Are We Seriously Unbalanced...Seriously?

[cermakforchange]

I haven't been on this forum that long but I am extremely encouraged by the thoughtfulness of posts especially the ones in this thread. We can all feel a growing malaise toward our current political situation. This sense of discontent was largely the genesis for the Ron Paul movement and we're attempting to channel that energy into a significant political force. We managed some successes (42% of the seated state convention delegates were pro-liberty/constitution) but need to keep things up to make a real difference.

There are things that can be done to affect real change this year! We have 8 candidates that are running for State Representative that support our beliefs in limited government, the constitution, and the second amendment. All are endorsed candidates running serious campaigns. If one of these guys is in your district get out and volunteer for him. Donate some money to his campaign. You can see these folks at http://www.mnforliberty.com

You can join up with one of the organizations that sprouted from the Ron Paul movement - http://www.mnlg.org, http://www.mnsonsofliberty.com. These folks are working to steer the Republican Party in the right direction. You can also get involved with your precinct, ward, BPOU (basic political organizational unit), or CD (congressional district). These party structures have a significant impact on our lives as they set the agenda for our politicians. From these come the committee appointments that govern the party, set the party platform, and decide which candidates will be available on the ballot.

I want to encourage you to learn about these organizations. If you need help finding resources or want to get involved you can contact any of these folks/organizations directly or through me - cermakforchange@gmail.com. The only way to combat the problems we have is by getting involved.

[hammAR]

Had to inject something slightly off target before hamster.

Not in this thread Tom, it has been coming and long overdue......I want to just watch...carry on MIke...

[ttousi]

Thanks for chiming in Grant (cermakforchange) we need folks that are running to give us some insight into their platforms. I would ask that you send a few this way so we can get to know them as well as yourself.

We have a wide range of folks on this forum, all walks of life so to speak. I would guess that you learned more about how people feel in 2 hours at the Sat breakfast than you would have in twice the time door to door. It's a great way to get out and meet people.

Also, there are quite a few of us that will take the time to "educate" candidates on the firearm issues. You can lose more credibility than you can imagine by telling how you used to hunt ducks with Dad and your trusty rifle.

[cmj685]

Grant,
Thanks for the good and gracious thoughts, and the information on a few of the organizations we can get involved in! I appreciate that, being too much of a kind of guy who avoids confrontation and controversy, and thus has learned over a lifetime to avoid politics! Appreciated your attendance at the breakfast last week as well--thanks for making yourself available.

[gunshop guy]

I want to echo some of what David Slam and JohninMinnesota said. I whole heartedly agree that there is a sense of community on this board that extends out to when you meet board members in public. I have met a lot of people on this board and I am always impressed with the caliber (no pun intended) of people here. We show that "Gun people" and not a group of knucle dragging neanderthals.

Also, as a dad of two, I don't have time to post long theads on here all the time. (break for kids... I just had to fish the elmo doll out of the cat's dish.) I post when I can but read more than I post. I have learned a ton from the things posted on here relating to the political side of things as well as the true gun stuff and the jokes as well. I don't think that the number of posts is the ultimate deciding factor on whether we are involved or not. Based on things I have read here I have had very enlighting conversations with people in the political world. I have spoken to people running for office, retired police chiefs (who may make a return to the badge), current elected officials and other regular people like me. Are we unbalanced in posts, maybe, but are we unbalanced in the education of the baord members and general public, I don't think so.

As for posting about buying a thank you gift for Rucker for the great community that he has created, I'm all for it. Just like I love the posts regarding the food donations. I think that it shows just who we are. We are a group of involved poeple who look outside of themselves to thank and take care of others. Afterall, isn't that what sheepdogs do?

[Victoria]

Like some others, I read different boards for different reasons. This isn't the one I come to for political activism and the like, per se, but as others have said, for the sense of community. Beyond that, my own situation is a bit complicated in terms of becoming active. I'm younger, and though I've always been something of a terror (just ask my mother or husband) and been pro-self-defense, I'm newish to the whole gun ownership thing. I'm also newish to having conflict within myself about my own voting and political activism. In the past, I admit I largely ignored gun-related legislature and politics, mostly because I cared a great deal more about other issues. I'm still not a one-issue person, and unfortunately the small handful of key issues for me are not generally addressed by any one major political alignment. In fact, candidates are often pro-2A and against other things I care about, or vice versa.

Additionally, my personal life situation doesn't lend itself to much activism. For lack of a better phrasing at the moment, I have to stay "in the closet" as much as possible about being a gun person. Folks where I work are very anti-gun, and it is a big likelihood that if I ran into someone who recognized me on the opposite side at a rally, or showed up carrying at a picnic and someone who knew me happened to be at that same park with their kids, I'd eventually lose my job. And, I actually really like my job a lot.

As for not getting involved in some of the threads about particular politicians, while I wish them the best, I'm keeping an eye out for discussions of folks in my personal districts first and foremost, because right now I just don't have time or money or energy to contribute to folks I can't vote for. In some folks' eyes people should send money to anyone that matches their views, even if they aren't in their district, but I just can't make that work in my life at this time. Maybe in the future.

More than anything though, I read this board for the fun atmosphere that's usually here, and for the community. I read up more thoroughly on issues other places. Is that a bad thing? The intertubes are huge, and there can be many sites dedicated to many different angles on the same thing. I think that's awesome.

[GunTotenDem]

I hear you Victoria. I am also rather "in the closet" regarding my support of gun ownership and personal defense, but one of the reasons I come to this great board is to read viewpoints regarding firearm ownership that make a lot of sense to me, but aren't necessarily what I'm used to hearing from my friends and family. I've probably been a lurker for several months now, and what keeps me coming back are the individuals who post here that are so knowledgable about everything from gun ownership to gun care to the art of shooting itself. I guess it is appropriate for my first post to say thanks to everyone here to all their contributions to my firearm education and that I look forward to learning a lot more!

Like some others, I read different boards for different reasons. This isn't the one I come to for political activism and the like, per se, but as others have said, for the sense of community. Beyond that, my own situation is a bit complicated in terms of becoming active. I'm younger, and though I've always been something of a terror (just ask my mother or husband) and been pro-self-defense, I'm newish to the whole gun ownership thing. I'm also newish to having conflict within myself about my own voting and political activism. In the past, I admit I largely ignored gun-related legislature and politics, mostly because I cared a great deal more about other issues. I'm still not a one-issue person, and unfortunately the small handful of key issues for me are not generally addressed by any one major political alignment. In fact, candidates are often pro-2A and against other things I care about, or vice versa.

Additionally, my personal life situation doesn't lend itself to much activism. For lack of a better phrasing at the moment, I have to stay "in the closet" as much as possible about being a gun person. Folks where I work are very anti-gun, and it is a big likelihood that if I ran into someone who recognized me on the opposite side at a rally, or showed up carrying at a picnic and someone who knew me happened to be at that same park with their kids, I'd eventually lose my job. And, I actually really like my job a lot.

As for not getting involved in some of the threads about particular politicians, while I wish them the best, I'm keeping an eye out for discussions of folks in my personal districts first and foremost, because right now I just don't have time or money or energy to contribute to folks I can't vote for. In some folks' eyes people should send money to anyone that matches their views, even if they aren't in their district, but I just can't make that work in my life at this time. Maybe in the future.

More than anything though, I read this board for the fun atmosphere that's usually here, and for the community. I read up more thoroughly on issues other places. Is that a bad thing? The intertubes are huge, and there can be many sites dedicated to many different angles on the same thing. I think that's awesome.

[Aceq2jot]

Hunestly i think both of you should come to the steel shoot and join in They are actually a lot of fun, and you get to put a name to the faces

Seriously they are a lot of fun and a learning experience, and you get to make new friends etc.

[ttousi]

Welcome guntotendem.............like ace said try to come to an activity.....lunch, breakfast, steel shoot etc. (Steer clear of Cokato unless you enjoy all kinds of harassment )

[BRIT_in_the_weeds]

OOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHH!!

COKATO THREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

Welcome everyone to this den of delight.......those sitting on the fence looking in, come on over, we'll only bash you, once we know you.
There are NO stupid questions here....(Well maybe this topic heading) The answers...........they are another matter.

CMJ...STILL WAITING FOR AN ANSWER

[justaguy]

Maybe your friend could come here and lead us since we are not living up to his expectations. Which I feel real bad about. Maybe it's just me but it kind of sounds to me like this "guy" thinks he is doing more than the rest of us. This "guy" should come here and rally us for his cause. But what if I dont believe in his cause then what? Then is it ok for me to come here and just be a smart ass in the other less important sections or should I be banned because I'm not pulling my weight? What if I look like a "redneck" should I just stay out of site while the "good looking" people handle the delicate things they think I dont understand.

I agree with gun aspects of people here and that is about it. I dont feel the need to get on here and either say a lot of "+1" or argue with how a guy thinks.

"great guy and extremely discerning in a lot of areas, a real friend of people who love guns, and a friend of our forum" Why isn't he asking these questions of us instead of you?

[nyffman]

Why isn't he asking these questions of us instead of you?

Because I've been away. I expect this isn't a big surprise to most of you that I am the one cmj685 is talking about. While I was taking some time off to think about this situation, he contacted me to ask for some help with the 2nd Saturday breakfasts. So, I told him I was more likely to scale back my involvement than get more involved. In answer to questions by justaguy, Stradawhovious and others, no, I do not think I am doing more than others. I know we have lots of instructors who are helping train new permit holders. We have NRA instructors and other instructors who are all contributing their time and efforts. And, many of you are also doing other things that are also helpful. The niche that wasn't being addressed here was the political. Since I have always followed politics from a distance, I decided that, if there was ever a time to jump in, it was now. Like it or not, you can't change the reality that the people we put in office largely determines the outcome of this battle. I fully understand what Victoria is saying about the various political leanings.

I'm still not a one-issue person, and unfortunately the small handful of key issues for me are not generally addressed by any one major political alignment. In fact, candidates are often pro-2A and against other things I care about, or vice versa.

I'll leave the partisan arguments out of this thread. Maybe another time. The part that I was having trouble with was the part that Ace was talking about.

And when the time comes and people need to get out in force they all know each other and have no hesitation on going to stand up on an issue as they know each other, and feel comfy with each other.

I don't think we have that here. If we did, some of the threads on politicians running in our area would have had some dissenting comments or even comments saying "shut up already", rather than no comments. There may have even been some give and take discussion. Don't misunderstand the comments on the anniversary. I've had as much fun here in the last year as anyone, well maybe not hammAR and a few others, but let's limit this discussion to normal people. And, for the record, as long as everyone else got in their .02, I have given several times for several board related things without calling attention to myself. But when I noticed all the posts saying "I gave" going on for many pages, and contrast that with the apparent lack of interest in something that, in my opinion, will be very good for the 2A community, I had to pause and take some time off to think about it. I mean, I wasn't hearing anything negative, so one other possibility is apathy. Maybe David Slam is right?

Next month activism might be higher on people's agendas. Or maybe it will be more inside jokes. Who knows?

So, in the end, maybe I'm wrong on this, I'm pretty sure some of you think so, but, under the theory that the squeaky wheel gets the grease, I think it would be a good idea for everyone to involved in politics in some way? Or, at some point in the future, you could just have rucker rename the forum to

" Talking about the guns I used to be able to own and shoot before the Brady Bunch, which is organized, active and has money behind it, led the effort to put restrictions on ammuntion which made it prohibitively expense for me to shoot more than once a year then pick up all my specially marked brass so it wouldn't be used by criminals, then had them declared illegal and they were all taken away, and remember "it's for the children, or whatever" just because they could".

[JohninMinnesota]

Precisely why I make sure to keep abreast of things and post them here for you all to ogle.

viewtopic.php?f=36&t=3698

I like balance - left and right should be balanced.

[David]

...I have given several times for several board related things without calling attention to myself. But when I noticed all the posts saying "I gave" going on for many pages...

I agree, in a very big way. Hence my comment on that thread:

and it's pretty un-charitable to want recognition for charity anyway

It's annoying at best.

[JohninMinnesota]

No, we're not seriously unbalanced. The "Seriously Unbalanced" are in our government. Listening to Rush today talking about the supreme (not really) court decision that execution of child rapists is "cruel and unusual punishment".

Jesus Mary and Joseph.

If we *were* unbalanced, there would be a lot of hell to pay for decisions like this. Should we be more involved? Is child rape excusable?