Mid Term Elections- Lessons Learned

[BLADEMDA]

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[deleted1147063]

Candace Owens has an amazing book: Blackout. I wouldn't expect any black person, or their racial hate-based supporters, to read it though. People hate good mirrors.

 

[vector2]

You can argue about the “difference” between widespread republican gerrymandering and democratic gerrymandering all you want. It doesn’t change the fact Desantis won by a landslide by converting a LOT of independent voters. Whether he should have flipped 2 house seats or 4 — it bodes well for how he would do in a presidential election. Despite people here already saying he can’t win without cheating.

What kind of goalpost move is this? There is no doubt that the majority of House seats in FL would be GOP, but the extreme gerrymandering matters given how narrow the House split is. So the question at hand is not whether DeSantis would've won the governorship (he would've) or whether he's a presidential contender (he is). The question at hand is what happened in the House elections in light of the fact that the magical red wave that everyone was predicting never materialized.

The facts of the matter are:

1. DeSantis overruled his own party, likely in violation of Florida's 2010 anti-gerrymandering law, to draw his own absurd districts. Being so craven as to overrule your own GOP legislature is an extreme, irregular tactic, and everyone here should be honest enough to admit that.

2. There is a federal lawsuit pending against DeSantis' districts, because regardless of what yours or @FFP or @BLADEMDA 's opinions are regarding race and voting, Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act prohibits the disenfranchisement of majority black districts. The issue is, in fact, so clear that when Alabama's districts were getting challenged ...A three-judge court that included two judges appointed by President Donald Trump ruled that the state’s map likely violated Section 2. Again, don't take my word for it....trump judges who are honest in their reading of the law know it's so.

3. Lastly, one thing that hasn't been mentioned yet in regard to the both sidesism here. Yes, both sides engage in gerrymandering, but what's clear is that from local court all the way to the SCOTUS, the GOP has absolutely no check on their political ambition, and those trump judges looking at the AL case will be a thing of the past. It doesn't matter what the law says, going forward GOP judges will push plainly illegal and/or partisan districts through.

Both states also had high-profile redistricting battles that, in the end, likely helped these Republican vote swings come close to maximizing GOP House gains in each state. DeSantis pressed for a map that was significantly biased toward the GOP, turning a number of purple seats into red ones and dismantling a seat that had previously elected a Black Democrat. In New York, Democrats drew and passed their own biased map, but the state’s high court overturned those lines and had a special master draw a new map that featured more highly competitive and GOP-leaning seats. Considering the tight margins in some districts, especially those north of New York City, the court-ordered map likely helped Republicans win as many as three more seats than they would have under the lines drawn by the Democratic state Legislature.​

A Red Wave In Florida. A Blue Riptide In Michigan.

Where Democratic and Republican House candidates outperformed their district’s partisanship in the 2022 midterm elections.

projects.fivethirtyeight.com

​

 

[chessknt]

There are states where, despite the fact that 40%+ of the votes are republican, (almost) all the senators and representatives are democrats. Now that's true gerrymandering.

It's a corruption and lack of character issue, not particular to a certain group of humans.

A bit of data about "both sides":

Political party strength in U.S. states - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Now compare these to the 2020 election:

I see AZ, WI, MI, PA as the obvious flipped colors here, ignoring NH because they are weird. Split control in MN and VA. Is there a single case where a red turns blue? Like where is the both sides of this issue exactly?

 

[Arch Guillotti]

One could speculate that being a white or Asian male would be akin to being a black male in America circa 1926.

Blade this is ridiculous.

 

[doctalaughs]

What kind of goalpost move is this? There is no doubt that the majority of House seats in FL would be GOP, but the extreme gerrymandering matters given how narrow the House split is. So the question at hand is not whether DeSantis would've won the governorship (he would've) or whether he's a presidential contender (he is).

​

No goalpost move. If you look at my original assertion on the matter I did not make any argument about house seats and gerrymandering (another poster brought that up).

I merely stated what you admit above - he won the governorship by a landslide and has a great chance to defeat the democrats in a presidential election — without “cheating” as some here have stated.

I made no argument about the specifics you state above regarding house seats, so I’m not debating that part.

 

[vector2]

No goalpost move. If you look at my original assertion on the matter I did not make any argument about house seats and gerrymandering (another poster brought that up).

I merely stated what you admit above - he won the governorship by a landslide and has a great chance to defeat the democrats in a presidential election — without “cheating” as some here have stated.

I made no argument about the specifics you state above regarding house seats, so I’m not debating that part.

Your original assertion which I took issue with is that you said @chessknt 's statement ("He will win 2024 but it won't be because people voted him but rather because the SCOTUS rigged the game in his favor and his party gerrymandered the state legislatures to guarantee a republican win.") was akin to trump's (insane) claims that the 2020 election is rigged.

It's not akin to that all, and the facts (widespread gerrymandering [as demonstrated in the House elections] that has fewer and fewer ongoing court checks, a wildly unbalanced 6-3 SCOTUS, DeSantis overruling his own party to make an illegal map, etc) demonstrate as such.

 

[Splenda88]

I think the people of Florida have moved much more to the center from the Left. There is an awakening going on against the far left and its woke agenda.
Even former liberals are now considered "center left" because of how much the left of the democrat has moved from the mainstream. If this nation were to adapt the hard core woke agenda of the far left the economy and the nation itself would totally crater. There would also be wide spread, open discrimination against white/asian males at a level never before seen in the history of the world. One could speculate that being a white or Asian male would be akin to being a black male in America circa 1926.

That is crazy talk right there man.

You listen to too much Tucker Carlson.

Though I agree about many things you say about the far left.

 

[vector2]

If anyone is still wondering if the nationwide congressional gerrymander favors republicans (which many people would have you believe) let's once again look at the actual statistics.

In 2020 Democrats received 50.8% of the overall house votes nationwide and won 222-213 house seats
In 2022 Republicans received 50.9% of the overall house votes nationwide and won 222-213 house seats (projected, possibly less).

Both sides won the house by the same margin when given the same percentage of the votes. If anything democrats actually did slightly better here (winning the same or more seats with 0.1% less of the votes) though the difference is so small it is likely statistically insignificant. If the nationwide gerrymander favored republicans, republicans would win more seats with the same or less votes, yet they did not. Some individual state district maps are gerrymandered quite heavily (that goes for both sides, as already exemplified above) but the overall thrust of federal congressional gerrymandering statistically cancels out when all states are pooled in an actual national vote.

People talking about the problem of gerrymandering always seem to mention republican state gerrymandering while turning a blind eye to democrat gerrymandering or outright gaslighting in denying its existence. Statistics and maps prove otherwise. For anyone truly interested in free and fair elections, there is no reason for gerrymandering to be a partisan issue. Both sides try to get away with it as much as they can and in large part they succeed. Whether one side gets away with it slightly more than the other should not be a factor in condemning and preventing both sides from doing it. You will never get bipartisan support on this issue if it is continuously discussed and approached in a partisan way as though its fine to blatantly ignore and turn a blind eye to one side doing it, while loudly chastising and blocking the other from doing it.

While overall republicans had an underwhelming showing nationally, Florida was a clear exception. Florida GOP actually expanded their vote margin of victory astronomically, in contrast to most of the rest of the country. Republicans won FL statewide votes by a 3% margin in 2020, they won by a 17% margin in 2022. If that kind of unprecedented swing in popular vote does not shift a few seats then the system is pointless. With a result that lopsided compared to the previous election it should be no surprise that at least a couple seats flip. Also one of their additional seats was from the electoral college reallocation of an extra seat to Florida, so really they only flipped 3 house seats while winning the state by 17% vs 3% in 2020 which shouldn't really be outside of what's expected.

That having been said, everyone should know that Florida was already gerrymandered to begin with. What people always seem to forget though is that the major democrat states are just as gerrymandered. People act like only the GOP does this, which is simply false. Major dem states like Illinois and California are just as bad.

Illinois democrats got 56.4% of the statewide votes but won 82.3% of the house seats, over-favoring DEM by 25.9%
California democrats got 56.5% of the statewide votes but won 76.9% of the house seats, over-favoring DEM by 20.4%
Florida republicans got 57.7% of the statewide votes but won 71.4% of the house seats, over-favoring GOP by 13.7%
Texas republicans got 54.8% of the statewide votes but won 65.8% of the house seats, over-favoring GOP by 11.0%

So from an objective statistical standpoint Illinois and California are even more gerrymandered than Florida and Texas, but you will only ever hear people complaining about Florida and Texas being gerrymandered. Wonder why that is?

This is a pair of somewhat misleading posts here. It's telling that you focus on the popular vote vs # House seats for each party in just the 2020 and 2022 elections in one post and then ask what the big deal is. And then in the second post you only bring up Illinois, California, Texas, and Florida.

Do you know what the the best way is to see if there's a systemic issue with gerrymandering favoring one party or another? Look at more than two elections and include all the states, not just four.

Let's see, shall we?

So other than potentially 2022, in the last thirty years the Democrats have received fewer House seats than what their popular vote margin would suggest every. single. time....except 1994 and 2008. Gerrymandering (and more broadly, Congressional apportionment ) is not an issue that equally affects "both sides" despite some fanciful wishes to the contrary.

 

[deleted87051]

The "don't say gay law" was not that at all actually and the media spun it to suit their narrative. Parents and Citizens want the kids in elementary school free from the woke agenda regarding sex in the curriculum or mentioned by teachers. Leave the little kids out of it.

It would be nice if middle school and high school boys stopped calling each other “fa**ot” as an insult and stopped bullying effeminate boys. Not sure how to make that happen without intervening in elementary school. Any suggestions?

 

[deleted1147063]

It would be nice if middle school and high school boys stopped calling each other “fa**ot” as an insult and stopped bullying effeminate boys. Not sure how to make that happen without intervening in elementary school. Any suggestions?

Stop raising effeminate boys (not the same as gay), stop helicopter parenting and intervening between kids, and stop trying to counteract evolutionary biological instincts.

Let boys be boys (and kids be kids, in general), or they will become pretty unhappy and messed up generations of adults. It's a jungle out there, so raise tigers not puss*es victims.

There are many forms of bullying in (adult) life, most of them passive-aggressive, and kids should learn early how to stand up to a bully and not allow it to affect them.

 

[deleted1147063]

You wanna bet this one too will be playing the "systemic" victim card?

 

[deleted641888]

Stop raising effeminate boys (not the same as gay), stop helicopter parenting and intervening between kids, and stop trying to counteract evolutionary biological instincts.

Let boys be boys (and kids be kids, in general), or they will become pretty unhappy and messed up generations of adults. It's a jungle out there, so raise tigers not puss*es victims.

There are many forms of bullying in (adult) life, most of them passive-aggressive, and kids should learn early how to stand up to a bully and not allow it to affect them.

How do you say “let kids be kids” and, in the same breath, advocate against letting kids be kids (i.e., effeminate)? What if femininity is some people’s natural inclination?

This sort of double speak emanates from the cesspool of outdated ideas from insecure, feeble people. You’re not “a man” because you ooze strength, guns, chest hair and are able to stand up to bullies. The true measure of “a man” is to let people be people without inserting your own stupid paternalistic ideas of what that entails.

 

[deleted1147063]

How do you say “let kids be kids” and, in the same breath, advocate against letting kids be kids (i.e., effeminate)? What if femininity is some people’s natural inclination?

This sort of double speak emanates from the cesspool of outdated ideas from insecure, feeble people. You’re not “a man” because you ooze strength, guns, chest hair and are able to stand up to bullies. The true measure of “a man” is to let people be people without inserting your own stupid paternalistic ideas of what that entails.

I think you have trouble understanding my English. Not the first time. Must be my accent. You seem to already have a strong opinion and confirmation bias about me, but I'll give you one more benefit of the doubt. Btw, there is that awesome button called Ignore.

When I say let kids be kids, that means not interfering with kids' self-policing, unless it turns to serious violence (not just pushes or punches). I'm not saying one should not teach kids how to be respectful and tolerant to each other, the golden and especially the silver rules.

When I say raise tigers, I mean that one should not overprotect one's kids, but teach them how to cope with the world around them, instead of expecting the world to adapt to them, this lifelong victim mentality. Send your kids to karate, to the gym, let them develop self-confidence and survivor skills.

I've seen situations where single mothers were raising mommy's boys. Not the kids' natural inclination, simply the model they were shown at home. I've seen helicopter parents do the same. All these kids have trouble functioning socially, and may become lifelong victims. They are the feeble ones, not those who experience hardship as kids and learn to become self-sufficient and independent at a young age. The latter tend to be way more successful in life. Just look at many immigrants. There is no better teacher in life than hardship.

I too was bullied in childhood, so I sympathize.

 

[Southpaw]

I think the people of Florida have moved much more to the center from the Left. There is an awakening going on against the far left and its woke agenda.
Even former liberals are now considered "center left" because of how much the left of the democrat has moved from the mainstream. If this nation were to adapt the hard core woke agenda of the far left the economy and the nation itself would totally crater. There would also be wide spread, open discrimination against white/asian males at a level never before seen in the history of the world. One could speculate that being a white or Asian male would be akin to being a black male in America circa 1926.

I'm finally getting it. You keep saying woke, and I keep asking you to define it as I'm unsure what it is, and you keep saying it without providing any sort of context or definition. Woke is anything you don't agree with regard to society and education. It's a catch all term, and it allows you to be lazy and insulting at the same time. Bravo. One problem - if I can fairly quickly figure out what you're doing, don't you think the other hundreds of millions of Americans will figure it out as well soon enough, if they already haven't? Or is your plan to just move on to the next culture war by then?

I watched your Candace Owens video. And everything she says makes MAGA stand around and clap and nod their heads in agreement. One problem - what's the school she's talking about that isn't allowing white people in because they're white? It doesn't exist. We both know it's a figment, or its taking something partially true and stretching it to hyperbole to get claps and head nods by MAGA and the culture war fighters.

I love that you've labeled me a socialist. I clearly see flaws and problems with the far left, or progressive, or whatever, liberal education agenda in public schools. But the problems I see aren't the ones you see. I'm just not on board, and won't ever get on board, with the culture wars that the Trump/DeSantis party wants to fight because I see it tearing apart the country. It's no different than what the far left is doing, just a different version with equally poor results.

Also I wanted to say thanks for your last sentence because we can finally see what you really think.

 

[deleted1147063]

Wonderful. Now we're back to the usual one side vs the other insults and fan clubs. This forum never changes. 🤮

 

[Southpaw]

Wonderful. Now we're back to the usual one side vs the other insults and fan clubs. This forum never changes. 🤮

I'm glad it doesn't to be honest. Go read the other specialty forums on SDN and see how they're doing.

 

[VA Hopeful Dr]

I think you have trouble understanding my English. Not the first time. Must be my accent. You seem to already have a strong opinion and confirmation bias about me, but I'll give you one more benefit of the doubt. Btw, there is that awesome button called Ignore.

When I say let kids be kids, that means not interfering with kids' self-policing, unless it turns to serious violence (not just pushes or punches). I'm not saying one should not teach kids how to be respectful and tolerant to each other, the golden and especially the silver rules.

When I say raise tigers, I mean that one should not overprotect one's kids, but teach them how to cope with the world around them, instead of expecting the world to adapt to them, this lifelong victim mentality. Send your kids to karate, to the gym, let them develop self-confidence and survivor skills.

I've seen situations where single mothers were raising mommy's boys. Not the kids' natural inclination, simply the model they were shown at home. I've seen helicopter parents do the same. All these kids have trouble functioning socially, and may become lifelong victims. They are the feeble ones, not those who experience hardship as kids and learn to become self-sufficient and independent at a young age. The latter tend to be way more successful in life. Just look at many immigrants. There is no better teacher in life than hardship.

I too was bullied in childhood, so I sympathize.

Hang on a sec here, are you really saying we shouldn't punish kids if they punch other kids?

Also, I don't really think hardships as a child is a universally good thing.

 

[pgg]

You guys should stop trying to convince one another. There is this thing called confirmation bias, aka it's very hard to change one's mind once one commits to a point of view.

Also, if you want to change one's mind, don't appeal to reason, appeal to self-interest.

I was away for more than a year, and yet everybody seems to be stuck where they were before.

Arguing with the opposition* has many benefits
- it's fun
- it may sway undecided readers who don't post
- it forces us to step out of echo chambers and bubbles of opinion
- it forces us to make good arguments that stand up to criticism
- it's an opportunity to learn something or change/moderate our own positions in the face of good arguments or data that we weren't aware of (yes, it happens)

There are plenty of internet forums where people swap stupid memes and make outrageous statements that other uninformed, unchallenged, unthinking people affirm and cheer. I'm glad this isn't one of them.


* "Opposition" is probably too strong a word for me; there are few people here who's positions I really oppose on all points. In the grand scheme of things most of us have a lot in common.

 

[deleted875186]

Good conversation about gerrymandering, it disproportionally negatively affects democrats. Nobody can deny that a move to popular vote would destroy the Republican Party. Will be interested to see what happens to the republicans party as more states turn blue. What will happen once Texas turns blue??

 

[BLADEMDA]

Good conversation about gerrymandering, it disproportionally negatively affects democrats. Nobody can deny that a move to popular vote would destroy the Republican Party. Will be interested to see what happens to the republicans party as more states turn blue. What will happen once Texas turns blue??

As the Dems skew more and more left I am less concerned about Hispanic voters longer term. Legal Hispanic voters can become GOP voters if the party reaches out to them. Conservative values are Hispanic values so Texas may just stay red a lot longer. The moderate democrats are becoming an extinct entity.

For those who can’t see or understand that reverse discrimination is a real entity circa 2022 they should try getting a spot in medical school or a job with AMEX. Those white kids coming up to become productive members of our society are indeed experiencing discrimination. The fact you all readily dismiss this reality on the ground is just par for the course.

The Woke agenda is about making far left ideology mainstream.

 

[BLADEMDA]

Justice Department Finds Yale Illegally Discriminates Against Asians and Whites in Undergraduate Admissions in Violation of Federal Civil-Rights Laws

The Department of Justice today notified Yale University of its findings that Yale illegally discriminates against Asian American and white applicants in its undergraduate admissions process in violation of Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. The findings are the result of a two-year...

www.justice.gov

Can The Government Exclude Whites On Account Of Their Race?

Does replacing "equality" with "equity" mean that the government should sometimes exclude whites from access to government and public goods?

www.forbes.com

 

[deleted1116990]

This sort of double speak emanates from the cesspool of outdated ideas from insecure, feeble people. You’re not “a man” because you ooze strength, guns, chest hair and are able to stand up to bullies. The true measure of “a man” is to let people be people without inserting your own stupid paternalistic ideas of what that entails.

The irony of using the word paternalistic here is too much.

It used to be that we could go back to basics to find common ground and work from there. What is a man? Well a man is born with a penis, we can all at least agree on that basic reality of nature, right? Ayn Rand was widely criticized for writing non-plausible hyperbolic nonsense. We are now living in that fictional world. Objective reality doesn't exist. Objective reality can be hurtful and offensive, and we can't allow things that can be offensive. Being obese is healthy and beautiful. You have a right to a certain standard of living regardless of how hard you work. Saying certain things can hurt people's feelings and should be criminalized.

You keep saying woke, and I keep asking you to define it

I already did, but perhaps a simpler definition, continuing from the above, is that woke is an adjective that describes a progressive idea that is based in undermining objective reality (the concept of equity for instance -- that it's natural for everyone to achieve the same outcomes regardless of ability or effort with the only variables being subjective measures of perceived privilege).

So it's just Marxism. How do you fight objective reality? The only way is authoritarianism from the state. Cram it down. Kim Jong Un shot 14 holes in one his first time playing golf and doesn't have bowel movements because his body is perfectly efficient. Everyone, starving, nods in agreement. Free elections are held, and he gets 99.99% of the vote. The progressive "woke" left in America seeks a one-party state. They don't even hide it.

 

[Southpaw]

For those who can’t see or understand that reverse discrimination is a real entity circa 2022 they should try getting a spot in medical school or a job with AMEX. Those white kids coming up to become productive members of our society are indeed experiencing discrimination. The fact you all readily dismiss this reality on the ground is just par for the course.

The Woke agenda is about making far left ideology mainstream.

Ummm...where have you and your addiction to the word 'woke' been for the last two decades? Nothing has changed. It was harder for me and other white/asian males to get into med school two decades ago. It's harder today. If the field was level it'd be all Asians in med school and some whites. And every poor minority community in America would have physicians or better yet, nurse practitioners, that do not look like them, talk like them, or act like them. I know that sets off your trigger alarm to use your new word of the week again, or clicks deep in your brain to regurgitate more FoxNews-isms, but I think our country should strive to have a diverse group of physicians as we are a very diverse nation.

 

[Southpaw]

I already did, but perhaps a simpler definition, continuing from the above, is that woke is an adjective that describes a progressive idea that is based in undermining objective reality (the concept of equity for instance -- that it's natural for everyone to achieve the same outcomes regardless of ability or effort with the only variables being subjective measures of perceived privilege).

So it's just Marxism. How do you fight objective reality? The only way is authoritarianism from the state. Cram it down. Kim Jong Un shot 14 holes in one his first time playing golf and doesn't have bowel movements because his body is perfectly efficient. Everyone, starving, nods in agreement. Free elections are held, and he gets 99.99% of the vote. The progressive "woke" left in America seeks a one-party state. They don't even hide it.

Thanks Ayn

 

[BLADEMDA]

Ummm...where have you and your addiction to the word 'woke' been for the last two decades? Nothing has changed. It was harder for me and other white/asian males to get into med school two decades ago. It's harder today. If the field was level it'd be all Asians in med school and some whites. And every poor minority community in America would have physicians or better yet, nurse practitioners, that do not look like them, talk like them, or act like them. I know that sets off your trigger alarm to use your new word of the week again, or clicks deep in your brain to regurgitate more FoxNews-isms, but I think our country should strive to have a diverse group of physicians as we are a very diverse nation.

Open discrimination is a new phenomenon. We all knew about and accepted affirmative action. These days it’s about openly favoring certain Races over others regardless of qualifications. Let me say it plainly: what matters today is just race not qualifications. That’s not how it was 20 years ago and blatantly unfair to those people belonging to the wrong race or ethnic group. This ideology now permeates all aspects of employment. One no longer gets the job or promotion based on merit. That’s your woke agenda in action.

 

[vector2]

The irony of using the word paternalistic here is too much.

It used to be that we could go back to basics to find common ground and work from there. What is a man? Well a man is born with a penis, we can all at least agree on that basic reality of nature, right? Ayn Rand was widely criticized for writing non-plausible hyperbolic nonsense. We are now living in that fictional world. Objective reality doesn't exist. Objective reality can be hurtful and offensive, and we can't allow things that can be offensive. Being obese is healthy and beautiful. You have a right to a certain standard of living regardless of how hard you work. Saying certain things can hurt people's feelings and should be criminalized.


I already did, but perhaps a simpler definition, continuing from the above, is that woke is an adjective that describes a progressive idea that is based in undermining objective reality (the concept of equity for instance -- that it's natural for everyone to achieve the same outcomes regardless of ability or effort with the only variables being subjective measures of perceived privilege).

So it's just Marxism. How do you fight objective reality? The only way is authoritarianism from the state. Cram it down. Kim Jong Un shot 14 holes in one his first time playing golf and doesn't have bowel movements because his body is perfectly efficient. Everyone, starving, nods in agreement. Free elections are held, and he gets 99.99% of the vote. The progressive "woke" left in America seeks a one-party state. They don't even hide it.

This is some world-class tilting at windmills right here. Just absolutely justifies the notion that conservative criticism of "wokeness" isn't criticism against something that actually exists at any substantive policy level, but rather simply it's echo-chamber whining against the perceived boogeymen they think they're facing.

@anaesthetic replied to ffp along the lines of "hey, maybe there's a better approach to raising children than to indoctrinate every boy with 1950s John Wayne stereotypes of how to look, act, and think like a big old manly man" ... And instead of substantively replying to what was actually said, the best you can come up with is some nonsense about how the woke left wants to cancel men having penises blah blah blah.

Also, the narrative that progressivism seeks objective-reality-altering [seriously, how do you even type the words with a straight face] equality of outcomes is another scoop of straight up delusional bs. Progressive notions of equity don't mean everyone deserves the same outcome regardless of skill and effort. What it means is accounting for other aspects of individuals (SES, sex, race, zip code) that ideally shouldn't enter into the equation, and taking steps to mitigate the disparities in opportunity between such groups.

 

[chessknt]

I think you have trouble understanding my English. Not the first time. Must be my accent. You seem to already have a strong opinion and confirmation bias about me, but I'll give you one more benefit of the doubt. Btw, there is that awesome button called Ignore.

When I say let kids be kids, that means not interfering with kids' self-policing, unless it turns to serious violence (not just pushes or punches). I'm not saying one should not teach kids how to be respectful and tolerant to each other, the golden and especially the silver rules.

When I say raise tigers, I mean that one should not overprotect one's kids, but teach them how to cope with the world around them, instead of expecting the world to adapt to them, this lifelong victim mentality. Send your kids to karate, to the gym, let them develop self-confidence and survivor skills.

I've seen situations where single mothers were raising mommy's boys. Not the kids' natural inclination, simply the model they were shown at home. I've seen helicopter parents do the same. All these kids have trouble functioning socially, and may become lifelong victims. They are the feeble ones, not those who experience hardship as kids and learn to become self-sufficient and independent at a young age. The latter tend to be way more successful in life. Just look at many immigrants. There is no better teacher in life than hardship.

I too was bullied in childhood, so I sympathize.

You were raised before social media. The bullying landscape is very different these days. Why execute physical violence when you can permanently enshrine a stupid moment, a bad decision or a wardrobe malfunction etc on the internet and share it with the entire school within seconds.

 

[gasdoc77]

Ummm...where have you and your addiction to the word 'woke' been for the last two decades? Nothing has changed. It was harder for me and other white/asian males to get into med school two decades ago. It's harder today. If the field was level it'd be all Asians in med school and some whites. And every poor minority community in America would have physicians or better yet, nurse practitioners, that do not look like them, talk like them, or act like them. I know that sets off your trigger alarm to use your new word of the week again, or clicks deep in your brain to regurgitate more FoxNews-isms, but I think our country should strive to have a diverse group of physicians as we are a very diverse nation.

yikes...prejudge much?

 

[vector2]

Open discrimination is a new phenomenon. We all knew about and accepted affirmative action. These days it’s about openly favoring certain Races over others regardless of qualifications. Let me say it plainly: what matters today is just race not qualifications. That’s not how it was 20 years ago and blatantly unfair to those people belonging to the wrong race or ethnic group. This ideology now permeates all aspects of employment. One no longer gets the job or promotion based on merit. That’s your woke agenda in action.

88.8% of the Fortune 500 C-suite are white and 88.1% of the Fortune 500 C-suite are men.

Just a few short years ago this is what a room filled with our top leaders looked like:

Yes, blade, truly the white male genocide is upon us

 

[BLADEMDA]

88.8% of the Fortune 500 C-suite are white and 88.1% of the Fortune 500 C-suite are men.

Just a few short years ago this is what a room filled with our top leaders looked like:

View attachment 362386


Yes, blade, truly the white male genocide is upon us

I’m talking about the current young people and college kids. What was white privilege in the past has been replaced with non white privilege. It was wrong then and it’s wrong now. You can’t make up for racism against one group by being racist against another.

 

[BLADEMDA]

	American Indian or Alaska Native	Black or African American
Average MCAT Score and GPAs for Matriculants to U.S. Medical Schools by Race/Ethnicity, 2022–2023
Total MCAT	504.9	505.7
GPA Science	3.40	3.42
GPA Non-Science	3.75	3.71

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Nov 15, 2022

 

[BLADEMDA]

Average MCAT Score and GPAs for Matriculants to U.S. Medical Schools by Race/Ethnicity, 2022–2023
	American Indian or Alaska Native	Black or African American
Total MCAT	504.9	505.7
GPA Science	3.40	3.42
GPA Non-Science	3.75	3.71

5 more rows
•
Nov 15, 2022

A white or Asian applicant wouldn’t stand much of a Chance at acceptance with those stats. In fact, I’d argue that kid shouldn’t even bother applying.

 

[Southpaw]

yikes...prejudge much?

c'mon dude. I'm not judging anything. Whites and asians have higher GPAs and MCATs on average than minorities. That isn't new - it's been going on for decades. Does that mean we shouldn't have minority physicians? No, only if you're Ayn Rand or a present day Republican apparently.

 

[Southpaw]

Let me say it plainly: what matters today is just race not qualifications.

huh? You really need to prove it if you're going to type stuff like this.

 

[BLADEMDA]

c'mon dude. I'm not judging anything. Whites and asians have higher GPAs and MCATs on average than minorities. That isn't new - it's been going on for decades. Does that mean we shouldn't have minority physicians? No, only if you're Ayn Rand or a present day Republican apparently.

Not true. I’m pointing out the facts to you. I’m proving to you discrimination exists based on the hard metrics. Society does benefit from a diversified med school class as well as a work force. But, things have gone too far and the wokeness has led to real discrimination in employment and promotion.

How far will you go with your agenda for equity? Should we turn down the most qualified person based solely on race? We are supposed to be working towards a color blind society and we are going in the opposite direction.

 

[vector2]

. What was white privilege in the past has been replaced with non white privilege.

50% of 2021 med school matriculants were white and 27% were Asian. And portraying graduate school/college admissions offices as actively or maliciously discriminating against white men ...instead of acknowledging that maybe, just maybe every single med school class shouldn't be 99% white/Asian people with affluent college educated parents ... is silly.

One could speculate that being a white or Asian male would be akin to being a black male in America circa 1926.

Btw this remains, by far, one of the stupidest sentences ever written on this forum.

 

[deleted1116990]

Does that mean we shouldn't have minority physicians? No, only if you're Ayn Rand

Yes, because I said we shouldn't have minority physicians when I defined woke as above. What? Come on, obvious strawman dude, I did not say or imply that.

Obviously does not matter or care what "race" someone is in as long as the bar is not artificially lowered or raised for anyone. Everyone takes the same test and is judged by the same merits. Do we give certain pilots a break because their scores weren't as good on the eye exam? Or even the practical. Well, you entered the holding pattern the wrong way, but the standards aren't as strict for you. Does that make sense?

Dirty little secret: There are no separate races. Humans are all the same race. We all came from the same ancestors. We're all one. Racism used to mean the belief in different races and a hierarchy of these races. Ironically, I will now be labeled a racist for saying this...

 

[gasdoc77]

c'mon dude. I'm not judging anything. Whites and asians have higher GPAs and MCATs on average than minorities. That isn't new - it's been going on for decades. Does that mean we shouldn't have minority physicians? No, only if you're Ayn Rand or a present day Republican apparently.

I want the best and brightest mind pondering my health (care), whether it's male/female/black/white/brown/he/she/them/they. If a caregiver of lesser ability cares for communities that are in the regional minority only because they are from such a community, that community suffers and thus perpetuates healthcare disparities. Meritocracy...period...

Oh, and FWIW, when I was on an OR table (scheduled) and had to place my life in someone's hands (whom I hand picked after many years of personal experience and observation), SHE was African-American (not that it makes a bit of difference).

 

[BLADEMDA]

huh? You really need to prove it if you're going to type stuff like this.

50% of 2021 med school matriculants were white and 27% were Asian. And portraying graduate school/college admissions offices as actively or maliciously discriminating against white men ...instead of acknowledging that maybe, just maybe every single med school class shouldn't be 99% white/Asian people with affluent college educated parents ... is silly.



Btw this remains, by far, one of the stupidest sentences ever written on this forum.

 

[BLADEMDA]

I believe in a society which promotes a color blind metric based reward system While at the same time addresses and acknowledges the racism of our past. This means we do need to promote a diverse society by granting scholarships and supporting the advancement of those races historically discriminated against. We should bend over backwards to reward and promote those minorities who do meet the same qualifications as their fellow citizens. What we should not do is arbitrarily lower standards to a significant degree.

 

[vector2]

 

[BLADEMDA]

Let’s give it time. Trump has a hard core based of the GOP of about 30-35%. The rest want to see his policies but not the man in 2024 get the nomination for president.

DeSantis closes gap with Trump in new poll

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) is closing the once-yawning polling gap with former President Trump as he inches closer to a 2024 White House bid. A new Harvard CAPS-Harris Poll survey shared exclusi…

thehill.com

 

[Southpaw]

I want the best and brightest mind pondering my health (care), whether it's male/female/black/white/brown/he/she/them/they. If a caregiver of lesser ability cares for communities that are in the regional minority only because they are from such a community, that community suffers and thus perpetuates healthcare disparities. Meritocracy...period...

Oh, and FWIW, when I was on an OR table (scheduled) and had to place my life in someone's hands (whom I hand picked after many years of personal experience and observation), SHE was African-American (not that it makes a bit of difference).

Cool story. I guess you checked her MCAT and GPA to make sure she got in based on merit alone, right?

 

[deleted1130227]

Let’s give it time. Trump has a hard core based of the GOP of about 30-35%. The rest want to see his policies but not the man in 2024 get the nomination for president.

DeSantis closes gap with Trump in new poll

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) is closing the once-yawning polling gap with former President Trump as he inches closer to a 2024 White House bid. A new Harvard CAPS-Harris Poll survey shared exclusi…

thehill.com

The problem is that Pence, DeSantis, Halley, et al. will split the vote in the primaries giving Trump the nomination.

 

[Southpaw]

I believe in a society which promotes a color blind metric based reward system While at the same time addresses and acknowledges the racism of our past. This means we do need to promote a diverse society by granting scholarships and supporting the advancement of those races historically discriminated against. We should bend over backwards to reward and promote those minorities who do meet the same qualifications as their fellow citizens. What we should not do is arbitrarily lower standards to a significant degree.

Right, again, so you're against affirmative action. And so are @gasdoc77 @FFP @Moonbeams and everyone else on your side. That's fine and it's nothing new. I just, uhh, disagree with you. No way else to say it.

Where you jump off the rails is when you go into this 'no white people are getting admitted!' nonsensical culture war diatribe. Because when I look at the AAMC applicant statistics based on race I don't see any major changes from 2019-2022 (their most recent data grab).

 

[BLADEMDA]

Cool story. I guess you checked her MCAT and GPA to make sure she got in based on merit alone, right?

We both know merit based admissions will never be 100 percent of the criteria. But, should it be the goal? Should we be moving towards or away from using merit as the basis for admission and promotion? I humbly submit to you that the woke agenda is moving away from Dr. King’s vision of a color blind society where a person is based on his or her achievements and character. Today, race is a bigger factor for admissions that in the 1990s and is used to justify accepting students to fulfill a DEI agenda.

This philosophy of race based admissions Is now being adopted by the woke corporate America. So, rather than promote diversity based on merit and equality, hiring and promotion is being done based on race.

 

[BLADEMDA]

Right, again, so you're against affirmative action. And so are @gasdoc77 @FFP @Moonbeams and everyone else on your side. That's fine and it's nothing new. I just, uhh, disagree with you. No way else to say it.

Where you jump off the rails is when you go into this 'no white people are getting admitted!' nonsensical culture war diatribe. Because when I look at the AAMC applicant statistics based on race I don't see any major changes from 2019-2022 (their most recent data grab).

I also don’t care if 80% of a class consists of Asians; what matters is equality of opportunity to get that spot not equality of outcomes. I do recognize that society benefits from a diversified work force and equality of opportunity. So, we must balance those objectives against metric based standards. It’s not an easy task and requires a fair, open process.

 

[FutureInternist]

Wonder who the new GOP standard bearer will be (maybe)? Ron DeSantis (he seems kind of toxic too)?

It wouldn’t be the GOP if it wasn’t toxic

Its the policies that they have that makes them reprehensible…. The mouthpiece spewing it is irrelevant

 

[gasdoc77]

Cool story. I guess you checked her MCAT and GPA to make sure she got in based on merit alone, right?

Her abilities and problem-solving skills spoke for themselves; analytical and precise.