All purpose news and politics thread part VI: This Is Not The Time For Posing

[WestPhillyPunisher]

The general argument is a cover for blatant racism, sexism, homophobia, and xeonphobia, whether you are willing to admit it or otherwise.

It's patronizing and somewhat insulting for you to try and argue with members of said "protected classes" that your party does what it does "for our own good" as if we don't know better ourselves what is best for us -- I understand you might see it differently but that's because you're not their target.

Your party does it's best to make sure said "groups" voting and civil rights are restricted -- let's not pretend it's for our benefit.

With with regards to McConnell's obstructionism -- your statement reveals a key problem with your logic. Most Democratic congressmen and presidents don't go in with the attitude of doing nothing more than obstructing Republican policies. Like Obama, many go in with the objective of compromise and are instead obstructed and villified at every turn for doing so.

This is why I repeatedly point out that most of these dialogues are meaningless in that respect but at least this time you've revealed the real problem with the Republican party -- seeing the other political spectrum as an enemy to be defeated rather than a political faction to be worked with as an equal, even when the people have voted them into power in record numbers.

This is also why I say it's best to learn from how Republicans treated Obama more so than from what you claim about them on this forum.



"Trump Outstripping Obama on Pace of Executive Orders"

"Trump is on pace to sign more executive orders than any president in the last 50 years"

It could be argued that Obama signed all those executive orders with the purpose of helping the country and the people, but Trump is doing all his to undo anything and everything Obama had done for no reason other than sheer spite.

[aja_christopher]

It could be argued that Obama signed all those executive orders with the purpose of helping the country and the people, but Trump is doing all his to undo anything and everything Obama had done for no reason other than sheer spite.

Since attacking the "Kenyan Muslim" over and over again helped get him into office, he likely doesn't see any reason to change strategies.

It's also why he, McConnell, and many other Republicans see eye to eye on most issues.

It's likewise about the hypocrisy of claiming things like executive orders and deficits are bad and then going on to do even worse once in power.

Or telling "minorities" that they are attacking and suppressing our rights for our own benefit while their supporters shoot us in churches, synagogues, and mosques, at shopping centers, or while jogging down the street.

[Kirby101]

The general argument is that policies meant to favor protected classes can end up backfiring due to unintended consequences and/ or fail to address the main causes of inequality.

For example, diversity training programs often increase the awareness of stereotypes, helping to normalize bad behavior, while also giving people excuses to be biased, which makes them less likely to change. Affirmative action policies can lead to the impression that newly hired/ accepted individuals are less qualified, stigmatizing them and putting an asterisk on their resume. Any additional paperwork requires time and energy that is added on to that already reserved for other activities.

You've convinced me. Better to not address the rampant racism, sexism and homophobia in this country than to make someone do extra paperwork.

[aja_christopher]

You've convinced me. Better to not address the rampant racism, sexism and homophobia in this country than to make someone do extra paperwork.

Who better to decide for everyone who isn't straight, white and male what's best for everyone who isn't straight, white and male than a group of straight white males.

Makes absolutely no sense whatsoever but that's what's being sold to us.

Unsuccessfully, which is why people like Powell, Steele and Hurd are jumping ship.

Meanwhile, Dash, Diamond and Silk were shown the door once their lies became a liability.

Kanye might still be hanging in there -- assuming he has a new album coming out.

Carson is probably still asleep.

[Powerboy]

If that's what it looks like, Irene Ryan never did anything to deserve that.

What an insult to Granny Clampett.

[Powerboy]

That would be true if you believed that a Republican congressional leader will conclude that the policies of someone he disagrees with politically will be helpful in the long term.

Likewise, Democratic congressional leaders will believe that the policies of George W Bush, Donald Trump and whoever the next Republican president ends up being will be destructive, and it's better to have one of their people in the White House.

The general argument is that policies meant to favor protected classes can end up backfiring due to unintended consequences and/ or fail to address the main causes of inequality.

For example, diversity training programs often increase the awareness of stereotypes, helping to normalize bad behavior, while also giving people excuses to be biased, which makes them less likely to change. Affirmative action policies can lead to the impression that newly hired/ accepted individuals are less qualified, stigmatizing them and putting an asterisk on their resume. Any additional paperwork requires time and energy that is added on to that already reserved for other activities.

https://psycnet.apa.org/fulltext/2019-71045-001.html



The old trope is the obvious answer because it is often true. Why should we expect Mitch McConell to be immune to motivated reasoning and self-justification?

So, basically, better to do nothing about inequality in any form than risk that some people who are already racist or sexist will use it as an excuse for their racism/ sexism. That's just an excuse to maintain the status quo.

[Tami]

No, Donald Trump, Americans are not dying to work – work may cause them to die

Most of Europe and all 50 US states are in various stages of “reopening”. But why, exactly?

The pandemic is still with us. After the first tentative steps to ease the lockdown in Germany – the most successful large European country in halting the spread of the virus, thanks to massive testing – the disease has shown signs of spreading faster.

At least Germany is opening slowly and carefully, as is the rest of the EU.

By contrast, the US – with the highest number of deaths and most haphazard response to Covid-19 of any advanced nation – is opening chaotically, each state on its own. Some are lifting restrictions overnight.

Researchers expect the reopenings to cause thousands of additional deaths.

Two weeks after Texas’ governor, Greg Abbott, began reopening, the state experienced the single-highest rise in cases since the beginning of the pandemic. Since Nebraska reopened on 4 May, Covid-19 cases in Colfax county alone surged 1,390%.

Experts warn that Dallas, Houston, Florida’s Gold Coast, the entire state of Alabama and several other places in the south that have rapidly reopened their economies are in danger of a second wave of coronavirus infections over the next four weeks.

[Tami]

Chicago: black people are 30% of its population but 60% of its Covid-19 deaths

But the virus has hit black Chicagoans the hardest, shining a spotlight on racial inequalities that existed long before the pandemic.

Though black residents make up 30% of the city’s population, they account for 60% of its Covid-19 fatalities. They also have the highest rate of infection statewide, making up a quarter of Illinois’ total confirmed coronavirus cases despite representing just 15% of its population. And, according to a new study from the Chicago Urban League, systemic racism is at the root of the overrepresentation.

Black Chicagoans, the study found, are both more likely than their white counterparts to be infected by the disease and more likely to die from it, thanks to a variety of factors including overrepresentation in service industries where social distancing is difficult or impossible; housing conditions in some predominantly black communities; and higher incarceration rates.

[Tendrin]

hat's just an excuse to maintain the status quo.

If you add 'that benefits me and not them', you've correctly summarized modern conservativism.

[jetengine]

I don't think anyone believes that Cummings is the puppet master; Johnson has been a strong political force for well over a decade (became Mayor of London in 2008); he's only been Johnson's aide since 2019. Before then he was with Michael Gove and Vote Leave campaign.

Thing is though Cummings has his hand in a lot of shitty pies including the awful "Herd immunity" strategy which (conspiracy theory or not) some suggest the government are continuing with, the theory being that their so actively avoiding doing anything but the bare minimum that its either intentional or incredible gross incompetence.

[CaptainEurope]

Thing is though Cummings has his hand in a lot of shitty pies including the awful "Herd immunity" strategy which (conspiracy theory or not) some suggest the government are continuing with, the theory being that their so actively avoiding doing anything but the bare minimum that its either intentional or incredible gross incompetence.

Oh! So driving across country while spreading his coronaviruses could have been his strategy to thin the herd?
'
That would make him more of a Thanos than a Puppet Master.

[Mister Mets]

So, basically, better to do nothing about inequality in any form than risk that some people who are already racist or sexist will use it as an excuse for their racism/ sexism. That's just an excuse to maintain the status quo.

It's simply an acknowledgement that well-meaning policies can backfire and create perverse incentives.

You've convinced me. Better to not address the rampant racism, sexism and homophobia in this country than to make someone do extra paperwork.

If the government mandates paperwork without providing resources to make up for the costs, the people completing the new paperwork often end up relying on cognitive shortcuts like stereotyping.

The original goalpost is whether McConnell might think he's doing the right thing, rather than whether particular legislation is worthwhile. No one's really brought up any particular legislation about workplace discrimination.

[CaptainEurope]

It's simply an acknowledgement that well-meaning policies can backfire and create perverse incentives.

"Nice policy you have there! Would be a shame if somebody made it backfire!"

[Malvolio]

You've convinced me. Better to not address the rampant racism, sexism and homophobia in this country than to make someone do extra paperwork.

See, the problem is that too many people saw Affirmative Action as the be all-end all, when it should have been the first step. Then you have to do something to convince resentful white men that the beneficiaries of Affirmative Action are qualified for their positions and didn't just get them to fill a quota. Their mere presence in the workplace or university won't do it.

[Mister Mets]

"Nice policy you have there! Would be a shame if somebody made it backfire!"

You don't typically need anyone to make the policy backfire.

It can happen of its accord.

One example is legislation to prevent potential employers from inquiring whether applicants have served jail time. The intent is to make it easier for people with criminal records (who are disproportionately likely to be young men of color) to get jobs. However, many employers will respond to "ban the box" regulations by considering less men of color in the initial stages of the job search progress, and by hiring white guys who have served time in jail.

https://www.brookings.edu/opinions/b...arm-than-good/

This doesn't happen because of someone sabotaging the policy. It just had some perverse incentives.

See, the problem is that too many people saw Affirmative Action as the be all-end all, when it should have been the first step. Then you have to do something to convince resentful white men that the beneficiaries of Affirmative Action are qualified for their positions and didn't just get them to fill a quota. Their mere presence in the workplace or university won't do it.

How would you go about convincing people that beneficiaries of Affirmative Action are qualified for their positions?