fklt wrote:spinedoc wrote:Whoa, don't assign that motivation to me. I'm not projecting hate at all, but to think that much of this isn't about race is a bit naive. I agree with you that its about the rich wanting to stay rich, but its also about who the rich are and why. The system benefits those of a certain class of people, people who have climbed the ladder and want to pull it up for everyone else. That is deeply rooted in race where race and class were one in the same. These same people don't want a social safety net, and because of that they demonize it to mean a government hand out. That's wasted money going into the public coffers that could line their pockets instead. With a progressive tax system, the rich pay a higher amount dollar for dollar, but not based on percentage. That's the tug and pull at the very heart of the two party system. Wealthy people wanting to keep more of their own money, and working people wanting an equal playing field, but also having the same security wealthy people enjoy. I'm not saying all Republicans are racist, not at all, but it is a tool being used to motivate people to vote a certain way. I often say that many Republicans vote against their own self interests at times. Dog whistle politics is persuading portions of the country to align with their cause.
And yes, this is also what many romanticize as states rights, it has a history to it. The civil war was about property issues, I'll give you that, but please don't dismiss it as not being about slavery. That remnant had a huge issue with regard to reconstruction. Statues are still erected today in my neck of the woods for the confederate heroes and what they stood for. It was meant as a message to laud over a certain sect of the population to remind people what their values were and still are. The gun rights reference isn't directly connected. I didn't mean to make that point, mine was that these same folks would transition into that topic as a subtext of states rights as well. The NRA used to be a hunting organization, now they are a lobby for the gun manufacturers to make more money. You're right, but there too they use racial connotations to stoke a bit of fear. Fear is a good motivational tool to get people to act in certain ways, and race works quite nicely. On a side note, I don't like the term race either, but it is the standard vernacular to use. There is technically only one race of people, and that is the human race. Also, good discussion. I hope it stays a peaceful exchange of thoughts with anyone taking too much offense. If you believe I'm wrong, that's cool, just tell me why you think that way without casting dispersions about my motivation.
lol, sorry I usually have this combative tone because when I think about these things I get angry. I agree with you on almost everything. my point is most things affecting our lives are side effects of the constant power struggle between people, societies, countries. you can trace most seemingly unrelated societal problems in life back to desire to keep wealth and through it, power.
american conservative ideals are hodgepodge of totally unrelated and sometimes conflicting notions that are pushed on them, with only common thread between them being the fact that they all benefit the rich. that's why I'm treating racism and the like as side-effects rather than actual causes.
PS: also; you in that sentence is not "you", I wanted to refer to the people of the time.
No worries mate, its all good.
