Miscellaneous And Off Topic Subjects

[froot loops]

Ok

[hack]

Hack: I didn't think you provided any information about mass shootings in a gun allowed zone. Your post was from a partisan anti-gun website that I found almost humorous in its selectivity. I asked the question about your website not having any such shootings for the last two months in Chicago, and then let the matter drop. I will concede that the most likely place to find such shootings is in private homes particularly in domestic disputes. I'd then counter that homes are effectively gun-free zones if the shooter knows the victim(s) cannot have a gun. The context of our conversation was the plausibility of what I called the "Rambo scenario". I assume the NRA could provide cases where citizens protected their homes with a firearm, but we were talking about the deterrent effect of gun-allowed zones.

It was a list. If it wasn't a comprehensive list, then things are even worse than we thought. But it listed incidents and addresses, many of which very clearly met the criteria you named. I don't remember it being called the Rambo scenario, but your point was that shooters seeking anonymous victims are targeting public spaces that are ``gun-free zones'', and I don't think that's true. I think you very well may have an argument, in the sense that since we've let it get to this point where mass shootings are such a threat that presence of armed good guys can counter the presence of armed bad guys. Not that that's the right thing to do to start, but given the dysfunction we've got, that could be a less-bad option. We could have moved on to that point in the discussion had you simply acknowledged that not all mass shootings happened in places where armed good guys cannot be present.

Same kinda thing for the Christianity/excpetionalism stuff. I think the more interesting discussion is whether you can actually link the American concepts of Christianity and democracy to its global hegemony, or to what extent other factors were involved. That's really very interesting. No doubt you are, to an extent, right. Better that discussion than one in which I moderate extreme statements by pointing out clear commonalities with other religions.

[hack]

I thought Kerry was a shit candidate myself. Surprised it was more of a contest.

[Hannibal]

I'm pretty sure that George W. is the only President to preside over an economy growing at 4% at a time when most of the people in the country thought that the economy was in really bad shape. The guy was one of the greatest political punching bags of all time, a trend that held solid for 8 years.

[entropy]

I live in a heavily Republican town and I have seen maybe one Trump in the past few months -- it was homemade. Trump's lack of a ground game is obvious and it's probably going to hurt him.

Many will vote for him because he's an R or not Hillary, but I think you'll see a lot of indifference from the republican base. I suspect many will forget to vote. While he has create passion for many, I suspect an equal number just would rather sit this one out.

Hillary will win. I have no question about that.. If the economy slides, she won't make a second term. She has very little margin for error.

[Da Geezer]

Jeff said:

In the absence of those holding the wealth to fulfill their social responsibility - that ethical framework I spoke of in my post, perhaps there is.

Good stuff on page 489.

OK. I then have an honest question. As a Christian, I am obligated to give at least 10% of my gross income to the poor, the widows, and the orphans. Query: Does the portion of my taxes that goes to those categories of people count toward the 10%?

About a year ago, Hack and I had a conversation about my belief that there should not be a charitable deduction in the Federal Tax Code. I simply don't understand why a church, for example, would want a government subsidy. The government then has leverage to make the church avoid certain subjects upon which Christianity and the government might disagree (eg. abortion). The entire IRS targeting scandal was caused by the tea-party groups seeking 501(c)(3) and (4) status. Further, I view giving away money as one of the most joyful acts anyone can engage in.

I once had a professor who said to me in mock disgust, "(geezer), you are at least half-a-bubble off. . ." Yup.

[hack]

Maybe it's just wishful thinking, but as long as the Soros spigot is all the way open I think we may see Hillary move left and in doing so seek a more fired-up base in 2020. Not based on values, but a convergence between what she thinks will get her the nomination and where the money is coming from.

I don't have anybody to pray to, but if I did it would be for the longevity of George Soros. In addition to his very clear understanding of what is at stake I like his energy/mining watchdog, the Natural Resources Governance Institute. Uncommonly innovative and forward looking for an NGO. In large part because they don't have to bullshit a million donors -- just Soros.

[entropy]

I was at the gym last night... no, really.. I was.. stop that.. I was there..

anyways, I was at the gym and some guy was talking to 2 other guys about the election. He was talking about how much hate Trump has created in America.. How Trump is to blame for the lack of discourse (not his words, but his meaning) in this country.. How Trump has turned any discussion into mud slinging..

oh, and he was wearing a Truck Fump shirt and felt all Trump supporters should be deported for being idiots.

I guess he's never seen a mirror.

[hack]

People are gonna have their coping mechanisms.

[Hannibal]

G. All of the above.
H. None of the above; take Mike Pence’s approach of declaring, “that’s what freedom looks like and that’s what freedom sounds like,” salute Khan as a hero and thank his family, and pivot to the issue.

Trump and his team chose ‘G’; the correct answer was ‘H’. What is amazing is how the Trump and his surrogates can take any bad situation and find an innovative, groundbreaking way to make it worse… day, after day, after day.

The problem is that the Republican approach has never been to pivot to the issue. It's to back down and whimper "Please don't call me a racist". Pivoting to the issue substantively requires that you point out that the Khan family, in the end, is just one example. There's no pretty or pleasant way to do this.

[Hannibal]

A billionaire Socialist who made his billions off of currency trading (a zero sum game if there ever was one) is heavily influencing US political policy and hack is happy about it.

[entropy]

With most of the media leaning to the left, I'm not sure any republican can say that Hanny.. The reason they have backed down, as you call it, is because the media is full of hypocrisy. The loved the Dem's military family speaker but chastised the R's use of one of their own. You hear something over and over again, people start to believe. I think the R's have more difficulty than the D's when it comes to having their message portrayed in the best light possible.

That said, the media does love controversy.. and that is still the R's best weapon. Sad, but true..

[entropy]

A billionaire Socialist who made his billions off of currency trading (a zero sum game if there ever was one) is heavily influencing US political policy and hack is happy about it.

remember, morality is not about right or wrong, but D or R..

[Hannibal]

anyways, I was at the gym and some guy was talking to 2 other guys about the election. He was talking about how much hate Trump has created in America.. How Trump is to blame for the lack of discourse (not his words, but his meaning) in this country.. How Trump has turned any discussion into mud slinging.

If only we could return to the days of peace, love and harmony like in Ferguson, Missouri before Trump came on the scene.

[Hannibal]

remember, morality is not about right or wrong, but D or R..

In this case it's about control and authoritarianism, and whether or not the plebs should be allowed to govern themselves.