They have finally done it.
After decades and decades of fighting systemic racism in America, Democrats have, at long last, found a solution that is sure to uplift racial minorities all across the country.
Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Alex Padilla (D-CA), and Mazie Hirono (D-HI) have introduced a resolution to declare that racism is a public health crisis. This declaration, which Brown first put forward in July 2020, would ostensibly acknowledge and address systemic barriers and inequities faced by racial minorities in America.
As with all of these types of proposals, I always have to ask: Is this a genuine stride towards equality, or empty symbolism intended to give the appearance that Democrats are working on behalf of disadvantaged melanated individuals?
In announcing the proposal, Brown emphasized its significance, saying the resolution “is an important step toward recognizing the racial disparities in healthcare that have existed for far too long while also outlining concrete action we can take now to help reverse them.”
Sen. Booker asserted that designating racism as a public health crisis is “a small yet critical step toward acknowledging the systemic inequities in our nation.”
In the press release, the lawmakers contend that the resolution is necessary for lifting marginalized groups.
The resolution acknowledges the history of racism and discrimination within health care and the systemic barriers that people of color continue to face when seeking care. The resolution also highlights the effects of systemic racism on the health and wellness of communities of color, resulting in shorter life expectancy, worsened health outcomes, and enhanced exposure to harmful or dangerous environments. This resolution encourages concrete action to address health disparities and inequities across all sectors in society.
As is typically the case, this resolution is nothing more than the typical virtue signaling commonplace among left-leaning politicians. Even if the lawmakers’ contention about systemic racism in healthcare and other areas is true, the state can’t do much about it.
There are already laws against discrimination based on race, which means that if this is occurring, enforcing these laws would be the solution. Not some empty declaration from the government reminding everyone that racism is bad.
This resolution would have the same impact as hate crime bills do when it comes to saving lives. Democrats push this type of Feel Good legislation to make it appear as if they are trying to help minorities when they are doing absolutely nothing in reality.
This move comes as black and brown voters are becoming increasingly disenchanted with the Democratic Party. Indeed, it’s a trend that has folks on the left quite worried, especially when it comes to black support for President Joe Biden.
Perhaps this is the reason why Brown and Company are introducing this measure. It will likely get voted down in the House if it is passed in the Senate, which will give folks on the left the opportunity to accuse Republicans of being racist for voting against it. However, that’s about as much mileage as they will get out of this ploy.