chloelikedolivia

Do you believe in systemic injustice?

robot-heart-politics:

squashed:

Progressives are often accused of wanting to spend other people’s money on things they value. “Spend money on social programs,” the critics say, “but spend your own money. Charity is great, but it should be voluntary.” If social programs were charity, I would agree. But they are not.

Social programs are a societal response to the problems caused by our society. Our decisions affect others. With my decision to buy conventionally grown bananas, I’ve contributed to somebody’s use of the pesticides that caused birth defects in the children of the people who picked the bananas. The money I spent to fill my gas tank helps prop up some of my least favorite governments. The land I call my yard is land somebody else can’t grow food on. My fear of paying more for electricity means everything from more coal-miners with lung diseases from lax safety standards to the spectrum of tragedy global warming will wreak.

Private charity is a good thing—but it does not confront injustice. If my neighbor drunkenly crashes her car into a tree, I might, out of charity, give her a ride to the grocery store. If another neighbor’s house burns down, I’ll let him stay in my extra bedroom while he’s sorting things out. Neither of these problems is caused by injustice.

Charity is also a necessary response to injustice—but it isn’t sufficient. Systemic injustice requires systemic response.

reblogged from robot-heart-politics

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3. sendchocolate reblogged this from redcloud and added:

   this. This. THIS. Thanks for putting it into words succintly… we have a responsibility to one another, simply because we...

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    Wow. Something I’ve tried to think through, but never goten this clear about. Thank you to everyone who (re)blogged...

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    Progressives are often accused of wanting to spend other people’s money on things they value. “Spend money on social...

27. thememegeneration reblogged this from squashed
28. squashedcomments reblogged this from studiousrydy and added:

    Since the government is made up of individuals, of course individuals started the movements. My point isn’t that we...

29. studiousrydy reblogged this from squashedcomments and added:

    But at the same time, weren’t all of those legislated acts outcomes of the actions of a few passionately devoted...

30. squashedcomments reblogged this from studiousrydy and added:

    I’d be persuaded—except that virtually everything in your post was demonstrably false. Remember the Civil Rights Act?...

31. studiousrydy reblogged this from squashed and added:

    Hmmm….. last I checked, all movements...confront injustice have been driven by either...

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    Progressives are often accused of wanting to spend other people’s money on things they value. “Spend money on social...

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45. savagemike reblogged this from cheneymabel and added:

    Agreed, and very well said.

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