Month: January 2013

Republicans–many of whom I don’t care for because they aren’t real conservatives–need to watch out.  While I agree that an aid bill for Sandy shouldn’t include a bunch of pork spending, $50 billion is a drop in the bucket for government spending.  What really needs to happen is significant cuts in welfare spending, wasteful government spending, worker pay, and the like.  If you are going to fight wasteful spending, go for the homerun then take what you get.

Why am I saying this?  Well, David Cameron and the Conservative/Tory Party has been in power here in the UK for the past 3 years.  They have made changes to benefits, reorganized the NHS, and made other unpopular stands but the deficit continues to grow.  Not many people here like the tories.  Why?  Because they see them as “mean.”  Personally, I think they are fiddling on the small things while the real root of the problem remains untouched.

So, what is the root of the problem in DC?  The growing welfare state.  The monster that is the federal government.  Wasteful government spending.  Addressing it is tricky, sure.  But, it must be done.  At the least, actual cuts must be made in the federal budget.  The Connie Mack Penny plan would be a good place to start.  Next, power that Washington stole from the States and people must be returned.  Third, government agencies need to simply go away (Department of Education, Health and Human Services to name two).

Will it be unpopular?  Sure.  But let’s stand and fight where it matters.  Just like Babe Ruth swinging for a home run, the conservatives should go for broke and ask for everything.  Will it fail?  Sure.  But then just bring it up again.  And again.  And again.

[Update 2013-01-17 08:07:49] I’m taking a short break from this topic.

Image from salfalko via flickr

The NRA met with VP Biden yesterday.  According to them, the NRA,

… this meeting had to do with keeping our children safe and how much it had to do with an agenda to attack the Second Amendment,” the group said in a written statement. “While claiming that no policy proposals would be ‘prejudged,’ this Task Force spent most of its time on proposed restrictions on lawful firearms owners — honest, taxpaying, hardworking Americans.

They went on to say that

It is unfortunate that this administration continues to insist on pushing failed solutions to our nation’s most pressing problems. We will not allow law-abiding gun owners to be blamed for the acts of criminals and madmen.

Quotes from this Fox News article:  NRA rips Biden task force

Exactly.  The people who commit crimes should be punished.  NOT law abiding citizens.  

See the guy in the picture of this post?  That is Sen. Ted Kennedy. His car killed more people that all of my guns, my dad’s guns, my uncles guns, and grandparents guns combined.  Don’t believe me, go read about Chappaquiddick.  Combine this with the fact that in NYC–New York City–you are more likley to be killed by a car than a gun.  It is clear we need to ban cars (except for licensed taxis of course) from the city.

Of course that is a stupid suggestion.  Accidents happen.  Where there are more cars and more people jammed into a small space, accidents will happen.  People will still use cars as weapons.  That is a risk that must be balanced with the needs of the many to get around.

In the same way, guns can’t simply be banned.  I don’t think they should be restricted for law abiding sane citizens either.  In this case though, the RIGHTS (not needs) of the public trump what small percent of bad is done.  If anything, the federal government needs to stop stupid programs like fast and furious, start putting away people who break existing laws, and enforcing existing law (I can’t find the link now; however, I read an article where Biden was talking about one of his recommendations being to start enforcing existing gun laws because he’s been lax).  I don’t mind things like the NICS system since no records are kept of what is done:  a simple yes or no is given and the transaction happens.  

GO NRA!

[Update 2013-01-17 08:07:49] I’m taking a short break from this topic.

Image from willwhitedc via flickr