Posted on 01/27/2013 6:02:39 AM PST by Kaslin
I periodically share public opinion data, either because I’m encouraged by the results or because I think that the research helps show how to frame issues.
Examples include polling data on personal retirement accounts, the dangers of big government, support for spending caps, and viability of class warfare tax policy.
But I’ve been very narrowly focused. Just about all the polls I’ve shared have been about some aspect of fiscal policy.
So I was very interested to see a new poll about issues related to the Second Amendment, and I was particularly gratified to see that an overwhelming majority of gun owners would not surrender their constitutional rights if the jackals in Washington approved a gun ban.
For more information, here’s part of a Washington Times report on the new polling data.
Question 46 in the wide-ranging survey of more than 1,000 registered voters asks if there is a gun in the household. Overall, 52 percent of the respondents said yes, someone in their home owned a gun. That number included 65 percent of Republicans, 59 percent of conservatives, 38 percent of Democrats and 41 percent of liberals. But on to Question 47, addressed to those with a gun in their home: “If the government passed a law to take your guns, would you give up your guns or defy the law and keep your guns?” The response: 65 percent reported they would “defy the law.” That includes 70 percent of Republicans, 68 percent of conservatives, 52 percent of Democrats and 59 percent of liberals.
These results don’t tell us why people would defy the government, but the poll I conducted suggests that a plurality of Americans support the Second Amendment because they want the ability to resist tyranny.
I’m also happy to see that most Americans understand that gun bans are a very ineffective way of fighting crime. Heck, they realize that we need more guns in the hands of law-abiding people.
In other words, ordinary Americans have a lot more common sense than the buffoons in the media. They know that you get less crime when you increase the expected cost of criminal behavior.
P.S. If you want to enjoy some good gun control cartoons, click here, here, and here.
The welfare state creates some amazingly pathetic and disgusting individuals.
But I’ve never found a match for Olga, a Greek woman who thinks it is government’s job to take care of her from cradle to grave.
At least not until now. I’m excited to announce that Olga has a soulmate named Natalija. She’s from Lithuania, but she now lives in England, and she doubtlessly will inspire Olga on how to live off the state.
Here’s some of what The Sun reported about this very successful moocher.
Natalija Belova, 33, told The Sun how she spurns full-time work — yet can afford foreign holidays and buys designer clothes. The Lithuanian said: “British benefits give me and my daughter a good life.” She has milked soft-touch Britain for £50,000 in benefits and yesterday said: “I simply take what is given to me.”
And what is given to her? Quite a lot.
The graduate, who became a single mum after she arrived here, rakes in more than £1,000 a month in handouts — £14,508 a year — to fund her love of designer clothes, jaunts to the Spanish sun and nightclubbing. She bragged: “I have a lovely, fully-furnished flat and money to live properly on. …Her handouts total £279 a week — with housing benefit contributing £183, child tax credit adding £56, child benefit £20 and her council tax being paid to the tune of £20.
You might expect Natalija to be grateful, but you’d be wrong.
But she does have one criticism. Natalija moaned: “I think they should help pay for private nannies, rather than just free nursery.” …Natalija vowed: “I am not going to work like a dog on minimum wage.” She added: “I don’t care what anyone thinks. I’m not doing anything wrong. “I know people won’t like to read this, but what would they do? “Would they not take the money that was being handed to them to stay with their child all day?”
I’ve written about the benefits of tax competition between nations. Well, this story shows the perverse impact of welfare competition between countries.
Speaking at her two-bedroom pad that came fully furnished in Watford, Herts, courtesy of the taxpayer, grateful Natalija said: “In Lithuania the benefits system does not pay enough. “I have a friend over there who is a single mother. “She only gets £20 a month in child benefit, plus some discounted help with gas and electricity — and some housing help. “It’s not enough to keep a normal level of life, like here. “If I was on benefits there, I couldn’t afford nice clothes or the holidays abroad.” She went on: “I am sure people will say I should return to Lithuania. But that won’t be happening. Being in Britain offers me far better benefits.”
We also have a remarkable example of labor supply economics. This is the real-world example of these charts showing how the British welfare state destroys incentives.
She is careful to work fewer than 16 hours a week so that the benefits keep rolling in. But her wages boost her income to more than £400 a week. On top of that she gets free childcare, fruit and milk vouchers — and even a clothes allowance for “job interviews”. Natalija said: “It is a strange system in this country. Basically, the fewer hours I work, the more I can earn on benefits. But that’s the way it is and it is not my fault.” …She insisted she would be prepared to get a full-time job — but only if the salary tops £25,000. …”Some people may think I am picky. But I am a realist. I need a full-time job that pays at least £25,000 — that is just enough to cover all my living costs that benefits currently pay for. “Otherwise working full time is not worth my while. “If I worked full time, I’d have to pay for childcare costs as well as rent and all my bills. “The benefits system in this country means that I do not have to do this.”
By the way, here’s a chart showing the same destructive policies in the United States.
Let’s look at one last excerpt about Natalija. British taxpayers can take comfort in the fact that this human tick is living a nice life.
In September she escaped the dreary British summer by jetting off with her daughter for a sun-kissed week in Spain. Last month she enjoyed a second holiday — back in her Lithuanian homeland. Natalija, who has three credit cards and loves to go on sprees at designer clothes stores, crowed: “After our holiday to Malaga, we went to Lithuania over Christmas and spent £1,000.” She continued: “I love to buy clothes on my credit cards and often have a blow-out at stores like Roberto Cavalli and the Armani Exchange. …”I also enjoy going to nightclubs and parties with my friends. It’s important to go out and get dressed up. It’s good for my self-esteem.”
Her self esteem has been boosted? Oh, joy!
And I can just imagine how much self esteem her daughter will have after growing up with a moocher for a mother.
John Hinderaker of Powerline was first on this horrific story and his analysis is very much worth reading as well. But since imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, I figured I would share the story and add some of my thoughts.
By the way, if you want more than just horrifying anecdotes, click here for a video that looks at the dismal impact of the American welfare state and click here to see how Obama has exacerbated the negative effects of such policies in America.
2A argument is being reduced to size and numbers, discussions of registration and confiscation, when it should stand on its own.
2A entertains none of that crap, but that citizens have arms capable of defending against tyrants. ( Including ALL the basic advances in arms.)
This means arms of the quality, performance and precision capable of matching the threat of the tyrant.
Why are we found arguing size and numbers, registration and confiscation?
These Marxists are after the militia and everything that makes them real.
All the great heroes of history, stories and legends share the common thread of the hero sticking his finder in the wind and waiting to see which side is winning and then joining that side - usually waiting until the battle is over and then crawling out of his hidey hole to the field and picking up a shield from some dead sap and taking it home in triumph. Yessirree!
YOU are right.
Almost any of us could be that first example.
However I keep thinking that those who rushed out and bought ammunition and rifles inthe last month or so, to beat the gun ban will be first on the list.
My stuff—what little I didn’t lose in the big duck hunting incident—I have had for years.
Did you read the post about how Obama is a big time skeet shooter? Can you believe that lying CS’er??
Lets hope so
Well you see you jumped on a bad assessment.
I stated:I will wait and hold my judgement on how many will be disobedient until after the first few examples have been made.
I did not state what I would do about my weapons, only that I would wait and see how many will actually do what they say they will do.
"Do you intend to register your firearms if mandatory registration becomes law?"
I think pollsters are putting the cart ahead of the horse here. Most would agree the Fed isn't going to step in right away and confiscate our firearms, a far more likely scenario first would be registration followed later by confiscation.
But would most see the registration for what it is and refuse to comply?
“It is imperative that Finstein’s bill comes to a vote in both houses.”
Old saying: “Be careful what you wish for — you may get it.”
Applies here, too
Based on this argument, maybe the better term would be Civil Resistance or Civil Resistance to Tyranny
I say bring it. The sooner this happens the better. It will only be more bloody and worse later.
I am tired of politicians being able to hide behind no votes. It's time to draw the line in the sand.
Local law enforcement in most states will not enforce these gun grabbing laws leaving it to DHS and the ATF to enforce them. There simply aren’t enough federal agents to do this hence Obama is asking and soon compelling doctors to be snitches under Obamacare, making teachers mandatory reporters of guns if any kid so much as mentions that one might be at home and installing anonymous “tip” lines for his loyal followers to rat on their neighbors. This is the same technique used by the “Stasi”, the East Germany secret police, to root out anti-government dissidents. Gun owners with permits and records of gun purchases will be harassed with IRS audits, obscure EPA violations and home raids with phony warrants for alleged kiddie porn, illegally copied music etc. where guns will be seized and not returned when there is no evidence of a crime. Welcome to Obama’s fascist state.
As for now, Feinstein’s bill has a grandfather clause. So, it’ll be awhile before they come for those who already own guns. Might not be able to find ammo, though.
And don’t think for a minute the local cops won’t help the feds. When a federal agent walks into a small town police department everyone in there will snap to attention. And the feds may bring them along just to shoot the dogs.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.