We've got hundreds of thousands of laws. Compromises that were suppose to make everything better. Yet here we are.
Maybe instead of asking the bad guy to not be bad, we could try preparing for when he does bad things anyways.
@famousone ...Are you okay mate? I'm just HONESTLY asking as, since you've been back from training, your reply posts have taken a (somewhat) harder turn right than what I've personally noticed from you previously.... Not at all related to this one specifically, just an overall trend I'm noticing. So, Are You Okay?? I'm not trying to start an argument with you so feel free to tell me to fuck off, but I'm Aussie and we've turned "giving as good as we get" into an art-form ;-). But jokes aside, first question stands!
No. I'm tired. I'm bitter. And I'm pissed.
The world is trying it's damndest to go to shit, the people I've sworn to protect are protesting against me and mine in favor of people I have seen do terrible things. My own countrymen decry my lawful leader as a dictator, then turn around and try to take away our safeguards against tyranny. I'm seeing politicians build careers by shitting on what I chose to dedicate my life to. And on top of it all, I have personally failed in my chance to join the elite and do real soldier shit, and instead got stuck surrounded by people who are just counting down the days until they leave the team.
I refuse to say I'm wrong when I know I'm right, so I'm digging in.
Hol’ up. Who says you aren’t allowed to do real soldier shit? You may be a bloodthirsty psycho but you’re FunSubstance’s bloodthirsty psycho and if anyone is going to criticize you and tell you that you aren’t good enough it’s going to be us. Did you tell this so-called “Officer” that you have had a star several times next to your name?
You aren’t a monster as far as I know of you. You’re a fundamentally good person who has a natural desire to care. That desire sometimes manifest in ways that could be seen by some as harmful- but you generally come from a good place on intentions. You generally don’t suggest “harsh” courses out of a desire to see harm done but from your belief there is practical necessity in that course. You aren’t a troll, in lay terms. Just a person with opinions that others will sometimes disagree with like any of us. But also a person of integrity, honor, loyalty, and heart. So while we can’t always see eye to eye and your views are occasionally narrow or extreme to my tastes- you’re no monster.
I have a question, what would you're "lawful leader" have to do for you to be like "oh fuck that".... because he literally entertained the thought that he could just buy Greenland. I ask because I know you love this country.
Capitulating to foreign powers, starting an unprovoked war, undermining the other branches in an unconstitutional manner, backing socialist policies, turning out to actually be a Russian/Nazi/Jew/KKK/Saudi/Pedo/Chinese/whatever saboteur, cutting my paycheck, disrespecting President Reagan, or shitting on a grave at Arlington .
1) Capitulating to foreign powers: he's done this multiple times, especially to Saudi Arabia
2)undermining the other branches in an unconstitutional manner: Remember that time he said a judge was unfit because of his Mexican heritage?.. and that's just a small example.
3)Backing socialist policies: Farmer bailout.
4)turning out to actually be a yada-yada saboteur, He surely isn't denouncing any of them, and seems to be working in Russia's interests in particular, as it took a fucking veto-proof majority for increased sanctions.
5) Cutting your paycheck: This is where the 5 or 6 thing happens... did you have a paycheck before Trump? It seems like you went from HS into service during his tenure so... there's no way he could directly impact your paycheck yet.
6) Literally everything he does except his tax-cut is disrespecting Reagan. Just the way he presents himself is a disrespect to Reagan.
7) He didn't shit on it, but rain messing up his hair sure as shit kept him away.
Yeah, no. You're misrepresenting all of those might've happened, and stretching pretty far for the rest.
1) The Saudis fucking suck, but they've yet to actually hurt or overtly act against us.
2) That particular judge was too close to the case, it wouldn't be fair or realistic to ask him to be impartial. And calling a judge unfit is hardly undermining SCOTUS.
3) Bailouts suck, but are as socialist as public roads, that is to say, not really.
4) He has denounced most of the things listed. Publicly. Repeatedly in some cases.
5) He's not threatening the budget or pay of the military. Quite the opposite, in fact.
6) No.
7) No.
So when it's something you like it's not socialism?
That judge was, like I said, a small example. The freaking Senate Majority Leader is having his wife's job held hostage by Trump. And it's not like the turtle isn't a terrible person to begin with.
The Saudi's may not have done anything to us, doesn't mean Trump thought giving them billions in weapons was a bad idea. Again, that's just ONE example out of multiple: Russia, SA, Yemen, Philippines, his love letters with Kim....
Right... good people on both sides, I totally forgot about that side of the argument.
Please name something besides the tax cut that you think Reagan would be proud of.
How about his flag-hug? As that's a violation.
Anyway, it's Friday, I'm not really in the mood for a debate, as I'm sure you aren't either. Perhaps rekindle this on... Monday? It's still preseason... but it's also the weekend.
Okay, it's Monday. I'm going to open with this:
Yet today protectionism is being used by some American politicians as a cheap form of nationalism, a fig leaf for those unwilling to maintain America’s military strength and who lack the resolve to stand up to real enemies — countries that would use violence against us or our allies. Our peaceful trading partners are not our enemies; they are our allies. We should beware of the demagogues who are ready to declare a trade war against our friends — weakening our economy, our national security, and the entire free world — all while cynically waving the American flag. The expansion of the international economy is not a foreign invasion; it is an American triumph, one we worked hard to achieve, and something central to our vision of a peaceful and prosperous world of freedom.
Guess who said it.
President Trump is increasing the strength of the military, is working to actually kill the bad guys and bring my brothers home, and has refrained from overextending us.
If they really were our friends then they wouldn't be undercutting us and imposing their own protectionist policies against us.
What hurts the American worker and devalues our product may be a triumph for the world, but not for the American people.
First and last, our government should focus on our benefit, not Germany's, not Greece's, and sure as fuck not Iran's.
All the while, he's making peace and building bridges with historical enemies while pressuring our "allies" to build up their own strength so that we don't have to babysit the ungrateful and entitled jerks any longer.
The Nazi's are buried and the Soviets are gone, there's no good reason to remain entrapped to European affairs. Especially if they're going to bitch wherever we refuse to give them free stuff.
I do agree that diplomatic relations with our historical enemies is a good thing, there is clearly a pattern with Trump. He's ignoring economical and strategic sense and instead focusing on how these enemies became powerful and trying to emulate it. The saving grace is that he's not subtle about it, so he gets called out quickly on it.
As for our allies undermining us; do you seriously think the EU is undermining us?! They know Russia can do what it did last time without our help. Asking a friend for help when you know you can't help yourself isn't undermining, it's pleading.
A quote by President Reagan.
The context was him attempting to stop trade policies from pushing Europe to favor China. During the Cold War, when the United States was actually facing an existential threat from the Communist Bloc.
Ignoring economic and strategic sense? Really, when our economy is doing better than his predecessor ever claimed was possible? When our military is better trained, funded, and utilized than it's been in at least a decade. When we're making peace with Russia and Asian adversaries, when we're disentangling ourselves from Euro interests?
While securing our physical and cyber security with every other policy and reasserting our national sovereignty.
Driving up a hill with a cliff face isn't a bright idea. Actual GDP growth has basically flattened, even with laxing of interest rates and tax cuts. That's an omen bruh.
Kudos for not just understanding the Reagan quote, but adding some context.
The worst thing that can happen with all this, is if instead of the dollar, the yuan becomes the standard. That is highly unlikely, but it's no longer an impossibility. The threat of that alone is enough for me to justify his economic incompetence. Strategically, my main point would be REM's. Yes, we have plenty for ourselves, but we don't have the infrastructure to actually process them and without absolutely destroying EPA policies or some incredible new technology, we will never be able to meet the demand. Pissing off the country that processes 95% of them for us doesn't sound strategically sound, does it?
I am going to tell you the same thing my Dad said "A lock is not to keep criminals from stealing your stuff it is to keep good people good. Just like Gun laws. The law is there to keep good people good. Because if someone truly wants a gun and wants to kill people they will always find a way to a gun. Even if we destroy every single gun ever made people will begin to make guns them self."
Look all we can do is make it hard to get them and make it hard to have them in public.
My Dad was a good wise man. He was a real life Superhero till the day he died. He had nearly every job a civil servant can be. He worked hard and helped put bad people away and helped those who truly needed help.
He put his ideas and values in his kids and even though none of us became any of the jobs he had we all still stand by what he believed in. That everyone has good in them just some refuse to listen to it and those are the ones you need to be careful of.
I’m sorry for his passing, but heroes never die- and now one more person will remember him, use his wisdom, and pass it onto those they meet. Thank you Mrs. C.
Last I checked we’d tried a lot of things. Last I checked- mass shootings and gun crime were a major problem- and a raising one- the last couple decades, even in the era of some of the strongest and most numerous gun control laws on the books. So- maybe the problem isn’t that we’ve tried nothing. Maybe it’s that we keep trying the same things? Maybe increasingly persnickety legislation that makes it tough for those trying to follow the law to know if they are even following it (go search message boards for gun owners in places like California or NYC who are trying to make sense of obtusely worded and often nonsensical or contradicting laws on guns, and see all the confusion and dissenting interpretations or misunderstandings. Go see how usually people just say “I don’t bother to pay attention- I jut do XYZ thing and don’t get bothered by anyone so that’s probably fine..”)
In fact- if anything we need to do less “trying” and more figuring out. We are trying the patience and cooperation of gun makers and owners as well as frightened citizens. We are trying anything that our kids are brains tell us should intuitively make us safer. We are not trying to figure out the facts, we are not trying to put in place practical safeguards to defend lives while we reach a solution. We are not trying much if anything else except to put the whole focus and blame on guns themselves. This hasn’t been working well for us as fun violence continues to increase.
So maybe we just need to try the things we haven’t yet? Maybe when we say a place is a “safe space” or “gun free zone” we need to make sure it is and not trust peoples manners to read and follow the signs? I can tell you this- every child that walks in to family court for a custody case or who sits for an abuse hearing etc. goes through the same security as anyone else entering that court. With armed guards at the check point. Courts are “safe spaces” and “gun fee zones.” But guess what? Judges and Lawyers lives are worth something to society so they don’t trust a sign. Is a judge or lawyer worth more to you than your child or yourself?
Last I checked those guards at Area 51 weren’t armed wish just sashes and whistles to blow while they point at the no trespassing signs. People tend to listen better when the sign has teeth behind it. And if judges and old file cabinets and ET deserve that- why won’t people try it? Because that’s the thing we haven’t tried- but I’ll tell you this- a court has actual criminals walk through every day with very strong reasons to hold grudges. How many mass shootings you heard of happen in a court here? Would you say more or less than at a school? What’s that tell us? Maybe a few things- but maybe we can TRY to apply those things elsewhere that we don’t want people getting shot- since so far the other methods tried haven’t done the trick.
Last I checked the US still is the only country in the so-called first world to experience mass shootings in such frequency and dimension. There's no help in new gun laws, as the current situation in the US makes it incredibly easy to get hold of a firearm. Making it harder to buy one by law will only expand the black market already in existance. Imho the only way to improve the situation is to disarm civilians by force, as being done in almost every democratic and now peaceful society. The king of England won't come back to opress you, the US have found ways to opress themselves efficiently enough.
My life? Honestly, I couldn't care less. If the white supreme cream, trashy clishe gangsters or even normal families are shooting each other thousands of miles away, not really my problem. I'm living in a very safe country with very restrictive gun laws, my life isn't depending shit on what Americans consider as 'culture'. I'm just amazed and partially outraged by how this endless discussion is held upright without recognizing that nobody is using simple facts which can be googled in a second. Instead, you have been told by the weapon industry you'd be unsafe without guns and the entire discussion has been massively inflated by emotions. But yeah, discuss about video games. One thought to go: how does a gun prevent you from getting shot? If I were to live in the US, I'd rather buy a bullet proof vest.
You clearly don't know anything about the United States, or even 20th century history. Please, for the love of God, stay in your "safe" country, where you live at the mercy and whim of politicians and criminals.
It's like you've been tuning out the arguments and cases put forth by the pro-rights/pro-defense side. Your willful ignorance is no reason to strip away my right to live.
You won’t get an argument from me on the US oppression of itself. George Bernard Shaw held a much more jaded view of America than I, but still had some wise words- perhaps more in 2019 than when he said them: “In your dread of dictators you established a state of society in which every ward boss is a dictator, every financier a dictator, every private employer a dictator, all with the livelihood of the workers at their mercy, and no public responsibility....” Perhaps with the passage of so many acts meant to guard the safety and security of the people, wrapped in the cloak of preservation of freedom and democracy which themselves erode the very concept which might make any freedom loving American reluctant to allow further erosion of the rights of law abiding people in the name of “freedom” and safety.
So then your answer to American self oppression would be to further curtail individual freedom? It’s quite apparent that America has a serious issue with gun violence- America also has serious issues with obesity, heart disease, diabetes, alcohol related deaths, and in a country where almost anyone can own a vehicle and a license is a 15 minute affair after thumbing a brief handbook it’s no surprise we have a serious problem with preventable vehicle related fatalities
What financier or private employer is trying to and able to strip away the Bill of Rights or carry out mass killings and incarceration with impunity?
Little dictators, especially without state backing, can be dealt with one by one on a case by case basis as long as we have our fundamental rights.
A state dictator on the other hand, cannot be effectively fought by lawful citizens once they relinquish their powers.
Yet these other problems carry distinctly different narratives don’t they? While still problems we have made significant inroads to reducing many of these preventable deaths and all without any serious impediment of the individual freedoms that in these other cases are not explicitly protected in our most fundamental of legal frameworks. There is something afoot. The prevalence of these shootings is disproportionate and unacceptable. To simple wrap it all up with a bow and say that guns are the key is naive and- speaking of facts- not fact based at all.
While we can argue that any law against guns is likely to reduce gun related crime by default- it’s open to speculation how much or in what ways, and we do not pass laws, especially those that derail freedoms, on “hunches” or for a modicum of safety. We also cannot- based on fact from countries where guns are effectively banned- say that an overall decrease in murder or violent crimes is a given.
How many of the shooters had a father figure? A fair and experienced disciplinarian? In my own experience, the lack of stable and functional role models, relationships, and structure severely impedes a person's ability to function in society and handle strife.
That just might be the army talking, though.
In point of fact- we can say that many of the problems America has are not common to other countries. We simply have more crime in general than many other countries. We certainly have more prisoners and more executions than most any other developed nation do we not? So it seems that what works for the rest of the world may not work here simply by the fundamental differences between various countries.
We certainly cannot say that European countries do not have problems the United States does not. But here’s a news flash- the US isn’t “better” than Europe or vice versa. We are different. I wouldn’t trade our problems for yours and that is why I live here and not there. You wouldn’t trade your problems for mine- that is why you live there and not here. If I wanted to feel safer against gun violence I could move to Japan or some European country without making sweeping changes which effect the rights of many millions of Americans just to have things my way. So I’m glad you enjoy your county. I enjoy mine. I’ve never felt in any immediate danger of mass shooting or terrorism- and I have no reason to fear a mugger or burgled with a gun any more than I do one with a knife.
In fact- at stand off distance I’d rather face the gun- from such close range you have a better chance of defense or survival against a gun than a knife. Guns can malfunction, operators can make mistakes, it’s a long list- but generally speaking your odds at close range are much better facing the gun as a general rule. Either way though it’s irrelevant. Wether a gun, knife, sap, even bare hands- if a person wants to hurt you they will. A good question to ask might be why this large number of Americans seem to want to hurt mass amounts of complete strangers? There are many questions without answers and that leads to fear, fear leads to irrational and impulsive- not fact based- action.
@famousone- first off- sorry to interrupt like that. I crack out my comments back to back working through notifications bottom to top so on a “busy day” I may not see a reply for awhile. But- no argument from me. The fact is that I cannot argue there is not oppression in America- but much to your point- that oppression is not only unrelated to guns, but in light of our awareness of oppression how could we then argue we should have MORE of it, risk MORE of it? I also agree with you that I think a large part of the cause behind these shootings are social issues and mental health issues.
Maybe instead of asking the bad guy to not be bad, we could try preparing for when he does bad things anyways.
The world is trying it's damndest to go to shit, the people I've sworn to protect are protesting against me and mine in favor of people I have seen do terrible things. My own countrymen decry my lawful leader as a dictator, then turn around and try to take away our safeguards against tyranny. I'm seeing politicians build careers by shitting on what I chose to dedicate my life to. And on top of it all, I have personally failed in my chance to join the elite and do real soldier shit, and instead got stuck surrounded by people who are just counting down the days until they leave the team.
I refuse to say I'm wrong when I know I'm right, so I'm digging in.
But I don't like being called a fascist. I don't like being compared to monsters.
It hurts.
2)undermining the other branches in an unconstitutional manner: Remember that time he said a judge was unfit because of his Mexican heritage?.. and that's just a small example.
3)Backing socialist policies: Farmer bailout.
4)turning out to actually be a yada-yada saboteur, He surely isn't denouncing any of them, and seems to be working in Russia's interests in particular, as it took a fucking veto-proof majority for increased sanctions.
5) Cutting your paycheck: This is where the 5 or 6 thing happens... did you have a paycheck before Trump? It seems like you went from HS into service during his tenure so... there's no way he could directly impact your paycheck yet.
6) Literally everything he does except his tax-cut is disrespecting Reagan. Just the way he presents himself is a disrespect to Reagan.
7) He didn't shit on it, but rain messing up his hair sure as shit kept him away.
1) The Saudis fucking suck, but they've yet to actually hurt or overtly act against us.
2) That particular judge was too close to the case, it wouldn't be fair or realistic to ask him to be impartial. And calling a judge unfit is hardly undermining SCOTUS.
3) Bailouts suck, but are as socialist as public roads, that is to say, not really.
4) He has denounced most of the things listed. Publicly. Repeatedly in some cases.
5) He's not threatening the budget or pay of the military. Quite the opposite, in fact.
6) No.
7) No.
That judge was, like I said, a small example. The freaking Senate Majority Leader is having his wife's job held hostage by Trump. And it's not like the turtle isn't a terrible person to begin with.
The Saudi's may not have done anything to us, doesn't mean Trump thought giving them billions in weapons was a bad idea. Again, that's just ONE example out of multiple: Russia, SA, Yemen, Philippines, his love letters with Kim....
Right... good people on both sides, I totally forgot about that side of the argument.
Please name something besides the tax cut that you think Reagan would be proud of.
How about his flag-hug? As that's a violation.
Yet today protectionism is being used by some American politicians as a cheap form of nationalism, a fig leaf for those unwilling to maintain America’s military strength and who lack the resolve to stand up to real enemies — countries that would use violence against us or our allies. Our peaceful trading partners are not our enemies; they are our allies. We should beware of the demagogues who are ready to declare a trade war against our friends — weakening our economy, our national security, and the entire free world — all while cynically waving the American flag. The expansion of the international economy is not a foreign invasion; it is an American triumph, one we worked hard to achieve, and something central to our vision of a peaceful and prosperous world of freedom.
Guess who said it.
If they really were our friends then they wouldn't be undercutting us and imposing their own protectionist policies against us.
What hurts the American worker and devalues our product may be a triumph for the world, but not for the American people.
First and last, our government should focus on our benefit, not Germany's, not Greece's, and sure as fuck not Iran's.
All the while, he's making peace and building bridges with historical enemies while pressuring our "allies" to build up their own strength so that we don't have to babysit the ungrateful and entitled jerks any longer.
The Nazi's are buried and the Soviets are gone, there's no good reason to remain entrapped to European affairs. Especially if they're going to bitch wherever we refuse to give them free stuff.
Not the No Man's Sky/preseason thing, the comment above that one*
As for our allies undermining us; do you seriously think the EU is undermining us?! They know Russia can do what it did last time without our help. Asking a friend for help when you know you can't help yourself isn't undermining, it's pleading.
The context was him attempting to stop trade policies from pushing Europe to favor China. During the Cold War, when the United States was actually facing an existential threat from the Communist Bloc.
While securing our physical and cyber security with every other policy and reasserting our national sovereignty.
Kudos for not just understanding the Reagan quote, but adding some context.
The worst thing that can happen with all this, is if instead of the dollar, the yuan becomes the standard. That is highly unlikely, but it's no longer an impossibility. The threat of that alone is enough for me to justify his economic incompetence. Strategically, my main point would be REM's. Yes, we have plenty for ourselves, but we don't have the infrastructure to actually process them and without absolutely destroying EPA policies or some incredible new technology, we will never be able to meet the demand. Pissing off the country that processes 95% of them for us doesn't sound strategically sound, does it?
It's screwed me over on a few songs I wished I could share lol
Look all we can do is make it hard to get them and make it hard to have them in public.
He put his ideas and values in his kids and even though none of us became any of the jobs he had we all still stand by what he believed in. That everyone has good in them just some refuse to listen to it and those are the ones you need to be careful of.
Little dictators, especially without state backing, can be dealt with one by one on a case by case basis as long as we have our fundamental rights.
A state dictator on the other hand, cannot be effectively fought by lawful citizens once they relinquish their powers.
That just might be the army talking, though.