Hate Sells category archive
Still Rising Again after All These Years 0
Charles M. Blow points to what’s happening in Texas and warns of the threat of Jim Crow Redux. Here’s a bit of his article;
Furthermore, according to The Tribune, “In the proposed Senate map, 64.5% of the districts have white majorities,” and “white Texans make up the majority of eligible voters in 60.5% of the proposed congressional districts.”
How else to describe this other than racist gerrymandering? This is an attempt to lock in white dominance and control even after white people no longer have a numerical advantage.
Public Healthiness 0
At NJ.com, Clifford Kulwin reports on his visit to a polity where the pandemic did not become politicized. A snippet:
Shortly after my arrival, a friend emailed,“ do you feel safe there?” I answered honestly. “Safer than I do at home.”
Maskless Marauders 0
At the Hartford Courant, Kevin Rennie points out that words matter.
The Monster Next Door 0
I have resisted the temptation of join NextDoor. I had a sneaking feeling that it could lead to no good, because years of experience and observation have taught me that “social” media isn’t.
As evidence, I offer one person’s story.
It Was All about the Benjamins 0
Dartmouth professor Randall Balmer tells the story of the rise of the “religious right.” It’s not what you might think, and certainly not the stories they tell themselves. A nugget:
Follow the link for the rest.
Aside:
Many years ago, I visited Bob Jones U. while researching a paper I was working on for some class I forget which one but most likely a sociology class my senior year.
It was one of the spookiest places I have ever seen.
Easy Marks 0
The editorial board of the Las Vegas Sun is somewhat taken aback by Republicans’ willingness to believe anything. Here’s a bit:
Imagine his fellow legislators’ surprise in learning the findings of the report, including that the vaccine contains a “living organism with tentacles” and is causing the babies of vaccinated parents to be born “transhuman” with “pitch-black eyes.”
Amazing. And, of course, completely insane.
Follow the link for a litany of lunacy.
All That Was Old Is New Again, Vaccine Nation Dept. 0
History professor Kyle Harper points out that irrationality, fear mongering, and falsehoods are not unprecedented in the face of health crises. A snippet:
Private interests that shamelessly peddle misinformation? The history of British mercantilists lobbying against quarantine sounds perfectly contemporary. Resistance to medical science? Since the introduction of smallpox inoculation and then vaccination, a weird alliance of religious militancy and pseudoscience has worked to stoke fears and doubts about our best tools to protect human health. Livestock dewormer? Just a fresh take on the venerable tradition of quackery. It’s hard to be original in the annals of human folly.
It’s All about the Algorithm 0
Drew Sheneman cuts through the–er–marlarky. A nugget:
Methinks he may have a point worthy of consideration.
