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Middle class white males abandoned and disenfranchised myth.

Whites have been in control since they first arrived. First through superior weaponry. Then in access to avenues and power through money and influence.

In the last decade, changing demographics have shifted the power base somewhat. Increasing minority population have been able to wrench some of the conventional power from the white demographic, particularily middle class white males. This group had always been able lord themselves over the other minority groups with more or less impunity.

As the power bases shifted and liberals responded by demanding greater political correctness, the white male contigency came under scrutiny and pressure to change their ways and manners. They responded by feeling disenfranchised and polarized. Not used to being called on their crap, and not the type given to deep introspection, they in turn rebelled.

The important point is that they were not disenfranchised. what they were feeling was equality. Equality on the part of the real segments of the population which had been disenfranchised. Minorities were claiming their rights and demanding equal treatment. Middle class white males who had never been called to a accountability suddenly were being held accountable. They didnt like having to play nice. They werent forgotten, neglected, or forsaken, they were just feeling what equality felt like when others demanded their share.

t1nick 8 Nov 3
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16 comments

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Man of sure wish I had some of this white male power everyone is awlays talking about. Maybe that's because I've always been poor and poor whites have about as much power as minorities. I'm very aware of who has power and it's not the middle class either. It's not about black or white when it comes to power, it's all about the money. That's where the power is. I will say that cops treat whites better than minorities for sure. I live in a black neighborhood and its noticable how much more blacks are messed with by the cops. It pisses me off just watching, I'm sure I can't imagine how much worse that is for minorities. White privilege was created to drive a wedge between poor blacks and whites. Little of that privilege is still there for the poor. One of the problems is our system is designed to keep the rich rich and the poor poor. That means if a class of people held down for hundreds of years are then suddenly let up on they will still be held down by the system. It will take blacks hundreds and hundreds of years to ever catch up whites under this system. I just wish everyone realized who the true villians are with all this power, it's the ones with all the money. The economy is nothing but a giant Monopoly game stacked in favor of a very small group. They only win because we all choose to play by their rules. When we join together they can't stop us. You will need all the white males to be apart of it so you should realize most white males have no more power than anyone else. You only chase them to the other side when you start attacking all white males. I realize you are talking about middle class but they have no power either. They are reacting out of fear because they are the ones everyone keeps demonizing. Stop attacking them and ask for their help. Most of them are good people just trying to take care of their family and they hear everyone blaming them for keeping people down. It may have been true a while ago but not so much now. They aren't going to apologise for something they never did. It's the rich that created the game we play and they continue doing the same thing to this day so why arent we attacking them. Nepotism is the primary way the system holds people back yet I never hear it discussed. Maybe thats everyone likes to use it any chance they can.

I grew up lower middle class. I know yours and their travails. I agree with a lot you espouse, but its more than just money. Money is power true. Access to resources has always been a delimiting and mitigating factor in people becoming successful. The privileges being argued harkened all the way back histrorically with the roots of colonialism.

I also disagree with your contention that the middle class should be left alone. If the middle class is the backbone of our society, then we are the ones that should be calling for a positive change. It would benefit them to welcome in the new wave of immigrants, minorities, and women. The success of these groups would not only stimulate our economy, but add a level of intellectual input to tackle new unforseen challenges that will need new ways of percieving to address.

Forever yours, a middle class white male, now and firever.

@t1nick I didnt mean to me imply the middle class shouldn't be held accountable for their actions or ask to change. Everyone should held to account and we all need to change in some ways. I get very frustrated with the misinformation that drives much of my family to support the right-wing. I know these people and most are just doing what they think is right but they are using false information to base their decisions on. Most are not voting because of racism, although a good 25% are racists no doubt, but rather based on economics or fear. There is a great book that talks about how the rich have treated and used the poor over the centuries called White Trash. I certainly don't think white males as a whole should ever be whining about being victims so I don't really have a lot to disagree with. I just wanted to point out most white males have nothing to applogize about. I get this strong sense of guilt coming from well educated upper middle class that I find insulting. Insulting because they never really want to give up anything other than an applogoy. It really doesn't change anything for you to say sorry and them turn around and join into the system that keeps everything the same. It's that class,s support that allows the super elite to their thing. It's those people that believe in the system the most. The poor know who's boot is on their neck generally so they don't believe in the systtem. The well educated upper middle class, often seen as the rich by the poor, are the ones holding it altogether. They are paid well for their corporation.

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When you're accustomed to unquestioned and unchallenged privilege, equality feels like persecution.

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Whenever anyone, who has historically held positions of power over anyone else, is told they can't do that anymore, they tend to get their panties in a bunch over it.
Some white people, all over the world, still have issues with not holding absolute power over people of color. Too damned bad for them.
There are still men who don't like that women have "rights", too.

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Wow that is spot on. I too , a white, truly believe many have a white complex which they believe is superior. They are non science of course because they just do not understand what a human being really is. They do not understand that they are shit believing we founded our nation. We found nothing except that when we arrived in the new world, we were actually visiting some one else;s world. So doing the white thing , we shit on them and claimed it for ourself. Now when some one speaks truth and logic, they revert back to the white god. The white race, in my opinion , is one of the worst regarding compassion.

EMC2 Level 8 Nov 4, 2018
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I have no apologies for being white. That hasn't stopped me from meeting a few whites who need to apologize. Some people in this world have no idea what equality means and they will do anything to make sure others do not get it. I would personally hate to feel that way and live in the skin of such a person. Inviting to a recent gathering at my house, one person refused because they said of another "that person is from Peru." It was not so, but what do I expect in a GOP state where so many are affected by "Trump's caravan" stories?

There was never any mention about having to apologize for being a white male in the original post. That was introduced somewhere along the line by someone else. Perhaps someone who was feeling guilty, who knows.

The point is that white males don't need to go around apologizing. Just realize that their contention about being abandoned is a myth. Instead realize that things are changing due to a natural swing in population dynamics. Accept the change and learn how to carve your place in a changing dynamic.

Maybe it's Peru, Indiana. There's also a very small town not far from me that's called Peru.

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And those white guys better get used to it. Diversity is here to stay, and today's minorities are tomorrow's majority.

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The Christian Right are exactly the same....they feel under attack from immigrants who are Muslim and an increasing number of people like us who are Atheists. They think they are under siege and that their so called Christian values are being eroded. These things are illusory.....they, like middle class white males still hold a deck of cards stacked in their favour, but they don’t like the odds being changed even slightly, to make things a bit more equal.

Thanks! You saved me from having to post the exact same thing.

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It is not about feeling guilty or apologizing for being a white male. It is about recognizing your privilege and working towards equity. It is not hard to understand. Just uncomfortable maybe?

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Today is a great day to be a white American male. Though I always feel like apoligizing for my entire class of people. I think the real political question is or should be, who will win the hearts and minds of that demographic. Whoever does will win 2020.

MarkF Level 5 Nov 4, 2018
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When are we going to reach the final destination? No one should apologize for being what we are, no one. That must be the ultimate goal, unite as opposed to divide. In my opinion this type of messages keep widening the gap we need to close.

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Excellent post and well said!

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Yep when you start from a priviledged position and don't see it, equality feels like punishment/oppression. If only these broflakes knew what real oppression felt like.

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That's a pretty good view, but underneath it's a lot more nuanced and includes a lot more different kinds of people and perspectives. But basically, yeah.

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So, whatcha gonna do?

About what? There's nothing for me to do. This isn't about me. I don't buy into the the poor me syndrome,
so there is nothing I need to do.

You adjust and adapt and accept. Duh! That’s what you do when your life is affected by change. If you didn’t, you (eventually) die.

@Rob1948 I agree that you adjust and adapt, not so much the accept part. Everyone will die regardless of ANYTHING they might do.

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