[seacapt]

Thought that would get your attention..............

still didn't answer the question.

[jeffkrol]

still didn't answer the question.

Well it wasn't meant to be serious but the gist of it is.. "Everyone's lazy but me".. there should be no safety net because we ALL have equal opportunity (which to me and "others" is a big crock of shiiit and an urban legend destroyed by numerous studies) ... now to be fair this is not totally race dependent.. but historically pretty skewed to one side ....

and all you need to look at is prison statistics..

The discussion should strengthen understanding of what is needed to build the strongest, broadest unity to help the movements go on the offensive.

The document discusses the following areas:

what are the main features of the ruling class' increased promotion of racism;
how does the increase in racism relate to the systemic crisis of capitalism;
what are the key issues in the fight against racism today;
what are the basics of our Marxist-Leninist analysis and approach;
what is the Party's role on this critical fight.

Effect of Systemic Crisis - The deepening of capitalism's systemic crisis combined with the legacy of 12 years of Reagan-Bush's unprecedentedly racist offensive, which has been extended and deepened by the Clinton administration, have brought about a dramatic increase in the effects of racism. The fact that there are still some illusions about the nature of this administration has made it more difficult to fight in some ways.

The increase in racism must be placed in the context of the crisis of capitalism - because it is the capitalist class which benefits from racism, using it to divide and to confuse the people about the reasons for the economic and social crisis of the system. Because the system is in crisis, there is an increase in the intensity and complexity of the ongoing ideological war on class unity and the principles and practice of equality.

The racist use of the crime issue, rising racist and police violence, deepening segregation, criminalization, attacks on immigrants, increasing poverty, homelessness and unemployment, an increase in stereotypes in the mass media, and environmental racism all indicate the depth of the crisis.

These tendencies must be seen within the context of the intensification of the class struggle. Corporate "downsizing" and mass layoffs in industry have led to an overall decline in the living standards of the working class, especially its racially and nationally oppressed components, and have exacerbated the growth of racism. These things are directly connected.

Capitalism's systemic crisis adds a whole new dimension to these problems. "Downsizing" and mass layoffs have wiped out many of the past gains against discrimination in the workplace. As the economic crisis deepens, new forms of economic racism are making themselves felt.

Massive unemployment, poverty and homelessness are its most direct and vivid result. Unemployment rates among African American, Latino, and Asian workers are twice those of whites, long-term unemployment is also particularly severe. A large percent of the homeless are Black and Latino. Economic racism's hideousness is particularly seen in its impact on Black and Latino children, close to half of whom live in poverty.

A key feature of the intensification of racism in this period is the level and quality of segregation. Segregation has accelerated rather than declined and has become sharper, characterized by deep poverty and extremely poor conditions of life. This is cause for closer examination of the significance of segregation today, not only as a by-product of economic factors but as a deliberate corporate and governmental policy, with far-reaching implications.

From the reservation system - formal, legalized segregation - to the Black and Latino inner city ghettos, segregation is a result of monopoly capitalism's drive for super- profits.

It is the result of corporate and governmental policies including red-lining and the Reagan and Bush administrations' cuts in housing and urban spending, which have resulted in the devastation of inner city neighborhoods. The attack on federal funding for building and maintaining public housing has brought terrible results; added to this is the Clinton administration's callously racist - and telling - proposal to use HUD monies to build prisons.

Race & Ethnicity: The Fight Against Racism Today

And no, it wasn't directed at you...but a broad swath of neocons.....and others. This is bipartisan..though Republicans in general ARE predominantly white...no denying that is there.

[les3547]

Well it wasn't meant to be serious but the gist of it is.. "Everyone's lazy but me".. there should be no safety net because we ALL have equal opportunity (which to me and "others" is a big crock of shiiit and an urban legend destroyed by numerous studies)

Exactly. Part of the common argument one hears from the anti-47%ers is the assumption there is equal opportunity for all; the other part of the argument insists that the relative few who manage to succeed in spite of being born into dark circumstances is proof everybody can do the same thing.

[jeffkrol]

the relative few

Yep.............