Bulletproof Backpacks. Virginia House Democrats.

David -

Republicans have come up with a solution to America's gun safety problem: bulletproof backpacks. Delegate Barry Knight (R) wrote in the Virginian-Pilot, "Since the Parkland shooting on Feb. 14, the sale of bulletproof backpacks has seen a 150 percent jump, according to one manufacturer. That is a good indicator of what people are concerned about right now."

Yes, Delegate Knight -- parents and students are terrified. They're terrified because of how easy it is for innocent lives to be gone in a matter of seconds. This year, Republicans refused to allow numerous gun safety measures to receive a vote on the floor of the House -- and of those they did, over 70 were defeated by Republicans on party-line votes. When we have a Democratic majority, then we'll see more solutions than just "bulletproof backpacks."

Sincerely,

Trevor M. Southerland
Executive Director
Virginia House Democrats


 

THIS IS FROM THEN PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMAS SOTUS IN 2015: A CHALLENGE TO THE INTELLECTUAL AND MORAL OPPOSITION. PT 1.

C

(COMPARE THIS SPEECH WITH THE CONSTANT BARRAGE OF DRIVEL COMING FROM DONALD TRUMPS TWITTER ACCOUNT. IF YOU THINK I'M BEING UNFAIR, PLEASE E-MAIL ANY DONALD TRUMP SPEECH THAT SOUNDS ANYTHING LIKE THE FOLLOWING.)

Having Listened to President Obamas SOTUS, and read the Full Transcript, to me the MOST IMPORTANT WORDS COME NEAR THE END.

Don't get me wrong, the POLICIES and ISSUES he Discusses are Very Important, and I will look at these in the Near Future.  Unfortunately, if the Attitudes Toward Properly Addressing Divisive Topics doesn't change, it will be an uphill battle to Find and Pass Solutions that are in the Best Interests OF THE PEOPLE LIVING, WORKING AND RAISING FAMILIES IN THE U.S.

Line #1-  

"Understand – a better politics isn't one where Democrats abandon their agenda or Republicans simply embrace mine."

Translation-  "You're not Always Right, and Neither am I.  Lets find Common Ground and Work from there.  The "IT'S MY WAY OR NOTHING ATTITUDE, IS THE ROAD TO FAILURE."

Line #2-  

"A better politics is one where we appeal to each other's basic decency instead of our basest fears."

Translation-  "If we Live in the Gutter, nothing gets accomplished, and Failure, Distrust, and Enmity is the Result.  IF WE LOOK FOR THE GOOD, INSTEAD OF PROMOTING IRRATIONAL  HATE AND FEAR AS AN AGENDA, THE RESULT WOULD BE SOMETHING WE WOULD ALL BE PROUD OF."

Line #3-  "A better politics is one where we debate without demonizing each other; where we talk issues, and values, and principles, and facts, rather than "gotcha" moments, or trivial gaffes, or fake controversies that have nothing to do with people's daily lives."

Translation-  "As Lawmakers, and Elected Representatives of the American People, OUR JOB IS TO PRIORITIZE REAL ISSUES THAT AFFECT PEOPLES LIVES, NOW AND IN THE FUTURE.  THE ETHICAL AND PRACTICAL APPROACH IS THE BEST SOLUTION, NOT IMMATURE INSULTS AND GLIB ONE LINERS THAT DO NOTHING TO ADDRESS REAL PROBLEMS. CONCENTRATING ON NON- ISSUES IS JUST ANOTHER FORM OF 'POLITICAL GRANDSTANDING', AND A CONTINUATION OF THE TYPICAL 'POLITICS AS USUAL' BRAND OF GOVERNMENT THAT SO MANY AMERICANS DESPISE.''

The First Earth Day. CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE JOSH WELLE.

David, In the months following the first Earth Day in 1970, environmental protection was the central issue in our national discourse. And as difficult as it might be for us to imagine, Democrats and Republicans were in agreement: it was time to take action. Lawmakers from both parties came together to strengthen the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts -- and both were signed into law by a Republican president. Thanks to these landmark bills, we’ve made great progress in cleaning up our nation’s skies, rivers, and lakes over the past five decades. Unfortunately, environmental protection has not remained a bipartisan issue. Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill are beholden to big polluters for campaign cash -- and they’re stubbornly standing in the way of America’s clean energy future. I don’t buy the argument that protecting our environment means sacrificing jobs and economic growth. It’s time to make serious investments in renewable energy -- for our national security, for the future of our economy, and for the health of our planet.  Here’s my commitment to you: I will work to expand the clean energy sector in our region -- because we don’t have to choose between good jobs and a healthy environment. I will seek federal funding to help clean up toxic waste sites -- because industrial contaminants have no place in our shared lands. I will fight to protect our public lands, open spaces, and waterways -- because they belong to the people, not special interests or private corporations. Happy Earth Day, David, and thanks for all that you do. In service, Josh Welle

LOGIC. IT'S NOT JUST FOR VULCANS, AND VIEWERS OF "THE BIG BANG THEORY." #1.

LOGIC.

IT'S NOT JUST FOR VULCANS,  AND VIEWERS OF

"THE BIG BANG THEORY." #1.

This is a new category, and will be updated from time to time.

The subject matter will focus on current issues, and how many of those who give opinions and commentary in Public Forums often violate the basic rules of Logic and Critical Thinking.  Often this is done so casually, that it implies a disdain for proper intellectual discourse.

All examples are not meant to be considered true to life, they are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Some of the definitions I will use are my own, others can be found in Textbooks, Websites and Essays that are used to teach Logic and Deductive Reasoning.  If a definition is of my own creation, I will indicate it.

Let's get started.

TOPIC-  Gun control laws.

Reporter- "Senator, results from National Crime Reports indicate that your State, has one of the highest rates of violent crime and murder convictions in the nation. Do you think that your States Gun Laws are responsible for this, and what changes would you support to bring these rates more in line with the national average."

Senator- "My Constituents believe that the Second Amendment is essential to guarantee the Freedom of all Americans.  If we start taking away Guns from law-abiding Americans, then only the Criminals will have them."  

This is what I label as a case of:

MISDIRECTION.

1)  A QUESTION IS ASKED ABOUT A CERTAIN TOPIC. 

                            

2)  THE ANSWER, WHILE STILL ON TOPIC, DOES NOT  

ADDRESS THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE 

QUESTION.

                            

3)  INSTEAD, THE RESPONSE ATTEMPTS TO TURN THE 

CONVERSATION INTO AN AREA OF THE TOPIC NOT 

COVERED BY THE INITIAL QUESTION.

This is a Tactic of many politicians, who want to avoid controversy by not taking a stand that may upset a certain portion of the electorate.

Why do I call it MISDIRECTION?-  Those of you familiar with Stage Magicians know that the success of many illusions relies on getting the audience to pay attention to what one hand is doing, while ignoring the other.  It is this hand that is actually performing the necessary work to make the Trick believable.

MISDIRECTION in the above example, (Gun Control Laws), is an attempt to draw attention away from what is actually asked, and focus it on information that has nothing to do with the question. Since it remains on Topic, the answer is the deception to draw attention away from the initial question, and focus it on unrelated information.