question about "the left wing"

[amZo]

The problem is why even mention Obama? All presidents issue executive orders or ignore/change laws on the enforcement end for their own gains and political power, I mean this is just how things work in this country. I am not a fan of the president he is incredibly right wing versus my ideology but, it is hard to single him out for something every administration does. Heck, Lincoln suspended Habeas Corpus, FDR packed the courts, Nixon spied on his rivals, and so on. If you think it is wrong and abusive that is fine, but it has nothing to do with Obama specifically, just like Bush and all the others and I would suspect all those that come after will also abuse their power in this manner.

Regardless despite the rhetoric, it isn't like guns are going anywhere, they make people money, and they have their own lobby. Private ownership of firearms is about as secure as anything is in this day and age, and if even widely supported background checks wouldn't pass after Newtown, CT then what exactly would spurn people into action? I would think that likely nothing would.

Because I love spectacular irony, why else?   

What, you didn't enjoy a little quip at such a 'right-wing' president? And I thought you might enjoy that! 

[Hikari]

Because I love spectacular irony, why else?   

What, you didn't enjoy a little quip at such a 'right-wing' president? And I thought you might enjoy that! 

lol, I do enjoy a jab or two at him; just worried that the man might become more important than the issue, and obscure it. The president has done a great many terrible things, but it really is systemic and I just want to give credit to where it is due. If there is an afterlife, I suspect that there is a particular place in the darkest depths of it reserved for politicians.

[amZo]

lol, I do enjoy a jab or two at him; just worried that the man might become more important than the issue, and obscure it. The president has done a great many terrible things, but it really is systemic and I just want to give credit to where it is due. If there is an afterlife, I suspect that there is a particular place in the darkest depths of it reserved for politicians.

We can only wish! 

[MadeleineG]

Regardless despite the rhetoric, it isn't like guns are going anywhere, they make people money, and they have their own lobby. Private ownership of firearms is about as secure as anything is in this day and age, and if even widely supported background checks wouldn't pass after Newtown, CT then what exactly would spurn people into action? I would think that likely nothing would.

That's a fairly cynical attitude. I suspect that it's an inevitable shift in attitudes that will follow generational lines. Give it twenty years and things will happen naturally. I have very little doubt that the 2nd will be repealed in my lifetime and will come to be viewed as an embarrassing blight on US cultural and legal history.

Rights are good reasons, not legal artifacts.

[amZo]

That's a fairly cynical attitude. I suspect that it's an inevitable shift in attitudes that will follow generational lines. Give it twenty years and things will happen naturally. I have very little doubt that the 2nd will be repealed in my lifetime and will come to be viewed as an embarrassing blight on US cultural and legal history.

Right are good reasons, not legal artifacts.

Ya right!  And what are the top ten videos that kids between four and 18 are playing these days? They're all shoot the snot out of everything games. I just don't see it happening, but stranger things have happened. 

[MadeleineG]

Ya right!  And what are the top ten videos that kids between four and 18 are playing these days? They're all shoot the snot out of everything games. I just don't see it happening, but stranger things have happened. 

I suspect most horror movie fans would pass on being gutted by a psychopath.

[amZo]

I suspect most horror movie fans would pass on being gutted by a psychopath.

This horror movie fan would agree with that! 

Are you suggesting bans on knives are next? How are we going to defend ourselves against criminals who didn't give up their guns?   

[MadeleineG]

This horror movie fan would agree with that! 

Are you suggesting bans on knives are next? How are we going to defend ourselves against criminals who didn't give up their guns?   

I'm suggesting that most people draw a hard line between fantasy and reality.

Knives have a practical function which guns do not.

I do have some strong opinions about banning inter-school sports, tho.

[amZo]

I'm suggesting that most people draw a hard line between fantasy and reality.

Knives have a practical function which guns do not.

I do have some strong opinions about banning inter-school sports, tho.

Ah Jeez...........

Ok, I'll bite, what's wrong with inter-school sports?   

[Miss_Bungle1991]

Ah Jeez...........

Ok, I'll bite, what's wrong with inter-school sports?   

Sports makes people turn gay and sprout pink polka dots.

[amZo]

Gwynne, why do you not like gays who wear pink polka dots? It's 2014 sweetheart.

[Missy~rmdlm]

I thought I might jump in here. I have no idea why the left seems bent on regulating firearms in the US. The best reason is as shallow as demographic majority supports it, if that were to change, the left's position might too.

There is a ridiculous urban/rural disparity present in the Midwest, as a farm owner I'm acutely aware of it. As long as urban and rural groups despise each other there will be pitched inability to reconcile regulations pertaining to gun control.

[Cindy]

This is developing into a sniping match and I shall not allow that to continue.

Think before you post please.

Cindy

[skin]

This is developing into a sniping match and I shall not allow that to continue.

[MadeleineG]

Ah Jeez...........

Ok, I'll bite, what's wrong with inter-school sports?   

Partially, I object to school sports because they are antithetical to the core function of public education, which is the development of a productive collaborative (not competitive) ethos.

Mostly, thought, it's a utilitarian argument (you might have picked up that that's my ethical bent). School sports are ridiculously expensive, cause students to miss significant class time, and distract volunteer coaching teaching staff from core academic responsibilities. Moreover, they serve the fitness needs of a very small fraction of the student body in any given high school. So, I advocate reallocating sports funding for open low-competition intramural sports, calisthenics, and nutrition programs.

I don't dislike sports. I do disagree with publicly-funded schools losing sight of their mission and pretending to be athletic clubs.

NOTA BENE: I have no issue with 100% private schools pursuing sports if they please

[amZo]

Partially, I object to school sports because they are antithetical to the core function of public education, which is the development of a productive collaborative (not competitive) ethos.

Mostly, thought, it's a utilitarian argument (you might have picked up that that's my ethical bent). School sports are ridiculously expensive, cause students to miss significant class time, and distract volunteer coaching teaching staff from core academic responsibilities. Moreover, they serve the fitness needs of a very small fraction of the student body in any given high school. So, I advocate reallocating sports funding for open low-competition intramural sports, calisthenics, and nutrition programs.

I don't dislike sports. I do disagree with publicly-funded schools losing sight of their mission and pretending to be athletic clubs.

NOTA BENE: I have no issue with 100% private schools pursuing sports if they please

Utilitarianism wasn't what I was picking up, but now that you mention it, it fits I suppose. When I hear people opposing what various groups desire and suggesting a certain way for all, that seems more like 'central planning' to me. But I suppose they do go a bit hand in hand. That's not meant to offend, just my honest reaction.

One of my majors in college was Economics, Utility theory is a large underpinning of Economics. I believe if left to their own devices, all individuals maximize their utility. Thus, maximizing utility of a society is only achieved for a openly free society expressing its free will.

Interesting though. As they say, the devil is always in the details. 

[Hikari]

Partially, I object to school sports because they are antithetical to the core function of public education, which is the development of a productive collaborative (not competitive) ethos.

One could make the argument, that learning to collaborate in a competitive environment is what team sports actually teach; This is fairly representative of how things are structured in life after school too, groups use their collective strength to compete with other groups. Group cohesion is very important, and while I certainly feel it could be taught better (after all hazing and other such things being used to cement group cohesion isn't working out well in your office environment) I could see the argument that these things are teaching students valuable lessons. Though it has to be mentioned if the lesson is valuable then all should participate, and if it is a limited participation thing, then everyone tax dollars shouldn't subsidize it for the few who do participate in sports.

That's a fairly cynical attitude. I suspect that it's an inevitable shift in attitudes that will follow generational lines. Give it twenty years and things will happen naturally. I have very little doubt that the 2nd will be repealed in my lifetime and will come to be viewed as an embarrassing blight on US cultural and legal history.

I would be interested to learn why it is you think that attitudes will change on firearms. Sure I mean over time all attitudes change but you said within your lifetime, and perhaps I am misreading the trend, but in the time I have been alive the pendulum seems to be swinging the other way, after all cities like DC and Chicago have had their gun bans lifted, not made stricter. I am not saying that a gun ban will never happen, and i would gladly give up my firearms if the law said I had to (as I said before my life has not been made better or worse from owning a gun, so I don't have that cultural attachment).

I just cannot imagine what could really catalyze the country as a whole against private firearms ownership and even if it did handguns and assault rifles would go, but I couldn't think anything would dislodge hunting rifles and shotguns. After all even in Europe there is still hunting, and it isn't all archery. I do admit, while I have traveled the country I generally stay in the east coast now, and my work keeps me in a range between MA and SC, so perhaps I am misreading the cultural mood of the nation, but it seems if anything gun "rights" are being expanded, with the vast majority of new "restrictions" just being closing of loopholes that get around background checks and such.

[Shantel]

I suppose it all depends on what your mindset is about various things. There are some awful events that do occur as a result of some individuals inability to discern the difference between freedom and license. Here is an example of one man exercising his freedom to protect himself and his family from others who are taking license with his property and possibly even his life. Of course the NRA picked up on his experience and made a video to emphasize a point.

[amZo]

Excellent video. Shocking that criminals go after those they deem defenseless huh?

The following video appeared once your video finished, it's excellent as well... 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=682JLrsUmEM&feature=player_embedded

[kariann330]

Partially, I object to school sports because they are antithetical to the core function of public education, which is the development of a productive collaborative (not competitive) ethos.

Mostly, thought, it's a utilitarian argument (you might have picked up that that's my ethical bent). School sports are ridiculously expensive, cause students to miss significant class time, and distract volunteer coaching teaching staff from core academic responsibilities. Moreover, they serve the fitness needs of a very small fraction of the student body in any given high school. So, I advocate reallocating sports funding for open low-competition intramural sports, calisthenics, and nutrition programs.

I don't dislike sports. I do disagree with publicly-funded schools losing sight of their mission and pretending to be athletic clubs.

NOTA BENE: I have no issue with 100% private schools pursuing sports if they please

You do realize that if high school sports were completely ended, several kids would have no chance of ever going to college and getting a higher education. Look at Tim Couch for example, excelled in academics but not enough to be offered a scholarship, his family couldn't afford to send him to college, but because he also excelled at football he was able to get a scholarship. Fast forward 3 months after his graduation and he is in Cleveland playing for the Browns. Three seasons after getting traded he suffered a career ending injury and was able to fall back on his education, that he got because of a program you want to end, and is still able to provide for his family.
If high school sports were ended so many people like him would be in low wage, dead end jobs because they didn't get the education needed to get a better paying job and would possibly even be another person on welfare.

Yes there would still be the chance to join the military like i did, but let's be honest....not everyone likes the idea of being up before the sun rises just to do a bunch of pushups, situps, jumping jacks then go for a 10 mile run.....which my unit did in full deployment gear (minus ammo and rifles because we are not allowed to have them while on base) and a thigh rig holding your POW (personally owned weapon) 7 days a week. Plus the chance of getting shot at really deters people from joining. Then toss in the hype that we supposedly fired at, and even killed innocent civilians in Iraq and Afghanistan and that just makes less people wanna join.

Bottom line, high school sports are a great thing.