Saturday, December 24, 2011
Party = race
I'll treat race as a variable whenever it's a valid and important predictor (i.e. educational achievement, violent crime), but not otherwise. I'm always puzzled by people who consider race in situations where it's not a meaningful variable.
Nice opposing pair of examples today.
On one side, NRO is stoutly pushing Romney as the best candidate to defeat Obama. Why, for heaven's sake? Romney and Obama are just about identical, as McCain and Obama were just about identical. The only actual difference is that Romney and McCain are somewhat more eager to invade countries that didn't attack us, while Obama is somewhat more reluctant. Aside from that, all are perfect Wall Street slaves, perfect Gaians.
If you strongly prefer an old white Wall Street slave to a young black Wall Street slave, your preference must be based on race. (Or maybe age, but that's not likely, is it?)
= = = = =
Opposite side in an NPR feature today. A family of older black political activists discussing politics. They describe the Repooflicans and the Banksters accurately, but then they stoutly defend Obama as the Friend Of The Poor.
WHAT? Look at any statistic you want, and you'll find that Obama has smoothly continued the Bush effort to enrich the rich and starve the poor. Most of the graphs show no change of slope in 2008; on the values that do change slope, it's worse for the poor since 2008. If you are genuinely for the poor, you have to be against Obama just as strongly as you're against Bush or Romney or McCain.
If you strongly prefer Obama on this issue, your preference must be based on race. ¶ 6:20 AM
Nice opposing pair of examples today.
On one side, NRO is stoutly pushing Romney as the best candidate to defeat Obama. Why, for heaven's sake? Romney and Obama are just about identical, as McCain and Obama were just about identical. The only actual difference is that Romney and McCain are somewhat more eager to invade countries that didn't attack us, while Obama is somewhat more reluctant. Aside from that, all are perfect Wall Street slaves, perfect Gaians.
If you strongly prefer an old white Wall Street slave to a young black Wall Street slave, your preference must be based on race. (Or maybe age, but that's not likely, is it?)
= = = = =
Opposite side in an NPR feature today. A family of older black political activists discussing politics. They describe the Repooflicans and the Banksters accurately, but then they stoutly defend Obama as the Friend Of The Poor.
WHAT? Look at any statistic you want, and you'll find that Obama has smoothly continued the Bush effort to enrich the rich and starve the poor. Most of the graphs show no change of slope in 2008; on the values that do change slope, it's worse for the poor since 2008. If you are genuinely for the poor, you have to be against Obama just as strongly as you're against Bush or Romney or McCain.
If you strongly prefer Obama on this issue, your preference must be based on race. ¶ 6:20 AM
