Altruist wrote:If I understand the gun supporters correctly, you think that the problem in the US is that
* you haven't got enough guns
* all problems would be solved when everybody has a gun, especially teachers, bus drivers etc. (the list seems to be quite long).
Because then everybody could defend, fight terrorists, communists and the government.
Mmmh, so basically you wish back the "good old" wild west?
Just trying to explain why I have the feeling that nobody even tries to argue with you anylonger... the whole thing is so crazy and you are so fixed on your guns, you look completly nuts.
Well it's not just the "wild west". The whole 19th century of America was a time when every population enjoyed the individual right and responsibility of militia service in its fullest sense. What's wrong with the 19th century? It produced a 20th century America that saved European democracy twice. The 2nd time, arguably, from itself.
Why is that "crazy"? I might as well declare that European reliance on rail transport is "crazy" and a "throwback" to "outdated" values. It worked for various reasons no longer immediately necessary (general mobilization of universally conscripted armies etc.) but it worked, it had other uses and you saved a bundle not destroying it.
Likewise our notion that "social services" are BEST generated by the community, through committed volunteers, instead of implemented by a top-down elite based on central planning. The experience with central planning in America since the 1960s shows its critics were generally right.
On the most basic level, you can look to Los Angeles 1992, for a city with a functional professional civic defense force, that said "mmm we pass, evacuate and let it burn". The 'militia' in the fullest sense refused to accommodate them, and fought off the mob until the political pressure for organized government to resume its function, was overwhelming. I see nothing to show that political tensions that led to the crisis, have gone; such riots will happen again. And when they do, I don't see any reason to trust the civil authorities to make the right call in the future. The common right to self defense remains practically necessary.
On another level, regardless of what you think of our 18th century right to form a ragtag bunch of misfits to fight the good fight, its there on paper in the highest form of guarantee possible. If that guarantee sucks, there's a proper way to get rid of it. That the elites want to just tear it up, is a strong sign of low character and earned distrust.
The core joke of Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is that of course no civilization would develop personal computers with instant remote database recovery, and then waste this technology to find good drinks.
Steve Jobs has ruined this joke.