When the first settlers arrived on American soil they faced a land rich with bounty and rife with unknown dangers. In order to forge ahead to pioneer this lush land, they found their trusty “weapons” were, at times, their most valued possessions. As time has evolved in America, the citizens have found that living in civilized communities, which honor the rule of law, has over-ridden the need to hang a rifle at the door for protection. However, many still enjoy the occasion to shoot for sport and for food.
In society today, we tend to recognize the gun-lovers and the gun-haters by political party reference: Republicans and Democrats, respectively. It is rare, but not impossible, to find a “gun-toting Liberal” in America today. An article published on the blog Our Free* Country, written by Samara Mendez, a self-professed “vegetarian hippie socialist who would like to own guns,” poses two very important questions. The first: “Why do so many liberals hate guns?” And, second: “Why are liberal gun owners so dismally represented in today’s politics?”
She points out that although she is a part of a “growing minority” as a Liberal who appreciates the right to own her own guns there are good reasons to regulate gun ownership, not ban it completely as most Liberals prefer. She values the collective voice of the Liberal Democrats on social and economic issues, but she feels that “taking guns out of the hands of responsible citizens” is the wrong message to advocate. If she chooses to take a stand for the Second Amendment and uphold her right to bear arms, Ms. Mendez feels she must sacrifice her political allegiance in part to the Democratic ticket; therefore she stops short of taking action to become a leading force in this cause for regulation over banning.
Although I lean more to the Conservative political view, I am not a gun owner. I have long held the belief that we should take the guns off the streets and out of the hands of criminals. I believe citizens should have the right to own weapons for protection and for sporting, so I uphold the view of Ms. Mendez that gun regulation is necessary.
In March 2008, Gallup published a poll which shows “73% of Americans believe the Second Amendment to the Constitution guarantees the rights of Americans to own guns.” In the Supreme Court ruling in June 2008, the court ruled in a 5-4 decision that the 2nd Amendment does give Americans the right to possess firearms as an “individual right.” The court ruled that the strict gun control in Washington, D. C., violated the Second Amendment.
Based on this ruling, I believe that Ms. Mendez is in good company with her beliefs. I recommend that she join forces with The Liberal Gun Club (http://www.theliberalgunclub.com), an organization that shares her ideals about owning guns as liberals who would like to see gun regulation laws. The website invites good authors to submit articles for their review. I for one will be checking back on a regular basis to see if Ms. Mendez has found a platform for her voice!
I hope that she (as well as all citizens) will find the courage to vote her conscience and stand for what she believes, regardless what party title is listed above the cause. Stand left of center when you believe it is the correct thing to do, but never fear venturing to the right if it serves your cause: That is the right that your Constitution grants you.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Friday, December 5, 2008
Washington Math = Taxpayers’ Burden
As we draw to the close of one of the most tumultuous years in the history of the United States of America, I ponder the cause-and-effect of the course which led us to the edge of the cliff of disaster. Sifting through all the pomp and circumstance of Washington politics, I have to wonder if the answer is not as simple as math. Washington math! The only problem is no one in Washington seems to be able to explain it, even if anyone there knows how to use it.
Treasury Secretary, Henry Paulson, Jr., Federal Reserve Chairman, Ben Bernanke, President Bush and Capitol Hill lawmakers all step forth with confidence, but none offer assurance that they have the answer to the problem. Quick action by the Bush administration garnered minor fixes for AIG, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, Wall Street and banks, while Congress has put on the brakes for doling out an uncertain $38 billion to Detroit automakers with shaky plans for repayment of the government loans.
According to economist Mark Zandi with Moody’s Economy.com, the figures proposed by GM, Chrysler and Ford will do little more than stave off the impending doom for several months, but will not ultimately save GM and Chrysler. Nor should the taxpayers have confidence in recouping their money. An article published today in the New York Times, (Auto Executives Face a Hard Sell on Capitol Hill), by David M. Herszenhorn and Bill Vlasic, offers a clear picture of yesterday’s hearing on Capitol Hill where the Senate Banking Committee once again grilled the Detroit executives. Although no resolution has been reached to date, it is obvious to all that some provisions must be made to prevent a “cataclysmic” result for our economy, as stated by Mr. Zandi.
The Los Angeles Times ran an article on November 30, 2008, which points out that the long-term costs of the bailout may reach “an estimated total of $8.5 trillion –half of the entire economic output of the U.S. this year.” One only needs to read the headlines of mainstream newspapers, watch the thirty-second news breaks at the top of the hour on cable news stations, surf the blog sites on the worldwide web or walk by the tabloid magazines in the supermarket check-out stands to glean the severity of the situation Americans face today.
It may be that the numbers have become too large for Washington politicians to tally. Perhaps the “Washington math” has run its’ course. Perhaps it is time for the American taxpayers to step forth and offer our own proposal to Washington. I propose it can be as simple as a basic math problem. According to Wikipedia there are about 138 million taxpayers in the United States as of 2007. Why not write a government stimulus check in the amount of $50,000 to each of the 138 million taxpayers for a total of $6.9 trillion, and allow the taxpayers to jumpstart the financial wheels by buying automobiles from GM, Ford and Chrysler rather than bailing them out. Oh, and by the way, members of Congress, President Bush and President-elect Obama, you can then thank the taxpayers for saving $1.6 trillion for all of you to squander any way you see fit!
Treasury Secretary, Henry Paulson, Jr., Federal Reserve Chairman, Ben Bernanke, President Bush and Capitol Hill lawmakers all step forth with confidence, but none offer assurance that they have the answer to the problem. Quick action by the Bush administration garnered minor fixes for AIG, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, Wall Street and banks, while Congress has put on the brakes for doling out an uncertain $38 billion to Detroit automakers with shaky plans for repayment of the government loans.
According to economist Mark Zandi with Moody’s Economy.com, the figures proposed by GM, Chrysler and Ford will do little more than stave off the impending doom for several months, but will not ultimately save GM and Chrysler. Nor should the taxpayers have confidence in recouping their money. An article published today in the New York Times, (Auto Executives Face a Hard Sell on Capitol Hill), by David M. Herszenhorn and Bill Vlasic, offers a clear picture of yesterday’s hearing on Capitol Hill where the Senate Banking Committee once again grilled the Detroit executives. Although no resolution has been reached to date, it is obvious to all that some provisions must be made to prevent a “cataclysmic” result for our economy, as stated by Mr. Zandi.
The Los Angeles Times ran an article on November 30, 2008, which points out that the long-term costs of the bailout may reach “an estimated total of $8.5 trillion –half of the entire economic output of the U.S. this year.” One only needs to read the headlines of mainstream newspapers, watch the thirty-second news breaks at the top of the hour on cable news stations, surf the blog sites on the worldwide web or walk by the tabloid magazines in the supermarket check-out stands to glean the severity of the situation Americans face today.
It may be that the numbers have become too large for Washington politicians to tally. Perhaps the “Washington math” has run its’ course. Perhaps it is time for the American taxpayers to step forth and offer our own proposal to Washington. I propose it can be as simple as a basic math problem. According to Wikipedia there are about 138 million taxpayers in the United States as of 2007. Why not write a government stimulus check in the amount of $50,000 to each of the 138 million taxpayers for a total of $6.9 trillion, and allow the taxpayers to jumpstart the financial wheels by buying automobiles from GM, Ford and Chrysler rather than bailing them out. Oh, and by the way, members of Congress, President Bush and President-elect Obama, you can then thank the taxpayers for saving $1.6 trillion for all of you to squander any way you see fit!
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