wolfriverjoe

Lots of them simply refuse to hear it. I know a number of people who say crap along the lines of "I'm not racist, but black people always try to con me." They then try to justify it by claiming that more black people than white people have tried to con them (or steal from them. or whatever). It's just how 'those people' are. Yet if you point out that that statement is self-contradicting, and putting a trait (particularly a negative trait) on them because of their skin color, they get very defensive. It's a bit odd, but where I live is extremely racist. Incredibly insular. Virtually zero minorities. There was an exhibit on display at the county museum a couple years ago. It turns out that shortly after the Civil War, there was a small but thriving black community here. It was gone shortly after the turn of the century, and by the depression, it was a "Sundown Town". Black people best be gone before dark. https://www.postcrescent.com/story/life/2014/08/17/museum-exhibit-focuses-black-experiences-fox-cities/14126187/ When the Hmong showed up in the 70s (as I noted in the "sanctuary cities" thread), there was a lot of hatred. Some overt, but mostly not. I know a couple landlords were threatened that the neighbors would burn their rental houses down if they rented to 'those people'. Lots of people claimed their dogs were stolen, rocks through windows, car tires slashed, that sort of crap. The shooting range I'm part of went through a 'leadership struggle' a bit later. The long-time president (and founding member) died, and there was a faction that put 'their' guy up for president. One of his ideas was banning Hmongs. They didn't speak or read good enough English to understand the rules and range commands (really). While it was true that some had limited language skills, those were usually the older guys, and they almost always had a 'young'un' along with them who would interpret. That it wasn't a real problem, along with the fact that it would likely be illegal didn't deter that group. Fortunately, they didn't take control and they all went elsewhere (good riddance).

Sure. It's the typical reaction of a little kid. When told 'you can't do that', they dig their heels in and want to do it more. OTOH, treating people who don't look like 'you' (editorial 'you', not specifically you) like garbage, trampling all over their rights, even killing them is not right. Not now, not ever. Pointing out that people are doing this is calling attention to the action. Not to the difference in the races. To pretend that calling attention to racism is 'bad' and actually increases the racism due to 'reactance' is a load of garbage. You seem to take offense at the idea that some people think you are racist. You may not be, I don't know you in person. But to promote that sort of idea, to pretend that the 'liberals' are increasing racism by raising awareness of it says a lot.

You are aware that Mike Godwin has said he's fine with suspending the rule in the case of Trump, right? And you realize that calling actual Nazis Nazis, comparing people who openly admire Hitler to Hitler isn't the intent of it, right? https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/godwins-law-mike-godwin-internet-hitler-charlottesville-virginia-donald-trump-a7892171.html

Most of the 'more thoughtful people' gave up responding to your "Alice In Wonderland" logic a long time ago.

Like what? What daily activities that most people engage in are more dangerous than jumping? The 'micromort' link is pretty well documented.

Got a quote? Or a link? Or are you taking statements out of context and/or misinterpreting or misunderstanding what was said... Again.

Have you crossed the border lately? They now require passports, when a driver's license used to be good enough to come back from Mexico or Canada (changed 10 or 12 years ago). They run a lot of big trucks through a gamma ray system (similar to x-rays, shows what's inside. Drug sniffing dogs are pretty common. The CBP officer asks a number of questions. And pays very close attention to your responses*. Both what you say and how you say it. The threat level is different, in part because the airplane and boarding areas are 'sterile', while once you get through customs, you are 'out in the real world'. Also because they are trying to stop smugglers and 'bad actors' at the border. They are trying to make sure nobody has the tools to hijack the airplane at airports. But to imply that the security level is less, just because it is different is not totally accurate. * - Best question I was ever asked at a border crossing - US officer asked me "what are you smuggling today" (ever seen South Park and the 'Fireworks' episode?). I answered something like "Well, I have my personal gear, and the truckload of paper products that I'm hauling. The load is all detailed on the paperwork and the personal gear is the same I bring every time. I'm not smuggling anything. He responded 'Oh, you're going to make my day boring, huh?" And in one of the best 'instant responses' I've ever come up with (you always think of them a couple hours later), I said, "well, if I was to give you a really exciting day, I'd be having a really BAD day." He laughed and agreed.

Tax 'obedience' is higher in the US that just about anywhere else. One of the reasons Greece had such horrible economic problems was tax avoidance. Italy too. The law as written. It says that the IRS shall provide the tax returns when Congress demands it. It's in the link I posted. Edit to add: I can't find the post I made with the link about Congress demanding Trump's tax returns. So here's the link with the 'shall' in it: https://www.vox.com/2019/4/9/18296806/trump-tax-returns-congress-legal-experts

Borrow the money, run up huge debt, declare bankruptcy. It's how Trump always does it.

Actually, no we aren't. He's trolled a fair amount of responses. You'll notice he hasn't replied to my response. Maybe because it's rational and reasonable, and addresses the actual facts of the situation, rather than the 'made up' garbage that is typical of that sort of thing.

Wow. What a logical, rational and grown up response. Kind of a shame. It was a good example of the 'thought process' (or lack thereof) of the typical Trump supporter. Especially the "blame the Muslims and the MSM is covering it up" garbage.

Heartland Institute. And smoking isn't dangerous.

Oh yeah. I forgot all about the 'squidding' idea. One of the dynamics of round openings that is being lost to time (at least for sport jumpers) because we don't jump them anymore. I don't know about the 'short straw' thing. I'd guess that they aren't publicizing the agent who's on the case to keep them from being inundated by all the weirdos. Jo's attacks on Carr are a lesson that likely won't be forgotten soon. Carr was doing it for fun. His specialty was bank robberies. He freely admitted that he was interested in the Cooper case as a personal thing, was doing it on his own time as a 'nights & weekends' thing, but also admitted that if he was to solve it, then it would be a hell of a 'feather in his cap'.

That's a map of current places where there's fences or walls. Not of Trump's plan to build a wall along the entire border. He's had to walk it back some, because of things like opposition, funding and reality. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-46824649

Well, they have to use that sort of scare tactic. Admitting the inherent racism and xenophobia is something most of them aren't willing to do.

Can you point to any reputable scientist (not a grandstanding politician) making that sort of prediction? All the ones I'm aware of don't make those sorts of 'breathless predictions'. They say the serious, catastrophic consequences will occur in the future (100-300 years). Of course, since people living today won't be around to see it, they don't think it's a problem. Fiddle dee dee.

Well, my understanding is that the mods will ban him and subsequent sockpuppets for a while before they go for a full IP addy ban. And yes, he can spoof that with a few different tricks. There was a fella on here who had a serious bug up his ass about posting on here. Last count I heard had him well over 500 sock puppets created & banned.

Right. Would I be in favor of refugees coming to my city, being able to find housing and work and making their homes here? Sure. I'd even be willing to donate money to local charities to help them out. Maybe volunteer to help them get moved in, teach them stuff they need to know, that sort of thing. In fact, my city went through that a fairly long time ago, when we had Hmong (Vietnamese) refugees settle here. Of course, the bigots and xenophobes all had shit-fits. They settled in quite well for the most part. A few criminals here & there, but no more than the rest of the 'native' population. Would I want them in my house? No.

No. He's just trolling. Read the rest of the one-liners he's posted in the last day or so.

He was warned, I think he got banned. So he came back as someone else. But kept doing the same crap. The moderators on here aren't stupid. And they don't like it when people disregard the rules. It's not the first time this sort of thing has happened, and if he keeps it up there are more drastic steps they can take. However, in the end, he can keep registering and making a post or two before he gets re-banned and the posts disappear. Given that all he was doing was spamming the forum with his pics and baseless claims... No great loss.

Right. That's what I was talking about when I said "San Diego". Of course, Trump is claiming that "his" wall is being built, when it's really rebuilding sections of that border fence. There are places where a physical border is appropriate. But not everywhere. Please show me where Trump's "wall" proposal isn't sea to sea. Everything I can find shows it that way. That's why the price tag is so ridiculous.

Nobody knows. This question was addressed to a certain degree when Agent Carr was posting. Banks in the Pacific Northwest had the numbers. But actually checking the numbers against bills in circulation wasn't practical. The idea was that if there was a big deposit of $20s, they would check. But as far as individuals or stores or that sort of thing, those weren't checked. And the numbers of bills being destroyed by the US Treasury weren't checked. So the idea of Cooper or someone passing the bills a few at a time, or bigger amounts in places other than the PNW is not only possible, but plausible. The bills could have gone into circulation, mixed in with the currency already there, been worn out and subsequently destroyed in the Treasury incinerators.

There are and have been places where walls are effective. Look at San Diego. But that's not what Trump's wall is. Please point me towards ANY reliable source that indicates that a wall reaching from the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific would have any reasonable effect on illegal immigration. Or drug smuggling. Hint: Look at how much regular border crossings are used. Compare how many arrests are made at crossing points vs out 'in the wild'. Hi Jerry, I will disagree somewhat with you there. In both 2000 and 2004, I felt that GWB was a poor candidate. My votes 'for' him were far more votes 'against' Gore & Kerry than actually wanting him in the WH. In 2012 & 2016, I disliked both candidates enough that I voted 3rd party. I understood that it was a 'protest' vote, and that the candidate had virtually zero chance of winning (I voted for Dole in 96 and McCain in 08, knowing the same thing). While I disagree with Bigun's choice, I understand it. However, I see him supporting and agreeing with Trump on enough issues that I see him as more of a "Trump supporter".

Yet you said you support Trump building a wall. You do realize that that 'wall' is nothing but a distraction, right? NOBODY who has any understanding of immigration and illegal crossings thinks it will have much of an effect. Edit to add: I had to go back and look to see where you expressed 'interest' in a bipartisan solution. You said you supported Trump and his efforts to build a wall, or use the military, or some sort of bipartisan solution. Sounds nice, but Trump's ideas are so repugnant that none of the Ds will support them. And any idea that doesn't include Trump's wall will be rejected by him. He's already shut down the government over it.

Bolding mine. Get a Porsche. Then everyone expects you to drive like an asshole. Plus they have a back seat (sort of anyway) and are 'more practical'.* I've got a 928. I'm on one of the online forums. 90% (+) of the owners are 'old white guys.' I can drive it and enjoy it, without breaking too many laws... Much... Most of the time. * - The back seat in a Porsche is a joke. Common saying is that it's for "Kids, groceries and people you don't like very much." But the 928 is a hatchback and the rear seats fold down. I can put all I need for a weekend at the DZ in it and have room to spare.