Socialism.. does anyone have a clue.

exactly.... it's like Brian said earlier...  people here need to wake up.. grow up.... lose the Horacio Alger myth...


I work hard... am one of the best in my field, not just in the company.. but this area... college educated where a HS diploma is a plus... will I ever move up...

no... probably not.... I am a tool to be exploited by my company...  I make them money where I am at now...

do I care... no.... because I am one of the highest paid for my position in the company... they pay me what I'm worth... that is what it is all about... but spare me this myth of upward moblity through hard work.... it is the carrot on a stick the powers that be have put in front of the noses of the american worker... and since people here largely seem to like to be told by their radio personalities or their churches what to think... they hever realize the myth.. see it for what it is...

rant over....

Slartibartfast wrote: birdwithteeth11 wrote: I also hope that last sentence was sarcasm. Because it's a really poor and insensitive example of it IMO. Hell, that whole post was sarcastic.   And poor and insensitive and hopefully a little thought provoking as well.

I can't think of any way to address that post without a personal attack, so I won't say anything.

Despite it though, being "thought provoking" and saying "Maybe God wants someone to rob your house and kill you and your family" is going too far.

Anyway, I'm done with tangents. Back to talking about socialism!

Although I'm obviously very liberal, darkshade's comment is the reality. If the nature of humans is to stratify and use each other, should we attempt to fight it. If it's written in our genetic code that the strong will exploit the weak, who are we to pretend otherwise?

James wrote: But is it like-for-like? I mean, if a guy broke in, wasn't armed, would you shoot him for self-defence? Or would it only be the case if he was armed with a gun? I'm just curious.

the laws are pretty grey in that...  'self-defense' is often up to the jury from what I've read... but you would be sent before a court and a jury. A good lawyer can get you off... fear is a strong emotion to play upon... look the GOP here... they've made it the focus of all they stand for.

you guys must realize, we are human beings, talking about other human beings and how to fix human-caused problems using human-type solutions

Dean wrote: James wrote: Raff wrote: James wrote: That's what scares me about living in the U.S.  Gun Laws. It sounds to me as if you need to have a Gun whether you like the idea or not. Not really, at least here.. Gun laws in the DC area are much stricter than in other states, and I for one have no intention of getting one, nor has Micky (though he says he used to be a crack shot). That's a relief then. I leave in a village where there's only petty crime mostly and I feel relatively safe here.  Living in a country where people can have a gun in the draw by their bed really does make me feel uneasy You don't leave that far from Hungerford James - nowhere is safe.

That's true.  However overall I feel much more at ease.  I think I'd be completely paranoid in the States.

All the injured from that incident were brought to the old P.M.H. when my brother was in there.  'caused havoc.

I think it was on my birthday too.

Anyhow... Socialism!

James wrote: Raff wrote: James wrote: That's what scares me about living in the U.S.  Gun Laws. It sounds to me as if you need to have a Gun whether you like the idea or not. Not really, at least here.. Gun laws in the DC area are much stricter than in other states, and I for one have no intention of getting one, nor has Micky (though he says he used to be a crack shot). That's a relief then. I leave in a village where there's only petty crime mostly and I feel relatively safe here.  Living in a country where people can have a gun in the draw by their bed really does make me feel uneasy

Negoba wrote: A much more enjoyable way to protect your house and family is to get a 200 lb. Akita....a roomate of mine did and we would prance it around the neighborhood during the day making sure to go in front of houses that might have some sticky fingered neighbors. People got robbed all around us. We were never touched. And no guns.   There were quite a few landmines to deal with however.

a sword works for me and home protection  .  no landmines with that.. I swore to myself never to touch a gun again..and haven't in years.. 

Negoba wrote: A much more enjoyable way to protect your house and family is to get a 200 lb. Akita....a roomate of mine did and we would prance it around the neighborhood during the day making sure to go in front of houses that might have some sticky fingered neighbors. People got robbed all around us. We were never touched. And no guns.   There were quite a few landmines to deal with however.

Would a life-size Chuck Norris have the same affect?

Raff wrote: James wrote: That's what scares me about living in the U.S.  Gun Laws. It sounds to me as if you need to have a Gun whether you like the idea or not. Not really, at least here.. Gun laws in the DC area are much stricter than in other states, and I for one have no intention of getting one, nor has Micky (though he says he used to be a crack shot).

That's a relief then.

I leave in a village where there's only petty crime mostly and I feel relatively safe here.  Living in a country where people can have a gun in the draw by their bed really does make me feel uneasy