billsfan1959

@Tiberius I see you conveniently neglected to answer this question. Please, this is your chance to tell us what you would do and how things should be done. Well, a few posts back you attributed motives to a video you saw without knowing the facts - simply because the victim was black and an assailant was white. And stats about blacks killed by police say nothing about motivations - and have no context to them. Yet, they are used to support claims of systemic racism in law enforcement. What does that say?

No, you are not engaing in honest conversation. The sentencing guidelines for crack cocaine were implemented precisely to help black communities. They were being destroyed by the addictions and violence associated with the use and sale of crack cocaine. It was believed, as is often the case, stricter punishment would be a deterrent. It wasn't and it sent a lot of young black men to prison for ridiculously long sentences. Fortunately, they repealed those guidelines. The end result doesn't make the initial intent racist, no matter how much you want it to. Try reading a little history instead of looking for bogeymen lurking around every corner to justify your irrational fears and beliefs. Don't you know stats are only relevant when they support accusations of racism against blacks?

My stance is racism exists, just as do so many other forms of biases and prejudices. Human beings are human beings. However, the racism of today is not the racism of 2000, or the racism of 1960, or the racism of 1920, etc. I do not believe there is "systemic racism" running through all agencies and aspects of our society.

I have no idea whether the incident in the video was racially motivated or not, as very few facts have been disclosed. Regardless, posting an isolated incident of a white man (the woman looks hispanic?) attacking a black woman is no more proof of widespread racisim among whites than showing a video of a black person attacking a white person and claiming widespread racism among blacks. Why does every individual act have to be turned into some sweeping generalization of a group. There are bad people of all races who do bad things - you just watched a couple of them in that video. Why can we just not hold them accountable for what they did and not attribute their qualities to everyone else?

I am not a fan of long sentences for first time, non-violent offenders. I am also a big proponent of prison reform. I believe there should be a complete overhaul in this country in regard to how prisoners are housed, prisoner safety, punishment issues, rehabilitation issues, loss of certain rights as citizens, etc.

While you still can.....

Family Unit: "Wife is...subordinate to the husband." Somebody needs to tell my wife....

@RocCityRoller Good post, brother Rising above one's origins and/or expectations of him/her is always a good story. What is your relationship with your father now? Just curious. I had similiar (and other) issues with my father that I never had the opportunity to resolve with him.

That, and because they didn't bring in enough tax revenue to keep them around...

I didn't say those things and you know it, so quit being a d**k and engage in honest dialogue, like an adult. If you were the Police Chief and 75% of all of the violent crime in your jurisdiction existed in a 10 block area, and most of that violent crime revolved around control of drugs: 1) How would you allocate your resources? 2) Would steps would you take to reduce the problem?

Welcome to the real world where the war on drugs exists every where; however, the greatest concentration of law enforcement regarding drugs falls within the areas that have the highest rates of violent crime. Why? because you cannot separate the two. This just in. The highest violent crime rates in this country are in African American and Hispanic/Lation communities. That isn't racist. That is a fact. You just might be the most ignorant poster on this board, and that is quite an accomplishment with posters like BillZStime and Warren.

Yes, good intentions, and the sentencing guidelines were pushed hardest during the Clinton years and spearheaded by people like Biden. However, they actually were good intentions. Crack cocaine and the associated dependency and violent crime were decimating black communities. I did know there were sentencing guidelines because I worked violent crime in those communities during that period. I can tell you, first hand, the devastation that everything associated with crack cocaine brought on those communities. I didn't agree with the guidelines and I literally withheld information from the courts to lessen sentences. I was a big proponent of getting rid of the sentencing guidelines. However, it doesn't diminish the fact that they were created as a means of trying to help black communities. As usual, you have no clue what you are talking about. You should say less.

Go back and read what I wrote. I didn't say drugs were not everywhere. I said the greatest law enforcement presence regarding drugs is in the highest crime areas. Does your neighborhood have shootings at all hours of the night? Are people being robbed at gunpoint? Is the violence so bad that your neighbors don't want to let their children out in the yard to play? If it was, you would see a much greater law enforcement presence and a much greater rate of arrests for drugs, because that is how they get to the violent criminals any many cases.

1. Drugs are at the root of the highest crime areas in virtually every city. Those areas also happen to be disproportionately black and draw a disproportionate amount of law enforcement response. You cannot attack violent crime in those areas without attacking the drug problem. So, no, they are not arrested and jailed at a higher rate of actual law enforcement response. 65% of all violent crime in this country, and 75% of all murders, occur in African American and Hispanic/Latino communities - and drugs are at the center of most of it. 2. The greatest disproportion regarding black incarceration stemmed from sentencing guidelines for crack cocaine. The reason behind those guidelines was to do something to stop the complete destruction of black communities from crack cocaine. Unfortunately, good intentions swung the pendulum too far. In 2010, those guidelines were repealed. Since that time, the incarceration of blacks has dropped by 40%, greater then any other group. 3. Blacks do not die at the hands of the police at a greater rate, given the disproportionate level of law enforcement response in black communities. Why don't you do a little research before you post?

Sorry to hear. I had the same problem, had to cancel a trip back to see my mother. She's only 80 though, and in good health. But still.

I accept the existence of racism, I believe this push regarding "white priviledge" is more about blame and punishment than "awareness," and I reject the foundational premise behind the slogan, "Black Lives Matter."

No. It didn't. Several people were dismissed or left. Most of the people involved in the pandemic infrastructure are still there, but reassigned where their expertise could be used in collaboration in other areas as well. As usual, you have no idea what you are talking about. I like you better under your Melania Trump persona. At least then I know your posts are intentionally idiotic.

Question 6. Why do none of questions 1-5 have anything to do with the issue of whether or not schools should open?

Tibs' moral compass only points left....

I wish I was more knowledgeable about the market and investments. I have no idea why; however, financial matters make my eyes glaze over. I pulled all my money (My Thrift Account) out of the market when it first started to drop in Mid Feb. I have never touched it as I have always looked at the market as a long term thing. However, given the virus, the uncertainty about the election, etc., I thought I would just put it somewhere safe until I feel some stability. Probably the wrong move....

What do you get when you cross an insomniac, an agnostic, and a dyslexic? Someone who stays up all night wondering if there really is a doG. I know...an old joke but it just popped into my head when I read your post. I went through an agnostic phase many years ago now. I still have far more questions than answers, but I do believe in something greater than us. Anyway, different thread for that conversation.

Apparently, If you believe Reddit...

I’m going to go out on a limb and say the son is the winner here....

Why are you getting so angry over a topic of which you display very little knowledge? Why are you so angry in general?

Thanks. Never had a low country boil. Just found a place: https://savannahseafoodshack.com/