America - The Official Thread

[Biggles]

It doesn't shock me at all. Almost all cities that are part of the Rust Belt Region (pretty much from upstate NY through the Midwest to the Mississippi River) have seen significant population drops over the past few decades due to the departure of manufacturing from the area. This includes not only Buffalo, but Detroit, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and Chicago.

Buffalo is a special case as its era of expansive growth was longer ago than places like Detroit. Chicago lost population in its downtown core, but the metro area has continued to grow. Pittsburgh has also turned around significantly in the last 20 years & even Cleveland & Cincinnati have improved over the last 10 years & are starting to see an uptick in population. These are all areas that know quite well & visit frequently. There is the prospect of improvement & a return to population growth in many of these old industrial cities.

My point to ryzno is that - traffic aside - he's actually probably placed to benefit from increased migration to the Atlanta area, with greater opportunity in construction jobs & increasing property prices (I believe he owns his home?). Who knows, 20 years from now ryzno may be thoroughly gentrified.

 

[Keef]

I'm not sure Georgia turned blue because of people moving there, I think it turned blue this time because Trump was so awful. I'm guessing more people voted against Trump than for Biden.

Here in Utah, we have had a huge influx of people moving here, especially from California and Midwesterners who found out Denver was full (raises hand sheepishly). But in 2020, the state went redder despite the influx of Californians. We even managed to elect a Qcumber with CTE into Congress over probably one of the most conservative Democrats too.

Populations shift and states that were traditionally one way, will eventually go a different way. Ideally, every state should be purple, or more ideally brown with a mix of all different parties representing the population of a state. That would probably be a better representation of America too since political beliefs are all over the place.

Georgia hasn't necessarily "turned" blue at all. The reason it happened this time is because the black population in Georgia came out in droves to make a change and it worked. All hail Stacey Abrams, Killer Mike, and others for doing what they do and helping others realize that it works when they work as a community. Don't you discount the power of community activism, convincing a huge and thoroughly disenfranchised population to flip one of the most important voting states in the country. I hope they learned their lesson and continue to stay active in the future. If they do that, then Georgia will indeed stay blue. It's probably been blue for a decade or more, we just didn't know it because Georgia's people didn't believe they could make a difference.

Also, good news, Cincy's population went up 4.2% from 2010 to 2020! Dayton's pop only dropped 1% which is a massive improvement, having dropped 6% or higher every decade since 1970 and a whopping 14.7% from 2000-2010. Unfortunately Cleveland and Toledo have not been so fortunate. We can't effectively compare Columbus's population to anything because they've long had a policy of annexing suburbs and land, something which most other cities never did and now can't do. Don't believe people when they mention that Columbus is whatever number biggest city in the country - the city gained population because they annexed everything, and the Columbus metro only recently surpassed Cleveland's but is still smaller than Cincy's.

 

[McLaren]

I'm pretty sure what Keef was referring to was information like this released.

Following Joe Biden’s narrow presidential win in Georgia, early voting is underway in the state’s Jan. 5 runoff election for two U.S. Senate seats, races that will determine whether both chambers of Congress are led by Democrats during the first years of the new administration. Once a reliably Republican state, Georgia has received much attention for the increasing racial and ethnic diversity of eligible voters in the state, which has highlighted the importance of Black voters and other fast-growing groups like Latino and Asian voters.

Black, Latino and Asian Americans have been key to Georgia’s registered voter growth since 2016

The number of Black registered voters in Georgia increased the most among all major racial and ethnic groups between 2016 and 2020.

www.pewresearch.org

However, there is a NYTimes article shared behind a paywall (unfortunately) that showed since 2016, the change in share of the two-party vote was: 7-pt. swing in High-Income, 6-pt. swing in Majority College-Grads, 6-pt. swing in Suburban, 5-pt. swing in Majority Age 65+, & 5-pt. swing in Obama-Trump areas that became more Democratic. Rural, White (less educated), Majority Black, & Urban Areas swung 1-pt. or less to towards more Democratic. More than 80% Black & Majority Hispanic swung .5-pt towards more Republican.

Detailed Turnout Data Shows How Georgia Turned Blue (Published 2020)

Huge gains in the Atlanta suburbs make up for a decline in the Black share of the electorate.

www.nytimes.com

 

[TexRex]

How it started:

District Calls Anniversary Photo of High School Principal and His Wife ‘Questionable'

A high school principal in Colleyville says his bosses ordered him to remove a photo of him embracing his wife from social media.

www.nbcdfw.com

A high school principal in Colleyville says his bosses ordered him to remove a photo of him embracing his wife from social media.

Colleyville Heritage High School Principal James Whitfield has faced sharp criticism from some parents who are accusing him of teaching critical race theory.

One of those parents complained about the photo and the district ordered Whitfield to take it down. He said the district wouldn't tell him why.

It was supposed to be a celebration for Whitfield, who had just been named principal of Colleyville Heritage Middle School two years ago, and his family. But before he could pop open the champagne his boss called and asked him to check his email.

He looked online and immediately saw a photo of him and his wife on the beach -- a photo shot by a professional photographer on their anniversary.

"I look at the picture, and I look at the words above it, and it says, 'Is this the Dr. Whitfield we want leading our schools?' I showed it to my wife, who immediately begins to well up with tears," he said.

Whitfield's wife Kerrie said she took the photo to mean a black man with a tattoo on his arm was inappropriate. But James Whitfield said he took it to mean the issue was he was in an interracial relationship.

How it's going:

Grapevine-Colleyville ISD Principal at Center of Controversy Suspended

A principal at the center of a controversy in the Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District has been placed on paid administrative leave, the district says.

www.nbcdfw.com

A principal at the center of a controversy in the Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District has been placed on paid administrative leave, the superintendent wrote in a letter to parents late Monday.

Superintendent Robin Ryan said in a statement Monday afternoon that an interim principal was now in place at Colleyville Heritage High School while embattled Principal Dr. James Whitfield had been placed on leave.

Ryan wrote in part, "I wanted to share information with you regarding the leadership at Colleyville Heritage High School. Effective immediately, Dr. Whitfield has been put on paid administrative leave."

Ryan said in his statement that he would not go into specifics about why Whitfield had been placed on leave because "it is a personnel matter."

"I did want you to hear about it directly from me. I also want you to know that the entire district leadership team and I are fully committed to the success and well-being of Colleyville Heritage students as we move forward together," Ryan wrote.

Whitfield, who is Black, was named principal of Colleyville Heritage ahead of the 2020-21 school year and was soon after accused online and in board meetings of teaching critical race theory.

Whitfield released a statement about the suspension to NBC 5 Monday afternoon, saying "I have done nothing wrong by anyone. I’ve only chosen to speak up after they allowed that man to speak my name at the board meeting. Instead of speaking out against the behavior ... they came after me."

The right is grasping tightly onto this CRT bogeyman to demonize anyone they desire, whether CRT plays an actual role or not.

Modern American conservatism is insane.

The photos likely referred to in the top article aren't sexually explicit. If they were, it's doubtful they'd have been posted to social media.

 

[Eunos_Cosmo]

Colleyville - Definitely checks out. The enclave for folks who think Dallas is way too woke.

 

[TB]

How it started:

District Calls Anniversary Photo of High School Principal and His Wife ‘Questionable'

A high school principal in Colleyville says his bosses ordered him to remove a photo of him embracing his wife from social media.

www.nbcdfw.com

How it's going:

Grapevine-Colleyville ISD Principal at Center of Controversy Suspended

A principal at the center of a controversy in the Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District has been placed on paid administrative leave, the district says.

www.nbcdfw.com

The right is grasping tightly onto this CRT bogeyman to demonize anyone they desire, whether CRT plays an actual role or not.

Modern American conservatism is insane.

The photos likely referred to in the top article aren't sexually explicit. If they were, it's doubtful they'd have been posted to social media.

Call me a prude but here's my take on it.

Piggy back ride - no issues
Him crawling on her - too far

There's only one activity that position is used for and no one wants to see their principal doing that.

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

Call me a prude but here's my take on it.

Piggy back ride - no issues
Him crawling on her - too far

There's only one activity that position is used for and no one wants to see their principal doing that.

It depends.

 

[UKMikey]

If it's about impropriety then why bring critical race theory into it? Would they had done that if he weren't a Black man?

 

[TexRex]

Call me a prude but here's my take on it.

Piggy back ride - no issues
Him crawling on her - too far

There's only one activity that position is used for and no one wants to see their principal doing that.

You may or may not be a prude. Either is fine.

Now...I'm not a teenager and I'm not on Facebook (not even on the oitside looking in, as with Twitter), but if I was a teenager today on Facebook, which I gather is a rarity anyway, I can't conceive of a reason I'd be compelled to view my principal's page. If I'm a parent, it's still unlikely I would be unless I'm a "friend" or he uses his Facebook page to conduct administrative business, which he probably shouldn't and likely wouldn't be doing.

This is all beside the point, though. The "naughty pictures" are a red herring. It's all about CRT, whether CRT can be legitimately invoked in this instance or not.

 

[Tornado]

lol of course DeSantis ignored the court order about withholding pay. Why wouldn't he.

 

[Blitz24]

lol of course DeSantis ignored the court order about withholding pay. Why wouldn't he.

He's hoping the "president" will give him a kudos for his tireless work of standing up to the virus.

 

[TexRex]

It's all about CRT, whether CRT can be legitimately invoked in this instance or not.

A guide to right-wing media’s "critical race theory" strategy

www.mediamatters.org

 

[sirjim73]

A guide to right-wing media’s "critical race theory" strategy

www.mediamatters.org

All this talk of CRT... Surely everyone must have a flat screen tv by now?

 

[Danoff]

All this talk of CRT... Surely everyone must have a flat screen tv by now?

I don't know if you remember this, but there was a brief period where you could get flatscreen CRTs.

 

[UKMikey]

I don't know if you remember this, but there was a brief period where you could get flatscreen CRTs.

Knowing that bunch, I wouldn't be surprised if they had flatearth CRTs.

 

[Keef]

I don't know if you remember this, but there was a brief period where you could get flatscreen CRTs.

I distinctly remember arguing with my parents about the difference between a flatscreen and a flat panel. I wanted a flat panel TV, not a flatscreen. Unfortunately all my efforts didn't stop society from picking up "flatscreen" and running with it, not that it matters anymore.

 

[Imari]

Call me a prude but here's my take on it.

Piggy back ride - no issues
Him crawling on her - too far

There's only one activity that position is used for and no one wants to see their principal doing that.

You're a prude.

It's not on a school website, it's on his personal social media. I'm pretty sure children have figured out that sex exists by high school - after all, it's the method used to create more children.

Work professionalism is fine and good, and in a position of authority like a school principal one might be reasonably expected to behave well even outside of strict school hours. But it's not like he's going out and starring in pornography. It's a mildly suggestive position in a celebratory photo with his wife. You can see significantly "sexier" stuff on TV or Youtube any time. The only reason for anyone to even bat an eyelid at this is that he's the principal, and even that is stupid if given more than two seconds thought. Is he allowed to pose with a beer? In a fighting pose? Can he swear? What if he wore a skirt? Does he give up all freedoms to do anything that wouldn't fit into a G-rated movie just because he's a school principal?

There's a point at which it becomes clear that it's not about the photo or the position, and everything about finding any small excuse to attack the man. For what specifically only the people involved could say, but the race stuff seems like a pretty good guess.

 

[ryzno]

I honestly don't want a civil war or to be messed with but this song describes the South.

Spoiler: Welcome to my House, music video (profanity warning)

 

[TexRex]

Wow, yeah...that's just ****ing garbage.

[Pre-Chorus]
Y'all was coming in
And now you're backing out (Now you're backing out)
It's hard to talk big
With a shotgun in your mouth (Shotgun in your mouth)
I'm glad you brought your friends
They can watch it go down (Watch it go down)
I got mine too
So welcome to my house (Welcome to my house)

[Chorus]
'Cause these are my people
And this is my land (This is my land)
This is what we prayed for
And this is God's plan (This is God's plan)
If you ain't from here
Then you won't understand (You won't understand)
This is my country
This is who I am (This is who I am)

[Post-Chorus]
So welcome to my house
So welcome to my house

[Verse 1]
I'ma stand up for mine
You better believe it
'Cause today won't be your day
I can guarantee it
You should turn and walk away
And get to leaving
Or I'll let this 12 gauge
Do all my spеaking
Don't push me on the edgе, boy (Don't push me on the edge, boy)
'Cause I'm aiming for your head, boy ('Cause I'm aiming for your head, boy)
And all I see is red, boy (And all I see is red, boy)
I told you not to cross that line (I told you not to cross that line)
I'm giving you a chance, boy (I'm giving you a chance, boy)
To see the devil in a glance, boy (The devil in a glance, boy)
'Cause I could knock you out your pants, boy (Could knock you out your pants, boy)
I told you not to **** with mine (I told you not to **** with mine)
Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy
Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy

[Pre-Chorus]
Y'all was coming in
And now you're backing out (Now you're backing out)
It's hard to talk big
With a shotgun in your mouth (Shotgun in your mouth)
I'm glad you brought your friends
They can watch it go down (Watch it go down)
I got mine too
So welcome to my house (Welcome to my house)

[Chorus]
'Cause these are my people
And this is my land (This is my land)
This is what we prayed for
And this is God's plan (This is God's plan)
And if you ain't from here
Then you won't understand (You won't understand)
This is my country
This is who I am (This is who I am)

[Post-Chorus]
So welcome to my house
So welcome to my house

[Verse 2]
I got a baby girl inside this house
And right now she's sound asleep
So it's probably best for the both of us
If you just turn around and leave
'Cause if you come in this ****in' house
Then you too gonna go to sleep
I promise you, boy, don't play with me
I pray to God my soul to keep
Especially this day and age
Gotta handle **** our own way
With a 30-30 or a 12 gauge
Behind this door your hell awaits
My old lady, she rides too
Picking up every shell case
Mopping up these blood stains
But she ain't seen a damn thing
Most of my people are convicts
Hard headed, no nonsense
So please approach with caution
You never know who's watching
You never know what's on the other side of that barn door and you knockin'
Might step out like
Mother****ers get to droppin'

[Verse 3]
All the neighbors heard was the dogs bark
And the sun was down, it was getting dark
And I told the sheriff it ain't no problems
Man, I was just taking out the garbage
So if you don't mind, please excuse me
I'm with the family tryna watch a movie
I'm sure you got better things to do
So I'll let you go on and get back to doing it

[Pre-Chorus]
Y'all was coming in
And now you're backing out (Now you're backing out)
It's hard to talk big
With a shotgun in your mouth (Shotgun in your mouth)
I'm glad you brought your friends
They can watch it go down (Watch it go down)
I got mine too
So welcome to my house (Welcome to my house)

[Chorus]
'Cause these are my people
And this is my land (This is my land)
This is what we prayed for
And this is God's plan (This is God's plan)
And if you ain't from here
Then you won't understand (You won't understand)
This is my country
This is who I am (This is who I am)
So welcome to my house
[Outro]
Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy
Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy
So welcome to my house

 

[Imari]

Wow, yeah...that's just ****ing garbage.

Seems fairly easy to comprehend how people like that don't quite get how democracy, discussion or compromise is supposed to work. When the only tool you have to solve problems is violence then it's very hard to get anywhere. Not getting what you want? Threaten people. Someone getting in the way of what you think is right? Kill them.

It's all so very biblical. Unfortunately, it's all the wrong lessons from the bible. The ones about fire and brimstone and smiting solving every issue, never the ones about kindness and compassion.

 

[merseyxshore]

As a foreign observer, I've always felt that fellas saying "the last thing we want is a civil war" while tooled up for the apocalypse is basically code for "I fantasise about this daily and may possibly have written Red Dawn 2* fan fiction".

Btw that's not a shot at you Ryzno, your post just reminded me of this.

* or The Turner Diaries 2...

 

[ryzno]

Wow, yeah...that's just ****ing garbage.

To each their own.
You don't believe in protecting your property?

 

[McLaren]

Wow, yeah...that's just ****ing garbage.

This sounds like the kind of person who thinks liberals don't have guns of their own.

 

[ryzno]

This sounds like the kind of person who thinks liberals don't have guns of their own.

Obviously none of y'all actually watched the video.

 

[Famine]

I have to admit to not being so well-versed in scripture that I can quote the English translations of Bible passages at will, but I think I'm right in saying that Jesus did regularly preach that, among his sermons on love, tolerance, and understanding, one should at all times be willing to execute someone with a shotgun blast to their mouth in front of onlookers and your own kids, and then go back to your daily life as if nothing had happened. That is God's plan, after all: normalising completely casual, fatal violence.

It's good to know that this also appears in the oral record of Cherokee history too - after all, if you were from there you'd understand.

 

[merseyxshore]

To each their own.
You don't believe in protecting your property?

I lock my doors, but I don't have a gun. Still got all my stuff though

 

[McLaren]

Obviously none of y'all actually watched the video.

I don't need to or have any desire to after reading the lyrics.

It's worded like it's about protecting property/family, but the meaning is clearly about "protecting America".

 

[ryzno]

I lock my doors, but I don't have a gun. Still got all my stuff though

Good for you man. I'm glad you've had good luck.

I've come home to my door kicked in and my apartment ransacked.

I've woken up to find the handle/lock to my Honda hanging off the side of my car and the cold air intake system gone.

I literally caught someone trying to steal my old work van after destroying the steering column and trying to start it with a screw driver. The idiot didn't even see I had a slide-hammer in there with an attachment that was on it that could have saved him a lot of time trying to remove the ignition switch.

I woke up once to see someone stole a very expensive jack out of the same van.
The idiot forgot to grab the 2 bolt cutters. Could've been useful in his life of crime.

I came home once to see someone stole a $500 air compressor off my porch.

Y'all wonder why I had no problem moving away from Atlanta...

I don't need to or have any desire to after reading the lyrics.

Well then, you ain't gonna understand it.

That is God's plan, after all: normalising completely casual, fatal violence.

I didn't watch the video for the god and his plan reference. I'm atheist.
I'd sleep well knowing they were trying to steal from me.

 

[McLaren]

Well then, you ain't gonna understand it.

The fact you say the song describes the South, and I happen to live in the South should show I know exactly what it means. I've seen plenty of people like that in East Texas. I also know the underlying message to it and judging by the YouTube comments, I'd reckon a lot of people take the same message.

 

[Famine]

I'd sleep well knowing they were trying to steal from me.

And I'm sure your kid would have no mental scars whatsoever from watching the back of a man's head explode, by your hand.

While we're on the subject of all the criminal acts you've witnessed, imagine if the one you witnessed because you were committing it had resulted in you catching a cupful of lead shot to the palate from someone just protecting themselves (and their stuff)...

♫ This is God's plan... ♫