Originally Posted By DyGDisney >>>But Dems like SPP hate free speech<<< Wow! That's quite a blanket statement about Democrats. Let me make one about Republicans then. I really have come to believe that Republicans hate free speech based on their reaction to the Occupy protests around the country. In my own town the occupy signs are constantly being painted over by, I'm sure, quite immature people who hate free speech. It really irks them that there are people who want things to change....for the better. There is no violence at the occupy meets in my town, just a small group of EMPLOYED, mostly middle aged, adults trying to get the message across that government greed and corruption needs to end. But, the Republicans don't like that, do they. In a thread about the Republicans trying to prevent HISTORY from being taught the way it TRULY occurred, you have the nerve to say Dems are against free speech. Ironic.
Originally Posted By skinnerbox Donny is so steeped in cognitive dissonance about who controls his precious Republican party now, he cannot formulate any logical arguments to defend them and their actions. So he's forced to use illogical gibberish and GOP talking point lies about Democrats because it's all he has. Jewish Nazis. They all act like Jewish Nazis. Defending the indefensible.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 Donny, just in the unlikely event you'd like a reality check: 1). People protecting those who hire illegal immigrants is one of the few truly bi-partisan things we see these days. Neither party has ever gotten serious about punishing employers, because the dirty little secret about American business is that American business LOVES it. They love cheap labor. And they give lavishly to both parties, guaranteeing that the one action that could actually result in making a dent in illegal immigration (prosecuting the employers) never happens, leaving us to yell at each other around the edges. Entire industries like chicken processing and hotels/restaurants have become very used to this cheap labor, and are loathe to give it up. The titans of these industries (the ones giving the money) tend to vote Republican, actually, but they give lavishly to both. 2). It tends to be Democrats who support things like ESL (English as a second language) being taught in schools, and Republicans who tend to oppose it, so your second point makes no sense. Also, for all the teeth gnashing about speaking Spanish, most 2nd and 3rd generation Hispanics have learned English, just like most 2nd and 3rd-gen immigrants from Italy, China, Germany, Korea, and every other place did (and still do). Some 1st-gen never do, just as many 1st-gen immigrants from other places never did. Earlier in our history, you could easily walk into enclaves in New York and hear nothing but Italian, or Yiddish; or hear nothing but German in Milwaukee (did you know that into the 20th Century there were more German-speakers and German-language newspapers than English-speakers and English-language newspapers?) But then their kids and grandkids learned English, just as 2nd and 3rd gen Hispanics do. It's just that Hispanics are the biggest current group of immigrants, with many 1st-gen among them, so that's what you notice. But the phenomenon (not to mention to know-nothing response to it) is anything but new.
Originally Posted By TomSawyer Trying to conflate migrant workers with slavery? Migrant workers come here voluntarily. Slaves did not. Migrant workers can leave their employer at any time. Slaves could only die, be sold, or be freed. Migrant workers still have fundamental human and civil rights regardless of their citizenship status. Slaves are property and have no recognized rights. The Constitution expressly forbids slavery. There is nothing in the Constitution forbidding someone from hiring an undocumented migrant. They aren't even close to the same thing.
Originally Posted By mele Kirkland got so much snow...about 12" on two different days! I didn't even bother trying to go to work. If the buses weren't running, I wasn't going to try to leave. I did consider taking a bus into Seattle on Friday (if needed). It would apparently take me 1.5 hours and FOUR buses to get to where I work...less than 11 miles from my house. (I drove instead.) Since I didn't drive much and just stayed home, I kind of enjoyed it. I baked tons of treats and ate like a pig, though. Unfortunate side effect of being home-bound. LOL How'd you guys do?
Originally Posted By Princessjenn5795 We got about 16" of snow here in Snoqualmie, which I don't actually mind too much, but they didn't plow any of the hills that lead to the freeway for the first couple of days, and then the ice storm Wednesday made everything really tough-it knocked out the power from Wednesday night to Saturday evening. Thank God I have generator and an awesome husband willing to wait in line at the gas station for an hour so we can run the generator! I do have to say that after a week basically stuck in the house with the kids I was going a little nuts I did have to laugh though...I went to the grocery store on Thursday when everything was covered in ice and I did okay in my little Ford Focus but there were a bunch of guys in big 4-wheel drives spinning out all over place. Made feel good.
Originally Posted By TomSawyer We had 6 inches in north Seattle. I had to go to work - hospitals don't close. Luckily my wife's company didn't have to go in and she was able to do most of her work from home.
Originally Posted By fkurucz >>I did have to laugh though...I went to the grocery store on Thursday when everything was covered in ice and I did okay in my little Ford Focus but there were a bunch of guys in big 4-wheel drives spinning out all over place. Made feel good.<< 4 wheel drive (as in pickup trucks) performs poorly on icy roads. All wheel drive is better for such conditions. Having worn out tires hurts too. And then of course there is the "dumb" factor, people who drive like idiots because they have all wheel drive.
Originally Posted By Princessjenn5795 It was more the idiot factor...people thinking they could either a) go as fast as they want because of their vehicle, or b) not realizing that flooring the gas pedal when you get stuck is only going to make matters worse. Some people buy 4-wheel or all wheel drives and think they don't have to bother learning how to drive in the snow. It doesn't work that way. Luckily, my dad grew up in upstate New York and taught me to drive in the snow when I still had my learners permit. A lot of people around here never learn how to drive in the snow because they rarely have to.
Originally Posted By TomSawyer Front wheel drive and Blizzaks have gotten me everywhere that I needed to go. And I still get 30 mpg in the city.
Originally Posted By mele The ice was better than 6" of rainy, soppy snow. I nearly got stuck in Madison Park, then, while on 405, there was a puddle so large, it covered my entire car and nearly caused me to lose control of my car. There were cars stuck on our street. (Sorry to hijack your topic, skinner.)
Originally Posted By fkurucz Blizzaks are wonderful tires. I was able to drive a RWD Mustang GT (without traction control) in snow and ice with Blizzaks.
Originally Posted By mele Are they worth having when it only snows once a year or less? I don't drive over the pass when there's snow. (I also don't shop for tires so forgive my ignorance.)
Originally Posted By Princessjenn5795 "Are they worth having when it only snows once a year or less? I don't drive over the pass when there's snow. (I also don't shop for tires so forgive my ignorance.)" I don't have Blizzaks, I just have good mud and snow rated tires. I don't usually have any problems. I don't want to spend the money when we don't get snow that often. "The ice was better than 6" of rainy, soppy snow." If the ice hadn't knocked out my power for multiple days, I wouldn't have minded it as much.
