The topic of Critical Race Theory has been in the news a lot lately as Republicans want to create a false issue to motivate their racist voters. In fact, 26 states have introduced bills that would restrict teaching critical race theory and limit how teachers can discuss racism and sexism — link. That is true even though it’s doubtful CRT is being taught in K-12 public schools — link and link. That’s not preventing Republicans from trying to whip Republican voters into a false frenzy. Many Republican midterm candidates are running against CRT using the false premise kids are being taught "to hate our country." They also claim this is an effort to blame white people for events hundreds of years ago.
We’ve seen this movie many times before. Republicans are once again trying to paint themselves as the party of “family values” “Christian values” “American values” and “patriotism” by creating a false boogeyman.
We Democrats have been fighting this political battle for decades. It’s a battle we should be able to win, but often don’t.
We Democrats shouldn’t cede the values debate to Republicans. It’s a debate
we should win hands down.
The Democratic agenda is the moral one because it aims to create a more equal world by building people up, not tearing some people down.
I’m not an expert on Critical Race Theory. As I understand it, I believe Republicans are using it in a way that allows their voters to think it’s anything they want it to be. David Theo Goldberg in the Boston Review notes CRT functions "as an empty signifier for any talk of race and racism at all." I probably do not understand it all either, but it seems to me CRT was developed as a legal theory
and not a policy one.
This appears to be another Republican effort to create an artificial frenzy they can use to get their racist voters to the polls. After all, these racist voters are not going to be motivated to go out and vote against Joe Biden’s economic agenda because it's fairly popular. In an article in the Orlando Sentinel, Leonard Pitts correctly states CRT is taught in law school not grade school and he has harsh words for those who think this fake frenzy is our most serious threat “as the planet burns, as the pandemic decimates, as the rich get richer and as the random bullets fly, think their children’s greatest threat arises from an obscure academic doctrine?”
I also agree “not one of these neo-confederates waging war on CRT would be able to pass a quiz explaining what it is or isn't.”
Maybe Democrats should straight up say CRT is legal theory and isn’t taught in schools, but other race related topics are and so what? Maybe Democrats should talk about why the topic of racism is so offensive to Republicans? Why would anyone fear efforts to reduce racial injustice?
I don’t have any better answers than you do. I’ve had some god-awful encounters with Republican voters that offer some insights. Today, it seems Republican voters are fixated on immigration and race. Underneath it all seems a false perception people get “stuff for free” but “we have to pay for ours.” They want to make the world more equal not by building everyone up, but by tearing some people down. Democrats want to make the world more equal by building everyone up. Which of these approaches represents family values?
There’s nothing left of the Republican Party except race, abortion, conspiracy theories, and “who gets what for free we have to pay for.” It’s nothing but a big empty ball of rage. What will it take before enough people wake up and realize there are no goodies inside that big empty ball of rage?
If you spend a few political minutes around a Republican voter, chances are you’ll learn about who they hate. If you spend a few political minutes around a Democrat, you’ll learn who they love. Again which better represents our values?
D = The party of WE
R = The party of ME
I have wondered what the physical and mental health impact of being so motivated by the politics of rage are? I’m human and I get angry. I get angry at Republicans and at corporations. But I’m mostly motivated by wanting to make the world better for other people and for myself. I sense the same is true for Democrats I talk to.
But back to the question why would anyone be afraid of a new generation coming along who works to right the wrongs of the past? They wouldn’t, unless they were focused on something else besides building a better world. I’ve explained why I believe many Republican voters are not.
I’m not old enough to remember elections much before 1980. I think Reagan taught the mostly white middle class they should not feel guilty about tax cuts, even if it resulted in spending cuts for things people need. He told people “we declared war on poverty and poverty won.” Let’s cut taxes and cut those programs they don’t help anyway! In a way, I think he helped delegitimize public welfare and he helped legitimize indifference. I remember Reagan’s welfare queen and how it was used to help convince people welfare recipients were lazy, undeserving people.
The old anti-communist Republican Party is dead. Those people are now mostly Democrats. The old big business Republican Party is also dead, except in corporate boardrooms.
There is an ongoing debate about whether Trump and Trumpism is primarily the result of economic anxiety or racism. I’ll weigh in. I was sympathetic to the idea economic anxiety played some role because I know what’s happened to the middle class. I know the rich and corporations ran way with everything while most people got screwed. However……..anyone who is focused on economic anxiety would vote for the party that wants to build everyone up (Democratic) and not the party that wants to tear people down (Republican).
I guess that’s what I think it’s all about. It’s all about “who gets stuff for free we have to pay for.” It’s all about “doesn’t anyone want to help white people anymore?” The country is gradually becoming more aware of racial injustices. There is more discussion about it than ever before. Some people are responding by choosing to learn and joining “the party of WE.” Others are reacting by going into a “what about white people” frenzy and joining the “party of ME.” But that’s my perspective based on my own experiences and I am only one person. I don’t have the full picture! That’s why your comments are welcome!