Protests

[mbryson]

I just want to say that I believe you are spot on here.

WTH is going on? Stephen is making sense to a lot of us? These truly are the last days!!!!

 

[Stephen]

I'm inclined to agree with this, but what do you think the direction the quiet majority must take in order to push back at that process? I guess what I'm asking is, historically what slowed/stopped/reversed this? Seems like a freight train with the power of viral media fueling it from within a growing population of people who trust sodial media over traditional news outlets (and who's to blame them) and tend to react first and question later.

It does seem like a freight train barreling down at us right now. And it is terrifying to see what is happening all over the country as these thugs (I’m sorry, but people who hurl bricks or participate in cancel culture are thugs) march in the streets like Brownshirts delivering demands to businesses saying that if you don’t comply, you face both physical violence and financial ruin. Or digging through 20 years of internet history to find one “unwoke” comment by someone just to ruin their lives. But they are the minority, vocal as they may be.

Historically what has stopped the spread of this vicious ideology (yes, it is vicious. More than 100 million people died due to socialism/Marxism/communism in the 20th century alone) has been to stand up to it. Stop being silent about it. Talk to your families and friends about the fact that Black Lives Matter protests are not about bettering the conditions of African-Americans, but is about reversing the progress of the American Experiment and plunging us into the death spiral of socialism. Silence is what they want from us. Silence means that we are not willing to stand up for the ideals of America. I’m not advocating for you to match BLM protesters decibel for decibel, but if your brother starts to say the same sort of stuff that @Houndoc was saying, call him out on it because its BS.

Next is exercise your franchise. Go to the polls, not just for the Presidential election, but for all your local elections too. It’s as important that the dog catcher’s platform is one that aligns with maintaining the freedoms that we enjoy in this country as that of the Congressperson or Senator on the ballot. Socialism does not take hold in healthy democracies. Socialism takes hold in weak democracies where the electorate is easily swayed with promises of redistribution of wealth and a future utopia or through outright intimidation. And don’t believe the crap about Scandinavian countries being “socialist” and happy and healthy! There is a significant difference between a democracy with a robust social welfare system and socialism. Ask any Dane or Swede and they will tell you that they live in a democracy, full stop.

At the end of the day what Black Lives Matter and their socialist allies are banking on is that the average American will be too scared to stand up to them. Don’t let fear win.

 

[Herzog]

It does seem like a freight train barreling down at us right now. And it is terrifying to see what is happening all over the country as these thugs (I’m sorry, but people who hurl bricks or participate in cancel culture are thugs) march in the streets like Brownshirts delivering demands to businesses saying that if you don’t comply, you face both physical violence and financial ruin. Or digging through 20 years of internet history to find one “unwoke” comment by someone just to ruin their lives. But they are the minority, vocal as they may be.

Historically what has stopped the spread of this vicious ideology (yes, it is vicious. More than 100 million people died due to socialism/Marxism/communism in the 20th century alone) has been to stand up to it. Stop being silent about it. Talk to your families and friends about the fact that Black Lives Matter protests are not about bettering the conditions of African-Americans, but is about reversing the progress of the American Experiment and plunging us into the death spiral of socialism. Silence is what they want from us. Silence means that we are not willing to stand up for the ideals of America. I’m not advocating for you to match BLM protesters decibel for decibel, but if your brother starts to say the same sort of stuff that @Houndoc was saying, call him out on it because its BS.

Next is exercise your franchise. Go to the polls, not just for the Presidential election, but for all your local elections too. It’s as important that the dog catcher’s platform is one that aligns with maintaining the freedoms that we enjoy in this country as that of the Congressperson or Senator on the ballot. Socialism does not take hold in healthy democracies. Socialism takes hold in weak democracies where the electorate is easily swayed with promises of redistribution of wealth and a future utopia or through outright intimidation. And don’t believe the crap about Scandinavian countries being “socialist” and happy and healthy! There is a significant difference between a democracy with a robust social welfare system and socialism. Ask any Dane or Swede and they will tell you that they live in a democracy, full stop.

At the end of the day what Black Lives Matter and their socialist allies are banking on is that the average American will be too scared to stand up to them. Don’t let fear win.

Exactly. Thank you Stephen.

Exclusive from Gen. Flynn: If We Don't Act, 2% of the People Are About To Control the Other 98%

'The trials of our current times, like warfare, are immense and consequences severe and these seem inconquerable.'

www.westernjournal.com

I was once told if we’re not careful, 2 percent of the passionate will control 98 percent of the indifferent 100 percent of the time.


The more I’ve thought about this phrase, the more I believe it. There is now a small group of passionate people working hard to destroy our American way of life. Treason and treachery are rampant and our rule of law and those law enforcement professionals who uphold our laws are under the gun more than at any time in our nation’s history. These passionate 2 percent appear to be winning.


Despite there being countless good people trying to come to grips with everything else on their plates, our silent majority (the indifferent) can no longer be silent.


If the United States wants to survive the onslaught of socialism, if we are to continue to enjoy self-government and the liberty of our hard-fought freedoms, we have to understand there are two opposing forces: One is the “children of light” and the other is the “children of darkness.”


As I recently wrote, the art and exercise of self-governance require active participation by every American. I wasn’t kidding! And voting is only part of that active participation. Time and again, the silent majority have been overwhelmed by the “audacity and resolve” of small, well-organized, passionate groups. It’s now time for us, the silent majority (the indifferent), to demonstrate both.

 

[Stephen]

How many people actually belonged to the Nazi Party? The Communist Party? A very small number, but there were always plenty of other people who were happy to do the work for them; and others afraid enough to let it happen. Don't labor under the notion that people take power, they are given power by the rest of us because we're stupid, or afraid, or both. They are handed power because the people think they can settle scores, keep the trains running on time. By the time people realize what has happened, it's too late.

 

[Houndoc]

I'm inclined to agree with this, but what do you think the direction the quiet majority must take in order to push back at that process? I guess what I'm asking is, historically what slowed/stopped/reversed this? Seems like a freight train with the power of viral media fueling it from within a growing population of people who trust sodial media over traditional news outlets (and who's to blame them) and tend to react first and question later.

I would say the key step to limiting the effects of the extremist views is to actually address the shared concerns in the middle, which too often doesn't happen.

We see many people dig in against any needed police reforms because a few call for abolishing it. The more the problems and abuses continue, no matter how small a percent of law enforcement it involves, it actually just gives more voice and more power to the extremes.

Same thing with the statues of Confederate leaders- if they had been peacefully removed when called for, angry mobs wouldn't be doing it now.

As I said before, the vast majority of people attended rallies after George Floyd's death (and the countless other times killings by police have angered people) are not Marxist, they are not wanting to turn the country over to gangs by having zero law enforcement. They want abusive police practices stopped and racial issues in society addressed.

I do not think many of us actually disagree with either of those. So why not actually do something about them? Act and the extremist voices have no power.

 

[ID Bronco]

I would say the key step to limiting the effects of the extremist views is to actually address the shared concerns in the middle, which too often doesn't happen.

We see many people dig in against any needed police reforms because a few call for abolishing it. The more the problems and abuses continue, no matter how small a percent of law enforcement it involves, it actually just gives more voice and more power to the extremes.

Same thing with the statues of Confederate leaders- if they had been peacefully removed when called for, angry mobs wouldn't be doing it now.

As I said before, the vast majority of people attended rallies after George Floyd's death (and the countless other times killings by police have angered people) are not Marxist, they are not wanting to turn the country over to gangs by having zero law enforcement. They want abusive police practices stopped and racial issues in society addressed.

I do not think many of us actually disagree with either of those. So why not actually do something about them? Act and the extremist voices have no power.

I don't think your idea of sitting down and talking out the middle ground has a snowballs chance in hell of working when those pushing the agenda with BLM or the Dem leadership in general are not honest players. They do not want the lives of blacks saved, if they did they would be stopping huge numbers of black abortions, they would also be "talking" to all the gangs and violent offenders in the large cities where Democrats have run the show for decades where blacks are killing blacks at high rates. I don't even believe they want a better life for the minorities that are alive. They cannot even acknowledge last years all time low employment numbers for most minorities as a huge accomplishment. They want victims whom they can "save" and then get their allegiance.

I wish the good, honest people in America could love these criminals into doing the right thing, that's not feasible at all. That's what I keep hearing you say in other words. If the players (and I submit the radical left) don't actually want what any moderate, freedom loving person would see as reasonable you cannot negotiate or understand enough to come to a reasonable conclusion both party's are happy with.

Are you really saying that if only one side would have done what the other side wanted with statues there wouldn't have been any of them torn down aggressively? That's absurd because one side (on the side of real history and not rewriting it good or bad) would have to bow and give in, not come to a resolution in the middle.

 

[4x4_Welder]

Maybe they need to set up some autonomous police free zones in major cities to see how that helps. It's worked well in Seattle.


/s


Pro tip- having crimes go unreported/unrecorded is not the same as reducing the crime rate.

 

[TRD270]

Illinois community leaders want to abolish history lessons in schools | CNN

An Illinois lawmaker and community leaders are calling for the immediate removal of history books and suspension of history lessons in their school districts because they say current materials and lesson plans "lead to white privilege and a racist society."

www.cnn.com

Hmmm.... what kind of government does this sound like 🤔

Meanwhile

Police shooting of Englewood man reignites political debate and looting as Mag Mile trashed, 13 cops injured, 2 people shot

Hundreds of people swept through the Magnificent Mile and other parts of downtown Chicago early Monday, smashing windows, looting stores and confronting police after officers shot a suspect in Engl…

www.chicagotribune.com

But i'm sure it was those pesky history books and lessons

 

[Houndoc]

I don't think your idea of sitting down and talking out the middle ground has a snowballs chance in hell of working when those pushing the agenda with BLM or the Dem leadership in general are not honest players.

And thus we see 100% the exact problem on why we can't fix anything or address real issues- the very idea that one side won't talk to the other on the assumption that anyone who disagrees with them must be inherently dishonest (radical, hate America, pick your poison.)

If we want to solve issues that we need to be smart enough to recognize that neither "side" has all the right answers.

 

[Jesser04]

And thus we see 100% the exact problem on why we can't fix anything or address real issues- the very idea that one side won't talk to the other on the assumption that anyone who disagrees with them must be inherently dishonest (radical, hate America, pick your poison.)

If we want to solve issues that we need to be smart enough to recognize that neither "side" has all the right answers.

But isn’t burning shit to the ground pretty radical?


The real problem is neither side will compromise I wish they would but I don’t see it happening. Social media has made it possible for a small majority to rule. I’ve honestly got to the point with the internet in general that a lite phone is not far off for me. All you see anyone online is trump is a Russian puppet or everyone is eating chicken and pizza.

 

[Jesser04]

@Houndoc I read your post again are you implying that one side is to blame or they both are?

 

[Houndoc]

@Houndoc I read your post again are you implying that one side is to blame or they both are?

It is certainly two sided- neither is willing to talk with the 'others'. However, I do think in recent years it has become almost a mantra of the GOP not to talk to Democrats or compromise. That is a huge loss to the country as scoring campaign points becomes more important that actual governing.

 

[anderson750]

It is certainly two sided- neither is willing to talk with the 'others'. However, I do think in recent years it has become almost a mantra of the GOP not to talk to Democrats or compromise. That is a huge loss to the country as scoring campaign points becomes more important that actual governing.

Please..........Both parties are equally to blame. Depending on the subject to be negotiated dictates who is willing to talk. Don't see Chucky and Nancy willing to negotiate much the last 3 weeks. Conflict is job security.

 

[Houndoc]

Please..........Both parties are equally to blame. Depending on the subject to be negotiated dictates who is willing to talk.

Not sure if both are really equally to blame but both certainly guilting. With the GOP they campaigned so hard against "Obama Care" that once they actually controlled House, Senate and Presidency they had no plan and accomplished nothing in that area.

Very frustrating and it is easy to see why problems go unchecked and, without justifying violence, not hard to see why things progress to demonstrations and outrage.

 

[anderson750]

Not sure if both are really equally to blame but both certainly guilting. With the GOP they campaigned so hard against "Obama Care" that once they actually controlled House, Senate and Presidency they had no plan and accomplished nothing in that area.

Very frustrating and it is easy to see why problems go unchecked and, without justifying violence, not hard to see why things progress to demonstrations and outrage.

Again.....Please........they know that conflict is job security. D's obstruct when R's are in power and R's obstruct when D's are in power. How you choose to see it is based on your own belief's in identity politics. I don't identify with a party......I identify with principles and ideas put forth with my beliefs which are not wholly represented by a particular party. I would call myself a conservative with libertarian leanings......something not represented by any political party.

 

[TRD270]

Again.....Please........they know that conflict is job security. D's obstruct when R's are in power and R's obstruct when D's are in power. How you choose to see it is based on your own belief's in identity politics. I don't identify with a party......I identify with principles and ideas put forth with my beliefs which are not wholly represented by a particular party. I would call myself a conservative with libertarian leanings......something not represented by any political party.

Seem to have the same ideals. Reading a new book, “United States of Socialism”. One line kind of fits this.

Defined a conservative not in the traditional sense. But interested in conserving the fundamentals this country was founded and prospered on.

 

[anderson750]

Seem to have the same ideals. Reading a new book, “United States of Socialism”. One line kind of fits this.

Defined a conservative not in the traditional sense. But interested in conserving the fundamentals this country was founded and prospered on.

Might have to download this on Audible. I am going to have a bit of windshield over the next couple of days doing pit support for V2R

 

[TRD270]

Another interesting quote and making more sense about the behavior seen.

“Marcuse is also the philosopher of Antifa. He argued, in a famous essay called “Repressive Tolerance,” that tolerance is not a norm or right that should be extended to all people. Yes, tolerance is good, but not when it comes to people who are intolerant. It is perfectly fine to be intolerant against them, to the point of disrupting them, shutting down their events and even preventing them from speaking.”

 

[Herzog]

He speaks slow, but he speaks with intent. I've listened to a few of his videos over the years... this one was pretty on topic for this thread. I enjoy listening to his view on various topics.

 

[Jesser04]

The thermacell does work great.