Didn’t Republicans used to castigate Bill Clinton for saying precisely that?
…for other people, right?
Then get down to the nearest recruitment office and join up.
No they’re not (or like running coach says, if you think these are “desperate times” then have some courage and join the military). You’re in very, very little danger. Worry far more about your next car trip – it’s much, much more likely to kill you than terrorists.
Well, if terrorists, or virtually ANYTHING else gets as dangerous as driving, it will be a national crisis. If a plane fell out of the sky every week you can be sure the government would be springing into action with new regulations, probably even federalize the maintenance crews. Even though your odds of dying in a plane crash would still be extremely remote even if a plane crashed every week.
Terrorism is a serious threat if we don’t confront it. If we’d just left Al Qaeda alone after 9/11 a lot more Americans would have died between now and then. It’s a small threat because like with the airlines, we expend a lot of effort into making sure people don’t die from it, probably a lot more effort than is warranted by the cost. But a democratic society has the right to decide what it’s going to regard as a threat the government should worry about. People don’t worry as much about auto accidents because they have some control over that. People worry about plane crashes and terrorism because they don’t have control over it.
I don’t want to ignore terrorism – I want appropriate reactions, and not reactions that would greatly weaken America, like invading the Middle East.
Quit the emotional bullshit, alright? Nobody’s buying it. I’ll tell you what you are.
You’re a guy who’s bought into the GOP propaganda hook, line, and sinker. You’re their perfect voter, easily swayed and unconvinced by reason, running on little more than a gallon of emotion and instinct. They shout, you listen. They shout louder, you’re even more convinced. You do it because its easy, because you’re probably too lazy to change anything about your life, and because you find it too daunting to actually do a bit of research. Maybe you’re anti-intellectual because your heroes in the GOP are. Maybe real science is too hard for you.
Do you even know what “safe” is? Do you just want to be safe from terrorists or safe from all harm? Do you know what’s a bigger threat to you than terrorists? Lightning. While terrorists kill less than 20 Americans a year, lightning kills 50. Hearing that, are you throwing on your shoes in a panic and running out the door on your way to get a lightning rod for your house? Are you cutting down any large trees on your property and telling your neighbors to do the same?
You want to know what’s almost 10 times more deadly than terrorists? Deer, who murder 130 Americans per year by making our roads as deadly as a drive through downtown Baghdad. Bees kill about 50 Americans per year. Have you written to your Congressman how, just because of our obsession with honey, we are letting an epidemic of bees get away with murder? I mean they are in our midst, not even hiding. What kind of irresponsible American doesn’t do anything about the bee epidemic in America? And equally as bad as terrorists are cows, who ruthlessly murder about 22 Americans per year.
And lets not forget the biggie: guns, which kill thousands of Americans per year, but what’s the last gun control bill you’ve made a topic about to debate others into supporting? I’m guessing none, because fuck them right? If Americans get killed by a gun, well, that just means they should have had a bigger gun. I guess in hindsight, it makes sense that you want to attack random Middle Eastern countries. They are doing terrorism, so we must do even greater terrorism!
Meanwhile there’s a group of people on the other side of the aisle offering real solutions but you’re too busy chanting the GOP mantra to realize. You’re like some anti-abortion crusader who pickets Planned Parenthood to stop abortions but forgets that they can reduce abortions much more by supporting sex ed, providing condoms, and health care to people. You’ve taken the least effective way to feel safe (attacking Muslims) and pretend that’s the most effective, and who gives a shit who’s rights get trampled right? Because you’re not a Muslim so its not like its your rights will be affected.
Here’s what’s going to happen: Obama’s not going to jail any Muslims and neither is President Clinton when she wins. The best way to protect yourself against terrorism is to make sure that America stays free and treats its citizens, such as Muslims, with respect and dignity and don’t suspect them as a group. You’re in more danger from a cow than you are in a local mosque. Get over yourself and your fear mongering. You’re perfectly safe. A hundred shootings like the one in San Bernadino has to happen to make you almost as unsafe as if you or anyone you know owns a gun, or you happen to drive near people who have guns, or you live near a store that sells guns.
Do you want to FEEL safe, or BE safe?
That is a serious question. For example, a lot (not all, but a lot) of the current DAESH phenomenon can be traced directly to previous American efforts in the Middle East, especially the aftereffects of the invasion of Iraq. We fought a war to make you feel safe, that ended up in reality making you less safe. Was it worth it?
Actually people worry more about plane crashes because when one does crash it is all over the news in a way auto crashes are not. This is called availability. It is why surveys show people think there are more homicides than suicides while the reverse is true. Suicides don’t get covered unless the person is famous.
If there were ever a post violating the ‘attack the post not the poster’ rule this would be it.
Warning issued.
I don’t think anyone’s calling for that. More like what the President is already doing but more intense. More ground raids, more bombs dropped, looser rules of engagement, and more aid to allies like the Kurds.
Harry Reid wants a czar, although that seems stupid to me. We already have an ISIS czar. He’s called the Commander-in-Chief.
We’re gonna need them to cross their hearts and promise not to use any of our stuff against Turkey, who’s guts they heartily hate. They’ll promise, I’m sure. Really, what could possibly go right?
I think most of the Republicans, like Graham, are calling for that.
We could only hope to god that the individuals and organizations that are shunning his campaign operated by “secular standards.” What a wonderful world that would be.
Huckabee’s still in the race? I wasn’t sure if he was still alive.
And, we’re done.
Stand up guy that Mike. It took him all of five seconds to turn on his base. SMH.