Monday, November 29, 2010

The Importance of Constant Pressure, Part V; Wisdom of the Second Amendment

How fortuitous, that we have this short statement in one of history's most valuable documents. It is included to remind the politicians of the rest of the document and the people also. The Second Amendment is more than just a clause that allows us to hunt and defend the nation in the streets from invaders. It is a built in "reset" button for a Republic and provides hardware for the people to take back the nation and defend the very Constitution itself. No other Constitution written for other Parliamentary States includes this decree. The Second Amendement is one case in point to American Exceptionalism.

Many States within the Union have created obstacles for ownership, transportation and use of firearms. I am not in total disagreement with these ideas. But, as usual, many laws are perverted when it comes to defense of one's home, carrying a concealed weapon in public places, trigger locks, banning certain firearms, even shooting an assailant. A 1982 survey of prison inmates has found that 34% of inmates were scared off by, shot at by, wounded and/or caprured by a civilian who was armed legally. (justfacts.com/guncontrol, James Agresti, Reid Smith, 2010).

Statistics are always used on both sides of the Second Amendment argument to butress a 'for' or 'against' debate. Agresti and Smith point out; "..when statistics are involved, the determination of what constitutes a credible fact (and what does not) can contain elements of personal subjectivity". Every one with a personal story to tell cannot separate themselves from the emotional trauma of a particular event in their lives where a firearm was used. Whether that story be from a victim or a defendant, it is a responsibility not to be taken lightly.

Out of a 2009 US population of roughly 307 million, roughly 45% of households contain firearms (Agresti, Smith). We are an armed nation. It would be wise for our elected to remember this and to act accordingly. In reality they do realize this and have spent many sessions of Congress to disarm the American Citizens. Recent Supreme Court appointees Sotomayer and Kagan have both been involved in handgun cases and are both unsympathetic to Second Amendment Rights. Each have voted in past occasions ,while presiding in lower courts, to deny appeals to legal gun owners who challenged D.C.'s ban on handguns within city limits. One defendant used a handgun in self defense and was sentenced to prison anyway.

While serving as a 'part-time' Senator, then Senator Obama voted against any Judicial Nominee who was a supporter of private gun ownership. One Federal Appeals court in 2002 stated that private citizens can only own guns while in the service of the State (National Guard, Police). James Madison wrote in The Federalist Papers of his concern for having only an armed militia and the possiblility of a military coup. He countered that concern by defending the need for citizens to be armed in challenging such a coup and protecting Liberty. Madison states..

"To these would be opposed a militia amounting to near half a million of citizens with arms in their hands, officered by men chosen from among themselves, fighting for their common liberties, and united and conducted by governments possessing their affections and confidence.

Besides the advantage of being armed, which the Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation, the existence of subordinate governments, to which the people are attached, and by which the militia officers are appointed, forms a barrier against the enterprises of ambition, more insurmountable than any which a simple government of any form can admit of. Notwithstanding the military establishments in the several kingdoms of Europe, which are carried as far as the public resources will bear, the governments are afraid to trust the people with arms."

The last part of that statement is key. European Governments do not trust the citizenry to bear arms. In light of the Austerity Measures in place today through out Europe, and the riots we see on TV, I am inclined to agree. Defending a collapsed Socialist system with an armed population scares the shit out of me. Defending a Republic with an armed population from Socialist take over comforts me.

Historically, 18th and 19th Century Europe was quite voilent. Countless times armies invaded neighboring
countries. Revolution in France swept up into an aggressive Empire under Napolean. It was not uncommon for the wealthy to be armed at all times as they travelled and not fear using those arms. Seldom any legal repercussions would ensue. That is not the case today in both Europe and The U.S. Use of a handgun in self defense is a tricky endeavour. A wounded assailant may seek monetary compensation regardless of his/her crime. So be sure to shoot to kill.

In the book Firearms and Violence, A Critical Review editted by Charles Wellford, John V. Pepper, and Carol V. Petrie from the National Academies Press, 2005; people are reluctant to answer questions about use of their firearms, whether they own a firearm legally or illegally. The controversy surrounding the issue is first and foremost in the owner's mind. This should not be the case if you are a lawful gun owner.

"While surveys of firearms acquisitions, possession, and use are of varying quality and scope, they all share common methodological and survey sampling-related problems. The most fundamental of these is the potential for response errors to survey questionnaires. Critics argue that asking people whether they own a firearm, what kind it is, and how it is used may lead to invalid responses because ownership is a controversial matter for one or more reasons: some people may own a firearm illegally, some may own it legally but worry that they may use it illegally, and some may react to the intense public controversy about firearm ownership by becoming less (or even more) likely to admit to ownership (Blackman, 2003).

While in most surveys respondents are provided confidentiality, the concern is still expressed that violations of confidentiality directly or through data mining could lead to the identification of specific respondents in a way that might allow the identification of firearms owners."

For every story of an accidental shooting, there are ten fold examples of safety training, responsible storage and locking of firearms. For every tragic tale of a criminal shooting there are less than 1/10 of 1% examples of a lawful gun owner using said gun in the commission of a crime. Every time there is a sensational news story of a mass shooting spree the perpetrator is almost always in possession of a firearm illegally. Where the real tragedy comes from is that the victims are resricted form carrying their own, legal firearms at the places they are murdered in..

The wisdom of the Second Amendment is that it protects and defends everything held within the Constitution of the United States..

....And That Is The Diatribe....

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

The Importance of Constant Pressure, Part III; Eliminating Instituted Stupidity

               I am always amazed at the level of  pettiness and stupidity that reigns in our society. The inability to think something through in a common sense manner is over ruled by policy and  "guidelines". Innovators in the workplace are always telling their staff to "think outside the box", then reject half of what is developed because it means some one's world has to change.

               The Deficit Reduction meetings these past weeks is a prime example of pettiness and stupidity. The recomendations weren't fifteen minutes old before every targetted group postured against any cuts to their specific departments. The stupidity continued when the recomendations, we learned, don't take affect until 2050. and are the usual bureaucratic nibbles we have seen forever. No real change at all.

              Being prepared to make the sacrifices is a monumental step for some people. Comfort and familiarity equals a sense of psychological security. Anytime we are taken out of that zone confusion and insecurity set in. It takes time to adjust to a new paradigm. But, adjust we do, and, with determination, excell where we thought we would fail. Confidence grows and fear slips away.

              The new Congress must be willing to stop all new "programs", repeal completely those directly affecting prosperity. Waste in all agencies must be halted and those dollars recovered. With over 10 trillion in unfunded liabilities about to hit our Federal Budget, some radical ideas must be employed. How about this idea for Social Security?
               Opt Out. Allow Americans to not be part of Social Security altogether. Those currently paying into the system can take a one lump payment equal to the total they have paid to date. But, here is the catch. You do not get that money in your hand. It is put into a high yield savings account, cd, or 401k of your choosing and cannot be accessed until the age of sixty five. Unlike Social Security allows; in the event of your death before age sixty-five, your spouse, or your children become the beneficiaries of that savings account. Again, they cannot access the money until retirement age. This money grows in a secure bank account, puts money into the private sector, hell you could even borrow against it if you had to.
              There is only one problem with this idea..It makes too much sense and never will be considered.

              This is what I mean by radical ideas. We must look at the situation we find ourselves in and admit that the policies of generations of Presidents, Congress' State and Local Administrations have mostly failed and rarely succeeded. As Frederic Bastiat has said in his pamphlet "The Law"; "...law, by no means confines itself to its proper function". Bastiat goes on to say that, "Self preservation and self development are common aspirations among all people". There are few who will argue that allowing Liberty to be the benchmark in consideration of a new law should be first and foremost. This is never the case. Each law passed is restrictive and counter intuitive to Liberty.

              Even the measures taken to ensure a minimal safety net for society demand something from society.  Social Security is a noble idea but is still antithetical to individual responsibility. As Milton Freidman points out, it is not Government's responsibility to help the poor, it is our (society's) responsibility to each other as human beings. Social Security is akin to Bastiat's "...francs to keep us quiet, like throwing us a bone to gnaw". The issue of the poor and the elderly cannot be solved in one dossiere, nor do I attempt to solve it here. I am just creating a thought to be considered.

              By allowing a society to flourish unfettered by Governmental restraint truly is Ronald Reagan's theory; a rising tide lifts all boats. Taxation is nothing more than legal plunder. Legal plunder is taking from some one who earns to be given to some one who does not. The persons who benefit from this plunder will be the first to argue in it's defense. (This is the contigent I spoke of in Part I backing up the Government).

              Socialism is legal plunder and as the laws are written to uphold the concept of Social Justice Government will use the legal system and it's armies to protect it. They may even circumvent the legal system under the mantle of  "averting a crisis". Socialists could care less about the disenfranchised they claim to be looking out for. They are a monopoly and act wholly for their own ends.

              Civil war is easy, electing Conservative Legislators is easy, educating people is easy. Creating an environment where we accept the hard facts that sacrifice and a 180 degree turn  back to Constitutionsal values is very, very difficult. We are several generations separated from those early days of rugged individualism. Where do we start? Many of us don't realize we are most likely closet Marxist Socialists. We like our comfort, we like our Social Security and the knowledge of an Unemployment Check or our Tax returns. We like our public funded schools, we don't have to think about it yet complain when they get into our private lives (and we should, it's none of their business).

               I will close this piece with another reminder from Frederic Bastiat; " ..if the purpose of law is to cause justice to reign, it is not a rigorously accurate statement...the purpose of law is to prevent injustice from reigning.. Justice is acheived when injustice is absent.."


....And That Is The Diatribe....

Sunday, November 21, 2010

The Importance of Constant Pressure

               It has become obvious to me that there may be no other redress of the grievences inflicted upon the people of the United States aside from insurrection, usurpation of the established Federal Government and an immediate return to the core values of The United States Constitution. The only problem we face is that any armed conflict will not be contained with the enemy being the Government itself. Many of the citizens are perfectly happy living as serfs and beneficiaries of govermental largesse and it's welfare system. Any conflict can easily become a wider civil war drawing out the length of such an event and the casualty rate of such an event. In short, It won't be just law enforcement, National Guard and Government Institutions as our main obstacle, but a large back up contingent of welfare recipients and Socialist ideologs.

               The importance of keeping the pressure on all our elected officials cannot be stressed enough. If they continue to act as if everything is business as usual, Future Tea Party events could become recruitment stations for an upcoming war.
              
                In his piece written for Renew America, Henry Lamb tells of the pivotal time the Tea Party has brought us too and how consistency must be the watchword for the next decade at least.

                               "...The rise of the Tea Parties is evidence of a growing rebellion
                               among the people unwilling to accept this current reality. This is
                               a time of great opportunity or great danger..The future cannot be
                               left to any political party, but guided by solid, proven principles.."

                 The insults upon the intelligence of citizens are rapidly gaining in strength and rates of occurance. Lamb points to the transgressions of the recent TSA violations of personal space and dignity while the Government, at large, leaves gaping holes in our border due to environmental regulations and ignores and impunes upon State's Rights to enact laws defending their territorial borders.

                 Further insults are disguised under the banner of Hate Speech. Free speech and Hate Speech are dictated under the guidelines of Political Correctness and fear of Ethnic backlash, especially any critical analysis of Islam. The International Free Press Society has listed many double standards in regards to critiques of Islam on Western European Nations. A meeting of fifty-six nations comprising the Organization of Islamic Conference. In 2008 this conference gathered to discuss a ten year plan to eliminate any critical views of Islam by any one, any press agency, any government. Under the universal threat of being labelled a racist, the OIC has enacted laws that has put some journalists under arrest and awaiting trial simply for pointing out violence committed by Islamic Terrorist Groups. The push in the United States to allow Shar'iah Law to exist within (and imune from) State and Federal laws grows at a rapid rate. No similiar Christian protections exist, Later Day Saints Fundamentalists are routinely arrested for their practice of Bigamy. Muslim husbands and Fathers can beat, rape, sell, kill their wives and daughters with no fear of justice. A secular couple can have a simple argument and the wife has Domestic Violence laws at her whim and disposal.

              We constantly garnish every new law with nice sounding names. They are anything but nice. Virtually every law, regulation passed since Wilson has done two things and two things only; 1;To suppress individuality, personal responsibility and Liberty. 2; To find a way to tax us to pay for it's enacting and perpetuation. In fact almost all these "Acts" have built in clauses so they may be revisited from time to time to strengthen them. Any call from the citizenry to repeal an outmoded law is met with a phalanx of protests and  lawyers on the payroll of these regulatory entities.

               The EPA was formed to protect the environment, yet, under the this agency the environment is the least of their worries when it comes to oil and gas leases on Government land and timber leases in National Parks. If you can pay for the rights, you get a free pass.

               The Department of Education should not even exist. This is a State's Right issue, if not a local city and community issue. Not one initiative has done anything to improve the quality of public schools but has institutionalized, standardized and sanitized the educational experience. This further erodes individuality and Liberty of young minds. Unions, in the pocket of both parties, has corrupted the system of education and its quality. Here again, any talk of a reform is met with feverish rancor from Teacher's Lobbyists. Anything to keep the slow creep to Socialism alive.

              However, this pressure must be kept on the burner. It must also have the heat turned up and expose any example of corruption and partisanship. We must take a play from the Socialist handbook of Cloward and Piven. The advent of Cable news, the internet has exploded with good and bad examples of a new surge of information and freedom of thought. Is it any wonder legislators have time and time again called for internet regulation and taxation. Senator Rockefeller has called for the elimination of FOX and MSNBC, again, disguising his rhetoric with the sinister statement, "..so we can get on with the work of the Congress". The Fairness Doctrine, disolved during Reagan, is always coming up in Senate Hearings to be resurrected. God forbid the nation should keep tabs on it's elected.

              The hatred and lies spread towards a populist movement are indefensible. The hatred and discrimination towards our Armed Services hasn't been this bad since Vietnam. The acceptance of a gaping wound on the Southern border, rewriting our history to salve ethnic members of our society, tolerating the intolerable are symptomatic of a nation in identity crisis and is ripe for the final chapter of Socialism to be written and the iron clad lockdown of its doctrine to be our undoing.


....And That Is The Diatribe....
              

Monday, November 15, 2010

Common Sense

                        A child is accosted at the airport. A child is told he cannot fly the flag for Veterans on his bicycle. A war Verteran cannot fly his flag on his paid Condo lawn. God is taken from the courts, our, schools, our commons, our debates, our public forums.
                       
                        Why do Liberals want the word of God struck from our public forums? To make it easier to lie at them. The perversion of the word of God is a long and sordid past.

                       From the early Puritans, the Mayflower Compact, the Pequot Wars, Salem. From the Missions in SA to the Missions in Africa. The Muslims, whose sole purpose is to destroy any one not a Muslim: The perversion of God is antithetical to human expansion and Human Evolution. All I have listed here has done nothing, but perverse and restrain, the potential of Humanity. These, modern day, rejections of God and Country are the same damn thing!

                        There never is; a "middle road", always a struggle of one side, or, the other. The fight of the 21st Century is that again! Why? Why must we continue on this path and wonder why no one from 'out there' wants anything to do with us?

                      How can (some one like me) see this stupidity so clearly and no one else can see it? I know why.

                       Because, we are not as evolved as we believe ourselves to be. One side (the West) may believe themselves to be evolved. Correct they may be. The East, believes that God is vengefull and wishes to rid the world of infidelity (whatever that means, and, as correct as they may perceive). NOTE: Yes, I defer to the former in this discourse.

                      So, must we defer to the  minority religion, in order to, be accepted among them? What if they don't want us? Shall we continue this path of.."Please!!" Shall we continue the path of war?

                      NOTE: This is what sucks about being a former Liberal. turned Conservative. I can see both, fucking sides..God, I hate this crap!! Where is the Demorol??.."Can I get a drink here , please!!"

                     Maybe, that is the answer. Every one chill the fuck out! Let the kid fly his flag. Stop molesting the child at the gate and allow the profiled to stand proud and proclaim their allegience to America. Stop whining about being targeted and be proud that you are targeted. Then say; .."I am an American!"

                     Ever think to yourself?  God is asking something of ourselves? To be better than what the Media and Government ask's us to be? That..Things are going on right now and we must all take a chill pill? Be wary, be helpfull to your brother and sister and child. Be kind, have some common sense?


....And That Is The Diatribe....