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merrily

(45,251 posts)

118. Agree. I also agree that being economically secure and black does not mean you won't suffer

Tue Jul 21, 2015, 08:04 AM

Jul 2015

racism. But, there are limits to what legislators can do. Limits to what mortals can do.

You can eliminate laws that discriminate, taking de jure discrimination off the books. However, you cannot eliminate de facto discrimination. You can't wave a magic wand and make people stop being racist or make cops stop shooting, choke holding, etc. You can only prosecute them when you have evidence, and hope the jury does the right thing. But, by then, someone is hurt or dead.

You can pass education bills and jobs bills, etc. that enable people to move into safer places and hopefully have better lives.

Racism is a huge cause of poverty. Maybe you can't legislate away the racism, but you can at least try to pass laws that provide a better path out of poverty.

By all means, movement on both fronts is needed, and keeping people alive is the first priority. But, right now, I honestly don't know of a law that is going to make sure no cop uses a choke hold unnecessarily or no racist brings a gun (or a torch) to an African American or Hispanic church.

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Robert Reich on the Netroots Nation event [View all] kentuck Jul 2015 OP

Yep. Red Knight Jul 2015 #1

That obligation falls on both sides of the divide we mean to avoid. Betty Karlson Jul 2015 #27

I agree with the sentiment of your idea, but Admiral Loinpresser Jul 2015 #99

I am not a PoC, but I do happen to be gay. Betty Karlson Jul 2015 #110

Thank you for your genteel approach Admiral Loinpresser Jul 2015 #119

Then maybe you too can teach me a thing or two. Betty Karlson Jul 2015 #128

You have a valid point. Admiral Loinpresser Jul 2015 #132

Well, we can all do our little part. Betty Karlson Jul 2015 #134

It's hard for Black people to understand what is obvious to white progressives: that JDPriestly Jul 2015 #43

What black people understand, that white progressives don't get is psychmommy Jul 2015 #50

I appreciate your answer. JDPriestly Jul 2015 #83

I agree that your issues are important and your comment about your merrily Jul 2015 #114

It's hard for Black people to understand what is obvious to white progressives DonCoquixote Jul 2015 #60

You may be surprised, but I agree with virtually all you say. JDPriestly Jul 2015 #85

So you basically think that every black person, because of their skin color CreekDog Jul 2015 #138

"It's hard for Black people to understand what is obvious to white progressives: that Starry Messenger Jul 2015 #63

Amen!!... The effects of racism should be mitigated. uponit7771 Jul 2015 #92

I have a white friend. Two of her (white) children have been convicted of drug offenses. JDPriestly Jul 2015 #108

Prop 47 in CA Starry Messenger Jul 2015 #131

ARE YOU FOR REAL WITH THE TITLE OF YOUR POST? Are you actually saying black people don't . . . brush Jul 2015 #129

Wait, you think black people don't understand the interrelationships of race and class? LeftyMom Jul 2015 #133

It's hard for women to understand what is obvious to male progressives. Gormy Cuss Jul 2015 #137

yep again daybranch Jul 2015 #65

Divide-and-conquer is the name of the game... polichick Jul 2015 #2

Yep, socialist is another divisve word they'll use a lot. lark Jul 2015 #13

We support DEMOCRATIC socialists! cascadiance Jul 2015 #18

I have no issue with Democratic Socialist, lark Jul 2015 #22

I think we are witnessing this "socialism is bad" meme starting to die like Limbaugh's show is... cascadiance Jul 2015 #40

Bank on it, lark. You are spot-on. calimary Jul 2015 #139

Yet some are STILL too blind to see hifiguy Jul 2015 #31

I don't think you can put the cart before the horse... Little Star Jul 2015 #3

But the killers of those black youths are supported by the riches of the PTB. The two issues are jwirr Jul 2015 #25

I think you may have it backwards. OrwellwasRight Jul 2015 #70

He or she is saying you can't work a job if you've been shot at age 12 for brandishing a toy gun or merrily Jul 2015 #125

I get that. OrwellwasRight Jul 2015 #142

Fixing the economy is irrelevant to people who are dead. merrily Jul 2015 #144

Once again: racism doesn't exist in a vacuum. OrwellwasRight Aug 2015 #153

Don't presume.nt merrily Aug 2015 #154

You either. OrwellwasRight Aug 2015 #155

Agree. I also agree that being economically secure and black does not mean you won't suffer merrily Jul 2015 #118

K & R. Great post, Reich says it so well. In his conclusion Bernie also emphasized for appalachiablue Jul 2015 #4

OT--what is an "undocumented American"? TwilightGardener Jul 2015 #5

Less offensive version of "illegal immigrant" (nt) jeff47 Jul 2015 #15

I've never seen that term used before. Usually it's undocumented immigrant. TwilightGardener Jul 2015 #21

According to Trump Plucketeer Jul 2015 #19

Yeahup.... daleanime Jul 2015 #33

Kentuck: It needs a link....! KoKo Jul 2015 #6

+10 ~nt~ 99th_Monkey Jul 2015 #11

Sorry. kentuck Jul 2015 #16

Thanks for link! 1,732 people gave it a Like! KoKo Jul 2015 #23

Doesn't the "divide"/"split" come when one group ignores/belittles ... 1StrongBlackMan Jul 2015 #7

Always right.... Stellar Jul 2015 #14

Where did he say it was? zipplewrath Jul 2015 #20

Have you not seen the "BLM=divivise/wedge issue" threads? ... If not ... 1StrongBlackMan Jul 2015 #41

Cross thread attribution? zipplewrath Jul 2015 #47

If the divide... MellowDem Jul 2015 #38

You would think so "the solution is just to focus on that issue more until people are satisfied." stevenleser Jul 2015 #52

The fact the other candidate get a free pass on all these issues AgingAmerican Jul 2015 #53

Who has gotten a free pass? O'Malley was also confronted. I am sure at her next open conference stevenleser Jul 2015 #54

Hillary gets a free pass AgingAmerican Jul 2015 #56

No, she isn't getting a free pass. But keep dismissing BLM. Everything is about protecting Bernie stevenleser Jul 2015 #58

So when was Hillary confronted with these issues? AgingAmerican Jul 2015 #59

LOL. And again. stevenleser Jul 2015 #61

When BLM decide to confront her. Raine1967 Jul 2015 #102

Not bloody likely. Clinton events, like those of Republicans, are very heavily controlled eridani Jul 2015 #112

Hillary will not be confronted. OrwellwasRight Jul 2015 #67

That's what those 'ropes' are for. L0oniX Jul 2015 #69

I bet after this, the Hillary camp will keep an even tighter control her "rallies". progressoid Jul 2015 #73

They're focused on the politics of it all... MellowDem Jul 2015 #55

Part of what fascinates me about all of this is that LGBT activists have met so very much criticism Bluenorthwest Jul 2015 #82

I have defended code pink for this kind of thing in the past. I criticized tea party for disrupting stevenleser Jul 2015 #94

Double standards are in DUs DNA. merrily Jul 2015 #123

Please see my Reply 118 above. merrily Jul 2015 #120

Agreed The Green Manalishi Jul 2015 #136

pretty sure there are few anti-racist black activists who are like "let's not raise taxes on job geek tragedy Jul 2015 #8

No, but there are plenty of poor whites who say that because jeff47 Jul 2015 #17

"Doing both at the same time" apparently means that PoC shut up about structueral Chakab Jul 2015 #26

What part of "at the same time" is so unfathomable to you? jeff47 Jul 2015 #29

Find me any advocates on black issues or issues affecting any other group of PoC who OPPOSE Chakab Jul 2015 #36

Oh yes, here we go. OrwellwasRight Jul 2015 #45

Well don't hold your breath waiting for them to demand Hillary address race. zeemike Jul 2015 #49

Don't worry I won't be holding my breath. OrwellwasRight Jul 2015 #66

She has a history of solving intractable problems? merrily Jul 2015 #130

See 1SBM above, complaining about "economic primacy" DisgustipatedinCA Jul 2015 #107

No ... 1StrongBlackMan Jul 2015 #44

Doing both at the same time means AgingAmerican Jul 2015 #57

think again shaayecanaan Jul 2015 #51

K&R and... 99th_Monkey Jul 2015 #9

K & R SoapBox Jul 2015 #10

sure will Racism has been the blot on this country since it began, it's original sin. merrily Jul 2015 #122

Does Bernie Sanders and /or O'Malley, Clinton have ANYBODY that's affiliated with the BLM Stellar Jul 2015 #12

Does Hillary have anyone affiliated with BLM on her staff? Yes she has one black woman but I jwirr Jul 2015 #32

LOL ... 1StrongBlackMan Jul 2015 #46

I'd add two friends of mine, except for one thing DFW Jul 2015 #68

Well. It HAS been noted that some liberals ... 1StrongBlackMan Jul 2015 #72

I guess. Must be a different crowd from the ones I hang with. DFW Jul 2015 #76

Probably so ... 1StrongBlackMan Jul 2015 #80

What gave it away? DFW Jul 2015 #97

You are a 1%er ... you don't insult Black DUers ... you support HRc ... take your pick. n/t 1StrongBlackMan Jul 2015 #116

In that order: DFW Jul 2015 #126

I've never seen Hillary when she didn't have a black woman at her side. Probably NOT a BLM. Stellar Jul 2015 #74

I agree. jwirr Jul 2015 #77

Politics is a funny business. in 2008, Hillary, who i supported and voted for, was, along with Bill, CentralMass Jul 2015 #106

" tagged with playing the race card during the primary." Stellar Jul 2015 #111

You need Bernie or BLM to find a way to stop cops from killing black folks? DFW Jul 2015 #140

"Tagged with"? Would that be from the candidate of "hardworking people, white people"? n/t eridani Jul 2015 #113

If #BLM really wants, they can see how much they matter under Bush or Walker or Christie or Cruz. Darb Jul 2015 #62

What the heck are you trying to say? Stellar Jul 2015 #79

I think that was the point.. 2banon Jul 2015 #86

Just let Clinton, Sanders and O'Malley ignore them... Stellar Jul 2015 #89

+1, by now all of the campaigns should have sat down with BLM leaders uponit7771 Jul 2015 #93

Lots of African American organizations exist. Maybe, it would be useful to have merrily Jul 2015 #127

Good article. I hope nobody accuses him of "whitesplaining". (nt) Nye Bevan Jul 2015 #24

Agreed. mmonk Jul 2015 #28

The economic stresses of inequality impact marginalized people the hardest. lumberjack_jeff Jul 2015 #30

Republicans are probably already trying to figure out madville Jul 2015 #34

Thom Hartmann is reading this on the air right now. Liberal In Texas Jul 2015 #35

Kicked and recommended. Uncle Joe Jul 2015 #37

honestly it's always worrying to assume that the Dems' "big split" is between social and economic MisterP Jul 2015 #39

Yup nadinbrzezinski Jul 2015 #42

I think Robert is telling it like it is. kentuck Jul 2015 #48

He's right! d_legendary1 Jul 2015 #64

Police killings of White homeless people ... dougolat Jul 2015 #71

It appears they don't matter as much as some other killings seveneyes Jul 2015 #75

are you seriously whining that black victims of police violence get disproportionate attention geek tragedy Jul 2015 #143

Hardly seveneyes Jul 2015 #145

"it appears they don't matter as much as some other killings." geek tragedy Jul 2015 #146

The ones getting more attention seveneyes Jul 2015 #147

which ones are getting more attention? geek tragedy Jul 2015 #148

google is your friend seveneyes Jul 2015 #149

so you can't name a single murder case that gets more geek tragedy Jul 2015 #150

Exactly right. blackspade Jul 2015 #78

Creating a divided and chaotic Democratic party is a great way to ensure we lose in November 2016. pa28 Jul 2015 #81

The divide is already there Kevin from WI Jul 2015 #87

Unfortunately I think you have it right. The divide has been growing and now it's becoming visible. pa28 Jul 2015 #88

Yes, lose as in end up with Hillary Clinton as president davidpdx Jul 2015 #105

Spot On! 2banon Jul 2015 #84

That wedge has been pushed by DU third-wayers PowerToThePeople Jul 2015 #90

They are desperate. They hate liberals as passionately as Fox nation does Doctor_J Jul 2015 #98

+1 n/t Admiral Loinpresser Jul 2015 #121

M. L. King, Jr was saying EXACTLY THE SAME THING, Damansarajaya Jul 2015 #91

There you go bringing up MLK again . . . . stranger81 Jul 2015 #101

Supposedly now, MLK and Brother Malcolm are off limits- they belong to only certain people Hydra Jul 2015 #104

HAH! good one nt Damansarajaya Jul 2015 #152

no question the issues are intertwined restorefreedom Jul 2015 #95

The disruptors were clearly playing a role in Clinton's campaign Doctor_J Jul 2015 #96

Yes, it's about time we white people stop causing a divide on racial issues and get on board gollygee Jul 2015 #100

"In short, the Republican strategy has been to divide-and-conquer..." villager Jul 2015 #103

Agree completely. cui bono Jul 2015 #109

Kicked and recommended to the Max! Enthusiast Jul 2015 #115

Spot the fuck on madokie Jul 2015 #117

I have argued (and been flamed) for posting this exact same list on DU for weeks... Sancho Jul 2015 #124

^^^^ +100% ^^^^ Cosmic Kitten Jul 2015 #135

dig it subject Jul 2015 #141

K&R The most important election of all our lives. raouldukelives Jul 2015 #151