A "Showerthought" is a simple term used to describe the thoughts that pop into your head while you're doing everyday things like taking a shower, driving, or just daydreaming. A showerthought should offer a unique perspective on an ordinary part of life.
there are no black people, or white people. just shades of brown from light brown to dark brown.
I can't believe we still use that antiquated differentiator. there can be both "white" and "black" people in the same ethnic group so it's means next to nothing
Missing the forest for the trees or whatever. It's not about skin colour but how society perceives and treats you. If Kamala isn't black then why is she being called a DEI hire when Hilary Clinton never was?
Yes because a black woman needs a white man to "balance" the fact... :)
America is a very strange country.
I'm not saying it's good (because it's not) but I'm unfortunately pretty certain they're correct.
There's a difference in saying something sexist and racist to be sexist and racist vs being practical due to other people's sexism and racism.
I don't like it any more than you, but I'm afraid they're right. While the country might benefit from two women, two POC, two women of color any variation thereupon, they might not have the best chance in certain (usually older) demographics. And unfortunately this isn't a contest we can pick the morally right choice, lose with dignity, and still come out okay.
"Stand in the ashes of a [Million] dead and ask them if honor matters... Their silence is your answer."
After going through project 2025, I do not think I am being dramatic or hyperbolic with that video game quote.
He’s the token white dude!
I mean he did legalize weed... Token indeed🍃
I wish to have that job one day. I may even be overqualified as I'm quite pale.
He was clearly chosen for the votes he's likely to bring in. That's smart strategy on Harris' part.
As near as I can tell "the media" spent a few days wildly guessing about who her VP pick would be and many of them where white males. There are many articles that predicted that she would pick a white male but I couldn't find any that argued that it should be a consideration.
Vance is also a DEI hire. They didn't want two geriatrics on the ticket so they chose someone young. Diversity in age. DEI can be spun many ways. It's not a bad thing.
Maybe, I think, it's a possibility, that perhaps he is fit to be a VP...
All VPs are basically picked because of what they are more than who they are. Since there aren’t a lot of actual duties assigned by the constitution, VPs are just picked to help win the election. That means their age, gender, skin color, birthplace, etc are more important than their achievements. That means almost all VPs, including Vance, are “DEI hires.”
I'd argue Walz bucks this trend, at least to a certain degree. His progressive policy and seemingly unwavering integrity seems to be a huge reason he was picked. They've leaned into his achievements and republicans are desperately grasping at straws trying to criticize him.
It's still about perception over tangible benefits, though. He's not chosen because he'll make progressive decisions, he's chosen because he helps encourages progressives to vote come November. Just like if he was black or hispanic would help push those demographics to vote in the general election.
Yeah, I kinda wish Walz was the candidate instead, based on his progressivism and integrity.
You could also argue that he was hired for representation. The goal is not to get as many black women into power as possible, but to keep the congress diverse. So ideally, there would be half men, half women, some significant fraction black, and so on.
She could have picked another woman as a VP, and it would not have been too bad. But from a diversity perspective, it is better to represent more parts of the population in these positions.
Representative democracy.
Should represent the diverse concerns, culture, and needs of the diverse population.
Equitably including the diverse.
but to ~~keep~~ make the congress diverse
Because it definitely isn't there yet, due to overrepresentation of white (cis, straight, Christian, abled) men.
So from a diversity perspective, she should have gone for anyone other than a white man, but instead she has to cater to white men who somehow still manage to feel like they're lacking in representation, because picking a running mate that wasn't a white man would have tanked her campaign. Everyone knows it, but few are willing to admit to themselves why - racism, sexism, and a bunch of others too.
Is he the best from the options she had? Looks like. But the options she had were limited.
This. I don't understand why people think diversity is a bad thing. True democracy and progress comes when everyone is well represented and everyone's opinions are heard.
With that said we have a lot of institutional barriers that need to be utterly demolished before the people will actually be heard. We have a long way to go, and the first step is to participate in your local elections and vote for the people who actually listen.
I understand why affirmative action is needed to somehow bring back some fairness and equality, but it is just sad that it is accepted as a permanent feature of a system that is systemically racist/mysoginist. It prevents tackling the root causes and investing in a free education system which is the only way to fix this on the long run. But anyway we have science fiction movies and series that do it right... I mean the fact that e.g. a ticket Harris/AOC is science fiction saddens me
I'm not sure I'm hearing anyone saying diversity is a bad thing.
People used "diversity hire" as an attack on Harris, but no one is using it as an attack on Walz, even though everyone basically immediately knew that the VP pick was going to be an older white man if only to make the ticket less of a "leap".
That an all woman ticket, a ticket with two not-white people, or anything else not "default American politician" would face issue is kinda OPs point that we still have a long way to go to overcome those institutional barriers you mention.
Needing to consider diversity or representation when picking people is a sign that something has already gone wrong.
If the system were just and those barriers didn't exist, people wouldn't consider diversity, they'd just pick the best person and the diversity would just be there as consequence of demographics. (In a fair system, the top N% of the population will have a comparable demographic breakdown to the population at large).
It's a sign of a cultural hangup that we definitely consider diversity, and need to in order to have decent representation, when making these choices, and even more sad that it's only used as a cudgel against minorities , even when they were the first pick and others are being used to offset their "riskiness".
I would love to see Gretchen Whitmer but reality says we are (hopefully) ready for a woman in charge, two is sadly pushing it. Maybe in 20-40 years, it will be something to see before I die. (I’m 50). But I’m estatic about Walz!!! He so… wholesome? “Perfect”? Perfect fit. So warm and compassionate. And the ticket has GenX! We are FINALLY represented! 💙
Is Trump the DEI hire?
Yes, he was the first orange person to be hired as president. He was hired despite Hillary getting more votes because he was the DEI candidate.
orange person
Oh damn, is oompa-loompa no longer considered acceptable?
was hired despite Hillary getting more votes because ~~he was the DEI candidate~~ of special admission processes.
This meme is so inaccurate. Everyone knows he can't say Kamala. Isn't it weird people think you should elect someone who can't even pronounce someone's name?
I need more of these critiques to download.
Its "Walz", no t, and yeah, Daily Show already made that association yesterday. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1geBpDjYb7c within the first minute of the clip.
Thanks, corrected the autocorrect
Yeah, so was Biden when he was VP.
Everyone knows this, I do t know why so many people are treating it like a revelation. Mainstream news was openly saying it as soon as she announced she was running.
Her VP would be an older white guy for "diversity" of the ticket.
meanwhile, trump who will claim he's "most qualified" for the job, REFUSES to let his college transcripts go public. i'm going to go out on a limb (except, not) and say he cheated his way through college, as with everything else, OR he's a straight D student, hilariously
this is of course ignoring all the lying, raping, treasoning, failed businesses, failed presidencies, and other wannabe con man shit.
but people will still vote for him, because people are stupid gullible suckers
Would be interesting to see the GOP try to run with this messaging. As much as they hate "dei hires" they would jump all over that part, but seeing that it benefitted a white male would likely make them short circuit.