2016 Postmortem

which means a lot have good incomes, and some don't. And most of them on either side of the median aren't concerned with racism. I would say that I understand it because I grew up a fairly privileged white, and was against racism in principle, but I never saw racism. Not that it wasn't present, but I never saw it, and it had nothing to do with me. Same with homophobia and misogyny; I was opposed in principle, but I never really saw them; that's just how the world was, and the world worked pretty well for me. So a lack of concern.

If you are born and raised in a white town your fortunes tend to vary with the local economy and your own efforts, and you imagine its the same everywhere. You imagine its all pretty fair, and blame the government when its not. If you hear that some group (such as immigrants) is getting a leg up, you would be prone to think that's your tax dollars at work...and so forth. I don't think most people are bad, but greed is as big a part of the equation as want, and rural attitudes have always tended towards an us-vs-them worldview. Generally not a solvable problem, as far as I can see.

I avoid conversations where facts are not involved, and generally try to practice and advocate kindness. We could do a lot better as a people, but plenty of people see no need to, and no benefit for themselves.