I don't have a solution to the rioting. But could we put some pink dye in the water cannons? This way the miscreants would be clowned and much easier to identify and track down.
It’s a State issue to properly enforce the laws. IMO the State of California and many other states are not willing to enforce said laws. It’s certainly a difficult situation. The remittance tax is brilliant, but way too small IMO. Make it equal to the highest states sales tax in the country. It’s taxed at 16% when arriving in Mexico plus fees etc. Your takes are very thoughtful and I greatly enjoy them. The riots are such a disgrace to everything we should believe in as a society. We must do better….. how we do that is complicated for sure.
"Follow the money" comes to mind. In the BLM, pro-Hamas and now these riots - there needs to be a deep dive on who is funding these "spontaneous" events. There are probably many ordinarty protestors and a few professional activists - the ability to sow and propogate discord is classic political chaos theory. China, Iran, Russia via legions of local "useful idiots"?
DRW, you have wise followers and I don’t place myself in that camp. Andy, we are supposed to have the walls between government branches but, in my opinion, the judicial here is no longer a neutral body adhering to our Constitution and the laws that follow. It is totally politicized. I’m to the point, after watching the state and local governments of Portland, Minneapolis, LA, St Louis, etc., where I say, OK if you aren’t willing to enforce laws to protect rightful citizens and property, let it burn to the ground. Protect the areas of national security ( ports, interstate transportation, etc )Then, supplying no federal funds, let them figure it out at the state and city level. They want the independence to ignore laws? Give them the responsibility. Voters might wake up.
That’s interesting concept. I don’t entirely disagree but
our federal taxes do pay for protection, so the federal gov’t has a role if local or state gov’ts don’t step up. But I also don’t want to see military escalation either.”
Didn't the Jan 6th protestors all get pardoned though? What message does that send? I am a lawyer and I live in Europe. From the perspective of here, the law in the US looks both political and for sale - with a different view of the legal system depending on whether you are rich or poor. You have that to some extent here, but it's much less marked than in the US, possibly because there are proper bulkheads between the executive, legislature and judiciary. Again, from here, the protests (all of them) look like the screams of the disenfranchised, who otherwise do not have a voice. If you allow a two speed society to develop, with two sets of rules according to which part of society you belong, then at some point, those with no other ability to get themselves heard will take to the streets. And to be clear, this isn't a "Europe is superior" post, it's just an external observation. I don't agree with a lot of what you say, but I do value your thoughtful, alternative perspective.
Naw the poor have no excuse in California - my old housekeeper got $3k/month of gov support for being poor, her and my MAs rent were twice what mine was, when I offered them to take over the lease they said no bc they have no desire to change their lifestyle (both morbidly obese), they both spent over their means in other ways tok, I see gas station workers Getting funds to attend college for forensic pathology (also morbidly obese) as long as your poor you get help. Free healthcare, the most generous maternity leave/disability I’ve ever seen. These people have no concept of money. Many are extremely entitled. I’m actually for the free movement of people as long as it’s coupled with the harshest punishments for crimes with victims and no benefits. People aren’t even allowed to defend their own property, Someones burning your car, nope can’t shoot them, just gotta watch. I don’t think (most) people would care about immigration if immigrants couldn’t vote, Americans didn’t have to pay for immigrants and Americans lives/property weren’t in more danger bc of immigration. What’s the good of the police being there if they can’t shoot people destroying things. And why can’t the cops have tranq guns like the ones they use to tag lions and stuff. Make it make sense ya know
My distinction was about means, not about lifestyle choices. If you have limited means, that significantly restricts your access to justice and representation in the decision-making processes that govern your life.
"The Poor" are not a homogenous group, in the same way that "The Rich" are not a homogenous group. Stripping people of individuality makes it easy to justify any measures. Putting faces, names, lives and histories to individuals makes it harder. Anecdotes are data points, not the truth.
The middle class in America got screwed over a long time ago, but they don't riot. And it wasn't by immigrants.
I mean there are policies in place in California that take away those excuses - everybody’s provided with ‘means’ if they don’t have them already, I interact with on avg 18 people a day many of them low socioeconomic for years in CA and lifestyle choices are related to means.
If I were in LA I would want my property protected by law enforcement and the government agencies. And realize that California is not reimbursing anyone for destroyed property. State or federal - get it done!
One should question who initiated theses "peaceful protests". It would seem, given the crackdown on illegal immigration by the Trump administration, and the majority of the electorate in favor of same, that those here illegally would wish to maintain a lower profile rather than risking arrest and deportation. For me, whether or not your city or state is a "sanctuary" for illegals doesn't bear upon the duty of these municipalities to maintain order and protect private property and life. Wanton destruction of property, interrupting the lives of ordinary citizens, threatening and unruly behaviors are clearly violations of law. Enforcement of those laws is a basic responsibility of the judiciary (including law enforcement, district attorney/attorney general). If they abdicate that responsibility then I have no issue with employing federal enforcement. Colorado, take notice. We are apparently hosting similar demonstrations in Aurora and Denver tomorrow (Tuesday). I can only hope that these gatherings do not degenerate into the LA riots, and if they do that law enforcement quells them quickly.
I don't have a solution to the rioting. But could we put some pink dye in the water cannons? This way the miscreants would be clowned and much easier to identify and track down.
It’s a State issue to properly enforce the laws. IMO the State of California and many other states are not willing to enforce said laws. It’s certainly a difficult situation. The remittance tax is brilliant, but way too small IMO. Make it equal to the highest states sales tax in the country. It’s taxed at 16% when arriving in Mexico plus fees etc. Your takes are very thoughtful and I greatly enjoy them. The riots are such a disgrace to everything we should believe in as a society. We must do better….. how we do that is complicated for sure.
"Follow the money" comes to mind. In the BLM, pro-Hamas and now these riots - there needs to be a deep dive on who is funding these "spontaneous" events. There are probably many ordinarty protestors and a few professional activists - the ability to sow and propogate discord is classic political chaos theory. China, Iran, Russia via legions of local "useful idiots"?
The double standards for left and right must end and soon.
DRW, you have wise followers and I don’t place myself in that camp. Andy, we are supposed to have the walls between government branches but, in my opinion, the judicial here is no longer a neutral body adhering to our Constitution and the laws that follow. It is totally politicized. I’m to the point, after watching the state and local governments of Portland, Minneapolis, LA, St Louis, etc., where I say, OK if you aren’t willing to enforce laws to protect rightful citizens and property, let it burn to the ground. Protect the areas of national security ( ports, interstate transportation, etc )Then, supplying no federal funds, let them figure it out at the state and city level. They want the independence to ignore laws? Give them the responsibility. Voters might wake up.
That’s interesting concept. I don’t entirely disagree but
our federal taxes do pay for protection, so the federal gov’t has a role if local or state gov’ts don’t step up. But I also don’t want to see military escalation either.”
agree 💯 with cutting off federal funding completely and letting states & cities figure it out
Didn't the Jan 6th protestors all get pardoned though? What message does that send? I am a lawyer and I live in Europe. From the perspective of here, the law in the US looks both political and for sale - with a different view of the legal system depending on whether you are rich or poor. You have that to some extent here, but it's much less marked than in the US, possibly because there are proper bulkheads between the executive, legislature and judiciary. Again, from here, the protests (all of them) look like the screams of the disenfranchised, who otherwise do not have a voice. If you allow a two speed society to develop, with two sets of rules according to which part of society you belong, then at some point, those with no other ability to get themselves heard will take to the streets. And to be clear, this isn't a "Europe is superior" post, it's just an external observation. I don't agree with a lot of what you say, but I do value your thoughtful, alternative perspective.
Appreciate you reading and commenting.
Naw the poor have no excuse in California - my old housekeeper got $3k/month of gov support for being poor, her and my MAs rent were twice what mine was, when I offered them to take over the lease they said no bc they have no desire to change their lifestyle (both morbidly obese), they both spent over their means in other ways tok, I see gas station workers Getting funds to attend college for forensic pathology (also morbidly obese) as long as your poor you get help. Free healthcare, the most generous maternity leave/disability I’ve ever seen. These people have no concept of money. Many are extremely entitled. I’m actually for the free movement of people as long as it’s coupled with the harshest punishments for crimes with victims and no benefits. People aren’t even allowed to defend their own property, Someones burning your car, nope can’t shoot them, just gotta watch. I don’t think (most) people would care about immigration if immigrants couldn’t vote, Americans didn’t have to pay for immigrants and Americans lives/property weren’t in more danger bc of immigration. What’s the good of the police being there if they can’t shoot people destroying things. And why can’t the cops have tranq guns like the ones they use to tag lions and stuff. Make it make sense ya know
My distinction was about means, not about lifestyle choices. If you have limited means, that significantly restricts your access to justice and representation in the decision-making processes that govern your life.
"The Poor" are not a homogenous group, in the same way that "The Rich" are not a homogenous group. Stripping people of individuality makes it easy to justify any measures. Putting faces, names, lives and histories to individuals makes it harder. Anecdotes are data points, not the truth.
The middle class in America got screwed over a long time ago, but they don't riot. And it wasn't by immigrants.
I mean there are policies in place in California that take away those excuses - everybody’s provided with ‘means’ if they don’t have them already, I interact with on avg 18 people a day many of them low socioeconomic for years in CA and lifestyle choices are related to means.
Great points - Stu
If I were in LA I would want my property protected by law enforcement and the government agencies. And realize that California is not reimbursing anyone for destroyed property. State or federal - get it done!
One should question who initiated theses "peaceful protests". It would seem, given the crackdown on illegal immigration by the Trump administration, and the majority of the electorate in favor of same, that those here illegally would wish to maintain a lower profile rather than risking arrest and deportation. For me, whether or not your city or state is a "sanctuary" for illegals doesn't bear upon the duty of these municipalities to maintain order and protect private property and life. Wanton destruction of property, interrupting the lives of ordinary citizens, threatening and unruly behaviors are clearly violations of law. Enforcement of those laws is a basic responsibility of the judiciary (including law enforcement, district attorney/attorney general). If they abdicate that responsibility then I have no issue with employing federal enforcement. Colorado, take notice. We are apparently hosting similar demonstrations in Aurora and Denver tomorrow (Tuesday). I can only hope that these gatherings do not degenerate into the LA riots, and if they do that law enforcement quells them quickly.