georgerussia

Well, since I actually lived in real Soviet Union, I know more about it than you can read in a book. But nevertheless one must be quite naive to assume that Soviet Union was exactly the same from 1917 to 1991 - in reality it went through significant changes in economy, ranging from World-time rationing to capitalist-style NEP, and basically covered everything in between. Now let's compare it with what you actually claimed: It is obvious that you already understood that your claim about "no other choices" was false, and now trying to backpedal out of it by bringing in bogus claims (which are not even supported by your publication). The reality was that while farmer markets were indeed more expensive (3x-10x comparing to state shops), the food market prices were not regulated. The price for a food in state shops was fixed on a very low level (like 10c per pound of meat), but the quality of this meat (or butter) was quite shitty. Therefore everyone who had some money was shopping for food on farmer markets, and paid higher prices for a much better meat. Another option to get stuff was barter - it was a a significant part of the economy. There were also illegal private stores (run as state stores but selling non-state provided goods for non-approved prices). There one could buy virtually anything. During my childhood (late 70s) such stores were getting legalized (they were called "cooperative stores"), and provided an important opportunities actually competing with farm markets. So, as I said, it was yet another your lie. * Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. *

Pretty much the same way as you're into being a "wife" in a gay marriage. * Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. *

Lacking the facts I would speculate that there is the probability that some fraud may have been involved there. First, even regular visas are not issued by "some employees" in the Consulates. I suspect immigration issues go through even more scrutiny, and this would mean the whole chain fucked up. Including probably some people in Department of State as well. Second, Department of State should have had a good reason to do this investigation. I doubt they have resources (or care about) to re-check every citizenship case that deep. It is not that easy to discover beyond reasonable doubt how many years someone lived in a country, so it indeed involved some serious investigations. Third, the corruption level in Bulgaria is still quite high. So my (pure speculation) guess would be that maybe some people in the U.S. Embassy in Bulgaria got some bribes to pass those cases in hope nobody notices it. Well, one of those cases was caught up, and Department of State run the investigation for every case which came through this person. * Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. *

This is pretty obvious case. However if the same Mexican citizen was told by the U.S. embassy that he's a U.S. citizen, got the U.S. passport from Department of State, voted on all elections, performed jury duty... now it gets more difficult. * Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. *

In which context? Point it out so we can see. * Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. *

It's the same as with your cats example. Make your own religion. * Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. *

And this is yet another lie from JohnRich. * Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. *

It is extremely ironic when you consider that it is exactly what conservatives do. Abortion and gay marriage issues come in mind right away. Before it was integration, interracial marriage, sodomy laws and so on. Every time those conservatives basically sided up with "I don't like something = it should be outlawed by government". Then it gets ironic when they start whining when others use exactly the same approach on them when their loved guns are on stake. * Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. *

Indeed. Try to bring a chain saw in a restaurant - I'm pretty sure they discriminate against chain saw carriers too! * Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. *

It was pretty clear what YOU would think about it well before you clicked on a "Post" link. So you just wasted some bandwidth. * Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. *

The chance is kinda slim. I don't see a lot of challenges to "no shoes - no service" policies on religious grounds either. * Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. *

You should have added a poll about Honduras citizens and corrupted government :) * Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. *

I guess he won't be able to prove discrimination because of his religion. * Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. *

Speaking of post-WWI Russia, there was indeed significant reduction, but it was mostly attributed to increased "CH/K" power (FBI-like law enforcement, predecessor of KGB). First years the government really didn't concentrate on street crime, trying to resolve internal issues (i.e. who will be the Party leader after Lenin dies), and while large cities were disarmed, nobody really cared for small villages. This didn't change even after 1932-33 after several acts of armed disobedience - a bunch of people could not stand against organized army. I just ordered several books based on recent archive data (a lot of Russian and Ukrainian archives opened in 2008-2009, but it takes a lot of time to analyze the data), and probably this year they'd release even more. For Germany the Nazi government actually made it easier for people to own guns (except Jews, of course), so speaking about "disarming" would be incorrect. Shirer mentions more order and less crime, but of course he doesn't provide any numbers. However considering German accuracy, I'm sure they have this data - probably they even published it, but I cannot read German so I have to rely on translated sources. In short, when a dictatorship government is set up, it is easy to see the changes (usually less crime), but it is difficult to attribute this directly to something, as a lot of things typically change simultaneously and very fast. * Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. *

Got interesting comment - find the location of the next open carry event, and set up some kind of school nearby (close than 1,000 feet). When the crowd arrives, call the police and have all open carriers arrested for possessing a firearm within a distance of 1,000 feet from the school. Two to five in state prison. Would probably end open carry movement quite fast :) * Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. *

Just be careful. You seriously think you piss me off when you buy a gun, or go to a shooting range??? Then you probably have a self-esteem problem. * Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. *

I don't see why it would be illegal either. * Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. *

Indeed - this is why the crime statistics operates with crime rate per 100K, not with absolute numbers. "Historically, the violent crime rate in Canada is lower than that of the U.S. and this continues to be the case" * Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. *

And a lot of them had guns. You know, at least in Russia a significant number of those were Army officers (up to General rank) were arrested, some shot. They obviously had access to guns. Did it help? * Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. *

You did not ignore this one. But didn't answer it either. Thank you for confirming that violent crime in Canada is lower than in USA despite (and probably because of) lack of guns. I suggest you see the optometrist. You may fail your gun test! You'll never be able to survive that! * Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. *

Let's see how the violent crime in Ireland will go up as pro-gun crowd keeps telling us. * Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. *

Those three people would definitely not enjoy this FL law anymore. * Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. *

Baloney! Businesses do not discriminate against gun owners. They discriminate against gun carriers. If you leave your gun at home, they will let you in - although you are still a gun owner. Comparing it with a skin color, which you cannot leave at home, is an utter nonsense. My company prohibits bringing guns to workplace. So do a lot of the companies here in Bay Area. None prohibits gun owners. * Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. *

So can you please tell me how much more violent crimes do you have there in Canada comparing to U.S.? As those dangerous criminals with guns are walking around disarmed population, it should be much easier for them to commit crimes there comparing to Houston, TX where they can have a significant chance to meet armed response. So how is the crime there comparing to U.S.? I have asked you about it in past, but never remember seeing any reply (if you did reply, please accept my apologies and please point out the post). * Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. *

You!? You only make me laugh Depends on who wrote this message. In this case it is indeed honorable. Wow! Surprise, we have a winner! Saying something that is not true is what you do most of the time, and you consider this is enough to call someone a sniveling little lying coward for that? This is extremely honorable! I hope you apply the same standards to yourself as well. Which was exactly the same way as you did with UK gun crime statistics. No surprise. If you don't want to provide proof when asked about something you wrote, don't expect anyone else to waste their time either. It is that simple. Which is exactly the same way you do in other threads, chickening out as soon as your "arguments" are trashed by facts. That's typical pro-gun agenda - publish a biased article with a stupid poll, throw in some agenda, and then cowardly retire when either the article or agenda is found to be false or incorrect. No surprise - after all, your NRA is just a money laundering operation for arms dealers. It would be naive to expect any kind of honor. More free circus on the road! Whoappabubba!!! * Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. *