tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4138458.post6009157478244266014..comments2024-02-23T13:15:42.158+13:00Comments on Dissecting Leftism: JRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00829082699850674281noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4138458.post-14027793569253785802019-10-24T16:39:19.955+13:002019-10-24T16:39:19.955+13:00In response to "The Principles of Conservatis...In response to "The Principles of Conservatism"<br /><br />Politically, I'm what is called a Crank. These are some of my principles;<br /><br />• Mencken said "Whenever A annoys or injures B on the pretext of saving or improving X, A is a scoundrel." I have yet to encounter a case that does not follow this simple rule.<br /><br />• I am against Socialism, not from any moral or ethical Principle, but simply because it has been extensively tried, and does not work. That the people who want to try it in the United States believe that it can be made to work here, because they believe that we will do it better, smacks of exactly the kind of American Exceptionalism that those same people denounce in almost all other contexts. This does not impress me.<br /><br />• This who wish to circumvent or ignore the Second Amendment strike me as likely to do the same with all other Amendments and parts of the Constitution that they find inconvenient. <br /><br />• The "War on Drugs' have been raging, off and on, since the Prohibition era. In that time, it has conspicuously failed to have any long term effect of the importation and sale of illegal drugs, while seriously eroding our civil rights. It is high time we at least looked seriously at ending it and trying something else.<br /><br />• Every round of 'Campaign Finance Reform' legislation that I can remember offhand has resulted in increasing the rate at which incumbents are reelected. They all need to be repealed, and replaced with a requirement of absolute and easily accessed transparency of political donations.<br /><br />• Far too much leeway is allowed to 'Protesters'. 'Protests' that block traffic, damage property, and harass passersby should result in widespread arrests. The First Amendment protects the right to assemble PEACEABLY. You have the right to protest. The public as the right to ignore you.<br /><br />• In particular, the symbolic use of fire (as in the burning of flags and effigies) should require a permit for making a fire in a public place...at least to the extent that having one for a cookout would. Sooner of later some unfortunate is going to get wrapped by a burning flag by an errant wind, and since most flags are made from cloth that melts as it burns, it will stick to them not unlike napalm. It is my understanding that most jurisdictions these days require the KKK to get a fire permit when they want to hold a 'fiery cross' event. I see no reason why would be flag burners should not be required to do the same, on simply safety grounds. C. S. P. Schofieldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18307088118631856756noreply@blogger.com