“The first mistake we made was giving in to the idea that we should give a damn what they think.”
Not only that but in the name of “fairness and doing whats right” we VOLUNTARILY gave these groups what they wanted only to have them use it against us and then change the rules in their favor. Blacks didnt free themselves, they didnt FORCE us to give them the civil rights they deserved as Americans. They appealed to our principles and sense of what was right. Same with women. Both groups argued they deserved a chance to meet the established standards for certain jobs and if they could, be hired. Even when they couldnt we EVIL WHITE GUYS changed the standards to suit them. Then evil white guys VOLUNTARILY gave them preference in promotions and allowed them to attain power. They then proceeded to use it against the same people who GAVE it to them.
No group that says “we are the worst” ever succeeds.
Japan in the 1920s and 1950s went through massive cultural internal examination before roaring back. We have the same internal beat down but no actual route back, like Japan embracing Deming’s quality principles to improve manufacturing.