David Mamet in Newsweek on Gun Control, vote on Poll

HarrySchell · January 25, 2013, 12:20 PM

The Founders recognized that Government is quite literally a necessary evil, that there must be opposition, between its various branches, and between political parties, for these are the only ways to temper the individual’s greed for power and the electorates’ desires for peace by submission to coercion or blandishment.

Healthy government, as that based upon our Constitution, is strife. It awakens anxiety, passion, fervor, and, indeed, hatred and chicanery, both in pursuit of private gain and of public good. Those who promise to relieve us of the burden through their personal or ideological excellence, those who claim to hold the Magic Beans, are simply confidence men. Their emergence is inevitable, and our individual opposition to and rejection of them, as they emerge, must be blunt and sure; if they are arrogant, willful, duplicitous, or simply wrong, they must be replaced, else they will consolidate power, and use the treasury to buy votes, and deprive us of our liberties. It was to guard us against this inevitable decay of government that the Constitution was written. Its purpose was and is not to enthrone a Government superior to an imperfect and confused electorate, but to protect us from such a government.

There is a poll on this essay, please read the essay and vote.
http://www.thedailybeast.com/newswee...vid-mamet.html

HarrySchell · January 25, 2013, 01:59 PM

Poll has gone from 65% No to 51% No. I bet someone at Newsweek has a dose of the vapors...

Alabama Shooter · January 25, 2013, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Poll has gone from 65% No to 51%

There is no "mostly" answer...

Quote:

Q. Who “needs” an assault rifle?
A. No one outside the military and the police. I concur.
An assault weapon is that which used to be called a “submachine gun.” That is, a handheld long gun that will fire continuously as long as the trigger is held down.

All but that I suppose. It is actually well written and explains the Marxist angle quite well. You don't see that much these days.

HarrySchell · January 25, 2013, 02:55 PM

Now 54% Yes, against "gun control".

I have to agree, Alabama, "mostly" would be nice to have.

Sigh.

g.willikers · January 25, 2013, 04:01 PM

It's now 77% Yes.

MLeake · January 25, 2013, 04:33 PM

82% Yes, opposed to gun control as of 330pm central time.

h2otoo · January 25, 2013, 04:56 PM

84% now...

Coyote Blue · January 25, 2013, 05:35 PM

Voted. Now 86% Yes. Mamet rocks!

HarrySchell · January 25, 2013, 06:26 PM

I wonder if Newsweak will let him write again....

Love to be a fly on the wall in their bullpen.

Coyote Blue · January 25, 2013, 07:02 PM

I see a relief pitcher trudging in!

Romeo 33 Delta · January 25, 2013, 07:41 PM

At 18:39 CST it's now 88% to 12%! BRAVO ZULU!

357 Python · January 25, 2013, 08:14 PM

89% Yes now.

Coyote Blue · January 25, 2013, 10:03 PM

As cool as it can get with NewsWEAK!

**Tom Servo** · January 25, 2013, 10:40 PM

Polls are unreliable indicators of any sort, and since this thread is simply poll-watching, it doesn't really have anywhere to go.

January 25, 2013, 12:20 PM	#1
HarrySchell Senior Member Join Date: March 30, 2007 Location: South CA Posts: 566	David Mamet in Newsweek on Gun Control, vote on Poll The Founders recognized that Government is quite literally a necessary evil, that there must be opposition, between its various branches, and between political parties, for these are the only ways to temper the individual’s greed for power and the electorates’ desires for peace by submission to coercion or blandishment. Healthy government, as that based upon our Constitution, is strife. It awakens anxiety, passion, fervor, and, indeed, hatred and chicanery, both in pursuit of private gain and of public good. Those who promise to relieve us of the burden through their personal or ideological excellence, those who claim to hold the Magic Beans, are simply confidence men. Their emergence is inevitable, and our individual opposition to and rejection of them, as they emerge, must be blunt and sure; if they are arrogant, willful, duplicitous, or simply wrong, they must be replaced, else they will consolidate power, and use the treasury to buy votes, and deprive us of our liberties. It was to guard us against this inevitable decay of government that the Constitution was written. Its purpose was and is not to enthrone a Government superior to an imperfect and confused electorate, but to protect us from such a government. There is a poll on this essay, please read the essay and vote. http://www.thedailybeast.com/newswee...vid-mamet.html __________________ Loyalty to petrified opinions never yet broke a chain or freed a human soul in this world — and never will. — Mark Twain Last edited by HarrySchell; January 25, 2013 at 02:00 PM. Reason: Change title.

January 25, 2013, 01:59 PM	#2
HarrySchell Senior Member Join Date: March 30, 2007 Location: South CA Posts: 566	Poll has gone from 65% No to 51% No. I bet someone at Newsweek has a dose of the vapors... __________________ Loyalty to petrified opinions never yet broke a chain or freed a human soul in this world — and never will. — Mark Twain

January 25, 2013, 02:55 PM	#4
HarrySchell Senior Member Join Date: March 30, 2007 Location: South CA Posts: 566	Now 54% Yes, against "gun control". I have to agree, Alabama, "mostly" would be nice to have. Sigh. __________________ Loyalty to petrified opinions never yet broke a chain or freed a human soul in this world — and never will. — Mark Twain

January 25, 2013, 04:01 PM	#5
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	It's now 77% Yes. __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”

January 25, 2013, 06:26 PM	#9
HarrySchell Senior Member Join Date: March 30, 2007 Location: South CA Posts: 566	I wonder if Newsweak will let him write again.... Love to be a fly on the wall in their bullpen. __________________ Loyalty to petrified opinions never yet broke a chain or freed a human soul in this world — and never will. — Mark Twain

January 25, 2013, 04:33 PM	#6
MLeake Senior Member Join Date: November 15, 2007 Location: Outside KC, MO Posts: 10,128	82% Yes, opposed to gun control as of 330pm central time.

January 25, 2013, 04:56 PM	#7
h2otoo Member Join Date: October 29, 2012 Posts: 89	84% now...

January 25, 2013, 05:35 PM	#8
Coyote Blue Senior Member Join Date: September 10, 2011 Location: West Miami,Florida Posts: 118	Voted. Now 86% Yes. Mamet rocks!

January 25, 2013, 07:02 PM	#10
Coyote Blue Senior Member Join Date: September 10, 2011 Location: West Miami,Florida Posts: 118	I see a relief pitcher trudging in!

January 25, 2013, 07:41 PM	#11
Romeo 33 Delta Senior Member Join Date: March 27, 2009 Posts: 315	At 18:39 CST it's now 88% to 12%! BRAVO ZULU!

January 25, 2013, 08:14 PM	#12
357 Python Senior Member Join Date: June 7, 2007 Location: Charlottesville, VA Posts: 941	89% Yes now.

January 25, 2013, 10:03 PM	#13
Coyote Blue Senior Member Join Date: September 10, 2011 Location: West Miami,Florida Posts: 118	As cool as it can get with NewsWEAK!

January 25, 2013, 10:40 PM	#14
Tom Servo Staff Join Date: September 27, 2008 Location: Foothills of the Appalachians Posts: 13,059	Polls are unreliable indicators of any sort, and since this thread is simply poll-watching, it doesn't really have anywhere to go. __________________ Sometimes it’s nice not to destroy the world for a change. --Randall Munroe