[sinkspur]

Outside of that, though, one can take what is written about the Mexicans and Chinese today, replace it with what was written about the Irish and Germans 150 years ago, and it would read almost exactly the same.

Exactly, and well written.

Pat is not a racist; he is, however, race-obsessed.

There is a strain of American which looks to blame somebody or something for their economic plight or "immorality."

The boogeyman inevitably turns out to be "them." And "them" are those even lower on the economic ladder.

Human nature does not change.