The Economist - "The latest American mass killing": http://www.economist.com/blogs/democracyinamerica/2015/06/charleston-massacre?fsrc=scn/tw_ec/the_latest_american_mass_killing
One searches for reasons in order to assign responsibility and to devise solutions, but in this case no one will accept responsibility, and no solutions will be devised... It has become clear since Sandy Hook that meaningful gun control is politically impossible in America. While certain forms of restrictions on gun ownership are popular, the power of lobbying organisations such as the National Rifle Association and the lock-step opposition of Republicans in Congress have blocked all moves towards legislation. This political dynamic helps explain why the rise in mass killings in America has not led to any changes in policy. Such killings have become increasingly common, even as the overall number of gun-related homicides has declined. ... This is not to say that Wednesday's massacre in Charleston has had no political consequences at all. There has been one: Jeb Bush, the Republican presidential candidate, cancelled a rally in the city that had been planned for Thursday. ... The regularity of mass killings breeds familiarity. The rhythms of grief and outrage that accompany them become—for those not directly affected by tragedy—ritualised and then blend into the background noise. That normalisation makes it ever less likely that America's political system will groan into action to take steps to reduce their frequency or deadliness. Those who live in America, or visit it, might do best to regard them the way one regards air pollution in China: an endemic local health hazard which, for deep-rooted cultural, social, economic and political reasons, the country is incapable of addressing. This may, however, be a bit unfair. China seems to be making progress on pollution.
See, this is why conservatives are shortsighted when they propose budget cuts to NASA. With enough funding, time, and research, we may one day find a planet on which jokes like those get a laugh.
Posted today by the Onion:
ReplyDeleteNational Dialogue Dusted Off
Reposted today by the Onion:
‘No Way To Prevent This,’ Says Only Nation Where This Regularly Happens
Found in Onion editorial office cutting room floor (for some reason):
ReplyDeletePoll of Criminals Shows Overwhelming Support for Disarming of Law-Abiding Citizens
My local paper headlined a series of very important discussions on race to be held in Worcester and implied that each would be covered by a reporter.
ReplyDeleteThey were not.
Found in Onion editorial office cutting room floor (for some reason):
ReplyDeletePoll of Criminals Shows Overwhelming Support for Disarming of Law-Abiding Citizens
Wow, it's the head writer for Fox's new hit comedy program "The Greg Gutfeld Show."
The Economist - "The latest American mass killing":
ReplyDeletehttp://www.economist.com/blogs/democracyinamerica/2015/06/charleston-massacre?fsrc=scn/tw_ec/the_latest_american_mass_killing
One searches for reasons in order to assign responsibility and to devise solutions, but in this case no one will accept responsibility, and no solutions will be devised... It has become clear since Sandy Hook that meaningful gun control is politically impossible in America. While certain forms of restrictions on gun ownership are popular, the power of lobbying organisations such as the National Rifle Association and the lock-step opposition of Republicans in Congress have blocked all moves towards legislation. This political dynamic helps explain why the rise in mass killings in America has not led to any changes in policy. Such killings have become increasingly common, even as the overall number of gun-related homicides has declined.
...
This is not to say that Wednesday's massacre in Charleston has had no political consequences at all. There has been one: Jeb Bush, the Republican presidential candidate, cancelled a rally in the city that had been planned for Thursday.
...
The regularity of mass killings breeds familiarity. The rhythms of grief and outrage that accompany them become—for those not directly affected by tragedy—ritualised and then blend into the background noise. That normalisation makes it ever less likely that America's political system will groan into action to take steps to reduce their frequency or deadliness. Those who live in America, or visit it, might do best to regard them the way one regards air pollution in China: an endemic local health hazard which, for deep-rooted cultural, social, economic and political reasons, the country is incapable of addressing. This may, however, be a bit unfair. China seems to be making progress on pollution.
Here's a few more I gave Greg (whom you're obsessed with for some reason):
ReplyDeletePublic Says Favorite Part of Obama Era All the Racial Healing
Scientific Theory That Guns Kill People Now Consensus
Fundraisers Leave President Insufficient Time to Fix Gun Problem
Government-Funded Study Finds Public Has No Need To Be Armed
President Bitter That Country Has Failed Him
Area Blog Commenter Hoping It Forgotten He Thrown Under Bus
See, this is why conservatives are shortsighted when they propose budget cuts to NASA. With enough funding, time, and research, we may one day find a planet on which jokes like those get a laugh.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteA planet without buses, one hopes.
Beep beep, mmm beep beep, yeah!
ReplyDelete