African Americans must help president fulfill the dream

The 2012 Presidential election is one of the most important presidential elections in my lifetime. The future of America's middle class is at stake. Our very right to vote, our employment, our investment in housing, our health care and pensions, our children's education, the safety net protecting our poor, elderly and disabled, our police and fire services, and other government services we take for granted are at risk.

Any president is just one person and has limited effectiveness and influence without the assistance of Congress. Our three branches of government are designed to allow consideration of different points of view and eventual compromise and collaboration. The strong objection of Republican members of the House and Senate to any idea proposed by President Obama, even if Republicans before proposed the same, is destroying our democracy.

African Americans, Hispanics, the poor, elderly, disabled and women have been unduly impacted by unemployment, lack of health insurance and pensions, and substandard housing. African Americans invest a disproportionately large percentage of their assets in housing, and have in this way suffered disproportionate losses.