Jump to content

General Political Thread


Recommended Posts

  • Replies 3.8k
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

I don't know if you have been following the current state of affairs in WI, but there is an interesting little free speech issue occurring.  As you are probably aware 2010 Scott Walker was elected governor of WI.  One of the first bills that was pushed through in his term was Act 10, among other things limiting collective bargaining rights of public sector unions.  This caused massive protests and a recall election of Scott Walker.  The recall ultimately failed.  After all of this a small impromptu group has been gathering at the state capitol at noon to sing protest songs.  The "Solidarity Singers" as they became known as were a relatively small group singing over lunch time for about an hour.  Maybe a slight disruption, but nothing major.

 

Recently the DOA (department of Administration) with direction from Scott Walker has instituted a policy where any group of more than 4 must have a permit to be at the capitol or be subject to a $200.00 fine.  This by many is seen as an infringement on the 1st amendment rights of the singers and by others as a no big deal.  As you might imagine this new policy has not sat well with many in the progressive community and currently they are more and more singers/protesters showing up and given tickets daily.  The police now have begun arresting people not only participating in the protests but watching.  Even going as far as arresting journalists who are covering the protests/confrontations.  

 

So I know this has gotten no national media attention and outside of WI you probably don't care, but it is of great interest to me.  Just wonder if anyone has any thoughts on this?  It would interesting to get the pulse of the forum.  

Link to post
Share on other sites

Same here, but the $10k item is chambered in .22. Cheaper to shoot, but I'd rather shell out 4x that much for a nice .45 Thompson.

Geez ow - that is a lot to pay for authenticity, but ...

And hey, I am a reasonable, pretty liberal guy who (gasp!) thinks guns are cool. I don't view that as a defect, or a fetish and do not accept at all that it automatically makes one demented to be interested in and responsibly use firearms. If I ever hit it big, I plan to collect a wide range of World War II-era weaponry, including an M-1 Garand, a BAR and, if at all possible, a panzerfaust.

Link to post
Share on other sites

 

Recently the DOA (department of Administration) with direction from Scott Walker has instituted a policy where any group of more than 4 must have a permit to be at the capitol or be subject to a $200.00 fine.  This by many is seen as an infringement on the 1st amendment rights of the singers and by others as a no big deal.  As you might imagine this new policy has not sat well with many in the progressive community and currently they are more and more singers/protesters showing up and given tickets daily.  The police now have begun arresting people not only participating in the protests but watching.  Even going as far as arresting journalists who are covering the protests/confrontations.  

 

So I know this has gotten no national media attention and outside of WI you probably don't care, but it is of great interest to me.  Just wonder if anyone has any thoughts on this?  It would interesting to get the pulse of the forum.  

No big surprise to anyone on here, but I am sickened and disgusted by this. Sadly, not really surprised either.

Our right to assemble has been greatly eroded over time...really, it started with the Chicago Democratic National Convention in '68, where cops were bashing people's heads in. I live in a relatively comfortable suburban area, and typically manage to avoid both crime-ridden areas and those that are being heavily policed for this or that reason....consequently, I often forget that the U.S. is a police state, and has been for quite some time.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Speaking of uncomfortable and dangerous places, our president will be talking about Syria at 2:15 p.m. EDT. If I were Assad, I would be packing away the good china as it's gonna get a little explosive at his house soon.

Link to post
Share on other sites

No big surprise to anyone on here, but I am sickened and disgusted by this. Sadly, not really surprised either.

Our right to assemble has been greatly eroded over time...really, it started with the Chicago Democratic National Convention in '68, where cops were bashing people's heads in. I live in a relatively comfortable suburban area, and typically manage to avoid both crime-ridden areas and those that are being heavily policed for this or that reason....consequently, I often forget that the U.S. is a police state, and has been for quite some time.

 

another fun thing with this, is the when you get a permit the signer is held liable for any damage, injuries etc. that occurs.  Which wouldn't be all that alarming but the Walker administration also said that the damage to the capitol held during the protest of 2011 were in the millions of dollars when it was only in the thousands.  

Link to post
Share on other sites
Guest Don Draper

really, it started with the Chicago Democratic National Convention in '68, where cops were bashing people's heads in.

You mean, "it started with white people in 1968..."

Link to post
Share on other sites
Guest Don Draper

After all of this a small impromptu group has been gathering at the state capitol at noon to sing protest songs.  The "Solidarity Singers" as they became known as were a relatively small group singing over lunch time for about an hour.  Maybe a slight disruption, but nothing major.

 

Recently the DOA (department of Administration) with direction from Scott Walker has instituted a policy where any group of more than 4 must have a permit to be at the capitol or be subject to a $200.00 fine.  This by many is seen as an infringement on the 1st amendment rights of the singers and by others as a no big deal.  As you might imagine this new policy has not sat well with many in the progressive community and currently they are more and more singers/protesters showing up and given tickets daily.  

Be honest: are the singers any good?

Link to post
Share on other sites
Guest Don Draper

I'm not sure that I would enjoy reimagined renditions of the Battle Hymn of the Republic at my place of work either, but that's no reason to take the ball and go home.

Link to post
Share on other sites

If I were Assad, I would be packing away the good china as it's gonna get a little explosive at his house soon.

I doubt there will be any strikes against Assad himself. According to news reports he's already emptied barracks, hidden missiles and moved valuable assets, so I suppose he'll just hunker in a bunker and wait out the short cruise missile campaign. It'll probably be a light slap on the face, as well as a thinly veiled warning to Iran.

Link to post
Share on other sites

He's a family friend and actually a really nice guy. He's fairly shy, however.

 

A family friend? Really?

Did he ever mention that he ran biggest Medicare fraud case in U.S. history?

I would not vote for that guy for city council, much less governor.

A series of New York Times articles, beginning in 1996, began scrutinizing Columbia/HCA's business and Medicare billing practices. These culminated in the company being raided in July 1997 by Federal agents searching for documents. Among the crimes uncovered were doctors being offered financial incentives to bring in patients, falsifying diagnostic codes to increase reimbursements from Medicare and other government programs, and billing the government for unnecessary lab tests.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Well, you know what they say: if you lie down with dogs, you get up with fleas.

I always found it kind of funny that he claimed he knew nothing about the greatest Medicare fraud in American history as it happened under his nose while he was the CEO of that company. If you see him, please feel free to tell him that at least one of his constituents consider him the shittiest governor in Florida history. Cannot wait until he is gone.

 

Link to post
Share on other sites

I'm saying it could be a bit contagious having a sleazeball dirtbag like Rick Scott for a family friend, and I certainly wouldn't brag about it. Hixter seems like a pretty straightforward guy, so I'm sure he understands I only have his best interests at heart. :lol

If the moderators want to delete it, it's certainly not going to make my blood pressure go up. Couldn't care less. I'd tell Rick Scott to his face that I think he's a total douche.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Hixter: "Hey Rick, some dude on this internet board I hang out on and debate important issuse with would like me to tell you that 'You're a total douche""

 

Gov Scott:  "Um OK"

Link to post
Share on other sites

Hixter: "Hey Rick, some dude on this internet board I hang out on and debate important issuse with would like me to tell you that 'You're a total douche""

 

Gov Scott:  "Um OK"

I'm sure family friends get to call him Dicky or Fucknose or Flash or whatever his fraternity nickname was.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...

×
×
  • Create New...