Blogs Mar 16, 2011 at 11:45 am

Comments

1
So, only reject cuts when "people of color" are disproportionately impacted?

I thought MLK talked about content of character, not color of skin. This reports should be titled "People of Cuts."
2
For once, I agree with Raindrop. You don't have to specifically highlight race. A better thing to say is that these cuts will fall disproportionally on poor people. Why make this all about "communities of color"? Poor white people will be affected by these cuts too, and wealthy people of color will not. This ain't a war on minorities, it's a war on the poor.
3
Gah. I hate to say it, but this isn't the right message to highlight... because it suggests that people of color are disproportionately benefiting from government programs now. It's just ammunition for the racist brand of "quit suckling at the government teat" idiots.

It's not true, of course; there are lots of government policies and programs that benefit white people disproportionately, and white people, on average, aren't getting hit as hard by cuts. But I have to agree that from a PR perspective, at least, the best possible way to frame the issue is "avoid cuts that hurt children, elderly, and the working poor".
4


@3
5
here is no budget crisis. There is a revenue crisis.
Look, the righties keep saying that that government should be run like a business. If you run a business, and you're receipts don't cover the costs of your materials, you have to raise your prices. It's called 'capitalism'. $100.00 dollars in materials + $10.00 in labor + $15.00 in miscellaneous overhead + your margin = the price you need to charge for that product. Same thing with government, minus the margin part.
Pretty simple concept.
6
I can't wait until the term "people of color" dies already.

If you run a business, and you're receipts don't cover the costs of your materials, you have to raise your prices


Unless no one will pay that price, which means you'll go out of business.
7
If you want to find a demographic that is disproportionately served by state funding, it's the elderly. Since the elderly are a big part of the demographic that votes to curb tax revenues, why not start by kicking gramma to the curb, especially if the curb is in Wenatchee or Moses Lake.
8
race does matter in our state. yes there is poverty, but for being 30% of the population and having more disparities in home ownership, wealth accumulation, poverty, health, education, and the justice system compared to whites. this is what "disproportionate" means - a group smaller in percentage harmed in a greater percentage. it is because of STRUCTURAL and INSTITUTIONAL RACISM that historically and currently prevents people of color from advancing economically disproportionately than their white counterparts.

before you say race doesn't matter, EDUCATE YOURSELF. don't use "color-blindness" as an excuse and be blind to what's going on.
9
Racial Disparities in WA:
--1 in 4 African Americans, Latinos, or Native Americans live in poverty (on less than $18, 300/ yr for a family of 3).
--At its current pace, it will take 45 to 50 years to close the achievement gap between students of color and their White counterparts.
--Of 31,000 people who rely on food assistance funds, 47 percent are children and 8 percent are seniors.
--In Washington, infant mortality rates among African Americans are almost twice as high compared to Whites, 8.1 deaths compared to 4.5 deaths per 1,000 live births.
10
communities of color are over represented among low-income communities in WA with one in four African Americans, Native Americans, and Latinos living in poverty—roughly $22, 050 a year for a family of four (federal poverty level).
11
Thanks to those who put together this really important report. It is clear that all low income and middle class people in our state are suffering right now. It is also clear that these cuts are disproportionately affecting people of color. it is our responsibility to demand that we live in a state that supports our whole community and fights for racial equity. This is a great tool to start our thinking. Thanks!
12
Forget skin color, these cuts fall entirely on poor people, while the wealthy continue to get tax breaks.
13
@1 and 2: Read the report. It's not pitting poor white people against poor brown people. I am sure the author and the groups that sponsored this report would all agree that they are concerned about the impacts on ALL low income people. However, it is a problem when a segment/portion/demographic of the population will be disproportionately impacted. This report focuses on impacts to people of color due to institutional and structural racism. Now I'm imaging some will argue that it is racist to point out that people of color will be disproportionately impacted, but in fact it is the opposite. If you believe in a fair and equitable society it means making sure everyone has fair and equal access. Although this report happens to focus on people of color, there is acknowledgment in the report that other segments/demographics will also be impacted. This isn't an us versus them, it's a "hey there, we're being left behind and we need you to pay attention".
14
Love the picture of the mom with the kid, where's the old man? Oh, yeah, I forgot, the traditional family structure is oppressive. How about those people of color stop breeding so goddamn much, if you can't afford a kid, don't have it.
15
If you look at the current demographics in this state, and this country, it's clearly ignorant to be "Color Blind". People of color deal with many disadvantages that come from our own prejudices stemming from centuries of institutionalized racism. The worst thing we can do is turn a blind eye to the fact that people of color still suffer economic disadvantages that stem from our undeniably racist past. Those disadvantages are much harder to address when people are "Blind" to the continuing problem. Open your eyes.

If you are poor and white, you have A LOT more in common with minorities than you do with rich people. However, the economic disadvantages that people of color suffer are more likely to continue simply based on race. All other things being equal, your chances of getting a loan from a bank, a job offer, and many other opportunities are higher, even if you're poor, just because you're white. Statistics back that up. If you don't see this as a problem, than you truly are "Color Blind" which is not a good thing.
16
@14
As a widowed mother - your comment is deeply offensive. Not every single parent is a product of divorce or unwed procreation. Good luck with that narrow scope you're viewing families through.
17
I love it “Structural & Institutionalized Racism” in all caps no less. Please explain this to me. I used to work for a Fortune 500 company and watched HR and executives go gaga trying to recruit qualified minority candidates. They can virtually write there own ticket. Whose fault is it that there are not enough qualified candidates? Since the Civil Rights act of 1964 and the Great Society programs the United States has collectively spent over a trillion dollars in trying to solve this problem. You know we bombed the Japanese and the Germans back to the stone age in WWII, yea we had the Marshall plan and all that but a drop in the $ bucket compared to are egalitarian efforts here at home. Some how they recovered and became first world. The states and the courts have forced public school funding equity. The public money spent on the urban minority kid is roughly the same as the middle class white kid in the burbs. Yet you can bet the house and farm that testing gap will not close in your lifetime. Sorry I guess it's racist to ask for a return on our collective investment. I know the facts will never stray the true believers, but then again I must go to my “The Man” secret meeting. Where we have nothing better to do then spend hours and hours trying to keep minorities down ;-)
18
It's an old but apt joke:
Imaginary Washington Post headline:
METEOR TO OBLITERATE EARTH; WOMEN AND MINORITIES HARDEST HIT

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