[ruleabidinguser]

Have you experienced violence from those in power? Its so easy to spread fear when you haven't used your brain.

And have you considered how much of your lifestyle, the best parts of your lifestyle, is impossible under any system other than capitalism? I can't think of a better vehicle for diversity and indeed there certainly isn't one. It's almost insulting when people so casually dismiss these things.

[iamnotlarry]

You may wish to tone down the condescension. Many people use their brains just fine and have, in fact, experienced violence from those in power.

Perhaps they knew or were related to one of the dozens of people murdered by police. Perhaps they were turned away from a favorite recreational activity by armed BLM agents and snipers violently confiscating cattle. (Why does the BLM have snipers?) Maybe they were affected by government murders at Ruby Ridge, or police peppering of Occupy protesters, or maybe they were attacked by trained dogs near the Dakota pipeline. Maybe their children were threatened when they spoke out about a tax hike to hire more police. Maybe their relative is in lockup for crossing an imaginary line that arbitrarily bounds Arizona. Maybe their property was taken from them because it could generate higher tax revenue if a strip mall were built there instead. Maybe they read about somebody who fled for their life after exposing illegal activity on the part of the government.

Maybe it is possible to use your brain and still be wary of the corrupt use of power in today's society.

[candiodari]

I have had things stolen from me by someone else and tried to get police help with that.

And I've also stolen things from both poor and from large businesses and:

a) confessed to it (thankfully before 18 years old, my advice from the experience : do not ever, ever, ever do this, no matter how obvious the situation is)

b) gotten away with it

Comparing the reactions of the authorities between what happened when I offended a large business, who wanted to make an example (I didn't realize this at the time but they never even want restitution or the stolen item back), and what happened when I tried to recover my own stolen property and attempted in vain to get ANYTHING done (other than "fill in this paper and add to this huge stack here")

Just a piece of advice : DO NOT learn kids to not steal by having them return a stolen item, unless you know and trust the store owner.

Does this count as violence ?