You are 8 times more likely to get killed by a cop than a terrorist

[Karl Malone's Elbows]

http://eyewashstation.blogspot.com/2007/11/odds-of-dying-in-terrorist-attack.html

What say you?

 

[PapaG]

http://eyewashstation.blogspot.com/2007/11/odds-of-dying-in-terrorist-attack.html

What say you?

Apparently we need to start keeping cops in Gitmo as well as terrorists.

Or, just don't commit crimes.

 

[AgentDrazenPetrovic]

I say its stupid to ignore the threats of terrorist attacks based on "ratios".

 

[barfo]

I say its stupid to ignore the threats of terrorist attacks based on "ratios".

Why do you say that? Do you think you'll be deader if a terrorist kills you than you will be if you choke to death on your own vomit?

barfo

 

[PapaG]

Why do you say that? Do you think you'll be deader if a terrorist kills you than you will be if you choke to death on your own vomit?

barfo

What's the ratio in Pakistan? Afghanistan? India? Indonesia? Iraq? Palestine? Israel?

Color me curious.

 

[AgentDrazenPetrovic]

Why do you say that? Do you think you'll be deader if a terrorist kills you than you will be if you choke to death on your own vomit?

barfo

no. Its a train of thought that says that we should stop heavy airport screenings because there are more deaths in auto accidents. Just kind of stupid in general.

 

[barfo]

What's the ratio in Pakistan? Afghanistan? India? Indonesia? Iraq? Palestine? Israel?

Color me curious.

Beats me, man. For all I know they vomit a lot over there.

barfo

 

[barfo]

no. Its a train of thought that says that we should stop heavy airport screenings because there are more deaths in auto accidents. Just kind of stupid in general.

And it is stupid because?
Would you be in favor of stepped up safety measures on the highway, since people get killed there? Or are only people who get killed by terrorists important to save?

barfo

 

[PapaG]

Beats me, man. For all I know they vomit a lot over there.

barfo

Must be the poppy seeds.

 

[AgentDrazenPetrovic]

And it is stupid because?
Would you be in favor of stepped up safety measures on the highway, since people get killed there? Or are only people who get killed by terrorists important to save?

barfo

Why does it have to be one or the other?

 

[barfo]

Why does it have to be one or the other?

Because you don't like to pay taxes, so we can't afford to save everyone.

barfo

 

[AgentDrazenPetrovic]

Because you don't like to pay taxes, so we can't afford to save everyone.

barfo

Oh. OK.

 

[PapaG]

Because you don't like to pay taxes, so we can't afford to save everyone.

barfo

Did you confuse him with the Obama cabinet?

 

[AgentDrazenPetrovic]

Maybe we should just treat everything like this then. Eliminate AIDS research since you're more likely to die of a heart attack?

 

[barfo]

Did you confuse him with the Obama cabinet?

barfo

 

[barfo]

Maybe we should just treat everything like this then. Eliminate AIDS research since you're more likely to die of a heart attack?

The problem with that particular example is that AIDS is contagious, heart attacks aren't.

But to the general point, yes. We should spend money on the important stuff, and spend less money on the less important stuff, and no money on the unimportant stuff.

barfo

 

[AgentDrazenPetrovic]

The problem with that particular example is that AIDS is contagious, heart attacks aren't.

But to the general point, yes. We should spend money on the important stuff, and spend less money on the less important stuff, and no money on the unimportant stuff.

barfo

There are other effects of terrorism such as morale, loss of $$$$, stocks, etc.

 

[barfo]

There are other effects of terrorism such as morale, loss of $$$$, stocks, etc.

So now we get down to it: are people's irrational fears of terrorism sufficient reason to spend billions on security measures that amount to closing the barn door after the horse ran away?

barfo

 

[AgentDrazenPetrovic]

So now we get down to it: are people's irrational fears of terrorism sufficient reason to spend billions on security measures that amount to closing the barn door after the horse ran away?

barfo

Perhaps. while an individual death doesn't do much to a nation, the mass deaths in a terrorist attack does cause mistrust of the government, fear, and other effects to the country. often, these are actually a bigger loss than the death of the people.

 

[PapaG]

Were the deaths by cop also planned by Bush and his rich buddies?

 

[barfo]

Perhaps. while an individual death doesn't do much to a nation, the mass deaths in a terrorist attack does cause mistrust of the government, fear, and other effects to the country. often, these are actually a bigger loss than the death of the people.

Why is it that every other country in the world can pick themselves up after an attack and go on with life, but we fall apart? Why is it that we can't take a punch?

Are we, well, pussies?

barfo

 

[AgentDrazenPetrovic]

Why is it that every other country in the world can pick themselves up after an attack and go on with life, but we fall apart? Why is it that we can't take a punch?

Are we, well, pussies?

barfo

No, america is just self-righteous.

 

[maxiep]

Why is it that every other country in the world can pick themselves up after an attack and go on with life, but we fall apart? Why is it that we can't take a punch?

Are we, well, pussies?

barfo

Yes, we are. We can't take a simple recession without trying to stop some of the necessary pain. It's like avoiding chemo to die a painful death two months later instead.

 

[barfo]

Yes, we are. We can't take a simple recession without trying to stop some of the necessary pain.

So you don't think there is any possibility of this evolving into something more serious than a recession if we do nothing?

barfo

 

[AgentDrazenPetrovic]

So you don't think there is any possibility of this evolving into something more serious than a recession if we do nothing?

barfo

I think some systems NEED to fail in order to succeed rather than just put a band-aid on.

 

[maxiep]

So you don't think there is any possibility of this evolving into something more serious than a recession if we do nothing?

barfo

There's a possibility, but there's a greater possibility of it evolving into something more serious if we don't let markets act the way they're supposed to.

 

[barfo]

There's a possibility, but there's a greater possibility of it evolving into something more serious if we don't let markets act the way they're supposed to.

What percentages would you assign to those possibilities?

barfo

 

[maxiep]

What percentages would you assign to those possibilities?

barfo

5%/95%. What is being done by the Congress is not a stimulus program; it's a payoff to the base that elected them.

 

[barfo]

I think some systems NEED to fail in order to succeed rather than just put a band-aid on.

But I think we established in an earlier conversation that you don't really have a problem if it causes economic Armageddon. Apologies if that wasn't you, it was several months ago, and I might be remembering wrong. Those of us who are more invested in the current system (houses, kids, careers, etc) are going to be a lot less tolerant of systemic failure than you (or whoever it was that said that). Doesn't mean you should take pity on us, of course!

barfo

 

[barfo]

5%/95%. What is being done by the Congress is not a stimulus program; it's a payoff to the base that elected them.

You really think it's complete corruption and none of them honestly think it will help?

Are you saying that there is a 95% likelihood that the current stimulus package will make things worse (in the short term)? What's the reason for that? Even if it doesn't help, I don't see it hurting in the short term. Long term, of course, we have to pay for it whether it helps or not.

barfo