White Trash Politics

I have been having trouble getting back to my writing after the death of my son and the pains of my physical injuries resulting from my bicycle accident compounded by the SS tactics of some local deputies while my other son was having medical problems.  I promise to get the article about SS tactics here in America done soon, as well as an article about Daniel (the son who passed away. )

I have been able to do some commenting on-line about news stuff, and one of the topics I commented on just demands some blog comment.  There has been much coverage on the topic of police treatment of African Americans (and other Americans with dark skin).  I was just commenting about the Lt. Governor of Missouri and his comments about the President and the Attorney General.  I was brought up in the South.  I started off by commenting on how Missouri is an embarrassment.to the South. While thinking about the issue, I  recalled how I had been brought up to associate certain racial attitudes with "white trash".   In the more "genteel" parts of the South white slave-holders were raised with the concept of the "white man's burden" and were taught that slave-holders were responsible for the welfare of their charges.  They were obligated to protect their slaves, and to help "civilize" them.  Generally,  they continued to protect the freed slaves and advocate for their education.  Confederate General Bedford Forrest was a leading advocate for black voter's rights and employment (the original KKK he founded was racially integrated and protected southern Black women who were being raped by Northern troops.  He also disbanded the Klan when it became racist).

In the 1960s I was taught that the dreaded "N word" was used by white trash, not white people of good breeding.Yes, the concepts I have been describing are associated with a Patriarchal set of concepts that have their own racist slant. I do not apologize, however, for being appalled by the way that the Ferguson police reacted to the protests in Ferguson.  I do not know the exact details of the incident that gave rise to the initial protests, but it does not take a genius to know that a city with a 67% black population and less than 10% black representation on the police force has a racist police department.  I am a white man from the South and have had a lifetime witnessing police mistreatment of "colored" citizens. I have no trouble understanding that some communities have problems resulting from long standing poverty and economic exploitation.  I also understand that the origins of slavery in America may well have resulted in a disproportionate number of "black" people with violent tendencies.  But the fact is that any individual person must be treated with a certain minimum level of respect. When a person is taken to the ground with a death-hold  because he was selling loose cigarettes and dies as a result, something is wrong.  The rear choke-hold take down is barred in New York for a reason.  When a 12 year old boy is shot and killed for playing with a toy gun in what is clearly a play-ground, something is wrong.  It is time to call a spade a spade.  And it is time to call white-trash politics white-trash politics.

I doubt that racial prejudice will end anytime soon.  The problem is not so much that prejudice exists.  The problem is how we handle it.Of course, we need to respect the fact that there are always differences of opinion.  I am sure that not everyone who disagrees with the president or the Attorney General does so because of racial prejudice.  But there can be no doubt that frequently that is the basis .  And not all white people who have racist views are white trash.  But that is frequently the case. 

Republicans Fight to Keep Vast Pool of Undocumented Labor

   While I am working on my post about the growing danger of unbridled police power, I just want to make a quick comment about the fight by Republicans to ensure the availability of millions of undocumented laborers to work off the book, below minimum wages, and with no benefits such as health care.  President Reagan began a serious assault on American labor, with the intent of destroying labor unions. Under the Bushes this continued, with one tool being allowing millions of undocumented aliens to come to America to work with no benefits.  The sole reason for opposing immigration reform is to ensure that mostly Republican businessmen (especially farmers) will have millions of laborers willing to work for low wages with no benefits. There is no possible argument to explain why millions of illegal immigrants would come to America if they weren't able to find work.  One way to limit the use of illegal, undocumented laborers is the use of Union labor.  Bear in mind that the experience of industry is that Union labor is actually cheaper, even with higher wages and benefits. 

Jordan, Egypt Respond to ISIL

A while back I wrote a post about Jihadi Jim tugging on Superman's cape.  ISIL has invoked the ire of both Jordan and Egypt. Muslim countries have responded to the terror of this group by vowing to annihilate ISIL. More and more Muslims are beginning to see the horrors being done by fanatics. I hope that this type of hate can be obliterated from our planet. Many religions, including mainstream Christianity (Islam was supposed to be Christian, and was viewed as such until the time of Saladin), have been guilty of horrors in the name of God (a true heresy).

The fools just keep tugging on that cape.

Death of a Beloved Son

I have just been informed that my younger son, Daniel Aaron Baker, has passed away. This will mean a few days delay in my next posting.  Pray for all of his family. Besides myself, he is survived by his mother, his brother, two uncles, two aunts, numerous cousins, a wife,, an ex-wife, and two children and 5 step-children.  I believe that he is now with a loving and forgiving God,  and numerous ancestors.

Comcast Customer Service: Palatka Comcast Writes the Book on Poor Customer Service

   Before I get back to the subject of Storm Troopers in America, especially Putnam County, I need to say a few words about the terrible comcast customer service offered by  Comcast , especially in Putnam County, Florida. Recently I experienced a loss of my Comcast signal (TV and internet).  This was not too unusual, but after about 10 minutes I looked outside (it was the middle of the day)  and notice a Comcast technician working on the lines outside.  I asked him about the problem and he checked to see that he had not disconnected me.  I was still connected, but he said he could not check to see if I was getting a signal anywhere but at the connection.I called the office, and they said they could have someone check it in about 5 days.  We threw a fit, and by the next day they said they could check it Saturday. This was Wednesday.  We were told that since we were only one customer, that was the best that they could do.  We called AT&T and were hooked up the next day with far superior service for a slightly higher price (but far less than the same service would be with Comcast).  When I look online I see that Comcast is the worst rated corporation for customer service in America.  When the tech from Comcast finally got there, he found that a connector about a foot from the cable was defective and needed to be replaced.  It had malfunctioned when the technician tested the connection (he was checking all the connections on the line).

American SS Troops

My father and several Uncles fought in WWII to prevent storm troopers from coming to America.  I have recently become painfully aware that we now seem to have SS troops throughout our nation in the form of units that should be used for special emergencies, the so-called SWAT units.  What is probably a good idea for large cities seems to be a bad idea for most of our country.  I am having trouble writing this article because of an injured back and neck resulting from some bored cops playing with their new tools.  I will have more of an article in a day or two.
My father carried a badge for most of his adult life, so I am aware that there are both good and bad cops. I believe that most of the officers in my community are well intentioned.  The problem comes from the absurd idea that bad cops should be defended, or that we serve the cops (not the other way around). Just say no to a police state.

Please Release The Interview

I just want to say to Sony that I very much want a copy of  The Interview .  I would prefer a legal one, but I hope there is at least a black market version of the whole movie.  Air-drop millions of copies on North Korea.  Broadcast it, put it on the internet. 







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