Sunday Night News

24 Sunday Mar 2013

Posted by perrinlovett in News and Notes

≈ Comments Off on Sunday Night News

Howdy! How’s Palm Sunday, America? Hope all is well. I have a couple of articles almost ready to go – look for one tonight or first thing tomorrow morning! Cool stuff. I just fired up a cigar after a busy day of cleaning my house and helping mom with hers. Did I mention I do home improvements?? We can add metal-working to the list now. Call me for all your no permit, unlicensed projects!

I want to get right to the news so, here goes:

The News:

Pervez Musharraf, the rock-star ex-president of Pakistan, ended his self-imposed exile this weekend by returning home. He says he wants to “save” his country. Mencken said, “The urge to save humanity is almost always a false front for the urge to rule.” He also quipped, “Whenever you hear a man speak of his love for his country, it is a sign that he expects to be paid for it.” Keep this in mind if you live in Pakistan.

You may recall some four or five years ago when then president Musharraf (pronounced “crap”) instituted all sorts of dictatorial reforms under the guise of an emergency. He locked up lawyers and judges and practically suspended what little law and order they have in Pakistan. When asked about his policies, he said he was following in the footsteps of Abraham Lincoln. I heard Kooky Cokie Roberts respond incredulously to his assertion on NPR. I can’t remember if Kooky was on his side or not. Maybe she is a Lincoln worshipper who felt Musharraf was a poor local high priest of the Lincoln cult. Who knows? At any rate, Musharraf was dead on; Lincoln did exactly those kinds of things and worse during his much-too-long tenure in the White House. Maybe Pervez is back to finish the job in style this time. Any chance Our American Cousin is showing now in Pakistan?

Brain dead “entertainer” Jim Carrey just released a little diddy on Twitter called Cold Dead Hand, in which he riddicules gun owners. Carrey (pronounced “cannot act”) deemed that anyone who buys an AR-15 hates children and must want more Newtown-style school shootings. This is bizarre, considering that Carrey’s pathetic motion pictures are produced (financed) by the same group of international criminals responsible for the Newtown massacre. Google “newtown libor connection” if you get bored. This was Rothschild/pharma-madness at its finest. Maybe Carrey’s next movie will be a comedy take on the story. He could play Peter Lanza on his way to testify when suddenly… Whatever it is, I will not see it. Fire Marshall Bill can take his tunes and his movies and shove em.

The EU is threatening further harsh action against Cyprus and its local banks if they do not consent to rob their customers/citizens in order to pay for political and fiscal mistakes. I hope they sell AR-15s in Cyprus. On its way here some day. Get ready now.

Another Hollywood idiot has piped up once again on guns. The grossly overweight slob, Michael Moore, opined that 90% of the guns in America are owned by scarred, racist whites in the suburbs and the country. Tubby got the numbers and the demographics about right. But, chubby, we ain’t scarred – we have the guns… Go bowl for pies.

Our first Kenyan President is getting ready to hit the road. Unfortunately, he isn’t going back home, he’s going to the suburbs and the country to harass all of us racists about our guns. Seriously, does anyone know if Our American Cousin is playing anywhere???

Ladies and Gentlemen, men still live in America! One retired Army Captain, Terry M. Hestilow, recently wrote to Sen. John Cornyn of Texas concerning DHS’s alarming weapons purchases, calling them a “glaring threat of war against our nation’s citizens.” Join with this man and prepare to defend yourselves (ain’t no cavalry coming) against the new SS!

A small village in Kenya has publicly announced that Barry Barack Hussein Sotoro Obama is, in fact, their missing idiot. They also announced we can keep him…

In other news, researchers at Georgia Tech have discovered that Microsoft Windows is really a giant computer virus. The virus was designed by its sadistic creators to give users a false sense of security, causing them to blissfully compute until the virus decides to freeze their screens or destroy their files.

Saturday Night News

23 Saturday Mar 2013

Posted by perrinlovett in News and Notes

≈ 1 Comment

Yesterday I published a good length article on Cigar Etiquette. I’ve found cigar smoking to be a great way to relax and forget about the world or, conversely, to concentrate with clarity on the problems of the day. Have a read if you care.

I did some non-blog writing today and had a good session at the gym. As of yesterday morning, I have shed 48 unsightly pounds of fat, and now weigh in at a muscular 190. I have probably burned off closer to 60 pounds but have added additional muscle weight. I haven’t felt so good in decades. I plan to revive last month’s reports on my progress in the form of a shorts series of workout and diet programs. I will also focus on ancillary mental and physical matters which go hand in hand with working out and eating right. Several of my friends are on the program and are experiencing great results. “Big Jake,” for instance, has lost a comparable amount of weight as I have; he has probably surpassed me in aerobic stamina. Join up and feel better!

The news:

While poking around the internet, I found a great, short video which compares modern Amerika to Weimar Germany in the 1920s. Set aside 7 minutes from March Madness and watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=dGBpFscDzX4. Note the segment about bread prices. We ain’t seen nothing yet. It can’t happen here? They note it already has – twice. Third times the charm?

A while back I wrote a prophetic column called Don’t Lie for the Other Guy, https://perrinlovett.wordpress.com/2013/02/16/dont-lie-for-the-other-guy/, in which I warned about sleazy politicians trying to trick you into helping them obtain firearms for their police. Now it seems that police agencies around the country are really running out of ammunition. If they come to your house looking for “contributions” do not open the door!

Speaking of bullets, two were needed the other day in Brunswick, Georgia where two wild, useless savages shot and killed a 13-month old baby. If you live outside of Georgia and/or watch the major media, you probably haven’t (and won’t) hear about this. It doesn’t help their agenda. The alarm clock went off a long time ago, America. Better wake up now!

How can we be at war with al CIA-da if we’re in war with al CIA-da??? Only in the world of D.C. Believe nothing the media (government) says about Syria, Iran, or anything else.

The thieves in D.C. may be closer than ever to a budget for the first time in over three years. Thankfully for the banksters and other criminals, it mandates at least $1 Trillion in deficit spending. With budgets like this, who needs a budget? Oh yeah, that’s where we’ve been…

After you watch the above-referenced video, read this article: http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/archives/why-is-the-world-economy-doomed-the-global-financial-pyramid-scheme-by-the-numbers. It concerns the impending collapse of the world economy. Pay attention to the “derivatives” section. Educate yourself on this problem. I have heard the bank account robberies going on in Cyprus are an attempt by the mega-bank criminals to cover their derivatives losses or pending losses. This may be the next bubble which final restores balance to the world markets – after a short depression and/or dark age. Prepare now.

Next Sunday is Easter. As Christ rose from death, so I hope that Americans will be able to rise from our current maladies and those to strike in the next few years. Perhaps I am overly optimistic.

Proper Cigar Etiquette

22 Friday Mar 2013

Posted by perrinlovett in Other Columns

≈ 12 Comments

Tags

cigars, cutting, enjoy, George Burns, humidor, lighting, Mark Twain, men, prep, regulars, Rudyard kipling, smoke, sticks, Tops Shelf Cigars, Winston Churchill

Smoking a good cigar can be one of life’s great joys. It can also be a little intimidating for a beginner. When I started out I had to endure several long months of trial and painful error. I hope you can avoid that.

**NOTES: This article is a little long. Therefore, I’ve divided it into sections with bold caption headings. If you have a question about a particular subject, just scroll down until you see it. Of course, I think the story is worth reading in its entirety.

Also, this is a guide to proper cigar smoking, not a guide to cigars (I do briefly touch on some common elements though). My aim here is to educate readers about the how-to’s of the cigar world. I leave picking a stick to you, your imagination, and your local tobacconist.**

And now, here’s some cigar advice:

Finding a Cigar Shop

First, you need to find a good cigar shop. For an idea of what a great shop is, re-read my column in praise of my local tobacconist: Top Shelf Cigars, https://perrinlovett.wordpress.com/2013/03/03/top-shelf-cigars/. Try to emulate that, if you can.

(Where the smoke “just pours out!”)

Gas stations, drugstores, and super-markets sell cigars (some of them have a decent selection too). However, to get the most out of the experience one must venture into an establishment dedicated to the sale of tobacco – fine tobacco, not a cigarette outlet. There are also cigar outlets – avoid them if possible. You want a decent place with several hundred “facings” (types of cigars to choose from) and a comfortable lounge for smoking in (preferably complete with several happy regular customers).

In addition to places that sell food, medicine, and Marlboros, here are some other things to avoid. If you enter a shop, ask for help, and they tell you a membership or fee is required to smoke therein – leave. If the place is full of stoned-looking reprobates – leave. They are stoned and not from good tobacco. If a U.S. retailer hawks “Cuban” cigars at their shop – don’t even bother. They’re either lying or breaking the law. If you walk in and see a bunch of odd-shaped glass pipes – leave, it’s a head shop. I hate to list this one for fear of..oh heck… if the shop is populated by children, women, and/or teenagers, then it’s not going to be a good time. By and large, cigars are for men. There, I said it.

Picking the Perfect Cigar (For You)

Once you find a good shop, you need to pick out a good cigar. Any place worth its smoke will have a knowledgeable staff who can assist you with your purchase. Beginners traditionally stick with lighter, milder sticks to start with. Something strong enough for a veteran may send a newbie to the bathroom for a prayer at the porcelain altar. Beware. Also, it helps to eat something first. Go try the new hobby on a Saturday after lunch or dinner. Be prepared to devote at least an hour to the smoking alone. Picking the right stick can take a while in addition – set aside two hours to do it right. Smoking with a friend helps too though you’re likely to make friends out of the regulars. I’ve never had any trouble striking up or joining a conversation at any shop I’ve visited. Cigar enthusiasts are nice people.

(A well-stocked humidor.)

By the way, good cigars are no necessarily cheap, though not outrageously priced. Be prepared to spend at least $5-10 for a decent stick these days; boxes of 20-25 run over $100 – don’t buy boxes until you really know what you want. Good shops keep their cigars in a walk-in (or large cabinet) humidor. This is to control the temperature and humidity of the sticks. The general rule is 70/70 or seventy degrees farenheit and seventy percent relative humidity. Slight variations are acceptable. You will get used to the feel of a humidor. I can walk in and tell if everything is kosher. For the novice, look around and you will find a set of gauges somewhere. Make sure their readings are close to 70/70. If the sticks are too cold or dry they will crack and ruin the experience. If they get to warm or wet bad things can happen – remember the movie Gremlins? If their humidor is off and the staff doesn’t pre-emptively apologize and explain it’s a freak problem, you should probably move on. Also, if you inspect a stick and see little things moving on it that look like bugs, they are. Cigar beatles to be exact. Time to leave.

Speaking of appearances, you will notice immediately a wide variety of shapes, sizes, colors, and titles. The color, texture, and dry versus oily appearance have to do with the type of tobacco and the way it is presented or manufactured. Most of these babies are hand-crafted by skilled personnel in the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Honduras, or elsewhere. Some cigars are square due to being “box pressed” or formed inside a squared off mold. I don’t like those as a rule, you might love them.

Cigars are generally three parts: the “filler” is the core tobacco inside; the “binder” encases the filler; the “wrapper” is the pretty piece of tobacco on the outside. Look for a wrapper without too many visible veins (it’s a leaf after all), cracks, or other imperfections. Look for smoothness and consistency.

The shade of the tobacco is usually somewhat indicative of its “strength” or the intensity of the taste. Darker generally means full-bodied and stronger, though not always. I recommend a lighter (natural or Connecticut) wrapper cigar for starters in a medium size. Cigars are measured length by ring gauge (width). Ring gauge is a function of 64ths of an inch. Thus, a 6×60 cigar is six inches long with a diameter a little less than an inch. That’s a big cigar (I’m finishing off a GIANT 7×70 right now), go for something a bit smaller. I’ll leave size descriptions and names to the local tobacconist along with explanations of the tobacco in the stick and where it’s from.

When judging a cigar in the humidor, very gently squeeze it between your thumb and forefinger. If it’s rock hard you will have a hard time puffing and keeping it lit. Too soft and it may burn too fast. Uneven feel may mean an uneven burn and necessitate regular touch-ups with fire. Sometimes these issues can’t be avoided, even the best sticks may have a bad lot. If you have horrible problems (splitting, grossly uneven burn, or an inability to draw smoke from fire to mouth, see the owner/staff. A good shop will replace a problem stick. If they give you a hard time, it may be time to leave.

A final word about stick picking: find what you like. This will mean some experimentation. Start with general recommendations but gauge all cigars by how happy they make you. There are several major publications which rate and review cigars. These can be good sources of information. Just remember, they usually require advertising or fees for their reviews. And, they come up with some of the most convoluted taste formulas imaginable. I really never pick up on notes of pencil lead, moss, cinnamon, or garlic or whatever. I smoke for the taste of tobacco; I like what I like. Follow that rule.

A final, final word about taste: some cigars are flavored – naturally and artificially. Seasoned pros tend to shy away from these. You should too in the beginning. If you discover you love them, stick with them, and be prepared for some teasing…

Prepping the Cigar

Okay, you’ve found a comfy, friendly location and the perfect starter stick. You’re almost ready to start enjoying, but not just yet. First, you must perform a little preparation. Almost all individual cigars come wrapped in cellophane. Some come in glass or metal tubes, some come in paper boxes and some in fancy little wooden boxes. Obviously, a cigar must be extricated from its tube or box prior to lighting. So to, must a stick be freed from its cellophane. I’ve seen too many people cut the cigar while it’s still wrapped. Don’t do that, it’s just tacky. The plastic comes off easily, usually in one fluid movement although some are closed off by a little paper sticker. Just tear the sticker and open her up.

Unlike a fine wine, a fine cigar does not need to breathe before being enjoyed. It does require proper cutting and lighting though. Professionals have their own ways of accomplishing these important prerequisites as unique as they are. Many of the old hands who actually make the sticks are known to simply bite the cap (the rounded end of the wrapper) off and light with a regular old Bic lighter. That works fine and I’ve none it myself but I’m here about etiquette today, I’ll act like it.

Cigar cutters are specialized tools designed to leave a clean-cut. Punches are just that, they punch little holes in the cap for smoke to exit through. They don’t work well on tapered or pyramid type cigars. I don’t use them – personal habits. V-cutters make a …. yep, “v” shaped grove in the cap. I don’t really care for those either. I like a full opening at the end for full smoke and taste delivery. I use a guillotine cutter. This device has two semi-circular bladed that converge together to shear off the end of the cap. Some have only one blade, two generally work better. Some are scissor-like, others are pressed together in a straight line without a hinged angle, others are actually little versions of that dreaded device from the French Revolution – for cigars, not nobility. Watch your fingers, please. On a regular, rounded cap, just cut off about 1/8th of an inch; for tapered designs, try half an inch or so.

Cigars can be lit by just about any source of sufficient heat. Matches, Bics, Zippos, butane torches, camp fires, and stove elements all do the job. Most reputable shops will have a selection of modern lighters in their lounge area. Some purists shun gas-powered lighters period, claiming they impart a petroleum taste. I don’t recall ever being bothered by this, you likely won’t either; I had to mention it though. The prim and proper way to light is to use any source to first ignite a slender strip of cedar (on hand in good shops), the cedar then lights the cigar – and makes an ashy mess. They really classic way to light was taught yours truly by an old Cuban doctor for whom I had the gravest respect, it is as follows: lightly toast the foot of the cigar (open end, opposite the cap) BEFORE clipping the cap. Just char it slightly. Then cut the cap. Then light with cedar. This supposedly preps the cigar for optimum smoke-ability and flavor.

Lighting the Cigar

However you get there and whatever you use, eventually the fire will meet the leaf. “Toasting” is always a good first step to heat up the 70 degree end. Keep it light, watch carefully so that you don’t start a fire up part of the wrapper and binder. Concentrate all firepower on the foot! Speaking of, lighters these days can come with two, three, even four or five flame jets. These will light a stick instantaneously or cut steel. Beginners would do well to stick with one jet or flame for precision.

Once your cigar is adequately toasted – judged by eye, then it’s time to fire it up! Put the cool end in your mouth (don’t bite down – loose and gentle) and take a few slow, long draws while firing the other end at the same time. Rotate the cigar with your fingers while lighting in order to assure an even light. It’s quite normal for open flames to come from the end, they die out almost at once. After several turns and good puffs, take a look at the burning end. It should be red evenly across the entire foot. Touch up as needed. Be mindful to only return the cool cap end to your mouth. I’ve done it the other way and it’s not pleasant!

Smoking

Now that the little beauty is lit, you can sit back and enjoy. Take it slow and easy. I am frequently accused of huffing and puffing my sticks like the Big Bad Wolf. A quality cigar will continue to smolder for about five minutes after you draw on it. If it goes out, you are going too slow. Re-lighting can tarnish the taste with a bitter or stale flavor for a second. It’s not horrible but should be avoided. Take regular draws.

Larger sticks may require a double puff to fully extract the right amount of smoke. That smoke should be contained in the mouth. Let it circle around as you would a good wine or whiskey. As it passes over the different areas of your tongue you will taste the various elements of the tobacco. This is a genuinely delightful process. Enjoy it as you would a good massage or a great steak or other delight. The tastes may change as the cigar burns or they make remain even throughout. Blow out once the taste subsides. You can keep the stick in mouth or hold it and look at it in wonder.

(Don’t he look happy?)

Cigars are not cigarettes. Do not attempt to inhale the smoke as it is a little stronger than what you’re used to and can sear the lungs most unpleasantly. Cigars are meant to be enjoyed for their flavor. Absorb it. You will also absorb nicotine; if you find yourself dizzy, back off a little. A little buzz is fun, getting sick is not. Also, a little ash is great to look at, a large ash is looking for somewhere to fall. Dump the old ash at intervals to keep it from falling on your lap; try it every inch or so.

Ashes to Ashes

When, sadly, the cigar is done, one must part with it. Some will smoke right down to a nub, until their fingers are singed. I recommend stopping when there’s about an inch to an inch and one-half left, about where the “band” is or was. The band is the cigar’s label, usually very intricate and decorative. You may leave a band on while smoking, remove it before lighting, or take it off once the stick is going. Bands that sit too high need to be either removed or pushed down a bit. You want your lips on the leaf only. If you move or peel off the band, do so with care. The band is a paper ring, closed on itself with a little dab of glue.

Sometimes the band is really tight, sometimes a little glue gets on the leaf and secures the label in place. The glue is a natural non-toxic plant material and won’t hurt you or the cigar. However, if ripped off forcefully, it can take part of the wrapper with it. Finesse is the key here. If it doesn’t budge with ease, leave it in place. As the fire approaches it will loosen up and then is easy to remove. Do not smoke the band! Not unless you like the added taste of burned paper!

When the cigar is done, just lay it in an ashtray. Don’t try to crush it out as this can cause flare-ups and an abundance of smoke which soon grows stale and stagnant. An active cigar produces wonderful smelling smoke. You may find yourself enjoying it second-hand. Stale smoke is, well, stale.

Meet the Regulars!

While you smoke, feel free to interact with those around you. Cigar shops are always the home of interesting men of many different walks of life. Join a conversation! If you’re new, they will likely want to know all about you. Have fun and make friends!

(Join the fun!)

The shop is an ideal place to get away and enjoy your free time. Not free? Bring a little work with you. In addition to smoking and talking, men find the lounge a great place to check emails, read, or write. I’ve crafted some of my best blog columns at Top Shelf Cigars. I’ve even met clients there. Keep the phone conversations to a minimum. If you must field a call it’s best to do it outside the lounge. While friendly, regulars are not nosey and don’t care to hear you talk to the wife or the boss. It’s a shame I have to mention this, but mind your manners in shop. Rude or obnoxious behavior will not only make you a pariah, it can get you ejected as well. Remember, it’s a happy place for respectful adults. No-one likes a jerk or a know-it-all. I’ve seen idiots bounced out. Don’t be “that guy.” Once you’re “initiated” into the regulars you will find out the personality of the place – usually collegiate with lots of good-natured humor. Thin skin usually isn’t well suited for lounging!

Cigars at Home

You can, of course, enjoy your smoke in the comfort of your home. Usually, with a wife and kids, that means out back, on the porch, or in the garage. I’m in the garage right now. Take the opportunity to create your own little cigar lounge! A chair, an ashtray, a cutter and lighter is all you need. Add a little fire pit or a radio and you’re in cigar heaven.

Smoke on the Road

The car can be a great place to smoke, particularly on longer trips. Keep a window cracked or down to avoid a buildup of stale smoke and to maintain road visibility. You may need to freshen the interior up from time to time as well. Be mindful that when you smoke the smoke gets in your clothes and can stay there. The people in your upcoming meeting may not appreciate it. The taste of smoke will also linger in your mouth and on your breath. You will get used to it but brushing or a little gum or mints will go a long way towards societal interaction post smoke. Bear in mind that in the tight confines of an auto, falling ashes will make a greater mess, and one harder to clean up. Falling embers (happens with the best sticks) can mean a hole burned in your pants or shirt. Take precautions as needed.

Public Relations

Cigars can be fun just about anywhere. They make yard work less tedious. They go naturally with a fishing trip. They can help one relax at the beach or in the mountains. I love strolling along behind my family on vacations, puffing away carefree. If I do have a care, it’s not to offend the non-cigar public. Oddly, not everyone likes cigar smoke. Be mindful of others and try as best you can to shield them from what they might find offensive. Don’t go out of your way but exercise a little curtsey. All cigar lovers benefit from good public relations.

(Cigar in the park on a cool fall day. Ahhhh.)

Cigars on the Rocks (Drinks and Smokes)

In the comfort of your home man cave or the comfort of your home away from home, you may decide to pair a cigar with a suitable adult beverage. You want something that accentuates the taste of the stick, without drowning it out. Different cigars go well with different drinks – from Sprite to red wine. Usually I partake of either a dark ale or a short bit of single-malt Scotch whiskey. There’s no set formula. Again, you have to find what works best for you. As I’m typing here in the garage, I’m still smoking that beast of a 7×70. It’s a slightly stronger than average stick so I have paired it with The Duck-Rabbit’s Wee Heavy Scotch Style Ale – dark and strong (8% abv). Don’t let the drink overwhelm the smoke. A sip here and there between puffs adds a lot of enjoyment. Slamming glass after glass of 80-proof bourbon just gets you drunk – unless that’s your plan! I judge not, just offering my advice here.

Smoke Time!

Finally, I’d like to touch on when to smoke. The best answer is: whenever you feel like it and have the time. A Saturday morning cigar with coffee and the paper makes for a great time. After a long hard week, a friday night smoke is most relaxing. I know men who literally smoke from sunrise til sunset. Do what works best for you.

Conclusion

In doing your best with cigars you will join some of the greatest men in history. Mark Twain, Winston Churchill, and George Burns were avid cigar enthusiasts. Join them and your contemporaries in a great past time. Remember always your Kipling: “A good cigar is a smoke.”

(Don’t mess with Winston. Google.)

Thursday Night News

21 Thursday Mar 2013

Posted by perrinlovett in News and Notes

≈ Comments Off on Thursday Night News

I posted two great articles today, both dealing with gun rights: my take on SAF’s Gun Rights Survey, https://perrinlovett.wordpress.com/2013/03/21/gun-rights-survey/, and Natural Origins of Self-Defense, https://perrinlovett.wordpress.com/2013/03/21/natural-origins-of-self-defense/. The second is the initial installment in a series which will cover in-depth the ultimate origins of the Second Amendment and its purpose for us today. Have a look if you have not already.

The idea for the survey post came to me while I was reading the questions off my morning email list. It sort of wrote itself. The series occurred to me during the Second Amendment forum I was in yesterday afternoon – many myths need to be put to rest.

There’s something like 45 drafts in the hopper on various subjects – I’ll try to put one out tomorrow. Maybe something gun-less. As usual, I’m looking for site improvements too. And now…

The news:

A crazy winter has given way to a crazy spring. Georgia is alternating hot and cold, with plenty of sunshine, rain, and POLLEN. I hope it subsides soon, at least by Easter or Masters time. Yello duff mabe por bab neathing…

I am happy to hear that Homeland SS Reichsfuhrer Janet “Himmler” Napolitano will soon be reading this blog! She will also be reading everything else….everything. Careful what you say. She’s the 1.5 Billion bullet “woman.” PS: from the other day, she ain’t telling Congress nothin.

SPECIAL, EXCLUSIVE ALERT!!! Senator Dianne Feinstink, having lost her recent bid to disarm America, has announced her immediate retirement. “I’m too big of a loser even for Washington.” the old hag croaked… Okay, Perrin dreams – it is getting close to bedtime.

(BEAUTY[ful guns] and the BEAST[ly hag]. My apologies if you just ate. Drudge Report.)

Until next time…

Natural Origins of Self-Defense

21 Thursday Mar 2013

Posted by perrinlovett in Legal/Political Columns

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

10 Commandments, 11th Commandment, aggressor, American, Aristotle, banksters, Bible, Catechism, Catholic Church, Cato, Christ, Christians, Chuck Baldwin, Cicero, civil government, Codex Justinianus, Confucius, Constitution, criminal, David Kopel, Declaration of Human Rights, Declaration of Independence, duty, Eastern, Exodus, God, government, Hitler, Hobbes, Jesus, John, John Locke, justice, King George III, law, leviathan, Liberty, man, Matthew, Michael Grant, money-lenders, murder, Natural Law, Nicomachean Ethics, NRA, On Duties, oppression, Paul, Peter, Plato, political science, political theory, Pope John Paul II, Proverbs, religion, rights, Roman Empire, Roman Law, Roman Republic, Romans, Saint Thomas Aquinas, Second Amendment, self-defense, society, Summa Theologica, sword, The People, The Republic, Timothy, tyranny, U.N., victim, vigilante, weapons, Western

This is the first in a new series, an expansion of my both my Natural Law column and Second Amendment and related columns. Here, I briefly examine the ancient and eternal theories behind the basic rights which gave rise to the doctrine enshrined in the Second Amendment.

Legal practitioners and law and political science scholars, along with the general public, many politicians, and the media, often make the common mistake of looking only to the text of the Constitution (State or federal) or recent court cases in order to gain perspective into the meaning and/or application of the Second Amendment (and related State protections). While government protection of our rights is vital (the only reason for government), rights do not come from government.

My examination here is theoretic in nature and, thus, seeks out existential sources which provide both definition and supporting argumentative and empirical evidence which are fixed throughout history and across all geographic areas. Of course, as my ultimate view is towards the American experience, I will pay closer attention to sources from Western civilization.

The Bible is replete with approval of self-defense. “If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” 1 Timothy 5:8. This would seem to encompass the responsibility to keep one’s family safe to the extent possible. “If a thief is found breaking in and is struck so that he dies, there shall be no bloodguilt for him, but if the sun has risen on him, there shall be bloodguilt for him. He shall surely pay. If he has nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft.” Exodus 22:2-3. This provision is the basis for the common-law doctrine against burglary, originally extended to night-time attacks. The matter of daylight adds an interesting perspective. Again, this passage addresses a thief, not a would-be murderer of rapist. It is divine commentary on the value of human life over mere possessions when an opportunity exists to examine the intent of a criminal. While it is not a prohibition against using force to deter a thief, the provision indicates the Lord’s wish that force not exceed the attendant circumstantial need.

Paul continues this theme of limited aggression in Romans 12:19: “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.'” Again, God does not seem opposed to immediate use of force to deter violence but, once danger has passed, he commands that we leave judgment to him. This is backed by the Old Testament: “Do not say, ‘I will repay evil’; wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you.” Proverbs 20:22. Again, for Christians, after the fact of a crime, the matter is God’s to handle. This is the basis for a general prohibition against vigilante justice.

In Romans 13, often mis-cited as a justification for any and all government action being divine, Paul extolls the virtues of political agencies instituted in God’s Name. When such an entity exists, then it has God’s authority to pursue prosecution of criminal matters. I refuse to accept that this concept applies to all governments – I doubt God approved of Hitler’s action, for instance. Rev. Chuck Baldwin, http://chuckbaldwinlive.com/home/, has extensively commented on this subject – http://www.romans13truth.com/.

Jesus Christ, himself, tacitly endorsed armed defense: “And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one.” Luke 22:36. I say “tacitly” because of the caveats Jesus placed on the use of force, essentially limiting it to only urgent circumstances. Christ urged us to “turn the other cheek” when possible. Matthew 5:39. He also admonished Peter to sheath his sword while repairing the injure Peter had inflicted with his sword. John 18:11. Jesus, while defending the 10 Commandments, issued an 11th: “love one another.” John 13:34. The Son’s words places strict constraints on the Father’s allowance of the use of force. It does not foreclose the concept.

(The ultimate Defender. Google.)

Jesus only once resorted to the use of force, personally. When He discovered the money-changers (the banksters of their time) abusing the Holiness of the Temple, Jesus violently drove them away. John 2:15. This underscores the possibility of defense as an immediate solution, without resort to formal authority or the eventual actions of the Lord. The Church has formally detailed both the right to such defense as well as the moral duty of such action in need. “Legitimate defense can be not only a right but a grave duty for one who is responsible for the lives of others. The defense of the common good requires that an unjust aggressor be rendered unable to cause harm.” Catechism of the Catholic Church (“CCC”): 2265 (emphasis added)(see also CCC: 1909).

The Church also commands dignity be afforded to the human body, generally: “This dignity entails the demand that he should treat with respect his own body, but also the body of every other person, especially the suffering” CCC: 1004. While this backs the general prohibition against unlawfully harming others, it also reminds the Believer to respect even his enemy and attempt to limit his forcible response to criminal activity as far as possible to minimize harm.

“… [I]n the case of legitimate defence, in which the right to protect one’s own life and the duty not to harm someone else’s life are difficult to reconcile in practice. Certainly, the intrinsic value of life and the duty to love oneself no less than others are the basis of a true right to self-defence. The demanding commandment of love of neighbour, set forth in the Old Testament and confirmed by Jesus, itself presupposes love of oneself as the basis of comparison: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself’ (Mk 12:31). Consequently, no one can renounce the right to self-defence out of lack of love for life or for self.” Pope John Paul II, Encyclical Letter Evangeliun Vitae (The Gospel of Life), 1995.

The eminent scholar, David Kopel, has documented the general agreement among Eastern Religions along these ideas. In his review of Confucianism, Taoism, Hinduism, Sikhism, Jainism, and Buddhism, Kopel explodes common myths that these religions do not allow for proper use of self-defense. David B. Kopel. “Self-Defense in Asian Religions” Liberty Law Review 2 (2007): 79, 80-81 (http://works.bepress.com/david_kopel/20).

Kopel’s expose is excellent. He also touches on the Eastern version of Baldwin’s critique of Romans 13: “Although Confucianism, like most other religions, has been used by tyrants to claim that revolution is immoral, Confucius himself ordered a revolution against an oppressive regime.” Id, at 163. Only the “religion” of the State would decree that the government is above the Natural Law.

Commenting on Exudus 2, above, Saint Thomas Aquinas said, “it is much more lawful to defend one’s life than one’s house. Therefore neither is a man guilty of murder if he kills another in defense of his own life.” Aquinas, Summa Theologica.

“If a man, in self-defense, uses more than necessary violence, it will be unlawful: whereas if he repel force with moderation his defense will be lawful, because according to the jurists, ‘it is lawful to repel force by force, provided one does not exceed the limits of a blameless defense.’ Nor is it necessary for salvation that a man omit the act of moderate self-defense in order to avoid killing the other man, since one is bound to take more care of one’s life than of another’s.” Id.

Plato noted that when one acts in true self-defense, taken as a natural right, one may actually do the criminal perpetrator (in addition to the victim and society) a service: if the criminal survives, he may reflect on his wrongdoing positively. Plato, The Republic, The Problem of Justice. Plato’s great student, Aristotle, agreed. Aristotle noted that a true case of self-defense is not necessarily a voluntary action. Thus, any suffering from the act of defense may be attributed to the aggressor and not the defender. Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics.

The possession of weapons and their defensive usage, though regulated, was allowed in both the Roman Republic and the Empire. “We grant to all persons the unrestricted power to defend themselves, so that it is proper to subject anyone, whether a private person or a solider … to immediate punishment in accordance with the authority granted to all [up to, and including, death, if warranted].” Codex Justinianus 3.27.1. The Romans regarded the right to use weaponry in defense as implicit to the right itself.

The mighty Cicero opined: “There exists a law, not written down anywhere, but inborn in our hearts; a law which comes to us not by training or custom or reading but by derivation and absorption and adoption from nature itself; a law which has come to us not from theory but from practice, not by instruction but by natural intuition. I refer to the law which lays it down that, if our lives are endangered by plots or violence or armed robbers or enemies, any and every method of protecting ourselves is morally right.” Cicero, “In Defence of Titus Annus Milo,” Selected Speeches of Cicero, Michael Grant translation, 1969. Again, the esteemed David Kopel gives excellent analysis to this ancient Natural Law position in The Sword and the Tome, America’s 1st Freedom, NRA, 2009.

Cicero’s titanic predecessor, the black-robed Cato, made an interesting analogy along the lines of Jesus’s act of retribution noted above (as noted by Cicero himself): Cato was asked by an ambitious Roman, “What is the most profitable about property?” Cato answered, “To raise cattle with great success.” The young man then asked, “What is the second most profitable?” Cato answered, “Raising cattle with moderate success.” The inquirer pressed again, “The third most profitable?” “Raising cattle with little success.” Finally, the young man cut to his presupposed profession, “How about money-lending?” Cato answered (somewhat in advance of Jesus), “How about murder?” Cicero, On Duties.

I by no means equate money-lending or banking with murder but it appears the subject was considered by multiple ancient sources. It seems the evil of the banksters in as eternal as natural law. Defense against the predation of this wicked class may be something to consider.

Later political theorists expounded the virtue and necessity of self-defense. John Locke described self-defense as the first among Natural Rights. Locke, Second Essay on Civil Government. Hobbes concurred in this assertion, regardless of the state of any society. Hobbes, Leviathan, 1651. Even the craven and generally useless United Nations begrudgingly attempted to acknowledge this fundamental truth: “No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.” Universal Declaration of Human Rights, U.N. General Assembly, Article 12, December 10, 1948.

In the earliest American tradition, we find acknowledgment of the Natural Law (before the adoption of the Second Amendment). The Declaration of Independence (1776) begins: “When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.” (Emphasis added). The Declaration then enumerates the crimes of King George, among them many of which might be defended against under the doctrine explained herein.

(In case of emergency only. Google.)

Again, self-defense is a God-given, eternal right. It is also a duty, one to be exercised only in dire need and with a grave sense of responsibility. As with all matters of Natural Law, man-made legislation must attempt as closely as humanly possible to approximate the divine purposes of the Law. In the next installment of this series, I intend to examine more ancient legislation regarding weapons and self-defense, specifically Roman Law.

Gun Rights Survey

21 Thursday Mar 2013

Posted by perrinlovett in Legal/Political Columns

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

America, AR-15, ASU, Australia, Britain, crime, criminals, Dianne Feinstink, firearms, freedom, God, government, law, Liberty, magazines, Natural Law, NRA, regulation, responsibility, Second Amendment, Second Amendment Foundation, self-defense, society, Stand Your Ground, The People, tyranny, violence

This morning I recived an email from The Second Amendment Foundation, a toothier NRAish organization, for those of you unfamiliar. You can see the email as a website here: http://smna.conservativecontacts.com/track?t=v&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWlkPTExODA3Jm1zZ2lkPTgzMDAmZGlkPTQwMCZlZGlkPTQwMCZzbj0xNjc4MjMwMCZlaWQ9bG92ZXR0cEBlYXJ0aGxpbmsubmV0JmVlaWQ9bG92ZXR0cEBlYXJ0aGxpbmsubmV0JnVpZD1sb3ZldHRwQGVhcnRobGluay5uZXQmcmlkPTYwMjYxJmVyaWQ9NjAyNjEmZmw9Jm12aWQ9JnRnaWQ9JmV4dHJhPQ==&&&2100&eu=200&&&. I hope the link works; the site contains a ten question survey, which I decided to turn into a short column. Read on, friends.

By the way, check out the SAF: http://www.saf.org/. They produced the video I posted a while back about racism in gun controls. They do good work on behalf of our freedom. Sign up for their email updates.

I took the liberty of cutting and pasting the survey whole from the email here, without permission. I figure they won’t mind as I am promoting them. Anyway, The questions are “yes” or “no” answerable. I took the opportunity to show you how I would answer along with further explanation. Here we go:

QUESTION 1:	Do you own a semi-automatic firearm that has a detachable magazine, folding stock, or pistol grip? YES NO
I would answer Yes, although all of you know I don’t really own any firearms. I don’t belive in them… (Guns, like cigars and tobacco products are very dangerous. Avoid both…)
QUESTION 2:	Do you own a clip or magazine that holds more than ten rounds? YES NO
Again, with the above “truthful…” caveat, I answer Yes.
QUESTION 3:	Do you think the Feinstein Gun Ban would reduce gun violence? YES NO
NO! Gun control has nothing at all to do with ending violence. Every country which enacts strict gun control (see Britain, Australia, etc.) experiences a dramatic increase in violent crime. Gun control is about disarming the people so as to make them helpless in the face of tyranny.
QUESTION 4:	Do you think you could need more than 10 rounds in a self-defense situation? YES NO
Yes! Abosolutely! The other day at the 2A forum at ASU (GRU), someone asked me this question. I responded with the case of a local gun dealer who was confronted by 4 armed thugs in his shop. They drove a van through the wall in hopes of a 100% discount on his merchandise. Fortunately, he was armed with an AR-15 with a 30 round magazine. It took all 30 rounds to convince the “shoppers” to vacate the premises. There is no rational reason to limit the capacity of self-defense as the chance of danger is never so limited.
QUESTION 5:	Do you oppose all attempts to ban semi-automatic firearms? YES NO
Yes! I oppose all attempts to ban any firearms – semi-automatic, AUTOMATIC, black-powder, or any other kind. The free People should have available for their protection any and all means of defending their liberty and their lives.
QUESTION 6:	Do you oppose regulations that limit the amount of ammunition you may purchase? YES NO
Yes! Like the guns themselves, the only limits on the amount of ammunition one purchases should be desire and ability to pay. I tend to oppose regulations period.
QUESTION 7:	Do you believe gun control laws will only hurt law abiding citizens? YES NO
No. Surprised? Don’t be. I think gun control hurts everyone. Even a convicted felon might find a need for weaponry if attacked in a situation not of his creation. Gun control only helps ACTIVE criminals – the government, banksters, street thugs, etc. I don’t want to help any of these types.
QUESTION 8:	Would you feel safer if all law-abiding citizens possessed firearms? YES NO
No. Again, hear me out. While I support the general right of all qualified, responsible individuals to possess firearms, there are a large number of my fellow citizens I do no trust. I would not fell safer if every Tom, Dick, and Harry had a gun. Some of these folks can’t operate automobiles or shopping carts without trouble. They sure as heck aren’t competent to use weapons. But, I leave this to them, the Lord, and anyone but the government to sort out. You and I owning guns makes me safer (you too), regardless of how we feeeeeel.
QUESTION 9:	Should laws that protect our self-defense such as the Stand Your Ground Law exist? YES NO
Yes, although the need for such laws is a sad commentary on our society. The right to self defense is as natural as the laws of phsyics. We should not need laws to protect the right, though it seems better to have them and not need them than the alternative. Overall, I would prefer if people stopped committing crimes thus eliminating the need in the first place. Again, that’s out of my personal power to control.
QUESTION 10:	Do you believe the 2nd Amendment was written to protect U.S Citizens against a tyrannical take over? YES NO

Yes! There is no doubt about it. While hunting, collecting, and sport shooting are all important, as is the right of defense against criminals and dangerous critters, the real purpose of the 2A was to ensure the People would always be able to resist tyranny if necessary. Thank God we do not face such a situation today. Such tyranny would only come from a regime that did things like tax our incomes and threaten us with death by drones – unheard of in Amerika.

There you have it! My answers and views de jure. Perhaps you have similar or divergent views. You are entitled to them and, by all means, feel free to list them here in response to mine. I only ask that, for any opinion you hold, make sure it is the result of reason and not a knee-jerk or parroted position. Think for yourselves. Arm yourselves. Live free and prosper!

Gaining Ground, Moving Forward

20 Wednesday Mar 2013

Posted by perrinlovett in News and Notes, Other Columns

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Amazon, ASU, blog, books, Createspace, education, free courses, Kindle, MIT, Natural Law, news, Perrin Lovett, Second Amendment

This blog has nearly taken on a life of its own; it has become a ride on which I am not only the driver (author) but I am also a passenger. In my role as passenger I am delighted every day to see the new places I am taken. Of course, as the driver, I have a huge degree of input as to where I go. It’s kind of a circle … kind of … I guess. I hope you are enjoying the ride too.

Yesterday, I supposed I would expand on my writings concerning the Second Amendment and related topics. The idea was born during the wonderful Forum on the Second Amendment I participated in at Augusta State University (GRU) and some of the confusion and misinformation I perceived among the audience and my fellow, learned presenters. I already have a book in draft mode on the subject. In fact, I’ve been working on it for about 12 years now – I haven’t gotten very far in organizing a huge mass of notes and my thoughts.

The old blog, I have found, not only allows me to quickly publish articles which, by all indications, are appreciated by a wide range of people; it also gives me a chance to go through certain subjects piece by piece in a somewhat logical order. I find this beyond refreshing, academically speaking. Each post is a potential chapter-starter for later, more in-depth publications. I started this forum with two ideas in mind: 1) entertain people with my mad ravings; 2) use it as a forum to sell the books I have in various stages of publication readiness. The first part comes naturally to me. I had no earthly idea how to go about the second. Now, after several months of plodding through, the concept is just presenting itself to me.

If you have ideas (who doesn’t) and want to communicate those ideas with the world beyond simple posts on Facebook or Tweets, then I highly recommend you start a blog. Use WordPress like I do or any other forum. They are numerous, FREE, and easy to use – I’m a Luddite and I get this stuff. I would love to add you to my “blogs I follow” tab over on the left. Write about anything or everything. There are no standards here (except those we create ourselves) and possibilities are limitless.

They really are limitless. In addition to my initial goals, I have added permanent pages which feature and promote my professional business services, my academic aspirations, businesses I respect, and many other things. While I’ve received some businesses from the site, I have yet to receive a donation. Shame on you Scrooges… Just kidding. Heck, I don’t even list a way to give even if you wanted to. May have to fix that…

Okay, enough babbling. I have outlined eight areas I will cover concerning the Second Amendment and related topics, though the number is subject to change. That’s one of the great things about blogging – you can change anything at any time without restriction. The first in the series will focus on the Natural Law origins of self-defense in general, the precursor to the Second Amendment’s right to keep and bear arms. The theory existed long before man devised physical weapons, when his only defense came from his actually two arms, right and left. It’s eternal. That is the main point of my first column which will debut soon.

(Google.)

Site News:

Today I am pleased to announce the arrival of the site’s fourth sponsor: Createspace! See their ad on the left (with all other ads and information). The services they offer are geared towards publishing in the modern world. I am using them for my books (soon, soon). Check out all of their unique features, which go beyond books. This is a gateway to listings on Amazon, Kindle, and other sales avenues – without having to appease a big publishing company or deal with an agent. Look into it!

I updated my CV (big resume), see above, today with some more current information – much of it the result of this site.

This evening I get a new column out. I have several near completion on a variety of topics. It all depends on work and family considerations and how I feel… Stay tuned.

In The News:

Let’s see…war, rumor of war, economic woes worldwide, double-crosses, turmoil, crises … same old stuff.

Here’s something I find fascinating and potentially very useful and educational! MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology for those of you in Cornfield) did something almost unthinkable a few years ago. They basically placed their entire curriculum on the internet completely free to all takers! Check it out: http://ocw.mit.edu/index.htm. They count some 2500 courses are available – again all for FREE. Here’s their promo: “Empowering Minds: Through OCW, educators improve courses and curricula, making their schools more effective; students find additional resources to help them succeed; and independent learners enrich their lives and use the content to tackle some of our world’s most difficult challenges…”

(MIT. Google.)

Essentially, one can now receive a self-guided education from one of the finest universities in the world for free. I think some courses are limited or exclude – like security sensitive nuclear classes. Otherwise, just about everything available in Boston is available to you on the same computer you’re looking at now.

I regret that I have not made full use of the program, despite knowing about it for some time. I vow to change that. In the future I intend to report on what I learn soon. They offer programs in history, economics, and political science, among many others. I need to pick something out and explore it. You should to.

The Second Amendment at ASU and Tuesday Night News

19 Tuesday Mar 2013

Posted by perrinlovett in Legal/Political Columns, News and Notes

≈ Comments Off on The Second Amendment at ASU and Tuesday Night News

Thanks to everyone at ASU (GRU) for today’s Second Amendment Forum. I ended up serving as a backup presenter of sorts and fielded many questions during the Q&A session. As is my way, I got a little long-winded and once was reminded to speed it up. The panel and the whole presentation was fantastic. The older, incorrect interpretations of the 2A were presented, by and large, as such. The final direct presentation was by Prof. Peter Flanagan on the modern, individual rights interpretation.

Prof. Hubert van Tuyll presented the “collective rights” argument though his position seemed to incorporate the individual right into the militia aspect correctly. He did a great job explaining the immediate history of the 2A after the Revolutionary War until 1791. Prof. William Reese discussed the Miller case of 1939 in vivid detail. He also made the best point of the day – the Second Amendment is primarily purposed for ousting the federal government if necessary. I would have loved to have taken that statement and run with it but I’d still be going on right now.

My contribution, if we can call it that, regarded: state and federal laws; militias in all 50 states (especially Georgia) and the fact of the people being the militia; the difference between the militia and the national guard; and the satanic origins of our federal gun laws – I called them out as racist and Nazi.

Several students made excellent opening remarks and the Q&A session featured numerous intelligent questions from other students. I did detect an air of confusion concerning many of the above topics and the nature of firearms ownership in general. This was by no means caused by bias or ignorance on the part of these very engaged students (the room was packed, btw – around 100 or so in attendance). Rather, I think some of these young people were surprised to hear, for once, the truth about guns, law, freedom, and history in America. I suspect that for most of their adult lives they have been fed a steady diet of misinformation by the media, politicians, and the education establishment (though obviously not at ASU).

This has given me the idea to expand upon my Second Amendment and related columns, perhaps by doing a series which breaks down small parts of information bit by bit. I can systematically position the columns in a way that hopefully will provide clarity on the subjects covered today and others not touched on. I think the first article will deal with the Natural Law rights of defense and self-integrity. I will then move on to ancient history, English History, the early American experience and work my way forward to the present.

More site stuff:

Yesterday I published The People Appreciate a Benevolent Dictator, https://perrinlovett.wordpress.com/2013/03/18/the-people-appreciate-a-benevolent-dictator/, which recounts my personal experience with the hideous forces of government and eminent domain actions. It’s both sad and funny and it’s a true story. Give it a read, if you haven’t.

I have received go-ahead for a new ad, which will either make an appearance tonight or, more likely, tomorrow. It is an introduction to an awesome modern opportunity for thinking people. Check back soon!

The news:

Back to guns: Head Senate Slug, Harry Reid, is saying Dianne Feinstink’s “assault weapons” ban will not be part of the UnConstitutional gun control legislation which goes to the Senate floor. I hope nothing is passed into law; we have too many restrictions on gun ownership right now – they need repealing. I have heard dark rumors of behind the scenes compromises which may allow for easier passage of some seemingly minor, “common sense” “reforms” such as “universal background checks.” Sorry for all the “” but there is so much BS here I have to contain it somehow.

I won’t say what I’ve heard but it seems designed to lure some ticks into voting for the bill in a way that would still allow them to falsely proclaim their support for gun rights. This is a typical Washington tactic used to slowly, incrementally introduce harsh laws over time. Don’t think for a second Feinstink and her ilk will give up their quest to disarm the people. They hate people, especially armed people. Write your Senate Congresscritters and tell them to vote against any and all gun bills unless someone brings an action to abolish an existing law.

In other gun news, Rep. Leonard Lance of New Jersey has requested SS Secretary Janet “Himmler” Napolitano explain why her brown-shirted thugs are purchasing over 1.5 BILLION rounds of ammunition – enough to fight an Iraq-style war for twenty years. Don’t expect an honest answer from the Reichsfuhrer. Instead, allow me to answer the obvious. Like their German predecessors, the Amerikan SS is tasked with keeping order over the sheeple and brutally punishing dissent and nonconformity. They are purchasing the ammunition and 2,700 tanks in preparation for war against you. It’s that simple.

(DHS uniform. Google.)

Don’t forget that Little Barry said in 2008 he wanted a domestic army as powerful as the regular army. Now he almost has it. When Herr Feinstink finally succeeds in banning your guns, the domestic army will make sure you turn them over – or kill you. When the craven thieves of D.C. come for your money as the EU and Cyprus are now, this army will make sure you don’t protest too much. When the time for boxcars and concentration camps comes, look for all those bullets to provide motivation to participate. When writing your Congresscritters, suggest that Ron Paul was wise to call for the dissolution of the SS, tell them to do it before it’s too late. Wake up, America!

The liars in Washington and Tel Aviv now say Bashar Assad is using chemical weapons against the people of Syria. I bet these are similar to the non-existent WMDs allegedly possessed by Saddam Husein. This may give the Empire its excuse to start yet another foreign war. Don’t fall for this crap again. Even if Assad had and used such weapons, heinous crimes for sure, what business is it of the United States? I haven’t heard about the Syrian army using gas in Alabama or Massachusetts, have you? It’s time to mind our own business!

It’s also time to contemplate sleep. Good night!

The People Appreciate a Benevolent Dictator

18 Monday Mar 2013

Posted by perrinlovett in Legal/Political Columns

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

Amerikans, beer, Constitution, dictators, dumps, electricity, eminent domain, Fifth Amendment, Freud, Georgia, Georgia Power Co., government, Kelo v. City of New London, Liberty, lobbyists, March Madness, Nascar, profits, public use, republic, Sallust, Savannah, Supreme Court, taking, taxes, The People, theft, ticks, Tom Bordeaux, TV

The title here is a quote from a Georgia Power Company lobbyist, made to the Georgia House Judiciary Committee in session, 2003. The remark resulted in outrage from the audience and the committee. I was present and among the most taken-aback members of the peanut gallery.

Eminent Domain is the process by which a government forcible condemns a piece of private property in order to make public use thereof. The usual reasons for the practice include road, bridge, or other infrastructure projects. The Fifth Amendment of the Constitution states that no such “taking” shall occur without proper compensation.

The subject of the particular committee meeting was a review of Georgia’s unconscionable Constitutional provision allowing for eminent domain actions by private utility companies. Such companies need not have the government condemn your land for power lines or plants, they can do it directly. Yes, we actually have that here. A resolution was before the General Assembly which called for a new Amendment to end the practice. The hearing was a natural result.

(Madness under the Gold Dome. CBS Atlanta.)

The hearing was chaired by the Hon. Tom Bordeaux of Savannah. Tom is a capable attorney and a good politician though his tenure as chair was short-lived. I was working as a legal intern at the State Administrative Office of the Courts at the time and covered the issue, one of the biggest of the 2003 session. Anyway, representatives from various utility companies were on hand to defend the procedure as vitally necessary to the State’s economy and the well-being of the citizens. Rowdy protesters and opposition speakers voiced other opinions.

The general mood of the entire committee seemed dead set against the policy. Tom remarked that if a new Constitution were drafted in 2003, it would certainly not entertain such legalized theft and trespass. The existing provision dated from the early 20th Century when telephone and electric services were relatively new. I suppose the ticks of the day deemed it necessary to modernize the Empire State of the South. The issue in general was receiving major attention nationwide.

Two years later the U.S. Supreme Court, in the case of Kelo v. The City of New London, 545 U.S. 469 (2005), said it was okay for the City to condemn land via eminent domain solely for the purpose of turning the land over to another private party – a developer. The theory was that the older houses condemned would not generate as much tax revenue for the City as the proposed redevelopment complex would. Thus, there existed a “public need” sufficient to justify the takings. The plan went forward. The homes were taken and leveled. Then, fate delivered the City an ironic blow. The developer failed to find financing for the redevelopment and abandoned the project. The lots sat empty. The land is now a dump. I wonder how much revenue that generates, in addition to lovely odors?

Back in Georgia, the lobbyists gave their best explanations for keeping the Constitutional provision the way it was. Essentially they said the people did not realize that they actually believed having electricity, etc. (not to mention corporate profits) were more valuable to them than the homes they reside in; silly people. Their final argument was, “The people appreciate a benevolent dictator.” When the fellow uttered those words the room grew silent. Based on the dropped jaws and red faces of the committee members one would have suspected the lobbyist had just tried to rationalize child rape.

A hurricane of angry comments followed, a verbal lynching of the lobbyist. I thought it was great. He began to back-peddle immediately in stammering, apologetic fashion. I have come to realize though his Freudian slip was, in fact, completely accurate. Most (not all, but most) people DO appreciate a benevolent dictator. I refer once again to my ancient friend, Sallust: “Only a few prefer Liberty, the majority seek nothing more than fair masters.”

People might get upset if a company or the government tells them to move out of their homes. But, the odds are tremendous a taking will only happen to someone else. In that case, the people could care less. They are more than willing to sit by as their neighbors lose their homes so long as the loss results in more creature comforts in their own homes. Cables and wires and such power televisions which display football, basketball, Nascar, reality shows, and pornos. They allow for the refrigeration of cheap beer and processed food – staples of the Amerikan diet. Air conditioning, internet, blabbing on the phone – the benefits are too numerous to list.

It is interesting to note the great debate over this subject has died down recently. Not enough people care, not enough prefer Liberty. In the end, the General Assembly did what it does best – nothing. The provision is still there ten years later. Poor Aunt Matilda may be very sympathetic when the bulldozers approach her house but she never contributes to political campaigns. Arrogant utility companies and their lobbyists give away millions of dollars a year to the ticks. They put their money where their foul mouths are. They also get their way.

This is just a little something to consider when contemplating representative republicanism. Okay, you can go watch March madness now.

Afternoon Updates

18 Monday Mar 2013

Posted by perrinlovett in News and Notes

≈ 1 Comment

Come on out to the ASU (GRU) forum on the Second Amendment! It’s tomorrow, Tuesday, March 19th at 2:30 p.m., scheduled to last 1.5 hours. Several of ASU’s finest will discuss competing perspectives on the right to keep and bear arms. I discussed the pro-freedom perspective with Professor Peter Flanagan, who will present the common-sense angle. I have volunteered myself as backup if needed. I am told the discredited and dishonest “collective rights” argument will be a devil’s advocate position, as no-one really believes in its validity today (communists in Congress, the White House, and your State’s capital still do – beware!).

I will likely publish a new column later this evening. Stay tuned.

I am also in the approval process of adding another quality advertisement to the site: one that will benefit you if you are inclined to publish your thoughts and works the modern way. I anticipate the ad arriving this week. Speaking of publishing, I am 90%+ done with The Time Given – in the formating, editing phase now. Shortly, you will actually be able to Buy Perrin’s Books! by clicking on the link above! Here’s the rough, subject to change cover:

(Coming soon! I promise…)

Also, I am in the beginning stages of investigating the possibility of turning my personal success in transforming from a slob into a sleek, mean, fighting machine into a book or video or something you might see me hawking on late-night TV. Set aside $19.95 now.

The News:

Does Michael “Soda Jerk” Doomberg have nothing better to do than sit around trying to find ways to make people miserable? Today, the fool announced his next scheme to force retailers to hide evil tobacco products from the sight of little children, nuns, seeing-eye dogs, and busybody nuts. He says the plan will exempt tobacco and cigar shops. I’m surprised he just doesn’t order the NYPD to torch such places. Oops, didn’t mean to give him another idea…

The Cypriot Parliament is currently deciding whether complying with the EU’s demand to steal money from people’s bank accounts would amount to political suicide. A bank “holiday” is in effect until Thursday. Somewhere, eventually, this theft will happen and it will spread across the West. Get ready now.

It seems Barak Obummer made an appearance in the History Channel’s mini-series The Bible. He plays himself.

More soon. Save what you can. Eat your greens.