After the wonderful speech that President Obama gave yesterday in Denver, some of the more conservative news organizations pitched the idea that he was complaining about feeling "constrained" by the constitution. As is always the case with anyone who seems to express a viewpoint about gun control (control, not confiscation, not denial of access, etc), it was taken way out of context.
Here is what was said by the President:
One last thing I'm going to mention is that during this conversation -- I hope you don't mind me quoting you, Joe. Joe Garcia, I thought, also made an important point, and that is that the opponents of some of these common-sense laws have ginned up fears among responsible gun owners that have nothing to do with what's being proposed and nothing to do with the facts, but feeds into this suspicion about government.
You hear some of these quotes: "I need a gun to protect myself from the government." "We can't do background checks because the government is going to come take my guns away."
Well, the government is us. These officials are elected by you. (Applause.) They are elected by you. I am elected by you. I am constrained, as they are constrained, by a system that our Founders put in place. It's a government of and by and for the people.
And so, surely, we can have a debate that's not based on the notion somehow that your elected representatives are trying to do something to you other than potentially prevent another group of families from grieving the way the families of Aurora or Newtown or Columbine have grieved. We've got to get past some of the rhetoric that gets perpetuated that breaks down trust and is so over the top that it just shuts down all discussion. And it's important for all of us when we hear that kind of talk to say, hold on a second. If there are any folks who are out there right now who are gun owners, and you've been hearing that somehow somebody is taking away your guns, get the facts. We're not proposing a gun registration system, we're proposing background checks for criminals. (Applause.)
Don't just listen to what some advocates or folks who have an interest in this thing are saying. Look at the actual legislation. That's what happened here in Colorado. And hopefully, if we know the facts and we're listening to each other, then we can actually move forward.
The section in question is in paragraph 3, and the president is not deriding the fact that he is constrained, he is highlighting and applauding the fact that the constitution was set up to limit government powers. So, for those of you who think that this president is all about taking away your rights, be a little smarter. Educate yourself. Understand the issue. Recognize the fact that the states with the least amount of gun laws affecting access to guns are also some of the states with the highest death rates due to guns.
In Colorado, by the way, I can still have my gun if I want to, so no-one has taken away my right to bear arms. Be educated, don't be a sheep and follow the NRA one liners, become your own informed participant in the political process.
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Monday, February 4, 2013
Makers VS Takers, losing touch with who really grows the economy
I was wondering today if the whole makers vs takers argument that has permeated the air during and even after the election really does show us how out of touch we all are.
My premise - do we have it backward? Are the people at the top of the chain really "makers"? It seems to me that they might be the takers. Think of it this way, they are the ones taking the money from their companies and placing it on the sidelines, so are they really making the economy move? I don't think so.
On the other hand, the defined "takers" are the ones that without question put more than 50% (and sometimes all 100%) of their earned revenue (take home pay) back into play in the economy.
So, let's turn the conversation around folks. The takers are the folks that do not contribute their revenue back into the equation. By not sharing more of their wealth and compensation, by meeting a bottom line that is exclusively set up to take more for them and their shareholders, by taking their money offshore or placing it in tax shelters designed to limit or remove the bulk of the revenue/profit from the economy at large, they are TAKING away the ability for the economy to bounce back. And by placing their money on the sidelines, they and only they will benefit as the economy grows stronger.
Then, on the other side, the folks that could help the economy to move, the folks who could be spending and investing more, the folks that need a job and are not able to contribute unless the folks holding onto the $ put them back into the mix, these are the folks that could MAKE the economy move.
I think we've lost touch with what and who make and take from the global economy, and until the upper echelon believe this, then we'll still run into the same old problem.
My premise - do we have it backward? Are the people at the top of the chain really "makers"? It seems to me that they might be the takers. Think of it this way, they are the ones taking the money from their companies and placing it on the sidelines, so are they really making the economy move? I don't think so.
On the other hand, the defined "takers" are the ones that without question put more than 50% (and sometimes all 100%) of their earned revenue (take home pay) back into play in the economy.
So, let's turn the conversation around folks. The takers are the folks that do not contribute their revenue back into the equation. By not sharing more of their wealth and compensation, by meeting a bottom line that is exclusively set up to take more for them and their shareholders, by taking their money offshore or placing it in tax shelters designed to limit or remove the bulk of the revenue/profit from the economy at large, they are TAKING away the ability for the economy to bounce back. And by placing their money on the sidelines, they and only they will benefit as the economy grows stronger.
Then, on the other side, the folks that could help the economy to move, the folks who could be spending and investing more, the folks that need a job and are not able to contribute unless the folks holding onto the $ put them back into the mix, these are the folks that could MAKE the economy move.
I think we've lost touch with what and who make and take from the global economy, and until the upper echelon believe this, then we'll still run into the same old problem.
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Lost Touch - Was anyone really listening today?
For those of you that are unsure about what the President discussed today, or didn't read the transcript, here is my abridged version (and I'm paraphrasing and quoting directly, so pay attention because I switch back and forth):
Paraphrasing - Hello Everyone, I'm standing with a few of the kids that wrote to me asking for something to be done. Because they can't vote, I am their voice.
Paraphrasing - Here is some of what I can legally do through Executive Actions (and what I'm about to sign):
1) Toughen current gun laws
2) Give law enforcement, schools, mental health professionals and the public health community some of the tools they need to help reduce gun violence.
3) Allow government agencies to once again study the best ways to reduce gun violence, and whether violent media also plays a part.
MY NOTE - You can read all 23 of the Executive Actions at the bottom of this post.
Paraphrasing - Here is what I can't do, but what Congress has authority to do (and they need to hear your voices and from you since we are a government by representation, or it won't be done):
1) Pass universal background checks into law
2) Restore a ban on assault style weapons (and this is a direct quote - "And, by the way, so did Ronald Reagan, one of the staunchest defenders of the Second Amendment, who wrote to Congress in 1994, urging them -- this is Ronald Reagan speaking -- urging them to “listen to the American public and to the law enforcement community and support a ban on the further manufacture of [military-style assault] weapons.”")
3) Congress needs to help, rather than hinder law enforcement by toughening laws around criminals who sell guns to other criminals
Another direct quote - "This will be difficult. There will be pundits and politicians and special interest lobbyists publicly warning of a tyrannical, all-out assault on liberty -- not because that’s true, but because they want to gin up fear or higher ratings or revenue for themselves. And behind the scenes, they’ll do everything they can to block any common-sense reform and make sure nothing changes whatsoever." Translated by me - there are people out there that make tons of money every time you buy a gun, and so they don't want to see tougher access passed.
And another direct quote - "This is the land of the free, and it always will be. As Americans, we are endowed by our Creator with certain inalienable rights that no man or government can take away from us. But we've also long recognized, as our Founders recognized, that with rights come responsibilities. Along with our freedom to live our lives as we will comes an obligation to allow others to do the same. We don’t live in isolation. We live in a society, a government of, and by, and for the people. We are responsible for each other. The right to worship freely and safely, that right was denied to Sikhs in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. The right to assemble peaceably, that right was denied shoppers in Clackamas, Oregon, and moviegoers in Aurora, Colorado. That most fundamental set of rights to life and liberty and the pursuit of happiness -- fundamental rights that were denied to college students at Virginia Tech, and high school students at Columbine, and elementary school students in Newtown, and kids on street corners in Chicago on too frequent a basis to tolerate, and all the families who’ve never imagined that they’d lose a loved one to a bullet -- those rights are at stake. We’re responsible." My take - There are other rights that we all have that are just as important as the second Amendment, so let's make sure they all work together and not against each other.
MY THOUGHTS - In all of the above I don't see anywhere where he is stating that all guns be outlawed. I see him recognizing the second Amendment and recognizing its validity. I do see him asking for us (as did the children who wrote to him) to try real hard to get Congress to act and for reasonable measures to be taken by Congress. And I see a tack that shows acting on 3 fronts - the 3 fronts that I've posted about before - tighten current laws, strengthen mental health support services, and limit what guns can be made available.
Here are the 23 exec actions in case you want to read them all:
1. "Issue a presidential memorandum to require federal agencies to make relevant data available to the federal background check system."
2. "Address unnecessary legal barriers, particularly relating to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, that may prevent states from making information available to the background check system."
3. "Improve incentives for states to share information with the background check system."
4. "Direct the attorney general to review categories of individuals prohibited from having a gun to make sure dangerous people are not slipping through the cracks."
5. "Propose rule-making to give law enforcement the ability to run a full background check on an individual before returning a seized gun."
6. "Publish a letter from ATF to federally licensed gun dealers providing guidance on how to run background checks for private sellers.
7. "Launch a national safe and responsible gun ownership campaign."
8. "Review safety standards for gun locks and gun safes (Consumer Product Safety Commission)."
9. "Issue a presidential Memorandum to require federal law enforcement to trace guns recovered in criminal investigations."
10. "Release a DOJ report analyzing information on lost and stolen guns and make it widely available to law enforcement."
11. "Nominate an ATF director."
12. "Provide law enforcement, first responders, and school officials with proper training for active shooter situations."
13. "Maximize enforcement efforts to prevent gun violence and prosecute gun crime."
14. "Issue a presidential memorandum directing the Centers for Disease Control to research the causes and prevention of gun violence."
15. "Direct the attorney general to issue a report on the availability and most effective use of new gun safety technologies and challenge the private sector to develop innovative technologies."
16. "Clarify that the Affordable Care Act does not prohibit doctors asking their patients about guns in their homes."
17. "Release a letter to health care providers clarifying that no federal law prohibits them from reporting threats of violence to law enforcement authorities."
18. "Provide incentives for schools to hire school resource officers."
19. "Develop model emergency response plans for schools, houses of worship and institutions of higher education."
20. "Release a letter to state health officials clarifying the scope of mental health services that Medicaid plans must cover."
21. "Finalize regulations clarifying essential health benefits and parity requirements within ACA exchanges."
22. "Commit to finalizing mental health parity regulations."
23. "Launch a national dialogue led by Secretaries Sebelius and Duncan on mental health."
Paraphrasing - Hello Everyone, I'm standing with a few of the kids that wrote to me asking for something to be done. Because they can't vote, I am their voice.
Paraphrasing - Here is some of what I can legally do through Executive Actions (and what I'm about to sign):
1) Toughen current gun laws
2) Give law enforcement, schools, mental health professionals and the public health community some of the tools they need to help reduce gun violence.
3) Allow government agencies to once again study the best ways to reduce gun violence, and whether violent media also plays a part.
MY NOTE - You can read all 23 of the Executive Actions at the bottom of this post.
Paraphrasing - Here is what I can't do, but what Congress has authority to do (and they need to hear your voices and from you since we are a government by representation, or it won't be done):
1) Pass universal background checks into law
2) Restore a ban on assault style weapons (and this is a direct quote - "And, by the way, so did Ronald Reagan, one of the staunchest defenders of the Second Amendment, who wrote to Congress in 1994, urging them -- this is Ronald Reagan speaking -- urging them to “listen to the American public and to the law enforcement community and support a ban on the further manufacture of [military-style assault] weapons.”")
3) Congress needs to help, rather than hinder law enforcement by toughening laws around criminals who sell guns to other criminals
Another direct quote - "This will be difficult. There will be pundits and politicians and special interest lobbyists publicly warning of a tyrannical, all-out assault on liberty -- not because that’s true, but because they want to gin up fear or higher ratings or revenue for themselves. And behind the scenes, they’ll do everything they can to block any common-sense reform and make sure nothing changes whatsoever." Translated by me - there are people out there that make tons of money every time you buy a gun, and so they don't want to see tougher access passed.
And another direct quote - "This is the land of the free, and it always will be. As Americans, we are endowed by our Creator with certain inalienable rights that no man or government can take away from us. But we've also long recognized, as our Founders recognized, that with rights come responsibilities. Along with our freedom to live our lives as we will comes an obligation to allow others to do the same. We don’t live in isolation. We live in a society, a government of, and by, and for the people. We are responsible for each other. The right to worship freely and safely, that right was denied to Sikhs in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. The right to assemble peaceably, that right was denied shoppers in Clackamas, Oregon, and moviegoers in Aurora, Colorado. That most fundamental set of rights to life and liberty and the pursuit of happiness -- fundamental rights that were denied to college students at Virginia Tech, and high school students at Columbine, and elementary school students in Newtown, and kids on street corners in Chicago on too frequent a basis to tolerate, and all the families who’ve never imagined that they’d lose a loved one to a bullet -- those rights are at stake. We’re responsible." My take - There are other rights that we all have that are just as important as the second Amendment, so let's make sure they all work together and not against each other.
MY THOUGHTS - In all of the above I don't see anywhere where he is stating that all guns be outlawed. I see him recognizing the second Amendment and recognizing its validity. I do see him asking for us (as did the children who wrote to him) to try real hard to get Congress to act and for reasonable measures to be taken by Congress. And I see a tack that shows acting on 3 fronts - the 3 fronts that I've posted about before - tighten current laws, strengthen mental health support services, and limit what guns can be made available.
Here are the 23 exec actions in case you want to read them all:
1. "Issue a presidential memorandum to require federal agencies to make relevant data available to the federal background check system."
2. "Address unnecessary legal barriers, particularly relating to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, that may prevent states from making information available to the background check system."
3. "Improve incentives for states to share information with the background check system."
4. "Direct the attorney general to review categories of individuals prohibited from having a gun to make sure dangerous people are not slipping through the cracks."
5. "Propose rule-making to give law enforcement the ability to run a full background check on an individual before returning a seized gun."
6. "Publish a letter from ATF to federally licensed gun dealers providing guidance on how to run background checks for private sellers.
7. "Launch a national safe and responsible gun ownership campaign."
8. "Review safety standards for gun locks and gun safes (Consumer Product Safety Commission)."
9. "Issue a presidential Memorandum to require federal law enforcement to trace guns recovered in criminal investigations."
10. "Release a DOJ report analyzing information on lost and stolen guns and make it widely available to law enforcement."
11. "Nominate an ATF director."
12. "Provide law enforcement, first responders, and school officials with proper training for active shooter situations."
13. "Maximize enforcement efforts to prevent gun violence and prosecute gun crime."
14. "Issue a presidential memorandum directing the Centers for Disease Control to research the causes and prevention of gun violence."
15. "Direct the attorney general to issue a report on the availability and most effective use of new gun safety technologies and challenge the private sector to develop innovative technologies."
16. "Clarify that the Affordable Care Act does not prohibit doctors asking their patients about guns in their homes."
17. "Release a letter to health care providers clarifying that no federal law prohibits them from reporting threats of violence to law enforcement authorities."
18. "Provide incentives for schools to hire school resource officers."
19. "Develop model emergency response plans for schools, houses of worship and institutions of higher education."
20. "Release a letter to state health officials clarifying the scope of mental health services that Medicaid plans must cover."
21. "Finalize regulations clarifying essential health benefits and parity requirements within ACA exchanges."
22. "Commit to finalizing mental health parity regulations."
23. "Launch a national dialogue led by Secretaries Sebelius and Duncan on mental health."
Losing Touch with "What is a Gun"
After all the nonsense and mouth diarrhea coming from the conservative side of the aisle, I thought I'd post some definitions for "GUN" as part of my blog, and follow up with my own thoughts.
From Bing Search Engine: GUN
1. weapon that fires bullets: any weapon, from a small handheld pistol to a large piece of artillery, that has a metal tube through which bullets or missiles are fired by an explosive charge
2. device that fires something: any tool or instrument that forces something out under pressure
"a paint gun"
From Merriam Webster Online Dictionary: GUN
a : a piece of ordnance usually with high muzzle velocity and comparatively flat trajectory
b : a portable firearm (as a rifle or handgun)
c : a device that throws a projectile
Wikipedia: GUN
A gun is a weapon designed to discharge a projectile. The projectile may be solid, liquid, gas or energy and may be free, as with bullets and artillery shells, or captive as with Taser probes and whaling harpoons. The means of projection varies according to design but is usually effected by the action of gas pressure, either produced through the rapid combustion of a propellant or compressed and stored by mechanical means, operating on the projectile inside an open-ended tube in the fashion of a piston. The confined gas accelerates the movable projectile down the length of the tube imparting sufficient velocity to sustain the projectile's travel once the action of the gas ceases at the end of the tube or muzzle. Alternatively, acceleration via electromagnetic field generation may be employed in which case the tube may be dispensed with and a guide rail substituted.
So, now let's get to my comments. NOWHERE in the Constitution or the Bill of Rights does it say that the government cannot define what types of GUN can or cannot be made available to the general populace or MILITIA (And I love the fact that some on the right are so sure that their armaments would ever be strong enough to go up against the Armed Forces of the United States). By the definitions listed above, I can own a rail gun (heard about those yet, people?) and mount it in my backyard. Plus, if I hook it to my home electric system, I can fire it whenever I feel like paying a massive electric bill (if the transformers around my neighborhood can handle it, and if not, so what?) Who cares about rolling blackouts and fried electrical circuits?
OR, I could always opt in for a bazooka. After all, isn't it just a gun?
From Bing Search Engine: GUN
1. weapon that fires bullets: any weapon, from a small handheld pistol to a large piece of artillery, that has a metal tube through which bullets or missiles are fired by an explosive charge
2. device that fires something: any tool or instrument that forces something out under pressure
"a paint gun"
From Merriam Webster Online Dictionary: GUN
a : a piece of ordnance usually with high muzzle velocity and comparatively flat trajectory
b : a portable firearm (as a rifle or handgun)
c : a device that throws a projectile
Wikipedia: GUN
A gun is a weapon designed to discharge a projectile. The projectile may be solid, liquid, gas or energy and may be free, as with bullets and artillery shells, or captive as with Taser probes and whaling harpoons. The means of projection varies according to design but is usually effected by the action of gas pressure, either produced through the rapid combustion of a propellant or compressed and stored by mechanical means, operating on the projectile inside an open-ended tube in the fashion of a piston. The confined gas accelerates the movable projectile down the length of the tube imparting sufficient velocity to sustain the projectile's travel once the action of the gas ceases at the end of the tube or muzzle. Alternatively, acceleration via electromagnetic field generation may be employed in which case the tube may be dispensed with and a guide rail substituted.
So, now let's get to my comments. NOWHERE in the Constitution or the Bill of Rights does it say that the government cannot define what types of GUN can or cannot be made available to the general populace or MILITIA (And I love the fact that some on the right are so sure that their armaments would ever be strong enough to go up against the Armed Forces of the United States). By the definitions listed above, I can own a rail gun (heard about those yet, people?) and mount it in my backyard. Plus, if I hook it to my home electric system, I can fire it whenever I feel like paying a massive electric bill (if the transformers around my neighborhood can handle it, and if not, so what?) Who cares about rolling blackouts and fried electrical circuits?
OR, I could always opt in for a bazooka. After all, isn't it just a gun?
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