This question has been running around in my head for a while, and I would like to get some input from y’all on it.
Why is it that, when one states that one wishes good things for ones own ethnic group, the listener assumes one means bad things should happen to individuals belonging to another ethnic group?
But I do think that there are other factors in addition. Perhaps the idea that resources are limited, and can’t be shared, but rather gathered only for ones own?
Perhaps the idea that resources are limited, and can’t be shared, but rather gathered only for ones own?
That is exactly what it is, and the same conception underlies ideas like “our jobs” or other fallacious economic ideas. If you there there is only x amount of “good will” to go around, showing good will, or working for the improvement of one’s self or their people, necessarily must take away “good will” from others. If there is only a certain amount of economic success, and one person or group of people, have a large amount of money, or are economically successful, then it follows that they only have that success at the expense of other who are poor or less well off.
Its because they’ve never studied logic or economics that such a position is held, and they’ve been conditioned to think in terms of a limited pie that everybody has to fight for.
That is exactly what it is, and the same conception underlies ideas like “our jobs” or other fallacious economic ideas. If you there there is only x amount of “good will” to go around, showing good will, or working for the improvement of one’s self or their people, necessarily must take away “good will” from others. If there is only a certain amount of economic success, and one person or group of people, have a large amount of money, or are economically successful, then it follows that they only have that success at the expense of other who are poor or less well off.
Its because they’ve never studied logic or economics that such a position is held, and they’ve been conditioned to think in terms of a limited pie that everybody has to fight for.
It seems to me that there is some advantage to political types who seek power for themselves to manipulate ignorant people who believe in the “hey, who’s eating my piece of the pie?” thing.
The question becomes, of course, is the pie really limited, or is there more wealth out there than can be imagined, if only a People has the will and intelligence to tap it?
The question becomes, of course, is the pie really limited, or is there more wealth out there than can be imagined, if only a People has the will and intelligence to tap it?
I would say that, no, the pie is not limited. As long as people are free to create, build, or grow things, wealth can and will always be created. Who would have ever thought 50 years ago that we’d have an internet on which we could create websites that we could sell advertising on, or any of the millions of other ways that people have applied themselves to build something new. That is the beauty of the free market...each person taking the resources around them, and applying them in new and creative ways, never before considered.
Of course there has to exist the intellect to utilize the natural resources that are around us...Africans have lived on one of the most resource rich continents in the world for thousands of years, and never done anything with it. But the potentiality still exists. The same holds true in seeking the improvement of, say, one’s family...it isn’t done through taking others “improvement” but is done through using the resources around to improve.
I would say that, no, the pie is not limited. As long as people are free to create, build, or grow things, wealth can and will always be created. Who would have ever thought 50 years ago that we’d have an internet on which we could create websites that we could sell advertising on, or any of the millions of other ways that people have applied themselves to build something new. That is the beauty of the free market...each person taking the resources around them, and applying them in new and creative ways, never before considered.
I keep thinking of the methane seas on Titan, how those resources could be used by folks with the will and intelligence to do so...of course, that’s still in the realm of fantasy.
Of course there has to exist the intellect to utilize the natural resources that are around us...Africans have lived on one of the most resource rich continents in the world for thousands of years, and never done anything with it.
There is that little problem, which is why the Chinese are busily working to take over the continental wealth now that Whites have been shoved out of the picture.
But the potentiality still exists. The same holds true in seeking the improvement of, say, one’s family...it isn’t done through taking others “improvement” but is done through using the resources around to improve.
I am not sure of what you mean by this last statement, KW. Would you mind clarifying?
This question has been running around in my head for a while, and I would like to get some input from y’all on it.
Why is it that, when one states that one wishes good things for ones own ethnic group, the listener assumes one means bad things should happen to individuals belonging to another ethnic group?
God bless,
Laurel
Because the listener is white, and whites are being exploited.
They’re repeating the thoughts of nonwhites without realising it, for the nonwhites do gain advantage from whites allowing themselves to be exploited.
Because the listener is white, and whites are being exploited.
I am not sure what you mean here...please clarify.
The listener could be of any race in my example, but the speaker is White. Does this change things?
They’re repeating the thoughts of nonwhites without realising it, for the nonwhites do gain advantage from whites allowing themselves to be exploited.
I’ve started to think that the listener is assuming malicious intent on the part of Whites who wish good things for their own kind, i.e., we want good things, so we are going to take from (fill in the blank with whatever ethnic group is under discussion).
But the potentiality still exists. The same holds true in seeking the improvement of, say, one’s family...it isn’t done through taking others “improvement” but is done through using the resources around to improve.
I am not sure of what you mean by this last statement, KW. Would you mind clarifying?
Well, what I was trying to do is bring it back around to the original question of the thread...reasons why folks might automatically assume that good for one’s own kin means bad for someone else. Adam Smith’s entire theory is based upon the idea that a whole bunch of people working for their own good, will create a good outcome. The baker is seeking the good of his family by a particular means, but that he is doing that, doesn’t mean he is taking “good” from the cooper’s family.
But the potentiality still exists. The same holds true in seeking the improvement of, say, one’s family...it isn’t done through taking others “improvement” but is done through using the resources around to improve.
I am not sure of what you mean by this last statement, KW. Would you mind clarifying?
Well, what I was trying to do is bring it back around to the original question of the thread...reasons why folks might automatically assume that good for one’s own kin means bad for someone else. Adam Smith’s entire theory is based upon the idea that a whole bunch of people working for their own good, will create a good outcome. The baker is seeking the good of his family by a particular means, but that he is doing that, doesn’t mean he is taking “good” from the cooper’s family.
Not sure if that helps.
Actually, that helps a lot. What you seem to be saying is that people working hard for the good of their own family (or ethnic group) create goods/services of value that contribute to the overall wealth of the community.
The listener could be of any race in my example, but the speaker is White. Does this change things?
Oops, no it changes nothing. I’d misunderstood this to mean a white asking a white. Ah, nevermind an explanation.
They’re repeating the thoughts of nonwhites without realising it, for the nonwhites do gain advantage from whites allowing themselves to be exploited.
I’ve started to think that the listener is assuming malicious intent on the part of Whites who wish good things for their own kind, i.e., we want good things, so we are going to take from (fill in the blank with whatever ethnic group is under discussion).
What do you think?
God bless,
Laurel
People aren’t usually rational about such things, and people naturally mistrust the outsider and favor their own. There’s propaganda in our society that constantly reinforces the idea that whites favoring their own is dangerous, and too every problem under the Sun (present and historic) is blamed on whites.
It’s easier in America to take from whites than to create on one’s own. Why work so hard when you can supplement your income off whitey? After all, he’s privileged, oppressing you (or oppressed your ancestors), etc.
Y’all think too highly of people. Most people aren’t rational about such things - they use self-deception. And self-deception might well be a helpful ability, e.g. allowing you to act in your or your ethnic group’s best interests without guilty or dishonesty.
This question has been running around in my head for a while, and I would like to get some input from y’all on it.
Why is it that, when one states that one wishes good things for ones own ethnic group, the listener assumes one means bad things should happen to individuals belonging to another ethnic group?
God bless,
Laurel
Or actually, I should explain what I meant: this applies most strongly to whites in the West at the current time.
A Jew saying this to a fellow Jew, or a black saying this to a fellow black, etc. the listener wouldn’t necessarily assume one means bad things. And a black saying this to an Aborigine might not create an assumption that one means bad things, for the black and Aborigine ethnic groups do not compete at the present time.
People aren’t usually rational about such things, and people naturally mistrust the outsider and favor their own. There’s propaganda in our society that constantly reinforces the idea that whites favoring their own is dangerous, and too every problem under the Sun (present and historic) is blamed on whites.
I think your point about propaganda is very well taken. Take the white goat and put all the sins of the community on it, and let it go wander in the wilderness (semi-biblical reference there, not perfectly accurate, but trying).
It’s easier in America to take from whites than to create on one’s own. Why work so hard when you can supplement your income off whitey? After all, he’s privileged, oppressing you (or oppressed your ancestors), etc.
True. And that attitude is built on propaganda…
Y’all think too highly of people. Most people aren’t rational about such things - they use self-deception. And self-deception might well be a helpful ability, e.g. allowing you to act in your or your ethnic group’s best interests without guilty or dishonesty.
Now you have me wondering what line of conversation one might use with someone who makes the automatic response expected in order to help them think beyond that self-deception…
