And the only color $$$$$$$$$$$ sees is green

 

The point is that our primary motive for many of the drug laws is NOT what's best for the community.

 

With that said, race does play a part in how legislation is crafted. Not sure if it's still the same but the old crack vs powder cocaine laws are a great example of that. No reason other than race to distinguish between the composition.

The point is that our primary motive for many of the drug laws is NOT what's best for the community.

 

With that said, race does play a part in how legislation is crafted. Not sure if it's still the same but the old crack vs powder cocaine laws are a great example of that. No reason other than race to distinguish between the composition.

 

I agree with your first line we have been on the same side of this topic for awhile now. I will disagree with your second point that I've heard stated over the years. There is a difference between Powder and rock. The concentration , potency, and cheaper cost made it a much larger epidemic on society . That is an over used statement that just isn't correct meant to simplify the situation into race. I could write a 30 page thesis paper on the negative impact on society with crack rock compared to powder usuage.

For every Strom Thurmond, there is a Robert "Sheets" Bird on the Dem side. Again, it's all about perception, not reality. I would venture to guess that most Dems on this board know exactly who Thurmond and Helms are, but have never heard of Robert "Sheets" Bird, James William Fulbright, Margaret Sanger, and the such.

 

We've been talking about all sorts of people like this. It's not about party, it's about where you're from and what you believe on a personal level. Fulbright was a true, blue, Southern Democrat from Arkansas. Guy filibustered the Civil Rights Acts of 1957 and 1964... no surprise. Same with Robert Byrd... the dude was from West Virginia. Union state or not, the guy had a heritage he was contending with.

 

I won't get into Margaret Sanger because that woman was off the deep end as far as I'm concerned. Although, prior to World War II, support for eugenics had much wider support than people remember or would care to admit. Besides, was Sanger ever a Democrat? She was a leftist to be sure and was a member of the Socialist Party, but I don't recall if she had ever registered for a mainstream party.

For every Strom Thurmond, there is a Robert "Sheets" Bird on the Dem side. Again, it's all about perception, not reality. I would venture to guess that most Dems on this board know exactly who Thurmond and Helms are, but have never heard of Robert "Sheets" Bird, James William Fulbright, Margaret Sanger, and the such.

 

I am familiar with Robert Byrd from West Virginia and James Fulbright sounds familiar. Don't know of Margaret Sanger.

I honestly have thought the bolded has been well-known for quite a while.

 

I never knew that or even had an inkling he was a racist.

Sure you can say Republicans ignore that disparity between minority arrests and white people getting arrested just like I can say Democrats or Liberals such as yourself ignore other factors and want to jump right to the race card and say the system is setup to take down the black community.

 

First off comparing drug use in general with an arrest rate is an irrelevant comparison and I laugh when people use that as an argument. If we actually want to break this down and look at this as a socio-economic situation it all comes back to education and income. Race is a minor factor and is a result of the other socio-economic factors blacks fall into at a higher rate that lead to the higher arrest rate.

 

First let's just look in general how many White only urban gangs are their pedaling drugs on the streets in America out in the open for all to see? Do we really want to compare the HS student who pedals weed at HS parties to kids standing on the corner in urban area's and act like there isn't a difference on how they affect society.

 

I think my stance on the drug war in America has been pretty clear I think it is mostly a waste of time. But let's look at all other crimes such as violent crimes and compare those statistics on race basis . The fact a young black male is more likely to commit murder in a urban enviroment isn't racists it's a statistical fact. If you are more apt to commit a violent crime chances are you have less respect for the law and probably are a little more brazen when breaking other laws.

 

I guess what I'm trying to say is I don't think black people get arrested more because they are black. I think poor, lower educated people get arrested more and it's sad in this country that a large portion of urban area's with black communities fit this bill. There are so many factors that tie into this poor public education, one parent families, gang activity leading youths down the wrong path, a distrust for authority etc... list goes on and on

 

You are right, there are a lot of factors. But to say that race doesn't matter isn't entirely true. If usage rates are the same across races, the incarceration rate should be the same. And why isn't the kid who peddles weed different from the guy who does it on the corner...aside from the fact that one is typically white and one is black. The "effect" on society is the same. Why is it that the guy who murders a black victim is significantly a lot less likely to get the death penalty than they guy who murders a white victim?? Why are almost 99% prosecutors white?? Like it or not there are just too many of these disparities to say that race isn't somewhat of an issue.

 

And again, if you've never lived it, it's hard to understand. I'm of mixed race (my paternal grandmother was black and much of my family is Native American....the double whammy;-)). I've been pulled over and been asked "what are you doing here" for no reason. If I was a guy who enjoyed an occasional joint (I'm not)and had weed in my car, I'd be looking at a felony, and there goes my chances of ever passing a background check. There's a reason why people of color don't entirely trust authority. If I'm lily white, I'm a lot less likely to ever get pulled over and asked that question. And I've experienced some of what Hank has seen even in my wifes family. Her grandfather was born in the early 1900's (he'd be around 100 now). Raised just like a lot of white folks in the south in that time period. Guys who Hank would have dealt with on a regular basis. And in the 10 years I knew him, he never started a conversation with me, or said much more than a hello, and only when I spoke to him first. Doesn't make him a bad guy, it's just how he was raised. And believe me, there are plenty of those guys left. I'm not saying I completely agree with Hank......but I understand.

And then when you see other conservative like Ted Nugent, who while he doesn't represent the majority of conservative views, still manages to get a stage, and makes remarks like calling Obama a "subhuman mongrel", and not one leader steps up and renounces him, it's pretty easy to how conservatives are not in favor among minority communities.

 

I also dont see Dem leaders renouncing Sharpton or Jackson.

You are right, there are a lot of factors. But to say that race doesn't matter isn't entirely true. If usage rates are the same across races, the incarceration rate should be the same. And why isn't the kid who peddles weed different from the guy who does it on the corner...aside from the fact that one is typically white and one is black. The "effect" on society is the same. Why is it that the guy who murders a black victim is significantly a lot less likely to get the death penalty than they guy who murders a white victim?? Why are almost 99% prosecutors white?? Like it or not there are just too many of these disparities to say that race isn't somewhat of an issue.

 

And again, if you've never lived it, it's hard to understand. I'm of mixed race (my paternal grandmother was black and much of my family is Native American....the double whammy;-)). I've been pulled over and been asked "what are you doing here" for no reason. If I was a guy who enjoyed an occasional joint (I'm not)and had weed in my car, I'd be looking at a felony, and there goes my chances of ever passing a background check. There's a reason why people of color don't entirely trust authority. If I'm lily white, I'm a lot less likely to ever get pulled over and asked that question. And I've experienced some of what Hank has seen even in my wifes family. Her grandfather was born in the early 1900's (he'd be around 100 now). Raised just like a lot of white folks in the south in that time period. Guys who Hank would have dealt with on a regular basis. And in the 10 years I knew him, he never started a conversation with me, or said much more than a hello, and only when I spoke to him first. Doesn't make him a bad guy, it's just how he was raised. And believe me, there are plenty of those guys left. I'm not saying I completely agree with Hank......but I understand.

 

I'm white but grew up in an urban enviroment and live in one now. I read your first paragraph and had to quit reading because it's obvious you are someone who likes to uses race to blame a lot of things. If we are going to throw out random statements with no thought why are most murdered black youths murdered by other black youths. This game of playing the race card is tired.

We've been talking about all sorts of people like this. It's not about party, it's about where you're from and what you believe on a personal level. Fulbright was a true, blue, Southern Democrat from Arkansas. Guy filibustered the Civil Rights Acts of 1957 and 1964... no surprise. Same with Robert Byrd... the dude was from West Virginia. Union state or not, the guy had a heritage he was contending with.

 

I won't get into Margaret Sanger because that woman was off the deep end as far as I'm concerned. Although, prior to World War II, support for eugenics had much wider support than people remember or would care to admit. Besides, was Sanger ever a Democrat? She was a leftist to be sure and was a member of the Socialist Party, but I don't recall if she had ever registered for a mainstream party.

Good post, but the left today fully embraces Sanger's abortion on demand.

Don't know of Margaret Sanger.

 

Founded the group of organizations that would later become Planned Parenthood. Big believer in contraception and family planning, a stance that got her effectively exiled from the United States just after the turn of the 20th century. Also a profoundly racist woman who believed eugenics could be used to... no delicate way to say this... breed out "undesirables".

I am familiar with Robert Byrd from West Virginia and James Fulbright sounds familiar. Don't know of Margaret Sanger.

Exactly, that is my point.

Exactly, that is my point.

 

At the same time, I couldn't name any proven racist republicans.

 

 

Edit-didn't realize we were talking about people who don't matter anymore.

Good post, but the left today fully embraces Sanger's abortion on demand.

 

Blanket statement.

I'm white but grew up in an urban enviroment and live in one now. I read your first paragraph and had to quit reading because it's obvious you are someone who likes to uses race to blame a lot of things. If we are going to throw out random statements with no thought why are most murdered black youths murdered by other black youths. This game of playing the race card is tired.

 

You should read the whole post.

I'm white but grew up in an urban enviroment and live in one now. I read your first paragraph and had to quit reading because it's obvious you are someone who likes to uses race to blame a lot of things. If we are going to throw out random statements with no thought why are most murdered black youths murdered by other black youths. This game of playing the race card is tired.

 

I'm not playing and nor have I ever played the race game. And in over 1300 posts (many of which I'm sure you've read), I don't think I've ever made a reference to my race/nationality. Feel free to go back and check. My only point is that so many people are so quick to accuse someone of playing the race card, or race baiting, because "slavery happened a long time ago" and things are so much better now, don't really understand that while things have improved dramatically, there is still a long way to go. As you mentioned before, there are a lot of issues and reasons as to why things happen. But to ignore that race isn't still a big deciding issue is ignoring the elephant in the room. Like the example of most black youths being murdered by black youth. That shouldn't be characterized as just a black issue...it's should be a societal issue. We as a society need to look at why minorities are underepresented in positions of power and authority, and other disparities are taking place.