On Monday, pushing an expansion of his “My Brother’s Keeper” initiative, President Barack Obama gave a talk about the recent rise in racial discord.
Does he ever ask himself, “Under whose watch?”
When the financial system melted down in 2008, candidate Obama — not without some justification — blamed President Bush and the Republicans. Why shouldn’t he and his party be today held somewhat responsible for rising racial unrest?
Wasn’t his very status as the First Black American President supposed to continue the healing process between blacks and whites?
In his talk, Obama recognized the “sense of unfairness, of powerlessness, of not hearing their voices, that’s helped fuel some of the protests.…” Well, sure. But there would be no occasion for this were inner-city blacks not treated unfairly in the first place.
The president wants to spend more money on education, for example, despite the high levels of per-student public ed funding in hot spot Baltimore.
It is quite clear that other programs have done the most damage. We still have a War on Drugs, which is unpopular enough that it turns cops “racist” perhaps even against their wills — as I’ve explained before, police tend to focus their unpopular policing against drug use to the classes of society that have the least direct political power, most especially against inner-city blacks.
But even more bedrock: we see protests and talk about inequality during economic downturns. Obama should learn from Bill Clinton’s initial presidential campaign: It’s the economy, stupid.
Or put more bluntly: It’s your stupid economic policies.
This is Common Sense. I’m Paul Jacob.
2 replies on “The Rise in Unrest”
It is the stupid economic policies of the demanding left and the guilted right who have caused the wars on poverty and drugs to become the war on on the impoverished. In reality the unintended consequences of the Great Society are home to roust.
The blacks claim prejudice, and they are exploited by the demagogues and Balkanization tactics of poor political leadership.
In actuality the welfare whites and Chicanos are just as bad off, perhaps worse, and even more under the jack boot of the militarized police for they do not have the prejudice excuse for periodic venting.
Everyone knows what has happened, but it is politically incorrect to mention it aloud on either side of the aisle.
Until there is real leadership and a recognition of the actual issues there will be no improvement.
Bravo, Paul! I don’t know why many can’t see those truths that you put forth. It is COMMON SENSE! African Americans, including inner city kids, have the opportunity to succeed if they want to. Look at Jay‑Z, Dr. Dre, Ben Carson, Colin Powell, Condeleeza Rice, Robert Johnson, etc. What separated these people from the rest? Education yes, but focus & determination to rise above the urban myth of poverty & that everyone is against them.
No one is owed anything in this life; particularly by the government. It’s fine to accept subsidies when you’re down & out. But as a way of life, it’s poison.