Tuesday, September 19, 2006

Anti-Munsil E-Mail

The Data Port received a strange e-mail from “Len Munsil Facts.” It was paid for by an outfit called the Arizona Conservative Trust with money from the “Arizona Values Coalition.”

On the face of it, it seems to be the sort of piece conservatives would launch against another conservative in the primary season. They do realize that’s over, don’t they?

The e-mail note refers us to another site: LenMunsilfacts.com (link) which is rich in reasons for Democrats to vote against Munsil. What’s this all about?

This whole Arizona Conservative Trust thing seems as bogus as a three dollar bill.

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I’ve been very busy preparing for the opening of the next Rogue Theatre show—September 28. Happily, Data Port visitors have been keeping the site alive two cents at a time in the comments thread. Thanks… It’s all been fascinating!
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My view on the gun issue. My wife and I have been enthusiastic pistol shooters. We always found shooting relaxing—an hour or two of controlled breathing on the range really set us up for our quotidian trials.

I would be well and truly pissed if the government said I couldn’t do that. At the same time I don’t mind registering my guns, or waiting three days for delivery, or even having to take a licensing exam. Geez, I’m a biker. I register my scoot, license it, take a rider’s exam, and periodically retrain.

However, the “pro gun” folks's argument that somehow gun ownership is what protects us from government tyranny is absurd. Our nation is literally drenched in guns but creeping fascism and corporate control of our lives is a continued and continuing threat under Republican control of the government... Armed to the teeth we seem helpless in the face of it.

Unless , of course, we are ready for armed insurrection-- but that would interfere with Monday night football.


4 comments:

Liza said...

Art,
The fact that the citizens are armed does not protect us from creeping fascism or corporate control of our lives. And, yes, indeed, we do seem helpless in the face of all this.

I've got to tell you, Art, I think you might be my kindred spirit (smile).

So, I'm trying to figure out the best way to explain this to you. First, we need to be clear (especially if we're under surveillance) that the greatest majority of Americans would never use arms against their government except in the most dire of circumstances. We would have to literally be under attack, certain they were going to kill us. Second, the government, starting with the local police on up to the military is much better armed and trained so there's no real point in taking them on unless you have a death wish.

In other words, Americans do not reform their government with guns. Americans reform their governments with peaceful protest, populist movements, and through the electoral process.

You might be asking right now, "then why in the hell aren't they doing it?" Well, they are, but its a slow train coming because the corporate media is a large part of the problem. Right now, the best reporting is being done by the independent media and the dissemination process is very slow because the audience is so limited. But, ultimately, truth tends to prevail, and hopefully it won't be too late.

So, back to the guns. The bottom line, I believe, is that they make us feel better. If we were disarmed, all of this would be even more frightening to us than it is. That's the best I can explain it.

Art Jacobson said...

Liza..

I'd be delighted to be your kindred spirit. I think your bottom line explanation is exactly right...things would be more frightening without them.

Revolution and reform by the ballot box? Let's hope so, but we are dangerously near a tipping point where that won't be possible thanks to government and corporate control of information.

x4mr said...

Art/Liza,

Completely concur. The small arms in my bedroom are not going to protect me from any authority, be it the TPD, county sheriff, or some secret special forces squad convinced I'm an Al Qaeda mastermind.

What they do offer, however, is a certain muscle should some meth head punk barge into my place, which is actually a far more likely scenario.

Feel quite passionate about your tipping point remark, Art. I think we are on the brink of either unprecendented freedom of information OR an Orwellian nightmare of thought control.

The jury is out.

By the way, guys, in case anyone is interested, chose to start my own blog. Will use it when I have some thoughts and don't wish to barge into another blogger's thread.

It will follow CD 8 election closely but also branch into ideas about how humanity might actually prevent annihilating itself, with some philosophy and semi-spiritual stuff thrown in here and there.

Will probably go slow and easy at first.

Art Jacobson said...

Happy blogging! We're looking forward to every post. And, drat, you beat me to the post on Gabrielle's new poll figures.

'gards

Art