Posts Tagged ‘#guns’

Politics in America

Posted: March 22, 2024 in Opinions and Observations, Question of the Week
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
5

As many of you know, I am no longer young. I was born in the early 1950’s, and have seen a number of changes. Don’t worry, I am not going to give you a history lesson (though frankly, for many in the US a history lesson is desperately needed). I try not to get opinionated or political in my posts, but it does happen from time to time.

Back then, we used to aspire to be a doctor, an astronaut, judge or even president. These were honorable positions. I considered running for local office and felt a life of civil service was the best thing I could do for my country. My last name is Kennedy. After they shot President John F Kennedy and then his brother, Bobby Kennedy, I decided to take another path.

Growing up in those times – our political leaders were often looked at as heroes. We have a long history of presidents and elected officials not only solving the crisis or emergencies of the time, but they also guided or encouraged honor, civility, fairness and the American way of life. Through most of my adult political life I considered myself to be an Independent. I would vote for the right person for the job (male, female, any political party, experienced (old) or not) that I thought had good ideas and would be good for the community or the country as a whole.

This is no longer possible.

One of the first threats I saw to democracy was the emergence of what I call ‘single issue politics’. Today – whether it is from the religious-right demanding everyone follow their beliefs, to gun manufacturers’ desire to sell assault weapons designed for war to every teacher, criminal and concerned citizen on the planet as the only solution to ‘keep us safe’, we see the few wanting to RULE the many.

For politicans that are so focused on ONE issue, they will do anything to achieve their goals; lie, cheat, manipulate the truth – whatever it takes. Ironically, the religious forces consider this to be the ‘crusade of their time’ and feel justified to break all the rules they say they live by to acheive their higher purpose. They have little concern about any of the important issues like the environment, education, international relationships, healthcare and the list goes on.

Many threats facing this county we cannot even see. We have gone beyond the ‘fake news’ of the last decade to a total collapse of truth from our leaders and politicians. Rationalizing that all politicians ‘spin’ their side of the issue, today they justify putting their ‘spin on steroids’ and have no problem directly lying about anything to fit their goals. Even when they know the facts and everyone else can verify their story is not true at all they just double or triple-down and shout at anyone that does not agree.

I want to start a citizen movement that I call the “We Told You So” campaign.

I am older now and thrilled to have gained a small following of great bloggers over the last few years, but this post will not go viral. My ideas are big, but my voice is small. You might feel the same way, even if you have a much larger audience. We often feel separated or unconnected from others, wondering if we are the only ones concerned about a particular issue.

The idea behind the “We Told You So” campaign is to highlight serious examples of these political lies. There is no other way to say it. They are not simply wrong or misspoken – they outright lie to the American public for media generated revenue or political points.

    Topics – Headlines:

Man-made climate change and global warming
For the last 50 years we’ve heard the warnings ridiculed by climate deniers, but now it is undeniable.

Cannabis safety and legality
The original weaponization of the justice department. (Marijuana connection to racial history. Then it was used against Viet Nam anti-war protestors. Criminal record – can’t vote!

Abortion, IVF and contraceptives
The real threat from single-issue politicians. Only one thing matters and all is ‘fair’ in war.

Subsidizing the fossil fuel industry
The oil and gas industry has known for decades they are destroying the planet but continue crushing green efforts and renewable energy options.

2020 was the fairest, freest and most secure election. No major fraud.
No matter how many times five people say it was rigged. Trump just lost.

Voter restriction and gerrymandering
If you can’t win on your ideas, cheat! I propose we use boundaries already established – Zip Codes!

M&Ms are not gay
But your sports buddy or your older brother might be.

Gas stoves the ‘government wants to take away’
I don’t remember people complaining when they replaced coal home-heating. But the coal and delivery industries did.

Trickle-Down Economics
How the rich get richer. You are voting to give the wealthy an advantage over workers, military and the disabled.

Slavery was not the reason for the Civil War
Read confederate state constitutions from the time. They come right out and say it.

The border is an urgent crisis that needs to be solved now!
Until Trump decides it is better to keep a ‘win’ away from Biden and then use it to blame Democrats for the border crisis through the 2024 campaign.

Corporate welfare’s true cost
Tax loop holes that big corporations lobbied with millions of dollars to reduce their tax liability to $0.00….. Then they pay workers less than a living wage and the tax-payers foot the bill when that paycheck is not enough for emergencies. And society blames the workers!

Covid 19 and vaccines
Millions died, but far too many were from states with anti-vaccination pushes from those claiming restrictions required by a pandemic were nothing more than a violation of their rights.

If you know someone that does not vote often or not at all, or someone that seems to be confused by all the conflicting hype I suggest the following; pick a few of the topics above and say, “What do the following things have in common?”

The answer is too many of our elected officials have lied to get your vote or trick you in to supporting unpopular laws. Why keep voting for anyone if they lie to you about very important (and often very emotional) issues?

Join Democrats, Independents and what’s left of the Republican Party we knew to defend democracy, and continue Biden’s bipartisan success for the next four years by giving him a large enough majority so we can replace the single-issue and media grabbing politicians to get things done.

MIDIMike

The Politics of Safety  – The Nature of Defense 

Posted: October 5, 2016 in Opinions and Observations
Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
22

The Politics of Safety 2

 

If you found yourself in a strange city late at night and your car broke down in a ‘bad section of town’ and you had to walk alone to get help; how would you feel?  No cell phone service is available.  Imagine it for a while.  Now add the possibility that you had your small child with you.  Feeling a little tense yet?

Soon you see a group of teen-age youths approaching you.  They do not look like you and are probably not part of the friendly local neighborhood watch.  They all cross the street to the same side you are walking……..

I will try to make this brief so play this out in your head for a while.   Think of a movie scene unfolding.

If you feel you and the child are in danger, what steps would you take to ensure your safety?

Would you cross to the other side of the street?

If approached and you felt intimidation, would you begin to run?

If you had a knife would you point it at the group?

If you had a hand gun would you point it at the group?

If you had an automatic weapon would you pull it out?

If you had a grenade would you pull the pin?

If you had a device that would destroy the entire block but you would be safe would you use it to save yourselves?

If you had a massive weapon that would level the city but you would not be harmed would you use it?

You are calm now and reading what seems like an unlikely scenario, but the protection and preservation of your life and that of your child is hard wired into each of us.  To avoid the possibility (real or imagined) of harm to you and your child are you willing or could you imagine killing or injuring one of the group.  How about two of them.  What about all of them?  In the stress of the moment would you risk injuring passers-by?

In the US we have the ‘right to bear arms’.  It is in the constitution plain as day.  But when this was written the bow and arrow had been replaced by single-shot guns as the major weapons of the time.  Cannons could not be carried or moved by a single person or easily reloaded.  Hand guns capable of rapidly firing multiple bullets were not invented until the 19th century.

The authors of the US constitution had no concept of revolvers, semi automatic weapons let alone modern military style assault weapons of today or tomorrow.  The thought of RPG’s (Rocket Propelled Grenades) and other military tools were unimaginable at the time.

We are required to take tests and acquire a license to drive a car.  More tests, training and licenses to drive a commercial truck or bus.  Even more to operate cranes and earth movers.

We need a hunting license to shoot wild game – are told where and when allowed by local laws.  We have to get a license to get married.  Statistics are gathered and analyzed in fine detail for all of the above.

Funny; when you ask manufacturers and sellers of weapons how to resolve civilian mass shootings and the real threat of criminals with hi-capacity guns – the ONLY answer is to sell more and bigger guns so everyone has one.  Hell, they want you to buy a dozen.

We can purchase guns of all sorts including military style assault rifles without question in a number of ways.  We do not need a license to hunt or kill humans in this country.  The government is prevented by special interest groups from spending any money to gather data on gun usage or sales.

With very few exceptions, no one is trying to take your guns away –  No one wants to stop you from defending your family from home intruders –  No one wants to stop you from legally hunting wild game – any more than they want to take away your car or pick-up truck by requiring you get a license.  But what we are doing now does not make sense.