US Politics Mega-thread - Page 2240

On August 27 2015 03:51 Trumpet wrote:
Feels like a good time to chime in that the whole "educate your way out of poverty" more or less hasn't worked. Didnt we get most the "absent fathers" nonsense out of our system when Rand Paul was blaming it for Baltimore's problems?

http://www.npr.org/2015/08/17/432619090/study-finds-education-does-not-close-racial-wealth-gap
http://hub.jhu.edu/2014/06/02/karl-alexander-long-shadow-research

On August 27 2015 03:57 misirlou wrote:
I think it's amazing people can blame the shooting on race or mental illness. There are racist comments thrown around everyday in the world and mentally ill people live everywhere. Unless you want to make a point that americans are more racist and/or african americans are more violent than afro-europeans and/or americans have a statistically significant higher % of population affected mental illness, you have to face the things that are indeed different on your country.

On August 27 2015 03:58 cLutZ wrote:


More of an indictment of schooling and its inability to narrow gaps between different parts of the population. Also, it should go without saying that a white male that does not make it to college is not the same as a black male given the decades of affirmative action. We have research on the "mismatch" effect, but there is no reason to think that doesn't also apply to people who never go to college.

On August 27 2015 04:04 KwarK wrote:

Mental illness is a difficult term. Obviously someone so narcissistic that they felt murdering two people was a justifiable and logical response does not think like you and I. And someone who then turned the gun on themselves has something seriously mentally wrong. So I have no issue with the conclusion that they had fucked up dysfunctional thinking which led them to act in a "crazy" way. What they did was "crazy". They chose to do it. Therefore they were "crazy".

Where it gets difficult is when we conclude that the problem is mental illness and ordinary people living with disabilities get branded as a dangerous "other" who could attack at any moment.

On August 27 2015 03:58 cLutZ wrote:


More of an indictment of schooling and its inability to narrow gaps between different parts of the population. Also, it should go without saying that a white male that does not make it to college is not the same as a black male given the decades of affirmative action. We have research on the "mismatch" effect, but there is no reason to think that doesn't also apply to people who never go to college.

On August 27 2015 04:42 GreenHorizons wrote:
It's not a single comment or insult that sent him over the edge. He mentions the SC church massacre and a lifetime of discrimination too. Those are both factual observations and not lunatic ravings.

Black folks are fed up. We're done putting up with this shit and hearing some of the same crap I see here. I don't condone killing people under these circumstances, but it's going to keep happening. Speeches will be interrupted, traffic will be stopped, marches and protests will persist.

If you don't think there's a problem with how black folks are treated in this country, you're part of the problem.

Wise up folks, or just keep being ignorant bigots, either way this train is going to keep rolling until the problems are resolved.

On August 27 2015 04:47 Plansix wrote:
GH, I get you’re pissed. But linking totally valid, peaceful protests and civil disobedience to this killing it’s not appropriate. Its ok to be angry and its ok to protest. But this sort of senseless violence has not justification. And saying that more will come isn’t acceptable either.

Being angry is fine. Taking it out on random people is not.

On August 27 2015 05:09 Roe wrote:


So black folks are fed up and that means they'll murder you since they have a systemic SES disadvantage and hear racist comments all their lives. It is astounding that you would make these fear mongering, extortionist remarks when this murderer has no justification whatsoever. He killed two innocent people. He was in fact an admirer of mass murderers for their ability to kill.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/shooting-alleged-gunman-details-grievances-suicide-notes/story?id=33336339

Later in the manifesto, the writer quotes the Virginia Tech mass killer, Seung Hui Cho, calls him “his boy,” and expresses admiration for the Columbine High School killers. “Also, I was influenced by Seung–Hui Cho. That’s my boy right there. He got NEARLY double the amount that Eric Harris and Dylann Klebold got…just sayin.'"

It'd be interesting to compare this guy to someone like Dylann Roof. They would probably have a lot in common (as racist extremists do). At least in Roof's case we knew he had a slew of mental issues.

On August 27 2015 05:11 Roe wrote:
You're just upset. Take a break before you say more you'll regret.

Gov. Jerry Brown, who is in the middle of a political battle over climate-change legislation, took aim at oil companies Monday, saying they sell a “highly destructive” product.

“The oil industry is in deep trouble,” the governor told reporters Monday at a news conference on the shores of Lake Tahoe, where he was attending an annual meeting about the area’s environment.

Oil companies “have a product that is highly destructive, while highly valuable at the same time. And we’re trying to work out the right policies,” he said.

Brown has proposed cutting California's consumption of gasoline in half by 2030. Lawmakers are considering a measure to achieve that goal, as well as other steps intended to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The legislation has passed the state Senate but is facing some trouble in the Assembly, where business-friendly Democrats hold more sway.

Oil companies have ramped up their opposition, saying the legislation would lead to gasoline rationing — a contention the measure's supporters reject.

On August 27 2015 05:13 GreenHorizons wrote:


I don't regret a word I said. You all obviously aren't even close to understanding this.