Having said that, that’s no reason to think it wasn’t a deliberate trap set for that teacher, done for typical teenager reasons (showing off, wanting internet notoriety, a dare, or maybe even a genuine social comment). I felt what he did was inappropriate, I never said the teacher didn’t deserve it. There really wasn’t enough on the video to make that judgement.

I think the burden of proof is on the one proposing the “conspiracy.”

On second thought, I think I’d rather see you here battling the barbarian hordes than somewhere where you could use your rhetorical and research skills actually communicating your agenda to a more influential, and willing, audience. In the Zone, you have no effect at all on the time stream.

On third thought, I’d rather see you there than see you running for political office.

On fourth thought, I’d rather see you in politics than have to contemplate the thought of people actually depending on you for a paycheck.

***

TB, as long as you insist on using this forum and its captive audience as your personal soapbox, pulpit and sounding board, you’re just going to have to accept that people are free to respond the way they feel is most effective, not the way you would rather they did.

As for the amateur psychoanalysis, you knowq perfectly well I don’t accept that particular pseudoscience. But occasionally it hits the target, doesn’t it? If you can’t take the occasional rotten tomato, you’re just going to have to sing a sweeter song.

Now, don’t make me go get the duck.

His mom, Rhonda Bliss, says she’s proud of him. As it happens, she’s a teacher in a different school district with certification in social studies. She wasn’t surprised when her son told her about the confrontation with his teacher on Monday. She was flabbergasted when he told her about the video on Wednesday.

She said she reminded her son of a quote often attributed to 18th-century philosopher Edmund Burke: “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.”

“You stood and did something,” she said she told him. “And there is always a consequence of doing something.”

- Source

Obvious Right-Wing Redneck

Incidentally, your little psychoanalysis of me is getting old.

Anyone who’s been here a few years may have noticed that back when I was steadily employed, running a startup with stock in my pocket and making six figures a year, my political philosophy was exactly the same as it is now.

Any questions?

They may also have noticed that when I step back for a while, this place does not suddenly become a paradise free of politics, but an arena where leftist political views can spout endlessly without fear of some annoying person stepping on their lines or pointing out that 2 plus 2 does not actually equal 5.

And that’s really the problem, isn’t it? By your own admission you never gave politics much real thought until you got here, and suddenly you find out that a set of ideas you’ve had all your life doesn’t hold up all that well under actual examination.

There are two ways to deal with that. You picked the second one.

I think teachers are grossly underpaid, I support unions, teacher’s unions in particular, and I’m a Democrat.

And I’ve never had any kids.

But the job creators need their tax cuts.

You injected politics into this yesterday, and you wanted your silly statement to stand without argument.

For some people, the soapbox is only comfortable if the audience is gagged. I have a pretty good idea why Mary Anne left again after the gun discussion, and it wasn’t me.