What Really Divides Us

lew Rockwell ^ | Ron Paul

[from occupied ga]

The overwhelming media response to recent remarks by Senator Trent Lott shows that the nation remains incredibly sensitive about matters of race, despite the outward progress of the last 40 years. A nation that once prided itself on a sense of rugged individualism has become uncomfortably obsessed with racial group identities.

In the aftermath of the Lott debacle, we must not allow the term "states’ rights" to be smeared and distorted into code words for segregationist policies or racism. States’ rights simply means the individual states should retain authority over all matters not expressly delegated to the federal government in Article I of the Constitution. Most of the worst excesses of big government can be traced to a disregard for states’ rights, which means a disregard for the Ninth and Tenth amendments. The real reason liberals hate the concept of states’ right has nothing to do with racism, but rather reflects a hostility toward anything that would act as a limit on the power of the federal government.

Yet it is the federal government more than anything else that divides us along race, class, religion, and gender lines. The federal government, through its taxes, restrictive regulations, corporate subsidies, racial set-asides, and welfare programs, plays far too large a role in determining who succeeds and who fails in our society. This government "benevolence" crowds out genuine goodwill between men by institutionalizing group thinking, thus making each group suspicious that others are receiving more of the government loot. Americans know that factors other than merit in the free market often play a part in the success of some, and this leads to resentment and hostility between us.

Still, the left argues that stringent federal laws are needed to combat racism, always implying of course that southern states are full of bigoted rednecks who would oppress minorities if not for the watchful eye of Washington. They ignore, however, the incredible divisiveness created by their collectivist big-government policies.

Racism is simply an ugly form of collectivism, the mindset that views humans only as members of groups and never as individuals. Racists believe that all individual who share superficial physical characteristics are alike; as collectivists, racists think only in terms of groups. By encouraging Americans to adopt a group mentality, the advocates of so-called "diversity" actually perpetuate racism. Their intense focus on race is inherently racist, because it views individuals only as members of racial groups.

Conservatives and libertarians should fight back and challenge the myth that collectivist liberals care more about racism. Modern liberalism, however well intentioned, is a byproduct of the same collectivist thinking that characterizes racism. The continued insistence on group thinking only inflames racial tensions.

he true antidote to racism is liberty. Liberty means having a limited, constitutional government devoted to the protection of individual rights rather than group claims. Liberty means free-market capitalism, which rewards individual achievement and competence, not skin color, gender, or ethnicity. In a free market, businesses that discriminate lose customers, goodwill, and valuable employees – while rational businesses flourish by choosing the most qualified employees and selling to all willing buyers. More importantly, in a free society every citizen gains a sense of himself as an individual, rather than developing a group or victim mentality. This leads to a sense of individual responsibility and personal pride, making skin color irrelevant. Rather than looking to government to correct what is essentially a sin of the heart, we should understand that reducing racism requires a shift from group thinking to an emphasis on

[from occupied ga]

Once again Ron Paul says it well

[BIGZ]

Again the question is who called Paul Fray a F--king Jew bastard.

A. Hillary Clinton
B. Hillary Clinton
c. Hillary Clinton
D. All of the above

[from occupied ga]

Again the question is who called Paul Fray a F--king Jew bastard

I can't remember. It was either Hillary Clinton or Hillary Clinton

[Ff--150]

ping

[dadwags]

You correctly state that the ninth and tenth amendments limit the federal powers, reserving them to states .
However, the thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth amendments, (up to the turn of the nineteenth/twentieth centuries,there was some controversy about the validity of the ratification of these amendments)seemed to take powers away from the states, putting them in the federal government .Of course, 20th century activist liberal courts have played a big part in the trend , IMVHO .
The above is strictly opinion, possibly very erroneous .

[from occupied ga]

individualism.

Somehow I chopped off the last word of Ron's essay. It is "individualism."

[Go Gordon]

The overwhelming media response to recent remarks by Senator Trent Lott shows that the nation remains incredibly sensitive about matters of race, despite the outward progress of the last 40 years.

Other than the first sentence, it was a great article. The media's response was not reflective of true concern and sensitivity about race. The media's response was nothing more than being a willing accomplice in trying to help the race baiters of the democrat party trying to find their silver bullet issue to try to regain power. I can't believe any self respecting person could possibly be a democrat supporter after witnessing the behavior of its leaders over the past decade. The disgusting transparent RAT race baiting of republicans, while at the same time discriminating against blacks, is truly a remarkable sight to behold. I feel sorry for blacks that don't see it, and therefore blindly support the RATs racist policies. Unless and until blacks start to understand and accept conservatism, the masses will forever be destined to remain left behind. Its sad, really.

[Steve_Seattle]

Today there were TWO columns in the Seattle Times in which black columnists used the Lott affair to try to pressure Republicans into changing their position on affirmative action. And these columnists both ignored the fact that when the great bedrock of modern civil rights legislation was passed, it was passed with more Republican support than Democratic.

[hoot33]

Great post/article. Thank you Sir/Ma'am. Merry Christmas.

[from occupied ga]

And a Merry Christmas to you too.

[gitmo]

The overwhelming media response to recent remarks by Senator Trent Lott shows that the nation remains incredibly sensitive about matters of race, despite the outward progress of the last 40 years.

It shows that the MEDIA remains incredibly sensitive about matters of race, despite the outward progress of the last 40 years.

[Mind-numbed Robot]

By encouraging Americans to adopt a group mentality, the advocates of so-called "diversity" actually perpetuate racism.

While reading articles about the liberal Nazis on university campi and seeing a news report about the virtues of racial "diversity" at the universities, it occurred to me that racial "diversity" usually ends up being uniformity of thought represented by differing skin colors. Were universities truly seeking to liberally educate, rather than being left wing madrassahs, they would be seeking diversity of thought and life experiences in their students. Skin color can reflect life exeriences but a more relaible measure would be economic, geographic, and religious backgrounds.

[o_zarkman44]

What really divides us is called fragmentation.
What used to be groups of like minded people, who for the most part minded their own business are being attacked and splintered because there are people who's sole agenda is to keep like minded people from congregating and sharing idealisms, sharing values, sharing religous convictions or whatever.

When people attack groups like the Boy Scouts, the are attempting to splinter and water down tradition. When they attack all male gold clubs, they seek to destroy traditions. Now we all know that none of these or any other group was formed to hurt anyone. They were formed because there were like minded people who believed in tradition, believed in having a good time, believed in sharing similar views with like minded people.
When these groups are attacked by self centered people who's sole agenda is not participation, but degradation to a non traditional level, it serves no purpose except to divide. Divide and Conquor. Those who choose to attack the free thinking people, who have the right of association with people they feel comfortable with, seek nothing but to cause internal confusion and dissent. They know that by attacking traditional ways of thinking, they can divide the masses into small, more managable groups who will have a credibility problem because they resisted forced change.

What really divides us is not standing our ground. Despite what those who attack us really want, which is to force us to do and think only what they choose. And if we resist, we are branded forever by a liberal media.