"...The Problem With Freedom..."

At this writing, six people, including a nine year old girl and a Federal judge are dead.
Eleven others are wounded, four critically.
And a respected and popular Congresswoman is in critical condition with a gunshot wound to the head.
Over the next few days/weeks, billions of words will fly back and forth on matters directly, even tenuously, related to this shooting.
I'll keep mine to a minimum.
The kid in custody is 22 years old and the weapon used was a Glock 9mm with a 30 bullet clip.
Let's run that last sentence again.
The kid in custody is 22 years old and the weapon used was a Glock 9mm with a 30 bullet clip.
While forensics and other physical evidence may provide the necessary tools to convict this kid, there is no way of proving two other, more abstract, assertions:

That vitriolic venom disguised as conscientious conservatism helped push an already disturbed mind over the line of self control and created a rush of blood away from the brain down to the trigger finger.

That an ideology that clings hysterically to some moronic belief that owning a gun in this country is a "right" on a par with personal liberty or voting the candidate of your choice may not have caused, but certainly contributed to, the carnage today.

Those in this country who subscribe to, let alone boast about, extreme right wing values, without taking into account the very real danger extremism poses when absorbed by delusional or deranged minds are guilty of fanning flames that burst into gunfire in a shopping center parking lot in Arizona this morning.

And those who cry "freedom!" as if mindlessly waving Bics at a Lynyrd Skynyrd concert are unworthy of enjoying the very liberties they so self righteously defend and demand.

Because they lack two critical social skills.

The ability to think past the moment.

The ability to, at least, consider an opposing point of view.

Intelligent, reasonable people understand a very simple concept.

Freedom is an extremely dangerous thing.

Because of the problem with it.

You have to give it to everybody.

"I Do Solemnly Swear...Just This Once....":

Are you one of those who chafes at the idea of starting the Christmas holidays in October?

Then you must really be chapped about the fact that Presidents only "govern", such as it is, for two years max.

We elect them, they are sworn in and then shortly after Christmas of the second year of the term, the re-election machinery goes into motion.

I've now lived long enough to have been around for twelve presidents. And somewhere around five, or so, I came to a conclusion that rings as true for me now as it did in the way back.

We need to amend the Constitution to limit the presidency to one term, six years max.

With no re-election to be concerned about, the office holder need not worry about having to become the office seeker in order to remain the office holder.

And if they can't get the job done then year six it's see ya, see ya, wouldn't wanna be ya.

If they do a spectacular job, they can run again.

In six years.

There is no logical, practical or reasonable case to be made for continuing the tradition of two terms.

In fact, the only "reason" it continues is....tradition.

Loath as I am to quote him, there's no denying the appropriateness of a Dr. Phil-ism
here.

"How's that workin' for ya?"

Put another way.

Changing the way it is would completely alter the way its done.

And you don't need to be Dr. Phil to ask this question.

What's your point?

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/01/02/dnc-chair-obama-unlikely-to-face-democratic-challenger/#more-141435?hpt=T2