I need to have an argument supported, here: In history, point out times when a group with "convert or die" in their religious code has moved in to another country, and tell us how that host country was made better by their presence.
The Spanish (specifically the Dominicans) converting damn near the entirety of the Americas by the sword. The faith is immaterial, it was just attached to the conquistadors, but it's why everyone down there speaks a Romance dialect instead of some descendant of Incan or Mayan language and the colonizers were the ones that brought modern tech down there.
This was the basis of our foreign policy for 50 years after WW2, keep a lid on shit.
Fuck that noise, I'm tired of paying for it.
You will notice a distinct upward trend since then because we have insisted on footing the most expensive bill possible at every opportunity. You'll also notice that entitlements started climbing post WWII and again after Korea and again during 'Nam and again after the first Gulf War. Need I go on? Check how the interest payments and infrastructure are getting squeezed out. The basis of our foreign policy for that 50 years wasn't economically feasible.
Edited By Malcolm on 1444243192
Diogenes of Sinope: "It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
I don't think we necessarily disagree on the subject, at least not by a lot. I just think Gordon and I are far more concerned with the extremists than you are.
On the whole I concur with this summary statement.
Can extremists make a mess of things if they try hard enough? Sure, on a localized basis. Can they take over? Not a chance in hell until they massively outnumber us. And that would take many generations, by which time the kids no longer care to make a mess of things because they just want to listen to Taylor Swift and watch Twilight.
"ATTENTION: Customers browsing porn must hold magazines with both hands at all times!"
TPRJones wrote:Can extremists make a mess of things if they try hard enough? Sure, on a localized basis. Can they take over? Not a chance in hell until they massively outnumber us. And that would take many generations, by which time the kids no longer care to make a mess of things because they just want to listen to Taylor Swift and watch Twilight.
And we are left with the old question: How many killings/how much crime committed by refugees are acceptable?
"Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid."
And we are left with the old question: How many killings/how much crime committed by refugees are acceptable?
I'll answer that when they outstrip the domestic crime rate. If we're specifically talking the worst case of trigger-happy jihadists, when the Bloods and Crips start ceding turf to them, I'll begin to worry.
Diogenes of Sinope: "It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
My highest priority is my family's safety. I would use my MIL as a bullet shield to protect my son in a heartbeat. As such, I would support tougher immigration protocols... hell, I'd even be happy if the current immigration laws were followed. I'm pretty easy like that.
As for taking in Syrian refugees, as I have heard Obama is considering, yeah, fine, take them in. And then send them back when the shooting is over. And immediately deport every single one convicted of any felony. Or is all of that too racist?
"Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid."
And then send them back when the shooting is over. And immediately deport every single one convicted of any felony. Or is all of that too racist?
I say we exercise the deportation option if they're inciting direct rebellion or guilty of violent crime within 10-20 years of moving over. Some felonies are still bullshit, namely 99% of drug possession laws on the books. Killers, thieves, and rapists? Ship 'em back if we're convinced they aren't potentially worse out of our sight. I've got a thing about sending back violent people with a vendetta to a country full of dudes that make a living off exploiting such situations.
Edited By Malcolm on 1444248904
Diogenes of Sinope: "It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
This guy claims that small towns in Germany of 400 people are being required to house 1000+ immigrants. When residents complain they will be swarmed under, are called xenophobes. He cites references bu I didn't click on them.
“Activism is a way for useless people to feel important, even if the consequences of their activism are counterproductive for those they claim to be helping and damaging to the fabric of society as a whole.” - Dr Thomas Sowell
TPRJones wrote:Can extremists make a mess of things if they try hard enough? Sure, on a localized basis. Can they take over? Not a chance in hell until they massively outnumber us. And that would take many generations, by which time the kids no longer care to make a mess of things because they just want to listen to Taylor Swift and watch Twilight.
And we are left with the old question: How many killings/how much crime committed by refugees are acceptable?
Apparently Sweden's Immigration department (whatever) is covering up crimes committed by their refugees.
So... if the "elites" keep pushing for more refugees, and a growing population of "normal people" are getting hurt by it and are thinking that maybe enough is enough, is there an argument to be made that "the elites" have a vested interest in keep the "normal people" distracted, and are using an influx of refugees to do so?
Edited By GORDON on 1453320216
"Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid."
if the "elites" keep pushing for more <s>refugees</s> low-cost manual labour
Fixed.
Edited By Malcolm on 1453320417
Diogenes of Sinope: "It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
The dudes near the top of society generally don't give a fuck what goes on elsewhere so long as they can keep their wealth and influence. They aren't the sort of folk running around in refugee circles.
Diogenes of Sinope: "It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
Malcolm wrote:The dudes near the top of society generally don't give a fuck what goes on elsewhere so long as they can keep their wealth and influence. They aren't the sort of folk running around in refugee circles.
There's an argument to be made though that what keeps the plebes in line here in America are food stamps, HUD apartments with air conditioning, and welfare that can be spent on xboxes and flat screens. WIthout those things we'd have a lot more bored young men on the streets engaging in mischief. Also giving the plebes immigration issues to deal with keeps the attention off of our betters.
So same thing, except Europe, and in higher percentages. People are a lot less likely to be out in the streets grumbling when there's a decent chance of getting attacked by a mob of young men from syria.
I don't know.
Burn it all.
"Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid."
There's an argument to be made though that what keeps the plebes in line here in America are food stamps, HUD apartments with air conditioning, and welfare that can be spent on xboxes and flat screens.
That's not what everyone wants. That'll weed out the lazy and unambitious. Some rabble-rousers are quieted neither by bread nor circuses.
Secondly, if your theory is that figurative opiates and luxury placate the populous by giving them things to fill empty time, then one should be able to just as easily fill that void with necessity rather than desire and get the same results. People wouldn't be bored out on the streets if they had to till their own soil and sew their own clothes.
Diogenes of Sinope: "It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
Malcolm wrote:Secondly, if your theory is that figurative opiates and luxury placate the populous by giving them things to fill empty time, then one should be able to just as easily fill that void with necessity rather than desire and get the same results. People wouldn't be bored out on the streets if they had to till their own soil and sew their own clothes.
I think the great majority of people would sit in the street and starve to death if they were actually forced to take care of themselves. Those who didn't would just resort to crime until they got shot. Either way, social upheaval... which is not good for business.
"Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid."
I think the great majority of people would sit in the street and starve to death if they were actually forced to take care of themselves. Those who didn't would just resort to crime until they got shot. Either way, social upheaval... which is not good for business.
That's why god invented religion.
Diogenes of Sinope: "It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
