New York fire department ordered to remove American flags from its trucks

[dmcowen674]

8-17-2016


New York fire department ordered to remove American flags from its trucks


Fire commissioners in Upstate New York ordered a fire department to remove the U.S. flags that were mounted on its firetrucks because they said the display was a “liability” to the firefighters and other motorists.

Fire Chief Tory Gallante with the Arlington Fire District in Poughkeepsie said the Board of Fire Commissioners told him Monday to remove the two flags, which were fastened to the engine and the ladder truck.

“Obviously, I was disappointed with their directive,” he told The Washington Post.

Gallante said that about 50 firefighters, veterans and members of the community came out Tuesday afternoon for a small, impromptu ceremony to properly take them down. “The guys were upset about the decision and wanted to remove them with dignity and respect,” he said.

Video from the ceremony shows the emergency response vehicles lined up outside the Arlington Fire District headquarters, where firefighters stood at attention.

Both of the flags were taken down, properly folded and then handed to Gallante.

[dmcowen674]

Now the U.S. Flag is a "distraction"?  

[ocre]

What a country we live in these days.
If it was a black lives matter bumper sticker you could bet your ass this fire commissioner wouldnt say a word about it yet our flag has to go....

[RolloTheGreat]

All of this unrest lately is based on the lack of paths to the middle class for people who don't have costly technical training.

The scapegoating of illegal immigrants, the increase in crime and resulting deadly conflicts with police, the red herrings of gay marriage rights and abortion bans, the call for more religion in government- all side effects of the erosion of the economy for people who comprise most of society.

Business won't pay health insurance or living wage for the jobs that remain, so officials are elected to take the money from those who have it and dole it out to those who don't.

We're all living the fallout of the trade agreements and resulting outsourcing of jobs and importing of goods.

Until the government works with industry to fix that, building walls, hiring more cops, telling people that can't get married, telling people they can't have reproductive choice, and asking sky spirits what do won't change the simple truth that people who watch their neighbors enjoying a life they can't have, or worse yet are hungry, will be angry and frustrated.

[dmcowen674]

[RolloTheGreat]

Dave, if you go carrying pictures of Chairman Mao, you ain't going to make it with anyone anyhow.

And like I've said in the past:

Even if there was a revolution, and even if it could succeed, what then?

As soon as anything like that started gaining traction, the wealth of the nation and it's owners, would take off for more stable lands leaving us living in a banana republic.

"Come back from Switzerland Trump, and bring your money with you. Turns out Apoppin and Rollo didn't have enough to employ many people."

And then of course there's the whole "smartest people are usually the ones running the show that you would be revolting against". You think people that can barely run their homes are going to be able to run country and the industries that make it wealth?

Uh huh. Good luck with that.

You think the Dr.s/engineers/lawyers/software developers/biotech and pharma researchers want to take up arms against the government? Ummmmmm...why? They live like kings here now, they like things as they are.

Going to force them to work at gunpoint for less? "Cure that disease you smart bastard, or we'll shoot you!"?

200 years ago the working class could have revolted. Now it would be like "Planet of the Apes" if they did.

[RolloTheGreat]

Another thing to consider is that if the smart people are failing to this extent, how much worse will it be with the Johnny Lunchpails running the show?

"Everyone should work two days a week, get free beer at work, and minimum wage is now $100,000!!"

"Yaayyyyy!!! Yaaayyy!! Yaayyyyy!"

(two months later)

"crickets chirp"

(two months later)

"I wish we had some food! Ain't President Bubba gonna fix this mess?! I work my two days a week! I drink the company beer! I deserve better!!"