ProfD

The whole monarchy is an exercise in pomp and circumstance and high level grifting. Yet, the United Kingdom (UK) has upheld this tradition for centuries. A case study in consistency. You're right...the commonwealth is slowing dissolving. Those nations are tired of paying a tax for what little they get in return.

@Troy, your post nailed it. Individualism and comfort here in America definitely make it harder for people to unify for anything. I've posted it several times but the illusion of an expanded middle class and gross consumerism are the opiates that keep Americans anesthetized. It takes a tragedy or a major situation for people to unite. Apparently, racism alone isn't bad enough.

IMO, the end to racism and replacement of it with a system of justice (balance and fairness among all people) will happen when the Black man as God comes back. I don't know that He will manifest in our lifetime.

There are definitely millions of White South Afrikkans who were born and raised there over several generations.

IMO, AfroAmericans with high self-esteem, intelligence, knowledge and talents, etc., have a better chance of mitigating the ill effects of racism. But, that only benefits us individually. In a better adjusted society, the best of AfroAmericans would be held up as role models. That ship seems to have sailed a several decades ago. Unfortunately, many AfroAmericans have been conditioned to roll with the punches as it relates to racism. That indifference to racism makes it harder for AfroAmericans to build, connect and protect each other to any degree. Having beem divided and conquered leaves many AfroAmericans vulnerable to the pains of racism.

Right. A rationale and effective response should never be emotional.

Sure. As I wrote, POTUS carries responsibility more than power. There's a reason Build Back Better has been reduced to Clean Up Some.

I hope the coloring contest isn't like the lottery where the winning ticket isn't sold anywhere near me.

Considering there are suspects, that's not a good idea according to code.

You're on fire with facts. POTUS carries a lot of responsibility but very little power. Executive orders are limited. Congress has to approve everything else.

Facts. That's why poor White folks do not complain and/or align themselves with people of color. Being better off than them is good enough.

From the tenor of some of your posts, I get the impression that you believe Black folks should have used violence (war) in order to liberate themselves and/or send a message. If I'm reading it *right*, my position is not in opposition to war under certain circumstances. There have been several instances that I feel that war would have been warranted. But, I won't go there on a public forum. That's a conversation for the gun range.

Absolutely right. The American middle class has been expanded and satiated just enough to roll with the program. Gross consumerism is the opiate that keeps it in check. Working class and poor people don't stand a snowball's chance in h8ll of fighting an economic system totally stacked against them. Yet, we continue voting for these politicians who receive their campaign contributions from PACs that are funded by these big corporations and their lobbyists. Totally against our own best interests.

Of course, that is one of the fundamental principles of racism white supremacy. That's why I'm a huge proponent of AfroAmericans becoming self-sufficient. Stop depending on White folks for everything especially employment.. Entrepreneurship provides one with the freedom to play by their own rules.

Nothing wrong with that. There's no reason that we cannot have it all except one thing or reason...greed. As long as someone wants to have more than you and they want yours too...there's going to a problem. There are 10 men and 10 women...a 1:1 ratio. Until one dude decides he wants 3 or 4 women... A homogenous society does not have to lack diversity of any kind. The main component of it is fairness.

There is a difference between war and murder. I'm a proponent of folks protecting themselves by any means necessary. I don't think folks should kill each other out of envy, jealousy, greed, hatred or because their feelings got hurt. It is sad if one truly believes humanity cannot exist without violence.

As a society, people need to find a better way of airing their grievances that doesn't involve killing someone else. For that very reason, I'm a proponent of suicide. I would propose to a would be killer that they shoot themselves instead of shooting other people regardless of whether it's coworkers or an ex-lover or anybody else. That way, there's less grief and a lower body count and no court trial and less paperwork. Some people are too d8mn selfish.

@Pioneer1, human beings would do just fine under natural law. We don't walk into someone else's house and just start doing whatever we want unless there's a mental screw loose. That can be corrected too. Otherwisw, rules (laws) were constructed to dominate and control people. Freedom can be relatively broad. But, human beings really want fairness. It's not about lawlessness...being able to do whatever one desires regardless of how it adversely affects fellow human beings. Fairness is having the right to equal access to opportunities to survive and thrive within a society. It is also about justice....balance between all human beings. Democracy, dictatorship, socialism, communism, facism, etc., are words to describe how people are controlled. Fancy names for fences.

@Pioneer1, that was the point of my post....North Korea is obviously fine with their conditions or they would have overthrown their dictator decades ago. Same goes for Russsia and China and every other control ruled by dictatorship. These men control millions or a billion people. But, it makes sense when viewed through the prism of a relatively homogenous country. As long as people have their basic needs met....freedom is relative. Democracy gives the illusion of freedom. All is takes is a step too close to the proverbial fence in order to test the limits of it.

@Pioneer1, your questions and opinions may get challenged but remain valid and relevant nonetheless especially to this discussion forum. From the time we're born, we collect a lot of data and eperiences. Over time, we can make reasonable inferences from that information stored in our database=brain. Even if a hammer never hit our hand, we would assume that it would be painful based on the experience of another object (size, weight, force, etc.) hitting our hand and causing pain. Despite the stupid and ridiculous things we sometimes do and say, the human brain can be a very sophisticated computer.

North Korea isn't interested in being imperialized. Otherwise, a country with a population of nearly 26 million people would overthrow its dictator, Lil Kim with the bad haircut. Once Lil Kim is out of the way, North Korea could either align themselves with South Korea or allow the US to set up their government, er, show them how to conduct free and fair elections and build a democracy. Otherwise, I'm not convinced that the majority of North Koreans want to be rescued from living a deprived life under their dictator.

@Pioneer1, I didn't type that Section 8 was a great idea. To disperse or desegregate the poor is a way to enrich the greedy and keep confusion among the masses.

IMO, welfare doesn't encourage people to stay in poverty. It's a convenience that is attractive to folks who are naturally insolent. I know many people who grew up on welfare and in poverty and successfully got out of it. Takes a strong will and desire to overcome the obstacles. While I can agree that the projects should not have been torn down, I also understand the thought process behind it and expanding Section 8 to desegregate the poor. There's ZERO real reason for homelessness in America. No shortage of housing inventory. Poverty maintenance and criminalizing folks is an unfortunate by-product of hyper-capitalism. Greed forces people to make money by any means necessary.

Absolutely. Trash and treasure have been interchangeable for a long time especially as it relates to art. Many folks considered Rap music and Hip-Hop garbage. Yet, the music has generated billions of dollars and created a bunch of millionaires. Beauty and trash are ultimately in the eyes and ears of the beholder. Then, there's the folks who control the purse strings.

As long as we exist as human beings and have the mental capacity, I believe humanity can do a better job of taking care of each other and life in general.