I'm
not clairvoyant, but I can safely predict that the NRA, that national
organization devoted to the coddling of mass shooters, will continue
to fan the irrational (not to mention, totally delusional) fear of a
government confiscation of guns and, even more importantly, continue
with their unending and ever profitable quest to line the pockets of
gun manufacturers unabated by either common-sense or decency.
And
most importantly, the NRA will continue to push the total fiction --
what former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Warren Burger called
very rightly “one of the greatest pieces of fraud . . . on the
American public by special interest groups” -- that the Second
Amendment gives Americans some kind of absolute right to own a
firearm. Despite the Heller and McDonald rulings, you can never
delete the actual text of the Second Amendment and that bothersome
phrase -- “well-regulated militia,” which
was, of course, the whole point to having a right to bear
arms.
After each mass shooting – after Newtown, after Charleston, and after Roseburg – President Obama spoke eloquently that we must come to grips with the epidemic of mass shootings in our country. And undoubtedly after the next and the next and the next mass shooting at a mall, college, school, movie theater, or church, there will be even more poignant speeches, sermons, op-eds on the necessity to do something to stop this continuing blight on our country that leaves other countries wondering "what-the-hell?"
After each mass shooting – after Newtown, after Charleston, and after Roseburg – President Obama spoke eloquently that we must come to grips with the epidemic of mass shootings in our country. And undoubtedly after the next and the next and the next mass shooting at a mall, college, school, movie theater, or church, there will be even more poignant speeches, sermons, op-eds on the necessity to do something to stop this continuing blight on our country that leaves other countries wondering "what-the-hell?"
But
I can very safely predict that nothing much will change in America as
far as gun control goes.
In Australia gun control measures were passed after a mass shooting in 1996 that killed 35. Those measures led to a 59 percent decrease in homicides between 1995 and 2006. But laws like those have almost zero chance of being passed in the Home of the Brave where so far in 2015 we have already experienced 297 mass shootings according to shootingtracker.com.
In Australia gun control measures were passed after a mass shooting in 1996 that killed 35. Those measures led to a 59 percent decrease in homicides between 1995 and 2006. But laws like those have almost zero chance of being passed in the Home of the Brave where so far in 2015 we have already experienced 297 mass shootings according to shootingtracker.com.
If
the killing of 20 elementary-aged children in Newtown, Connecticut in
2012 didn't move Congress to act, do you really think the Roseburg
Massacre of 9 adult innocents will make one whit of difference?
How
do I know that future mass shootings, which we all know will
inevitably happen, will have no effect on the body politic? Because I
know the dirty little secret of US politics: our government doesn't
work.
How
do I know? The federal minimum wage in 2015 is $7.25 an hour. It
hasn't budged for 6 years. If the minimum wage had kept up with
inflation since 1968, it would be above $10 an hour. Raising the
minimum wage up to $10.10 an hour would lift 50 million Americans out
of poverty, according to a study by the University of
Massachusetts-Amherst.
Look at the depleted highway fund. Toll roads, which I and most Americans hate, proliferate because the gas tax used to pay for highway construction hasn't been raised since 1993. The American Society of Civil Engineers graded our infrastructure as a D+ in 2013. Since we now have low interest rates, this would be the perfect time to borrow money to build infrastructure. It would create jobs now and kickstart our lagging economy.
Look at the depleted highway fund. Toll roads, which I and most Americans hate, proliferate because the gas tax used to pay for highway construction hasn't been raised since 1993. The American Society of Civil Engineers graded our infrastructure as a D+ in 2013. Since we now have low interest rates, this would be the perfect time to borrow money to build infrastructure. It would create jobs now and kickstart our lagging economy.
Infrastructure
improvement is actually something government has traditionally done
well. In 1956 the Congress passed the National Interstate and
Defense Highways Act, which led to our interstate highway system that
helped to grow our nation's economy. Even so, I can safely predict
that any action by the present Congress to improve our infrastructure
will be minimal at best.
Keeping guns from nut cases, helping low-wage workers, keeping our highways repaired, and our infrastructure modern -- in a functioning democracy none of these should really be political issues.
But because our government can't do any of the above, it's a sure sign something is terribly wrong.
Keeping guns from nut cases, helping low-wage workers, keeping our highways repaired, and our infrastructure modern -- in a functioning democracy none of these should really be political issues.
But because our government can't do any of the above, it's a sure sign something is terribly wrong.
If
bills like the Trans-Pacific Partnership, that will end up benefiting
mostly the wealthy, can be passed, despite strong opposition, but
bills to help average Americans never see the light of day, my
question is this: are we really anymore the government of the people,
for the people, and by the people?
The
really sad thing is – all of us already know the answer to that
question.
