Bill of Rights - Security Edition
I don't know what all the fuss is about. Every state in America already has a concealed weapons permit. It's called the 2nd Amendment. -- Jim Houck, Creative Director, Citizens of America
From trt-ny:
Conservatives are accustomed to being called fascists and are well prepared to defend themselves on that ground. Liberals are used to being called socialists. Those labels can be switched, however, and remain valid and instructive. It also catches them completely unprepared. -- L. Neil Smith
L. Neil Smith at The Libertarian Enterprise - Some Tactical Reflections - Lessons from 35 years of libertarian politics. Contains the quote above and more gems, including:
If you're not a little bit uncomfortable with your position, it isn't radical enough. How can you be too principled? Take the most extreme position you can -- you're claiming territory you won't have to fight for later, mostly against your "allies".and:
The more fundamental position is the highest ground, allowing the most "perpendicular" attack. If he argues politics, argue ethics -- things seldom go beyond this stage. If he argues ethics, argue epistemology (look it up). If he argues epistemology, argue metaphysics. If he argues metaphysics, you're up against Darth Vader and you're in trouble. Switch back to politics and accuse him of being out of touch with everyday reality. Or ask him if he's stopped beating his wife.and:
Know down to the last cell in your body that the other guy started it. He's the one who put things in an ethical context where considerations like decency and mercy have no referent. The less pity moves you now, the sooner you can go back to being a nice guy.and:
Those who lead through authority have rivals on whom they must expend as much energy and attention as they do on their enemies. Those who lead by example have enemies, but no rivals.
Bill of Rights - Security Edition - a great idea for airplane travelers. $4, 3 for $9.99, 5 for $15 postpaid. [smith2004]
The First Ten Amendments to the constitution of the United States printed on sturdy, pocket-sized, pieces of metal.
The next time you travel by air, take the Security Edition of the Bill of Rights along with you. When asked to empty your pockets, proudly toss the Bill of Rights in the plastic bin.
You need to get used to offering up the bill of rights for inspection and government workers need to get used to deciding if you'll be allowed to keep the Bill of Rights with you when you travel.
Declan McCullagh at Politech - Network Associates thwaps PGP sites with DMCA nastystick - crypto.radiusnet.net was sent a DMCA notice by Network Associates to remove their copies of PGP. That web server is not responding at present. [grabbe]
NAI is now taking steps to remove the remaining copies of PGP from the Internet, not long after announcing that the company will not release its fully completed Mac OS X and Windows XP versions, and will no longer sell any copies of its PGP software.
Do we still believe this was a pure cost-cutting measure?
Sierra Times - Tennessee National Guardsmen with M-16 rifles Lock Down Capitol - the tax protest continues in Tennessee. Good for them! [sierra]
This crowd is growing and growing! The Interstate highways around the area have Metro Police and State Highway Patrol units idling along the shoulders near the capitol for easy access if they are called in. It has just been announced on the radio that they have locked down the capitol and it is now ringed with TN National Guardsmen with M-16 rifles with fixed bayonets!
William L. Anderson at the Ludwig von Mises Institute - The Eternal Drug War - in the free market, when an organization mis-spends its money it goes out of business. Not so in government. When a government agency mis-spends its money, it is given more money to mis-spend even worse. So it has been with the f.a.a., the federal reserve, and the eternal war on freedom, er... some drugs. [lew]
The costs that this drug war imposes upon people cannot be underestimated. Not only do we bear the costs of building and maintaining prisons, but we also bear the burdens of creating vast new classes of people who are called criminals because they have engaged in mutually agreeable exchanges with other people. Governments at all levels gobble up vast amounts of resources to pay for this drug war, and there's no end in sight.
Stephen P. Halbrook at SignOnSanDiego.Com - Debating the Second Amendment Point - a good discussion of Ashcroft's interpretation of the second amendment. As I've said before, I like Mr. Ashcroft's rhetoric, but I'm waiting for him to back it up with action, like encouraging congress to eliminate obviously unconstitutional laws and telling his department to stop enforcing them. I won't hold my breath. [kaba]
Charley Reese - Don't Believe In Word Magic - sticks and stones may break my bones, but for some reason some people think that words can hurt them.
Years ago, at a Rotary Club meeting, I was treated to a very serious speech on how to exorcise demons. I sat there thinking how strange to be hearing that speech while satellites and spaceships were orbiting Earth and advanced submarines were prowling the ocean depths.
It reminded me that day of the often-used expression "Well, if we can put a man on the moon, why can't we eliminate these traffic jams (or whatever other mundane problem)?" The answer is, "we" can't put a man on the moon. Only a relative handful of people know how to do that. In the same country at the same time, we have people who can build rockets and people who believe that seeing a black cat cross their path will bring bad luck. Naturally, in our egalitarian society, it is politically incorrect to make any social distinction between the two.
Air Line Pilots Association - ALPA Responds to Magaw Statement against Arming Pilots - A statement from Capt. Duane Woerth, president of the Air Line Pilots Association, about the Bush administration's decision to deny pilots the right defend themselves and their passengers while flying. It's time to support H.R. 4635, the "Arming Pilots Against Terrorism Act", which will be marked up tomorrow by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee's Subcomittee on Aviation. [firearmnews]
The government already has told us that if terrorists take control of one of our cockpits, they will send military aircraft to shoot down the airliner and all its crew and passengers. In the face of such choices, we do not understand why these same government officials refuse to give pilots a last chance to prevent such a tragedy.I sent the following one-minute message to my congress critter:
I urge you to follow the advice of the Airline Pilots Association and cosponsor H.R. 4635, the "Arming Pilots Against Terrorism Act". Since the Bush administration has refused to do the right thing voluntarily, they must be forced by Congress to do so. Our pilots must be able to defend themselves and their passengers from terrorists. The alternative is to shoot the planes down, a really bad idea.
I believe it is also a good idea to allow passengers to be armed. It is their right, guaranteed by the second amendment, and it will be very effective. But let's at least arm the pilots. It's a good start.
