CASTE: The Hidden Factor

"Caste and Gender" meets the "Ovarian Lottery"?

Today Elizabeth completes her celebration of 60 years as monarch of Britain, or England.  We fought a revolutionary war so we would not have to bow to royalty from Europe.  In that, this nation is unique among all nations in the Americas.  For this reason, most of our citizens know little and understand less about caste.  They live with it's ravages daily, however.

I woke up this morning to a spirited debate between two white women, one closer to my age, the other closer to my daughters' ages.  The issue was "equal pay" (for equal work).  The U.S. Senate debates today the "Paycheck Fairness" act.

Quick definitions for this blog: Caste (about your birth facts); Class (about the wealth you have); Race (defined by law or social custom; usually involving color); Color (whatever the eye perceives, or society declares).  Overlay all of this with a parallel heirarchy of Gender (what nature provides between your legs or within your hormones).  Since most us enter this world through the birth canal, the Ovaries have a major role in setting the stage for everything.   Because we are so poorly educated in this country, most of us put all of these in a psychological pot, stir it up, and set about living our daily lives; interacting with each other in all sorts of relationships.

We fought a Civil War because that portion of our nation below the Mason-Dixon line kept an economic and social system that was fully caste-driven.  That region has clung to its traditions, while spreading it's ideology, through the Repoob movement within the Republican Party, to about half of our country.  The original plan for Texas was to split it into 4 slave states; thereby ensuring slavery forever in this country. 

The 1963 "Equal Pay Act" is what the Senate is revisiting in its debate today.  Having entered the adult work force, (I worked many years as a child), in 1962, I have a unique view of the history of this subject and the "progress" of the nation, in its "carrot and stick" efforts t to enlarge our economy and fully utilize all of the talents of its citizenry.  When I earned my Air Force commission and my degree in Physics, the military was the only "equal opportunity" employer available to me.  I completed a 20-year career, retired; and then completed another career as an executive in a blue-chip aerospace company.  I experienced both; government and private employers, and the pay and promotion systems they employed.  Both had severe implementation problems! 

The change of or work force from all white male, to an early trickle of non-whites, in both the military and industry, began with President Kennedy's executive actions in 1963. The military option was made possible by President Truman in 1948.

The debate between the women this morning was sad in that you would think we have learned very little over the past 49 years.  Pay discrimination is real, despite the Repoob efforts to deny it, both for women and men of color.  Hiring discrimination has returned with a vengeance in the wake of the Repoob-driven economic melt-down.  The 2012 election will really provide a choice between a brighter future for us all or a return to a very ugly past.  To read more on caste :http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caste.

The younger woman evidenced the same "sickness" that young blacks showed during the civil rights period.  They are terrified of the "stigma" of caste and gender (without knowing the source); and thereby join forces with their opponents to hobble their own achievements. They suffer both in rewards and overall treatment on the job.  Minorities and women of higher castes are "used" by Repoobs in their efforts to slow or stop progress.  Only a very gifted psychologist could untangle their logic, and explain their positions.

Stay Vigilant!

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