Helmet Burger Vrs Robert Reich

Sometimes seemingly insignificant occurrences offer us insight into the modern zeitgeist.

A few months ago I sent an e-mail to an exceptionally intelligent, thoughtful and professionally accomplished associate of mine that discussed Robert Reich's race-ist comments:

"I am as concerned, as I'm sure many of you are, that these jobs (construction jobs that will supposedly be generated by Obama's so called stimulus plan) not simply go to high skilled people who are already professionals or to WHITE MALE construction workers..."

In the e-mail I satirically commented that Helmet-Burger represented the spirit of the stimulus plan - an incompetent worker consuming public resources.

My associate was deeply offended stating that the use of Helmet Burger "smacked of racism."
I found this very interesting, for many reasons:

1. More often than not how a person interprets a phenomena speaks more of that person that the actual phenomena. In this case, the individual is demonstrating the obsession with race and racism that many of our educated elite hold.

2. Many "progressives" are obsessed with controlling language and humor rather than addressing behaviors that hold real economic consequences. In this case, the individual was offended by my use of Helmet Burger, which in no way harmed any minorities, but was indifferent to the policy that Robert Reich proposed which will have real negative economic consequences for high skilled white construction workers.


3. Many "progressives" hold double standards towards racism, being extremely sensitive to perceived racial slights against minorities, but completely indifferent towards discrimination against European-Americans.

4. Most "progressives" judge people on their "noble intents," rather than on the real consequences of their policies. Robert Reich and the Obama Administration are given accolades for their "commitment to helping minorities," when in fact they are continuing many educational and economic policies that have been disastrous for millions of African-Americans.

The road to hell is usually paved by good intentions and with the Obama Administration's stimulus plan we can be sure that the cost of the road will be high and the quality will be low, but at least the workers will be diverse...