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The blog is a view of life, science, politics and education from an engineering perspective. As engineers, we are taught to view the world objectively. We can hope, believe and calculate a particular outcome, but natural laws are inflexible and pay no heed to who we are or what we believe. We must approach the objective dispassionately, while compensating for our own distorted perceptions. Balance is also a key element; balancing between the ideal and the pragmatic, balancing cost and functionality, balancing analysis with action, etc.
Scheduling routine critical self-analysis is the foundation to objectivity. If we do not fully understand and compensate for our own failures, tendencies, habits and skewed thought processes, we will not see the world as it is. Without a regular critical self-analysis we will see the world as we are and then fall prey to self-delusion.
Failure is a great teacher. When failure is coupled with perseverance, it produces the fruit of patience and humility. An engineer, fresh out of engineering school is typically set up for failure early and often. The failure breaks the new engineer of any ideas of self-importance, arrogance and book smarts. Only then can the new engineer be formed and molded into a productive element in the industry.
Thanks,
Bernie
Conflict within the NRA
After the Newtown shooting, the National Rifle Association, with roughly 4.3 million members, deactivated its Facebook page, had stopped tweeting on its Twitter account and had been issuing a "no comment" to any media outlet seeking a response.
But late Tuesday, the group broke that silence with a statement:
"The National Rifle Association of America is made up of four million moms and dads, sons and daughters -- and we were shocked, saddened and heartbroken by the news of the horrific and senseless murders in Newtown. Out of respect for the families, and as a matter of common decency, we have given time for mourning, prayer and a full investigation of the facts before commenting. The NRA is prepared to offer meaningful contributions to help make sure this never happens again."
There are two major forces at work within the NRA. With the increased talk of gun control, the NRA has added an average of 8000 members per day and has received an large influx of contributions. But since the statement was released, the NRA website has been overwhelmed by member furious at the thought of the NRA softening its opposition to gun control. Of course, the official statement didn’t explicitly state that it would moderate its position, but it gave a tone of moderation.
The NRA is seen as the primary restraining force to gun control, but its members believe this it is also providing less restraint against government than is desired.
Some NRA members have demanded to see the books to determine if money was a factor in the new moderate tone. With just a cursory look at the main sources of revenue in December, it became clear that Karl Rove may have influenced the NRA into a softer stance. The NRA has received over $600,000 in donations from Crossroads GPS and Rove’s super PAC, American Crossroads. Although this amount of money is significant it represents a small percentage of income. During the 2012, the NRA spent a total of $17.6 million on political campaigns; including $243,000 on Tommy Thompson’s Senate campaign.
Karl Rove is not a well-liked individual in conservative circles. His support of many pro-choice, big government candidates has angered many conservatives, but his disdain for the second amendment is a particularly sore spot.
The NRA is a 501(c)(4) group and is not required to disclose its donors. But in order to maintain 501(c)(4) status with the Internal Revenue Service, social welfare must be the main focus of these groups, so they cannot have more than half of their overall spending go toward politics. Therefore the expenditures are public documents.
Many NRA members are openly talking about their displeasure with the NRA and joining the GOA (Gun Owners of America), a gun rights lobbying group which is much more rigid in its ideology. But with the tremendous influx of new members and money, the NRA appears to have momentum and even the most conservative members do not want to hurt that momentum. Thus they are stuck between great displeasure over the lack of response by the NRA and the excitement of the rise in membership.
While members look for a convenient spot to jump ship, the lament is that nearly every conservative group gets hijacked by moderates sooner or later.
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68 Comments
MGarber - Dec 22, 2012 9:39 AM
"... the lament is that nearly every conservative group gets hijacked by the extreme conservatives sooner or later."
there. I fixed that for ya. Youre welcome.
WFB resident - Dec 22, 2012 11:12 AM
extreme for extremes !
Bernie Ziebart - Dec 22, 2012 1:05 PM
Harvard University started out as a conservative Christian seminary for training missionaries. I would dare say that it is no longer their charter.
Founding Mission Statement of Harvard College (1643)
"Let every student be plainly instructed, and earnestly pressed, to consider well that the main end of his life and studies is to know God and Jesus Christ which is eternal life (John 17:3), and therefore to lay Christ in the bottom, as the only foundation of all sound knowledge and learning."
Mr Balanced - Dec 22, 2012 1:29 PM
I had the fortunate opportunity to view, live, the NRA press conference. LaPeirre asked the media how his NRA staff knew of so many violent games but the media did not. One in particular that teaches how to kill young school kids. But the media knows of no such game or doesn’t report this type of culture that permeates our children and many of their parents. He went on to pinpoint more of these type of games kids play every day.
What did you think of the speech by W. LaPierre?
bamaphd - Dec 22, 2012 2:10 PM
Are you statically balanced or dynamically balanced?
"LaPeirre asked the media how his NRA staff knew of so many violent games but the media did not. "
Quite possible because the NRA staff play these games all the time while the media is out doing what the media does, reports on things. Really we have no idea what goes on inside the NRA and what sorts of violent video games they play or violent movies they watch.
I'm 99.9% sure the NRA does not play this game:
http://www.barney.com/ca/index.asp
What an inane question.
Mr Balanced - Dec 22, 2012 3:04 PM
Mrphd,
One would gather from your post that you in no way listened to Mr. LaPeirre’s speech. The point of what LaPeirre was trying to say was these violent games, like the one how to kill kindergarteners, has been sold to kids and adults for too long. The media and many in Washington point (no pun intended) at guns as the cause. As we listen, read, and watch more about the beginnings to this sad and violent massacre, we find videos that come from our entertainment industry may be more of why some commit these type of crimes. I have to question, and not agree entirely with the NRA, about why the media and many politicians don’t wish to bring up this very critical links to all this. Why is that banaphd? Are you in support with these violent movies and videos?
Are those violent videos in the hands of children, many given as gifts from adults, not a part of this change in our culture? The real cause in the Conn. tragedy is not lax gun laws; it’s our culture and how we let it collapse by the few who are mentally misguided with our countries values. I am an old man phd. I recall when guns were the norm in our society and everywhere in our culture. We had a gun leaning next to the back door in our northern WI home. So did the neighbors and the other farmers.
Mr Balanced - Dec 22, 2012 3:05 PM
Many states allowed guns in vehicle gun racks. I recall no such violence then as I do today. The only change from back then to today that is palpable to those my age is not less guns, but less family values, an ever increasing culture of violence by the entertainment industry only for huge profits (I thought you are against profits like that Bama?), a large political party that is in need of this type of culture, and the constant assault on God in our schools and public areas. Can’t Hollywood make movies and videos without such violence? Maybe time for them to change or moveon.
Gun control will never be a panacea for murders like these. Controlling these maniacs is the only answer we have. How? I don’t know. But if we continue to not indulge in the facts with both sides, we may never see a decrease in this type of culture that is not only growing, but is dependent, and vice versa, on many in Washington
bamaphd - Dec 22, 2012 3:46 PM
I don't play video games.
I do watch movies.
Lets discuss two:
Clockwork Orange and Shoot'em up.
One is a commentary on violent behavior the other is gratuitous violence that worships a gun based violence.
Clockwork Orange is by far the more violent of the two because it shows violence at levels most would never think about. but it makes you think.
Shoot'em up is a farcical plot wrap in a bout a million rounds of ammo that has no redeeming qualities.
Which is worse?
Mr Balanced - Dec 22, 2012 4:37 PM
I was trying to make reference to an issue that has come forward which the NRA has also known. But why are so many politicians and most in the media ignoring what is profoundly all too obvious?
I don't know which movie is worse or why you ask. Mr. LaPierre's point is one in which many are starting to agree and see: the NRA, guns and or our 2nd amendment are not the reasons for these shootings. They are also not the fix. None of these issues, like the violent films and video games from Hollywood that is ingrained in the minds of our young and now a major theme within our culture, were as prevalent when guns were openly carried many years ago. And with much less gun regulations.
Those in Washington refuse to admit or address this rising and prevalent danger to our society. I asked why you think that is. Politics maybe pdh? I have to believe most law abiding citizens know taking away our right to own guns is not and will never be the answer. Maniacs will find a way. Evil is part of life. The more we allow it in, the more we have to only look in the mirror to understand why.
bamaphd - Dec 22, 2012 5:22 PM
"I have to believe most law abiding citizens know taking away our right to own guns is not and will never be the answer."
the majority of law abiding citizens most likely don't own guns. The NRA is what about 4.5 million members? that's less than 2% of the population of the USA.
Your guns will not be taken away. You will still be able to hunt or kill vermin in your farm. No one will ever take that away.
Maniacs will find a way, but wouldn't it be nice to restrict the kind of weapon they have access to to one that makes it more difficult to kill a large number people in a very short time?
You can target shoot just as well with a single shot rifle or hand gun as you can with a semi-auto or full auto weapon. There is no Olympic class for automatic weapons. Most NRA members would fail miserably at the winter biathlon.
Blasting the crap out of something on semi auto while it may be "fun" and possibly a stress relief does not make you a better shot. It also does not help in a hostage situation or to keep you head under fire. Police and security forces train far differently than the NRA.
Remember, the second amendment came into being at the time of sing shot ball muskets.
WFB resident - Dec 22, 2012 7:37 PM
None of my close friends belong to the NRA ! Yet they all own guns !! Yes the
amendment came in to being when we had the same guns as the millitary ! I am
fine with us allowing Americans to have millitary grad myself !
bamaphd - Dec 22, 2012 8:53 PM
None of my close friends belong to the NRA ! Yet they all own guns !! "
Now there's a nightmare before Christmas.
WFB resident - Dec 22, 2012 8:56 PM
jman99 - Dec 23, 2012 7:16 AM
http://www.techyville.com/2012/12/social-media/bet-you-didnt-know-nra-leaders-son-fired-at-another-motorist-during-a-road-rage-incident/
Mr Balanced - Dec 23, 2012 8:20 AM
So much of what you say or bring into the debate is pointless or just wrong. Your NRA stat has zero to do with what law abiding citizens say or if they own guns. I own a few yet I’m not an NRA member (not yet. I have five other family members who own guns. Handguns included. All passed hunters safety and all but one owns a permit to carry and conceal. None are NRA members). You also follow the talking points of those who have to support Hollywood and the entertainment industry by mentioning we need to have stricter rules that allow maniacs to own guns like Adam Lanza. You can continue to follow that lead, but you can’t change or manipulate the truth. Thus why your thinking is flawed in many ways. First, Mr. Lanza did not own a single gun, ever. Second, you attack the 2nd amendment and use old muskets as your source. Yet you hypocritically post here as if the Constitution is a moving contract only as long as it fits your needs and beliefs. This is why America is in deep trouble (maybe too much for you to comprehend today so I will save it for a later date.). Third, like our President and many others in Washington and those in the press, you refuse to address the culture change taking place with the mass production of “assault weapon” videos and movies that teach children how to score big points by mass murdering people.
Mr Balanced - Dec 23, 2012 8:21 AM
You want to help and see how America can come together over this? Stand against those who want to take away our Constitutional right to own guns, so we can defend ourselves and our families, and then do the unthinkable that was once a mainstay in our country: let God back in public places and our schools. Then go after one of your party’s top donors and start a new policy that bans these type of videos and movies. Or at least start by making them much harder to purchase or buy online. After all this, work on our countries family values. Values not found because many of our nation’s leaders encourage those on welfare that food stamps or fatherless families are good for the children or the well-being of our nation. You seem too young to accept or understand that what I said has worked long before you were born.
jman99 - Dec 23, 2012 8:31 AM
While protecting your second amendment rights, you seem to want to trample on the first amendment rights of movie makers and video game creators.
If you think a movie is violent, don't watch it. If you think a video game is violent, don't buy it. in fact governments have gone to lengths far more stringent than those you claim threatening the second amendment to reign in the first.
So why not treat the second amendment the same way the first is treated?