Militants

"A well organized militia ..."  

   There are more guns in America than there are people.

   This number, more than 400 million, does not include military and police weapons, which are tightly controlled by leaders of these security forces. 

  The total population of the United States is about 300 million. By that figuring, there are more guns in America than there are people. We no longer have a well organized militia, so the security of a free state is not guaranteed, and is no longer essential.

   We do, however, have a National Guard, along with state and local police forces, well organized by each of the 50 United States, so their security is guaranteed.

   The founders of the United States were correct in stressing that a well organized security force is essential. But their emphasis was on being organized, not loose millions of gun carrying people with their own agendas and prejudices.

   Many gun owners may claim that they are members of a militia, but whether they are organized is another issue.

   A mentally disturbed individual with dozens of high powered guns is not essential to the security of a free state. Rather, such a person is a danger.

Word Games

"King, 'eh? I didn't vote for him." -- Monte Python 

 

   The current President of the United States faces increasing challenges from protestors who insist he is not a king and therefore should stop acting like one.

   But his recent behavior suggests he wants to be an absolute ruler. Examples include sending National Guard troops to several cities on the pretense that crime is out of control, and therefor the national government should intervene.

 Technically, he cannot send in federal troops because the Constitution forbids it, unless there is a civil war. But he can "federalize" a state-run military unit.

 The question then becomes, who's in charge? Who's the boss? Or, in a larger sense, who is king?

 Ask Monte Python.

Timing

    War is not a game. 

 Politicians act like their goal is to win, no matter the cost, and anyone who disagrees is an enemy. 

 They pass the proof of this to their military, and these are the people who die to prove the political leaders' truthfulness.

 Football coaches who originated the comment, "Winning isn't everything. It's the only thing," were referring not to players but to fans.

 (The term used here -- "fans" -- is a short version of the word "fanatic," and it refers not to players but to followers.)

 At root of all the talk of winning -- whether sports, politics or military -- is a desire for control, and some leaders are more concerned with winning than with anything else.

Name Games

President Donald Trump has renamed the Department of Defense to its original designation, mirroring his own attitude to others.

 The Department of War.

 "Winning isn't everything. It's the only thing." -- Knute Rockne.

War is not a game. That's why President Harry Truman renamed the department as World War II ended,

Control Freak

   Why is Donald Trump so angry? 

   He cannot control news media. Nevertheless, he tries.

 

   "Congress shall make no law ... abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press."

 

    The First Amendment says Congress must not attempt to control the news media.

    But what of the President? The Constitution does not specify that the chief executive cannot try.

   The current one does try, and he is met with opposition every day.

   And this annoys him, so he tries even harder, and more often.

   In turn, this raises an even more difficult question: What if he succeeds? 

Thoughts

Memory fades 

Love does not

 

Do not get angry

When interrupted

 

Lying to your therapist

Is thoughtless and stupid

 

Old does not mean

Stupid or ignorant

 

If ifs and ans

Were pots and pans

We'd have no need

For trinkets

States Rites

    Every ten years, a nationwide census leads to changes in the way states elect members of the House of Representatives. 

  By its own rules, there can only be 435 members of that chanber, so a change in population leads to a change in membership.

 Currently, California leads the pack of states in revising its map so more Republicans will dominate the state's list of Congress members. Some states will gain members and some will lose.

 But Texas is also planning some changes, and if Canada becomes a state, as suggested by Donald Trump, it will gain a substantial number of members of the House, while other states will lose. Especially large states, such as Texas and California.

  However, every state must have at least one member of the House, no matter its population.

 The Constitution says so.

 But what if the Constitution is suspended, as some say the current president may attempt? 

 We live in interesting times.