Southern Strategy Essays - Politics Of The Southern United States

Southern Strategy The causes and consequences of the Southern Strategy as it relates to African-Americans and the American political system. Richard Nixon's Southern Strategy (or as the Nixon administration would call it positive polarization) of the 1960s was a political platform that provided the final push in transforming the the party of Lincoln into the political party greatly favored by the great grandsons of the old Confederacy. This strategy was aimed at getting support from the traditionally Democratic South by promising not to promote sweeping social or economic changes in race relations. Nixon argued that he supported equality however, he was against big government. Meaning, he was not in favor of enforcing the civil rights or integration laws. He was against forced busing and affirmative action. Once Nixon was elected he eliminated the timeline requirements for compliance with affirmative action and integration laws using this strategy. Nixon assigned the task of promoting positive polarization to his vice president Spiro Agnew. This promotion caused great tension against blacks amongst whites (Spiro would sen d representatives into white communities disguised as minority advocates to inform them of government programs created to help minorities at the tax payer's expense). Nixon also promoted black capitalism in an effort to separate middle class blacks from poor blacks. Nixon's strategy fueled on racial jealousies was successful. It helped the GOP win five of the past eight presidential elections. It re-established the two-party system, which was once predominantly, the Democratic South. In 1994 it helped the GOP end the 40-year democratic rule in congress. Why the significance of the new Black Conservatism within the context of the Southern Strategy combined with American politics becoming more conservative in the post 1960s era. The growth in ethnic minorities in this country threatens the very existence of the Republican Party, and the presence of Black Conservatism is vital to its survival. The shadow of the Southern Strategy and radical right association of David Duke, and Pat Buchanan has most definitely reprieved the faces of most non-whites to the GOP. The Republican Party got a glimpse of the political future last fall when a larger than expected number of minority voter turnout helped the Democratic Party gain five congressional seats, and unseated two Republican governors in the deep south. Which brings us to why Black Conservatism is becoming more conservative in the post 1960s era. There is not anything new about the political philosophy of Black Conservatives. They merely repeat long-standing white conservative and neoconservative arguments. However, what is new in Black conservatives' analyses is that it is Black people developing an implicitly racist rationale for placing limits on social policies. The rational goes as follows: ? Although lingering racism still exists, thanks to the victories of the civil rights struggles, racial discrimination is no longer a critical obstacle to Black progress. We can speak of a racist American past, but not of a racist contemporary America. ? African American demands for equal opportunity made during the civil rights era now go too far in demanding equal outcomes. A non-discriminatory America does not ensure equal outcomes. Capitalism maximizes skill and talent and any differences among ethnic groups, or between genders, is a function of each group's particular strengths and weaknesses. ? Today's problems of race relations and Black poverty cannot be remedied by government policy alone. The roots of today's problems are located first and foremost within African Americans: in our inability to successfully compete in a free market system, in the poor values and irresponsible and offensive behavior of poor Blacks, in our psychological hang-ups about group identity and past victimization, and/or in our failure to take full advantage of existing opportunities. In this light, not only are government social welfare and legal remedies, such as affirmative action programs, unnecessary, they are detrimental to the development of Black people. Social welfare programs destroy Black families, foster debilitating dependency, and reward irresponsible behavior. ? Affirmative action programs lower Black self-esteem since whites will always diminish Black accomplishment as reflecting only affirmative action imperatives and Black beneficiaries of affirmative action programs can never be fully confident that their success stems from their talent. These programs are also detrimental to Blacks because of the white (male) resentment they engender. Affirmative action has, in Southern Strategy Essays - Politics Of The Southern United States Southern Strategy The causes and consequences of the "Southern Strategy" as it relates to African-Americans and the American political system. Richard Nixon's "Southern Strategy" (or as the Nixon administration would call it "positive polarization") of the 1960s was a political platform that provided the final push in transforming the "the party of Lincoln" into the political party greatly favored by the great grandsons of the old Confederacy. This strategy was aimed at getting support from the traditionally Democratic South by promising not to promote sweeping social or economic changes in race relations. Nixon argued that he supported equality however, he was against "big government". Meaning, he was not in favor of enforcing the civil rights or integration laws. He was against forced busing and affirmative action. Once Nixon was elected he eliminated the timeline requirements for compliance with affirmative action and integration laws using this strategy. Nixon assigned the task of promoting "positive polarization" to his vice president Spiro Agnew. This promotion caused great tension against blacks amongst whites (Spiro would send representatives into white communities disguised as minority advocates to inform them of government programs created to help minorities at the tax payer's expense). Nixon also promoted black capitalism in an effort to separate middle class blacks from poor blacks. Nixon's strategy fueled on racial jealousies was successful. It helped the GOP win five of the past eight presidential elections. It re-established the two-party system, which was once predominantly, the Democratic South. In 1994 it helped the GOP end the 40-year democratic rule in congress. Why the significance of the new Black Conservatism within the context of the "Southern Strategy" combined with American politics becoming more conservative in the post 1960s era. The growth in ethnic minorities in this country threatens the very existence of the Republican Party, and the presence of Black Conservatism is vital to its survival. The shadow of the "Southern Strategy" and radical right association of David Duke, and Pat Buchanan has most definitely reprieved the faces of most non-whites to the GOP. The Republican Party got a glimpse of the political future last fall when a larger than expected number of minority voter turnout helped the Democratic Party gain five congressional seats, and unseated two Republican governors in the deep south. Which brings us to why Black Conservatism is becoming more conservative in the post 1960s era. There is not anything new about the political philosophy of Black Conservatives. They merely repeat long-standing white conservative and neoconservative arguments. However, what is new in Black conservatives' analyses is that it is Black people developing an implicitly racist rationale for placing limits on social policies. The rational goes as follows: ? Although lingering racism still exists, thanks to the victories of the civil rights struggles, racial discrimination is no longer a critical obstacle to Black progress. We can speak of a racist American past, but not of a racist contemporary America. ? African American demands for equal opportunity made during the civil rights era now go too far in demanding equal outcomes. A non-discriminatory America does not ensure equal outcomes. Capitalism maximizes skill and talent and any differences among ethnic groups, or between genders, is a function of each group's particular strengths and weaknesses. ? Today's problems of race relations and Black poverty cannot be remedied by government policy alone. The roots of today's problems are located first and foremost within African Americans: in our inability to successfully compete in a free market system, in the poor values and irresponsible and offensive behavior of poor Blacks, in our psychological hang-ups about group identity and past victimization, and/or in our failure to take full advantage of existing opportunities. In this light, not only are government social welfare and legal remedies, such as affirmative action programs, unnecessary, they are detrimental to the development of Black people. Social welfare programs destroy Black families, foster debilitating dependency, and reward irresponsible behavior. ? Affirmative action programs lower Black self-esteem since whites will always diminish Black accomplishment as reflecting only affirmative action imperatives and Black beneficiaries of affirmative action programs can never be fully confident that their success stems from their talent. These programs are also detrimental to Blacks because of the white (male) resentment they engender. Affirmative action has, in any case, only benefited more advantaged Blacks. ? The appropriate strategy for African Americans is one focusing on self -help. First, we need to de-emphasize racial identity and loyalty in favor of an American identity. Second, African Americans should compete on the basis of merit only. Third, we need to de-emphasize government programs and civil rights legislation in favor

Femenism Essays

Femenism Essays Femenism Essay Femenism Essay Is a very strong component In the three short stories that were studied In class. The stories consisted of The Story of an Hour, The Yellow Wallpaper and The Vanishing Princess. All of the stories possessed a female protagonist who was somewhat dominated by a male figure. Even though the female characters have completely different backgrounds, they all seemed to be in similar situations. To understand the nature of the stories we must look at them under a feminist perspective. This allows us to see the negative affect that that the men had on the omen in the story. In every story there was a man who degraded the female protagonist and even though they were done is different ways, it resulted in the female mentally, or physically disappearing. In The Story of an Hour the female protagonist Mrs.. Louise Mallard was a normally married woman when she was told about her husbands death and started to feel different emotions then she expected. She said It over and over under her breath: free, free, free! She felt little to no sorrow, but rather had an Insurmountable feeling of freedom and prosperity. : She legalized that throughout her marriage she had been Limited and confined, but It was not by her husband directly. She felt that she was confined to the marriage, and that being married to someone limited her soul and her wellbeing. There would be no one to live for during the next coming years, she would live for herself. With the Joy and excitement that came with this realization, she was looking forward to her next chapter in her life when the husband showed up on her front door and everything she wanted out of life vanished into thin air. The moment ended up being too much or her already weakened heart, so she passed away in result of heart failure. In The Vanishing Princess the Protagonist Is a princess who doesnt have any human traits like e. G. Eating, or time keeping. So throughout the story, the male soldiers who pass by end up putting their Ideas of women and how they should be on the princess until she finally doesnt recognize herself and she ends up questioning her identity along with her existence until she ultimately disappears. The main difference between the two characters is that the princess in getting imprisoned by the male ideology in the rising action, while Mrs.. Mallard is getting free. The major similarities in the characters are that they both are being changed by the men or their relationship to them until they can no longer bear it and end up disappearing. In the story The Yellow Wallpaper our female protagonist is being put down and degraded by the two male characters. Both characters are close to her and they both have a higher position in authority. She Is mentally Ill and her husband and brother who happen to be doctors are trying to cure her. And I know John would think It absurd. But I must say what I feel and think In some way. Throughout the story she Is trying to share her Ideas on how to cure herself, but by being a female In a male-immolated world ten men put tenet Ideas AT now a woman snouts Olsten Ana follow a mans lead he (the husband) is very careful and loving, he hardly lets me stir without special directions. She is constantly ignored until she ultimately loses her sanity completely and ends up possibly killing one of her doctors. The main difference in the characters is that they all ended up disappearing in their own way after being confined in the male dominated society. This showed that they were not pappy with the way they were being treated so they escaped in in whichever way they could. The similarities in between the characters is that they were all under the domination of a male figure and they all ended up failing to cope with confinement that came with being degraded as a female. Every woman did what they could to find their way out. In conclusion the three stories that we discussed, all three female protagonists were confined to a male dominated society and they each found their way out of it. Each character had a different setting and back story, but they all went wrought the same degraded and limited lifestyle. Mrs.. Mallard was limited in what she felt she could do in her life because of her marriage.