I resent that bunch of BS. I never am "played" and I do not support any group over another. I detest identity politics but then you know that and are using your comments as a way to discredit me ("play" the emotions of other FReepers) and shut me up.
Won't work.
Right. That's why you posted this thread about "identity politics"
...”Perry then played to the crowd as best he could, and mentioned the Latinos he’s appointed to office, including Secretary of State Esperanza “Hope” Andrade, Texas Supreme Court Justice Eva Guzman and Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission Director José Cuevas.
Nope. NO identity politics there....
“I detest identity politics but then....”
Did you ever note the saying (I _think_ this came from the German general von Clauswitz, not certain), “you may not be interested in war, but war may be interested in you” ??
Let me rephrase that slightly:
“You may not be interested in identity politics, but identity politics may be interested in you....”
That you “detest” the notion of “identity politics” does not make it any less real. That type of “tribal behavior” (and yes, it is based on ethnicity, skin coloration, and [horror of horrors] race) not only exists, but is becoming increasingly influential in American politics. The “colors of the country” are changing, and to the dismay of American Euros (who politely tried to ignore such changes the past 40+ years). We (I am a Euro) might have “nipped that in the bud” (by preserving the ethnic/immigration policies the USA had adopted back in the early 1920’s), but deliberately chose not to do so.
Now we are reaping the “diversity harvest” from seeds that were sown decades ago.
If you haven’t read it, I’ll recommend Patrick J. Buchanan’s new book, “Suicide of a Superpower” to you. You probably won’t agree with it, but it’s good reading nonetheless.
Closing thought, based on simple arithmetic:
Suppose “our side” gets about 35-40% “of the Hispanic vote”. That means the OTHER SIDE gets 60-65%. The more Hispanics there are, the more votes the other side gets — doesn’t matter that we consistently garner 40%. The “real numbers” for our side will always decline vis-a-vis _their side_.
100,000 votes - we get 40,000, they get 60,000 (they beat us by 20,000 votes)
200,000 votes - we get 80,000, but THEY get 120,000 (they beat us by _40,000_ votes)
Which side will forever win, politically?
Best regards,
- Glide