fairness

Tyranny of the Majority

The Liberty Sphere advises us as follows:

US tyranny to increase for foreseeable future

A close friend who is politically astute, a Tea Party activist and Christian conservative, stated Wednesday in a private conversation that America as we know it is already lost, gone, destroyed.

And not a single shot was fired. This was done entirely through the electoral process, the courts, and a clear majority of the electorate that does not share the philosophy, the mindset, or the world-view of the Founders, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, or our nation’s rich religious heritage.

An all-important threshold was crossed, quite imperceptibly and thus totally without notice, that brought the nation into what the Founders referred to as “the tyranny of the majority.”

I seem to remember the difference between a Republic and a Democracy was defined exactly by this.  That a democracy elicited ‘tyranny of the majority’, and a Republic protected the rights of all.

When I was growing up, the phrase was, “Majority rules – Minority rights!”

However the education of the youth has devolved as described above.  In our Civics classes of yore, we were taught to revere, honor and respect The Constitution.  Now, the meme seems to be something akin to ‘whatever the United States is or has done is WRONG and BAD.  This country needs to progress beyond the old, outdated document forged by rich White guys to a New World Order.  ‘Leveling the playing field’ by fiat or diktat is more efficient and certainly more FAIR!

Somewhere within Jeff Cooper’s Commentaries, he makes a statement to the effect that the cry of THAT’S NOT FAIR is the epithet of pre-schoolers who learn as they get older that the World is just that.  Not fair.  And they demand their due.  Just like the OWS criminals terrorists protestors did – whom I suspect are those same children, older, but not yet mature.

And now, many of those children have done as Van Jones suggested.  They’ve left the collegiate quadrangle protest groups for government service.  Just as Saul Alinsky wrote in Rules for Radicals.  A cancer inside the mechanism of the Nation.  To make it ‘better’.

But, it’s not.

h/t Jeff Cooper

Love/Hate Cops

I have a love/hate relationship with cops.

On the one hand, I hate extremely dislike the ever-encroaching laws permitting law enforcement to run roughshod over our rights.  I’m not speaking of doing a Terry frisk (for weapons) and finding a baggie and making an arrest (although that does bug me), I’m speaking of those things many of us have written about:  NSA wiretapping, Internet monitoring, no-knock warrants, warrantless GPS, cameras everywhere, checkpoints etc.

On the other hand, I still contend that while most local police do their job – and some use it for abuse, others go above and beyond.

Paying it forward

Hayden Carlo of Wylie was pulled over recently for an expired registration

Asked why he hadn’t renewed, the married father of two told the officer that he had no excuse, other than times have been tough.

“It was either feed my kids or get this registration done,” he told Channel 11.

The officer wrote him a citation and tucked a little something extra into the envelope: a $100 bill. The gift brought Carlo to tears.

I’ll call this a late Birthday gift for me.

We, as humans, have amazing compassion. Helping our fellow man doesn’t require the force of the state to make us do what is required or what is right.

God bless this officer.

Speaking as someone who lived on the edge of poverty for years, and was ticketed many times for Not Current Registration, I can relate.  Part of my problem was (and is) I just hate giving the government money!  But I just know this officer is a good person.  Perhaps, it was the Christmas spirit?

h/t Tango, Robb Allen

TANSTAAFL

I just finished a conversation with my Roomie today with regard to this Robert A. Heinlein (PBUH) concept.  There Ain’t No Such Thing As A Free Lunch.

Someone always pays.

Perhaps if capitalists who ran businesses were painted as helping their employees by providing jobs and benefits (or not), instead of evil rich robber barons praying on the poor, this concept would be more widely accepted.

I recognize in today’s United States, some folks have little choice on where to work or for what wage.  And relocating may not be a viable option.  There are company towns.  This is why unions developed.

But now, unions cost the workers (much as the robber barons did) and cost their employees jobs, or even careers (witness Hostess), while the companies go bankrupt and the union bosses get richer.

And card check deprives the union member of a secret vote, allowing undue influence and/or coercion to influence union votes.

It’s funny how the Internet weaves it’s news so some folks blame management for a business’ demise (by not knuckling-under to union demands), other folks blame the unions (the rank-and-file.  translation:  class warfare).  And some folks blame the union bosses.

And now it’s reported a Mexican baking concern may take over this confection bakery business.  Think of it – no HFCS, no GMO, no unions, cheap labor, jobs for the poor.  And free market/free trade in action.  And El Twinkies return!

Of course, fewer jobs here…

We don’t need no Voter ID!

Free North Carolina reports a Mississippi news item that’s received scant coverage, to wit:

There was another blip on the radar the other day about a significant number (216?) of phony ballots in that very tight race in Minnesota.  Remember, that embarrassment, now Senator Al Franken?

But were constantly told there has been and is no voter fraud (unless only one party does it!) and that we should pay no attention to that man (or woman) behind the curtain in the voting booth…

And that requiring voter ID disenfranchises voters who don’t have one.  Like those unqualified to vote – illegal aliens, felons, and those who already cast a ballot.  Or who are dead.

That’s it!  ZOMBIE registration! 

Once Upon A Time…

Once upon a time…

There was once an idealistic, motivated young lad, happily attending college.  He was working full-time graveyard shift and having taken some core courses at another college previously, he was concentrating on courses in his major:  Police Science.

Many of the instructors were cops, or ex-cops and this only added to the realism of the subject matter being presented.  Guys that were ‘in it’ right then.  ‘On the street’.  Better than any TV cop show.

He opted for a course in Traffic Accident Investigation.  Having run across (no pun intended) this sort of activity in his PI work, he thought this could only add to his knowledge and skill in this area.  The instructor was an expert, being a veteran police officer and investigator in this subject for (excise governmental police agency name here).  He was both knowledgeable and enthusiastic in his presentation of the course material.

However, about two-thirds of the way into the semester, some difficulty arose.  The agency who employed the instructor transferred him to a city 90 miles away!  He was trying to continue teaching the course, but the commute was a bitch.  Both the instructor and the students suffered.

Ultimately, it became apparent that he would be unable to continue teaching the course, and that while perhaps 90% of the subject matter had been presented, it was obvious to both the instructor and the students that they weren’t getting the quality demanded by both.

The instructor knew he wasn’t going to be able to attend the last course session, the final examination.  It didn’t seem fair that all the students should have to retake the course.

So, the instructor posed a solution:  We were all to meet ‘for a field trip’ to a local pizza parlor chain across the street for the final class session, one week in advance of the final exam.  Attendance was mandatory.  Those who attended would pass; those who did not would fail.

We They all passed.  We They were admonished not to drink and drive (beer was present); toasted the instructor, and after pizza went our their merry way.

The idealistic, motivated young lad was fortunate enough to graduate with high distinction.  I’m certain he would have aced the exam, had it been presented.

In World News…

HERE ARE LISTED, IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER, ALL THE DEVELOPED NATIONS OF THE WORLD THAT OFFER BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP TO THE BABIES OF TOURISTS AND ILLEGAL ALIENS:

1. United States of America

(anyone else?  Bueller, Bueller?)

That’s right, every other modern developed nation in the world has gotten rid of birthright citizenship policies!  Yet, during the last few months most of the U.S. news media and many politicians have ridiculed comments by other politicians that it is time for the U.S. to put an end to birthright citizenship for tourists and illegal aliens.

Folks, the U.S. stands alone.

For more on this exciting development, including modern developed countries that recently ENDED their birthright citizenship policy, please go read the following blog link:

Nobody Asked Me…

We need radical immigration law changes and enforcement to protect the rights of those legally here, not to automatically increase the voting rolls by fiat government mandate.

h/t Old NFO

We Reserve The Right To Refuse Service…

This came to me from good friends in Texas.  Not being a lawyer (or playing one on the Internet) I don’t know it it crosses any legal lines with regard to discrimination.

There is that line between running one’s business as one sees fit versus discrimination and bigotry.

We Reserve The Right To Refuse Service…

h/t Boyd & Donna

Buycotts?

The latest thing that’s ‘all the rage’ is the dust-up over the fast food chain Chic-fil-A.  It seems the company president, in an interview, professed to follow some Biblical tenets regarding homosexuality, with respect to his feelings regarding gay marriage.  (A Secret – he didn’t like it.)

Of course, this should be of no surprise to anyone.  It has been well-established that he has outed himself as a Christian, and that as such believes such things.  He has his company closed on Sunday, for religious reasons.  It’s been this way for years.  And reportedly his company complies with all Federal and State Laws with regard to employment and customer service.  You may buy chicken there or even work there if you disagree with the company president!

The Left and anti-Christian folks have had a cow regarding his opinion, and have not only threatened a buycott of Chil-fil-A, but violence has been threatened.

Why does the Left always seem to threaten violence?  I thought they were all First Amendment and such?  Oh, I get it, as long as it’s something with which they agree, then they like the First Amendment.  The company Chik-fil-A shouldn’t have such a vile opinion.

Of course, the company doesn’t have the opinion, just the CEO.

I did link to Tam’s buycott suggestion the other day.  I’m not against buycotts, it’s a legitimate way to express one’s feelings.  Don’t buy XXX’s product or service.  Show your disagreement with your feet, not with violence.

If you don’t want to support Chik-fil-A, or Tactical Firearms of Katy Texas, or the LGBT movement, these are your choices.  Or not.  This is still a free country.  Last time I checked.

I wonder if the people protesting Chik-fil-A also protest Muslim-owned businesses, because the Koran states homosexuals should be killed?  Probably not – protesting Muslim-owned businesses is politically-incorrect.

And I’m certain all those new customers going to Chik-fil-A (lines ’round the block) are all hate-filled cretins who deserve some horrible death.

NO, they might just be supporting that First Amendment right of the company president.  They may even disagree with him.

THIS is what The United States is supposed to embody.

“I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”
– The Friends of Voltaire, Beatrice Hall, 1906

h/t Tamara Keel, Voltaire

Civility and Humanity, WHAT?

The lovely and talented Roberta X hits it out-of-the-park, yet again!

Politics makes people sociopathic — somebody linked to an article on the subject recently but I can’t find it again. Thing is, its true; when we form up sides and fight over Ideas, it’s wired right into us to forget that the men and women espousing ideas we oppose are still people and it’s just as easy for them to do the same to us.

Please visit the link and read the whole thing.  Because it’s important to remember.

Of course, you should be reading Roberta X daily, anyway…

‘Fairness’, not Enforcement

Bayou Renaissance Man has a story that makes my blood boil.
Discretionary enforcement has always been a tool of police.  Do we bust the dude for a minor offense, or let them slide?  Issue a citation, or not?  But on larger crimes, usually, the choices are fewer.
Apparently, not in Los Angeles, California, anymore.  They are choosing NOT to impound vehicles of illegal aliens who commit crimes, because they need their vehicles to get jobs.

“It’s about fairness. It’s about equal application of the law,“  (Police Chief Charlie) Beck told a Los Angeles TV station earlier this month.

What?

Go read the report.  And read about the man who’s son was killed due to lax impound policies.

h/t Peter