Thanks Dave, Atlanta....what happened? Did you reach your quota of thinking capacity before you could qualify that?

Walter in Fullerton: First of all we aren't actually supposed to have a standing army according to the Constitution....just a Navy. The Army is to be raised from a well regulated militia (able bodied men between 18 and 45) when Congress Declares a state of war. Now this may not be practical in this day and age, but the principle is still somewhat workable. What standing armies we have should be of a size to secure our borders and protect America...not fielded in foreign wars of Imperialism to secure "American (corporate) Interests". As is stands, we have an entire alphabet of high tech police agencies, laws that repeal all of our rights in a single stroke of a pen and an ever increasing dictator like form of government forcing us all to comply to a "legal" system as opposed to a "justice" system. I agree with you that those seeking political appointment are doing so for the power they would receive.
So far all I can see are more and better reasons to keep and maintain the Second Amendment in its purest form.

One of the things I admired most about Clint Eastwood was his bid for Mayor of Carmel by the Sea...using the slogan, "Leave people the hell alone".

While the statement is valid, it leaves out the main reason for the right to bear arms...to overthrow a government bent on tyranny. To maintain our right to be free and sovereign individuals when that basic, natural right is threatened by forces foreign or domestic.

The Second Amendment is the backbone of all other rights. Without it, you have no rights...none! And all we need do is look at the last couple of administrations (regimes) to see that our liberties and rights have never been so threatened since we were subjects of King George who sparked a revolution by trying to disarm...the peasants.

No...that's what gives "debt notes" or "currency" its value.
Money has an intrinsic value. It is a certificate of value...not a certificate of debt.

"True Education"...A very different thing than the compulsory standardization we suffer today. In the effort to purge individuality from our schools and our children we have done ourselves a great disservice.
And as the national IQ and the national debt pass each other going in opposite directions...we're seeing the results; a nation of government dependent simpletons. Sad sad sad...

"There are no grounds to suggest that by putting the responsibility over to the state, one can achieve better results."
Words from a man who understands very well what the end results of socialism and communism really are ... A stale and lifeless economy suffered by a stale and lifeless people.

I'd love to hear Dick explain how more controls make us more prosperous...but apparently "two syllables" is all he can muster. Well said Dick, you've changed my outlook completely. LOL

If we all...every one of us...were to focus on taking responsibility for our own well being, we could do so only by interacting with those around us. In this way we are all more likely to prosper and less likely to become welfare wards of the state reservation. We would all be more productive, self fulfilled and less unhappy and dependent.
How is that selfish?

This quote is not only excellent...buy completely unrecognizable when compared to the quasi police state we now have in the "Land of the Free". In fact we could re write it to" A Legal Government now secures from every man whatever it wants" 5 Stars for the Founders.

So Adolph was pro-Socialism. That explains today's socialists very nicely, they are all mini dictators who want to tell others how to live. He thought people should be rated according to responsibility and performance. Cool. Better than that nasty old capitalism...And if you didn't rate, he killed you.
Very compassionate, this Socialism. Kind of like Ants in an Anthill.

A Detroit woman I saw on Television during the 08 campaign: "Obama gonna fill my tank and pay my mortgage". I wonder how that worked out for her...

Any aspect of our lives rendered to the control of "bureaucracy"...especially Government bureaucracy is an aspect of life we lose control of on a personal level. We lose the opportunity to choose. Mind you...with Government cooperation, the present medical insurance system in the United States is almost as corrupt...so what to do?

And under today's police state laws anyone who seems radical or questions the government can be deemed a terrorist and "disappeared". Ain't Democracy Grand?

The media in the Western World are becoming increasingly "agendized". They know exactly what they are doing and why. This ignorance of fact is no accident.

What chiefly distinguishes the daily press is its incurable fear of ideas..." What he should have said is its incurable fear of the truth.

The press is operating with an agenda...they are not merely reporting.

And Hanson proves the quote. What Hanson missed is that the Government and Corporations are one and the same...you don't seriously think the Government is going to restrain the goose that lays the golden egg do you Hanson? No, the problem IS government.

Nothing more than an outlet for propaganda and hysteria. The sky is falling The sky is falling....

Klinton, Bush Jr and Sr set the playing field for the present Imposter in the W/H. And he has taken the ball and run with it.
Anyone who thinks there is any difference between the Republicans and Democrats any more is naieve. They are merely a bait and switch game who's agenda's overlap and set the stage for the next phase of Globalism. And like sedated idiots watching a ping pong match we continue to think our vote will somehow make a difference and allow the game to go on. Voting is meaningless anymore.

Mike, something I picked up I thought you might find interesting:
The Second Amendment is really little more than "window dressing" to satisfy one of the Virginia signers. The real "meat" is in Article 1, Section 8 listing powers/responsibilities of Congress. Among them are: "To provide and maintain a Navy" but only "To raise and support Armies-" and "To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;" also "To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia," and the Militia of the United States, by Law, consists of every able-bodied male citizen between the ages of 18 and 45. In short, we are to have a defense similar to that of the Swiss, who have never been invaded by a foreign power.
Any questions?

And Hanson ignores the fact that slaves were also held in Canada. That Ukranians were interned and used as slave labor to build Banff National park That the people who brought slavery to the Americas were the English and that they held blacks and natives in contempt. Such noble beginnings eh Hanson? You really like to look down your long ignorant nose at things and feel all smug and superior...when in fact all you do is confirm how completely, "incomplete" your education really is. Gun rights will win out in the US. No one's got the ball's to go door to door collecting them.

And we may be seeing a replay of that same analogy about to play out on American soil.

God forbid the public should actually "analyze" the news. They might start asking questions like: How could Adam Lanza use an AR 15 to shoot up a school when the rifle was found in his car? And where did the other two handguns that were found come from? Or, who were the other 2 (3?) people that were arrested and what if any part did they play in the shooting? Nawww....let's go get a latte and see if we can get the latest Ipad.