The Obama Campaign's 3 Million dollar Offer.

[blue]

:And yes, you are naive if you believe most people get hired because of their qualifications. They get hired because of where they went to school, who they know, how well they interview, how well they dress, and ...yeah qualifications:

Almost all of the above is what I define as qualifications... Schooling, interview, dress... The only I dont is who they know...

I can kinda agree to this. Ive worked for 7 electrical shops since 1992, only 2 of my bosses appreciated my skill and knowlege of the trade. I wear shorts most of the year, I might shave once a month, usualy longer between shaves and when I do I usually shave my head at the same time, I have 5 tattoos, my tounge is pierced, and I have a tendancy to be harsh and abrasive. For a number a years after I started running my own crew I had a mohawk, before and after my USMC experience. No matter how many times I proved myself, 5 companies judged me by my dress and appearance not my qualifications.

I have seen people with connections in the construction trades get a pass on their skills, their knowlege, and their dealings with homeowners and builders time after time for many reasons, who their parents are, who they know, and their ethnicity are just 3 examples. Only 2 of the companies Ive worked for respected my skill and knowlege of the trade. I am now slower then the younger crews, and I found out from my now dead bosses wife how much he respected my knowlege and skills. I do things right the first time and make no excuses for the few times I do eff up, heck Im the first to admit Ive effed up. Alot of the guys Ive worked with over the years will throw someone else under the bus to make themselves look better and try and move up when things get effed up or just take more time then expected.

The fact that the Obama camp preemptively played the race card, to me, says alot about his character. The people he associated with for years and now suddenly are distant or casual acquaintances speaks alot about his character as well.

So until I hear or read first hand the interview, see a judgement in Bergs lawsuit, and heck lets toss in Michelle Obama's college thesis as well, BO's character is very questionable.

[blue]

There's a reason why there are so many young/teenage pregnancies in inner cities.

Its called lack of parenting at the very least and extreme teenage boredom at the worst, Bristol Palin is a fine example. There is basicaly nothing out here for the teens to do, there is really no scene of any kind for them.

There's a reason why drugs are such a big problem, as are pimps and prostitution. It's not a life style they choose.

The drugs or the prostition? The pimps have a total choice, as do the drug addicts and the prostitutes, take the not so easy way out.

It's often the only options available. It's sad. It's extremely sad, but how can they escape that cycle when there's no loophole out? *This* is why we need affirmative action programs.

Alot of the problems we are seeing in the US is lack of choice, not a lack of change.

[kt_luvs_kitties]

I do understand what you are saying. But I disagree.

I believe that if people want out of the ghetto, they get out of the ghetto. NOT by selling drugs, prostitution or ANYTHING else that is illegal.

They work hard at school, they dont drop out. They dont let people encourage them to do drugs or rob a store. People must make their own decisions, and live with the consequences. The reason so many minorities are in jail, is because they let others influence them, and did the wrong thing. They can blame that on NOONE but themselves. It is their fault. Their choice. Lack of money or education DOES NOT make someone break the law.

I know that because My husband dropped out of school in 11th grade, lived in the "ghetto", was a minority in a prodominatly african american community. Single parent home... Got shot at, gang influence, all of that.

Did he break the law, nope. Get someone pregnant, turn into a pimp or gang member, NOPE. He went back to school, got his GED (at 18) and went on to work in the prison system to make the streets safer. Then went on to college, worked hard to PAY FOR IT, and now works and makes a sufficiant life for himself, me and my pets. He did not get help from the government, he also could not get funding because he was white. His mother NEVER helped, EVER. She had to work a minimum wage job, she never could help, she could not even feed him alot of the time.

I dont buy into the whole "it is the way people MUST live that decides their futures". Nope, it is the way people CHOOSE to live that makes their lives what they are.

My husband did not get out of that lifestyle because of race (white), he got out of it because he WORKED HARD, WANTED MORE, and DID NOT blame his life/ failures on the color of his skin, be it white or black or
yellow.

PS= his mother also got pregnant at 15, and went on to have 4 children by 23, she as well did not turn to prostitution, she just worked 2 minimum wage jobs and went without. She has also now went back to college to get a masters in psychology and works with mentally challenged people.

[blue]

Alot of the problems we are seeing in the US is lack of choice, not a lack of change.

I probably could have made a better argument but I agree with you.

Nope, it is the way people CHOOSE to live that makes their lives what they are.

Quoted for the truth.

[Ginger's Mom]

-------

:And yes, you are naive if you believe most people get hired because of their qualifications. They get hired because of where they went to school, who they know, how well they interview, how well they dress, and ...yeah qualifications:

Almost all of the above is what I define as qualifications... Schooling, interview, dress... The only I dont is who they know...
-------------

All of those are, or maybe I should say can be, culturally different. If you are saying that you think what school they went to, how they dress, and how well they interview should be factors, than you have to understand that a person's background and culture are going to influence those things. So the white anglo-saxon person who is doing the interviewing has a certain idea of what is "appropriate" dress, behavior, schooling, that may not be the same as someone from a different cultural background. Therefore, the hiring person is going to hire the person with whom he feels most comfortable. That is even more true the higher the position is in the hierarchy of the business. It may not matter quite as much for the lower levels, which is why the minorities are working in the lower level minimum pay jobs.

Your husband's mother may have been just as qualified to work a higher paying job as those that were in that position, but because of cultural prejudice she didn't get it. She had to work two minimum wage jobs, and had raise her children in a bad situation, rather than being given the opportunity of getting out. And you feel that nothing should be done to change people's attitudes toward cultural differences? I have to repeat myself, you cannot ignore it and hope it will go away, or straighten itself out.

[Edwina's Secretary]

Hey, minorities get into college for free... ISNT that on a HIGHER playing field ? An unfair advantage?? My parents and myself have to pay for my schooling, work hard EVERYDAY, but someone else, can just get in for free? That is not equal OR fair to me...


Edited to add: And no, myself or my family has never been on ANY government assistance. I believe that people who TRULY need it should get it.

I am glad to hear no one in your family has ever received unemployment insuance or social security. Those are government assistance programs many people take advantage of at some time!

There are many programs -- scholarships, grants, assistance -- available to people who are white. There are scholarships for people who are left-handed, whose foreparents came from Slovenia -- all kinds of things. I just hired a young woman who went to an excellent school -- full ride -- because she is a good softball player.

Is that fair? Not if you are right handed -- or your foreparents came from Croatia -- or if you are very uncoordinated.

Fair is when I get what I want. Unfair is when I don't. Really unfair is when someone else gets what I want.

But I must ask...you love your race? I can understand loving your pets, your spouse, your children, your family...but your race?? What is it about your race that you love?

[Alysser]

I'd go with Dennis (The Menace) from Cleveland, but he dropped out.

LOL

[Giselle]

Once again, HOW can these people break out of the cycle when their only option - education - is severely underfunded and, oftentimes, chaotic? Take a look at Oakland public schools, Richmond public schools, Compton public schools, etc. etc. These children are battling incompetent teachers, indifferent parents, outdated textbooks, inadequate nutrition, gang violence, lack of resources, drugs, prostitution, etc. They are battling *generations* of these influences. It's not a one time thing. It's not a single mistake. It's generations of mistakes.It's not that easy to break the cycle when your family has been living within it for generations and generations.

And, Blue, maybe it's not as pervasive in your area, but prostitution is NOT a choice for many girls in my area. It's something they've been pushed into. We recently had a child prostitution ring broken up. Do these children (pre-teens and young teens) really CHOOSE to sell their bodies? I highly doubt it.

[RICHARD]

Once again, HOW can these people break out of the cycle when their only option - education - is severely underfunded and, oftentimes, chaotic?

I think that parents should take more of a role in teaching their kid to go to school and learn. IT's tough enough for a teacher to teach their lesson plan, they shouldn't have to be responsible for baby sitting, teaching, policing and raising kids.

[Catty1]

Who's going to teach the parents about education when they never learned - nor did their ancestors from generations back?