USA & World Economics

[QUOTE=Black Shirt;430474]So now, the question is why are we leading the world in these categories. Is it because of ifestyles, culture, economics?[/QUOTE]Disaffected and severely alienated young men. Which is bad enough, in and of itself, made so much worse by a culture (and in many respects a world) that celebrates, via an increasingly omnipresent mass media- physical appeal and "success" in its many forms. Add in an underlying, if not often very overt, damning of those who don't measure up. A damning by peers and much of the culture at large. Take your alienated young man who harbors extreme rage, add in a heightened level of narcissism and desire to "make a mark" and you have the formula for a problem.

In the states they get a gun. In other parts of the world they strap on a vest loaded with explosives. Kill yourself and take others with you. Two peas in the same pod.

[QUOTE=Doggboy; 430483]Disaffected and severely alienated young men. Which is bad enough, in and of itself, made so much worse by a culture (and in many respects a world) that celebrates, via an increasingly omnipresent mass media- physical appeal and "success" in its many forms. Add in an underlying, if not often very overt, damning of those who don't measure up. A damning by peers and much of the culture at large. Take your alienated young man who harbors extreme rage, add in a heightened level of narcissism and desire to "make a mark" and you have the formula for a problem.

In the states they get a gun. In other parts of the world they strap on a vest loaded with explosives. Kill yourself and take others with you. Two peas in the same pod.[/QUOTE]To BlackShirt, all things are political in nature, especially anything that can be interpreted leaning toward the left. Your post is spot on from where I am sitting. Very well thought out and intuitive. You must be a pro, of sorts. Well done. Happy mongering all. Toymann

[QUOTE=Doggboy;430483]Disaffected and severely alienated young men.[/QUOTE]I would add unemployed (that may be a cause of the disaffection) to DB's analysis. If they have no job, they have plenty of time on their hands to think of, and do, all the nefarious things that idle minds dream of. Before the atomic bomb, society took care of many of the disaffected, alienated, and unemployed young men by killing of them in major wars. I make no pretense of knowing how civil society is going to deal with them now that the world no longer has major wars, and modern medicine practices death control while religions fight and cultures fight birth control. Just look at who you see on each edition of the nightly news fomenting revolution, civil war, terrorism, insurrection, etc. The nationality may be different, but the young man aspect is the same. My two cents worth.

Tres3

[QUOTE=Tres3; 430505]I would add unemployed (that may be a cause of the disaffection) to DB's analysis. If they have no job, they have plenty of time on their hands to think of, and do, all the nefarious things that idle minds dream of. Before the atomic bomb, society took care of many of the disaffected, alienated, and unemployed young men by killing of them in major wars. I make no pretense of knowing how civil society is going to deal with them now that the world no longer has major wars, and modern medicine practices death control while religions fight and cultures fight birth control. Just look at who you see on each edition of the nightly news fomenting revolution, civil war, terrorism, insurrection, etc. The nationality may be different, but the young man aspect is the same. My two cents worth.

Tres3[/QUOTE]Righto. As good ol' Dr. Freud noted, working is very important.

I am not so sure. A lot of these mass shooters were unemployed but even more were employed in menial jobs or careers. But if it is related to unemployment, why don't we see this shit in Europe (historically about twice the level of unemployment) or Latin America (historically about four times the level of unemployment)?

100% of all shootings involve guns so guns just possibly are part of the problem. Maybe.

[QUOTE=Dickhead; 430522]I am not so sure. A lot of these mass shooters were unemployed but even more were employed in menial jobs or careers. But if it is related to unemployment, why don't we see this shit in Europe (historically about twice the level of unemployment) or Latin America (historically about four times the level of unemployment)?

100% of all shootings involve guns so guns just possibly are part of the problem. Maybe.[/QUOTE]I agree that guns, too many of them and too easy to get, are the main cause of the mass killings. This is coming from a person who owns more than ten guns, but, with the exception of an inherited revolver, they are all hunting rifles and shotguns. Granted that they can easily kill a human, but they were not intended for human death like an assault weapon. The NRA and other people can say what they want to try and convince the world that an assault weapon is nothing more than a sophisticated hunting weapon, but only the truly stupid believe that nonsense. However, unless the USA Constitution is amended, every type of firearm will be, and should be, lawfully sold in the USA. That is my two cents worth on that subject.

HOWEVER, my previous post was not attempting to address the mass killings, and I apologize for any misunderstanding. It attempted to address the turmoil that we see all over the world. I offer my speculation that we do not see Europe, or any true democracy where there is some modicum of income distribution, going through as much turmoil, because the young men of those countries (albeit many are unemployed) still hold out some hope, have an economic safety net, and still believe in the rule of law. Since WWII, we have seen numerous different guerrilla movements, coups, and fallen dictatorships throughout Latin America, so that part of the world is not immune to disaffection with government or the military.

Tres3

Rich kids and poor kids in rich schools and in poor schools have carried out these massacres and the distinguishing factor is always GUNS. Access to guns, fascination with guns, and then inappropriate use of guns. Anyone who cannot see that guns are the main problem, is part of the problem. Perhaps there is an appropriate use of guns. I just have never seen or known one. That has led me to conclude that since people seem unable to use guns appropriately, it would be appropriate to restrict people's use of guns. Fucking shoot me if you don't agree.

[QUOTE=Tres3;430524]we do not see Europe, or any true democracy where there is some modicum of income distribution, going through as much turmoil, because the young men of those countries (albeit many are unemployed) still hold out some hope, have an economic safety net, and [B]still believe in the rule of law.[/B] Tres3[/QUOTE]I believe you up until the bolded point. If you look at Europe over time, the rule of law has been the exception and not the rule, and so that gets us back to the economic safety net. At the end of the day, a society is going to be judged on how it treats its weakest members. A small minority of selfish, extremist cocksuckers will always disagree, and that is what is so great about free elections. Eventually these selfish cocksuckers are shown for the extremist minority they truly are.

[QUOTE=Dickhead;430529]Rich kids and poor kids in rich schools and in poor schools have carried out these massacres and the distinguishing factor is always GUNS. Access to guns, fascination with guns, and then inappropriate use of guns. Anyone who cannot see that guns are the main problem, is part of the problem. Perhaps there is an appropriate use of guns. I just have never seen or known one. That has led me to conclude that since people seem unable to use guns appropriately, it would be appropriate to restrict people's use of guns. Fucking shoot me if you don't agree.[/QUOTE]And while we are at it, let's do away with vehicles, alcoholic beverages, and the list goes on and on because we all know of the gross misuse. Let us not forget the big picture. GUNS ARE TOOLS OF FREEDOM.

[QUOTE=Dickhead;430529]Rich kids and poor kids in rich schools and in poor schools have carried out these massacres and the distinguishing factor is always GUNS. Access to guns, fascination with guns, and then inappropriate use of guns. Anyone who cannot see that guns are the main problem, is part of the problem. Perhaps there is an appropriate use of guns. I just have never seen or known one. That has led me to conclude that since people seem unable to use guns appropriately, it would be appropriate to restrict people's use of guns. Fucking shoot me if you don't agree.[/QUOTE]And while we are at it, let's do away with vehicles, alcoholic beverages, and the list goes on and on because we all know of the gross misuse. Let us not forget the big picture. GUNS ARE TOOLS OF FREEDOM.

I bet that b!tch in CT feels pretty free right now. Bought a bunch of guns, learned how to shoot them, got shot by them. Works for me.

What planet to you people live on? Yes, some day we're going to end up with European levels of unemployment among youth and rioting in the streets, because of the policies of your party. I'm a selfish extremist cocksucker who has no problems with government providing a basic safety net for people who really need it. Not wanting to work does not qualify a person as really needing it. I have no problem with government (probably local or state as the federal government is incapable of doing anything efficiently) rationalizing health care so that all are covered and it doesn't eat up 17% of GDP. I do have a problem with government providing subsidized high priced health care to mongers so they'll have enough money to travel to foreign countries and screw hookers in places like Madahos. You think somewhere between 0. 12% (Pelosi and Schumer's cutoff. $1, 000, 000 income) and 2% (Obama's $200, 000 to $250, 000 cutoff) of the population, including many successful small businesses, are going to be able to finance a $1 trillion deficit and pay for your medical care and retirement? And continue to provide the same profits to grow investment capital and businesses? After the changes that are coming down the pike in 2013 you're not going to be able to get much more out of the wealthy. And what you're getting is going to satisfy only a small part of the deficit. The USA system will be as "progressive" or more progressive than Europe, considering we have no VAT.

[QUOTE=Rocky2;430534]And while we are at it, let's do away with vehicles, alcoholic beverages, and the list goes on and on because we all know of the gross misuse. Let us not forget the big picture. GUNS ARE TOOLS OF FREEDOM.[/QUOTE]Yeah, when you stay up all night waiting for someone to come to your mansion and invade your privacy. Or.

When someone is going to carjack your hot GTO. Or.

When someone comes and squeeze your hot gf ass. Or.

When someone wants to you to give up the $20, 000 that you carry around. Or.

When the Taliban decides to invade Texas. Or?

Oh, of course, I forgot, you are a Freedom Fighter

I think society overlooks or ignores mental health. So many of the perpetrators of these killings are nuts and afterwards everyone comes forward and says "yeah, the guy was nuts".

[QUOTE=Dickhead; 430522]I am not so sure. A lot of these mass shooters were unemployed but even more were employed in menial jobs or careers. But if it is related to unemployment, why don't we see this shit in Europe (historically about twice the level of unemployment) or Latin America (historically about four times the level of unemployment)?

100% of all shootings involve guns so guns just possibly are part of the problem. Maybe.[/QUOTE]

Can only imagine what the headlines would have said if the father had an arsenal in his house with a disturbed kid."Loser father causes."