02-25-2018, 10:16 AM
(This post was last modified: 02-25-2018, 10:17 AM by David Horn.)
(02-24-2018, 05:48 PM)Bob Butler 54 Wrote:(02-24-2018, 02:09 PM)pbrower2a Wrote: The Founding Fathers were wise for their time, but we need remember that they lived in pre-industrial times. Commercial, yes, but also pre-industrial. They had no clue about Big Business, the first Big Business being formed as such (DuPont) was founded in 1802. They had no idea of railroads, telegraphs (let alone modern mas and personal communications). and -- most germane to the Second Amendment -- machine guns.
The Second Amendment arose in a time of flintlock rifles, weapons that would be completely useless as a defense against some meth fiend with his beloved Glock.
I agree the founding fathers had a different culture, but that culture is alive and well in red America. You seem to want to change a contract when the blue want to change it.
I don't think the culture of the late 18th century and red culture today resemble each other at all. The only link: red culture idealizes: "the Founders" in a way that makes them unrecognizably rigid and absolutist. The red overlay is closer to a nihilistic version of libertarianism. They celebrate "freedom", as long as it's THEIR freedom: guns, yes; prayer, yes; abortion, no (actually, hell no), and patriotism as they define it ... and only as they define it. I live deep in Red America. I have friends that hold these views. They feel free to tell me how I should think, but act hurt and angry if their values are questioned even a little. It's your value-lock problem on steroids.
And let's understand: this is not an issue of "both sides do it", even though both sides rally to their respective flags. This is "We're right and you are evil" compared to "We don't agree".
Intelligence is not knowledge and knowledge is not wisdom, but they all play well together.