As Iowa Job Surplus Grows, Workers Call the Shots

[Darth Fanboy]

what is up with people getting offended with people calling a large group of people generally racist when they are generally racist. "You're racist for calling this group of people generally racist!"

Because Iowans are not generally racist. As in most states there are a handful of people, but it's just a few and not generally indicative of the population as a whole. "TheBen", who was banned from this board years ago, is probably the only example most people on this board could give as an example.

[Adrian Laguna]

I'm sure that's why Iowa is the second or first worst state in terms of disproportionate incarceration of blacks.

[Darth Wong]

Every time you make a statement about a group, some idiot always jumps up to say "It's not true for 100% of the people in the group! You are WRONG!!!!"

The fact is that it's bound to be more racist than a more cosmopolitan area. Does Darth Fanboy actually think that 100% of the people in an area need to be racists before someone like myself has a right to say that I don't want to fucking live there on account of the racists?

[Mayabird]

Not to mention, when dealing with racists, why do you think they would even hire someone of a different race, or that those opportunities would exist for a person who was an outsider of any kind (racial, orientation, political inclination, sports affiliation, etc)?

[Battlehymn Republic]

Why do you hate farmers?

I don't. I do, however, hate the kind of place where people are so pig-ignorant that they ask you how long it's been since you left China, even though you have no trace of a Chinese accent.

I was joking, but thanks for answering regardless. I'd argue that your example shows simple ignorance and lack of race sensitivity, though.

Not to mention, when dealing with racists, why do you think they would even hire someone of a different race, or that those opportunities would exist for a person who was an outsider of any kind (racial, orientation, political inclination, sports affiliation, etc)?

Well, if they're truly so desperate for workers, I don't think they'd be particularly choosy. The racist white gold miners hired Chinese laborers. Illegals are on the rise in Iowa. Of course, this is being literalist; sure they'd hire someone of a different race, but only to treat them worse.

The fact is that it's bound to be more racist than a more cosmopolitan area.

I think this issue is that "racism" is a loaded term. It has connotations of hatred, aggression, and divisiveness. Certainly people in rural areas would tend to be more insular and less racially enlightened, but does that really mean they would be haters who actively do stupid Southern things against racial minorities?

I guess so. What the fuck, Iowans. Your ancestors were on the right side in Bleeding Kansas. Have some civic duty for Lincoln's sake.

I guess the whole concept of the Mideast states, that is everything north of the Mason-Dixon Border and east of the Rocky Mountain states, being full of racists is a new one to me. I'm sure they're more insular and conservative than urban populations- that's a given- but racist? Really?

[Darth Fanboy]

Does Darth Fanboy actually think that 100% of the people in an area need to be racists before someone like myself has a right to say that I don't want to fucking live there on account of the racists?

That's not what I objected to, and it's a valid criticism of living anywhere in rural America. But the persence of racism in a state is not justification for saying that the state is generally racist as a whole, or that most of the people in the state are racist. The fact is that even in the rural parts of the astate you find a lot of people that are welcoming minorities even though the cultures do not always mesh because they come to the state to work and have provided the state with a large portion of what growth it has managed.

I do not deny that racists exist in the state, but accusing the population as a whole of being generally racist is an unfair and unjustified criticism. I know the U.S. hasn't exactly done much in the past few years to improve it's self image, but that doesn't mean all states should be treated like parts of Texas or the Deep South.

[Darth Fanboy]

I am going to just concede the point on the racism in the state issue, because honestly I can't provide any concrete proof other than my own experiences after having lived in both rural and "metropolitan" (if you can call it that). There's no reason for me to continue arguing without evidence to the contrary and I apologize for pushing the issue.

[Wicked Pilot]

My town is doing very well also. The economy is driven by energy, agriculture, and government, ie three things not going away any time soon. The real estate crash more or less had no effect on us as people generally avoided the house speculation stupidity that plagued the rest of the country. The cost of living is still affordable and getting decent work is not difficult for those serious about finding it.

[Battlehymn Republic]

Are there any non-whites?

[Wicked Pilot]

Are there any non-whites?

If this question is directed at me then yes. Being west Texas there are plenty of hispanics, and the presence of a military installation brings many other visible minorities and their families to the community.

[Phantasee]

My town is doing very well also. The economy is driven by energy, agriculture, and government, ie three things not going away any time soon. The real estate crash more or less had no effect on us as people generally avoided the house speculation stupidity that plagued the rest of the country. The cost of living is still affordable and getting decent work is not difficult for those serious about finding it.

Sorry, where are you from again? I can't recall reading any post of yours mentioning it.

I also noticed you have the subdued avatar again?

[Lonestar]

Sorry, where are you from again? I can't recall reading any post of yours mentioning it.

Going from the post immediately before yours, I'd say that he's from "West Texas".

[Wicked Pilot]

Texas! Holy Dogshit, only two things come from Texas; steers, and steers that like other steers!

Yes, I live in (but am not from) west Texas. My avatar is subdued because on Tuesday I will be temporarily relocating to another part of the world that sucks much much more.

[TithonusSyndrome]

Neat, Iowans get to enjoy an Albertan lifestyle for a bit. Hope they enjoy the pig-ignorant nouveau-riche blue-collar assholes clamoring for work that it will likely pull in.

Took the words right out of my mouth. All of them, actually, you even got the bit about the Newfies and the Ontarians moving in...

Don't see a lot of Ontarians here in Fort McMoney, although I guess the "generic white stoner/Tool aficionado" may very well account for most of them.

I wonder if Iowa will see an increase in pick-up truck registrations?

Or tonnage of them on the road, even in spite of fuel costs?

Especially pick-ups with a map of their owner's home state on the back window.

Not so many maps around here. I guess the extra sponduli means they can afford the extravagance of a frosted window.

[Phantasee]

Oh, the Ontarians are mostly the guys getting laid off because of the downturn on the manufacturing sector. My uncles are both planning on moving out here. It's the younger ones who are a problem, though.