Play Nice Random Chat Thread IV

[Snake_Baker]

Political correctness is a horrendously misapplied term. The fact a movement has been built on emotion to stop it is a testament to the power of tabloid media.

Blinkered statement No. 3,940,712

 

[Scallop Industry Thug]

10/10

 

[Tas]

From a short interview with Chomsky last week.....

Professor Chomsky, what’s going on in the United States? Is there something deeper behind the protests against racism and abuse of power by white policemen?

"What is deeper is 400 years of brutal repression: first, the most vicious system of slavery in human history, which provided much of the basis for the economic growth and prosperity of the US (and England); then 10 years of freedom in which blacks could enter the society, and did so with remarkable success; then a North-South compact which effectively granted the former slave states the authority to do as they liked. What they did was to criminalize black life, creating "Slavery By Another Name", the title of one of the major books on the topic.

That lasted virtually until World War II, when labor was needed. Then came a period of relative freedom, hindered by racist laws so extreme that the Nazis rejected them and federal laws requiring segregation in the government-funded housing that was built after the war – and of course blacks (and women) were excluded from the free higher education provided to veterans. Then came another wave of criminalization of black life.

The residue can be imagined. The racism persists, though it is less rampant than before. And when it manifests itself, as in the Floyd murder, there is naturally an explosion – joined in this case by much of the white population, a reflection of progress among some parts of the population in overcoming this hideous curse."

You cited the “criminalization of black life,” which you have often spoken about in your books. Can you explain briefly how it has acted and continues to act in American society and its economy?

"I can’t take credit for the phrase. It is commonly used in studies of American society. In the former slave states in the late 19th century it was deliberate policy. If a black man was standing on the street, he could be arrested for vagrancy, given a fine he couldn’t pay, and sent off to prison – where he could be provided to businesses as a perfect worker: disciplined, no protests, cheap. That was a major contribution to the manufacturing revolution of the time, as well as to agribusiness.

The second wave of criminalization took off with Ronald Reagan. In 1980, when he took office, incarceration rates were within the European range. Since then they have exploded, far beyond Europe. Those imprisoned are disproportionately black. That is partially the result of the drug war, and is partially traceable to greater crime among blacks. The latter fact is sometimes adduced in racist apologetics, suppressing the question of why crime is greater among blacks. That is typical of oppressed communities. The case of blacks is by far the most severe."

Noam Chomsky: They’re protesting 400 years of brutal repression

We spoke with Noam Chomsky to understand the current moment in America. ‘The racism persists, though it is less rampant than before. And when it manifests itself, as in the Floyd murder, there is naturally an explosion.’

global.ilmanifesto.it

A lot of people do not realise how ugly a society America is. You don't need Chomsky revisionism going back to WW2 or Regan, the USA still uses slaves to power their industry. Most of the McDonalds workers flipping burgers for minimum wage are wearing uniforms manufactured by prison labourers.

The Prison Industry Enhancement Certification Program enacted in 1979 after enormous corporate lobbying permitted US companies to use prison labour. The Federal Bureau of Prisons now runs a programme called Federal Prison Industries (UNICOR) that pays inmates under one dollar an hour, in some states they aren't paid at all.

 

[Snake_Baker]

10/10

So this doesn't qualify as lowbrow?

 

[Snake_Baker]

A lot of people do not realise how ugly a society America is. You don't need Chomsky revisionism going back to WW2 or Regan, the USA still uses slaves to power their industry. Most of the McDonalds workers flipping burgers for minimum wage are wearing uniforms manufactured by prison labourers.

The Prison Industry Enhancement Certification Program enacted in 1979 after enormous corporate lobbying permitted US companies to use prison labour. The Federal Bureau of Prisons now runs a programme called Federal Prison Industries (UNICOR) that pays inmates under one dollar an hour, in some states they aren't paid at all.

Chomsky has aged badly.

 

[Scallop Industry Thug]

So this doesn't qualify as lowbrow?

Who you gonna call?

PIERS MORGAN

 

[Snake_Baker]

Who you gonna call?

PIERS MORGAN

That's okay mate.

Just don't go thinking that you're any better.

 

[Scallop Industry Thug]

That's okay mate.

Just don't go thinking that you're any better.

I have 40,000 posts on a football forum. I know where I’m at.

 

[Scallop Industry Thug]

A lot of people do not realise how ugly a society America is. You don't need Chomsky revisionism going back to WW2 or Regan, the USA still uses slaves to power their industry. Most of the McDonalds workers flipping burgers for minimum wage are wearing uniforms manufactured by prison labourers.

The Prison Industry Enhancement Certification Program enacted in 1979 after enormous corporate lobbying permitted US companies to use prison labour. The Federal Bureau of Prisons now runs a programme called Federal Prison Industries (UNICOR) that pays inmates under one dollar an hour, in some states they aren't paid at all.

1 in 10 prisoners in private prisons.

 

[Snake_Baker]

I have 40,000 posts on a football forum. I know where I’m at.

Yes, an elementary school for parochial shortsightedness.

 

[goalieboy82]

my annual Lego convention that i go to every year is not going to happen this year (due to COVID-19).

 

[Tas]

Chomsky has aged badly.

I think his points are valid though. He is just religiously anti-capitalist in so far as it exists in a mixed economy like it does in the west, he is a lot more outspoken when it comes to places like the USA than Europe. He is an anarcho-syndicalist sympathiser, his political utopia is one that will never exist so he pretty much has negative things to say about almost everything which is an easy position to take but we have to try and get through life and we need systems that work but systems that aren't too rigid that they can't evolve for the better.

If you need a revolution to change, it is unlikely the end result is going to be any better than the previous one, and it is often a lot worse.

I like this article from news.com.au https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/h...s/news-story/08da4582a91493bd2ab504b422a5c882

I think it highlights a lot of frustration people have in particular to our indigenous problems, we have a lot of problems, government spends a lot of money trying to fix problems but they are mostly ineffective. I think every Australian wants to see things improve for the better for the indigenous communities, want them to be healthy and happy and feel they are equally invested in our society and equally represented. We are failing them not because we aren't trying, but because we aren't getting the results and we need less kneeling down by politicians and more work in terms of producing results.

 

[Snake_Baker]

I think his points are valid though. He is just religiously anti-capitalist in so far as it exists in a mixed economy like it does in the west, he is a lot more outspoken when it comes to places like the USA than Europe. He is an anarcho-syndicalist sympathiser, his political utopia is one that will never exist so he pretty much has negative things to say about almost everything which is an easy position to take but we have to try and get through life and we need systems that work but systems that aren't too rigid that they can't evolve for the better.

If you need a revolution to change, it is unlikely the end result is going to be any better than the previous one, and it is often a lot worse.

I like this article from news.com.au https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/h...s/news-story/08da4582a91493bd2ab504b422a5c882

I think it highlights a lot of frustration people have in particular to our indigenous problems, we have a lot of problems, government spends a lot of money trying to fix problems but they are mostly ineffective. I think every Australian wants to see things improve for the better for the indigenous communities, want them to be healthy and happy and feel they are equally invested in our society and equally represented. We are failing them not because we aren't trying, but because we aren't getting the results and we need less kneeling down by politicians and more work in terms of producing results.

Chomsky serves a purpose which all true anarchists serve, and that is that society needs a vibrant libertarian element in order to keep it from going insane, as the saying goes, "I am not an anarchist because I see it as a solution, I am an anarchist because there are no solutions", however, as I have aged I have come to the conclusion that true anarchism requires a uniform base level of intelligence in order for it to become viable, and that this does not exist. Chomsky does not address this in his musings. He is still stuck in his 1960/70's mindset.

 

[Scallop Industry Thug]

Chomsky serves a purpose which all true anarchists serve, and that is that society needs a vibrant libertarian element in order to keep it from going insane, as the saying goes, "I am not an anarchist because I see it as a solution, I am an anarchist because there are no solutions", however, as I have aged I have come to the conclusion that true anarchism requires a uniform base level of intelligence in order for it to become viable, and that this does not exist. Chomsky does not address this in his musingHe is still stuck in his 1960/70's mindset.

What is he not considering?

 

[Snake_Baker]

What is he not considering?

Are you being deliberately obtuse with me?

...........true anarchism requires a uniform base level of intelligence in order for it to become viable, and that this does not exist.

 

[Scallop Industry Thug]

Are you being deliberately obtuse with me?

You mentioned he was stuck in the 60s and 70s mindset.

 

[Snake_Baker]

You mentioned he was stuck in the 60s and 70s mindset.

Yeah, I don't think his reasoning has evolved in any way, and I think he is out of sync with social realities.

He's probably a little too "utopian" for my liking, and that is represented by the thinking of that time. There are human realities.

 

[Scallop Industry Thug]

Yeah, I don't think his reasoning has evolved in any way, and I think he is out of sync with social realities.

He's probably a little too "utopian" for my liking, and that is represented by the thinking of that time. There are human realities.

Yeah not sure he’s adapted. He did overcompensate fir being duped by some communist regimes. His manufacturing consent nailed the media; does anyone know if he’s spoken about this internet media age?

 

[Snake_Baker]

Yeah not sure he’s adapted. He did overcompensate fir being duped by some communist regimes. His manufacturing consent nailed the media; does anyone know if he’s spoken about this internet media age?

Don't get me wrong, I am a great admirer and he has made great contributions, but his time has come and gone. "The left" needs new, and more importantly "credible" thinkers. Zizek is one, but there needs to be more.

I was a big fan of David Graeber when he emerged, but now he has also gone down the rabbit hole.

 

[Scallop Industry Thug]

Dems to do something ? Yeah nah.

 

[DesertRoo]

Dems to do something ? Yeah nah.

The Dems will pass that $100 billion package, to help the people who’ll really feel the pinch during the crisis, the banks of course.

 

[Scallop Industry Thug]

The Dems will pass that $100 billion package, to help the people who’ll really feel the pinch during the crisis, the banks of course.

And wearing those African scarves while doing it.

 

[Caracas]

Of course it is, the system is a set of rules and if you are in court then you are not playing by the rules, or are accused of it at least. Anyone's ability to weasel out of a conviction is less about guilt or innocence and more about how much you can afford to stay out of prison.

I know of someone who committed a crime, first offence, due to mental/psychological illness that he was being treated for. The police didn't recommend a jail sentence, the prosecution didn't recommend a jail sentence and the victim didn't even pursue for a conviction, they were just required by law to report the incident. He ended up in jail because he had a crappy lawyer provided by the state.



That is naive. Lawyers will tell you NEVER to speak to police without a lawyer present, even innocent people had got themselves convicted just talking to the police believing they had nothing to hide.



Accountants are expendable, so nobody is going to riot over a bean counter being abused or killed. Accountants, Lawyers and Politicians are the axis of evil, anything shit that happens on a grand scale usually involves these three professions.

On a serious note, if I ever found myself in trouble I wouldn't resist arrest, I wouldn't talk to the police (let alone be abusive towards them) and I would get the best lawyer I could afford. It is probably why we don't see a lot of dead bean counters.

Fair enough. It wasn’t exactly the point I was trying to make, though.


On iPhone using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[DesertRoo]

And wearing those African scarves while doing it.

At least they’ll make everyone feel good when they’re booting people from their homes, guess that’s some comfort.

 

[Snake_Baker]

Political correctness is a horrendously misapplied term. The fact a movement has been built on emotion to stop it is a testament to the power of tabloid media.

The term refers to highly emotive morally based politics that are not open to rational debate, unless the inquisitor wishes to invite all manner of ideological branding accompanied by social and professional exclusion.

It's a throw away term that basically describes the irrational conduct of pack running, bovine like automatons, who think they have the right to control language.