COMMON SENSE. Systemic Racism and White Privelege -- True or False?

COMMON SENSE:

Many of today's liberals are convinced that our country is pervaded by "systemic racism". They view the statistical economic and health disparities among certain specific minority groups as due to "white privilege". They see the connection as so obvious and incontrovertible that they consider any disagreement as proof of their contentions. They say that those who disagree, although they may be of good will, are unconsciously blind to their attitudes and must be educated to understand them.

But a great many of us do disagree and do not feel the need for our reeducation. Our country has been through times of real conscious legally authorized racial discrimination, as those of us who were alive during that time can attest. The civil rights movement of the 1960's changed all that, and it did so, not just because of the brave efforts of Martin Luther King and his followers, but because the majority of our citizenry was ready for it. Racial discrimination made no sense in a country founded on the principles of individualism and equal rights. Strangely enough the major resistance to the change at that time resided in the very political group that is today focusing so much on racial consciousness.

Three generations later, not just the legal, but the social change in our country has been dramatic. Today, indeed, the MLK admonition to judge individuals by their character and not skin color or some other external quality is overwhelmingly accepted. As one observes our public in every aspect of our lives there is racial and ethnic integration. And it is not so because it is legally mandated. If you're a black family and you wish to live in my neighborhood, which is mostly white, just buy a house and move in. You'll find many friends. If you're a member of a minority group and you want to be a member in my golf club, just join up and pay the dues as others have. We welcome you. And if you called for an appointment to see me in my office when I was still in practice, we definitely didn't ask what color you were.

The idea that the big city ghettos in our country, where crime and social disorganization is rampant, exist because of racism is belied by the fact that so many millions of minorities are out in our communities living happy and productive lives, and many have achieved high status, great wealth and public admiration. In light of these facts the cause of the bad situation in these areas must be other than racial animus but that's a discussion for another time. It's enough to say that, in the minds of those of us who do not accept the "white privelege" concept, promoting the idea that those of various minority groups in our country cannot succeed without special consideration and political militarism is counterproductive. It is felt that these ideas are not only inaccurate but paradoxically are themselves a major contributor to racial discord in our society and are a discouragement to the individuals that they are meant to help.

For those of you who believe differently I would say this. Instead of insisting that everyone in our society be brought to accept your point of view, which is unlikely to succeed, assess whatever portion of your wealth and position you calculate are due to white privelege and donate that amount in time and money to enhancing the education, social structure and economic opportunities in our problematic inner-city areas. That would clearly have a positive effect. For my part I will continue to try to live up to the Christian principle of treating others as I would have them treat me, and hope that they will do the same.

 

 

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Biden's Speech About The Pandemic Was Not Serious; Operation Warp Speed Was!

I watched President Biden's speech on the pandemic last night. He spoke with sympathy of the pain the country has been through and spent a lot of time emphasizing his efforts at vaccination. I think he could have emphasized more the large discrepancy in the distribution of the pain between his coastal constituents who were able to work and educate their children at home and the little guys who had to work in place, or had their businesses locked down or who didn't have good home computer networks. But, fair enough, it's been a problem for all of us in different ways.

His discussion of the vaccination efforts is what concerns me. Once again, he called for us to come together as we did to defeat the enemy in WW2. But how much unity is expressed in talking about the vaccines as if they appeared de novo and, but for his efforts, would lag behind in their administration.

In fact, the development and rollout of our effective vaccines was an outstanding accomplishment of the Trump administration's Operation Warp Speed. To my mind this was probably the most successful example of cooperation between government and industry to address a major threat since the mobilization for munitions production in WW2. The development of these generally safe and highly effective vaccines in a previously unheard of 9-month period was a dramatic example of the tremendous skill and capacity of our often-criticized pharmaceutical industry. But it was the can do spirit of a developer controlling the usually overly bureaucratic federal government that made it all possible.

The concept of messenger RNA technology, used by both Pfizer and Moderna, has been around for a few years, but had never been developed for clinical use, among other reasons because of financial risk. Operation Warp Speed, a joint effort of the Trump departments of HHS and DOD, accepted the risk instead, not only giving direct financial support, but guaranteeing purchase of the final product of the drug companies. In addition it also streamlined the usually ponderous workings of the FDA to expedite it's various expert committee meetings.

All this allowed the pharmaceutical companies not to take shortcuts as is commonly assumed but to do their extremely expensive clinical trials expeditiously and to manufacture millions of doses of their vaccines all while the vitally important clinical trials for safety and efficacy were ongoing. Thus they were ready to release millions of doses of their product, with the assistance of the military in distribution, on day one after their approval.

Mr. Biden touted his administration's recent purchase of 100 million vaccine doses. The fact is that the Trump administration guaranteed purchase of hundreds of millions of doses, even before they were proven safe and effective and authorized by the FDA in mid-December. Altogether 200 million doses each of both Pfizer and Moderna vaccines were purchased. Mr. Biden promised to deliver 100 million vaccinations in his first 100 days, but on the day before he took office 1.2 million doses were administered. In fact the major limiting factor in administering vaccinations thus far has been the capacity of the pharmaceutical companies to produce them, and that in turn due to limitations in workers with the proper skills to do the job.

Take a look at the attached graph which shows vaccinations administered since they were first released in December. What you see is a steady rise over that period without any notable change since January 20th when President Biden was inaugurated.

Ladies and gentlemen, actions speak louder than words.

 

 

 

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Fair and Free Voting.

Common sense:

Multiple changes in voting procedures and serious evidence of voting irregularities in this year's presidential election has caused millions of Americans to suspect that the outcome is in question. House Democrats have now introduced HB1, which has multiple measures which tend to solidify and even worsen those suspicions in future elections.

Let's emphasize that, although liberals contend that there were no significant problems in the election, many millions of their fellow citizens do not agree with them and it is mandatory that their opinion must be taken into account. Without the overwhelming public perception that our elections are free and fair we have no democracy and there is risk that our society will descend into major conflict.

According to our constitution voting procedures are the province of the individual States. Whatever voting procedures are determined by the individual States, it is imperative that three basic principles be maintained: 1. Those who are on the registration lists in the States must be legitimately entitled to vote and procedures must be in place to assure that those registration lists are up to date and accurate, most especially at the time of any election, 2. Iron clad procedures must be in place to assure that those who are voting are actually the registered individual who they say they are, and 3. Voting procedures must be absolutely free from potential tampering and cannot be carried out except under the meaningful observation of all interested parties.

These are clear-cut measures to which any fair-minded person, on whatever political side, should be willing to agree. No congressional law should be passed which tends to contradict any of these principles. Any proposed law which does not advance these principles should be considered to have fraudulent intent and should be overwhelmingly rejected.

 

 

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Biden Breaks Immigration Law

COMMON SENSE

Foreigners who wish to enter the country for a short time require a passport. Those wishing to come temporarily but for a longer period, such as for work or school, require a visa. Foreign nationals who wish to reside here permanently require a green card which they must carry for identification and which entitles them to carry on with no restrictions except for voting rights. Those who wish to obtain voting rights must declare allegiance to the United States and go through the prescribed process for becoming citizens. All these situations are regulated by a large body of immigration law.

In our country today there are unknown millions of individuals who are "undocumented", that is who reside outside the limits of these laws and regulations and so are here illegally. There are thousands more who continue to enter our country without regard to these laws, or who come to a legal point of entry but, pending a determination as to their eligibility, are allowed to remain and do not return for their scheduled adjudication. There are also many thousands more who have been given a legitimate visa but who ignore the regulations governing their activities.

Since Mr. Biden has taken office, he has quickly taken steps to reduce our country's ability to prevent illegal entry, and even to encourage it, as well as to allow increased entry to those whose eligibility is being determined, knowing full well that the majority of such individuals will not comply and will be added to the "undocumented". He has instructed his Department of Justice to ignore the so-called sanctuary cities with are actively working to interfere with immigration law enforcement.

It appears that Mr. Biden and his Democrat allies feel that our immigration laws are unjust or otherwise inappropriate. They sympathize with those who have entered the country illegally and even wish to accommodate and encourage others. However, regardless of his sympathies or possibly political motives, Mr. Biden has sworn to uphold our constitution and enforce our laws, including those regarding immigration, to the best of his ability. If he and his allies are unhappy with our immigration laws and their enforcement, they are free to attempt to change these laws through congressional action. In article 1, section 8 of our founding document Congress was assigned the task of making these immigration laws and regulations. The serious responsibility to enforce them has been assigned to the Dept of Homeland Security which includes the I.C.E. and the Border Patrol.

He cannot disregard our immigration laws or change them by executive order. By his actions he is disobeying his oath of office and is derelict in his duty. If anyone should be impeached, he would be the one.

 

 

 

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