Barefoot bandit

[Doryman]

Sorry for hijacking the thread but the BB is old news now and I have a question for ex-Marine Tom that doesn't deserve its own thread.

So I am watching this reality show called Top Gun, which involves pro and semi-pro shootists competing for $100K. The most recent episode an ex-Marine gets totally bent out of shape by a kid who has informed some other contestants that the ex-M and another guy have been strategizing against them. The ex-M totally looses it and accuses the kid of being a rat fink and says that in the Marines there is absolutely nothing worse, blah, blah, blah. It was kind of childish in its own way, but I was curious how prevalent this feeling is in the USMC?

Warren

 

[rogerbum]

I just dont get it. one of susans new co workers told her that " hes just stealing from rich people" and " I can't afford a plane so its cool some one stole it , good for Him" she works with a lot of under 30 types. good lord whats wrong with these people. I never felt like that at 20, seeing people with planes, boats, cars and homes just made me want to go get one too , by working. I saw that they had it and I knew in this country i could get one too.

Tom, one need only look to Seattle, Olympia and D.C. to realize where such a mentality eminates.

....or the voters who put those people in, or the parents who raised the kids that think like that. We have met the enemy and he is us.

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

Sorry for hijacking the thread but the BB is old news now and I have a question for ex-Marine Tom that doesn't deserve its own thread.

So I am watching this reality show called Top Gun, which involves pro and semi-pro shootists competing for $100K. The most recent episode an ex-Marine gets totally bent out of shape by a kid who has informed some other contestants that the ex-M and another guy have been strategizing against them. The ex-M totally looses it and accuses the kid of being a rat fink and says that in the Marines there is absolutely nothing worse, blah, blah, blah. It was kind of childish in its own way, but I was curious how prevalent this feeling is in the USMC?

Warren

Warren, this old Marine will pipe in. Remember the motto, "Semper Fidelis" or "Always Faithful". Marines put a LOT of emphasis on loyalty to one another, and team. If an "offense" is serious enough, it can lead to an unpleasant celebration known as a "blanket party". In my 10+ years in the Marine Corps, I only knew of one that actually took place.

 

[starcrafttom]

"Semper Fidelis" is right. And for me that meant to the corps as well as the marines. If you are dishonoring the corps most marines will call you on it and either take care of it themselves or run it up the chain. Now I have not watched this show at all so I don't know the content. If the Marine and his friend is cheating? then call them on it and make him stand tall to defend himself to the man, or tv producers in this case. If the kid is just whining about being out shoot and out strategized ?? f*&k him. anything that is not in the rules in not against the rules. Improvise adapt and overcome.

 

[starcrafttom]

Roger , he ain't me and that's a fact. I did not raise my son that way and neither did you. My son is a first rate screw up right now. But he knows right for wrong even if he is not doing right. I truly thing that many folks do not know the difference or have been trained by some teachers( i had several battles over this with James teachers and see it a lot) that everything is morally equal and its just a matter of opinion if something is wrong. or that right or wrong depends on the situation. So if I can afford a nice plane, boat, car, house, and you cant then its alright to steal from me. I have insurance and I will get a new what ever anyhow so its OK ,no loss really to me. people and the current government think this way. just look at how they are treating and talking about businesses. that profit is evil or bad. Profit is the best thing in the world for everyone. Their is nothing morally greater about a non-profit. just means you cant run a business very well and need to beg for support. ( that does not mean that the non-profit is not for a good cause)

No Roger I raised mine right and I voted right and I know the difference between right and wrong. Something I tell my son all the time " just because you can does not mean you should"

 

[Da Nag]

Their is nothing morally greater about a non-profit. just means you cant run a business very well and need to beg for support.

Against my better judgement...

I usually don't jump down into the gutter when comments such as the above are made, but my "bite my lip" instinct seems to have flown the coop this morning. As somebody who is intimately involved in a couple non-profits, perhaps I'm taking things more personally than most.

The comments above are an absolute insult, to untold numbers of people and organizations crossing every political persuasion. There is no liberal/conservative, Republican/Democrat/Libertarian slant when it comes to showing a little humanity...a trait which is absolutely higher on the "moral scale", than pursuit of the almighty dollar. Donation of time and/or money for worthy causes is critically needed, and more importantly an honorable thing - something that should be crystal clear to a Marine. To suggest that non-profits exist due to some inability to make money off the causes they support, isn't even worthy of a response.

Not only are the motives of many non-profits far morally superior to many corporations focused only on profit, there are simply NO for-profit alternatives for many of the causes they are in place for.

Let's hear it, Tom - point me towards the corporations that stepped in and provided superior help compared to volunteers and non-profits who assisted during any natural disaster in recent memory. Let's hear about all the good they've done for the victims of domestic violence, child abuse and countless other tragedies inflicted upon those who can't help themselves. Let's hear about the businesses that for nothing more than moral reasons, provide a little love, compassion and companionship to the elderly who would otherwise be sitting in a rest home ignored by society. On the non-human front, tell me about all the people who have figured out a way to make a buck off unwanted dogs. Suffice it to say, suggesting anything short of pure non-profit, 100% volunteer efforts would result in mass euthanasia.

I've read a lot of crap on this site over the years, but putting down non-profits and those who support them takes the cake. Simply unbelievable...

 

[rogerbum]

Tom definitely agree that kids can turn out different than what the parents were planning on (both good and bad) and that to some extent the parents have limited control over the outcome. Here's a link to a recent piece in the NY Times titled Accepting That Good Parents May Plant Bad Seeds. You might enjoy reading it.

As for the government, last I heard we the people voted them in. So I think we (collectively) are responsible. I'm also sure both you and I know right from wrong but I'd be willing to bet that we voted differently even though we both think we voted "right". So that example is perhaps one of those cases where right and wrong is a matter of opinion. The cool thing is we both like and respect each other even when we are each convinced that the other is at least partly wrong.

 

[Sneaks]

Hear hear, Bill. I started this thread because I was excited for the PNW residents. No more Barefoot Bandit. Hindsight is 20 20 unfortunately.

Apparently someone was suffering from serious cranial/anal inversion syndrome and entered text mode before energizing brain.

Here is a non-profit organization I've regularly donated to. We also donate to the Camp Pendleton Marine base thrift store. Should I stop, Tom? Am I making a mistake?

Navy/Marine Corps Relief Society

Don

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

Gang,

My two cents worth here. This thread seems to be going where we probably don't want it to go. I vote for closing it.

Steve

 

[starcrafttom]

where did i put down a non -profit???? did I or did I not say that the causes are good?? yes it did. I just believe that if you turn a profit you can better help. I see no reason to give them tax free statics over a business that is providing a needed service or good at a profit. you don't like profit then turn in you 401k.

as for showing you a company that helps out with their profits?/ oh lets see the gate foundation?? maybe?? yes its a non profit that was completely funded with PROFIT. In fact every non-profit is funded with PROFIT from the companies that support them and in fact when I support them with the PROFIT i make at work. How about the noble peace prize and its foundation?? lets see that was started with the PROFIT from explosive used in the first world war. but lets not stop there. yellow stone ( I believe it was yellow stone) was bought by a group of men and their PROFIT before being given to the country. the list goes on and on and on. Pepsi ,coke, GE, Honda, ford, all give to or run non profits with their ....what for it PROFIT>

now not all non profits are for good. many are trying to change how you and I live by supporting a political party one way or the other whether we like it or not. many in the world give the money to terrorist and killers. PETA is a example of the first type and CAIR is a example of the second.

I support several non profits and I wish that they were allowed to turn a profit thur the sales of shirt, hat, what ever they want to peddle to raise funds. And yes I don't want them to pay income tax on it because I disagree with ALL income tax. If you are providing a water purifier to foreign governments at a loss then why should you have a tax break over some one how can do it at a profit. the clean water is still clean water. If their a profit then their will be investment . How about this one, My wife helps invent drugs that save peoples lives. It take a lot of money to invent and market these drugs. the scientist with the ideas don't have the money so they go investor ( evil rich people) to get the money in return for a PROFIT. the cancer patient still gets to live don't they. Profit is what makes the world work for us.


yes you should have stepped back and thought about what I was saying before you exploded. I was not bad mouthing non profits but people like you that think profit is bad. profit is the morally correct and good.its what make people see a benefit in helping other and allows us to do so in a way that could not other wise be done. DO any of you work for free???? no I did not think so.

i second closing this one as people are not thinking before the respond to what was written. hard to do with your head in your ass. Your word not mine.

 

[rogerbum]

where did i put down a non -profit???? <stuff clipped>

When you said "Their is nothing morally greater about a non-profit. just means you cant run a business very well and need to beg for support." The latter sentence implies that those involved in non-profits are incompetent and need to beg for support as a result. The first sentence is debatable also and that's the point Bill was trying to make. There are many good examples of higher morality in non-profits than for profits. Where did Bill say that profit was bad? And yes some of us work for free - not all of the time of course but some of the time. (btw - I still like you).

 

[starcrafttom]

its more a matter of they dont make a profit becasue of the tax break. I beleive they could and would better off if they did, just have to get ride of the income tax. . Its the whole non profit vs profit that bugs me. They are a lot of good profit and non profit business. its what you are doing that makes it moral not the tax code you fall under. Thats the point I was trying to make. and the only reason you still like me is I use really good downrigger releases. I will sell you some but only at a profit which I will give to the CCA.

 

[Da Nag]

profit is the morally correct and good.its what make people see a benefit in helping other and allows us to do so in a way that could not other wise be done.

At the risk of pointing out the obvious - your comment above seems all encompassing, but you certainly don't speak for me or any volunteer I respect.

It floors me that you continue to insult so many - hopefully, unknowingly. Profit is not what makes me "see a benefit in helping others" - it doesn't even enter the equation. I can't believe it's necessary to explain to you, that the primary driving force behind every volunteer I know has NOTHING to do with money.

Specifically, funding isn't even the most needed resource for many non-profits. TIME is far more valuable. Which, to address your other question:

DO any of you work for free????

Yes - me and every volunteer out there.

 

[starcrafttom]

you need to calm down and stop putting words in my mouth. I give a lot of time to several non profits and I and you can only do so because of the money we both make. If we did not have paying job or had them in the past we could not have the time or ablitly to help non profits.

you some how being insulted is not the same as me insulting you.