African American

1StrongBlackMan

(31,849 posts) Fri Jan 16, 2015, 01:42 PM Jan 2015

Not so Random Thoughts - Part II ...

Taking a step back from the fray and looking at the disconnect I see on DU ...

Can it be explained as a generational and racial schism between those that (generally) "Trust" the (Federal) government versus those that have a distrust of (Federal) government?

I know (anecdotally and empirically) that the African-American community (as a group), alive during the Civil Rights Era (i.e., the early 1950s through the late 1970s) tend towards "Trusting" the Federal Government, as it was the only American institution fighting to challenge the racial status quo (Despite, the efforts of Hoover's FBI) ... and that "trust" carries over to all (most) of the Federal government's other activities.

Whereas, those of the African-American community, born after the Civil Rights Era, tend towards being far less "trusting", as they have no first hand experience with the Federal government intervening, directly, on their behalf. However, I suspect that the strength of this cohort's "connections" to the Civil Rights Era, can serve as a predictor of Federal government trust level.

Whereas, white Americans tend towards being DIStrustful of the Federal government, as they do not see the Federal government intervening on their behalf, at all ... in fact, many perceive the Federal government as intervening, on the behalf of others, to their detriment. (See: Jim Webb's comments on the subject).

Finally, we have the "Millennials", of all races, that seem to have a fundamental distrust of the Federal (and all) government ... in that they perceive the Federal government as, actively, working for the (non-racialized) wealthy, and no one else.

{OP's Note: Please forgive me if the above is disjointed and difficult to follow ... I am in the midst of a couple of weeks of 16 hour, 6 days a week, real life work.}

8 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Not so Random Thoughts - Part II ... (Original Post) 1StrongBlackMan Jan 2015 OP

I'm a gen x'er JustAnotherGen Jan 2015 #1

Being an X'er (Particularly, of Color) ... 1StrongBlackMan Jan 2015 #5

Exactly! JustAnotherGen Jan 2015 #6

Which, IMO, is WHY the Federal government is under attack ... 1StrongBlackMan Jan 2015 #7

It would be funny JustAnotherGen Jan 2015 #8

What is funny about this is I have a friend, white, who reads a rightwing magazine full of randys1 Jan 2015 #2

There are two sides to government Neon Gods Jan 2015 #3

This times 1000000 JustAnotherGen Jan 2015 #4

JustAnotherGen

(31,828 posts)

1. I'm a gen x'er

Reply to 1StrongBlackMan (Original post)

Fri Jan 16, 2015, 01:45 PM

Jan 2015

A 'bridge' generation. Family influence / parental political influence plays a huge part in my -

TRUST in Federal Authorities on certain issues . . .

And an absolute DISTRUST of Village, Town, City, County, State govs and private institutions.

1StrongBlackMan

(31,849 posts)

5. Being an X'er (Particularly, of Color) ...

Reply to JustAnotherGen (Reply #1)

Fri Jan 16, 2015, 03:00 PM

Jan 2015

that makes sense, as you are not that far removed from seeing the Federal government intervening on your (your parent's) behalf and the resistance to that intervention by Village, Town, City, County, State govs and private institutions.

JustAnotherGen

(31,828 posts)

6. Exactly!

Reply to 1StrongBlackMan (Reply #5)

Fri Jan 16, 2015, 03:04 PM

Jan 2015

And well - I see how Fed Gov COULD be able to impact the lives of us still, the lives of women, and certainly the lives of the GBLT community - for good and positive things!

1StrongBlackMan

(31,849 posts)

7. Which, IMO, is WHY the Federal government is under attack ...

Reply to JustAnotherGen (Reply #6)

Fri Jan 16, 2015, 03:29 PM

Jan 2015

who wants the government intervening to positively impact the lives of women and the LGBT community ... we have straight white males we need to make rich!

JustAnotherGen

(31,828 posts)

8. It would be funny

Reply to 1StrongBlackMan (Reply #7)

Fri Jan 16, 2015, 03:39 PM

Jan 2015

If it wasn't true! *smdh*

randys1

(16,286 posts)

2. What is funny about this is I have a friend, white, who reads a rightwing magazine full of

Reply to 1StrongBlackMan (Original post)

Fri Jan 16, 2015, 01:50 PM

Jan 2015

garbage, forgot the name of it, and has him convinced that our government lies to us about everything from UFO's to spying on us etc

The common denominator in the magazine or website he uses is not to trust our government and the real reason is what you are talking about here.

Too much help for them "others" and not enough for us, though they will not readily admit that last part.

They pretend to be bootstrapopers, but are of course standing with their hands out all the time.

White people here in Murika have had things their way for so long, then along came Obama...

Skeered the shit out of em

Neon Gods

(222 posts)

3. There are two sides to government

Reply to 1StrongBlackMan (Original post)

Fri Jan 16, 2015, 02:09 PM

Jan 2015

One side is Congress which is now firmly in control of the wealthy who are doing everything they can to ensure they and their offspring continue to proper. To do this they need a large population of easily identifiable poor to point to as parasites who the Democrats pander to for their votes. African Americans can rightly assume Congress/GOP will do nothing to lift the poor (black or white) out of poverty. That's the bad government.

The good government side is the Executive Branch agencies and employees who administer the safety net programs and consumer protection/environmental protection/labor protection programs. The regulators who test our food and water, the scientific and medical researchers, the Coast Guard, the CDC, the Forest Service, etc., etc., etc., who provide services daily that few of us notice. This is the government that the corporations want to shrink so they can either pollute or cheat consumers or cut safety corners without being caught. The government is our only protection from the vultures. I hope we never lose sight of that.

JustAnotherGen

(31,828 posts)

4. This times 1000000

Reply to Neon Gods (Reply #3)

Fri Jan 16, 2015, 02:10 PM

Jan 2015

The government is our only protection from the vultures. I hope we never lose sight of that.

ETA - and someone just asked me why we need Affirmative Action now more than ever. . .
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=6093635

I wished I had read this response from you first.

Reply to this discussion