Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Newport City Council Violence Resolution

There is righteous angst and frustration at the level of violence in our society. The Newport City Council has before it a proposed resolution that, even in its latest revision, is in my opinion toothless feelgood political correctness. We need positive, albeit politically incorrect, measures if this issue is to be resolved.

It works for Israel, it can work here:

-->
Clause # Preface Original Napolitano text Proposed Revised text Remarks
1 WHEREAS, tragedies at schools, such as Columbine, Virginia
Tech, and Sandy Hook, bring to the forefront the
need to protect our most vulnerable citizens, our
children and school personnel, from gun violence;
And
No change
2 WHEREAS, similar events have taken place in other public
areas, such as the Aurora Theater and work places
around the nation, and even at Ft. Hood, which is
considered a secured environment; and
No change
3 WHEREAS, the President of the United States has issued
executive actions based on the recommendations of
a Study Commission of gun violence, to promote
fact- based, common sense legislation which would
protect the rights and freedom of all citizens,
No change
4 WHEREAS, there has been widespread support among those who
own guns, and those who do not, for the
recommendations that include: the banning of
assault weapons and high capacity magazine clips
of more than ten rounds; reporting to the Bureau
of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF)the sale
of large quantities of ammunition; requiring
background checks on all gun purchasers,
including those purchased at gun shows; and a
number of other recommendations, all of which
will be debated in Congress to control gun
violence in America, which has permeated into
every element of our society; and
Palliative measures rendered heretofore such as background checks, gun-free zones, registrations, and databases, having been proven ineffective time and again; while proven effective measures, such as armed guards, concealed-carry training and equipping of school officials, gun safety and responsibility training for adolescents, restrictions on perversion and violence in games and entertainment media have been effected only to a limited extent or not at all, constrained by politically correct aversion to restraints on First Amendment rights and concerns for individual sensitivity, “Widespread support” is simply a measure of political correctness and proof that substantive measures are being proposed by thinking people, not “feeling” people.
5 WHEREAS, New clause Federal agencies having been at best ineffective at reducing, and at worst complicit in increasing gun violence, (e.g., the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms “Fast and Furious” project that did place thousands of deadly weapons in the hands of criminals), and The ATF is useless, proven by the fact that Congress has failed to assign a director for many years.
6 WHEREAS, New clause prior proposals have demonstrated public ignorance of fundamental firearms definitions, terminology and modes of operation (e.g., “assault weapon”, “automatic” versus “semi-automatic”, time required to empty magazines of different sizes, spray patterns) This one has been beaten to death, but is still true.
7 WHEREAS, the State of Rhode Island currently does not have
and should implement a centralized data base
system to identify all legitimate gun
registrations in the State, including the scope
of concealed-carry weapons, which would greatly
benefit all law enforcement agencies.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
NOW THEREFORE BE IT
8 RESOLVED: New clause That state and local governments embark on a proper path of violence control in general, including examining constraints on perversion and violence in games, video, and other media available to minors; Keeping young minds on the straight path has been proven effective over and again.
9
New clause That state and local governments embark on a proper path of identifying psychological deviants to include an anonymous free line or web site that citizens can contact to identify people who appear “weird” to be followed up by social workers. Visceral perceptions, while not politically correct, have been proven time and again to be valid. Our system of jury trial is just that: if twelve men good and true find you guilty, then you probably are guilty.
10
New clause That state and local governments develop properly supervised databases of said psychological deviants, and You want databases? This is a useful database. Not one of lawful gun owners.
11
New clause That state and local governments embark on a proper path of public education on the roles, utility, and use of all manner of weapons, including firearms,
12
New clause that such education include education on the tenets of the First and Second amendments, including current law for defense of home and place of business (“Castle Laws”) and the rights of self defense;
13
New clause that such education be manifested in mandatory curriculae in high school and state community colleges, as well as being offered for fee in community centers;
14
New clause That state and local governments develop properly supervised firing ranges and training facilities, similar to those established in the state of Israel for the proper weapons training of every citizen. AND BE IT FURTHER http://tinyurl.com/a6wxmvm “Why Israel Has No Newtowns”
15 RESOLVED: that copies this resolution be sent to our
Congressional and State Legislative
Delegations, and to all the cities and towns
in the State of Rhode requesting their support
on this vital issue.
No change

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Two fairy tales (maybe) and two true stories

Americans, it seems these days, prefer feelgood political correctness over reality.

So, here you go, America: two fairy tales (well, maybe, or maybe not) and two factual accounts.

You be the judge:

1. Once upon a time a man went into his business's Federal Credit Union. He had done business with them for over fifty years, always paid his bills, never bounced a single check, always been generous.

 But now as a consequence of Congressional intransigence and budget impasse he was out of work and had not found a new job despite daily hours of searching and sending resumés.

No one, it seems wanted to hire his services, since they didn't know what was going to happen with the budget. And besides, he was getting a bit long in the tooth.

But his bills were mounting so something had to be done.

So he goes to the faithful credit union.

"I'd like to get an equity loan on my house," he says, and explains the details of his finances.

They listen carefully, then ask: "How will you pay it back? You have your military retirement, but the Government is talking about suspending that, and you have Social Security but they're talking about sequestering that as well. So how can you pay it back?"

"Well", he says, "I have an obscenely rich education, I'm kind to the poor, and I sing in the choir. And I'm still quite healthy. I can work at Walmart of Stop 'n Shop. Heck yesterday I was invited to cut fish at Anthony's Seafood. I'll gladly sign a promissory note and I really reeely promise to pay it back."

"Yes, well all that is nice, but the three you mention are minimum wage and no one is hiring anyhow. You might make $24K a year, but your expenses are $37K a year, so without your military retirement and social security you are going into debt at the rate of $13K a year. And you already owe $163K in credit cards, let alone whatever we lend you. So you can never pay off your debts with this formulary...

"So once again, how will you pay?"

"Well I can sell my house, but then why bother getting a loan..."

Precisely.

So he puts his house up for sale.

-----
Fade out, then back in.
-----
2. The Government goes to the financial markets. Let's call it Seaward and Pacific Credit Union. It's next door to the business Federal Credit Union.

The Government says, "I need to feed the poor. I have an obscenely rich education, I'm kind to the poor, and I sponsor a choir. Several in fact, and some
TV stations and some swimming meets as well. And I'm still quite healthy.

"But I'm in $163,700 in credit card debt. I make $24,690 a year, mostly collecting protection money from others, not actually building bridges or dams or roads or doing anything really useful (like Roosevelt or Eisenhower tried to do).  I used to hire a bunch of analysts but I can't afford for anyone to actually think any more, so I've laid them off.

"But I do presently spend $37,930 a year, mostly being kind to others (especially those who don't have jobs), sponsoring nice music, and paying for a few gorillas who sit outside my door (and go into the bad neighborhoods) to keep people from breaking down my door.

"And I just hired another couple of goons, one named Danny Happy Smith (DHS we call him) to sit around INSIDE the door in case anyone gets past the other four.

"Oh, and then this is this pretty girl Nancy Sweet Angel (we call her NSA) to listen in on everyone's cellphones and email and Twitters and Facebook accounts so that we'll know when someone is coming.

"So I really need a loan. I'll gladly sign a ton of promissory notes (you call them "bonds") that I promise, I really reely promise to pay back. I am a nice guy. Trust me."

 Seaward and Pacific (S&P for short) says: "Yes, you are a good and faithful servant, and wise beyond your ears. Oh, sorry, I meant years. Bless you my child.

"But before we proceed, didn't you just lay off the guy that just applied for the loan next door? Why did you let him go? Have you hired him back?"
 
"Oh, no. I can't hire him back. I can't afford my own expenses, so I can't hire him back unless you give me a loan. And besides, he has an obscenely rich education. He's an analyst. His job is thinking, and we can't afford that anymore. But anyhow, he'll find another job, eventually."

"Oh. I see," said S&P. "You can't hire people who really do useful work, but you can afford to give money away to the poor. Well, yes. You certainly are kind.

"But how are you going to pay it back?"

"Well", it says, "I'll just borrow more money."

"Well child, I don't think that will work. You can never pay off $163K plus the money you want to borrow by spending $13.2K more than you earn.

"So we just can't lend you any more, and I'll tell all my friends who run banks and credit unions these details as well, since they can't afford to lend you money either."

"WHAT?!!", it screams. "HOW DARE YOU? WHAT KIND OF A RACIST FASCIST ARE YOU? THIS IS A TRAVESTY! THIS IS LIBEL!! DESTROY A POOR FAMILY'S FAITH IN THEIR GOVERNMENT, WILL YOU????!!! "I'LL SUE!! I'LL SUE!!"

(And maybe send some of their gorillas to visit S&P.... )

-----

Oh! And neither of them lived happily ever after...

And now a break from the sponsors; a little touch of reality, as in "truth" as well as consequences:

 1. TRUTH: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324445904578284064003795142.html

or if you prefer

http://tinyurl.com/bya33ey

 U.S. Sues S&P Over Ratings
-----
2. CONSEQUENCES: Oh, and I do hate to be so inconveniently direct about truth and historical precedent, but do please see the following:

 http://militarytimes.com/static/projects/pages/navy-cno-direction-sequestration.pdf

 and

http://www.infojustice.com/Argentina.pps

Such a beautiful song to hear, but talk about stuck on stupid...

Apologies to the brothers Grimm, Jim, Walt Kelly, and others...

A Nation of Camp Followers

Open letter to my representatives (as well as sent directly to POTUS, Boehner, Reed, & Ciccilini):

Do not surrender on obtaining cuts and on accepting the sequestration. We have become a nation of camp followers, prostituting our bodies and souls for handouts from big government.

This must cease.

We are delusional. Some people won't even listen. When people become delusional you have to put them in a straitjacket to prevent them from hurting others and themselves. This government is delusional and must be so equally constrained. Absent that there will be violence. And violence reaps violence in return.

Do not surrender.

Sunday, January 27, 2013

Open letter to my "representatives" (or not)

SUPPORT BOEHNER:

No budget, no pay is brilliant. Well done.

Connie Mack's penny plan is similar.

As is apparently the affirmable allegation that all recent mass murderers are Democrats and psychotic... So please introduce a bill to declare all Democrats mentally ill.

Also please note the attempts to rationalize electoral college imbalances:

http://tinyurl.com/a7l2kfx

Please introduce a bill to implement by district electoral votes. The present system is an abortion. This man was elected by 31% of the population. An abortion.

Best regards.

Sunday, January 20, 2013

Truth and Fiction

> I just finished Bob Woodward's "The Price of Politics".

You are all too totally brilliant, as I have observed over the past ... almost 40 years. Well, most of you...

:-)

So let's please put on our thinking caps. Surely, if anyone in this nation can figure this out, we can.

We have hideous problems facing this nation, this state, this city, this neighborhood.

We need to change the rules:

Symptomatic treatments do NOT work.

We need root cause analysis.

Our society treats every problem in a simplistic symptomatic way:

      "Here, sorry it hurts, take an aspirin."

     "Oh, I'm sorry it hurts. Here, we'll cut it out."

Or perhaps slightly more sophisticatedly:

      "Oh, I'm sorry it hurts. Here is some rat poison I will feed you in moderate amounts for a hideous amount of time and we'll hope it kills it off before it kills you off."

Hello! Is there a doctor in the house?

Palliative care is, by definition, care intended to make you feel good, not actually cure you.

And only for a while.

And that is what this "Government" - Executive, Senate, HR, AND THEIR STAFFS - are doing.

Kicking the can down the road, playing on sympathies, distracting the (lower 60th percentile) from the realities of life.

Political Correctness.

This does not work in the end.

The human body is an amazing wonderment, as is the human mind. These measures work for a very short period of time, but beyond that they are disaster.

The patient always dies.

FACT.

Similarly, in things politic, symptomatic treatments, business as usual, do not work:

+ Cut spending, cut taxes
+ Increase spending, increase taxes
+ Ban all guns, ban no guns
+ Be nice, don't be nice
+ Sue each other
+ Sue the states (e.g., Arizona)
+ Gradualism (Obama's "23 point" approach: all feelgood crap, no substance) ...

=====

GIVE ME A FREAKING BREAK. There has to be another way.

=====

You CAN fire the principals, but you cannot, yet, fire their staffs, the true root of this evil;

if you fire the old man, the new man will inherit THE SAME STAFF!!!

And perpetrate more of the same incompetence, if not evil. (Has anyone watched "Yes, Prime Minister"?

So we need term limits, not only for the principals, but for their STAFF!!!

=====

Yesterday, with little detail announced by our illustrious media, the House Republicans have come up with a brilliant plan.

They are obviously listening to Bill Whittle:

"Stop playing their political games!!"

They have said,

"OK, we won't play your political game. We have the hammer, WE shall play a NEW game. Try THIS one on for size:

"I'll see your debt increase. For three months.

"But no more...

How's that for kind, courteous, temperate, objective, and rational?

"However, comma:

"In return for which I expect you to do your job as you have ALREADY SWORN UNDER AN OATH TO GOD to do. THE SINGLE SOLE PURPOSE FOR YOUR EXISTENCE is to PASS A BUDGET, which you have FAILED TO DO for the past FOUR years!!!

"So if you DO NOT DO YOUR JOB then YOU SHALL NOT BE PAID."

How's THAT for conclusive, hmmm?

=====

What person in their right mind can possibly argue with that:

DO YOUR JOB OR YOU SHALL NOT BE PAID.

How about THAT, Kemo Sabe?

Absolutely brilliant.

=====

Kind, courteous, temperate, objective, rational, and (most especially) conclusive.

Can anyone spell "Don't Tread on Me"?

=====

Now, this is the sort of kind, courteous, temperate, objective, rational, and (most especially) conclusive behaviour I expect from my employees (which they, all of them, including BHO himself, happen to be).

=====

So how can we extend that sort of kind, courteous, temperate, objective, rational, and (most especially) conclusive behaviour to discussions about the 2nd (or any other) amendment of the Bill of Rights?

=====

The first step is to DISAVOW Political Correctness.

For the rest of our natural lives.

Stop being nice. Start being honest. Tell the truth.

If necessary, be nasty.

Especially if they aren't listening.

The next is to understand that there are some people with whom you will never ever be able to argue successfully, so save your breath.

The best you can do is ignore them. The worst you can do is blow them away.

It's sort of like a divorce.

I have written off several. (Most closer to ignoring them than blowing away, except perhaps emotionally but it's somewhere in the middle. We can always talk about the weather. If they can't get it and won't listen then they are purposely trying to hurt me, so I don't need them...)

The best-seller book *A Conflict of Vision* by Thomas Sowell explores this phenomenon in great depth:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Conflict_of_Visions

and it is supported by over 105 studies, cited in the book.

So, I propose:

FACTS.

In short, if you haven't got the same original vision, you are pissing up a rope. If you cannot match your vision with that of another then any interaction shall be fruitless. So stop messing up your pants. The only solution is brute force.

=====

How to achieve brute force?

Again, be kind, courteous, temperate, objective, rational, and (most especially) conclusive in the public eye in order to reach out to the people in the hump:

     - the ones looking to the left at Pelosi and to the right at me.

The MIDDLE of THAT bell shaped curve.

There are lots of nice, kind, courteous, temperate, objective, rational, and (albeit perhaps not very) conclusive people in the middle of that bell curve. THOSE are the people we must reach. By being kind, courteous, temperate, objective, rational, and conclusive.

=====

Now, an interlude from our sponsor: An article of faith from Winston Churchill: "the American people will always do the right thing (but only after they have exhausted all other options...)"

(or words to that effect...)

http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Talk:Winston_Churchill

=====

This was borne out by the actions of the House of Representatives on Friday afternoon. Absolutely brilliant. Lots of squirming and pants-wetting on the opposite side of the aisle. How can they parry THIS?

=====

One (almost) down. Now the next: the Second Amendment.

=====

This is war.

Do not surrender.

Do not be nice.

The answer is NO:

+ Balance the budget.
+ Uphold the Constitution.
+ Reduce the debt
+ The right to bear arms (including whips, knives, swords, clubs, and brass knuckles) shall not be infringed.

An AK-47 is an automatic weapon, arguably an "assault" weapon:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assault_rifle
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AK-47

An AR-15 is not:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AR-15

Sleep tight tonight, knowing that there is an armed NRA member near you. 

Friday, January 11, 2013

Coherent, temperate, rational, and logical thinking

I'll make it pretty later.

I have thought seriously, objectively, comprehensively, and coherently about "the problem". But my solutions invoke forbidden territory: Political Correctness. This is a chat group, so perhaps we all should just be nice and talk about the weather. But just being nice sidesteps issues that affect us all. So here is a coherent, temperate, rational, and logical summary of my analysis.
I have a correspondent who is quoted below.

He is obviously thinking in the same direction:
I just finished Bob Woodward's "The Price of Politics".  Reminded me way too
much of my stint in Treasury Board staff here in BC.  We were never quite
this stupid and you could take 3 zero's off all the numbers but at the end
of the day, 
Try taking EIGHT zeros off the U.S. budget and pretend it is a family
budget.

For example: Government budget (removing eight zeros):

http://useconomy.about.com/od/usfederalbudget/p/US-Government-Federal-Budget-FY2012-Summary.htm

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_public_debt

 and others)

Trillion = 12 zeros, removing eight puts you in the thousands:
   
 Annual Income:   24,690.00 
 Annual Expenses:  37,930.00 
 Additional Annual Debt:  13,240.00 
 Total Current Debt: 163,700.00 

 Years to pay off ***if ALL Income*** were spent on paying it off,
nevermind the necessary expenses, like food and rent:

 6.63 

it would appear politicians and the political animals that
gravitate to them as staff are the same the world over.  
And always have been, since Herod, Pilate, and hideously many before.

More recently, Hitler, Stalin, Marcos, Castro, Chavez, and several other
current center stage actors in the Mideast and elsewhere, maybe right
here in River City.

Enemies foreign and domestic. Especially the domestic...

It is called pathologically narcissistic liars. Read, or just glance, at
People of the Lie:

http://www.amazon.com/People-Lie-Hope-Healing-Human/dp/0684848597
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M._Scott_Peck
http://www.geftakysassembly.com/Articles/Perspectives/MalignantNarcissism.htm 
 
I could be way off base but a superficial look from way outside the situation would lead me 
to believe that only cutting spending the amount it would take would leave
millions starving in the streets.
 
Mmmm. It depends.

On a white market that might be so, but the black market survives,
especially in a free capitalistic market.

There are hideously huge entitlement programs already extant that would
not be touched. Military pensions, social security, for starters.

But then there's the black market.

Wanna know how many snowy sidewalks $40 in cash will clear when you live
ten blocks away from a public housing project? Give it a try.

And so, people of determination and integrity with a historical (as in
3000 years of Judeo-Christian culture) work ethic will do just fine.
Especially if paid in cash.

As for the rest, Darwin rules. We don't need them.

No matter which side of the political
spectrum you are on or how secure your gated community, nobody would see 
this as a recipe for re-election.   
First, I don't live in a gated community. Au contraire, I live said ten
blocks from said public housing project directly on the so-said "Ho Chi
Mihn trail" from the minority community center to the said public
housing project. We suffer daily vandalism and breakins of cars and
other property, because these people are angry, ignorant, unemployed,
perhaps mentally deficient, and otherwise disenfranchised. So they take
it out on our Audis, BMWs, and Volvos. So hardly a gated community.

But I digress. You are correct. Nobody would see this as a recipe for
reelection.

But why should they be reelected anyhow?

We need to address a fundamental deficiency in our form of government:
TERM LIMITS.

We have term limits for the executive, Thanks Be To God. Although some
idiots are trying to overturn that. In your dreams...

But not for either senate nor house of "representatives"
(representatives not: see People of the Lie).

As a result you end up with the same sycophantic drudge of People of the
Lie you cite above.

If instead we had a three term limit:

+ First to learn and maneuver into position (committee positions, etc.)
+ Second to perform
+ Third to get jaded, corrupted, and suck up to contractors for a
post-term "consultant" (read lobbyist) position

then we would find people of courage and integrity who want to get in
there, fix something, and get out and go home.

As was envisioned by the founding fathers.

If you raised taxes enough to cover spending you would drive anybody capable of running a hot dog stand to
defecting to a low tax country like Russia. 
Duh. As you have already cited. My boat is in the UK. It shall not
return here.
 
 It would appear to me that the only route likely to succeed would be a combination of tax increases and
spending cuts.  
Well, I disagree. Do the eight zero math above.

If you do the math on the proposed marginal tax increase it is something
like 6.2K in model above. 620 Billion divided by eight zeros:

http://blog.heritage.org/2013/01/08/tax-changes-2013/
http://dailycaller.com/2013/01/01/fresh-from-fiscal-cliff-standoff-obama-demands-another-tax-increase-for-2013/

The fact is that constitutionality and a host of other reasons have
sucked "more taxes" about as dry as they can be sucked.

To quote Denver: tits on a boar hog.

The only remaining solution is CUTTING EXPENDITURE.

Now, I have spent some twenty years in Defense Department and local
budgeting. I can point out time and time again excessive hideous waste
and profligacy that could be axed without ANYBODY's ox being gored,
except the fat cats collecting the money. Why does my town's Fire Chief
need TWO SUVs plus a Ford Crown Victoria? Etc. etc. etc. ad nauseum.

WHY?

Because of Political Correctness. Because of people being afraid to
speak out, to say what they know to be true because they are afraid of
being called "not nice".

"You don't understand, Commander."

"I understand perfectly. You are a liar, a cheat, and a thief. How's
THAT for understanding, Mr. GS-15? Go to hell. Your program is axed."

"Want to complain? Here is my boss's phone number. Make my day."

No one ever did.

What I don't understand is what mix of political stripes and,
majority / minority mix could / would do that.  What am I missing?  How
much runway is left before there is no way out?
There IS no way out. There IS no more runway. There IS no way out than
radical action, a fundamental change in the paradigm:

We are at a tipping point.

There are millions of people in this country who are totally fed up,
madder than hell (Google "madder than hell" for fun). We are at the
straw being added to the camel's back. Mark my words.

The only mix of political stripes that will solve this is a massively
hideous tragedy (like World War II) or a collection of people of courage
and integrity willing to speak the truth in coherent, temperate,
rational, and logical terms.

What part of this, anyone, please, is not coherent, temperate, rational,
or logical?

But as usual with big government, instead of coherent, temperate,
rational, and logical thought we get soundbite politics and political
correctness.

+ You cannot discuss matters coherently, temperately, rationally, or
logically with incoherent, intemperate, irrational, or illogical people.
So don't bother. Just use overwhelming force.

+ The salvation is the people in the middle looking left and right. That
may be you.

+ To win the people in the middle we must be coherent, temperate,
rational, and logical.

+ If THEY are coherent, temperate, rational, and logical they will see
your argument's validity and vote accordingly.

Now, THAT is overwhelming force.

No more Political Correctness.

God bless us all.

And have mercy on us, we miserable sinners.

Amen.

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

You spineless scum

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-house-nears-fiscal-cliff-vote-20130101,0,1277358.story