Morality is a village.

 I am a member of a society with well defined moral and ethical standards that are accepted, internalized, and enforced by all members of that society. These moral and ethical standards have been developed to facilitate safe productive living in a global, pluralistic, interdependent society. Although they are a distributed resource, in that there is no single entity or guy in a fancy dress telling us what to do, they are nevertheless strongly maintained by law, custom, and personal interaction. Even a minor transgression will be confronted, by anything from a raised eyebrow, a social media troll, to a lawsuit. The reasonable Gods in this society have adopted these ethical and moral structures and overlaid a gloss of their particular theological tenets.

 It is no accident that the village or parish is the basic unit of human society. Our monkeysphere is about 150-200 people whose behavior we can affect with the subtle social cues (the raised eyebrow, frown, or quick smile ) to say that behavior is or is not in accordance with the morals of the society. That is, what our common moral tendencies tell us is right. The morality of the village is pretty well solidified by Fulghum's Kindergarten but is malleable with difficulty at any age.

 Morality is universal. How we treat each other defines the morality of all human interactions.   Nodding to a stranger on the street is a moral interaction. As is giving a person a wide berth on the sidewalk. It is actions like these that define "my society."  Moral absolutism and moral relativism are both mistaken arguments.   Common moral tendencies have nothing at all to do with don't do this or that to another unknown human (which is my argument with the moral sense tests.) The common moral tendencies are of the form do whatever is mandated by the (fairly local) society the individual is a part of.

 When God transgresses these standards, by for example by preaching hatred of minority groups that are respected members of the society, we will and indeed must call the God wrong. And we will be right to do so. A dysfunctional God gets no free pass in a reasonable society simply because someone has faith in Herm. Even a supernatural omnipotent alpha humanoid has to wipe Herm feet when coming in out of the mud, say "thank you for your hospitality" to Herm host, even if that host is a hated minority, and generally comply with the host's society's moral standards.  The Christian God the Son would probably fit in quite nicely. His Father would be better off staying out there in the supernatural ether called Hell.

As one moves beyond ones parish or village, it becomes necessary to choose among the society values including the morals of the various societies one comes in contact with. One's job will have one set, church another, and school still another set.  In the complex intertwined societies of the modern world it becomes necessary to be aware of the local moral structure so you don't violate it inadvertently. One may violate it intentionally or ignore it, but one must know why and how to cover up if necessary. From there it is an easy step for a thoughtful person to choose common moral structures "Love thy neighbor..." "Do unto others..." and less common ones that may be necessary for one's self respect as defined by one's chosen society, which ultimetely comes down to the monkeysphere one choses.  This may be a village or a church or ones "friends" on social media.


 Where these groups are local, isolated and stable almost anything can be moral, witch burning, infanticide, child sacrifice, killing everybody in the next village except the virgins. As a social group whether a church, a political movement, a corporation, or a social media cult, grows beyond a monkeysphere much the same thing happens.  The leader(s) becomes isolated from the group culture, and imposes herm personal morality or lack thereof on the group by charisma, fear, or example. 

Libdem, Capitalism and Politics

 Libdem is the right answer and capitalism doesn’t need to go.  The real problem with any political system is pay to play politics. Heinlein suggested that politicians pay for campaigns out of their own pockets. Probably OK in his time of relative income equality but not workable now.  Andrew Wang’s 100 annual “democracy dollars” might work if they could only be spent on political campaigns. But in any event political contributions of any form exceeding $XK must be made felonious. X being a small number.  But until the DNC and the RNC get out of bed it will never happen.

Blood Drive FAQs

WHY SOULD I DONATE BLOOD? 

• You save several lives. 
• You get a short nap.
• You get a free lunch. 
• You learn needles aren't scary.  ---  Where is the downside? 

WHAT CAN I EXPECT AFTER MY DONATION?

• After the mandatory 15 minute R&R at the canteen (the free lunch) even first time donors are usually able to return to normal activities with no problems. Take a bottle of water and some energy food from the canteen and administer liberally. 
• A sudden loss of blood occasionally causes a stimulation of the brain that can cause light-headedness or an endorphin high depending on the person.  If light-headed, water and rest with head low usually solves the problem. If it lasts for more than a few minutes send for help from the donation center. 
• People will ask about the Coban wrap on your elbow.  Tell them that you just saved a few lives and that they can too with a wave at the drive table.

HOW LONG DOES A DONATION TAKE?

• The actual donation takes 5-10 minutes normally.   
• Preparation and paperwork is about a half hour.  
• Save time in the donation process by filling out the eligibility questionaire (when available) on your mobile device on the day you plan to donate.
• The 15 minute free lunch makes an hour a good bet.  Double Red and apheresis take longer.

CAN I DONATE? 

• Your local blood center or Red Cross Web page usually has most concerns covered and a number to call for special concerns.  E.g. http://www.redcrossblood.org/donating-blood/eligibility-requirements/eligibility-criteria-topic
• https://www.vitalant.org/Donate/Donor-Eligibility.aspx

RECENT ELIGIBILITY CHANGES.

• Tattoos, acupuncture and piercings: no deferral in many states for licensed single use facilities.  One year otherwise.
• Medically controlled diabetes and high blood pressure: generally no deferral. 
• MSM - Men who have had sex with other men and partners: No deferral.  Eligibility for all genders based on recent behavior.
• MAD COWS - Military and residents in UK late 80s and certain others in Europe at that time are no longer deferred. 

LEGALESE 

• If you have been told by a blood collection agency or other medical professional not to donate blood,  get clearance from that professional before scheduling an appointment.  Some changes in eligibility have been noted above. 

Sexist Pronoun Rant

 How do you know and why is it important?

The Essential UBI Unplanned Benefit

Author’s photo used by permission of store manager

 Artists, artisans, chefs, crafters, composers, entrepreneurs, journalists, musicians, novelists, photographers, song writers, students, and other creative people will no longer need a trust fund or a flexible job to develop their skills to a marketable level.

 People driven to create typically have “Starving” attached to their professional designation and frequently to their underpaid day jobs in a Starving Artists Store. Others choose to live in cooperatives in extremely low rent and frequently dangerous neighborhoods to reduce expenses to what they can live on in marginal part-time jobs, or welfare. With UBI even at a subsistence level those cooperatives can at least be in a safe area, and the marginal part-time jobs will provide for better tools and supplies as well as a more comfortable subsistence. Even creatives more comfortably situated, living with parents or a solvent other, can at least feel like they are paying part of their share until they can create a marketable product.

 Another benefit of UBI for creatives is that many of their neighbors will have disposable income to spend on early creations with only front porch or word-of-mouth advertising. Most people would much prefer to buy art or decorative objects from their neighbors than get mass produced imported crap from the internet or a box store. Most of the art on my walls I have bought or has been gifted by people I know E.g. https://www.instagram.com/siriusly.inked/

Drawings pasted on the refrigerator door are another example. With UBI if they are good you no longer have to admonish the kid to get a MBA to find a “Real Job.” You of course will encourage education for its own sake but the art will be given equal encouragement. It is also a fact that artists do better in school than their peers. The discipline demanded by art carries over into school. Well-known studies show that to improve a kids grades hire a piano teacher. https://www.medicaldaily.com/music-education-improves-students-academic-performance-active-participation-required-314508 The extra income from UBI makes the tradeoff between art and education unnecessary.

 There are many benefits of successful creators for the economy. Some of these creative people will make it past crowdfunding and create substantial companies that will be the backbone of the bottom up economy which will create real assets for the GDP to grow on. They will also generate real taxable income to pay the UBI forward. Successful artists, and entrepreneurs, etc. need accountants, media reps, and many other jobs that will be filled from the neighborhood at least in the early stages. At the very least even a few dollars earned by a sale will be recycled in the community several times.

 Creativity is not a racial or ethnic characteristic, although Eurocentric colonialism has made it appear that way by systematically ignoring the art of the natives and slaves, and keeping that population so poor that creativity was suppressed to survive. Frequently art was simply stolen for colonial “culture studies” and museum pieces. Another colonial exploitation tool was cultural appropriation. The colonialists took native and slave art and adapted it using colonial imitators for the amusement of the colonials as costumes, decorations, shows, and even mascots for sport teams. Most of the art was simply ignored as ethnic trash to keep the natives amused and docile. A music group I am in is looking for Black composers in response to BLM and the search list is so long that it had to be divided among several board members to find suitable compositions.

 Minority creators will be able to cater to the esthetics of their neighbors and will build businesses within the community and for the community. Since the community will have disposable income, the best ethnic food carts and trucks, for example, will go back to the neighborhood and sell quality ethnic food rather than trying to eke out a living selling cheap food to mainstream consumers. Ethnic clothing and jewelry creators will find ready markets in the neighborhood as UBI will augment other outside income earned by neighbors working in the mainstream economy.

 In poor and minority communities most of the UBI will recirculate in the neighborhood, as those with disposable income including the artists and entrepreneurs will buy locally whenever possible. The only money which escapes is local vendors buying inventory and supplies unavailable within the neighborhood.

 The community will have disposable income generated from within the community supported by the UBI which for most minority communities will be more than enough to support the lifestyle they are accustomed to. As an example most Native Americans live well below the subsistence standard for mainstream poor. I would expect an explosion of native jewelry, leatherwork, and beadwork that will support native businesses selling to mainstream Americans. When the profits go back to the community cultural appropriation will become a desired result. With the internet as a marketing tool, even relatively small cap businesses can create real value. This is the only way to increase the percentage of minority entrepreneurs. Trying to force them into mainstream businesses has never been beneficial to the minority nor to the businesses that hire them.

 As these communities become self-supporting they will interact less with the mainstream thereby reducing opportunities for bigotry and micro aggressions that currently cause so much social disruption. Given economic parity, which UBI will quickly provide at the community scale, like tends to associate with like, which tends to reduce social friction. The relatively similar communities will grow as they are able with the UBI providing the “outside income” to drive that growth. At first growth will be within the communities. Eventually as communities create resources to trade, growth will expand to the larger community.

 Creative people have always driven economic growth but an economic cushion to try and fail and thereby learn has limited creative opportunities to the economically secure classes. A UBI sufficient to cushion failure to mere poverty will allow all the creatives in our society to reach for the brass ring again and again. Some will catch it and lift all to a more pleasant and rewarding standard of living.

From Medium

Written by

J’Carlin

Silicon Valley, CA. Prounouns: Hesh, Herm. Honorific: Myr. Interests: Marketing theory, Advertizing, Economics, APOD, and rocket science.

Purpose and Meaning for an Atheist

 The needs of my society provide all the meaning and purpose I need to get out of bed each day. There are always "urgencies" to attend to. 

 I don’t believe in souls any more than Gods. I meet my departed loved ones each time I think of something they taught me or when they were kind to me, or just had a good time with me. 

 When I die to, paraphrase John Dobbs, I leave my loved ones this valuable and useful space which I have occupied temporarily, and a legacy of urgencies.

Universal Basic Income

 Once again a guest post to get started.

Nyah Wynne from Facebook

July 19, 2015 at 4:43am

The biggest reason I support UBI (Universal Basic Income) has nothing to do with our possible automated future, as labor becomes less essential, or at least as we need much less of it, though that's a great reason to support it. It's not even about eliminating poverty or making the unemployment rate a non-issue, though those are very good reasons too.

The reason I want a UBI is to make work at least -technically- optional. I want this because so long as work is not optional, so long as it is mandatory, it is coercive. I want UBI so that every low wage worker whose boss screws them on hours, who reprimands them for taking sick days, who asks them to work too fast in unsafe conditions (see the current fast-food lawsuit), every young employee whose boss secretly grabs their ass while no one is looking, who's constantly making lewd comments, or racist comments, or any other sort of hateful bullshit... So that every employee who finds themselves trapped in the fiefdom of some petty little tyrant of a boss, which is actually The Majority Of Low End Workers, so that they can say:

"TAKE THIS JOB AND SHOVE IT"

So that they can really, truly, meaningfully walk the fuck away. And not have it mean they end up on the streets or their kids starve or they find themselves turning tricks to keep the water running and the lights on. Or for that matter just ending up in yet another job with a slightly different petty tyrant. And they can do this, deal with this, without having to deal with lawyers or Union Reps, who though are better than -not- having them it'd be nicer to just be able to do it ourselves. Because if -enough- of them (us) say 'NO' to this petty fucking bullshit, then firms will be forced to stop letting the petty bullshit happen (those who fail to will simply not get workers), and work in general will end up less awful for everyone.

Because the ability to say 'NO' to someone who's actively abusing you... that should be pretty high on the list of 'Liberties' worth defending. In my mind.

 Almost as important is what a mentor at Pan Am called "Fuck You Money" that puts you in a position to as he put it "To do your job right."  If you are dependent on your job for your day to day lifestyle, you can't afford to disagree meaningfully with your bosses to do what is right instead of what is expedient. UBI gives you the safety net along with your Fuck You Money you saved from your productive work to get the next job to use your skills properly.  

 The effect of UBI on workers willing to put up with unreasonable working conditions is probably why the establishment is trying to bury the concept despite its obvious advantages for all except the slave driver bosses.  

  UBI is "outside" money to low income people who spend locally for necessities provided by mainly other low income people. The bodega proprietor, (there would be food trucks on every corner) and other neighborhood business would thrive and economic benefits would trickle UP to landlords, food truck lessors, food truck builders, etc. They might even buy a solar food truck with a Powerwall 2 from Tesla if they are really successful. 

 Entry level jobs and indeed all jobs would be supplemental to UBI and under conventional income tax theory would be taxed progressively.  The big difference would be that entry level jobs would be optional so wages and working conditions must be attractive enough that people would want to work.  Most people would rather be productive, whether as an artisan, an entrepeneur, or as a service worker as long as they feel that they are being useful to their community but they won't do it without reasonable compensation with the UBI as a backup. 

 Creativity is a fundamental drive for humans once they get beyond subsistence.  Cave people drew on the walls of the cave, ordinary pots and pans became works of art in ancient and indigenous cultures.  The key to success for an artisan or an entrepreneur is being able to fail without consequences to one's family.  A trust fund is the traditional back up for them, but that limits the pool of creative and risk taking to rich people.  Imagine the creative surge if anyone with a dream could pursue it.   

 Similarly artisans and artists can pursue their muse without having to worry about the necessities of living, and the best of them will be rewarded for their talent.  Those with lesser talent will at worst provide amusement for themselves and perhaps a few of their neighbors.  I would expect that the piano will once again be feature of most homes and impromptu chamber groups will provide amusement for many.  Again a sorting will occur and the best chamber groups will find paid performance venues to supplement their UBI.  If the work is saleable they get extra income to support the local economy and the Government. If not they can try harder or learn to do something else.

  Unpaid volunteer workers could choose to be idle but work anyway. Also most people I know in the class of comfortable retired people are still working hard at something paid or otherwise. Why would that not become a way of life for those with no saleable skills?  Some people living on UBI might need TLC, companionship, shopping, and other services not covered by UBI that neighbors not forced to work long hours could easily supply. Note the win-win here, volunteer caregivers might well need some of that TLC and companionship as well.


 The UBI will solve the problem of automation moving the rewards of productivity to the owners of the production lines.  A few mass produced items will survive in the UBI economy but most of the economy will be based on the exchange in custom made items and home produced food. Productivity will no longer be a driving force for specialty food items, although the basics like flour and soy products and cultured meat will probably still be produced in automated factory establishments, the tacos and pizzas will be made and sold by the neighbors as well as more elaborate meals. When a food entrepreneur does not need to survive on herm gross income, hesh* can spend the time to provide a special meal service that herm neighbors will pay for, and the best will make a nice (taxable) supplemental wage for their efforts. 
 
 The few couch potatoes living off the stipend are probably just as well off the streets and not making trouble to survive. They still are consumers. They eat, buy couches, TVs, and pay rent.  If we make the "idle" comfortable enough to live a decent, if not easy, life what they do with their life is of no consequence to society. 

  Those who want to work will have plenty of opportunities under UBI. There are many jobs that require human input. But a job, which is working for someone else will be only one option, and an option at that. Employers will have to compete on working conditions as well as pay to attract those who wish to work. If a restaurant owner or retailer needs people, hesh will have to make the job more attractive than opening a lunchroom or storefront shop.

 Job availability will exceed demand, given the "Be your own boss" drive most people have. If a tradesperson with a truck can supplement UBI working for herm* neighbors the job premium would have to be very attractive to drag herm across town instead. 

 Implementing UBI could be very simple. Social Security for all adults! The basic social security benefit would cover basic needs for a family split between two adults. All income over the basic social security benefit (UBI) would be subject to a social security tax with no cap as well as a progressive income tax for government services.  Retirees paid as currently, based on social security income tax paid on income over UBI.  Grandfathers grandfathered in at current rate. Work optional until dead but all income over UBI benefit is taxed. Merge Federal SSA, state welfare, and unemployment, and let employees sort themselves out.

J'C  11/23/2017

*Hesh, herm: Gender inclusive pronouns,  https://jcarlinbl.blogspot.com/2016/04/gender-inclusive-pronouns.html

UBI and Economics

 GDP is ultimately people buying goods and services from other people. Somebody has to flip those burgers the basic income recipients are buying. 


 If a person does not work but receives the same UBI as everybody else, no one is a slave for the non-worker but all who work, work for the common good and get paid for it if someone else recognizes the value and buys it. The "buys it" may be in wages or purchase of a chattel or other art that someone has worked to make.  Some people create more recognizable value for the common good than others who are less skilled or less able and are paid more and can consume more. 
 
 But all contribute to the common good by consuming which is a necessary part of the production/consumption equation which ultimately must balance.  The couch potato consumes food, TVs, housing, clothing, etc. that someone had to be paid to make.
 
 Since low income people spend locally and buy from people they know (not robots) the income from outside the local economy stays in the local economy and all are better off.  The multiplier effect of the basic income dollar for a relatively closed local economy without box stores or Franchises to siphon off money is nearly 3 times.  The burger flipper in a local lunchroom is paid a competitive if relatively low wage in addition to the basic income or hesh wouldn't work.  Hesh spends most of herm income including UBI on local goods and services employing other local workers, creating more local demand for those goods and services and more workers to produce and vend them. 

  Assuming UBI, Medicare for All, and essentially free renewable energy, now dead ex-urban and rural suburbs will become vibrant villages of local commerce and art most of which will generate excess funds for local amenities. UBI is an external source of resources for the community which will be subject to the economic multiplier by those providing services to the UBI recipients.  Dispersal would solve the "BMR" housing issue as only those needing to be close to cities would compete for high end suburbs and high density city housing.  Note that minimum wage jobs in high density areas would no longer be attractive to distant UBI recipients.  There are many things they could do with the costs in time and money of a multi-hour commute.

 UBI should be an EFT deposit into a local bank or credit union.  National Banks should not be permitted to accept UBI transfers.  Local banks and credit unions could invest in housing and business loans for residents of the local area.  Large metro areas could be divided into historical and/or ethnic communities for the purpose of defining "Local" for this restriction. 

 The car based infrastructure will once again become a valuable resource for infrequent visits to friends and relatives and occasional visits to urban centers for shopping and entertainment.  The car will remain as the personal status symbol for rich and poor alike.  Although it will be autonomous and electric it will still use the roads and freeways unclogged by commuter traffic.  That racing striped Camaro shell will be on a Spark chassis, but hesh will be as devoted to it as before with the big Hemi.

 Some basic income recipients will use their time to pursue a dream of artisan goods production; a local service like a band, restaurant, or performance venue; or a mercantile service.  Some will succeed and become tourist magnets generating outside dollars for the community.

 Assuming an income tax the multiplier will be reduced a bit from a pure subsistence economy, but if the tax rate is progressive the reduction in the multiplier should be minimal for in-community services as these services will be provided on narrow margins as the providers will be recipients of UBI as well.

J'C 11/26/2019

UBI Enables Gig Work at all Earning Levels.

 UBI would make gig work more attractive both for employees and employers.  For higher end gig work, many people would choose their gigs more carefully and work only when they wanted to so that the working conditions and pay would have to be more attractive to induce people to work the less attractive hours or more intensive gigs.  For employers the flexibility of gig work to cover busy times even though hourly pay would be higer might be cost effective vs paying a high full time wage to get skills necessary for high traffic times.  At low end of the wage scale with essentials covered by UBI gig employers would have to pay competitively for less attractive times which are more important for service availability. There would still be people willing to work part time at low income levels to cover low demand times either as a supplement to UBI or to fill non-productive time on other projects that they might be pursuing in arts or crafts.

J'C  5/14/2019

UBI not Reparations

 While Black People, second only to Native Americans, deserve reparations for past discrimination, practically determining who gets what reparations for which discrimination, is an impossible political problem.  Instead provide UBI for all in the form of a Social Security Stipend for all adults sufficient to cover basic needs paid for by a Social Security tax on all gross income over the stipend, no deductions, no caps, and all income from any source formal, informal, legal or not included.* 

 Those who really deserve reparations and their communities will benefit the most from this outside income, since most who deserve reparations are living hand to mouth and will spend the UBI in their neighborhood on goods and services provided by others who may have a bit more to invest either by saving a bit of the UBI or investing other resources saved from outside jobs or other income.  The economic multiplier in neighborhoods of folks who have a history of systematic discrimination is nearly 3 times.  That is each outside dollar is recycled in the neighborhood three times before it is lost to goods and services outside the hood. UBI to more well off people will be either invested and out of the economy or spent in the wider economy benefiting all working people.  

 *The above is a modified comment on a stonekettle post on reparations for blacks.

 For a discussion of UBI

 A better way to pay for UBI is a progressive VAT. 

Morality as Face(Book) Groups

 Humans, as highly intelligent and extremely social animals are genetically programmed to learn all they can about the customs and mores of their tribe or social group as defined prehistorically by those whose faces they encountered on a daily basis. There could be no thought of violating these customs and mores, as doing so would cause banishment and a solo human was a dead human. This is the basis of conscience, not some big daddy in the sky.  

 As social groups grow beyond the tribal or village size like minded social groups will congregate geographically or in religious groups.  The religious groups may be dispersed far beyond a geographical area but at least in theory the groups maintain a consistent set of customs and mores that serve to control and unify the the local face groups. 

 A child brought up by members or a member of an identifiable social group will associate behavior that promotes the welfare of the group with "good" and that which is contrary to the welfare of the group as "bad." No matter how large the identifiable social group became the local community hall was the transmitter of the group's values.  Typically these community halls are small enough that all are at least nominally acquainted.   Ultimately it seems that compliance with face-group standards is the natural morality of humans. 

 As larger societies moved up the chain to associations of face groups, either religious or secular, commandments, laws and rules of behavior are established to define minimum standards of behavior that promote the welfare of the larger group.  These commandments, laws and rules are not to be confused with morality, as frequently these commandments, laws and rules will conflict with the imprinted sense of what is good and what is bad as it relates to the childhood face group.    

 A face group at that point may withdraw to the extent possible from the larger group.  See the Amish and other Anabaptist groups who live by their own moral standards ignoring the laws of the larger society except where there is unavoidable conflict. Or they may be forced to withdraw from the larger group as the Native Americans were.  Again, nothing to do with the morality of the larger society, simply rules to make the larger society work. One could make a strong case that the laws of society are by definition immoral as they force compliance with activities that may be against the face group morals of individuals within the larger society.

 The world is too big to be a face group these days but if we choose carefully there is a group of people whose customs and mores we can and do internalize. That group will look a lot like our family and close friends even when extended to people we probably will never meet.  The mores so developed may or may not be judged moral by the larger society. 

 Religious and secular associations are the traditional facilitators of face groups and define the approved social standards and mores for the group. 

Social media is emerging as a powerful force for expanding and defining these extended face groups. In some cases a small group of people or bots may be instrumental in defining the customs and mores for the group. Rallies and marches seem to be their churches and meeting halls.  Most groups are frequently in political conflict with many if not most of the other groups.

  J'C  10/20/2019 Edit 10/21 

Art and Artists

   If you cannot evaluate art without evaluating the artist you don't understand art.  I specifically avoid, indeed shun, biographical data about artists.  If their art is expiation for their monstrous private lives perhaps it is expiation for the monstrous private lives of all of us.  Their art is their legacy.  Their private lives should be buried with them and never discussed while they are alive. 

  An artist and herm art are two entirely separate and distinct entities in all cultures.  The art may live and be meaningful long after the artist has returned to dust.  While it is fun to argue about which composers of famous religious music were atheists, the fact remains that the music they composed is sung and revered by believers in any culture affected by the religion depicted in the composition.  

A "critic" is a man who creates nothing and thereby feels qualified to judge the work of creative men. There is a logic in this; he is unbiased - he hates all creative people equally.  Lazarus Long, Time Enough For Love,  Robert A Heinlein, 1973.

 The easiest thing a lazy critic can focus on is some private life peccadillo (or worse) to avoid entirely herm work as a critic of evaluating the art to help the rest of us sort out the good from the bad.   

 The current trend even extends to Jefferson's "all men are created equal" as written by a slave holder who even had children by a favored slave.  He had no choice in his culture. That he could transcend his culture to create a better world where all are equal (even though we are not there yet after 200+ years) speaks volumes about his character not to mention the character of his critics who do not even aspire to the all humans are equal standard. 

 Never trust the teller, trust the tale. The proper function of a critic is to save the tale from the artist who created it.   D.H. Lawrence

You should always read any published author especially a DWM without any biographical data clouding your mind. Words mean what they say, regardless of the personal beliefs and/or cultural influences on the author. The best authors (and artists) transcend their personal foibles to change the world.