Prayers up for you and your wife, prayers up for Curtis (though I’d like to see this thread fade away, as I think this is all speculation, and could be baseless).I feel for Curtis Dunlap and all the kids going to college today. It does not matter what race or nationality. Many must be going through a lot. The tweet about the suicide prevention hotline is very concerning.
Suicide threat is very real especially with young people. The pandemic, the lock down, the social unrest, and the state of the economy carry a huge burden.
Are suicides on the rise during the COVID-19 pandemic?
“It certainly feels there’s an increase in mental health calls across the board.”www.kxan.com
Pandemic’s effect on already rising suicide rates heightens worry - Roll Call
Economic and social pressures this year have heightened the risks, feeding consternation among experts, health officials and lawmakers.www.rollcall.com
America Is Facing a Teen Suicide Pandemic
New data confirm the urgency of confronting it now.www.psychologytoday.com
It is particularly tough for African American kids.
OT: How did the country become so angry and divided? It seems like we have lost any sense of civility and civil decency in government and congress. The political courage to compromise for the betterment of the country (not for an agenda of any particular party) is lost among our congressional leaders. It seems that some leaders are more interested in finding blame than solutions.
I pray for my kids, grand kids, and for Mrs. H every night. Mrs. H is not doing very well.
Right it's not just the 2 party system, it's the 2 party system paired with the polarization of the two parties. Which is what I said.I don't so much buy into the idea that a 2 party system automatically creates the situations we see today.
Compromise has been possible much of the time.
Years ago New Gingrich (who I'm not a fan of but he makes astute observations now and then, among his usual hot air) noted that even during the worst of times when he was in congress he had someone in his office who could call the Clinton's in the White House anytime, and they'd answer and they could have an honest conversation that they both knew would remain private.
They also knew that each side could call almost everyone in their party and they'd get in line and they knew where the votes would fall (leaving room for folks who felt they needed to vote against, but also wouldn't hold up legislation).
The important thing was they could talk, and if they made a deal they largely knew they could trust the other side to keep their end of the bargain and execute.
Everyone played the game, but they also knew they needed those they were playing against to work things out.
Regan voted for tax increases, Bush Sr... none of these things were end times type all or nothing deals.
Then during the Obama administration we saw what Gingrich was talking about. Paul Ryan could make a deal one day, but never get the votes the next, and on and on and on...
But now there's no leadership, nobody trusts anyone to make a deal, it's all or nothing all the time.
And the good politicians, many have left, particularly in the GOP, where even BS accusations of compromising on something is an existential problem for your career. Guys who knew how to make a deal can't trust party members to make a deal, they'd rather throw a fit and like the POTUS, declare victory for doing nothing.
And the politicians aren't Sindly Whiplash, I think many actually believe their own BS.
After the 2018 election some folks who lost angrily took to saying that they were voted out by folks 'who wanted free money from the government'. Nobody beat them actually had that as a campaign promise, but I think they really believed it...
But what do we have today? Same guy's who lost, their party is sending out 'free money from the government', but I doubt they're complaining
A 2 party system doesn't have to be that way and it hasn't always been.
But the again, I'd be happy for ranked choice that would give folks a chance to attract a mix of voters and remain viable.
Probably. Just don't think it takes much effort at all to use precise language.
I don't so much buy into the idea that a 2 party system automatically creates the situations we see today.
Compromise has been possible much of the time.
Years ago New Gingrich (who I'm not a fan of but he makes astute observations now and then, among his usual hot air) noted that even during the worst of times when he was in congress he had someone in his office who could call the Clinton's in the White House anytime, and they'd answer and they could have an honest conversation that they both knew would remain private.
They also knew that each side could call almost everyone in their party and they'd get in line and they knew where the votes would fall (leaving room for folks who felt they needed to vote against, but also wouldn't hold up legislation).
The important thing was they could talk, and if they made a deal they largely knew they could trust the other side to keep their end of the bargain and execute.
Everyone played the game, but they also knew they needed those they were playing against to work things out.
Regan voted for tax increases, Bush Sr... none of these things were end times type all or nothing deals.
Then during the Obama administration we saw what Gingrich was talking about. Paul Ryan could make a deal one day, but never get the votes the next, and on and on and on...
But now there's no leadership, nobody trusts anyone to make a deal, it's all or nothing all the time.
And the good politicians, many have left, particularly in the GOP, where even BS accusations of compromising on something is an existential problem for your career. Guys who knew how to make a deal can't trust party members to make a deal, they'd rather throw a fit and like the POTUS, declare victory for doing nothing.
And the politicians aren't Sindly Whiplash, I think many actually believe their own BS.
After the 2018 election some folks who lost angrily took to saying that they were voted out by folks 'who wanted free money from the government'. Nobody beat them actually had that as a campaign promise, but I think they really believed it...
But what do we have today? Same guy's who lost, their party is sending out 'free money from the government', but I doubt they're complaining
A 2 party system doesn't have to be that way and it hasn't always been.
But the again, I'd be happy for ranked choice that would give folks a chance to attract a mix of voters and remain viable.
It worked when the members of the party prioritized the country over the party. What is happening now is the outcome of "forcing" members to tow the party line over the countries best interests. It has lead to the election of hard liners that look at it like a war instead of a duty, members of the opposing party are "enemies" and not colleagues.
Primaries are the problem.
All the best to Mrs. H.
He can still be ‘a good man’. But he’s a young college kid wanting to play closer to home. This has no bearing on his goodness as a man.
I'll need to see some sociology studies on that...but also, that would not explain the huge divide in our government. The vast majority of elected officials are not young people not elected by young people as they historically have a low voter turn out.
No idea how true this could be, but it is an interesting idea nonetheless.
I don't advocate for violence. Ideally, regime changes should be peaceful. But others increasingly seem to want it, these days.
www.history.com
This is a football forum not politics. Please discuss politics in the "Off-Topic Board: Politics and Current Events "
Looks to me like he really wants Dunlap to re-enter the transfer portal
Probably a Penn State or Auburn fan
So sorry for your loss. It sounds like you two had a long and amazing relationship.