Many years ago, political scientists came up with a theory that elites lead public opinion. And on some issues, they clearly do. But on some issues, they don't. Two examples of the latter phenomenon are conspicuous at a time when Barack Obama enjoys the approval of more than 60 percent of Americans and Democrats have won thumping majorities in two elections in a row. One is global warming. The other is gun control. On both issues, the elites of academe, the media and big business have been solidly on one side for years. But on both, the American public has been moving in the other direction.[...]
I think there's something else at work here. For liberal elites, belief in gun control and global warming has taken on the character of religious faith. We have sinned (by hoarding guns or driving SUVs); we must atone (by turning in our guns or recycling); we must repent (by supporting gun control or cap and trade schemes). You may notice that the "we" in question is usually the great mass of ordinary American citizens.
The liberal elite is less interested in giving up its luxuries (Al Gore purchases carbon offsets to compensate for his huge mansion and private jet travel) than in changing the lifestyle of the masses, who selfishly insist on living in suburbs and keeping guns for recreation or protection. Ordinary Americans are seen not as responsible fellow citizens building stable communities but as greedy masses, who must be disciplined to live according to the elite's religious dogmas.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Gun Control as Religion
From Michael Barone at RealClearPolitics, something I've been saying for years now:
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
10 comments:
And the people in DC will kill you to get at your guns..that is if their public opinion trial balloons ever lead them to believe it would fly.
We are a goverment ruled by trial balloon, opinion pool and stumbling, bumbling inept actions.
God help us if we dont vote these pinheads out.
I don't think you can group global warming and gun control into the same "elites" lead us astray theory. While there is always a bit of "this is just an earth cycle" doubt cast on global warming you'd be hard pressed to argue that we as a human species haven't had at least SOMETHING to do with climate change. There is far to much scientific evidence pointing out the human caused changes. Gun control is much more a personal belief than something based on scientific evidence.
So I'll continue to recycle, buy high milage cars AND ARs thank you.
2nd Amend advocates (myself included) need to be wary of being drawn into any debate where "other" topics are grouped in. Don't be grouped into some stereotype like "ultra conservative, red state, gun enthusiast". While that certainly does exist it puts you in a category that is easier to attack. Leave all other political views behind and focus on JUST guns. I find I get a lot more accomplished this way.
(I tend to be all over the map politically and often disagree with conservatives but I accomplish more with my liberal friends when discussing the 2nd . )
As soon as you make it about more than that, you're fighting more than one battle and that isn't a winning plan.
Yes, I believe in global warming. But not in human-caused warming. All of mankind combined is no more then a pimple on the Earth's ass when it comes to cause-and-effect. The Earth will survive, no matter what mankind does to it. We may not be here to see it, but the Earth will keep on spinning in space.
Having said that, I also believe in recycling, et al. But I do it, not for the Church of AlGore, but for botton-line conservative efficiency. The more I save and conserve now, the more resources there will be for my future comfort, and the cheaper they will cost. Like money in the bank.
Any questions? I leave it as an exercise for the student to take this philosophy to the next level.
B Woodman
SSG (Ret) U S Army
The issue of Carbon Off-sets and Cap-in-Trade are the same thing as the abuse of Indulgences during the Middle Ages.
The belief that humans are causing "Global warming" is a load of crap that is being foisted off on the ignorant and those to lazy to do their own research. Just like everything else on the elitist agenda the actual objective is CONTROL.
The truth is that polar ice caps are just now receding to where they were 1,000 years ago, that is why new Viking ruins are being discovered in Greenland, they have been covered in ice for 10 centuries, but the sheep are to stupid to realize that so they will buy Prius's, get rid of wood stoves and request govt. permission to fart.
People that dumb deserve it.
Tom Bogan
I've found that there is a great amount of interest in firearms and I am trying to cater to that on Huntfish.net. I've owned rifles, pistols and shotguns since I was a teenager, after my father as well as the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department taught me gun safety. I've not shot anyone but more and more criminal activity is common in our area. I would not hesitate to use any means to defend our family and farm. I certainly don't mind practicing with a pistol or rifle on the farm when I think there is a criminal element nearby. I call it prevention.
The world needs more education about guns and gun safety. It's the people that know little about guns that are dangerous. When they do pick up a gun, they wave it around like a stick, which makes me cringe horribly at the site of the lack of respect for the power of firearms.
If the government wants to outlaw guns, they should be the first to give them up.
Mark Colbath
The Hunting and Fishing Network
When Hitler's thugs came to collect guns, they shot you on sight if you had a gun. Strong incentive to turn it in.
When they come to get ours, we are not going to have our day in court. It will be by force.
For the greater good, of course.
The replies above prove my above point. Voicing your opinion on other topics along with gun control can do almost nothing but harm. If the person listening has a different view than you on that point, they'll immediately discredit much of what you say about GC arguments. Particularly if you insult others with opposing views. As soon as you start bringing in other "ideas" you slant the objectivity of the listener. Keep it to GC and NOTHING else. You mention Hitler's thugs and equate the US Gov't in the same and I write you off. You call me dumb for believing VERY SMART scientists (not Al Gore) on Global Warming. I write you off. Why do that? Give me a good strong statement on the your support of the 2nd and leave it at that. You'll have a lot more people in your corner. There are MANY of us "liberal elites" out there who strongly support the 2nd. Why loose our influence among our less educated members by insulting everything else about us?
Why do I mention "Hitler's thugs"? Because there were many Germans who never would have believed that what happened would have happened.
Sure you can turn off as soon as you hear a reference to Hitler. I would have done the same in the past. But I have been reading Hitler's biography by Toland, and looking at the emotional state of the people, the charismatic leadership, and the hope for a New World Order.
One needs to understand what a government is truly capable of before dismissing whether or not they could possibly do so here in the United States. A government is made of men, who may not believe so much in the Constitution that many are counting on to protect us.
Do I have the absolute right to protect myself? Ayn Rand would say the answer is either yes or no. There simply is no middle ground.
"Why loose[sic] our influence among our less educated members..."
I'm sorry, but that's pretty funny right there.
I recommend you read Matthew 7:3. Go now and sin no more.
Post a Comment