The random political thoughts thread (Part Deux) - Page 59

Gemini Cricket · 05-10-2006, 10:53 AM

Quote:

The World Trade Center Memorial Foundation, which is charged with raising money for building and operating the memorial, says it will cost $672 million. Improvements to the infrastructure, including reinforcing the slurry wall that borders the pit at Ground Zero, add $300 million. Total tab: $972 million.

Source

Holy crap! Almost a billion dollars?! Isn't that a lot? Who the hell's building this thing? Halliburton?

scaeagles · 05-10-2006, 10:21 AM

The general public is stupid. I really mean that. Uninformed, under educated.

I don't mean that about anyone here. I don't regard anyone here as stupid.

This is why I pay little attention to polls. I don't care what the general public thinks, to be frank. Most of that general public can't find Mississippi on a map (according to a recent study.....the reaction to the study was "we need a special program to deal with this lack of knowledge". Seriously. How about school to deal with this lack of knowledge? Anyway, I digress....).

The "gas price" question doesn't surprise me in the least, because our society has been led by politicians to believe (sadly, my republican party is now counted among those) that government is there to solve all of our problems. Gas prices too high? The President should be able to fix it!

Bleh.

BarTopDancer · 05-10-2006, 10:53 AM

My co-worker sent this to me and I've spent a bit of time trying to de-bunk it to no avail. So it's either true or my searching skills suck.

Quote:

It appears that the Immigration March, 2006 in Los Angeles was a success! According to data from the Los Angeles County Sheriff, Los Angeles had a reduction in the following:

82% reduction - auto theft
28% " " - murders/ violent crimes/ rapes 73% " " - vandalism / tagging 54% " " - drug related offenses (not including the area surrendering the
march)
31% " " - domestic violence cases
64% " " - misdeameanor cases (shop lifting, etc)

CHP reported that today was a record low in the least amount of traffic accidents on South CA freeways.

Looks like the immigration rally was well worth it. Maybe we can do this one again sometime. Sure saves the State of California a chunk of money.

JWBear · 05-10-2006, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BarTopDancer

My co-worker sent this to me and I've spent a bit of time trying to de-bunk it to no avail. So it's either true or my searching skills suck.

It sounds like a spurious attempt at racist humor to me.

Alex · 05-10-2006, 05:00 PM

Why is it racist? It strikes me as nationalist.

JWBear · 05-10-2006, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex Stroup

Why is it racist? It strikes me as nationalist.

Because of the implication that Hispanic = criminal. That is racist.

Alex · 05-10-2006, 05:22 PM

Except that is not necessarily the implication (and Hispanic is also not a race). There are many non-racist bases on which that data model would manifest itself. Why assume a racist one (especially a racist one that makes no mention of race).

JWBear · 05-10-2006, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex Stroup

Except that is not necessarily the implication (and Hispanic is also not a race). There are many non-racist bases on which that data model would manifest itself. Why assume a racist one (especially a racist one that makes no mention of race).

The implication is obvious. Who were the majority of the protesters? Hispanics. It implies that crime was down because a lot of Hispanics were too busy protesting to be out committing crimes. Ergo, that Hispanics are criminals.

Gemini Cricket · 05-11-2006, 06:58 AM

Quote:

Pope Benedict XVI denounced gay and civil unions, saying marriage between people of the same sex is "weak.''

"Only the foundation of complete and irrevocable love between man and woman is capable of forming the basis of a society that becomes the home of all men,'' Benedict told a convention of the John Paul II Pontifical Institute today. The pope said "confusing marriage with other types of weak love'' should be avoided.

Source
Not surprising.

He should be nicer to people. I mean, nice people go to heaven, right? Tick tock, tick tock...

JWBear · 05-10-2006, 05:08 PM

And as a follow-up...

I just called the LA County Sheriff's Dept, and spoke to a public relations person. She assured me that no such information has been released in any form by the department. All statistical information on crime in the department's jurisdiction is released on a yearly basis.

05-10-2006, 10:21 AM	#2
scaeagles I LIKE! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 7,819	The general public is stupid. I really mean that. Uninformed, under educated. I don't mean that about anyone here. I don't regard anyone here as stupid. This is why I pay little attention to polls. I don't care what the general public thinks, to be frank. Most of that general public can't find Mississippi on a map (according to a recent study.....the reaction to the study was "we need a special program to deal with this lack of knowledge". Seriously. How about school to deal with this lack of knowledge? Anyway, I digress....). The "gas price" question doesn't surprise me in the least, because our society has been led by politicians to believe (sadly, my republican party is now counted among those) that government is there to solve all of our problems. Gas prices too high? The President should be able to fix it! Bleh.
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05-10-2006, 05:00 PM	#5
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	Why is it racist? It strikes me as nationalist.
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05-10-2006, 05:22 PM	#7
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	Except that is not necessarily the implication (and Hispanic is also not a race). There are many non-racist bases on which that data model would manifest itself. Why assume a racist one (especially a racist one that makes no mention of race).
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05-10-2006, 05:08 PM	#10
JWBear Worn Romantic Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Long Beach California Posts: 8,435	And as a follow-up... I just called the LA County Sheriff's Dept, and spoke to a public relations person. She assured me that no such information has been released in any form by the department. All statistical information on crime in the department's jurisdiction is released on a yearly basis. __________________ Unrestrained frivolity will lead to the downfall of modern society.
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