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chitoryu12 posted:It's how conspiracy theorists work. They posit that the next big news thing is REALLY a planned takeover of the government and martial law will be enacted, so they raise a huge fuss. When nothing of the sort happens (because, obviously, it was never what they thought it was), they pat themselves on the back for "defending freedom" as if they personally scared the government away from doing anything. It's a thing that I keep wondering about as an outsider. Looking at America, you seem perpetually on your way towards a civil war that never quite, as you say "kicks off".
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Apr 30, 2015 00:26
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karlor posted:"I don't think I've ever seen an Hispanic panhandler."- Ted Cruz (his longstanding position) I.C.E burn.
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Apr 30, 2015 00:27
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Friendly Tumour posted:It's a thing that I keep wondering about as an outsider. Looking at America, you seem perpetually on your way towards a civil war that never quite, as you say "kicks off". Remember that the United States is barely over 200 years old and was founded through violent riots, protests, and criminal disobedience that eventually evolved into a full on rebellion (which was heavily aided by the French, though we'll never admit that). The result of this is that rebellion and discontent are lauded as means of fixing a problematic government and the Founding Fathers are recent enough to be drat near worshiped. Our revolution is so glorified that many people (predominately right-wingers) advocate armed rebellion if the government ever becomes unbearable and impossible to fix through peaceful methods. While a coup might be a decent idea somewhere like North Korea or Syria, Americans start making veiled threats about sniping politicians as soon as they think a 1984-style dystopia is going to start. Of course, this only applies to white people. Black people who fight back against government and police oppression are merely unemployed thugs who need to pull up their pants and learn their place.
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Apr 30, 2015 00:31
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Friendly Tumour posted:It's a thing that I keep wondering about as an outsider. Looking at America, you seem perpetually on your way towards a civil war that never quite, as you say "kicks off". It's not really that they don't kick off, they just end quickly.
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Apr 30, 2015 00:41
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Friendly Tumour posted:It's a thing that I keep wondering about as an outsider. Looking at America, you seem perpetually on your way towards a civil war that never quite, as you say "kicks off". That's probably just our penchant for sensationalizing everything making it seem that way
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Apr 30, 2015 00:43
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Friendly Tumour posted:I too, love jesus and sideburns One of a half dozen people at a Rick Santorum 2012 Iowa campaign event. From the documentary Caucus, which is on Netflix and is great. 
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Apr 30, 2015 00:45
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chitoryu12 posted:Of course, this only applies to white people. Black people who fight back against government and police oppression are merely unemployed thugs who need to pull up their pants and learn their place. I will never understand this. It shows how transparently racist so many self professed libertarians are if they cannot acknowledge that there are people right here and now that are being oppressed by "the state". It's unfolding right in front of them and for all their talk about government never taking their guns or how they want to call for revolution, the poo poo hits the fan and they don't say a word. Every single one of these gadsden flag waving motherfuckers should be called out as cowards at every opportunity, or racists for dismissing the concerns coming out of predominantly black areas of the country. gently caress these people. If the gun rights advocates were pushing really hard in urban communities for increased gun ownership the same way they glorify it out in more rural areas I might have some small amount of respect since they're treating everyone equally, but they don't. When conversations pop up about how gun owners aren't bad people and guns don't kill people, nobody ever suggests going out of their way to arm black dudes in major metropolitan areas. Nobody ever rattles that off as a solution to inner city violence, or protection against government tyranny, or whatever it is they fantasize about. So loving shameful.
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Apr 30, 2015 00:45
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Quote of the day, "You can't eat me for lunch. Then there'd be no President!" ~ Barack Obama
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Apr 30, 2015 00:49
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A reminder that for the first time in basically forever we have a chance to compile statistics on how many people die in police custody, who they are, how they die and why, but only if the Attorney General decides to meaningfully enforce the bill (HR 1447) that was signed into law in December. The AG has full discretion when it comes to sanctioning States that do not meet the guidelines set by the bill. https://www.change.org/p/attorney-general-loretta-lynch-barack-obama-enforce-the-death-in-custody-reporting-act-of-2013
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Apr 30, 2015 00:52
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Joementum posted:Quote of the day, "You can't eat me for lunch. Then there'd be no President!" ~ Barack Obama What a striking view into the Obama's personal life.
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Apr 30, 2015 00:52
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Joementum posted:Quote of the day, "You can't eat me for lunch. Then there'd be no President!" ~ Barack Obama I love the endless stream of spergs trying to explain presidential suggestion in response to a joke aimed at children.
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Apr 30, 2015 00:53
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Good Citizen posted:I love the endless stream of spergs trying to explain presidential suggestion in response to a joke aimed at children. Yeah, but we should be clear that if those kids ate Obama for lunch, Joe Biden would be President, via the process described in the 25th amendment, so Obama was lying to them.
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Apr 30, 2015 00:56
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Joementum posted:Yeah, but we should be clear that if those kids ate Obama for lunch, Joe Biden would be President, via the process described in the 25th amendment, so Obama was lying to them. Hold up, Joe, Obama's no Buchanan
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Apr 30, 2015 00:59
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UberJew posted:It's not really that they don't kick off, they just end quickly. Yeah and that's the sort of thing that I really cannot wrap my head around. How do you have that kind of violence and then everyone just goes home instead of bombing police stations or something.
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Apr 30, 2015 00:59
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Friendly Tumour posted:Yeah and that's the sort of thing that I really cannot wrap my head around. How do you have that kind of violence and then everyone just goes home instead of bombing police stations or something. Cause the National Guard gets involved/the fury burns itself out.
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Apr 30, 2015 01:06
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Quote of the night, "I am running for president." ~ Bernie Sanders Here he is leading a civil rights sit in at the University of Chicago in the 60s.  
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Apr 30, 2015 01:08
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JeffersonClay posted:There will certainly be completely unguarded farms where would be insurgents can make off with stockpiles of ammonium nitrate fertilizer. Unguarded farms? In my USA? 
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Apr 30, 2015 01:10
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karlor posted:"I don't think I've ever seen an Hispanic panhandler."- Ted Cruz (his longstanding position) Ted Cruz posted:"I don't think I've ever seen an Hispanic panhandler. And the reason is: In our community it would be shameful to be begging on the street," Cruz said, recalling a conversation he once had with a Latino businessman on the topic. That's the entire extent of his hispanic outreach right there. I don't think there is anything in Cruz' life that could lead him to an understanding of any part of any hispanic community.
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Apr 30, 2015 01:13
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karlor posted:"I don't think I've ever seen an Hispanic panhandler."- Ted Cruz (his longstanding position) So Ted Cruz is either a vampire or has never seen a mirror.
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Apr 30, 2015 01:30
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Alligator Horse posted:A reminder that for the first time in basically forever we have a chance to compile statistics on how many people die in police custody, who they are, how they die and why, but only if the Attorney General decides to meaningfully enforce the bill (HR 1447) that was signed into law in December. The AG has full discretion when it comes to sanctioning States that do not meet the guidelines set by the bill. We've actually been attempting to make up for that with Killed By Police. It uses news articles as sources to generate a database of everyone whose death can be attributed to police action. Along with the disturbingly common shootings, there's also things like vehicle impacts (or car crashes during a chase), bad reactions to a taser, pepper spray, or beating, K9 attacks, and people who mysteriously die of "excited delirium" or vague medical crises during an arrest. As of yesterday, we're at 384 deaths this year. If a terrorist group were responsible for this many deaths in America, this would be a national tragedy. In fact, at this rate we're liable to hit a good 1200 deaths by the end of the year. American cops literally have as many deaths of American citizens that can be attributed to them as 9/11 every 2 years.
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Apr 30, 2015 01:38
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On Terra Firma posted:I will never understand this. It shows how transparently racist so many self professed libertarians are if they cannot acknowledge that there are people right here and now that are being oppressed by "the state". As a white man who grew up in a wealthy suburb, I'll have you know that I don't see race. Despite some suboptimal choices in my life, I'm currently enjoying an upper middle class lifestyle. Right now that means living in a nice apartment downtown but since I'm not rich, when I buy property I'll probably have to go outside the city to somewhere cheaper. I made it happen, so I don't see how other people can't. I'm guessing it is either because of personal failings or maybe something bigger. I'm not a racist, so it is probably a cultural difference. What is so hard to understand about that?
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Apr 30, 2015 01:46
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Shbobdb posted:As a white man who grew up in a wealthy suburb, I'll have you know that I don't see race. Despite some suboptimal choices in my life, I'm currently enjoying an upper middle class lifestyle. Right now that means living in a nice apartment downtown but since I'm not rich, when I buy property I'll probably have to go outside the city to somewhere cheaper. I made it happen, so I don't see how other people can't. I'm guessing it is either because of personal failings or maybe something bigger. I'm not a racist, so it is probably a cultural difference. I see your point, but that doesn't make it any less depressing.
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Apr 30, 2015 01:48
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The dotcom burst and recession were good at breaking people out of their mindset. Take heart, widening income inequalities will ensure that more and more people are forced to face hard realities.
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Apr 30, 2015 01:51
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SquadronROE posted:I did not, but now I have. The article just made me more confused. Is the State Guard there to make sure the Federal government doesn't accidentally shell a school? What's the point of calling the State Guard out? A bunch of crazy people are making a big, dumb stink about training that is absolutely not a big deal. It's enough of a stink that just to make the crazy people happy, the Governor wrote to the head of the Texas National Guard, which is not at loving all a private army, and basically said "hey, this training event is awesome and good and helps our Soldiers, but also could you just keep an eye on it?" as a way to maybe somewhat shut up the crazy people with a giant wink to the military at large that he knows it's all dumb bonkers bullshit. Every single officer, be they national guard or active duty, swears an oath to the constitution, to the POTUS, and to the officers appointed over them by the president. POTUS kind of outranks Governors they work for on a day to day basis. Friendly Tumour posted:It's a thing that I keep wondering about as an outsider. Looking at America, you seem perpetually on your way towards a civil war that never quite, as you say "kicks off". We aren't. At all. chitoryu12 posted:Remember that the United States is barely over 200 years old and was founded through violent riots, protests, and criminal disobedience that eventually evolved into a full on rebellion (which was heavily aided by the French, though we'll never admit that). Ah, yes, the US has survived only 200 years on its constitution, making it the second oldest government on Earth, IIRC. Descendants of Europeans haven't been here as long as they've been in, oh, Europe, but the US government is very old and has been very stable when compared with other state governments. We're just younger in the ehtnic "nation" sense, given that we effectively wiped out the Indian nations. People talking about armed revolution are doing it out of bluster and frustration, but aside from the odd active shooter or domestic terrorist, it is so far from being a real thing as to be laughable.
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Apr 30, 2015 01:53
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chitoryu12 posted:We've actually been attempting to make up for that with Killed By Police. It uses news articles as sources to generate a database of everyone whose death can be attributed to police action. Along with the disturbingly common shootings, there's also things like vehicle impacts (or car crashes during a chase), bad reactions to a taser, pepper spray, or beating, K9 attacks, and people who mysteriously die of "excited delirium" or vague medical crises during an arrest. I am glad KBP and FatalEncounters and others are working to right this wrong. It's a shame these orgs even have to exist. Hopefully in the near future there will be hard requirements with unavoidable penalties for States that can't manage to document these events. For now though I hope HR 1447 really shows up on Americans' radar as an important issue--one they can do something about. I am not fooling myself into thinking that my Change.org petition will play a significant role there, but if it can inform at least a couple hundred people and start a dialog, that'd be neat!
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Apr 30, 2015 02:08
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Friendly Tumour posted:It's a thing that I keep wondering about as an outsider. Looking at America, you seem perpetually on your way towards a civil war that never quite, as you say "kicks off". Worry more about Europe. At least in the US our mass shooters aren't disaffected minorities who are oppressed by society.
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Apr 30, 2015 02:26
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mlmp08 posted:A bunch of crazy people are making a big, dumb stink about training that is absolutely not a big deal. It's enough of a stink that just to make the crazy people happy, the Governor wrote to the head of the Texas National Guard, which is not at loving all a private army, and basically said "hey, this training event is awesome and good and helps our Soldiers, but also could you just keep an eye on it?" as a way to maybe somewhat shut up the crazy people with a giant wink to the military at large that he knows it's all dumb bonkers bullshit. Every single officer, be they national guard or active duty, swears an oath to the constitution, to the POTUS, and to the officers appointed over them by the president. POTUS kind of outranks Governors they work for on a day to day basis. There's a separate Texas State Guard that's not the National Guard and hence not under the purview of the President.
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Apr 30, 2015 02:28
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Family Values posted:As long as we're quoting and discussing David Simon's take on the situation in Baltimore, I'll go ahead and add this to the pile. (I don't think this was already linked in this thread but apologies if I overlooked it) drat that is a great and depressing interview. I love David Simon.
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Apr 30, 2015 02:29
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efb
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Apr 30, 2015 02:36
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computer parts posted:There's a separate Texas State Guard that's not the National Guard and hence not under the purview of the President. Its so loving creepy.
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Apr 30, 2015 02:38
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comes along bort posted:The funny thing about pointing to the Wire as a means of understanding Baltimore's problems is the show was largely about the Sun and other media failing to do their job, but turns out what you need to know to understand the current situation in the city is in fact covered fairly succinctly by the Sun: Surprised you didn't bold this quote:“These officers taint the whole department when they create these kinds of issues for the city,” said City Council President Bernard C. “Jack” Young. “I’m tired of the lawsuits that cost the city millions of dollars by some of these police officers.”
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Apr 30, 2015 02:39
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mlmp08 posted:Ah, yes, the US has survived only 200 years on its constitution, making it the second oldest government on Earth, IIRC. Descendants of Europeans haven't been here as long as they've been in, oh, Europe, but the US government is very old and has been very stable when compared with other state governments. We're just younger in the ehtnic "nation" sense, given that we effectively wiped out the Indian nations. Are you counting constitutional changes or governmental changes as technically "new nations"? Because when I speak of the US as being very young, I mean in its actual existence. The United Kingdom was formed from separate British and Irish nations in 1707, but those nations that united had all existed for centuries beforehand. The European-based nation that now takes up a big chunk of North America didn't even start to get off the ground until 17th century colonies and didn't become independent until about 230 years ago. The modern nation of France can trace its history to before the year 1000 CE.
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Apr 30, 2015 02:40
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CommieGIR posted:Its so loving creepy. States are allowed to form state defence forces. Texas is one of 23 states that does.
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Apr 30, 2015 02:42
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The Althingi was established in 930 in Iceland by Viking-era settlers. The world's oldest legislative body is now Iceland's official parliament. Per 1999's web design: http://www.govspot.com/know/legbody.htm
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Apr 30, 2015 02:43
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On Terra Firma posted:I will never understand this. It shows how transparently racist so many self professed libertarians are if they cannot acknowledge that there are people right here and now that are being oppressed by "the state". It's unfolding right in front of them and for all their talk about government never taking their guns or how they want to call for revolution, the poo poo hits the fan and they don't say a word. Every single one of these gadsden flag waving motherfuckers should be called out as cowards at every opportunity, or racists for dismissing the concerns coming out of predominantly black areas of the country. gently caress these people. This nation was founded on the principle of government by white men of property, for white men of property. Is it any surprise that those who worship the founding principles of the United States only care about white men of property?
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Apr 30, 2015 02:49
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UberJew posted:This nation was founded on the principle of government by white men of property, for white men of property. Is it any surprise that those who worship the founding principles of the United States only care about white men of property? Then they should come right the gently caress out and say it. Carl Stokes had it right but these assholes don't have the balls to admit it.
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Apr 30, 2015 02:57
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chitoryu12 posted:Are you counting constitutional changes or governmental changes as technically "new nations"? Because when I speak of the US as being very young, I mean in its actual existence. The United Kingdom was formed from separate British and Irish nations in 1707, but those nations that united had all existed for centuries beforehand. The European-based nation that now takes up a big chunk of North America didn't even start to get off the ground until 17th century colonies and didn't become independent until about 230 years ago. The modern nation of France can trace its history to before the year 1000 CE. 1707 was England and Scotland but not any portion of Ireland. Ireland was the Acts of Union 1800, effective 1801.
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Apr 30, 2015 02:58
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On Terra Firma posted:Then they should come right the gently caress out and say it. Carl Stokes had it right but these assholes don't have the balls to admit it. 
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Apr 30, 2015 02:59
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One of the most respected founders straight out believed that we would be having revolutions and civil wars every couple of decades. "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." And this isn't some crazy we feel we've left in the past, he is on our money and has a major monument in our capital. (But so is Andrew Jackson, sooooo...). Don't gently caress with Americans, we will kill you.
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Apr 30, 2015 03:06
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If anyone is looking for an extensive Baltimore reading list: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1B_oyOyu_tAwOVq5MY1oJL3orN6ps04O82JxWxnkGpho/preview?sle=true
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Apr 30, 2015 03:08
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