# The Pennsylvania Shakedown continues to shake out. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 29, 2005, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pennsylvania-shakedown-continues-to-shake-out/314717 "2005-07-29T10:38:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2005, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pennsylvania-shakedown-continues-to-shake-out/314717/21 "2005-07-30T01:44:20Z")
Mmmmm, smoked goat. ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2005, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pennsylvania-shakedown-continues-to-shake-out/314717/22 "2005-07-30T02:13:02Z")
> [@Airman Doors](#): > > Yeah, that’s it. :rolleyes: No, it’s more like I’m not too keen on socialism. I also like to live in a place that doesn’t have overinflated real estate costs, high taxes, or draconian gun control among other things. North Dakota. 2 major USAFB’s, low cost of living, a shitload of space to spread out in, great schools, and everyone has a gun. (FTR, check murder rates up here) 😉 Plus anything to add to the economic developement helps. Of course, come January you become a eunich because your balls freeze off. But you make up for it by drinking a quart of whisky and shooting a Moose from your back porch. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2005, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pennsylvania-shakedown-continues-to-shake-out/314717/23 "2005-07-30T02:20:16Z")
I must say I find it quite amusing that someone who’s currently living under a system that’s essentially socialism is “not too keen on socialism.” I also find it quite amusing that someone whose employer severely regulates guns on base considers California’s laws draconian. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2005, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pennsylvania-shakedown-continues-to-shake-out/314717/24 "2005-07-30T02:22:36Z")
> [@duffer](#): > > North Dakota. 2 major USAFB’s, low cost of living, a shitload of space to spread out in, great schools, and everyone has a gun. (FTR, check murder rates up here) 😉 Plus anything to add to the economic developement helps. > > Of course, come January you become a eunich because your balls freeze off. But you make up for it by drinking a quart of whisky and shooting a Moose from your back porch. 😃 I have a cousin who lived in Fargo for a stretch. He said there was a pretty girl behind every tree. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2005, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pennsylvania-shakedown-continues-to-shake-out/314717/25 "2005-07-30T04:21:41Z")
> [@Airman Doors](#): > > I also like to live in a place that doesn’t have overinflated real estate costs, high taxes, or draconian gun control among other things. We have high real estate costs because everybody and his brother wants to move here. I dunno. Something to do with the moderate weather, beautiful scenery, beautiful women and lotsa rich folks. But _draconian gun laws_? That’s the first I’ve heard about that. There are almost as many guns here as there are cars. ---
**Author:** ![Lok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e8c25b/32.png) [@Lok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lok)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2005, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pennsylvania-shakedown-continues-to-shake-out/314717/26 "2005-07-30T04:29:10Z")
> [@Mr. Moto](#): > > I have a cousin who lived in Fargo for a stretch. He said there was a pretty girl behind every tree. 😉 Ah, but did he mention there were only 5 trees? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![BlackKnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eb8c5e/32.png) [@BlackKnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlackKnight)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2005, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pennsylvania-shakedown-continues-to-shake-out/314717/27 "2005-07-30T06:40:31Z")
> [@This Year's Model](#): > > If we can no longer swipe at California, the terrorists have already won. I agree. Most people who _don’t_ live in New York or California think most people who _do_ live in New York or California are a bit crazy. Of course, we only say it about the Californians because we’re afraid of the New Yorkers. ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2005, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pennsylvania-shakedown-continues-to-shake-out/314717/28 "2005-07-30T06:50:33Z")
> [@Lok](#): > > Ah, but did he mention there were only 5 trees? :dubious: Well, those Forgoans are a bit behind the times. Up here in Grand Forks we have the largest concentration of shelter belts in the world. We plant 'em, and we plant 'em good. I’m guessing you’ve never been here. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2005, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pennsylvania-shakedown-continues-to-shake-out/314717/29 "2005-07-30T15:00:50Z")
Hmmm. Shelter belts. Are they similar to money belts-holding up pants and serving as a secret stash for cash? _Quick, Earl! Gimme your shelter belt-there’s a hailstorm coming! Dammit, Maude-my drawers will fall down if’n I take it off. Zzzipp! Pop. Lookee thar-from pants to protection in 30 seconds._ ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2005, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pennsylvania-shakedown-continues-to-shake-out/314717/30 "2005-07-30T17:19:21Z")
> [@Lok](#): > > Ah, but did he mention there were only 5 trees? :dubious: That was precisely his point. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2005, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pennsylvania-shakedown-continues-to-shake-out/314717/31 "2005-07-30T17:25:05Z")
> [@Airman Doors](#): > > Pennsylvania is a mess, folks. If I were you I’d be very glad I was living elsewhere. It’s starting to resemble the People’s Republic of Kalifornia in sheer political lunacy. Maybe this next election we’ll get it right and send Rendell packing, because thus far he has done nothing right, and his party is following right in his footsteps. [California resident]We’re number one! We’re number one![California] 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2005, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pennsylvania-shakedown-continues-to-shake-out/314717/32 "2005-07-30T17:43:51Z")
[QUOTE=Airman Doors, USAF This follows the comments of the Lieutenant Governor, Catherine Baker Knoll, at a military funeral in which she expressed her unwelcome opinion about the war[/QUOTE] No she didn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2005, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pennsylvania-shakedown-continues-to-shake-out/314717/33 "2005-07-30T18:49:31Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > No she didn’t. Here we go again. You have not demonstrated, despite your best attempts at bluster, that she didn’t say what she was alleged to say. She told the Governor what she said and he felt compelled to apologize for it, although he screwed the pooch with his apology as well. Why don’t you just accept that it went down and get past it? All evidence says that you’re wrong. Perhaps this time you can admit it. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2005, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pennsylvania-shakedown-continues-to-shake-out/314717/34 "2005-07-30T23:17:02Z")
She is not even _alleged_ to have given a personal opinion on the war, moron. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2005, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pennsylvania-shakedown-continues-to-shake-out/314717/35 "2005-07-31T00:14:20Z")
Let’s not play these silly parsing games, **Diogenes**. Sure, she strictly speaking wasn’t expressing a _personal_ opinion. However, if the allegations against her were true, she was expressing an opinion of her administration that turned out to be false, and that were inappropriately expressed whether true or not. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2005, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pennsylvania-shakedown-continues-to-shake-out/314717/36 "2005-07-31T00:24:05Z")
No, she was not exprssing an administrative opinion either. She was just stating that it’s not the state’s job to support the war…which it isn’t. Even that much just comes from the dubious word of one person who seems to have a huge political chip on her shoulder. The fact is that there is no real evidence that Knoll tried to politicize the funeral or give any opinions about the war. In the absence of evidence we should presume a little innocence. Even if she HAD expressed anti-war sentiments, I don’t see how that’s inappropriate. How does opposing the war dishonor the dead? ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2005, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pennsylvania-shakedown-continues-to-shake-out/314717/37 "2005-07-31T00:41:15Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > Even if she HAD expressed anti-war sentiments, I don’t see how that’s inappropriate. How does opposing the war dishonor the dead? at a military funeral? If nothing at all else questioning the war at the funeral can sorta suggest that their life was wasted, dontcha think? it would be crass at best, worse coming from some one with no persona; connection to the deceased. mho and all ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2005, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pennsylvania-shakedown-continues-to-shake-out/314717/38 "2005-07-31T01:56:07Z")
IF she had, it would have been very bad form. A funeral, where a family is trying to bury one of their children is not the place to get “political”. Let the family grieve and move on. There are plenty of other opportunites to get on the soap box. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2005, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pennsylvania-shakedown-continues-to-shake-out/314717/39 "2005-07-31T06:04:07Z")
> [@wring](#): > > at a military funeral? If nothing at all else questioning the war at the funeral can sorta suggest that their life was wasted, dontcha think? it would be crass at best, worse coming from some one with no personal connection to the deceased. mho and all I agree. At an event like that, you keep your mouth shut. Tne administration has unlimited opportunities to get their message out. ---
**Author:** ![FyreFiend](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/919ad9/32.png) [@FyreFiend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FyreFiend)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2005, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pennsylvania-shakedown-continues-to-shake-out/314717/40 "2005-07-31T22:15:39Z")
> [@Airman Doors](#): > > Yeah, that’s it. :rolleyes: No, it’s more like I’m not too keen on socialism. I also like to live in a place that doesn’t have overinflated real estate costs, high taxes, or draconian gun control among other things. You’re right on 2 of those but Pa doesn’t have over-inflated real estate costs?! A hole in the wall row home down the street from me just sold for over $100k. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pennsylvania-shakedown-continues-to-shake-out/314717.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pennsylvania-shakedown-continues-to-shake-out/314717.md?page=3)