Politics

[Cackalacky]

I totally agree that most conflicts between religionists have alternative explanations that make a lot more sense.

But are you asserting that religion can NEVER be the primary cause of a conflict, or denying some religions may lend more credence to violent resolutions of conflicts, than others?

Has there ever been a purely religious war? If not, has there ever been a religion which was founded to justify a person or people's desire to conquer?

There are many reasons humans do the things they do. I am not asserting anything of the like. Religion and simultaneously, the culture of said religion can be the reason. It also can be the scapegoat.

 

[Grahambo]

For those of you that have a gun or are now considering getting a gun, make sure you take classes on how to use the gun, tactics, etc. A lot of people out there think its no big deal on how to use a gun properly (I mean more then just point and shoot) but its not Hollywood. I still don't think civilians should be allowed to carry their weapon outside of their home and property and essentially 'leave it to the professionals' but this is not the time for that debate. I want people who decide to defend themselves to be properly prepared so you're chance at survival is higher then it would be otherwise.

When it comes to terrorists, a lot of them, especially the upper tier organizations, are highly trained and would destroy your local gangs. Just having a concealed weapon isn't going to scare them but if you get yourself trained in tactics, etc, you would be in a much more better situation to defend. If not, you're just going to cause more problems and more then likely end up seriously hurt if you think you can just get a gun, keep it on your side, and when a terrorist shows up you can take them out. I know for a fact how incredibly trained these organizations are and probably are more trained then many local police departments.

Now, yes, I understand the difference between a highly trained terrorist and your local dumbass and my focus/career is geared towards the terrorist and not the local dumbass so my answers are geared towards defeating ISIS/ISIL, AQ, TB, and the hundreds of other terrorists organizations.

 

[Domina Nostra]

There are many reasons humans do the things they do. I am not asserting anything of the like. Religion and simultaneously, the culture of said religion can be the reason. It also can be the scapegoat.

Agreed.

 

[Polish Leppy 22]

We have a huge problem with radical Christians in this country. You know the dudes who bombed The Fed building in Oaklahoma, shoot doctors, blow up clinics, shot up a Sikh temple, shot up a Jewish Day school much more so than we do "radical Muslims". In fact , crazy 20 - 30 something white dude(s) seems to be the most common profile when it comes to mass murder in this country.

If your big worry is a Muslim Terrorist showing up on your door step with a set of Ginsu knives you are worrying about the wrong things.

What a sad excuse for an analogy, and a perfect example of what Bill Maher was talking about. The left just refuses to admit the threat of radical Islam because they're so afraid of offending anyone.

None of those people you noted above did so in the name of their religion, none were part of a global movement, and none were part of a growing trend in terrorist acts (suicide bombings, subway/ train bombings, chemical weapons, etc.)

I don't spend one second worrying about a Muslim terrorist showing up at my doorstep for any reason. I worry about another attack like Spain, London, or Boston. If you want to talk about the Crusades, we can talk about the history of radical Christianity.

When radical Christians, Mormons, Southern Baptists, or Hindus start flying planes into buildings or doing suicide bombings in American malls in the name of their religion, let me know.

 

[tommyIRISH23]

For those of you that have a gun or are now considering getting a gun, make sure you take classes on how to use the gun, tactics, etc. A lot of people out there think its no big deal on how to use a gun properly (I mean more then just point and shoot) but its not Hollywood. I still don't think civilians should be allowed to carry their weapon outside of their home and property and essentially 'leave it to the professionals' but this is not the time for that debate. I want people who decide to defend themselves to be properly prepared so you're chance at survival is higher then it would be otherwise.

When it comes to terrorists, a lot of them, especially the upper tier organizations, are highly trained and would destroy your local gangs. Just having a concealed weapon isn't going to scare them but if you get yourself trained in tactics, etc, you would be in a much more better situation to defend. If not, you're just going to cause more problems and more then likely end up seriously hurt if you think you can just get a gun, keep it on your side, and when a terrorist shows up you can take them out. I know for a fact how incredibly trained these organizations are and probably are more trained then many local police departments.

Now, yes, I understand the difference between a highly trained terrorist and your local dumbass and my focus/career is geared towards the terrorist and not the local dumbass so my answers are geared towards defeating ISIS/ISIL, AQ, TB, and the hundreds of other terrorists organizations.

What do you do as a career? And I agree. Prior to my training, I never realized how difficult it is to shoot a stationary target with a hand gun let alone a moving one outside 10-15 yards. People also have to take into account the final resting place of the bullet. It's going to hit something and you are responsible for whatever that may be.

 

[Circa]

I had the desire to make a new thread for this. I rethought It. It's just interesting and Politics is a part of It. The Economist 2015 Cover is Filled With Cryptic Symbols and Dire Predictions - The Vigilant Citizen

 

[BobD]

This March going on in France is heartwarming.

That line of leaders marching together is incredible.

Vive La France!

 

[IrishLax]

I had the desire to make a new thread for this. I rethought It. It's just interesting and Politics is a part of It. The Economist 2015 Cover is Filled With Cryptic Symbols and Dire Predictions - The Vigilant Citizen

That's some really heavy shit, but I'm not well-versed in conspiracy theories sooooo.... how much of that is actually legit?

 

[Old Man Mike]

From my aged point of view that whole thing is laughable crap --- will the World have troubles in 2015? DUH.... Is life-as-we-know-it-coming-to-a-close? If so money will be no good so send all your useless cash to me ASAP and get ready for the last days. This isn't even clever.

 

[Circa]

That's some really heavy shit, but I'm not well-versed in conspiracy theories sooooo.... how much of that is actually legit?

Which part? The Rothschild banking family of England, Bilderberg Conference, the editor of the magazine? All true, but first 2 are very secretive

 

[Circa]

From my aged point of view that whole thing is laughable crap --- will the World have troubles in 2015? DUH.... Is life-as-we-know-it-coming-to-a-close? If so money will be no good so send all your useless cash to me ASAP and get ready for the last days. This isn't even clever.

No, but interesting. This was a speech given by Congressman Louis T. McFadden of Pennsylvania in 1934:


“Mr. Chairman, we have in this Country one of the most corrupt institutions the world has ever known. I refer to the Federal Reserve Board and the Federal Reserve Banks, hereinafter called the Fed. The Fed has cheated the Government of these United States and the people of the United States out of enough money to pay the Nation’s debt. The depredations and iniquities of the Fed has cost enough money to pay the National debt several times over.

“This evil institution has impoverished and ruined the people of these United States, has bankrupted itself, and has practically bankrupted our Government. It has done this through the defects of the law under which it operates, through the maladministration of that law by the Fed and through the corrupt practices of the moneyed vultures who control it.

“Some people who think that the Federal Reserve Banks are United States Government institutions. They are private monopolies which prey upon the people of these United States for the benefit of themselves and their foreign customers; foreign and domestic speculators and swindlers; and rich and predatory money lender. In that dark crew of financial pirates there are those who would cut a man’s throat to get a dollar out of his pocket; there are those who send money into states to buy votes to control our legislatures; there are those who maintain International propaganda for the purpose of deceiving us into granting of new concessions which will permit them to cover up their past misdeeds and set again in motion their gigantic train of crime.

“These twelve private credit monopolies were deceitfully and disloyally foisted upon this Country by the bankers who came here from Europe and repaid us our hospitality by undermining our American institutions. Those bankers took money out of this Country to finance Japan in a war against Russia. They created a reign of terror in Russia with our money in order to help that war along. They instigated the separate peace between Germany and Russia, and thus drove a wedge between the allies in World War. They financed Trotsky’s passage from New York to Russia so that he might assist in the destruction of the Russian Empire. They fomented and instigated the Russian Revolution, and placed a large fund of American dollars at Trotsky’s disposal in one of their branch banks in Sweden so that through him Russian homes might be thoroughly broken up and Russian children flung far and wide from their natural protectors. They have since begun breaking up of American homes and the dispersal of American children. “Mr. Chairman, there should be no partisanship in matters concerning banking and currency affairs in this Country, and I do not speak with any.

“The Federal Reserve Bank destroyed our old and characteristic way of doing business. It discriminated against our 1-name commercial paper, the finest in the world, and it set up the antiquated 2-name paper, which is the present curse of this Country and which wrecked every country which has ever given it scope; it fastened down upon the Country the very tyranny from which the framers of the Constitution sough to save us."

It does seem odd that everything seems to come back to one simple idea. The Rothschild's of the world are pretty ornery fellas.

 

[Grahambo]

What do you do as a career? And I agree. Prior to my training, I never realized how difficult it is to shoot a stationary target with a hand gun let alone a moving one outside 10-15 yards. People also have to take into account the final resting place of the bullet. It's going to hit something and you are responsible for whatever that may be.

Defense contractor.

That's some really heavy shit, but I'm not well-versed in conspiracy theories sooooo.... how much of that is actually legit?

I took a look too and honestly have no idea either. Some of it is far fetched and you can't look past The Economist doing it in order to make extra bucks. Doesn't matter how popular you are, it's always about $$$$$$.

 

[Old Man Mike]

Well, OK, if you want to spend valuable time worrying about such things. A few facts for the data hopper:

1). The Rothschild's have been around since 1760. The world has neither died in the intervening 250 years, nor has the world economic boom been quashed. One might ask oneself if one thinks one is better off in the USA now than in 1760, and if better, how much damage have the Satanic Rothschilds done in the average guy's real life? {yes, conspiracy theorists call them Satanic}.

2). McFadden was a nutcase. When he did things like try to impeach Herbert Hoover [his vote was defeated something like 360 to 8], then accuse FDR as being dominated by Jews, made continuous anti-Semitic remarks in Congress and elsewhere, his party's {Republican} spokespersons said that they were trying to repair the damages he inflicted and were going forward as if he was dead. A Ringing Endorsement by his own folks.

3). his legacy was [in the late 1930s] to be regularly quoted in America by a whacko named Dudley Pelley, who ran a pro-Communist, anti-Jewish organization called the Silver Shirts out of an Indiana town... publishing inflammatory rhetoric in a rare journal titled VALOR {I own a couple copies of this, toned down since he got out of federal prison}. In Europe his main fan was Adolf Hitler, who quoted him often.

 

[Circa]

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[Buster Bluth]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHiicN0Kg10

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[Bluto]

What a sad excuse for an analogy, and a perfect example of what Bill Maher was talking about. The left just refuses to admit the threat of radical Islam because they're so afraid of offending anyone.

None of those people you noted above did so in the name of their religion, none were part of a global movement, and none were part of a growing trend in terrorist acts (suicide bombings, subway/ train bombings, chemical weapons, etc.)

I don't spend one second worrying about a Muslim terrorist showing up at my doorstep for any reason. I worry about another attack like Spain, London, or Boston. If you want to talk about the Crusades, we can talk about the history of radical Christianity.

When radical Christians, Mormons, Southern Baptists, or Hindus start flying planes into buildings or doing suicide bombings in American malls in the name of their religion, let me know.

You are aware of the fact that most right wing nut job groups like the Aryan Nation and the Klan are "Christian organizations" and yes all of those acts were carried out based partly on radical religious beliefs. The only act listed that wasn't motivated by religion was Oaklahoma city.

 

[Polish Leppy 22]

You are aware of the fact that most right wing nut job groups like the Aryan Nation and the Klan are "Christian organizations" and yes all of those acts were carried out based partly on radical religious beliefs. The only act listed that wasn't motivated by religion was Oaklahoma city.

Aryan Nation and the Klan are a bunch of sick, twisted, bastards. With that said, they're pretty much gone and not a growing trend in a global movement of jihad. When's the last time the Klan burned a church? Hung someone from a tree? When's the last time the Aryan Nation made the news? A few thousand are still around, but it's not 1950 anymore pal. I'd argue most of them are behind bars and on that TV show "Locked Up" on MSNBC.

You could argue their actions were based on beliefs, but it sure as hell wasn't their Christian beliefs. Hell, I'm Catholic and the Klan would love to hang me too. On the other side, Koran teaches all Muslims to get infidels off Muslim land and convert or kill. Not all Muslims believe that or act on it, but in the past decade or two, those who have committed those acts of mass murder did so in the name of Allah.

 

[Polish Leppy 22]

You are aware of the fact that most right wing nut job groups like the Aryan Nation and the Klan are "Christian organizations" and yes all of those acts were carried out based partly on radical religious beliefs. The only act listed that wasn't motivated by religion was Oaklahoma city.

Let's clarify: Aryans and KKK identified as "Christian", but did not kill in the name of Christianity. They were sick individuals who killed based on their own personal hatred, not because of their religion.

Radical Islamists and their motives are a far different breed, and I think you're smart enough to know the difference.

 

[RDU Irish]

Drive by commentary:

If you have never shot a hand gun, go to a range and do it. You will have a new respect for anyone who is expected to use one of these to protect and defend anything. Nothing like a rifle or bb gun, ability to aim and shoot is dramatically different.

I also think kids should shoot. Shooting a 12 gauge shotgun at 10 gave me a huge respect for firearms. Shooting a 9mm as an adult gives me tremendous respect for these things. Untrained, inexperienced idiots waving guns all over are what cause accidents. Have proper respect for any weapon and know how the thing works.

I love how both sides marginalize each other by pointing out the kook fringe elements. Guilt by association! Politics and religion are a means to an end for the sick fringes (radical Islam included). People need a cause to gain power and influence. Better to recruit in the name of Allah than Jugdish Nahasapitapetalahn.

Jeb will win the nomination. Hillary will be hard to beat on Dem side but I don't doubt some inexperience bloviator will surface with no track record to pin on them. If Rand Paul does not take that as an absolute sign to run independent I will lose a lot of respect for him.

It is unfortunate Jeb is a Bush. He actually is a pretty good candidate in spite of his last name. Don't get me wrong - I though H.W. and W did just fine, I just hate to think we can't find someone with a different last name to fit the bill. At least he is qualified, unlike Hillary who rode her husbands coattails to notoriety.

 

[wizards8507]

Jeb will win the nomination.

I get the logic in that belief and it's certainly a popular one, but who in the republican primary base is all "oooh yeah that Jeb Bush guy is awesome!" His only shot is a primary of attrition where he hangs around 25% as all the 5%-10% candidates fall off one by one. Naturally, the pundits will talk him up as "inevitable," but I have to believe that two squishy candidates in a row has the base fatigued at that line of thinking.

I think the best case scenario for the party's general election chances would be if two or all three of Bush, Christie, and Romney run. That would fragment the establishment caucus in ways that have only happened to the conservative candidates in recent history.

I think the Tea Party is also an interesting wild card because they can go one of two ways. If they go "social issues" and support someone like Santorum or Huckabee, then the party is screwed and Hillary runs away with it. If they go the libertarian route and back Rand, then I think Rand becomes "the conservative alternative to Romney/Bush/Christie" and gets the nod.

The most interesting dynamic to me is that Rand Paul will be painted as "too extreme" to win the general election by the WSJ / Fox News types, but the areas in which he's "too extreme" are actually areas that make him more appealing to the moderates and libertarian-minded Democrats.

 

[RDU Irish]

Part of me wants to see Bush/Clinton motivate Rand to provide a clear, non-establishment independent option. Then Rand wins handily with a grassroots led and fed ground game and 21st century use of social media.

Reality, Clinton would win just like her hubby with the third party stealing most of its support from Republicans.

 

[wizards8507]

Part of me wants to see Bush/Clinton motivate Rand to provide a clear, non-establishment independent option. Then Rand wins handily with a grassroots led and fed ground game and 21st century use of social media.

Reality, Clinton would win just like her hubby with the third party stealing most of its support from Republicans.

I do think we'll see a viable independent / third party option in the coming years (decades?), but I don't think a presidential election will the the place where it gets off the ground. That's too big, too soon.

 

[RDU Irish]

You might be too young to remember Ross Perot. He had serious traction and he was goofy as sh!t. Rand has his dad's base and in an era of social media I would think it would be easier rather than harder to make headway.

 

[wizards8507]

You might be too young to remember Ross Perot. He had serious traction and he was goofy as sh!t.

Ross Perot is worth $3.5 billion. That helps.

Rand has his dad's base and in an era of social media I would think it would be easier rather than harder to make headway.

I wouldn't take the Ron Paul base as a given. A lot of those cats are pretty hardcore and consider Rand a neocon.

 

[Polish Leppy 22]

If Jeb gets the nomination I will be full blown Ron Paul/ Jesse Ventura crowd

 

[RDU Irish]

Perot actual led early in 1992. Then he went bonkers and still ended up with almost 20% of the vote. You would think he took his cues from Brewster's Millions. It was like he didn't want to win with his withdrawal and re-entry from the race and all the tin foil hat conspiracy theories.

 

[phgreek]

Perot actual led early in 1992. Then he went bonkers and still ended up with almost 20% of the vote. You would think he took his cues from Brewster's Millions. It was like he didn't want to win with his withdrawal and re-entry from the race and all the tin foil hat conspiracy theories.

If I recall The beginning of Ross' undoing was the Admiral he selected for his VP...I don't know if you recall that debate, but wow....the hearing aid, the failure to answer...I mean in this day and age you'd be waiting for Stewart to run on the stage and say "Gotcha" or something...just beyond words...

 

[ACamp1900]

Perot was doing fine until he withdrew... That killed him.

 

[DonnieNarco]

This should happen, and it should have happened from the very start.

Obama to propose paid sick leave for American workers

 

[phgreek]

This should happen, and it should have happened from the very start.

Obama to propose paid sick leave for American workers

So who is the target beneficiary here?

I ask because...well, most Federal agencies I know already do sick leave separate from vacation, and they do maternity leave, so...???

In terms of Aerospace companies, most accrue PTO, which does not differentiate between sick leave and vacation when used, but the rate anticipates sick time in the calcs. I can't speak to other industries very well, but it seemed like many of them do it that way. As it stands most allow folks to increase the rate at which PTO is earned based on years served, or some other factor, like when I became a VP I got another week. Before I went out on my own, I was getting 8 weeks a year PTO ( that I never used)...As well most companies use that very number...6 weeks for maternity leave, which has already largely been extended to adoptions.

As well most people get a ST disability policy with their benefits that kicks in after like 7-10 days.

Seems like there is a hole trying to be filled, but I don't see it.