I don’t think anyone denies there was some violence associated with some of the BLM stuff but and large they were nationwide and peaceful. I also don’t think looting a target is the same thing as insurrection. Even if you don’t want to call the forceful stopping of government business to prevent the certification of the next constitutionally elected government insurrection, I would think a reasonable person would agree the Capitol storming didn’t have a justifiable basis such as BLM. antifa is honestly not something I’ve ever heard anyone be able to explain. I really don’t understand what they’re about. I get they are something in Portland and thereabouts but they’re not exactly national and certainly not organized. I think the right wing media pushes a narrative that these groups are the same, when they’re not. For example, I don’t see ant democrats actually supporting antifa (whatever it is) but they do support BLM. Either way, what BLM stands for is essentially equal treatment under the law, they are not spreading lies or looking to overthrow the legal government. You cannot say that for MAGA or the militant/fringe groups that now dominate the right wing belief system. And I guess that’s my point (removing “antifa” from the argument) BLM is actually justified in their cause when MAGA is seeking to illegally overthrow the lawful and constitutional next government.
The violence, looting, arson and violence by ANTIFA/BLM is just as unacceptable as the storming of Congress by right-wing insurrectionists. It should also be noted that business owners in most cities are far more concerned about looting, damage and arson from ANTIFA/BLM than they are about violence from right-wing protesters. It should be noted that ANTIFA/BLM caused billions of dollars in damage over the past 18 months — during this time right-wing protestors have caused nearly no damage to businesses.
The nature of terrorism is that it creates terror. I hope that is not too complicated for people too understand. Thus, while looting, burning, physical assault are important, it is not necessarily true that they are the total measures of terrorism. We have cities, let's just call one St. Louis as an example- where armed people ran/run through the city threatening to do damage to their family or to occupy or burn down their house, and do that to dozens of families. Maybe no one actually got killed or hurt in some of the neighborhoods that were terrorized but the citizens are entitled to be protected and to protect themselves. Lying awake at night wondering if your business is safe is a result of terrorism. Feeling that you are safe as long as you no longer go into Seattle or Portland are results of terrorism. Selling the house you love at a discount just to get the fuck out and go where normal people live is a result and a goal of terrorism. Wondering when your city will be next is a result of terrorism. Having your elderly parents call in fear is a result of terrorism. So on and so forth. So I definitely do not think that the impact of BLM or capitol rioters can be totally measured or compared by just property damaged or physical assaults or death. Use government force to put them down hard and stop the goddam madness. The lefties have had a little taste of it lately and don't like it so even some of them are thinking that a culture of street and other public violence going unchecked does not end well. As I have said before, I will not join in the concern for DC or for the safety of politicians or lefties until you come to the aid of the citizenry around the country first. There has been an unforgiveable abandoning of government responsibility to protect its citizens at the local level with national lefty figures cheering them on. Good luck DC but don't look to me for any concern or compassion. You are the ones that have 25,000 troops and 10,000 police at your disposal and are still crying like little babies for more. Must be nice motherfucks. Probably I will end out in the slam for brandishing a pistol to protect myself instead of calling the emergency line that tells you that they will send an aromatherapist by next week to speak with the invaders in your house. Assholes. all of them and all of you who defend them.
Antifa and BLM have rehabilitated the US somewhat in the eyes of the world. That is worth quite a lot. You don't want to entirely lose the good will of your customers when all you mostly sell is services.
Just the damage from ANTIFA/BLM riots from the period of May 26 to June 8 will cost the insurance industry $1 Billion to $2 Billion. This does not account for all the uninsured losses or the losses from all the riots since June 8th. Riots following George Floyd’s death may cost insurance companies up to $2B https://nypost.com/2020/09/16/riots-following-george-floyds-death-could-cost-up-to-2b/ Riots sparked by the police killing of George Floyd could cost insurance companies $1 billion to $2 billion — possibly making them the most expensive in US history, an industry group says. The potentially record-setting insured losses piled up as the demonstrations sometimes descended into looting, arson and vandalism in more than 20 states across the country from May 26 to June 8, according to the Insurance Information Institute. “It’s not just happening in one city or state — it’s all over the country,” Loretta L. Worters, a spokeswoman for the group, told Axios, which first reported on the estimates Wednesday. “And this is still happening, so the losses could be significantly more.” The cost of the damage could surpass that of the 1992 Los Angeles riots following the acquittal of the cops who beat Rodney King. That violence led to $775 million in insured losses at the time, or more than $1.4 billion in today’s dollars, according to the institute known as Triple-I. The violence sparked by Minneapolis cops’ killing of Floyd was the first “multi-state catastrophe event” ever declared for civil disorder by claim-tracking company Property Claim Services, Triple-I has said. Past civil catastrophes — events that caused at least $25 million in insured losses — unfolded in individual cities, such as the 1967 Detroit riots or the 1977 New York City blackout, according to the group, which noted that standard business-owner and homeowner insurance policies cover riot-related damages. But the costs of this year’s riots will reportedly be dwarfed by natural disasters that have hammered parts of the country. Hurricane Isaias is expected to cost $3 billion to $5 billion in insurance losses, while the tab for the just-started wildfire season is already at $1.5 billion, Axios reported. Losses from the riots, “while severe, would not have [an] impact on the financial stability of the industry,” Worters told The Post in an email. “… Hurricanes however, could have a considerable impact on the insurance industry as could the wildfires.”
So a billion and a bit, maybe, vs ? billion for natural disasters. Lagging data (Statistica) of course (17.6 billion for the last yellow block 2020 so far) but its not going to seem that much. There will be benefits to the good guys prevailing.. assuming the US economy is recoverable.
Still the bottom line is... $1 billion-plus riot damage is most expensive in insurance history https://www.axios.com/riots-cost-property-damage-276c9bcc-a455-4067-b06a-66f9db4cea9c.html
Not yet, adjusted the LA riots were 1.4 billion I read earlier. Think about the size of that spread across the US, its not a whole lot. It does not have a strong ring of "billions". 10 mph greater average winds in a hurricane could cost twice that. The world largely felt fair enough, it was a long time coming with the police related riots (how much was insurance motivated arson by covid affected business one wonders?) and masks of course made this a once in a hundred years opportunity in a way. Horribly mismanaged, Trump provoking throughout. I'm surprised it was this little.
It never fails to amaze me how our resident leftists will spin and twist to defend the extremists in Antifa minimizing or completely ignoring the threat and danger of this fascist organization. You guys never disappoint.