Thomas Sowell and Walter Williams: Grace Under Fire

Capitalism Magazine ^ | Feb 23, 2002 | Larry Elder

[The Raven]

Oops -- you've already addressed the voucher comment.

How about a step beyond vouchers

with the reduction of the liberal bias?

[jeremiah]

The black kids will be able to go to school with the liberals kids

In one sentence, you have put your finger on the problem the liberals see with vouchers. I hadn't thought of it until now, it makes perfect sense.

[tpaine]

I would think MSNBC would want the controversy.
-- But would Keyes welcome the possiblity of being upstaged? -- Odds are we'll never know.

[The Real Eddie01]

If polling data suggests that the black community supports vouchers, then I stand corrected.

My opinion was derived from a number of debate threads I had on the subject, most notably on BET's board. The theme was consistant so I believe my point still has merit.

I have to ask, why does the black community consistantly vote Democrat then? Do they simply see their being denied vouchers as irrelevant, is their cultural pressure being applied to those who support vouchers via the dynamic I described or is it simply that Democrats have done a superb job of bearing false witness against Republicans, declaring them all racist making whatever screws the Democrats put to the black community invisible by the blinders of induced?racial hatred.

Eddie01

[The Real Eddie01]

Then I respectfully have to ask, why do blacks overwhelmingly vote Democrat knowing they are being hurt by their elected officials?

Eddie01

[Clifdo]

You are certainly right. Have you read "Life at the Bottom" by Theodore Dalrymple which depicts the life and attitudes of the underclass in Britain? I cannot believe the problem is racial, but lies in the lifestyle, beliefs and attitudes of the welfare recipients (those who live on the largesse of hard-working, tax-paying citizens. Until something is done about this problem, we will have this group feeding at the public trough, and not really enjoying it. They simply can't see the real problem, and their mentors (the Jesse Jacksons and others of that ilk) simply feed on that empty, desolate, bleak attitude which they live with. They (the Jesse Jacksons of the world) sure do have the best interest of their people at heart, don't they?

[Matchett-PI]

"We, conservatives, however, have a major disadvantage. We have to compete on the basis of ideas, not the "booty" from taxpayers largesse."

We have a "major disadvantage" is right! The Left (ignoble/ignominious) always makes their appeal to the "lower nature" (base side of human nature/lower instincts) in human beings, ie: vanity, jealousy, lust and greed (a/k/a "what comes naturally").

More noble mentalities make their appeal to what some call, human nature's "better angels". They always try to promote higher ideals than what comes naturally to people.

To do "what comes naturally" takes no effort at all.

To rise above that takes A LOT of effort.

And since one of the baser characteristics of human nature is laziness, most people usually prefer not to make the effort. And when they do make the effort, it is rarely consistent or long-lasting.

That in a nut shell is why noble mentalities who do make the effort to live by, and promote, higher ideals, will always be in the minority.

It is also why nobler mentalities need to be "wise as snakes and harmless as doves", by recognizing these realities if they run for political office.

On that note, I think we have some fairly noble, and 'wise' snake handlers in the White House right now. :)

[Matchett-PI]

"...why do blacks overwhelmingly vote Democrat knowing they are being hurt by their elected officials?"

That's just the point --- other than the cynical opportunists among them, they don't know it!! (see #19 and #20).

[Faraday]

Blacks vote Democrat for many reasons. These would include: 1. they depend disproportionately on government programs (the welfare state); 2. the black middle class is disproportionately employed by government and quasi-governmental organizations; 3. the black leadership in cities long ago threw in with big city political machines in order to get their share of patronage; 4. the most politically active blacks were part of the civil rights movement which was hijacked by leftists; 5. the social organs of propaganda (media and education) have conducted a 40 year campaign of vilification of conservative views aimed especially at blacks. Vouchers are popular among blacks because they, like everyone else, want what's obviously best for their kids. The public school system (the most Democrat-dominated institution in America) does not educate, does not prepare, does not protect their children. This is an important wedge issue for conservatives among black Americans. As is the accomplishment of black conservatives in academia (Sowell, Williams, Rice), in law (Thomas), in politics (Watts), and business (Connerly).

[Harrison Bergeron]

Year old article. Already posted here.

[Cardenas]

Mr. Elders' article is an antidote for the venom spilled today in C-Span by the black poverty pimp intellectuals who became millionaires upon the shoulders of the black underclass.

[Travis McGee]

BTTT!!!!

[The Raven]

By golly, you're right. It didn't come up on the keyword search for Sowell.

[Patriotic Bostonian]

Two of my favorites! Walter Williams is my favorite fill-in for Rush -- he will be filling in for Rush on Thursday and Friday of this coming week.

[arepublicifyoucankeepit]

Bump!

[The Real Eddie01]

The opinion I developed regarding the black communities thoughts on vouchers was formed from forum debates with some rather articulate black Americans.

If polling data suggest otherwise okay, but one of the predominant themes was that blacks would rather their children be schooled IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY rather than be schooled in the white. They dismissed vouchers on this basis.

Just to clarify. I am conservative to the bone and support vouchers 100%.

My expressed opinion is reality, at least to some degree.

This is what Republicans must understand when they frame the debate. Saying to the Black Community, "don't you want your kids to get a good education, well the Democrats don't" won't work. You have to frame the argument such that the Black Community sees how vouchers benefit the black community overall. Only then will you get mass acceptance of the fact that Democrats are out to keep them down.

You gotta look at the context a bit more. Blacks were discriminated against until just a few short decades ago. The Black Community is what has allowed them to survive thrive and perservere. Only time will heal those wounds. Of course the rapid demise of the NAACP, the Black Caucus and Rainbow Push wouldn't hurt.

All you have to know is that the Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson is hated by a majority of Blacks for his views. That gives the perspective I'm sharing with you a titanium foundation.

Eddie01