"Typical" Whites and Blacks Etc.

What might appear to be stereotyping to the ignorant [not that there's anything wrong with that! It's stupidity that's the problem = failing to acknowledge your ignorance] but to social scientists of all flavors "ideal typology"[which is what this is] is not only common but essential!!

Here's a few references:

Glossary of Sociological Terms

Ideal type
For Weber, a model, a set of exaggerated characteristics defining the essence of certain types of behaviour or institutions observable in the real world. 'Ideal' signifies 'pure' or 'abstract' rather than desirable. [Tony Bilton et al., Introductory Sociology, 3rd edition. London, Macmillan, 1996:661]

From: A Dictionary of Sociology Date: 1998 Author: GORDON MARSHALL

Ideal types in sociology are most closely associated with the name of Max Weber, although as a method of investigation and explanation they are more commonly found in economics, for example in the concept of the perfect market. For Weber, the construction of an ideal type was clearly a heuristic device, or method of investigation. An ideal type is neither an average type nor a simple description of the most commonly found features of real-world phenomena. Thus one does not construct an ideal type of bureaucracy by finding the features that are shared by real bureaucracies. Nor is ideal used normatively in the sense of a desirable objective.Perhaps the best way of thinking about ideal types is as ‘idea types’; that is, something which the sociologist works out in his or her head with reference to the real world, but selecting those elements that are most rational or which fit together in the most rational way. Thus the ideal type of bureaucracy embraces those aspects of real bureaucratic organizations that fit together in a coherent means–end chain.Implicit in Weber's work is the notion that constructing an ideal type is a way of learning about the real world. This is situated within a rationalist view of the human sciences: namely, that we all share a rational faculty, and the fact that we can think and act rationally gives order to the world. Thus, by constructing a rational ideal type, we learn something of how the world works. We can then learn more, by comparing the ideal type with reality, looking at how and why the real bureaucracy might differ from the ideal type. We do not end with a model of what a bureaucracy is, or of what it should be, but of what it might be if it were entirely rational. In this way we can learn much from the sources of apparent irrationalities in real bureaucracies.The method is a difficult one and owes much to the neo-Kantian philosophical tradition from which Weber came. Anglo-Saxon sociologists have had trouble with it, and often treat ideal types as a sort of hypothetical model which can be tested against reality, thus giving Weber's account (at least) a distinctly positivist gloss. The best account will be found in Susan J. Hekman , Max Weber and Contemporary Social Theory (1983). See also IMAGES OF SOCIETY.

Why Obama Didn't Leave His Church -- THE ANSWER!

A brief lecture:

First of all, I don't give a shit! So he occasionally heard a stupid, mentally unstable preacher rant, rave and sputter offensive and demeaning remarks about whites and America. All that does is tell me that Obama has "staying power."

Second, and more important -- BEING IN THAT CHURCH WAS HIS JOB!! He represented or planned to represent these people! If he didn't become a member, he would have been derelict in his duty! As a representative in the Illinois legislature, he had to associate with all kinds of people -- villains, con-artists, thieves as well as "ordinary" folks! [Hey -- as a teacher, I had all sorts of idiots and scoundrels in my classes, and it was my JOB to help them learn.]

Any questions???

You there, in the back....wake up!

Pesimistic Party Poopers Probably Play Presidential Patricide Parsimoniously

So....what does March 4th tell us about our political parties?

Good question...glad you asked!

First of all, keep in mind that nothing...including political parties...lasts forever. We Americans seem to think that the Democrats and the Republicans will be with us as long as the nation exists. [And nations aren't forever either, by the way.] But we all really know that they are mortal:

The Dems have been around since Jefferson [stemming from the "Democratic-Republicans" -- a party created in opposition to the Federalists] in 1792 or thereabouts. And while they are, thereby, the longest existing political party in the world, there was a time they didn't exist. AND there will be a time when they no longer exist.

The Repubs came into existence after the demise of the Whig party -- whose last prez was the famous Millard Fillmore...remember him from trivia jokes?? Lincoln, of course you all know this, was the first Republican president. So, there was a time they didn't exist. AND there will be a time when they no longer exist.

Is this "time" coming now...for both the R's and the D's!

GOD, I HOPE SO!! [And I don't even subscribe to this "god-thing"!]

The R's, despite, the faux familial, feel-good, friendship festival after McCain wrapped up the R nomination, is fatally split: social conservatives, religious conservatives, fiscal conservatives, libertarian-ish conservatives....etc. They all hate each other. YEA!!!!!

The D's have yet to dissolve -- but they will! As Christopher Hitchens says, Hillary can't be "killed" in an ordinary way -- a stake through the heart or a silver bullet in needed. [I love that not so subtle metaphor!] She will keep on going to the D's convention...and probably win!! [She'll contest Florida and Michigan and "clintonize" enough "Super Delegates" to snatch if from that "shallow and flaky" guy [also courtesty of Christopher Hitchens]. Then the D's will implode!! YEA!!!!!

Is this scenario possible?? Sure it is!

Is it likely??

We can hope!!!!

Ah....but why?

Another good question!

Because I happen to favor the ideal of "no permanent factions" [a.k.a. political parties] promised by the Founding Fathers in the Federalist Papers [esp in #51]. "Publius" [the pseudonym for all three writers -- Madison, Hamilton, Jay] wrote that the only way to prevent this from happening was to encourage many and frequent and changing factions.

So, let's bid a fond farewell to the ass and the pachyderm. The sooner we get a variety of new animals the better!

A Short Bio

ROBERT PIELKE, a native of Baltimore, Maryland, now lives in Claremont, California. He earned a B.A. in History at the University of Maryland, an M. Div. in Systematic Theology at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, and a Ph. D. in Social Ethics from the Claremont Graduate School.

He taught on ground and online for countless years at George Mason University in Virginia, El Camino College in California and online for the University of Phoenix. Now happily retired from “the job,” he is doing what he always wanted to do since he wrote his first novel at ten in elementary school. It was one paragraph, three pages long and, although he didn’t know it at the time, it was alternate history. Since then, in addition to his academic writings in ethics, logic, and popular culture, he has published short stories, feature articles, film reviews, a non-fiction analysis of rock music, You Say You Want a Revolution: Rock Music in American Culture, a boring academic treatise, Critiquing Moral Arguments, a savagely satirical novel on America and its foibles, proclivities and propensities, Hitler the Cat Goes West, and an alternate history, science fiction novel, The Mission.

Most recently, he has updated and revised his book on rock music and it is being republished by McFarland & Co. Cyberwizard Productions is publishing A New Birth of Freedom: The Visitor, the first book of a trilogy. The second of the three, The Translator, is already underway.

He swims daily, skis occasionally, cooks as an avocation, watches innumerable movies, collects rock and roll concert films, is an avid devotee of Maryland crabs and maintains a rarely visited blog filled with his social and political ravings. His favorite film is the original Hairspray; his favorite song is “A Day in the Life;” his favorite pizza is from the original Ledo Restaurant in College Park, MD; and he is a firm believer in the efficacy of "sex, drugs and rock and roll." Somehow his family and friends put up with him.