IntenseDebate - svensson

12 years ago @ KOMO - Seattle, WA - Gunmen attack church c... · 0 replies · +3 points

There is a basic problem with Latin American politics in general.

Mexico [and much of Latin America] has a problem with basic corruption at the villiage /neighborhood level. If a politician can get you a new refrigerator or get your son into a good school, you are expected to vote for him no matter what his policies are. Each and every voter is indebted somehow to 'el Patron' and will support that chieftain no matter what he does in office.

I served in the Army in Central and South America in the bad old days of the 80's. I never once met a politician, from villiage chief to el Presidente, who didn't operate on 'el Patron' system. It's a basic flaw with Latin American politics that voters can simply be bought. With corruption as the basic standard of conduct for those in power, how do you tell the difference between a soldado de Ejercito [soldier in the national army] and a sicario for a narco-cartel?

12 years ago @ KOMO - Seattle, WA - Gunmen attack church c... · 0 replies · -3 points

No more a failed state than we were during Prohibition and Depression, when gangsters like Al Capone and bank robbers like Dillinger were running amok and federal, state and local law enforcement were cutting officers because of budget problems and many of the ones still on the job were on the take.

Mexico [and much of Latin America] has a problem with basic corruption at the villiage /neighborhood level. If a politician can get you a new refrigerator, you are expected to vote for him no matter what his policies are. Each and every voter is indebted somehow to 'el Patron' and will support that chieftain no matter what he does in office.

I served in the Army in Central and South America in the bad old days of the 80's. I never once met a politician, from villiage chief to el Presidente, who didn't operate on 'el Patron' system. It's a basic flaw with Latin American politics that voters can simply be bought. With corruption as the basic standard of conduct for those in power, how do you tell the difference between a soldado de Ejercito [soldier in the national army] and a sicario for a narco-cartel?

12 years ago @ KOMO - Seattle, WA - Lawmakers furious over... · 2 replies · +3 points

I comments are not an attack on unions, taxpro, although some union tactics are outright thuggery [that would you, ILWU]. Unions have done some very good things for working people and working conditions, and I fully acknowlege that.

My comments are directed at the US consumer who would rather buy low-cost goods from a declared economic enemy [China] than spend a dime more for the same goods made in the US. That's one reason why I don't shop at WalMart [etc]. Add to that our disposable consumerist culture and you land us where we are now.

12 years ago @ KOMO - Seattle, WA - Report: Penn St. offic... · 0 replies · +1 points

Now I want to present this in a way that those of us in Western Washington can really understand.

How many Husky alums would completely freak out and exactly what kind of damage would be done to it's the reputation of school if you substitute the names 'Joe Paterno' and 'Penn State' with 'Don James' and 'UDub'?

Now, my personal opinion is that everyone, EVERYONE, involved should be indicted for criminal charges and should be named a co-defendants in the civil suits. I think that the Joe Paterno Trust should be confiscated to pay the civil complaintants. I also think that Penn State University should be thrown out of the NCAA in all sports for 10 years.

12 years ago @ KOMO - Seattle, WA - Lawmakers furious over... · 0 replies · +4 points

Yeah, that's what I figured.
So much for the whole 'Look for the Union label' routine, eh?

12 years ago @ KOMO - Seattle, WA - Lawmakers furious over... · 6 replies · +25 points

Okay, but if the uniforms had been made in the US, would the lawmakers be furious at the cost of uniforms made by workers with union wage scales?
For that matter, when I was in the Army many years ago, many of our uniforms were made in China or Mexico. Is that still the case?

12 years ago @ KOMO - Seattle, WA - Man shot by Tacoma hom... · 0 replies · +5 points

Very true Navi.
However many guys are yelling and screaming about 'carrying' and 'going strapped', I'd be willing to bet real money that almost none of them have taken a stress shooting ['shoot /no-shoot'] course. From my personal experience, I know of people with a CCP that I wouldn't trust to turn left through oncoming traffic.

The fact is, gun ownership implies not just ownership, but also having 'the skill and the will' to fire when needs be. An awful lot of my fellow gun owners treat their pieces like some sort of magic crook-be-gone wand and have never spent a day at the range in their lives and have put less than 100 rounds through their piece.

While I'm absolutely against gun registration, I wish their was a way to balance Second Amendment rights with the obvious need for education with a great many so-called shooters. Perhaps something a little more informative than bullcrap 'no sh** there I was' stories told at the rock pit...

12 years ago @ KOMO - Seattle, WA - Man shot by Tacoma hom... · 0 replies · +4 points

I may be wrong, but I *think* that burglery is a 'strike' crime in Washington State. If the judge REALLY wanted to stick it to this bone-head, he could be put away as a 'three-strikes' offender.

12 years ago @ KOMO - Seattle, WA - Man shot by Tacoma hom... · 0 replies · +5 points

The Second Amendment to the Constitution of the United States:
It's not just a good idea, IT'S THE LAW!
--[signed] The Supremes

12 years ago @ KOMO - Seattle, WA - Generations of family\... · 0 replies · +1 points

First off, great job Willis family!

Secondly, I'm willing to bet that the weather sucked in June in every one of those 122 years... lol!

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