Stop using Bobby Jindal as a model minority myth bludgeon

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Saturday February 28, 2009 · 10:14 AM PST

2009/02/28 · 10:14

The first thing to say is that Bobby Jindal's ideas are unworkable, ideologically rigid and completely out of touch with what the country needs. That being said, the criticism of his speaking style and mannerisms has gotten out of hand - I thought the whole thing had passed until I saw a front page post mocking his preparation to speak last night.

Let me make clear in no uncertain terms that the community is hitting a very raw nerve with an Asian-American, because the criticism has very strong elements of the typical way that hard-working, honest Asian-American leaders are dismissed.

tedit

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Saturday June 21, 2008 · 12:41 AM PDT

2008/06/21 · 00:41

I have to admit that the amount of vitriol leveled at our Democratic Leaders over FISA on Kos yesterday is a bit jarring. It is one thing to dislike this bill as a matter of political principle; it's quite another to stop working for our candidate over what seems to be a trivial issue to me.

It's never been clearly articulated to me how combating telecoms immunity or warrantless overseas wiretapping is consistent with any core Democratic values. It's never been clearly articulated to me why Kos front-pagers spend an inordinate amount of time on an issue that I, a proud liberal, really don't care about.

So here's my reasons why FISA/telecoms immunity never mattered to me and why the controversy is puzzling. I'd like an explanation as to why people are so angry.

Update: I'd like to thank everyone who commented for a spirited discussion and defense of their position. While I remain unconvinced that this is the battle we need to be fighting in the face of the many other calamities and opportunities our country faces, I'm glad people took the time.

tedit

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Sunday May 25, 2008 · 6:15 PM PDT

2008/05/25 · 18:15

Democracy (Miriam-Webster):

1 a: government by the people; especially : rule of the majority b: a government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation usually involving periodically held free elections

Let's be very, very clear here. The rule of the majority is a big part of "democracy" but it is not synonymous. And I'm going to detail why majoritarian rule is a stupid idea, and what distinguishes liberal democracy, and particularly our federal democracy, from majoritarian rule.

The Senate is nonmajoritarian. Majority-minority congressional districts are nonmajoritarian. The requirement that supermajorities of states are necessary to change the constitution is nonmajoritarian. And the primary conventions are nonmajoritarian.

This does not mean they are undemocratic.

tedit

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Wednesday March 12, 2008 · 10:53 AM PDT

2008/03/12 · 10:53

In response to this great diary entry calling on the leaders of the Democratic party to denounce Geraldin Ferraro's comments, I would like to suggest (and I'm sorry if I missed someone's else's suggestion that we do so), that we start a letter writing campaign to all of our elected officials, particularly local congressmen and congresswomen, that these comments are patently false, indefensible, and have no place in modern American political discourse.

tedit

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Monday March 10, 2008 · 6:39 PM PDT

2008/03/10 · 18:39

There's been a lot of distressing talk in the comment threads here about the fact that paid sex between consenting adults should not be a crime in the first place, and that we should not care if our public policy makers indulge in such an activity in their private lives. This meme has extended throughout much of the liberal blogosphere, and has cast laws against prostitution stemming either from conservative moralizing crusaders or overzealous women's rights activists (see Slate's take or
Salon's take. "Liberals" who have an "enlightened" view of the personal freedom of adults argue vociferously that the state should keep out of acting against the personal moral decisions of individuals.

This is very, very wrong.

tedit

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Monday March 03, 2008 · 6:11 PM PST

2008/03/03 · 18:11

(this is my first diary! yay!)

Looking at the Rasmussen tracking reports for the general election matchups, there's clearly been an effect of the past two weeks of sparring between Obama and Clinton:

Rasmussen general election tracking polls

One company's poll does not a trend necessarily make, but I think it's quite clear that despite our optimistic talk that "having a real hashing out of issues on the front pages can only make us stronger," the continuing nomination fight is kneecapping Obama for the general election.

RSS

Stop using Bobby Jindal as a model minority myth bludgeon

Can someone explain to me why we care about FISA?

Get your words right: It's not undemocratic - it's nonmajoritarian

Contact your elected representatives about Geraldine Ferraro

The progressive case against legal prostitution

The past week has already been a disaster for Democrats