akwoo, on 2016-February-08, 22:02, said:
There seems to be an undercurrent in some parts of the Republican party that the proper role of government is to organize (white, male) Americans into a gang to beat up on everyone else and share the spoils, and the best country is the one most capable of beating up on everyone else. (Note: This is not at all a solely American phenomenon; the European far right, which controls a few Central European countries, believes this to a much larger degree.)
From this point of view, people who are trying to make America into a just nation are in fact trying to change this country for the worse.
Politics is the activities associated with the governance of a country, especially the debate or conflict among individuals and/or parties having or hoping to achieve power.
Now that we have established the foundation for politics, America's current politics has been disguised as a "White male" undercurrent, but what is really going on is:
The global economy doesn't submit to the laws, whims, or ingrained power structure of America's nation-state. America has traditionally been founded as a country (nation-state) whose powerful institutions were controlled by white Anglo-Saxon men for the benefit of white Anglo-Saxon men.
The global economy challenges this dynamic. The global economy cares about monetary greenbacks—not tribal symbolism. Corporate America, also beholden to the mores of the global economy, doesn't care about preserving a white male majority in its employment ranks; instead, it cares about increasing shareholder value.
This "attack" on the will of America's nation-state and the march towards a well-connected global economy causes temporary instability in labor markets, upsets market fundamentals that we thought were guided by an Invisible Hand, and threatens the financial livelihood of several white collar and blue collar white men who are accustomed to the nation-state protecting their interests above others.
The global economy isn't a sympathetic soul, however. It isn't an astute history major either, so it cares not about preserving white privilege in America's institutions. White privilege wasn't a major problem or hideous moral failing when the benefactors and electorate looked exactly the same from a tribal perspective.
The global economy also doesn't care about protectionism, nor does it care about isolationism. It cares about commerce, productivity, performance metrics, bottom lines, and profit margins. Job security and political empowerment of people are not the global economy's major concern unless it directly and adversely impacts the production or distribution of natural and human resources.
Bottom line: White privilege is a
CULTURAL problem NOT a
COMMERCE problem.
White privilege is a moral failing that had huge implications in the outcomes of America's business, educational, legal, social, political, financial, and economic institutions. Americans tend to forget how systemic white privilege was in the administration of national policy. So, it's natural that as we align with the interests of a global economic order, we are alarmed and surprised to learn we can't foist our old, tired racial order on the broader global economy.
In addition, the preservation of white privilege is NOT a human rights issue—never has been, never will be. White privilege is an entitlement problem. And all chickens eventually come home to roost.
The global economy has evolved and takes no prisoners. Now, it's time for America to EVOLVE in its race relations or suffer the geopolitical consequences for remaining overly sentimental to an old establishment.
America appears stuck and ineffectual at addressing the needs and concerns of a people steamrolled by an unforgiving global economy. And the displaced are thirsty for anyone to explain this paradigm shift and promise protection from the ruthless efficiency of the new global order.
Enter snake oil salesman. . .with unrealistic promises of restoring the old racial order and dictating the terms and conditions of an evolving global economy.
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