JonKramer, CIS-HET @JonKramer@qoto.org

@chameleon_muse , every single one of my heirloom tomato seedlings died this year. I am so disappointed.

@olimould , that is masterful!

When I post, feel free to challenge me. I have no doubt I hold ideas that are wrong. I don't know which ideas those are, or I would change my POV. But I know, based on my past, that I am not right all the time. Just be honest, sincere, and logical and we will get alone swimmingly.

@freemo Text is not the best way to convey complex issues. Ya, it's OK to disagree, as long as everyone is arguing in good faith, and I don't even need to assume you are.

@freemo , because the game is already fixed, and we don't get to stop playing. So cheat a bit, to make it more fair.

@freemo , and to make it more clear, my position that is, is the King was too soft. I am more of a Huey Newton fan.

@freemo , It's just playing the odds. I am not sure what objectively can be done to address 400 years of history. The system has too much momentum. I don't think there is any objectively more efficient way to address the problem of racism, except with "reverse" racism. At some point in the future, there may be. But with current conditions, I just don't see an alternative. This might explain my position a bit better:

https://jemartisby.substack.com/p/the-letter-from-white-clergymen-that

@freemo like I said, I agree in principle. But a history of being punched in the face by society should bump someone up a bit on those lists. And can reasonably be a deciding factor.

That being said, I doubt Biden is qualified to make these choices. I want to see some outside agencies weighing in.

@freemo ya, Harris is awful. Zero doubt. She shouldn't be on that list... but she "was that little girl" too. And being on that list, Jerome or Shnikwa is more likely to viscerally understand the issues.

@freemo , EVERYONE on that list has either created a horrible record, or otherwise been abusive. The ones who are on that list who have brown skin got there because the current system has required them to be 'tough on crime'. There is no avoiding this. We can dismiss all minorities who have not had to make their mark this way, and maybe let the next generation address the problem... But that just perpetuates appointing those white men who didn't have to prove they were tough on crime by being outspoken jerks to their own.

It's a tough choice.

@LadyDragonfly , and the "IA" is shorthand for "CIA". it's all a phycological warfare campaign to make the USA Marxist!!! /s

@freemo , I understand your argument, but the guys who advocate for Hitler were not on that list.

@freemo , also, just making those lists means you are qualified to do the job. We don't need (or want) to demand the manager of the local Kroger has a PhD in economics.

@freemo , because they are most likely to have a person history, experience, with the problems that face the lowest castes in our society, and possibly the most sympathy for them. It's just the odds.

@freemo , I agree with you in principle, but disagree in practice, because we have a whole bunch of bigots who win elections. I think we need to address that issue before we should complain about addressing the historic abuse of minorities. Ranked choice voting? That will undercut party power...

@freemo , in a democracy, rule of the majority is the law. 75% white, if they vote "white" is not a good thing for society at large.

Democracy is two lions and a lamb voting on lunch. Liberty is a well armed lamb resisting the outcome of that vote.

Our system is flawed. Minorities can't win, even when they deserve to.

@freemo History, not you or me. History has not complained about only appointing white men. No one cares that every head of the FBI has been a republican, for example. Or that there are just an overwhelming number of white men in every segment of the government. Cops, the military, judges, college professors, etc.

We can agree that there are individuals who are problematic. Harris is one of them. But I see no harm in trying to address historical bigotry by just running down a list and picking minorities. We did the same thing for 400 years in America, under all governments, and flipping the script for a few decades won't hurt. And has the potential to help.

@freemo I can see it an easy way to partially fight discrimination by picking minorities, who have a much better likelihood of understanding the issues, a better likelihood of having experienced the problems. We have, never in history, really complained about appointing a slate of white men. This isn't something that should bother us either.

This gets a pass from me.

@cosmicallyf@universeodon.com , I think it depends on if you just poured something into the glass, or out of it.

@Inge She is the mighty hunter.