Ok. Growing up in the states, I always assumed that people I elected went to Congress, the statehouse, etc… and voted how they thought they should vote. No one could tell them how to vote and certainly no one could force them to vote a certain way.
Well, the recent vote on gay marriage here in the UK made me do some looking. It was called a Vote of Conscience where MPs could vote how they wanted. This implies that normally someone tells them how to vote. If that is true, I understand the Parliamentary system of government even less and think it is inferior to something like a Representative form of government like we have.
Perhaps someone can help me out. Have I misunderstood it? Do MPs get forced to vote certain ways? As someone who elects them, doesn’t it make you feel as if you have no representation in the government?
I’m not so much a Republican but a Conservative. The Republicans aren’t. Sure, they are more so than the Democrats, but they aren’t Conservative. The party needs to make a nice hard right turn to save itself. This is totally the wrong direction for the party. Another link is here.
Over the past two weeks or so, I’ve blogged some alot about politics: gun control, the state of the nation, a warning to Republicans, and more. I’m taking a break from that. I think my positions are understood. I worry for the continuation of what makes America great. I’m fed up with it. I don’t care what the Europeans think (while we’re at it, let’s ask the Chinese…or Castro…Heck, let’s call Gorbachev). I’ve written my representatives in Congress and told them what I expect them to do.
Last time I checked, this is exactly what the Second Amendment was meant for. The people of California should recall Sen. Feinstein. It is clear she doesn’t understand the Constitution.
“He was exactly right when he said ‘weapons designed for the theater of war have no place’ in our society. I couldn’t agree more. These weapons have one purpose: to kill the most people in the shortest amount of time possible,” Feinstein said.
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.
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.
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.
2000 posts! This is my 2000th post. All of them are here on Maxsons.org; however, all of them weren’t originally written here. I’ve used 2 other blog engines since I started.
However, I wanted to write about something serious and not simply have a YAY 2000 posts! post.
I think that in the future, people will look back on the years from 2011(ish) to 2015(ish) and be able to say that is when the US made a turn. A turn to embrace all of the current problems of Europe and then reap all of the benefits–or in this case, experience all the same problems.
Up until now, the US has resisted making many of the same mistakes as Europe. No more. What do I mean? Here are a few examples:
Obama Care: Remember the furor over Sarah Palin’s comment about death panels? Remember how everyone said that wouldn’t happen? Do you guys actually read news from Europe? At least once per week, there are headline articles in UK papers about the NHS not offering this drug or that drug because of money, having a shortage of beds because they can’t hire staff, or flat out going broke. Ummm…..it doesn’t work and if anyone would look at the facts and be honest, they’d see it.
Taxes: The fiscal cliff tax deal will only raise something like $60billion in revenue. Holy Cow…the government wastesspends goes through that in what….2 seconds? Oh, and that increase is only on people who have a large income (as the IRS thinks). People like Warren Buffet who are “asset rich” will continue to pay lower taxes than their secretaries. This tax raise does 2 things: a) it will hurt many people’s bottom line and b) it will slow the economy. The “rich” will still have their assets but other people will be taxed and unable to get ahead.
Number 2 will cause the economy to continue to slow down. Unemployment will remain at Europe levels. it will become the new normal.
As the economy slows down, taxes will rise and government will continue to grow. I pay about a 40% income tax rate in the UK. 40%. In several years, we’ll look back at this prediction and see it be true…if things continue as they are
How would I fix it? First off, implement the Connie Mack penny plan. (Hey, I just noticed that was post 1776). The debt ceiling should not be raised. The US Government takes in 2 Trillion per year…they can make cuts and spend what they take in. Will ti be hard? Sure…but it MUST be done. I loathe it when people ramble on and on about how family finances are not government finances: ok..granted they are different but the principle is still the same. Except in a dire emergency–only car breaks down, invaders come–you can’t spend more than you take in. MAKE IT HAPPEN.
Anyway, I think the US economy will continue to shrink. In 30-40 years, we’ll be in the economic mess that Europe is in now. Normal people won’t be able to get ahead. The government will be telling people how good they are because they’ve saved them £2/month. Many people will be living off the government dole. Most people will be “ok” but won’t be able to get ahead. That is the American dream: if you work hard, you’ll be able to get ahead. That is now dead. I don’t see any way to really get ahead if the US continues on this path.
This post….#2000…I hope it doesn’t happen this way; however, I fear it will.
Oh, before I quit, I want to say that this post isn’t just because I don’t like Obama or the Democrats or the liberals. I didn’t like “W” either…many of the things he did stripped away valuable intrinsic rights we have (the Patriot Act…hello!). This is a post based on my 5 years experience living in Europe and seeing where the US is headed.
“I would tie Mitch McConnell and John Boehner, our esteemed Republican leaders, to the back of a Chevy pickup truck and drag them around a parking lot until they saw the light on gun control,” he wrote. … “And if that didn’t work, I’d adopt radical measures,” he continued.
Declare the NRA a terrorist organization and make membership illegal. Hey! We did it to the Communist Party, and the NRA has led to the deaths of more of us than American Commies ever did. (I would also raze the organization’s headquarters, clear the rubble and salt the earth, but that’s optional.) Make ownership of unlicensed assault rifles a felony. If some people refused to give up their guns, that “prying the guns from their cold, dead hands” thing works for me.”
If dragging them behind a truck isn’t enough, then he would adopt “radical measures?” He would pry guns from people’s cold dead hands? Wow. This makes my point perfectly: will Nancy Pelosi, Billary Clinton, or Barak O. condem this man for his tone? I doubt it. But if Rush Limbaugh, Glen Beck, Sean Hannity, and others are condemned for much less (heck, those who listen to Rush are already called mind-numbed robots).
Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying this man can’t say what he did. I don’t care what this man thinks or says. I’ll defend his right to have his opinion to the end (even though he, obviously, does not think the same about me). My problem is with a group of people condemning others for something they themselves do. My problem is with the double-standard. if something is wrong, it is wrong….if it isn’t then it isn’t.
Oh, one last thing before I post this: I’m sure the Republicans do this same thing. I think it is just as bad then. But pay attention to this next sentence: Republican != Conservative. I think that conservatives are much more even and intellectually honest than liberals.
Anyway, I’ve started pulling my information back in to my own hosting. That way, what is mine is mine; however, I’m sure the government doesn’t see it that way. Part of that was evaluating webstats. Currently, I use google analytics; however, I’m thinking about moving away from that.
I’ve used awstats in the past–way in the past when I ran my own website at home. I started looking at it again, found these instructions, and decided to give it a go. I’m happy to report that they seem to be working well. I’ll give it to the end of Jan then look at ditching google analytics.
Oh, yes I know there have been some improvements; however, it is clear the government thinks it should have access to your information instead of assuming it does not. If you need yet another reason you should fear the government and work to restrict its size and scope here you’ve got it.
