Guns!

 

I can’t help but think the gun manufacturers are laughing all the way to the bank after reaching critical mass.  Those that buy handguns are acting out of fear or machismo.  Those that are acting out of fear may be off base, but have understandable feelings.  Those machismo buyers fall into two groups; those that think they will be a hero, (before getting shot by the police for having a weapon near a shooting), or in the desire to become famous all around the Country when the media publishes their name and biography.  These know that they are losers and have no other avenue to fame.  Then there are those that open carry, whose desire is to scare everyone they see and should be classified as terrorists.   The sportsmen that responsibly use firearms aren’t likely to buy many additional guns providing little profit growth to the gun manufacturers.

The Poster Boy of American Politics

 

Congressman Santos is the poster boy of what is wrong with this Country.  We, as a people, don’t seem to value integrity anymore.  We grew up hearing stories about duels fought over challenges to ones “honor” that included name calling and lying.  Many of us now seem to believe that the best liar makes the best politician.  I can’t understand how people reconcile this when our whole lives depend on trusting others to do what they say they will.

GOP on Integrity

 

While I’m not a fan of either political party, my understanding of the GOP’s agenda is very disturbing.  It appears that we can break their membership into 3 categories:  The first is those that are economically advantaged and want to see a return on their investment in Congress.   The second is interested in doing away with all government by cutting funding and then complaining that government is inefficient and it is the Democrats fault.  The third are those people that lack the reasoning power to see that many of the things they cheer consist of ‘cutting off the nose to spite the face’.  

The first group is in control and along with help from the second, is illustrated by their tax cuts to the rich and just recently trying to defund the IRS.  The only benefit of defunding the IRS is that it will be easier to cheat on taxes.  It has been known for a long time that each IRS auditor brings in much more money than it takes to pay them.

 The second and third groups are both shown by their opposition to anything that brings benefits to the normal citizen, such as, getting rid of Obama Care, opposing any and all gun control and allowing any kind of humane immigration policy.

The third group shows its ignorance by not realizing that cutting taxes by one governmental entity just causes other governmental units to raise taxes.  They call themselves the ‘Freedom Caucus’ but are fighting to control women’s bodies, fighting to bring their religious beliefs into everyone’s lives, fighting for the ‘freedom’ to infect others with deadly disease’s  and somehow believing that the open carry of firearms is patriotic rather than terroristic.

Conservatives by definition are in opposition to change, even though change along with death and taxes are never going away.  The GOP in the past used its conservative viewpoint to slow things down while all the options had been explored and debated.  Now it’s the Gingrich rule of “either you’re with us all the way or you’re against us” has allowed ethics to go by the wayside.  Lying is now not only acceptable but a good way to get elected.  Their only accomplishments recently have been the promoting of blame, anger, fear and hate.  I hope they can hold up a mirror and change their ways.  This is clearly a party whose lack of ethics and honor needs to be realized.  Getting rid of the Ethics Committee is not what is needed.  This is clearly a party whose lack of ethics and honor needs to be realized.