The background and foundation of many forms of prejudice against race, gender, class, or ethnicity is the rhetoric of scarcity or the belief that the other will take away freedom or property from the self. This unfortunately has emerged again with the election of the first black president, followed shortly by baseless and unrealistic accusations of socialism. This sense that any attempt to provide for the less fortunate or to develop equality will be a threat to people who pose themselves as "real Americans" is a true threat to the real freedom of many because it is the deliberate maintenance and perpetuation of hierarchy.