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CrimsonZephyr Would that it were so simple. from Massachusetts Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
Would that it were so simple.
#243001: May 21st 2018 at 12:30:19 PM

[up][up][up]I'm pretty sure "Thoughts and prayers are useless" is becoming a consensus opinion, and "Video Games cause school shootings" is roundly mocked as being totally baseless.

Trust me, you're not alone in your thinking.

edited 21st May '18 12:30:35 PM by CrimsonZephyr

"For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die."
RabidTanker God-Mayor of Sim-Kind Since: May, 2014 Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
God-Mayor of Sim-Kind
#243002: May 21st 2018 at 12:38:17 PM

Well, it's nice to see that I'm still sane. But I wonder how one can run for re-election by claiming abortions causes school shootings when it's barely related.

What happened to holding the individual accountable for their actions instead of blaming it on random shit that you hate?

And there's also domestic violence, bullying at school, mental issues, bad parenting, or someone left their guns and bullets lying around. It's not that hard to see this stuff.

Answer no master, never the slave Carry your dreams down into the grave Every heart, like every soul, equal to break
Parable Since: Aug, 2009
#243003: May 21st 2018 at 12:41:17 PM

None of that gets you the NRA's money though.

LSBK Since: Sep, 2014
#243004: May 21st 2018 at 12:49:33 PM

No comment on the president of the NRA saying that "culture of violence" is the problem, and yet definitely thinking that more guns is the solution?

I know, standard double standard and racial undertones of " culture of violence" really means "black and rap culture infecting innocent white youths" but still.

edited 21st May '18 12:49:53 PM by LSBK

CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#243005: May 21st 2018 at 12:53:21 PM

The Sheriff of a Texas county talked about how it was anti-Christian to want more weapons and they needed to remove them.

So he gave prayers and thoughts how to fix it.

:)

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
Steven (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
#243006: May 21st 2018 at 12:53:33 PM

Religion can stop shootings? Just sounds like more thoughts and prayers.

edited 21st May '18 12:53:43 PM by Steven

Remember, these idiots drive, fuck, and vote. Not always in that order.
RabidTanker God-Mayor of Sim-Kind Since: May, 2014 Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
God-Mayor of Sim-Kind
#243007: May 21st 2018 at 12:56:09 PM

An dollar in your pocket does not save you from an bullet in your head unless you spend the dollar on an measure to protect yourself.

Answer no master, never the slave Carry your dreams down into the grave Every heart, like every soul, equal to break
LSBK Since: Sep, 2014
#243008: May 21st 2018 at 12:57:50 PM

[up]Not related, but why did you use "an" in three places you should have used "a"?

RabidTanker God-Mayor of Sim-Kind Since: May, 2014 Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
God-Mayor of Sim-Kind
#243009: May 21st 2018 at 1:00:33 PM

@28, who cares? Because I don't.

Answer no master, never the slave Carry your dreams down into the grave Every heart, like every soul, equal to break
ViperMagnum357 Since: Mar, 2012
#243010: May 21st 2018 at 1:43:21 PM

Did not see this posted, so Slate[1] and NPR: [2] The Supreme Court just gouged a huge wound in Labor Rights originally laid down as part of the New Deal, effectively preventing many types of class action lawsuits by workers against predatory employers. This functionally legalizes many forms of wage theft, by eliminating legal recourse for workers victimized by their employer.

DeMarquis (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#243011: May 21st 2018 at 1:55:55 PM

Thats the sort of thing I mean when I say "Trump is a distraction, the real stuff is going on behind the scenes."

I'm done trying to sound smart. "Clear" is the new smart.
Ramidel Since: Jan, 2001
#243012: May 21st 2018 at 1:56:17 PM

@Our Revolution: Part of said fundraising issues are undoubtedly because Sanders keeps fucking up and hemorrhaging supporters.

He got my and my mom's individual donations in 2016. He hasn't gotten them since.

DeathorCake Since: Mar, 2016
#243013: May 21st 2018 at 2:00:14 PM

[up][up][up]

Isn't that an effective ban on about a third of anything a given union wants to do? Strikes get broken up, can't bring lawsuits anymore, can't run a closed shop, what's left?

Grafite Since: Apr, 2016 Relationship Status: Less than three
#243014: May 21st 2018 at 2:03:16 PM

[up][up] Not about Sanders. I was much in favour of the movement last year, getting more progressives into office couldn't be a bad thing, but lately it has become more of "tear down the establishment dems" (supporting crazies like Kuchinich) rather than trying to get competent people into congress.

edited 21st May '18 2:05:52 PM by Grafite

Life is unfair...
Ramidel Since: Jan, 2001
#243015: May 21st 2018 at 2:04:02 PM

[up][up]It's more insidious than that. Workers can still bargain collectively, but enforcement of the bargain is through arbitration contracts.

However, striking is still an option, so I have to wonder if unions can simply start refusing contracts with arbitration clauses (and striking if the clauses aren't removed)?

As for closed shops, fucking duh those are gone and good riddance. Understand that a closed shop is way, way beyond any reasonable union deal.

edited 21st May '18 2:04:59 PM by Ramidel

RainehDaze Nero Fangirl (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
Nero Fangirl
#243016: May 21st 2018 at 2:49:07 PM

Yes and no.

A closed shop is bad if you're only concerned with YOUR money and union corruption.

However, it's one of the only fucking ways you can prevent the Tragedy of the Commons because of self interested bastards who want to benefit from union bargains (or take much worse conditions and undermine them) without contributing.

CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#243017: May 21st 2018 at 2:55:54 PM

[up]Religion can stop shootings? Just sounds like more thoughts and prayers.

Yes, it can, by people motivated to try to get guns out of schools and trying to stop the cycle of violence with zero tolerance against bullying, hate speech, and other activity. Mind you, that actually requires Christians to care vs. the Religious Right's pretending to care.

Mind you, I was accused of thoughts and prayers when I tried to console an online friend about his friend dying of an OD. I mentioned my brother had died from one. So dismissing the idea of people actually sympathizing and wanting to help kind of pisses me off—almost as much as the people who don't want to do shit to help the situation.

There's almost nothing about the Right which doesn't make the world worse lately including attempts at being compassionate.

edited 21st May '18 2:56:37 PM by CharlesPhipps

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#243018: May 21st 2018 at 2:57:21 PM

This is interesting. The Rise of the Religious Left.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/may/21/christian-religious-left-william-barber-poor-peoples-campaign

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
RainehDaze Nero Fangirl (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
Nero Fangirl
#243019: May 21st 2018 at 2:58:35 PM

"Thoughts and prayers" isn't compassion. That and every phrasing of "our thoughts are with the family" are just covers for not caring unless paired with a solution that doesn't just exist to sell more guns off the tragedy.

Kayeka (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#243020: May 21st 2018 at 3:05:43 PM

Well, sometimes you don't know what to say when someone you know is hit with tragedy and "dude, that sucks" doesn't seem right.

But yeah, you really do want to leave out the words "thoughts and prayers". Those have been thoroughly ruined as far as showing sympathy goes.

edited 21st May '18 3:07:04 PM by Kayeka

CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#243021: May 21st 2018 at 3:11:31 PM

[up]"Thoughts and prayers" isn't compassion. That and every phrasing of "our thoughts are with the family" are just covers for not caring unless paired with a solution that doesn't just exist to sell more guns off the tragedy.

Which is what the Sheriff asked for so I'm confused what you're talking about.

Or are you referring to when I tried to express sympathy to the guy who had an OD and got called out?

I'm confused.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
Ramidel Since: Jan, 2001
#243022: May 21st 2018 at 3:14:34 PM

A closed shop is bad if you're only concerned with YOUR money and union corruption.

You're misusing "closed shop," I think. Under a closed shop, a union can ban you from working somewhere because they don't want to admit you.

Under an American-style union shop, unions can make you pay dues, but they can't require anything else out of you - which is reasonable. I'm not in favor of giving unions authority over their members.

RainehDaze Nero Fangirl (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
Nero Fangirl
#243023: May 21st 2018 at 3:17:55 PM

I don't know, I feel like they should be able to obligate members to comply with strike actions and collective bargaining.

Opting out of any part of it inherently undermines the purpose. Numbers is literally the only bargaining chip most employees can have.

megaeliz Since: Mar, 2017
#243024: May 21st 2018 at 3:28:25 PM

Spiceyfiles uncovered this from the White House House Website, and just when you think they can't sink any lower...

What You Need To Know About The Violent Animals Of MS-13

The violent animals of MS-13 have committed heinous, violent attacks in communities across America.

WHAT: The violent animals of MS-13 have committed heinous, violent attacks in communities across America.

Too many innocent Americans have fallen victim to the unthinkable violence of MS-13’s animals.

At the State of the Union in January 2018, President Trump brought as his guests Elizabeth Alvarado, Robert Mickens, Evelyn Rodriguez, and Freddy Cuevas, the parents of Nisa Mickens and Kayla Cuevas. Police believe these young girls were chased down and brutally murdered by MS-13 gang members on Long Island, New York, in 2016. Suffolk County Police Commissioner stated that the “murders show a level of brutality that is close to unmatched.”

In Maryland, MS-13’s animals are accused of stabbing a man more than 100 times and then decapitating him, dismembering him, and ripping his heart out of his body. Police believe MS-13 members in Maryland also savagely beat a 15-year-old human trafficking victim. The MS-13 animals used a bat and took turns beating her nearly 30 times in total.

In Houston, Texas, two MS-13 members were charged after kidnapping and sexually assaulting one girl and murdering another. The two MS-13 animals laughed, smiled, and waved for cameras in court as they faced the charges.

New York communities have suffered tremendously from the abhorrent violence of MS-13. Nearly 40 percent of all murders in Suffolk County, New York between January 2016 and June 2017 were tied to MS-13.

In January 2017, MS-13 members were charged with killing and hacking up a teenager in Nassau County. MS-13’s animals reportedly saw the murder as a way to boost their standing in the gang. In April 2017, police believe four young men were brutally murdered by MS-13 animals on Long Island. One victim was a young man in town visiting family during an Easter week vacation. Just last month, in April 2018, MS-13 reportedly called for its members on Long Island to kill a cop for the sake of making a statement.

WHY: MS-13 is a transnational gang which follows the motto of “kill, rape, control” by committing shocking acts of violence in an attempt to instill fear and gain control.

MS-13 is a transnational gang that has brought violence, fear, and suffering to American communities. MS-13, short for Mara Salvatrucha, commits shocking acts of violence to instill fear, including machete attacks, executions, gang rape, human trafficking, and more. In their motto, the animals of MS-13 make clear their goal is to “kill, rape, control.” The gang has more than 10,000 members in the United States spreading violence and suffering.

Recent investigations have revealed MS-13 gang leaders based in El Salvador have been sending representatives into the United States illegally to connect the leaders with local gang members. These foreign-based gang leaders direct local members to become even more violent in an effort to control more territory.

President Trump’s entire Administration is working tirelessly to bring these violent animals to justice.

Read that, and take it in. This is an actual document published by the White House. Don't believe me? Here's the link:

https://www.whitehouse.gov/articles/need-know-violent-animals-ms-13/

edited 21st May '18 3:29:34 PM by megaeliz

CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#243025: May 21st 2018 at 3:31:54 PM

It took me a second to realize they weren't using animals.

I was like, "Do they have tigers?"

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.

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