(https://photos.moderncities.com/Cities/Jacksonville/Miscellaneous/Miscellaneous/i-2ZzBpgz/0/MLHBjCLbB5fg5gRWzVstGzjch4dmLD2zBrCqnwrnn/X2/IMG_0684-X2.jpg)
Quote
Mayor Deegan has nominated esteemed educator and community leader Elizabeth Anderson for a volunteer position on the Jacksonville Public Library Board of Trustees. She's exactly the kind of leader the board calls for, but the nomination has drawn politically-motivated attacks and outright slander from far right politicians and activists. City Council should rise above the partisan fray and confirm the nomination.
Read more: https://www.thejaxsonmag.com/article/elizabeth-anderson-deserves-support-not-attacks/
It's the volunteer Library Board, for goodness sakes. How do they manage to make that political? And, I doubt the LB is responsible for approving every book in the library... these are volunteers not paid employees.
If they are worried about book selection, most of this library is for adults. We don't need other adults (being kind here) telling us what books we can have access to.
And, if we are talking parental rights, if a parent has a "right" to restrict their kids from accessing something the parent objects to (good luck with that... don't you know your kid can access anything on the internet... despite Florida's porn age restriction that offshore companies aren't going to follow... just like offshore gambling sites), other parents should have the "right" to demand their kids have access to the wider literary base at a more "mature" level (not all kids mature emotionally and academically at the same rate) or other experiences without such interference.
To add, the below statement by a Moms For Liberty aligned school board member is both hypocritical and comical given her crew does exactly what she accuses. I am guessing any ideologies she doesn't agree with are deemed "divisive and harmful." Thanks for deciding for all of us what that is.
Quote....One of those opposing her nomination is a current School Board member, Melody Bolduc, who told Rules members she was speaking as a private citizen and that Andersen "has a history of promoting divisive and harmful ideologies."....
....Criticism by Bolduc and others included references to circumventing parental rights and making sexually explicit reading material available to children, remarks that Andersen said don't reflect who she is....
https://www.yahoo.com/news/ex-school-board-member-elizabeth-223747357.html
Quote....Bolduc, a 24-year teacher turned homeschool advocate, runs a company that provides consulting and Christian-based curriculum for homeschooling parents. She has said she's running to hold a failing public school system accountable. She's aligned herself with Moms for Liberty, a conservative group that has pushed to restrict curricula and the availability of books in schools, and she's received Gov. DeSantis' endorsement....
https://jaxtrib.org/2024/08/20/melody-bolduc-wins-race-for-duval-school-board-district-7-seat/
Despite all this silliness, you can count on petty and partisan City Council members to oppose her, just like they are inclined to do for any action by Deegan, nowadays. Where were these Council members when Curry made his appointments to head JEA and the Children's Hope Alliance, that were forced out in disgrace. No questions about their total lack of experience or skills for the paid jobs responsible for millions and billions of dollars they were appointed to? But, a volunteer job, they suddenly think it is worth such scrutiny?
More over-the-top partisan and petty politicking on the City Council over a volunteer position on a minor board. Opponent Harper says "not about politics" and then opponent Councilman Freeman says she is "politically problematic." The latter proves, indeed, it is political and the two-faced positioning shines through, once again. No matter in our City is too small for select council members to be partisan over.
And, "civility" would include allowing views that don't necessarily comport with your own. But, not in the GOP's world of today.
GOP wants to protect the children of Jacksonville from "liberal activists." How about those who want to protect the children of Jacksonville from right-wing extremists?
Kudos to Republican council members Boylan and M. Carlucci for voting citizen interests over partisanship. Once again, if Deegan is for it, a core group of council members are against it, regardless of the merits or benefit to the citizens they serve.
QuoteCity Council panel rejects ex-Duval School Board chair Elizabeth Andersen for library board
A Jacksonville City Council committee rejected former School Board member Elizabeth Andersen's nomination to the city's library board May 19 after hearing public comments that heavily supported her.
The 3-5 vote by the Rules Committee ― with Council President Randy White joining to cast his vote nay ― means Andersen's advocates would face a significant struggle to persuade the full council to approve her selection when it meets May 27....
....But she drew the animosity of the Duval County GOP, which tweeted that the council "must protect the children of Jacksonville from liberal activists" like Andersen and was criticized by several speakers as well.
"This is not about politics. It's about civility," resident Blake Harper told the committee....
....Katie Hathaway, a Duval County schools parent and activist, told the committee Andersen had displayed "principled leadership" on the board and was the target of a "smear campaign." She also pointed to an online petition that listed about 400 people supporting Andersen...
....Among Rules members, Republicans Michael Boylan and Matt Carlucci as well as Democrat Rahman Johnson praised Andersen. Mayor's Office spokesman Phillip Perry said it was "encouraging to see a bipartisan vote in favor of Elizabeth's nomination today, along with widespread community support for her experience and qualifications. ... It's our hope that Elizabeth's nomination will be considered on the merits without undue political pressure and preconceived notions."
Committee Vice Chair Terrance Freeman referred to Andersen as one among an "unfortunate" number of mayoral nominees he considered as having baggage that made them politically problematic.
Freeman said the number seemed almost deliberate but Garrett Dennis, the Mayor's Office director of boards, said the suggestion "is just not true.
"Mayor Deegan or this administration isn't intentionally putting people out who are going to be controversial," Dennis said, saying the picks were meant to be "the best, the brightest" available.
https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/local/2025/05/19/panel-opposes-ex-school-board-member-for-jacksonville-library-board/83722395007/?utm_source=jacksonville-newsalert-strada&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsalert&utm_term=hero&utm_content=nftu-jacksonville-nletter01
This has definitely been one of the most disheartening things to witness in my time with the City. Final vote is at City Council on Tuesday, so make your voices heard.
Quote from: Tacachale on May 25, 2025, 04:15:20 PM
This has definitely been one of the most disheartening things to witness in my time with the City. Final vote is at City Council on Tuesday, so make your voices heard.
The GOP has become the party of hate, vengeance, cruelty, persecution, name calling, insults, lies, false accusations, character assassination, put-downs, self-enrichment, monied corruption, winning-at-any-cost, stepping on others to elevate themselves, favoritism - having moved far away from the Judeo-Christian values they claim to embrace. Trump and DeSantis fit the new GOP bill perfectly, knowing no bounds or limits to the nastiness they impose on others.
Dissing, disrespecting and attacking vets, minorities, immigrants, the opposition, government workers, the handicapped, the down and out, foreigners, women, gays, educators, lawyers and judges, scientists and researchers, environmentalists... the only clear pass is to white males of means. I just can't understand why 30% to 40% of people still think they are worthy of our support.
Quote from: jaxlongtimer on May 25, 2025, 05:26:46 PM
Quote from: Tacachale on May 25, 2025, 04:15:20 PM
This has definitely been one of the most disheartening things to witness in my time with the City. Final vote is at City Council on Tuesday, so make your voices heard.
The GOP has become the party of hate, vengeance, cruelty, persecution, name calling, insults, lies, false accusations, character assassination, put-downs, self-enrichment, monied corruption, winning-at-any-cost, stepping on others to elevate themselves, favoritism - having moved far away from the Judeo-Christian values they claim to embrace. Trump and DeSantis fit the new GOP bill perfectly, knowing no bounds or limits to the nastiness they impose on others.
Dissing, disrespecting and attacking vets, minorities, immigrants, the opposition, government workers, the handicapped, the down and out, foreigners, women, gays, educators, lawyers and judges, scientists and researchers, environmentalists... the only clear pass is to white males of means. I just can't understand why 30% to 40% of people still think they are worthy of our support.
Preach it, brother. The discouraging thing is how much support they are getting from the younger generations. This toxic poison is going to destroy us.
Quote from: jaxlongtimer on May 25, 2025, 05:26:46 PM
Quote from: Tacachale on May 25, 2025, 04:15:20 PM
This has definitely been one of the most disheartening things to witness in my time with the City. Final vote is at City Council on Tuesday, so make your voices heard.
The GOP has become the party of hate, vengeance, cruelty, persecution, name calling, insults, lies, false accusations, character assassination, put-downs, self-enrichment, monied corruption, winning-at-any-cost, stepping on others to elevate themselves, favoritism - having moved far away from the Judeo-Christian values they claim to embrace. Trump and DeSantis fit the new GOP bill perfectly, knowing no bounds or limits to the nastiness they impose on others.
Dissing, disrespecting and attacking vets, minorities, immigrants, the opposition, government workers, the handicapped, the down and out, foreigners, women, gays, educators, lawyers and judges, scientists and researchers, environmentalists... the only clear pass is to white males of means. I just can't understand why 30% to 40% of people still think they are worthy of our support.
I don't disagree but this is the result of an entire generation of young white men being told that they were responsible for the problems of the world. Countless times I was told growing up blatant lies that made white men appear as the spawn of all evil in the world. Words have power sure, but what really has power is checkbook. In 2021, Bloomberg reported 94% of new Fortune 500 hires were not white men. The fact of the situation is that white men are being affected quite severely in a country with a large quantity of white men.
Thus, you have unjustified attacks on people who look/act a certain way or who they believe to be taking their opportunity. This exact reason is why there aren't many historical examples of a group in power giving that up & being treated well after the fact... we just happen to be living through one of those very few examples but it hasn't fully played out yet.
Hoping for a respectful discussion!
If you take issue with what I said, then respectfully some research is needed to be done. Young men today have a suicide rate that eclipses any prior generations with white men being the vast majority in this country per the CDC. The current situation is not good for anyone & it doesn't take politics to realize that.
The fact it has spilled into politics, hence the issue at hand here, is the fundamental issue. I'd say to the dissenters to get active in politics themselves instead of sitting on the sidelines!
Shot down 5-13. Expected but still disappointing.
Quote from: Jax_Developer on May 27, 2025, 06:14:48 PM
If you take issue with what I said, then respectfully some research is needed to be done.
I don't take issue at all, I was just trying to get ahead of a possible argument. No offense intended!
Quote from: Jax_Developer on May 27, 2025, 12:52:49 PM
I don't disagree but this is the result of an entire generation of young white men being told that they were responsible for the problems of the world. Countless times I was told growing up blatant lies that made white men appear as the spawn of all evil in the world. Words have power sure, but what really has power is checkbook. In 2021, Bloomberg reported 94% of new Fortune 500 hires were not white men. The fact of the situation is that white men are being affected quite severely in a country with a large quantity of white men.
Thus, you have unjustified attacks on people who look/act a certain way or who they believe to be taking their opportunity. This exact reason is why there aren't many historical examples of a group in power giving that up & being treated well after the fact... we just happen to be living through one of those very few examples but it hasn't fully played out yet.
I am a white male and never felt the way you did growing up. What I saw and experienced was just the opposite... minorities being told they were second class or worse, clearly discriminated against in so many ways. And, women were not far behind. In my formative years, mostly what I saw running the world were white males so, I suppose, this is why so many think the buck stopped there in most cases.
I am not saying that there hasn't been overcompensation to right past wrongs in select cases. That said, I do think many white males were also raised with unrealistic expectations that the world is their oyster and anything less represents disrespect or worse, creating a certain complacency and entitlement. Many of those who find this is not how the world works, likely get depressed leading to the sad outcomes you describe.
I note that many of that alleged 94% (would like a source cite on that) are hard working immigrants that were not raised to take things for granted and women who now make up over 50% of degree candidates. When I went through college, probably 60% to 70% of students were male and very few were minorities. So, in many ways the last few decades have represented a "catching up" to rebalance the workforce to represent more the makeup of the population at-large.
This rebalancing is what affirmative action was supposed to be about. Unfortunately, it has been both misunderstood and misapplied in many cases giving it a negative connotation. The idea was simply to spread a wider net to invite a more diverse populace into the workforce that had not previously been recruited or felt welcome to apply. It was not supposed to be about quotas as long as reasonable efforts were made to be inclusive in job recruiting.
The other need for corrective action has to do with access to capital and educational opportunities. Those suffering generational poverty and under-education have lacked the "launching pad" for two major ingredients to move ahead in our capitalist society. Providing economic advancement opportunities and educational financial aid are efforts to break this repeating cycle of being in the underclass. Keep in mind, a rising tide lifts all boats so it should be a societal goal to lift up those at the bottom. Not going to work for everyone, but for many. History has taught that failure to do so is also a threat to the stability of society at some point.
Today, many jobs are going begging due to a lack of applicants or applicants willing to responsibly work to meet job requirements. Ask most any employer and you will find they are begging for good workers from anywhere. So, I don't understand anyone today that says they can't find a decent job and keep it, if they are honest, reliable, educate themselves to standards, collaborative, reasonable and manage their expectations that they aren't going to go from the mail room to CEO in 5 years or less.
Many disillusioned white males also seem to have failed to adapt to changing times and advancing technology. Today, an autoworker maybe the one who operates or maintains robots, not one that welds or bolts cars together. Likewise, coal miners, steel workers, lumberjacks, etc. Car mechanics today must know software as much, or more, than gears and bearings. Failing to adapt is going to marginalize these workers. You get the idea.
P.S. Donald Trump is amplifying the very concern you have in that he is showing the "white male is boss" in the most explicit way possible. If you wanted to deflect evil doings being attributed to white men, someone needs to reign him in. Good luck with that.
Quote from: Tacachale on May 27, 2025, 06:18:24 PM
Shot down 5-13. Expected but still disappointing.
For the record...
Quote....Carlucci joined Peluso and Democrats Tyrona Clark-Murray, Reggie Gaffney Jr. and Rahman Johnson in supporting Andersen, with Carlucci cautioning members that years in the future, they too might want to sit on an unpaid board and face old grudges. Except for Democrat Ju'Coby Pittman, all the nay votes came from Republicans....
https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/local/2025/05/27/jacksonville-city-council-rejects-elizabeth-andersen-for-library-board/83880304007/
Two surprises... Ju'Coby Pittman and Joe Carlucci. The latter is clearly not his father's son in the world of politics.
The partisanship on the City Council today exceeds that under Alvin Brown. Curry's efforts sailed through the City Council with rarely a defeat but Brown and Deegan hardly get anything through. It is clear that the interests of the voters are not top of mind for over half the Council.
Appreciate the dialogue Jaxlongtimer. I do think we have lived two very different life experiences which I don't think is surprising but the environment I grew up in is widely different to the culture in Jacksonville. I went to school with kids of H1-B visa holders and was in a high school that was not majority white.
In my parents lifetime, the US went from a society that was 85%+ white to being less than 50% by 2030-2040 or so. I'm not opposed to immigration or diversity. However, western society might not exist as we know it in a generation or two if the trend is allowed to continue without checks & balances. China or India is certainly at no threat to losing their culture, but the US won't even mandate english to obtain citizenship.
I think the older generations tried to amend for obvious errors... that same example with my parents can be used for MLK & the civil rights movement & I am totally aware of that. While I totally agree with fixing the errors of our forefathers, this same principle can't be applied to immigrants/visa holders as they have simply not earned the 'spot' more than a White or Black American that have been here for generations.
Sadly, good opportunities have become globally competitive in the US & our politicians have not looked out for the best interests of it's own people. That's why you are seeing so much pushback as of recent with the progressive movement because the progressive movement is synonymous with the decline of the American way of life. Off-shoring, corporate taxation & regulatory commissions etc. have all contributed to the decline of the working class in ways nobody originally intended. A drive around the rust belt will change whatever you were thinking before.
Anyway, this all explains why young men are one of the biggest bases to the modern-day GOP - which by the way was a literally pipe dream of the GOP as recently as 2018-2019. Things sure do change quick.
Fortune 100 New Hire Data: https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2023-black-lives-matter-equal-opportunity-corporate-diversity/
CDC Suicide Rates: https://www.cdc.gov/suicide/disparities/index.html
(Bloomberg data demonstrates a very obvious sample. Older white men dominate senior leadership disproportionally to 2025 demographics, but when you look at entry-level roles that narrative completely flips. This also somewhat explains the 'gap' many older white men have to younger white men politically. My generation is the first to really feel the flip.)
Progressives, particularly unions were the only ones to oppose off-shoring and the massive REDUCTION in corporate taxation. I'm not sure what you are referring to with regulation. More regulation led to more off-shoring?? Less regulation overseas lead to more off-shoring??
The world has evolved into a more and more global economy, so opposing off-shoring is a losing battle IMO. It's my experience that many white men, of which I am one, tend to take any criticism or acknowledgement of past wrongs or injustices as an affront to them personally, when that wasn't intended nor should they attempt to wear a shoe that doesn't fit them in the first place. Acknowledging and adjusting for those wrongs that occurred does not imply guilt on the sons and grandsons of those that committed them.
A similar narrative seems to prevail with the term 'toxic masculinity'. Anyone with a brain can see that there is no shortage of toxic men out there, but that is not to indict all men as toxic. The men that aren't toxic should be most offended by the ones that are.
Quote from: jaxlongtimer on May 27, 2025, 09:56:59 PM
Quote from: Jax_Developer on May 27, 2025, 12:52:49 PM
I don't disagree but this is the result of an entire generation of young white men being told that they were responsible for the problems of the world. Countless times I was told growing up blatant lies that made white men appear as the spawn of all evil in the world. Words have power sure, but what really has power is checkbook. In 2021, Bloomberg reported 94% of new Fortune 500 hires were not white men. The fact of the situation is that white men are being affected quite severely in a country with a large quantity of white men.
Thus, you have unjustified attacks on people who look/act a certain way or who they believe to be taking their opportunity. This exact reason is why there aren't many historical examples of a group in power giving that up & being treated well after the fact... we just happen to be living through one of those very few examples but it hasn't fully played out yet.
I am a white male and never felt the way you did growing up. What I saw and experienced was just the opposite... minorities being told they were second class or worse, clearly discriminated against in so many ways. And, women were not far behind. In my formative years, mostly what I saw running the world were white males so, I suppose, this is why so many think the buck stopped there in most cases.
I am not saying that there hasn't been overcompensation to right past wrongs in select cases. That said, I do think many white males were also raised with unrealistic expectations that the world is their oyster and anything less represents disrespect or worse, creating a certain complacency and entitlement. Many of those who find this is not how the world works, likely get depressed leading to the sad outcomes you describe.
I note that many of that alleged 94% (would like a source cite on that) are hard working immigrants that were not raised to take things for granted and women who now make up over 50% of degree candidates. When I went through college, probably 60% to 70% of students were male and very few were minorities. So, in many ways the last few decades have represented a "catching up" to rebalance the workforce to represent more the makeup of the population at-large.
This rebalancing is what affirmative action was supposed to be about. Unfortunately, it has been both misunderstood and misapplied in many cases giving it a negative connotation. The idea was simply to spread a wider net to invite a more diverse populace into the workforce that had not previously been recruited or felt welcome to apply. It was not supposed to be about quotas as long as reasonable efforts were made to be inclusive in job recruiting.
The other need for corrective action has to do with access to capital and educational opportunities. Those suffering generational poverty and under-education have lacked the "launching pad" for two major ingredients to move ahead in our capitalist society. Providing economic advancement opportunities and educational financial aid are efforts to break this repeating cycle of being in the underclass. Keep in mind, a rising tide lifts all boats so it should be a societal goal to lift up those at the bottom. Not going to work for everyone, but for many. History has taught that failure to do so is also a threat to the stability of society at some point.
Today, many jobs are going begging due to a lack of applicants or applicants willing to responsibly work to meet job requirements. Ask most any employer and you will find they are begging for good workers from anywhere. So, I don't understand anyone today that says they can't find a decent job and keep it, if they are honest, reliable, educate themselves to standards, collaborative, reasonable and manage their expectations that they aren't going to go from the mail room to CEO in 5 years or less.
Many disillusioned white males also seem to have failed to adapt to changing times and advancing technology. Today, an autoworker maybe the one who operates or maintains robots, not one that welds or bolts cars together. Likewise, coal miners, steel workers, lumberjacks, etc. Car mechanics today must know software as much, or more, than gears and bearings. Failing to adapt is going to marginalize these workers. You get the idea.
P.S. Donald Trump is amplifying the very concern you have in that he is showing the "white male is boss" in the most explicit way possible. If you wanted to deflect evil doings being attributed to white men, someone needs to reign him in. Good luck with that.
Agree with every single word of this.
Extremely well said, friend.
Clowns acting like clowns at City Council today. Least surprising, but most disappointing, thing I've heard all day. Every time you start to think we're maturing and growing as a city, this backwoods hillbilly bullshit rears its head again. Can't fund a homeless support bill, but THANK GOD the wOkE LiBrArIaN is off the streets.
Quote from: vicupstate on May 28, 2025, 01:32:00 PM
Progressives, particularly unions were the only ones to oppose off-shoring and the massive REDUCTION in corporate taxation. I'm not sure what you are referring to with regulation. More regulation led to more off-shoring?? Less regulation overseas lead to more off-shoring??
The world has evolved into a more and more global economy, so opposing off-shoring is a losing battle IMO. It's my experience that many white men, of which I am one, tend to take any criticism or acknowledgement of past wrongs or injustices as an affront to them personally, when that wasn't intended nor should they attempt to wear a shoe that doesn't fit them in the first place. Acknowledging and adjusting for those wrongs that occurred does not imply guilt on the sons and grandsons of those that committed them.
A similar narrative seems to prevail with the term 'toxic masculinity'. Anyone with a brain can see that there is no shortage of toxic men out there, but that is not to indict all men as toxic. The men that aren't toxic should be most offended by the ones that are.
Don't really care to elaborate but the fundamental item at hand was why has there been so much pushback with these positions & 'approval' of certain rhetoric (not endorsing). It's quite simple when you boil it down & look into the fundamental problems at hand. "Opportunities" are not being afforded in a proportional manner to a large percentage of the population. Not having good employment can lead to alternatives. What else would you expect to happen? It's not so anecdotal now - the news just doesn't care to report this stuff.
Again, not endorsing it - just explaining it. You have stuff like this going on because of it. I don't think this is something that would have even been a thing a few years ago. Now, it feels like everything is under scrutiny - for better or worse.
Quote from: Ken_FSU on May 28, 2025, 07:05:47 PM
Agree with every single word of this.
Extremely well said, friend.
Ken, coming from you, I will take this as high praise. Thanks ;D.
Quote from: Jax_Developer on May 28, 2025, 07:06:54 PM
It's quite simple when you boil it down & look into the fundamental problems at hand. "Opportunities" are not being afforded in a proportional manner to a large percentage of the population. Not having good employment can lead to alternatives. What else would you expect to happen? It's not so anecdotal now - the news just doesn't care to report this stuff.
JD, I am reading the above comment as as saying that white males are not getting jobs proportional to their population. What about all the minorities and women over the first 200 years or so of our country that were sidelined or worse? Any correction to that past mathematically entails disproportionate hiring of those classes until truly proportional representation is achieved.
So, yes, I suppose their is a transitional time where white males may not attain the percentage of jobs they traditionally received. Just like Trump, the champion of white males, said about his tariffs, in the short run, this is painful, but it will be worth it for the rewards at the end. By the way, the real pain of tariffs is falling on the middle class and poor, as they are effectively a regressive sales tax, while the rich will be more greatly rewarded with income tax breaks funded, in part, by taking away benefits to the less fortunate. So, those white males that make up the bulk of the wealth in this country, are doing quite well, thank you. Not so much the rest of the population.
I do repeat, that, today, what excuse does any able bodied and mind group have for not being able to work?
Quote from: jaxlongtimer on May 28, 2025, 09:42:54 PM
Quote from: Ken_FSU on May 28, 2025, 07:05:47 PM
Agree with every single word of this.
Extremely well said, friend.
Ken, coming from you, I will take this as high praise. Thanks ;D.
We might not agree on park space, but I'd rather agree on social issues <3
Right back at you man!
Quote from: jaxlongtimer on May 28, 2025, 09:42:54 PM
Quote from: Ken_FSU on May 28, 2025, 07:05:47 PM
Agree with every single word of this.
Extremely well said, friend.
Ken, coming from you, I will take this as high praise. Thanks ;D.
Quote from: Jax_Developer on May 28, 2025, 07:06:54 PM
It's quite simple when you boil it down & look into the fundamental problems at hand. "Opportunities" are not being afforded in a proportional manner to a large percentage of the population. Not having good employment can lead to alternatives. What else would you expect to happen? It's not so anecdotal now - the news just doesn't care to report this stuff.
JD, I am reading the above comment as as saying that white males are not getting jobs proportional to their population. What about all the minorities and women over the first 200 years or so of our country that were sidelined or worse? Any correction to that past mathematically entails disproportionate hiring of those classes until truly proportional representation is achieved.
So, yes, I suppose their is a transitional time where white males may not attain the percentage of jobs they traditionally received. Just like Trump, the champion of white males, said about his tariffs, in the short run, this is painful, but it will be worth it for the rewards at the end. By the way, the real pain of tariffs is falling on the middle class and poor, as they are effectively a regressive sales tax, while the rich will be more greatly rewarded with income tax breaks funded, in part, by taking away benefits to the less fortunate. So, those white males that make up the bulk of the wealth in this country, are doing quite well, thank you. Not so much the rest of the population.
I do repeat, that, today, what excuse does any able bodied and mind group have for not being able to work?
Highlighted part. Are you surprised by the disconnect then? The data clearly shows an overcorrection has been made in the past few years. That coincides almost hand & hand with Trumps second term. Punishing my generation, because yours was not, is creating political strife. The political differences between young men & women is literally at it's peak. There is also not some 'unbalance' that exists now according to data...
Your quotes:
- "Just like Trump, the champion of white males, said about his tariffs, in the short run, this is painful, but it will be worth it for the rewards at the end."
- "So, those white males that make up the bulk of the wealth in this country, are doing quite well, thank you."
Both quotes demonstrate that you admit that there's an overcorrection, yet are saying white males blanketed are doing quite well? Jax, respectfully, this is a conversation you probably aren't willing to have. That's fine. Just understand that this type of rhetoric only furthers the divide with the younger generation & these types of situations will become more common.
If what Jax-developer describes in hiring is widespread, shouldn't the unemployment rate of white males be higher than the rate for other groups?
This Bureau of Labor Statistics page ( https://www.bls.gov/charts/employment-situation/civilian-unemployment-rate.htm ) doesn't break out unemployment rates by race and gender, so I can't cite the "white male" vs "other male" unemployment rates. But the unemployment rates in April 2025:
Total 4.2%
White 3.8%
Black or African 6.3%
Asian 3.0%
Hispanic/Latino 5.2%
The April 2024 rates, while slightly lower, follow the same pattern.
In one post, Jax_developer says
Quote
In 2021, Bloomberg reported 94% of new Fortune 500 hires were not white men.
Later there is this iink
Quote
Fortune 100 New Hire Data: https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2023-black-lives-matter-equal-opportunity-corporate-diversity/
Looking at the Bloomberg link, it's neither the Fortune 100 nor the Fortune 500, but
Quote
Bloomberg obtained 2020 and 2021 data for 88 S&P 100 companies and calculated overall US job growth at those firms.
...
The group of companies in our data set employs more than 9 million people in the US at some of the country's largest and most lucrative firms, in industries from tech to finance, including Apple Inc., Walmart Inc. and Wells Fargo & Co.
According to the same BLS page, total civilian employment in April 2021, at the time of the Bloomberg snapshot, the 9 million jobs in the Bloomberg data review represented about 5.8% of the US civilian workforce. The Bloomberg article (from 2023) also notes their review was of data from about a year after the George Floyd murder, when big companies were trying to atone by emphasizing minority hiring.
* looking at total employment now, 9 miiion jobs were 5.5% of total civilian employment in April 2025 of 163,944,000
When you quoted JLT, you abridged what he said, to make your point. His full quote, highlighting what you left out:
Quote
Just like Trump, the champion of white males, said about his tariffs, in the short run, this is painful, but it will be worth it for the rewards at the end. By the way, the real pain of tariffs is falling on the middle class and poor, as they are effectively a regressive sales tax, while the rich will be more greatly rewarded with income tax breaks funded, in part, by taking away benefits to the less fortunate. So, those white males that make up the bulk of the wealth in this country, are doing quite well, thank you. Not so much the rest of the population.
The way I read the second part is that the 'bulk' of the ultra-wealthy are white males (fact); not that the bulk of white males "are doing quite well." Then you left out an important part, "Not so much the rest of the population." which applies to
everyone not in the Top One Percent (which is 99% of us).
Yes, Fortune 100 instead of Fortune 500. Hard to remember every little detail but all the points remain exactly the same. The definition of wealth by JLT is also extremely subjective & was interpreted to mean "the wealth held by white men."
Regardless, you both are enforcing the divide that exists. Nobody here is arguing that White Men 30/35+ have faced these same issues. I can't believe there is really an argument to be made over the S&P 100 hiring data... I don't care about mid-level managers or executives for this conversation... Sure this data makes up ~5% of the workforce, but do you expect the general hiring practices to be widely different? To the tune of 3+ standard deviations from this data set?? Very unlikely to say the least.
Currently, young white men are seeing the fastest decline in college enrollment, are seeing the fastest (negative) employment shift the workforce has ever seen, & have one of the highest suicide rates of any demographic. All that to say, it's really interesting to hear older white men somehow argue against these facts in the name for what.. equality? Yeah, that's actually my point. Respectfully, more listening (not from me) needs to be done on this topic.
Thanks for coming to my Ted Talk.
College Enrollment Data: (https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/12/18/fewer-young-men-are-in-college-especially-at-4-year-schools/)
Quote from: Jax_Developer on May 30, 2025, 08:05:47 AM
Currently, young white men are seeing the fastest decline in college enrollment, are seeing the fastest (negative) employment shift the workforce has ever seen, & have one of the highest suicide rates of any demographic. All that to say, it's really interesting to hear older white men somehow argue against these facts in the name for what.. equality? Yeah, that's actually my point. Respectfully, more listening (not from me) needs to be done on this topic.
College Enrollment Data: (https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/12/18/fewer-young-men-are-in-college-especially-at-4-year-schools/)
JD, the very article you cite about college enrollment among ALL males undermines your argument that it is related to DEI. You failed to quote this part:
QuoteAmong adults who did not have a bachelor's degree and weren't enrolled in college, men were more likely than women to say they didn't go to college because they just didn't want to or because they didn't feel they needed more education for the type of job they wanted.
But men and women were about equally likely to say that not being able to afford a four-year degree was a major reason why they hadn't completed college.
The chart by race shows that male enrollment has dropped across all races: White, Black, Hispanic. So, what is so special about white males?
In addition, thanks to the great recession of 2008 and following years, birthrates dropped precipitously. As a result, colleges are now begging for students. Why aren't the white males taking advantage? Just look locally at the conditions at J.U. as they react to these changing demographics. And, it is these same changing demographics that are increasingly going to enlarge the shortfall in workers for job openings. The white males can have a field day filling them if they care too.
I can't tell you why the suicide rate is up...could it be related to drugs taken by "bored", "social media indoctrinated" or "untethered" persons? Convinced by Trump and his likes that they are being "marginalized"? I certainly don't see it being tied to DEI and job/education denials to white males.
I find it hypocritical that the right wing blames women and minorities for playing the "victim" card when they are doing the same based on your discussion here.
This interesting story came across my feed today
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Andrew Tate sits poolside. Shirtless. Tattooed. "This is a political witch hunt. And what they are doing to me is the same thing they tried to do to Trump, and it is the same thing they're going to do to every single one of you. Do not forget they tried to put a bullet in Trump's head. And now they want me gone."
The caption reads: "They will kill everyone." The end of the video fades to black, and the words, "You will never know light again" linger on the screen.
While the Tate brothers, Andrew and Tristan, don't position themselves as political influencers, their influence on politics is undeniable. They have lighted upon a lucrative grift: addressing the fundamental insecurities of young men when it comes to women, money, community, and knowing who to blame for your problems. For the Democrats, the ignition of the "manosphere" became a flame they were powerless to combat.
The sociology of young men in America is not a sunny one. ... One in seven men say they feel lonely all the time, although the much-heralded "male loneliness epidemic" may not be real, as women feel lonely at similar rates.
Regardless of who is lonelier, men or women, they tend to deal with the associated feelings differently. For young men, social and romantic isolation too often turns to grievance, and grievance to rage. Internet personalities have tapped into this anger and frustration and exploited it, enriching themselves while telling young men that all of their problems are the fault of someone else.
https://thepreamble.com/p/the-war-for-young-mens-minds
^ This focus on isolation and loneliness is, in my observation, a likely a result of over indulging in social media and communicating via text, email and voicemail, vs. direct personal engagement. People are losing their people skills. Hiding behind technology seems to assure the result discussed in this article.
Again, if this is more of the cause for suicides, drugs, unhappiness, etc., that has nothing to do with DEI which is what it looks like JD would like to put the blame on.
This is the problem today... people are just looking for scapegoats for all their problems rather than looking in the mirror and asking what more they could do to improve their lot in life by their own actions.
The far left may want to bail everyone out a bit too much, but the far right wants to push everyone in front of them out of the line or to step on/exploit others to elevate themselves. Neither is the appropriate way to move forward.
The replies in here are genuinely sad to read. Playing the "victim" card & citing Andrew Tate. I'm sorry, both of you need to take a step back & understand what is happening to folks that look like me. Really sad stuff & your reply on the UF thread only further reinforces the divide in this country JLT.