Well Nam65-66, I can't disagree with you. I lay the cards on the table and play the hand dealt me. I wish you could define your term, it might not be as offensive in the context of the discussion as you would like. I wish there was some wholesome dialog from your perspective you would offer, but you have had as much time and opportunity as I had to respond to Dr. Sowell's article and one word is all you can offer, and I put that word in your mouth. I don't learn much from passive-aggressive people except that they are in their element playing deaf and dumb.

Yes, Eric Holder has turned the Justice Department into a "black mafia", but what's unusual about that? Lots of people get into positions of power and then reveal their corrupt side. The shameful part is, Eric Holder was chosen to do exactly what he is doing and a host of other black political figures behave with a parallel sense of corruption. I will be called a "racist" for making this observation, but more than an equal share of black political figures in America act like they are in a third world country, and few black people genuinely complain. Eric Holder is just the "flavor of the month" in black leadership--predictable, corrupt, and unapologetic about it.

Just for the fun of it, examine any con-artist closely and observe his "bedside manner." He is a master of "people skills." Then examine someone like Ron Paul, wholesome and straight as a nail. He won't give you that warm fuzzy feeling, but he will follow the Constitution. The key concern is "Why isn't Ron Paul more successful in his bid for President? Because a lot of lost souls are looking for someone with people skills to lead them, someone like Barack Obama or Adolph Hitler.

You are mistaken. I have people skills--I am just not a crook, going way back to sandlot baseball. Public Works is responsible for all the facilities you enjoy--roads, bridges, water supply, sewers, buildings, electric power, trains, cargo ships, air traffic. For America to survive much longer we need more people just like me who respect the public dollar and fewer people with "people skills." The private sector is no more "private" than your home plumbing is private. Unfortunately you speed down a super highway imagining it just fell out of the sky for your use. You make my point. You take for granted the real work in America and don't even see those selling "people skills" produce nothing. Go get an MBA, I did, and learned a lot.

Personality can get someone a long way. But if your offspring worked the counter in a dry cleaners to get his start and now has MBAs reporting to him, he is a super conman, a master of double speak with a fashion sense, and clearly somebody to watch for a coming bankruptcy or super fraud. Personality will never replace technical skill and technical skills are never gained flipping hamburgers or cleaning bathrooms! Sorry mom.

I have a real problem with "common sense" as a concept. If one has been divorced, or assaulted, or bankrupt, or dealt with cancer, a lot of "common sense" comes with the experiences. But lots of people with those experiences do it repeatedly. No, "common sense" is only common if someone has been there and learns from the experience. If one wants to consider "common sense" in the raw, examine race relationships and see where experience leads you.

My second level supervisor called me into his office and said, "You are a good American for appearing before the grand jury, but understand, you will never get a promotion or a raise for as long as you stay here because of it." I have had at least a dozen similar experiences in other places. "Meaningful work" is not the issue and never was. Being allowed to perform in an honest, productive relationship is always the problem. Some people cower immediately at the sight of a bison, but ultimately they will kick the hell out of any eager employee until one simply struggles to survive. Got a good job? You spend most of the day struggling to keep it!

Somehow we have gone from "give me a job', to "give me a job I like." I know what kind of work I like, am damn good at it and it is productive. HOWEVER, not in 40 years of Public Works have I been allowed to do it. I am a Civil Engineer, licensed with an undergraduate and two graduate degrees. If given an opportunity to perform my trade I WILL save my employer money--no question about it. But with affirmative action, dirty politics, and a dishonest legal system to name a few complications, my career has been spent trying to keep a job. And every time I balk at doing something dishonest, I essentially get fired. The real meaningful work in society today is keeping a job. The word "menial" never seems to enter the equation for me.

I took a chance and offered a comment that I thought would cause a firestorm. Apparently nobody reads the comments of others, or just doesn't understand them. If I had made the same comment in a college classroom the place should erupt in loud rebuttals and anger. If I know, as Walter Williams indicates, blacks are disproportionally associated with violent crimes--the only reasonable conclusion is to avoid them much like I would avoid a snake. And if I do that I am a racist! So only a fool is not a racist when dealing with blacks. So the problem is facing the reality and admitting the truth! Is there anybody who can tell me I am wrong?

There has to be a reason for black violence and race plays a significant role. Am I a racist for seeing the obvious--Yes. If I fail to act on what I see and understand, am I dumb--also Yes. I have to act as if the black population is more violent, which is racism. And in fact, am I a better person, a more sensitive person, a more intelligent person for being a racist.? Again I say, Yes. So the first step to solving any problem is to define it, and as a simple matter of self preservation, the sooner I can become comfortable being a racist, the sooner I can begin to cope with black violence. If I am wrong, now it the time for someone to explain it to me. Why shouldn't I be a racist and proud of it?