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bratboy wrote:

radarman wrote:

This doesn't even touch on all the looting, burglary, and general thuggery you saw afterwards that you really didn't see in Galveston or other areas hard hit by hurricanes.

The situations were slightly different.

Yeah, I know - that was what I was pointing out! The folks in Texas and Mississippi seemed to have a 'can do' attitude. The folks in NOLA seemed to have a 'why the hell haven't you rescued me yet?' attitude.

ShnickyShnack wrote:

Just out of curiosity, but do you have the slightest idea of what the smurf you're talking about?

I mean are you just going by what you saw on TV or what?

There's nothing quite like white suburbanites discussing the "inner city" on an internet message board when they've never actually lived for any appreciable time IN a lower class inner city neighborhood.

bedstuy wrote:

ShnickyShnack wrote:

Just out of curiosity, but do you have the slightest idea of what the smurf you're talking about?

I mean are you just going by what you saw on TV or what?

There's nothing quite like white suburbanites discussing the "inner city" on an internet message board when they've never actually lived for any appreciable time IN a lower class inner city neighborhood.

Ah, I see. So you have to have an address in the inner city to realize what's going on in them. I've lived close enough to Baltimore and Washington DC to know what is going on there. Besides actually seeing it, I read the local papers, which covered in quite a bit of detail. Fair enough, it's not NOLA. However, I spent enough time there to see that the situation looked awfully darn similar to what I saw in MD. I can't say that I've ever been to Chicago or Detroit, so my info there is purely from newspapers and other articles.

Maybe I'm not down and out, and living in the ghetto, but I'm not exactly some Midwesterner living in Dubuque talking about the problem either. The fact is, there IS an entitlement mentality in a lot of the people who live in these areas. There is also a sense of hopelessness that seems to keep people who live there from leaving. That's the subset that generally doesn't cause trouble, unless they get caught drinking and driving. When you layer in the gangs, and gang mentality, it gets even worse. The folks who just feel hopeless won't hardly duck out of their houses for fear of the gangs. It's a witches brew of bad attitudes.

Sure, it's a pretty tough nut to crack, but if you could ever get past those prevailing attitudes, there might be a chance to salvage these places. Unfortunately, it doesn't look too likely.

radarman wrote:

bedstuy wrote:

ShnickyShnack wrote:

Just out of curiosity, but do you have the slightest idea of what the smurf you're talking about?

I mean are you just going by what you saw on TV or what?

There's nothing quite like white suburbanites discussing the "inner city" on an internet message board when they've never actually lived for any appreciable time IN a lower class inner city neighborhood.

Ah, I see. So you have to have an address in the inner city to realize what's going on in them. I've lived close enough to Baltimore and Washington DC to know what is going on there. Besides actually seeing it, I read the local papers, which covered in quite a bit of detail. Fair enough, it's not NOLA. However, I spent enough time there to see that the situation looked awfully darn similar to what I saw in MD. I can't say that I've ever been to Chicago or Detroit, so my info there is purely from newspapers and other articles.

Maybe I'm not down and out, and living in the ghetto, but I'm not exactly some Midwesterner living in Dubuque talking about the problem either. The fact is, there IS an entitlement mentality in a lot of the people who live in these areas. There is also a sense of hopelessness that seems to keep people who live there from leaving. That's the subset that generally doesn't cause trouble, unless they get caught drinking and driving. When you layer in the gangs, and gang mentality, it gets even worse. The folks who just feel hopeless won't hardly duck out of their houses for fear of the gangs. It's a witches brew of bad attitudes.

Sure, it's a pretty tough nut to crack, but if you could ever get past those prevailing attitudes, there might be a chance to salvage these places. Unfortunately, it doesn't look too likely.

So basically you're as qualified an expert on the attitudes of people in NOLA as you are on the cultural intricacies of Hmong tribesmen in the highlands of Vietnam.

We sure do appreciate you weighing in on the topic, sir. Definitely brought a wealth of knowledge to the table.

radarman wrote:

bratboy wrote:

Farmerkev wrote:

I think you should give it more consideration.

Oh yes yes, let's think about it.

Those horrible liberals, what with their desires to spend more money on education, expand access to college, expand access to healthcare, improve public transportation, raise the minimum wage, teach comprehensive sex-ed, etc. etc. etc.  Why won't they leave the poor man alone and stop holding him back???



I'm not claiming that every answer given is necessarily the best one, despite being well-intentioned.  What I do reject is the moronic notion that liberals possess a desire to keep the poor from advancing.

1) Spend more money on education - Agreed
2) Expand access to college - Agreed, so long as the focus is on merit, and not other factors
3) Expand access to health care - Agreed, so long as an effort is made to reign in costs
4) Improve public transportation - Depends on the situation
5) Raise the minimum wage - Not sure. Unemployment among minimum wage earners will likely increase as a result.
6) Teach comprehensive sex-ed. Depends on the age and maturity of the children.

Man, I sound like a flaming Liberal - and yet I still consider myself to be pretty darn conservative.

The trouble with self-proclaimed Liberals is that they often lose sight of the most wise course of action when helping their fellow man, and end up doing more harm than good. Welfare, for example, is a good idea as a stop-gap measure to keep people alive; but without a focus on encouraging able-bodied persons to work, it turns into a demoralizing entitlement program. Affirmative action is great when it helps qualified minority students get into schools they couldn't otherwise afford, but demoralizes qualified students who are turned away merely because they aren't a 'qualified' minority, in favor of an unqualified minority student.

Liberalism often suffers from foolish compassion, which can be more cruel than inaction.

The thing is, a true conservative is liberal enough to actually do the things necessary to preserve the health, integrity, and stability of something rather than just maintaining status quo.

Huh.

"Allah fatwa fodder, whose dart is heavin' heathen' by name hussein"

Last edited by daemon (2008-10-15 6:59 am)

radarman wrote:

bratboy wrote:

radarman wrote:

This doesn't even touch on all the looting, burglary, and general thuggery you saw afterwards that you really didn't see in Galveston or other areas hard hit by hurricanes.

The situations were slightly different.

Yeah, I know - that was what I was pointing out! The folks in Texas and Mississippi seemed to have a 'can do' attitude. The folks in NOLA seemed to have a 'why the hell haven't you rescued me yet?' attitude.

Biloxi was doing quite well for itself a few months after katrina. The people helping to build habitat houses were more interested in getting their sweat equity in than complaining about FEMA.

Daniel wrote:

CG5Addict wrote:

Oh MY F***ing GOD!!!! Is this guy for real??? Gotta agree with Tallgeese, who in the hell would be ridiculous enough to tie Obama, ACORN, Reverend Wright, Bill Ayers, and Barney Frank together in one breath.

Also be racist enough to say "I actually believe that what has taken place here in addition to liberal Democrat legislation, such as the Great Society and the war on poverty, which a lot of people will now acknowledge really busted up the black family by the government taking the place of the husband and father, free to roam around and bear no responsibility. The mother remained the mother, she got the financial assistance from this legislation, from the federal government. The federal government became the father. The father didn't have to hang around in order for the kids to be okay, depending on how you define okay. This guy talks out of his a**!! Get this over paid fat guy off the air!!

Aren't you voting for McCain?

This a trick question?

Or your really Joking right?

Daniel wrote:

CG5Addict wrote:

Daniel wrote:

Aren't you voting for McCain?

This a trick question?

Or your really Joking right?

I don't know, I do recall in a recent thread you expressing some pretty homophobic views, which seemed more in line with what comes from the McCainiac crowd.  I found your complaints about racism in light of aforementioned homophobic comments somewhat incredulous.

I don't recall a thread where I was expressing any homophobic views at all, Because I'm not homophobic at all, I do believe in a man and wife marriage, and in my state of California I am voting yes on prop 8.

Your the one that must be a McCain supporter. Incredulous no, but for someone to make a comment like that, that is offensive and racisit, he should keep his big fat mouth shut.

CG5Addict wrote:

I don't recall a thread where I was expressing any homophobic views at all, Because I'm not homophobic at all, I do believe in a man and wife marriage, and in my state of California I am voting yes on prop 8.

Um what?

well, technically, the imprison part does fit into the profit scheme. imho.

Now, I do remember a discussion about how Republicans weren't racist. This was purpertrated by a Repubican group.

If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, and walks like a duck, ...

Everybody does it.