Study finds State Legislatures Dominated By white Men

[La Xinga]

Those are scars from slavery, no "privilege."

Those "scars" are precisely that privilege. Jesus Christ. What do you think is meant by privilege? Do you even know what the word means?

Really now? So more people in gov has a connection with slavery?

[Duvniask]

Those "scars" are precisely that privilege. Jesus Christ. What do you think is meant by privilege? Do you even know what the word means?

Really now? So more people in gov has a connection with slavery?

What? No.

I'm saying black people in the US are especially disadvantaged because of the legacy of slavery (meaning white privilege is certainly tied into the legacy of slavery). Slavery obviously prevented black communities from building up any sort of accumulated wealth and prevented their access to education and government, and that meant a lack of accumulated wealth to pass down to their descendants, a lack of education and a lack of representation, which in concert produced a ripple effect still being felt today, as Black people are poorer on average than Whites; they were disadvantaged from the get-go. Combine this with racial bias itself, deliberate or otherwise, and you get a black community that is on average poorer, less well-educated, has a lower standard of living and isn't represented in government (as we can clearly see from the data presented in the OP).

[Duvniask]

In other news, sky blue. Story at 10.

Apparently it's not as obvious to some.

[Munkcestrian RepubIic]

NSG is MISSING THE POINT (or, rather, that there ISN'T ONE) yet again.

State legislatures mean nothing. There are a lot of states. Most of them don't have equal populations. Minorities are concentrated in only a few. New Hampshire has 400 representatives. New Hampshire is 94% white.

[Diarcesia]

Here we go with the "white male privilege" bullshit again.

There is no such thing. I can assure you that I, a white male, have zero fucking privilege. I can also assure you that most white males in America are in the exact same boat.

It's not "white privilege". It's not "male privilege". It's rich privilege. Get it right.

There is a wealth of data that disagrees with your childish assertions, some of it being shared right on this forum (courtesy of Gravlen).

I swear, you people have zero understanding of what's meant by privilege as a social tendency; it's precisely that, a tendency, not an absolute proclamation that all men have power or that all men have higher status than women (or in the case of race, that whites by neccesity have these things). Get it right, and don't make these stupid mischaracterizations another time.

In what sense is the assertion childish? The data doesn't exactly contradict Trollzyn's argument that it's rich privilege at work, in conjunction or in place of white supremacy.

Edit:

What? No.

I'm saying black people in the US are especially disadvantaged because of the legacy of slavery (meaning white privilege is certainly tied into the legacy of slavery). Slavery obviously prevented black communities from building up any sort of accumulated wealth and prevented their access to education and government, and that meant a lack of accumulated wealth to pass down to their descendants, a lack of education and a lack of representation, which in concert produced a ripple effect still being felt today, as Black people are poorer on average than Whites; they were disadvantaged from the get-go. Combine this with racial bias itself, deliberate or otherwise, and you get a black community that is on average poorer, less well-educated, has a lower standard of living and isn't represented in government (as we can clearly see from the data presented in the OP).

Same arguments, and we arrived at different conclusions.

[Qabea]

I mean. Just encourage more women to pursue a career path in politics.

[Rusozak]

I thought it was a joke at first. Like, it's obvious right? It's always been a hegemony of wrinkly old white men . Did they really need a study to confirm it?

[La Xinga]

Really now? So more people in gov has a connection with slavery?

What? No.

I'm saying black people in the US are especially disadvantaged because of the legacy of slavery (meaning white privilege is certainly tied into the legacy of slavery). Slavery obviously prevented black communities from building up any sort of accumulated wealth and prevented their access to education and government, and that meant a lack of accumulated wealth to pass down to their descendants, a lack of education and a lack of representation, which in concert produced a ripple effect still being felt today, as Black people are poorer on average than Whites; they were disadvantaged from the get-go. Combine this with racial bias itself, deliberate or otherwise, and you get a black community that is on average poorer, less well-educated, has a lower standard of living and isn't represented in government (as we can clearly see from the data presented in the OP).

NSG is MISSING THE POINT (or, rather, that there ISN'T ONE) yet again.

State legislatures mean nothing. There are a lot of states. Most of them don't have equal populations. Minorities are concentrated in only a few. New Hampshire has 400 representatives. New Hampshire is 94% white.

[Panslavicland]

I don't see any problem here. Maybe white men are the most qualified to serve as politicians in state legislatures.

[San Lumen]

I don't see any problem here. Maybe white men are the most qualified to serve as politicians in state legislatures.

Please tell me your not serious

[Trollzyn the Infinite]

Those are scars from slavery, no "privilege."

Those "scars" are precisely that privilege. Jesus Christ. What do you think is meant by privilege? Do you even know what the word means?

"a special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a particular person or group."

I assure you I have no special rights, advantages, or immunities in spite of being a "privileged white male". Do you know why? Because I'm fucking poor, and the poor don't matter in this country. You really think this is about race or sex? You're delusional. That's a lie the Democrats have been cooking up for decades so they don't have address the actual inequality problem in this country because they benefit from the status quo just as much as the GOP does. Where the GOP tries to push some nonsense about how there is no discrimination or inequality and that everyone who is poor just isn't working hard enough, the Dems prefer to appeal to the progressive and minority votes by claiming it's racial, sexual, or orientational because that gets them more votes.

The truth is it hasn't been about race, sex, or orientation for quite a few decades now. That wasn't the case in the 60s or earlier, but it is the case now. The only thing that matters now is the status of your wealth; anything else comes secondary or is completely trivial. A poor, white man is just as likely to struggle in America as any other poor person of any demographic. That's all that matters now: keeping us filthy poors in our place.

Yes, there is a correlation between white men and privilege because most rich folk in the country are white men who've had two centuries to build that wealth without any impediments because of their race or sex. Surprise, surprise men make up half the country and whites are over 70% of our population while having zero history of discrimination by the government. It's a no-brainer then that only 3-4 decades after the end of the major civil rights movements that the statistics have changed very little, but that has nothing to do with racism or any "privilege" by white men but because America's wealthy elite and Corporate America have been running this country since Reagan opened the doors for them to do so and they've been deliberately working hard to keep the poor in poverty and the rich wealthy while also destroying the middle class in order to expand poverty so they can have more slaves workers to abuse and manipulate.

Seeing as there weren't very many rich non-whites/women before the 80s (at least not compared to rich white men) it's no surprise then that there still aren't that many today what with wages remaining stagnant since the 70s, workers' rights being curtailed, and megacorps being allowed to operate with impunity while the rich funnel money into their chosen political candidate's pockets in order to secure their loyalty. It's hard to advance in status when you're deliberately being kept in the dirt.

Just about every issue with race and sex in America today is less about race and sex and more about class. Very few people legitimately care if you're white and male or not. But they care quite a bit if you're a filthy working-class poor. See according to our elite overlords the poor are nothing but criminals and welfare leeches that want free stuff and vote Blue because they like Socialism, or some other insipid nonsense.

This is America. For the Rich, by the Rich, with the Rich.

But the rest us? We don't matter.

[Shofercia]

Here we go with the "white male privilege" bullshit again.

There is no such thing. I can assure you that I, a white male, have zero fucking privilege. I can also assure you that most white males in America are in the exact same boat.

It's not "white privilege". It's not "male privilege". It's rich privilege. Get it right.

There is a wealth of data that disagrees with your childish assertions, some of it being shared right on this forum (courtesy of Gravlen).

I swear, you people have zero understanding of what's meant by privilege as a social tendency; it's precisely that, a tendency, not an absolute proclamation that all men have power or that all men have higher status than women (or in the case of race, that whites by neccesity have these things). Get it right, and don't make these stupid mischaracterizations another time.

I wouldn't view the ability to not get randomly beaten up or shot by a police officer as privilege. I view it as a Right. But I'm guessing that's what those who brand Constitutional Rights as privileges want - to strip us of said Rights. Yes, black males are mistreated by the system that constantly violates their Rights. However, having your Rights not violated, is NOT a privilege. It's a Right. Everything listed in Gravlen's article, with the exception of cocaine use, is a Right, NOT a privilege. As for cocaine - don't fucking use it.

Should we stand up for the Rights of blacks to not be abused by the system? Yes. But call it what it is - it's a Right, NOT a privilege.

[Salus Maior]

https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/08/politics/state-legislature-diversity-study-2020/index.html

A study from the not for profit New American Leaders has found that of the 7883 state legislators in the US 81 percent are white and 71 are male. Black legislators make up just under 10% while Latinx politicians represent about a little more than 4% and Asian Pacific Islanders about 2%. Women are about 30 percent.

I would have thought after the 2018 elections it would be much lower than that. The results were quite surprising. As to why it’s so white male dominated I do not know. Perhaps some states prefer men or men are seen as more likely to be elected?

Some progress has been made though. A record number of women are running for state legislatures this year breaking 2018’s record. Hopefully state legislatures become more diverse after this year. Here in New York both our legislative chambers has the majority caucus lead by black woman

I would assume this isn’t just a US phenomenon. I would imagine it’s the case in other countries as well though I can’t speak for them without data. Your thoughts NSG on why this is the case?

Wouldn't your solution just be "vote in more people"?

[Shofercia]

Those "scars" are precisely that privilege. Jesus Christ. What do you think is meant by privilege? Do you even know what the word means?

"a special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a particular person or group."

I assure you I have no special rights, advantages, or immunities in spite of being a "privileged white male". Do you know why? Because I'm fucking poor, and the poor don't matter in this country. You really think this is about race or sex? You're delusional. That's a lie the Democrats have been cooking up for decades so they don't have address the actual inequality problem in this country because they benefit from the status quo just as much as the GOP does. Where the GOP tries to push some nonsense about how there is no discrimination or inequality and that everyone who is poor just isn't working hard enough, the Dems prefer to appeal to the progressive and minority votes by claiming it's racial, sexual, or orientational because that gets them more votes.

The truth is it hasn't been about race, sex, or orientation for quite a few decades now. That wasn't the case in the 60s or earlier, but it is the case now. The only thing that matters now is the status of your wealth; anything else comes secondary or is completely trivial. A poor, white man is just as likely to struggle in America as any other poor person of any demographic. That's all that matters now: keeping us filthy poors in our place.

Yes, there is a correlation between white men and privilege because most rich folk in the country are white men who've had two centuries to build that wealth without any impediments because of their race or sex. Surprise, surprise men make up half the country and whites are over 70% of our population while having zero history of discrimination by the government. It's a no-brainer then that only 3-4 decades after the end of the major civil rights movements that the statistics have changed very little, but that has nothing to do with racism or any "privilege" by white men but because America's wealthy elite and Corporate America have been running this country since Reagan opened the doors for them to do so and they've been deliberately working hard to keep the poor in poverty and the rich wealthy while also destroying the middle class in order to expand poverty so they can have more slaves workers to abuse and manipulate.

Seeing as there weren't very many rich non-whites/women before the 80s (at least not compared to rich white men) it's no surprise then that there still aren't that many today what with wages remaining stagnant since the 70s, workers' rights being curtailed, and megacorps being allowed to operate with impunity while the rich funnel money into their chosen political candidate's pockets in order to secure their loyalty. It's hard to advance in status when you're deliberately being kept in the dirt.

Just about every issue with race and sex in America today is less about race and sex and more about class. Very few people legitimately care if you're white and male or not. But they care quite a bit if you're a filthy working-class poor. See according to our elite overlords the poor are nothing but criminals and welfare leeches that want free stuff and vote Blue because they like Socialism, or some other insipid nonsense.

This is America. For the Rich, by the Rich, with the Rich.

But the rest us? We don't matter.

Were you ever beaten up by cops? If not - WHITE PRIVILEGE!
Have you been discriminated against by the Government? If not - WHITE PRIVILEGE!

Wait, why's everyone laughing, several SJW's don't understand.

[Thermodolia]

Ok, why should we care exactly?

Same

More diversity doesn’t led to better lives in every situation. I’d rather have worker rights than a diverse pro rich ruling class

[San Lumen]

https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/08/politics/state-legislature-diversity-study-2020/index.html

A study from the not for profit New American Leaders has found that of the 7883 state legislators in the US 81 percent are white and 71 are male. Black legislators make up just under 10% while Latinx politicians represent about a little more than 4% and Asian Pacific Islanders about 2%. Women are about 30 percent.

I would have thought after the 2018 elections it would be much lower than that. The results were quite surprising. As to why it’s so white male dominated I do not know. Perhaps some states prefer men or men are seen as more likely to be elected?

Some progress has been made though. A record number of women are running for state legislatures this year breaking 2018’s record. Hopefully state legislatures become more diverse after this year. Here in New York both our legislative chambers has the majority caucus lead by black woman

I would assume this isn’t just a US phenomenon. I would imagine it’s the case in other countries as well though I can’t speak for them without data. Your thoughts NSG on why this is the case?

Wouldn't your solution just be "vote in more people"?

Well if certain groups don’t run they can’t be elected can they? That would be a solution

[Thermodolia]

Ok, why should we care exactly?

Legislatures ought to look like the electorate and the provinces they represent

Then change the electoral system

[Qabea]

I don't see any problem here. Maybe white men are the most qualified to serve as politicians in state legislatures.

Haha. Did my part to vote my current female state representative out of office a few moths back in the primary. The guy who won conducted a truly based campaign including mailing leaflets that illustrated all her votes against tightening my state's unusually lenient laws regarding sex offenders and how because of people like her, all the nonces from neighboring states flock here.

[Rojava Free State]

Really now? So more people in gov has a connection with slavery?

What? No.

I'm saying black people in the US are especially disadvantaged because of the legacy of slavery (meaning white privilege is certainly tied into the legacy of slavery). Slavery obviously prevented black communities from building up any sort of accumulated wealth and prevented their access to education and government, and that meant a lack of accumulated wealth to pass down to their descendants, a lack of education and a lack of representation, which in concert produced a ripple effect still being felt today, as Black people are poorer on average than Whites; they were disadvantaged from the get-go. Combine this with racial bias itself, deliberate or otherwise, and you get a black community that is on average poorer, less well-educated, has a lower standard of living and isn't represented in government (as we can clearly see from the data presented in the OP).

White privilege doesn't sound like an individual thing as much as a group thing. Like white people on average have more privilege than minorities.

[San Lumen]

Legislatures ought to look like the electorate and the provinces they represent

Then change the electoral system

The election system isn’t the problem. What makes you think it is?

[Thermodolia]

Seeing as how wealth is almost always a necessity to actually be in government, I fail to see how their genitals or skin color would make them all that representative of the common people.

Having someone whose black in the legislature would know more about issues facing their demographic and community then someone whose white

No it wouldn’t. It costs a literal fortune to get elected a rich black man isn’t going to know anything about the plight of a poor black man

[Salus Maior]

Well if certain groups don’t run they can’t be elected can they? That would be a solution

Whether someone runs or not is their own choice. Should we pressure people into running if they haven't chosen to?

[Thermodolia]

Would they though? I wouldn’t say some rich white dude in office would really understand how I, a somewhat poor white dude, live and what issues I face. Why would a rich black woman understand the life and issues a poor black woman faces?

Because these issues intersect? It doesn't all come down to one or the other.

They definitely don’t. A rich white dude won’t be able to represent a poor white guy at all

[South Odreria 2]

The parties tilt the playing field towards white candidates because they are seen as more electable, even though they aren’t.

[La Xinga]

The parties tilt the playing field towards white candidates because they are seen as more electable, even though they aren’t.

Then why is Biden trying to pick a Black VP?