Some agency could easily download the membership list of the NRA, legally or illegally, although there seems to be no difference today. The technology exists; the USA PATRIOT Act provides a pretext if one is needed. Then the agency could break into the homes of all NRA members and confiscate their weapons. There may not be a Fourth Amendment limitation because the Fourth Amendment may soon be deleted from the Constitution. Probable cause has been shown because the members of the NRA probably caused themselves to own guns. And probable cause may not even be required in the near future. The agency may be prying many cold, dead fingers off many guns. “I really wasn’t using my civil liberties anyway.”
Gun Control, NRA Style (January 9, 2006)
Posted in Civil Rights/Civil Liberties, Guns, Law, Politics, USA PATRIOT Act on January 9, 2006 by e-commentary.orgThe Year Past (January 2, 2006)
Posted in Economics, Philosophy, Politics on January 2, 2006 by e-commentary.orgOne of last year’s predictions was flat wrong – the Euro went sideways, not up, relative to the dollar. That means that Europe went sideways, not up. That is not good. Untethering the Yuan, albeit slightly, in July was critical; the Yuan must be free to go up or down or sideways. The dollar must remain free to go down to balance the trade deficit. The National Debt broke 8 Trillion and continues to skyrocket. The Crusade in Iraq is a continuing failure. We as a planet celebrated the second anniversary of Bush’s declaration of World War III on March 19. The battlefield is now the entire planet; there is no plan and no end in sight. The Downing Street Memo released in The Sunday Times on May 1 confirmed that the entire Crusade was premised on a lie; May 1 is “Law Day” which is a day to reflect on our heritage of liberty, justice and equality under the law and the rule of law in a democracy; the Sunday Times article was overlooked or disregarded by almost every American commentator. The cesspool of corruption fomented by the Republicans now has some citizens scratching their heads and wondering whether we should return to a two party political system; it has served as a check and provided balance even though it is not written into the Constitution. The conquest of the Supreme Court began as promised. Activist conservative Supreme Court justices will reward the president who appointed them with a blank check to establish a Supreme Emperor. When called upon, the Supremes will reciprocate again and appoint a Republican president. Smiles mask lies. A federal government designed not to respond to major disasters such as the Hurricanes this summer will not be able to respond to major disasters. The response to Katrina and kin was intentional not unwitting. A federal judge in Pennsylvania appointed by Bush of all people provided a flicker of hope when he observed that intelligent design has no place in the classroom. Harold Pinter discussed the lack of truth in politics in his Nobel acceptance speech. Those who were confident that Bubble Boy was monitoring their conversations remain convinced that he is monitoring them. What else is he doing to us? There is a new Pope. And Terry Schiavo, RIP.
The Coming Depression Is Not Depressing (May 9, 2005)
Posted in Economics, Society on May 9, 2005 by e-commentary.orgAmerica is on the precipice of a long, harsh and grinding Depression. Don’t get depressed. The experience will be uplifting. Americans have become fat, lazy and arrogant. The coming Depression will make all of us lean, hard working and humble, the true American family values. Those few Americans who have acquired three Burger Heaven franchises have become smug members of the petty bourgeoisie. They have conspired to eliminate the safety net that underpinned life in America. They will be the ones to fall the farthest and land the hardest without the internal fortitude to survive. All of us will be better for it.
