There was another shooting?? I swear, the California shooting was just a few days ago and now there's another one?? I didn't even know there was one in Vegas (where I live0 but I don't watch the news all that much, it's too depressing lol But damn, that's insane. And I agree with what you said, they should be focusing on the important things at hand but they disregard it for whatever reason they have. I think a news rant/vent would be great.

Yeah, there was.... 4th or 5th this month, already. And the Vegas one was some anti-government nutters who killed 2 cops, at least 1 execution style.
lol, thanks. I would hope most people would agree, regardless of political opinion, that our representatives represent nothing about the people.
I do think that it would be fun, for me at least. I know some people hate those kind of posts, though. And some take personal offense, not considering it an exchange of ideas but a fight for their survival or the 'rightness' of their personal opinions. Sometimes you have to vent though.....

Ah I see...
Well, if you really want to vent about this but don't want to do it on your FA, you could always try a blog or even youtube?

Been considering that. I might just post it on here and on a blog, at least at first, and let everyone know ahead of time it's a venty/news/political thing, and tell them not to read it if they would dislike. But stay for my stories, and art, which I want to work on more this summer.
Push them toward the blog, too

Also, long time no chat ^^

Sounds good to me and likewise. :)

Good to hear!
What's up, then?

Just drawing like always. xD You?

Staying busy busy busy! As always, lol

Haha very cool

Because problems are not clean cut and passing legislation from the top down does nothing.

There are real solutions to these issues, but they don't benefit the people with the real power. If we really wanted to stop mass shootings, we'd stop making the shooters Celebrities, If we really wanted to address low-income upward mobility and joblessness we would focus on bringing american Manufacturing Back, so those people at the Minimum wage had a place to step up to.

The focus on rising the minimum wage is offensive to me, because it focuses on a section of the economy that should NOT be a career for anyone. By dragging the focus away from the fact that manufacturing in america has rotted away (Due to government regulation) and gone overseas, we destroy any ability for someone working a minimum wage job to get a better job, and free up THAT position for someone who Needs a job, Any Job.

Think about all the things you bought this year that came from a country with subsidized manufacturing, No pollution regulation, no OSHA style regulation, and was produced by people working for $1-2 an hour. You want to make things better here in america for low income families? Start questioning the Ethics of your purchases.

Never said they were clean cut or simple, but there are simple steps or actions in the right direction. And top down legislation certainly has issues, but there are successes in our history as well, as you said, it isn't so simple.

Agreed entirely most of, if not all, the fixes don't benefit those already in power. Also agreed the celebrity culture has a large set of problems associated with it. But you can't not broadcast the news. Even if you limit it to local news, it would make it onto the web instantly. So it's a catch-22, really.

As to the minimum wage and manufacturing, we may have to agree to disagree in general. I do agree we should try to encourage American manufacturing if we can, but I believe that ship sailed decades ago, unless something revolutionary happens in some way. I'm sorry it offends you, but I believe that's an overreaction. And that's the thing... It 'shouldn't' be a career for anyone. But it is, for millions. That's a basic economic fact, and a necessary component to the economy itself. And no one is suggesting raising it to exorbitant levels. My preferred level is the bare living wage, and tie it to inflation/living costs. Simple and easy, and exponentially helpful to those getting the raise, the economy at large, etc. Even with manufacturing jobs, there are only so many. And everyone wants their morning Starbucks and Big Macs, too.

Would you rather the government not regulate manufacturing and industries here? Living in Pittsburgh, I can attest to conditions in that sort of economic environment to be, well, horrible. Since some regulations have passed, this city is extremely clean, the people are healthier..... Just look at china today, and Beijing. We can debate as to how much is too much, and I agree we should make all government function as efficient and simple as possible.

As to ethics (capital E) I certainly agree the plight of workers world-wide is deplorable. And I LOVE the idea of talking and trying to live in the realm of ideas and such, but real world matters do pop in. I can't afford the increased costs of a 'made in America' good sometimes. Whether I need or want the good, there is a cheaper Chinese product I can. Pragmatism dictates I go for the Chinese good many times.
If you do want to fix this ethics quandary, what about making it incrementally harder for money to cross borders, and easier for workers to change between jobs, and even countries, without a penalty?

I would absolutely think that you should write about news stuff and opinion. I think society in general prefers to "look the other way" instead of address topics at hand, and then gripe when what they want is not automatically handed to them. There are a lot of things that need to be said and discussed.

And have I met you in person? I usually have a hard time remembering fursonas vs. faces

Thanks for the encouragement! There definitely is a ton to do and say, yep. I don't know if 'society' looks away, but I know a ton of individuals do.

I'm not sure... But I don't believe so. Still haven't gone to a local meet, and only been to AC once, last hear.

Ahh ok. I go to some of the bowling meets, and I have gone to AC for four years, other than that, we occasionally have game nights at our house.

Sounds fun! I intend to go to one of the bowling meets at some time or another, hopefully soon. :3