Political Compass

I just took a couple of Political quizzes, to see where I fall. They are all coming back Libertarian. You can take a look at the chart on the left and where the red dot is located, is where I measure up. With a small lean to the "right" I think this last quiz I took at http://www.politicalcompass.org was probably the most accurate so far. I used to be as liberal as they came. But as I age I am finding my views to be shifting to the more conservative side. I am not thrilled with either the Republicans or the Democrats. I, as of late, have been advocating a third party system. Anymore I don't see a huge difference between the D & R's. My feelings are that we need to get out of big Government, the more freedom the better. I am tired of the Government legislating our morals, our behavior and what we can and can't do in what seems like every aspect of our lives. This is supposed to be a free nation. Part of that freedom is a free market and the upholding of our Constitution. If you are interested in seeing where you lie, or at least get an overall idea, I encourage you to take this quiz. I have also included a few charts below to give you a reference to where I stand. Should be interesting for a

debate!

Guns & Freedom

I was just reading this article sent to me. It is pretty much anti-gun. I figure this is a good topic for discussion. I don't really want to castigate this guy. Among our right to keep and bear arms is that thing called freedom of speech and the press. He is certainly entitled to his opinion. But reading that makes me realize how stupid some people are. I am not a gun fanatic. My husband and his father definitely are. They teach concealed carry classes, hunter safety classes are members of two practical shooting clubs and usually at least once a week they are out at the range or in the 'pits' shooting. I support my husband in this because I have realized the importance of responsible gun ownership and keeping yourself armed and ready.

What the author of the above article doesn't understand is that true gun enthusiasts encourage responsibility, discipline and training when it comes to your firearms. Tom is emphatic about people knowing their gun inside out before carrying. He is also teaching our children from a young age the art of handling a gun. They are learning that they aren't a toy, they are to be respected and how to use them. A couple of other moms can't believe that I 'allow' this. I tell them that they are his kids too, and if they know the responsibility of the gun from an early age, they are less likely to have an accident.

As far as gun control in this country, "my idea of gun control is using both hands" I love that quote. I don't think they anti-gun folk understand that you are in big trouble if you do try to take them away. Law abiding citizens may give them up but criminals don't care about the law anyway so why would they give them up? Then the rest of us are at the mercy of thugs and we can't protect ourselves and our families because a karate chop isn't going to stop a bullet. Some say, "Just call the police." Yea, OK, let me see, an intruder breaks into our home, is threatening us with a weapon, doing God only knows what, and we can just call the police? Not to mention how long will it take to get to wherever you are? I live 10 miles out of town! No thanks, I will call the police to come remove his bullet riddled body from my home. I find great comfort in knowing that Tom and I can protect our family if need be. We aren't chomping at the bit to shoot somebody. That is a last resort for us, but, just try to harm us, you will be sorry.

Nationally, do you understand what it would mean for us as a nation? We would be subject to a tyrannical, socialist government. I believe that knowing that the citizenry of this country are armed, does keep them somewhat at bay. Give them up and you can kiss the rest of your freedoms good-bye. I am dead serious about this. If you value your freedom at all, you will hold on to your weapons.

The article makes references to the shooting at Virginia Tech. He actually said, "What is not a joke is the absurd contention of the NRA gunslingers that if the Virginia Tech students had been armed there would have been far fewer victims." That, my friend, is a bunch of BS. Had even a couple of the students there, been armed, they could have taken out the shooter long before it got to the massive casualty level that it did.

I said this before in another post and I will say it again. We, (Tom and I,) will NEVER give up our guns. We will become outlaws if we have to. "You can have my gun when you pry it from my cold dead hands." Thank you Charlton Heston!

Black Friday is complete madness

Today I started the craft show in Parowan. I had a good time and sold a bunch while seeing some friends I haven't seen in a while. My only complaint is that it was COLD! Tom had to drive up because I forgot something I needed. His buddy was there and the two of them started in on the, "have to come rescue the wife cause she didn't check to make sure everything is there," bit. His wife is a friend of mine and a crafter too and for the moment we took it. Just wait, we will get back at em. Then they sat at my booth and talked guns. I finally kicked them out cause it was becoming a gathering for guys to discuss their weapons. As interesting as it was, it didn't mesh well with the ideals of Stampin' Up! and paper crafts.

There was a lady that I am familiar with selling antiques and refurbished old western style items in the booth next to mine. I don't know where it came from but she kept coming up to me and talking about Obama. I just let her talk for most of the day. But it was getting annoying. She is overall a nice woman, but I finally had to say something when she started in about Obama being a Muslim and wanting to swear on the Koran. I knew what she was getting at but said, "So?" She stared at me with astonishment. She said, "What do you mean 'so?'" I said, "Last time I checked freedom of Religion was still in the Constitution." "So you are OK with him being a Muslim?" I said, "First of all, he attends a Christian Church, Second, I could care less if he really IS a Muslim. I have taken an Islamic Studies class and all you ever hear about are the radicals. Most Muslims are not that way." That shut her up. FINALLY! She did keep talking to me, but mostly about generic things such as what we have been up to over the year, how we spent the Holidays, etc. Other than that, it was a fun day. Problem is that there is a candle booth across from mine. I have to keep reminding myself I am there to make money, not spend it!

Politics

I was looking at my University transcript and have realized that I was only a few credits short of completing a minor in Political Science. Basically cause I was completely fascinated with a Poly Sci professor. I took almost all of his classes. Michael Stathis. He is one of the most brilliant professors I ever met. Bet you didn't know I had such a training in the political world did you? HEHE. I figure for once I am going to lay it all out there for everyone. The tender issue of politics. I want to get a few of my views on the world out there. I hope that you will all tell me what you agree with and what you don't. Please remember tho, this is MY blog. I don't mind heated discussion and debate but lets remember a little thing called respect. I will respect you, please do the same.

Lets start with Mr. Barrack Hussein Obama. (yes I actually wrote his middle name, *looks for the black helicopters*). I will say it now, I did NOT vote for him. Before anybody gets into an uproar about that, let me explain. I don't put a lot of stock in the Presidential election. I am more concerned with who we send to Congress, Senate and State/local office. Being that I am in Utah, it is a given that the electoral vote will go to the Republicans. So, when I go to the voting booth, I vote for who I believe is going to lose. Simply so I can bitch about it. I knew Obama would win, so I voted for McCain. That is all there is to it. If I thought McCain would have won, I would have voted for Obama. That being said, I was really thrilled that I saw a black man (albeit half black) elected in my lifetime. Never in a million years did I think it would happen. And for the second time in my life I got to see a woman run for Vice President. I watched Obama's inauguration and was thrilled that I got to see it. It was a major mile-stone historical moment for our country. It was awesome. Now, more than a year after the election, I am still waiting to be inspired by him. I feel that he is riding the coattails of that historical election rather than actually doing something. I am supportive of him, and wish him all the best but he won a Nobel Peace Prize? For what? Really for me it seems like a big mess. I am hopeful that he can take the bull by the horns and make a real difference....a good one. But, I am still waiting.

I have taken numerous "what political party best suits you" quizzes. I can say that I am definitely a middle of the road person. I can agree with both sides of the aisle. They keep coming up "libertarian" and "constitution." Not that I really want to be boxed in as a conservative or a liberal, I like to think for myself and take each issue individually. So I have decided to take a few issues and show you how it is that I can be so unaffiliated, as my voter registration card says.....

Abortion - I am a right to lifer. With the exception of medical issues and rape, there is no excuse to kill an unborn child. You make your choice when you lay down and have sex, you run the risk of getting pregnant. Deal with it. Until it can be 100% proven that the embryo/fetus is unable to feel anything, and that it isn't a person with a soul already, I will not change my mind.

Gun Control - We have the right to keep and bear arms. As they say, only law abiding citizens will give up their weapons. You think the thugs and criminals of the world will give them up? NOT! If government takes away our guns, we are susceptible to a tyrannical government who will not give a damn about our rights. Furthermore, I know for Tom and I, as Charlton Heston said you will get my gun when you pry them from my "cold dead hands."

Gay Marriage - I could care less if gays want to marry or not. We are supposed to be a free nation so why is it that two people of the same sex can't marry? What consenting adults do is none of my business, or the governments. Yes I am a Christian, and my beliefs say that homosexual behavior isn't right. But those are MY beliefs, and what right do I have to force that on someone else? It isn't hurting me, and frankly I don't believe that it is a one way ticket to Hell. God loves us ALL, and Jesus has saved us ALL. We all have our faults.

Death Penalty - I am for the most part against it. I do think it has its place in society but as a rare option. Too many times there are too many questions about the guilt or innocence of a person. We are too quick to be out for blood. There are in fact a few times where there is no doubt about the evil nature of a person. Timothy McVeigh comes to mind. People like him are who the death penalty is perfect for. Yet I think, life in prison would be even more harsh than being put to sleep. I would rather die than spend the next 50 years in a 10x10 concrete room with other violent human beings having to deal with the fear and brutality of the prison population. But that is just me.

So there are a few of my ideas, I am sure there are going to be plenty more. If you haven't done so and are at all interested in the history of our nation, I would invite you to watch the "John Adams" series that HBO put out. It is a raw look into what the Founding Fathers went thru and dealt with in the creation of a new nation from the view point of Adams.

I do want to say that I am proud of my country and I love our military both Veterans and current Active Duty. I come from a long line of military men and I am proud of all of them. And as the saying goes "If you can't stand behind our troops, feel free to stand in front of them!"