Just to be clear, the US is fundamentally capable of operating in near isolation.  While it is not operated this way, it is feasible.  There are two approaches that could be taken, and it is a point of internal discussions all of the time:
- Stop importing goods and let the rest of the world just have fun on their own - yes this is a real concept in the US
- Try to help out counties that have less opportunity, by purchasing goods from them, even to our own detriment.  This is what we are doing today.

I realize that very wealthy and powerful people push their ideas out to the world and really force some things on others, and Americans have really mixed opinions about this.

As a practical matter, the average American has zero influence on this, nor benefits from it.  If anything, our foreign policy and trade (really just purchases of goods from others ) costs us a lot of money and good will.

Every crime is not terrorism.  Classifying it as such just weakens its real impact and how to correctly deal with it.


 

So what do you consider to be the difference?

Still I'm a stubborn optimist, so what the hell...

>the [132 in the past decade] school shootings have been crimes of revenge against bullying. No one wants to say that out loud, but it is true

Yeah, a bit like when the bigger countrystudent beats you up and takes your oillunch over and over, and with your slightly odd friend whispering in your ear, you decide you've had enough and go batshit crazy.

If others get caught up in your retaliation, well, they never stopped the bully, never showed compassion or helped you up, they're obviously just as guilty.

(Of course, it's not really like that at all.)

> An attack is meant to cause not only the immediate damage, but longer term damage to the economy.

You know this because you've planned all the attacks? Or have had signed confessions from the perpetrators? Maybe you've written a thesis on the subject and have a whole swathe of research which enables you to discover this perfect truth?

> Terrorism is part of a larger war effort between two groups ...

Terrorism is a buzz word these days. Your attempted definition is no more or less valid than the other.

Stop worrying about that. If you care to, investigate and examine what's behind the word. See if you can figure out which bits of what you think you know are wrong and work out how to fix that, whilst accepting that some of those solutions will be mistakes that too need fixing.

Or, you know, just ignore me. I clearly know fuck all about anything and am not worth listening to.

Yes, you are correct, I am saying that the majority appear to be revenge related, and the total is not very many, which of course is a good thing.  Yes this is just my own personal opinion based on reading everything I could find on the subject, not only from our own local news sources, but also international web news, psychological analysis of professionals, and some other information sources I have.

I agree that I am not an expert in this area, even if I think I know what I am talking about.
 

I'd like to see your face on that one. I don't think I have ever heard a bigger bullshite statement in my life. So let's see your source on that whopper. Last mass shooting I remember God being mentioned, the shooter targeted Christians.

Daft.

You need to read about some real studies on threat-assessment data instead of making crap up in your mind.

 

Did you ever see such a messed up situation in your whole life, son?