Bambams, agreed if you want to go on technicalities.
Magooch, no dispute, this is still the best country in the world, but we are losing ground on many fronts.
We keep shouting about all that the constitution offers, but what good is it if it gets trampled on ?
Would you not agree that any unconstitutional laws are illegal ?
If so, then should we not all be free to own any type of firearm under the sun without question ?
NYS is one of many states that ban full auto. IMHO, that is an unconstitutional law. Do you think if I challenged it as such, I wouldn't land in a cozy prison cell for excercising my "constitutional rights" ?
Every citizen that passes the NIC test ought to be able to carry concealed, but in NYS and many others, one must practically offer up a child to get a permit, and pay ridiculous fees on top of it.
Again, the second has been trampled.
The constitution allows for citizens to redress grievances, but don't you know, our politicians and judges made it nearly impossible to sue the government for wrongdoing, no matter how egregious the offense.
It seems to me that not a day goes by where our "elected officials" put new laws on the books, some useful, most not necessary.
What about taxation levels ? Yes, I know, we have so called representation, but did you ever sit down and figure out how taxed we really are ?
On the old MT, someone posted a list of taxes, most of which we know about and some of which are hidden and obscure but are taxes none the less, and the list wasn't even complete.
All told, we as the middle class are probably taxed conservatively at the 60% level. I think it is more, much more. It is just set up so you don't really realize just how much taxes and fees we shell out of our hard earned money.
And again, how big business is putting our people on unemployment and in some cases, welfare just so the shareholders see that the bottom line is strong and so the officers can continue to receive theirs.
Something is all wrong, and I guess as long as you have the ability to even get by, we simply put our blinders on, and thank G-d and our government.
I decided to take my blinders off years ago. Even while financially things were swell, though that has deteriorated over the past few years.
I decided to see what really was happening, and "read between the lines" as my deceased dad used to tell me ever since I was old enough to understand what he meant.
Every politician since I have been alive lied every time their lips moved.
They took it upon themselves to do a few things to appease as many as possible, but every office just took a bit more from you and me one way or another.
In this day and age, since our government is supposedly by the people and for the people, do you think they would say "Hey people, now that we live in an age where it is possible, all proposed legislation will go to YOU, the people to vote on." Do you think we really need overpaid politicians to vote for us ? They all seem to do what benefits people who "helped them along the way" and if it benefits us, that's great, if it doesn't they find a way to convince us that it does, or in many cases, we aren't even aware of what is going on.
No, ladies and gents, the government has gotten way too big, certainly far bigger than the founders ever imagined or hoped for.
You want to make the most noise, great idea, now just hope that all the noise you make gets results that make this country even better.
I write my politicians on a nearly weekly basis regarding legislation that affects us and in particular, second amendment issues, and wouldn't you know, NOT ONE has ever responded. I must say, even a form letter acknowledging the fact that I took the time out of my busy schedule to contact them would be welcome.
I may be in the minority, but I have lost confidence in that our government is doing the right thing.
Off the soapbox now.
Ranger
