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The drug war has caused a lot of collateral damage, yeah. Legolas Send a noteboard - 04/06/2020 09:37:43 PM

View original postI will clarify to say that I don't believe that there is no racism in the United States. There clearly is. But in my mind, most of the heavy lifting has been done. We're trying to clean up the edges now.

I sort of agree in the sense that the major injustices have been ended, both legally and socially - the country has come a long way in less than one lifetime. But finishing the job can still take a very long time - many generations - if too many people figure that it's basically done and requires no further effort, as the Republicans tend to.
View original postI will dispute some of your points about social mobility and wages. While real wages may not have gone up as much as in the past, the studies concluding there have been limited gains completely ignore other forms of compensation (e.g., health insurance). That's not to say everyone is benefiting, but most of those being "left behind" are, for the most part, suffering the consequences of their own poor life choices. They're also victims of horrible schools which see some of the highest funding in the world. We constantly hear about "underfunded" schools. But that's just another false narrative. Some of the worse performing schools/districts get the most money. More than is used in other nations. All thrown away for administrative bloat and excessive employee benefits.

I'd have to look into that about ignoring other forms of compensation - though anyway a large portion of workers doesn't get health insurance and other such benefits. Education is definitely a big driver in life outcomes for people, I agree better schools for kids from black/minority background could make a big difference. Though fixing underperforming schools is generally easier said than done...
View original postI propose 2 things that will greatly benefit the nation and the black community especially. Ending the drug war and eliminating all public employee unions. Most of the extra attention given to black people stems from the excesses of the drug war. End it. Save money, save lives, defund gangs, all with one action. Ending the public unions will prevent them from standing in the way of firing bad police and teachers and prevent them from standing in the way of reform. A win for everyone.

I'm not sure about the eliminating public employee unions part, I don't think I'd go that far. In the end, the way they aggressively defend their acquired privileges and benefits is no different from the way large corporations lobby to keep theirs, or the way billionaires basically buy politicians in order to protect their tax benefits or even reduce taxes further. They are certainly a pain in the ass in some ways though.
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Soooo, it turns out that George Floyd had drugs in his system - 04/06/2020 02:02:47 PM 1280 Views
Why let facts cloud your emotions when you want to steal shit? - 04/06/2020 03:45:24 PM 480 Views
Facts that don't fit a narrative are ignored. - 04/06/2020 05:12:44 PM 441 Views
FROM WSJ: Good Policing Saves Black Lives - 04/06/2020 05:14:02 PM 400 Views
White leftists/liberals and "Passover Syndrome" - 04/06/2020 05:16:15 PM 413 Views
I worry about the desired end state sought by those promoting the narrative. - 05/06/2020 02:31:39 PM 429 Views
I'd be curious to see how other models work. Granted, I want them tested in someone else's town. *NM* - 05/06/2020 04:28:31 PM 253 Views
Bingo *NM* - 05/06/2020 05:31:26 PM 235 Views
Mookie how do you feel now after the May 30th tire incident, that the cops admitted they did today? - 08/06/2020 11:59:42 PM 405 Views
Whatever the rationale, defunding the police is a bad idea. Even Bernie agreed with that. *NM* - 12/06/2020 03:27:29 PM 222 Views
Are you disagreeing with the branding, or the actual ask? - 12/06/2020 04:32:36 PM 373 Views
Second - 12/06/2020 05:42:05 PM 384 Views
It depends on who's asking. - 12/06/2020 06:55:34 PM 370 Views
LA schools police will return grenade launchers but keep rifles, armored vehicles - 12/06/2020 07:11:36 PM 468 Views
Wow. What an absolutely insane sentence. *NM* - 12/06/2020 07:13:42 PM 226 Views
A six year old news article? Is it even still relevant? *NM* - 12/06/2020 08:39:44 PM 213 Views
It is extremely relevant - 12/06/2020 09:09:33 PM 366 Views
That's bizarre. You position changes based on who you're talking to? - 12/06/2020 07:12:47 PM 375 Views
yes because some have an agenda I can't accept. - 12/06/2020 08:36:15 PM 436 Views
So you are Anti-Anti- ... isn't that exhausting *NM* - 12/06/2020 08:39:35 PM 228 Views
No, I would be Uncle-Uncle *NM* - 12/06/2020 08:40:56 PM 231 Views
Sounds like one of those damned forsaken Time Loops. - 12/06/2020 09:12:27 PM 400 Views
Did you see this? It's brilliant - 08/06/2020 02:07:30 AM 505 Views
I did indeed. - 09/06/2020 08:50:04 AM 429 Views
I've read Joe's post on FB and the study it referred to. - 04/06/2020 07:29:12 PM 441 Views
Some of what you write is reasonable. - 04/06/2020 07:52:14 PM 467 Views
The drug war has caused a lot of collateral damage, yeah. - 04/06/2020 09:37:43 PM 396 Views
“Structural racism” is a bullshit term - 05/06/2020 04:00:09 AM 475 Views
Maybe the term isn't right - 05/06/2020 05:41:59 AM 422 Views
More bullshit! - 05/06/2020 11:14:49 PM 399 Views
and another point - 06/06/2020 03:37:45 AM 414 Views
A modest proposal *NM* - 05/06/2020 07:14:50 AM 230 Views
0.1% should be unarmed blacks *NM* - 05/06/2020 11:16:12 PM 247 Views
Your definition of racial prejudice is not the same as racism - 12/06/2020 02:49:04 PM 392 Views
And the hair splitting award goes to... - 12/06/2020 04:26:29 PM 379 Views
Also, COVID-19 - 04/06/2020 08:05:47 PM 414 Views
I hate to agree with Roland, but... - 05/06/2020 02:01:56 AM 428 Views
Exactly. There is no reason to have a knee on his neck for 8 minutes. *NM* - 05/06/2020 04:15:58 PM 212 Views
Who said otherwise? That actually shows the VIRTUES of the system. - 05/06/2020 06:46:10 PM 437 Views
Wait so that is your complaint? SERIOUSLY? - 05/06/2020 11:10:04 PM 386 Views
Re: Wait so that is your complaint? SERIOUSLY? - 17/06/2020 09:23:38 PM 535 Views
Daniel Shaver had a BAC 3 times the legal limit. - 05/06/2020 03:38:27 AM 405 Views
Never gonna happen - 05/06/2020 07:13:57 PM 407 Views
Re: Soooo, it turns out that George Floyd had drugs in his system - 05/06/2020 04:45:41 PM 418 Views
??? - 05/06/2020 05:23:34 PM 385 Views
My question is not why George Floyd said he can't breathe... - 05/06/2020 05:44:47 PM 430 Views
Oh, he asserted it - 05/06/2020 06:03:06 PM 416 Views
Ever watch Cops or Live PD or any police reality show? - 05/06/2020 05:35:38 PM 399 Views
Posting something a literal Karen made. - 06/06/2020 01:50:54 AM 502 Views
A Karen is a moron - 09/06/2020 06:42:11 PM 446 Views
It doesn't matter a whole lot - 06/06/2020 08:36:10 AM 429 Views

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