Sending up the @stienman signal again.@Steinman, sorry for the late response.
Does anyone else miss when the board would autocorrect/autoconfirm a @name_reference? I know I do.
--Patrick
Sending up the @stienman signal again.@Steinman, sorry for the late response.
That's ok, full disclosure, I went to bed immediately after posting that [DOUBLEPOST=1457457961,1457457404][/DOUBLEPOST]Sorry, I had to go to bed and now I'm going to work. Some of us sleep and actually have to work when they go to work
"A free people ought not only to be armed, but disciplined; to which end a uniform and well-digested plan is requisite; and their safety and interest require that they should promote such manufactories as tend to render them independent of others for essential, particularly military, supplies." - George Washington's First Annual Message To The Congress. In other words, he's talking about a national army: trained and disciplined troops in uniform with their own supply chains, not armed civilians.
Actually, it's a little from column A, a little from column B. George Washington was general of the revolutionary army during the rebellion, and his biggest problem, as he often lamented in his correspondence, was that he had actually very few troops under his command with any sort of military training or adequate equipment. A huge chunk of his army was made up of farmers with whatever long-arm they had over the mantle/propped in the corner, and they were often in various degrees of disrepair and the farmers were not practiced in their efficient and accurate use - especially under duress. George not only wanted the United States to start manufacturing its own arms and selling them to civilians to keep them equipped up to military standard, but he also wanted civilians to train and drill with their weapons, against the chance that they once again had to become minutemen in a fight against a professional military - remember, even though the revolution was won, the specter of invasion by a colonial european power was still hanging over the new nation for many years - and heck, we all know what happened to DC in the war of 1812.Another interpretation is that he's calling for America to begin the manufacture of it's own armaments and supplies instead of relying on imported goods from Europe, which is to be accomplished by this "uniform and well-digested plan". That's sort of the trick with early English; it often doesn't mean what we think it means. Worse, our founders were a VERY politically diverse group of people for a bunch of old white dudes. The Founders can and did disagree with a lot of things.
They actually do this sort of thing in countries that have mandatory military service like Israel, Norway, and Finland.For my part, I agree with Washington - I wish there was a firearm safety/training class as part of the grade 12 curriculum in highschools nationwide. There'd be a lot less gun accidents and general fear of firearms if everybody were educated and trained in how to be safe - and effective - with firearms.
Well, you've heard me say before that I liked the Heinleinian idea of requiring 2 years of military service to gain political enfranchisement (voting/running for office).They actually do this sort of thing in countries that have mandatory military service like Israel, Norway, and Finland.
It would be FASCINATING to see that as top billing on the NRA (or whatever) advocacy website. The reaction to such I mean. But it's probably a good way to get people talking.For my part, I agree with Washington - I wish there was a firearm safety/training class as part of the grade 12 curriculum in highschools nationwide. There'd be a lot less gun accidents and general fear of firearms if everybody were educated and trained in how to be safe - and effective - with firearms.
They were never supposed to. The founding charter of the NRA was to improve civilian marksmanship in response to the abysmal accuracy of conscripts in the civil war.If the NRA actually represented gun owners I could see that. I don't feel like the NRA has represented hunting and sportsmen gun owners for years.
Heck, some countries without it, like China, still do it.They actually do this sort of thing in countries that have mandatory military service like Israel, Norway, and Finland.
I'm of the opinion that volunteers are better than conscripts, when it comes to the effectiveness of a military force. I'd not want to discard the advantages of an all-volunteer force entirely, and it seems to me that the enfranchisement system is a good middle ground, with the added bonus of winnowing down the political class and electorate down to only those who have shown they're literally willing to put their life on the line for the country.Mandatory conscription wouldn't necessarily be such a bad thing. Again, it's not uncommon in Europe so it's not like it's unprecedented.
Eh, the guns are empty. Ammunition is given when the section is prepared to fire. I took this picture right after everyone just got to the field.Are those seriously guns at those kids feet? That's one of the most incredibly irresponsibly arranged gun ranges I've ever seen.
I would love to see this or something like it actually make its way into the Constitution. While it would balloon the house to over 6 thousand members it would ensure better representation on domestic matters, and certainly make buying Congress much more expensive.After the first enumeration required by the first article of the Constitution, there shall be one Representative for every thirty thousand, until the number shall amount to one hundred, after which the proportion shall be so regulated by Congress, that there shall be not less than one hundred Representatives, nor less than one Representative for every forty thousand persons, until the number of Representatives shall amount to two hundred; after which the proportion shall be so regulated by Congress, that there shall not be less than two hundred Representatives, nor more than one Representative for every fifty thousand persons.
If you think stuff doesn't get done NOW though...So yesterday when doing some "research" (i.e. Wikipedia) on the Bill of Rights I learned that there was actually one other article that was approved by Congress and sent to the states for ratification designed around guidelines for scaling up the size of the House of Representatives as the population grows. Representative per capita would increase as the house grew. Apparently this article was 1 state away from being added to the constitution, but as the states were growing the number needed kept changing and it was forgotten about. Legally it's still awaiting ratification, needing 27 more states to approve it.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congressional_Apportionment_Amendment
Here's the text for those curious.
I would love to see this or something like it actually make its way into the Constitution. While it would balloon the house to over 6 thousand members it would ensure better representation on domestic matters, and certainly make buying Congress much more expensive.
Congressional gridlock is one of my favorite things.If you think stuff doesn't get done NOW though...
You say that like it's a bad thing?If you think stuff doesn't get done NOW though...
My issue is really more with people's first assumption being to look towards the Federal government for solutions, and the massive amounts of legislating through financing that occurs between the state and federal level.Maybe I just don't pay enough attention, but I don't know that I've seen an issue with states not governing themselves.
Unsurprisingly, the military isn't onboard with the reformists. *sigh*Iran: http://www.ctvnews.ca/world/iran-fires-2-missiles-marked-with-israel-must-be-wiped-out-1.2809703
And remember, this isn't Israeli propaganda about having anti-Israel messages on the missiles. This is state media. SUCH a great deal letting those people pursue nuclear technology. I'm sure that'll turn out just GREAT.
Never mind that shit, here comes Mongo!More proof that WV lawmakers are just fucking stupid. These assholes got what they deserved.
I mentioned this a few months ago. Still waiting for Drumpf to pull back the Hitler curtain.
Anyone remember this?
Inauguration day, darkest timeline.I mentioned this a few months ago. Still waiting for Drumpf to pull back the Hitler curtain.
Kinda wish my mom could see this, but I don't think she'd watch a 45-minute video demonstrating how she and her friends are idiots.
Anyone remember this?
Yes, though not first-hand, of course.Anyone remember this?