"Dr. King's Nightmare"
By Thom Hartmann A...
The richest 400 people in our nation have as much wealth as the entire African-American population in the United States. According to a new analysis by Bob Lord of the Institute for Policy Studies, the so-called “Forbes 400” has as much wealth as 41 million people. Mr. Lord called this stunning statistic, “Dr. King's Nightmare.” Wealth inequality is a huge issue in our country, but the racial wealth divide is even worse. While the home-ownership rate for White Americans is over 73 percent, only 43 percent of African-Americans and 47 percent of Latinos own their property.
This persistent divide between whites and minorities is the long-lasting result of our nation's history of discrimination, and it persists because many of these deep-rooted policies are engrained in our society. Decades of racial disparity have kept minorities from catching up financially, and the most recent recession erased many of their modest economic gains. Those at the top have continued to hoard billions and concentrate wealth, while the net worth of African-Americans and Latinos has actually shrunk. The median wealth for White Americans is $97,000, while African-American families average less than $5,000.
People can claim that racism is dead in American, and that Dr. Martin Luther King's Dream has been fulfilled – but these facts show otherwise. Our kids may drink from the same water fountains these days, but their families still have different opportunities based on the color of their skin. It's been more than 50 years since Dr. King dreamed of a better future for our nation, and it's about time that we start living up to it.
Comments
#2
DAnneMarc: I agree that, without empirical proof, UFOs, Gods, Demons, whatever, are nothing more than unsupported beliefs. And yes I have a belief system (note: not a religious system..there is a difference..as religion connotes a belief in a supernatural being...ie: God or gods). And you know, if religious people didn't try to proselytize me I would not try to proselytize them...although my proselytizing is more of a defensive one because I don't go around knocking on doors trying to get people to join my belief system as so many religious people do.
But then again..maybe I do on this blog at least. I have been outspoken on my belief that 911 was an inside job as well as other subjects. And people are welcome to espouse their views on the subjects. And I guess we are all guilty of trying to convince others of our belief systems.
But, there are people on this blog that try to slip in religion from time to time (even quoting "scripture" to some length) and I feel that I am equally compelled to argue my opposition to their nonsense just as they are compelled to argue against what they might view as my nonsense.
Do religious people "respect" my atheist views? No, they don't! Religious people have it drilled deep withing their superstitious brains that Atheists are, if not evil, they will surely go to Hell, and they are influenced by Satan. At least, many believe that way. Heck some even believe that children are possessed and need to be exorcised even murdering them in the process. And I believe that many of these religious people would just love to revert to an atavistic behavior of burning heretics to the stake.
#3
As Liberation Theologists would say, Christianity went wrong because of "Constantinianism", i.e., Roman Emperor Constantine's declaring Christianity the official state religion of the Roman Empire. That's when Christianity became gentrified, went "from the streets to the suites", did as most any revolutionary movement that succeeds, becomes the ruling party and starts to resemble the tyranny it overthrew. It went from persecuted to persecutor. The anarchists have a saying, "As soon as something becomes institutionalized it becomes so much bullshit."
#4
Mark, EXCELLENT! I couldn't have done a better job of explaining all that to Kend. Thank you. And by the way, I love your new avatar. - AIW
#5
Quote DAnneMarc:Personally, since you cannot prove there isn't anymore than they can prove there is I think you owe them the benefit of the doubt.So, why do you not think that they owe me the benefit of the doubt? They cannot prove their beliefs anymore than I can mine. You'll never convince them that they owe me the benefit of the doubt and vice versa.
#6
anarchists cop out: although before Constantine, and the 2nd Council of Nicea, there were many versions of Christianity..all these churches were competing with each other in trying to win converts...squabbling over whether Jesus was a man or a god or something in between, for example..or whether he was married... What's a poor Pagan emperor to do with his empire falling apart by a bunch of squabbling ninnies. He merged Paganism with the forced new version of Christianity.
If Jesus was anything more than a myth then he probably would be rolling over in his grave at all the heretics that now call themselves Christians. I think he would be pissed!
Jesus: "What? You so-called Christians are wearing gold jewelry of an instrument of Roman torture they used to murder me? What imbeciles!" And..."Why aren't you morons not Jews..isn't my religion good enough for you?" And: "I did so have sexual relations with Mary Magdalene--kissed her on the mouth, and every thing..really ticked off all those gay disciples that thought I was gay as well!" And: "By the way, why do you people keep calling me Jesus...that's not my real name...don't I, at least deserve to be called by my real name in Aramaic or Hebrew but no...you have to use the Greek version...right along with all those other Greek gods and goddesses like Thor and Poseidon...curse ye all ye Pagan idolators who debauch my name?"
#7
Actually, there is proof of the supernatural. I don't have time to get into it too much now but I suggest that, for starters, you look into the "near death experience". That was, in fact, a supernatural phenomenon studied by scientific method by the statistician, George Gallup, jr. - whose father invented the Gallup Poll.
#8
"Heresies" are only so called because they are defined as such by the Holy See or supreme religious authority. Another name for them, if they could spit on the Holy Roman Empire and live to tell about it, might be "schism", "sect", "denomination", "Anglican Church", "Protestant Reformation", "Church of Latter Day Saints", etc..
-Mark S. (also, Anarchist Cop Out)
#9
I had to adopt a second moniker 'cause the first one kept getting caught in the spam filter of blogs of certain daily topics and the moderators and webmaster didn't respond to my queries about it. I didn't think it was a real moderation because on some forum blogs I could post and others I couldn't so most likely it was a glitch. Also, I couldn't imagine why I would have that done to my username - unless it was because I told a certain right winger on the forum that he was "bereft of any logic" and he exercised his prerogative to flag my post - which wouldn't be legit anyway, I mean, attacking someone's logic is not ad hominem.
So anyway, I was all ready to tear Kend a new one when I got flagged as spam - but I know Kend didn't flag me 'cause he's an exceedingly good sport. I don't think anyone did, really, because sometimes I could post and other times I couldn't.
I would like to recommend to anyone on the forums that they volunteer as moderators, those on the site seem to be shorthanded. I would but I'm underemployed and am looking for a job, and so, don't have time now.
#10
Whoa Ken,thanks for taking so much time to consider my post. I guess I missed the mark and hit your hot button on unions. I, like you, don't fully blame teachers as much as the boards and elected officials. Which is why I advocate for local level focus. You identify the big picture very well. I especially agree with your assesment of the parental envolvement, (another local level cultural issue). I appreciate your passion, I am not a military man, I did do a lot of work however, (volunteer with USO, Wounded Warriors, etc.). But that is of no importance, what is important that we appreciate the ability to converse, directly, with our thoughts and ideas. I think you and I are closer aligned than you think. I am not complaining about the teachers per se, yes, there are great teachers who are not respected or paid properly. What I did say is return the education model to the local level, like neighborhood. Imagine what could happen if the local elementary, middle and highschool were given the actual $ per student collected from the taxes paid? Now we are talking change.... Cut the fat. Create local school zones ($ controlled by the schools and staff - LOCAL)
Uniforms, good old RRR and PE, Arts, etc. Now we have a new generation of self driven and motivated children. My dream I guess.
Thanks again for your time, sorry I pissed you off so much, again, I think we are on much of the same thought lines however.
FG
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Mark S -- How do you get 2 different monikers? Everything you said is right on. The thing you forgot to include is the effect of extra cortisol on the unborn in the mother's womb. The extra cortisol is produced by the Mother due to the stress of the environment she lives in. By the way, I am convinced Obama's Mother had no cortisol in her system.