Politcal Ramblings

[fordman1]

"GOOGLE" There is a video of the cop pulling up on scene. There are already 2 cars there. Middle of a 5 lane street.
The kid is walking away fairly slow ignoring the cops. The new arrival gets out of the car and empties his clip 16 rounds. Half after the guy is down and not moving. That's why he is charged with murder.

The guy in N.C. shot a guy for running away after a traffic stop. He owed back child support. Also shot dead.

The Brown shooting seemed justified it just got blown out of proportion by a-holes like Sharpton.

No one is saying that the training doesn't tell the officers to shoot to kill. Maybe just maybe the training needs to be looked at.

[Aslan]

Just for those that are still not quite sure what BLM is really after...

1) They have a plan put forward (good). The (bad) is; included in that plan are such things as "broken windows policing".
2) There are some vocal civil rights folks in that organization that are trying to use it's visibility to re-open the "reparations" debate.

For those not up on these issues, the summary is this:

1) There's a big push right now to let criminals out of jail who haven't committed violent crimes. This has already been done in California and we're already (< a year later) seeing double-digit increases in violent and non-violent crimes as a result. The next stage in this "broken window policy" is to not arrest people for non-violent crimes. The person most likely to run for Barbara Boxer's soon to be vacant seat in the Senate is Kamala Harris who has been on record suggesting that perhaps a person breaking into a business or home should just receive a ticket.

2) "Reparations" is the worst case for Democrats. I KNEW when BLM got traction, we'd eventually get to this. Reparations are monetary payouts to anyone who is black. These monetary payouts are designed to compensate them for the time of slavery. Every attempt to even address this issue has failed miserably. Legally, it's a complete losing effort. And even in regions where blacks make up a larger percentage of the electorate...this issue can't get traction. Recently, Bernie Sanders was shouted down at a town hall my a couple African Americans about reparations. He quickly, and smartly, said he does not support reparations.

The trick will be, what will Hillary do in that situation. So long as she doesn't see Bernie as a real threat...she can ignore the issue...or try to deflect the question. But if Bernie keeps momentum going...and she's cornered...she may agree on reparations to get the black vote...and that would be HORRIBLE for the Democrats in the general election. While some states in the South have up to 70% of their Democratic base African American...blacks make up only 13% of the US population, less than 40% of any one state, and participate (vote) at about the same rate as other races (66%, 2/3).

Since over half the electorate is moderate, and the general election will pit a democrat against a republican...and the republican will definitely oppose reparations...an issue like reparations could easily tip the balance in favor of Republicans. With the primaries being so polarized and everyone is pushed to the extremes, this is probably the first election where a moderate 3rd party candidate could win.

When this nightmare started I predicted Rubio would defeat Clinton in the general election. I currently think it'll be John Kasich beating Clinton instead. I think Rubio lost the election when he and Bush split from one another. But the New Hampshire debate also kinda killed him. He's now being seen as an establishment candidate in a party that bitterly hates establishment anythings. It's ironic that FoxNews and right ring AM radio has pushed the party so far to the right...that they are rejecting establishment candidates.

And it really doesn't matter at this point. With Congress so divided...nothing major is getting through. They can't overturn Obamacare. They can't agree on Supreme Court justices. There's really no chance to get anything done with the filibuster in play...so it's more entertainment than anything.

[Aslan]

The kid is walking away fairly slow ignoring the cops.

The guy in N.C. shot a guy for running away after a traffic stop. He owed back child support. Also shot dead.

I would highly recommend NOT ignoring cops and NOT running from police.

I know it sounds crazy in this time we live in...but back in "the day" we tried our best to listen to officer instructions and never flee the police.

[Jessiewoodard57]

I would highly recommend NOT ignoring cops and NOT running from police.

I know it sounds crazy in this time we live in...but back in "the day" we tried our best to listen to officer instructions and never flee the police.

The way people are just gunning down our police officers does anyone blame them for being jumpy??? Easiest way around this is like Aslan said OBEY the officer he has your safety and his at heart. You make a sudden or wrong move that officer has a split second to decide if you are going for a weapon or for reinforcements. So easy STOP LISTEN AND OBEY then everyone goes home! Start backing the criminals (even the ones just out burglarizing cars) and we have a lawless society where the law of the gun rules and we have the old west all over again.

Evil is fast becoming the law of the land. Einstein once said Evil wins only if good men do nothing ....He is so right

[Tony]

I would highly recommend NOT ignoring cops and NOT running from police.

I know it sounds crazy in this time we live in...but back in "the day" we tried our best to listen to officer instructions and never flee the police.

For once we agree ! It's pretty simple the way a cop put it, if you didn't do anything wrong, why are you running ..... even if you did you'll have your day in court.

[Aslan]

Two Stories to liiustrate where most people stand on criminal justice...and this also shows the difference between these times we live in and the times I grew up:

1) Two years ago, a motorcycle cop came to an elementary school to give a talk. While he was inside the school, some little kids were looking at his motorcycle and of course saw the tactical rifle attached to the bike. At some point (probably on a dare), one of the kids walked up and pulled the trigger of the rifle. The rifle went off. Nobody was injured.

Afterwards, the parent of the child was very upset and talking about suing the police department.

2) Also a couple years ago, a young woman (college age or thereabouts) was completely intoxicated and picked up by police. She was put in the back of the patrol car and taken back to the police station. On the way there, the woman found a way to kick out the window of the back of the police car and then jumped out of the window while the car was moving. She survived but was hurt.

Afterwards, her parents were also talking about suing.

Now, in BOTH of these cases...the child and young woman did something wrong. In both cases, the officers also did something wrong (leaving a loaded gun locked on a motorcycleat an elementary school and not securing the woman in the back of the car).

But lets look back on our own lives. Had I been in either of those two unfortunate situations...I would not have touched the police officer's gun nor would I kick a window out in a police cruiser. BUT...lets say I did. My parents would NEVER...EVER...have immediately started talking about suing the police.

First off, I'd have been in BIG trouble. BIG trouble at home.

Second, my parents would have been making apologies to the police, in both situations, for my actions.

Most of the people on this site....I bet your parents would have reacted like mine. Some of us may have preferred staying in jail to going home and getting what was coming to use at home.

How can teachers do their job when every time some kid acts up, the parents blame the teacher. You had that one girl refusing to cooperate with teachers, the principle, the school security officer...and when she finally pushed that to the limit...she was forceably removed from the classroom. Someone took a cell phone video, she happened to be black, and suddenly the media was "disgusted" and the security officer suspended.

How can those tasked with enforcing the law actually do their jobs if every single time they do their jobs, there's an at least 25% chance that someone will think they over-reacted and they'll be fired, suspended, or there will be race riots?

I'm disgusted with our entire society. Such a great country with such great promise and the people right now are just making it intolerable. I can't walk to the corner 7 Eleven without bringing pepper spray or a knife...because there's a gang of homeless people riding bicycles and camping out around the 7Eleven...and sometimes they just sit there...most times they ask for money...and sometimes, they get rather agitated and violent if you ignore them. I'd love to carry a sidearm...but I don't have a permit in California and even if I did...if I gun down a homeless person just because they are "acting violent towards me"...and God FORBID they are black...suddenly I'm George Zimmerman. Not as bad given the people are over 18...and probably not black...but still. Would I rather just get beat up and stabbed? Or risk 3 years in court and in and out of jail defending myself in court? Maybe I should just give them money right? It's cheaper to just give them my wallet than it is to deal with the court system. But why is this even the thought process? How far has our country fallen that we can't live with the expectation of being able to walk to the corner store without calculating the sick of our premature death?

[fortheloveofbowling]

Have you complained to the management about the loitering around the 7-eleven? That is a pathetic situation to not be able to walk down the street safely.

[fordman1]

Call 7-11's corp. headquarters. Man up and don't be intimidated because you don't have a gun. What kind of gated community did you grow up in? Are you one of the Cleavers?
Don't you have any police in your area?
What kind of a police officer leaves a loaded rifle on a motorcycle out side of a school?
The drunk girl should be prosecuted.

[Tony]

Two Stories to liiustrate where most people stand on criminal justice...and this also shows the difference between these times we live in and the times I grew up:

1) Two years ago, a motorcycle cop came to an elementary school to give a talk. While he was inside the school, some little kids were looking at his motorcycle and of course saw the tactical rifle attached to the bike. At some point (probably on a dare), one of the kids walked up and pulled the trigger of the rifle. The rifle went off. Nobody was injured.

Afterwards, the parent of the child was very upset and talking about suing the police department.

2) Also a couple years ago, a young woman (college age or thereabouts) was completely intoxicated and picked up by police. She was put in the back of the patrol car and taken back to the police station. On the way there, the woman found a way to kick out the window of the back of the police car and then jumped out of the window while the car was moving. She survived but was hurt.

Afterwards, her parents were also talking about suing.

Now, in BOTH of these cases...the child and young woman did something wrong. In both cases, the officers also did something wrong (leaving a loaded gun locked on a motorcycleat an elementary school and not securing the woman in the back of the car).

But lets look back on our own lives. Had I been in either of those two unfortunate situations...I would not have touched the police officer's gun nor would I kick a window out in a police cruiser. BUT...lets say I did. My parents would NEVER...EVER...have immediately started talking about suing the police.

First off, I'd have been in BIG trouble. BIG trouble at home.

Second, my parents would have been making apologies to the police, in both situations, for my actions.

Most of the people on this site....I bet your parents would have reacted like mine. Some of us may have preferred staying in jail to going home and getting what was coming to use at home.

How can teachers do their job when every time some kid acts up, the parents blame the teacher. You had that one girl refusing to cooperate with teachers, the principle, the school security officer...and when she finally pushed that to the limit...she was forceably removed from the classroom. Someone took a cell phone video, she happened to be black, and suddenly the media was "disgusted" and the security officer suspended.

How can those tasked with enforcing the law actually do their jobs if every single time they do their jobs, there's an at least 25% chance that someone will think they over-reacted and they'll be fired, suspended, or there will be race riots?

I'm disgusted with our entire society. Such a great country with such great promise and the people right now are just making it intolerable. I can't walk to the corner 7 Eleven without bringing pepper spray or a knife...because there's a gang of homeless people riding bicycles and camping out around the 7Eleven...and sometimes they just sit there...most times they ask for money...and sometimes, they get rather agitated and violent if you ignore them. I'd love to carry a sidearm...but I don't have a permit in California and even if I did...if I gun down a homeless person just because they are "acting violent towards me"...and God FORBID they are black...suddenly I'm George Zimmerman. Not as bad given the people are over 18...and probably not black...but still. Would I rather just get beat up and stabbed? Or risk 3 years in court and in and out of jail defending myself in court? Maybe I should just give them money right? It's cheaper to just give them my wallet than it is to deal with the court system. But why is this even the thought process? How far has our country fallen that we can't live with the expectation of being able to walk to the corner store without calculating the sick of our premature death?

While I generally agree with you on the state of our country, we have evolved, if you can call it that into a what's in it for me, how do I get my share of free stuff society and it's sad.
The blame can certainly be shared by a number of people but as you mentioned the "parents threating to sue" or generally sue happy environment we now live in where people are willing to sue for the most insane reasons......this goes back to who is responsible for promoting this, lets again look at the most destructive group in all this, the lawyers .

It's a sad state that a person injured doing something illegal has any right to sue someone.....we have developed a nation of victims who are not held responsible for their actions. This idea that disconnects personal responsibility from the situation is one of the fundamental issues today.

repeat after me, when you reach legal are you become fully responsible for yourself, no exceptions.
You don't get to use the excuse you grew up in a rough area, had bad parents, didn't go to school, had a kid or whatever as the reason you should get special treatment.

It goes that was for crime also, "don't worry you're not responsible for X because you were distressed .......seriously ?

if we were do something silly like hold people responsible for their actions ( as Aslan said most of our parents did) then people might start
to decide that their life is what they make of it, it's not the schools, city's, your parents, neighborhood, skin color or sexual orientation that is the cause of everything. Sure those things have an effect, it would be foolish to say they didn't but using them as a lifelong crutch to justify your poor behavior is just making everything else responsible for what happens to you......and that's simply not the case.

So the solution is simple.

Get rid of 2/3 of the lawyers with clearly defined easy to understand rules and laws

Let all people know they are responsible for their own decisions.

It just might work......but of course we will never know....

[Aslan]

Have you complained to the management about the loitering around the 7-eleven? That is a pathetic situation to not be able to walk down the street safely.

I have not. But I imagine this place has had to call the authorities quite often. Most of the time the homeless around there are somewhat peaceful and just asking for money...which is what homeless people do...but I'd say every 2-3 weeks one of the homeless will be yelling at them or a customer or causing some type of disturbance. At one point, one of em set up some type of make-shift tent in the corner of the parking lot.

Call 7-11's corp. headquarters.

That's actually a good idea.

Man up and don't be intimidated because you don't have a gun. What kind of gated community did you grow up in? Are you one of the Cleavers?
Don't you have any police in your area?

1) I would NOT recommend confronting homeless people unarmed. They are erratic, usually on drugs, and usually mentally disturbed. You learn very early in "the gated communities I grew up in" that the most dangerous opponents are those with nothing to lose.

2) No, but I did grow up in a more rural area...all white...no latinos or blacks...very low crime even in college. However, since becoming somewhat of an adult...living on my own in much different places than where I grew up...you learn how to maximize your survival. And confronting homeless people...not a good impact on survival. Not saying I can't hold my own...but probably the main reason I haven't been attacked is that I am generally bigger than they are. Just like with wild animals, humans tend not to risk altercations with humans that are too big to easily defeat.

3) Yes, there are police. I know they are around because I hear sirens and helicoptors quite a bit...almost constantly. And usually, if I hear a scream...within 3-6 minutes I'll hear sirens and police will show up. I actually reported an incident where I was on my balcony smoking and some white truck stopped, some lady screamed and yelled, then the truck took off out of the parking lot and the lady was yelling for help. I couldn't see what happened...but I called the cops and they showed up...a fire truck showed up...an ambulance...then the cops were standing around taking pictures.

And what? You think if I call the cops and tell them a homeless person is loitering that they are going to do anything about it? They are going to risk showing up and having to possible subdue a homeless person...have it caught on camera...have it on national news...risk losing their job? And just for the record...blacklivesmatter wants loitering to be de-criminalized. They claim cops use it as a reason to harass black people. So...I guess I'm on my own.

What kind of a police officer leaves a loaded rifle on a motorcycle out side of a school?
The drunk girl should be prosecuted.

I admit in both cases there was negligence...but in one of my and Tony's rare cases of agreement...it's also fair to ask what type of parenting results in a kid that would touch a rifle on a cop's motorcycle or kick out the window of a cop cruiser. I mean, is it the cops fault if while they are chasing down a suspect...some kid opens the cop car door and takes the shotgun and shoots someone with it? Sure, they might have wanted to lock the door...but that's like saying it's your fault for getting robbed because your door was unlocked.

It's hard to explain to younger folks...but just realize that there was a time when you far more afraid of your parents than you were of the cops...and it was mostly a better time...with less of this garbage. Are you aware of the kid that got out of a drunk driving arrest where people were killed because he claimed he was so rich (affluent) and his parents taught him that wealth and privledge can get you out of anything and the rules don't apply to him? You can google it...Ethan Couch was his name. 10 years probation for what most people would get 20 years in prison for.

You read this and you think, "he's just making this up"...nope. I wish I was.