Monday, July 17, 2017
The Party
Concern for the Common Man?
There are
numerous influential and moneyed individuals and groups that want to tell our House
and Senate representatives how to vote and to help them write favorable legislation.
Perhaps the most important group is the party leadership. Aye, there's the rub!
Their own leadership! Never mind the citizenry; never mind one's own reasoning,
or worldview, or common sense, it is party leadership that matters most, and
party "leadership" is all about their own, cliquish, arrogant and selfish
Ideas of what should go down, how to vote, what policies they want to see effected, who
should be elected, who should be steering the log of state, who should be
opposed because they don't represent the party or its ideas, and... to hell with the common man, it is party
rule and party elections that matter. Except when the little people, the unwashed
masses, about half or more of them anyway, need to be cajoled into or lied into
or fooled into voting for the party.
Concern for the Common Man?
There are
numerous influential and moneyed individuals and groups that want to tell our House
and Senate representatives how to vote and to help them write favorable legislation.
Perhaps the most important group is the party leadership. Aye, there's the rub!
Their own leadership! Never mind the citizenry; never mind one's own reasoning,
or worldview, or common sense, it is party leadership that matters most, and
party "leadership" is all about their own, cliquish, arrogant and selfish
Ideas of what should go down, how to vote, what policies they want to see effected, who
should be elected, who should be steering the log of state, who should be
opposed because they don't represent the party or its ideas, and... to hell with the common man, it is party
rule and party elections that matter. Except when the little people, the unwashed
masses, about half or more of them anyway, need to be cajoled into or lied into
or fooled into voting for the party.
Thursday, July 06, 2017
North Korea and the US
The strategic posture of the DPNK is to hold Seoul hostage to prevent US retaliation for their development of nuclear warheads and ICBMs. Their 7,000 or so artillery pieces aimed at the South Korean capital puts some 10 million citizens under the guns. This barrage capability could perhaps be blunted by a preemptive strike by a massive B-52 raid with each plane carrying CBU-105s and their Sensor-Fused Weapons (SFWs). However, it is not clear that such a raid could hit the majority, if not most of the emplaced artillery tubes, leaving Seoul vulnerable to serious devastation and casualties.
There seems to be little alternative to employing tactical nuclear weapons to scrub clean the area north of Seoul of as many tubes as possible in one big preemptive raid, say, by one or two B-52s with nuclear warhead JDAMs. Having done this as a humanitarian save of the Seoul population, it would be necessary to paralyze the rest of NK, using nuclear EMP explosions at appropriate altitudes to avoid disabling South Korean based systems, but assuredly freezing the armor of the NK army, and any electronic systems as well. Obviously, follow-up raids would be needed to hit surviving systems.
Any option less than this may not be sufficient to prevent the NK from a major offensive against South Korea. The use of nuclear weapons in a preemptive strike will cause condemnation by the rest of the world, if not violence against Americans wherever they are found. In the worst case, retaliation by China or Russia or both with their nuclear missiles might be forthcoming, which would spark off nuclear exchanges on both sides, and most likely the end of civilization as we know it.
A serious dilemma here that appears to favor the DPRK being allowed to continue their development of nuclear weapons capable of striking the US. What is the best solution?
There seems to be little alternative to employing tactical nuclear weapons to scrub clean the area north of Seoul of as many tubes as possible in one big preemptive raid, say, by one or two B-52s with nuclear warhead JDAMs. Having done this as a humanitarian save of the Seoul population, it would be necessary to paralyze the rest of NK, using nuclear EMP explosions at appropriate altitudes to avoid disabling South Korean based systems, but assuredly freezing the armor of the NK army, and any electronic systems as well. Obviously, follow-up raids would be needed to hit surviving systems.
Any option less than this may not be sufficient to prevent the NK from a major offensive against South Korea. The use of nuclear weapons in a preemptive strike will cause condemnation by the rest of the world, if not violence against Americans wherever they are found. In the worst case, retaliation by China or Russia or both with their nuclear missiles might be forthcoming, which would spark off nuclear exchanges on both sides, and most likely the end of civilization as we know it.
A serious dilemma here that appears to favor the DPRK being allowed to continue their development of nuclear weapons capable of striking the US. What is the best solution?
Saturday, July 01, 2017
Conservatism's Main Line (Revised a Bit: 7/1/17)
Really Simple Conservatism
The essence of Conservatism in government is to preserve and reinforce the good
things, good ideas, and good laws in the nation, and to work diligently to
eliminate the bad things, bad ideas and bad laws as permanently as possible.
While these things, ideas and laws are not precisely all good or all bad, the
tendency is to group them into good and bad lists, with the understanding that
in the process of undoing a bad thing, idea or law, its good part will be
preserved by government as nearly as possible. As in most cases in life, the
Devil is in the details.
So, you are a Conservative if you sign up to:
Good Things, Good Ideas, and Good Laws
1. Truth and Honesty
2. Freedom and Liberty
3. Morality and Moral Rectitude
4. Christian Religion, Charity and Religious Tolerance
5. Natural Law
6. Natural Rights
7, Natural Duties
8. The Declaration of Independence
9. The Constitution of the United States (Read Plainly)
10. The Federal System: A Sovereign Nation with Sovereign States
11. Checks and Balances on Power in Government
12. An Electoral System as Prescribed by the Constitution
13. Customs, Traditions, and Institutions Designed to Preserve the Nation
14. Individual Responsibility
15. Common Sense and Practicality; Rejecting Collectivism
16. Fiscal Responsibility and Frugality in Government
17. Balanced Budgets Yearly, with Debt and Debit Reductions Included
18. Prudent Changes to Laws as Needed
19. Prudent and Humane Foreign Policies
20. An Adequate and Modern Defense Force
21. Subsidiarity: Make Decisions at the Lowest Level of Government
22. Free Market System with Adequate Regulation and Tariffs Where Needed
23. Fair Trade and Mutual Defense Treaties with other Nations
24. A Space Policy and Program to Keep the Nation at the Forefront
25. A Judicial System that is Bound only to Interpret the Laws of the Nation
26. A Legislative System that can Extend the Laws at the Will of the People
27. The Will of the People is Represented Properly
28. Prudent Stewardship of the Nation’s Land and Natural Resources
29. Strict Maintenance of the Sovereignty of the Nation
30. Participation in Global Efforts to Improve Other Nations
31. Effective Immigration Policies and Procedures
32. Government Seed Money Properly Used
33. Social Conservative Principles, i.e. Ant-Abortion, Anti-SSM
34. Just Killing (Death Penalty), and Just War
35. Care for the Ill, the Disabled, the Old, and the Handicapped
36. Majority Rule with Minority Protections
Eliminating Bad Things, Bad Ideas, and Bad Laws
1. Lies and Dishonesty in Government
2. Government Restrictions on Freedom and Liberty
3. Moral Relativity and Indiscrimination in Every Way Possible
4. Full Secularization and Depressing Religions
5. Laws Impinging on the Natural Order
6. Laws Impinging on Natural Rights
7 Shirking Natural Duties
8. Bending the Declaration Improperly
9. Bending or Subverting the Constitution Without Due Process
10. Increasing Federal Power at the Expense of the States
11. Subverting the Checks and Balances
12. Championing a Fully Democratic Election (Meaning No Electoral College)
13. Trashing the Existing Customs, Traditions and Institutions Without Proper Cause
14. Collectivism: Socialism. and Communism---Halting Attempts to Gain Power
15. Flights of Do-Good-ism, Irrationality, and Undue Humanitarianism
16. Tax and Spend and Tax and Spend ad
nauseam
17. Deficit Spending Year-in and Year-out
18. Imprudent and Hasty Changes that End Up Being Counterproductive
19. Uneven or Detrimental Policies towards the World of Nations
20. A Mediocre, Out-of-Date or Deficient Military
21. Keeping Decision-Making at a Very High Level Unnecessarily
22. Overregulation or Even Collectivizing the Economy
23. Looking Inward not Outward
24. Killing the Space Programs
25. Judicial Activism and Allowing Foreign Influences in Decisions
26. Government that Ignores the Will of the People
27. The Will of the People is Actively Thwarted
28. Poor Stewardship of our Natural Resources and Land
29. Allowing Foreign Influences to Impinge on our Sovereignty
30. Ignoring the Plight of Other Nations
31. Not Solving either Immigration Problem: Illegals; or Desirables.
32. Government Takeover of Industry
33. Social Hedonism
34. Unjust Killing and Unjust War
35. Minimizing the Care Needed by the Unfortunate
36. Minimizing Minority Protections
Really Simple Conservatism
The essence of Conservatism in government is to preserve and reinforce the good things, good ideas, and good laws in the nation, and to work diligently to eliminate the bad things, bad ideas and bad laws as permanently as possible.
While these things, ideas and laws are not precisely all good or all bad, the tendency is to group them into good and bad lists, with the understanding that in the process of undoing a bad thing, idea or law, its good part will be preserved by government as nearly as possible. As in most cases in life, the Devil is in the details.
So, you are a Conservative if you sign up to:
Good Things, Good Ideas, and Good Laws
1. Truth and Honesty
2. Freedom and Liberty
3. Morality and Moral Rectitude
4. Christian Religion, Charity and Religious Tolerance
5. Natural Law
6. Natural Rights
7, Natural Duties
8. The Declaration of Independence
9. The Constitution of the United States (Read Plainly)
10. The Federal System: A Sovereign Nation with Sovereign States
11. Checks and Balances on Power in Government
12. An Electoral System as Prescribed by the Constitution
13. Customs, Traditions, and Institutions Designed to Preserve the Nation
14. Individual Responsibility
15. Common Sense and Practicality; Rejecting Collectivism
16. Fiscal Responsibility and Frugality in Government
17. Balanced Budgets Yearly, with Debt and Debit Reductions Included
18. Prudent Changes to Laws as Needed
19. Prudent and Humane Foreign Policies
20. An Adequate and Modern Defense Force
21. Subsidiarity: Make Decisions at the Lowest Level of Government
22. Free Market System with Adequate Regulation and Tariffs Where Needed
23. Fair Trade and Mutual Defense Treaties with other Nations
24. A Space Policy and Program to Keep the Nation at the Forefront
25. A Judicial System that is Bound only to Interpret the Laws of the Nation
26. A Legislative System that can Extend the Laws at the Will of the People
27. The Will of the People is Represented Properly
28. Prudent Stewardship of the Nation’s Land and Natural Resources
29. Strict Maintenance of the Sovereignty of the Nation
30. Participation in Global Efforts to Improve Other Nations
31. Effective Immigration Policies and Procedures
32. Government Seed Money Properly Used
33. Social Conservative Principles, i.e. Ant-Abortion, Anti-SSM
34. Just Killing (Death Penalty), and Just War
35. Care for the Ill, the Disabled, the Old, and the Handicapped
36. Majority Rule with Minority Protections
Eliminating Bad Things, Bad Ideas, and Bad Laws
1. Lies and Dishonesty in Government
2. Government Restrictions on Freedom and Liberty
3. Moral Relativity and Indiscrimination in Every Way Possible
4. Full Secularization and Depressing Religions
5. Laws Impinging on the Natural Order
6. Laws Impinging on Natural Rights
7 Shirking Natural Duties
8. Bending the Declaration Improperly
9. Bending or Subverting the Constitution Without Due Process
10. Increasing Federal Power at the Expense of the States
11. Subverting the Checks and Balances
12. Championing a Fully Democratic Election (Meaning No Electoral College)
13. Trashing the Existing Customs, Traditions and Institutions Without Proper Cause
14. Collectivism: Socialism. and Communism---Halting Attempts to Gain Power
15. Flights of Do-Good-ism, Irrationality, and Undue Humanitarianism
16. Tax and Spend and Tax and Spend ad nauseam
17. Deficit Spending Year-in and Year-out
18. Imprudent and Hasty Changes that End Up Being Counterproductive
19. Uneven or Detrimental Policies towards the World of Nations
20. A Mediocre, Out-of-Date or Deficient Military
21. Keeping Decision-Making at a Very High Level Unnecessarily
22. Overregulation or Even Collectivizing the Economy
23. Looking Inward not Outward
24. Killing the Space Programs
25. Judicial Activism and Allowing Foreign Influences in Decisions
26. Government that Ignores the Will of the People
27. The Will of the People is Actively Thwarted
28. Poor Stewardship of our Natural Resources and Land
29. Allowing Foreign Influences to Impinge on our Sovereignty
30. Ignoring the Plight of Other Nations
31. Not Solving either Immigration Problem: Illegals; or Desirables.
32. Government Takeover of Industry
33. Social Hedonism
34. Unjust Killing and Unjust War
35. Minimizing the Care Needed by the Unfortunate
36. Minimizing Minority Protections
The essence of Conservatism in government is to preserve and reinforce the good things, good ideas, and good laws in the nation, and to work diligently to eliminate the bad things, bad ideas and bad laws as permanently as possible.
While these things, ideas and laws are not precisely all good or all bad, the tendency is to group them into good and bad lists, with the understanding that in the process of undoing a bad thing, idea or law, its good part will be preserved by government as nearly as possible. As in most cases in life, the Devil is in the details.
So, you are a Conservative if you sign up to:
Good Things, Good Ideas, and Good Laws
1. Truth and Honesty
2. Freedom and Liberty
3. Morality and Moral Rectitude
4. Christian Religion, Charity and Religious Tolerance
5. Natural Law
6. Natural Rights
7, Natural Duties
8. The Declaration of Independence
9. The Constitution of the United States (Read Plainly)
10. The Federal System: A Sovereign Nation with Sovereign States
11. Checks and Balances on Power in Government
12. An Electoral System as Prescribed by the Constitution
13. Customs, Traditions, and Institutions Designed to Preserve the Nation
14. Individual Responsibility
15. Common Sense and Practicality; Rejecting Collectivism
16. Fiscal Responsibility and Frugality in Government
17. Balanced Budgets Yearly, with Debt and Debit Reductions Included
18. Prudent Changes to Laws as Needed
19. Prudent and Humane Foreign Policies
20. An Adequate and Modern Defense Force
21. Subsidiarity: Make Decisions at the Lowest Level of Government
22. Free Market System with Adequate Regulation and Tariffs Where Needed
23. Fair Trade and Mutual Defense Treaties with other Nations
24. A Space Policy and Program to Keep the Nation at the Forefront
25. A Judicial System that is Bound only to Interpret the Laws of the Nation
26. A Legislative System that can Extend the Laws at the Will of the People
27. The Will of the People is Represented Properly
28. Prudent Stewardship of the Nation’s Land and Natural Resources
29. Strict Maintenance of the Sovereignty of the Nation
30. Participation in Global Efforts to Improve Other Nations
31. Effective Immigration Policies and Procedures
32. Government Seed Money Properly Used
33. Social Conservative Principles, i.e. Ant-Abortion, Anti-SSM
34. Just Killing (Death Penalty), and Just War
35. Care for the Ill, the Disabled, the Old, and the Handicapped
36. Majority Rule with Minority Protections
Eliminating Bad Things, Bad Ideas, and Bad Laws
1. Lies and Dishonesty in Government
2. Government Restrictions on Freedom and Liberty
3. Moral Relativity and Indiscrimination in Every Way Possible
4. Full Secularization and Depressing Religions
5. Laws Impinging on the Natural Order
6. Laws Impinging on Natural Rights
7 Shirking Natural Duties
8. Bending the Declaration Improperly
9. Bending or Subverting the Constitution Without Due Process
10. Increasing Federal Power at the Expense of the States
11. Subverting the Checks and Balances
12. Championing a Fully Democratic Election (Meaning No Electoral College)
13. Trashing the Existing Customs, Traditions and Institutions Without Proper Cause
14. Collectivism: Socialism. and Communism---Halting Attempts to Gain Power
15. Flights of Do-Good-ism, Irrationality, and Undue Humanitarianism
16. Tax and Spend and Tax and Spend ad nauseam
17. Deficit Spending Year-in and Year-out
18. Imprudent and Hasty Changes that End Up Being Counterproductive
19. Uneven or Detrimental Policies towards the World of Nations
20. A Mediocre, Out-of-Date or Deficient Military
21. Keeping Decision-Making at a Very High Level Unnecessarily
22. Overregulation or Even Collectivizing the Economy
23. Looking Inward not Outward
24. Killing the Space Programs
25. Judicial Activism and Allowing Foreign Influences in Decisions
26. Government that Ignores the Will of the People
27. The Will of the People is Actively Thwarted
28. Poor Stewardship of our Natural Resources and Land
29. Allowing Foreign Influences to Impinge on our Sovereignty
30. Ignoring the Plight of Other Nations
31. Not Solving either Immigration Problem: Illegals; or Desirables.
32. Government Takeover of Industry
33. Social Hedonism
34. Unjust Killing and Unjust War
35. Minimizing the Care Needed by the Unfortunate
36. Minimizing Minority Protections
