[Rhodes22-list]Guns and Politics

[Michael Meltzer]

maybe you are right, and maybe Marx was right, that communism can only come from the highest form of capitalism. Time to go to AC,
pick this up sunday night :-)

MJM

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Robert Skinner" <robert at squirrelhaven.com>
To: "The Rhodes 22 mail list" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
Sent: Friday, January 16, 2004 9:36 PM
Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list]Guns and Politics


> Roger - I have read your messages, and of your considerable
> accomplishments, with admiration.  Please do not consider
> me an opponent -- but rather someone possessed of/by a
> somewhat (but not entirely) different view of the situation.
>
> After all, "Betsy" lives in my bedroom as insurance against
> adverse outcomes of unwanted meetings in the night.  I think
> we have a lot more points of agreement than might appear at
> the outset.
>
> Roger Pihlaja wrote:
> > ... Despite the lethality and sophistication of modern
> > military weapons, the US military would have a very
> > difficult time putting down a widespread insurrection in
> > this country.
>
> The confrontation would not likely be face-to-face.  It is
> far more likely to be a gradual redefinition of freedom
> and the erosion of the freedoms of subgroups - a cross
> between Orwell's "1984" prophesy and Hitler's scapegoating.
> Perhaps something like an extension of the Patriot Act.
>
> You will undoubtedly remember Hermann Goering's words as
> related in MJM's recent (and rather pithy) "jokes".
>
> "Voice or no voice, the people can always be
> brought to the bidding of the leaders, that
> is easy. All you have to do is tell them they
> are being attacked, and denounce the
> peacemakers for lack of patriotism and
> exposing the country to danger. It works the
> same in every country."
> -- Hermann Goering (Nazi planner)
>
> -------------------------------------------------------
>
> Perhaps you have heard of the sales technique known
> as "Frog Boiling."
>
> If you put a frog in hot water, it will just jump out.
>
> If you put your frog in cool water, then heat it up
> slowly, the frog will go to sleep, and ultimately be
> boiled.
>
> The salesman comes in with a low bid, then adds
> expenses after the deal is closed.
>
> A government institutes apparently justified but
> intrusive legislation, then expands its provisions
> at the expense of individual liberty.
>
> -----------------------------------------------------
>
> > You need to reread the 2nd amendment and try to
> > understand the historical context & intent of the
> > authors.  Providing the ultimate check and balance
> > against an oppressive regime is exactly what the 2nd
> > amendment is about & it's as valid today as it was in
> > the 18th century.
>
> You will note that I said:
>
> "The 2nd amendment was written in before machine guns
> were invented, or bazookas, for that matter.  The
> unavailability of these weapons to the general populace
> nullifies their ability to resist tyranny, rendering the
> 2nd amendment moot in that regard."
>
> I was referring to the effectiveness of "legal" weapons
> in the hands of the populace in the case of a pitched
> battle.  The use of currently permitted weapons would
> certainly be an irritant, but I maintain that the
> technologically advanced surveillance equipment available
> to our government confers a large advantage.
>
> But perhaps Yankee ingenuity would rise to the occasion.
> I imagine that we could do better than stones and
> bottles, should it come to that.
>
> We can hope that this theory is never tested.
>
> V/R
>
> /Robert Skinner
>
> __________________________________________________
> Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
>
>