A question for white southerners - Page 9

galaxguy · #81 (**permalink**) 07-07-2008, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by siddhartha

The degree of devastation is not even remotely comparable and completely changes the equation. There is no way to compare the two.

The people in the midwest went to the hardware store for supplies and drove to the levees and the flood plane to do the work.

The Katrina victims couldn't defend their property. They had to evacuate. Afterwards, they couldn't go to the hardware store because it was destroyed with everything else. When you've lost everything - every physical possession - your home - your job - you're in basic survival mode.

Believe me, a good number of those victims were "conservative" and they couldn't do any different than the "liberals". I think if you went there and saw it first hand, you would have a better understanding.

While I have not been there first hand, my father has and he agreed with the statement I just made.

Second, the devastation in the Mississippi valley is still comparable. Entire towns are under water.

Third, my point was that the peole in the Midwest accepted responsability and either fought or evacuated. The people in New Orleans, just complained that the government was failing them. That is the difference between liberals and conservatives.

Zaro · #82 (**permalink**) 07-07-2008, 09:56 PM

What I get so far is that southern whites see blacks as needy and less resourceful than themselves. But that's not racism. How would you make up for wages that should have been paid a hundred years ago? For educational opportunities their great grandparents should have had and passed the value of education on to their children?

**SpotsCat** · #83 (**permalink**) 07-07-2008, 10:13 PM

Although I tend to agree with "galaxguy" and the above comments, there are two fundamental differences I'd like to point out --

A flood generally comes with some warning - usually the river begins to rise, weather forecasters monitor the levels of rain upstream, and usually predict with a good deal of accuracy when the river should crest at any given point. While there are such things as flash floods, these are the exception rather than the rule on the Mississippi River. A hurricane starts out as a prediction as to when and where it will make landfall. As time progresses, the forecasts become more accurate and precise as to when and where, but in the beginning... it's pretty much a big guessing game.

Katrina was basically a big F-4 tornado with lots of rain accompanying it. New Orleans survived Katrina, but was devastated by the levees that broke and allowed what was essentially flash flooding to occur in parts of New Orleans.

Second, is that a hurricane generally does its destruction and moves on. Katrina made landfall on the Gulf coast about sunrise, but by sunset it had moved on. A flood though, lasts, and lasts, and lasts. Whereas a hurricane is over and gone in a day, a flood can last a number of weeks - which imposes a psychological stress on its victims unlike that of most other natural disasters.

catawba · #84 (**permalink**) 07-07-2008, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zaro

A lot of Southern whites vote Republican and it's common knowledge that a lot of those folks have racial anxieties, to say the least. So my question is: What do Southern whites think they're actually getting by voting GOP? It's not as if Republicans in Washington have made the world safe for segregation again. Somewhere deep down in their shriveled little hearts they must know that Reagan was just talking in Philadelphia, Miss. and that a roll-back of civil rights isn't going to happen. On the economic front the GOP doesn't deliver and it's more like vote Southern pride and get SS privatization. So again, what's your reason for voting GOP?

I am white and live in Virginia just below the Mason/Dixon line, so I suppose that qualifies me as Southern. However, I have never voted Republican in my life. Now, I will be the first to admit that we have a lot of Republicans in our state, but I am very proud to say our state voted a Democrat, Jim Webb into the Senate this year. I attribute this to increased urban population in Northern Virginia and the Tidewater area. As with National elections, rural areas tend to vote Republican, and the urban areas tend to vote for Democrats. I am fairly confident Virginia will go for Obama in November, even though our state has historically been a red state in presidential elections. I am so hopeful for the first time in such a long while, I can hardly contain myself!

catawba · #85 (**permalink**) 07-07-2008, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by White Fox

Exactly. It's not the reason why Southerners vote Republican.

I'm also at a loss on what racist policies the Republican party promotes. Maybe someone could fill me in?

I agree with White Fox that racism is not why Southern people vote Republican. Here in Virginia at least, its usually because they are won over by hot button issues like guns, religion, taxes, Mom, and apple pie.

**SpotsCat** · #86 (**permalink**) 07-07-2008, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zaro

What I get so far is that southern whites see blacks as needy and less resourceful than themselves. But that's not racism. How would you make up for wages that should have been paid a hundred years ago? For educational opportunities their great grandparents should have had and passed the value of education on to their children?

Let's change just two words and see how this paragraph reads --

Quote:

What I get so far is that Texans see Mexicans as needy and less resourceful than themselves. But that's not racism. How would you make up for wages that should have been paid a hundred years ago? For educational opportunities their great grandparents should have had and passed the value of education on to their children.

Hmmm... I'm beginning to notice some similarities here!

Speaking of similarities, what do Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, North Carolina, and South Carolina have in common?

Would you believe that these four states have joined with the Lone Star state, and have voted Republican in every Presidential election since 1976 - 32 years ago?

Not only that, but Texas was the seventh state to secede from the Union - ahead of Virginia, Arkansas, North Carolina, and Tennessee - and joined the Confederacy on March 2nd, 1861.

Perhaps when you label people "Southerners", you need to include yourself in the mix.

Zaro · #87 (**permalink**) 07-07-2008, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpotsCat

Let's change just two words and see how this paragraph reads --

Lets not. Dodge the topic.

Zaro · #88 (**permalink**) 07-07-2008, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpotsCat

Perhaps when you label people "Southerners", you need to include yourself in the mix.

I didn't wanna say rednecks and maybe offend anybody. I don't vote GOP

Whaler17 · #89 (**permalink**) 07-08-2008, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zaro

I didn't wanna say rednecks and maybe offend anybody. I don't vote GOP

Say what you want, nobody listens to you anyway!

Zaro · #90 (**permalink**) 07-08-2008, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Whaler17

Say what you want, nobody listens to you anyway!

I just love it when you talk as if you were in charge. What are you wearing, Toots?

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