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To: HuntsvilleTxVeteran
Blanket statements like this are just stupid and those that think a black could not be much smarter than the writer are self deluded!

Sort of like saying that we shouldn't reject the hypothesis that perhaps men have an inherent advantage in math, physics and peeing across the room?

Group differences in pigmentation, leaping ability and susceptibility to certain diseases are widely accepted. Such differences (e.g., pigmentation) are often the defining characteristics of different groups.

Suppose (not at all counter-factually) that Blacks (with equal incomes) save less than Whites and are more likely to default on mortgages. This is a perfectly valid empirical statement. It doesn't mean that some Whites aren't deadbeat spendthrifts or that many Blacks are not frugal and responsible. Given the validity of the supposition posed, what should the public policy implications be?

Fortunately, in our personal day to day lives, we don't have to act on suppositions like this: in fact it would be unwise to do so. Rather we should treat people as individuals, rather than as the embodiment of racial, ethnic, sexual or other stereotypes. I, for one, think the government should act the same way. In a democracy, the political pressures to create favors for certain groups, however, is overwhelming.

I remember during the 1969 World Series, the JDL was picketting Shea Stadium, "demanding" that since one fifth of the population of New York City was Jewish, five of the members of the 25 man rooster of the New York Mets should be Jewish. (Oy!). They were lampooning the demand of certain media selected Black leaders, that since (whatever fraction was valid at the time) of the students in New York City schools were (select your minority) the same fraction of school teachers should be also.

Winning teams don't pick baseball players that way, and we shouldn't be picking teachers, doctors or engineers that way either.

34 posted on 10/17/2007 2:40:51 AM PDT by Lonesome in Massachussets (NYT Headline: Protocols of the Learned Elders of CBS: Fake but Accurate, Experts Say)
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To: Lonesome in Massachussets
Suppose (not at all counter-factually) that Blacks (with equal incomes) save less than Whites and are more likely to default on mortgages. ... Given the validity of the supposition posed, what should the public policy implications be?

None.Ignore pigmentation and treat each individual as per their individual record.

Sort of like saying that we shouldn't reject the hypothesis that perhaps men have an inherent advantage in math, physics and peeing across the room?

Men on average have an advantage in these areas. With the exception of peeing across the room, this group average tells us absolutely nothing about the performance of any individual man or women. Again, treat each individual as an individual and there is no problem.

63 posted on 10/17/2007 3:50:48 AM PDT by Sherman Logan
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