Politics – To many people, John McCain sounds rational, reasonable, and maybe even Presidential. But, if we dig a little deeper, we can see that he is just more of the same old, same old that has gotten us to where we are today.
If we're to believe those on the conservative side Senator Obama wants to spend something on the order of $800 billion to help the poor throughout the world, even though there is NO mention of a dollar amount in the bill.
If they are THAT concerned about money that isn't even talked about yet, how do they get past supporting a guy that says he's going to "fix" Social Security with private accounts, continue the war in Iraq (and heaven only knows where else) AND lower taxes on everyone and businesses? Where is all of this magic money going to come from? China? India? Russia? Oh, yeah, they love us long time.
private accounts WOULD fix social security -- or at least make it a whole lot better than it is now. It would still be a payroll deduction with severe penalties on employers who didn't deposit the funds on time. It would not be some open-ended thing with people allowed to invest in anything they wanted like Honest John's Used Speculative Funds == there would probably be an array of funds to choose from -- from very conservative to somewhat (but not extremely) agrressive growth funds.
Do you really favor just saying "nevermind" and hightailing from Iraq right now (and when you give a definite withdrawal date, it might as well be today-- that's obvious).
Obama just voted for a bill to give .07% of our GNP to the UN, for crying out loud -- the same UN that pretty well has absolutely no use whatsoever for the US.
Excuse my French, but that's horse hockey.
Private accounts wouldn't "fix" Social Security. How could they? And what you're suggesting isn't any more free market than what we do now. What is required to "fix" Social Security is really quite simple and it can be done in three easy steps:
1. Take SS out of the general budget. In other words, keep Congress from using the money for anything other than SS.
2. Raise the retirement age to 70.
3. Raise the cap on taking SS taxes. Right now the cap is around $85,000. Raise it to $150,000 at least.
Iraq is a complex issue, but we can not continue down this road. We simply can't pay for it. It's not a matter of morals its a matter of economics.
And show me specifically, in the bill, where Senator Obama voted to give .07% of our GNP or GDP to the UN. Show me.
4. SS is poverty insurance - those who don`t need it to live on, shouldn`t get it.
You pay auto insurance right? If you don`t get in a crash, do you get your money back?
Same for poverty insurance, if you don`t wind up in poverty, why should you get your money back? If this was a private scheme for the profit of a few powerful elite, the right-wingers wouldn`t have a problem with paying more and getting less.
The power of brain washing...
I disagree with the author concerning gun rights. Yeah, people should be allowed to purchase semi-autos with high capacity magazines. What makes an assault weapon is all cosmetics. No, people should not be able to sue a gun shop for a murderer's deeds anymore than they should be able to sue Chrysler for a drunk driver's deeds.
I do think that gun control is a weak link in for the Democratic Party. Many, many, many people vote Republican because of the Democrats' position of weakening gun rights.
I disagree with McCain on abortion and gay rights.
You see I'm all about freedom and empowering people to make their own decisions.
Good for you. I don't think the author is against gun ownership, but if you can show me a legitimate reason why a regular citizen should own an assault weapon with armor piercing rounds and an extended clip, I'd love to see it.
And as for being able to sue the manufacturer, I agree in 99% of the cases it shouldn't be done. However, I do remember a case where the weapon was designed, by the manufacturer, to be easy to change from semi-auto to full auto with a simple kit. The weapon was then used to kill and wound several people. That isn't to say that semi-auto is just as dangerous, it is, but it is to say that the manufacturer was violating the spirit if not the letter of the law and should be held liable.
The legitimate reason is that the Constitution says we, the people, have a right to bear arms. I'm against a "nanny state" mentality where the government gets decide which arms are allowed to the "regular citizen" and which arms aren't.
I would have thought that those people against a fascist state would recognize that restricting and then eliminating gun ownership is one of the easiest ways to put the people at the mercy of the government.
No, the Constitution says specifically that:
"A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed."
Are you part of a well regulated militia?
Furthermore, that isn't the point. The point is limiting some gun ownership, not all. If you can give me a valid reason for someone to own a non-registered automatic capable assault rifle, with an extended magazine and armor piercing ammo, I'd love to hear it.
Just as you can't yell fire in a crowded theater there can be reasonable restrictions on firearms. I agree with background checks. I don't like licensing because then there are lists of who owns what, which makes it easier for the government to seize the arms when you need them most like in New Orleans.
The question of whether the right is an individual right or a collective right is being sorted out as we speak by SCOTUS. I believe it to be an individual right otherwise the First Amendment would read, 'the right of militia members to own arms' or 'only militia members may bear arms.'
Read it as it's written, "...the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed" or do you read it that "the right of the people" only refers to militia members?
The only thing that makes a semi-auto an assault weapon is cosmetics. They look scary.
Worry about the bad guys who don't care whether or not there's a law on the books.
Gun control is tough one. There should be no problem with background checks. Beyond that I firmly believe any outlawing of weapons just makes millionaires in the black market happy.
Criminals who want weapons for crimes will always be able to get them. You'd only be regulating sportsmen and other law abiders. Democrats would likely double their ranks if they got off the gun control issue. Jefferson actually made comments that the second amendment was to force government to do the will of the people or be overthrown.
Good points by all.I disagree that it is just a democrat issue in the restriction of guns.I am a democrat and a member of the NRA.I want the second amendment protected.I don't agree with all of there stances on the issue anymore than i agree with all of the positions by any any side.
I agree that no person needs to have an automatic weapon for personal protection of their home and family.But i don't think that the government should be the only entity to have access to those weapons.
Recently,in a local pawn shop,i saw a military spec. 50 cal. sniper rifle with scope(accurate up to a half a mile,longer for some one trained in it's use).$3,500.As much as i love my guns and hunting i can't see the need for that type of weapon in civilian hands.
I was in the same place the other day(looking for guitars;-))and it had been sold.That is kind of scary knowing that it is now in the hands of a private citizen.I hope it belongs to someone that is responsible.
There are two sides to this issue.
That's some scary stuff.
My point would be wider than a single Barrett. What if Cho (the VT shooter) had been able to acquire two automatic capable assault rifles, extended magazines and armor piercing ammo? How many more would have died?
The flip side of that, of course, is what if the students or at least the faculty at VT has also been armed?
The United States of Gunarica. Gunocracy in action.
Cho could have gotten an Ak-47 with a 30 round mag for less tha what he went through to get the guns he did have. And for about 1/3 of the price. I have two ak's. They're fun to shoot. I suggest yall try it sometime.
I have two 30 round and one 100 round magazine for my AK-47.
The people that think the 2nd amendment means only malitia members can have guns can't read.
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
If they passed a Bill like this
HB.RUKRAZ
A well organized garage, being necessary to please the snobby neighbors, the right to keep and use mowers and tillers, shall not be infringed.
If they passed this Bill, would it mean if I don't please the snobby neighbors by keeping a well organized garage that I can't own a mower or tiller?
And my friend that doesn't even have a garage, would he be in the same boat
Imagine if Cho stole a tanker truck and crashed it into an elementary school, or if he dumped a bunch of chemicals into a reservoir. How about if he used a pair of scissors to hijack a packed Greyhound and drove it off a bridge into a river.
He certainly could have done any of those things, each of which would be easier than buying a gun. However, it usually doesn't happen because it's not personal enough for the people that take guns and shoot up a school. It's a psychological thing.
If you just want to create havoc and damage there are a hundred different ways to do it. If you want to personalize it, nothing says I want you dead like a round to the face.
I have one. http://www.steyrarms.com/index.php?id=29
I could not pass it up for how cheap it was. At nearly $3.50 a bullet I hardly ever shoot it though. Although, one of my friends has one that he takes hunting with him in Texas. It will easily drop a 7 year old 12 pointer at 1 mile.
On the topic of AR's though. I don't think the 2nd is about hunting or personal protection. Our fore fathers had to fight their government for the freedoms that we have today. That's why the 2nd is so omportant. If our government should ever be taken nover by tyrants and we are left with no other choice, we may have to do the same. Therefore we should be able to.
I'm a bit curious as what you think the chances are of our government being taken over by tyrants?
I am not Tanglang, but I will respond Hitler was elected because Germany's economy was terrible and people wanted CHANGE in a BAD way and they GOT it. Hitler was also for GUN control. Now to the US. We apparently have about half the American populace that supports a politician with the same position,he has a brother that is a known terrorist Abongo. Obama may get elected for Similar reasons that Hitler got elected! So the chances might be allot GREATER than you think!
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Typical neo/com bullsh*tter is all McWar is and just Le Muffette's clone. Dumber than a stump and twice as dense.
So, tell us how you really feel!
Bk, thanks for the heads up. I have to go teach class and will read/comment when I return.
No worries, see you then.
LMAO
The writer of that story is WACKED!
tOtally, compleEtly WHACKED!
The Problem with this artikal? It dint have no jingoism and propaganda in it.
We Christian Conservatives LOVE jingoism.
Here. Let me show you how we liek it.
"OBAMA IS A RACIST WHO IS GOINTA ENSLAVE ALL WHITE FOLK AND SEND OUT THEM ROBOTS LIEK WE SAW IN 'THE MINORITY REPORT' THAT WILL SEEK ALL WHITE FOLK OUT AND CAUSE US TO GO BLIND."
See. That's they way we liek our political observation.
And aint nuthin you ken do to shake us outta that way of seein stuff.
Look, we voted for GW, and HE was a no account draft dodger who finagled a free stadium (paid for by taxin the middle class of Arlington) - and who strategized the poll numbers to calculate that if he got EVERY SINGLE FUNDAMENTALIST CHRISTIAN (liek me) to vote for im, hed win!
I mean, this guy was a DRAFT DODGIN ZEEEERO!
And we STILL voted for him!
But if you shake the black/white tree - thats certifiable bad trouble. And we wont vote for that.
I apologize. I will attempt to give my essays a more jingoistic flavor when I talk about Christian conservatives.
I still like "I'm going to Heaven with my AK-47".
I guess I need to contact the GOP and see about volunteering.
Gave up on the virgins eh(you couldn't get a pig to squeal for you) and don't contact Goppshit he just pimps virgins and pretends to type like the "clever" idiot he is.
Get in touch with those good fellas in Syria, Iraq, Iran or AfgahnIranastan. They'll hire your sorry a$$ in a New York second. Hell they'll even give you an AK and a matching "vest". Hope to see you soon (in pieces).
Goodness scrimey! You sound liek a certifiable Neo-Con drone!!
Gud fer yew.
heh, heh, heh.
There ya go!
Ahhhh. I have a fan!
Tahnks Ludlow man.
Where would the Republican party be without un-sophisticated thinkers such as yerself?
You go, Ludlow!
Huh, In any of the states that had an open primary(mine for example) anyone could cross party lines in any direction. heck, I'm a registered Libertarian, if it weren't for open primaries I wouldn't have had a vote at all.
BTW, I didn't vote for McWar, I voted for another candidate in the republican primary, One that I thought would be good not for me, not for those like me, not for my locality, but, FOR MY NATION!
The real conservatives call him Juan McCain... his track record looks like he's trying to give the U.S. to the Mexicans
I for one I not forgotten Kennedy/McCain Dream Act or McCain Feingold.
The fascist elite who own McCain`s arse refuse to pay American wages although they demand American taxes from us to line their pockets.
Unknown to many, Washington D.C. outlawed guns 35 years ago. The results were becoming the murder capitol of America.
Guns were readily obtainable in neighboring Virginia and Maryland.
In other states that went the opposite direction like Texas and allowed concealed carry permits GUN CRIMES went DOWN!
Make guns illegal and criminals will find a way to still obtain them they ARE criminals btw. Law abiding citizens would now be sitting ducks to these criminals like at Virgina tech. What would stop a criminal from machining his own anyway??????