ProfD

@Pioneer1, private and charter schools are excellent for exposing children to a curriculum based upon shared values. However, public schools are funded by taxpayer dollars. Parents have a say so in what their kids are taught but they have to get involved. Parents should not be using public schools as daycare centers and social service providers while they f8ck, party and BS. 🤣 Look no further than how white folks shut down any semblance of bringing CRT (Critical Race Theory) to a classroom in their public schools. In fact, white folks are willing to go into the school library and remove every book containing the words slavery, race, critical and theory. 😁 People have to stop letting public systems dictate the rules of engagement. That is out of order like a bathroom with an overflowing toilet. 😎

It reads like a great business opportunity for black investors. Appeal to athletes, entertainers and others who spend their money utilizing livery vehicle services anyway. IMO, this is the main reason black wealth is stagnant. Our people are way behind the 8 ball when it comes to entrepreneurship and reinvesting our resources. In fact, business should be a fundamental part of the black educational process beyond learning how to read and write; speak and spell. The *jobs* white folks have been so gracious to provide are going to dry up one day. Black folks won't be able to fault anyone else for failing to create businesses leading to self-sufficiency. Stop waiting for someone else to hand out opportunities and learn how to make it happen by any means necessary. 😎

@Stefan, I'm the proponent of blacks arming themselves and I've already stated that they do so legally and responsibly. For me, it doesn't matter whether it's open carry or home defense as along as the person meets the criteria above by taking a gun safety course. Black folks are getting shot regardless of whether they're unarmed or armed. Either way, we lose. Ultimately, owning and maintaining firearms is a personal decision. I respect the fact that it's not for everyone. I just hope scared azz black folks especially dudes don't come running up behind me looking for protection if/when sh8t goes sideways.😁😎

Several years ago, they started the Tea Party. It was eventually absorbed into the GOP. @Pioneer1 is right...it's just another mask. Everything else remains the same. 😎

Interestingly, this just came out....The View': Joy Behar Says Gun Laws Will Definitely Change ‘Once Black People Get Guns in This Country’. 😎

They practice and stay ready for war whether it is blowing up federal buildings to storming the US Capitol and mass shootings. I would not advocate that level of extremism. It makes zero sense to tear up the place where one lives and/or to destroy people for no reason. But, that's why my message is about being able to defend ourselves. We do not have an idea or a clue of what these clowns will do next. 😎

Sure. Soft targets are everywhere. Texans also cannot understand how or why they didn't take that sumab8tch down sooner.😎

Texas has open carry gun laws and people do not seem to be afraid to live there. A loaded gun isn't the enemy. We should be more concerned about who is strapped and their ideology and intentions. Solve the problem of racism white supremacy and the number of firearms can be reduced.😎

@Troy and @Stefan make similar counter-arguments as it relates to guns. I understand that unfortunately, some folks are victims of their own weaponry and/or folks get hurt or killed due to irresponsible storage, etc. Despite the murder rate among black folks as reported by the media, most black folks are actually afraid of guns. White folks know it too. Again, I'm not only looking at gun ownership solely as a form of protection. If black folks start buying up firearms, it would be a deterrent to both criminals and race soldiers too. Criminals are less likely to attack someone not knowing whether or not they are strapped. From personal experience, I know of far more instances where folks were able to avoid getting robbed and/or killed because they were able to brandish a firearm. Situational awareness in order to avoid being the victim of a crime is another conversation. But, it aligns with legal and responsible firearm ownership too. Amazingly, black folks will spend money putting alarm systems on their homes and vehicles. But, the thought of having an alarm system on their hip and/or in a purse as a deterrent makes them nervous. Yet again, I'm not advocating wild west style vigilantism. I'm suggesting personal protection as a deterrent and equalizer if necessary. 😎

@Troy, you're absolutely right about modern media and the 24/7/365 cycles of *news* folks are receiving constantly via handheld devices. While the algorithms work overtime feeding into fragile emotions, it will take a certain amount of re-education to get folks to learn how to filter out the noise. Otherwise, I know I'm in the minority around here when it comes to gun ownership. But, I think it's absolutely necessary for black folks to legally obtain firearms and learn how to use them properly. I'm from a place where we believe that staying ready means you don't have get ready for whatever. 😎

More black folks need to get into the business of providing transportation services. 😎

@Stefan, I don't miss too much of anything. I thought it was awesome and absolutely necessary that black men own in Louisiana showed up with their legally obtained firearms to show the white folks who were openly brandishing their own at peaceful protest that we can get down like that too. Since you and I seem to be diametrically opposed as it relates to black folks owning firearms, please enlighten me on the best way for black folks to *not* be sitting ducks when white folks armed to the teeth decide to open fire on us at will. Again, the Buffalo shooter went after the Tops Supermarket specifically because it was a *soft* target filled with unarmed black folks. He already knew they had one armed security guard. That's why he wore body armor. I'm not advocating that black folks illegally obtain firearms. Nor am I suggesting that black folks should obtain firearms without training. I believe black folks should take all of the necessary steps to arm themselves legally and responsibly. 😎

That's still the unspoken excuse today. There is no other reason to own an assault rifle in a *civilized* society.😎

Alternative forms of transportation will definitely spring up from this oil money grab. Ride-sharing companies like Uber work within the economy of the area they service. The same ride/distance will cost more in NY than DC or Albuquerque. Electric Vehicles (EVs) will be more common in the US within the next 5 years or so. A few things I notice/speculate: 1) The purchase price of an EV is higher than its gasoline equivalent. 2) Oil companies are being allowed to make maximum profits on fossil fuel before EV takes off 3) EV will get the full green light when gas companies have installed charging stations at their locations and monetize it The current climate is definitely ripe for a secondary market where criminal entrepreneurs siphon and resell gas. But again, I think Americans are comfortable enough to pay $8 per gallon at the pump instead of pulling into an alley to fill up. 😁😎

Great question. Considering oil companies still posted a profit during the pandemic, I think the transportation industry accounts for a greater chunk of fuel costs. So, instead of American motorists boycotting for 1 month, it would have be more like 3-4 months in order to really get their attention.😁 Of course, I do not expect or foresee that happening at all. The American middle class has been expanded just enough to absorb inflation up to a point. Economists know the breaking point of the house of cards on which our economic system is built. They've probably forecasted that Americans can live with a national average of $8 per gallon. 😎

Protest does not have to be that extreme. A good old fashioned boycott would send a message. If American motorists decided to stop driving and carpool and take other measures to avoid buying gas for 1 month, the oil industry would feel the pinch and reduce the price of gas immediately. As long as Americans continue to fill up gas tanks and jump in vehicles or take flights all over the place, there is no incentive to lower fuel prices. 😎

Iran is considered a part of the axis of evil as defined by former POTUS Bush II after the 9/11 attack. 😎

Same here. Glad to read you all too. Real life comes first. Handle your bizness. 😎

H8ll to the naw. A teacher has zero business making a male wear a dress. Not for any reason. Not even if he begged her to let him do it. In addition to racism, I also take issue with this pussification of our society. Masculinity is under attack. Some men are allowing it. Athletes are physical specimens. Yet, these *dudes* are wearing tight pants and leggings and some are wearing dresses too. I recently saw a picture of an NBA basketball player wearing an outfit that I could only shake my head. I'm willing to bet they would not wear that same sh8t and walk into a penitentiary. As a caveman alphamale, I will never acquiesce to anything that emasculates manhood. 😎

IMO, if fear brings in the cash from gun sales, the 2nd amendment provides the legal justification.😎

It's not about strolling around with a gun like it's the wild west. A home defense firearm makes a whole lot of sense if race soldiers receive the signal to carry out the purge of black folks. The bottom line is that if black folks legally have just as many firearms as white folks do and permission to carry them, it will make criminals think twice about doing harm because they won't know whether or not that person is strapped. Even white people believe *good* folks with guns neutralize the threat of *bad* people with guns. That's why they want to arm the teachers, janitor and receptionist. Again, there is a reason that white folks are stockpiling guns. I don't think black folks should continue to be be sitting ducks. In fact, if black folks start buying guns in record numbers, America will change the gun laws immediately. 😎

Americans aren't complaining enough when the price of gas is 2.5 times higher than it was two years ago. I'm waiting for the Fossil Fuel Fleecing Matters protests. I'm a Sam's Club member myself. But, I've driven past and seen that line of vehicles at Costco so long that I thought they were giving gas away. 🤣😎

As the gun control debate continues, it only makes defenders of the 2nd amendment more nervous. So, the most logical thing for gun lovers to do is run out and buy more guns before the stores close. I doubt supply chain shortages will affect the gun industry. But, that won't stop folks from making sure they've got more than a couple firearms. Besides, if the government makes it harder for folks under 21 years old to buy an AR-15, those individuals are beating the legislation. Politicians will talk a good game but I do not believe gun laws will change in America. The 2nd amendment generates too much money. 😎

Several months ago, we were told gas prices were going up as a result of the *ahem* conflict. Nevermind that the US only gets 2% of its oil from Russia. Most US oil comes from OPEC. Then, there's US oil reserves as a result of pumping a half million or more barrels per day over many years. In other words, there's no good reason for the price of gas to hit a $5 per gallon average or higher anywhere in America. Yet, the greedy oil companies and their allies will get away with it because Americans are too complacent to complain. I had a feeling that after a 2-year lockdown due to a pandemic and economic slow down and raising the minimum wage, Americans would be forced to pay up. Sure enough, we've got inflation and higher interest rates to go along with runaway gas prices. I'm just wondering if Americans will tap out before the midterm elections. To that end, I wouldn't be surprised if gas prices drop precipitously shortly after Labor Day.😎

It definitely looks like America is on a collision course to implode under its largesse of racism, greed, ignorance, stupidity, etc. As I mentioned in the asteroid thread, maybe it will take a catastrophic event to force a reset of humanity. Especially if *good* people are indifferent, afraid or unwilling to quarantine the *bad* people. Most human beings want the same basic things in life. A relative handful of folks are keeping the multitude from fully enjoying paradise. 😎