Guard Dog

Yeah and the Fed isn't a private entity. Look you might split hairs all you want but if it quacks like a duck; the fact is that everything you mentioned is proof that some prisons are private in all but name. Specially when the state allows them to run like for profit enterprises and has a vested interested in generating more convictions. That makes no sense. How can more convictions be up to the private entity? They play no part in criminal justice system, just corrections. And since the rules and regulations that are followed are the same as if the State DoC were running it the only real difference is where the prison staffs' paychecks are coming from. Governments contract work all the time.

Just an FYI. There is no such thing in the US as a "private prison" (that I know of). All correctional facilities are owned by the states or Federal government. Some states subcontract the security, management, logistical support, etc to private companies. TN does not but I know Florida has done so in several. In one case they have subbed the entire show to a private company. But the facility is still controlled by the State and the company is answerable to the state Dept of Corrections. AFAIK the facilities that are managed by private contractors are all minimum security with work release programs. Max & Medium security are still managed by FDoC. What you guys seem to be envisioning really isn't a thing.

Trump - Pence 2020 "Let's see if rock bottom has a basement"

Warren - Sanders "This is how liberty dies"

it involves, in fact requires, investment in a brick-and-mortar retail sales point. That means high start up and operations cost. Not a good idea these days.

My brother approached me about a business opportunity. Not only am I not interested I'm trying very hard to dissuade him for pursuing it. Money, no matter if you worked hard to earn it, inherited it, or fell backasswards into it, should not be gambled with cavalierly.

Seems like this get's dusted off for each new President. But it has never been more relevant: He does not belong there. He couldn't have gotten there by himself. He does not know what to do now. No good comes of him being there. You wonder what idiot put him there.

The Hitler/Nazi comparison is so tired and overused it would be no surprise iif people began to forget what he and they really were.

Pepsi tastes better though. We need a "dislike" button!

This notion that the media, any part of it, is somehow the enemy of the people is more than a little silly. Equally silly is the notion that any of it is the impartial gatekeepers of all that is true. It's a consumable product that people are trying to sell you for a profit. That is all it is and has ever been. Their "standards" and "journalistic integrity" exist only in their actions. There is no law that says they must tell the truth. There are penalties for lying about people in ways that do them harm. When a journalist of any stripe sits down as hist computer, notebook, tablet, they are under no obligation to anything other than their own ethics. Most media imposes standards on itself because they do want to be thought of as credible. If the product you're selling is deemed worthless you won't sell much of it. Now there IS a law that says the government must leave it be to pursue it's business. And that is a law that is coming perilously close (but never quite) to being violated. Pepsi is not the enemy of Coca Cola drinkers.

Yeah but that's over in like 30 minutes. I'd rather hump a '60 with four belts barefoot up Old Smokey on an August afternoon than take part in a dog and pony show like that parade

Thinking back on my own military experience that parade is something I'd be working very hard to get out of. Guys who get themselves a light duty chit for some petty BS are usually disparaged. But in this case it would be understood. Let me tell you how this s--t will go down for the average Marine for example. Suppose you are a middling Lance Corporal infantryman who is not experienced or imaginative enough to "work the system" yet. If you were unlucky enough to get picked for this, your a-s WILL be there. So about a month before the event they will start having practices. Since this is a parade that ,means a lot of close order drill. An undemanding enough activity that becomes a grinding misery after a few hours. And you will likely do this twice a week the month before.Then about two weeks before the real prep work starts. Every bit of gear, weapons, boots & brass, whatever uniform you'll be wearing (if you are lucky it will be utilities. It will likely be Charlies. If it's Alphas or Dress Blues you poor bastard) will be cleaned, polished, and then cleaned and polished again. Plus every bit of hardware that will be displayed will be cleaned, serviced. then cleaned and serviced again. And again. Then the inspections will begin. The pre-inspections, platoon inspections, company inspections, regimental inspections, etc. Then will follow the re-inspections. Now keep in mind all the BS is going on in ADDITION to whatever training or jobs you have to do. Then on the morning of if the "parade" begins in 0900 you can bet your a-s you will be standing tall, in formation, ready to step off at 0500. And you will stand there at parade rest until called to attention and ordered to forward march. And immediately afterwards you can look forward to 5 ton (if you are lucky) or a Cattle Car (if you're not) ride back to whatever base you came from to clean and turn in whatever hardware your unit brought to the parade. The crowds will be long gone and Trump will be done with his dinner before your day ends. Ask Shady Sands or Manifested if I'm too far off here. I am not. You want to "honor" the troops? Step 1: Don't put this through this BS. Step 2: Give them a real day off. Full stand down. Better yet a 72 hour pass. THAT is something they will appreciate.

As I posted before, Libertarians are not Republicans. And certainly vice versa. The Republican Party has done nothing, less than nothing, to expect Libertarian votes. Ditto with the Greens and Democrats. And I think you'll find people who have actually worn the uniform and served in conflicts overseas are a little more reticent in their support of asking other people to do it. Both D & R love sending us into wars. The only difference is who the bombs are falling on. It is way past time for that s--t to stop.

I have posted this before. If you are 100% anything politically speaking you really are a sheep.Try doing some thinking on your own. I am more Libertarian than anything else but we're only talking about 85% match here. At best.

I am convinced there is a happy medium to be found. After all libertarianism is not anarchy. And I do think there is an appeal to the idea of a government that leaves you alone for the average American. But so far the LP has done a poor job communicating that message. It cannot be denied however the party is in better shape now than it has ever been. Especially now that it is firmly in the control of the “little L” caucus.

There is a lot of disgust to go around James. It may not seem like it but D & R zealots are the minority. But their voices are the loudest. Dislike of both parties is as high as it has been in my lifetime. If the LP offers a reasonable and intelligent alternative there is a real opportunity here. Now, if only the LP were able to offer a reasonable and intelligent alternative.

I look at it a different way. In the US women have the freedom to defend themselves using firearms. Men are larger and stronger. Firearms are a force equalizer. There is an old saying here in the US. God made all men but Sam Colt made all men equal.

Interesting study on the correlation of sleep deprivation and loneliness. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2018/08/14/sleep-deprivation-fuels-loneliness-tired-people-socially-repellent/ I've always thought of this a s a chicken and egg argument. Are you lonely because you are tired or are not sleeping because you are lonely? For my part after two failed marriages whenever I feel lonely brooding over past wrongs usually alleviates it.

I wasn't really calling you out specifically. That's why I didn't quote you. Just sayin'. The mods have caught hell for voicing opinions in the past. Nothing I ever saw from any of them past or present deserved it.

Moderators do not have to be objective. They are posters with opinions like everyone else. Their job is to enforce the rules of the forum. If somebody violates those rules TN, Gfted, whomever will do something about it. Now as to whether or not one of those rules were actually violated, I couldn’t say. I don’t recall ever having actually read them.

"Dispute not with her, she is a lunatic" William Shakespeare, Richard III http://reason.com/blog/2018/08/10/angry-woman-calls-cops-on-state-senator

How about this finish last night? DC United vs Orlando City https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWDwYSkQj5g

Asbestos is only dangerous when damaged and improperly handled. The illnesses that resulted from that came before the hazards were really known. It's not being used in new construction. But to retroactively remove it from every building built between the 1920's and 2000's would be impossible.

It does stifle debate when the opposition is kicked off the forum Certainly. But if the forum decides it does not want debate, well it is their forum. Sharp One is equating censorship by a government entity and a private entity trying to turn itself into a left wing echo chamber. They really are not the same things.

OK, once again being kicked off twitter, the Obsidian Board, Facebook, etc. does not really stretch to making someone an unperson. I've been given lifetime bans from Free Republic & Democrat Underground. I didn't disappear and I still post on the web.