Or so a mental health professional for the US Army tells us. That along with alcohol and drug abuse (both very popular in the US) makes for the perfect storm in predicting mass shootings.
That's a far cry from the NRA's "lone nut with an illegal gun" or a "gang banger from the hood" profiles.
It's interesting that the obvious seems so alien to most Americans until you look at the degree of paranoia, stress, anxiety, and delusional fears Americans suffer from.
Over 330 million guns on the streets of a country with around a 300 million total population should give it away.
PTSD may not answer Fort Hood's painful questions | Al Jazeera America
“Most mental illness is not associated with violence,” Dr. Elspeth Cameron Ritchie, a longtime Army psychiatrist who is now chief clinical officer for the District of Columbia’s Department of Mental Health, told Al Jazeera.
Rather, it’s much more likely that the suspect, identified as Army Spc. Ivan Lopez – a man who was deployed to Iraq for four months in 2011 and reportedly had a self-diagnosed traumatic brain injury (TBI) – suffered from some other concurrent problem. Experts warn that pointing fingers at his PTSD or depression as a cause of the shooting could further stigmatize mental illness and prevent more people from seeking treatment.
That’s because longstanding anger issues, substance abuse, serious mental illnesses like schizophrenia — and even just the presence of a gun in the home — are far better predictors of mass shootings than depression or PTSD, Ritchie told Al Jazeera.
Thursday, April 3, 2014
THE DEATH RATTLE OF DEMOCRACY
Donors freed by McCutcheon decision: Mostly wealthy white men | Al Jazeera America
America is being ruled by Wizards in black robes. With a wave of their wands these 9 "political appointees" are transforming what was once a thriving and growing republic/democracy into a full-blown plutocracy ruled by a wealthy elite class in serving their own self interests.
But exactly who will be empowered to write more checks this election season as a result of the McCutcheon decision? Perhaps to no one’s surprise, researchers and advocates say the elite class of donors who are most likely to exceed the stricken limits tends to skew white, male, affiliated with business interests and, of course, ultra-wealthy.
These superdonors — those who are now freed to open their wallets even more to as many candidates, party committees and political action committees they deem worthy — include conservative billionaires David and Charles Koch, director Steven Spielberg and banking titan Charles Schwab.
Only a quarter of these donors were women, according to the analysis. Almost half of them lived in the richest 1 percent of neighborhoods, as calculated by per capita income. Fewer than 1 in 50 lived in a majority African-American or Hispanic neighborhood, as compared to 1 in 6 of the general population. And 28 percent of them worked for Wall Street or had roots in the financial sector.
“These elite donors stand apart from the rest of America; they are overwhelmingly wealthy, white, and male,” the report read.
“It skews the entire system to the top, to those who have money, and it puts the decision making further into the hands of those that are already doing quite well,” said David Donnelly, executive director of the Public Campaign Action Fund. “What they’re generally not interested in is the minimum wage or support for people who have low or little income.”
Analysts predict that after the McCutcheon decision, lawmakers are likely to spend even more of their time and energy attempting to woo these superdonors.
Donnelly said you could expect to see more spectacles like the pilgrimages four potential 2016 GOP presidential contenders made to Las Vegas last week to curry favor with billionaire Sheldon Adelson, who had publicly said he was looking for a candidate to bankroll. Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Ohio Gov. John Kaisich, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker all made sure to affirm their support for Israel, Adelson’s primary cause.
The one bastion against a complete takeover of our country was the vote using the "one person - one vote " principle. That is quickly coming to an end.
It accelerated in the Bush/Gore election where the 5 republican appointed wizards "selected" a Republican president even though his Democratic opponent had the majority of the popular vote.
Next, came the transforming of corporations into human beings and giving them the same rights as human beings in matters like voting.
Now, comes allowing the wealthy to literally buy elections by dropping what few restrictions were left from the Watergate days in financing campaigns with private money.
In each decision the vote was 5/4 with the majority of Republican "political appointees" ruling for.
What was once considered the one branch of our government to be incorruptible and a staunch supporter of our Constitution has now turned into a destructive tool of the wealthy to impose it's rule on Americans; which is nothing short of a coup.
There was a time when Americans would rise up against this kind of tyranny; the very kind of tyranny our Founding Fathers fought the War of Independence to free us from.
Today we hear nary a sound and there's an atmosphere filled with resignation or indifference filling the air. It's as if Americans have surrendered to a ruling class without a struggle; possibly too exhausted, anxious, paranoid, or drugged up to put up a fight.
The final blow will come in the "mid-term" elections which Republicans have boldly proclaimed is theirs for the taking. Their confidence is bolstered by these recent events but foremost by American's reactions to them which would predict most Americans will stay home glued to their LED big screens mesmerized by some mindless reality show and far, far, away from a voting booth.
Let's see if they are right.
America is being ruled by Wizards in black robes. With a wave of their wands these 9 "political appointees" are transforming what was once a thriving and growing republic/democracy into a full-blown plutocracy ruled by a wealthy elite class in serving their own self interests.
But exactly who will be empowered to write more checks this election season as a result of the McCutcheon decision? Perhaps to no one’s surprise, researchers and advocates say the elite class of donors who are most likely to exceed the stricken limits tends to skew white, male, affiliated with business interests and, of course, ultra-wealthy.
These superdonors — those who are now freed to open their wallets even more to as many candidates, party committees and political action committees they deem worthy — include conservative billionaires David and Charles Koch, director Steven Spielberg and banking titan Charles Schwab.
Only a quarter of these donors were women, according to the analysis. Almost half of them lived in the richest 1 percent of neighborhoods, as calculated by per capita income. Fewer than 1 in 50 lived in a majority African-American or Hispanic neighborhood, as compared to 1 in 6 of the general population. And 28 percent of them worked for Wall Street or had roots in the financial sector.
“These elite donors stand apart from the rest of America; they are overwhelmingly wealthy, white, and male,” the report read.
“It skews the entire system to the top, to those who have money, and it puts the decision making further into the hands of those that are already doing quite well,” said David Donnelly, executive director of the Public Campaign Action Fund. “What they’re generally not interested in is the minimum wage or support for people who have low or little income.”
Analysts predict that after the McCutcheon decision, lawmakers are likely to spend even more of their time and energy attempting to woo these superdonors.
Donnelly said you could expect to see more spectacles like the pilgrimages four potential 2016 GOP presidential contenders made to Las Vegas last week to curry favor with billionaire Sheldon Adelson, who had publicly said he was looking for a candidate to bankroll. Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Ohio Gov. John Kaisich, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker all made sure to affirm their support for Israel, Adelson’s primary cause.
The one bastion against a complete takeover of our country was the vote using the "one person - one vote " principle. That is quickly coming to an end.
It accelerated in the Bush/Gore election where the 5 republican appointed wizards "selected" a Republican president even though his Democratic opponent had the majority of the popular vote.
Next, came the transforming of corporations into human beings and giving them the same rights as human beings in matters like voting.
Now, comes allowing the wealthy to literally buy elections by dropping what few restrictions were left from the Watergate days in financing campaigns with private money.
In each decision the vote was 5/4 with the majority of Republican "political appointees" ruling for.
What was once considered the one branch of our government to be incorruptible and a staunch supporter of our Constitution has now turned into a destructive tool of the wealthy to impose it's rule on Americans; which is nothing short of a coup.
There was a time when Americans would rise up against this kind of tyranny; the very kind of tyranny our Founding Fathers fought the War of Independence to free us from.
Today we hear nary a sound and there's an atmosphere filled with resignation or indifference filling the air. It's as if Americans have surrendered to a ruling class without a struggle; possibly too exhausted, anxious, paranoid, or drugged up to put up a fight.
The final blow will come in the "mid-term" elections which Republicans have boldly proclaimed is theirs for the taking. Their confidence is bolstered by these recent events but foremost by American's reactions to them which would predict most Americans will stay home glued to their LED big screens mesmerized by some mindless reality show and far, far, away from a voting booth.
Let's see if they are right.
TORTURING & SPYING; HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS
U.N. slams U.S. for torture, NSA spying | Al Jazeera America
No, not China, or Russia which is what most Americans like to believe. This is the USA the UN is talking about.
“The U.S. is adept at demanding human rights change from other governments while failing to meet international standards itself,” said José Luis Díaz, Amnesty International’s representative at the U.N.
A wide-ranging United Nations report released Thursday strongly criticizes the United States for a host of human rights concerns — from jailing the homeless and sentencing juveniles to life sentences to drone warfare and spying by the National Security Agency.
He welcomed the U.N.’s recommendations on torture transparency and calls for ending the death penalty nationwide as well as limiting the use of solitary confinement in U.S. prisons.
Regarding the use of torture, reforming interrogation techniques does not go far enough, according to the U.N’s Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. It called for an investigation and prosecution of members of the “armed forces and other agents of the U.S. government” allegedly involved in torturing detainees.
No, not China, or Russia which is what most Americans like to believe. This is the USA the UN is talking about.
“The U.S. is adept at demanding human rights change from other governments while failing to meet international standards itself,” said José Luis Díaz, Amnesty International’s representative at the U.N.
A wide-ranging United Nations report released Thursday strongly criticizes the United States for a host of human rights concerns — from jailing the homeless and sentencing juveniles to life sentences to drone warfare and spying by the National Security Agency.
He welcomed the U.N.’s recommendations on torture transparency and calls for ending the death penalty nationwide as well as limiting the use of solitary confinement in U.S. prisons.
Regarding the use of torture, reforming interrogation techniques does not go far enough, according to the U.N’s Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. It called for an investigation and prosecution of members of the “armed forces and other agents of the U.S. government” allegedly involved in torturing detainees.
It also urged the U.S. to shutter the detention camp at Guantánamo Bay in Cuba and transfer its prisoners.
“The state party [the United States] should ensure that all cases of unlawful killing, torture or other ill-treatment, unlawful detention or enforced disappearance are effectively, independently and impartially investigated, that perpetrators, including, in particular, persons in command positions, are prosecuted and sanctioned and that victims are provided with effective remedies,” the report reads.
“The state party [the United States] should ensure that all cases of unlawful killing, torture or other ill-treatment, unlawful detention or enforced disappearance are effectively, independently and impartially investigated, that perpetrators, including, in particular, persons in command positions, are prosecuted and sanctioned and that victims are provided with effective remedies,” the report reads.
President Obama should devote his lat few years in office cleaning up our own backyard rather than chasing other bad guys around the world.
The best way to lead is by example.
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
BISHOPS FOR THE 1% BUSTED!
Atlanta archbishop apologizes for lavish living, may sell mansion
Another Prince of the Catholic Church is busted, and then, apologizes. Genuine? Only God knows for sure, but I'd be skeptical. Just saying he "may" sell his mansion demonstrates how arrogant and insincere tye apology is.
Just like the people they pander to these men have no interest in anything other than self-indulgence and, by the looks of it, can keep up with the best of these lost souls.
The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Atlanta has apologized for building a $2.2 million mansion to use as his home, a move that made him the object of derision and complaint, and said he may sell it.
Another Prince of the Catholic Church is busted, and then, apologizes. Genuine? Only God knows for sure, but I'd be skeptical. Just saying he "may" sell his mansion demonstrates how arrogant and insincere tye apology is.
Just like the people they pander to these men have no interest in anything other than self-indulgence and, by the looks of it, can keep up with the best of these lost souls.
The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Atlanta has apologized for building a $2.2 million mansion to use as his home, a move that made him the object of derision and complaint, and said he may sell it.
Archbishop Wilton Gregory said he took his "eye off the ball" after the archdiocese received a $15 million donation from the estate of Joseph Mitchell, a nephew "Gone With The Wind" author, Margaret Mitchell.
These high flying Princes of the church need to voluntarily take assignments in ghettos of the cities they rule over. Not only should mansions be sold but also all the other creature comforts those less fortunate lack.
Their role model(s)? Jesus, Mother Teresa, Pope Francis.
A DuPont RAPES 3 yr old daughter uses 1% immunity card.
Delaware's Affluenza Case Affects Justice, Too
A DuPont family scion was convicted of sexually assaulting his daughter but received no jail time. Don't blame the judge: Blame the justice-for-hire system.The blogosphere is afire with outrage: A rich do-nothing given probation for raping his three-year-old daughter!
A DuPont family scion was convicted of sexually assaulting his daughter but received no jail time. Don't blame the judge: Blame the justice-for-hire system.The blogosphere is afire with outrage: A rich do-nothing given probation for raping his three-year-old daughter!
Judge says he “wouldn’t fare well in prison!” (What child molester would?)
This is another example of how justice is doled out in a plutocracy.
RIGHT WING BRAIN FARTS!
* Americans don't want Obama-Care!
OVER 7 million Americans disagree!
The Ayn Rand Republicans would like you to believe that our young healthy people; our children, are too self-centered and/or stupid to have healthcare insurance and are not willing to support previous generations (their parents) by pitching in and paying into a healthcare system that everyone can afford.
What does that say about how Republicans view our children? And why, if it were true, would Republicans encourage that kind of "me-myself-and I" attitude from fellow Americans? These people are despicable to even suggest that this is how Americans behave towards each other; especially when it comes to the younger generation caring for their parents and grandparents.
Even animals have better sense than that.
On a lighter note;
* Cancel Colbert! is the battle cry from the ill-informed and obviously dim-witted tweeters.
First off, who's Suey Park? Secondly, why would anyone with basic intellectual skills (at least a 5th grade education) take what a very talented and entertaining comedian has to say, when poking fun, seriously?
That in itself is just plain stupid. The fact that there are thousands more out in nether space who waste their lives following twits like Suey Park makes it even more absurd.
So Colbert; as usual is having some more fun with these twitties;
That ends that controversy," Colbert concludes . "I just pray that no one tweets about the time I said Rosa Parks was overrated, Hitler had some good ideas, or ran a cartoon during Black History Month showing President Obama teaming up with the Ku Klux Klan 'cause, man, that sounds pretty bad out of context."
Being out of touch is putting it mildly. These people are so far out there they might need space suits to survive.
Why any clear thinking person would take these paranoid, hysterical, cynical, angry, intellectually challenged individuals seriously still remains a mystery.
The Koch Brothers and Adelsons play these fools like fiddles and; given the way they behave and the cray things they say, most of them don't have a clue.
OVER 7 million Americans disagree!
The Ayn Rand Republicans would like you to believe that our young healthy people; our children, are too self-centered and/or stupid to have healthcare insurance and are not willing to support previous generations (their parents) by pitching in and paying into a healthcare system that everyone can afford.
What does that say about how Republicans view our children? And why, if it were true, would Republicans encourage that kind of "me-myself-and I" attitude from fellow Americans? These people are despicable to even suggest that this is how Americans behave towards each other; especially when it comes to the younger generation caring for their parents and grandparents.
Even animals have better sense than that.
On a lighter note;
* Cancel Colbert! is the battle cry from the ill-informed and obviously dim-witted tweeters.
First off, who's Suey Park? Secondly, why would anyone with basic intellectual skills (at least a 5th grade education) take what a very talented and entertaining comedian has to say, when poking fun, seriously?
That in itself is just plain stupid. The fact that there are thousands more out in nether space who waste their lives following twits like Suey Park makes it even more absurd.
So Colbert; as usual is having some more fun with these twitties;
That ends that controversy," Colbert concludes . "I just pray that no one tweets about the time I said Rosa Parks was overrated, Hitler had some good ideas, or ran a cartoon during Black History Month showing President Obama teaming up with the Ku Klux Klan 'cause, man, that sounds pretty bad out of context."
Being out of touch is putting it mildly. These people are so far out there they might need space suits to survive.
Why any clear thinking person would take these paranoid, hysterical, cynical, angry, intellectually challenged individuals seriously still remains a mystery.
The Koch Brothers and Adelsons play these fools like fiddles and; given the way they behave and the cray things they say, most of them don't have a clue.
COLBERT CANCELLED!
APRIL FOOLS!
It will take much more than FOX robo-tweeters to shut Colbert down. Maybe old age?
It will take much more than FOX robo-tweeters to shut Colbert down. Maybe old age?
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