Recent comments
ADHD: Hunter in a Farmer's World
Thom Hartmann has written a dozen books covering ADD / ADHD - Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder.
Join Thom for his new twice-weekly email newsletters on ADHD, whether it affects you or a member of your family.
Thom's Blog Is On the Move
By webmaster
Hello All
Thom's blog in this space and moving to a new home.
Please follow us across to hartmannreport.com - this will be the only place going forward to read Thom's blog posts and articles.
Thom you forgot to mention the bills real purpose to dilute the skilled workforce. I do not think the doubling of H1B and H1NB visas had to wait for the governors to say the fence is secure.
So, of course, as the war on drugs begins to be decimated...the repubs have to begin to fill it with another useless spending war. Why not the war on immigration? We wouldn't want to actually use our tax dollars for the betterment of our society afterall. What good would that do us?
Ken, I'm aware of all these things. Though, I've never been to war, I may be a tad paranoid myself. And you are right, the key is being preventative. And that means, not looking like an easy mark.
I own a handgun because I hope to be able to protect myself and because I know I will not hesitate. That in no way reflects the reality of it though and the statistics of actually being able to if someone decides they are going to kill me. That was my point, I have a plan, but so does the attacker. I'm not going to lie to myself about any part of the situation when the facts are, in a home invasion scenerio, the victor is usually the invader no matter the readiness or training at hand. I think it's a good thing to acknowledge the likelyhood and not grow some crazy superman complex -- makes me that much more ready.
Btw, men are raped, surely you know that. He said that in response to what I said.
chuckle8 ~ Your points are well taken. I think I agree--with everything except defense spending. IMHO We have spent enough on defense already to find that the only return on that money is war. That's not what I consider a smart return on investment.
With that, I think it important we define some terms here:
SPENDING - To expend, consume, pass, or waste.
INVESTING - To expend money with the expectation of receiving a profit.
When we build a tank, bomb or missile it is called defense SPENDING because it is money wasted without ever having a hope of receiving a profit. Creating a job? Creating the job is a further waste of the money. War is not a profit it is only a further waste of money and resources. Putting money into the defense industry is a worse investment than flushing it down the toilet. Always has been! Always will be!
INVESTMENTS in our infrastructure, transportation system, energy production, maintenance of national resources, initiatives of peace, commerce, small business assistance programs, health, and education not only increase the immediate value of the nation and create long term good paying jobs and careers; but, in the long run offer the potential for regular large profits on the investment.
My friend, I don't think we are too far apart on this issue. I have no problem investing money in this country or anything else that turns a tidy profit while serving humanity. My problem is money completely wasted. Defense spending is the biggest waste of money there is. Listen to President Eisenhower's farewell address. He laid this fact out quite clearly. Please don't suggest we continue making this tragic and costly mistake. Money is too vital of a resource to see it go up in flames. The only thing the defense industry produces is the violent loss of life. This is no way to serve humanity.
Single payer is the only way. Sort of off topic, with regard to the sequester: Yes the poor and soon to be poorer are taking some hits. Another little known hit is education for military. My mom is a prof teaching part time on a nearby military base. Classes are being cut and instructors are losing hours/pay. Many were promised education by recruiters as an incentive to to join. Now that promise is being taken away.
I assume everyone knows that the Boston bomber could not find a job in the last 6 months.
I keep forgetting to put a name on my replies. My message #41 was for DAnneMarc.
I totally agree with what you say even if I don't believe in the thermite of the WTC.
My main point, let us consider something that is possible even with a corporatist owned congress.
Spending more to get the economic machine rolling (which unfortunately includes the military-industrial complex) will help to rid us of the military industial complex, IMHO. With economy rolling people will not be so desparate for a job anywhere, e.g. in a tank factory in Ohio.
How about the MRI on the brain? You call it spending, and I call it investing. If you cherry pick the data and make a few errors on a spreadsheet a 5% cut may make sense.
Ken Ware ~ Yes I am a man and yes I did mention a scenario where I was potentially raped. Do you ever miss an opportunity for juvenile ridicule? That was the suggested scenario by Tara T, who I was responding to and not my own idea. And yes, it is possible for another man to break into your house and rape you at gunpoint. Not likely, but possible. No, I don't spend a lot of time worrying about rape. LOL Except by the IRS.
However, a physical assault in ones home--or anywhere else--is very possible. Rape is simply one form of a physical assault. My goal in this post was to offer effective alternatives to self defense that don't involve carrying a gun. Neither I, nor the Oakland Police Officer I spoke with believed it a good idea for a Senior to rely on a gun especially in a physical attack. If surprised, and they will be, if out muscled, and they will be, they will lose the weapon quickly. You see, I have learned through observation and listening that typical thugs don't like a challenge. They always like to have the overwhelming advantage in a confrontation. They would probably avoid you or I unless there were two of them and/or they had a gun. Women on the other hand, especially Seniors, are the prey of choice for the typical thug.
First thing one has to do is to always be aware of their surroundings. In a purely physical confrontation a woman willing to fight back and get in a good initial hit has a chance of scaring the thug away. They don't want or expect a fight. Ripping a hole in their cheek with your keys, blinding them with pepper spray, or blasting them in the face with Easy Off Oven Spray could save you a beating, a robbery, and maybe your life. Pulling out a gun or a knife can get you killed. Of course, if the predator is armed, the best course of action is to cooperate fully.
Two other things should be mentioned. Only fight back if you're capable of running away. That's always the first and final step in officially recommended defense. Also, always try not to attract an attack. Crooks target people who they think have money on them. Avoid carrying large brand name purses, expensive clothes, shoes or jewelry. Keep your wallets and credit cards concealed. Keep your keys, pepper spray and Easy Off in easy reach.
Case in point, my father walked the worst streets of Oakland his whole life without a gun, a can of Easy Off, or any other means of self-defense. He was never attacked. He could always take care of himself except for the last 20 years of his life where he was hobbled with arthritis. He used a walker or two canes to get around and could be knocked over easily by bumping into him. No one ever tried. My father used to dress in tattered clothing. On the street he looked like a homeless person. People would constantly ask if they could help him out; and once a van pulled over and several well dressed men gave him a bag of money. Of course he refused it. LOL The point here is simple, dress like you don't have any money and people seeking money will leave you alone. Dress like you have money and guess what, people will notice.
I hope someone benefits from this advice and no one gets hurt! There is no sure way to avoid a violent attack. The best deterrent of all is never to be alone. Thugs don't like resistance, crowds and witnesses. Remember, your most powerful defense weapon is your brain--use it.
Be very careful with Easy Off Oven Cleaner and read all the directions before carrying it around. PLEASE, ONLY USE IT AS A LAST RESORT TO SAVE YOUR LIFE! (Or to clean your oven.)
DanneMarc~ I see, I misunderstood. Well, in that case, that's exactly what I try to do. Preventative measures. I prefer not to look like a victim to those that are looking. Overly aware I guess. And I understand your point of living to a degree. I grew up just outside of Atlanta -- that's a fairly unruly place at times. And I'm a 32 year old female, so I know I still have a bit of fight in me as well haha.
Also, I don't disagree about gun ownership. It's not for everyone - and those that aren't comfortable with them should definitely take another path. There are so many. I fully recognize that I own a glock simply as a security blanket. I'm a southern girl afterall; it's hard to shake off all the learned conservative notions that I have. Though, I do try. I'd hope that I'd get to use it with a home invasion, but I know it's likely I wouldn't. Also, that would be the only time, because I don't carry it. That's a dangerous deal.
I wish I didn't know that little old lady story. What a useless human being. there's not much worse than those that get off on hurting those that can't protect themselves.
And, yes, I know must of the tricks. I've heard the key trick since I was a little girl. I'll tell you something though; I'll pass on ever owning pepper spray again. The only person that ended up with my pepper spray in their eyes was me. That was an unfortunate event. It really does burn! It also speaks on what it can mean to be a careless gun owner.
Great post full of useful tips! My site is fairly new and I am also having a hard time getting my readers to leave comments. Analytics shows they are coming to the site but I have a feeling “nobody wants to be first”. My Hit Tricks
Kend says...."No one says thank you to the ones who pay".......I hope you understand just who the "ones" that need to be thanked are. They're known as the working class, they work for a fraction of what their worth, thus enriching those immoral enough to cash in on their desperation. Of course our govt., the same one bought and paid for by the thieves immoral enough to cash in, looks the other way as this crime takes place. Those who you think are paying all of the tax are doing it with stolen money, money that should have made it into working class paychecks, pensions, and health care coverage.
Find me an employer paying a minimun wage of $21/hour and I'll thank him for any tax he paid on his income.
Ken: Yes, I knew right off that you were trying to be funny and I took it as such...that's why I wrote what I did.
Jonathan Swift's (full title) "A Modest Proposal-For Preventing the Children of Poor People In Ireland From Being a Burden to Their Parents or Country, and For Making Them Beneficial to The Public" whew! quite a title, eh? He wrote it in 1729. It was supposed to be a joke (or rather, a cutting sarcasm against the wealthy Brits who were starving the Irish during the Potato Famine).
It was a literary piece that Swift used to shock the selfish and greedy British gentry into looking at themselves in a mirror of humanity. For many who began to read it were shocked at such a proposal until they realized that Swift was joking...but in a very serious way. It sent the message as he intended.
Some people just have to be shocked into reality....make them see themselves for what they really are. But, if I may be so bold, are you not a descendant of Ireland? You may already know about this literary masterpiece and I may just be preaching to the choir.
I would not expect too many people to be very much aware (no pun intended) of the Cannibal Mary story though. That takes place during another famine during the Seige of Jerusalem. The Romans probably had a few sniggles over that one at their toga parties...."whoever eateth the flesh of my flesh will have everlasting life"...or something like that. In this case, it was more of an inside joke of the rich and powerful against their rebellious subjects. Hey, but that conspiracy theory is ancient history. Joseph Atwill goes into the story in his book Caeser's Messiah--The Roman Conspiracy to Invent Jesus.
No ken w I was talking about you defending yourself. I just think you could do it better at your age then most young people today. I know where you stand on the sequester issues.
Government should put strong eye on this. The risky trading practices and sub-prime mortgage scandals of the big banks must not be tolerated. Pls stop it
Palin - With the exception of the remote controlled aircraft, I am starting to wonder if you might just be right about the nano-thermit and the rest of the theory!! And that is all I am saying to night, good night....K.W.
Palin - That was a damn joke about cutting all those programs, I was being sarcastic. I think we need to stop Sequestration, raise taxes on the wealthiest and keep all the social programs I said we need to cut!!I guess that will be the last time I try to be funny on this site!! K.W. Good Grief !!
Ken: It's good to laugh! Glad to be of service. Laughing actually reverses aging....but that's just another conspiracy theory the people with cognac distillance disease swear by.
Time for another coffee enema and another couple of glasses of grasshopper juice! If I have an intruder and can't get my gun fast enough at least I'll be able to slime the intruder.
Kend - I know I am lacking in the humor department, but my comment's about cutting all those programs was a damn joke!! I actual feel the exact opposite of those ideas. We need to scrap Sequestration, raise taxes on the super wealthy and take care of our poor, elderly and disabled! God, (that is just an expression DeAnne) I really need to take lessons in sarcasm if you think I was being sincere on those ideas about cutting the Social Security and Social Programs!! And if you’re not Canadian, your government will not do squat to help people in your country...I really need to take lessons in how to tell jokes and make sarcastic remarks...K.W.
Thom,
Yes, all the sequester across the board cuts are devastating for sure. The one that truly amazes me that it has received no recognition in the media to date is the Veteran's Administration's cuts. My father in law is a WWII vet and had been receiving great and beneficial treatment at the VA Martinez, CA. facility. Let's face it, the VA's across the country are in an uphill battle with a sharp increase in cases and limited staffing and now with across the board cuts, the situation has gone from "struggling to provide" to "extremely frustrating and close to burned out". If you could please shine some much needed light on this situation, it would be greatly appreciated. Not just for my father in law, but for all Vets that are and have been struggling to get some much needed and deserved help for the services they gave to their country.
Thanks so much for the work you do Thom,
Dave Wentz
Palin- I keep trying to turn my head and pretend you will give up on your paranoid conspiracy theories, but you just keep coming back! Any other suggestions? I wish I was as intelligent as you seem to be and then I could get rid of this damn, "cognitive dissonance" problem! Your theories do not turn me off, they keep me laughing every time you print them.... keep them coming! K.W. Have a good night, I am not going to start exchanging ideas on this subject tonight!!
Ken's "Modest Proposal" ala Jonathan Swift. Yeah, or just like Cannibal Mary in Josephus' Jewish Wars...eat our own children. Maybe that's what the Republicans want us to do..that would solve a lot of problems...huh? Roast baby! Yummy!
ken w my money is on you buddy. I know you can take care of yourself and others at your age no problem. It is the 85% of the youth I am worried about they need the government to look after them In every way.
Thank you, Mr. Ware! That makes both of us! But, I agree with everything else you said. I fully agree that a person cannot expect, or hope, that someone else is going to protect you. You have to be prepared to do it yourself!
There are a lot of very bad people out there who could very well take your life, or that of your loved ones, in an instant. The police only get there after the the murder. You can't shoot someone unless it is in self-defense, not just because they are in your yard, or even in your house...but if they have a weapon, coming at you, you have to protect yourself. If you don't have a firearm, unless you are an martial arts expert, you can just kiss your behind goodbye. And with the terrible economy, people losing any means of support, things will get a lot more violent from very desperate people. You won't be able to reason with them...they will kill you if you don't kill them first (in self-defense, of course). I'm not a lawyer, but I believe that in most states you still have the right to protect yourself.