Forum Overview :: Rants :: Blame the victim mode

[quote name="Tansin A. Darcos (TDARCOS)"]I think it is Herman Cain, the negro Republican candidate, who claims there is no race prejudice in this country. He's also basically saying that those who aren't as successful have basically themselves to blame for their own troubles. While we do have to take responsibility for our actions, this seems to be a common factor of Republicans, who are so much in favor of having individuals suffer every hardship (because it builds character, which, granted, it does), when corporate America or rich people want taxpayer-funded bailouts, lower taxes and more favorable regulation (especially regulation which keeps competitors from being able to operate) then they're all gung ho for that. The typical Republican has his head in the sand, denying reality about as much as the typical Democrat. The idea that there shouldn't be more taxes no matter what level it is or how much, is ignores a very nasty point. The U.S. federal government has about <i>60 trillion dollars</i> in unfunded liabilities that are going to have to be paid for, eventually, and the fact is that even draconian cuts in entitlement programs will not solve this problem. But to go back to my original point, nobody is ever successful without a great deal of luck (being in the right place at the right time; hitting a fad; finding an underserved or unserved market and figuring out what it wants or needs), assistance from a lot of other people, skill, and other factors. If you lack some of these things you might make it, or you might not. One thing you really need is education; if you can't think you aren't going to do well. But most public education is not very good. Republicans often basically would practically defund public education - because that merely affects poor people who can't afford private education - and liberals complain we don't spend enough, despite evidence that some of the highest-spending areas, like Washington, DC have horrible results, while some lower-spending school districts do quite well. And ignoring what some private schools (like Catholic ones) are able to do with a lot less money than most public ones. But it's quite common for Republicans and some rich people to presume that failure to succeed is the "fault" of the person who doesn't, this means they can blame the victim and thus they don't have to do anything about it. [/quote]