Explosions at Boston Marathon

[-Jrabbit]

I think you're vastly overestimating the number of police available for patrol, especially outside of the blue (police) states.

Um, Sava is talking about his own house/neighborhood/suburb, nothing more.

[The Mad Monk]

Yes, and I think my point still stands. Consider how long it takes for 911 to collect information (once they pick up, of course), deliver that information to patrols, the patrols to digest that information, and figure out how to get there. Once they get there (at the speed of light, naturally), they need to check area to make sure they are not in imminent danger of getting shot, and then enter with caution.

[-Jrabbit]

I agree the 30 seconds is a bit of an overstatement.
But so is "blue (police) states."

[Sava]

I think you're vastly overestimating the number of police available for patrol, especially outside of the blue (police) states.

No, not necessarily. It's a question of population, resources, morals, and political will. As a matter of ideology, rural states, for all the bluster about freedom, rights, and the rule of law, don't feel it necessary to put such principles in the practice. I'm tempted to say it's due to a moral deficiency. However, I tend to think it's just more an inherent naivety. Also, such peoples seem to be more ignorant of the realities of human behavior and civil society. That doesn't help matters.

Even the way you refer to "blue (police) states" is indicative of this. Despite my somewhat cynical view on law enforcement's daily activities in an area with little violent crime, I don't consider them to be highly authoritative or fascist in any way. They are good people just trying to do their jobs. The generalized conservative view of government seems unjustified. The "government" isn't an enemy. Cops aren't bad people. They aren't suppressing our freedoms. Such views aren't based on factual information or actual experience. It's just crap people have heard on TV... or on blogs... or in their own silly little political circles.

In a representative democracy with a separation of powers, relatively larger governments are necessary. Citizens are required to participate more via their occupation or chosen profession. In reality, smaller governments tend to be more vulnerable of extreme human rights abuses and crimes against humanity. If the higher up you go on the hierarchy there are less people, the easier it is for a person to abuse power or for a psychopathic individual to cause enormous amounts of suffering. Larger governments lend themselves to greater accountability.

Take this latest issue with the bombings. If the chief of Watertown police had the power to launch a missile at the suspect and kill him along with dozens of civilians (as collateral damage), he would be held accountable for those actions. If a smaller (and by default) and more centralized command structure allowed a regional or national official to do such a thing, the public would have little means of holding that individual responsible.

In a country that values civil rights, representative democracy, and the rule of law, a larger government is preferable. By default, abuses of power are more easily dissuaded. When they do occur, it is easier for such individuals to face justice.

Due to these realities, American conservatism is little more than a set of naive ideals. It's a group of bumper sticker slogans that leads to worse results when attempted to be made into a set of public policies.

By all means, continue to promote the ideals you hold dear. Most of them are quite honorable and deserving of being held in high esteem. However, they aren't easily translated into an effective political system. Such ideals are only useful when individuals use them to guide their behavior within a more effective political structure.

If I had a choice, I'd prefer people believe personally in many of the ideals conservative say they believe in. But in practice, I want an effective government that works... regardless of the size. It need only be as big as it has to in order to achieve the desired results. Small government for the sake of small government is a foolish idea and should be summarily rejected for it's utter stupidity.

[The Mad Monk]

I grew up here.

I went to college here.

edit: fixed both links

...and I lived here for 12 years, until 2005.

...and I worked here 5 years, until 2005.

I do not speak out of ignorance, here.

[Sava]

I agree the 30 seconds is a bit of an overstatement.

It certainly is not. It is a realistic estimate of the quickest possible response time. It may not necessarily be an average. But if I dialed 911 right now, 30 seconds is a reasonable time frame in which to expect a response. Police officers typically patrol along the larger avenues. They typically stop or rest in the parking lots of commercial areas. My city's geography lends itself to fast response times to due this behavior. Right now, I suspect the closest unit to my location is between 1/4 to 1 mile away.

[DaShi]

I grew up here.

I went to college here.

edit: fixed both links

...and I lived here for 12 years, until 2005.

...and I worked here 5 years, until 2005.

I do not speak out of ignorance, here.

Ah, the Ben credentials. Become an expert overnight simply because you were born! Individual experiences don't vary! If you can imagine it, you've done it!

[Sava]

Sure. What's wrong with that? I credit imagination for my experience during the Vietnam War as an A6 Crusader pilot.

[Colon™]

...and I worked here 5 years, until 2005.

"To The Struggle Against World Terrorism" is a lovely name for a park.

[Sava]

"To The Struggle Against World Terrorism" is a lovely name for a park.

God I love this country.

By Simcity logic, it's quite beneficial to have a park in the midst of a port. It provides extra low wealth happiness to the workers.

[The Mad Monk]

"To The Struggle Against World Terrorism" is a lovely name for a park.

Lovely place to put it, too.

That's the old naval drydocks; when I left, they were going to be converted to luxury apartments and a marina. I wonder what happened there.

[Sava]

Lovely place to put it, too.

That's the old naval drydocks; when I left, they were going to be converted to luxury apartments and a marina. I wonder what happened there.

I think you should blame unions. It is the docks after all.

[Dr Strangelove]

There seemed to be so many different ethnic/religious/political groups Stalin exiled/displaced... then again, the Caucasus alone are filled with ethnic & religious minorities- just think of Georgia's problems.

Over the millenia the Caucasus mountains have served as a safe haven for numerous tribes of the vast Eurasian steppes as various groups, Huns, Avars, Magyars, Pechnegs, Mongols, Tatars, etc., stormed out of their eastern homelands on campaigns of conquest. Some of the Cacasus ethnic groups are remnants of former conquerors who had their day terrorizing Eastern Europe and / or the Middle East and then faded as another group of conquerors rose and pushed them aside.

[Docfeelgood]

I have read that he put a gun in his mouth and pulled the trigger. They may never get any info out of him.

[Sava]

suicide fail with a gun is LOL (in this case)
you had ONE JOB