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America is moving toward becoming a better version of itself

theatlantic.com

141–150 of 154 posts

Re: America is moving toward becoming a better version of itself

#141
post #75

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Immigrants do put pressure on housing and health services though. As well as directly causing job losses by dumping wages. Of course, a magical policy may have stopped those issues. But taking in a lot of immigrants and not changing policies accordingly is what causes havoc.

> directly causing job losses by dumping wages Largely a myth, according to fairly recent research. https://www.brookings.edu/blog/jobs/2012/05/04/what-immigrat...

It may be different in US. But in EU were a lot of migration is at least a bit skilled, it’s very real. Society needs only so much plumbers or truck drivers. If immigrants come and agree to work for half of the wage, locals are priced out. Some of them may transition to management, but many of them have no skills nor will to do that. Let alone that few new managers are needed for barely bigger amount of people.

I agree with your article if there was a massive need for people in X industry and they just filled the gap. But that’s not what usually happens, at least in Europe.

Re: America is moving toward becoming a better version of itself

#142

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Agreed. For example: https://www.newyorker.com/culture/annals-of-gastronomy/chick...

I’m saying to step outside the “constant outrage” bubble that is the media and out into the actual real world people inhabit. If I walked in to a Chick-fil-a in Manhattan, would I be aware of any controversy?

People talk about how they don't like Chic-Fil-A in casual conversation. I'm not sure the worlds are so separate.

Re: America is moving toward becoming a better version of itself

#143
post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"...So when you live in these places and you see hatred for people like you, how are you supposed to be optimistic and excited about the prospects for your children and grandchildren?..." Yeah... but that's been going on forever. You see that with Muslims recently. We've seen that with hispanics. Further back, of course, we've been seeing it with blacks and native americans for a long time. That will ALWAYS happen. T…

How would eliminating the tribalism subroutine benefit the species? Is a homogeneous global population the most resilient?

Yes: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S000632070...

But more broadly, that's likely also true for culture and knowledge.

Re: America is moving toward becoming a better version of itself

#144
post #133

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Calling attention to political disagreement is fine. Using language if hatred is not. I presume, as a Christian, you would rather people learn to forgive and reconcile instead of judge and condemn. The concern of Christians is that the goal here isn't to get Chic-Fil-A to change its behavior or speech but to brand it and people in its tribe as an Enemy and as evil. It's mainstream Christianity to consider extramarita…

> Calling attention to political disagreement is fine. Using language if hatred is not. I presume, as a Christian, you would rather people learn to forgive and reconcile instead of judge and condemn. Absolutely, though forgiveness requires remorse, as per the bible. We rarely see that. > The concern of Christians is that the goal here isn't to get Chic-Fil-A to change its behavior or speech but to brand it and people…

> Has anyone been refused service because they had sex before (or outside) marriage?

Historically, landlords reserved the right to refuse tenancy to sex workers and roommates of different genders. I'm sure laws against these things are on the books. I'm not sure whether they'd stand up in court.

But you're mostly proving that Christians generally agree that it's not something to legislate. But that doesn't mean they've changed their values. It just means they have a vision of "sexually kosher" that they'd like to practice and teach to each other without fear of hate or legal repercussion. Is it hateful to teach that the Bible is against open marriages? If so, is the Bible hateful? If so, is it hate speech?

California passed a law that is in front of the Supreme Court mandating that pro-life groups educate their clients on how to get abortions. They are also considering a bill that would outlaw certain kinds of speech about sexual morality and sexual orientation. Already, similar rules exist in corporate settings, teaching that religious belief is inappropriate in work settings but that it's insensitive to assume a man with a wedding ring has a wife and not a husband. And people do get fired for being unorthodox these days. See: Eich, Damore, and Williamson. I wouldn't say any of them committed actual crimes or in any way violated anyone. Each was let go for speech outside their actual day-to-day work.

Finally, you say you're a Christian, but it doesn't sound like you talk to many Evangelical Christian Trump voters [1]. Maybe because most of them understand the tremendous personal backlash for even sharing how they voted (see Shania Twain and Kanye West in the news). There are a few vocal people with blind "team" loyalty on facebook, but by in large, Trump voters in the general election were against Clinton (and against another liberal judge on the Supreme Court) than they were for Trump. Keep in mind that Trump only really won a plurality in the Republican primary. Most of them would have been much happier voting for Rubio. But I suspect that we wouldn't be happy and forgiving evangelicals even if in an alternate dimension, Rubio got the nomination over Trump.

And there are a lot of "Never Trump" pundits out there, for example Kevin Williamson. Anti-Trump conservatives are perhaps the majority of commentators in the National Review, The Weekly Standard, The Federalist, etc. I don't know why you'd assume none of them qualify as evangelical. Do you have to have tacky suits and claim the blood of Christ on bank accounts to represent evangelical views?

> Anyone reacting differently to this should inform you whether they hold Christian values at anything closer than arms length, when it's favorable.

I want to point out that these are instructions on how to judge Christians as good or bad. It's not the job of anybody [2] to judge Christians as good or bad, just like it's not the job of a Christian to judge atheists as good or bad parents or voters.

Everyone should instead be learning how to be good neighbors. And they should be having real discussions about real issues, perhaps finding irreconcilable differences, but they should make detentes and compromises, not more political enemies. I don't see why a same sex couple in San Fransisco and a large Mormon family in Utah need to be enemies. On the contrary, it seems likely that they can leave each other alone, be colleagues, or even be friends.

[1] Apparently I need this disclaimer everywhere, which is part of my point, but I didn't vote for Trump because he thrives by feeding the divisive culture I'm arguing against. Though that was true of Clinton as well (basket of deplorables, etc.), so I didn't vote for her either.

[2] Well, it's God's job. And it's the job of a local church to correct sin in its congregation.

Re: America is moving toward becoming a better version of itself

#145
post #133

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Calling attention to political disagreement is fine. Using language if hatred is not. I presume, as a Christian, you would rather people learn to forgive and reconcile instead of judge and condemn. Absolutely, though forgiveness requires remorse, as per the bible. We rarely see that. > The concern of Christians is that the goal here isn't to get Chic-Fil-A to change its behavior or speech but to brand it and people…

> Has anyone been refused service because they had sex before (or outside) marriage? Historically, landlords reserved the right to refuse tenancy to sex workers and roommates of different genders. I'm sure laws against these things are on the books. I'm not sure whether they'd stand up in court. But you're mostly proving that Christians generally agree that it's not something to legislate. But that doesn't mean they'…

> But you're mostly proving that Christians generally agree that it's not something to legislate. But that doesn't mean they've changed their values. It just means they have a vision of "sexually kosher" that they'd like to practice and teach to each other without fear of hate or legal repercussion.

That's exactly it. Don't make it illegal to perform abortions or for gay people to marry. Believe whatever you want.

> Is it hateful to teach that the Bible is against open marriages? If so, is the Bible hateful? If so, is it hate speech?

1) No, if it's only teaching and not forcing it on other people. 2) Depends on who you ask, there's a large span of interpretations between and even inside of denominations. The King James version didn't help.

> California passed a law that is in front of the Supreme Court mandating that pro-life groups educate their clients on how to get abortions. They are also considering a bill that would outlaw certain kinds of speech about sexual morality and sexual orientation.

1) Withholding crucial information regarding advances in medical science and options available within your society is wrong. How that is dealt with is a tough question. This I hold true whether it's Jehovas witnesses or Islam, or any other belief. 2) Are you referring to "gay deprogramming", or education in school? If so both things should be illegal to "preach". Outside of that, do whatever you want.

> Finally, you say you're a Christian, but it doesn't sound like you talk to many Evangelical Christian Trump voters

It would be better if you approached what I actually say, because I don't understand what you mean here. I also don't understand what Shania Twain or Kanye has to do with the subject.

> And there are a lot of "Never Trump" pundits out there, for example Kevin Williamson. Anti-Trump conservatives are perhaps the majority of commentators in the National Review, The Weekly Standard, The Federalist, etc. I don't know why you'd assume none of them qualify as evangelical. Do you have to have tacky suits and claim the blood of Christ on bank accounts to represent evangelical views?

I never said there wasn't. Of course there is. But there is also a considerably sized portion of the other group I characterized previously, which you frankly barely address at all.

> > Anyone reacting differently to this should inform you whether they hold Christian values at anything closer than arms length, when it's favorable.

> I want to point out that these are instructions on how to judge Christians as good or bad. It's not the job of anybody [2] to judge Christians as good or bad, just like it's not the job of a Christian to judge atheists as good or bad parents or voters.

No it isn't. It's instructions on how to judge whether people take their proclaimed Christian views seriously or are just using religion as a cudgel to drive their more important views forward.

I don't judge any Christian who's hard line (or conversely very soft) on extramarital sex, overdrinking, taking the lords name in vain, or what have you, as long as they're not purely opportunistic about it. Because that's simply not [Christian|any belief]. There are of course Evangelicals in both political parties, but there's only one party courting some of those views when expedient, and not caring a whole lot about the teachings of Jesus when it's crunch time. It's an important voting block for them, which is a shame, because it shouldn't be politicized that way.

> Everyone should instead be learning how to be good neighbors. And they should be having real discussions about real issues, perhaps finding irreconcilable differences, but they should make detentes and compromises, not more political enemies. I don't see why a same sex couple in San Fransisco and a large Mormon family in Utah need to be enemies. On the contrary, it seems likely that they can leave each other alone, be colleagues, or even be friends.

Fully agree here.

Re: America is moving toward becoming a better version of itself

#146

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> The short summary is that he actually does not believe that abortion should be punished by hanging as you suggest. An excerpt: It wasn't really my suggestion, it was a quote from a larger NYT article. Sorry, I should have sited it, but it hardly seems crucial to what I was saying: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/05/business/media/kevin-will... Evidently the decision to fire him was informed by more than a single il…

He didn't say it was funny. He said it was ridicule. Getting people all worked up in their ignorance was the goal. His error was being too effective in practice.

What you've described sounds a lot more like a candidate for an AM radio gig than The Atlantic. You've got to wonder if the editor in chief vetted him at all.

Re: America is moving toward becoming a better version of itself

#147
post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I believe you are confusing racism with bigotry. Here is the dictionary definition of racism: >prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one's own race is superior. Of course superior is an objective word, but I don't see any evidence in that quoted statement where she felt superior. Honestly sounded more like self pity, jealousy and stereotyping. "…

I disagree with that definition of racism. Racism is the application of social traits, be they positive or negative, across an ethnicity of people, with little to no concern for the individual. Stating something about African Americans along with fried chicken or watermelon is racist. Assuming, that because someone is black that they must like this is racist. In my case, it was the said assumption that "brown and bla…

You don't see a problem in making "racism," permanently hyperbolic?

Re: America is moving toward becoming a better version of itself

#148
post #141

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> directly causing job losses by dumping wages Largely a myth, according to fairly recent research. https://www.brookings.edu/blog/jobs/2012/05/04/what-immigrat...

It may be different in US. But in EU were a lot of migration is at least a bit skilled, it’s very real. Society needs only so much plumbers or truck drivers. If immigrants come and agree to work for half of the wage, locals are priced out. Some of them may transition to management, but many of them have no skills nor will to do that. Let alone that few new managers are needed for barely bigger amount of people. I agr…

Fair enough; I don't know as much as perhaps I should about the European situation.

Re: America is moving toward becoming a better version of itself

#149

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>I'm scrutinizing the belief that populations are happier because they get to be homogeneous in composition. Read Robert Putnam. People love a sense of belonging and it's embedded in our genes. http://time.com/5095903/genetic-similarities-friends-study/ http://www.bu.edu/sph/2017/04/07/married-couples-with-common... >It's been my observation that the people who push back against the idea of diversity the most tend to…

> It also takes a certain level of desperation to be vocal about it today because it's so taboo. It's not taboo though is it. People go on and on about immigration and there are entire media outfits that are devoted to casting foreigners as threats while promoting the idea that 'these people are not as good natives, have lower IQ, are more violent and less productive', which is typically based on outright lies and pr…

>It's not taboo though is it.

Very much so. Anyone could be fired for writing what I've written. Diversity is the new state religion.

Trump voters knew what they were voting for, even if it was dressed up as "economic anxiety" (although low-skilled immigrant workers devaluing labor right before automation is the last thing we need).

>which is typically based on outright lies

Absolutely not. Pick any metric for latinos in the US and compare them to whites. Fun fact, when you read "immigrants commit less crime than natives" it's due to existing blacks and latinos. They commit more crimes than whites and asians.

>which has a hard time dealing with change

Does it even register with you that change and immigration can be bad? It's not some force of nature. Again, we literally never voted for our immigration policy to change and it was promised that the ethnic makeup would not be upset in 1965.

>Every generation has struggled accepting new groups of people with both good and bad results.

So why are you advocating against nature and causing avoidable strife? Diversity is a failed experiment that leads to problems. http://freakonomics.com/2011/12/01/the-violent-legacy-of-afr...

I noticed that you didn't answer my question. Europe would be better in every meaningful way if there were only Europeans in it. How many thousands of British girls are you fine with being raped in the UK from grooming gangs? How much is enough? Why should a tiny minority in the world (whites) subsidize their own displacement?

Re: America is moving toward becoming a better version of itself

#150

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>Louis Farrakhan. Joy Reid. Hillary Clinton These people were called out (or continue to be called out) for their actions and words, and unlike their counter parts on the right had the intelligence to correct for it. Whether you believe it to be sincere is kind of irrelevant, so I'm just going to stave off that talking point right there. Notable "leftist" institutions like the SPLC track such statements and view poin…

Decades? Because decades ago, people like Robert Byrd, one of Hillary Clinton’s mentors was a leader of the Ku Klux Klan. Democrats took up civil rights because it was politically expedient to do so. But they have been far from leaders when it comes to civil rights. Martin Luther King, Jr was a Republican. The Democrat party has used black people. Look at the recent history. How many black congressmen were given comm…

>people like Robert Byrd, one of Hillary Clinton’s mentors was a leader of the Ku Klux Klan.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Byrd#Ku_Klux_Klan

> But they have been far from leaders when it comes to civil rights. Martin Luther King, Jr was a Republican.

No he wasn't. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther_King_Jr.#Politic...

>then you are admitting that black people are somehow a homogenous group — which is itself racist

No that's not what that means at all, it means policies were targeted specifically at black people. "You're the REAL racist." is not a great talking point and further illustrates what an absolute loon you are.

>Poor people isn’t analogous with black people, despite what Democrats would have you think.

How confused do you have to be to make this statement with sincerity?

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