The state of Minnesota does not have the cleanest reputation for morality and this blog will share a few facts.
I know that most of you took American history when you were in high school or college, but it is my guess that you have never heard about the Dakota war of 1862. It was a result of this event that the state of Minnesota in conjunction with our federal government conducted the largest mass hanging in the history of the USA. They hung 38 prisoners of war all at one time the day after Christmas in 1862 in the town of Mankato, Minnesota. To this day, this is the worst human atrocity in US history. If you have never heard of this before, I recommend that you go to Wikipedia and search for the "Dakota War of 1862". Once you read the detailed history of the event, it will make you sick. They first wanted to hang over 300, but Abraham Lincoln got involved and reduced it to just 38, what a coward! Some of those hung were only 12 years old. Afterwards, the state of Minnesota enacted a bounty of $25 on each dead Indian. Some of the bodies of those hung were given to the present Mayo Clinic. What makes me sick is that nothing about this event has ever been taught in our schools as part of our American History.
You have to ask, why has the state of Minnesota suddenly gotten so moral, given their history of how mostly European immigrants treated the Native Americans who were here first. Blacks do have a problem and much of it is of their own making. There is an old saying that is as true today as the day it was first uttered and that is, "You can't help someone who does not want to help themselves". To solve a problem, you have to look for the "cause" and address that. If you only address the symptoms the problem will never be solved. If you buy that, then what is the cause? poverty is not the cause, it is the symptom. Is the fact that Blacks are disproportionately imprisoned the cause or the problem? These are the problem being faced by the Black community, but where is the cause?
I have blogged before that I used to teach decision theory in a major university and all problems have a cause and if there are multiple causes, one or two have the greatest impact. I am not proposing that there is a single or multiple "perfect" answer. That is never the case in social situations involving multiple individuals. Further, if the solution is too complex it is likely never going to be implemented or if one demands a "perfect" solution. That being the case, my partial solution is the following:
(1) Reduce the number of out of wedlock births. Currently, in some places, the out of wedlock birth rate among Blacks is over 75%. We know that children that are reared in homes without a father are much more likely to fail economically and socially with many ending up in prison. The most economically successful racial group in the USA are Asians and they also have the lowest out of wedlock birth rate. This is a clear lesson that we should all learn.
(2) The economics of the future is clearly driven by intellect and education. The highest paying jobs today and into the future are those that require a high degree of skill and education. The days of just a strong back are gone and gone for ever. Kids who drop out of school are doomed to have serious economic problems. You only have to look at our prisons to see the high percentage of those in prison who are high school drop outs and accept the lesson that this teaches.
(3) It is possible for anyone to get themselves into a situation where they could be subject to arrest by the police. Being arrested is not proof of guilt. That can only be determined in a court of law where there is a clear view for the public so that every thing is as fair as possible. The worst error that an individual can make is to "resist" arrest. The police are trained and authorized to use as much force as necessary to overcome one's "resistance". The police will win in the end. It has been my observation that all too frequently, Blacks try to resist arrest. I don't know exactly why this is but it has been the cause of more injuries to Blacks than I care to itemize. Blacks need to stop resisting arrest and wait for their day in court.
We all have our short comings and I feel that if our Black community could just accept the "three" things above and take them seriously, that we could all look forward to a much brighter future. The USA is the best place in the world because we play on the basis of "merit". Merit has nothing to do with race or skin color. We know that by watching professional football or basketball and see a high percentage of Blacks on the field or court. These players are chosen on the basis of "merit". Which one is best regardless of anything else. It would not be right to select players just because they were Black or because they were White and we don't. I did not make my high school basketball team, not because of my color, but because I was not a good enough player. I accepted that I did not have the "merit" that others did. That is a fact.
The Dakota War was caused by the fact that the European emigrants of the day did not play by the rules of "merit". They brought with them the rules of privileged that existed in Europe at the time and they felt themselves the "privileged". Merit is how we need to operate now and into the future and some will end up better and worse than others, but it will be based on the simple rule of "merit".Would you want to live with it any other way?
I know that most of you took American history when you were in high school or college, but it is my guess that you have never heard about the Dakota war of 1862. It was a result of this event that the state of Minnesota in conjunction with our federal government conducted the largest mass hanging in the history of the USA. They hung 38 prisoners of war all at one time the day after Christmas in 1862 in the town of Mankato, Minnesota. To this day, this is the worst human atrocity in US history. If you have never heard of this before, I recommend that you go to Wikipedia and search for the "Dakota War of 1862". Once you read the detailed history of the event, it will make you sick. They first wanted to hang over 300, but Abraham Lincoln got involved and reduced it to just 38, what a coward! Some of those hung were only 12 years old. Afterwards, the state of Minnesota enacted a bounty of $25 on each dead Indian. Some of the bodies of those hung were given to the present Mayo Clinic. What makes me sick is that nothing about this event has ever been taught in our schools as part of our American History.
You have to ask, why has the state of Minnesota suddenly gotten so moral, given their history of how mostly European immigrants treated the Native Americans who were here first. Blacks do have a problem and much of it is of their own making. There is an old saying that is as true today as the day it was first uttered and that is, "You can't help someone who does not want to help themselves". To solve a problem, you have to look for the "cause" and address that. If you only address the symptoms the problem will never be solved. If you buy that, then what is the cause? poverty is not the cause, it is the symptom. Is the fact that Blacks are disproportionately imprisoned the cause or the problem? These are the problem being faced by the Black community, but where is the cause?
I have blogged before that I used to teach decision theory in a major university and all problems have a cause and if there are multiple causes, one or two have the greatest impact. I am not proposing that there is a single or multiple "perfect" answer. That is never the case in social situations involving multiple individuals. Further, if the solution is too complex it is likely never going to be implemented or if one demands a "perfect" solution. That being the case, my partial solution is the following:
(1) Reduce the number of out of wedlock births. Currently, in some places, the out of wedlock birth rate among Blacks is over 75%. We know that children that are reared in homes without a father are much more likely to fail economically and socially with many ending up in prison. The most economically successful racial group in the USA are Asians and they also have the lowest out of wedlock birth rate. This is a clear lesson that we should all learn.
(2) The economics of the future is clearly driven by intellect and education. The highest paying jobs today and into the future are those that require a high degree of skill and education. The days of just a strong back are gone and gone for ever. Kids who drop out of school are doomed to have serious economic problems. You only have to look at our prisons to see the high percentage of those in prison who are high school drop outs and accept the lesson that this teaches.
(3) It is possible for anyone to get themselves into a situation where they could be subject to arrest by the police. Being arrested is not proof of guilt. That can only be determined in a court of law where there is a clear view for the public so that every thing is as fair as possible. The worst error that an individual can make is to "resist" arrest. The police are trained and authorized to use as much force as necessary to overcome one's "resistance". The police will win in the end. It has been my observation that all too frequently, Blacks try to resist arrest. I don't know exactly why this is but it has been the cause of more injuries to Blacks than I care to itemize. Blacks need to stop resisting arrest and wait for their day in court.
We all have our short comings and I feel that if our Black community could just accept the "three" things above and take them seriously, that we could all look forward to a much brighter future. The USA is the best place in the world because we play on the basis of "merit". Merit has nothing to do with race or skin color. We know that by watching professional football or basketball and see a high percentage of Blacks on the field or court. These players are chosen on the basis of "merit". Which one is best regardless of anything else. It would not be right to select players just because they were Black or because they were White and we don't. I did not make my high school basketball team, not because of my color, but because I was not a good enough player. I accepted that I did not have the "merit" that others did. That is a fact.
The Dakota War was caused by the fact that the European emigrants of the day did not play by the rules of "merit". They brought with them the rules of privileged that existed in Europe at the time and they felt themselves the "privileged". Merit is how we need to operate now and into the future and some will end up better and worse than others, but it will be based on the simple rule of "merit".Would you want to live with it any other way?
