[alasdair_]

>However, the left-leaning zeitgeist opinion would seem to be that this outcome is impossible, and current observed differences are only due to systematic oppression.

Almost no one thinks this way and it's definitely not a popular enough opinion to qualify as a common spirit of our times, left-leaning or otherwise.

You are arguing against a very weak straw-man.

[stevenhuang]

> Almost no one thinks this way

You would hope. But don't you remember the huge backlash from Demore's memo? Many people (or at least a very very vocal population) do think this way, unfortunately.

So no, not a strawman.