FBM wrote:I'm trying to think of a nation in which its social problems aren't of its own making in one way or another.
It may well be true that the social problems any nation faces are generally its own making (although the intervention of powerful external forces can create a variety of ills)
However, the issue in the latter part of this thread is whether preparing for social problems by stockpiling arms is rational behaviour.
In many parts of the world, the answer is simply no.
FBM wrote:I'm trying to think of a nation in which its social problems aren't of its own making in one way or another.
It may well be true that the social problems any nation faces are generally its own making (although the intervention of powerful external forces can create a variety of ills)
However, the issue in the latter part of this thread is whether preparing for social problems by stockpiling arms is rational behaviour.
In many parts of the world, the answer is simply no.
Ah, you see, I'm not actually reading the thread.
"A philosopher is a blind man in a dark room looking for a black cat that isn't there. A theologian is the man who finds it." ~ H. L. Mencken
"We ain't a sharp species. We kill each other over arguments about what happens when you die, then fail to see the fucking irony in that."
"It is useless for the sheep to pass resolutions in favor of vegetarianism while the wolf remains of a different opinion."
The answer to Jim's comment about stockpiling weapons is no. It is never a good thing. And the more people who stockpile weapons, the worse the situation gets.
The gun supporters on this forum continue to ignore the fact that the definitive experiments have already been carried out. The different OECD nations have different laws relating to guns. They range from Japan, with the most rigid anti-gun ownership laws, to Britain, Oz and NZ with strong laws, to Canada which is weak but nevertheless has some good laws, to the USA, which allows anyone anywhere to buy anything without restriction or background checks as long as it is second hand.
Comparing those in terms of murder.
Japan has the lowest murder rate. Britain, Oz and NZ a murder rate more than Japan, but still low. Canada a somewhat higher murder rate, and the USA by far the highest murder rate of any OECD country. More guns means more murders.
This prinicple applies to mass killings like Sandy Hook. It applies to murders after catastrophes like hurricanes. It applies to wives killed by husbands. It applies right across the board. The more guns, the more killings.
Sure about that "never"? VN beat the US by putting weapons in the hands of otherwise ordinary citizens and training them how to use them. Their official army wasn't able to do it alone.
"A philosopher is a blind man in a dark room looking for a black cat that isn't there. A theologian is the man who finds it." ~ H. L. Mencken
"We ain't a sharp species. We kill each other over arguments about what happens when you die, then fail to see the fucking irony in that."
"It is useless for the sheep to pass resolutions in favor of vegetarianism while the wolf remains of a different opinion."
FBM wrote:I'm trying to think of a nation in which its social problems aren't of its own making in one way or another.
I think the US's problems are Marx's fault. He was German.
Sent from my penis using wankertalk. "The Western world is fucking awesome because of mostly white men" - DaveDodo007. "Socialized medicine is just exactly as morally defensible as gassing and cooking Jews" - Seth. Yes, he really did say that.. "Seth you are a boon to this community" - Cunt. "I am seriously thinking of going on a spree killing" - Svartalf.
FBM wrote:I'm trying to think of a nation in which its social problems aren't of its own making in one way or another.
A lot of nations have problems that were created by colonial powers.
I am, somehow, less interested in the weight and convolutions of Einstein’s brain than in the near certainty that people of equal talent have lived and died in cotton fields and sweatshops. - Stephen J. Gould
Anecdotal, to be sure, but such stories do seem to support the observation that until criminals are effectively deprived of guns, regular citizens continue to need them:
"A philosopher is a blind man in a dark room looking for a black cat that isn't there. A theologian is the man who finds it." ~ H. L. Mencken
"We ain't a sharp species. We kill each other over arguments about what happens when you die, then fail to see the fucking irony in that."
"It is useless for the sheep to pass resolutions in favor of vegetarianism while the wolf remains of a different opinion."
FBM wrote:I'm trying to think of a nation in which its social problems aren't of its own making in one way or another.
I think the US's problems are Marx's fault. He was German.
FBM wrote:If you go back further, I'm confident you'll find that the French are to blame. They usually are.
Ultimately, both nations as well as Marx are equally to blame. Marx after all, published the Deutsch–Französische Jahrbücher in Paris after his Rheinische Zeitung fell foul of the censors.
I am, somehow, less interested in the weight and convolutions of Einstein’s brain than in the near certainty that people of equal talent have lived and died in cotton fields and sweatshops. - Stephen J. Gould
Svartalf wrote:Safe from rogue cops in the US? Do you include Maricopa Co AZ?
You mean Sheriff Joe Arpio? He's just doing his job, and doing it better than most.
If you call what he does "doing his job", including meddling in birther schemes to prove that Prez Obama is not a Native US citizen even though his mother is, we obviously disagree as to what huis job is, and it's certainly not setting up jailss that violate the 8th amentment.
His jails don't violate the 8th Amendment. As he says, if tents are good enough for our soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan they are good enough for criminals in Arizona.
As for his off-duty political activities, that's his right.
Not when his using county funds and employees to "investigate" the president.
FBM wrote:Anecdotal, to be sure, but such stories do seem to support the observation that until criminals are effectively deprived of guns, regular citizens continue to need them:
