Monday, May 07, 2007
Losing a brother...
Though there are some who would take exception with my reference to him as a Brother, due to the fact that I do not wear his colors, I learned today of the death of Bandido Gunner 1%er. Please know I intend no disrespect to his Brothers, if any should read these words; I do not attempt to count myself among your number, just among the number of people whose lives Gunner enrichened.
My heart truly grieves today. Gunner was a true brother to me during my association with the club and after that association ended. He recruited me and was responsible for some of my fondest memories of that time.
I sincerely doubt that any of the handful of folks who look at this blog will understand what I'm talking about, but that's ok.
This post is for me.
Gone but never forgotten...
Bandido Gunner 1%er
Rest in Peace, Brother.
My heart truly grieves today. Gunner was a true brother to me during my association with the club and after that association ended. He recruited me and was responsible for some of my fondest memories of that time.
I sincerely doubt that any of the handful of folks who look at this blog will understand what I'm talking about, but that's ok.
This post is for me.
Gone but never forgotten...
Bandido Gunner 1%er
Rest in Peace, Brother.
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
Would the real conservative please stand up?
Every once in a while I get so completely disgusted with politics I ask myself why I even try to keep up with the news. While the current Democrat leadership is positively laughable as they go through the motions of various posturing to satisfy the nutroots, the Republicans are equally pathetic as they seem terrified to disagree with the nuttiest supporters of either party.
Part of this comes from the fact that the more high-profile political causes seem to be totally "poll driven," as one media outlet or another try to discern the "will of the people" through taking a cross section of 100 or so people. I won't get into the intricate analysis of who's in charge of deciding what area is going to be targeted for the "random" polls, nor will I go into the "lies, damned lies, and statistics" that make up so much of reported news.
What I will address, however, is that neither party is offering a conservative candidate for president, and neither has shown conservative leadership at all. In my opinion, while I tend to agree more with the basic values espoused by the Republicans, they seem to want to push their agenda in the very same manner as the Democrats: MORE GOVERNMENT.
That's not conservatism.
I am a staunch believer in democracy and capitalism. I think that the free market economy will bring about the changes in society that are really needed, in the sense that while only about 30% of the American public votes in the poll booth, more like 98% vote with their checkbooks every day. I have yet to see any problem that the Government actually solved with society.
As a conservative, I believe some pretty radical things. I believe that I have the ability to make the determination what lifestyle, activities, and foods are right for me. I believe that I have the responsibility to live with the consequences of my decisions in those matters, and have the obligation to not expect a "bailout" from Big Brother even if those consequences are catastrophic. I believe that I am capable of deciding how my money best serves me, and that I can accept the risks involved in planning for my own financial stability later in life. I believe that what I do in the privacy of my own home is nobody's business but mine, and that it would be hypocritical of me to expect special recognition or privilege as a participant in those private activities. I believe that I, and fellow members of my community, should be able to decide what marriage is (or isn't) and that the government should get out of the marriage business altogether, letting people assign survivorship, inheritance, and power of attorney, to whomever they choose. I believe that healthcare should be affordable because of competition, not because of regulation. I believe that guns should be legal for purchase and possession by anyone of legal age who has not had that constitutional right revoked through due process. I believe that schools should be funded, guided, and regulated by their respective communities, and if those schools don't measure up academically, that they should dry up and die. I believe education is a privilege, not a right, and should be regarded as such. I believe that Blacks, Whites, Latinos, Jews, Asians, American Indians, and every other such racial and ethnic group, should be allowed to work, play, go to school, go to church, and interact in any way they want; and in no way they don't.
In other words, I believe in the liberties guaranteed by the constitution, and in freedom from the encumbrances of big government.
I am a conservative.
Part of this comes from the fact that the more high-profile political causes seem to be totally "poll driven," as one media outlet or another try to discern the "will of the people" through taking a cross section of 100 or so people. I won't get into the intricate analysis of who's in charge of deciding what area is going to be targeted for the "random" polls, nor will I go into the "lies, damned lies, and statistics" that make up so much of reported news.
What I will address, however, is that neither party is offering a conservative candidate for president, and neither has shown conservative leadership at all. In my opinion, while I tend to agree more with the basic values espoused by the Republicans, they seem to want to push their agenda in the very same manner as the Democrats: MORE GOVERNMENT.
That's not conservatism.
I am a staunch believer in democracy and capitalism. I think that the free market economy will bring about the changes in society that are really needed, in the sense that while only about 30% of the American public votes in the poll booth, more like 98% vote with their checkbooks every day. I have yet to see any problem that the Government actually solved with society.
As a conservative, I believe some pretty radical things. I believe that I have the ability to make the determination what lifestyle, activities, and foods are right for me. I believe that I have the responsibility to live with the consequences of my decisions in those matters, and have the obligation to not expect a "bailout" from Big Brother even if those consequences are catastrophic. I believe that I am capable of deciding how my money best serves me, and that I can accept the risks involved in planning for my own financial stability later in life. I believe that what I do in the privacy of my own home is nobody's business but mine, and that it would be hypocritical of me to expect special recognition or privilege as a participant in those private activities. I believe that I, and fellow members of my community, should be able to decide what marriage is (or isn't) and that the government should get out of the marriage business altogether, letting people assign survivorship, inheritance, and power of attorney, to whomever they choose. I believe that healthcare should be affordable because of competition, not because of regulation. I believe that guns should be legal for purchase and possession by anyone of legal age who has not had that constitutional right revoked through due process. I believe that schools should be funded, guided, and regulated by their respective communities, and if those schools don't measure up academically, that they should dry up and die. I believe education is a privilege, not a right, and should be regarded as such. I believe that Blacks, Whites, Latinos, Jews, Asians, American Indians, and every other such racial and ethnic group, should be allowed to work, play, go to school, go to church, and interact in any way they want; and in no way they don't.
In other words, I believe in the liberties guaranteed by the constitution, and in freedom from the encumbrances of big government.
I am a conservative.
