Introduction

Yes, Affirmative Action is reverse racism, supposedly intended to right historical wrongs. Any racism, reverse or not, is wrong. Today’s episode is not an argument against reverse racism. Today’s episode is an appeal to common sense and a clear knowledge of what works–and what does not work. People, individuals or groups, succeed when they are motivated, work hard over time, and know what to do when they do the hard work. They grow strong, succeed, and know how to lead others in the same direction. Handouts, regardless of the motivation, produce the opposite effect. 

That is the subject of today’s 10 minute episode.

Continuing

This issue goes to the heart of how differently we think, or at least how we think we think differently. Despite the political and media swirl, we all know, don’t we, that growth comes when a person digs in, despite what the odds are, works hard over time and moves forward. And helps others to do the same. That’s why the best parenting includes lessons in earning money to get the toy or video game the child wants. Or getting good grades before being granted a privilege. Only when anyone, adult or child, has skin in the game will they take the game seriously. 

How many times have we heard someone, perhaps a parent, say, “Life is not fair,” perhaps in response to someone saying, “But that’s not fair!” Outside of the law, where everything must be fair, life is indeed not fair. Yet here we are. And it is our job to deal successfully with life the way it is, not the way we wish it to be. 

Followers of Revolution 2.0™ know that we believe that life is indeed hard, as it should be, as it must be. Dealing successfully with the hard parts of life is the only way we learn and grow, and in turn become able to help others learn and grow. Many believe, and they are hard at work selling this belief, that life is supposed to be easy, and if it is not easy, that is prima facie proof that oppressors have made life hard for the oppressed, AKA victims, and that the victims are entitled to compensation, ideally from the oppressors. 

You know that I generally resist labels, but sometimes they are necessary, as with distinguishing one type of vegetable from another. Who writes round soft red things and long yellow things with thick skin on their grocery lists? We write tomatoes and bananas. Labels can be useful. In the main, it is the Democrats pushing the view that life ought to be easy, and that if it is not, the government must jump in and make things right–with taxpayer money. They have not come right out and used the word easy, but they have danced all around it by supporting multiple and growing government programs all while signaling future growth in this area by repeating slogans like, “Healthcare (and add what you want here) is a human right.” And selling notions like college ought to be free and that any entry level job should pay enough to support a family at above the poverty line. 

Republicans are not pushing the life is hard lesson; they are deathly afraid to spit out this truth. Q. After all, who wants to try to attract voters by selling hard versus easy? A. Everyone should, because that is what works. And if we care about people, as we all should, then must we push, teach, and encourage, what works. And resist and discourage what does not work. Anyone selling the needed life is hard lesson will make themselves a target for insults ranging from you hate the poor to being a Nazi or white supremacist. But doing the right thing is, well, hard. And the inherent unfairness of life is one of the many reasons that life is indeed hard. 

Today’s Key Point: It is not our job to work to make life inherently fair, or to make it overall easy. We have two jobs: 1. Love, help, and encourage others to see that life is hard just as it needs to be, and to help them do what needs to be done to succeed in life the way life truly is and 2. Look for and support others, e.g., teachers,...