Wednesday August 30 12:02 AM ET
Calif. Minorities Become Majority
By TOM VERDIN, Associated Press Writer
LOS ANGELES (AP) - California's minority population became the majority in 1999, continuing a demographic evolution that could have wide-ranging consequences for the state's political future.
The state's non-Hispanic white population was 49.8 percent last year, according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates released Wednesday. In 1990, non-Hispanic whites were 57 percent of California's population.
That marks the first time since 1860, when accurate census data for California started being recorded, that whites did not have a majority, according to the state Department of Finance.
To Californians, however, the landmark passed quietly. The state's demographics have shifted gradually over the past decade as it became a destination for waves of immigrants from Asia, Mexico and Central and South America.
``The state as a whole has been pretty aware of the trend and the projections for some time,'' said Bruce Cain, a political science professor at the University of California, Berkeley. ``We already know that we have to adjust to diversity, but it makes the point that much more salient when you hit the 50 percent mark.''
The state's changing face already is being reflected in state politics. In 1998, for example, Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante became the first Hispanic elected to statewide office since 1871.
Some experts say issues important to immigrant communities - such as better education for students in urban school districts - will take priority as more Hispanics gain political power.
Those issues also could polarize a populace that in the 1990s voted to end many social programs for illegal immigrants, limit bilingual education and ban racial and gender quotas.
One source of possible friction: White retirees who might be less willing to fund programs for poorer inner-city communities that are largely young and non-white, said James P. Allen, a population geographer at California State University, Northridge.
``The big block of voters are whites, many of them older,'' he said. ``Many whites are in a tax-revolting mood and don't want to fund education.''
Asians and Hispanics are the fastest growing of the state's ethnic groups, with both populations increasing by nearly 35 percent between 1990 and 1999, according to the census projections.
Hispanics account for 31.5 percent of the state's population, while Asians are just more than 12 percent. The state's Asian population of roughly 4 million accounts for more than 37 percent of all Asians in the United States.
California's non-Hispanic white population was the only ethnic group to decline, from 17 million in 1990 to 16.5 million in 1999. The populations of blacks and American Indians increased slightly, with blacks accounting for 7.5 percent of California residents.
The demographic shift occurs as the state's population growth continues to outpace the nation's. California's population grew to 33.1 million in 1999, a 10.6 percent increase since 1990, according to the Census Bureau.
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ap/20000830/us/california_census_1.html http://www.freep.com/news/metro/cen30_20000830.htm
There's more than one way to conquer your enemy. If you cannot due it outright, through brute force or cunning, then become one with him. Absorb him, smother him, assimilate him, infiltrate him until he is no more, until he is a mere shadow of his former self. Not that this ever has happened, or could happen.
Not that minorities or people of Hispanic origin are necessarily the enemy, or that they are in any way inherently bad, for they certainly are not, however it is time to take a cold hard look at where we are (as a nation) and we are going.
But don't worry right? After all we'll still be safe and secure with our gangbuster economy and abundance of high paying technical jobs. Well watch as those head south or far east and salaries for jobs that do stay here begin to decline as more and more are willing to come here and work for less and less. And reverse discrimination (aka affirmative action), like any great bureacratic leviathin, that once in place will never shrink but will only grow in its desperate attempt to justify its own existence.
But wait, you say this country was built upon immigrants and their decendents, and without their stunning achievements, we quite possibly would not be the great nation that we are now. Aren't you being a little unfair, perhaps a little bigoted in characterizing these great waves of New Americans as a problem? Perhaps. But perhaps not. My grandparents were the first generation of my family born in this great country. As children of Polish and Czech people, you can bet they were the butt of jokes and experienced their share of discrimination. However, they met this challenge with an energy, optimism and willingness to succeed that should inspire us all. They worked the long hard jobs in the factories and mills, scrimped and saved, and eventually built themselves a good life. And in turn for this great opportunity they received, they gave us the great country we have now. And how did they manage this great achievement against all odds? Very simple, actually. They become Americans, embraced the American work ethic and culture, and worked hard. They learned the system, worked it, changed it and improved it. Their children were taught values. Many of them were not allowed to speak their mother languages, but were made to learn English. Education and hard work were valued, even revered. So what is the problem now, you wondered. You see, it seems something has changed. The new generations of immigrants (I almost think of them as invaders) see to be cut from a different cloth. Much of the work ethic, desire to succeed, and most importantly, the desire to become a Great American seems to have disappeared. And the results have torn the nation.
We are supposed to live in a constitutional republic, but in effect we live in a democratic police state, and once the old minority becomes the majority you can expect some changes. Quite possibly, the democrats will control both houses, and quite possibly the presidency. Welfare will never end, but it certainly will be increased. Big government will get bigger. English will never be made the official language of the land, more likely Spanish will. PC crap like "diversity", "multi-culturalness" and "sensitivity training" will become the new propaganda used to divide the nation along racial and class lines. Expect more racism, violence, crime and general problems as a result of this PC foolishness. Forget about the melting pot. Forget about coming here to work hard and become Americans. That will be an old fashioned theory, another example of colonialism perpetrated by dead white males, and everyone will come here desperately clinging to their old culture, old traditions and old beliefs-- nevermind that some of these beliefs are quite possible a cause of the miserable situation they are fleeing from when coming here. When any of the more rational members of our country try to point out these problems, they will be shouted down as bigots, racists, fools-- or evern worse-- charged with hate crimes.
What will this all get us, what will the end result be? Well, it's hard to say but I seriously doubt the results will be what we expect, much less what we want. I find it hard to believe the same culture beliefs and mores prevailing today if applied several generations ago would have resulted in the America we live in now.
Calif. Minorities Become Majority
By TOM VERDIN, Associated Press Writer
LOS ANGELES (AP) - California's minority population became the majority in 1999, continuing a demographic evolution that could have wide-ranging consequences for the state's political future.
The state's non-Hispanic white population was 49.8 percent last year, according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates released Wednesday. In 1990, non-Hispanic whites were 57 percent of California's population.
That marks the first time since 1860, when accurate census data for California started being recorded, that whites did not have a majority, according to the state Department of Finance.
To Californians, however, the landmark passed quietly. The state's demographics have shifted gradually over the past decade as it became a destination for waves of immigrants from Asia, Mexico and Central and South America.
``The state as a whole has been pretty aware of the trend and the projections for some time,'' said Bruce Cain, a political science professor at the University of California, Berkeley. ``We already know that we have to adjust to diversity, but it makes the point that much more salient when you hit the 50 percent mark.''
The state's changing face already is being reflected in state politics. In 1998, for example, Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante became the first Hispanic elected to statewide office since 1871.
Some experts say issues important to immigrant communities - such as better education for students in urban school districts - will take priority as more Hispanics gain political power.
Those issues also could polarize a populace that in the 1990s voted to end many social programs for illegal immigrants, limit bilingual education and ban racial and gender quotas.
One source of possible friction: White retirees who might be less willing to fund programs for poorer inner-city communities that are largely young and non-white, said James P. Allen, a population geographer at California State University, Northridge.
``The big block of voters are whites, many of them older,'' he said. ``Many whites are in a tax-revolting mood and don't want to fund education.''
Asians and Hispanics are the fastest growing of the state's ethnic groups, with both populations increasing by nearly 35 percent between 1990 and 1999, according to the census projections.
Hispanics account for 31.5 percent of the state's population, while Asians are just more than 12 percent. The state's Asian population of roughly 4 million accounts for more than 37 percent of all Asians in the United States.
California's non-Hispanic white population was the only ethnic group to decline, from 17 million in 1990 to 16.5 million in 1999. The populations of blacks and American Indians increased slightly, with blacks accounting for 7.5 percent of California residents.
The demographic shift occurs as the state's population growth continues to outpace the nation's. California's population grew to 33.1 million in 1999, a 10.6 percent increase since 1990, according to the Census Bureau.
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ap/20000830/us/california_census_1.html http://www.freep.com/news/metro/cen30_20000830.htm
There's more than one way to conquer your enemy. If you cannot due it outright, through brute force or cunning, then become one with him. Absorb him, smother him, assimilate him, infiltrate him until he is no more, until he is a mere shadow of his former self. Not that this ever has happened, or could happen.
Not that minorities or people of Hispanic origin are necessarily the enemy, or that they are in any way inherently bad, for they certainly are not, however it is time to take a cold hard look at where we are (as a nation) and we are going.
But don't worry right? After all we'll still be safe and secure with our gangbuster economy and abundance of high paying technical jobs. Well watch as those head south or far east and salaries for jobs that do stay here begin to decline as more and more are willing to come here and work for less and less. And reverse discrimination (aka affirmative action), like any great bureacratic leviathin, that once in place will never shrink but will only grow in its desperate attempt to justify its own existence.
But wait, you say this country was built upon immigrants and their decendents, and without their stunning achievements, we quite possibly would not be the great nation that we are now. Aren't you being a little unfair, perhaps a little bigoted in characterizing these great waves of New Americans as a problem? Perhaps. But perhaps not. My grandparents were the first generation of my family born in this great country. As children of Polish and Czech people, you can bet they were the butt of jokes and experienced their share of discrimination. However, they met this challenge with an energy, optimism and willingness to succeed that should inspire us all. They worked the long hard jobs in the factories and mills, scrimped and saved, and eventually built themselves a good life. And in turn for this great opportunity they received, they gave us the great country we have now. And how did they manage this great achievement against all odds? Very simple, actually. They become Americans, embraced the American work ethic and culture, and worked hard. They learned the system, worked it, changed it and improved it. Their children were taught values. Many of them were not allowed to speak their mother languages, but were made to learn English. Education and hard work were valued, even revered. So what is the problem now, you wondered. You see, it seems something has changed. The new generations of immigrants (I almost think of them as invaders) see to be cut from a different cloth. Much of the work ethic, desire to succeed, and most importantly, the desire to become a Great American seems to have disappeared. And the results have torn the nation.
We are supposed to live in a constitutional republic, but in effect we live in a democratic police state, and once the old minority becomes the majority you can expect some changes. Quite possibly, the democrats will control both houses, and quite possibly the presidency. Welfare will never end, but it certainly will be increased. Big government will get bigger. English will never be made the official language of the land, more likely Spanish will. PC crap like "diversity", "multi-culturalness" and "sensitivity training" will become the new propaganda used to divide the nation along racial and class lines. Expect more racism, violence, crime and general problems as a result of this PC foolishness. Forget about the melting pot. Forget about coming here to work hard and become Americans. That will be an old fashioned theory, another example of colonialism perpetrated by dead white males, and everyone will come here desperately clinging to their old culture, old traditions and old beliefs-- nevermind that some of these beliefs are quite possible a cause of the miserable situation they are fleeing from when coming here. When any of the more rational members of our country try to point out these problems, they will be shouted down as bigots, racists, fools-- or evern worse-- charged with hate crimes.
What will this all get us, what will the end result be? Well, it's hard to say but I seriously doubt the results will be what we expect, much less what we want. I find it hard to believe the same culture beliefs and mores prevailing today if applied several generations ago would have resulted in the America we live in now.
You are right I should go out and pick watermelons off some farm in the dead of summer heat for $4.00 per hour. These guys make good money compared to what they would get at home. And most of it goes straight to Mexico and the rest feeds themselves. You are right that they do back-breaking work and I respect them for doing it to feed their families, but the native-born American doesn't usually have a family in Mexico that those kind of wages could support. Our cost of living is higher and therefore we require higher paying jobs. I look at those guys in those fields and I can say that they should be proud that they are doing that instead of running drugs and disease into our country.