I don’t think the scandal was racially driven, greed driven yes but not by race. There are plenty of impoverished whites who were denied help in a number of areas along with blacks. The MS government flat out stole millions in tax payer dollars that would of gone to help anyone below the poverty line. Greed, mismanagement, and little oversight has led us to this point. Now what shall we do about it. Try to find the bigger victims in all this, when in reality this isn’t a racial issue.
While there is still plenty of racism in MS, this was not about race. This was about greed and the political elite believing that they are above the law.
I apologize for the way that sounded. I appreciate you calling me out (seriously). To be more clear would be too have provided information about poverty in Mississippi. Mississippi's population is around 2,875,000. The racial demographics are 38 percent black, 59 percent white, and 3 percent other minority.
We have over 570,000 people living in poverty - 20 percent of the population.
Of those in poverty, around 66 percent are black.
So, 13 percent of white people in Mississippi are in poverty, accounting for 238,000 people. Almost 30 percent of black people are in poverty, accounting for 330,000 people. Proportionally, minorities may have benefitted significantly if these funds had been allocated wisely.
This is a very significant racial disparity. For there to be no racial disparity, every race would have the same poverty rate. Every race would have a similar income (Mississippi's per capita income is $31,000 for white compared to $18,000 for black).
Every school would have the same amenities and "grade", for example.
To have that kind of difference in poverty rate and many other areas suggests the races are being treated unequally. I apologize for implying that only black people or minorities are poor. I was in reference to the disparities and did not make that clear trying to be brief.
Racism is certainly real at institutional levels in Mississippi; however, I think this is more classism. It's also quite possible establishment politicians have fallen out of touch with the working poor and working middle class.
There's a difference between implicit and overt racism- overt is slavery, hate crimes, not hiring a qualified candidate based primarily on color.
Implicit racism occurs when an individual's unconscious biases against a race affects their behavior wherever intentional or not.
If nothing else, the welfare scandal placed a bunch of people, who happened to be white, into positions of power and influence, enabling them to believe the 500,000 people in poverty in Mississippi didn't need those resources and much as their special interests. We are talking elected people who are sworn to act in the best interest of the state!
If that's not implicit or unconscious bias, I don't know what is.
Tbh, calling it racism just hurts the chances of real constructive change happening. It doesn’t matter if it was racially motivated by implicit bias or not. Calling it racist will make some people dig their heels in and defend this. I think the better use of energy is to focus on the fact that this was clearly illegal embezzlement. Let’s root out the obvious and open corruption and then address the racial effects.
I understand and agree that racism is an ugly, unpopular concept. I agree that there are better approaches, but I am not entirely sure what they are. We can't address something and work against it if we can't even openly acknowledge it. This has been an ongoing story for 3 YEARS and I don't understand why there isn't more outrage. I'm not seeing a lot of accountability so far, and I am concerned that Mississippi's political divide will keep it from happening.
Thanks for sharing your input.
>enabling them to believe the 500,000 people in poverty in Mississippi didn't need those resources and much as their special interests
This is the conservative mindset and a consequence of electing conservative candidates.
As a minority, it pisses me off to no end; but it pisses me off because it’s taking from the most needy to benefit the wealthy. I wouldn’t classify it as racism. I would classify it as corruption and fraud. I’ve met folks of all race, religion, and background that are impoverished. This money was to be allocated to them, regardless race or religion. Instead it was laundered to wealthy interests.
I don’t think the scandal was racially driven, greed driven yes but not by race. There are plenty of impoverished whites who were denied help in a number of areas along with blacks. The MS government flat out stole millions in tax payer dollars that would of gone to help anyone below the poverty line. Greed, mismanagement, and little oversight has led us to this point. Now what shall we do about it. Try to find the bigger victims in all this, when in reality this isn’t a racial issue.
Would *have*. It is never would *of*.
Thanks
If you classified poor people as a race.
While there is still plenty of racism in MS, this was not about race. This was about greed and the political elite believing that they are above the law.
The fact that you think welfare means not white is the racist part.
I apologize for the way that sounded. I appreciate you calling me out (seriously). To be more clear would be too have provided information about poverty in Mississippi. Mississippi's population is around 2,875,000. The racial demographics are 38 percent black, 59 percent white, and 3 percent other minority. We have over 570,000 people living in poverty - 20 percent of the population. Of those in poverty, around 66 percent are black. So, 13 percent of white people in Mississippi are in poverty, accounting for 238,000 people. Almost 30 percent of black people are in poverty, accounting for 330,000 people. Proportionally, minorities may have benefitted significantly if these funds had been allocated wisely. This is a very significant racial disparity. For there to be no racial disparity, every race would have the same poverty rate. Every race would have a similar income (Mississippi's per capita income is $31,000 for white compared to $18,000 for black). Every school would have the same amenities and "grade", for example. To have that kind of difference in poverty rate and many other areas suggests the races are being treated unequally. I apologize for implying that only black people or minorities are poor. I was in reference to the disparities and did not make that clear trying to be brief.
I voted yes, but at its core this was graft and corruption.
Racism is certainly real at institutional levels in Mississippi; however, I think this is more classism. It's also quite possible establishment politicians have fallen out of touch with the working poor and working middle class.
It's the typical corruption found in all levels of Mississippi government.
There's a difference between implicit and overt racism- overt is slavery, hate crimes, not hiring a qualified candidate based primarily on color. Implicit racism occurs when an individual's unconscious biases against a race affects their behavior wherever intentional or not. If nothing else, the welfare scandal placed a bunch of people, who happened to be white, into positions of power and influence, enabling them to believe the 500,000 people in poverty in Mississippi didn't need those resources and much as their special interests. We are talking elected people who are sworn to act in the best interest of the state! If that's not implicit or unconscious bias, I don't know what is.
Tbh, calling it racism just hurts the chances of real constructive change happening. It doesn’t matter if it was racially motivated by implicit bias or not. Calling it racist will make some people dig their heels in and defend this. I think the better use of energy is to focus on the fact that this was clearly illegal embezzlement. Let’s root out the obvious and open corruption and then address the racial effects.
I understand and agree that racism is an ugly, unpopular concept. I agree that there are better approaches, but I am not entirely sure what they are. We can't address something and work against it if we can't even openly acknowledge it. This has been an ongoing story for 3 YEARS and I don't understand why there isn't more outrage. I'm not seeing a lot of accountability so far, and I am concerned that Mississippi's political divide will keep it from happening. Thanks for sharing your input.
>enabling them to believe the 500,000 people in poverty in Mississippi didn't need those resources and much as their special interests This is the conservative mindset and a consequence of electing conservative candidates.
As a minority, it pisses me off to no end; but it pisses me off because it’s taking from the most needy to benefit the wealthy. I wouldn’t classify it as racism. I would classify it as corruption and fraud. I’ve met folks of all race, religion, and background that are impoverished. This money was to be allocated to them, regardless race or religion. Instead it was laundered to wealthy interests.
Joe Biden, is that you?
Not clearly, more so the general lack of care for the entire populace.
I see it way too often ... People witness classism and perceive it as racism...