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Police Power and Racial Tensions in Ferguson, Missouri

Among whom? Bigots, who think that blacks don't belong, will be bigots regardless of affirmative action. Those not bigoted will wait and see how their compatriots perform. The assumptions only gets compounded in the minds of people with axes to grind.

Yes, bigots will always exist. But affirmative action works to amplify the problem. As stated in my example, whether or not racism existed prior to AA, if you put in a program that gives preference to someone based on their race, and they are getting in with much lower scores, it will cause people to have that viewpoint. You yourself assume that Justice Thomas would not be where he was but for AA. If you do not see how offensive that is to a very intelligent hard working person like Justice Thomas, I don't know what else to say. Affirmative Action has made a lot of good changes, but tweaking the program to not be about race but about giving a benefit to those who have had less of an opportunity to succeed makes sense.


Complete, utter codswallop. If your hypothesis were correct, and this supposed stigma attached due to affirmative action, than any poor person would be subject to this stigma, as opposed to black people only. Do you believe in your position or not?

First, the poor are ALREADY discriminated against. The majority of the issues in this regard are due to class. It is class warfare, and everyone in poverty is a victim. I agree with many of the general points of the Time article I posted yesterday. Secondly, if you have a program that lets in more disadvantaged/poor, it will be much harder to have a bias as it may be harder to differentiate. For example, if AA was based on class, you would not likely argue someone is a Sup. Ct. justice because AA helped them.


You think giving 20 points, when 100 is needed, made admission automatic? Seriously, what world

I don't think that. The Supreme Court thinks that. And that is why it was overturned. Essentially, almost anyone get get 80 points without race. The last 20 were the difference makers. So race did make the difference.


I'd bet dollars to doughnuts you don't have a scrap of data to back up your claim of "very low", particularly in light of Gratz vs. Bollinger.

https://abovethelaw.com/2012/04/the-baylor-law-data-dump-now-with-race-and-scholarships/2/

This is just one example with a clear breakdown. If you understand the way the LSAT is scored (one answer is not one point) you see a huge preference. Having applied to many of these programs with an LSAT over 160, I can tell you it is tough to get in. From a quick glance, it looks like one white student was admitted with an LSAT under 160 (list did not identify male/female). And they are giving larger scholarships as well (which again, would make more sense to base this on class. Give poor students more of a financial benefit). At the internal list I saw, a good friend, who happens to be black got in with under 150 at a school with similar LSAT scores as Baylor.


No, this is the same old racism, finding a new excuse. People don't act in a racist fashion based on careful, rational considerations like the existence of an affirmative action program. People act in a racist fashion based on emotions and habit, and then later find rationalizations for their racism, picking at anything they can grab at.

You did. You stated affirmative action helped Justice Thomas. You just assumed and stereotyped, then tried to defend it when you have no idea what his LSAT score was.

I don't think it should be based on class or race, ideally. That's an interesting tidbit.

This country has a history of oppression. The difference is is "OK" to oppress the poor under the constitution. It is easy to say blacks are oppressed based on our country's history, but reparations, which have been both good and bad have been attempted. For those in poverty, it is the status quo.

First, you still haven't mentioned the year. Pre-Gratz (2003), I would not be surprised this was common. Second, can you point to any of these documents, or am I supposed to take your word for it?

Yes, I have copies of internal copies of school documents. The Baylor document gives a reasonable view. And it was post-Gratz.

Again, you are treating racism as the result of a decision-making process. You don't fix a broken leg by putting a splint on your arm.

Racism already exists. When you put a program in place that lets in lesser qualified individuals, it can create a stigma against that person or persons. It is a targeted stigma based on clear data. I understand the reasons for AA, and I'm not saying get rid of it, just tweak it so it actually represents all the less fortunate. Tweaking AA won't get rid of racism, that is a different issue. It will get rid of a created bias as argued by Justice Thomas. That is why he is against it. So don't take it from me, take it from a genius black jurist who has felt the bias AA creates:

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/24/clarence-thomas-affirmative-action_n_3491433.html

The funny thing is, you pointed out how he stated his diploma was worth $0.15, but he believes AA caused it. You should read the full opinion: https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/12pdf/11-345_l5gm.pdf

Thomas graduated *** laude, but not magna *** laude nor summa *** laude, from Holy Cross, a good school, but not an Ivy League school. He had not achieved to a typical Yale Law school level, but was admitted nonetheless. Once there, he was able to prove he belonged. His background and treatment had disadvantaged him, but once that was accounted for, he proved he belonged. That's an affirmative action success story, the type you think should be ended.

All you are doing is justifying your bias caused by AA. First, you have no idea what Thomas' LSAT score was, which for Yale, is the biggest factor (Median score of 173). You are just making a biased assumption. Your comments are a clear example of the type of racism that is created by AA.

It's an argument I've heard many times. It's always been dreck, and continues to be dreck, because it is contrary to our understanding of human behavior.

Ever taken a sociology course? Of course we differentiate. We even mate with people similar to us (not just race). And it is also human nature to have an ego and make you think you are better than you probably are. A survival characteristic. And when you have a mechanism that does differentiate, how can it not cause bias?

If red heads had been discriminated against, not instituting affirmative action would not alter it, and instituting it does not make the bias worse.

That is a ridiculous statement. The reason I use the red head example, is to show that the program creates a bias that was not there before, that can be identified by a trait. Racism will exist no matter what. But AA is a mechanism that creates a bias, even for those who are not racist.

I will agree that your position is based on a poor understanding of human nature.

Social inequalities are harmful to everyone, it is important to to question the status quo and to determine whether our kind has the behavioral plasticity to learn how to reduce inequality. If you look at human nature historically, discrimination in some form has always been part of the status quo. Differentiating is part of the human condition, but I believe we can be better. Continue to believe your fantasies.
 
As far as the cost goes, we weren't in a fiscal crisis nationally years ago when cameras were put into squad cars. We are now, imo, and we can't ignore that.

As far as being scrutinized goes, perhaps I should've said over-scrutinized. A cop curses a lot? Fire him. A cop used the n word once in his car to his partner who's white? Fire him. A cop talks about some chick he was banging last night to his partner? Fire him. The level of absurdity to which those cameras would take things would be off the charts. Every little thing a cop does will be called into question. And just like we are today with this case in St. Louis, we will questions the cop(s) long and hard about their actions, even though in this case, an armed man was coming right at him. I hate pigs. But I have a strong respect for cops who put their life on the line, make tough split-second decisions, and have to live with those decisions for the rest of their life. I'm not saying this STL case is that cut and dry but think about how semi-absurd it is that we're putting these particular cops under a microscope even though the one was being attacked by an armed man who clearly lacks clarity.

Enes, I love you, but I have a big problem with the mindset that this cop was in the wrong and should've simply holstered his weapon and wrestled the guy to the ground. Hyperbole obviously but my point is, what were his options? I concede that the last couple shots are overkill imo but again to play armchair cop in such a crazy situation isn't fair. No training can prepare you for those one or two seconds. None. So I'm going to side on the side of the person trying to diffuse the situation, not the attacker.

I think you overestimate how the cameras will be used. Many cops in Utah wear them, including during the recent shooting. They are only examined for evidence. They aren't going to release everything. Doesn't work that way. And again, with power comes responsibility. The benefits>cost.
 
I think you overestimate how the cameras will be used. Many cops in Utah wear them, including during the recent shooting. They are only examined for evidence. They aren't going to release everything. Doesn't work that way. And again, with power comes responsibility. The benefits>cost.

It doesn't work that way but it would imo. All it takes is for one person to have reviewed those tapes and been offended and you can bet they'd be leaked.
 
Troll. negged.

I gave you some positive rep. You continue to neg me since your clearly erroneous response regarding food stamp qualifications that you tried to argue multiple times. LOL. I understand your negativity due to your stupidity, but it is not my fault you are an idiot. So I have given you a positive rep to reduce some of your negativity in life. It may increase your rep power/points, but unfortunately, it will not increase your intelligence.
 
It doesn't work that way but it would imo. All it takes is for one person to have reviewed those tapes and been offended and you can bet they'd be leaked.

That is true with anything in life, be it emails etc. Camera implementation could have so many positives. You don't keep them off officers due to what ifs. And I personally would rather have civilians rights more protected than the privacy of the on duty officers.
 
I agree that fighting a cop is just begging for trouble.

But the bolded part is right where those against the cop in the Brown shooting come in. There are rumors going both ways and people are cherry picking which ones to believe.

The proven facts are:

Brown was unarmed
Brown was shot 6 times including the top of the head
Brown had just robbed a store but the officer did not know that at the time.
First shot was fired from in the car

The rest is what might have happened.

And Wilson's face wasn't battered with a fractured orbital bone as the Ferguson PD claim. Video evidence of him walking around without mark before they put his body into the back of a police SUV (not an ambulance as Ferguson PD claimed).
 
I can't see how anyone can argue that was necessary.

This is crazy.

Has the world not seen much of this video yet?


That video certainly does not do this situation anygood.

A video on YouTube shows the crowd at the ST Louis shooting shouting "Shoot Back" over and over.
Do you think the man wanted to get shot?
I do.
I think that dude was attempting suicide by cop
 
But there is a definite moment there where the cops put 3 more in him that were clearly after he was on the ground.

Agreed
 
That said, those last 2-4 rounds are well after the guy has fallen to the ground. Especially the last two. Just way excessive imo.

I tracked the timing. The shots start just at/after the 1:40mark, and finish before the 1:43 mark. Under 3 seconds for all nine shots. How many seconds is "well after" to you?
 
How odd is it that One Brow says the St Louis shooting is justified, but not the Brown shooting?

The Brown shooting ver likely happened in the same manner as the St Louis shooting. Maybe Brown was even more aggressive.

There are five eyewitnesses who disagree with that assessment.
 
I tracked the timing. The shots start just at/after the 1:40mark, and finish before the 1:43 mark. Under 3 seconds for all nine shots. How many seconds is "well after" to you?

The video was pretty crazy. I feel bad for the deceased, as the article mentioned he had mental problems. I think it was maybe a bit excessive, but the officers were doing what they were trained to do. It could have been handled better, but that is how it is. It is good there was video, because even though the shooting looks justified, it is contrary to the police chief's statements. Goes to show that the police aren't 100% credible. Again, as a civilian, I think it is important for those protecting us to be culpable when they make poor choices. I don't think I am the only one. I wonder what public bodycam stock I should buy...
 
As far as being scrutinized goes, perhaps I should've said over-scrutinized. A cop curses a lot? Fire him. A cop used the n word once in his car to his partner who's white? Fire him. A cop talks about some chick he was banging last night to his partner? Fire him. The level of absurdity to which those cameras would take things would be off the charts. Every little thing a cop does will be called into question.

1) Police get paid like professionals; it's not too much to ask for professional behavior, like not using the n word, on duty. I don't wse3e nyhone being fired over a rare error.
2) Who has time to scrutinize every minute of every cop on duty?
3) Police usually have people to represent their interests, and that will help curtail firing over meaningless things.
 
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