Inclusionist Or Exclusionist. Which Are You?
Click here for reuse options!When it comes to citizenship, there are two kinds of Americans: exclusionists and inclusionists. Exclusionists don’t want a pathway to citizenship for undocumented workers; they want to deport children who traveled from Central America seeking refuge from the violent war on drugs we created; they cheered when the Supreme Court struck down section 5 of the Voting Rights Act, and are now busily erecting barriers to voting by poor blacks and Latinos in many states; they don’t mind that corporations and wealthy individuals can now spend unlimited amounts of money on political campaigns; and they denigrate the idea of the common good.
Inclusionists, by contrasts, understand citizenship as a set of obligations we owe one another as members of the same society. They worry about the savage inequalities of American life, growing residential segregation by income, continuing racial and ethnic discrimination, and the demise of democracy under the tsunami of big money. They believe in a common good, and understand citizenship as requiring not only sufficient taxes to finance it, but also active and continuous citizen engagement to support it.
Which are you, and why?
Copyright 2014 Liberaland
By: Dave
Dave is the webmaster of StrangerAmerica.com, a website devoted to the greatness that is Dick Cheney.
He is also the creator of RonnieReagan.com, a site devoted to a man considered by some to have been one of the better B-grade actors to portray a U.S. president.
You will find the complete writings of Dave at LookAmerica.com, including his quest for the perfect meatball and his encounters with Pat the Nazi and the Psycho Dentist.
50 responses to Inclusionist Or Exclusionist. Which Are You?
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Kick Frenzy September 1st, 2014 at 14:43
You may as well just ask if someone is a Democrat or Republican.
Kick Frenzy September 1st, 2014 at 14:43
You may as well just ask if someone is a Democrat or Republican.
edmeyer_able September 1st, 2014 at 15:00
Beside it being the right thing to do, those who today aren’t inclusionists today may well find themselves excluded in the future.
Suzanne McFly September 1st, 2014 at 18:33
Exactly, that is the selfish reason to look out for your fellow human, but if it gets them to do become empathetic, I am in full support.
edmeyer_able September 1st, 2014 at 15:00
Beside it being the right thing to do, those who aren’t inclusionists today may well find themselves excluded in the future.
Suzanne McFly September 1st, 2014 at 18:33
Exactly, that is the selfish reason to look out for your fellow human, but if it gets them to do become empathetic, I am in full support.
Bob Cronos September 1st, 2014 at 16:08
There are two types of people in America – those that obey the law and those that don’t… Which are you, and why?
edmeyer_able September 1st, 2014 at 16:15
Oh bob…..
raincheck September 2nd, 2014 at 10:48
lol
Abby Normal September 1st, 2014 at 16:23
Run along. Pat Robertson is calling you.
Chinese Democracy September 1st, 2014 at 18:36
Are you at the Bundy ranch ? I figured you might be the type that doesnt obey the law
Red Mann September 1st, 2014 at 18:44
Oh yeah, another characteristic of RWAs, binary thinking.
mea_mark September 1st, 2014 at 20:53
He is suffering from binary delusionalism, the insistence that things have to be one way or the other to an extreme and that there is no middle ground.
Red Mann September 1st, 2014 at 21:10
Also known as the fallacy of the excluded middle. Binary thinking is a big reason why RWAs don’t do humor very well and irony, satire and sarcasm not at all.
Bob Cronos September 1st, 2014 at 21:15
Where exactly is the middle ground between obeying a law and breaking a law?
Red Mann September 1st, 2014 at 21:44
Most people break some law or other at least once in their lifetimes and even career criminals don’t break every law all the time. It’s kind of a continuum. You can look it up.
Bob Cronos September 1st, 2014 at 23:37
That’s right, there is no middle ground… You’re either breaking a law or you’re not…
Red Mann September 1st, 2014 at 23:50
Not much on nuance, are you? At any given point a person may or may not be breaking a particular law, but you claimed this:
“There are two types of people in America – those that obey the law and those that don’t… Which are you, and why?”
It has been pointed out that virtually everyone breaks a law at some point in their lives, that would make almost everyone a lawbreaker and just a few uber righteous like you non-lawbreakers. Still viewing a complex world in simple terms of black or white. This is binary thinking, all one way or the other, nothing in between, that’s why you right wingers have problems understanding the real world.
Bob Cronos September 2nd, 2014 at 02:08
No nuance, it’s pretty simple… You’re either breaking a law or you’re not… Right?
Red Mann September 2nd, 2014 at 03:31
No, it’s not that simple. Have you never broken any law, never gone over the speed limit, tossed something out of your car or any of the thousands of other laws?
According to you, the cast majority of people in the world are law breakers at some point, so it is relative and type of law and intent are also important. You are being quite obtuse.
mea_mark September 1st, 2014 at 21:56
When laws are wrong and unjust, challenges must be made. Civil disobedience of corrupt laws would fall in the middle somewhere (just an example, try thinking a little for a change).
Bob Cronos September 1st, 2014 at 23:38
You’re either breaking a law or you’re not… My comment didn’t have anything to do with WHY people break laws…
Red Mann September 1st, 2014 at 23:50
Then your comment means nothing.
Bob Cronos September 2nd, 2014 at 02:38
And yet you answered it – without reading?… Or without reading comprehension?
Red Mann September 2nd, 2014 at 03:35
You comment had nothing of value because why someone breaks a law is important, yet you summarily dismiss it. You seem to be saying anyone who breaks any law at anytime is on one side of your false dichotomy, leaving damn few on the other side. Sorry if this is a little too complex for you.
Bob Cronos September 1st, 2014 at 16:08
There are two types of people in America – those that obey the law and those that don’t… Which are you, and why?
edmeyer_able September 1st, 2014 at 16:15
Oh bob…..
raincheck September 2nd, 2014 at 10:48
lol
Abby Normal September 1st, 2014 at 16:23
Run along. Pat Robertson is calling you.
Chinese Democracy September 1st, 2014 at 18:36
Are you at the Bundy ranch ? I figured you might be the type that doesnt obey the law
Red Mann September 1st, 2014 at 18:44
Oh yeah, another characteristic of RWAs, binary thinking.
mea_mark September 1st, 2014 at 20:53
He is suffering from binary delusionalism, the insistence that things have to be one way or the other to an extreme and that there is no middle ground.
Red Mann September 1st, 2014 at 21:10
Also known as the fallacy of the excluded middle. Binary thinking is a big reason why RWAs don’t do humor very well and irony, satire and sarcasm not at all.
Bob Cronos September 1st, 2014 at 21:15
Where exactly is the middle ground between obeying a law and breaking a law?
Red Mann September 1st, 2014 at 21:44
Most people break some law or other at least once in their lifetimes and even career criminals don’t break every law all the time. It’s kind of a continuum. You can look it up.
Bob Cronos September 1st, 2014 at 23:37
That’s right, there is no middle ground… You’re either breaking a law or you’re not…
Red Mann September 1st, 2014 at 23:50
Not much on nuance, are you? At any given point a person may or may not be breaking a particular law, but you claimed this:
“There are two types of people in America – those that obey the law and those that don’t… Which are you, and why?”
It has been pointed out that virtually everyone breaks a law at some point in their lives, that would make almost everyone a lawbreaker and just a few uber righteous like you non-lawbreakers. Still viewing a complex world in simple terms of black or white. This is binary thinking, all one way or the other, nothing in between, that’s why you right wingers have problems understanding the real world.
Bob Cronos September 2nd, 2014 at 02:08
No nuance, it’s pretty simple… You’re either breaking a law or you’re not… Right?
Red Mann September 2nd, 2014 at 03:31
No, it’s not that simple. Have you never broken any law, never gone over the speed limit, tossed something out of your car or any of the thousands of other laws?
According to you, the cast majority of people in the world are law breakers at some point, so it is relative and type of law and intent are also important. You are being quite obtuse.
mea_mark September 1st, 2014 at 21:56
When laws are wrong and unjust, challenges must be made. Civil disobedience of corrupt laws would fall in the middle somewhere (just an example, try thinking a little for a change).
Bob Cronos September 1st, 2014 at 23:38
So you agree, you’re either breaking a law or you’re not… That damn binary thinking… My comment didn’t have anything to do with WHY people break laws…
Red Mann September 1st, 2014 at 23:50
Then your comment means nothing.
Bob Cronos September 2nd, 2014 at 02:38
And yet you answered it – without reading?… Or without reading comprehension?
Red Mann September 2nd, 2014 at 03:35
You comment had nothing of value because why someone breaks a law is important, yet you summarily dismiss it. You seem to be saying anyone who breaks any law at anytime is on one side of your false dichotomy, leaving damn few on the other side. Sorry if this is a little too complex for you.
Red Mann September 1st, 2014 at 18:40
From what I have read, RWAs (Right Wing Authoritarians) are dominated by fear at their deepest levels. They fear change, novel ideas and The Other. This type of mindset would be highly exclusionary, not trusting anyone outside of their tribe. They also score low on empathy which allows them to not feel any guilt at the exclusion of others, nor especially care about the effects of their behaviors.
Red Mann September 1st, 2014 at 18:40
From what I have read, RWAs (Right Wing Authoritarians) are dominated by fear at their deepest levels. They fear change, novel ideas and The Other. This type of mindset would be highly exclusionary, not trusting anyone outside of their tribe. They also score low on empathy which allows them to not feel any guilt at the exclusion of others, nor especially care about the effects of their behaviors.
mmaynard119 September 1st, 2014 at 22:01
Is this the political version of the difference between innies and outies?
mmaynard119 September 1st, 2014 at 22:01
Is this the political version of the difference between innies and outies?
raincheck September 2nd, 2014 at 11:13
We also have two types of laws… The “Letter of the Law” and the “Spirit of the Law”.
I don’t think the “Spirit of the Law” was intended to turn away children seeking refuge from extreme violence/death/forced into a life of crime/prostitution… etc.
Can we at least “include” the children, at least to get them the help they need.
AND while we’re at it, I HAVE to mention our own children… Help the children born in this country too… It looks to me like our country is creating an UN-educated lost generation, which sooner or later… will EXPLODE!! The “have nots” will be tired of “having not” just because some billionaire wanted, just one more tax break…so out of desperation, will start picking up bricks… So many people living in despair HERE in THIS Country… People are more than willing to work at a job they can support themselves on.. They just need the opportunity!!
Sorry if it looks like I “went off message” But I can’t really think about “including” people from other countries without “including” ours as well…. Peace
raincheck September 2nd, 2014 at 11:13
We also have two types of laws… The “Letter of the Law” and the “Spirit of the Law”.
I don’t think the “Spirit of the Law” was intended to turn away children seeking refuge from extreme violence/death/forced into a life of crime/prostitution… etc.
Can we at least “include” the children, at least to get them the help they need.
AND while we’re at it, I HAVE to mention our own children… Help the children born in this country too… It looks to me like our country is creating an UN-educated lost generation, which sooner or later… will EXPLODE!! The “have nots” will be tired of “having not” just because some billionaire wanted, just one more tax break…so out of desperation, will start picking up bricks… So many people living in despair HERE in THIS Country… People are more than willing to work at a job they can support themselves on.. They just need the opportunity!!
Sorry if it looks like I “went off message” But I can’t really think about “including” people from other countries without “including” ours as well…. Peace