America - The Official Thread

  • Thread starter ///M-Spec
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That article reeks of paranoia, but it has always been very suspicious that the soldiers immediately disposed of his body where no-one would ever find it and before anyone could photograph or film it. However, Al-Qaeda confirmed his death after the event, and just like with people who are convinced 9/11 was conducted by Bush, Al-Qaeda admitted responsibility for that, doesn't that answer it?
 
I'd put money on "mrconservative.com" not being so quick to publish such an article if a Republican was the president who gave the order for the raid.
 
Yay police state!

http://boingboing.net/2014/01/06/ncsummaryexecution.html

The central fact concerning the death of Keith Vidal, 18, does not seem to be in dispute: after the schizophrenic youngster was tased and restrained by two officers, a third stepped up, said "we don't have time for this", fired into the scrum, then tried to do so again before being restrained. Vidal, who celebrated his birthday last month, was killed by the gunshot.

The family were not invited to a press conference held today by Brunswick County District Attorney Jon David, but turned up anyway,reports WECT. David said that three officers involved in the incident were the subject of an investigation, and that he could not release their names.

Mark Wilsey, identified as Vidal's father, told reporters that his family had called the police to help get his son to a mental evaluation during a 'schizophrenic incident' in which Vidal had picked up a small screwdriver.

Two officers were able to calm Vidal, reported Star News Online. A third arrived and entered the family's home, and the teen was tased and restrained on that officer's instructions, then shot in the chest.

Anthony Owens, a family friend, wrote at CNN's iReport that Vidal was in a "more rational" state by the time the third officer arrived and told the others to stop negotiating. At this, he said, Vidal tried to flee into a bathroom before being tased and held down.

Owens then describes the killing: "As Vidal's father tried to step in and grab the screwdriver, the Southport Police Officer that had instructed the other officers to use their tasers moved between the father and the pile of people on the floor and said 'We don't have time for this' and shot Vidal once in the chest as the other two officers held him on the floor. Vidal's father then grabbed the officer as he was lining himself up for another shot."

Owens insists that Vidal did not threaten anyone and has no history of violence: "[The officer] could have just as easily killed one of his own. If it weren't for Keith's father grabbing the officer, he would have shot him again. Keith was ... about 5'3 to 5'5 and 90 to 100lbs. Keith was small for his age."

"There was no reason to shoot this kid," Wilsey said. "They killed my son in cold blood. We called for help and they killed my son."

Wilsey claims that the screwdriver was an electronics tool and didn't present a serious threat; the district attorney, David, said that he's confident that "everyone involved with find the truth" as the investigation unfolds.
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I know the cop isn't likely to get away with this (wouldn't be shocked if he did), but it says a lot when our police officers, who are supposed to protect us, think they can get away with blatant murder like this.

To go further, in every discussion of mass shootings I bring up how we deal with, or fail to, meantal health in this country. This is not the first story we I've heard of mentally ill individuals in an episode being killed by the very police who showed up at the request of family, to get him/her to a hospital for help. Imagine, you call for help so that you can help your loved one. The people you think are there to help kill your loved one instead. And in some cases, they are found innocent of wrongdoing.
 
Well the cop obviously needs to be prosecuted for murder and incarcerated for the rest of his life. The problem here is lack of strong prosecution against cops. They need to feel that they are not above the law, many of them currently feel that they are. Sad story.
 
@Danoff I've actually read that some states have laws to reduce penalties for cops that go overboard in the line of duty, which is why you sometimes hear about a murder or manslaughter conviction that gets only two years.
 
See, here's my theory. If everybody worked for the government we'd all get mad benefits and our prisons wouldn't be full because everybody would be in and out in a week! Boom, I just solved society. @Danoff @FoolKiller
 
Keef
See, here's my theory. If everybody worked for the government we'd all get mad benefits and our prisons wouldn't be full because everybody would be in and out in a week! Boom, I just solved society. @Danoff @FoolKiller
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Interestingly, one of the things that's starting to happen is that highly skilled professionals are beginning to do a short stint for the government at the end of their careers before retiring so that they can cash in on retirement benefits (health care) for the remainder of their lives.

It's almost like a short tour of duty, except at age 60+.
 
Danoff
Interestingly, one of the things that's starting to happen is that highly skilled professionals are beginning to do a short stint for the government at the end of their careers before retiring so that they can cash in on retirement benefits (health care) for the remainder of their lives.

It's almost like a short tour of duty, except at age 60+.
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I work in my state's Department for Public Health. A third of the staff are 60+, previously retired doctors and nurses.
 
Dunno if this has been posted yet, but interesting/funny:

Whether it’s a fat population, high rate of STDs or excessive tax rate, it turns out that every state ranks dead last in at least one unsavory category.
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The-United-States-of-Shame.png


(Link)

I hope there aren't too many mirrors in North Dakota.
 
Delaware? Highest abortion rate? I'm not sure whether that's really something to be proud of - it does suggest there's a reasonably liberal attitude to it but at the same time it doesn't speak well of people getting knocked up and having to do something about it...
 
Massachusetts drivers the worst? While they're certainly in the running for the "honor", it's been my observation that if you ask any arbitrary driver which state has the worst drivers (s)he'll name an adjoining state.

Might be an interesting exercise in Alaska/Hawaii.

In any case, the map is more about humor than accuracy.
 
Mormons are addicted to porn, who would have imagined it? :lol:
 
Carbonox
^By the looks of it, Utah and Delaware aren't doing too poorly.
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Or Idaho, for that matter.

And yes, Delaware has the highest per capita abortion rate in the US. Lots of reasons why. Although I am staunchly pro-choice, I can't say it makes me proud.
 
BobK
In any case, the map is more about humor than accuracy.
Click to expand...
Well, the statistics there are real ones, if not the most recent in a few cases. The only truly hazy ones are where they've extrapolated a generalized term for something from a set of more obscure statistics - "infertility" in Vermont for example. Or the ones where states are tied with others but the title is given to the one which has no other "lowest" value.
 
Keef
Idaho and Colorado, you my dawgs.
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:lol:

If you look at the link, Idaho's stat is about having the least clout/influence in Congress. It's not about the government having the least influence on the people, as I first assumed and what I imagine you were thinking too. I could see it being true both ways though.
 
Worked in Thailand for about a year ... The United States is the best place to live on Earth period. Thailand is so corrupt compared to the USA.
 
PeterJB
Virtually every country in the western world?
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So what you're saying is British people should stop making fun of Americans because they're taking right after us. I guess that makes us trend setters.
 
FoolKiller
Yay police state!

http://boingboing.net/2014/01/06/ncsummaryexecution.html



I know the cop isn't likely to get away with this (wouldn't be shocked if he did), but it says a lot when our police officers, who are supposed to protect us, think they can get away with blatant murder like this.

To go further, in every discussion of mass shootings I bring up how we deal with, or fail to, meantal health in this country. This is not the first story we I've heard of mentally ill individuals in an episode being killed by the very police who showed up at the request of family, to get him/her to a hospital for help. Imagine, you call for help so that you can help your loved one. The people you think are there to help kill your loved one instead. And in some cases, they are found innocent of wrongdoing.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, cops can already get away with it: (graphic warning)

http://thelibertarianrepublic.com/ex-cops-get-away-murder-video/
 

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