Lack of education is disappointing. Lack of thinking is even worse.
I wish laws would become obsolete (and taken "off the books"), but our politicians just keep creating more and more and more. Cripes, now I'm about ready to say there should be a "law" that requires teaching of the founding of the USA and the design of the constitution.
I've made the argument many times that, if 2A did not exist, our rights to self defense and collective defense would still be protected and guaranteed by 9A and 10A. I think we miss an opportunity to include that in rebutting the notion that "but for 2A, gun rights wouldn't exist" or "but for 2A, the government could ban guns."
Here's another angle. People, Biden notably, like to assert that no right is absolute. That assertion is then used to make the leap to "we can restrict rights however we wish if enough people agree to." Which not only stands the notion of rights on its head, it ignores the "rules" for restricting rights, which can be generalized as "when they infringe on another's equal rights." This is the opposite of majoritarian authority.
This informs the matter of laws becoming obsolete - which is true in principle. There has to be some foundation for finding a law obsolete, other than "we don't like it any more."
Great comment Peter. I agree, and intended to say, the Bill of Rights is not (nor was it intended to be) exhaustive. That is why the 9A and 10A exist - to explicitly inform government that the people have many other rights not mentioned, and that government needs to stay in its lane (i.e. stick to the powers and responsibilities granted it in the Constitution, and no more).
I also believe that rights are, indeed, absolute (I have been planning to write something about that for some time - you may have just resparked that piece). One person's rights only "end" where someone else's rights begin (or as you put it, your right to throw a punch ends at the tip of my nose). Otherwise, yes, rights are absolute.
There's an oft-quoted bit - not sure if it's apocryphal but it doesn't matter - that if we assume rights are granted by the government, then the government would have to grant you the right to wear your hat indoors. Conversely, the notion that, if rights aren't explicitly enumerated and protected, then the government could ban you from wearing your hat indoors.
There was much debate about including the Bill of Rights, because some feared that the enumeration would imply the latter.
That's the point of 9A, and I shudder to think where we'd be absent a BoR. But, the BoR could have been more expansive.
Consider one idea I had - protection freedom of association. It would have killed Jim Crow laws immediately, it would have kiboshed public accommodation laws, it would have kept the government out of contracts, and so much more.
I wrote this back in 2015. Perhaps I'll resurrect it.
One of my favorite lessons from childhood is, "Your rights end at the tip of my nose."
NOBODY can infringe upon my rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. (And, yes, it is tge PURSUIT of happiness. It is up to each individual to find/create that happiness for themselves).
If ignorance is bliss, we ought to have a nation full of happy motherf***ers. But that ignorance assaults the sensibilities of those that aren't.
I've lost lifelong friends and acquaintances who uttered completely ignorant misconceptions and simply telling someone that's not the way this works. Many do not wish to know the truth. It upsets the view from behind their rose tinted glasses. Civics and history have been abandoned in education. even calling it education is a stretch. indoctrination is more apt.
I really hate conspiracy theories. Three can keep a secret if two are dead, but if everyone involved is in on it, is it really a conspiracy anymore? I've come to believe this dumbing down is intentional. Such pernicious mediocrity has to be intentional. Simple incompetence would flame out eventually. Our decline as an educated people has accelerated and gathered momentum for decades.
Agreed, when an idea or agenda is widely held, conspiracy is the wrong word for it. Consensus, or more properly emerging consensus is more accurate. One of our social problems is widespread misuse of language; we truly have a failure to communicate. Our language has been steadily corrupted, words co-opted or suborned for political purposes, to mislead and confuse. I believe it's been intentional; language is a powerful weapon. Words establish the premise of debate and define the outlines of conflict. Own the language, own the high ground of discourse. Cultural Marxism relies upon corrupting and co-opting language.
It is an encouragement to me to see more “responsible” people in their 20s and 30s carrying a sidearm. It seems like an indicator of self-reliance rather than a trust in the state to protect them.
What I don’t yet see, but hopeful to one day, is the same willingness to engage in rational free speech. Shouting matches are common, but serious dialog is not. It is so easy to be in our club and only hear the same monolog. But real joy and enlightenment comes from sitting down for a meal and engaging in serious respectful dialog with people you disagree with.
My suggestion is to ignore the state and corporate overlords and have wonderful dialogs with “those” people. You might find it a great joy! You also might find it safer when they are carrying, rather than that guy in uniform.
I have been blessed to know people in all ranges of the political spectrum and been able to talk with them about their views on gun ownership. There are some that are a little left of center who were in favor of gun ownership by law abiding people. I've also known some that were to a very far left position that are totally opposed to guns. I have yet to try to have a REAL conversation with an extreme far left socialist type about the subject. From some of the interactions I've seen on social media and so forth, I believe not talking to those extremist is a blessing. And I honestly don't believe a conversation with them would NOT lead to them screaming. I may be wrong about that, but I don't think I am.
I suggest there is an analogy to the grace that Christ offers. At His discretion He opens the eyes of those who live in debauchery, the proud, and occasionally the church goer. The woke sissy leftist is also not out of His reach.
While it is good to encourage those who agree, it is an act of love to change the mind of those who disagree, that is when it is to a correct position. So endure the screaming of the masses, and perhaps one of them is in reach.
I find 2nd Timothy 4:2 helpful: “preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.” I suggest “complete patience” means you never give up!
AMEN! I do my best to be an example of what I "preach" whenever I have these kinds of conversations. I am never forceful in condemnation. Instead I do my absolute best to remain calm and peaceful in my presentation of my positions. It seems that the calmer I am the more angry they become. It took me a long time to learn that lesson. I also keep in mind that "when the student is ready, the Teacher will appear." I know this has it's roots in Buddhism, but it is a philosophy that is easily adapted to ANY spiritual or religious beliefs. I personally believe the Teacher is Christ. I know it took many years for me to FINALLY feel His presence in my life and to recognize that He has always been there, patiently waiting for me look up to see Him.
I have had a few conversations like the one you had with that uneducated woman. I say uneducated because she was obviously never taught how our government was created or how it was INTENDED to work, and hiw distorted it has become by the abuses of those elected to represent the people. They all have their own agendas with selfish intentions.
I blame the lack of knowledge like what that woman displayed on the interference of the government in the education system. I believe it was a deliberate move to dumb down the population by not teaching the necessary things for them to make informed decisions about how they will vote and simply LIVE in a free society.
Thankfully, the few conversations I have had on topics like the 2nd Amendment and the Bill of Rights have gone very cordially and they were willing to listen and LEARN something to at least think about. I always hope they will fo some research on their own and expand their knowledge. I've only come across a few that refused to budge on their position despite being given proof positive that show they are wrong in the thinking. I can only pray they are awakened to the truth before it's too late for them.
It's funny, both peculiar and haha, that as I am reading the comments, I have the line fro Forrest Gump going through my mind. "Stupid is as stupid does." Of course you have to use the kid's voice while thinking or saying it. 🤣🤣
Lack of education is disappointing. Lack of thinking is even worse.
I wish laws would become obsolete (and taken "off the books"), but our politicians just keep creating more and more and more. Cripes, now I'm about ready to say there should be a "law" that requires teaching of the founding of the USA and the design of the constitution.
I've made the argument many times that, if 2A did not exist, our rights to self defense and collective defense would still be protected and guaranteed by 9A and 10A. I think we miss an opportunity to include that in rebutting the notion that "but for 2A, gun rights wouldn't exist" or "but for 2A, the government could ban guns."
Here's another angle. People, Biden notably, like to assert that no right is absolute. That assertion is then used to make the leap to "we can restrict rights however we wish if enough people agree to." Which not only stands the notion of rights on its head, it ignores the "rules" for restricting rights, which can be generalized as "when they infringe on another's equal rights." This is the opposite of majoritarian authority.
This informs the matter of laws becoming obsolete - which is true in principle. There has to be some foundation for finding a law obsolete, other than "we don't like it any more."
Great comment Peter. I agree, and intended to say, the Bill of Rights is not (nor was it intended to be) exhaustive. That is why the 9A and 10A exist - to explicitly inform government that the people have many other rights not mentioned, and that government needs to stay in its lane (i.e. stick to the powers and responsibilities granted it in the Constitution, and no more).
I also believe that rights are, indeed, absolute (I have been planning to write something about that for some time - you may have just resparked that piece). One person's rights only "end" where someone else's rights begin (or as you put it, your right to throw a punch ends at the tip of my nose). Otherwise, yes, rights are absolute.
There's an oft-quoted bit - not sure if it's apocryphal but it doesn't matter - that if we assume rights are granted by the government, then the government would have to grant you the right to wear your hat indoors. Conversely, the notion that, if rights aren't explicitly enumerated and protected, then the government could ban you from wearing your hat indoors.
There was much debate about including the Bill of Rights, because some feared that the enumeration would imply the latter.
That's the point of 9A, and I shudder to think where we'd be absent a BoR. But, the BoR could have been more expansive.
Consider one idea I had - protection freedom of association. It would have killed Jim Crow laws immediately, it would have kiboshed public accommodation laws, it would have kept the government out of contracts, and so much more.
I wrote this back in 2015. Perhaps I'll resurrect it.
http://www.therootsofliberty.com/the-founders-missed-one
You should resurrect it. It is a good piece (just read it).
Thanks. Just imported it. Gotta find an opportune time to run it.
One of my favorite lessons from childhood is, "Your rights end at the tip of my nose."
NOBODY can infringe upon my rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. (And, yes, it is tge PURSUIT of happiness. It is up to each individual to find/create that happiness for themselves).
If ignorance is bliss, we ought to have a nation full of happy motherf***ers. But that ignorance assaults the sensibilities of those that aren't.
I've lost lifelong friends and acquaintances who uttered completely ignorant misconceptions and simply telling someone that's not the way this works. Many do not wish to know the truth. It upsets the view from behind their rose tinted glasses. Civics and history have been abandoned in education. even calling it education is a stretch. indoctrination is more apt.
I really hate conspiracy theories. Three can keep a secret if two are dead, but if everyone involved is in on it, is it really a conspiracy anymore? I've come to believe this dumbing down is intentional. Such pernicious mediocrity has to be intentional. Simple incompetence would flame out eventually. Our decline as an educated people has accelerated and gathered momentum for decades.
Yes, it appears we are rapidly (and intentionally) approaching a state of terminal ignorance.
Agreed, when an idea or agenda is widely held, conspiracy is the wrong word for it. Consensus, or more properly emerging consensus is more accurate. One of our social problems is widespread misuse of language; we truly have a failure to communicate. Our language has been steadily corrupted, words co-opted or suborned for political purposes, to mislead and confuse. I believe it's been intentional; language is a powerful weapon. Words establish the premise of debate and define the outlines of conflict. Own the language, own the high ground of discourse. Cultural Marxism relies upon corrupting and co-opting language.
It is an encouragement to me to see more “responsible” people in their 20s and 30s carrying a sidearm. It seems like an indicator of self-reliance rather than a trust in the state to protect them.
What I don’t yet see, but hopeful to one day, is the same willingness to engage in rational free speech. Shouting matches are common, but serious dialog is not. It is so easy to be in our club and only hear the same monolog. But real joy and enlightenment comes from sitting down for a meal and engaging in serious respectful dialog with people you disagree with.
My suggestion is to ignore the state and corporate overlords and have wonderful dialogs with “those” people. You might find it a great joy! You also might find it safer when they are carrying, rather than that guy in uniform.
I have been blessed to know people in all ranges of the political spectrum and been able to talk with them about their views on gun ownership. There are some that are a little left of center who were in favor of gun ownership by law abiding people. I've also known some that were to a very far left position that are totally opposed to guns. I have yet to try to have a REAL conversation with an extreme far left socialist type about the subject. From some of the interactions I've seen on social media and so forth, I believe not talking to those extremist is a blessing. And I honestly don't believe a conversation with them would NOT lead to them screaming. I may be wrong about that, but I don't think I am.
I suggest there is an analogy to the grace that Christ offers. At His discretion He opens the eyes of those who live in debauchery, the proud, and occasionally the church goer. The woke sissy leftist is also not out of His reach.
While it is good to encourage those who agree, it is an act of love to change the mind of those who disagree, that is when it is to a correct position. So endure the screaming of the masses, and perhaps one of them is in reach.
I find 2nd Timothy 4:2 helpful: “preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.” I suggest “complete patience” means you never give up!
AMEN! I do my best to be an example of what I "preach" whenever I have these kinds of conversations. I am never forceful in condemnation. Instead I do my absolute best to remain calm and peaceful in my presentation of my positions. It seems that the calmer I am the more angry they become. It took me a long time to learn that lesson. I also keep in mind that "when the student is ready, the Teacher will appear." I know this has it's roots in Buddhism, but it is a philosophy that is easily adapted to ANY spiritual or religious beliefs. I personally believe the Teacher is Christ. I know it took many years for me to FINALLY feel His presence in my life and to recognize that He has always been there, patiently waiting for me look up to see Him.
I have had a few conversations like the one you had with that uneducated woman. I say uneducated because she was obviously never taught how our government was created or how it was INTENDED to work, and hiw distorted it has become by the abuses of those elected to represent the people. They all have their own agendas with selfish intentions.
I blame the lack of knowledge like what that woman displayed on the interference of the government in the education system. I believe it was a deliberate move to dumb down the population by not teaching the necessary things for them to make informed decisions about how they will vote and simply LIVE in a free society.
Thankfully, the few conversations I have had on topics like the 2nd Amendment and the Bill of Rights have gone very cordially and they were willing to listen and LEARN something to at least think about. I always hope they will fo some research on their own and expand their knowledge. I've only come across a few that refused to budge on their position despite being given proof positive that show they are wrong in the thinking. I can only pray they are awakened to the truth before it's too late for them.
It's funny, both peculiar and haha, that as I am reading the comments, I have the line fro Forrest Gump going through my mind. "Stupid is as stupid does." Of course you have to use the kid's voice while thinking or saying it. 🤣🤣