Guns and America's Myth

In addition to the myth of the middle class, is the right to bear arms.  We would be as farmers in the French Revolution with their hay forks facing the black powder rifles.  Initially, the freedom to bear arms in the US Amendment to the Constitution came as a view to preventing Government from holding all the firepower, the National Guard was the State's army and the citizens of the state became the soldiers.  Now it is foolish to pretend that this right provides any such guarantee of our ability to liberate us from a truly overbearing government. The Government holds and manages not only firepower but also weapons of mass destruction. These deter any legitimate attempt to take government back by any group of people.  If you don't believe me, look at Wisconsin.  

But of course what's even more disturbing to many of us, is the claim we should be able to buy tanks and, I suppose, laser guided rockets, and other weapons of modern warfare.  And we who do not can trust those who do to protect us from an overzealous government, of course.  Right.  This logic scares me and my logic that I'd rather trust a government that I actively help elect seems to scare others.  I don't know the better answer but I hope we find one before our grandsons and granddaughters get caught in the crossfire.

The right to bear arms currently provides only the following potential outcome.  If the government stays out of a civil war, as they did in Egypt, then the ones most likely to lose in that civil war are those of us most likely to support the ones who are most hurt by the current system.  My belief is that more people who have what is termed "liberal" or "progressive" leanings are less likely to own guns.  I also believe that the very rich and the super Corporations, who seem to be doing very well right now, are more likely to to possess or have access to weapons.  

These are the same ones who have financed the recent "conservative" agenda.  Have you noticed how much money they have spent to elect friendly Tea Party types?  For some reason the Tea Party movement appeals to many who I believe with lose the most from their policies.  These are not the ones who have financed teh movement.  Instead it is mostly financed by major money, see a recent NY Times article on the Koch Brothers.  I guess some of the genuinely idealistic new Tea Party types haven't figured out they will just be cannon fodder when it comes to overthrowing the Democracy for a Plutocracy.   The rest are making sure they become part of the New Plutocracy.
 

I do not apologize for my stereotypical comments below but warn you that they are such.  I know there are many ways to argue the fallacy of stereotypes, but I also know that there is a grain of truth in the human experience as there is in both our perspectives.  Here is an exaggeration of my perspective. 

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He drives a Hummer and there are AK-47's in the gun rack.  The reindeer are in the freezer ready for Christmas dinner.  The antlers are proudly displayed on the Hummer's hood and also at his hunting lodge nestled in the woods near the former coal cache known as the Appalachian Mountains. It's OK, you can sit in his lap. Yes, I know he's scary, but he's a good Christian. And honey, don't worry about the acid rain, it's worse in China.   Oh yes, there's a Tea Party bumper sticker on the back.  So next time you see King George III you'll see him with a Tea Party sticker on his lapel.  He's getting revenge.