Orwellian Voodoo

In the sidebar, Monty Pelerin talks about our Orwellian times as it relates to the rebel flag.  Be sure and read the whole thing.  He also include Thomas DiLorenzo's piece on "Jeffersonian Secession", which is thought-provoking.

Here is a quote from Monty I like:

Edgerton’s position on the Confederate Flag sounds reasonable, although I am not a historian capable of passing judgment on his interpretations. To be against his position, however, is to be against free speech.  

Indeed, this is true.  The whole point of freedom of expression is to allow us to discuss matters openly.  Speech and displays that offend are necessary.  Yes, there is a limitation.  If something is slanderous or libelous then the person impacted may sue.  If a threat is made against someone, that's a violation of the law.  Threats intimidate an opponent.  They cow and silence the opposition.

I once heard a preacher -- it may have been John Hagee -- say that witchcraft is "manipulation through intimidation for the purpose of domination".

Waving a flag threatens no one.  I might be offended or disgusted by whatever flag ISIS waves.  I think anyone who waves a rainbow flag is a pathetic loon and loser.  I can understand someone thinking the same thing about a Gadsden flag or Robert E. Lee's battle standard.  I would disagree, but I can understand.  What I can't understand is the taking of such a display as some kind of threat.  

It's not the people waving a rebel flag who are trying to silence the other side.  The wielders of political correctness are using threats to try and silence us.  They want to intimidate us and control what we say and do and even how we think.  Here's another quote from the link:

Anyone in favor of Political Correctness is against Freedom.

My people were in Indiana during the First Civil War.  The battle flag is not part of my heritage, but I'm going to find one and fly it.  Just because they tell me I can't.

Run for your lives!!!!

It's a small thing, but it is a strike back at the denial of reality that afflicts far too many in this country these days.  Metaphorically speaking, it is time to throw a bucket of water on the wicked witches of Statism.  

F.A.D.

That stands for Functions As Designed.

Apparently, Perla Trevizo writing for the Arizona Daily Star is unfamiliar with this concept as regards the purpose of a fence, which is to keep things separated.

Break the law; break a leg. 

It works for me.

I Think I Got 'em

The Summertime Blues.

No cure.  But fireworks help.

Good Intentions vs. Good Results

EurekAlert! talks about the severity of forest fires.

Back around 1900, the U.S. Forest Service pushed for total fire suppression.  Consequently, underbrush, pine needles, shrubs and smaller trees filled in under the mature trees.  When a fire does get started in such an area, the fire tends to get in the crowns of the trees, killing them.

If a wooded area burns every five to ten years, the mature trees suffer no significant damage.  I used to see this in the area where I grew up.  The hillbillies would burn wooded areas to clear the undergrowth and "kill ticks".  That took away cover for some game probably, but quail were a lot more numerous and prosperous in those days.  There were plenty of squirrels and rabbits.  There weren't many deer around, but I doubt they would have suffered much. 

People didn't bring in bulldozers to completely clear the ground and disrupt the topsoil.  Controlled burning isn't a bad thing in many ways. 

But it looks bad.  Sometimes animals do suffer and are killed.  Some trees may be killed.  Sometimes there is actual property damage.  There's a trade-off -- as there is with everything. 

This is fairly minor example.  It's the same kind of thing in other areas, whether Medicare, Medicaid, Obamacare, the EPA, cholesterol, etc. 

People seem to have forgotten a most venerable saying about the pavement on the road to hell.

Good intentions do not equal good consequences.

All the Bad Stuff

So I was out riding my motorcycle most of the last four days.  I got some messages from people.  I haven't watched the news -- probably won't.  I can get the weather forecast off my tablet.  See my post from June 28, 2012.

There is no reason for having one's hopes dashed time after time by Lucy's football.  That is all that politics is.  Government is the problem.  Big government is a big problem.  Small government, relatively speaking, is a smaller problem. 

I did watch The Outlaw Josey Wales.  When Josey goes to confronts the Comanche chief Ten Bears, he says, "Governments don't live together.  People do." I am working on building relationships at church, with my grandchildren, and with their community. 

I'm done.  The government can't do anything to scare me.  But I have an obligation to pass along the traditions of freedom and the love of liberty to another generation.  It's really easier than I expected.  In fact, it's mainly having fun. 

I don't care if it is marijuana laws, gun laws, abortion laws, freedom of religion amendments or whatever, if your state is doing something to thumb its nose at the federal government, support it. 

The central government has separated itself from reality.  Don't let crazy people control your life.

Family.  Church.  Community.  

National Sporting Arms Museum at Bass Pro

If you're ever passing through Springfield, MO, you know you are going to stop at THE Bass Pro off the southwest corner of South Campbell and Sunshine. 

I get over there several times during the year, depending on what I need, but if the grandkids come down, and we go to town to eat or whatever, there's a good chance we'll end up going by there.  That happened this past weekend.  We were going to a Springfield Cardinals game that started at 6:10pm, and we ended up with about an hour and a half to kill before the gates opened. 

We did a little shopping, and my daughter asked if I had ever been through the NRA museum that occupies the floor above the hunting and shooting section of Bass Pro.  I have passed by it a number of times since it has been there, but usually I'm on a mission.  The guys in the group headed up the steps, and it was great.  I wish I had had more time.  I am definitely going back with my camera, so consider this a preliminary review. 

The air rifle that Lewis and Clark carried is in there.  Matchlocks, a Winchester Model 70 Radio Rifle (c. 1955 -- contained a transistor radio in the stock), a .700 Nitro double rifle, Bass Reeves' Peacemaker, all kinds of beautifully engraved firearms, and on and on.  It is basically a visual history of sporting arms. 

This c.1800 engraved and inlaid shotgun was presented byNapoleon Bonaparte to the Marquis Faulte de Vanteaux of Limoges, ageneral in his army.

It is definitely worth the time to tour, and you can't beat the price which is free.   Assuming you manage to get out of THE Bass Pro without buying something. 

Thin-Skinned Game

This anecdote illustrates a part of our problem with the political atmosphere in the States these days.

Over the weekend, I had a casual conversation with a professional person of my acquaintance.  He was talking about an interesting client of his.  The client himself remained nameless -- as would be appropriate, but he is in the same line of work as Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill's current husband.  McCaskill's spouse and my friend's client have some sort of business and possibly a personal relationship such that the client recommended my friend to McCaskill.

This appeared to be a viable opportunity that would have been beneficial to all the involved parties.  There arose one small hitch.  My friend has a bumper sticker that reads, "Fire Obama".  McCaskill saw this and refused to have any dealings with my friend.  He shrugged, laughed and went on. 

He was not asking to go into business with her.  Without being too specific, his services are roughly the equivalent of hiring someone to clean the carpet, wash the windows or cut the grass.  One wonders if McCaskill insists that her maids and landscapers be registered Democrats and vote the party line. 

Like Obama, McCaskill seems to take disagreement about governance and politics quite personally.  My father detested Jimmy Carter as a president, but he always insisted that Carter, the man, would probably have been a pretty good neighbor. 

I have philosophical and constitutional reasons for opposing much of the agenda supported by Obama and McCaskill.  If they want to limit the discussion to principles then there is no reason we can't get along as Americans.  I don't even mind them saying that I am uninformed or ignorant of the nuances.  That is legitimate grounds for a civil debate.  Inform me, and see if you can defend your view reasonably.

However, McCaskill is not willing to debate the issues.  She demonstrated this in her response to public opposition to Obamacare.  Instead of trying to justify her support of the government take-over of health care, she thought she could silence citizens with her "mom voice".  In other words, citizens, like children, should be quiet and obedient because the "elite", like parents, know what is best.

Hence the labeling of those who oppose Obama as racist, those who oppose McCaskill or Hillary Clinton as sexist.  We are not arguing principles; rather, we are haters and filled with evil intent.  Naturally, such people cannot be allowed to work around there betters.