Corporate power reigns
The dominant American institution has become the corporation, an unelected, amoral, faceless body of top management and major shareholders whose sole purpose is gain. They don’t care about global warming, low wages, joblessness or an immoral health system either, if they can profit from the sick and dying. Long, unwinnable wars, all the better, for the sale of guns, tanks and airplanes. When they fail, we have to bail them out with billions overnight, no questions asked.
Yet in politics you will never hear the word “corporation.” It’s “special interest.” Just six companies (in 1986 it was 20) now own the media, controlling 90 percent of what you read, see and hear, so don’t plan on much changing. They own everything, your bank, most of your house, your doctor, and now the government. The election is a laugh at best: hundreds of millions blown on misleading low-information voters to act against their own best economic interests and vote Republican. A weak and directionless Democratic party is kept on life support more or less as a sparring companion. It’s a destructive, narrow vision. Contravening ideas are ignored, their sources smeared or blacklisted.
This is what we accept as our political process. Citizens United was the final straw in permanently eliminating the public voice from the civic sphere. We call this state of affairs a democracy.
Dennis Lopez
Rockport
Accidents happen
I am a mother of three and also have my niece and nephew living with us, and I don’t think anyone should judge anyone’s parenting skills. An accident is just that an accident, kids have a mind of their own and are very quick and things happen.
My heart breaks into 1,000 pieces for the Morse family and know it could happen in a split second to any of us. So instead of criticizing the family let’s support them and hug our own children today. I wouldn’t want to be in their shoes for anything and can’t believe people actually are mean enough to say such things to a family in mourning.
Let’s support and make this world a nicer place to live, not put others down. For all of you who say you don’t let your children out of sight and are with them every minute, you are liars — that is impossible to do and in the end your kids will be the worst-acting kids in the school because they will crave the freedom.
Do you think criticizing a family in need is showing your children good qualities, because it isn’t. Showing love and support is the best thing to teach our children.
Patti Bailey
Durham
Chamber remarks
I don’t like out-of-state interests assuming that the people of Maine are not capable of making informed decisions on their own. That’s how I felt after seeing the recent U.S. Chamber of Commerce ad misleading us that Governor King was a “reckless spender”.
It’s especially ironic when you learn that the Maine State Chamber of Commerce, made up of Maine businesses, responded that they do not agree with the ad’s content.
Maine’s citizens and business owners are intelligent enough to form our own opinions of Governor King’s fiscal performance, without “reckless” accusations from an out-of-state special-interest group. We know Angus. We know his record on business in our state. He was successful in promoting the interests of business during his two terms as our independent governor and he will continue to be a strong advocate for business in Maine as our next senator.
It takes good business sense, leadership, and certainly a ‘can-do’ attitude to move Maine’s economy forward. Angus gets it.
As a professional transportation engineer, I followed the progress made during the King administration on transportation issues that are so vital in supporting successful business here in Maine. Far from being reckless, Governor King’s strategic decisions made a real difference to Maine businesses across our state.
We don’t need the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s help and we certainly don’t appreciate their undisclosed out-of-state money trying to influence our elections. In Maine, we can make up our own minds just fine.
Tom Gorrill
Gray
Insured women
Starting Aug.1, 2012, a long list of women’s health services became available to insured women at no additional cost — eliminating co-pays and deductibles.
All FDA–approved methods of birth control are now covered by insurance when prescribed by a doctor, nurse practitioner or other licensed medical professional.
Instead of paying out of pocket, preventive services like annual exams, prenatal care, STI screening and contraception will be more affordable and accessible.
Other benefits include support for survivors of domestic abuse, breast-feeding assistance for new mothers, and preventive screenings for diseases such as gestational diabetes. Mammograms for women over 40, HPV testing, and possibly even colon cancer screening will be covered by insurance.
As an organization whose mission is to work for true equality for women, AAUW is pleased that the Affordable Care Act begins to address inequitable treatment of women through insurance coverage. Overall, there are fewer working women than working men who have insurance through the workplace, a disparity that will be corrected over the next few years. In addition, Insurers have historically charged women more than men in a practice known as gender-rating, which has led to women paying more out of pocket for essential preventive services such as Pap smears and birth control. The newest insurance benefits are a good step toward achieving equality for women.
It is important that insured women learn as much as they can about these new benefits — and more important, that they take advantage of them.
Shirley Davis
Ruth Lockhart
Orono
Law abiding
Like Hank Hosking (BDN, August 4, 2012) I am also a life member of the NRA, lifetime hunter, reloader and shooter. But this is where our similarities end.
I am firmly against restrictions on ownership of military-style weapons for qualified people. I have shot thousands of rounds of ammo from hundreds of guns (including military-style weapons) in both recreational shooting and hunting. Not one of my guns has ever hurt or killed a human being.
Remember that a gun is an inanimate object. The madman holding it is to blame for its misuse, not the gun itself. Society needs to do more to identify the unstable/crazies and keep firearms from them. Don’t blame and restrict the law-abiding gun owner/shooter for the actions of a madman.
Merle Cousins
Southwest Harbor
Shirley Davis
Ruth Lockhart
“at no additional cost” Who do you think is paying if there is no additional cost to you. Did the cost disappear? I think someone else is paying.
Your insurance premiums pay for it instead of going straight into a multi-millionaire insurance company CEO’s pocket. Think of it as “value-added.”. More health care for your insurance buck. What a novel idea!
It is far less expensive for insurers to cover contraception rather than unintended pregnancies or to cover cancer-screenings rather than full-blown cancers. Any actuary could tell you that.
Insurance companies aren’t in the health business, they are in the sickness business. They have no financial interest in preventive care. Thus “health” insurance was a misnomer until now. Thank you President Obama.
Precisely on point. Thanks.
Is the next stop then free abortions for all as that would be what an actuary would say? Just think how much less $$$ would be lining theose ceo’s pockets. I’m pretty sure you would like “free” abortions for all and how it would help those victims of evil men.
The insurance companies are in favor of these new policies. It is less costly for them. If it wasn’t you would have heard their lobbyists screaming like crazy. You didn’t because they are in agreement.
It will be the same logic when they pull the plug on your respirator
Dennis Lopez
You are correct as most voters are imbeciles and do little or no research on their own so their votes can be bought by unions, environmental groups etc.
Here’s some research for you. Corporations outspend unions by at least 15 to 1 on elections so all you imbeciles pay attention.
Don’t burden this man with facts. His fevered imagination won’t accept them.
If someone doing work on their side was a murderer, they’d point to someone on the other side who likes cheeseburgers and scream that it’s the same thing, if not worse. Both sides do it!
Proof?
Dennis Lopez, Tom Gorrill, Davis and Lockhart: good letters.
Mr. Gorrill, the US Chamber of Commerce has zero credibility in this election. It is all Charlie Summers has, which means this winter will be a long season of discontent for him.
http://www.uschamber.com/about
“The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business organization representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions. Our members range from mom-and-pop shops and local chambers to leading industry associations and large corporations. They all share one thing in common—they count on the Chamber to be their voice in Washington, D.C.
We advocate for pro-business policies that create jobs and grow our economy. Key issues range from smart tax policy and regulatory relief to legal reform and trade promotion.
Our members have access to the latest tools, information, and best practices in advocacy and communications
Our nationally recognized team of lobbyists, communicators, and policy experts advance the business community’s interests
For 100 years, we have driven the pro-business agenda in Washington.”
You are absolutely right, Chanard. Any organization representing 3 million businesses has absolutely no credibilty whatsoever.
Sheeesh!
Oh wow, you cite their “about us” section on their website. What a compelling way of proving that they have credibility.
You apparently enjoy being spoon-fed. I do not. Check out a neutral source such as Wikipedia.
The claim of representing 3 million businesses is false: it has a membership of 1/10 that size.
When the US Chamber threatened to sue the EPA over the Chamber’s claim that climate change was a hoax, it began losing membership of businesses such as Apple and PG&E.
Sadly, the Chamber is now largely a mouthpiece for the Republican Party.
When someone denies the reality of climate change and its human causes they sink to the credibility level of Birthers who tell us that President Obama was born in Kenya. Sadly, a majority of declared Republicans believe such nonsense.
You use Wikipedia to support your position but if a conservative uses it you are one of the first to point out it is not a reliable source. LMAO
Dead wrong. I have never posted that Wikipedia was unreliable.
You can’t get away with making stuff up. Your name isn’t Mitt Romney.
Hooray for you Tom! You said it so well.
Merle, your toys are not toys. Those weapons belong in the hands of soldiers who follow orders. Even there horrific deeds can be committed but they are limited to war zones, not our theaters and streets.
We are all soldiers. Including you.
No, my generation ended the draft because most of us do not have what it takes to be a soldier. I applaud those who enlist to protect the freedoms we have, but even those who do pay a price in mental and physical anguish when they have had to participate in or witness the horror of state sanctioned violence.
The draft has nothing to do with my comment. What state sanctioned violence are you talking about?
Most likely the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and I’m inclined to agree with her on that. We need to get out of there and mind our own business. World Police is not and should not be part of our National charter.
Calling a firearm a toy doesn’t mean it’s a Tonka truck. It simply means he uses his firearms for his enjoyment. We don’t expect you to run out and purchase any weapons but don’t restrict law abiding citizens in an attempt to restrict those who ignore the law.
In my world law abiding citizens have no interest in assault weapons. See no use for them except in defense of their nation. They belong in arsenals, not homes. And in fact the founders saw it that way: A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. We no longer have citizen militias, at least not legally, and though courts have ruled that the second amendment now has nothing to do with militias formed to secure a free State that was not the original intent of that amendment. It, like so much of the Constitution and Bill of Rights, has been perverted by self-interest instead of public-interest. That is my opinion anyway. You can keep yours.
“In my world” says it all.
Now, now. Lets be polite. Mamma has every right to speak her opinion and I respect her a great deal.
I may not agree with her on gun rights, but I have all the respect in the world for her. I’ll have even more respect if she can tell me some cool places for “yakkin”. LOML & I are buying a couple touring yaks soon.
Thanks for the kind words and the smile you put on my face. I really don’t think we are too very far apart on our views. Just in the details. Let’s see….. my favorite spot for loons and eagles is Silver Lake in Bucksport. Scraggly Pond is a wonderful getaway. But I have to say Third Machias is my very favorite. Any of the bays are great too. I enjoyed a days outing off of Newbury Neck. And I just discovered Donnell Pond (LMF land with campsites down one whole side and a great beach with campsites) which I hope to do a solo overnight or two on before the summer is out. Enjoying it all with the LOYL will make for great memories.
We really should share contact info for each other! I haven’t been for several years, but Donnell is my all time favorite place to camp. Hoping for a couple boats for next Summer to go experience the real Maine.
Since there’s no PM function here I’ll have to resort to this. Here’s my “catcher” email acct. tnicmh AT gmail DOT com
NO NASTYGRAMS folks, I’ll just mass delete them. Just put something about kayaking in the subj.
Sorry for the OT folks
I agree that we really aren’t that far apart and if we can agree to disagree on a few things there’s no reason at all that we can’t be friends.
Cheers :>))
As does your reply.
Yup, the one I live in. What kind of world do you create for yourself? Are you a member of one of our well armed militia? Then I thank you for your service. If not, then you are a vigilante. Plain and simple.
I consider my ability–regardless of desire–to purchase a weapon a valuable right. I can’t have an abortion, yet I support that right eventhough it isn’t even discussed in the 14th Amendment.
I never said anything about gun ownership as a right that should be taken away. My comments are about arsenals that private citizens feel the need to build. And, that that make me feel less safe.
Deleted by OK
You’re ALMOST there Momma!
But you’re trying to argue the Constitution with a Constitutionalist.
First, the “well regulated militia” IS the People. At the time of its writing the militia was comprised of every able bodied man able to bear arms. Not the National Guard. That’s where the term Minuteman came from because the People were armed and ready to run out their doors in defense on a minute’s notice.
Second, it reads “the Right of THE PEOPLE to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.” Because The People made up the local militia and they needed to be armed at all times to protect their families, towns and States from insurrection, invasion and tyranny. It has absolutely nothing to do with a military establishment.
And once AGAIN, ASSAULT weapons are fully AUTOMATIC firearms. Semi-auto variants can be used for anything by any unrestricted citizen, be it hunting or home defense.You say arsenal, we say collection. The 2A places no restrictions on type or numbers of firearms one may own, nor does it limit capacity.
I don’t what “world” you live in Momma, but I know a great many LACs who own what you like to call arsenals and they are VERY interested in enlarging their collections of fine weaponry.
Your creds for being a constitutionalist?
I’m a card carrying Lifetime Member of Oath Keepers a CONSTITUTIONAL advocacy organization.
And I never said I was an expert Constitutionalist just that I am a Constitutionalist. Is there some special Govt permit I need to get?
Neither did Gopher40 say in his comment that you were an expert Constitutionalist.
And neither of you seem to have anything constructive to add to the discussion.
Yup, that was true. Then we decided to create the armed forces. And, then we ended draft. And now if you are called to the defense of your state or your nation you much enlist. And some are deemed not enlistable. We do not live in the 18th century any more. We call gun-toting citizens vigilantes. Times have changed, and for the most part I think for the better. We do evolve. And, I do know your rights are protected by 2A. I cannot argue with that. It just makes my stomach queasy to think about the armed camps in my my neighborhood.
I can agree that there is a vigilante element out there, but that’s not why I and most folks I know of, carry. For most of us its no different than keeping a fire extinguisher and smoke detector in our homes.
I don’t understand why it makes you queasy, but I do respect your feelings. Thanks for being approachable and willing to discuss it calmly.
“…to disarm the people – that was the best and most effectual way to enslave them.” (George Mason, 3 Elliot, Debates at 380)
“And what country can preserve its liberties, if its rulers are not
warned from time to time that this people preserve the spirit of
resistance? Let them take arms….The tree of liberty must be refreshed
from time to time, with the blood of patriots and tyrants” (Thomas
Jefferson in a letter to William S. Smith in 1787. Taken from Jefferson,
On Democracy 20, S. Padover ed., 1939)
“The strongest reason for people to retain the right to keep and bear
arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in
government.” — (Thomas Jefferson)
“Firearms stand next in importance to the Constitution itself. They are
the American people’s liberty teeth and keystone under independence …
From the hour the Pilgrims landed, to the present day, events,
occurrences, and tendencies prove that to insure peace, security and
happiness, the rifle and pistol are equally indispensable . . . the very
atmosphere of firearms everywhere restrains evil interference – they
deserve a place of honor with all that is good” (George Washington)
You get the picture. I am a decent citizen and I DO have an interest in military style weapons, so do tens of thousands of other Americans.
Yes, I understand that many see the use of firearms as necessary to insure liberty. We certainly spend a lot of our national budget on them. Very sophisticated firearms. Should they be turned on us I doubt even your semi-automatics would be of much use. I hope it never comes to that. So have your rifle and pistol. Your arsenal, however, in my mind, should be donated to ‘the armed forces’. What a patriotic thing to do. Help bring down the defense budget!
Sorry Mamma. Our soldiers carry AUTOMATIC weapons.
Semi-automatic weapons are available to anyone who can pass the background check and rightly so. In fact a great number of HUNTERS use semi-autos for their legal hunting activities.
Merle is spot on in his message. Stop trying to punish the overwhelming majority of Law Abiding Citizens (LACs) out there who never harm another human being. When Holmes shot up that theater in Aurora there were over 100 MILLION other gun owners in America who did not break any laws or shoot someone.
I Open Carry a .45 semi-automatic handgun everywhere its legal to do so in Maine. Why? Because I refuse to be a victim or let my family be subjected to the whims of some deranged madman when we go out. I also refuse to spend my money in establishments that would take my means of self defense away from me by prohibiting firearms known as Gun Free Zones. So far, in the Bangor area I have yet to find such a place.
I’m a peaceful and peace loving citizen. I don’t go looking for trouble and I pray every time I load and holster my sidearm that I’ll never have to draw and shoot in self defense, but I’m prepared to defend my family and anyone else near me if trouble finds me.
When seconds count, the police are MINUTES away.
As a gun-wielding family, we are privileged with that right, but let me ask you this:
If you and your family are in a store and someone comes in to rob it, and the 15 patrons of the store, including you, pull out their hand guns and “defend” themselves. Who’s to blame if you or your family members get shot as collateral damage, or someone mistakes you for another robber? That is my concern if everyone is packing on every corner or every building. Do we want everyone to be judging what is the proper place to fire and what isn’t? Not a good idea.
Well, the statistic favor the Armed LAC with a 2% error rate vs 11% for LEOs. I’ll take my chances with my fellow ALACs thank you very much. 15 ALACs in the store at one time? If only it were so. If I saw 14 others aiming at the one robber, I think I can figure it out. A robber wouldn’t even consider that scene.
@Gadael:disqus
I’m not afraid and I don’t live in fear.
@KayakMomma:disqus
Fear has nothing to do with being prepared. As I stated above, your chances of survival are far better in the presence of an ALAC. I haven’t lived anywhere that required using a fire extinguisher either but I have two in my house just in case because being prepared is the key to surviving. Does that mean I live in fear of fires?
I never know where I’ll end up when I leave the house with my lovely wife so just look for a 6″, 190 lb, 50ish man with a salt n pepper beard, brown Panama style hat (unless I wear my Oath Keepers hat), a .45 in a full retention holster and a big friendly smile.
Okay, I’ll keep my eyes open. Not sure I will smile back though. But don’t take it personally. It is just that that holstered .45 will indeed make me fearful of you and a smiling face behind it, well worrisome. I wonder what the term is for someone who is afraid to leave the house because of gun-toting vigilantes.
///
And after Aurora and the Sikh Temple massacres we all have good reason to be concerned for our safety when we walk out our door.
And again, being prepared is not paranoid, its being prepared. I have never lived in fear even before I decided to carry and I haven’t begun to be afraid of whatever life might throw my way, but I’m PREPARED to meet a few challenges should they arise.
If you choose to not be armed that’s your choice, don’t push it on those of us who do choose to carry.
If my sidearm scares you, go shopping in a Gun Free Zone somewhere, I won’t be there.
/////
But you’re still missing the point.
Open Carrying, or CC for that matter, my sidearm has nothing to do with being afraid. We don’t carry out of fear. We carry because we wish to be prepared.
Why should it even matter how one chooses to carry anyway? OC is my choice. I don’t OC to scare anyone (except the bad guys). And tell me this. How many bad guys OC anyway. Criminals HIDE their guns until they’re ready to rob or shoot you, ALACs open carry not thugs. Statistically BGs walk away from a potential target if they think or know there may be armed resistance. Open Carried firearms are known to prevent crime according to a 20/20 study involving interviews with convicted felons in prison, a couple years ago. Its not the gun you see on one’s hip that should scare you, its the one you won’t see until the criminal pulls it to shoot that you should be more worried about.
And again I say, you’re in much better hands around Armed Law Abiding Citizens (ALACs) with a 2% error rate than LEOs with an 11% error rate (shooting the wrong person).
Also the typical ALAC is just that. A Law Abiding Citizen who is Armed. We’re not talking about a bunch of drunk rednecks out on the town here. The vast majority of ALACs are responsible, thinking, rational adults who could very likely be the one to avert disaster and stop a criminal like the man in Florida did last month. http://www.theblaze.com/stories/surveillance-vid-shows-71-year-old-concealed-carry-holder-opening-fire-on-would-be-robbers/
Yes, he CCed, but that has nothing to do with the fact that he defended a busy internet cafe and wounded the two thugs without injuring anyone else.
Or how about the man in Texas who is credited with saving a Sheriff Deputy’s life?
http://deadlinelive.info/2012/08/07/armed-citizen-in-tx-stops-shooting-spree-and-saves-cop-by-making-150-yard-shot-with-a-pistol/
Those are just examples out of hundreds that occur every year.
But this topic isn’t really about the OC vs CC debate. Its about whether or not we need more gun control laws. Laws that have yet to have any effect on the criminal element who despite strict controls still manage to find and use guns to harm peaceful LACs.
I don’t deny that its absolutely horrible when some nut job, psycho shoots a group of people. We all feel terrible about it and the need to “do something” is strong. But making more laws when the current ones aren’t working is not the way. Remember, when Holmes shoot up that theater, there were over 100 million gun owners in America who didn’t shoot anyone. Almost every mass shooting for the last 30 years or so have occurred in Gun Free Zones.
I have lived a long life and never lived anywhere that required someone to pull a gun to take down a bad guy. I was not brought up to live in fear of my fellowman. If you have been a victim of violence, far and away most of it is family-based, then you might have that fear. I would rather not be in your presence so would you let me know your day to day itinerary so I can avoid those places you will be.
“I would rather not be in your presence so would you let me know your day
to day itinerary so I can avoid those places you will be.”
I thought you didn’t live in fear.
Not fear. Aversion.
See, that’s what I don’t get. Those who carry regularly supposedly live in fear because they want to defend themselves against violent thugs, yet you seem uncomfortable around armed people who are not violent thugs. I find that insulting, because that tells me that you will only trust me if I’m defenseless.
Well that is an interesting twist. What violent thugs? Have you ever been confronted by one? To date I have not. That does not mean I won’t. But if living in fear of one (the only reason to carry a gun) is the reason, then you live in a fear dominated world. Of course, the gun gives you a false bravado. Even a swagger, I imagine. It is your ‘need’ to carry a gun that makes you someone I would not want to be around. Sorry if it is insulting, but the psychology behind gun-toting (notice I did not say ownership) individuals makes me very leery.
On a related note.
Come up with a real way to disarm the bad guys and you’ll get an enthusiastic hand from this Armed Law Abiding Citizen.
Good rejoinder. Thankfully there are far fewer bad guys out there than good guys. No one has ever used a gun to defend me or mine. I grant you that could happen. And it would be tragic. But it is not in my mind justification for the right to buy and build a personal arsenal of weapons. If it comes to that I would rather be dead than living in a society based on a brotherhood of violence. Life has no meaning in that context.
Brotherhood of violence? But the whole point of being armed is to prevent crime, not kill. Like I said in another post, I don’t look for trouble and hope I never get in a situation where I’ll have to use my sidearm, but I have the right and obligation to protect my family.
If you would rather be killed by a violent thug then that’s your choice, but you have no right to push that agenda one everyone else either.
And before you say it, I don’t propose that everyone should carry a weapon. Only those who choose to be prepared and have the proper training.
It’s like voter fraud. Sure it happens now and then. But my chances of being killed by a violent thug are pretty small. And, I agree. I hope you never have to use it to protect your family. And, I hope you never hurt an innocent person should you choose to use it. That would be most tragic. But I suspect you will not even be around should one of your family members be assaulted. So your gun will do little to protect them. But I do understand that it makes you feel safer to have it available. I would feel less safe. Just a difference in what makes us feel secure.
To each their own. That’s your choice, just don’t force your choice upon me. If you want, you can always move down to D.C., Chicago, or L.A. where these “scary” guns are banned. Certainly no “brotherhoods of violence” (street gangs) down there :p .
Now you are digressing into the typical rant of gun-toting machoists. Does it really make you feel like more of a man to have an arsenal of weapons at your disposal? That is what we are talking about, or at least I am. Have your gun if you need one. Are you so poor a shot that you need a semi-automatic gun (oathkeeper corrected me on that one)? Then you really should not be carrying a gun at all.
No, the guns I own have no affect on my biological makeup. I’ll address your comment, ” Are you so poor a shot that you need a semi-automatic gun (oathkeeper
corrected me on that one)? Then you really should not be carrying a gun
at all.” Police carry them, are you suggesting that they are poor shots and shouldn’t have them?
Thank you for reiterating my point. Police are our socially sanctioned militia. We have asked them to come to our aid should we be threatened. They are public servants. Our taxes pay for their service. Our public regulations and laws guide their behavior (except for those who step outside the law). While no system is perfect I believe the training they receive makes it less likely they will use their semi-automatic as a reactive measure. I cannot say that about someone who buys one, goes to the shooting range, and calls it good. The reasons for a trained officer to carry one and you carrying one would be very different.
I read Merle’s article 3 times and still can’t find where he referred to his firearms as toys. Perhaps you could point that out us?
He called them guns, firearms and inanimate objects, but I don’t see “toy” anywhere in his writing.
Then you missed my point didn’t you? But some people got it.
The worst atrocities known to man were carried out by men who were following orders. By the way, AR-15’s are very common among police departments. Again, read up on our nations founders. They were very clear that the role of an armed citizenry was to protect ourselves FROM government if need be. There’s a reason why tyrants almost always impose strict gun laws.
Yes, I think I said that somewhere here. Me, I prefer Gandhi’s methods to bring about change in government. When people take up arms against their government you have already lost the war. We found that out in our own civil war. Make no mistake. I am not one to advocate banning guns. That is about as sensible as prohibition was. Personal arsenals….. yes, I would like to see a limit there.
You just said that you’re not advocating a ban on guns, then talk about limits on what I can own. I have a problem with you comment, “When people take up arms against their government you have already lost the war.” How do you suppose this country was founded?
Um, by dumping tea in Boston Harbor? No, seriously. The Boston Massacre, called the Incident on King Street by the British, was an incident on March 5, 1770, in which British Army soldiers killed five civilian men and injured six others. British troops had been stationed in Boston, capital of the Province of Massachusetts Bay, since 1768 in order to protect and support crown-appointed colonial officials attempting to enforce unpopular Parliamentary legislation. Amid ongoing tense relations between the population and the soldiers, a mob formed around a British sentry, who was subjected to verbal abuse and harassment. He was eventually supported by eight additional soldiers, who were subjected to verbal threats and thrown objects. They fired into the crowd, without orders, instantly killing three people and wounding others. Two more people died later of wounds sustained in the incident. And, then the Tea Party. And, then the shot heard round the world. And, so armed rebellion was foisted upon a people weary of being subjects with no rights and no voice. Had the British just left there would have been no need to have a war. But we have a psychology that seems to make control and subjugation the inevitable result of a fear-based mentality. Fear of losing our wealth, our possessions, our status, etc. True then, true today. Now that said, yes there will always be people who want to take something away from us. When they become they majority, then I no longer want to be here. Not the kind of world I want to live in.
Thanks for that letter, Mr. Gorrill. You are spot on.
Shirley Davis
Women use more health services than men just as the elderly use more health services than young people. So women should PAY more. Instead the ACA makes men subsidize women. So much for equality. The only time a progressive endorses equality is when they get an advantage for it.
And all these new services are not “free”. They will not be paid for out of some magic hidden pot of money.
Of course the insurance companies are not fighting these new mandates. Insurance companies are allowed either 15% or 20%, depending on group, overhead and profit. Every dollar that is paid through insurance gives them 15 or 20 cents in their pocket. And the total cost will be added to the premiums paid. So it will come out of your pocket anyway. Only now if a service used to cost you $8.00 out of pocket it will now cost you $10.00 in premiums. You just won’t see the direct connection. Smoke and mirrors. Cost shifting. Basic economics.
I wonder how those numbers stack up if you take out family planning and obstetrical services, the need for which is driven by both men & women…. To say that pregnancy is a woman’s health service is to ignore the causes behind the need for that care.
Mr. Gorrill – study after study has shown that political advertising does a better job of informing the electorate about candidates than mainstream media outlets. The reason should be obvious to all. The mainstream media is in the tank for the Democratic Party. That is the principle reason why libs want to restrict free speech. Who needs political ads when every day the press repeats the same message: “Democrats good; Republicans bad.”
I love this line from Lockhart and Davis: “Starting Aug.1, 2012, a long list of women’s health services became available to insured women at no additional cost — eliminating co-pays and deductibles.” So Obamacare is going to jump the deficit by $2 trillion over ten years (likely higher), but yet with “no additional cost”, apparently because someone else will be at the end of the IRS/FBI gun and be forced to pay up. You can’t make up this stuff, folks. Absolutely insipid.
This cartoon by the Pulitzer-winning Michael Ramirez sums it up nicely, wouldn’t you say?
http://sigforum.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/320601935/m/8180010982
I think you just like the ads you agree with and aprove of them over the real facts of the matter. Pathetic. Open your eyes to everything, not just the half-truths you agree with.
Political advertising does a better job than the media on informing (“mainstream”) or not? Hilarious
Patti – I blame BDN partially, because since we as society aren’t smart enough not to put horrible comments online for tragic events, that the paper should omit the ability to post comments on these type of stories – put your condolences in the obits if you feel the need to comment.
Merle,
Don’t you think that keeping those guns out of the hands of madmen would be a good restriction? Like a known madman should not be able to walk into a gun show and get an assault weapon. These last 3 or so were known to have serious mental health issues yet they all legally bought their weapons.
They weren’t “known” madmen since they passed their background checks.
Mr. Cousins, I do not own guns and don’t see a need for automatic weapons. If you want to own one , that is your choice. The point you made that bothers me more is about identifying ‘crazies’ before they do something. I agree that we should but with so many calling for cuts to medicare and medicaid which picks up the cost of a lot of psychiatric medical issues, how do you propose we do that?
Gun rights! http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/17/us/colorado-mass-shooting-tested-an-er-staff.html?pagewanted=2
Dennis Lopez,
Very good letter !!
You put it in a nut shell what is so wrong with the political arena in not only our country but in the world as a whole :-/