[This is the first in a planned series of follow-up observations to "Questions and Answers"]
On the surface, the claim that the gun issue is a unifier seems demonstrably absurd. After all, any "reputable" poll on gun ownership will show most Americans support some form of "gun control," with some demographics overwhelmingly backing increased restrictions and outright bans, and even "pro-gun" voters demanding enforcement of "existing gun laws."
Then you have the infighting between "gun rights activists"--with the self-styled "pragmatists" far outnumbering those they deride as "absolutists," at least if being effective at organizing is any indicator.
The unifier is we "gun rights activists" agree that peaceable individuals ought to have the choice to own guns, and acknowledge that they can play a key role in maintaining freedom. True, there are varying degrees of tolerance for infringements within our ranks, such as those endorsing CCW permitting schemes, but that still leaves us in agreement on the core issue of gun ownership being an individual right.
So you can be an anarcho-capitalist, a libertarian, a Christian conservative, and find common ground on guns.
We need to focus on that unifying commonality and how best to exploit it.
I don't think we'll find that focus through politics. Aside from way too many races being a "lesser of two evils" proposition, this is where our divisiveness really hurts our effectiveness. This candidate may be right on guns, but he's wrong on the border issue, or abortion, or drugs, and besides, voting's a (pick one) [right/duty/joke/exercise in majority tyranny] anyway. I will, however, look at how we can have a greater effect on the political process in a later post (Hint: it involves hijacking a race and extorting the candidate).
I believe we need to focus efforts on expanding the "market demand" for the right to own a gun, that is, on education and outreach. And our biggest obstacle to doing this is ourselves, as demonstrated by...
Next time: "Profiles in Apathy"
I think your first step is in the right direction.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I choose:
D)exercise in majority tyranny
The problem is, Republicans want to win the PDRK, but they have to be liberal in order to do it. We're the great stronghold of liberalism out here, and those of us who care about the Bill of Rights are vastly outnumbered by the socialists/communists.
ReplyDeleteBTW, I also choose (D)Exercise in majority tyranny.
Upon further reflection, I think I'll change my vote (ha!) to:
ReplyDeleteC)joke
as it more accurately reflects my opinion that voting is a distraction at best and never really matters.
And just to think, one of the main purposes behind a Constitution was to remove most of the contentious issues out of any argument.
ReplyDeleteMore so with 'Bills of Rights'. In that, those specific 'rights' were definitely supposed to be removed entirely out of the 'political' realm.
In other words, we shouldn't even have to be discussing this. Politics brought us to this point. It is very unlikely we'll be able to return to the intended way. By use of the means which brought us to this point to begin with.
They are the cat and We are the mice....
Here is where we stand, according to an expert. A man which the founders followed much of his reasoning and applied his logic when framing our Constitution:
ReplyDelete"When once a republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils, but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil."
- Charles Montesquieu
Removing corruption you say Charles? Hmmmmm....we do have ELECTIONS coming up in a few weeks. And then of course there is 2008. Probably our last chance at a peaceful solution it would seem.....
I don't know whether 2008 is the last chance for a peaceful solution, but it could certainly reduce the odds thereof--maybe to zero.
ReplyDeleteThis comment of unknown origin seems applicable:
ReplyDelete“It's either going to be the Republican idling the bus over the edge of the cliff, or the democrat flooring it. And don't anyone give me that third-party crap. Because a vote for your principles is a vote for lead-foot.”
Maybe we oughta vote leadfoot and get it over with.