In The Wake Of Another Mass Shooting; What Do We Do Now?

At least 17 people were killed in a Florida high school shooting on Valentine’s Day, the latest mass shooting in the United States. Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel identified the suspect as 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz, a former student who had been expelled from the school for disciplinary reasons. Cruz was charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder and ordered held without bond. Officials have not identified a motive for the shooting. It doesn’t surprise me that authorities were aware of the killer in Parkland, even before he acted. This is often the case, given our national approach to mental illness. Our God-given freedoms are dangerous. We are free to love, yet equally free to do otherwise. Our American liberties are equally dangerous. With freedom comes great responsibility, and accountability. As a culture, we are hesitant to restrict people’s freedoms, and we lack the financial resources to do so, even if we wanted to. We have a system in place to house someone once he or she commits a crime, but far fewer options to house someone once they are declared mentally ill. Among other recent tragedies are the November massacre of 26 worshipers at a rural Texas church and the October killing of 58 people at a music festival in Las Vegas. With each tragedy, we hear arguments about gun violence, mental health, how firearms should be regulated and what’s driving the prevalence of mass shootings. In the wake of the Parkland shooting massacre, there is a natural and emotional nationwide outrage for some serious "gun control". I read one gallup poll that states that 77% of Americans want more gun control in America. This is a trend that I believe is only going to escalate. Many people are just plain sick and tired of our government not doing anything about the recent mass shootings that have seemingly plagued our country. From Arizona to Washington, students walked out of schools in support of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School students a week after their classmates were silenced by gunfire. And in Tallahassee, Stoneman Douglas students who survived the Parkland shooting massacre chanted louder than ever: "Vote them out!" Their words echoed through the hallways of the state Capitol, where they demanded a ban on weapons like the one used to kill their friends and teachers. In a day filled with emotion and tears, groups of survivors of the Florida shooting and parents of victims stood feet away from President Donald Trump, Florida's governor and lawmakers. They pleaded for changes in gun law as the nation grapples with how to prevent mass shootings in schools. Throughout a 34-year span, from 1966 to 2006, there were six mass public shootings that resulted in the deaths of 10 or more people. Two happened in educational institutions: the 1966 tower shooting at the University of Texas, Austin, and the 1999 shooting at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colo. In recent years, mass shootings have been resulting in more casualties. The Congressional Research Service found that from 2007 to 2013, there were seven mass public shootings in which 10 or more people were killed, and two of those incidents happened in schools. Those were the 2007 Virginia Tech shooting and the 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut. In the 10 mass school shootings from June 2013 to February 2018, 44 people were killed and 68 injured. What really drives these "sickos" to commit such heinous acts of pre-meditated murder? Why are there more mass killings than ever before? What really motivates someone to be so angry as to take another human beings life? Let me first get this out of the way by bluntly stating that this is NOT a gun problem, this is a moral and mental health crisis that has been inoculated into our citizens (and especially our children!) since the 70's! Simply put, we have allowed our mentally ill to run rampant through the streets AND we have created a Godless society where "love one another as I have loved you" is replaced by hate and kill. Our moral compass is not only broken, it has shattered in to a hundred pieces, irreparable. It has now been replaced by the idea that selfishness is actually a good character. Wrath, as an alternative to empathy. In my opinion, this world is going to hell in a hand basket quick if we don't wake the fuck up! Banning certain rifles and "bump stocks" is NOT the answer! Raising the purchase age is a joke! A gun is not functional until somebody picks it up. It does NOTHING BUT SIT THERE! It is the human being that creates these horrific acts of death, and it doesn't matter if it is a gun or a home-made explosive. Madness will always find a way to carry out destruction and lets face it, pure evil. Everyone thinks that this is the governments problem to solve and its not, it's ours. And it starts at home. It starts with teaching our children the value of life, and what a true gift from God it really is. It starts with real education. Not the dumbed down government version that has been poisoning our children's minds for decades now. It starts with love, and parents actually giving a shit about what their kids are learning and where they're at! We need more control over our schools and what they are actually teaching our children. Until that happens, it's up to us. We also need to take this mental health crisis SERIOUSLY! The warning signs were all over this kid and no one even bothered to pay attention. And the fact is people, that football coach Aaron Feis threw himself in front of students as bullets hailed down to save his students. He was a gun owner and if he would have been allowed to carry a weapon that day, non of that would have even happened! In my eyes Coach Feis did the only other thing that he could have done. He put others lives before himself. I know that "thoughts and prayers" will not bring these teachers and kids back. Nothing will bring them back. We need to stop pointing fingers, and take steps to make sure our kids are protected from this kind of tragedy. President Trump had a great idea that I wholeheartedly agree with in allowing teachers to carry on school grounds. To me that is a step in the right direction. In times like this, it’s easy to say that Parkland would never have occurred if the killer didn’t have access to guns. But it’s just as accurate to say that Parkland would never have occurred if the mentally ill killer had been institutionalized. Last week’s mass shooting that claimed 17 lives at a high school in Parkland, Florida leaves many of us searching for answers. Our free will is an important part of the answer. If God exists and wants us to genuinely love one another, he must first allow us something dangerous: personal freedom. This kind of liberty is risky, because it must also allow us the freedom to do great harm. Human free agency is a double-edged knife, and each of us must decide how we will handle it responsibly. I would like to conclude with extending my deepest condolences and prayers to the parents and to the families who now have to go on without their loved ones and their children and try to make sense of all this. May God hold you in the palm of his hand. Thank you for reading.

What Makes A President "Great" (My Top 10 Most Conservative Presidents)

You have probably heard the old saying that "anybody can grow up to be President." But, not everybody is cut out to be President. It takes a special kind of person, someone tough, smart, and driven, just to run for the job. It takes still more talent and character to hold up under the pressures of life in the White House. With Presidents Day coming up, I thought that I would talk and debate on just what it takes to be a great "Commander In Chief" This is very subjective as you know, we all have different views and perspectives on what makes this country great. We elect our leaders based upon our core values that we share with them in hopes that they will apply our values to govern for the good of the citizens. However, that doesn't always pan out the way we want it. Americans expect a lot from their Presidents. Understandably, they want the President to take quick action on problems facing the nation, such as crime and the economy. However, the U.S. Constitution limits the President's power to act. Only Congress can pass legislation, and Congress sometimes moves slowly. The President can only approve or veto (reject) legislation that Congress passes. Even then, Congress can override a veto and make it the law. The Supreme Court can also limit the President's power by ruling that a law or action violates the U.S. Constitution. The President has less power than the average voter thinks he does. He can't simply by himself make major domestic policies. In dealing with foreign countries, the President has more freedom. That is because he must react quickly to threats and opportunities from other countries. Even so, Congress and the courts can limit the President's actions. Also, the President must get Congress to approve any big decision, such as declaring war or approving a treaty. Despite these limitations, Presidents have incredible power. Much of that power is informal, meaning it is not spelled out anywhere in the U.S. Constitution or laws. For instance, President Theodore Roosevelt (in office 1901-1909) said that his office gave him a "bully pulpit" a powerful platform that lets him draw attention to key issues. Theodore Roosevelt was an expert at using the bully pulpit to drum up support for his policies. So was his cousin, President Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933-1945). Franklin Roosevelt led the U.S. through two of its greatest crises: the Great Depression of the 1930s and World War II. His radio addresses, called "fireside chats," drew huge audiences. Before one speech, Roosevelt asked people to buy maps so that they could follow his explanation of World War II events. His request produced a nationwide run on maps, and about 80 percent of Americans listened to his speech. Character. Charisma. These are certainly two big attributes to have when your the "Big Kahuna". The President must be that mediator who can bring us all together especially during crisis. I have been studying our U.S. History and the Presidents who have served for most of my life and I really find it fascinating. This is by far my best subject to discuss, but I must tell you that I am very biased when it comes to picking the best Presidents that our country has ever had. It is no secret that I label myself as a Constitutional Conservative. I believe that our country was intended to be governed the way our fore-fathers intended. I believe that the Bill Of Rights are non-negotiable, and that our U.S. Constitution was one of the greatest pieces of literature ever written. Our framers were nothing short of genius. Many of you who read my blog probably agree with my political philosophy, and with most of what I have to say. (181 subscribers!- but I'm not bragging or anything) And if you don't agree, but still are compelled to read my conservative rants, then that is even better! Maybe my common sense ideas might just turn some of you around? If not, I am always up for a good political debate! (but I will have to warn all my liberal friends out there that they better do their homework if they want to get in the ring with me!) I pull NO punches, so get your facts straight. Now like I have stated before, my top 10 POTUS are going to come as close to my epitome as I could possibly research. Obviously anyone else would have a different opinion on how they would line up, so let me start by giving you my best definition on what I believe is a Conservative. (There is just way too many new definitions out there ie: Neo-Cons ect. and I just want to keep it simple.) Conservatives believe in personal responsibility, limited government, free markets, individual liberty, traditional American values and a strong national defense. Believe the role of government should be to provide people the freedom necessary to pursue their own goals. Conservative policies generally emphasize empowerment of the individual to solve problems. NO GOVERNMENT INTERFERENCE! Now I could get more specific by diving into the major issues in this country, but I save that for other posts. However, we cannot define conservatism by the policies we think are best in this particular moment. Rather, we must define the policies we think are best as those which flow from the principles of conservatism. Policies follow from principles, not vice versa. The most significant feature of American politics today is the chasm that divides our government officials and the resulting failure of our government to achieve meaningful progress on the looming fiscal issues that threaten our generation and future generations. The conventional wisdom is to blame the politicians. This is the easy way out, since it involves blaming someone other than ourselves. The fact is that we, not our politicians, are to blame. Our elected representatives, now more than ever, are held accountable by a system of hyper-democracy where a single misstep can doom a career. During the 1950s, political histories have shown, politicians were giants on Capitol Hill. They wielded immense power. This power was often abused, but politicians were also able to exercise discretion, to work with opponents to make compromises, and had fewer incentives to sling mud. Today, our representatives are little more than mirrors of the most rabid and best organized constituencies powerful enough to hold them hostage. Political contests are now about power and mobilization, not cooperation and compromise. That being said I believe that President Trump, if anything, will go down in history as the one who actually tried to bring compromise and cooperation to D.C. Trump didn't make my list though we will see if I need to revise this in seven years. So, without further eloquence, here is my top 10 most conservative Presidents who will range form conservative(ish) to the greatest ever to serve. 10. George W. Bush (2001-2009) He certainly has a mixed record by allowing spending to soar, but conservatives can applaud the Bush tax cuts, Supreme Court nominees, and strong response to 9/11. 9. William McKinley (1896-1901) Reduced taxes, encouraged growth of domestic industry, was definitely a business friendly administration. Helped Cuba to gain their independence from Spain. 8. James Monroe (1817-1825): The Monroe Doctrine in 1823 was a warning to the European powers to stay out of the New World and it kept the United States from becoming involved in foreign entanglements for most of the rest of the century. Monroe opposed excessive government spending and vetoed a bill to make repairs on the national Cumberland Road, saying that “Congress does not possess the power under the Constitution to pass such a law.” 7. Thomas Jefferson (1801-1809): Jefferson served the country better before he became President as author of the Declaration of Independence. His troubled second term left the nation’s military unprepared for the ensuing battle with the British in the War of 1812. But he favored states’ rights and a limited federal government, repealed many federal taxes, and was a fierce opponent of government debt. If a tenet of conservatism is getting the best bang for the taxpayers’ buck, then Jefferson’s Louisiana Purchase qualifies as one of history’s great bargains. 6. Dwight D. Eisenhower (1953-1961): America’s postwar economy boomed during the Eisenhower presidency. Ike stood firm in opposition to the menace posed by the Soviet Union and repeatedly warned against deficit spending. After two decades of turmoil marked by the Depression and war, the Eisenhower Era of peace and prosperity was just the tonic America needed to emerge as a global superpower. The building of the interstate highway system is one of the few massive federal projects that conservatives can applaud. 5. Grover Cleveland (1885-1889, 1893-1897): Cleveland was a pro-business Democrat who supported lower tariffs and battled government corruption, patronage, and high taxes. He broke the Pullman Strike of 1894, which was threatening to paralyze the nation’s transportation system. He vetoed 584 bills in his eight years mostly to cut excessive spending, yet had only seven vetoes overridden. 4. Abraham Lincoln (1861-1865): Abraham Lincoln saved the Union and freed the slaves. For that alone, he should be celebrated by conservatives. But Lincoln also tied together the principles of the Constitution and the Declaration into a shared group of principles — the antecedent of today’s conservative ideology. Conservatives may not like his suspension of habeas corpus during the Civil War or his disregard of states’ rights, but preserving the Union warrants Lincoln’s inclusion on this list. Few have been as eloquent as Lincoln when he said at the hallowed ground of Gettysburg, “That this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the Earth.” 3. George Washington (1789-1797): After leading the Continental Army to victory in the American Revolution, Washington was instrumental in setting the United States on a course of liberty and limited government. By eschewing attempts to make him a monarch, Washington ensured the American experiment would indeed be democratic. His words, “The Constitution is the guide, which I never will abandon,” should be the motto of every U.S. President. 2. Ronald Reagan (1981-1989): Reagan stared down the Soviet Union, bringing the Cold War to an end at long last. He championed free markets and limited government, and his across-the-board tax cuts breathed new life into a faltering economy. The Gipper’s constant reminder that the United States was a “shining city on a hill” gave rebirth to the notion of American exceptionalism. Presidents’ Day offers us an opportunity to learn from the examples of great presidents who offer guidance for today’s challenges. For conservatives, the most important president to re-examine is Calvin Coolidge. Coolidge was the most effective, most eloquent, and most conservative American president since the Civil War. And his ideas have a great deal of meaning for us today. Calvin Coolidge (1923-1929): “Silent Cal” presided over a booming economy as he slashed income and corporate taxes, limited regulations on private business, and retired a major part of the national debt. He once astutely said, “Nothing is easier than spending the public money. It doesn’t appear to belong to anybody,” and his presidency was a testimony to that philosophy of government thrift. From 1921-1924 annual federal spending was reduced by a remarkable 43 percent, from $5.1 billion to $2.4 billion (That’s not a misprint: a 43 percent reduction in federal spending!). Tax measures passed in 1921, 1924, and 1926 reduced the top marginal income tax rate from 73 percent to 24 percent (Again, not a misprint). Such reductions in income tax rates are unimaginable today. Thanks to his fiscal conservatism, Coolidge was able to reduce tax rates and still reduce the national debt by almost a third, from $24 billion to $16.9 billion. Much of this work was accomplished by the Bureau of the Budget, which imposed extensive cost savings in government. Given these accomplishments, it is surprising that Coolidge has been neglected by historians. Compared to many of the more highly-ranked presidents in historians’ rankings, Coolidge’s administration was far more peaceful and consequential. Though he would likely have won a second full term in office in 1928, he declined to run. His reasoning was simple: “We draw our presidents from the people. It is a wholesome thing for them to return to the people. I came from them. I wish to be one of them again.” He did not envision a president as someone who stood above the people, godlike, towering over them. He came from the people, and returned quietly to engage in self-government alongside them. I almost put Reagan at the top of this list as I grew up in this era and grew quite fond of his philosophy as well. All of these former leaders have such compelling backgrounds and I encourage anyone interested to research yourselves and enjoy! Like I have stated earlier, your lists may be quite different from mine as everyone's definition of greatness will mainly depend on the values that you- the individual- hold most dear. I thank you for your time. E Pluribus Unim!

Crossing The Great Political Divide (Breakdown Of Trump's State Of The Union)

I'm not very big on "State Of The Union" addresses or political speeches of any kind really. In the past it really all sounded like a bunch of bullshit to tell us what we want to hear, and not exactly what they(the elected) had in mind. Reagan had some really good State of The Union addresses, especially the first one. G.W. had a very convincing one in 01 as well. That was the last time that I had actually sat through an entire State Of The Union speech was in January of 2001. Up until now, I would just catch a glimpse then quickly change the channel. Trump, with all of his "off the cuff" tweets and the fact that he really does wear his heart on his sleeve, absolutely had me curious and even excited to watch his first State Of The Union. After watching and listening to his entire speech, I have come to two definitive conclusions. The first is that our President really does (in my opinion) care about the well-being of the citizens of this great country. He loves this country, and wants to see it governed the way it was meant to be governed. And two, There truly is a political and social divide between both parties. The Dems went out of their way to not only shun, but scoff at most everything he had to say. The only time I saw the Democrats stand up and clap, was when he addressed the United States Military. Several members of congress were also spotted on their phones as well. What blatant disrespect! He should have had secret service agents check their phones at the door! During the last couple of days I've been reading some huge negative responses coming from the liberal media as well. I am convinced that this man is never going to catch a break. They have loathed Trump since day one and it doesn't look like it will change anytime soon. He offered several times during his speech to work together with democrats. Extending his hand to them as if to say "come on guys, how can you not agree with this?" Mr. President, I'm sorry but there is not a rational bone in any of their narrow mined bodies! These morons are going to keep pouting well into the next election. Get ready Dems! You can look forward to 7 more years of sulking and stomping your feet! The simple fact is that this is just what America needs, and has been needing for a long while now. One of my favorite lines from his speech was " We are going to come up with ideas that will not benefit any of us in Washington, and we will all not get what we want. We will come up with solutions that will actually benefit the people that we are elected to represent." So humble, and right on the nail Mr. President! Trump's first year in office has been nothing short of extraordinary. Since President Trump was elected, Democrats have done nothing but reject, obstruct and resist – kicking and screaming every step of the way. Yet that has not deterred our president. In fact, he has kept his eye on the prize: prioritizing the very people who put him in office. Because of that, he has had a historically successful first year in office. President Trump just delivered the biggest set of tax cuts in over 30 years, after rallying Congress and the American people around a plan that puts more money into our pockets. He has cut 10 regulations for each new one added, saving the country billions of dollars. The American economy is great again. The unemployment rate is down to a 17-year low of 4.1 percent and the labor market has exceeded expectations by adding hundreds of thousands of new jobs. The gross domestic product is rising beyond expectations, consumer confidence is at a 17-year high, small businesses are growing and the stock market is soaring. The president was quick to nominate federal judges during his first year, with 19 confirmed by the Senate so far. He’s had the most circuit court judges confirmed during a president’s first year, and appointed widely respected Justice Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court soon after taking office. He’s boosting pay for our troops, growing our military, and giving them the equipment they need to remain the world’s top fighting force. He’s restoring accountability to the Department of Veterans Affairs, because he knows our nation’s heroes deserve much better than they’ve been getting. The president boldly stood for American leadership during a historic United Nations address, where he outlined a forceful new strategy toward nations that pose the greatest security threats to the United States. He was clear and unapologetic about our nation’s new policy: America First. President Trump has made the southern border harder to illegally cross – arrests of people trying to cross illegally into the United States from Mexico are at the lowest point since 1971. His vision for merit-based immigration is one that will reward those who follow our laws, make our country better and are proud to call themselves Americans. The administration is also working to eradicate the most violent street gangs from our nation, and is tackling our nation’s drug addiction and opioid abuse crisis. He’s stayed true to the commitments he made on the campaign trail, after taking office, and again during his joint address to Congress earlier this year. The president has done all of this and more, without taking a salary. He promised he’d donate it, so that’s what he’s done. He donated his first quarters salary which was an estimated $77,000 to The National Parks and Forestry. His second quarterly salary was without hesitation donated to the Department of Education. The third was donated to help fight the war on opioid addiction. Can you remember the last President who gave up his salary to actually help the country? Wouldn't that be something if ALL of Congress gave up their salaries in the form of donations. Let's face it, this is the ONLY time that this is ever going to happen again from a sitting President. We probably will never hear another President put God, country, and patriotism in the same sentence either. During Trump's State Of The Union, he called out BOTH parties daring them to come together and actually make a difference, for the sake and FUTURE of the American people. I would like to close with my favorite quote of the Presidents speech- "Americans fill the world with art and music. They push the bounds of science and discovery. And they forever remind us of what we should never forget: The people dreamed this country. The people built this country. And it is the people who are making America great again. As long as we are proud of who we are, and what we are fighting for, there is nothing we cannot achieve."