Monthly Archives: January 2013
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I’m tired …
Don’t preach of Christ while standing against what He taught.
I’m tired of the self-righteousness from those who scream about defending the fetus, but who whine about paying for programs to prevent unwanted pregnancies or to bless those same children with healthcare.
I’m tired of those who will do all they can to protect the rights of the unborn, but who refuse to protect the rights of children.
I’m tired of those who bemoan that prayer was taken out schools, but who support cutting school lunches for the poor and the needy.
I’m tired of those who speak of America being founded on “Judeo-Christian” values, but who build fences to keep out the “tired”, the “poor”, the “huddled masses yearning to breathe free”.
I’m tired of those who will decry Shariah Law, but who force their myopic religious teachings into our public schools.
I’m tired of those who proclaim religious freedom, but who practice their intolerance as they denounce the building of Mosques in their towns.
I’m tired of those who preach of “family values” and that we’re all sons and daughters of God, but who lust for war and who support the torture of prisoners.
I’m tired of those who claim there’s too much hatred and violence in movies and video games, but who compare the President to Adolf Hitler, while carrying their assault rifles.
Countering the NRA
In the past year 70 people have been ruthlessly murdered by gunmen using either assault weapons – as in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting – or 9mm pistols with high capacity magazines.
And yet 1.3% of the nation’s total population of 315,167,682 people is keeping us – as Americans – from having the long overdue discussion and accompanying legislation to address this issue. The National Rifle Association has a reported 4,250,000 members, or 1.3% of the total population.
During the 2012 campaign cycle the NRA contributed $1,061,710 to the election process, with $719,596 being “donated” to federal campaigns. Of course the NRA also gave out hefty funds in the form of lobbying in 2012, totaling some $2,205,000. Total political contributions + lobbying = $3,266,710, or roughly $6,000 of peddling per member of the United States Congress. How do the other 99% fight that kind of money and influence?
Well, for starters, there are 169,000,000 registered voters (53.6% of the population) in the United States, including 86,000,000 registered Democrats (27.2% of the total population) and 55,000,000 registered Republicans (17.4% of the total population), with 28,000,000 registered others (8.8% of the total population). If each registered Democrat wrote to every member of the Congress and said they’d give them $5.00 a piece to pass meaningful legislation including a ban on assault weapons and high capacity magazines, that would equal $430,000,000 in influence divided between 535 members of Congress or $803,738 in campaign contributions; a great deal more than any member of Congress has ever received from the NRA.
And, if only half of all registered Democrats were to write to every member of Congress and offer to donate $5.00 a piece, that would equal $215,000,000 in influence, again divided between 535 members of congress equals $401,869 in campaign contributions; once again, a great deal more money than any member of Congress has ever received from the NRA.
A very simple solution to countering the NRA; money talks, and more money talks louder.
Four Step Plan to Prevent Senseless Gun Violence
This really isn’t rocket science; here are my thoughts on helping to prevent another Sandy Hook or Aurora.
Step one – get the right-wing to stop making excuses for needing assault weapons and high capacity magazines – of course if they don’t we’ll just move on to step two without them.
Step two – ban assault weapons and high capacity magazines
Step three – increase funding for school security throughout country, mandate federal standards for security, i.e., doors, windows, armed police officers etc
Step four – increase federal funding for mental health care, or simply fully fund it under the Affordable Care Act.
If the right-wing won’t police its own house – ie, the NRA – then the rest of us will; the Congress and the Tea Party oppose meaningful gun legislation at their own political peril; in case they didn’t notice they didn’t win in November. This isn’t about the adults rights to own whatever thing (gun) they want, personal property rights do not trump another individual’s right to life – as in 20 first grade students slaughtered at Sandy Hook.
The Liberty Tree 