Is America the new South Africa?

[Heraclitus]

Was what happened to South Africa a condensed shorter version of US history?

Both former British colonies.

Both where by a long time ruled by a white minority elite.*

Both eventually elected black predsidents who promised change.




The difference being that the US is a better developed, bigger and has had a longer history of independace.


*the US has little social flexiblity and is far closer to a class society than most European countries, their elite is almost hereditary. While the Whites are not a minority (they will soon be though) the elite has always been a small priviliget portion of the white population.

[Q Classic]

Well, our violent crime rate against women is slightly lower...

[OzzyKP]

Eh... in the United States blacks are about 13% of the population. In South Africa whites are about 11% of the population. So, quite a bit different for that reason alone.

And Obama is no Mandela.

[rah]

*the US has little social flexiblity and is far closer to a class society than most European countries,

[Imran Siddiqui]

Yeah, that was kinda funny.

[Kidlicious]

Yeah, in the US a minority can be elected president.

[Dinner]

Damn you, you Slovenian. You made me agree with Imran.

[Heraclitus]

Originally posted by OzzyKP

And Obama is no Mandela.

Duh? But I admit the implicit comparison was a bit of a troll for responses. For starters Obama is part of the elite not a former political prisoner.

Originally posted by OzzyKP
Eh... in the United States blacks are about 13% of the population. In South Africa whites are about 11% of the population. So, quite a bit different for that reason alone.

Duh again? This was a comparison in its most general sense. Now if I remember right the white proportion of the population was higher in the past.. around 20% in 1911. Like the immigrants who settled the Americas the current black and white population nearly exterminated and completley outbred the native population.

Originally posted by Mrs Snuggles
Well, our violent crime rate against women is slightly lower...

Again, not a direct comparison. Though don't you guys always whine about how crime is on the rise...

Originally posted by rah

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
Yeah, that was kinda funny.

Originally posted by Oerdin
Damn you, you Slovenian. You made me agree with Imran.

In what sense?

IF:
a) That's not true lol!
THEN: No, check the data.

IF:
b) The historical irony!
THEN: Yes it is.

[KrazyHorse]

Rah, Imran:

Well, by most measures economic mobility in the US is significantly lower than economic mobility in most European countries.

[Heraclitus]

Originally posted by Kidicious
Yeah, in the US a minority can be elected president.

Indeed this is good.

[Heraclitus]

Originally posted by KrazyHorse
Rah, Imran:

Well, by most measures economic mobility in the US is significantly lower than economic mobility in most European countries.

[KrazyHorse]

That is not the same thing as a lack of "social flexibility" or a "class society".

Though they may be related.

[Felch]

Re: Is America the new South Africa?

Originally posted by Heraclitus
*the US has little social flexiblity and is far closer to a class society than most European countries, their elite is almost hereditary. While the Whites are not a minority (they will soon be though) the elite has always been a small priviliget portion of the white population.

I really think you misunderstand America. Yes, people born on the top will stay there. Yes, "white" people are a diminishing portion of the population.

The thing you don't understand is that people can still move up. Like say, a child of a single mother becoming President. That's been known to happen.

Also the definition of white is flexible. A hundred years ago, Irish and Italians were not exactly white people. Now they are. It's an ever increasing concept.

[OzzyKP]

While the Bushes are blue-blood elites (as well as Kerry and Gore), Obama certainly isn't. Nor was Clinton. Nor was Reagan.

[Heraclitus]

Originally posted by KrazyHorse
That is not the same thing as a lack of "social flexibility" or a "class society".

Though they may be related.

I consider Europe a "weak" class socitey, and I said that America was close to a "true" class society.