Sunday, January 27, 2013
Upper-Level Conservative Beliefs
Basic Tenets of My Beliefs
Belief in:
1. A Loving, Omnipresent and Omnipotent God
2. Moral Absolutes, and not moral relativism
3. Freedom and Liberty
4. Natural law, rights, and duties
5. The Constitution of the United States of America, read forthrightly
6. Customs, Traditions, and Institutions that mediate between the citizen and the government, and including a renewed patriotism by our citizens
7. Fiscal Responsibility
8. Social Responsibility
9. Free Markets, with suitable restraints
10. Right-Sized Government. Do we need 1,177 or more government agencies?
11. Strong Defenses
12. States Rights and Responsibilities, including education
13. Science and Engineering
14. Just War and Just Killing
15. Equal Opportunity, and not equal outcomes
16. Constructive Change
17. Subsidiarity
18. Speech, and all of our Lives unfettered by Multicultural Diversity and Political Correctness.
19. Discrimination has its uses. Universal non-discrimination is blarney
20. Technology that will aid the middle class if they embrace it
21. A Resurgent America
22. A Civilized Society and the Rule of Law
23. A Fair Taxation Policy and Law
24. A Foreign Policy that seeks the good, together with likeminded nations, and that minimizes the idea of a central world government
25. A Robust and up-to-date Education for all citizens as befitting our republic and the modern world
Expansion of these upper-level beliefs is truly a significant job, as the second-level of beliefs require major development. To illustrate, take Natural Law, which would take a book to fully describe the subject. Another illustration is Constructive Change, which applies across the board in our society, and especially in government. Again, it would take a book to even scratch the surface of all the beneficial changes we need.
Perhaps this listing will aid me in developing my own views on each item. Another item, Subsidiarity is not a familiar term, but it refers to the philosophy of making decisions at the lowest possible level of society and government, which pushes back on those who would centralize all decision-making at the Federal Government level. Identifying these decision types that should be decided at lower levels of government is not a trivial task.
Basic Tenets of My Beliefs
Belief in:
1. A Loving, Omnipresent and Omnipotent God
2. Moral Absolutes, and not moral relativism
3. Freedom and Liberty
4. Natural law, rights, and duties
5. The Constitution of the United States of America, read forthrightly
6. Customs, Traditions, and Institutions that mediate between the citizen and the government, and including a renewed patriotism by our citizens
7. Fiscal Responsibility
8. Social Responsibility
9. Free Markets, with suitable restraints
10. Right-Sized Government. Do we need 1,177 or more government agencies?
11. Strong Defenses
12. States Rights and Responsibilities, including education
13. Science and Engineering
14. Just War and Just Killing
15. Equal Opportunity, and not equal outcomes
16. Constructive Change
17. Subsidiarity
18. Speech, and all of our Lives unfettered by Multicultural Diversity and Political Correctness.
19. Discrimination has its uses. Universal non-discrimination is blarney
20. Technology that will aid the middle class if they embrace it
21. A Resurgent America
22. A Civilized Society and the Rule of Law
23. A Fair Taxation Policy and Law
24. A Foreign Policy that seeks the good, together with likeminded nations, and that minimizes the idea of a central world government
25. A Robust and up-to-date Education for all citizens as befitting our republic and the modern world
Expansion of these upper-level beliefs is truly a significant job, as the second-level of beliefs require major development. To illustrate, take Natural Law, which would take a book to fully describe the subject. Another illustration is Constructive Change, which applies across the board in our society, and especially in government. Again, it would take a book to even scratch the surface of all the beneficial changes we need.
Perhaps this listing will aid me in developing my own views on each item. Another item, Subsidiarity is not a familiar term, but it refers to the philosophy of making decisions at the lowest possible level of society and government, which pushes back on those who would centralize all decision-making at the Federal Government level. Identifying these decision types that should be decided at lower levels of government is not a trivial task.
Thursday, January 24, 2013
More Pet Peeves
1. Contempt for school systems that do not teach civics.
2. Those who champion gun regulations in the extreme.
3. The United Nations hypocrasies.
4. Liberal hypocrasies in governance.
5. In-your-face gay activism.
6. The continuing destruction of the image of womanhood: boxers, wrestlers, and now combat soldiers. (The rule: Don't date a woman that can bench press your weight!)
7. Concepts of governance inimicable to ours: socialism, communism, totalitarianism, Fundamentalist Islam (Sharia, Jihad), "pure democracy" or mob rule, liberalism, or progressivism, and many more.
8. The obvious existence of a large number of unthinking and stupid citizens in the voting public: proof is the election of Obama for a second try at ruining the economy and our way of life.
9. "Blame Bush", who ran up the debt by 7 trillion in eight years, as opposed to Obama who has run up the debt to16.4 trillion in half the time, and has four more years to best Bush by double digits.
10. The deluge of illegal immigrants and a permissive government approach.
2. Those who champion gun regulations in the extreme.
3. The United Nations hypocrasies.
4. Liberal hypocrasies in governance.
5. In-your-face gay activism.
6. The continuing destruction of the image of womanhood: boxers, wrestlers, and now combat soldiers. (The rule: Don't date a woman that can bench press your weight!)
7. Concepts of governance inimicable to ours: socialism, communism, totalitarianism, Fundamentalist Islam (Sharia, Jihad), "pure democracy" or mob rule, liberalism, or progressivism, and many more.
8. The obvious existence of a large number of unthinking and stupid citizens in the voting public: proof is the election of Obama for a second try at ruining the economy and our way of life.
9. "Blame Bush", who ran up the debt by 7 trillion in eight years, as opposed to Obama who has run up the debt to16.4 trillion in half the time, and has four more years to best Bush by double digits.
10. The deluge of illegal immigrants and a permissive government approach.
Friday, January 11, 2013
The Israeli Dilemma
A fateful decision is nearing!
Israeli leaders have a very tough decision to make sooner or later concerning the growing nuclear weapons and air defense capabilities of Iran. Iran has already fielded one version of the Russian S-300 missile defense system, and is building its own, better versions at a rapid pace. The importance of the Iranian air defense buildup is illustrated by the following reference:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_Republic_of_Iran_Air_Defense_Force
Such a buildup reinforces my belief that Israel must make a fateful decision about how to attack Iran. To penetrate the defenses Iran has erected by a conventional attack scenario seems to be an exercise in devastation of their own air and missile force without fully accomplishing their objectives. They have the means, however, to shut down virtually all of the Iranian capabilities for defense by using a succession of nuclear blasts carefully positioned at medium to high altitude that generate electromagnetic pulses (EMP). (EMP itself does not kill people in the field of the blast directly. There may be deaths caused by disabled electrical systems, however, such as autos, traffic lights or medical equipment, etc.)
The EMP blasts would disable virtually all electronics in the area under the blast for a period of time, thus the need for successive blasts separated in time (perhaps three to five hours) to ensure the electronics remain disabled, or are re-disabled. During the time between each wave of EMP blasts the IAF can roam at will in the Iranian airspace and take out defenses, offensive weapons, and nuclear capabilities. Successive missions could well decimate the Iranian military capability to respond to the attack, as well as the feared nuclear sites. Once the air defenses have been neutralized, the IAF can fly in their MOAB-type bombs that are launched from the rear of C-130 transport aircraft to dig out and disable the underground nuclear sites.
Using nuclear weapons would subject Israel to instant condemnation from all over the world. Looked at from an Israeli perspective, however, it is a tradeoff between annihilation of their nation by Iran and the worldwide condemnation they would suffer afterwards for some period of time.
Just how potent is the threat from Iran? They appear to be verging on completing their first nuclear weapon, and have already begun building and testing the missiles that could carry the nukes. The greatest threat, in my opinion, is the improved mobile air defense system that could be deployed rapidly to destroy Israeli nuclear missiles as they rise from their launch pads, as well as used in point defense of high value targets, thus robbing the Israelis of a goodly part of their counter to a nuclear attack by Iran. A look at the geography shows that such mobile missile systems can be brought into close proximity to the Israeli missile fields in the Sinai through Syria, Lebanon, and the Palestinian Territories, and perhaps even Jordan. Their actual movement into near proximity to their attack positions could be disguised as an addition to the air defenses of the respective nations and territories.
The fateful decision, then, is will they use their nuclear EMP capability in a full military attack on Iran. The jury is out!
A fateful decision is nearing!
Israeli leaders have a very tough decision to make sooner or later concerning the growing nuclear weapons and air defense capabilities of Iran. Iran has already fielded one version of the Russian S-300 missile defense system, and is building its own, better versions at a rapid pace. The importance of the Iranian air defense buildup is illustrated by the following reference:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_Republic_of_Iran_Air_Defense_Force
Such a buildup reinforces my belief that Israel must make a fateful decision about how to attack Iran. To penetrate the defenses Iran has erected by a conventional attack scenario seems to be an exercise in devastation of their own air and missile force without fully accomplishing their objectives. They have the means, however, to shut down virtually all of the Iranian capabilities for defense by using a succession of nuclear blasts carefully positioned at medium to high altitude that generate electromagnetic pulses (EMP). (EMP itself does not kill people in the field of the blast directly. There may be deaths caused by disabled electrical systems, however, such as autos, traffic lights or medical equipment, etc.)
The EMP blasts would disable virtually all electronics in the area under the blast for a period of time, thus the need for successive blasts separated in time (perhaps three to five hours) to ensure the electronics remain disabled, or are re-disabled. During the time between each wave of EMP blasts the IAF can roam at will in the Iranian airspace and take out defenses, offensive weapons, and nuclear capabilities. Successive missions could well decimate the Iranian military capability to respond to the attack, as well as the feared nuclear sites. Once the air defenses have been neutralized, the IAF can fly in their MOAB-type bombs that are launched from the rear of C-130 transport aircraft to dig out and disable the underground nuclear sites.
Using nuclear weapons would subject Israel to instant condemnation from all over the world. Looked at from an Israeli perspective, however, it is a tradeoff between annihilation of their nation by Iran and the worldwide condemnation they would suffer afterwards for some period of time.
Just how potent is the threat from Iran? They appear to be verging on completing their first nuclear weapon, and have already begun building and testing the missiles that could carry the nukes. The greatest threat, in my opinion, is the improved mobile air defense system that could be deployed rapidly to destroy Israeli nuclear missiles as they rise from their launch pads, as well as used in point defense of high value targets, thus robbing the Israelis of a goodly part of their counter to a nuclear attack by Iran. A look at the geography shows that such mobile missile systems can be brought into close proximity to the Israeli missile fields in the Sinai through Syria, Lebanon, and the Palestinian Territories, and perhaps even Jordan. Their actual movement into near proximity to their attack positions could be disguised as an addition to the air defenses of the respective nations and territories.
The fateful decision, then, is will they use their nuclear EMP capability in a full military attack on Iran. The jury is out!
Further Thoughts on the Gun Problem
Why "bulletproof" locks will not work!
The tests conducted by lockmakers appear to show that they can and do make locks that are bulletproof. However, they used only small caliber rifles in their tests. A .223 rifle can be stopped. But, they shied away from the truly heavy rounds and loads such as for a .357, or a .440. The .357 FMJ has been demonstrated to be able to pass completely through a motor block, and the rest of an auto as well! Any would be shooter knows this and would equip himself accordingly.
Why "bulletproof" locks will not work!
The tests conducted by lockmakers appear to show that they can and do make locks that are bulletproof. However, they used only small caliber rifles in their tests. A .223 rifle can be stopped. But, they shied away from the truly heavy rounds and loads such as for a .357, or a .440. The .357 FMJ has been demonstrated to be able to pass completely through a motor block, and the rest of an auto as well! Any would be shooter knows this and would equip himself accordingly.
Thursday, January 10, 2013
An Addition to the Solution for School Security
Anything that delays or inhibits a shooter is a good idea.
I saw mentioned a good one: to put bulletproof locks on the doors and classroom doors of schools. I have not explored such items yet, but it does present the shooter with a problem: how to gain entrance. If I assume that the doors are steel the shooter could not shoot out the lock by going around it. So that leaves windows as the other relatively easy entrance, unless, of course, they are barred. Let's assume they are. The other possible ways to get in are:
1. To wait for a late student and walk in with him. This might be stopped by a monitor that unlocks the door, but if he does unlock it he is dead.
2. To wait for recess time outside in a good position.
3. To wait for end of school when students pour out of the doors, and run to their rides or the bus.
4. To target the bus or busses somewhere along their route.
5. To shift to another soft target, of which there is a large number.
6. To use an explosive to rip the door off of its hinges, a not unlikely possibility for a misguided genius.
Only (5) really serves the purpose of protecting the students, but at the cost of yet another soft target gathering elsewhere being attacked.
The other addition is surveillance cameras at all entrances and halls, and a monitor to watch the screens. This might help to identify the shooter earlier, and give a few minute's time for the police to arrive, and for the staff to be alarmed and to take measures, such as locking the classroom doors, to protect their students.
Anything that delays or inhibits a shooter is a good idea.
I saw mentioned a good one: to put bulletproof locks on the doors and classroom doors of schools. I have not explored such items yet, but it does present the shooter with a problem: how to gain entrance. If I assume that the doors are steel the shooter could not shoot out the lock by going around it. So that leaves windows as the other relatively easy entrance, unless, of course, they are barred. Let's assume they are. The other possible ways to get in are:
1. To wait for a late student and walk in with him. This might be stopped by a monitor that unlocks the door, but if he does unlock it he is dead.
2. To wait for recess time outside in a good position.
3. To wait for end of school when students pour out of the doors, and run to their rides or the bus.
4. To target the bus or busses somewhere along their route.
5. To shift to another soft target, of which there is a large number.
6. To use an explosive to rip the door off of its hinges, a not unlikely possibility for a misguided genius.
Only (5) really serves the purpose of protecting the students, but at the cost of yet another soft target gathering elsewhere being attacked.
The other addition is surveillance cameras at all entrances and halls, and a monitor to watch the screens. This might help to identify the shooter earlier, and give a few minute's time for the police to arrive, and for the staff to be alarmed and to take measures, such as locking the classroom doors, to protect their students.
