Reason.tv: Have California Democrats Turned Their Backs On Social Justice? A Conversation with Chris Reed

Democrats are supposed to work towards the goal of social justice, right? So why is it that so many policies supported by California Democrats end up harming poor people and minorities?

Reason.tv's Paul Feine sat down with journalist Chris Reed to talk about public employee unions, welfare reform, Walmart, the drug war, and environmental regulations.

Chris Reed is an editorial writer for the San Diego Union-Tribune and a talk show host on KOGO 600 AM, San Diego's News & Talk Station.

Approximately 9 minutes. Produced by Paul Feine and Alex Manning.

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Comments

[Fist of Etiquette]

What's with the music in this piece? Is it meant to mock the very idea of social justice? If so, then I applaud you, Reason TV.

[angus]

Working poor people are the new upper-middle class?

[Law Student]

The term "social justice" makes me queasy.

[k2000k]

Agreed, whenever I hear the word 'social justice' the words socialism flash in my mind. I hate it, didn't want to acknowledge it while I was in college, but there you go.

[Hundocumented]

"social justice" - code speak for "just socialist"

[Brandybuck]

Democrat liberals are still for social justice. But they are more concerned about being concerned than in actually doing something constructive. They prefer policies that sound good over those that might actually make a difference. It's all about the feeling not the doing.

[Rush Limbaugh]

It's all about their intentions. You are not to question their results.

[Anonymous]

Santa Claus is still imaginary. But parents are more concerned about there not being presents than in actually going out and buying presents. They prefer policies that sound good over those that might actually make a difference. It's all about the feeling not the doing.

[Hundocumented]

1/3 of the population on welfare? increase price of power 40-60%? fishes over people? the least they could have done was legalize dope!

[Rush]

It's all about their intensions. You are not to question their results.

[tr0n]

Brandybuck, you peon! Social Justice is about empowering the enlightened technocrats to perfect the souls of the prols. When the poor stop being such wastes of life then the elite will fade away into nothingness. Everyone will be teh 1337!

[R C Dean]

Garsh, who would have ever thought that the burden of an ever-expanding state bureaucracy would fall disproportionately on the poor? That costs and inefficiencies would be felt most by those with the least means to bear them?

I remind you of the Iron Law of the Week:

Foreseeable consequences are not unintended.

[O The Bama]

... but you can still keep your doctor!

[Slap the Enlightened!]

Social Justice: When a liberal gets slugged in the teeth.

[Bro Scientist]

somehow, this is Bush's fault. I just *know* it!

[Pro Libertate]

For great social justice!

[R C Dean]

More seriously, racism is ideologically incompatible with libertarianism, as racism is a collectivist impulse, and libertarianism is anti-collectivism.

I suspect libertarians got tarred with the racist brush because we opposed state interference in the purely private racist actions and attitudes of individuals. IOW, if you aren't on board with the using the jackboot to eradicate every vestige of racism, you are a racist, regardless of your personal beliefs.

Because libertarians prefer not to join state pogroms, we are racists because we prefer not to join the state pogrom against racists.

[Bingo]

Don't forget the third rail of the Civil Rights Act. It's really impossible to logically apply libertarian principle to the damn thing without alienating people.

[BakedPenguin]

Don't start off with that as your main argument.

[GMT II]

Heck, I hate everyone equally; thus I an not a racist.

[BakedPenguin]

It's also interesting (though not surprising) that those who have fought or argued for laissez-faire have also been staunch anti-colonialists. Adam Smith and William Gladstone come to mind.

[Yonemoto]

libertarianism is not anti-collectivism. It's anti coercive collectivism. It's objectivism that's anti-collectivism.

[CatoTheElder]

"Social justice does not belong to the category of error but to that of nonsense, like the term `a moral stone'."

Friedrich Hayek

[GMT II]

So there is a difference when starting off an argument with either, "This is the truth" or "Once upon a time". Here I thought both were fairy tales.

[Realist]

The Democrats are not for those who can't help themselves, but those that won't help themselves.

[Hundocumented]

now whose chickens have come home to roost?

[car dvd player]

There is a long way to turn back on "social justice", though it is much better than before

[Happyshoppinglife]

There is a long way to turn back, though it is much better than before

[qualir]

I agree with ""social justice" - code speak for "just socialist"",aha,nice view~~~

[MMS]

Little did we know that Mel Brooks prophesized the new democratic party in his History of the World part 1:

"FUCK THE POOR"

[shiroi neko]

Chris is right.

[nike shoes UK]

is good