Why do Americans Hate Democracy?

[Dirty Penguin]

All good points, but you can move to another state more to your liking.

The reason I support State Rights is because I don't want a "One size fits all" country. People are different and having different places with different rules can accommodate those differences.

Simply uprooting and moving is not always a viable option on many levels. The one size fits all is beneficial in some cases state to state but I can agree to a point that it may not be feasible for everyone (depending on the issue)

 

[Draka]

Depravity may indeed be a motivating factor, a cause if you will, to commit sins and crimes; however, it is not a valid excuse. It is not a justification. It is the depraved continuing in depravity.

You missed the point. You, admittedly, are only looking for the poor people doing it. I was pointing out that both rich and poor do these things for the very same base reasons. Stress, depression, addiction and so on. You just seem to think that if a poor person does so much as smokes a joint they are going to commit a crime as well. That somehow, a poor person must somehow rise above those things even a rich person has issues with rising above, because, hey...they're poor and you think they'll knock over a Hardee's to score their next baggie of dope. Don't worry about the rich person doing drugs though, even though they may commit crimes too...they're just "white collar" crimes right? Nothing to see there.

 

[Yerda]

Of course I believe in legal equality. I believe that all people who commit crimes should be punished for the crimes they commit.

Fair enough.

 

[Yerda]

Because we are not a democracy.

I get tired of explaining this.

I really wish people would study up on the concept of what a democracy is as opposed to a representative republic.

Where can I study up on the concept of what a democracy is, as you suggest?

My own readings have so far indicated that "America is not a democracy it is a representative republic" somewhat misframes the issue.

 

[Sonofason]

You missed the point.

I'm sorry to have to inform you, but I never miss the point.

You, admittedly, are only looking for the poor people doing it.

I don't need to look for it. Some people are obviously depraved.

I was pointing out that both rich and poor do these things for the very same base reasons.

Do what things? You're going to have to be more specific if I am going to prove you wrong.

Stress, depression, addiction and so on. You just seem to think that if a poor person does so much as smokes a joint they are going to commit a crime as well.

You're wrong, I like people who smoke joints. But poor people who smoke joints are more likely to be thieves. And I don't like thieves. If you're poor, you've got no business smoking joints. And if you steal, you've got no right, in my opinion, to have hands.

That somehow, a poor person must somehow rise above those things even a rich person has issues with rising above, because, hey...they're poor and you think they'll knock over a Hardee's to score their next baggie of dope.
Don't worry about the rich person doing drugs though, even though they may commit crimes too...they're just "white collar" crimes right? Nothing to see there.

I'm not really worried about people doing drugs. I don't care if people die doing their drugs. But when a person harms someone else because they want to do drugs, then I believe they have no rights to their appendages.

 

[Dirty Penguin]

But poor people who smoke joints are more likely to be thieves. And I don't like thieves. If you're poor, you've got no business smoking joints. And if you steal, you've got no right, in my opinion, to have hands.

Simply ridiculous.....it doesn't matter whether one is "poor", wealthy or rich. You should free to smoke a joint if you like despite some psuedo-authoritarian saying you shouldn't. And where's your evidence that smoking weed leads to thievery?....

 

[Sonofason]

Simply ridiculous.....it doesn't matter whether one is "poor", wealthy or rich. You should free to smoke a joint if you like despite some psuedo-authoritarian saying you shouldn't. And where's your evidence that smoking weed leads to thievery?....

I never said that smoking weed leads to thievery; Although it does. What I said was, "poor people who smoke joints are more likely to be thieves." However, I should point out that this isn't just my opinion.

Here is some evidence for you to consider.
"According to a National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, kids who frequently use marijuana are almost four times more likely to act violently or damage property. They are five times more likely to steal than those who do not use the drug."
Marijuana Facts - Information About Smoking Pot & Weed - Drug-Free World

"Research shows that kids who use marijuana weekly are
nearly four times more likely than nonusers to report they engage in
violent behavior. One study found that young people who had used
marijuana in the past year were more likely than nonusers to report
aggressive behavior. According to that study, incidences of physically
attacking people, stealing, and destroying property increased in
proportion to the number of days marijuana was smoked in the past year.
Users were also twice as likely as nonusers to report they disobey at school and destroy their own things. In another study, researchers looking into the relationship between ten illicit drugs and eight criminal offenses found that a greater frequency of marijuana use was associated with a greater likelihood to commit weapons offenses."
https://www.ncjrs.gov/ondcppubs/publications/pdf/marijuana_myths_facts.pdf

 

[Dirty Penguin]

I never said that smoking weed leads to thievery; Although it does. What I said was, "poor people who smoke joints are more likely to be thieves." However, I should point out that this isn't just my opinion.

Here is some evidence for you to consider.
"According to a National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, kids who frequently use marijuana are almost four times more likely to act violently or damage property. They are five times more likely to steal than those who do not use the drug."
Marijuana Facts - Information About Smoking Pot & Weed - Drug-Free World

http://www.drugfreeworld.org/drugfacts/drugs/marijuana.html

Thanks but this doesn't prove there's a direct correlation between smoking marijuana and stealing. And in a true comparison marijuana is far less disruptive than other commonly used drugs (i.e. cocain, heroine, meth and others). It's even far less disruptive than prescribed drugs. It's even far less disruptive than cigarettes or alcohol....Shucks...it even ranks lower in being disruptive in many areas to a person than caffeine.

Annual Causes of Death in the United States | Drug War Facts

Addictive Properties of Popular Drugs | Drug War Facts

Caffeine vs THC: The Double Standards of Addiction | Legalization Nation | East Bay Express

When proponents of the failed war on drugs endorse one sided or lopsided studies on marijuana use without taking into consideration the massive amounts of harmful legal drugs, alcohol and other legal substances on the market I call fowl. Plus I see it as a freedom of choice issue. One should be free to smoke if they so choose. Sure we can have a discussion on age appropriateness like we do for the mountain of legal stuff on the market but I fail to see why marijuana should be off limits when others get a pass.

 

[Sonofason]

Thanks but this doesn't prove there's a direct correlation between smoking marijuana and stealing. And in a true comparison marijuana is far less disruptive than other commonly used drugs (i.e. cocain, heroine, meth and others). It's even far less disruptive than prescribed drugs. It's even far less disruptive than cigarettes or alcohol....Shucks...it even ranks lower in being disruptive in many areas to a person than caffeine.

Annual Causes of Death in the United States | Drug War Facts

Addictive Properties of Popular Drugs | Drug War Facts

Caffeine vs THC: The Double Standards of Addiction | Legalization Nation | East Bay Express

When proponents of the failed war on drugs endorse one sided or lopsided studies on marijuana use without taking into consideration the massive amounts of harmful legal drugs, alcohol and other legal substances on the market I call fowl. Plus I see it as a freedom of choice issue. One should be free to smoke if they so choose. Sure we can have a discussion on age appropriateness like we do for the mountain of legal stuff on the market but I fail to see why marijuana should be off limits when others get a pass.

I suppose you could be right. There may not be a direct correlation between smoking marijuana and stealing. But one has to wonder, why is it true, and it is true, that those who smoke marijuana are more likely to be thieves than those who don't smoke it. What is it about a person that makes him both inclined to use marijuana and more inclined to be a thief? There is a correlation, though I admit, it may not be a direct correlation.

 

[Monk Of Reason]

I suppose you could be right. There may not be a direct correlation between smoking marijuana and stealing. But one has to wonder, why is it true, and it is true, that those who smoke marijuana are more likely to be thieves than those who don't smoke it. What is it about a person that makes him both inclined to use marijuana and more inclined to be a thief? There is a correlation, though I admit, it may not be a direct correlation.

The correlation is the fact that both are illegal acts. If one is already established to do one illegal act (harmless as it may be by itself) then it would only follow that a higher percentage of people would preform other illegal acts.

 

[Sonofason]

The correlation is the fact that both are illegal acts. If one is already established to do one illegal act (harmless as it may be by itself) then it would only follow that a higher percentage of people would preform other illegal acts.

That could be true. So we could say that it takes a reprobate mind to engage in illegal behaviors. And thus, a person who is willing to smoke marijuana is more likely to be a thief than a person who does not smoke marijuana because the person who smokes marijuana has a reprobate mind, which is all that is necessary for one to become a thief. Those who do not smoke marijuana might also have reprobate minds, but those who do not smoke marijuana might not have reprobate minds. And so it is more likely that a person who smokes marijuana is a thief than a person who does not smoke marijuana.

Good reasoning sir. I think you're right.

 

[Draka]

And what of places where smoking weed is not illegal?

 

[Sonofason]

And what of places where smoking weed is not illegal?

Well, in such a case, I suppose it would more difficult for us to make the assessment that a person who smokes marijuana has, in fact, a reprobate mind. We would have to take a closer look at these individuals to make such determinations.

You tell me.

 

[Monk Of Reason]

That could be true. So we could say that it takes a reprobate mind to engage in illegal behaviors. And thus, a person who is willing to smoke marijuana is more likely to be a thief than a person who does not smoke marijuana because the person who smokes marijuana has a reprobate mind, which is all that is necessary for one to become a thief. Those who do not smoke marijuana might also have reprobate minds, but those who do not smoke marijuana might not have reprobate minds. And so it is more likely that a person who smokes marijuana is a thief than a person who does not smoke marijuana.

Good reasoning sir. I think you're right.

If we are talking pure statistics perhaps. But there is nothing innate within the marijuana smoking that causes thievery and it wasn't always so. However there would be a group of individuals who would make the total proportion skew. At least this is what I would assume. This is pure speculation without actually looking at numbers.

 

[Sonofason]

If we are talking pure statistics perhaps. But there is nothing innate within the marijuana smoking that causes thievery and it wasn't always so. However there would be a group of individuals who would make the total proportion skew. At least this is what I would assume. This is pure speculation without actually looking at numbers.

Of course, you're right. There may be nothing innate with the marijuana smoking that causes thievery, but there may be something innate with the marijuana smoker that causes thievery, and as I have shown earlier, there are statistics that show this to be the case. Marijuana smokers are more likely to be thieves than non marijuana smokers

 

[Draka]

Perhaps it could be looked at from the other side of the mirror. Perhaps it is those that are more prone to be unconventional, be it steal, be artistic, be a freethinker, be an activist, or what-have-you, that are more prone to be drawn to the feelings attained when smoking weed.

 

[Sonofason]

Perhaps it could be looked at from the other side of the mirror. Perhaps it is those that are more prone to be unconventional, be it steal, be artistic, be a freethinker, be an activist, or what-have-you, that are more prone to be drawn to the feelings attained when smoking weed.

Sure, I don't pretend to know for certain why marijuana smokers are more prone to steal than non-smokers. I just know that they are. I can say with a fair degree of certainty that it is not the marijuana smoking that causes one to be a thief, and it is not being a thief that causes one to be a marijuana smoker. Yet, it is obvious to me that there is a common thread that has not yet been discovered that ties a greater percentage of marijuana smokers to the practice of thievery than can be found in non-smokers. In the same sense, bringing this conversation back to where it started, I don't know the exact reason why African American men are 4 times more likely to commit rape than a Caucasian men; I just know that they are. Some might suggest that the root cause for this is to be found in the disparaging socioeconomic status of African Americans. However, I cannot for the life of me imagine how being poor compels a man to rape someone. Others, like yourself, suggest that the statistics are somehow flawed due to racism and discrimination.

But of this I am quite certain. The closer one draws near to God, the closer God draws near to them, and the less likely one is to have such pathetic and depraved inclinations.

 

[Draka]

Interesting, given that the percentage of blacks being Christian is usually found to be much higher than the percentage of whites being Christian.

 

[Sonofason]

Interesting, given that the percentage of blacks being Christian is usually found to be much higher than the percentage of whites being Christian.

I'm sorry to have to inform you of this, but you ought to have already know this; claiming to be a Christian does not make one a Christian.

A Christian is a follower of Christ. A person who is following Christ does not steal from others. A person who is following Christ does not rape people. Perhaps what you are suggesting here is not only that blacks tend to commit more rape, but they are also more apt to lie.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

I'm sorry to have to inform you of this, but you ought to have already know this; claiming to be a Christian does not make one a Christian.

A Christian is a follower of Christ. A person who is following Christ does not steal from others. A person who is following Christ does not rape people. Perhaps what you are suggesting here is not only that blacks tend to commit more rape, but they are also more apt to lie.

Another racist on this board! How wonderful!