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Author Topic:   When Fascism Comes To America
AZPaul3
Member
Posts: 8513
From: Phoenix
Joined: 11-06-2006
Member Rating: 5.3


(1)
Message 76 of 303 (907602)
02-26-2023 8:00 AM
Reply to: Message 73 by Phat
02-26-2023 5:52 AM


Re: What Is Deregulation
So who runs the universe in your mind? Electricity? The Big Electron?
The fine structure constant.

Stop Tzar Vladimir the Condemned!

This message is a reply to:
 Message 73 by Phat, posted 02-26-2023 5:52 AM Phat has not replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 77 by jar, posted 02-26-2023 8:01 AM AZPaul3 has not replied

  
jar
Member (Idle past 394 days)
Posts: 34026
From: Texas!!
Joined: 04-20-2004


(1)
Message 77 of 303 (907603)
02-26-2023 8:01 AM
Reply to: Message 76 by AZPaul3
02-26-2023 8:00 AM


Re: What Is Deregulation
And change.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 76 by AZPaul3, posted 02-26-2023 8:00 AM AZPaul3 has not replied

  
jar
Member (Idle past 394 days)
Posts: 34026
From: Texas!!
Joined: 04-20-2004


(1)
Message 78 of 303 (907607)
02-26-2023 8:53 AM
Reply to: Message 74 by Phat
02-26-2023 6:29 AM


Re: Overhauling The GOP
Do you understand that what is actually needed is more division not less division.
More parties allow increased differences of opinion to have a say, but as long as the fascists insist that the only valid elections are the ones they win we will continue to move towards less division and only one valid opinion whether it really is what the voters want or not.
The GOP will try to create a one party system and the voters will support their own enslavement.
But until Citizens United gets overturned only money has a valid vote.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 74 by Phat, posted 02-26-2023 6:29 AM Phat has seen this message but not replied

  
Phat
Member
Posts: 18262
From: Denver,Colorado USA
Joined: 12-30-2003
Member Rating: 1.1


Message 79 of 303 (907610)
02-26-2023 9:52 AM
Reply to: Message 75 by jar
02-26-2023 7:58 AM


Re: Making Stuff Up And Then Stopping
jar writes:
Shall I continue?
No, I get the point. I suppose I shouldnt be afraid of the evidence. IF God exists, God exists regardless of any evidence that God does not exist.
And at that point, I jump ship and swim towards my belief. It is as warm and comfortable as a giant Teddy Bear.
I refuse to critically throw away every comforting thought and belief that I hold.
If it were somehow proven to everyone that God did not exist, I would find little comfort in this AI-infused politically diverse world.
And I wouldn't trust nonbelievers.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 75 by jar, posted 02-26-2023 7:58 AM jar has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 80 by jar, posted 02-26-2023 11:24 AM Phat has replied

  
jar
Member (Idle past 394 days)
Posts: 34026
From: Texas!!
Joined: 04-20-2004


(2)
Message 80 of 303 (907613)
02-26-2023 11:24 AM
Reply to: Message 79 by Phat
02-26-2023 9:52 AM


Re: Making Stuff Up And Then Stopping
Phat writes:
I refuse to critically throw away every comforting thought and belief that I hold.
And as I said, you create the god and Jesus and Christianity and political and economic position that YOU want to be true; and then you stop. And wonder why reality does not reflect what you want it to show.
Basics Phat, whether you like it or not there is a reality out there supported by the evidence. Go back and read Message 60 line by line from beginning to the end.
Stop after each line and ask who got fucked.
AbE:
Phat writes:
And I wouldn't trust nonbelievers.
Phat, stop. Full stop. There you go making truly STUPID statements yet again. STUPID, STUPID, STUPIDITY writ large.
You trust SOURCE and that is just STUPID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Not one of us has ever asked you to believe us. Not one. Never. And we never will.
It is CONTENT that you should trust, don't believe us, look at the evidence. Look at reality.
THROW the fucking source away whether is is non-believers, believers, god, God, Jesus, Small Government, Drain the Swamp ...
Throw the fucking useless SOURCE away and look at the evidence.
Don't like what you see?
Tough!

This message is a reply to:
 Message 79 by Phat, posted 02-26-2023 9:52 AM Phat has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 81 by Phat, posted 02-26-2023 2:43 PM jar has not replied

  
Phat
Member
Posts: 18262
From: Denver,Colorado USA
Joined: 12-30-2003
Member Rating: 1.1


(1)
Message 81 of 303 (907615)
02-26-2023 2:43 PM
Reply to: Message 80 by jar
02-26-2023 11:24 AM


Re: Making Stuff Up And Then Stopping
tough love from the old Texan! thanks

This message is a reply to:
 Message 80 by jar, posted 02-26-2023 11:24 AM jar has not replied

  
jar
Member (Idle past 394 days)
Posts: 34026
From: Texas!!
Joined: 04-20-2004


(4)
Message 82 of 303 (907627)
02-27-2023 8:41 AM
Reply to: Message 22 by Taq
02-16-2023 12:56 PM


racism
I need to make a few personal observations.
The year is 1963 and location Washington DC. I am working as an optician in training filling eye glass prescriptions and fitting the eye glasses to the clients face. I want to make sure the eye glasses are adjusted so they stay secure and in place and do not cause any pain. I'm told by the owner to stop wasting time on the mostly poor black clients since the pricing is fixed by contract regardless of how long a delivery takes.
The year is 1966 and location is Greensboro North Carolina. Now a fully benched optician and moved to Greensboro since my future wife would graduate from (at the time) Women's College UNC and we wanted to start married life away from families. I took part in a few Civil Rights demonstrations and attended a few sit-ins. My boss, the owner of the shop, called me in, fired me and said I would never get another job as an optician in North Carolina.
The year is 1967 and still Greensboro. I have a new job and new wife. She is going to teach art at a Junior High. It's an all black school still and south of the tracks and lots of the streets in the neighborhood are still unpaved. City water and sewer are still things in the future for many of the kids. Her total art supply for the year is a 50 pound block of clay. Half of the lights in her classroom have no bulbs. Several of the windows will not open and the shades are broken. It's September and still hot and there is no AC. She is one of three white faces in the school. Every evening we make PB&J sandwiches so she can pass them out to kids who forgot to bring lunch. For some it's the best meal of the day.
The year is 1972 and the location Atlanta Georgia. I am designing CableTV systems including the one for Dekalb County. There is a young black high school graduate working under me learning to be a draftsman. He is bright and a hard worker, fast learner with a good fist (fine motor control in drawing). He has a girl friend still in high school but he wants to be settled so they can get married when she graduates. One day he does not show up for work and I get a call from his girl friend that he's in jail. He had just bought his very first car and was driving her around when they got stopped. He had no proof it was his car so they impounded the car, took him to jail on a stolen car charge and left his girl friend on the side of the road telling her some stud would pick her up. My wife was the legal secretary for one of the major local attorneys so I called her and told her boss what had happened. In about a half hour a police car pulled up with the young man and the officer apologized to me for locking up my boy. It took another call to get his car returned from impoundment. But HE never got an apology.
Now would Phat like to talk about African American Culture?

This message is a reply to:
 Message 22 by Taq, posted 02-16-2023 12:56 PM Taq has not replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 83 by Theodoric, posted 02-27-2023 9:18 AM jar has not replied
 Message 89 by Phat, posted 02-28-2023 8:31 AM jar has not replied

  
Theodoric
Member
Posts: 9076
From: Northwest, WI, USA
Joined: 08-15-2005
Member Rating: 3.7


(5)
Message 83 of 303 (907628)
02-27-2023 9:18 AM
Reply to: Message 82 by jar
02-27-2023 8:41 AM


Re: racism
2023 we live in a rural area of WI. My mother in law and her son live with us. He is 16 and black. She adopted him after she retired as a teacher and lived in South Africa to volunteer at homes for sickly children. He had hydrocephalus and a stroke at 3. He has some cognitive and physical impairment but is a talented actor and musician.
He is one of 3 black kids in the High School. This school year 3 kids have been suspended for use of the n-word. At the beginning of the year, I posted an open letter on Facebook reminding the district and paresnts that no racism would be tolerated and if the district and parents did not take care of it, I would have lawyers take care of it.
I am a racists worst nightmare. A Hispanic with a little bit of money that knows how to use the legal system.
Phat will never understand the feeling of watching your black child drive away. Knowing that if they get pulled over there is a fairly good chance your child will be injured or killed.
To Phat and all other racists. Go fuck yourselves

What can be asserted without evidence can also be dismissed without evidence. -Christopher Hitchens

Facts don't lie or have an agenda. Facts are just facts

"God did it" is not an argument. It is an excuse for intellectual laziness.

If your viewpoint has merits and facts to back it up why would you have to lie?


This message is a reply to:
 Message 82 by jar, posted 02-27-2023 8:41 AM jar has not replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 84 by Phat, posted 02-27-2023 3:56 PM Theodoric has not replied

  
Phat
Member
Posts: 18262
From: Denver,Colorado USA
Joined: 12-30-2003
Member Rating: 1.1


Message 84 of 303 (907666)
02-27-2023 3:56 PM
Reply to: Message 83 by Theodoric
02-27-2023 9:18 AM


Re: racism
Last night at work. We had numerous shoplifters. All of them were unique. There was no profiling. You have no idea what my job entails nor the challenge for a parent. I dislike racism more each day. So...a black man came in the store, I did not see him come in and I pay no attention to color when guests enter the store. It is late. 10pm. He comes up to me and says (out of the blue) y'all better quit watching us. I remained silent because I watch anyone whom I feel like watching and do not discriminate based on color or race. He starts arguing anyway, telling me he is a respectable businessman and not a thug and how Safeway (not I) was racist. He told me to tell my Boss. I said simply "yes sir" and kept working. So then, he engages me again....(initiating the argument). Again I tried to be polite. Finally I asked him "what are you so mad about?" At that exact moment, the fire alarm on the back door was triggered and someone (don't know who) left with what was later told to me a full cart of groceries.
Now, honestly, when people (of any color or race) steal, it does make me angry. Who do they think they are taking from my employer?
|
He left, grumblng about how he was going to talk to my manager. So here is my question to you, Theodoric. And I'm not trying to profile, but I think he distracted me while that cart packed up with groceries and left the store. Of course I could be wrong, and to accuse him of that would in fact be profiling. So I suffer in silence while the drug addicts, homeless cartel bosses, and woke activists condone shoplifting
and tell the police to back off. Our store teaches us to be polite (equally polite and professional) to every customer no matter how they are dressed. And I do, to the best of my ability. Hey, I've seen white people steal. I've seen Asians or mixed races steal. Again, its not about color so I wonder why this guy was so pissed off.
Footnote: A police officer came in and I was joking with him. I said, someday there will be drones pulling people over. What will society do then? Defund the Drones? The police officer was off duty by the way and not involved in any complaint with us.
And my heart goes out to the homeless. It does NOT go out to organized crime rings that steal, sends people into the stores to steal, and then complain when we try and interrupt their business. Trust me, it happens. (I've never observed it personally, but I have my hunches.)
I had a white-blond girl fill a cart to the brim with boostable items that normal people dont buy and then accuse me of offending her when I simply asked her for an ID. I felt really bad until the next day when she tried it again and got shut down by one of the managers. (we shut her down both times. She had stolen checks, it turned out.)
Critics will accuse me of advocating more law and order and less compassion. You people run on a gas tank of pure feelings. Comments?

This message is a reply to:
 Message 83 by Theodoric, posted 02-27-2023 9:18 AM Theodoric has not replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 85 by jar, posted 02-27-2023 4:20 PM Phat has replied

  
jar
Member (Idle past 394 days)
Posts: 34026
From: Texas!!
Joined: 04-20-2004


(2)
Message 85 of 303 (907669)
02-27-2023 4:20 PM
Reply to: Message 84 by Phat
02-27-2023 3:56 PM


Re: racism
You are simply lying again Phat.
Phat writes:
So I suffer in silence while the drug addicts, homeless cartel bosses, and woke activists condone shoplifting
Once again you are simply showing your UTTER stupidity and ignorance.
When you fall back on totally meaningless Carny Barker and Snake Oil merchant phrases like "homeless cartel bosses, and woke activists" everyone here realizes you have found the answer you want from the source you like and completely stopped thinking.
You are pitiful, pathetic, deplorable, despicable bigotted willfully ignorant and dishonest.
AbE:
The buzz words used to be Juden or the "N' word or Jap or Wop or Raghead or ...
The rise of the KnowNothing zombies.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 84 by Phat, posted 02-27-2023 3:56 PM Phat has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 86 by Phat, posted 02-28-2023 1:47 AM jar has replied

  
Phat
Member
Posts: 18262
From: Denver,Colorado USA
Joined: 12-30-2003
Member Rating: 1.1


Message 86 of 303 (907739)
02-28-2023 1:47 AM
Reply to: Message 85 by jar
02-27-2023 4:20 PM


So The Stores Should Let People Steal?
When you fall back on totally meaningless Carny Barker and Snake Oil merchant phrases like "homeless cartel bosses, and woke activists" everyone here realizes you have found the answer you want from the source you like and completely stopped thinking.
In what way have I stopped thinking? Tell me, Einstein. If you worked at a store and personally saw the same 20 people steal (you watched them leave with a full cart of Tide, for example) day after day after day, what else could you conclude except organized crime?
I suppose that they could be "organized individuals" since they know precisely how to get away with their theft (and yes, it *is* theft, plan and simple!) and I also realize that the store has insurance mainly because they don't want anyone to get hurt and sue them.
I said before that I feel for the homeless people that come in...in fact, many of us have been known to buy them a sandwich or a couple of meals BUT I am talking about repeat offenders who steal right under our noses because they know we can do nothing to stop them. Should I simply ignore this blatant social attempt to avoid working an honest job?
Is anyone going to agree with me? If not, why am I the problem? What the hell do you propose that our society do in a way that doesn't hurt us?
jar, addressing me writes:
You are pitiful, pathetic, deplorable, despicable bigoted willfully ignorant, and dishonest.
That's quite a list. Of course, I'm the bad guy. Kindly explain why.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 85 by jar, posted 02-27-2023 4:20 PM jar has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 87 by jar, posted 02-28-2023 7:52 AM Phat has replied

  
jar
Member (Idle past 394 days)
Posts: 34026
From: Texas!!
Joined: 04-20-2004


(4)
Message 87 of 303 (907752)
02-28-2023 7:52 AM
Reply to: Message 86 by Phat
02-28-2023 1:47 AM


Re: So The Stores Should Let People Steal?
You are dishonest because you only see stealing and not the root causes.
Why do we allow people to end up homeless, families living in cars?
Why do we allow hunger?
First support taxes to address the root causes, universal health care, higher minimum wages, universal child care, neighborhood mental health care, reduce wealth disparity.
Remove all the necessities for stealing food, and then, only then, prosecute the stealing for profit.
A cart of tide can be sold cheaply to buy food or clothing or shelter. For some, it might be the only way to keep a child fed.
It's not all organized crime. Organized crime doesn't steal by the shopping cart; it hijacks the whole fucking truck.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 86 by Phat, posted 02-28-2023 1:47 AM Phat has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 88 by Phat, posted 02-28-2023 7:59 AM jar has replied

  
Phat
Member
Posts: 18262
From: Denver,Colorado USA
Joined: 12-30-2003
Member Rating: 1.1


Message 88 of 303 (907754)
02-28-2023 7:59 AM
Reply to: Message 87 by jar
02-28-2023 7:52 AM


Re: So The Stores Should Let People Steal?
OK, fair enough. None of us want a police state, but we (many of my customers) see the merchandise leaving the store and nobody doing anything about it and it frustrates them because the higher prices are passed on to the consumer. Imagine if I told the customer that we need to support taxes to address the root causes, universal health care, higher minimum wages, universal child care, neighborhood mental health care, (and that) we need to reduce wealth disparity! They may wryly comment that the shoplifters themselves are reducing wealth disparity!! And the common reaction is that it is so unfair!
Higher taxes are not a popular topic with the working class. They might accuse the business that they patronize of being soft on crime.
You seem to suggest that higher taxes and more social programs will magically change the survival mindset that has warped the lower class. Heck, they likely look at me as rich simply because I'm white or because I have a job, or because I don't just look the other way when someone steals. Maybe its the way that I was brought up and maybe the people who steal do so because of the way that they were brought up. Comments?

This message is a reply to:
 Message 87 by jar, posted 02-28-2023 7:52 AM jar has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 90 by jar, posted 02-28-2023 8:40 AM Phat has replied
 Message 93 by xongsmith, posted 03-03-2023 5:03 PM Phat has replied

  
Phat
Member
Posts: 18262
From: Denver,Colorado USA
Joined: 12-30-2003
Member Rating: 1.1


Message 89 of 303 (907755)
02-28-2023 8:31 AM
Reply to: Message 82 by jar
02-27-2023 8:41 AM


My Neice
Elizabeth is a teacher in Ferguson, Missouri. She is one of but a few white teachers in an otherwise black school district. She and my sister are more liberal than I am and we rarely discuss politics. Elizabeth feels sorry for her kindergarten students and buys them school supplies out of her own pocket. Many teachers do the same thing.
She tells me that the problems with her students often start at home. there is a notable difference in cultural upbringing. We all are a product of our environment.
My Dad used to get scolded by my Mother and Sister for acting like Archie Bunker. My sister accused her own father of being racist. He was but did not realize it I think..
The one incident that set my sister and Father apart was when she was 11. It was the Day MLK got shot and killed. It is embarrassing, but I will share it if you want.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 82 by jar, posted 02-27-2023 8:41 AM jar has not replied

  
jar
Member (Idle past 394 days)
Posts: 34026
From: Texas!!
Joined: 04-20-2004


(1)
Message 90 of 303 (907756)
02-28-2023 8:40 AM
Reply to: Message 88 by Phat
02-28-2023 7:59 AM


Re: So The Stores Should Let People Steal?
You are still pitiful, pathetic, deplorable, despicable bigoted willfully ignorant, and dishonest.
Phat writes:
You seem to suggest that higher taxes and more social programs will magically change the survival mindset that has warped the lower class.
Comments? Phat, have you actually read what anyone over the last two decades?
Comments?
LOOK AT THE EVIDENCE!
No one suggest magic.
Who said we should feed the hungry, clothe the naked, comfort the sorrowful, shelter the homeless, heal the sick, ...
Did you look up "Common Good"?
Did you read each line of Message 60 and after reading each line think about who got fucked?
Stop worshiping the Snake Oil Salesman and Carny Barker.
There is no "Lower Class" and only a pitiful, pathetic, deplorable, despicable, bigoted, willfully ignorant, dishonest person would think there was a "Lower Class" or that wanting to survive warps someone.
Shit. You are simply an asshole!

This message is a reply to:
 Message 88 by Phat, posted 02-28-2023 7:59 AM Phat has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 91 by Phat, posted 03-03-2023 2:31 PM jar has not replied

  
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