Time to cross our fingers...

[Monster]

Wolvesfan

So lets say what you say is true. So explain to me how me having a gun is going to solve this problem? It seems more of a problem of perception (which is very powerful) to me. What is the actual solution to this?

[AbeVigodaLive]

So most "news" is not mostly fake?

See where those absolute statements can lead us down a dangerous path? Where decrying ALL news as fake... even when verified, sourced and proven true?

I never said all news, I said mostly and I do think it is mostly fake. The things that matter anyways. Who cares about half of the nonsense they talk about anyways. Sure is sports real. Yeah. Weather, yeah. Mass shooting at Sandy Hook, no. First two don't really matter though.

Are you an Alex Jones fan?

[Monster]

Wolvesfan

So lets say what you say is true. So explain to me how me having a gun is going to solve this problem? It seems more of a problem of perception (which is very powerful) to me. What is the actual solution to this?

[Wolvesfan21]

Left versus Right doesn't matter. Two sides of the same coin. Nothing changes except the spin the media puts on things no matter who is in power.

Why didn't Obama and the Democrats NOT decriminalize marijuana (schedule 1 drug along with heroin) when they had full control in the first two years? They had the House and Senate. Instead they pass a health care insurance mandate (scam).

Why does the military continue to grow and grow? The US has been at War for 222 out of 239 years of it's existence. It doesn't matter who is in power. More War, more expansion of power. They spend 3000 dollars a year for every man woman and child (US citizen) to fight and kill people in other countries.

Why during my indoctrination process did they coerce me into saying the Pledge of Allegiance to a silly flag everyday? Patriotism, what a crock.

Check out former Major General Smedley Butlers book War is a Racket.

https://ratical.org/ratville/CAH/warisaracket.html#c1

Why anything? Money and power. I think it always comes back to that. A select few self proclaimed elites have it and us simpleton avg Joes don't.

Left and Right does matter.

If the plebs fight and bicker over what they're told to fight over... they're distracted from any crackpot or legitimate shenanigans going on by the powers-that-be.

Divide and conquer. That is the Left vs Right paradigm. As long as the people are fighting against each other they won't fight the real people in power.

Who is really in power? We all have some power, but the ones who donate millions of dollars to buy votes have much more, pass laws that suit their best interests, etc. Those that control the monetary system likely have the most.

Greenspan said that the FED is a separate agency from the US GOV and that the US GOV has no control over it's policies.

Money and power is behind it I think nearly always.

[Wolvesfan21]

So most "news" is not mostly fake?

See where those absolute statements can lead us down a dangerous path? Where decrying ALL news as fake... even when verified, sourced and proven true?

I never said all news, I said mostly and I do think it is mostly fake. The things that matter anyways. Who cares about half of the nonsense they talk about anyways. Sure is sports real. Yeah. Weather, yeah. Mass shooting at Sandy Hook, no. First two don't really matter though.

Are you an Alex Jones fan?

Alex Jones is likely in my opinion CIA or Mossad. He is the crazy nut job acting like a lunatic to discredit me. But that would make me sound even crazier right? Yeah I suppose in your version of reality.

[TAFKASP]

This argument that more guns in the hands of civilians is absurd. That's always their answer. Give people more guns and let the better shooter win.

And yet we're seeing major US cities where their mayor's are pulling the police back and letting violent rioters rule. It's a great irony that the left is against private gun ownership yet act in a manner that promotes private gun ownership. Gun manufacturers are seeing record sales amidst the violent unrest.

While I don't buy into the conspiracy theories being presented here, I do think current events make an excellent case for being armed

And there we are... LEFT... RIGHT!

Does anybody think that the protestors in Portland or wherever really speak/represent for the vast majority of "left" leaning or even "non-right" thinking people?

The vast majority? No. The vast majority that have a very public voice? Yes. We have Dem mayors that are pulling the police back and letting the violence go unanswered and then proclaiming Trump a fascist for defending Federal buildings. You have national media and Dems in Congress pretending all the rioting was a myth until just the past couple days when that narrative was no longer tenable.

So no, I don't believe most Democrat voters feel represented by the rioters, but you wouldn't know that by what our media presents. It will be interesting come November when moderate Americans go to vote faced with a choice between the party of Trump, and the party of rioting, looting, and arson. And yes, the Democrats have embraced the violence by not speaking out against it. You can support the peaceful protest of the awful Floyd murder and be vocal in opposition to the violence running rampant in many cities, but they've chosen to remain silent.

Finally, back on topic (which is admittedly off-topic for the thread LOL), am I wrong to suggest the combination of the violence and leadership in many cities that will not oppose it is a justification for many American's feeling like gun ownership is more important now than in recent times?

I've said it before... the leftist side... and the far right side have gained more and more and more of a voice.

And sadly, that's normalized a great many bad things for the vast majority of people that realized life is actually lived in the margins with wide swaths of gray.

Those on the far left are 100% sure of their convictions. And those on the other side are just as sure of theirs. Sadly, I believe the only salvation is for us to realize our similarities more than our differences.

But that doesn't sell in the media. And it doesn't work online. And it's harder than simply playing to an ideology or finding like-minded sources to strengthen existing ideas in our heads.

I agree 100% with that, but I'm still not sure how my original post falls outside such thinking.

I think the part about extremes comes from the inherent choice you presented:

- The party of Trump
vs.
- The party of rioting, looting and arson

Although one quibble I have with that is that I'm quite certain the vast majority of Democrats are not advocates of rioting and arson and the destruction of cities. Are the same number of Republicans frustrated and alarmed at being grouped in with "the party of Trump?"

I listen to quite a few podcasts from high profile people on the left and right, but not in the mainstream. Those on the right that I know personally and on these podcasts universally wish Trump would just shut the fuck up and do his job. For the most part, people are pleasantly surprised by his policy and extremely frustrated by his petty personality. From a policy perspective, he's been more effective than lifelong Republicans, and from a personality perspective, far more destructive.

The thing about Trump that the media get wrong, or purposefully ignore, is he wasn't a response to Obama, he was a giant middle finger to career Republicans. If you don't believe that just go back and look at the primaries where the majority of the 16 candidates where career GOP and not a single one had any success.

To be honest I'm more frustrated having the spineless GOP as my party than I am having Trump at the head of it. I'm fiscally conservative and socially moderate, I think the GOP has done right to move in a more moderate direction on social policy, I think they've been complete garbage when it comes to spending. Spending a fraction less then the Democrats is not fiscally conservative in my book.

[Wolvesfan21]

Wolvesfan

So lets say what you say is true. So explain to me how me having a gun is going to solve this problem? It seems more of a problem of perception (which is very powerful) to me. What is the actual solution to this?

Are you saying the solution to the rioters? Well yeah. We should all be protecting ourselves, property and families.

[Porckchop]

I don't see a whole lot of people on the left decrying the actions of what's going with the rioting and protesting. By saying nothing it sure seems to be a way of supporting it.
I like how you say the far left and Trump supporters. Like it's not possible to be a trump supporter and not be considered an extremist. Isn't that what your saying tho ? Which means your no different than the people your calling out for thinking all lefties are rioters and protesters.

[Monster]

Wolvesfan

So lets say what you say is true. So explain to me how me having a gun is going to solve this problem? It seems more of a problem of perception (which is very powerful) to me. What is the actual solution to this?

Are you saying the solution to the rioters? Well yeah. We should all be protecting ourselves, property and families.

Rioters? I'm talking about all the other stuff you have been saying. Rioters seems like a pretty minor issue of what you have been presenting.

[AbeVigodaLive]

I don't see a whole lot of people on the left decrying the actions of what's going with the rioting and protesting. By saying nothing it sure seems to be a way of supporting it.
I like how you say the far left and Trump supporters. Like it's not possible to be a trump supporter and not be considered an extremist. Isn't that what your saying tho ? Which means your no different than the people your calling out for thinking all lefties are rioters and protesters.

No. That's definitely not what I was saying.

And I'm kind of tired of the "saying nothing" is supporting it angle.

Do you feel the same about those that are not railing on and on about every single instance of racism in the world? Because some of the more extreme leftist camp truly believes in that. So it's interesting to see somebody else point that out about the rioting stuff.

Turns out I support both racism AND rioting... for minding my own business and trying to stay above the messy fray.

Cool. I guess.