I'm reading Dignity by @Chris_arnade. It is sad, uplifting, enraging, and sad again all at once. Beautifully told, poignant imagery. This is a book with which liberals/lefties must reckon. More soon… https://t.co/sg2t2XbJzD

— Matt Stoller (@matthewstoller) June 23, 2019

I think I can understand why liberals and lefties hate Arnade so much. It’s because Arnade and his book destroy the notion that it’s innate and unalterable racism that is responsible for all the problems of the world — that in fact, many of the decisions made by the liberal meritocrats are directly responsible for economic injustice, impoverishment of entire communities, and the rise of Trump.

No one likes the finger of blame pointed at them, especially when the attribution of culpability is accurate.

Sure, the left has also done much to help. But it’s also done much to hurt, especially lately, and despite its claim to not believe in genetic…anything, nearly, a large majority of the left seems to have concluded that some people are genetically racist and genetically stupid, and just too half-witted to up and leave their towns, their families, their support networks to go work in some overcrowded place with absurd rent costs and no support networks.

Detesting Arnade and the gall of his actually talking to people makes perfect sense in this light. No one likes to be told their “help” and their spreadsheets are worthless. Thus, you see the people actually making a difference in the world like Arnade being pilloried, while those who confirm all the liberal worst tendencies like Buttiegieg, and who actively make the world worse, are lauded.