The recent deadly flooding has brought new evidence of caste discrimination in India. Journalists have reported that Indian officials have been rescuing “untouchables” last — bypassing tens of thousands to rescue higher caste members. The Dalits — the lowest people on the Hinda caste ladder — have been left to struggle to survive as dozens have drown and 1.2 million have been forced from their homes.
Despite India’s emergence as a major economic power, it continues to struggle with its caste system and the intense prejudices against those in lower castes. For another recent example, click here.
For the full article, click here.
Katrina.
Exactly!
The U.S. govt. doesn’t give a shit about poor people (or the rapidly dwindling middle class). The poor fill our prisons, are sent to the worst schools, do not have proper health care, do not have enough food or adequate shelter. Utilities are shutting off home heating and electricity at alarming rates. Food banks are begging for donations.
Bankruptcies (chapter 7) were up 29% from last year. Home forclosures continue, also at an alarming rate. Personal income for the vast majority of people is stagnant or decreasing. None of this should be even slightly acceptable to any person in the U.S.
I want to know why our news media, by and large, fails to cover this information. Instead they prattle endlessly in gossip and speculation on “the election”, as if none of this mattered to an actual democratic election. Our media is inane. The suffering of so many means so little to the elite who are just fine, thank you very much. I’m still waiting to understand how the elite thinks a society actually functions on 2% of its people doing well, while the rest go down the tubes.
Vince and Jill,
You are both exactly correct. The victims of Katrina were/are the American Untouchables to the Republicans.