When is it right to avail oneself of the 2nd amendment?

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Not sure that is an idea that will work out so well. Prisons are expensive to build and operate. California is being forced to release large numbers of prisoners due to budget deficits. They spend more on prisons than education from what I have heard! Doesn't seem like the way to go for a number of reasons.

FAIR TAX. Would bring back millions of middle level jobs paying a living wage.

I think the government should pay for higher education for anyone that is even moderately qualified. The reason? Almost no one on welfare has a college education. Education is the key to solving a lot of problems and for MY money, my children will have masters degrees befoe they are "finished" at least. Yours can try to compete.

[Captain Oates 911]

In Russia! (They just acquired a 9.5 percent stake in BP, in case you missed the news.)

I work about 6 hours a day with my investments and currencies so I get news instantly. I mess about with VJ at the same time and in the quiet periods.

Cramer on CNBC is always tipping companies on the basis they are 'fine American companies' etc. He mixes his nationalism with his investment advice which is always the biggest no-no. Never mix emotion with money

I watched that, and he started beating on BP and saying they were bankrupt and saying disgusting things about the CEO and the Brits generally. He advised people to dump their stocks at the bottom.

I went out and bought 42k worth - not on the basis of nationalism but because the stocks were being valued on non - economic considerations. I will be going to Hawaii every winter for the next 10 years on the back of that and laughing at Cramer as I sip G&T on the hotel balcony. I sold a quarter of them on Friday and will buy em back in a week or three..

If that is bragging then I own up to it - at least the move was from my own judgment and making and therefore I have something to brag about. Conservatives can be happy as I followed their creed and took a risk and lined my own pockets. Liberals can be glad because I wont be spending it all on G&T and Hawaii but helping to finance Liberal candidates in close elections where conservatives are standing

Never mind that, this is about guns

CNN reported this morning that the murder rate per 100,000 people is 44 times higher in the USA than the UK

I wonder what is causing that. Anyone know ? Perhaps rain makes people not want to commit murder.

[Captain Oates 911]

FAIR TAX. Would bring back millions of middle level jobs paying a living wage.

I think the government should pay for higher education for anyone that is even moderately qualified. The reason? Almost no one on welfare has a college education. Education is the key to solving a lot of problems and for MY money, my children will have masters degrees befoe they are "finished" at least. Yours can try to compete.

If your children are shot dead in a shopping mall, their education won't count for much. Life and a safe environment are the first priorities

Remember 'life liberty and the pursuit of happiness' ? It didn't say what you are saying - 'High paying jobs for my kids and the devil take the hindermost - especially your kids'

Just look what has become of America - like children in a gas chamber all trying to climb on top of each other to avoid the toxic mix at the bottom of the heap.

Is this what Washington wanted ?

[Captain Oates 911]

Gun control in the USA >>

Gun Control in the USA

Edited January 16, 2011 by Alan the Red

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

If your children are shot dead in a shopping mall, their education won't count for much. Life and a safe environment are the first priorities

Remember 'life liberty and the pursuit of happiness' ? It didn't say what you are saying - 'High paying jobs for my kids and the devil take the hindermost - especially your kids'

Just look what has become of America - like children in a gas chamber all trying to climb on top of each other to avoid the toxic mix at the bottom of the heap.

Is this what Washington wanted ?

My children live in the safest state in America. We can all carry guns, have unlimited magazine capacity, can own machine guns. I do not worry about them getting shot in a shopping mall. Get real. We have a lower crime rate than any place in the western hemisphere. Canada is Sodom and Gomorrah compared to Vermont. The last time someone was randomly killed in Vermont was 2006 and she was strangled and stabbed with a knife. Before that I have no clue when the last person was randomly shot. TWO policemen have been killed in the line of duty here. Both by car accidents. The last in 1935.

You have to create a fantasy to argue about. I won't do it. And I am certainly not going to accept restrictions on my rights because of fantasies and how surrending my rights would save my children from something non-existant. Good grief.

Gun control in the USA >>

Gun Control in the USA

Gun control is using both hands.

[Captain Oates 911]

My children live in the safest state in America. We can all carry guns, have unlimited magazine capacity, can own machine guns. I do not worry about them getting shot in a shopping mall. Get real. We have a lower crime rate than any place in the western hemisphere. Canada is Sodom and Gomorrah compared to Vermont. The last time someone was randomly killed in Vermont was 2006 and she was strangled and stabbed with a knife. Before that I have no clue when the last person was randomly shot. TWO policemen have been killed in the line of duty here. Both by car accidents. The last in 1935.

You have to create a fantasy to argue about. I won't do it. And I am certainly not going to accept restrictions on my rights because of fantasies and how surrending my rights would save my children from something non-existant. Good grief.

Gun control is using both hands.

You are describing a very small world in Vermont whereas I am describing the USA as a whole.

You can't keep your children in Vermont wrapped in cotton wool for the rest of their lives. What happens in the rest of America matters to you and your children. Anyway don't you care what happens to your fellow Americans in other States ?

This is what I dislike so much about right wing dogma - its all me me me and mine mine mine and with no regard to the rest of the country or the rest of the world.

It's selfishness and self - centerdness melted down to a poisonous ingot of supposed self interest - in reality its a formula for fear of others and when misfortune strikes, you will look to the wider community and hope that someone doesn't remember how you regarded them.

Edited January 16, 2011 by Alan the Red

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

If your children are shot dead in a shopping mall, their education won't count for much. Life and a safe environment are the first priorities

Remember 'life liberty and the pursuit of happiness' ? It didn't say what you are saying - 'High paying jobs for my kids and the devil take the hindermost - especially your kids'

Just look what has become of America - like children in a gas chamber all trying to climb on top of each other to avoid the toxic mix at the bottom of the heap.

Is this what Washington wanted ?

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

You are describing a very small world in Vermont whereas I am describing the USA as a whole.

You can't keep your children in Vermont wrapped in cotton wool for the rest of their lives. What happens in the rest of America matters to you and your children. Anyway don't you care what happens to your fellow Americans in other States ?

This is what I dislike so much about right wing dogma - its all me me me and mine mine mine and with no regard to the rest of the country or the rest of the world.

It's selfishness and self - centerdness melted down to a poisonous ingot of supposed self interest - in reality its a formula for fear of others and when misfortune strikes, you will look to the wider community and hope that someone doesn't remember how you regarded them.

The question is...why aren't the other states like Vermont? You missed that right? Why aren't the people of your state able to handle the freedom we can here? Figure THAT out and address THAT issue. Hint...it isn't guns! Vermont has the most lenient, basically non-existant, (Vermont actually has no gun laws over and above Federal laws) gun laws in the US and we have the lowest crime rate. Not even a contest. Why is your state's crime rate higher?

When my children leave Vermont (if they leave Vermont) they will be armed and trained how to use guns.

I have no right wing "dogma" I am pro-choice, pro gay marriage, pro legalize marijuana, you call that right wing? I support ALL the civil rights and constitutional rights. It is not me trying to take away your rights or decide what you should do or have or be allowed. I live in "the most liberal state" in America by choice. I could live anywhere in America and the world for that matter, and have, I am here by choice. Right wing?

Yes it is about my family. I concern myself with MY family. I will do anything for MY family. Something is wrong with that? #######??? WHEN did that happen? MY family is my single driving motivation in life. Nothing else really matters on a day to day basis. MY family is no burden to you or anyone else. MY family is educated at our own expense and does not commit crime with their guns. Maybe everyone else should take care of THEIR family. MY family does not ask for welfare or handouts, they all have good jobs and contribute to society. What do you think? is that "selfish"? Really? I give everything to my family and ask little for myself, I have all I need and more. Nothing please me more than to spend ALL my money on my family. What else would I do with it that would give me more pleasure? Count it?

MY family does not think this country is "toxic" or a "gas chamber", they are doing very well, thank you. Your analogy is too offensive to address. You are not an American. You may be a US citizen, but an American you are not. Two sons already have masters degrees and very good careers, the other will get his bachelors this year, has a full boat private scholarship for his masters (which he will complete in 1 year) and a doctorate if he so desires at one of the top science universities in the world. The fourth is a straight A high school student who was promoted from 8th to 10th grade and will graduate at age 16. He is in demand for universities also. Which to choose? University of Washington is one of his choices on the table. So is Duke. They are not afraid of the future, or crime for that matter. They all shoot guns. when did it become "wrong" for parents to PUSH their chldren toward excellence? When did it become OK to accept less than they are capable of? Who does that benefit? It isn't that way in this house.

I find most of what you write about my country disgusting, especially from someone we have welcomed here as a citizen. But if you think it will discourage me you are wrong. We do not need Englishmen to come here and save us from ourselves. Get a clue. We do not want to be like England. We had that choice and went the other way. We aren't going to change our minds.

[^_^ 5,021]

Like I said - disdain. He has nothing but disdain for this country and contempt for its people.

[mawilson 2,133]

You have to give them viable alternatives other than college. Bright back the trade schools in public education. Industry will subsidize those, if they produce skilled workers.

There aren't any alternatives. Go to college or be unemployed.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Like I said - disdain. He has nothing but disdain for this country and contempt for its people.

I sometimes do not understand how people live if they really have this attitude. I would just put the Glock in my mouth and end it. How does anyone get such a horrible view of this country? Maybe drinking with the wrong people in Atlanta at 3 am?

Do you have children Alan? What do you do for their future? You want to help people have a better future, what about YOUR kids? Do you talk like this to them? Tell them they live in a toxic place, in a gas chamber? Are you serious? You would talk to a young person this way? Sick. Twisted. I have promised my kids that there hard effort will be rewarded and so far that is true. it is still a place where hard work and effort are in demand and pay well. It is still a place you can have a good job, own property, raise a family in safety and give them, literally, the world...IF they work for it, if they want it, if they go for it.

One of my greatest joys in life, really, is to be able to offer my kids things they could never have dreamed of in Ukraine. Never. It is so great to be able to do what we can do for these young people and see them light up at the opportunities they have. Just unbelieveable. They walk about 9 feet off the ground at the possibilities they have.

Peddle your poison somewhere else Alan, we do not need it in this house.

[^_^ 5,021]

There aren't any alternatives. Go to college or be unemployed.

The college educated will always need people to build their homes, properly process their waste, clean their homes and offices and give them their post-massage handjobs.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

There aren't any alternatives. Go to college or be unemployed.

I work in construction and went to college also which is why I am making a living working part time as a semi-retired consultant rather than struggling to make it working full time. Nothing wrong with learning trades and skills, just be the best. And that means college.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

The college educated will always need people to build their homes, properly process their waste, clean their homes and offices and give them their post-massage handjobs.

Fine. Sounds like good jobs for someone else's kids. My will be their boss and/or landlord.

[mawilson 2,133]

CNN reported this morning that the murder rate per 100,000 people is 44 times higher in the USA than the UK

I wonder what is causing that. Anyone know ? Perhaps rain makes people not want to commit murder.

Perhaps rain makes criminals want to assault people instead.

Scotland tops list of world's most violent countries

The study, by the UN’s crime research institute, found that 3 per cent of Scots had been victims of assault compared with 1.2 per cent in America and just 0.1 per cent in Japan, 0.2 per cent in Italy and 0.8 per cent in Austria. In England and Wales the figure was 2.8 per cent.