There are two topics today, open for discussion. I will make a proposition (which is not necessarily my own position), and you can agree or not:
1) Public ownership of guns might have averted the tragedy in Norway.
2) The debt ceiling crisis has revealed basic faults in our political culture.
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ReplyDeleteOn position one, I'd rather say, however, that public ownership of guns might have mitigated the tragedy in Norway. That it took so long to stop him because not even the police were armed is just nuts. I'm thankful that I live in a state that allows me to be licensed to carry a firearm and that recognizes both self-defense and defense of another as a lawful reason to use deadly force.
ReplyDeleteOn position two, the debt-ceiling crisis reveals that a large portion of our elected representatives mirror a large portion of our society in that they do not have the virtue to sacrifice the personal for the overall good of the populace.
Rush sucks! Led Zeppelin rules!
ReplyDeletePublic ownership of guns would not have prevented the Norway terrorist attack.
ReplyDeleteLet's use Arizona as an example: Arizona has not registration or licensing of weapons. Citizens are allowed to carry concealed weapons almost anywhere without a permit. Earlier this year, Ron Gould introduce his Gun Omnibus Bill, which would make it easier for citizens to carry concealed weapons on school campuses and in government buildings. The bill comes with its own self-help provision, too--if a government employee hassles you about your gun, you can sue for damages; if he doesn't pay, you can simply seize his patrol vehicle until he pays.
I'm not making this up.
http://www.azcentral.com/news/election/azelections/articles/2011/01/31/20110131arizona-gun-bill-aims-loosen-laws.html
Yet, these "generous" gun laws did nothing to stop the Tucson massacre.
On Number One "might" makes it easy. "Public ownership of guns might have averted the tragedy in Norway." Sure why not. Or it "might" not have averted the tragedy.... Cut the deck right in half, I'll play from either side.
ReplyDeleteNumber Two: "The debt ceiling crisis has revealed basic faults in our political culture." Yes. At least to some. For some of us, the latest example of dysfunction only reaffirms something we have known for a long time--and, different topic, been with us since the inception of this government.
I agree with Waco Farmer on Prop 1. Toss a coin.
ReplyDeleteAs for Prop 2, the reality of our political culture is such that anyone who wants to compromise is labeled a quisling. George Washington had a prounounced antipathy to political parties for good reason. The Democrats and Republicans are both equally held captive by their respective political bases, neither of which comes close to representing where a majority, or frankly even a plurality, of Americans are. The rapid increase in the number of Americans who identify as political independents points to this as well. American is a pragmatic country, not principally ideologically conservative or liberal on the whole. Many do not want small government (i.e. no government), nor do many of us want big government Johnson Style Liberalism. Of course, some places, based upon region, culture, et al., are more conservative or liberal, and I use those words loosely, than other places are, but on the whole this country likes what works.
1) No. It would not have averted that bombings/shootings. Might it have lessened the severity? Maybe.
ReplyDelete2) No. Because it didn't reveal anything new. Democracy has always been like this. Which, by the way, is why it is awesome.
I agree with RRL on #2.
ReplyDeleteCaveat:
ReplyDeleteI agree with RRL on the basic assertion--but I have my doubts about the "awesomeness" of the situation.
Here is what I mean:
The place has always been like this. True. But now it matters a lot more. No way does Boehner and Obama hate one another as much as Clay and Jackson--but now what they do has a major impact on every aspect of our lives. It was not like that in the c. 19. The founders feared consolidation more than anything. Now we have consolidation (centralization) for a number of reasons (none of which add up to a socialist conspiracy)--but we are where we are. Dysfunction is now much more of a problem than it was for America past.
That's a very wise observation, Mr. Farmer. That deserves its own post...
ReplyDeleteIs that John Boehner in the photo with you?
ReplyDelete"What we're trying to do is save the world from the Republican budget. We're trying to save life on this planet as we know it today"
ReplyDelete-Nancy Pelosi
It is rare that someone so remarkably stupid is also so remarkably hilarious.
I would've commented more today, but I've been buying bottled water, canned goods and cartons of cigarettes to prepare myself for Debtageddon. LIFE ON THIS PLANET WILL NEVER BE THE SAME! PELOSI TRIED TO SAVE US! WE DIDN'T LISTEN! WE DIDN'T LISTEN!
ReplyDeleteI'm with RRL. Except, like the Y2K emergency, I'm mostly buying French wines.
ReplyDeletei love boehner's tweet from the other day: "if you're spending more money than you're taking in, then you need to spend less of it."
ReplyDeleteseems so ridiculously fundamental, yet i'm amazed by some politicians' inability to wrap their brains around the concept. instead, let's just keep printing money.
"The debt ceiling crisis has revealed basic faults in our political culture." -
ReplyDelete24-7 non-stop media coverage of all going on in Washington DC does not do any of us any favors. People are afraid to stand up and make the hard decisions because of their concern over image
I'm with RRL, Waco Farmer and Christine. The 24 hour coverage is crazy. Members of Congress are under a microscope and can't cut deals even if they wanted to for fear of retribution.
ReplyDelete