Killing the Poor with Gun Control

Most,if not all, of the current Gun Control proposals have the unintended consequence of placing the poor at a greater risk of violence. It is no secret that gun violence occurs with greater frequency in poor neighborhoods than elsewhere. Nor is it a secret that the majority of gun violence is committed by people of the same race/ethnicity and economic status as the victim and both often live below the poverty lineand even in the same neighbohoods.

Typically the shooter is using an illegal weapon. The proposed gun control laws make it much more difficult for potential victims to defend themselves because guns will be much more expensive and will be less efficient (smaller magazines and less "gun" for the money). Actually they may not be able to afford a self defense weapon at all, and if they can it may be dangerously (cheaply) made.

Every person has a right to self defense. The gun control freaks would deprive the poor of their life; they would deprive the poor of the pursuit of happiness, and sentence the poor to flee from fear if they can. The gun control lobby knows that there are so many illegal guns in the community that all of the "bad" guys can arm themselves with two guns apiece. And there is enough ammunition to fight a small war. With a little organization, cities such as Detroit, Las Angeles, Chicago, and Washington D.C. can be brought to a functional stop with IEDs and random gunfire. Current and proposed gun control will have no effect on this. The politicians and other supporters cannot help but know that their actions will kill the poor. They do so for their own gain. They do so because they do not care. They have so twisted the message that the poor, often trapped in the worst performing school districts, do not have the reading and analytical skills to see through the propaganda. Proposed gun control legislation will only push the poor further and further into the danger zone.

If this keeps up the only way to get a gun will be to join the "bad" guys ... What will it be like when pockets of poverty become armed and organized? What happens when only armoured vehicles or tanks can enter certain areas of a city (the police in certain cities have already purchased armoured vehicles [urban assault vehicles]). Can we envision a time when we are playing Palestinians and Israelis? All of this because some politicians kept people from defending themselves and their families so that he/she could elected. Disgusting.

Do I KNOW that these people are really out to kill the poor or to precipitate a shooting war between the Haves and the Have Nots? No, I do not. But I do know that they are so blinded by their own ego and their own ambition that they cannot see the deadly consequences of their own actions.

Those of us who can see this tragedy coming need to speak up, not only to our own Representatives, but to the poor.We need to find a way to make obvious to the poor (in spite of the false propaganda) the tragic impact that proposed gun control will have on them.

Taking up Arms

The critical is question is: When does an American Citizen forfeit the right of due process and become subject to immediate "execution" as opposed to the requirement for the implementation of due process to include (presumably) some form of independent judicial review. 

It seems to me that the issue revolves around the concept of USA citizens "taking up arms" against the USA. If one takes up arms against one's own country that is instant treason or armed insurrection and instantly removes the individual from citizenship and any protections attached to that status. When John Dickinson and Thomas Jefferson wrote The Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms which was a document issued by the Second Continental Congress on July 6, 1775, to explain why the Thirteen Colonies had taken up arms (specifically at Lexington and Concord) a in what had become the American Revolutionary War The phrase meant literally picking up a gun and using it. Today, of course, things are not so clear cut.

Which Citizens Do We Kill?

A hypothetical with a real parallel: We go to war with X country because it declared war on us. Prior to the declaration of war X worked hard to place sympathetic sleepers into our population and to recruit supporters for itself from our general population. 

Killing American Citizens

Killing American Citizens

There is a difference between killing an enemy and murder. What does a person have to do become an enemy and eligible to be killed? The US Constitution is specific on the subject, Article 3 Section 3,

Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court. The Congress shall have Power to declare the Punishment of Treason, but no Attainder of Treason shall work Corruption of Blood, or Forfeiture except during the Life of the Person attainted.

I am not an attorney so whatever I say is subject to “further review”.

My memory is that the Supreme Court has ruled that the protections of the First Amendment (free speech) do not apply to encouraging the violent overthrow of the US Government.

The Constitution makes it clear that levying war against the United States is treasonable. Also adhering (taking the side of) to the enemies of the US which the Constitution defines as giving “...Them Aid and Comfort.” Which phrase I think is open to wide interpretation. I does not specify how much aid or how much comfort (or even what “comfort” is). However, and this is where the government’s approach as outlined in their memo goes off track, the Constitution plainly requires a trial before a citizen can be declared treasonous, “

No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.

” Section 349 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1481), as amended, states that U.S. citizens are subject to loss of citizenship if they perform certain specified acts voluntarily and with the intention to relinquish U.S. citizenship. Briefly stated, these acts include: conviction for an act of treason (Sec. 349 (a) (7) INA).

The point is to remove the individual from Constitutional protections. The trial could be in abstentia and since by definition no confession is possible it does not have to be in open court. I'm not sure that there is a federal death penalty for treason but the Congress can remedy that.

It seems to me that the government has some work to do before it can start killing US Citizens. Otherwise they may find themselves up on murder charges.
A hypothetical with a real parallel: We go to war with X country because it declared war on us. Prior to the declaration of war X worked hard to place sympathetic sleepers into our population and to recruit supporters for itself from our general population. 

Nation

A nation may refer to a community of people who share a common language, culture, ethnicity, descent, or history.^[1] In this definition, a nation has no physical borders. However, it can also refer to people who share a common territory and government (for example the inhabitants of a sovereign state) irrespective of their ethnic make-up.^[2][3] The word nation can more specifically refer to people of North American Indians, such as the Cherokee Nation that prefer this term over the contested term tribe.^[1]

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Author's Notes on Immigration and Illegal Border Crossing

Authors Note:

The Barrier

Clearly this process may take some time – possibly even years. I estimate about 18 months to two years complete the Southern Border Fence (1,969 miles +/-). I believe that this fence should be built along the same lines as the “fence” being built by the Israeli's between their country and Palestine (430 miles +/-). Some of this fence/barrier consists of concrete panels 26' high.

This after all a blog based on the perceived principle of Get'Er Done. One of the primary of which is, “know your desired end result”. What is our desired outcome? We want to stop or at least radically slow down illegal border crossings at the southern border of the USA. In my opinion the barrier is not to be the final deterrent but simply is to delay and detect attempts to cross the border until authorities can respond on scene (target twenty minutes from detection). As opposed to stopping the rocket attacks with which the Israelis have to contend. Among other things super sophisticated electronics will not be needed.

As a nation we need to make this a top priority, crash project. We want to visibly demonstrate that we are serious about this legislation. We are not the same no load, lying politicians that made so many unkept promises during the Reagan administration. Millions of people will be waiting for the completion of the barrier.

How to go from 0 to adequate in 2 years or less. First remember that the goal is to delay and detect. A good plan, the use of readily available materials, multitasking, the prepositioning of materials, and the maximum use of currently available manpower and equipment, are key to a quick build. I am not an engineer nor constructor of significance. My initial thoughts are these:

• Other than taking advantage of currently constructed barrier components and naturally occurring barriers a first consideration should be given to plowing (harrowing?) a 30 foot swath on the US side of the border. This swath if lose dirt will shoe the imprints of any one/thing crossing it alerting the watching team and trackers via drone surveillance transmission. In addition certain components can be added to the loose dirt to make discovery and tracking easier.
• As soon as the various parts of the barrier are complete to a point of some effectiveness they should be used as intended.

• There are hundreds of miles of very difficult terrain along the border which form at least the beginnings of a natural border. These should be taken advantage of. Delay and detect, not necessarily stop.
• At the beginning available surveillance drones should be positioned as well possible. Contracts should be let for additional drones sufficient to provide 24/7, 365 coverage of the border.
• Similarly, available helicopters and other people movers sufficient to move men and material to intersect the illegal border crossers and to the Border Transgression Hearing and detention facilities. Contracts should be let for additional helicopters sufficient to provide interdiction within 20 minutes of notification.
• Since some of the border barrier is already established, operations should begin as quickly as possible, including immediate detention and Border Transgression Hearings.
• Man power and equipment should be drawn from the Regular Army, Reserves, Corps of Engineers, Reserves, National Guard, Forrest Service, Departments of Transportation, and any other department or organization that receives federal funding. Private resources are not excluded. Particularly high civil and criminal penalties should be included for fraud in this legislation. Performance rewards and penalties should be part of any contract.
• The barrier project is specifically excluded from the jurisdiction of the Environmental Protection Agency.
• An Inspector General's Office will be specifically created to oversee the operations of the barrier project. A report on the barrier project will be made every 6 moths to the appropriate Congressional oversight committees, and to the public. Sufficient staff and funding will be made available to carry out these tasks and will not count against the budget of their home agencies.
• Any funding currently appropriated, or other resources currently assigned to the construction, or improvement/upgrade of federal roads shall be transferred to the barrier project.

Since Border Transgression hearings are not judicial proceedings, and the accused are not US Citizens and do not have access to Constitutional rights, the Hearing Officer is not a judge and need not be an attorney. A Border Transgressor may be identified either by the sworn testimony of two witnesses, or photographic or other acceptable forensic evidence.

The detainee may speak on his or her own behalf and may present testimony and other evidence felt helpful. In no case should each presentation exceed 20 minutes.

The Hearing Officer has not more than 10 minutes to render the decision.

The decision is to be carried out immediately.

Hearings must be recorded.

Immigration and Illegal Border Crossing

IMMIGRATION AND ILLEGAL SOUTHERN BORDER CROSSING

During President Reagan's administration the citizens of America were given to believe that if they allowed illegal immigrants to become Citizens then the Southern Border would be closed. How gullible we were. Behind closed doors the pro-illegal bunch must have been laughing themselves silly. They duped the President and the American people. The border was never closed – never even came close – there is no indication that they ever really intended to close the border.

Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me.

This time the sealing of the southern border MUST be the trigger event for the implementation of the of the remaining legislation.

To avoid any doubts about the status of the Southern Border, the requirements for “sealing” must be part of the legislation.

SUGGESTED SPECIFICATIONS FOR “SEALING”

1. An Israeli style fence (similar to the one the Israelis are building between Israel and Palestine) for the entire length of the Southern Border
2. Sufficient drones and associated manpower to provide constant 24/7 surveillance of the border and the fence.. There should be sufficient and manpower and equipment to provide 15 minute response times to detected border incursions.
3. Rewrite current Border Incursion language to provide mandatory minimum detention time, increasing one each detention.
4. Justice delayed is justice denied. Provision of 24/7 Border Incursion Hearings, so that once detained people trying to enter the USA illegally are taken directly to the Hearing Officer. Sworn testimony taken and any other material presented (25 minutes per side) and disposition by the Hearing Officer given within 10 minutes).
5. People who bring children across the border should also be subject to charges of child abuse/neglect especially if no adequate arrangements for child care have been made on the American side or the border of if the child has suffered physical damage.
   Once all of this is in place AND OPERATIONAL, and verified by the appropriate Inspector General, and approved by the appropriate Senate and House oversight committee(s) the trigger level is met and the remainder of the previously approved law takes immediate effect.

ANOTHER SERIOUS IMMIGRATION PROBLEM

Is people who over stay their legally acquired visas. Again much harsher mandatory punishments must be enacted. Also some method for tracing visa holders must be found.

SUGGESTIONS

1. GPS tracking device in the visa itself.
2. Visa holders MUST have the visa either on their person or with their reach at all times.
3. Each visa holder must appear on a designated day at an automated recognition center which will check their GPS and take a picture and match that picture with their file picture. This should be done once per month. Failure to appear on the proper day should be grounds for immediate detention with deportation following within two weeks. Deportation hearings to be held 24/7.
   In addition there should be some discussion about access to to Constitutional Rights and Citizen Privileges by non-citizens.

SUGGESTIONS: Regarding the 14^th Amendment,

We should explore repealing that part of the 14^th Amendment that grants automatic citizen ship to anyone born in the United States regardless of the citizenship of the parents.

Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States;

Peg Board: General Powell on Bill O'Reilly

Last night (1/30) on the Bill  O'Reilly Show, General Colin Powell took exception to John Sununu saying that President Obama was “lazy”. Gen. Powell said that the comment was “racist”. Well, Gen. Powell it is NOT a racist comment if it is true. In this case it is.

Prez. Obama's entire first term was ,marked by having others do work that should have come from the White House as a matter of leadership if nothing else. Most notable of these were Obama Care which he left to the Democrats in Congress; the national budget; and immigration. Most recently he said that he was going to produce a plan to deal with immigration. Instead, he gave a speech in Las Vegas but, typically, produced no written, comprehensive plan to address the problem.

This has NOTHING to do with his race. By any standard the man is just plain lazy. I doubt that General Powell would keep him on staff for very long.

Benghazi and Hillary's testimony

And the left, as demonstrated below, is busy spinning this story as far away from the real point as possible. The first point is that Hillary knew the reason for the attack and lied about it not only to the press but, shamefully, to the parents of the murdered.

The second point is that why it happened is crucial. Did the administration know (should have known) that something was likely to happen and refuse to protectively respond or was it a spontaneous even that could not be predicted?

And yes, we should track down the doers and their associates.

There is no indication that Hillary cares anything about Benghazi, the victims, or the survivors. Apparently all she cares about is avoiding responsibility. She will not allow the survivors to be questioned by the press or apparently make them available to the congress or other investigators. What is she and/or the administration hiding?

What is amazing to me is the incredible sloppiness/laziness of this administration. Eric Holder, DOJ, admitted that he did not read memos sent to him. Hillary admitted that she did not read memos sent to her. OK, they are both busy people, why did they not assign someone to read incoming memos? One would think that these two geniuses would have done that – if they cared. 

SPINNING V. LYING

Sometimes it's spinning, but often it's just plain lying. The most recent example has to do with the District Court's overturning of Prez Obama’s so called recess appointments to the NLRB, NOT because they were recess appointments during a recess of the Senate, but because THEY WERE NOT. Obama and his henchmen claim that every President has done this. That is a flat out lie and they know it. NO President has attempted to make a “recess appointment” while the Senate was still in session. The real issue is IF the Senate was is session or not.

What is bothersome about this is that the lying, and twisting, and spinning is so juvenile, so unnecessary. Having a disagreement with the Congress that has to be set straight by the courts is no big deal. What an administration filled with adults would have done would be to take the disagreement to the courts as soon as they could and ask for clarification on an expedited basis. But not these guys, oh no. Like a bunch of juveniles they go about their business pretending that everything is correct even though they have bee warned by the Senate that they are out of line.
Now because Prez Obama and his henchmen were so self-centered, so headstrong, we are in a position where at least 3 appointments to the Board have been overturned and perhaps as many as 218 rulings will be invalidated. All of this confusion, wasted time, and wasted money just because the President set himself above the law.
Grow up Mr. President. Submit yourself to the law and the custom of the land.

Debt 

I really do not object if the congress extends and raises the debt ceiling for another 90 days as long as at the end of that time they deliver a solution. The real trouble is, I do not think that they will or can. We will see.

I am not a fiscal guy, but basics that I think should be in any agreement are:

• Always pay the interest and do not borrow money to do it;
• Full fill the Constitutional requirement – principally defense of the Nation. Do not borrow money to do it;
• Meet current obligations starting with money owed to US citizens (money borrowed from Social Security (+ interest), etc.);
• With the exception of Defense (suggest return to Depart of War) and Social Security which is self funded, all programs should be funded at last 2 years levels (even though there was no approved budget). This includes all branches of government;
• Any new programs requiring funding MUST include statement of need, specify where the funds are coming from (i.e. new taxes, transfer from another program and which program for how long).

Suggested changes to current programs, any savings to be applied only to the principle of the debt. Yearly increases to be limited to the percentage increase in annual tax collection not to exceed the cost of living.

EPA

Remove Rule making and rule enforcement authority/responsibility. It may investigate, make recommendations, and publish its findings. Action is the responsibility of the State or Community. Resulting unnecessary personal to be transferred to other programs.

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Remove Rule making and rule enforcement authority/responsibility. It may investigate, make recommendations, and publish its findings. Action is the responsibility of the State or Community. Resulting unnecessary personal to be transferred to other programs. States and school districts that have used federal money must publish in a prominent location the results of any relevant DOE report.

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

All gasoline taxes must only go to the maintenance of currently constructed federal highways. No new federal highway construction (status of highways currently under construction to be negotiated with states and communities [nothing to cross state lines]).

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

Suggest that it be renamed, Department of Peace. Foreign Aid limited to food and medical, NO arms and NO financial aid (cash or in kind). Diplomatic responsibilities to continue.

NSA, CIA, FBI, HOMELAND SECURITY

May increase by the same percentage as the increase in tax collection over the past two years.

WE HAVE A NATIONAL BUDGET

We have a national budget that has been approved by both the Senate and the House. The house should fund this budget immediately. It may be that this budget is more than three years old, however it is the most recently approved budget that we have. The House policy should be that the budget of the United States that it will fund is the last one that was approved by both the Senate and the House. 

Control guns or reduce gun violence?

01/18/13 Peg Board

The first rule of “Get 'ER Done” is to to define what “ 'ER ” is. What are you to accomplish? And what will it look like if you are successful? In other words, how will you know if/when you are successful? Oddly enough, politicians often tell folks exactly what they are trying to achieve even when they are trying to cover it up. For example, an important topic right now is the murder of multiple children in a school setting. But this is not what our politicians SAY that they are trying to control. What they are trying to control is the ownership of guns by private citizens. They imply that such control will reduce the risk to school children even though NONE of the current commendations will have that effect. What is truly shameful is that the overwhelming evidence (scientific studies and testimony before Congress) has resided in Congressional archives for decades. In other words, the tools for reducing violence against children both exists and is/has been available to and ignored by the federal congress. Every sitting Representative or Senator who has held the seat for more than two years is as responsible (through inaction) for the violence and death as the doers are.

I know that sounds harsh, but the ER we are trying to get done is reducing gun (any) violence against children, especially in schools (groups). As trite as it sounds, the research clearly shows that the problem is not guns (bats, hammers, etc.) but the people who handle them and their attitudes about hurting others. The conclusion is that the entertainment industry (movies, video games, etc) under common circumstances produces an effect which desensitizes the participants to human pain and discomfort. Rather than address the issue our “Representatives” would rather sink their snouts deep into the entertainment industry's money trough. There may be other explanations but it seems to me that these people are either crooked, or incompetent. In any event they are certainly NOT doing what they were elected to do.

ion

Remember the “ 'ER ” in GET 'ER DONE is the reducing of gun (any) violence against children, especially in schools (groups). So what do the folks that you and I chose to represent us recommend?

VAPOR LEGISLATION

Universal background check: So what is this supposed to do? There are already millions of unregistered guns available. Any one who wants to create mayhem can pick up the guns and other means through irregular outlets any time they put their mind to it. This is vapor legislation. When you really look at it, there is nothing of substance there.

A person who is mentally unstable should not have access to guns. But what does “Mentally Unstable” in this context mean? How crazy do you have to be before you start losing your constitutional rights? Do our “Representatives” address this? No. Lazy Cowards. Have our “Representatives” created a national register of people who have been adjudicated mentally incompetent? NO. Lazy Cowards.

Reduced capacity ammunition clips for semi-automatic weapons. What is this supposed to accomplish? Properly prepared and practiced almost anyone can change a clip of ammunition in less than 1 second. It would take the average person more than a second to realize that the clip is being replaced. And in a so called gun free zone, if the only armed person is the doer, what can be done in a second any way?

This is all non-sense. A political circus to entertain the masses (that's us). Nothing happens, children and others keep getting hurt and killed, but we keep re-electing the same lazy, cowardly, and greedy politicians. Doom on us. Our “Representatives” think so little of us that now some are proposing a re-institution of the “assault gun ban”. Previously this legislation failed so badly for ten years it was finally abandoned. Now they want to fool us again with the same failed legislation. How foolish are we really?

WHAT WILL WORK?

Right Now:

Remember the goal is the reducing of gun (any) violence against children, especially in schools (groups).

I've spent years working in public school systems. Every school district has many non-productive administrative or non-teaching positions. Many of these could be re-purposed to trained armed security personnel at no additional cost to the tax payers. Mr. La-Pierre is correct, the best defense against a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun. We are not talking about Uniformed and helmeted Security Personnel with full utility belts in every classroom. One or two plainclothes SP, armed, trained, and with proper communications, roaming randomly in each building should Get 'er done. This level of security can be in place by the opening of school in the Fall of 2013 (that's right, THIS YEAR). NOTE: SECURING YOUR CHILD'S SCHOOL DOES NOT TAKE FEDERAL LEGISLATION OR MONEY. YOU CAN DO IT LOCALLY. SECURING THE SAFETY OF YOUR CHILD'S SCHOOL PROBABLY DOES NOT TAKE ANY STATE LEGISLATION OR MONEY, YOU CAN DO IT LOCALLY. My suggestion, stop whining, form community action groups, and Get 'er Done.

Medium Term:

Federal – revision of the entertainment industry's rating system. This is going to take some work and needs to be consistent nationally. We know that desensitizing children and adults to the suffering of others creates an environment supportive of interpersonal violence. Therefore any form of activity (entertainment or otherwise) which does so should be strictly limited to adult participation. The greedy moguls who care nothing for our children or our country will argue that this is a First Amendment issue, but it is not. There is nothing in the Constitution that requires that children be allowed to be taught/encouraged to be vicious killers than that they should be taught/encouraged to be bloody insurrectionists.

We should explore the possibility of making parents who expose their children to adult rated materials and who commit crimes related to those materials civilly responsible for damages. If the crime results in permanent physical or mental damage or death the parent (s) may be charged as accessories.

Long Term:

National - The goal is the reduction of gun (any) violence against children, especially in schools (groups).

To replace a negative and make it permanent requires a positive replacement. We need a national alliance to promote personal integrity, loyalty to family and community, respect for self and others, personal responsibility for one's behaviors, courage in committing to a code of ethics, and emphasis on nonviolent solutions and outcomes. And an understanding of the impact of violence on both participants. Although such an alliance does not require Federal funding, a National Commission that is very supportive of the allliance would be very helpful.

Please support Sen. Lindsey Graham and his effort to block the appointment of THE DIRECTOR OF THE CIA.. Please write to him and let him know of your support and write your own Senators and make it clear that until the events at Benghazi, including the murder of Ambassador Stevens, have been thoroughly explained there will be no new Director of the CIA.

In addition, let's take it to the wall. Let us encourage Senator Graham and all the Senators, Republican or Democrat, and especially the ones that represent us to block any appointments at the Ambassadorial, Secretarial, or Director level, including the Secretary of State, the Treasurer and the ATF. There has not been an adequate explanation the of the Benghazi events. This failure on the part of the US Government is a slap in the face to the professionals who represent us in our nation to the rest of the world. Regardless of which party you support or which party represents you in Congress it should be made to understand that, Republican or Democrat, on this single issue stands your vote in the next election.

A stranger comes up to you and punches you in the nose. The stranger looks ready to do it again. Given that you cannot run away, what do you do? You defeat the attacker in such a way that not only will he not be able to attack you again but no one else will want try. If someone helped that person attack you, you defeat them in the same manner. If someone helped them help the attacker you defeat them the same way.
Much of today's news is taken up with the report on the corruption in the Afghan government and its possible effect on withdrawal of NATO/American troops. I have not yet read President George W. Bush's book so I cannot speak to what he had in mind when we went into Afghanistan but it should have been to destroy the Taliban. To destroy them not because they were (by our standards) miserable rulers, but because they were guilty of aiding and abetting the murder of 3,000 Americans.
Under the American system of justice, if you assist in the execution of a crime you are guilty of that crime. For example if you drive the getaway car from a bank robbery in which a murder is committed you are guilty of murder. Reason for being in Afghanistan should be to kill or capture any and all Taliban, not to involve our selves in internal politics, except as it affects our primary mission. To be clear, current reports state that President Karzi, members of his family, cabinet, and government have funneled money and perhaps other support to the Taliban. They should be subject to being captured or killed immediately.
We are at war with the Taliban and their supporters and the Congress should formalize that reality.

7 Days

I’m mad as hell – How about you? I’m not going to take it any more – How about you? How to fix it coming in 7 days.
Everything else is on javascript:void(0)hold until I get this right.

Airplanes, Bombs, Security, Detroit and Left Twisted Wing Nuts

As a nation how weak minded are we? Once again some numb nuts shows us up, this time with an underwear bomb. Last time it was a shoe bomb and we have been taking off our shoes ever since. Are we going to have to have our underwear inspected now? I have an idea (if you use this please send me a dollar), you know those Velcro rip off (literally) outer clothes that strippers wear? Perhaps airline travelers could all wear those with bathing suits underneath. Then as they approach the gate they can rip off their outer garments, stuff them in the carryon bag, and stroll through security in their bathing suits and flip flops.

The only reason that we are in this situation is that as a country we listen to the left twisted wing nuts. They practice the idea that everyone in the world has a right to come/live in the US. That is why Home Land Security is wrapped in Swiss cheese and is really Home Land Insecurity. And yes, there is plenty of Presidential blame to go around: Obama, Bush 43, Clinton, Bush 41, and Reagan, were all open border supporters, at least in what they did if not in what they said. And what you do speaks so much louder that what you say.

What should happen on any flight into the US should be this: Everyone must have a passport. All noncitizens must have a Visa. Any person traveling from or born in a non-friendly country, territory, or designated area automatically under goes an automated or personal body search and their luggage is searched both by hand and automation (arrive early or you may miss your plane. Entering the US is a privilege not a right. Play by the rules or do not come).

The Roman Catholic Church and Me

This may seem an odd time and an odd place to write a blog of this nature, but what tripped my trigger was Pope Benedict announcement that he was advancing the cause of Pope – toward Sainthood. Pope Benedict tried "fast tracking" – to Sainthood and was blocked by other Roman– officials. I have some thoughts about all of this but first some self-disclosure.

We all know that there is no one quite as self-righteous as someone who has "overcome". Overcoming can be any one of a number of things: smoking, over eating, religious convictions, political convictions, over indulgence in alcohol, etc. In my case, I consider myself a "recovering Roman Catholic". In spite of my best efforts, I am sure that status will color my remarks. I ask that you take that into account.

There are several different varieties of Catholics, Roman, Greek Orthodox, and others. But the only one that I know anything about are the Romans. For the purposes of these remarks the term Catholic (as well as "Church") will refer to the Roman variety unless noted differently. In fact my personal experience is based almost entirely on Roman Catholicism as practiced in the US.

I was a good Catholic; a serious Catholic. I attended Catholic grade school through 5^th grade, graduated from a residential High School taught by Franciscan priests, and attended a college taught by Benedictine priests. Like most boys I was an altar boy for years (the Mass was still in Latin when I started), and gave some (brief) thought to becoming a priest. Over the years, I lived and worshipped in parishes from south Florida to Harrisburg, Pa., to Madison, Wi., to West and Central Texas. Although I never lived west of the Colorado River I know that the organization of the Church was generally the same throughout the US.

A serious Catholic. I helped to found a parish choir for adults and another for children, a St. Vincent De Paul Society, and a men's auxiliary to a chapter of the Ladies of Charity (one of the first in America). As a professional family and marriage councilor I offered my services on a pro bono basis to the Diocese to evaluate the appropriateness of divorce in specific cases. I was also a 4^th degree Knight of Columbus. As I said, I was a serious Catholic.

Being Catholic takes a LOT of faith. Not so much in God but in His relationship with the Church. Looking back it seems to me not so much faith as "double think". I grew up as part of the "pray, pay, and obey" crowd and believe me that process is still alive and well. As for faith in the Church, of course it was the one true church, there was an unbroken line of Popes from Peter on. Of course sometimes the Church was not exactly sure who was Pope so it entered several possibilities just to cover its bets. Popes of course are selected by the Holy Spirit through the interaction of the College of Cardinals. Clearly the Holy Spirit was having an off day when the Borgia Popes, among dozens of others, were chosen. Did I mention that it takes a lot of faith to believe in the Church? At some point one begins to question why it takes more faith to believe in the Church than it does in God.

One of the major points that my teachers always made, and to which I still subscribe, is that "by their fruits you shall know them." The point being that in spite of all of its foibles, the Church has always been rescued by the goodness of its membership. As proof, the lives of the saints are offered, especially of those like Francis of Assisi. Still the question remains, where is the tipping point? How much evil can a Godly organization perpetrate before it is no longer Godly? In the case of the Roman Catholic Church it takes a lot of faith. The priesthood of the Church is supposed to be a "no sex zone". Being a good Catholic requires that one ignore the common practice of homosexual behavior in the seminaries. Being a good Catholic requires that one ignore the Pink Bishoprics where the Diocesan administrative headquarters is composed almost exclusively of practicing homosexual priests. Understand, it is not so much the sex, or even the kind of sex, that is so disturbing, it is the hypocrisy.

For me the tipping point came with the pedophilia scandal. Every priest that had anything to do with any parish in America probably knew what was going on. The American priesthood is a relatively small, close knit organization with a myriad of informal, horizontal and vertical, information pathways (in other words lots of gossip). In order to move a pedophile from one diocese to another, the sending parish and its priests know, the sending deanery and its priest knows, the sending bishop, his aide(s), and at least one person in "personnel" knows. It is also likely that the office staffs who are mostly civilians in all of the associated offices know. Almost none of these people know who the victim is but they surely know who the pedophile priest is.

Then there is the receiving Diocese. The receiving bishop, his aide(s), and at least one person in "personnel" know. The receiving Dean knows. The receiving parish and its priest(s) know. It is also likely that the office staffs who are mostly civilian in all of the associated offices know. Almost none of these people know who the victim is but they surely know who the pedophile priest is.

Pope John Paul knew. If not the particulars at least he approved the practice of moving the pedophiles around. His close confident, the current Pope Benedict knew. It is likely that certain high members of the Roman Curia knew what was going on.

Returning to America, how many of the thousands of people who knew what was going on, warned their fellow parishioners to be careful for their children? Of all the thousands who knew, did anyone pick up the telephone and call the cops? Render unto Caesar.

I would suggest that every serving bishop today, has played some knowledgeable part in this outrage and no diocese deserves the financial or moral support of its membership. Most parishes don't either.

Most bishops and many on their staff should be criminally prosecuted, as should many Deans and parish priests. Certain civilians who participated in the cover-up should also be prosecuted.

I believe that Pope Benedict is in a sweat to get Pope John Paul canonized to cut off any investigation of either John Paul's or his (Benedict's) culpability in the pedophile scandal.

I believe in God. I no longer believe in the Church. So I guess that I shouldn't care what they do, but I sure hate to see evil break even, much less win.

Going to take some Time

Well, for me this is certainly interesting. Based on my previous blog I thought that I would just go through the Constitution and list out those things that it required of the federal government. That is proving to be more of a challenge than I thought it would be. The first is to realize that it is written in 2 specific sections. The first, which is the opening paragraph, is a goal statement. The second, which is everything else, is a specific “game plan” for achieving those goals. In addition it is important to remember that the Constitution was written in response to the failure of the previous “game plan” called the “Articles of Confederation”.
So in order to understand where we are going it will be helpful to understand where we have been. This will take some time and there will be other blogs in the mean time. Please be patient.

A New Political Party

I agree with the idea behind the Tea Parties. I agree with most of the attitudes expressed at many of the Tea Parties. But (the world's largest eraser) I disagree with the current move to use the successes of the Tea Parties to create a new political party. In some ways I really like the idea but the practical aspects of forming a new national party weigh heavily against success. But, don't give up. There is a way.

We NEED a revolution.

A little over two years ago I was selected as a delegate to our Republican State Convention (held in San Antonio, Texas). I was shocked to discover that Republican candidates for office do not have to agree to any of the state or national party planks and that most candidates had not even read them (no wonder they do not read many of the bills they vote for). What are we supporting with our time and money? Why should the membership be more loyal to the party than the candidates are? Doesn't the membership have a right to expect certain standard of behavior from its representatives? Shouldn't those standards be clear to all?

We NEED a revolution.

Revolutions start with PERSONAL COMMITMENT and RESPONSIBILITY.

Revolutions start small. At this time the best place to start is in the Republican Party. It may take 20 years to complete.

1. Start at the local level.
   
2. Go to the precinct meetings after the primary elections. In the smaller precincts very few people attend. Remember to treat those who do with respect. These folks have often worked hard and long to keep the party viable. We should honor their commitment.
   
3. Volunteer for committee work. Especially volunteer for committees dealing with fund raising, recruiting, and reviewing/recommending party planks. Be dependable and competent. Volunteer for those committees that very few want to serve on. Be dependable and competent. Avoid being in "flashy", "high profile", leadership positions, as these are generally counter-productive to moving a revolution forward.
   
4. Be competent. Draw attention to yourself through competence not by being loud and obnoxious – nobody likes loud and/or obnoxious.
   
5. At first the "established" will resist – sometimes not very nicely. Be respectful.
   
6. Next the "established" will try to co-opt the revolution through reasonable compromise. Resist. Know what you believe is fundamental and stick to it.
   
7. The best defense is knowing and being totally committed to your principles.
   
8. Associate with other conservatives. If, "All the world is but a stage …" be sure your audience is other conservatives. Do not play to the non-conservative audience.
   

 

 

 

Financial Crap

Sometimes Glen Beck on his TV show talks about his head "exploding". That's how I feel about the current so called budget crisis. I say, "so called" because I think that we do not have enough information to know if we have a crisis or not. This Congress is so venal and gutless it makes me want to throw up. Seriously, how stupid do you have to be to not know that when you have dug yourself into a hole the first thing that you do is STOP DIGGING.

That's right:

1. STOP spending. How tough is that you dummies?
   
2. Take inventory of all obligations, financial and others.
   
3. Take inventory of all assets, financial and others.
   
4. Prioritize all obligations in order of most basic and most important.
   
5. Prioritize all assets in order of least basic and least important.
   
6. Shift the least basic and least important assets to support the most basic and most important obligations until balance is achieved.
   
7. Sometimes non-financial assets (personnel, materiel, etc.,) in addition to financial assets will have to be shifted from least important to support the most important.
   

An asset not on hand is NOT an asset - It is a fantasy.

So how hard can this be?