An e-mail from a friend on the other side

[Xipe Totec]

Yes, actually, I still have friends who live inside the Matrix.

Not many, and they tend to be Republicans who are not religious nut cases.

Be that as it may, I recently received an e-mail from one of them. It is interesting not so much for what it says, but for what it implies regarding his news sources and world view:


"Well they passed some health plan, I hope it is like you said.

What I hear is not even close.

Also how stupid is to have an army post that soldiers are not allowed to wear their weapon...? Thank god that a police woman had a gun.

To stop a loving brother soldier..."

Here is my reply:




Hello (name withheld),

You would be surprised at how many progressives are furious with this bill and how little it accomplishes. And yet, as little as it provides, it is still an improvement over what we have today. Yet the Republicans are still fighting it tooth and nail.

It is not over; the Senate has not passed this legislation, and with Joe Lieberman's help, they plan to filibuster the bill so that it never comes to a vote. It may still fail in the Senate.

The one part of the bill the Republicans object to is the Public option. They have no problem with the part of the bill that forces people to buy health insurance so long as people have to buy that insurance from private insurance companies and not the government. That should tell you who they serve.

For what is worth, here is a breakdown of the benefits this bill will provide, congressional district by congressional district. I don't know which congressional district you live in, so you will have to pick the right one for yourself:

http://energycommerce.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1802:hr-3962-the-affordable-health-care-for-america-act-district-by-district-impact&catid=169:legislation&Itemid=55



As for the events on Fort Hood, the decision on whether soldiers should bear weapons on base or not is strictly a military matter, not subject to civilian laws. My understanding is that MPs are the ones allowed to carry weapons on military installations, but not regular soldiers.

One more thing:

"Sgt. Kimberly D. Munley has been applauded as a hero across the nation for shooting down Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan during the bloody rampage at Fort Hood last week. The account of heroism, given by the authorities, attracted the attention of newspapers, the networks and television talk shows.

But the initial story of how she and the accused gunman went down in an exchange of gunfire now appears to be inaccurate.

Another officer, Senior Sgt. Mark Todd, 42, said in an interview Thursday that he fired the shots that brought down the gunman after Sergeant Munley was seriously wounded. A witness confirmed Sergeant Todd’s account."

Senior Sgt. Mark Todd just happens to be black...

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/13/us/13hood.html

[sandnsea]

1. It's fascinating that the military enforces gun control

And yet those fools don't see that they readily give up the right to carry a gun to the government - exactly what they say they're most against; and can't see that their complying with that requirement is exactly why military bases are generally very safe.

[petersjo02]

2. Kudos to you

for that great response.

[Xipe Totec]

5. Thank you!

It is important to remember that not all Republicans are basket cases; many are still willing and able to engage in respectful debate.

Even if we are unable to convert some of our Republican friends to switch parties, if we can change their outlook and shift them to the center or left of center, we will all be better.

This is not about party; it is about philosophy of governing. Right now, the Democratic party is the closest we have to a progressive influence in government.

Sad, but true.

If we can shift the country's point of view so that Republicans become the centrists, and Democrats shift to left of center, well then...

A man can dream, cant he? :shrug:

[C_Lawyer09]

6. Here is the main reason why most bases/posts are very safe

And I notice it's a fact commonly (and unfortunately)overlooked on du, as it seems many whom criticize the military both vaguely and generally have very little knowledge of which they speak. Those entering the military are subject to intensive background checks at the municipal county state and federal level to include a national sex offender check. However, just to play devils advocate for a moment, it wouldn't be hard to smuggle a weapon onto a federal installation, if one were intent on doing harm.

[sandnsea]

8. They were for a while

As they needed more troops for Iraq, the requirements were reduced repeatedly.

Military bases have always been safer, even back in the day when people opted for the military instead of jail.

Gun Control. That's why.

Obviously nothing will create utopia. Somebody, somewhere, might do something, isn't any reason to not implement procedures that work 90% of the time. That's why we have laws and courts and jails in the first place. You wouldn't say to throw all of that out because it doesn't work perfectly.

[C_Lawyer09]

9. I was recruiting during that time

I'm pretty familiar with Army regulations relevant to manpower. All the checks were still ran. Just to give you some perspective, two moral waivers I had denied were for the following: Malicious mischief with sexual intent, wherein I collected over 100 documents to include the entire police report. It was a 17 year old kid grabbing his ex-girlfriends butt. 2. Possession of marijuana on school grounds by an 18 year old, it was less than a quarter of an ounce. I never enlisted one felon. If memory serves correctly, the most law violations on one moral waiver I ever got approved were: two larcenies under 250.00, DUI, and an assault 4, non domestic violence. As for the gun control, I respectfully disagree. I've seen statistics manipulated to support both sides of the argument. Lastly, our jails will cease to be effective if the three strikes your out policies remain in effect.

[noamnety]

3. Was this line originally in the article?

"Senior Sgt. Mark Todd just happens to be black..."

(sometimes it's helpful if you note what's a quote and what's your own editorial comment.)

[Xipe Totec]

4. No it wasn't

Thank you for pointing out the omission of quotes in my original missives.

I'll try to correct the post, if it is not too late.

[classof56]

7. Great response and great info about the benefits breakdown.

Bookmarked, recommended and printed off the breakdown for my district, where unfortunately our congressman is a Republican.