More Reflections
And headlines. First, our new President. Well, President-elect. He states, on Meet the Press, that the economy will get worse before it gets better.
No. Really? But, I thought you said......oh, wait, right. Bush made it worse. I can hear all that now. Poor Obama...he had a plan, but, dang it, seems things have changed. Yup. Or...is it, as it seems to appear now, that the 'other guys' simply had a more realistic knowledge of and idea for what it would take? And suffered a loss because of it? One side told it as it needed to be told, the other told it as we wanted to hear. And the 'we wanted to hear' won out.
Scary news report today: in Southern California, where they still encourage people to turn in firearms in return for certificates to shop at electronics or grocery stores, record numbers are turning out -- and turning in. Guns. Now, the scary part of this is multi-fold; seems the grocery gift cards are being asked for in record numbers, indicating that working class families are having trouble putting food on the table despite having jobs. Though some are also victims of layoffs. That is scary enough.
Another part is that there are so many urban dwellers who have firearms in the home; I doubt all of them are avid hunters, and in urban areas, the threat of wild animal attacks are minimal. These aren't isolated country families, or wilderness dwellers.
Before however one gets the idea I think everyone should turn in their firearms, think again. I avidly support the American right to keep and bear arms. Any arms. I was raised around firearms....and knives, forks, spoons, fishhooks, baseball bats, tools for hammering, tools for cutting....any and all of which can be used to effectively end a human life, if that is what you want to do. I trust firearms, and consider them a necessity, as much as a car, a job, money, sex, love, friendship; what I don't trust are people. Especially people who for generations have grown used to living in structured city environments. This has generated a lack of respect for human trust, decency, and human life. Violent crimes are higher in urban areas. So is unemployment, drug use, and lack of respect for privacy. A firearm in the hands of such people is indeed a dangerous thing. So is a butter knife....just takes a bit more work.
All that, however, becomes moot in the face of what we may be looking at over the next few years, given the threat of what this economic downturn could mean. The reality is, if one does own firearms now, now is the absolute worst time to give them up. There is a very real possibility they may become a necessity for self-defense. And if you are one of the misguided fools who believe that is what the police and national guard are for, think again....and again and again, if it takes that to make you realize that they aren't enough, they won't be enough, and in some future cases, they may actually be the ones we need protection from. It is a very real possibility, and one that the founders of this Nation recognized even over 200 years ago. It is why that caveat, of the right of the people to keep and bear arms, is in place.
The problem has been in the people themselves; keeping loaded firearms that were easily accessible to others, especially children, and the failure of the owners to teach proper use and respect of those arms to their children early on. Never, ever, keep a loaded firearm where a child can reach it unless you know that child can field strip it in the dark; in fact, if you have a family, never keep a firearm and it's ammunition near each other if you are not around. In the event that firearm is stolen in a burglary, make sure it is so reported, make sure it is registered or that you at least have a record of the serial numbers, and make the thief provide their own ammunition. An unloaded, ammo-less firearm is only good as a pounding tool. A activity best served by using a tool made for pounding. Like a hammer.
But....we have a right to keep and bear arms, and this is a right that scares the powers-that-be; always has, always will. It is why that right was included when this country was formed; that, and the right to vote, are really the only protection the people have against government becoming too strong, too powerful. And the right to vote has been played with enough that today, our valid choices are as limited as the number of qualified people are to choose. It's the only real protection we have against government becoming too all-powerful, but it is a protection that carries with it a heavy responsibility.
One which we have, sadly, relinquished in leaps and bounds over the years through neglect and irresponsibility. Yet, one which we should not give up easily or willingly; it is not too late, even now, to be ready to protect yourself, provide for yourself, and your loved ones, without causing fear to anyone who means you no harm.
My suggestion: try the same approach to get information on persons wanted for crimes. If the Feds want to give out bailout money to 'help' the economy, try giving it to the people who support and move the economy. It don't matter how much you produce, if no one has the money to buy it.
There are, though, a awful lot of people out there with information they will never give out. Unless they can make a buck off it. Capitalism at it's finest. Maybe Obama should give that a shot, see what develops? Instead of giving it to those who already have it, and will use it to develop more and more of a product the American people can no longer afford to buy.
Just a thought....
No. Really? But, I thought you said......oh, wait, right. Bush made it worse. I can hear all that now. Poor Obama...he had a plan, but, dang it, seems things have changed. Yup. Or...is it, as it seems to appear now, that the 'other guys' simply had a more realistic knowledge of and idea for what it would take? And suffered a loss because of it? One side told it as it needed to be told, the other told it as we wanted to hear. And the 'we wanted to hear' won out.
Scary news report today: in Southern California, where they still encourage people to turn in firearms in return for certificates to shop at electronics or grocery stores, record numbers are turning out -- and turning in. Guns. Now, the scary part of this is multi-fold; seems the grocery gift cards are being asked for in record numbers, indicating that working class families are having trouble putting food on the table despite having jobs. Though some are also victims of layoffs. That is scary enough.
Another part is that there are so many urban dwellers who have firearms in the home; I doubt all of them are avid hunters, and in urban areas, the threat of wild animal attacks are minimal. These aren't isolated country families, or wilderness dwellers.
Before however one gets the idea I think everyone should turn in their firearms, think again. I avidly support the American right to keep and bear arms. Any arms. I was raised around firearms....and knives, forks, spoons, fishhooks, baseball bats, tools for hammering, tools for cutting....any and all of which can be used to effectively end a human life, if that is what you want to do. I trust firearms, and consider them a necessity, as much as a car, a job, money, sex, love, friendship; what I don't trust are people. Especially people who for generations have grown used to living in structured city environments. This has generated a lack of respect for human trust, decency, and human life. Violent crimes are higher in urban areas. So is unemployment, drug use, and lack of respect for privacy. A firearm in the hands of such people is indeed a dangerous thing. So is a butter knife....just takes a bit more work.
All that, however, becomes moot in the face of what we may be looking at over the next few years, given the threat of what this economic downturn could mean. The reality is, if one does own firearms now, now is the absolute worst time to give them up. There is a very real possibility they may become a necessity for self-defense. And if you are one of the misguided fools who believe that is what the police and national guard are for, think again....and again and again, if it takes that to make you realize that they aren't enough, they won't be enough, and in some future cases, they may actually be the ones we need protection from. It is a very real possibility, and one that the founders of this Nation recognized even over 200 years ago. It is why that caveat, of the right of the people to keep and bear arms, is in place.
The problem has been in the people themselves; keeping loaded firearms that were easily accessible to others, especially children, and the failure of the owners to teach proper use and respect of those arms to their children early on. Never, ever, keep a loaded firearm where a child can reach it unless you know that child can field strip it in the dark; in fact, if you have a family, never keep a firearm and it's ammunition near each other if you are not around. In the event that firearm is stolen in a burglary, make sure it is so reported, make sure it is registered or that you at least have a record of the serial numbers, and make the thief provide their own ammunition. An unloaded, ammo-less firearm is only good as a pounding tool. A activity best served by using a tool made for pounding. Like a hammer.
But....we have a right to keep and bear arms, and this is a right that scares the powers-that-be; always has, always will. It is why that right was included when this country was formed; that, and the right to vote, are really the only protection the people have against government becoming too strong, too powerful. And the right to vote has been played with enough that today, our valid choices are as limited as the number of qualified people are to choose. It's the only real protection we have against government becoming too all-powerful, but it is a protection that carries with it a heavy responsibility.
One which we have, sadly, relinquished in leaps and bounds over the years through neglect and irresponsibility. Yet, one which we should not give up easily or willingly; it is not too late, even now, to be ready to protect yourself, provide for yourself, and your loved ones, without causing fear to anyone who means you no harm.
My suggestion: try the same approach to get information on persons wanted for crimes. If the Feds want to give out bailout money to 'help' the economy, try giving it to the people who support and move the economy. It don't matter how much you produce, if no one has the money to buy it.
There are, though, a awful lot of people out there with information they will never give out. Unless they can make a buck off it. Capitalism at it's finest. Maybe Obama should give that a shot, see what develops? Instead of giving it to those who already have it, and will use it to develop more and more of a product the American people can no longer afford to buy.
Just a thought....
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