I don't get this whole PoC discussion...

[polly7]

94. So HOW do you expect to even begin to address it without

even wanting to engage in talk of racial profiling, disproportionate imprisonment that not only ruins the lives of people imprisoned for decades for minor drug offences into prison-for-profit systems that destroy families left behind? And, much of the time, that person's ability to re-integrate fully back into society with all the rights they should have. This is all deliberate, anyone who doesn't believe so is hiding their head in the sand, imo. What about the POVERTY that causes much of this in the first place in many areas, also, deliberate and calculated, again and imo. You also have to RECOGNIZE the programs that helped make this all so much worse and WHO was responsible for them.

We have institutionalized racism up here too. We know what we've done to First Nations Peoples and it's very hard for many to face. We're a nation of immigrants from all over the world, yet our own First Nations people are treated far worse. All we can do now is TRY to address the things that just MAY help reduce the poverty (and hopelessness) in inner-cities, on reserves and northern posts - access to health-care, employer-hiring benefits, restoring the mandatory long-form census that revealed actual stats on poverty and the need for social programs to address, fairness in law-enforcement, etc. etc. - by listening to committees of their representatives and gov't officials to implement those changes needed. All of this takes vision and concrete steps by those who know the causes, the effects and WANT to see change for all those affected.

How exactly do you begin to help those who ARE victimized by it if you purposely ignore someone with concrete ideas to help people in real terms, and encourage others to do the same? Yes, institutionalized racism is very real ....... No, it won't be affected in one single, tiny way by denying those must vulnerable to it a chance at decent health-care, higher wages, fairness in law-enforcement, eliminating the prison-for-profit system that targets them, and on and on and on. WHY do you not want POC to even consider Sander's proposals? It doesn't even make sense. Everyone should have all information from every possible source when it's their own and their children's lives at stake, literally.

This post may not even make sense, I'm tired, but I just don't get this seeming disgust of him here by those saying he'll never be able to help POC, and when there's so much opposition posted against him even having the chance to bring forth the proposals he does, and always has, believe will improve so many lives? It's just fucking weird.