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Peter Thiel (gay man), Caitlyn Jenner (trans woman) and Kanye West (black man) all publicly support Donald Trump. It's not identity that's the issue, it's econo

Peter Thiel (gay man), Caitlyn Jenner (trans woman) and Kanye West (black man) all publicly support Donald Trump. It's not identity that's the issue, it's economic inequality. Even as part of marginalized groups, these people's vast wealth allowed them the luxury to support a man who did not have marginalized group's best interests in mind. If I was rich and wanted to take over a local government, I would channel my efforts toward dividing people on everything except economic class. Yeah, you're both poor and live in squalor next to the train tracks, but you're different races! How could you possibly get along!

david38 5y ago
This. IMO, most of the culture was a distraction from what really matters. People are up in arms on TV over who can claim to be a woman, but meanwhile, the concentration of wealth and economic power and worse than even the guided age. If the bottom 50% of the population (economically) united on JUST this topic, they would see massive change - better structured education, housing, health, etc. Instead we get what I call "hand grenades" that distract and mean almost nothing - like another biological male smashing records in a female sport and wanting to keep the medals.
- onemoresoop 5y ago
  I share a similar opinion. Everything and every group's voice should be heard at some point but not in a more divisive manner and to the detriment of attention to the immediate problems that affect us all in the most serious ways: housing, healthcare, wages, political corruption, conflicts of interest, and so on. We're in very bad shape and a risk major collapse. If we continue down this path we'll see homelessness and and inequality rise to catastrophic levels. What we really need at this point more than anything is some form of unity.
  - tdeck 5y ago
    > Everything and every group's voice should be heard at some point but not in a more divisive manner and to the detriment of attention to the immediate problems that affect us all The problem with this line of thinking is that there's a pattern to which peoples' issues are considered mainstream (i.e. they affect "us all") and which group's issues are considered divisive and a "distraction". But if you're in a marginalized minority group, those "distractions" may be your biggest problems every day. "Not yet" is practically the same as "no" and some folks are tired of waiting, so if you want unity you've got to build it by acknowledging those problems and support those people. Otherwise "unity" always comes at the expense of the same people.
  - raxxorrax 5y ago
    To treat people differently is in the poor handbook of middle management. It creates resentment towards those with preferential treatment. This is pretty basic knowledge in psychology and that is why I cannot really believe in the good intend of academics selling idpol. They do it for themselves and themselves alone. Perfect for manipulation, extremely potent as a union buster or to kill movements like occupy wallstreet.
- boppo1 5y ago
  > united on JUST this topic, they would see massive change - better structured education, housing, health, etc. I think part of the issue is no one agrees on what causes it. Status-quo left says not enough taxes and social spending. SQ right says immigration, geo-arbing, and taxes too high. Imo we actually need to be talking about interest rate interventionism, but good luck getting people to care about cash flow valuation denominators.
- groby_b 5y ago
  "Culture wars are nonsense and distraction - wait, let me add an aside about the group I hate" is maybe not as strong a point as you think it is.
akomtu 5y ago
Or if you were China preparing to challenge the US in ten years, it would be wise to give money to key US insitutions so they would implement the most radical and divisive policies they can come up with.
deleted 5y ago
[deleted]
__turbobrew__ 5y ago
This is my take as well. People — of all backgrounds — only want a stable comfortable life where they can pursue their interests and goals. Identity/race politics are just a distraction to keep the low/middle class fighting amongst themselves while the upper classes rake in unprecedented amounts of wealth. I believe that individuals are complex and unique and deserve to be treated as individuals instead of a member of an identity group. I fear the day when I have to take a side in the identity/race war. In the past 2 years I have noticed that identity/race politics have entered my workplace. Luckily I haven’t had to take a side, but the day I am forced to utter a political incantation is the day I quit my job.
raxxorrax 5y ago
The best way to live as a minority is advocating for civil liberties because they would profit as well. But the opposition to Trump failed here spectacularly and just blamed everything on Russia. With their childish attempts to block diverging opinions you will never make a good case for inclusion, diversity or minorities. The whole of DEI is little mroe than an extortion scheme at this point and I can fully understand people in a dire economic situation voting for Trump.

david38 5y ago

This. IMO, most of the culture was a distraction from what really matters. People are up in arms on TV over who can claim to be a woman, but meanwhile, the concentration of wealth and economic power and worse than even the guided age. If the bottom 50% of the population (economically) united on JUST this topic, they would see massive change - better structured education, housing, health, etc. Instead we get what I call "hand grenades" that distract and mean almost nothing - like another biological male smashing records in a female sport and wanting to keep the medals.

onemoresoop 5y ago
I share a similar opinion. Everything and every group's voice should be heard at some point but not in a more divisive manner and to the detriment of attention to the immediate problems that affect us all in the most serious ways: housing, healthcare, wages, political corruption, conflicts of interest, and so on. We're in very bad shape and a risk major collapse. If we continue down this path we'll see homelessness and and inequality rise to catastrophic levels. What we really need at this point more than anything is some form of unity.
- tdeck 5y ago
  > Everything and every group's voice should be heard at some point but not in a more divisive manner and to the detriment of attention to the immediate problems that affect us all The problem with this line of thinking is that there's a pattern to which peoples' issues are considered mainstream (i.e. they affect "us all") and which group's issues are considered divisive and a "distraction". But if you're in a marginalized minority group, those "distractions" may be your biggest problems every day. "Not yet" is practically the same as "no" and some folks are tired of waiting, so if you want unity you've got to build it by acknowledging those problems and support those people. Otherwise "unity" always comes at the expense of the same people.
- raxxorrax 5y ago
  To treat people differently is in the poor handbook of middle management. It creates resentment towards those with preferential treatment. This is pretty basic knowledge in psychology and that is why I cannot really believe in the good intend of academics selling idpol. They do it for themselves and themselves alone. Perfect for manipulation, extremely potent as a union buster or to kill movements like occupy wallstreet.
boppo1 5y ago
> united on JUST this topic, they would see massive change - better structured education, housing, health, etc. I think part of the issue is no one agrees on what causes it. Status-quo left says not enough taxes and social spending. SQ right says immigration, geo-arbing, and taxes too high. Imo we actually need to be talking about interest rate interventionism, but good luck getting people to care about cash flow valuation denominators.
groby_b 5y ago
"Culture wars are nonsense and distraction - wait, let me add an aside about the group I hate" is maybe not as strong a point as you think it is.

akomtu 5y ago

Or if you were China preparing to challenge the US in ten years, it would be wise to give money to key US insitutions so they would implement the most radical and divisive policies they can come up with.

deleted 5y ago

[deleted]

__turbobrew__ 5y ago

This is my take as well. People — of all backgrounds — only want a stable comfortable life where they can pursue their interests and goals. Identity/race politics are just a distraction to keep the low/middle class fighting amongst themselves while the upper classes rake in unprecedented amounts of wealth. I believe that individuals are complex and unique and deserve to be treated as individuals instead of a member of an identity group. I fear the day when I have to take a side in the identity/race war. In the past 2 years I have noticed that identity/race politics have entered my workplace. Luckily I haven’t had to take a side, but the day I am forced to utter a political incantation is the day I quit my job.

raxxorrax 5y ago

The best way to live as a minority is advocating for civil liberties because they would profit as well. But the opposition to Trump failed here spectacularly and just blamed everything on Russia. With their childish attempts to block diverging opinions you will never make a good case for inclusion, diversity or minorities. The whole of DEI is little mroe than an extortion scheme at this point and I can fully understand people in a dire economic situation voting for Trump.