The Political Thread

[Arcadia]

Just be careful. Some risk comes not from the two opposing sides, but from third side who just wants to create chaos and provocations to their benefits by pitting both sides against each other.

 

I went to some rallies, there were peaceful internal ones but when we took it outside it's not as clear cut, some of people I knew were shot. Then hell broke loose. It was years after before evidences were found that it was done by neither opposing group.

Yeah, I'm aware. In this case it was just at the nearby town, no worries.

[Van Buren Supernova]

Fine.

I will keep a lookout if there is something that looks like your avatar appears in international news.

That would mean you have crossed your curfew or designated territory, young lady, and you would be grounded without any Sherlock episodes, green glob, cookies or cakes.

[Surelock]

Despite all the Muslim ban protests going across in the US, a recent poll revealed that most Americans are in favour of the Muslim ban:

 

The Jan. 30-31 poll found that 49 percent of American adults said they either "strongly" or "somewhat" agreed with Trump's order, while 41 percent "strongly" or "somewhat" disagreed and another 10 percent said they don't know.

 

I think there's something seriously wrong with the education system in the US. Trump's ban is unconstitutional. How can so many American citizens be unable to identify that?

[Arcadia]

Oh lord. I think that's such a complicated question that it would take us years to answer it. People just don't fit into neat boxes. Some may not know the constitution, some may know it but interpret it differently, some may not care what it says as long as they get their way, some have lost faith in it, etc. etc.
 
Pretty discouraging, isn't it? :( Seems like we're not even a country anymore, just a bunch of different sides shouting at each other.....

[Pseudonym]

Huge protests in Romania now over their government essentially making corruption legal. 

[Arcadia]

Yeh, is that about? The whole world's going crazy.....

[Pseudonym]

God, even avoiding the news I get more depressed by the things that keep popping up. Isn't Trump now selling off public land?

 

Btw, that UK petition against his state visit is now at nearly 2 million signatures, even though the government have already said they will ignore it. 

[Arcadia]

Oh, the Republicans have wanted to sell off public land for decades. Surprisingly enough, Trump hasn't agreed with them. But that doesn't mean it won't happen now ... there's very little now to stop them, unless we can get the courts involved. I have no idea if there's a legal reason to prevent it happening, though. Doesn't seem likely.

 

The economy of the region I live in is quite closely tied to certain national parks, I think the local governments here would fight having those sold off. But they would love to get their hands on the nearby National Forest, and turn it over to developers. That's what happened to the huge military base down the road when it got sold off, but at least it wasn't a lot of new development, just repurposing the base infrastructure. It's kind of neat what they've done with it, actually. And the lake there remained in public hands, so we can still go visit it.

 

I'd be surprised if they sold off, say, the Grand Canyon. But the buffer areas around it could go, and then we'd be treated to the site of McMansions along the rim. Charmant.

[Arcadia]

Btw, that UK petition against his state visit is now at nearly 2 million signatures, even though the government have already said they will ignore it. 

 

But the sentiment is appreciated.

 

[Surelock]

http://www.npr.org/2017/02/02/513126985/house-votes-to-overturn-obama-rule-restricting-gun-sales-to-mentally-ill

 

So the House decide to overturn an Obama administration rule to keep guns out of the hands of the mentally ill.

 

Great.

 

So now mentally ill people in the US can buy guns and shoot innocent people. Way to go Republicans.

 

Looks like the possibility of another Sandy Hook occurring in the US isn't highly unlikely.

[Arcadia]

Oi. Hadn't heard that one yet. Madness. I guess the GOP is afraid that they will be the ones who can't get the guns due to their insanity concerning guns.......

 

TBH, guns in the hands of a few mentally ill people concerns me far less than guns in the hands of the millions of so-called "sane" people who commit 99% of the gun violence.

[T.o.b.y]

Oi. Hadn't heard that one yet. Madness. I guess the GOP is afraid that they will be the ones who can't get the guns due to their insanity concerning guns.......

 

TBH, guns in the hands of a few mentally ill people concerns me far less than guns in the hands of the millions of so-called "sane" people who commit 99% of the gun violence.

 

Amen. The only people I trust with firearms are Sherlock and John - and only if they stay on their side of the TV screen with them.

[Surelock]

Oi. Hadn't heard that one yet. Madness. I guess the GOP is afraid that they will be the ones who can't get the guns due to their insanity concerning guns.......

 

TBH, guns in the hands of a few mentally ill people concerns me far less than guns in the hands of the millions of so-called "sane" people who commit 99% of the gun violence.

 

I thought the majority of gun crimes in the US were committed by people suffering from some degree of mental illness?

[Arcadia]

 

Oi. Hadn't heard that one yet. Madness. I guess the GOP is afraid that they will be the ones who can't get the guns due to their insanity concerning guns.......

 

TBH, guns in the hands of a few mentally ill people concerns me far less than guns in the hands of the millions of so-called "sane" people who commit 99% of the gun violence.

 

Amen. The only people I trust with firearms are Sherlock and John - and only if they stay on their side of the TV screen with them.

 

 

I don't even trust Sherlock with one, have you seen the way he waves that thing around?

 

 

Oi. Hadn't heard that one yet. Madness. I guess the GOP is afraid that they will be the ones who can't get the guns due to their insanity concerning guns.......

 

TBH, guns in the hands of a few mentally ill people concerns me far less than guns in the hands of the millions of so-called "sane" people who commit 99% of the gun violence.

 

I thought the majority of gun crimes in the US were committed by people suffering from some degree of mental illness?

 

You might be able to say that about mass murders, I don't know. Although I don't recall that very many of those people have gotten off with an insanity plea. But to my knowledge, the majority of gun crimes are committed by gang members, racists, angry spouses/partners, robbers, etc. "Ordinary" people.

[Fantasy Lover]

https://m.mic.com/articles/167655/state-department-reinstated-60000-visas-after-federal-judges-block-on-trumps-muslim-ban?utm_source=policymicTBLR&utm_medium=main&utm_campaign=social#.9gdsI9z3o This isn't going to end well.

[Arcadia]

Maybe so, I don't know. But in the meantime it's effing brilliant.

[Van Buren Supernova]

I am wondering, as someone in that powerful position, nobody actually vetted what he was doing? Is it not needed for the order to be brainstormed, passed through somebody, anybody, before it was made public, and there was no one telling him that it might not be constitutional?

Or were they tied by possible repercussions? Or is it decorative place full of Yes Man?

 

I am nobody, I don't responsible to any lives, not capable creating traffic jam by starting war but even so I'm constantly vetted by friends and family for the things I say. :p

[Pseudonym]

I get the impression he knew it was unconstitutional and didn't care. Perhaps he thought no one would dare stand up to him about it. 

[Arcadia]

From what I'm reading, they just gambled they'd get away with it. It's still to be determined whether it's constitutional or not, but I think they were hoping it would be so popular that no one would challenge it.

 

Which just goes to show what novices they are at this game, and how much they are operating on sheer hubris.

 

Maybe this will turn out to be a good thing for our democracy after all; remind everyone that we're a nation of laws, you can't just come in and do what you want simply because you want to. I hope. Still too early to say.

 

Meanwhile, Trump has a tantrum about the courts and tweets that "Bad people are very happy." What is he, six? This, folks, is the vocabulary of the "leader of the free world" ...

[Arcadia]

Oh, and I see he's defending Putin. Again.

[Arcadia]

Europe fights back. :d

 

http://www.pioneernews.in/2017/02/06/europe-is-completely-destroying-donald-trump-with-these-hilarious-welcome-to-our-country-videos/

[Pseudonym]

Oh I love it! Especially the first two - more countries need to chip in!

[Arcadia]

Please!

[Pseudonym]

It's a pity Have I Got News For You isn't on at the moment, because that is exactly the sort of thing they would do. *sigh*

[Fantasy Lover]

Europe fights back. :d

 

http://www.pioneernews.in/2017/02/06/europe-is-completely-destroying-donald-trump-with-these-hilarious-welcome-to-our-country-videos/

So is America! :D

http://www.cnbc.com/2017/02/05/us-appeals-court-denies-request-to-restore-trumps-immigration-ban.html