What's especially abhorrent to me - and, I suspect, many other Americans - is the utterly politicization of absolutely everything. Even worse that it continues to suck the air out of the room. No disrespect to Mr. Savodnik, but why does Brittney Griner merit so much attention whereas the Americans left behind in the chaotic Afghanistan w…
What's especially abhorrent to me - and, I suspect, many other Americans - is the utterly politicization of absolutely everything. Even worse that it continues to suck the air out of the room. No disrespect to Mr. Savodnik, but why does Brittney Griner merit so much attention whereas the Americans left behind in the chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal merited almost none? Why is so little attention being paid to continuing and possibly worsening problem of Fentanyl addiction, which has been a problem for years before the Minneapolis incident that lit so many fires? I read recently that the yearly death toll for that horrific drug now matches the same number of deaths suffered annually by American soldiers during World War II - the addiction problem in the country has indeed reached that magnitude. Indeed, people were raising the subject before Trump first ran for office.
And yet, Pete Buttigieg persists in alleging that racism in the nation's highway system is a major problem. A recent Tucker Carlson segment unflinchingly and honestly addressed the most recent tragedy in Memphis, honest conversation about the realties of the situation. Defund the police? That idea should been strangled in its crib fifteen nanoseconds after birth. Who suffered worst? The very people that the initiative was alleged to help. And it should have been obvious from the very beginning - I mean, why on earth do we have a police force in the first place?
This has been around for awhile. A few years ago, the mass murder of dozens by a lone gunman in Las Vegas quickly disappeared from the pages of the nation's newspapers - as if those lives weren't worthy of attention. And yet, a single tragic death in Minneapolis continued on and on.
Reality bites. And it will continue to bite harder until enough of us take notice and start acting accordingly.
Mainly referenced in regard to the interstate highway systems being cut through city neighborhoods. In NYC, the Cross-Bronx expressway cut through the heart of several neighborhood, the same problem happened in downtown Boston when the central artery went through. A very real problem, but there was no racial or low-income issue here. When the Cross Island/ Belt Parkway was built around the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens, many far wealthier residents were eminent-domained away from their waterfront property by a six-lane highway.
Buttigieg's latest gripe regards highways in other states, but the issue has been around since the 1930's. Tough call, as to what to about it. Check out the traffic flow if you can on Long Island, New York in the middle of a workday. That's WITH the Cross Island expressway intact. Eliminate that? I can't imagine. Driving that stretch of highway is a nightmare as it is. (I know. I've driven it.)
There's no racial animus here. But it does continue to sell newspapers.
"There's no racial animus here. But it does continue to sell newspapers."
And more importantly it helps to win elections by distracting a populace (with the attention span of a gnat) by paying lip service to heroic initiatives aiming to address the lingering injustices heaped upon poor, suffering minority populations by the evil white power structure. Or something.
Read the biography of Robert Moses by Robert Caro. (The Power Broker). Jaw dropping. If you live in NYC this book would blow your mind. Moses really did build the overpasses too low for buses to pass under among many other disturbing and fascinating things.
What's especially abhorrent to me - and, I suspect, many other Americans - is the utterly politicization of absolutely everything. Even worse that it continues to suck the air out of the room. No disrespect to Mr. Savodnik, but why does Brittney Griner merit so much attention whereas the Americans left behind in the chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal merited almost none? Why is so little attention being paid to continuing and possibly worsening problem of Fentanyl addiction, which has been a problem for years before the Minneapolis incident that lit so many fires? I read recently that the yearly death toll for that horrific drug now matches the same number of deaths suffered annually by American soldiers during World War II - the addiction problem in the country has indeed reached that magnitude. Indeed, people were raising the subject before Trump first ran for office.
And yet, Pete Buttigieg persists in alleging that racism in the nation's highway system is a major problem. A recent Tucker Carlson segment unflinchingly and honestly addressed the most recent tragedy in Memphis, honest conversation about the realties of the situation. Defund the police? That idea should been strangled in its crib fifteen nanoseconds after birth. Who suffered worst? The very people that the initiative was alleged to help. And it should have been obvious from the very beginning - I mean, why on earth do we have a police force in the first place?
This has been around for awhile. A few years ago, the mass murder of dozens by a lone gunman in Las Vegas quickly disappeared from the pages of the nation's newspapers - as if those lives weren't worthy of attention. And yet, a single tragic death in Minneapolis continued on and on.
Reality bites. And it will continue to bite harder until enough of us take notice and start acting accordingly.
Thank you for this intelligent, eloquent, and spot-on reply.
Bari, I nominate John Q Liberty as the next guest post writer for CS.
You're much too kind. Immensely appreciative of your lovely compliment.
I second that excellent post
Racism in our highway system?? Please say more as I’ve not heard this one.
Mainly referenced in regard to the interstate highway systems being cut through city neighborhoods. In NYC, the Cross-Bronx expressway cut through the heart of several neighborhood, the same problem happened in downtown Boston when the central artery went through. A very real problem, but there was no racial or low-income issue here. When the Cross Island/ Belt Parkway was built around the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens, many far wealthier residents were eminent-domained away from their waterfront property by a six-lane highway.
Buttigieg's latest gripe regards highways in other states, but the issue has been around since the 1930's. Tough call, as to what to about it. Check out the traffic flow if you can on Long Island, New York in the middle of a workday. That's WITH the Cross Island expressway intact. Eliminate that? I can't imagine. Driving that stretch of highway is a nightmare as it is. (I know. I've driven it.)
There's no racial animus here. But it does continue to sell newspapers.
"There's no racial animus here. But it does continue to sell newspapers."
And more importantly it helps to win elections by distracting a populace (with the attention span of a gnat) by paying lip service to heroic initiatives aiming to address the lingering injustices heaped upon poor, suffering minority populations by the evil white power structure. Or something.
Spot on. And millions of us keep falling for this magic trick. (Shame on us.)
Purportedly bridges were constructed in Brooklyn (I believe) in the 1920s or 30s that inhibited the ability of POC to get to the beach.
Read the biography of Robert Moses by Robert Caro. (The Power Broker). Jaw dropping. If you live in NYC this book would blow your mind. Moses really did build the overpasses too low for buses to pass under among many other disturbing and fascinating things.
https://www.history.com/news/interstate-highway-system-infrastructure-construction-segregation is a good start.
Oh, this is old news imo. Not like we can time travel back and stop the highway construction. Time to look forward to solutions to today’s issues.
That wouldn't be my go-to source for attempting to prove that highways are racist.