it is also one way to give back to America.

So "how American are we?" We can be the best of Americans.

Sincerely yours,

S. B. Woo
President, 80-20 Educational Foundation, Inc.
http://www.80-20EF.org

PS To give your feedback, please go http://www.80-20educationalfoundation.org/politicaledu/posterboard.asp

To be a Judge -- a very political process

2009-07-21T09:01:00.000-07:00

Most Asian Ams know that judges (federal or state) are NOT supposed to make political contributions and/or be partisan. Therefore, many have deduced that the appointment of judges must be a non-political process. The truth is just the opposite.

Becoming a judge -- a very political process

Here is why.

First, very emotional issues clearly identified with either D or R could eventually be won or lost by the decision of the Supreme Court. Examples are abortion; guns; desegregation/affirmative action/diversity; torture/internment; gay marriage, .., etc. Most of the Supreme Court Justices came up from the Appeals and/or District Courts. Hence, the appointment of every District or Appeals Court judge could be a seed for victory or defeat to R or D.

Just look at the confirmation of Sotomayor, you'll easily deduce that the appointment of federal judges is a partisan issue. Indeed, all judges I personally know are either Rs or Ds, not a single Ind. or Decline.

Secondly, there are these facts. Red is used to indicate where politics comes in.

1) The President normally selects District judges from a short list of 3 submitted by the senior Senator from the President's party in whose state the "District" lies.

2) Those who get on the short list of 3 usually meet both of the following descriptions: a) having done a lot of service for either the senator and/or the party, and have similar legal temperament as that of the President's party or the senator., and b) being legally qualified.

"Check & balance" mechanisms to ensure justice

To assure justice, the American forefathers have installed counter-balancing mechanisms to the political process of appointing judges.

(1) All federal judges, be they District, Circuit or Supreme Court justices, are life-tenured. Hence, once appointed, all judges are free to judge by the dictate of the law and their own conscience, e.g. retired Supreme Court Justice David Souter was appointed by a conservative Pres. Reagan but had voted mostly with the liberals.
(2) In most states, the judges are NOT life-tenured, but the State Constitutions often require that the more important courts have equal numbers of D's and R's.
(3) Wrongful or partisan judgments can be appealed at the state & federal levels.

Will a generic letter to US senators urging attention to qualified Asian Am candidates be necessary & helpful?

Necessary? Yes. For District judges, Pres. Obama normally chooses from the lists of 3 submitted from the Dem senators only.

Helpful? Yes and no. In politics, it is not what one has to say, but who is saying it. Why? If an official ignores the request of an ethnic civic org., say, a law org, there will be no repercussion at that official's re-election time. If the same request from a powerful political group is ignored, when the official faces re-election, he/she may at best expect no support from that group. In the worst case, the official may find strong opponents in both primary & general election, all supported by the political group whose request he/she had ignored.

That is why when a powerful labor union, the Nat'l Rifle Association or AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee) sends personalized requests, they will be given due attention. 80-20 PAC is no AIPAC's . But it fights with courage for a diversity that includes Asian Ams.

Asian Am. Legal Eagles & Appeals Court Judges

President Obama has promised our community (via 80-20 EF) that he'll "make it a top priority of my Administration to nominate qualified Asian Ams to serve as Article III Circuit (Appeals) Judges, whenever there are vacancies in those positions."

Since Circuit Court judges often come from District Court judges, please view a picture of the 4 of the only 6 AsAm District Court judges who were present in 2006 when 80-20 announced to drive for more Asian Am. federal judges.

Their names are from right to left Anthony Ishii, Anthony Ching (Solicitor General of AZ), Ronald Lew, S. B. Woo (80-20), Susan Oki Mollway, and Dana Makoto Sabraw. District Judges Danny Chin and George King were not present owing to prior commitments, although they have consistently worked with 80-20 EF for the benefit of our community. 80-20 has high hopes that some of them plus other Asian Ams. will become Circuit (Appeals) Court judges.

When it comes to good jobs, e.g. judgeships, high managerial positions in big corporations & universities, America is much more political than most first generation Asian Am. immigrants may reasonably perceive.

80-20 Educational Foundation (EF) is pleased to provide the above educational service. If you find the service useful, donate to http://www.80-20educationalfoundation.org/donate/donate.asp or send a check to Katy Woo, 5 Farm House RoadNewark, DE 19711.

Respectfully yours.

S. B. Woo
President (a volunteer), 80-20 Educational Foundation, Inc.

Readers wanting to comment, please go http://www.80-20educationalfoundation.org/politicaledu/posterboard.asp

History, YOU & Glory of America

2009-05-15T06:17:00.000-07:00

YOU and 80-20 have made history together. No one can question that.

The "Overseas Chinese History Museum of China" has written 80-20 Educational Foundation (EF) to request a copy of then candidate Sen. Obama's reply to EF's questionnaire for exhibit in its museum. As you know, Sen. Obama has become President Obama. See the formal request, with apologies to those who don't read Chinese.

80-20 EF has replied affirmatively to the request, as it would to a similar request from any museum. Indeed, 80-20 is honored by the request, as we trust YOU are.

Without you, the Asian Am. history would be less illustrious!

The museum is being built in a very prominent location in Beijing, within the "second ring road" near Tian'anmen Square. One day, when you are in Beijing, you may visit the museum and stand in front of that document with pride.

80-20 wants that historic document to be spread as far and wide as possible for 2 reasons:
1) It is a proper way to honor all who've strived greatly asking Sen. Obama to reply and who later worked hard for him in the battleground states to help elect him.
2)This document is a reflection of the glory of America. This document tells the Chinese people more about the true significance of American democracy than any "outreach" sent to China by our government.

David Broder, known as the dean of American political reporters, stated, "A bloc vote ….. is one of the "un-noticed glories of American life," because it is a mechanism available to small minorities like the Arab/Asian Americans to protect their rights.

80-20 EF is delighted that our shared effort will be recorded in history. We want you to know about it and be proud.

For donation to EF, go http://www.80-20educationalfoundation.org/donate/donate.asp, or send a check to Katy Woo 5 Farm House Road, Newark, DE 19711. Bequests and gifts in stocks are welcome.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Pres. Obama's Preferred Supreme Court Justice: Someone who will show "empathy" towards "people's hopes and struggles."

Let the above be a constant reminder to all who emphasize career success only. Many Asian Americans are often too career-minded & insufficiently willing to stand up for justice, &/or the weak and the powerless. America values & respects those who care deeply and who are smart &
successful.

Respectfully yours,

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

PS: Readers wanting to comment, please go http://www.80-20educationalfoundation.org/politicaledu/posterboard.asp

Practice Plowing Back or ESI

2009-03-30T12:09:00.000-07:00

Practice Plowing Back to Enrich Your Own Community

Here's a true story that may help you live happier.

I naturalized 35 years ago. During the ceremony, the presiding judge gave a speech that helped me live happier till this day. He said to hundreds of us new citizens that day,

"You may have mixed emotions today. You may be happy because you applied to be an Am. citizen, and you got your wish. You may also be sad, because you think you are saying good bye to the country and people you once identified with."

"That is NOT what becoming US citizens means. In becoming a citizen, it simply means that you now owe your primary allegiance to the USA. You don't need to cut your tie with your old country. You can still care about it and want to help its people."

"The US is a decent nation. It doesn't expect its new citizens to cut off their emotional ties with another people and culture upon naturalizing. If a person can do that during this ceremony, then the same person can probably cut the US off completely through another ceremony. America will NOT want people with such an easy value system to be its new citizens."

How well said!

The topic of "a value system" that Americans generally expect from their fellow citizens then get me to the subject of "plowing back to enrich one's own community."

There are many rich individuals and a few powerful political leaders in the Asian Am. community. How many rich Asian Ams have given tens of millions to an Asian Am. cause??? Which of our powerful political leaders have spoken out on the discrimination against us in workplaces or the lack of Asian Am. Federal judges???

There may be a few, but far too few. In contrast, I know quite a few rich &/or powerful Asian Ams who have consistently turned their backs to the need of our community, once they thought "they've made it."

You know what? They may actually have limited themselves. Here is a case I know:

A very powerful political leader once told me that he/she tends to trust those minorities who have a record of serving their own community. If they don't, he/she can't help but wonder, if those individuals might not turn their backs to her/him when she/he needs help.

America values those who volunteer to help their own people in need, NOT those who are "success robots."

If you agree with what is said here, pass it around. Practice "enlightened self interest" and plow back to enrich your own community.

Post your comments at http://80-20ny.net/cgi/dm/8/bb/b31. Thanks.

Respectfully yours,

S. B. Woo
President, 80-20 Educational Foundation, Inc.
http://www.80-20EducationalFoundation.org

Letter to Labor Secretary Solis

2009-03-09T08:37:00.000-07:00

I just reported to you that our stars seemed aligned just right to win equal opportunity in workplaces soon for the 14 million Asian Ams. 80-20 is not relaxing, however. Lots of activities are going on.

See below for a letter sent a week ago to Labor Secretary Hilda Solis. She is authorized to enforce equal opportunity for all Americans through Exec. Order 11246. If you live in or close to her Congressional District which includes Monterey Park, CA, you have probably donated and voted for her. Judy Chu is now running for her vacant seat.

Here are the key points of 80-20 Educational Foundation's (EF) letter to Sec. Solis:

"Dear Madame Secretary:

. . . I am requesting a meeting with you concerning a written commitment by President Obama to the Asian American community to provide equal opportunity in workplaces for Asian Americans, when he became the President. His unequivocal commitment is attached below. . . . . .

Then Sen. Obama was deeply moved by the information presented to him by EF which included the following:

"Asian Americans have the least opportunity to enter management when compared with blacks, Hispanics and women; the slowest rate of progress toward equal employment opportunity, despite having the highest educational attainment."

To see the validity of the above statement, please click on http://www.80-20educationalfoundation.org/projects/equalopp_washingtonpost_wpad.asp and see Tables 1 and 2 and related statements in a full page ad in the Washington Post on 9/6/06. The data and conclusion have been verified, in writing, by EEOC's Chief Statistician Ronald Edwards. If you are interested, I can provide you with a copy of his letter. This ad had also been entered into the Congressional Record by Sen. Tom Carper of Delaware on 9/21/06. . . . . . .

Not a day should be lost in the delivery of equal opportunity to all Americans. Not a day should be lost to help make America "a more perfect Union."

I look forward to hearing from you soon. It will be an honor and a privilege to meet with you and answer your questions.

Sincerely,
S. B. Woo, (title) , . . . "

The above is just to keep you posted. You need not take any action. If you happened to correspond or see Sec. Solis, you are naturally welcome to express our yearning for equal opportunity in workplaces ASAP.

See Table 1 to understand how badly we have been discriminated against. See also how firmly President Obama believes in equal opportunity for all Americans in his reply to 80-20's questionnaire.

For feedback to this email, leave your comments for all to read at http://www.80-20educationalfoundation.org/posterboard.html. I'd love to correspond with you. Thank you.

Respectfully yours,

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

PS If you like what 80-20 is doing, don't forget to help back. Visit http://www.80-20EducationalFoundation.org and pull down "Donations" and click on "Donate." Donations are tax deductible.

Click HERE to view 80-20's full-page ad in the Washington Post on 9/6/06.
Click HERE to view President Obama's written commitment.

Gen. Shinseki & Asian Ams. as Cabinet Secretaries

2008-12-07T08:27:00.000-08:00

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

2008-12-04T09:10:00.000-08:00

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

2008-12-01T12:22:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-21T11:42:00.000-08:00

"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

2008-11-14T09:32:00.000-08:00

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!

2008-11-05T06:33:00.000-08:00

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"

2008-10-25T12:18:00.000-07:00

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.

2008-10-23T08:12:00.000-07:00

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"

2008-10-20T07:32:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-17T08:28:00.000-07:00

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

2008-07-03T10:33:00.000-07:00

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

2008-06-23T10:11:00.000-07:00

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?‏

2008-05-21T13:59:00.000-07:00

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

2008-03-21T09:43:00.000-07:00

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

2008-02-25T08:07:00.000-08:00

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?

2008-02-14T11:24:00.000-08:00

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!

Pol. Secrets VII: What An Election Is All About In America

2007-12-19T07:15:00.000-08:00

Many Asian Ams. were surprised.

They ask, "How could 80-20 get away with fighting the leading presidential candidates and yet succeed in getting our grievances addressed by the same candidates?"

80-20's secret is knowing what an election is about in America.

New immigrants often mistakenly believe an election is ONLY about voting for the best candidate. However, that's not all there's to it.

The American Forefathers meant for elections to assure democracy. That is, during the election time, even the "weak and powerless" such as the Asian Americans, who are mostly new immigrants not knowing much about politics and not having the money* to hire lobbyists in Washington D.C., can still make politicians sit up and listen to their grievances.

Each adult Asian American has a vote just like he/she who is among the "richest and mightiest." If there is a grievance that most Asian Ams resonate with**, we can deliver a bloc vote. Politicians pay attention to even a small minority such as the Asian Americans that have proven to be capable of delivering a bloc vote.

That is what 80-20 is all about -- to organize our community so that our grievances will be heard during the election time and in that process help make America "a more perfect Union."

But more importantly, that is what elections in America are all about -- giving the ordinary people a chance to have their grievances addressed by the political establishment. If some of the presidential candidates show that they don't share our concerns, then 80-20 PAC*** will lead a bloc vote to defeat such candidates. The real world of politics is just like the real world we see in our workplaces. Its proper functioning depends on carrots and sticks.

Comments are welcome at
http://www.80-20educationalfoundation.org/politicaledu/posterboard.asp

Respectfully yours,

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

* Actually there are many very rich Asian Americans. However, owing to their lack of interest or understanding of Am. politics, they have mostly shied away from politics or been extremely ineffective. I wish more will soon step up to shoulder their social responsibilities.

** The issue that has hit the resonant cord of a large majority of Asian Americans is their lack of equal opportunity in workplaces and, if qualified, to be Federal judges. Fortunately, most prominent Democratic presidential candidates have already made iron clad commitment to help
Asian Americans achieve equal opportunity, except one -- Senator Obama. Is he too inexperienced to know that equal opportunity is America's core value?

*** 80-20 Educational Foundation conducts political education only. 80-20 PAC leads the bloc vote.

Dawn of a New Era in AsAm Politics is Arriving

2007-11-19T14:18:00.000-08:00

The Dawn of a New Era in AsAm Politics

There is an increase in Asian Americans' political savvy and
desire to serve our community. How come? The recent exposure
of the foolishness of our old practices in politics!

Bad Money Exposed By Recent News

(1) Selfish Asian Ams. who have raised money for politicians for their
personal vanity, or commercial interests or political careers have been
repeatedly exposed as suckers who sucked our community's money and
in turn got sucked by politicians. Indeed, many of them, Norman
Hsu and John Huang to name two, got in deep trouble with the law.

(2) Even well-intentioned but politically naive Asian Ams fundraisers have
also been exposed as suckers. A politician's apparent pro-immigrant
stands can change over night. When the fundraisers' over-zealousness in
raising money got exposed, politicians publicly embarrasses them.

(3) Executive Order 11246 that has been enforced for all Americans is not
enforced for Asian Ams. by an Asian Am. Labor Secretary. Visit
http://www.80-20initiative.net/news/preselect2008.asp Click on A. 3.

In other words, our hard earned money when donated in a bad way
to politicians got us nothing but trouble. That is, bad publicity and
discrimination! We must STOP donating in such foolish fashions. When
BAD MONEY dries up, good money will come in.

What is Good money?

When a fundraiser (bundler) asks you to donate to a politician, ask
yourself and/or the fundraiser 4 questions.

a) What deeds has this veteran politicians done to help our community?
Did he/she help win equal opportunity and/or adopt enlightened
immigration policy? If none, save your money. Only deeds deserve
our donations.

b) Does this fundraiser know American politics? If no, save your money.

c) Will this bundler likely use his/her political connections to help our
community? If no, save your money

d) If a novice politician is raising money, will he/she likely share our
community's concerns? Sharing our concerns, not ethnicity, is what
counts.

"GOOD MONEY"is money donated after passing those 4 checks.
Such money will bring our community immense political clout.

A Changing Wind

Asian Am. elected officials used to endorse presidential candidates
without asking what would the presidential candidates do for our community
if elected. All that has changed this year!

The following co-chairs of "Asian Pacific Islander Americans for Hillary"
have asked Sen. Clinton to reply with "6 yeses" to 80-20's questionnaire to
her campaign i.e for her to give an iron clad commitment to our dire
needs. These elected officials are our heroes/heroines. Their names are:

Judy Chu, member of Calif.'s State Board of Equalization,
Mike Eng, Calif. State Assemblymen,
John Liu, City Councilman of NYC,
Gary Locke, Former Gov. of Washington,
Fiona Ma, Majority Chip of CA State Assembly,
Henry Manayan, Former Mayor of Miltpitas,
Doris Mastui, Congresswoman and National Chair of AAPIs for Hillary,
Otto Lee, Mayor of Sunnyville, CA, and
Ellen Young, City Councilwoman of NYC.

Will Senator Clinton, who wanted these co-chairs to endorse her, share
these co-chair's concerns? We don't know yet. 80-20 EF shall keep you
posted. We are certain that these officials will know what to do, if Hillary
doesNOT listen to them.

Comments are welcome at
http://www.80-20educationalfoundation.org/posterboard.html.

Thank you.

Respectfully,

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

- - - - - - - - - -

ACKNOWLEDGMENT: 80-20 EF continues to receive generous donations:

Dr. Stephen Ko $1,000, Lawrence and Mary Tom $750
Larry & Sophia Ho $500, Tom & Laura Hsu $500
Eric Chengfen Liu $500, Betty & Brian Ng $250 and
Xinhai and Scott Chai with matching gifts from Adobe and Boeing
of $100.00 each.

Los Angeles Times Article & Cong. Honda's Retort

2007-10-22T09:26:00.000-07:00

Another fitting title for this newsletter is " Obligation of Asian Am.
Fundraisers (Bundlers) ."

On 10/19, LA Times published an article on Sen. Clinton's fundraising
entitled "An unlikely treasure-trove of donors for Clinton." For details, visit
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-donors19oct19,1,7444827.story .

It has some good points. For example. could Sen. Clinton be taking
advantage of the political naivety of new Asian immigrants? That is a
point that 80-20 EF has raised before. Remember our email " Don't Be
Suckers" and names like Johnny Chung, Charlie Trie, Maria Hsia, Robert
Lee and Yogesh Gandhi?

Congressman Mike Honda's retort to that article also has good points.
"Could our media be too suspicious about political donations from Asian
Ams?" The media certainly erred in 1997. When John Huang and a few
others raised money illegally for Pres. Clinton and DNC, the media made it
seem like an Asian Am. cabal aimed to undermine our Federal government.
Hard to believe!

However, neither has raised the REALLY IMPORTANT POINT:
What have we gotten back for our political donations?
Among ethnic groups, Asian Ams' political donation is second only
to Jewish Americans. Shockingly, Asian Ams. don't even enjoy equal
opportunity in workplaces yet -- a right enjoyed by all other Americans.
For evidence, visit
http://www.80-20educationalfoundation.org/wpad.jpg
which is a full page ad in Washington Post & carefully documented.

For a brighter future, we must

(1) ask for accountability from our fundraisers (bundlers). The
fundraisers are there when pictures are taken and their personal needs
taken care of by the politicians. They need to be there be there to ask
the politicians to promise to work for Asian Ams' equal opportunity &
in turn hold the politician accountable! If they deliver, we must thank
them for their leadership. Otherwise, such fundraisers are using hard
earned money from the little people to buy their personal glory. We
need to reject them!

(2) also ask for accountability from those Asian Am politicians
who have raised money from us playing up their Asian roots and/or
endorsed presidential candidates in our name. If they deliver concrete
benefits to our community &/or solid promises from presidential
candidates to us, thank them & continue to support them. Otherwise,
hold them accountable & stop supporting them!

Voice your support for or objection to this view at
http://www.80-20educationalfoundation.org/posterboard.html

Respectfully,

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

What Is Expected Of Asian Am. Elected Officials

2007-10-19T09:19:00.000-07:00

Help the right Asian Am. elected officials (AAEOs), all AsAms may
benefit. Help the wrong ones, all AsAms shall get hurt.

When a wrong AAEO gets support from our community, other AAEO
may imitate him/her. "Bad money drives away good money!"

What is expected of an AAEO? That is what our community needs to
discuss and reach a consensus in order to achieve the kind of political
cohesion necessary to win our basic rights like equal opportunity at work
and to be appointed federal judges. Here is my personal view.

What America Expects Of Its Elected Officials

Elected officials are expected to primarily serve those who live in their
respective election districts. Hence AsAms living outside of an AAEO's
district should NOT expect help from him/her. The life of any AAEO is
tough enough. Don't make their lives even tougher. Let them focus on
doing a good job for constituents in their own political district which still
indirectly serves our long term interests.

Two Big Exceptions!

I) Those AAEOs who have raised campaign funds primarily from AsAms
living within and without their election districts while emphasizing their
Asian ethnic origin, have the obligation to share the concerns of all
AsAms.
II) Those AAEOs who endorsed presidential candidates by becoming
members of "Asian Ams for XXX" therefore playing up their ethnic
connection have the obligation to persuade the endorsed presidential
candidate to promote the rightful aspirations of AsAms.

Asian Americas Deserve these Basic Rights

AsAms deserve

1) to enjoy equal opportunity in workplaces by the enforcement of Exec.
Order 11246 that is enforced for all Ams. except us, and
2) to have many more AsAm Federal judges -- currently only 0.6 % while
the % of our population and lawyers is about 4.5%.

80-20 has asked all presidential candidates to give us those to promises.
See http://www.8020initiative.net/news/preselect2008.asp.

AAEOs who fulfill their obligations are the right ones! Support them.
We will soon publicize a list of such Vmodel AAEOs.

Your views and comments are most welcome via
http://www.80-20educationalfoundation.org/posterboard.html

Respectfully yours,

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

Grateful Acknowledgement for $22,800 in the last 2 Weeks:

Woo's Foundation: $10,000 Henry and Valerie Lee: $ 2.000
Theodore Chen Vora, $ 1,000 Po-Zen Wong $ 1,000
Christine Mei $ 1,000 Philip Choong $ 1,000
Ting, Michael and Laura $ 750 Thomas C. Shen $ 500
Peter Chen $ 500 TzuFann & Jeannine Shao $ 500
William Tao $ 500 Susan and James Wu $ 500
Dongzi Liu $ 500 S. B. Woo $ 500
T. K. Chu $ 500 Soo Tang (pledge) $ 500
Loi Chi $ 300 Chang, Alec $ 250
Fred and Jane Wu $ 200 Ray Wu $ 200
Scott Xinhai Chai $ 100
Donations to EF are tax deductible. Cash, stocks, bequeath, United Way and matching-funds are all welcome. Keep 80-20 EF in your mind please.

A New Asian Am. Scandal?

2007-08-31T12:33:00.000-07:00

80-20 EF's "Don't Be Made A Sucker" was only 6 days old, when
another Asian Am. who raised funds for Sen. Clinton is clobbered in the
media and will probably end up in jail. His name is Norman Hsu. By now,
you have likely heard of him.

What can be learned form this and other similar campaign finance
scandals that have occurred too frequently in OUR community?

I like to suggest 3 DOs.

1) Respect the rules of democracy,
2) Realize that in Asia, people like us live as a part of the majority.
Therefore, politics can be a hobby and is often used for personal gains.
In the US, we live as a small minority, with much prejudice against us.
Therefore, politics is a must because we need GROUP political clout
to defend ourselves.
3) To achieve the above, we must give time and money to political orgs
such as the 80-20 PAC. That is how Jewish Ams and Cuban Ams won
their equal opportunity and justice.

To help get the above points across, here are 3 DO- NOTs.

1) Don't ever go against the laws governing politics/elections in America,
2) Don't be seduced by the sweet talks of politicians. Examine their record
of service to us before helping them,
3) Don't believe that politicians will do things for us unless we have
the clout to reward or punish their political careers.

How are Norman Hsu's political friends treating him now? Just read these
headlines.

"A Fundraiser Shunned" - The Washington Post, 8/30/07
"Democrats Turn From Hsu" - The Los Angeles Times, 8/30/07
"Democrats Abandon Fundraiser ?? " - San Francisco Chronicle, 8/30/07

All this after Norman Hsu has given/raised so much money for Sen. Clinton
and other Democratic candidates. Now you know why 80-20 PAC sent
questionnaires to presidential candidates and asked for signed written answers
in Yes or No.

To read "Political Secrets VI: Don't Be Made A Sucker" again, visit
http://www.80-20educationalfoundation.org/posterboard.html. Your
comments to be left at poster board will be most welcome.

Forward this and the above email to your friends. They may benefit from them.
Support 80-20! We work for you free. Some of us have even promised not to
run for offices and NEVER to accept a government appointment.

Best regards,

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

Political Secrets VI: Don't Be Made A Sucker

2007-08-22T12:00:00.000-07:00

"He who doesn't learn from history deserves to relive it"
-- George Santayana

In the 1996 election, many Asian Ams gave &/or raised big bucks for Bill
Clinton and DNC (Dem. Nat'l Comm.) & got zonked.

Remember these Asian Am. names?

John (F.O.B.*) Huang, Maria Hsia, Robert S. Lee (S. Korean), Yogesh
K. Gandhi (Indian Am), Pauline Kanchanalak (Thai), Charlie
Trie, Antonio Pan, and Johnny Chung. *Friend of Bill.

All of them helped raise money for Bill Clinton &/or DNC. All of them
were so eager to "serve" the politicians that they violated the law, some
were jailed and fined, others were put on probation and fined. Lives ruined!

For proof, see a press release issued by the Justice Dept. under the Clinton
Administration: http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/1999/June/275crm.htm.
Indeed, much worse things were said about them by GOP politicians & their
press releases.

Their motives might have been good -- to help the politicians they
believe in and in the process help establish Asian Am. political clout.
But the results were disastrous -- for themselves and our community.

Day after day, mainstream media ran negative headline articles on
those individuals, fanning the belief that Asian Ams were "perpetual
foreigners" aiming to sabotage the American election system. Indeed, for
about 2 more years, D. and R. parties competed to distance themselves
from our community and went out of their way to stiff Asian Am big
donors to make each Party seem clean. HAVE WE FORGOTTEN?

To avoid a repeat, please be aware of the following:

1. Many politicians want you to believe that the more money you'll give
or raise for them, the more you'll get a personal reward after he/she is
elected. But they'll tell you that they can't discuss it in concrete
terms because it is against the law. "Caveat emptor." Don't be a sucker!

You may think that you are a F.O.B (Friend of Bill) or F.O.X. Chances are
that neither B nor X will remember you after the election is over. He/she
will have bigger interests after getting into the White House -- the affairs
of the nation.

2. In contrast, you can openly press the politicians about what he/she'll
do for the Asian American community. That is NOT against the
law. The American forefathers had designed elections to be occasions
for little people like us to protect our rights, using the "power of the
ballot box." In addition, you'll feel great about yourself for having
pressed politicians to do the right things for us.

Only 3 Presidential candidates, Senators Biden, Dodd and Gravel, have
promised in concrete terms and in iron-clad manners to help Asian Ams.
achieve equal opportunity and justice, should they be elected. We are
confident that many more will do so. However, before they've done so,
don't help them in money or any other means! Don't be a sucker!

Note that not a single Rep. presidential candidate has made a similar
promise yet. Countless AsAm Republicans have given most generously
to the GOP. What did they get back for our community? Ask them!

Love to get your feedback. Visit
http://www.80-20educationalfoundation.org/posterboard.html,

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

Political Secrets V: How to become strong politically

2007-08-09T08:45:00.000-07:00

Cuban Ams (only 1.2 million in population) & Jewish Ams. (6 million)
have big political clout and enjoy equal opportunity in America. Cuban
Ams. have 2 US senators, 4 representatives and one cabinet member.
The number of Jewish Am political leaders? I have lost count. :-)
How come Asian Ams. don't enjoy equal opportunity yet, although we
are 13 million in number?

If the emerging anti-China political undercurrent alarms you in that its
aftermath may hurt Chinese/Asian Ams for decades to come, then
internalize the following two "MUSTS" to make ourselves politically much
stronger.

(1) Politically, make very different choices while living in American

In Asia, we are members of the majority. A member of the majority
can take or leave politics, since the society is not prejudiced against us.

In USA, we are members of a very small minority composed mostly of
new immigrants. There is a lot of prejudice against "Asians" &
"immigrants" in America. Hence, every Asian Am. MUST participate in
politics to build up our GROUP political clout. At the very least, you must

1) register to vote, and vote in all important elections,
2) give at least 0.1% of your gross income to Asian Am.
political organizations that truly fight for you, and
3) practice bloc votes to enhance our GROUP political clout.

(2) ONLY support politicians who help us achieve equality

Mainstream politicians have always known our folly to do just the
opposite. That is, we support "apparent winners" rather than those who
have performed services for us. Therefore they never bothered to do
anything to help us. When they wanted our money, they would sweet-talk
us into believing that they would be the likely winners.
Even Asian Am politicians are now exploiting our folly. They know that
the key to raising money from us is NOT their records of services to us. It
is whether they are likely winners in the next election, or whether they
have a high rank, or whether they will be holding the highest office in one
meaningless sub-classification or another. We need to demand service
from all politicians.

Please remember the above two lessons by heart, and we'll be much
stronger politically. Pass this message.

Visit http://www.80-20educationalfoundation.org/posterboard.html
to share your view.

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

Please place " AsianAmericanUnity@80-20.us " & " sbwEF@80-20.us " into
the address book of your computer mail software.

Political Secrets IV: Chinese Spies Everywhere!

2007-07-31T08:42:00.000-07:00

A week ago, USA Today's started a Special Report. Its front page top
headline screamed "Combat Chinese Spying."
http://www.usatoday.com/money/world/2007-07-22-china-spy-1_N.htm?csp=34
Two days later, Part 2 of the Report headlined
"Against China's Tech Spies." In San Francisco, FBI placed ads in
Chinese papers seeking information on persons and events endangering
our national security.

Is there a chilling effect on Asian Ams, and particularly Chinese Ams?
You bet. Will such articles have adverse effects on our lives? You bet.

Under such an atmosphere, are we likely to enjoy equal opportunity in
workplaces? No way. Ask yourself, does your boss care more about
your career or his/her own career? What is easier? Shoulder the possible
liability of having promoted a Chinese industrial or military spy? Or, not
promoting you at all? If you are Asian but non-Chinese, ask yourself,
does your boss differentiate one Asian from another? Vincent Chin, a
Chinese American, was bashed to death by a baseball bat because two
Detroit autoworkers took him to be a Japanese.

80-20 doesn't get into the US foreign policy. However, 80-20 stands four
square to protect equal opportunity and justice for all Asian Americans!

The political secret is: YOU MUST GET INVOLVED NOW when the
presidential candidates need our bloc vote and are therefore willing to
share our concerns. That was why 80-20 PAC sent questionnaires to
presidential candidates asking them to promise in writing the vigorous
enforcement of Exec. Order 11246. 3 of the 8 Democratic presidential
candidates have already given 80-20 their iron-clad promises. Visit:
http://www.80-20initiative.net/preselect2008.html . Under EO 11246,
statistics are used to measure objectively whether Asian Americans enjoy
equal opportunity in workplaces.

Here is how 80-20 EF views the alarming situation.

Protecting national security is important. However, if the equal
opportunity and civil liberties of 13 million Asian Ams. are being
trampled upon in the process, we are throwing out the baby together
with the bath water. That must stop. 80-20 EF will fight it.

80-20 will write the Director of FBI, Justice Department and media
such as USA Today and CNN. They include questions:

In peace time, is there a more sensible way to guard against the
stealing of our technical crown jewels?

Does America spy on other nations, militarily and economically?
What if China pulls these mirroring acts against Americans and American
Chinese in China? Would our government consider such acts as the
demonizing of the U.S.?

Which nation spies on America's military hardware more? Israel, Russia
or China? For the same amount of Chinese spying, if China is not a
powerful nation, and/or if Asian Americans were politically as strong as
Jewish Americans, would the same subject matter be handled more
sensitively?

Fellow Asian Americans. Do we want equal opportunity and justice? Do
we want to live free of fear and suspicion? Act to support 80-20 yourself
and getting others to support. Share your view at
http://www.80-20educationalfoundation.org/posterboard.html. Thanks.

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

Political Secrets III: Horse-Trading With Presidential Candidates

2007-07-06T08:38:00.000-07:00

Using votes to horse-trade with presidential candidates is legal so
long as it is NOT for personal gains. That was how American Forefathers
have intended for our elections to achieve - give the "little people" the
power of the ballot box to induce politicians to do the right things for
them.

What do AsAms have to swing trade?

That is why 80-20 PAC organizes a bloc vote - our community's asset
for a political trade.

How does 80-20 make a trade?

80-20 sends questionnaires to presidential candidates. If they reply
in WRITING with Iron-clad promises to improve the lot for Asian Ams, then
80-20 will help them back in th elction.

What a great trade 80-20 is making for you:

See below how relevant and powerful 80-20's questions are to YOUR
welfare. For the entire questionnaire of 6 questions and its cover
letter, visit http://www.80-20initiative.net/preselect2008.html to see
their signed answers.

Question 3: Two years after you have issued a directive to the Labor
Secretary to enforcement Exec. Order 11246 for Asian Ams, will you meet with
a group of Asian Pacific American leaders, put together jointly by 80-20 and
the Labor Department, to review the progress in extending equal opportunity
to Asian Pacific Americans? Please answer Yes or No.

Question 4: If elected, will you within your first term of office increase
the nomination of qualified Asian Americans to serve as Article III life-
tenured federal judges, such that the number of such Asian American
judges is proportionate to HALF the number of Asian Americans in the
United States (2%)? [This'll roughly triple the number of AsAm Federal
judges.] Please answer yes or NO.

Presidential candidates Joe Biden and Chris Dodd, both chairmen
of powerful senate committees, have each replied with the iron-clad
promise of 6 yeses! For their signed answers, visit
http://www.80-20initiative.net/preselect2008.html.

Do NOT help any other presidential candidate until they've also given
80-20 their iron-clad promises. With YOUR HELP, 80-20 is confident to
get iron-clad answers from most major presidential candidates. We'll
help those who share our concerns win, and make sure that others lose.
The end result? Our next president will be a one of the candidates who has
given 80-20 the iron-clad promise to treat AsAms as equal citizens.

If you know of friends helping OTHER presidential candidates, ask
them if they have gotten similar iron-clad WRITTEN promises from those
OTHER candidates. If not, ask them "Why not?" Ask them not to
sabotage our shared dream to win equal opportunity and justice through
the 2008 election! History will judge!

Forward this SECRET to your friends! 80-20 empowers YOU. Do you
know of other organizations that empower you as much? Thanks.

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

PS Have you suggestions for the questionnaire? Voice it via
http://www.80-20educationalfoundation.org/posterboard.html.

Political Secrets II: We Are the Kingmakers in Calif. Presidential Primary.

2007-06-15T08:30:00.000-07:00

No one who has read "Political Secrets I" can fail to be impressed
with the power of a bloc vote. To review the earlier email, visit
http://www.80-20educationalfoundation.org/posterboard.html. Here's
a bigger secret - the ABSOLUTE power of our bloc vote in the 2008
presidential primaries in California, and lesser power in a few other states.

The difference between a GENERAL and a PRIMARY Election:

The PRESIDENT is chosen by ALL voters in the GENERAL
election. ONLY the party NOMINEEs are chosen in separate party
PRIMARIES. In some states, only party members (those registered as R or
D) may vote in respective party primaries. In other states, (Calif. , New
Hampshire, W. Virginia, …, etc.) Independents may ALSO vote in a primary
by simply asking for a ballot. (Calif. refers to Independents as Declines.)

Why do AsAms have more voting clout in a primary?

Reasons are: a) in a primary election, there are many more candidates
competing for our votes (11 Republicans and 8 Democrats so far). b), the
number of voters is normally halved, because non-activists don't bother to
vote in primaries. c), the number of AsAm voters will actually double,
because in many states including Calif., at least the Democratic
Party allows "Independents" to vote in its party primary. Another secret:
while only 25% of the voter are Independents nationally, it is 43% for
AsAms. We also register 33% as D and 25% as R. 80-20 will use its emails
to drive all AsAms Independents to go vote for its endorsed candidate in
states where Ind. may vote in primaries, particularly in Calif.

Summary: In a primary, the number of other voters will be halved
and are spread among many candidates. Our number of voters will
double and they'll bloc vote for the candidate endorsed by 80-20.
With your help, we SHALL be the kingmakers in presidential PRIMARIES. If
80-20 endorses one of the two top candidates in the Democratic primary
in CA, that candidate will win! Stop. Period.

Do other minorities have this kind of voting clout in a primary?

No, although Hispanics have a larger population. The others don't have
the email list to reach and persuade their voters in primaries when the
choice is large and the attention span of voters is short. 80-20, using emails,
can reach at least 50% of AsAm registered voters again and again.

Who will Benefit?

This power is NOT used for 80-20. YOU & YOUR CHILDREN will benefit.
America will be "a more perfect Union." We want only equal opportunity.

Help 80-20 back:

Was this email informative? Have you questions? Post your feedback at
http://www.80-20educationalfoundation.org/posterboard.html and pass
this SECRET about our ability to become kingmakers in presidential
PRIMARIES to your friends and relatives! Tell them that unity is power.
Tell them to vote for 80-20's endorsed candidate. Unite! A historic
opportunity is at hand.

In Secrets III, we'll tell you how 80-20 uses this voting clout to horse-trade
with presidential candidates for equal opportunity for ALL Asian Ams.
Forward this email. Thank you.

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

Political Secrets I: Why is a bloc vote so powerful?

2007-05-29T08:26:00.000-07:00

Once a month, you'll read here political secrets that made Cuban
Americans & Jewish Ams who are so small in numbers and yet so powerful
politically. This series is designed to empower YOU politically so that
TOGETHER we'll win equal opportunity and justice in America. S. B. Woo

Subject: Why is a bloc vote so powerful?

David Broder, America's most respected political columnist, stated that
a bloc vote is "one of the unnoticed glories of American life." Why?
Because a bloc vote can make a small minority politically powerful
enough to protect themselves.

A bloc vote is, in the short run, much more effective than giving millions
of $$$ to politicians and/or registering tens of thousands of new voters
each year. Here is why.

One year, a Democratic presidential nominee (DPN) was running against
a Republican nominee (RPN) in a certain state which has 12 million
voters. That state had a small Jewish Am. community of 1 million votes.
It could deliver a bloc vote of 80-20 to its endorsed candidate. The
general community had 11 millions votes but didn't practice bloc votes.

The DPN decided to focus on the general community. The RPC decided
to focus on the Jewish community. When the ballots were counted, the
DPN won the general community by a margin of 52% to 48%. (Recall that
the last two presidential elections resulted in much smaller margin of
difference than that.) Hence the DPN had a 4% advantage in the
11 million votes, or a winning margin of 440,000 votes.

The RPN won the Jewish vote by a margin of 80% to 20%. Hence the
RPC had a 60% advantage in 1 million voters. That is a net advantage of
600,000 votes. As a result, the RPN won!

Wow, the power of a bloc vote!

Actually, the above is NOT about a "certain state and Jewish Ams." It is
about "California and Asian Ams." AsAms in CA are 8% of CA's 12
million votes which are just about1 million votes! The story is about our
political power when we practice a bloc vote!

All presidential candidates understand the power of a bloc vote. That
was why 9 of the 11 presidential candidates in 2004 answered 80-20's
questionnaire in 2004 with YES/YES/YES. Their promises were in writing
and signed! Go see the signatures and what they had promised AsAms:
http://www.80-20initiative.net/preselect2004.html.

The above is the proof of the power of "Political Secret I."

Bush and Sharpton were the two who didn't respond positively.
Bush felt he could give up on CA and spend his money & effort more cost
effectively in Florida and Ohio. Too bad for us in 2004. BUT! 2008 is a
very different year.

GOP can no longer count on the "solid" South and Mid-West. Many
political experts have predicted that a RPN must try to win in CA.
Hence, GOP will have to either work with us or lose Calif and with it the
White House.

WITH YOUR HELP, 80-20 aims to use a bloc vote to get all presidential
candidates of 2008 to pay much more attention to our concerns!

More political secrets to come! Forward this SECRET now! Ask
your friends to join us in a bloc vote in 2008.

Was this email informative? Have you questions? Post your feedback at
http://www.80-20educationalfoundation.org/posterboard.html. I need
your feedback! Thanks.

S. B. Woo,
President, 80-20 EF (80-20 EF can tell you political secrets, but may NOT
endorse political candidates. Only 80-20 PAC can endorse. )

Adopt an ABSOLUTE standard to measure your success

2007-05-01T08:21:00.000-07:00

SUMMARY of the Last Email:
Last month, we discussed how AsAms tended to use a
RELATIVE Standard, R.S., comparing our career achievement against
those of our friends/relatives, mostly fellow Asian Americans. Such a
system generates jealousy, hinters networking, lets others decide how
you want to apply yourself, and results in a splintered AsAm
community.

To switch to an ABSOLUTE STANDARD, A.S., we need to:

1. Set an absolute goal, but be flexible about the timeline to achieve the
goal. The higher the goal, the more you'll realize that you'll need help
to achieve it. Hence, the more you'll network; and admire the skills of
your friends/relatives rather than being jealous.

2. Tell your goal to at least one person e.g. your spouse or a parent, if you
mean it. President Clinton told his wife about becoming the President
years before he ran.

3. Help others whenever you can. The more you help others, the more
you'll receive help from others to achieve your career goal.

4. Be subtle and patient in relating your goal to others in your network.
Don't let people think that you are rash or not realistic, or boasting.

Once you practice steps 1 to 3, you may feel like a different person.
You'll be confident, full of positive outlook towards the people around
you. Needless to say, an A.S. doesn't guarantee success. It does, however,
eliminate many self-imposed harmful baggage like jealousy and letting
others decide how you'll apply yourself.

Here are 3 examples showing the many differences between persons/orgs
practicing R.S. versus R.S..:

I) For an entry level professional in a company or university:

R.S. He is contemptuous of an AsAm Senior Scientist or Chaired Professor
in his workplace, considering him/her as an "operator" with less
technical skills than he has. The senior AsAm senses it.

A.S. He cultivates this senior AsAm professional and gets him/her to be
his mentor. After one year, he shares one or more of the following career
goals with the mentor:
No. of years spent in academia before getting tenure
No. of years spent in academia to become a Department Head
Salary received vs. average regional salary received by peers

II) For the president of an AsAm civic organization or company:

R.S. He wants to prove that he is better than the last AsAm president. So
he badmouths her and changes things for changing's sake.

A.S. He declares to accomplish one or more of the following goals upon
taking the office:
Set a record for higher earning or membership for the next year
Get a top rating in a survey of "Customers/Membership Satisfaction"
Declare to achieve a big goal that most thought to be impossible.
Having declare his goal and knowing how difficult it will be, he courts the
past president and presidents of sister organizations/companies to get
them to help him achieve the declared goal.

III) For An AsAm elected official:

R.S. She wants to show that she is the most popular and influential AsAm
official in her County. So she badmouths and fights with almost all the
other AsAm elected officials in the county, while getting little done for
the AsAms in her election district.

A.S. She wants to be an US Senator in 15 years. Knowing that it'll take
help from AsAms nationwide, especially in fundraising, she goes out of her
way to help other AsAms, forge unity for the entire AsAm community,
and serves its critical needs to establish a good track record. She of course
also networks with non-AsAm politicians as much as she can.

You be the judge. Which achievement standard is better for you?

Keep your feedbacks coming through our POSTER BOARD
Visit http://www.80-20educationalfoundation.org/posterboard.html.
A new feature was added. You can react to my emails and/or others'
feedbacks. Be polite please -- Make this a garden where we together grow
HEALTHY SEEDS for our community. See also past feedbacks. Thanks.

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

How Do You Measure Your Career Success

2007-04-03T08:16:00.000-07:00

This is my first communication with you as the President of 80-20
Educational Foundation. I'm no longer the President of 80-20 PAC. The
focus of my messages will shift from political actions to educational
endeavors. However, the goal will be the same -- urging AsAms to strive
on and become an equal partner in the shaping of the American Dream.

See if you approve of my first attempt below. Post your feedback by
visiting http://www.80-20educationalfoundation.org/posterboard.html.
It will help me and be read by other 80-20 supporters.

For today, let's talk about "How Do You Measure Your Career Success?"

Most of us are smart, well educated, and have good work-ethics. How
come statistically AsAms still face a very low glass ceiling at work? So few
AsAm Federal and State judges? Our kids face a higher admission bar?

The apparent reason is that we lack political maturity and unity. The
real reason is that we use the WRONG STANDARD to measure our career
success. Let me illustrate.

Something in our culture has induced most of us to measure our
career success by a RELATIVE STANDARD. We compare our own
career achievement with those of our best friends, closest relatives,
classmates and colleagues. With such a standard, when some of them are
more successful than us, we feel like failures in comparison. With that
frame of mind, can we ever succeed in networking? No way. We will not
help "them," because we will be failures in comparison. Naturally then,
"they" will not help us.

Do you agree that climbing ladders in America depends heavily on net-
working? Do you agree that the best persons to network with will be your
best friends, closest relatives, former classmates and former/current
colleagues?

We need to adopt an ABSOLUTE standard of measuring our career
success -- a standard adopted by most Americans of non-Asian extraction.

What is the absolute standard? How would that help?

In an absolute standard of measuring career success, one sets a goal e.g.
"within x years I want to achieve a particular career goal." One then
joins or establishes a network while sharing one's career ambition with
members of the network asking for help and helping back. In such a
relationship, the successes of one's friends/relatives/colleagues become
one's own power base to achieve career goals. The more successful they
are, the more they are in a position to help YOU succeed.

When AsAms switch from a relative to an absolute standard of
measuring career success, we, as AsAm individuals, will begin to work
together. If AsAm organizations begin to set absolute standard for its
organizational achievement, AsAm organizations will begin to work
together, which will lead to unity within our community. UNITY IS POWER.
Power is what we need to eliminate the glass ceiling and higher admission
bar.

Post your feedback & comments please. It's time that Asian Americans
discuss openly our stupid relative standard of measuring success. The
price for it is a splintered community, meekly and helplessly accepting a
low glass ceiling for ourselves and a higher admission standard for our
kids.

In addition, a relative standard is a self-imposed limitation on one's
own career. An absolute standard frees you from that limitation and
the consuming jealousy.

PREVIEW for next email: "How to switch to an absolute standard & win."

ANNOUNCEMENT: S. B. Woo will keynote an AAJA/NAAAP banquet on
May 19 in Philadelphia. Topic: Group Political Clout. Email
aajaphilly@yahoo.com for more information.