Originally Posted By Pixie Glitter So the hubby and I hosted a poker game this past Friday night, as we have been doing off and on for many years. All of the players are people we have known and loved for a long time. We're talking years of friendship, and in one case, one of our siblings. Early in the evening the talk turned to politics, and as it was rapidly evident that the people starting the conversation had radically different views than some of us do, both my husband and I spoke up separately and lightly asked everyone to stay off politics during poker night. Alas, later in the evening, some of our guests got into politics yet again, and could not be stopped. In a nutshell, the majority of the people at the game are, um, let's say not fans of our President, and they feel the US either is already or is rapidly becoming a socialist country, and that we are almost certainly headed for complete anarchy and chaos and robbing and looting and everybody should buy guns. No, I'm not kidding or exaggerating. So being that the WE section of LP is the biggest group of people I know who like to discuss this sort of thing, I thought I'd take an informal poll. I am hoping to do the poll in a separate thread so we can just see a yea or nay. Hence, this thread, so people can talk about it in more detail. Oh, and I should also add just for clarity's sake that every one of the people who were convinced the country is heading for complete meltdown is intelligent and well educated.
Originally Posted By Pixie Glitter I am not only flabbergasted but deeply disturbed by the conversation from the aforementioned night. I knew that some of these particular friends were very conservative Republicans, but I was seriously shocked by much of what I heard. And there was such an ugly undertone of implied racism to much of it. I'm telling you, I couldn't sleep for ages Friday night, it was that upsetting to hear some of the stuff coming out of the mouths of people I have truly loved for a long time. (And I'm not saying I now don't love them because they have wildly different opinions than my own, just trying to convey how upsetting and shocking the conversation was to me). I dunno, maybe I'm being a Pollyanna here, but it is unfathomable to me that the current financial crisis, terrible as it is, is going to devolve to the point where if you don't have a gun, you won't be able to prevent people breaking into your home to steal all your stuff. I am very curious to hear what you all think about this. Hopefully we can have a discussion without it deteriorating into name calling and blaming. It would be great to have an actual dialogue.
Originally Posted By RockyMtnMinnie I just can't see the world as that scary of a place. I am concerned certainly about the economy, but I feel that we will come back around. Well, I suppose if the worst happens, I know how to cook on a wood burning stove and have no problems peeing behind a tree. I'll just pack up my family and cats and go build a log cabin in the mountains somewhere. If the government falls apart, there's plenty of land I can claim over in Rocky Mountain National Park. =P
Originally Posted By LadyKluck No I don't think everyone should go out and buy guns, but in case the US does head the direction your poker friends think it will, I'm already prepared. DH already has several guns. (They're for hunting people, don't freak out.)
Originally Posted By Pixie Glitter Cannabilism within the first four posts. Dang, World Events really *is* a tough crowd.
Originally Posted By mele Yeah, I will not give into living with that kind of fear. If it happens, I'll deal with it then but I won't live in fear of it. I had a hard time listening to some of my mom's ideas about Obama (mostly spoon-fed her by FOX News) and was taken aback by her refusal to watch his election night speech or any of the inagural festivities. Even if you hated the man's policies, on some level it was amazing for this country to have elected a black man. I found her refusal to be so narrow-minded and petty. My SIL and her husband thought it was really funny that their dogs had Obama toys to chew on. They don't really follow politics yet seemed to have strong beliefs based on untruths. More people to avoid. LOL I don't really have many republican friends. I can't help it. The past 8 years has made it really hard to be friends with people who hold differing political views because of the incredibly important things that have happened: war, torture, racism, etc. I think I'd rather not know about someone's opposing views on this subject if I want to be their friend. I know that sounds awful but on some issues, there is only right vs. wrong. Petty, I know.
Originally Posted By LadyKluck RMM, I'm with you. If things do get to worst case senario I really do think we (my family) would still be ok for the same reasons you mentioned! I was brought up spending most summers camping or at my step family's cabin. I have friends & family like yours Pixie, I refuse to talk religion with my Aunt Becky, I will not even bring up hunting or guns with my boss at work for fear of losing my job! I still like these people, there's just certain subjects that don't get brought up for fear of hurting relationships. (I'm typing from my phone so sorry for slow responses.)
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< we are almost certainly headed for complete anarchy and chaos and robbing and looting and everybody should buy guns. No, I'm not kidding or exaggerating. >>> It's funny you should mention this, as this link just appeared today on Drudge: <a href="http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=91097" target="_blank">http://www.worldnetdaily.com/i...Id=91097</a> It would not surprise me if this guy's message is being spread elsewhere as well.
Originally Posted By Sport Goofy I would not be surprised to see a significant increase in crime during the coming year. There is a lot of desperationg building among the growing unemployed. This is not something to take lightly. Do we all need guns? I'm not sure that's the case, but I would be a lot more careful about walking the streets of town after dark and would certainly not expose any valuable items in public.
Originally Posted By Pixie Glitter I agree with that assessment, Sport Goofy. I think it's quite likely that crime will increase due to the economic downturn. But in my admittedly not well-informed opinion, I don't see us headed toward a complete breakdown.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< I agree with that assessment, Sport Goofy. I think it's quite likely that crime will increase due to the economic downturn. But in my admittedly not well-informed opinion, I don't see us headed toward a complete breakdown. >>> That's exactly what I was going to say.
Originally Posted By mawnck I think it's going to depend a lot on what happens and where you are when it does. Yes, I do expect an increase in crime, yes, there are going to be places (New Orleans springs to mind) that you don't want to be if there's a meltdown, and yes, I do see a good possibility of a *real* financial meltdown, the present situation being just a prelude. I just don't think that in most areas it's going to get bad enough to warrant vigilante justice. It wasn't a nationwide shootin' gallery in the 30s, and there's no reason it should be now. And even if there is a meltdown with rampaging mobs, said mobs aren't going to be instantaneous. You'll have time to head for safer ground without needing to blast your way out. That being said ... >>I am not only flabbergasted but deeply disturbed by the conversation from the aforementioned night. I knew that some of these particular friends were very conservative Republicans, but I was seriously shocked by much of what I heard. And there was such an ugly undertone of implied racism to much of it. I'm telling you, I couldn't sleep for ages Friday night, it was that upsetting to hear some of the stuff coming out of the mouths of people I have truly loved for a long time.<< THAT'S what has me scared ... to ... death. I know what this is going to sound like, but durn the torpedoes, somebody has to say it or it don't get said. The US of A has the makings of its very own Nazi-like party, and I'm afraid your friends are all revved up and ready to volunteer for the SS. They've got their leaders - Rush, Winky, Huckabee, Coulter, Hannity, - and they've got their scapegoats - immigrant laborers and GLBTs. They're extremely nationalistic and they consider other races and religions to be their inferiors. Toss in a dash of hyperinflation, stir carefully and presto! You have yourself 1920s Germany. If we do need guns, it's going to be because of rampaging mobs of wingnuts, not the desperate unemployed that you're thinking of. The GOP and conservative Christians have been pouring powder into this powder keg for years now. If something lights it, WE might be the bad guys in WWIII. Right now, I'd put the chances of such a thing happening at 10%, which is 9.999% more than I'm comfortable with. This is what I was going on about when Winky was holding those ugly campaign rallies, and I think we're a bit closer now than we were then.
Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains Pixie I know what you mean with people. My sister and I are barely speaking after my refusal to think The President is ruining the economy - This was after she told me the news on the local Bart cop shooting a man in the back already handcuffed and on the ground was wrong and the man deserved what he got, because he was in a gang and fighting on the train, and she also said if her DD11 was raped or such she would make her have the baby, because unless it was going to cause her DD to lose her life - there was not reason for abortion - even in the case of incest/rape! I agree with RMM and mele - I will not live in fear of what might happen - I don't want a gun in my house.
Originally Posted By avro_imagineer <- Has fired a Nintendo Zapper. Has not fired a real gun. The only person in my family to fire a real live gun is my sister. (Interestingly my Uncles gun in California...) She said it made her feel powerful... She liked the feeling of firing guns and wants to move to Georgia so she can get a few guns. But aside from that no one in my immediate family has ever touched a real honest to goodness gun. I don't think people will be shooting people just because and all that anarchy stuff. But I'd also be prepared to rough it. (Hey Rockie can you build me a nice 4 bedroom log cabin?!)
Originally Posted By dshyates I have a Taurus 9mm Millennium Pro and my conceal carry permit. I have to admit that I haven't carried it since I left Denver ('03). But while I was in Denver I worked all alone, all night long (6P-6A), in a really bad part of town. So I carried it everyday then. <a href="http://world.guns.ru/handguns/hg196-e.htm" target="_blank">http://world.guns.ru/handguns/...96-e.htm</a>
Originally Posted By Lisann22 Wow Pix. I'm stunned but at the same time really saddened and my stress level rises each time I read more and more of this. I'm living everyday in a very stressfull climate with my job. We keep laying off and laying off. It's getting bleaker and bleaker. I don't know if it's just that I don't know the area as well but Atlanta's crime feels worse each day that I'm here. I listen to crap everyday that blows my mind; racist, belittling, paranoid conversations. But no I'm not buying a gun, I've been a victim of a gun, I just won't allow it in my home. <sigh>
Originally Posted By Lisann22 And I don't think the USA is going to implode but I gotta tell you I saw on CNN the tent community in Sacramento and I was blown away. It's like a scene out of the Grapes of Wrath. That actually brought tears to my eyes. I don't know much about it I could a few minutes of a report on CNN. I'm pretty busy at work trying to save jobs each day so I don't get home in time to watch much TV.
