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[–]Tom_Bombadil 6 insightful - 1 fun6 insightful - 0 fun7 insightful - 1 fun -  (6 children)

I couldn't agree more. Let's try to separate the media hype from this discussion. I'm sure that we all agree that The MSM is exceedingly devisive. So, their tactic is actually working against us.

I am confident that if you knew me that we would be friends, as I'm equally certain that you are a well intentioned individual.

To address the concept of "privilege" we should analyse measurable metrics like:

  • Household income.
  • Education level.
  • Net family wealth
  • Poverty rate
  • Environmental pollution in the community.
  • Available funding for schools, roads, infrastructure.
  • etc.

These are the actual facts that are intentionally overlooked in the media.

Poverty exists within certain populations of all ethnic groups.

Can anyone name an ethnic group that has effectively displaced the white population in the US, or Europe? I agree that the standards of living for all populations had declined in the US. However, minority economic declines have been even more severe.

The actual root of this "privilege" discussion: The rich have gone on strike in the West.

They are taxed less than ever, and this is the predictable result. They are not job creators. In the current form they are wealth extractors (think automation).

Here's a historically relevant fact:

The term "free market" in classical economics meant, "commodity items should sell for slightly above the cost to manufacturer, as in almost "free" "market". Imagine if your cell phone bill only included the cost of service plus 10%. That would be free market. Utilities are similar examples.

This is the Adam Smith meaning of the term "free market", and in those times the economy flourished. He described it as social capitalism. This is the real socialism. Not the bullshit label placed on the Soviet dictators.

The meaning of the word had been hijacked to mean, "charge as much as can possibly be sustained to maximize personal gain; society be damned!".

50 years of this corrupted (propagandized) version of the"free market" has landed is here.

This debate about "privilege" is inextricably rooted in economics. There's an ethnic component (slavery, conquest of northern Mexico {Cali, Ariz, new, Mex, genocide on the indigenous people, etc} to today's economics.

Let's fight the power. To do that we have to be honest with ourselves, and try to understand the perspectives of our common allies.

Does this seem reasonable? ;-).

[–]fred_red_beans 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (3 children)

The MSM is divisive, and I think that's the point of the "white privilege' phrase.

I'm sure we could be friends, although to have a decent friendship I think we would need to be able to agree to disagree on certain things, or accept each others differences, as everyone will have differences.

I think it's fair to assess privilege of any individual based on economics and access to resources and adequate living environment/ecology. I'm sure there are ways one could quantify a level of privilege for people based on the items you've listed. A person living in a clean environment with access to resources will certainly have more privilege than someone living in a desert with a hut and a basket. Although, I do not think it's fair or adequate to assess privilege solely on skin color, and believe that doing so is a tactic do divide people, reducing their collective power.

There certainly are communities of people with the same type of ethnicity that are generally not doing as well as others. I do believe we are all human beings on this earth and all deserve a level of dignity, sovereignty, opportunity, and rights. Just as men have different tendencies than women, I also see that different ethnicities have different tendencies. Some are better at some things than others, for instance Asians are often found in science and technology. Some ethnic communities may have tendencies that lead them to problems, or don't mesh well with the societal structure they find themselves in. It doesn't mean they are bad or less than anyone else, just different. So, perhaps an argument could be made that white privilege is a systemic issue where the tendencies of the white ethnicity mesh better with the system at hand. But, just because an individual has tendencies doesn't mean they can not choose how they would like to act and interact with a system or society. Becoming a victim does nothing to improve the situation. Self realization is key. Defining or becoming cognizant of problems or tendencies based solely on ethnicity or skin color leads to a shallow understanding. Everyone sees that judging another based on skin color or ethnicity is shallow and can easily become angry at such overt generalizations and judgements. I think the individual understanding their own tendencies using self awareness to accept and deal with their own issues leads to the most improvement. Also, others can foster an environment to help encourage this growth. Although, as far as encouraging individual growth is concerned for all races and ethnicities, our government isn't doing it, our legal "correctional" system isn't doing it, our media isn't doing it, and our schools aren't doing it either. I would argue that they are doing quite the opposite.

I think it's reasonable to take into account the historical context of the economic and earlier conquest by colonial powers in the US. I think slavery and conquest do not necessarily have a racial or ethnic component, for instance Roman Slavery. Although, the winners write history, which affects many of the premises of understanding that we have. I see the use of money as a trust system between people. I have to question: Why is it the best? Is it the only alternative to having things run by the state? It seems to me to be a shallow trust system that promotes economic castes.

I think more power may be found in alliances between individuals creating what they need for themselves (which they are trying to prevent by dividing us), rather than disparate individuals fighting the top.

I appreciate your comments and find them reasonable, thank you for engaging.

Hope you're having a nice day.

[–]happysmash27 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

Remember though: there are exceptions to everything. For example, I am male, but fairly feminine. I hate being judged as having masculine attributes like strength, when I often don't…

I think Asians and technology may have more to do with culture and population size than ethnicity, unless that is what you mean by that.

This is one of the most reasonable and scientific views on ethnicity I have ever read. People have adaptations; for example, darker skin is better for high sunlight.

Edit: Did you hear about this view from someone by the way? I recently heard the same one about 6 days ago.

Your idea of power in aliances sounds like many Anarchist ideas. Anarcho-Syndicism, I think this is specifically? Anyways, yes, there are alternatives to money and strong state government; there is just no country for them as of now, other than some attempts without much traction such as Anarkikomunismolando, which is my attempt, currently with no IRL manifestation. One alternative aspect is called a gift economy, where people give things to each other for free. This type of economy is very prevalent in the online world, with open source software communities, Wikipedia, and even in Minecraft and Minetest. Seeing all this online is what inspired me to try to create it in real life. After all, if it can work there, why not in other places?

I love the concept of individuals creating what they need for themselves. If you ever want to collaborate, as always, I am looking for collaborations.

[–]fred_red_beans 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

I'm just speaking in general terms. I thinks it's hard to really say where any tendency of any individual really comes from as everyone is different. I would say that, again in general terms, certain tendencies could be attributed to certain types of people.

I think the alternative is the hard work of actually learning to communicate and trust each other. This entails being able to communicate and accept each others differences without reacting in anger etc.

https://anarkokomunismolando.org/ didn't work

I'm definitely a teach a man to fish over give a man a fish kind of person.

[–]happysmash27 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Sorry, I made a small typo. The link should work now.

[–]JasonCarswell 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

Perfectly stated.

[–]Tom_Bombadil 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (0 children)

Grazie! ;-)