LookieNoNookie
Posts: 12216
Joined: 8/9/2008 Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Zonie63 quote:
ORIGINAL: LookieNoNookie It's amazing how much time people can spend arguing how or why something isn't possible, while others simply get it done. I don't think it's really like that. For one thing, your arguments about "hard work" and "success" may seem compelling, but I don't see how they're even relevant to the topic, which seems to be about racism and inequality in society and possible solutions to the problem. Part of the problem is that most of your position is based mainly on propaganda, the idea that America is the "land of opportunity" and a "beacon of hope." Your argument is totally dependent upon belief in these and other notions and slogans which have become part of the media/political propaganda machine. Those who have a vested interest in the status quo would be expected to oppose any changes or reforms in the system and would therefore argue vociferously for not changing it. Indeed, one would likely argue that there's nothing really to fix in our society, and that whatever problems people might have are strictly their own fault. Whether or not it's true that people's problems are their own making, it doesn't really solve anything to simply say it and leave it at that. The original argument was about racism, ThompsonX immediately responded with (Post#2): "Perhaps if racists stoped being racist then the libs couldn't play the race card". It devolved from there into older white males being racists (only), then it devolved further into blacks not being successful (singularly) as a group, then into "if you stopped killing your children/leaving your women pregnant with no fathers" etc. etc. It finally evolved into (but for a few disjointed posters) a discussion about success, devolving back into a discussion that white males can't understand the history of blacks, therefore their struggle to succeed. Almost all of my posts have been entirely misquoted or misconstrued, nearly all of which come down to: If you want something....shoot for it. You've got a better chance of hitting it than if you never try. That, unfortunately, isn't adequate apparently to assuage those who simply desire to stay right where they are. (Which works just fine for me....it provides employees). As to those who might benefit from the status quo, I, as a lifelong Republican was thrilled about Obamacare (still am in concept, but it needs work), I think the wealthy should pay significantly more, but I also think everyone should pay something (federal income tax....I know, I get it....everyone already pays something....just not federal income tax), I think ALL income should be taxed identically, no special deals for unearned (stocks/real estate) income versus earned income (labor/wages). As to the USA being a beacon of opportunity, my God....of course it is....and there are billionaires in China too (many of whom did so without any state or governmental influence or advantage). Where you came from is your good or bad fortune in life, but it is where you begin, by default. Where you end up is entirely up to you. No one else.
< Message edited by LookieNoNookie -- 5/13/2014 9:17:37 AM >
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