As I wrote before, in my view a resurgent right wing is very much a threat, and racism is an important element of the right wing's success. As far as I can see, what you are saying is that the right wing is just a flash in the pan, hyped by liberals as a way of scarifying people into supporting Obama and the Democrats again. And you also seem to be saying that while racism is unsurprisingly present among conservatives, it has no particular importance. (I agree about the scarifying bit, but disagree that downplaying the right and its racism advances the case against Obama-ism and the corporate-friendly Democrats.)
I think this discussion is kind of wearing itself out, but I would be interested in whether I am characterizing your views correctly.
As far as the "practical political" implications of all this, Stephen Steinberg has written an incisive article showing how the race issue has played a key role in the ability of both conservatives and neoliberals like Bill Clinton and Barack Obama to undermine the economic and social gains of the New Deal and the civil rights movement. Steinberg argues that leftists cannot afford to ignore this fact if they want to fight back effectively. The article is entitled "The Role of Race in the Devolution of the Left" http://logosjournal.com/2011/the-role-of-race-in-the-devolution-of-the-left/ I wonder what you think of this piece.
Joanne
11:09 PM 8/19/2011 -0400, you wrote:
>I don't see anyone responding to Doug's point.
>
>What is the practical *politics *of anti-racism?
>
>On Fri, Aug 19, 2011 at 10:59 PM, Miles Jackson <cqmv at pdx.edu> wrote:
>
> > On 08/19/2011 12:49 PM, SA wrote:
> >
> >> On 8/19/2011 3:37 PM, Eric Beck wrote:
> >>
> >> You seem to think the relevant lens to view these things through is
> >>> Coburn's intent or personal philosophy. Other people are trying to
> measure
> >>> the effects of his policies, not his thinking.
> >>>
> >>
> >> No - this thread was about intent and personal philosophy from the
> >> beginning. It wasn't me who made it about that. More to the point, do a
> >> Google search for this Coburn quote, which is the latest outrage du jour.
> >> The commentary is all about Coburn's intent and personal philosophy.
> If you
> >> want to discuss the effects of Coburn's policies, we can, but it would
> be a
> >> pretty boring conversation since we'd agree about everything.
> >>
> >> SA
> >>
> >
> > In any meaningful discussion about racism, "intent and personal philosophy"
> > are irrelevant. The impact of the policies is the criterion for
> racism. If
> > a social policy reinforces existing patterns of racial inequality, it's
> > racism.
> >
> > MIles
> >
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