My lords and my ladies of the royal court, I give to you a smattering of opinions, observations and what all on this or that. Without any further delay, let's get rolling, shall we?
Lawyers, Guns and Money
Normally, I dislike World Nut Daily. Some days, that's putting it Very Mildly, but this day is different. While surfing I found a wonderful little story about Kennesaw, GA who had enacted a law that required each head of household to own and maintain a gun. Despite much wailing and gnashing of teeth about how this little town would resemble the Wild West, in fact the opposite has happened.
Here's the thing, for those screwheads in the audience who think guns are bad: Guns are just tools. Yes, they are weapons, but what makes them deadly is the person pulling the trigger.
"But Dharma," you cry, "what about all those Precious Little Snowflakes who find their daddy's gun and then blow their little heads off while playing with them?"
A fair question, but shut up. That just means that the gun in question has not been dealt with properly. It's hidden away, or put in a place where the kids hopefully won't find it. Requiring the head of household to own and maintain a gun means that the thing is there for all to see. When Bubba Junior waddles up to his mom or dad while they are cleaning the thing, dollars to donuts they explain what they are doing, what it is, and how it's not a toy.
Put another way, Educate yourself. And if you learn along the way that wherever there have been CTC laws passed, crimes have actually gone DOWN and you still believe that guns are bad, then you are arguing against the symbol of the gun, not the real gun or the person behind the trigger.
As Admiral Bob aka Robert A. Heinlein said, "An armed society is a polite society. Manners are good when one may have to back up ones acts with their life."
Speaking of pulling the trigger...
The Termi-Nader
Memo to Ralph "Pinto" Nader: Do us all a favor and STFU, kaythxbye. Look, it's not that I don't agree with some of the things you've said in the past. Yes, there are few differences between the Republicans and the Democrats, but what differences there are are Very Fundamental.
When Bubba Billy came into office, one of the first things he did was increase taxes and cut spending. In 1993, they passed a large number of tax increases across the board, despite unanimous opposition by Republicans. Republicans at the time were peeved as all getout (and in fact some have speculated these same increases were what lost them the majority in '94), calling them the "largest in history."
Sure, both parties may assume the position for whatever corporate or wealthy donor that comes along, but with the Democrats, they are willing to do what is right for US as Americans to keep themselves in power, rather than use the power they gained to keep themselves in power without regard to US, like the Republicans.
My point? Look, I almost voted for Nader, only because of my dissatisfaction with both parties in 2000 (I was in Iowa at the time, so you could probably understand where I was coming from) but I decided to vote for Gore? Why? Because I believed he was the better man for the job. Nader is only doing this to be a gadfly. Worst of all, he makes this announcement while in Fracking CANADA? Don't go away mad, Ralphie boy. Just go away.
Special K or Lucky Charms?
So now we come to The Park Ridge Princess, The Kid from the South Side and Ulysees Everett Edwards. (Yeah, I am probably leaving out The Old Guy from Alaska, but let's be honest here, kids, he's not really been much of a factor in this race.)
Bless Kucinich's little pointed ears, I have loved the things that have come out of his mouth since day one (you know, things like "Impeach 'Mad Dog' Cheney" but I knew pretty much from in front that he didn't have too much of a chance in this election. His problem? Well, he speaks truth to power, and our Corporate Overlords cannot have that.
Personally, I'd like to see him get a cabinet spot, but I don't hold much hope for that happening. On the plus side, he does have a rather fetching wife to go home to, so I'd say he's doing well dropping out now.
And with that, I bid you all good night, good luck, and keep your powder dry.