The Dangers of Wokeness

Another thought on public defenders (following up on my previous post). I think it's almost 100% bullshit when people criticize the Democrats for "abandoning" white working class voters. Democratic policies are far better for working class people than Republican policies. And if anything, the party has moved to the left in recent years—that is, toward policies that will help working class people of all races.

But I do think that it is legitimately shocking to see liberals embrace the idea that public defenders shouldn't represent their white clients zealously, or that when they do the media should refuse to report their exculpatory statements. That really does amount to an attack on working class white people! An important political aspect of building a more just society is that it can't appear to be balanced on the backs of working class people. Again, most Republican rhetoric along these lines is bullshit. "How can you look a worker in the eyes and tell him an unproven scientific theory is more important than bringing home enough money to support his family?" Bullshit!

But if liberals really are committed to undermining the legal rights of poor white people, the Republicans will be able to argue honestly that white people have good reason to think they will be better off under Republican leadership. I think this would be disastrous on all levels—bad policy and bad politics. It's important not to get so woke that we decide actively undermining white people's right to counsel is a good thing.