Ferguson, MO - Redux

[JohnyMac]

IMO, this whole Ferguson thing is just a “smoke screen” to disrupt the 72 hour news cycle. Lets see what’s in the news:

> Guber
> GOP controlling both Houses in DC
> Immigration EO
> Shortage of chocolate
> What have I missed?

I have seen it time and time again, to change the news cycle you bring a new crisis to the forefront.

MrsMac and I will pray for you folks in MO. and area’s/cities that may join in on this drama. God may step in and send a nice blizzard to the area’s of the country who may want to use this drama for some early holiday withdraws via looting fashion. ;-)

What are you thoughts?

[JohnyMac]

Well there you go...

> Secretary Kerry just gave Iran six more months of reduced sanctions hoping for some form of treaty,
> Secretary Hagel resigns,
> President Obama signs an EA (Executive Action) that is believed to be against his powers outlined in the Constitution,
> Early Christmas shopping looting,
> What have I missed?

The MSM & Cable news are going to eat this stuff up. 

[Well-Prepared Witch]

I disagree that this is a smokescreen. I actually think Ferguson is a prime example of how a civil war could easily start in this country.

The anger and frustration  showing in Ferguson is not just about this case. This case is a straw breaking the camel's back. This is yet another example of the white elite getting away with murder (whether you think it's murder or not, the important thing to understand is that many of these people do believe it was murder) of a poor, black kid. It's another log on the fire of racial and income inequality, of lack of opportunity, of disenfranchisement in the political process due to the attacks on voting rights and gerrymandering. It's resentment and fear of an increasingly militarized police force no longer protecting and serving the people, but instead helping to serve up the black and poor communities' youth to the billion dollar-a-year prison complex. It's a small eruption of the lava of true anger bubbling through our country right now that the elite, powerful, and wealthy either deny or ignore.

I think that as resources get tighter and the wealthy businessmen who pull the puppet strings get more greedy and desperate, you'll see more Fergusons and more protests.

It's unfortunate that the people burning the local businesses and such don't turn their destruction on who really deserves it.

[JohnyMac]

Wellie wrote:
I think that as resources get tighter and the wealthy businessmen who pull the puppet strings get more greedy and desperate, you'll see more Fergusons and more protests.

I agree with some of what you wrote. My question is: Why do these people loot? When you loot the public on the fence will move away from your message or protest. I think of all of the tea party meeting's I attended, there was protesting yes however no looting. No profanity. As a matter of fact we cleaned up the park/street as we left.

I have done many "Impeach Obama" overpass protests. Not once did we loot or do damage of any kind. As a matter of fact, we would clean up any trash including the "wire ties" used to hold up signage on the bridge fence.

Looting is just going to turn the average citizen against many of the points of concern you bring up.

[DMCakhunter]

You called it JM, except there was no blizzard.

No matter what view people wanted to take, a grand jury that was selected for duty in May has come up with a decision. Far be it for anyone that did not hear the same evidence to second guess the verdict.
To your question: I would hope that the looters/arsonists are not local people but out-of-towners focused on mayhem. Some of the local business were owned by local black people, so why would their stores be looted or burned? Or is it that with so many people on the government dole, they think they are owed more so decide to take it from anyone they can. Time will tell if members of the community will stand up and fight the parasites that are pushing our morals and our country into decline.
Speaking of parasites, wait and see what Sharpton will stir up with his visit.

[JohnyMac]

Speaking of Rev. Al, DMC, I just saw him on the TV commenting about the drama in Ferguson. I am sure you will see the same clip too as it was a generic one from AP; Well when you do check out the gal to his left/your right. What is that "thing" on her head?

I think it is hair. MrsMac* told me it was a hat. My cat Max thought it was a critter 'ala Daniel Boone. 

*= Then got a lecture from MrsMac that I shouldn't make fun of people and their sense of fashion 

The first forum member who posts the picture here gets a Karma point! 

[Nemo]

I disagree that this is a smokescreen. I actually think Ferguson is a prime example of how a civil war could easily start in this country.

The anger and frustration  showing in Ferguson is not just about this case. This case is a straw breaking the camel's back. This is yet another example of the white elite getting away with murder (whether you think it's murder or not, the important thing to understand is that many of these people do believe it was murder) of a poor, black kid. It's another log on the fire of racial and income inequality, of lack of opportunity, of disenfranchisement in the political process due to the attacks on voting rights and gerrymandering. It's resentment and fear of an increasingly militarized police force no longer protecting and serving the people, but instead helping to serve up the black and poor communities' youth to the billion dollar-a-year prison complex. It's a small eruption of the lava of true anger bubbling through our country right now that the elite, powerful, and wealthy either deny or ignore.

I think that as resources get tighter and the wealthy businessmen who pull the puppet strings get more greedy and desperate, you'll see more Fergusons and more protests.

It's unfortunate that the people burning the local businesses and such don't turn their destruction on who really deserves it.

Think this is serious or bad or anything like that?  Wait until the first police caused fatality.  A black protester shot and killed by a uniformed person, regardless of the circumstances.  FBI on site and taking over investigation will not matter. 

Watch it all blow up-- coast to coast.

Nemo

[Burt Gummer]

http://youtu.be/1Y2BSbVpMTw

[Kbop]

--
Ukraine wants to join NATO -
I'm surprised Germany stood that tall.
 

oh yeah, here is the Rev Sharpton with a young lady standing next to him.
http://www.politico.com/story/2014/11/ferguson-al-sharpton-react-grand-jury-decision-113157.html

[Kbop]

Think this is serious or bad or anything like that?  Wait until the first police caused fatality.  A black protester shot and killed by a uniformed person, regardless of the circumstances.  FBI on site and taking over investigation will not matter. 

Watch it all blow up-- coast to coast.

Nemo

we still have some headroom IMHO before people loose it.  I do see a 'slippery slope' there, though.
our country (USA for you who don't reside here) is changing.  The old guard is dying out and our demographics are changing in ways like the 1960's.  During times of change like this, you can expect a lot of stress.  the rate of cultural change has some limited boundary, if you exceed it, it breaks.  The problem is I don't know where that fracture point may be or if we are close to it.  most civil, social, cultural uprisings escalated quickly and were only obvious in hind site - ala a 'Black Swan' event.

I remember that rock n roll and drugs and equal rights for (fill in the blank) were going to cause untold damage to our society and should be stopped at all costs.

I'm something of a Cultural Darwinian;  if a society stops growing, changing and adapting to change - it stagnates and dies.  My 2 cents worth.  I think that so many people care about these issues so passionately are a hopeful sign 

footnote:  http://unchainedpreppers.com/forum/index.php?topic=5387.0

[thatGuy]

Just this once I agree with Wellie..

If we compare this to Rodney King we see the exact same set up, disenfranchised masses, overbearing police and a single spark in the way of a guilty man being dealt with..

My thoughts and prayer are with the good people of Ferguson and I hope they have the force of will to get though this.

[Well-Prepared Witch]

Wow - thatGuy agrees with me.  Really must be the end of the world. Just teasing you, TG.

I think the looting and firebug stuff is a problem, and I do wonder about it.  Who is doing it and why, and why choosing the small local places to burn.  The tin-foil hat part of me says "great way to get people to dismiss this as thugs and looters, let's commit mayhem and pin it on protesters".  The part of me grounded in reality says, "people suck and take advantage of bad situations to do whatever the bleep they want to do, no matter which people or causes they hurt."  I will say that it's not the bulk of protesters who are committing the mayhem.

[JohnyMac]

Based on the reports of other protests around the country - There has been no looting. It seems like only in Ferguson and surrounding communities. Tonight will be the test though.

On another note: What is it that the women left of Reverend Al/ right in the picture have on her head? Hair? Hat? Inquiring minds need to know. I just know not to bring it up again with MrsMac.

A Karma went out to Kbop! 

[thatGuy]

I would be more than happy to bring you up to speed on that Wellie but its not the kind of thing that one simply types out and walks away from without being branded...

[Nemo]

Someone mentioned Daniel Boone above.  Methinks it fits jus above also.

Nemo

[gadget99]

I took a look at some of the stuff released by the Grand Jury this morning. Mainly due to the news over here showing a good part of the interview with the police officer.

As I listened to him describe what happened, I hate to say it. My bullshit alarm went off a bit. Especially about how his pistol didn't fire the first to times he pulled the trigger. Not saying that is not what happened, yet it did cause me to really pay close attention to what he was saying.

Reading the part of his testimony where he described what happened to sense check the BS alarm. To he honest I have more questions than answers now.

I find his version of what happened to be potentially suspect. I am not making a judgement here, just saying that what he said does not pass my sense check completely.

So I am reserving judgement myself, understanding that the questions I have will probably never be answered.

Cheers all.

Sent from my B1-710 using Tapatalk

[Nemo]

You get 10% of the information transmitted between 2 people by reading a transcript.  While lawyering I had 2 occasions to defend against transcripted testimony in a criminal case.  What hammered my client at the deposition hearing made him walk with apologies and rosewater when it was put into evidence, relied on and argued at trial.

Nemo

[gadget99]

You get 10% of the information transmitted between 2 people by reading a transcript.  While lawyering I had 2 occasions to defend against transcripted testimony in a criminal case.  What hammered my client at the deposition hearing made him walk with apologies and rosewater when it was put into evidence, relied on and argued at trial.

Nemo

Well stated.

The old NCO in me was watching his interview and I had this "This private is lying to me or hiding something" feeling come over me. I have always trusted it in the past so thought I would post my query here.

[NativeSon]

I have no great love for the police or the government, but I'm not going to buck up and get myself put in jail for someone I don't know.

There's a fine line between protesting and rioting, and they've clearly crossed that line and are now interfering with the lives of normal citizens. If these rioters want to step up, they better be willing to fight it out with the cops and not just throw stuff at them. They spew this nonsense about getting their rights violated when they're attacking people that have weapons; do they expect no form of self defense?

They cry when they get hit with riot control measures after they lit people's cars on fire and looted their stores. Way I see it, cops are currently protecting them from vigilantes that are armed to the teeth and don't play games.

Everyone wants to be a gangster until it's time to do gangster shit.

[JoJo]

Divide and Conquer. Obama's justice department kept the national guard on the side lines, at least that is the belief of the LT. Governer. And I agree with him. To destroy a country you spend it into bankrupcy, divide the people into groups and pit them against each other. You disarm them, make them dependent on the government for thier needs like health care and food stamps.
 The riots were and still are well planned by the government.   

[JohnyMac]

JoJo, I couldn't had written it better. Add to that the Affordable Care Act AKA Obama Care.

Then there is this:

Schumer: Democrats ‘blew’ opportunity by focusing on ‘wrong problem’ — health care
Sen. Charles E. Schumer (N.Y.), the Senate's third-ranking Democrat, slammed his party Tuesday for pursuing health-care reform in 2009 and 2010, arguing that Democrats hurt themselves politically by not focusing instead on policies aimed at helping a "broader swath" of middle-class Americans.

"After passing the stimulus, Democrats should have continued to propose middle class-oriented programs and built on the partial success of the stimulus. But unfortunately, Democrats blew the opportunity the American people gave them. We took their mandate and put all of our focus on the wrong problem — health-care reform."

[Kentactic]

As far as the looting and rioting, a Facebook friend of mine said it best.

" Looting and rioting are a symptom. You don't get rid of the flu worrying about the cough."

Peaceful protests never get anything done. If it does, there are a lot of protesters so their physical presence alone is a big enough threat of violence.

Anyone who believes you can get a government to do anything without the threat of violence, is a fool.

Government is violence, you can only control violence with violence. Government exists only as a constant will to be violent. They don't care what peaceful people want. If you had the entire country protesting peacefully and government somehow knew they would not become violent no matter what, government would not listen to them.

No threat of violence, no change. If you're protesting then be ok with violence or threatening with it or just go home, you're wasting your time.

[gadget99]

Been thinking on this some more.

I will make a few observations.

1. The authorities knew there would be problems and I do smell a rat in the mix.
2. Brown played a dangerous game and payed the price.
3. Officer Wilson should be fired if he is an exception in the Department, if he is the norm then there is a serious problem.
4. You go for a cops gun then expect to be shot.
5. When you are alone and back-up is still on the way, you do NOT pull a John Wayne and pursue a subject that is no longer a threat to you has not shown any offensive weapons to that point. The suspect is NOT an immediate threat to the public.
6. Someone please get some firearms instructors to that department and make the officers do more range time.


Ok ..... Old Sarge here will chill now

Peace all.