Health Care Reform Debate-Megathread

[Kid Kamikaze10]

Ive seen the opposite here in the northeast

Same here. I'm seeing more confederate signs (and they may mean something in the South, but it's entirely different around here), hearing about more of my friends getting yelled racial slurs, and more.

And no, racists aren't reluctant to use the N-word. They just know when and where to use it now.

[7thangel]

Eight More Ways Women Will Benefit Under Obamacare Starting Tomorrow

When eight Obamacare regulations go into effect tomorrow, 47 million women will benefit from the guaranteed coverage of preventive services — including contraception coverage — without co-pays. The new rules will require most insurance plans to begin including the services at no additional cost at the next renewal date that falls on or after August 1, according to a news release from the Department of Health and Human Services.

The Center for American Progress graphic breaks down what will be covered and how women will benefit:



But even as millions of women will benefit from even more provisions of the Affordable Care Act, nine states are attacking the contraception coverage requirement because of the claim that the provision violates religious liberty. Even though President Obama announced an “accommodation” for religious institutions so that the employer does not have to pay for the birth control coverage, states have considered legislation or ballot measures to either reject the federal regulation or undermine contraceptive coverage in state law. And ongoing challenges against the contraception regulation continue in federal courts.

[Darrell D.]

Same here. I'm seeing more confederate signs (and they may mean something in the South, but it's entirely different around here), hearing about more of my friends getting yelled racial slurs, and more.

And no, racists aren't reluctant to use the N-word. They just know when and where to use it now.

No, the Confederate Flags mean the same thing in the south. It's racists hiding behind some horseshit 'Southern Pride'.

[Kid Kamikaze10]

No, the Confederate Flags mean the same thing in the south. It's racists hiding behind some horseshit 'Southern Pride'.

I think you are right, but people swear up and down to that whole "Southern Pride", "State's Rights", and "Confederacy wasn't about racism/slavery" stuff, and I didn't want to bother with that useless argument.

[Vibranium]

Same here. I'm seeing more confederate signs (and they may mean something in the South, but it's entirely different around here), hearing about more of my friends getting yelled racial slurs, and more.

And no, racists aren't reluctant to use the N-word. They just know when and where to use it now.

so this evening, I ran out to put some gas in my car and get some ice cream...there's an ice cream shop like 5 minutes down the road that I have been going to since I moved to the area as a teenager, and when I moved back I started going there again...I know the people who run the place so its not like a place I wouldn't normally go to

so I go and get some ice cream and its busy, as its nice weather, and as Im walking out I hear someone say "I didn't know they allowed n****rs in here"

I live in Connecticut



we are not as forward thinking and civil as we'd like to think we are

[Kid Kamikaze10]

so this evening, I ran out to put some gas in my car and get some ice cream...there's an ice cream shop like 5 minutes down the road that I have been going to since I moved to the area as a teenager, and when I moved back I started going there again...I know the people who run the place so its not like a place I wouldn't normally go to

so I go and get some ice cream and its busy, as its nice weather, and as Im walking out I hear someone say "I didn't know they allowed n****rs in here"

I live in Connecticut



we are not as forward thinking and civil as we'd like to think we are

LOL, I live in Connecticut too so I know what you mean. CT just ain't the place people picture it as, in numerous ways.

But yeah, it's most definitely a problem, because I've dealt with similar stuff in five states (CT, NY, WV, MA, NJ). It's just that people used to put a little more effort into being subtle about it. Like obvious racism is coming back in style or something.

[dupont2005]

I like "Barry" in at least one respect. It's a huge improvement over what many white people would have called Obama in the past. Racism is still around, but it has become sufficiently unpopular that racists are now reluctant to use the N-word in public.

I always looked at "Barry" as secret code for N-Word by people who have a seething rage that they can barely keep from boiling over.

[Vibranium]

I always looked at "Barry" as secret code for N-Word by people who have a seething rage that they can barely keep from boiling over.

same here...Ive always seen it like that

[edhopper]

I always looked at "Barry" as secret code for N-Word by people who have a seething rage that they can barely keep from boiling over.

There is a racist history in this country of calling black people by their first name and not their family name. Never Mr... or Dr... It was the equivalent of "boy". Probably goes back to slavery.

[Dreadstar]

There is a racist history in this country of calling black people by their first name and not their family name. Never Mr... or Dr... It was the equivalent of "boy". Probably goes back to slavery.

Wow, that's a new one to me.

[Shellhead]

There is a racist history in this country of calling black people by their first name and not their family name. Never Mr... or Dr... It was the equivalent of "boy". Probably goes back to slavery.

I call everybody I know by their first name (unless that might lead to confusion, like when hanging around multiple friends named Dave) if I know it. I consider that to be more friendly and less formal. If somebody were to flip out and accuse me of being racist, they can go to hell.

[Michael P]

I call everybody I know by their first name (unless that might lead to confusion, like when hanging around multiple friends named Dave)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8b-N28eG2go

[The Black Guardian]

There is a racist history in this country of calling black people by their first name and not their family name. Never Mr... or Dr... It was the equivalent of "boy". Probably goes back to slavery.

I've never seen a correlation. Generally, first names are used in preference to surnames among everybody that I know. Even the adults I know ask children to call them by their first names.

[edhopper]

I should clarify, i don't mean friends and acquaintances. It was more of people in authority calling black people by there first name.

Cop on the street: "What's your name boy."

Black man: "I am Dr. Louis Cooper."

Cop: "Well Louie, ...."

Like that.

So the President is "Barry" now.

[Dreadstar]

I think you're equating disrespect to a definite indicator of racism. Disrespect may indeed be a symptom or tool of a racist, but it doesn't necessarily always imply racism. I've seen things like your example in non-racial situations, plenty of times.

Sometimes disrespect is simply disrespect.

EDITED to add:

Nor am I dismissing the possibility that this particular use of "Barry" is racially motivated.

Just that it's not worth the pages of dialog devoted to it.