9 Comments

1. 

   E.C. on May 17, 2008 at 10:39 am

   Is there really a racism problem in West Virginia? Or is it more of an educational attainment or intelligence problem?

   I hypothesize that the lower a white West Virginian’s educational attainment or native intelligence level the more likely he/she would prefer Hillary or McCain over Obama.

   The best way for African Americans to reduce the lower-income and lower-middle-income anti-African American racism that helped Hillary secure a big victory in West Virginia would probably be to help tens of thousands more lower-income and lower-middle-income West Virginians get good, collegiate-level, liberal arts educations.

   Indeed, I suspect the best way for pro-African American interest groups to significantly decrease anti-African American racism in the U.S. over the next fifty years would be to support legislators, legislation, and regulations that would help double the percentage of lower-income and lower-middle-income whites attaining good undergraduate degrees, especially in red states and swing states.

   Our undereducated white Americans are probably restraining the quality and efficiency of our democracy, voting in mediocre white politicians who could not win in well-educated political districts or states. Our democracy is designed to work best when almost all our citizens and elected legislators are well-educated and able to think critically.

2. 

   cnulan on May 18, 2008 at 2:49 pm

   Does it truly matter who presides over the pending liquidation?

3. 

   Lester Spence on May 18, 2008 at 2:53 pm

   I’d say that it matters around the edges. And I do think there is a racism problem in West Virginia, but that West Virginia is not aberrant. Racism is not simply a consequence of poor education, even though I wholeheartedly support giving West Virginians the resources they need to get some sense.

4. 

   E.C. on May 18, 2008 at 4:15 pm

   “Racism is not simply a consequence of poor education…”

   No doubt. But though there is not a single cause, there probably are a few causes that help promote or sustain modern anti-African American racism much more than others.

   Political districts in which African Americans account for less than 5% of the populations and mostly-lower-middle-income whites account for 90% or more of the populations have predictable social attributes. Relatively few white West Virginians probably have African American friends in their social networks. And many West Virginians racists are old-school anti-African American racists, the sort that hate African Americans and really couldn’t give any good reasons why. Their brand of old-school anti-African American racism has probably been passed down across the generations fairly unchallenged since the 17th Century. Additionally, white West Virginians are more likely to earn much less money than the average white American and they are more likely to have much lower levels of educational attainment than the average white American.

   Those demographic markers (1) 5% or lower African American population; (2) 90% or higher white population; (3) lower-than-normal socioeconomic status for the whites; and (4) lower-than-normal educational attainment for the whites, probably combine to all but guarantee a state’s or political district’s (5) higher-than-normal level of old-school anti-African American racism.

   Doubling the percentage of white West Virginians with undergraduate educations would upgrade West Virginia’s average educational attainment level and average socioeconomic status. I bet this would, in turn, decrease the pervasiveness of West Virginia’s old-school anti-African American racism. In fact, since West Virginia is among the nation’s 5 least well-educated and poorest states (See the latest Morgan Quinto Press rankings), each dollar spent on getting a higher proportion of its citizens good undergraduate degrees should do much more to decrease West Virginia’s old-school anti-African American racism than the same dollar spent on educating our 25 most educated or wealthiest states.

5. 

   The Good Doctor on May 18, 2008 at 5:32 pm

   again, i agree with the policy proposals. but education doesn’t work in this case to generate anti-racist attitudes. if anything what’d we see would be a shift from old school racism to racial resentment.

6. 

   cnulan on May 18, 2008 at 7:48 pm

   An absolute capitalist hierarchial food powered make work enterprise with the following characteristics

   GDP break down…

   Agriculture: 1% The producers of the power…

   The consumers of the power. (food powered make work liabilities)

   Industry: 20.7%
   Services: 78.3%

   has no need for additional uselessly eating college graduates prepared to pretend they’re doing anything useful. This round of the game is coming to a close. Short of a massive outbreak of WW-III – with concommittant mass conscriptions and casualties – it’s fittin to get ugly up in here.

7. 

   Chloe on May 20, 2008 at 8:04 pm

   I’ve been reading a lot on race and political behavior lately, especially the critiques of some of the non-invasive methods of “measuring” racism – whether or not someone’s score on the implicit association test, policy preferences (which can be racially primed) or voting decisions actually reflect underlying racist attitudes or something else – subscription to some sort of top-level value, or a more statistical form of discrimination.

   I’d say puts some of those critiques to rest.

8. 

   The Good Doctor on May 21, 2008 at 12:19 am

   i’d agree.

9. 

   Wes T. on May 28, 2008 at 11:35 am

   Getting the President Americans Deserve!

   LOL

   This is ABSOLUTELY THE TRUTH.

   Has anyone here noticed Congressman and Dr. Ron Paul:

   -had a broad based grassroot support of motivated volunteers

   -won the great majority of the GOP strawpolls

   -won a HUGE majority of on-line polls

   -had a definitive (not vague) campaign platform

   -is the most ethical and honest public servant serving the people. Too honest for the current political process!

   -won virtually every GOP debate he entered despite blatant media prejudice

   -is not backed by the establishment (corporate-military-political machine)

   -raised more money than any other candidate from non-corporate sponsers

   – campaign sustained a near total media blackout because Dr. Paul is NOT a member of the Establishment.

   – …

   So yes, I agree that the US will receive the “leader” it deserves. Looking closely at the past few “prominent CROOKS” in the oval office should give you a hint about what’s coming.

   Karma. Sowing and Reaping. Chickens coming home to roost, and that’s A LOT of chickens! The Big Payback! Reaping the whirlwind…and worse.

   It’s going to be a rough ride folks. The roughest ride ever.

   Got GOD???

   !!!