Are Folks Making America Hate Again?

[MrMoe]

The scapegoat mechanism is the result of magical or pre-rational thinking, it doesn't rely upon that chain of logic. Girard assumes that human motivations aren't primarily based on rationality, but passions like narcissism, greed, envy, etc.

I know, but so far no evidence has been presented that the scapegoat mechanism is occurring among these alleged haters of these groups.

 

[MrMoe]

In what way is seeking equality racism? Women and minorities have long found it harder to obtain equal jobs in America. Publicly admitting this and publicly trying to equal out the balance seems to be a good thing. Does it sometimes go too far? Probably But the Trump administration is doing a full-scale reversal of attempts to equal things out. It appears to often be fueled by hatred for women and minorities.

The E in DEI stands for equity, and from what I’ve learned, equity and equality are considered different things.

What do you mean by “equal out the balance”? You want an even 50/50 split among men and women, and among white people and minorities in every job?

Do you have any evidence that this pushback is often fueled by hatred?

 

[doubtingmerle]

What do you mean by “equal out the balance”? You want an even 50/50 split among men and women, and among white people and minorities in every job?

No, I’m not calling for an exact 50/50 split among men and women, or among white people and minorities in every job. That would be unrealistic and, in many cases, unfair.

What I am advocating for is equal opportunity—meaning that every person, regardless of their race, sex, or background, should have a fair shot at being hired, promoted, or recognized based on their skills, talents, and character.

Historically, women and minorities have often been overlooked or faced barriers that others did not. Efforts to "equal out the balance" are about removing those barriers and making sure the playing field is genuinely level—not about enforcing quotas or setting artificial targets.

In short, it’s not about guaranteeing equal results for every group. It’s about guaranteeing equal access and fair consideration for everyone.

I believe that most people can agree on this principle: reward the best-qualified candidates while making sure everyone gets a fair chance to compete.

 

[FireDragon76]

I know, but so far no evidence has been presented that the scapegoat mechanism is occurring among these alleged haters of these groups.

How about the fact the majority of jobs in the US haven't been lost due to foreigners or immigrants taking them, but simply due to automation? That's at least suggestive that people are engaged in seeking out a scapegoat.

 

[Aryeh Jay]

How about the fact the majority of jobs in the US haven't been lost due to foreigners or immigrants taking them, but simply due to automation? That's at least suggestive that people are engaged in seeking out a scapegoat.

And where are these robot components made? Chi-Nahh

 

[doubtingmerle]

so far no evidence has been presented that the scapegoat mechanism is occurring among these alleged haters of these groups.

Just to clarify, I wasn’t trying to accuse anyone personally of scapegoating, nor was I claiming that every criticism of DEI is automatically scapegoating.

I was suggesting that the reactions I see today may reflect a broader pattern that often happens in times of economic hardship and uncertainty.

Historically, when times get tough, people often look for someone or something to blame. That’s a very human reaction. Sometimes frustration and anger are directed at vulnerable groups such as minorities, immigrants, women, or political opponents.

There’s good historical evidence of this pattern. For example:

• An experimental study found that economic and social stress can cause majority groups to scapegoat ethnic minorities, even when the minority individuals are innocent (Scapegoating of Ethnic Minorities: Experimental Evidence).
• Research has shown that during personal and societal crises, immigrants are often scapegoated for broader problems they didn’t cause (Scapegoating Immigrants in Times of Personal and Collective Crises).
• And historically, during the Great Depression, women were sometimes scapegoated as unfairly taking jobs away from men, becoming "safety valves" for economic frustration (Women: Scapegoats and Safety Valves in the Great Depression).

We can't always point to one simple study proving exactly how these dynamics are playing out today. But history gives us strong reason to be cautious — and to recognize that similar patterns may be contributing to the anger we sometimes see today toward DEI recipients, immigrants, or other groups.

The real problems we face — inflation, stagnant wages, job instability — are complex and systemic. Blaming vulnerable groups doesn’t solve those problems. We need to respond to hardship not with anger and scapegoating, but with wisdom, compassion, and a focus on real solutions.