Of course you know about the religious right...

[BPPLEE]

Aside from tying up the immigration courts and overwhelming facilities at the border, what has the "disaster" actually done to Americans? As you probably saw from the evidence, illegal immigrants add billions in GDP in this country, and they are generally more law-abiding than most native-born Americans.


In cities, it's a housing problem. Chicago, for example, has an unemployment rate of about 4.2, which means that there's a worker shortage. But they don't have housing for lots of new people. Chicago's economy is growing about 4% annually right now, which is higher than that of the nation as a whole by about 25%. I guess you might call that "booming."

Chicago, IL Unemployment Rate Monthly Trends: Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment | YCharts

In depth view into Chicago, IL Unemployment Rate including historical data from 1990 to 2025, charts and stats.

ycharts.com

https://www.bls.gov/regions/midwest/summary/BLSSummary_Chicago.pdf

I can look up NYC if you like.

Meanwhile, you could help by writing your congressperson to get off the stick and pass Biden's bill to toughen up enforcement and speed up adjudication of asylum requests at the border. Assuming you actually care about it. As you know, Trump is opposing any increase in enforcement because he needs a campaign issue.

For the last three years Joe Biden told Americans he'd done more to secure the border than any other president. Now, he finally admits he doesn't need new laws to address the border crisis.
BREAKING: President Biden is considering possible Executive action to refuse asylum from migrants who cross the border illegally, not through a port of entry.

 

[rjs330]

And some of those mental health issue struggles are made worse by the reaction of society (in the person of no doubt well-meaning people like you) to his condition.

She had them long before. It's a long story. But the short answer is no.

 

[rjs330]

I don't want a 'what if' situation. And I said this wasn't a case of you being forced into something you didn't want to do. I want to know what your personal, unforced decision would be.

This isn't a difficult question. We're removing any possible rejection of what the 'language police' might demand. Because yeah, I don't react very well sometimes when I'm told I must do something as well. So that's off the table. What's your personal decision?

Why do you care what my decision would be? What does it matter what my decision would be?

 

[Bradskii]

Why do you care what my decision would be? What does it matter what my decision would be?

It opens up the discussion. This is a forum. An open and honst discussion is what we should all be looking for. And who else's opinions would I be interested in other than those who enter into these discussions. And to tell the truth, I am interested in questions that nobody seems to want to answer. They seem to me to be the most interesting ones.

 

[rjs330]

Of course there is. Doesn't the 'Christian Family Values' model provide for fairly sharply defined social and sexual roles for men and women? And look at the Culture Wars issues: from strictly gendered dress codes for schoolchildren all the way to concern about the feminization of men. It's all about adhering to those roles. Even LGBT. You are rightly concerned that some of their actions are sinful, but you make it plain that your concern would be much less if they only would keep it in the closet and take up the roles you prescribe for them.

You think all those things are Christian? Every time we participate in a discussion on these things and if they are good or bad for society I pretty much steer clear of Biblical arguments in order to get my point across. Unless of course the the discussion itself is specifically oriented to a scriptural doctrine.

Are you aware that there are many secular people who oppose the LGBT stuff, like drag queens reading LGBT books to children of indoctrinating them to experiment with being queer? Or are opposed to transing children.

 

[rjs330]

It opens up the discussion. This is a forum. An open and honst discussion is what we should all be looking for. And who else's opinions would I be interested in other than those who enter into these discussions. And to tell the truth, I am interested in questions that nobody seems to want to answer. They seem to me to be the most interesting ones.

What discussion? I think it's pretty obvious we disagree on many subjects. You haven't changed my mind and I haven't changed yours.

And based upon past discussions it pretty obvious you support the language police regarding pronouns. So I don't think I'm going to oblige you with an answer.

I think it shouldn't matter what my answer is. If you agree with free speech and free thought and a live and let live attitude then I think you should be able to do what you want. So I don't care what you do, why do you care what I do?

 

[Bradskii]

And based upon past discussions it pretty obvious you support the language police regarding pronouns. So I don't think I'm going to oblige you with an answer.

Which tells us more than an answer would. I mean, c'mon. Surely you knew that.

 

[rjs330]

For the last three years Joe Biden told Americans he'd done more to secure the border than any other president. Now, he finally admits he doesn't need new laws to address the border crisis.
BREAKING: President Biden is considering possible Executive action to refuse asylum from migrants who cross the border illegally, not through a port of entry.

Illegal immigration creates problems in the economy by depressing wages and taking jobs from Americans. As Barbarian pointed out it exacerbates a housing problem. It contributes to the medical cost problems.

As far as crime is concerned the statistics are bogus. Jails do not know the citizenship of people brought in because they don't ask. So we really have no idea about the crime that actually involves illegals. In the federal system illegals are a large part of it. In other jurisdictions we don't actually know. Even in the Texas system it takes years to figure out.
So no matter what nonsense some may want to tell us, illegal immigration is costly to Americans.

 

[rjs330]

Which tells us more than an answer would. I mean, c'mon. Surely you knew that.

What does it tell you pray tell?

 

[Bradskii]

What does it tell you pray tell?

That both answers were problematic.

Changing from her to him would be upsetting not just for her, but her work colleagues, friends, relatives etc. Everyone who has accepted her for what she is. And you'd appear to put your beliefs ahead of everyone else's feelings. And nobody wants to be thought cold and unkind. There'd be a significant chance of you being ostracized. Everyone hates that. So you don't want to do that.

Or you could carry on using her and she. But then you are conforming, man! You are accepting the ideology! So you don't want to do that either.

There is no other option, so it's best to avoid answering the question.

 

[rjs330]

That both answers were problematic.

Changing from her to him would be upsetting not just for her, but her work colleagues, friends, relatives etc. Everyone who has accepted her for what she is. And you'd appear to put your beliefs ahead of everyone else's feelings. And nobody wants to be thought cold and unkind. There'd be a significant chance of you being ostracized. Everyone hates that. So you don't want to do that.

Or you could carry on using her and she. But then you are conforming, man! You are accepting the ideology! So you don't want to do that either.

There is no other option, so it's best to avoid answering the question.

Oh you assume an aweful lot. You assume the work colleagues wouldn't be upset they have been deceived or that all of them support the trans agenda and are boss everyone around what to say people. You assume whomever believes in free speech would be ostracized.

You assume "everyone's" feelings would be the same. But you'd be wrong.

Of course families and friends probably know, but why would you assume that I hang around Mary's families my and friends?

What we SHOULD be doing is telling people that it's perfectly okay with using whatever pronouns you choose. If you want to use she/her that's okay. And if I want to use he/him that's okay too. Ostracization of people is nothing more than being a member of the language police doing your best to force someone to use the language and word you want. Yes the language police is strong in this one.

 

[Bradskii]

Ostracization of people is...

...what you get when you are perceived to be unfeeling. When you are seen to lack empathy. When your own opinions override common decency to others. We're all judged. You would be according to your actions. Which is why even in a hypothetical you don't give the answer you'd like: 'Hey, I'll call him he and his. I will not been dictated to!'

Which is pretty much your position. You won't do it. You won't comply. You won't listen to these left wingers.

It's all about you.

 

[rjs330]

...what you get when you are perceived to be unfeeling. When you are seen to lack empathy. When your own opinions override common decency to others. We're all judged. You would be according to your actions. Which is why even in a hypothetical you don't give the answer you'd like: 'Hey, I'll call him he and his. I will not been dictated to!'

Which is pretty much your position. You won't do it. You won't comply. You won't listen to these left wingers.

It's all about you.

Except that with the trans agenda it's all about them. And everyone that supports the agenda is all "I'm going to boss you around and tell you what you have to say or you are going to pay dearly for it." You and others are the "beat into submission" people. Maybe not with fists, although you have indicated in the past that you wouldn't be averse to using violence.

You wanted to avoid the language police talk, but thats immediately where you went. All your "common decency" talk is a further attempt at force of another kind. Emotional force.

And when met with someone who won't be bullied or threatened you don't know what to do. Except to threaten them some more.

 

[Bradskii]

And when met with someone who won't be bullied or threatened you don't know what to do. Except to threaten them some more.

If you think that being ignored because you don't act with common decency to someone is a threat then I can't help you. But again, it becomes about you. Poor you. People react to your intransigence and you're the one that complains.

 

[rjs330]

If you think that being ignored because you don't act with common decency to someone is a threat then I can't help you. But again, it becomes about you. Poor you. People react to your intransigence and you're the one that complains.

Ignored by who? You? You can't seem to do that.

"You must do as we say and say what we tell you to say or else you will pay." Who's actually the poor me person again.

You can use whatever pronouns you choose. I'm not trying to stop you for any reason. But you are desiring to force people to use the pronouns you want them to use. Who's acting the authoritarian here?

I'm bloody well not going to cow tow to authoritarians who feel they need to bully people to feel better about themselves. Oh and feel free to ignore me.

 

[Bradskii]

Ignored by who? You? You can't seem to do that.

"You must do as we say and say what we tell you to say or else you will pay." Who's actually the poor me person again.

You can use whatever pronouns you choose. I'm not trying to stop you for any reason. But you are desiring to force people to use the pronouns you want them to use. Who's acting the authoritarian here?

I'm bloody well not going to cow tow to authoritarians who feel they need to bully people to feel better about themselves. Oh and feel free to ignore me.

Ignored by those who would ostracise you for your lack of basic kindness and decency. A lack of respect for others. All the transgender person's colleagues, friends and family. And you want to class their rejection of your self centered views as bullying. Poor you.

 

[BCP1928]

You think all those things are Christian?

Many Christians tell me so, both here in this forum and elsewhere. Allegedly Christian organizations like the Family Research Council and Moms for Liberty do also

Every time we participate in a discussion on these things and if they are good or bad for society I pretty much steer clear of Biblical arguments in order to get my point across. Unless of course the the discussion itself is specifically oriented to a scriptural doctrine.

Then why suggest that there is a religious basis for your position if you won't tell us what it is? When we were talking about the Greeks legalizing SSM you were quite adamant that it went against Church teaching but refused to say what teaching or how.

Are you aware that there are many secular people who oppose the LGBT stuff, like drag queens reading LGBT books to children of indoctrinating them to experiment with being queer? Or are opposed to transing children

Sure, but if they argue based on slanderous falsehoods like the above they won't get very far.

.

 

[BCP1928]

Illegal immigration creates problems in the economy by depressing wages and taking jobs from Americans.

Republicans see that as a feature, not a bug. That's why the MAGA crowd are so particularly exercised about asylum seekers. They get to stay legally. Economic illegal migrants are more easily exploited and can be deported if they become troublesome.

 

[rjs330]

Then why suggest that there is a religious basis for your position if you won't tell us what it is? When we were talking about the Greeks legalizing SSM you were quite adamant that it went against Church teaching but refused to say what teaching or how.

I'm not Greek Orthodox Orthodox but articles were clear on that SSM is opposed by the church.

 

[rjs330]

Ignored by those who would ostracise you for your lack of basic kindness and decency. A lack of respect for others. All the transgender person's colleagues, friends and family. And you want to class their rejection of your self centered views as bullying. Poor you.

You certainly can have kindness and decency without using pronouns. Kindness and decency is a two way street. I land be kind and decent and not use the pronouns and you can be kind and decent and not demand I do. That's what kindness and decency is. A recognition of the other persons rights and not force them to speak in a certain way. Forcing them to speak in a certain way is authoritarian and bullying. Not very nice or kind at all. But then most authoritarians aren't very nice.