captain_stan

***protesters alleged Roll the video of police giving such orders. Let the OWSies have their day in court.

Ah, the mysterious and unnamed "we." Actually you only know where I don't stand--and that would be in the street demanding traffic to stop for me. Democracy doesn't require that.

Let's keep that traffic moving

perhaps a real 'revolt' can begin... ...he said from the safety of a far-away land. Although the OWSies are indeed revolting, they are far from being revolutionaries. Your protestors are too well-dressed and too well-fed for that. Real revolutionaries carry guns, not signs. These pseudo revolutionaries have no apparent plan other than to publicly whine. They have no political influence, no concrete plan for change, and no teeth. Did you not hear them squeal in submission when they were pepper-sprayed? Did you not see them go along helplessly when arrested? More name-calling? Unlike your OWSies, the TEA party has the organization to influence elections and the discipline to do so without massive public disruption and mass arrests. Of course they are criticized bitterly for participating in democracy so effectively. Remind me to bump this thread in 6 month and we'll see how your Occupy-Wall-Street "revolt" is coming along.

I watched the video and the kid is not "Mongo" Sorry for that misunderstanding, but that's not my point at all. I'm saying that our professional team-sports culture would have us believe that a boy's success later in life is largely determined by his expereince in youth team-sports. In a desire to label winners and losers, we lose sight of the possibility that a youth can grow up into a strong, healthy, successful adult without even having played organized sports. Anything that gets kids interested in physical activity is good; organized team sports for youth is just one more avenue--no more and no less. Not sure what your point is, but I'll emphasize that in professional baseball, Minor and Major League are separated by playing ability, not age. Many adult professional sports are similar. But in youth sports, a kid who's somewhat ahead or behind his contemporaries will identify himself as a hero or a loser. Passionate sports fans are welcome to flame, but please spare me the anecdotes.

What, you're an American taxpayer now? FYI, the only reason "we" have to pay for the banks' failure is that "our" elected government so decreed. Instead of raising a pointless clamor in the streets outside of banks and displaying public contempt for the financiers, we should be holding Congress and our Presidents accountable.

That's just as well; I don't think you'd be very happy with what you'd find.

The truth is sometimes less appealing. There was no Federal Reserve in 1816, but Jefferson's young nation had some experience with its predecessors, the First and Second Banks of the United States, hence his contempt for these. As far as his sentiment towards banks in general, I'm less certain of that. Consider his lack of any proposals for replacing or reforming the entire private banking system and how to take care of the saving and borrowing needs of the public without these. Until finding anything contrary, I'm willing to assume his tacit approval of capitalism in general. He was too much a realist to advocate tearing down an institution without first haveing an alternative in mind. I'm trying to take the rest of the day off from history tutoring, but you are welcome to do your own research.

This one first appeared in 1994. Yes 1994. Not supported by any know documents and debunked here: http://www.monticello.org/site/research-and-collections/end-democracyquotation

So now your spin begins. A "variant" of a quote is a misquote. A "variant" of the truth is a lie. "These expressions?" You represented these to be quotations! "Poorly documented?" Please! You mean non-documented or in other words "fabricated." Wikiquote is your source of info?! When much of Jefferson's actual writting is available online, many of which are actual images in his handwriting?! OK, there is the grain of truth hiding among your fabrications. In a private letter, TJ is agreeing with John Taylor's book. Elsewhere in that letter Jefferson specifically refers to it: "I found here the copy of your Enquiry into the principles of our government, which you had been so kind as to send me." In order to appreciate Jefferson's context, one must read the book and learn Taylor's opinion of a central banking system, like today's Federal Reserve, which he and Jefferson feared. Now we're getting somewhere! Jefferson feared that America would spend and borrow excessively at the expense of future generations. So you not only support Ron Paul, but also The TEA Party.

You're out of context and misquoting as usual, and a dead man this time who can't defend himself. The first sentence is from TJ's 1816 letter to John Taylor in whch TJ agrees with Taylor's book that says a government-authorized, privately owned, currency-controlling central bank is doomed to corruption. Back then it was called "The Second Bank of the United States." Today it is called the "Federal Reserve." Ron Paul agrees with Thomas Jefferson by advocating abolishment of the Federal Reserve. So you're saying that you and the protesters are supporting Ron Paul.

Got kids of your own? Tell your 11-year-old son he sucks and see how much that "helps" him. Being physically strong and being a good ball player are two seperate attributes.

This isn't win-at-any-cost pro football, its a bunch of 11-YOs having some fun and learning sportsmanship with a classmate who may be the next-generation NFL star--and good for him. It would be better all the way around to let Demias move up a grade and play with older kids: 1) Challenge him more to become even better. 2) Motivate those older kids to play their best. 3) Let the other 11-YOs get some more play time in a league/class that's appropriate for their ability. edit to ad: Many sports have classes, and these are more often based on ability than age.

A sad comentary indeed on the male population of this forum, of which BTW you are also a member!

I wouldn't use such a slanderous term, but it might describe a state that elected a governor who turned prayer into a public spectacle. Having said that, public prayer spectacle is protected by our constitution the same was as the OP's sign is protected.

Alright, then next time you want to borrow money, get it from a common thief. Problem solved.

That's a fair description of my practice. Except that I get free checking (including printing) and use interest-free credit cards. Most Americans are so accustomed to grabbing thier ankles for the bank that they don't consider any other choice. And of course there will always be businesses that will profit from this type of complacency.

Why? Divorce and well...the judge indicated I must. I thought that might be the case but haven't personally experienced any similar situation. I would have hoped that sending the bank a copy of the judgement might be enough, but they would still have arbitrary power to harm your x-wife's credit if you defaulted. And there's the hammer that the banks hold over most customers.

Why?

Who said they would? I repeat: the DOJ employees can buy their own $16 muffins if they get hungry. And they can buy their own lunch and dinner at the hotel or go out to a more-competitive vendor. "Placate: To allay the anger of, especially by making concessions, appease," American Heritage Dictionary (Oops, I forgot--you're not American). In this case, "placating" only requires the DOJ to adhere to their own budget, which of course might mean forgoing the $16 muffins.

Not the same situation. When a private company entertains clients, it expects to make a profit from them and recapture the cost of these expenses. The DOJ doesn’t make a profit or have any need to entertain clients. By its own admission, the DOJ exceeded its budget, but it took 3 years to realize it. That would be considered bad business practice in the private sector and a red flag to investors following an audit. No, placating the taxpayers costs $0. You've overlooked the option of letting the employees of the DOJ buy their own snacks. Don't we pay them enough already? If that was the case, the taxpayers wouldn't have an issue with $16 muffins, and the appetite for these would be significantly reduced.

But at least I have that choice in the private sector. Because most Americans share your complacent attitude that all business is expected to be wastefully and inefficient, we are all mandated stockholders in a "company" that is exempt from good business practice and competitive management. The $16 muffins are a trivial symptom of a bigger problem which has escalated far beyond that and will continue as long as we give our tacit approval.

Best answer so far. I agree--we shouldn't demean this process with the term "ratting." If an individual can't be persuaded to act responsibly, there is a chain of authority that can solve this problem. And it doesn't have to be heavy-handed. When my efforts as a staffer are unsuccessful, I invite a DZO or S&TA to get involved and use their "bigger hammer." This process can often be done diplomatically and may save someone's life.

You already have without realizing it. When you finally quit second-guessing yourself, you'll have a better focus on other things you enjoy.

Do you want that for your friends, or do you want it for yourself? If I were in their shoes, it would frustrate me to no end to have to watch others having all the fun in a sport that was cost-prohibitive for me. Skydiving has stirred something in your soul. Your whuffo friends can't fully understand that, but the other jumpers at your DZ can. You might befefit more from developing stronger bonds with those who are able to make the same commitment as you.