Stopping Trump's Move Toward Authoritarianism

[bamacpa]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1977414553232408766

Oh, the devastation in war-torn Chicago.

 

[Huckleberry]

I was thinking about this whole thing a few weeks ago. Top 5 things we need in life.

Essentials I guess you could call them.

1. A place to live - a habitat.

2. Food and drink.

3. Safety and security from danger and harm.

4. Employment, aka a job - or way to earn a living.

5. Companionship.

And maybe a kitchen table to discuss all of these!

That’s a good list, but it leaves out the most important thing: freedom. The freedom to live as you choose, to speak your mind, to disagree without fear, to make your own way in life. You can have food, shelter, safety, work, and friends, but without freedom, those things aren’t really living — they’re just surviving. Real safety isn’t about control; it’s about having the liberty to make choices without someone in power deciding which ones are acceptable.

 

[Huckleberry]

Trump will be gone in 3 years and then there will be a new guy....or gal.

None of the stuff you are concerned about really matter to the majority of Americans.

But I have no problem with seeing the outrage and stuff.

Turn off the TV and Internet and go outside and all of your concerns seem to vanish....... 🤷‍♂️

Maybe those concerns seem to vanish when you turn off the TV, but that’s the illusion comfort creates. Freedom and democracy don’t stop mattering just because they’re something we take for granted. The majority of Americans may not think about constitutional norms every day, but they still benefit from living under them — from fair elections, from due process, from leaders who can’t jail critics on a whim.

It’s easy to say “Trump will be gone in three years,” but the damage done to institutions and public trust can last far longer than any presidency. The health of a democracy depends on people caring before it breaks, not after.

 

[Bazza]

That’s a good list, but it leaves out the most important thing: freedom. The freedom to live as you choose, to speak your mind, to disagree without fear, to make your own way in life. You can have food, shelter, safety, work, and friends, but without freedom, those things aren’t really living — they’re just surviving. Real safety isn’t about control; it’s about having the liberty to make choices without someone in power deciding which ones are acceptable.

I was talking about in America - not China or Russia.....lol....

 

[Bazza]

Maybe those concerns seem to vanish when you turn off the TV, but that’s the illusion comfort creates. Freedom and democracy don’t stop mattering just because they’re something we take for granted. The majority of Americans may not think about constitutional norms every day, but they still benefit from living under them — from fair elections, from due process, from leaders who can’t jail critics on a whim.

It’s easy to say “Trump will be gone in three years,” but the damage done to institutions and public trust can last far longer than any presidency. The health of a democracy depends on people caring before it breaks, not after.

They don't "seem" to vanish.

They actually do.

 

[some_al_fan]

I would like to use words that are not allowed on this board:

Barron Trump tipped for top TikTok job

US president’s 19-year-old son could be appointed to the app’s board

www.telegraph.co.uk

 

[Bazza]

 

[some_al_fan]

View attachment 53592

That looks like MAGA justification to do the same thing

 

[Huckleberry]

View attachment 53592

 

[Bamaro]

Cannot speak to Portland or Chicago, but this has absolutely been happening in Memphis. Literally everyone knows it, but the police chief continually claims crime is down.

FTR, NOT defending Vance's statement, just adding context. But then again, basically everyone in Memphis agrees something needs to be done to address crime.

FWIW, murder rates are not easily manipulated and they are decreasing.

 

[crimsonaudio]

FWIW, murder rates are not easily manipulated and they are decreasing.

In most places yes.

But nationwide trends do not mean there aren’t localized anomalies.

 

[some_al_fan]

 

[crimsonaudio]

View attachment 53602

Remember way back when we discussed how these rates can be manipulated?

Pepperidge Farm remembers.

 

[some_al_fan]

Remember way back when we discussed how these rates can be manipulated?

Pepperidge Farm remembers.

Sorry, not buying into widespread manipulation.

Opinion | Here's why we can trust the stats that violent crime is down

When leaders make unfounded claims about data manipulation, the entire statistical infrastructure on which democracy depends is destroyed.

www.msnbc.com

----
The United States has two major crime measurement systems: the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) and — the gold standard — the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program. The UCR employs multiple validation layers through its Crime and Law Enforcement Statistics Unit, which “initially review the data to determine adherence to UCR policy, conformance to UCR definitions and principles, and consistency with established statistical methodologies.” Before entering the national database, staff “use specialized edit functions to ensure that the data meet the established standards,” and, when errors are found or suspected, they obtain verification from submitting agencies.
----

When Crime Statistics Diverge - Council on Criminal Justice

This report explores the strengths and limitations of the nation’s two measures of crime and the value of considering both sources when assessing crime trends over time.

counciloncj.org

 

[crimsonaudio]

Sorry, not buying into widespread manipulation.

Opinion | Here's why we can trust the stats that violent crime is down

When leaders make unfounded claims about data manipulation, the entire statistical infrastructure on which democracy depends is destroyed.

www.msnbc.com

----
The United States has two major crime measurement systems: the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) and — the gold standard — the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program. The UCR employs multiple validation layers through its Crime and Law Enforcement Statistics Unit, which “initially review the data to determine adherence to UCR policy, conformance to UCR definitions and principles, and consistency with established statistical methodologies.” Before entering the national database, staff “use specialized edit functions to ensure that the data meet the established standards,” and, when errors are found or suspected, they obtain verification from submitting agencies.
----

When Crime Statistics Diverge - Council on Criminal Justice

This report explores the strengths and limitations of the nation’s two measures of crime and the value of considering both sources when assessing crime trends over time.

counciloncj.org

I literally posted above that I agree that violence is trending downward nationwide - while making the point that a nationwide trend does not mean certain localities are bucking the trend.

Memphis is overrun with political corruption, and every business owner I know can relate stories as to how violent crime has increased. We've lost more restaurants and other businesses to crime in the last 12 months than at any point in city history. People are moving away in droves, to the point the local real estate market has cratered.

You can pull out whatever numbers you wish from websites - the people that live there, like me, who lived there for the last 30 years - know that crime is continuing to spin further out of control. Unless / until you've invested time and energy there, your graphs are meaningless.

And again, just so this isn't somehow misconstrued - I am NOT suggesting ALL crime numbers are manipulated.

 

[some_al_fan]

I literally posted above that I agree that violence is trending downward nationwide - while making the point that a nationwide trend does not mean certain localities are bucking the trend.

Memphis is overrun with political corruption, and every business owner I know can relate stories as to how violent crime has increased. We've lost more restaurants and other businesses to crime in the last 12 months than at any point in city history. People are moving away in droves, to the point the local real estate market has cratered.

You can pull out whatever numbers you wish from websites - the people that live there, like me, who lived there for the last 30 years - know that crime is continuing to spin further out of control. Unless / until you've invested time and energy there, your graphs are meaningless.

And again, just so this isn't somehow misconstrued - I am NOT suggesting ALL crime numbers are manipulated.

I am not sure what we are arguing about.
The chart that I’ve posted above does show that homicides are higher in Memphis right now than pre-COVID, which confirms your observations.
That is indeed not the case for the rest of the country.

Shoplifting rates are higher as well:

 

[crimsonaudio]

I am not sure what we are arguing about.
The chart that I’ve posted above does show that homicides are higher in Memphis right now than pre-COVID, which confirms your observations.
That is indeed not the case for the rest of the country.

Shoplifting rates are higher as well:
View attachment 53604

As it was posted without comment, I assumed you were posting this as proof that the numbers were in (even slight) decline, which is what the mayor and COP claim daily in Memphis, hence my response.

It's maddening when people tell you to ignore what you see every day and believe them instead. Especially when what I'm hearing from people in Portland and Chicago is that while things aren't necessarily perfect, they're not nearly as bad as in Memphis.

My push back is based on the constant lying from TPTB in Memphis, where the reality is any and all help is needed.

Apologies for misunderstanding your point.

 

[some_al_fan]

As it was posted without comment, I assumed you were posting this as proof that the numbers were in (even slight) decline, which is what the mayor and COP claim daily in Memphis, hence my response.

It's maddening when people tell you to ignore what you see every day and believe them instead. Especially when what I'm hearing from people in Portland and Chicago is that while things aren't necessarily perfect, they're not nearly as bad as in Memphis.

My push back is based on the constant lying from TPTB in Memphis, where the reality is any and all help is needed.

Apologies for misunderstanding your point.

Chicago homicide rates are about half of those in Memphis (per 100000 people). Shoplifting is at 1/3-1/4 or so. Chicago is a much safer place than Memphis.
Of course, the northern suburbs in Chicago are much safer than the South Side. I travel to Chicago pretty regularly for business and walk around Fulton Market/North Loop many times at night without any issues. I don’t think Memphis downtown is equally safe.

 

[92tide]

I would like to use words that are not allowed on this board:

Barron Trump tipped for top TikTok job

US president’s 19-year-old son could be appointed to the app’s board

www.telegraph.co.uk

just like his dad and brothers, another failson handed immense wealth and power on a platter without ever having to do any actual work

 

[92tide]

that vicious, radical antifa is up to no good again

Portland cyclists strip down in pouring rain to protest ICE facility and Trump troop deployment

“We’re cold, but not as cold as ICE,” said a sign on one rider’s back.

www.oregonlive.com

Organizers of the World Naked Bike Ride scheduled an “emergency” ride Sunday to highlight “the militarization of Portland and the ongoing harm being done to immigrant and Indigenous communities,” according to a joint Instagram post.