A gun owner argument: gun control ‘punishes’ of gun owners who have done nothing wrong.
To play off of ‘guns don't kill people, people kill people.’…
-Drugs don’t make junkies, people make junkies…
Drug control laws ‘punish’ junkies who have done nothing wrong?
-Texting doesn’t kill people, cars kill people…
Anti-texting-while-driving laws ‘punish’ drivers who haven’t injured anyone when texting and driving?
***
The internet has brought about revolutionary changes in the media industry (news/music/video… TV and movie viewing) to the extent that it is unclear what the new paradigms in these fields will or can be. With the effects of global climate change quite literally in the air we breath, where is the energy revolution we so desperately need?
***
After being caught plagiarizing by Rachel Maddow (see here and here), Sen. Rand Paul expressed his regret that he could not duel his opponent (here and here).
As I see it, this is another form of Wayne LaPierre’s statement: ‘The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun.’; in other words, might makes right. ( I presume Rand Paul casts himself as the ‘good guy’ in this ‘duel’.)
The problem for Sen. Paul (and his Party and their financial backers) is… we all know otherwise.
Thursday, November 7, 2013
We need (an) opposition party(ies)
The worst part of the dysfunctional Republican Party in our two-party system is we’ve lost a true opposition party. Aside from Republican efforts to obstruct the Affordable Care Act, much of the conflict between the Democrats and Republicans is manufactured conflict for dramatic effect. After all, conflict = drama = ratings for news media.
The fact is… there are no significant difference between the two parties on economic or foreign policy issues (Benghazi is a manufactured conflict to discredit then Secretary of State Hilary Clinton). And a few differences on social issues (differences: women’s rights, voting rights, LGBT rights; similar: immigration policy, drug policy, education reform, prison/crime policy).
This nation faces many problems whose scale range from local school board controversies to threats of global economic and ecological collapse. We have the tools and resources and fortitude to confront these problems. What we don’t have are political leaders and worst, because they share the same position on these issues, our politicians actively construct legal means to obstruct attempts by political outsiders to advance these causes. It’s time to demand more of our political leaders.
As an end note, laws are easily circumvented:
-regulatory rules can interpret/re-interpret laws to the benefit of various interests (can essentially nullify the intent of the law).
-by budgeting insufficient funds to properly operate a regulatory agency
---
A very short list of issues which would hugely benefit from proper debate from multiple positions:
Financial industry reform
Healthcare reform which addresses rising costs
Immigration
Energy policy, especially relevant to ecological effects
Civil liberties of Americans (NSA spying; voting rights)
Whistleblower protection (including journalists)
Tax policy (including industry subsidies)
Regulatory reform (currently: industry insiders write the rules)
The fact is… there are no significant difference between the two parties on economic or foreign policy issues (Benghazi is a manufactured conflict to discredit then Secretary of State Hilary Clinton). And a few differences on social issues (differences: women’s rights, voting rights, LGBT rights; similar: immigration policy, drug policy, education reform, prison/crime policy).
This nation faces many problems whose scale range from local school board controversies to threats of global economic and ecological collapse. We have the tools and resources and fortitude to confront these problems. What we don’t have are political leaders and worst, because they share the same position on these issues, our politicians actively construct legal means to obstruct attempts by political outsiders to advance these causes. It’s time to demand more of our political leaders.
As an end note, laws are easily circumvented:
-regulatory rules can interpret/re-interpret laws to the benefit of various interests (can essentially nullify the intent of the law).
-by budgeting insufficient funds to properly operate a regulatory agency
---
A very short list of issues which would hugely benefit from proper debate from multiple positions:
Financial industry reform
Healthcare reform which addresses rising costs
Immigration
Energy policy, especially relevant to ecological effects
Civil liberties of Americans (NSA spying; voting rights)
Whistleblower protection (including journalists)
Tax policy (including industry subsidies)
Regulatory reform (currently: industry insiders write the rules)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)