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Democratic Primaries

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MineralMan

(146,192 posts)
Wed Mar 25, 2020, 11:47 AM Mar 2020

Here's something Bernie Sanders appears not to understand. [View all]

I'm an old white man, just like he is. I have a white man's experience, and a white man's privilege.

I have been poor. I have been without means a number of times in my life, typically on a voluntarily basis. When I chose to become a freelance writer, I knew that I would earn less than my peers. And yet, I also knew that the choice was mine to make. At any time, I could change course and use my education and skills to earn more money. I knew that I would not be discriminated against, and that I could find work doing other things relatively easily. Why? Because I was an educated, well-spoken white man. Also, I had done other things and always found the path to more lucrative employment an easy one.

So, I was free to set out on a difficult career path, because I knew that there were alternatives for me if I failed. That was my privilege at work.

If I had been something other than an educated white man, however, I would not have had that fallback. My poor years were something I chose for myself, because I was privileged enough to make that choice. I knew I had other options I could choose.

-----------------

I grew up in a small town in California, with a population that was 50/50 white and Hispanic. My Hispanic neighbors and fellow high school students did not have the same privilege I did. They were not steered into the college-bound educational paths. Very few of my Hispanic classmates continued their education beyond high school. They did not have the opportunity to do so. They were not encouraged to do so, like I and many of my fellow white male high school students were. Frankly, neither were the white female fellow students at my high school. Another group without the same privileges. This was in the 1960s.

That was my experience. There were no African-American students at my high school, so I did not meet any people in that group until later, when I learned that they had similar and even worse treatment and an even more severe lack of opportunities. There were few Hispanic, AA, or Asian students at the state university I attended. Why? Because of white privilege and social prejudices.

Bernie Sanders thinks, and holds it as a principle, that the solution for all of those things is economic in nature. He is incorrect. He does not know, because he has spent his entire life in a world of white privilege, just as I have. I know better, because I have learned better. Race, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, and many other factors weigh heavily into the amount of unearned privilege people have. If you are a white, straight, educated male in our society, it's easy not to recognize that it is not just economic justice that is needed to break the pattern of privilege you enjoy.

Bernie is just like me, as a white, educated, privileged male. He does not recognize just how important that privilege is in his life. He is wrong. Economic Justice cannot undo Social Injustice. It is the reverse that is true, actually. Senator Sanders believes he is right, because his privilege has taught him that he is right.

Social Justice must come first. Economic Justice derives from that, and always has.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
103 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Well said MM - well said. NoMoreRepugs Mar 2020 #1
Yawn.... mikeysnot Mar 2020 #2
Here's an old saying for yawners: MineralMan Mar 2020 #4
Go ahead and yawn, but he has hit the nail on it's head. Butterflylady Mar 2020 #8
Try and get some sleep HarlanPepper Mar 2020 #10
seriously? handmade34 Mar 2020 #29
Be nice. That poster is sleepy. MineralMan Mar 2020 #34
Right the canned criticism from biden bros mikeysnot Mar 2020 #96
.... mikeysnot Mar 2020 #97
Too many words? LongtimeAZDem Mar 2020 #53
K&R stonecutter357 Mar 2020 #3
I wish I could recommend your post more then once. Butterflylady Mar 2020 #5
Once is enough, and I thank you for that! MineralMan Mar 2020 #6
Most welcome!!!!!! Butterflylady Mar 2020 #9
Bernie is still stuck in his old '60s-era "New Left" mindset, The Velveteen Ocelot Mar 2020 #7
The point is illustrated Turin_C3PO Mar 2020 #11
Exactly. Socialism is a white male ideology. MineralMan Mar 2020 #14
You are such a wonderful writer, and put it so clearly. Tumbulu Mar 2020 #62
Please, don't stereotype that time as "old 60's." That era was ahead of its time. ancianita Mar 2020 #16
I remember the '60s; I was there. The Velveteen Ocelot Mar 2020 #37
I was in college, working two jobs, and saw it, too. Defining it by a small percentage of its worst ancianita Mar 2020 #42
Well said! maddiemom Mar 2020 #50
Yes, and we were supposed to be sorry for them as they were giving up Tumbulu Mar 2020 #66
+1000 emmaverybo Mar 2020 #52
This is an important idea. mahina Mar 2020 #12
Thanks. You're very kind. MineralMan Mar 2020 #18
My Problem With Bernie Has Always Been His View That Racial Ills Could Be Solved with a $15/Hr Wage Indykatie Mar 2020 #13
I continue to learn. That is always my goal. MineralMan Mar 2020 #17
Well Said Indeed, Sir The Magistrate Mar 2020 #15
Thank you kindly, Sir. MineralMan Mar 2020 #19
K & R Excellent post. justhanginon Mar 2020 #20
Thanks! MineralMan Mar 2020 #22
His view of everything, as near as I've been able to guess, Hortensis Mar 2020 #21
That's a problem many of us seem to have. MineralMan Mar 2020 #23
:) True for us all, but in enormously varying degrees. Hortensis Mar 2020 #35
Nicely put. MineralMan Mar 2020 #36
You took that word, ide fixe right out of my little brain before I could get it out and check the emmaverybo Mar 2020 #55
Thanks. MineralMan Mar 2020 #57
AA doctors and lawyers still get pulled over more frequently than white people mcar Mar 2020 #24
Yes, exactly. MineralMan Mar 2020 #25
I wish some reporter would post the question to Sen. Sanders. nt mcar Mar 2020 #31
I'm sure Bernie Sanders has faced such questions. MineralMan Mar 2020 #33
Very well done. I'm an old white man too, who grew up in the same general area and generation.... George II Mar 2020 #26
My father was an auto mechanic. MineralMan Mar 2020 #30
That is the type of perspective needed to better understand. LiberalFighter Mar 2020 #46
Very well said too! I think Bernie does not want to get it Tumbulu Mar 2020 #68
Thank you for your insightful post dlk Mar 2020 #27
Well said MM. I discussed your post with my wife just now and it lead us to google MLK and c-rational Mar 2020 #28
Thanks. So much of what we do, how we live, and what we can expect MineralMan Mar 2020 #32
"Economic Justice cannot undo Social Injustice. It is the reverse that is true, actually." NurseJackie Mar 2020 #38
Bernie grew up in multi-cultural, multi-racial Brooklyn flamingdem Mar 2020 #39
It is entirely possible to grow up in a diverse community, MineralMan Mar 2020 #41
Brooklyn is 70.8 sq miles. 97 sq miles with water included. LiberalFighter Mar 2020 #48
K&R ismnotwasm Mar 2020 #40
I agree that Bernie believes he is right. SleeplessinSoCal Mar 2020 #43
The Bernie bashing is tired.... the_sly_pig Mar 2020 #44
Sanders Will have Helped That Outcome On, Sir, If It Occurs The Magistrate Mar 2020 #71
Your opinion is valid of course... the_sly_pig Mar 2020 #84
You're Damned Right It Is, Sir The Magistrate Mar 2020 #85
Your are like me in many ways but much more articulate. My wealthy sister and I had an argument Pepsidog Mar 2020 #45
Yes. I remember a situation I found myself in, back in the 1980s. MineralMan Mar 2020 #51
An experience most white Americans could never understand. Pepsidog Mar 2020 #61
Exactly. Nobody follows me around in stores, MineralMan Mar 2020 #65
Very thoughtful Hekate Mar 2020 #47
"always has.", you'd think that as a socialist Bernie would know that and believe it. marble falls Mar 2020 #49
Not necessarily. Socialism is an economic thing. MineralMan Mar 2020 #56
Its basis is to make economics a level playing field for all. That's never been accomplished ... marble falls Mar 2020 #63
Socialism is a political philosophy of white men. MineralMan Mar 2020 #67
Brought tears to my eyes MM.. so beautifully written Peacetrain Mar 2020 #54
Thank you so much. MineralMan Mar 2020 #59
Well said from experience happy feet Mar 2020 #58
My pleasure. MineralMan Mar 2020 #60
Oh good Catch2.2 Mar 2020 #64
There is no bashing in this thread - just description. MineralMan Mar 2020 #69
And how does this... Catch2.2 Mar 2020 #80
Interesting. First you accuse me of "bashing" MineralMan Mar 2020 #83
Just read my post Catch2.2 Mar 2020 #99
"Unifying" is a moot complaint at this point. Either you're with the Democrats, or you're with Trump LongtimeAZDem Mar 2020 #70
So you think Catch2.2 Mar 2020 #79
The poster did not say that at all. MineralMan Mar 2020 #86
No, I'm saying that anyone who doesn't vote for the Democratic nominee is for Trump LongtimeAZDem Mar 2020 #90
I've yet to meet Catch2.2 Mar 2020 #100
My Fox news watching 60 yr old white brother said something interesting the other day on the phone. LizBeth Mar 2020 #72
That's very observant of him, MineralMan Mar 2020 #74
He didn't realize what he had said out loud, and it is fact so not necessarily observant. LizBeth Mar 2020 #82
That's why I never discuss politics with family members. MineralMan Mar 2020 #87
Never. Lol LizBeth Mar 2020 #89
I genuinely don't get whatever it is you folks are trying to convey? MasonDreams Mar 2020 #73
Yes, I can see that. MineralMan Mar 2020 #75
Nice post npk Mar 2020 #76
Thanks! MineralMan Mar 2020 #78
Now that this thread has slipped off the Trending list MineralMan Mar 2020 #77
Do those white men, who are poor have any privilege? dubyadiprecession Mar 2020 #81
There are many poor white men. And women. MineralMan Mar 2020 #88
I volunteer at a local Presbyterian church, so I don't need a lecture from you! dubyadiprecession Mar 2020 #94
Oh, OK, then... MineralMan Mar 2020 #95
And just how do we implement and achieve this social justice, Sir? hangaleft Mar 2020 #91
I don't know. MineralMan Mar 2020 #92
Well stated. Progressive dog Mar 2020 #93
From the Hoarse Whisperer Gothmog Mar 2020 #98
All I can say is StarfishSaver Mar 2020 #101
Why Can't Bernie Accept That Democratic Voters Didn't Want Him? Gothmog Mar 2020 #102
How 'Never Bernie' Voters Threw In With Biden and Changed the Primary Gothmog Apr 2020 #103
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