Am I a "liberal"?

[Tiberius]

The 2001 census is now 8 years old and I predict a higher % of non-whites next census.

I predict a higher % of non-whites in the next police demographics report. The point was that we aren't a true multicultural country; we are predominantly white. America is far more of a multicultural society than the UK.

There are parts of the country that are predominantly non-white and other areas, London, for example, with a high proportion of non-whites. We ARE a multicultural society, whether it suits you or not.

Even in London, the population of non-white is only 30% (according to the Office for National Statistics 2006 estimate), and out of those, only 10% are "black"; the rest being mixed race, Chinese, Indian, etc. You say "whether it suits you or not" in a way that seems to me to suggest that I am somehow against multiculturalism. I'm not, I'm very pro-multiculturalism, but we aren't a multicultural society at all, and the statistics agree with me.

Even using your stats, nowhere near 1 in 10 coppers are non-white.

No, it is more like 1 in 33, but to say that this is caused by racism in the police force without doing a proper investigation and determining the causes it ludicrous. As I stated, there are non-whites in the highest ranking officers of the police force; clearly they have not been subjected to racism, or they wouldn't be there. You presume without any evidence to back up your opinions.

The police have a reputation for being chauvinist and racism has also been demonstrated on many occasions. Little wonder it is populated as it is.

Police have always had a reputation in some way or another. Having a reputation does not mean the reputation is valid or well-deserved. If you have evidence to back up your assertions, please present it.

I am suggesting affirmative action to recruit more ethnic recruits and to encouraging a change in police culture, so stuff you!

We should certainly change attitudes, but this is done through education, not through affirmative action. Affirmative action gives special treatment to people who do not deserve it. All people should be treated equally; that is the very value that should be at the heart of any anti-racism campaign, but it is ignored and replaced by the very thing that people are trying to fight against. Minorities should be encouraged, but their job should not be simply given to them because they are a minority. They should earn it in the same way everyone else does. To do otherwise is discrimination of the majority and is equally racist.

I don't give 2 fucks about your attitude to racism ( or much else ). We only agree on atheism, methinks.

I find your attitude to racism the exact opposite of promoting equality. You seek to highlight differences where there aren't any, and use these differences to discriminate against other people. You are as bad as the true racists out there imo.

It's debatable whether or not associating with a violent gang should have penalties. But DLF claims to be a Libertarian.

I was pointing out that it's not really Libertarian-like lock up a peaceful person for associating with a gang. Definitely a victimless crime.

It's not very Libertarian to support the death penalty either, but then I guess it's not very Libertarian to support public healthcare and I do. There is a lot of interpretation within Libertarianism itself.