Consequences Commentary

I sat this AM, and noted:  "Target is closing 9 stores in Democrat-run areas like New York City, Seattle, San Francisco, and Portland, citing retail theft and organized crime that made stores unsafe and unsustainable."

As someone commented....this is likely phase one, and in 60 days...there's likely to be a phase two with 20 additional stores.  By late summer....a likely phase three with forty more stores.

So I'm making a prediction of consequences:

1.  Survival of most stores like Target will revolve around the idea of you entering one single point of the store....flashing a credit card, and your entry is logged to that card being charged for all items in the cart at the end.  Attempt to skip or not-play?  You get denied entry.

2.  Other stores will go this route by the end of 2026.

3. A majority of voters will wake up and demand real jail-time for theft/shop-lifting....like six months in a county jail.  This will expand construction of warehouse-operations that offer jail-accommodations.

4.  By the end of 2028...within a 20-mile circle of where you live....at least 40-odd empty buildings will stand.  Former Wal-Marts, or Target or Piggly Wiggly shops. All left to decay because of thefft.

Six Humble Thoughts Over Insurgencies

 I spent a fair amount of my 'pondering-time' of the past week...looking over insurgencies in general.  I limited to US events, but came to realize....across the globe...since 2000...there are hundreds of insurgency operations and put-down events.  So six observations:

First, most insurgency operations start off 'small' (limited) and you can easily note that if some official or Governor does not start reacting...it grows over a very quick period of time (say a week).

Second, martyr victims are a key note of the success of any given insurgency.

Third, outside manipulation (planning) since the 1990s....is a key part of insurgency creation and sustainment.

Fourth, in most cases....fed-help was not called upon...until you get to the  past 30-odd years.

Fifth, of the 3 lists I made....insurgencies since 1800....if I had really opened up every  single event within the US....I think I could have noted more than 300 insurgency operations.  It is fairly common.

Sixth and final....just my humble belief...around 80-percent of the start-up's of insurgency...have a legit reason to exist, and the authorities refused to step in and clean  up the mess (early on).

Ten Examples In The US Of Insurgencies Since 2000

I didn't really think I could come up with ten....but at thirty....I just stopped counting.

1. Cincinnati Riots (April 2001, Cincinnati, Ohio): Civil unrest sparked by the police shooting of a unarmed Black teenager Timothy Thomas, leading to widespread protests, looting, and violence over four days. Ohio National Guard was called in to assist local police in restoring order. 

2.  Occupy Wall Street Protests (September–November 2011, New York City and nationwide): Nationwide movement against economic inequality, with encampments leading to clashes with police in multiple cities. Local police departments, including NYPD, handled evictions and arrests; no federal or National Guard involvement. 

3.  Bundy Ranch Standoff (April 2014, Bunkerville, Nevada): Armed confrontation between rancher Cliven Bundy, supporters, and federal Bureau of Land Management agents over grazing fees. Federal agents stood down to avoid violence; FBI later conducted arrests without major deployment. 

4.  Ferguson Unrest (August 2014–August 2015, Ferguson, Missouri): Protests and riots following the police shooting of Michael Brown, escalating into national Black Lives Matter movement. Missouri National Guard was deployed to support local police. 

5.  Baltimore Riots (April 2015, Baltimore, Maryland): Uprising after the death of Freddie Gray in police custody, involving looting and arson. Maryland National Guard was activated to quell the violence. 

6.  Malheur National Wildlife Refuge Occupation (January–February 2016, Harney County, Oregon): Armed takeover by militia groups protesting federal land policies. FBI and Oregon State Police conducted a siege, leading to arrests and one death. 

7.  Standing Rock Protests (April 2016–February 2017, Cannon Ball, North Dakota): Occupation against the Dakota Access Pipeline by Native American tribes and allies, with clashes over environmental and treaty rights. North Dakota National Guard and multi-state law enforcement were deployed to clear the camps. 

8.  Charlottesville Unite the Right Rally (August 2017, Charlottesville, Virginia): Violent clashes between white supremacists and counter-protesters, resulting in one death. Virginia National Guard was placed on standby and assisted local police. 

9.  George Floyd Protests (May–June 2020, nationwide, focused on Minneapolis, Minnesota): Massive uprising against police brutality after George Floyd's murder, with riots in multiple cities. Minnesota National Guard and federal agents were deployed in various locations. 

10.  United States Capitol Attack (January 6, 2021, Washington, D.C.): Insurrection by supporters of President Trump attempting to overturn the 2020 election results. U.S. Capitol Police, D.C. National Guard, and FBI responded to regain control. 

Ten Examples of Insurgencies Within The US (1900 to 2000)

1. Liberty County Riot (August 18, 1900, Liberty County, Georgia): Racial violence and uprising among Black residents against oppression. Georgia state troops were called in to settle the problem. 

2.  Colorado Labor Wars (1903–1904, Colorado): Armed conflict between striking coal miners and mine owners/strikebreakers, involving bombings and guerrilla tactics. Federal troops and state militia were deployed to suppress the unrest. 

3.  Green Corn Rebellion (August 3, 1917, Central Oklahoma): Uprising by rural poor and farmers against World War I conscription, involving plans to march on Washington. Oklahoma National Guard was called in to quell the rebellion. 

4.  Battle of Blair Mountain (August–September 1921, Logan County, West Virginia): Largest labor uprising in U.S. history, where armed coal miners fought against coal operators and private detectives over union rights. Federal troops and state militia were sent to end the conflict. 

5.  Rosewood Massacre (January 1–7, 1923, Rosewood, Florida): Racial insurrection where white mobs attacked and destroyed a Black town in response to alleged crimes. Florida National Guard was called in to restore order. 

6.  Bonus Army March (Spring/Summer 1932, Washington, D.C.): World War I veterans occupied the capital demanding early payment of bonuses amid the Great Depression, leading to clashes. U.S. Army under President Hoover was deployed to clear the encampment. (oddly, the gov't had the money....the Germans in 1925 had already paid reparations)

7.  Battle of Athens (August 1–2, 1946, McMinn County, Tennessee): Armed revolt by World War II veterans and citizens against a corrupt local government involved in election fraud. Local and state authorities, including the National Guard, were involved in settling the issue. 

8.  Puerto Rican Nationalist Revolts (October 30, 1950, various locations in Puerto Rico): Series of uprisings by nationalists against U.S. rule, including armed attacks on government buildings and attempts on officials' lives. U.S. military and federal forces were called in to suppress the insurgencies. 

9.  Attica Prison Uprising (September 9–13, 1971, Attica, New York): Inmates rebelled and took hostages demanding better prison conditions and rights. New York State LE and National Guard were called in, resulting in a violent retaking of the prison. 

10.  Wounded Knee Incident (February 27–May 8, 1973, Wounded Knee, South Dakota): Armed occupation by Oglala Sioux and American Indian Movement activists protesting treaty violations and tribal corruption. Eventually....the FBI and U.S. Marshals were deployed to resolve the siege.