Why NOT to vote Republican

Okay---You know what? That one guy---the mentally deranged one--shot Ray-Gun & his press sec'ty with a very cheap, hardware-store pistol intended to kill varmits in your cabbage patch. You have the guy who broke outta the Zurra state pen, who shot the Black Activist in Memphis, with a brand-new pump-action hunting rifle that used ammo also designed for U.S. Army rifles from 1906-on down to the 50's. One shot, from 250 feet, M/L., is all it took. Then you have the .22 cal pistol Sirhan used to kill RFK. A cheap little gun. Yup. Oswald used a bolt-action $12.50 Carcano bolt-action, 1940-vintage Italian Army rifle, that dreadful day in Dealy in Downtown Dallas, to make LBJ the next POTUS, and that led to the deaths of 57,000 of Americas young men, in a cause that was lost from the start. .Too bad the limo had an open-top, with no protection from wackos. How do you like that? It doesn't take much of a gun; it takes bad judgement on the part of a misguided human. . See? Does that make any sense?

Okay---they need to pass a law, prohibiting the use of an Assault rifle for shooting an innocent person. That should do the trick. Wackos--take heed!

There are plenty of whackos with little firearm training and maybe less intelligence who have AR-15s stuck under a bed or in a closet anticipating an undefined crisis based on irrational paranoia of the government or paranoid of the people who are paranoid of the government. For a small minority of those, one day the wires will cross upstairs and the AR will come out. It happens and the AR-15 is the ideal candidate for a variety of reason like accessibility, cost, ease of use, compactness etc. That's why they are so popular and you can't match the versatile characteristics with a bolt action or most other rifle styles, plain and simple. Whether this can be prevented by legislation is up for debate. Seems like our latest legislation was on ghost guns.

There are obviously other deadly weapons out there, but there is a solid reason why ARs and their look a likes are popular among mass shooters. They are conveniently deadly. The punk gangster types using pistols are a different issue.

Okay----Guns, Guns, and more GUNS. Yup. Gotta have 'em--it's the American way. The way everything west of Washington DC was won. Why? Well---it's so WE THE PEOPLE can be prepared(with the proper mindset, among other things, like tactical abilities)to bail out some other country(s) where they got TOO progressive and empowered their government TOO much so that a conflict was started with ANOTHER country that yes--also let their govvverment leaders become too powerful! Those leaders got like football schools, where inter-school on-field conflict got to be THE only thing. See? And then, the homies from the USA all signed up to get in on the ACTION. Now you know. I've been listening to interviews---oral histories of numerous Viet Vets, and their experiences and their reasons for ending up in VN. You should, too. But the bottom line is---just because YOU and your fellow ideologues don't mind giving up your right to own firearms, does NOT mean 1)that everyone else shares your view. Okay--Give up your gun. That's fine with me. Just don't expect everyone else to. 2)Nor does it mean that the evil-doers in this world will automatically follow suit, and give up their gun, just to be fair and play nice. Ha. See? So anyway, I've posted a chart FYI that shows various rounds of Ammo, used in warfare AND by civilians. But yeah--look at those "bullets", and tell me which two are cartridges for the much feared (by media)"Assault Rifles", and which one essentially was a key ingredient in military hardware, for The Good Guys to win WW2, against those Totalitarian Invaders. Yup. Plus--which one dropped MLK in one shot from 250 feet? Don't take all day to research it. This is a pop quiz to test your present knowledge. Hope that helps you some.Attachment 5393

23 mass shootings THIS WEEK. Yeah, thank the republicans for restricting guns… NOT!

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Originally Posted by frugal-one

23 mass shootings THIS WEEK. Yeah, thank the republicans for restricting guns… NOT!

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If they had the power to do so, are you suggesting Republicans should restrict all guns? And, if Republicans did have that power, wouldn't it stand to reason that the Democrats would too?

Personally, I think it would be better if we looked into the societal problems that exacerbate the violence problem this country is experiencing. Wouldn't you agree?

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Originally Posted by Alan

If they had the power to do so, are you suggesting Republicans should restrict all guns?

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Surely you mean "restrict all guns....more", given that there are already quite a few restrictions in place?

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Originally Posted by Alan

If they had the power to do so, are you suggesting Republicans should restrict all guns? And, if Republicans did have that power, wouldn't it stand to reason that the Democrats would too?

Personally, I think it would be better if we looked into the societal problems that exacerbate the violence problem this country is experiencing. Wouldn't you agree?

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What societal problems are causing all this violence and how can they be fixed?

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Originally Posted by flowerseverywhere

What societal problems are causing all this violence and how can they be fixed?

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As many have pointed out, other countries have deranged and disgruntled citizens, too--but not the easy access to firearms to act out with.

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Originally Posted by frugal-one

23 mass shootings THIS WEEK. Yeah, thank the republicans for restricting guns… NOT!

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People, especially people with an agenda, tend to uncritically accept numbers provided by the Gun Violence Archive, which defines “mass shootings” much more expansively than the FBI or other bodies.

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Originally Posted by flowerseverywhere

What societal problems are causing all this violence and how can they be fixed?

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I guess I might start by looking at places like Norway, Switzerland, Finland ...

Are there any interesting cultural differences between the USA and European countries with low murder rates?

I suspect someone with an honest interest might find existing literature addressing the topic...

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Originally Posted by JaneV2.0

As many have pointed out, other countries have deranged and disgruntled citizens, too--but not the easy access to firearms to act out with.

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There seem to be a fair number of nations in Europe that have solid rates of firearms ownership. Is there something else different about those countries that could be contributing to their lower rates of murder?

Are there articles in the criminological journals that address how to go about doing cross-cultural comparisons of such things?

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Originally Posted by bae

There seem to be a fair number of nations in Europe that have solid rates of firearms ownership. Is there something else different about those countries that could be contributing to their lower rates of murder?

Are there articles in the criminological journals that address how to go about doing cross-cultural comparisons of such things?

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You were interested in moving to Iceland and also was there another far North cold snowy country you have mentioned a move to?

Would your weapon owning ability be curtailed there? How much weight did you/do you give to weapon restrictions in a country you would move to?

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Originally Posted by iris lilies

You were interested in moving to Iceland and also was there another far North cold snowy country you have mentioned a move to?

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I'm currently weighing Iceland, Norway, Sweden, UK, Ireland, France, Portugal, Germany, and Italy. (Well, and Canada, but WA state is almost Canada already :-) ) I've been waiting for my daughter to settle into her career over there, and for my aging parents here to progress on their journeys.

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Would your weapon owning ability be curtailed there? How much weight did you/do you give to weapon restrictions in a country you would move to?

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There are *different* regulations in those countries, but in most firearms ownership is legal, and with my resources, fairly trivial to accomplish. I don't give a *lot* of weight to the issue, but it is a consideration.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/i...s-2007-n872726

oh here we go, mainstream media on gun ownership. This article amuses me, comparing Iceland to St.Louis merely because they have the same number of people.

article says it takes 3 to 4 years to get a handgun. It says semi automatic weapons are nonexistent.

The article focuses on the long education process legal gun owners are required to go through before getting a legally owned gun. I can assure you the brothers in St. Louis ain’t got time for that.

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Originally Posted by iris lilies

This article amuses me, comparing Iceland to St.Louis merely because they have the same number of people.

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Some years back, I almost took a job with one of Iceland's emergency services agencies, which in retrospect I should have gone for. Iceland is indeed sorta-kinda very different from St. Louis(*). I wouldn't have had any pressing desire for a firearm there, had I immigrated.

(*) For example, Iceland's Gini coefficient is 0.24 vs. 0.49 for the USA...


https://i.imgur.com/DhkXciU.png

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Originally Posted by bae

(*) For example, Iceland's Gini coefficient is 0.24 vs. 0.49 for the USA...

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It sounds like Iceland needs more rich people. Why do they lag so?

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Originally Posted by Alan

It sounds like Iceland needs more rich people. Why do they lag so?

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I'm not sure "lagging" is a good metric for looking at Gini coefficients. I suppose an Icelander would think that the USA needs fewer poor people....

It's a very different culture and a very different ecosystem. It is more community-oriented - rugged individualists wouldn't have survived their history I suspect. The middle class there is solid, and the shape of the income curve is quite different than the US. Looks like they like it that way.

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Originally Posted by bae

There seem to be a fair number of nations in Europe that have solid rates of firearms ownership. Is there something else different about those countries that could be contributing to their lower rates of murder?

Are there articles in the criminological journals that address how to go about doing cross-cultural comparisons of such things?

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You should research and get answer to your questions.

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Originally Posted by frugal-one

You should research and get answer to your questions.

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I think you don't perhaps understand how things work...

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Originally Posted by bae

I think you don't perhaps understand how things work...

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You are the one asking the questions.... if you know, perhaps you should enlighten us.

I still want to know the solution to gun violence and murder in the US. Unlike the Scandinavian countries, we don't have community support. We have many with no access to any healthcare. Even full time working Americans with insurance often delay seeking care due to costs they will occur. We have a huge homeless problem and many children go to bed hungry. Access to birth control and even day after pills and abortion is just about unattainable in many areas in the US, but abortion is accessible without question up to sixteen-18 weeks, for free. It is a decision made between a woman and her doctor. College is hugely expensive and unattainable for many in the US, free in these countries.

All these lead to depression and anger. And many have little access to mental health care to support them.

So what is the solution, in this country? All I see is republicans interfering in medical decisions, and putting money ahead of the welfare and medical needs of others as far as insurance.

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Originally Posted by bae

I'm currently weighing Iceland, Norway, Sweden, UK, Ireland, France, Portugal, Germany, and Italy. (Well, and Canada, but WA state is almost Canada already :-) ) I've been waiting for my daughter to settle into her career over there, and for my aging parents here to progress on their journeys.



There are *different* regulations in those countries, but in most firearms ownership is legal, and with my resources, fairly trivial to accomplish. I don't give a *lot* of weight to the issue, but it is a consideration.

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I vote for Portugal. Lisbon is incredible - it's a place where you can just sit for hours and absorb. And it's not that expensive given the costs of living in Europe. Just my three cents (extra penny for inflation). Rob

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Originally Posted by flowerseverywhere

I still want to know the solution to gun violence and murder in the US. Unlike the Scandinavian countries, we don't have community support. We have many with no access to any healthcare. Even full time working Americans with insurance often delay seeking care due to costs they will occur. We have a huge homeless problem and many children go to bed hungry. Access to birth control and even day after pills and abortion is just about unattainable in many areas in the US, but abortion is accessible without question up to sixteen-18 weeks, for free. It is a decision made between a woman and her doctor. College is hugely expensive and unattainable for many in the US, free in these countries.

All these lead to depression and anger. And many have little access to mental health care to support them.

So what is the solution, in this country? All I see is republicans interfering in medical decisions, and putting money ahead of the welfare and medical needs of others as far as insurance.

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I don’t know, THIS Republican sent $50,000 in taxes to federal and state governments this year, so I think I’m paying a pretty good amount toward government social welfare programs. Would you like me to pay even more?

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Originally Posted by iris lilies

I don’t know, THIS Republican sent $50,000 in taxes to federal and state governments this year, so I think I’m paying a pretty good amount toward those government programs. Would you like me to pay even more?

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Of course the 50k is relative to wealth. You worked super hard and were super diligent to get to where you are so I would never presume to expect you to do more than you have already done. I also pay a lot in taxes, not a whole heck of a lot less than you, and I don't have any interest income. At this point, am I bummed that my taxes aren't working harder to give everyone the quality of life flowers is talking about? Yes. If we had more people feeling that they weren't slipping through the broken web in the safety nets; if we all had universal healthcare, and economic and social justice, and most people didn't lie awake at night worrying about how they were going to provide the Constitutional aspiration of general welfare to their own children, I would be fully satisfied with paying what I pay in taxes. But unfortunately our tax dollars are missing the mark.

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Originally Posted by iris lilies

I don’t know, THIS Republican sent $50,000 in taxes to federal and state governments this year, so I think I’m paying a pretty good amount toward government social welfare programs. Would you like me to pay even more?

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No. I pay a lot in taxes too, and always have. Another difference is you don't see Scandinavian countries having military bases all over the world and getting in unwinnable religious or border wars. So in response to Bae comparing other countries that have guns but very low gun homicides, perhaps how we spend our tax dollars is what to look at.

Our political machine is so tied up in big money lobbyists no wonder nothing gets done to solve immigration, gun violence and other things that might actually help normal working people.

I think the recent Clarence Thomas rich friend revelations are just the tip of the iceberg for many of our judges and politicians. For example, how can you not be influenced if the NRA supports you and influences others to support you through money donations to keep you in office?

Rachel Maddow show yesterday….. shocking?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehZSJ9OyOiE

We watched that Rachel Maddow and sadly I am NOT surprised...just furious actually that we seem unwilling to tackle the problems. 1935 Germany anyone???

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Originally Posted by flowerseverywhere

I think the recent Clarence Thomas rich friend revelations are just the tip of the iceberg for many of our judges and politicians. For example, how can you not be influenced if the NRA supports you and influences others to support you through money donations to keep you in office?

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A lot of cherry picking seems to be going on in this latest campaign against Thomas. No one seems terribly upset over Sotomayor not recusing herself from cases involving the publisher who paid her $3 million for her autobiography.

At this point, it seems clear that the Court is corrupt throughout. From watching the shenanigans at lower levels, I have little faith in the rule of law these days.

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Originally Posted by LDAHL

A lot of cherry picking seems to be going on in this latest campaign against Thomas. No one seems terribly upset over Sotomayor not recusing herself from cases involving the publisher who paid her $3 million for her autobiography.

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Where did I say it was one party or the other? The constant defense of the criminal or unethical. behavior of the January six criminals and republican politicians is getting old. it is not right for anyone to behave this way.

Today:

Trump, the leading GOP candidate: found guilty of sexual abuse, and defamation.

Speaker Kevin McCarthy refuses to say if he *still supports* Trump.

Rep. George Santos has Federal charges filed against him.

Speaker Kevin McCarthy has so far not taken any action against Santos.

And so it goes.

Slowly but surely the swamp is being drained.

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Originally Posted by jp1

Slowly but surely the swamp is being drained.

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I suspect Trump will still run in 2024 and stands a good chance of being elected.

I'm wondering if McCarthy will crash the US economy in the next weeks though.

https://media.tenor.com/PZCLkmHTBr4A...world-burn.gif

Other than hardcore magas who exactly is going to vote for trump at this point? He certainly isn't interested in winning over any undecideds or democrats. And those same undecideds and democrats that hate trump for rational reasons are going to hate him all the more now that he's a confirmed sex offender who tried to overthrow the US government. Couple that with the radicals on the supreme court that don't think women should have bodily autonomy (which doesn't even play well in blood red states like kansas), and the fact that four years' worth of hardcore republican voters will have died and been replaced by four years of young people who by a large majority think republicans are asses that don't represent them in any way shape or form and it's hard to see how he can win. Unless republicans take their cheating efforts at voter suppression and such up to not just an 11, but more like a 14 or 15 and are successful at it.

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Originally Posted by bae

I'm wondering if McCarthy will crash the US economy in the next weeks though.

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I see that some government employees have sued to prevent the default. Very much taking a play from the republican playbook on the ACA and such. It will be interesting to see how that plays out. I can't imagine Janet Yellen and Joe Biden putting up much of a defense.

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Originally Posted by bae

I suspect Trump will still run in 2024 and stands a good chance of being elected.

I'm wondering if McCarthy will crash the US economy in the next weeks though.

https://media.tenor.com/PZCLkmHTBr4A...world-burn.gif

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All this drama can be blamed on republicans! if there is a default it is on their heads for sure.

Is there a way to keep our money safe or, at least, to mitigate damage?

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Originally Posted by frugal-one

All this drama can be blamed on republicans! if there is a default it is on their heads for sure.

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The Republicans passed the necessary legislation to prevent default in the only segment of government they control, the House of Representatives, weeks ago.

I see the President is considering the possibility that he can cite the 14th Amendment to authorize the issuance of bonds on his own without Congress.

I think the debt limit law is simultaneously too weak and too strong. The limit inevitability gets raised, and the consequences of failing to compromise are dire indeed. It’s basically a choice between destroying US credit gradually or all at once.

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Originally Posted by Alan

The Republicans passed the necessary legislation to prevent default in the only segment of government they control, the House of Representatives, weeks ago.

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trump also increased the debt by 25% ... more than any president and still the democrats did not threaten as the current "republicans" are doing. Shameful!