JCauto

On 6/6/2020 at 11:13 AM, TopDeadSenter said:

Should basketball teams be forced to have 50% short white players that have no ball skills and no interest in basketball? In the name of inclusivity? Or should the team captains be able to chose whoever they think is best? 

 Apply your answer to the corporate world.

This is an inaccurate comparison. You should have said "should basketball teams be forced to have 50% white players" - Ohanian is not suggesting that they go out on the street and hire the first homeless black person they identify. He's saying that, among those qualified and experienced to be corporate board members, they should select a Black person because, for whatever reason, the makeup of the Board does not reflect the diversity that it should. So the issue is not having short White players who don't have any basketball skills, it's selecting the tall White player at the power forward position over the tall Black player at the power forward position from a list of experienced and qualified tall power forwards.

So is the corollary true then?

Do you believe that there is an inherent racial advantage that these White men have that makes them such superior choices for the corporate board that they have managed to come to dominate pretty much ALL corporate boards across America? Or do you think that there are other factors at play that make it an un-level playing field that gives them an advantage and that advantage is reflected in the situation?

Say what you will, the basketball team has a very level and transparent basis for selection and for assessment of the candidacy of the potential players - what they do on the court is indisputable evidence, and there is no structural basis to disadvantage anyone regardless of their racial characteristics. The coach, even if racist, has a strong incentive to win because if he loses, his job and lifestyle is threatened - he therefore has a reason to NOT promote a player based on skin color because it will affect him negatively.

Oooh, someone is giving the under-represented people on the Board of a corporation a seat! I believe I'm getting the vapors, mah freedom, mah opportunity, mah rights have been crushed by this unjust discrimination against the otherwise dominant White Males who oversee corporate America and who dominate corporate boards well beyond their population!

Given that the corporate boards continuously over-represent these White males, we should come to one of two conclusions:

1. White males are somehow superior to other candidates and their inherent characteristics make it such that they succeed at a rate that is so far statistically beyond their actual numbers that this proves the inherent superiority.

2. The underlying assumptions and conditions set in place by the White majority throughout the early years of the development of the capitalist economy have severely disadvantaged those who are visible minorities and women such that they haven't managed to come even close to their likely representation on corporate boards had racial or gender issues not been taken into consideration subconsciously or consciously.

I'm going with number 2. It's quite clear there are many of you who believe in the first conclusion. I find that quite sad.

On 6/5/2020 at 1:14 PM, Baerboxer said:

On 6/5/2020 at 10:30 AM, Chomper Higgot said:

So let me get this right.

 

Federal prosecutors file charges against three members of a domestic rightwing extremist group, Barr responds by pointing at foreigners and Antifa.

No. That's your usual sophistry shining through.

 

Barr's comments are probably factual. Only he doesn't like others doing to the US what the US has done to others for decades.

Let's unpack this one, shall we? First of all, speaking of the ATTORNEY-GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES, you noted that his comments are "probably factual". You don't even perceive the irony of that statement - you, a supporter of the administration, even recognize that the leader of the Department of Justice doesn't tell the truth on a regular basis such that you have to characterize his simple statements as "probably factual".

Second, you note that the A-G has identified only 3 of the people arrested as "Extremist" elements among the 51 arrested, and those 3 are Right-Wing members of the "Boogaloo" movement there to stir up riots. Yet he declined to even mention Right-Wing extremism, which accounts for practically all of the terrorism-related activity in the United States for the last 10 years or more, instead using the usual euphemisms for "other" forces.

Third, if this is Antifa-based and -led extremism, why haven't they managed to identify any of the arrested protesters as Antifa? Why haven't they arrested the "leaders" of Antifa? Why haven't they identified the criminal network organizing and supplying "Antifa" with weapons? Because not one of those things is real. "Antifa" is not an organization, it has no leaders, it doesn't fund local cells, it has no organizational structure or hierarchy and they don't parade around with war weapons - it's an ideal to oppose fascism and gives out information and encouragement for those who wish to do so. Sure, some of those individuals take it to extremes and push their opposition to the point of violence, but as I understand it this is only acceptable according to "Antifa" guidelines if it is in direct response to aggression and violence from Fascists. And if you think punching violent fascists in the face is wrong, then we'll just have to agree to disagree on that matter. Americans used to think that way almost entirely as a country before this current regime decided to blur the lines.

So basically, in response to the legitimate and mostly peaceful protests and protesters, they've ginned up a conspiracy of these "Extreme Left Antifa" who are supposedly organizing shadowy behind-the-scenes stuff and the Administration are pushing it through a coordinated campaign of statements from government officials and their state media Fox News. They're using this to try to demonize the protests as non-peaceful and un-American and focus on the negative aspects as was the objective of these Far Right protesters all along.

This is once again something that we can observe that is consistent throughout this administration - they continuously chase these conspiracies that their opponents are supposedly hatching or the "Deep State" is implementing, and in every case these conspiracies reflect what the Right actually does. This is why they believe it so strongly - they do it all the time so assume the Left is doing it too. Perhaps they're right, but if so, the Left are clearly much more clever about it as they don't seem to get caught.

On 6/2/2020 at 7:16 PM, madmen said:

That's 10000 baht. Just had a mate pay an agent here 14000 baht for a retirement extension  and that's without any funds in the bank. For the extra 4k why would you take on the drama and expense of moving to a new country ?

 

Op you wont like càmbodia to live and the expats there are deadbeats mostly who failed at living anywhere else.

55555! Yeah, we're just a bunch of deadbeats unlike the hi-so expatriates of Thailand! The pages of ThaiVisa are filled with tales of Bond-like sophisticates and Maugham-level nabobs calmly surveying the Thai natives and casually putting them in their proper place.

You're right of course - Cambodia is a dreadful place and we deadbeats are just looking for fresh meat to exploit. I wouldn't go there if I were you!

11 hours ago, TopDeadSenter said:

Oh well, you have to thank Trump for trying. Good effort, sir. Much better than a weak defeatist who might say "Defeat covid, what? Does he have a magic wand?"

Very disappointing seeing you give up so easily.

Why not try to "fake news" this one? Or how about "the study was done by Democrat medical researchers"? Or perhaps "they say that trial was corrupted by Chinese agents"?

You can't seriously be suggesting that the Donald, who medical doctors can't believe how much he understands, who is a stable genius, was...wrong? No, that can't be right.

By the way, I had an inkling the other day that jumping up and down singing "COVID-19 Go Away, Come Again Another Day" would actually cure this. I know I'm not a Doctor, but my uncle was a brilliant doctor, I think I inherited his incredible knowledge. You should try it.

I look forward to your post extolling my efforts for trying to cure the disease.

15 hours ago, sirineou said:

The problem is not being solved because we are fighting the wrong war, and people like Clooney are part of the problem. 

No one in this forum is more Progressive than me. but I am also a pragmatist. There are many different subcultures in America 

An African american Culture, a Police culture, an Asian culture, a Italian American culture etc.

No culture is better or worst they are simply different. It is what works with in that community's given conditions.

 The problem is that ,what  works for one community does not work for another, and it creates friction. this friction is used by politicians for personal gain. 

Unless both cultures in conflict make appropriate adjustments little progress will be made, all the rest are nonsense for general consumption. 

 

I don't understand your point(s).

1. "There are many different sub-cultures in America." There are also many different sub-cultures in Canada, France, Germany, Thailand and most other places. So why aren't those places in flames? There are specific reasons why America is reacting so badly to this compared to other places and it is a very different place because of that.

2. "No culture is better of worse, they are simply different." No, that's not true. Police culture is not like the culture of various people's nationalities or ethnicities. It's entirely artificial and contrived towards an end and purpose. The problem is that purpose - instead of being focused on being a people-based service for community safety and health, they've been armed to the teeth using surplus military weapons and turned against the people as a tool by autocrats for property protection and coercion. And this is the problem - they should NOT be a separate culture, they should be integrated within the communities they serve - come from those same communities, live in those same communities, serve those same communities. It's when you import cops from elsewhere who have no connection to the people they're facing when the stuff really starts hitting the fan. The Police Culture has to change.

3. "Unless both cultures in conflict make appropriate adjustments..." So what "adjustments" are the African American community supposed to make? They tried peaceful protest; they were called "Sons of bitches" and told to stand the f up and be patriotic. Over taking a knee during a sports competition where the sports have been coopted for jingoistic propaganda for the State military and religion? Yes, it's really on the black people to make changes, let's blame the victims again!

Come on man, I expected better of you. Pull your head out.

On 5/31/2020 at 4:19 AM, Puchaiyank said:

Don't try to pin the police culture of overreacting and brutality on Donald Trump...been a problem for decades.

 

Civil rights?  These "protesters" are using the cover of night and thugs brought in from out of town to create the illusion of civil unrest to burn, loot, and pillage...

https://nymag.com/intelligencer/amp/2020/05/trumps-george-floyd-obama-protest-police-violence-kneeling.html

You're correct that it was a problem for decades. As a result, Obama put a lot of police reforms in process. As with the Pandemic Task Force, Trump killed it because, you know, Obama. So yes, he owns this. As he does the pandemic response.

As to your racist "thugs" nonsense, the ones from out of town are mostly White Supremacists who are there to cause provocations and looting. Already have several who have been caught by the protesters and exposed as either Supremacists or undercover cops. This is the standard Cop (and fascist) playbook, push until the people are fed up and protest, then provoke violent response, then crack down on the protesters, peaceful or otherwise.

7 hours ago, BritManToo said:

For those who don't know .......

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-52646460

"Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old emergency medical technician (EMT), was shot eight times when officers entered her apartment in Louisville on 13 March. They were executing a search warrant as part of a drugs investigation, but no drugs were found in the property."

 

Apparently the police raided the wrong address.

...and they ALREADY HAD THE GUY THEY WERE LOOKING FOR IN CUSTODY!
 

...and it was the wrong address.

...and they did a "no-knock" raid so there were no "this is the police" announcements or any bodycams.

...and the boyfriend was on the phone with 9-1-1 saying "someone shot my girlfriend".

...and the boyfriend shot back not knowing that these were police and was arrested.

...and the NRA didn't say a damn thing despite this being a clear and obvious case of someone using their legally acquired firearm to defend themselves against a threat who had broken into their home.

So again, tell me how this isn't racism, that the NRA isn't a racist organization, and that the police aren't completely out of control in the States. If you're more concerned about property damage than the racist attacks on black people by police and others, then you really need to look in the mirror and question your values.

5 hours ago, Tippaporn said:

Unproven by who?  Certainly not those who have benefited from it's use.  To the main stream media hydroxychloroquine will always be unproven.

"Unproven by whom" would be the correct way to say that - just trying to help!

To be clear, hydroxychloroquine is not at all unproven; it's a drug widely used for a variety of purposes including malaria prophylaxis. However, despite working in remote forest areas, I still chose not to take it because of the well-known side effects. These include:

• feeling that others are watching you or controlling your behavior
• feeling that others can hear your thoughts
• feeling, seeing, or hearing things that are not there

So, while I didn't want to experience these feelings (which others who had used the drug had also warned me about), I can understand why the President wouldn't mind. After all, this is his usual state of mind so it wouldn't probably affect him so much.

4 hours ago, BobBKK said:

He was an Obama pick who decided to investigate one of the government team. I have no idea why Trump did not fire them ALL when he first took office. Of course Dems will be bleating and whining and grinding there pure white teeth trying to come up with a new Russia/Ukraine impeachment scandal.  

So will this be your position henceforth regardless of who is in power in the administration? There's really no need for any internal oversight or people to serve as Inspector-Generals? You'll be okay once a Democrat is in power for there to be no oversight? Or do you believe that the administration should select their own oversight or IGs? What could go wrong with that?

This is one of the many short-sighted viewpoints we see out of the Trump crowd, they will support anything that provides him free reign to do whatever he wants while he is in power, then will bleat endlessly after he's gone about how there's no check on government power. Similar to what we saw in Wisconsin, they actually pass laws to give Republican Governors new and extended powers, then once they lose the Governorship, pass laws to reduce the Governor's power to practically zero. This is not policy, this is not ideology. This is simply using partisan political power to achieve minority goals regardless of future consequence. 

Remember how the Right used to go on and on about the "Imperial Presidency" of Obama and how he was usurping power not granted to him by the Constitution? Seems so long ago now.

10 hours ago, Mama Noodle said:

 

NONE of the above has ANYTHING to do with the horrendous death toll and mismanagement of those 2 states which account for almost half of the US coronavirus deaths - not to mention most of those are contextless swipes and fake news.

 

People who post things like you posted do not have any desire to know why things are happening the way they are in the USA, its partisan trash from unserious people who from day one couldn't look past Trump, and refuse to do so even now - which is unfortunate because people who need legitimate blame will go un punished and not held to account for their actions and decisions both in the face of the virus and their management prior to the virus that leads to the deaths of so many people. 

 

 

And if they dont, and it proves how god awful Dem run states are, you guys will still blame Trump and absolve people who really need to be held to account. 

So Trump is simultaneously the greatest President ever who has done a fantastic job in three years yet he's completely unable to resolve the (ongoing) national fiasco when faced with his first real test? So please answer the question I've asked several of you but have yet to receive a response.

"What did Trump and his administration do to combat the Coronavirus from the beginning of February to early March 2020 with the time he bought by stopping people coming in from China?"