Obama gave an impassioned speech - Page 19

Good afternoon everyone....

Well, looks like my projection wasn't too far off!
http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/04/15/17764747-explosions-rock-finish-of-boston-marathon-2-killed-and-at-least-23-hurt-police-say?lite

Bee, my assumption is that you have indeed surveyed the landscape as you perceive it, and feel compelled to act through your support of the legislation, in the hope of preventing similar acts in the future. When you say that you are not expecting instant success, I can only guess that you view it as a step. I also view it as a step. But through my own perception, which may be through a lense very different from your own, it is also an ideological step in the macro sense. The formation of our civil government was overwhelmingly influence by precedent, which remains an instrumental concept in our justice system. The initial federal contitutional republic we began with has morphed over time; sometimes necessary, other times, not so much IMO. Our civil government was never intended to anwser as many questions as we now expect it to answer, though we now experience more, and more complicated issues. When we experience something like 911 or Newtown, we have to take a hard look at why these things are happening, and what we should, and should not do as a society to deal with them. I think we do far too little in the our personal social spheres, and expect far too much out of our govt framework. The trend appears to be one in which we continually realize social degredation, fail to fully apprehend the matter, and feel compelled to do "something". We don't fix anything. The result, is loss of liberty for everyone. Whether or not one to surrender some of that liberty for a particular purpose is again, a matter of personal perception. Since the trend is in the direction of liberal government, and has been for decades, conservatives feel compelled to view all such legislation in terms of the big picture. That said, the conservatives I am aquainted with are just as torn by recent events as the liberals I know.

Good post Carlin.

The system was a failure from the beginning, you can't preach liberty while enslaving the blacks, woman and slaughtering the peoples who were already here. Can't you see the double standard?

You evidently don't know what the Constitution is, nor what it's supposed to do.

Thank god someone finally took the time to build a bomb instead of taking the easy way and shooting a gun...

I do believe Carlin has a more than a few good thoughts in his/her head.  Great post

Carlin,
Surveying the landscape has been unavoidable, actually. I absolutely do view the few "recommendations" learned from facts of the Lanza murder spree in Newtown, as important enough to understand correctly. I don't want to make law changes, just to make things happen. Interestingly enough, I thought I was making the conclusive and correct, "ideological step in the macro sense". LOL This is why people fight!  Any way, I understand that our government was purposely created by some very wise founders, to accept change at the swiftness of a snail. I find it ironic, too, that the most die-hard supporters that would have the 2nd Amendment carved in stone, never mention the definition of "amendment"... a change or addition!

This is the thing, and it does concern the money, too. The NRA Lobby stranglehold of thought, has or had to be exposed. And now, hopefully a real purposeful conversation, that doesn't belittle one another will begin, between ALL the people of our country, not just the politcal parties, so we all can come to grips with the violence that is out of control. Every which way, apparently.

Now, you mention your conclusion, that all the "somethings" that have resulted that don't fix anything, are ultimately paid in a "loss of liberty for everyone". Except, and here it is, my point that brings out the difference, is,  at what point does an idea like "Liberty" translate into what I would call, and this is the debate, isn't it.... a "Luxury"? This is a universal idea, yes? We need to eat, yes? But we don't need to eat caviar and fois gras? I really think the solution lies not in conservatives or liberals, but to recognize our "sameness" is more important than any party, and we need to pass laws that reflect that. 

"I find it ironic, too, that the most die-hard supporters that would have the 2nd Amendment carved in stone, never mention the definition of "Amendment"... a change or addition!"

The first ten amendments, making up the bill of rights, were never viewed as such. In order for the Constitution to be ratified by all the states, these rights had to be included. The reason there was debate over the necessity of the BOR, is because the states' view of the Consititution as a whole, was that it was a document carefully measuring authority to civil government. The BOR was viewed by many to be unnecessary, as it was presuppossed that the federal government could do nothing it did not have the express power to do -its powers were strictly limited.

My personal perception doesn't see me viewing liberty as a luxury, but rather a foundational principle of our government, at the very heart of the vision for the nation. If I were to for a moment, assume that the passage of the legislation in question would most assuredly prevent future acts of mass violence, and I chose view its passage in a political, judicial, and administrative vacuum, the specific sacrifices involved with its passing would be a trivial price to pay for the lives saved. Unfortunately, this is not my perception.

Mountain Lion, are you Ninja?