Scott Adams on Republicans and Democrats

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Originally Posted by Skip

Show of hands... How many of you have seen a KKKer in the wild?

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KKK no, but over the years I have known more Skinheads than I'm comfortable with.

But none of them were Republicans (hell, they hated Reagan and Thatcher as much as the left did). They hated capitalism, they believed capitalism was a tool of the Jews to oppress whites. They also didn't much like the KKK because they saw the Klan as "Too Christian" (and Christianity is a Jewish plot to get whites to worship a Jew).

To a one, they were also all lazy, shiftless, sniveling cowards that blamed others for their problems (just like ghetto blacks do) and frankly wouldn't muster the energy to yell at a black person, let alone lynch them.

I joined the communist party in the 80s, but just for the cookouts and the volleyball team. Maybe, in another life, if the KKK had a better sandpit squad?....

I grew up in Baltimore, Maryland. Taneytown and Westminster Maryland were both long term strongholds for the Klan. I have met Klansmen and witnessed a cross burning on a front lawn of a home in Hampden (a blue collar neighborhood in Baltimore). As to who are Klansmen, I would first ask what time period are we talking about and what part of the country? Historically the Klan has been made up of Democrats, but I would not go so far as to say they were leftist or progressive Democrats. There are very few actual Klansmen today and the appearance of a sheet/hood or actual Klan rally draws the media like ticks to a deer.

In my opinion, anyone who judges a person or group solely based on their race without specific evidence to support their judgment is a racist. Race is a social construct that I believe has very little actual meaning but is often used by people who are trying to exercise influence or gain power over others by emphasizing differences in people. Racial and ethnic purity are ridiculous notions and I look upon anyone who espouses beliefs in either concept of purity as being woefully ignorant of both biology and history.

To the point in the OP, the person who fired the shot: they will need to articulate that they reasonably believed that they were in fear of imminent bodily injury or death of their neighbor. Once that threshold is met, they will need to deal with the inevitable repercussions of civil justice and uncivil retribution.

Thanks for sharing. I like to focus on those things that make us Americans. Our Constitution, our history (good and bad), our vision of justice and how we can make all of these things work for the betterment of our fellow citizens and the world.

Be safe.

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Originally Posted by Skip

What year was this?

Were there reports of black folks being hauled to the hills or gone missing during this time? Don't recall any such things in Colorado in my lifetime.

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Early 80's. Colorado. As I mentioned, I was a 13-14 year old kid. I didn't read the papers or follow the news diligently, so I don't know off the top of my head about local activity like you mention. I know there was dynamite and pipe-bomb material, and that's about it.

ETA: So as not to further derail this thread from the OP question/topic, I have sent Skip a link to a relevant news story concerning my response to him. Our side discussion seems to have been a distraction.
Carry on gentlemen.

The Klan was quite active where I grew up. Well into the 1980's. I had a relative who was a member. He was also a police officer. I have seen crosses burnt on the lawn of homes. I also remember one instance of a runaway bulldozer destroy the home of a colored family. There was even a big low income housing project going up that mysteriously burned to the ground. Twice.

I couldn't tell if they were democrats or republicans.

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Originally Posted by cstone

I grew up in Baltimore, Maryland. Taneytown and Westminster Maryland were both long term strongholds for the Klan. I have met Klansmen and witnessed a cross burning on a front lawn of a home in Hampden (a blue collar neighborhood in Baltimore). As to who are Klansmen, I would first ask what time period are we talking about and what part of the country? Historically the Klan has been made up of Democrats, but I would not go so far as to say they were leftist or progressive Democrats. There are very few actual Klansmen today and the appearance of a sheet/hood or actual Klan rally draws the media like ticks to a deer.

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Rising Sun, Maryland was also a big Klan area. And by that I mean that there was a small group of sad pathetic folks blaming others for their own issues. Same thing, big Democrat area.

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Originally Posted by Skip

The racist isn't "our ranks" and never was.

I'm about damned tired of the presumption the KKK is a manifestation of "the Right." It's not. And again, never was. And I reject an argument that Conservatives are all closeted KKKers held in check by others who "police our own."

Show of hands... How many of you have seen a KKKer in the wild? How many of you have heard someone say "let's go burn down that black family's house!" I've been to rallies, gun shows, on multiple discussion boards, and I've never seen it/heard it/read it.

We don't see Republicans destroying things because Republicans are trying to maintain a thing they love. Democrats are beating people, burning things, and destroying because they are trying to destroy something they hate. It's a manifestation of values, and yes, it's just that simple. There isn't some hidden hand keeping Conservatives/Republicans in line.

Don't get me wrong, Conservatives may very well use violence. But it would be the last resort after all other measures have failed and it would have to be legitimized (self defense, declaration of war, etc).

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I'm with you Skip on this. I'm really not a fan of Adams for the very reasons outlined by Skip...he's projecting leftist "values" and behavior - hate, intolerance, divisiveness, racism, etc - on to the right. He does it in a way that makes people think he's middle of the road, thought provoking, reasonable, etc. Maybe it's just me, but I don't buy it.

Conservatives are generally respectful of the property and rights and beliefs of others, even when they disagree. Admittedly, so are some on the left. The reason you don't see conservatives rioting is because they believe, and know, it's inherently wrong and it isn't the appropriate to not only behave, but to problem solve. To conservatives, the process, ie the rule of law, still means something. The left simply believes the end justifies the means.

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Originally Posted by Bailey Guns

I'm with you Skip on this. I'm really not a fan of Adams for the very reasons outlined by Skip...he's projecting leftist "values" and behavior - hate, intolerance, divisiveness, racism, etc - on to the right. He does it in a way that makes people think he's middle of the road, thought provoking, reasonable, etc. Maybe it's just me, but I don't buy it.

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Not just you. Add me to the list.

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Originally Posted by Gman

Not just you. Add me to the list.

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Me too.

I'm reading some people have had experiences but we don't know that they were tied to Republicans or Conservatives.

Very different from my upbringing in the 80s in Aurora, btw.

I don't doubt there are violent racists/KKKers. I reject the association to Conservatives and that's why I posted my reaction to Adams's piece. I think he could have used other examples but perhaps it's hard to find an example of Conservatives beating someone unconscious because of his political beliefs. Or shooting a cop in cold blood.

For example, I have yet to see the Conservative version of this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NGOluij2tk