That's good if you think a culture should stay together.

The change must still go forward though, and it must be us taking the steps, otherwise it won't happen.

Perhaps letting society decide for itself, or at least giving them a stronger voice is the answer.

Haven't noticed it in this country.

Nor this one. In fact, it is much harder to distinguish between the two. What was the old left (Labour) has taken over the centre, under the guise of New Labour, and the Conservatives are trying to move in with them. There is little difference in policy. The most important factor is now competence - who can deliver government more effectively.

America is different because, on both sides, pragmatism and common sense is increasingly being replaced by dogma and rigid ideology. People want policies implemented that coincide with ideological principles without thinking about the actual specific consequences of those actions, having faith that those principles will ensure the success of the policy. Interestingly, this is much closer to the historical European (as opposed to Anglo-Saxon) way of doing politics that is often criticised by American conservative (especially neo-conservative) intellectuals, because it resulted in things like the French Revolutionary Wars, Marxism and Fascism.

Anglo-Saxon way of politics... you mean like with a huge fucking axe?

You're slightly wrong. In America it's the Republicans who have moved to the center, with the Democrat leadership moving to the left, while still trying to paint the Republicans as extreme rightists.

If the culture doesn't hold together, then you get a situation like Yugoslavia. Don't think it can't happen on this continent.

The change does go forward. Some embrace it, some oppose it. That's how it works in a democracy.

This is the problem with the courts. If society had more say then the courts, we wouldn't have legal abortion, affirmative action, school integration, and a few other things I'm forgetting about at the moment.

Racial integration in the schools has been a colassal disaster for the people it was intended to help. When they started bussing kids all over the district, instead of going to their neighborhood school, all the white people moved out of the inner city school districts, which depressed the tax base, resulting in less money for the schools. It's called "white flight". It's the unintended consequence of judges meddling in the lives of people.

I don't see any reason why that would happen by default. If you hate the other new cultures then it would happen.

But of course there's all levels of 'culture' and 'cultural unity'

Then the change is up to you.

Of course kids should go to the schools closest to them, but as for integration, my high school had a 30% black population and there were never any major problems with racism.

LOL take a look at some of the posts made by the Republicans on this board and you'll see who's waving the paintbrush.

Okay what your saying is that the majority of society does not want these things. I disagree and would like to know where you get your info. Also, if it is true then it's a perfect example of the sham of democracy in america.
so which is it.

I'd have to see it before I could believe it, but maybe Canadian blacks are more civilized than American blacks. In the city school districts, the black population is 50% or more, and it's dangerous to be there, for the students, and the teachers.

I'm talking more about the leadership of the two parties. Bush is hardly a conservative, he just throws a bone to the conservative members of the party now and then to keep them in line. The congressional republicans are the same way.

When they are confident you won't call them a bigot, almost all white people will bitch about affirmative action.

Without the RoevWade decision, abortion would still be under control of the states. In some it would be legal, and in some it would be illegal. There isn't enough of a majority on either side to pass a federal constitutional ammendment one way or the other.

You can see the dislike of racial integration by where people live. We are more segregated than ever, and it's because you can't force people to live together if they don't want to. I live in a town called Hilliard, OH, it's a suburb of Columbus. Through the late 80s and all through the 90s, Hilliard was one of the fastest growing citys in America. It experienced over 300% growth in that time, all of it feuled by white flight from the Columbus City School district. Now we keep the property taxes high so it stays that way.

I have a solution to the problem of social violence and 'hate' crimes.

Institutionalized murder. But only under very strict conditions. Persons who have no criminal record, have an education beyond a certain extent, and are at optimal or near-optimal physical and mental health recieve a letter that allows them to enforce the law with legal impunity for one calender month. From 12 : 00 the first day of the month, to 12 : 00 the last day of the month.

Heres why it works.

The recipient of the letter is forbidden under pain of death or exile to tell anyone, even their own family, that they have been selected. So what ends up happening is that a number of ordinary people have unlimited legal authority to judge and punish any criminal act they witness for a limited period of time. The penalty for breaking a law in the presence of these people? Execution. No trial, no plea bargain, no rich asshole lawyers. If you break a law in the presence of one of these individuals, you are dead. End of story. Child, elderly, mentally ill, sane, man, woman, it doesn't matter. IF YOU BREAK A LAW IN THE PRESENCE OF THESE INDIVIDUALS YOU WILL BE EXECUTED. PERIOD.

Comments?

That wouldn't be good. If I was given that power, you would be able to find me by following the trail of bodies, and flaming wreckage along the road. I'd be shooting people while driving. The crime, stupidity, the penalty, death.

This would make a great movie.

I know you said 'most
but just for the record-I'm as white as Mr. Rogers and I see nothing wrong with affirmative action and I DO think it needs to be in place. Like most govermental decisions it has major flaws the need to, and have not, been adressed. But, as I said, I do think it's needed. Whenever I hear people bitch about affirmative action I often question them to find out if they really know anything about it....the answer is usually, but not always, no.

I believe this is too important, and dangerous, an issue to leave up to state only controle. Unfortuantley the symol of the 'coat hanger' that pro choice people use is apt. If it was not legal many (albeit uniformed and ignorant) young woman would lose thier lives to this. exspecially since the states that I've seen that are mostly pro-life are those states with higher teen pregnancies.

I think it is a little more indicative to your situation but is more accurate than I think it should. You can't escape the fact that once you get passed the commeraderie of a shared heritage that most ethnicities are simply scared of one another and what they represent. There is no excuse for racisim and bigotry that is not brought about by fear. regardless of what color/race you are. Although you can not force people to intergrate, niether can you force segregation. Segregation, weather legally enforced or personal choice, is takeing a step backwards as far as social evolution goes.

So you're a racist too? Welcome to the club!!!!

You're thinking why did I say that? Because affirmative action is only neccessary if blacks truly are inferior. (They are.)

You obviously think blacks are just too stupid to make it on their own merits, so they need the law to give them a hand.

Doesn't matter if it's too important and dangerous. Roe vs Wade is an abomination of constitutional law. They looked at it backwards. They decided that they wanted abortion to be legal, and then started twisting words around to justify it. It should be up to the states. There are maybe 12 states that would outlaw it. Luoisiana, Mississippi, Utah, Alabama, and both Carolinas definitely would outlaw it. Iowa, Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, and Idaho would try to, with a chance of success. Then maybe 3 or 4 other states would try and fail. It would make state elections more important. Many people don't even know the name of their statehouse representative. They would if abortion was on the table.

It's all fear, and it's all justified. Have you ever noticed that black neighborhoods suck? It isn't the neighborhood that ruins the people, it's the people that ruin the neighborhood. Whites who can afford to move out. If blacks would take a few steps forward in their own social evolution, this wouldn't be as big of an issue as it is.