Serious question.......?

Question

Why do people expect to be treated as equals but at the same time, when it comes to politics, expect to be pandered to as minorities?

Answer 1

Because as much as people want to be treated equally, the reality of the day is that we aren't treated the same. Part may be due to race, or sex or prejudice. Part might just be timing.

Addressing politics in general, there was always a notion that there was a "Black vote". That black people regardless of socioeconomic class or education level would largely vote the same way. Politicians decided to deal with the black vote as a block and stuck to it. As other races demanded attention, you see the Hispanic voting block and Asian blocks coming to the forefront. But the times are slowly shifting away from voting your race. Not every black man lives in a run down apartment in a rough area. I for one raise my kids in a Northern California suburb. My needs are different from the guy who has to live and raise his kids in South Central LA, so my demands on my politicians will reflect that difference.

Answer 2

One of these days, you're going to have to tell me how you get more and better answers for your questions than I do. Not much I can add to what's already been said. It's been ingrained as a way of life for many and it's called the bigotry of low expectations. If you saw Uncle Sam handing out essentials to your mom, but grew up not getting everything you wanted, then a politician tells you that he'll make sure Uncle Sam gives you more - that's bigotry. The main party that stands to lose if minorities ever do get treated as equals is the party that panders to them the most. Meanwhile, the average poor family in this country has more than enough compared to the rest of the world. Our poor are better nourished, sheltered, and healthier than 2/3 of the world! But, by God, they don't have health care yet, and that is all of the sudden an inalienable right! How disingenuous!

Answer 3

Interesting question! I think the only way to stop special interest's hold (and I'm including minority groups in that category) on our politicians is to elect better politicians! There will always be groups out there demanding special privileges from the government, it's up to us to elect the right kind of people who would be above pandering. That's why I'm voting for Ron Paul, he's one of the only candidates at a national level who I would trust not to pander.

Answer 4

Because there are different levels of equal, and theres no gain in being just another person when it comes to politics. They play every card they got and the granddaddy trump card of all is the race card. This card is better than a get out of jail free card. It's a license for bad behavior. Acts and comments that would be deemed inappropriate or even uncivilized in any other arena are given the weight of serious discourse under the minority umbrella. This is probably a simplistic explanation, but hey, what do I know, I'm white.

Answer 5

Call it "The Brazil Syndrome".

In international affairs, such as congresses, symposiums, and international treaties, Brazil huffs and puffs and demands equal treatment, stressing it is one of the foremost nations of the world.

However, during the Kyoto Protocol debates, they attempted to be classified as a Third World nation so they could be exempt from emission limits!

This is exactly the kind of brazen effronteries some people are guilty of in politics. At election time, especially during the primaries, they huff and puff out their chest in teary-eyed displays of pride that they are equal and want an equal voice. However, when it comes time for the political platform, these hypocrites are the ones who instantly transform themselves into hat-in-hand beggars asking for a handout.

Why? The answer is simple. Pure greed. They put their pride on hold while they hold out their hands for "goodies". How far we have fallen from the days when taking a handout was viewed with shame.

Answer 6

It's the same thing with children. They keep saying they want to be treated as an adult, but the second something happens in which an "adult" would do something mature, they revert to the childish ways. Since minorities can be pandered, usually they want both (If you could have 2 things, you would take them both too right?)

Answer 7

Almost 50 years of being pandered to, is a hard habit to break...

I think contemporary majorities have tried for decades to make up for a wrong perpetrated by our forefathers....and as human nature goes....if you can have it both ways....and have it handed to you on a guilt plated platter....you are going to take it.

It takes a person of unwavering convictions to say, this may seem to benefit us, but it is wrong. And in the long run, it will harm us as a race.

Answer 8

Instant gratification, and narcissistic tendencies... it's all about the "ME-generation".

All Humans ARE equal, at birth. All Humans are equal in death. All Humans should be equal in Life as well, but most, if not all, are trained from birth to dislike, hate, pander to, or just refuse to acknowledge the equality of anyone even slightly differnet than they are.

this is a social issue. I was raised in a military family. my neighborhood was very mixed with every type of ethnic background you could imagine. Cultural diversity was what I grew up with, but didn't even find out about he term untill High-school where fuzzy-headed idiots tried to "train" me in something I LIVED by already.

I do not judge a person by their appearance, their religion, or their ethnic backgrounds... I judge them by their ACTIONS. Words and Deeds are Far more important than image or appearance.

Jesus Christ once said "You will know a christian by their deeds."

while I, personally, am not a christian I still believe that he had many good things to teach us.
The Quar'an has similar teachings, as does the Torah, the Teachings of Tao, Zen Buddist's, and many other religions.

unfortunately most people only listen to what "religious leaders" have to say about their sacred writings and don't actually read them for themselves and make up their own minds.

this leads to people wanting to be treated as superior, as special in some way, higher class. belief in self-superiority by some outside means.

"I'm better than you because of THIS!" or "You're a Smeg-head because you believe in THAT!"

just look at the democraps and republicans sqaubbling over who controls OUR country.

each think they are better than the other. superior in some fashion undefinable in reality.

drop 50 people in the jungle naked and at least half will want to be treated as special because of something left FAR behind back in the "Real world".

I'm not special. I am JUST ME. deal with it, or bugger off.

as far as the "Gay Marriage" thing... why should hetero couple be the only ones to make each other miserable in the eyes of the courts? half the hetero marriages end in divorce ANYWAY (mine included.)

Answer 9

(Stomping foot) Damn it! I feel left out! As a white woman, I don't get enough pandering!

/sarc

Good question, and I wish I had a good answer. I find it both alarming and amusing that so many of the people who bleat loudest about racism are the same ones who back the inherently racist - and sexist - Affirmative Action. I don't want or need help from the government, thanks all the same. I prefer to be hired on my merits, not because I'm female.

Edit - Alphabet Soup, with all due respect, I completely disagree. The Republicans believe that blacks, women, Latinos, etc are perfectly capable of managing their own lives without government intervention. It's the left who insists that the above can't possibly manage on their own. It's degrading and demoralizing. I've been the "token female" on a job before - no, thanks.

The Democrats only love their horribly broken social programs because it panders to the poor and minorities, giving them a reliable voter base. It allows them to bleat, just like you did, that the Republicans don't "care" about minorities. Not true - the Republicans care enough to let us all stand on our own merits, instead of insisting that we need help.

If that's your idea of help, keep it!

Answer 10

Because the Democrats are ALWAYS looking for a vote to buy with a social program!
And everyone wants to be treated as equals when if clearly they are not.