Do African Americans Exercise Free Thought?

In regards to how to vote, a political "choice" is great, and is everyone's right as an American. However, that doesn't mean that one cant legitimately point out that a 90% plus result cannot possibly be anything other than groupthink, as opposed to individual decision making. Where one falls on the political spectrum is a function of individual perspective, as well as how differing individuals perceive the world from the left/right brain perspective. African Americans do not all live homogenized lives and process information in a homogenized way, where they all come from the same perspective that would naturally lead them to the same conclusions. When conservatives point out this unnatural voting distribution, they are speaking out against the obvious groupthink being employed.

A perfect example of this groupthink is the OJ trial. Immediately after the trial, over 90% of African Americans believed him to be not guilty, while virtually everyone else in overwhelming numbers saw the evidence and concluded beyond any shadow of a doubt that he committed the crime. What happened is that the defense team was able to adequately foment racial tensions to the point that the African American community would reflexively side with OJ. This same tactic is routinely used successfully today by Democrats in order to drive African American turnout, which is precisely why in an election year the President of the United States involved himself in the Trayvon Martin case, in what would otherwise be yet another non descript killing that happens hundreds if not thousands of times per month in this country. If it weren't an election year, Obama would have never commented on the case. Like the OJ defense team, Obama was able to successfully foment racial tensions, and presumably was able to increase black voter turnout as a result. In that manner, there is only one side that has anything to gain by fomenting racial tensions, and that is the Democratic party, and they do so regularly. The worst thing that could ever happen to the Democratic party would be for racial harmony to exist, and as such, they will do everything in their power to make sure that never happens. The irony in all of this is that the party that preaches and pretends to so desperately want racial harmony, is also the party that desperately NEEDS racial tension.

Lastly, I think it is important to note that the almost homogenous Democratic vote from the African American community is the ONLY reason that Democrats EVER win the white house. Consider that Whites tend to vote Republican by approx a 55%-45% margin( a natural free thinking distribution), and African Americans vote approx a 95%-5% margin for Democrats ( unnatural distribution). This means that after 100 white votes, Republicans will be at a plus 10. After 11 black votes, Democrats are at a plus 10. With that type of distribution where 11 black votes can cancel out 100 white votes, it is no wonder that Democrats so desperately want to keep racial tensions alive and well.

 

I guess they just think differently than we do.

 

Free? No. Their thought is payed for with their lockstep vote.

 

Conservatives pointing out that there are people not voting for them? Call em crazy, but wouldn't a political party be advocating for groupthink anyway? Would conservatives have a problem if 90% of people were voting conservative, or would they say 90% of people are on the right track?

Since the last Presidential election, seems like they've been putting out all these things trying to break up the Democrats almost solid backing from Non-whites.

But, aside from that, the most laughable part is that it seems Republican's/conservatives are saying this as if they always had the best intentions for Blacks and other minorities at heart. As if Democrats were evil masters tricking minorities. That last one might not be far from the truth, but I doubt the former is either. All in all, Blacks simply chose the lesser of two evils to back. I say it's a good thing that they can exert political force in such a way. Now it's just a matter of channeling that force and actually getting constructive returns for it.

But groupthink...nah. We all want everyone to think the same way we do. Politics is all about that, regardless of whatever party it is.

 

Would Republicans be happy if 90% of a particular group voted for them?....absolutely. However that question doesn't speak to the substance of what I said even remotely. The point isn't to ascertain whether a party wants a 90% rate, but rather it is about whether a 90% rate is indicative of free thought.

 

There are many things here.

1. The OJ trial saw many who thought he was not-guilty but a lot fewer thought he was innocent. They felt this was THE SYSTEM working for them. It was a make up call over so many African Americans wrongly convicted or harassed by the police and the courts.

2. Many African Americans vote for Democrats since 1932 with FDR getting 78% of the vote though only about 44% of African Americans at the time were registered Democrats. Even in 2004 where the second highest percent of African Americans voted for the Democrat (John Kerry) 88% of the AFrican Americans who voted, while only 74% were registered as Dems or lean lean as independents.

3. 93% of the AFrican American vote in 2012 went to the President. But more African Americans were in the electorate. Maybe motivated not by electing a black man but supporting a black President in the wake of continued attacks, like the way some who believed that OJ killed Nicole and Ron Goldman felt glad he got off.

Does that make them unthinking? I don't think so. 78% of Mormons voted for Romney, are they unthinking? About the same percent of evangelicals vote regularly for Republicans around 75% would you ask the same about them? If so why?

 

Seems a simple enough answer. Inconclusive. Maybe 90% of Black people freely thought that Republican's just didn't have their interests at heart.

Just my opinion though, but you seem to be angling for support in your opinion that Blacks are political cattle. Are traditionally Red states indicative of groupthink? Traditionally Blue?

What's the overall point you were shooting for?

 

Perceived make up call or not, directly following the trial, the numbers of African Americans that said he was innocent ( which is different from saying there should be a make up call) was over 90%. Did they all independently arrive at this conclusion after seeing the evidence or did they jump on board to what they thought they are SUPPOSED to say? In subsequent years the African American community has by in large ameliorated their stance and now also see him as guilty.

78% of the vote could be construed as free thought, 90% plus cannot. If there were one group where Republicans are OPENLY hostile towards and actively campaign against, that would be homosexuals. Even they vote around a 75-25 split. I would call that free thought.

Turnout in this context is only confusing the issue. The relevant point is the percentage voting in lock step.

As with homosexuals, I would see 78% for mormons, and 75% for evangelicals as being free thought. Dont get me wrong, Im not surprised that a huge majority of African Americans and homosexuals vote Democrat, and I'm not surprised that a huge majority of Mormons and Evangelicals vote Republican. My point is that a 90% plus number, even when considering policy stances that favor or disfavor a particular group are accounted for, is NOT an example of free thought.

 

The OJ Simpson verdict set back race relations 50 years.

 

I think that I have made my position abundantly clear. 90% of any group voting in unison is not an example of free thought. African Americans specifically are NOT a homogenous group, and as such if exercising free thought would have significantly more diversity in their political voting patterns. Thats not to say that they shouldnt vote overwhelmingly Democrat, but 90% plus does in fact connote being political cattle. The truth is, they probably overall hurt their cause by rubberstamping their vote so predictably, because in truth, Democrats don't actually have to do anything to keep their vote other than some occasional rhetoric and the fomentation of racial tensions.

To answer your question of are traditional red states cattle? No, because traditional red states at most are around a 60- 40 split. A 60-40 split is an example of free thought.

 

Unless you have evidence that they said innocent then please stop repeating this lie.

Actually of course it can. You don't get to decide what free thought is. 99% of Jews oppose Islamists....does that mean Jews have no free thought? Defining what is or isn't free thought by what you think it is doesn't make it so.

Except turn out is important. The fact you can't understand that it doesn't make it so.

So you make a conclusion made on your subjective decisions. That is not how it works. But please go on and attack black voters as non-thinking. That is exactly why many choose not to vote for right wing candidates.

- - - Updated - - -

Actually while this was a failure at every level, it opened a conversation worth having.

 

Again your subjective conclusion is meaningless.
Lack of free thought is more seen with people who believe the earth is less than 10,000 years old.

 

http://www.cnn.com/US/OJ/daily/9510/10-06/poll_race/oj_poll_txt.html

Percentages are a little different. But it clearly states "INNOCENT" as opposed to needing a make up call. You throw around the term LIE far too loosely. I am an honest person, and I am conducting myself civilly.

99% of Jews opposing Islamists ( probably a made up stat) isnt even close to being analogous. You are talking about a single issue, and applying that to a single group, when that group is specifically ammassed based on that single issue. Political beliefs are NOT a single issue. Some people vote on social issues, some vote on economic issues, and within those categories, the nuances are endless.

Oh I understand fully how and why turnout is vitally important. Its just that in the context of this thread, we are discussing the 90% plus rubber stamp vote of African Americans voting Democrat. Whether or not 5% of African Americans vote or 100%, the 90% rubber stamp still applies.

Without question this is my subjective opinion. The point of this thread is to espouse our subjective opinion. Clearly there is not a way to conclusively prove anything.

Indeed this is a conversation worth having. Because YOU deem it a failure, doesnt make it so however.

 

Go ahead and start your own thread about people who believe the earth is less than 10,000 years old, and direct it at people who feel that to be the case. The addition of that concept to this thread is nothing more than a non sequitur.

 

1. That's (overall) a stupid question and so is your premise.

Better to study-up and figure out WHY most African Americans do NOT trust today's Republicans, in general.

2. I'm not sure if you've realized it or not (it is after all, 2013), that Black people are human beings also. Are White Americans voting for the same people that Black people are also voting for?

If so few African Americans are voting for those on the Right (Republicans)... what is it they are not attracted to, disagree with or have an aversion to?

One simple answer is a problem that too many on the Right CONVENIENTLY ignore and virtually refuse to do anything about; that problem is OLDER than this society itself... it is RACISM. Whether it is racist acts carried out blatantly, or expressions of the same in what some 'believe' are lighter-expressions of racism, that is a problem for those seeking to garner the Black vote. This is significant... especially given America's history and the legacy effects of racism in this society. Certain closed-minded, intransigent and obstructionist White Americans (right now) are (for whatever reasons) missing the clues and cues; I'm sure it is 'willful' (at least in large part).

3. Unless you want to know the REAL ANSWERS to your poorly-chosen question above... don't ask. I'm certain enough, that you are mostly trying to put-down African Americans (first) and others on the Left (secondly).

To summarize, you probably ask the ignorant question above, because you would 'prefer' to skate around the edge of the truth, rather than face the answers that likely 90+ percent of reasonable people will offer to you.

Black Americans can/do know and learn just like White Americans do. Their political choices are as astute and reasonable as others... especially as compared to those associated with the Tea Party and others who tend toward the extreme Right of the political spectrum. As a matter of fact, it isn't unusual to find many African Americans who are nowhere near the extreme Left.

African Americans exercise the same patterns of human thought which White Americans are also capable of. If politically, their agendas and interests point toward something different than that which the far-Right has decided to focus upon, that isn't any strange phenomenon, especially considering what has already gone down over time in this nation. Why would they flock to or associate with groups or interests which are essentially HOSTILE toward them?

 

Well said. You are making a great amount of sense. Bravo!!

- - - Updated - - -

BS. (No, not really.)

 

I know full well why the MAJORITY of African Americans vote Democrat, and I have said so repeatedly on this thread. 90% plus however goes beyond just a majority, and enters into the realm of blind allegiance. Even homosexuals, whom are the most openly slighted group from Republicans vote a 75-25 split. Clearly some of them vote on their economic versus social beliefs, and they vote accordingly and are displaying free thought. With 90% plus, that is too large of a number for any diverse group like African Americans to be exercising free thought.

Absolutely African Americans are human beings, and i never said or implied otherwise. Human beings have a diversity of thought based on their unique individual perspective on the world and how they as a person conceptualize the world around them. As a diverse group of human beings, it is beyond credibility to believe that such a large group can almost all conceptualize the world in the same way politically

I'm not putting down the left even remotely. Hell, I don't blame them for being happy that African Americans rubber stamp them their vote. I am however putting down the obvious groupthink that exists amongst the black community. In truth, this rubber stamp hurts their cause because Democrats don't have to do anything to earn their vote other than some occasional rhetoric and perhaps some further fomenting of racial tensions.

Absolutely African Americans exercise the same patterns of human thought as everyone else. Their voting patterns are homogenous unlike any other group in existence however. Politics are varied and nuanced, and free thought amongst such a varied group as African Americans would clearly result in a more diverse split. I'm not implying they wouldn't with free thought still vote a huge Democrat majority, but 90% plus is too large to be believed as anything other than groupthink.

 

I know that it's NOT anti-White; but most definitely anti-Right[/I].

I don't see how African Americans would not be OVER 'race'... as long as that is not causing them to be put-down or mistreated.

 

The majority comes from the democrats, who treat Blacks like children incapable of living a happy successful life without the help of whites in power.

There is no greater insult than to have your support taken for granted in trade for enough trinkets to keep you preoccupied while doing nothing to actually make your life better. The fact that blacks buy right into it is a sign of the hive mentality. The free thought blacks are those you refer to as sell-outs, Uncle Toms, house (*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)s.

(*) rhymes with wiggers, but with an N.

 

Blacks are generally far more racist than any group of whites. Fact.

 

Even the KKK?

 

Sorry, I meant political groups. The percentage of racists among the KKK is probably about 5 % more than blacks.

 

Well, maybe if Republicans had listened to Dr King about focus on the content of ones character instead of skin color maybe the Republicans' platform wouldn't have become Dixiecrats stage 2. Wow, it's sure nice that the Republicans are taking so much inspiration from us Democrats, but we would prefer that you take that inspiration from on this side of 1980.

Oh, I know, you're thinking outrage! I'm not a supporter of segregation or riot when a black student goes to college... However, this isn't a vacuum. when your political leaders in Washington DC are talking about "the black family was better under slavery," or let's elect Michael Steele to RNC because of his skin color (then firing him shortly there after because he didn't achieve the mass emigration of black people away from the Democratic party), and stuff like that then YES there are racial tensions.

It isn't because the Democrats are the new slave owners of the blacks like the talking heads on Fox news would tell you. It's because Republicans haven't cleaned up their own political house up yet and that's the real reason for most of the negative political relations the Republicans have outside their white target demographic.

 

So you think this political party is of a low racial bigot concentration?

 

Black people disagree internally on many things. When it came to OJ, nobody in their right mind would tell you he was innocent. It was the simple fact that after hundreds of years of discrimination, especially by the police black people were happy to see that they system could work for them too.

As far as voting goes, George Bush won in 2004 because he appealed to black Christians in Ohio. We don't vote Republican because most Republicans don't even bother campaigning in order to sway or vote.

On actual political issues though black people disagree on everything. Gay marriage, abortion, taxes etc. The only thing we have in common is black skin.