The NRA Shoots Itself in the Foot, Again

The NRA is no stranger to adopting extreme views and tactics.
Lately, though, dragging the Obamas' children into the fray via
a scurrilous ad crosses a significant line, to the NRA's detriment.

It has been accepted practice, for decades, to leave a president's
minor children out of controversy and criticism. That didn't stop
the NRA from claiming hypocrisy or privilege on the part of
Mr. Obama in the latest NRA ad, which reminds us the
President's children are protected by armed guards, while he
promotes gun control.

The NRA's logic is sadly lacking here:
it should be obvious, even to them, a president's family is at
higher risk than everyday Americans.  Too, Mr. Obama's
actions are sensible limitations to the current guns gone wild
reality, while scarcely rescinding our Second Amendment
rights. Who, for example, other than the military, requires
military style assault weapons?

What's logic got to do with it, logic, it's just a second hand
emotion....

The NRA shoots itself in the foot, AGAIN.

What's Wrong With Georgia?

SOMETHING is, alright: no fewer than two of its politicians,
Gingrey and Broun, both medical doctors, have recently
espoused anti-intellectual and factually erroneous views.
Maybe the Dark Ages are beginning in Georgia; that could
explain such anti-diluvian opinions, stated as fact.  To review:

(1) Aikin (R-MO) claimed that legitimate rape pregnancy won't
happen, as the female body would protect against such an
occurrence. Gingrey essentially agreed, saying his ob/gyn
practice experience bears this out.

(3) Broun abjures  his previous medical and science schooling,
claiming Embryology, Evolution, the Big Bang, etc., are ideas
from the pit of hell to keep us from understanding that we need
a savior.

A modest proposal to the citizens of Georgia and Missouri:
Read a book! Demand your political representatives be
educated and sane, as minimum requirements to hold office.
I bet all this has embarrassed former president Jimmy Carter....

I know it's embarrassed ME.

The U.S.: Our Republic, If We Can Keep It

Founder Benjamin Franklin, entrepreneur, scientist and politician
is very likely spinning in his grave right about now, as a dangerous
anti-intellectual climate has recently gained a foothold here. Look
no further than the the U.S. House Committee on Science, Space
and Technology: Rep. Paul Broun, science apostate, has one of
its seats. He's an interesting case, a medical doctor who now
abjures the Big Bang Theory, Embryology, Evolution, etc. In
the December 2012 issue of Scientific American, he's quoted as
believing that all his teachers taught from the pit of hell, so as to
keep people from understanding that they need a savior. (He also
opines the Earth is a mere 9,000 years old. Hello, carbon dating,
anyone?) 

What is this crazy person doing on that committee? Is there a way
to remove him? Shouldn't his medical license be revoked?
(I plan to look into it.)  It's people like Mr. Broun who well may
propel us into another Dark Age, if we let him.

The people are to blame, electing  some of the less than qualified
we now have serving in the 50 statehouses and Congress. What we
have here is a republic, requiring a thoughtful, educated populace
to endure. That's what Mr. Franklin meant after signing the U.S.
Constitution, 1787: What kind of government have you given us,
he was asked. "A republic, madam, if you can keep it", he
answered.

Yeah, IF we can keep it. It WILL take better than the likes of the
Paul Brouns  in power to retain our technological and economic
preeminent position, that's certain.


P.S.: Plenty of scientists have no problem believing in God while
accepting basic science principles, Mr. Broun. Benjamin Franklin,
respected scientist, believed in God.

I Got my Belated Christmas Wish: Stepping Away from the Fiscal Cliff

For  the first few days of 2013 we'll still be hanging over the edge of
 the cliff, but  the sturm und drang should  be over by January
7th.

All I wanted for Christmas was a trip away from the fiscal cliff--
and the train is now leaving the station.

--Yahoo! Things are far from perfect, but this is a start.
Happy New Year!

New Year, New Fear Coming Up

Howdy, fellow earthlings! Two days 'til the next year, which I
fear may not be so different from 2012. I wish all and sundry
the best life can offer, but I worry:

(1) That the fiscal cliff may harm an already far-too tenuous
recovery;

(2) That the Green Revolution is stalling, when we need it
to build up steam;

(3) That the hope of meaningful gun control action is nothing
more than wishful whistling in the wind;

(4)  That Congress thinks the average Jo and Joanna are too
stupid to throw  malfeasors out of office as they so richly
deserve.

There are too many worries and too little time to set things
right.

Wild West Horrors Redux, Guns Galore

I was shocked a few months back to learn 49 of 50 U.S.
states allow conceal and carry.  My state, Illinois, may fall
under the avalanche of pro-gun hysteria very soon. I've
tackled this controversy in previous posts, but it's time to
attack our violence-prone problems once again, in light
of 20 young Connecticut children murdered by gun only
a few days ago:

(1) Many people are simply not sound enough mentally to
be toting around deadly weapons; medical associations
over the years have said some 25% or more of us have
serious emotional problems. Shouldn't some sort of
caution bell start clanging every time the pro conceal
and carry folks lobby? More to the point, many so-called
"adults" are not what I'd deem responsible. We also
shouldn't overlook the klutz factor--people have already
been shot because of it.

(2) The Second Amendment has long needed a sensible 
clarification. Few should have guns, but then arms
manufacturers would realize less profit. (We can't let
THAT happen, now can we??)

***************************************

A safer America would also see a rise in the number of
mental health facilities as gun  possession declines. The
mother of the nutcase in Connecticut, various school
authorities and others knew he was troubled, had
"episodes".  In a caring, qualified institution, he could
not have perpetrated this cruel horror. His mother
owned  three  guns, one of which he used to kill 26
innocent human beings. Why was she so heavily
armed? "A rise in unemployment" triggered her
paranoid fantasies, she'd claimed earlier.

Yes, more mental health hospitals WILL cost
more money. Aren't innocent lives worth it?

Without these two profound changes in our
society, look out for guns galore in the Wild West.

Dear Santa: We're the 98% and It's Our Turn

The tax cuts for the upper 2% must expire. It's time our interests
are protected; the rich have enjoyed TWELVE years of low or
no taxes, thanks to Bush II and President Obama. The middle class
was included in this munificence, an afterthought to sop
objections. Now we of the afterthought should see center stage
--there are more of us than there is of them.

Here are suggestions that just might work: raise the tax increase
ceiling from $250K to $500K, tax annual incomes over $500K
at a 20% rate. All income levels below $500K should continue
to be taxed at current amounts. Eliminate all the loopholes, find
whatever fraud, waste and abuse exists in the spending sector,
especially military armaments and pork barrel  projects. Freeze
congressional salary increases, as well as for some other high
level government employees. Deal reasonably,  responsibly with
the deficit.  All these steps, taken together, go a long way to
resolving many of our financial issues.

All I want for Christmas is a trip away from the fiscal cliff.