A little Kipling for Christmas

The copy-and-paste process didn't quite line things up correctly this time, but here's a good poem by a really good man. May your Christmas be merry, wherever and whoever you are!

If- By Rudyard Kipling

If you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and blaming it on you; If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, But make allowance for their doubting too; If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, Or, being lied about, don’t deal in lies, Or, being hated, don’t give way to hating, And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise;
If you can dream - and not make dreams your master; If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim; If you can meet with triumph and disaster And treat those two imposters just the same; If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools, Or watch the things you gave your life to broken, And stoop and build ‘em up with wornout tools;
If you can make one heap of all your winnings And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss, And lose, and start again at your beginnings And never breathe a word about your loss; If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew To serve your turn long after they are gone, And so hold on when there is nothing in you Except the Will which says to them: “Hold on”;
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch; If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you; If all men count with you, but none too much; If you can fill the unforgiving minute With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run - Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it, And - which is more - you’ll be a Man my son!

the "greatest human rights violation ever"

Certain Moonbats love to refer to Guantanamo Bay as an evil dungeon. They would be well advised to take a tour, and see just how good the prisoners have it. They might even get a free cocktail. The US officers in charge of this place should be allowed to rule with an iron fist, but as soon as they lay a finger on one of these feces-flinging monkeys the media will proclaim, "Abuse!"

Read the article, and tell me who the good guys are in this worldwide struggle against radical Islam. The last 2 paragraphs are telling:

Al Qaeda inmates have been taught to lie about Camp Delta and claim torture. Officials cited a terrorist training manual known as the Manchester Document and seized by British authorities in 2000. The manual directs al Qaeda operatives to make false claims of torture and mistreatment. More than 340 people have been released from Camp Delta.

“They're out there walking around spewing forth all manner of lies and evil things and distortions, but the fact is that they're released," Adm. Harris said.

Warming Scandal

At least Senator Inhoff (R-Okla) and a few other congressmen understand the reality of the Global Warming Scare, perhaps the biggest lie to be pushed on the public since [insert social security, gun-control, affirmative action, or other politically correct program of choice]. Here's a glimpse of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works Report, from their own website:

Skepticism that human C02 emissions are creating a “climate catastrophe” has
grown in recent times. In September, renowned French geophysicists and Socialist Party member Claude Allegre, converted from a believer in manmade catastrophic global warming to a climate skeptic. This latest defector from the global warming camp caps a year in which numerous scientific studies have bolstered the claims of climate skeptics.

Scientific studies that debunk the dire predictions of human-caused global warming have continued to accumulate and many believe the new science is shattering the media-promoted scientific “consensus” on climate alarmism.

What Men Should Know

The way so many young men are turning out these days, especially fatherless urbanites, is downright discouraging. Are they capable of handling even the most basic of social, emergency, and maintenance situations? Some are, but too many are not. How do you rate? I just put together this list, not necessarily complete, and in no particular order, of stuff I think boys should be proficient at before they call themselves men.

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Understand the U.S. Constitution and legal system.

Use a chainsaw to take down a large tree and turn it into firewood.

Swing an axe effectively.

Properly zero, shoot, and maintain common semi-automatic rifles.

Drive a manual transmission. (Not just any stickshift- an old 5-ton or bigger work truck with differential splitter and non-synchronized gears.)

Back a trailer down a ramp without having to pull forward.

Cook a balanced and complete meal from scratch, Set a formal dinner table, Eat there with decent manners.

Carve a turkey.

Keep an old car running well (Change oil, tires, fuses, engine parts, brakes, pack wheel bearings, tune ignition, diagnose problems, swap engine if needed.)

Respect all women, especially mothers.

Write a coherent essay on any pre-assigned topic.

Use topographic map and compass to precisely locate your starting point, ending point, and current position. (Amazing how many military personnel can't do this)

Shoot a running deer at 100 yards.

Properly care for all the meat on a large-game animal from field to freezer.

Balance a checkbook, pay your bills online, do your own taxes.

Play a musical instrument well enough for others to enjoy listening.

Land a small aircraft. (might be asking a bit much)

Repair leaky faucets and clogged drains. (not asking much at all)

Frame a strait and level wall to code.

Install light fixtures and switches.

Mix and pour concrete, and build forms, for basic flatwork and footings.

Maximize the potential of the Skillsaw.

Shingle a roof.

Install door frames and windows.

Bottle peaches.

Operate a tractor with front-end loader or backhoe.

Cut and weld with an acetylene torch. (any idiot can wire-feed)

Change barrels and set headspace/timing on a Browning .50 cal machinegun while hot. (may or may not apply to your situation)

Get shot at without freaking out. (If applicable)

Hike 20 miles carrying a 40 pound pack over mountainous terrain in less than a day. (Pass given to gentlemen over 55 or the disabled. Old "football injuries" don't count.)

Truly enjoy sleeping under the stars.

Dress for an interview.

Play chess. Win gracefully.

Read the entire Bible or an equivalent religious work of choice.

Respect God. If you don't believe, respect those who do.

Keep your word.

Marry someone for their character, not looks or wealth or popularity. Be able to tell the difference.

Stay in love.

Learn anything, through reading and/or hands on experience.

Start a fire when it's soaking wet outside without using gasoline, newspaper, etc.

Effectively use all power tools, hand tools, and BBQ grills.

Prepare a tender juicy roast; grill steaks to perfection.

Land a large fish on light tackle.
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While I could do almost all these things at age 18, I must confess I didn't get good at the rest until after I married at 25. I've only landed a plane once and don't claim to be good at that yet. Although I value my higher education, not a single item here was learned formally at college. Dad was and is a jack of all trades who insisted we learn all we could, and Mother is a true lady. At age 3 my son is turning into a good little helper-I hope I can give him what my parents have given me. Let me know what else is needed on the list!

Swiss K-31 Schmidt-Reuben

The K-31, designed in 1931 and produced from about 1935 to 1957, (someone correct me if I'm off by a couple years) was the culmination of many straight-pull bolt designs dating back to the late 1880's. It is MAGNIFICENT; the Swiss watch of battle rifles, complete with the Swiss cross and crest engraved in the receiver ring. The rugged, simple, super smooth and super fast straight-pull bolt is fun to operate. It loads from a 6 round detachable magazine.

Its cartridge, commonly refered to as 7.5x55 or 7.5 Swiss, has a case capacity slightly larger than the .308 Win/7.62 Nato, but standard operating pressure is slightly lower, so performance is right on par with the .308 Win, with less noise and recoil. Groove diameter is actually .308 inches, same as typical American .30 caliber rifles, hence a reloader could make this rifle highly versatile using the many .30 caliber bullets available. Common Swiss mil-surp ammunition, designated GP-11, known for its consistency and accuracy, employs a match-quality 174 grain FMJ boattail projectile. Only downside is that Swiss brass is Berdan-primed, so if one wishes to handload they need to hunt down Boxer-primed brass made by Norma or Hornady.

Significant numbers of these rifles have recently been imported to the U.S. and are currently a bargain at around 200 bucks. Since nobody had the nerve to invade the Swiss during WWII, and the Swiss were smart enough to never make corrosive ammunition, most all of them are in remarkably good shape. They're known for their accuracy, fine triggers and fine metalwork.

My Grandma came from Switzerland and will celebrate her 90th birthday this coming New Year. Wonder if I could get her to shoot my K-31?

To the Brits

Words fail me.

Check out this lady's experience in London, then try and convince yourself that prohibitions on the carrying of firearms by law abiding citizens, and self defense in general, are a bad thing. These pathetic chumps in London should be ashamed of themselves, and I'm not just talking about the perpetrators, but all the bystanders too chicken to help.

What a worthless mass of male flesh your capital city has turned into. It was once the greatest city on earth, renowned for it's gallant soldiers and chivalry. Now it's a bunch passive/aggressive cowardly zombies, brainwashed by the liberal elite into thinking the only ones capable of doing anything about a situation are the emasculated constables and social nannies.

This lady was attacked, and you did nothing. I spit on your sidewalk. You piss me off. I defecate on your collective doorstep. Stay in London and rot; you are no longer welcome on these shores you worthless swine. You've allowed your once great nation of gentlemen to slide down the slippery slope of socialism, which always ends in the slimy bog of selfishness. I'm glad my forefathers left when they did.

At least there are some good Brits left- a few of you are helping us kill terrorists. Thank you. I can only hope these passive wimps on that subway are not representative of the prevailing attitude, but my hope is only worth so much. The rest of you need a wake up call. Throw out your socialist politicians, and start acting like, and electing, gentlemen again. Get your gun rights back, grow a pair, and start standing up for your women.

It's no surprise that (formerly) Great Britain's crime rates have far surpassed those of the US: Everyone grows up thinking they're entitled to something for nothing, and the bad guys have nothing to fear.

Regarding Sponsors

The Google Ads on the left vary day by day and I do not choose them. Some are appropriate to the content of this site and some are not. If I could pick and choose, I would only accept ads from manufacturers and distributors of firearm related items, outdoor items, and Red Cross International. The rest is unwelcome nonsense.

So Much for Hurricane Season

Looks like Algore was peddling bogus research and propaganda once again. Here's a report of the 2006 hurricane season (what hurricane season?) that was supposed to be even bigger than last year. I'm not saying storms will never come, I'm just saying that anyone assigning credibility to the so-called "science" of Algore and Co. is an idiot.

Thoughts on Iraq

Having "been there and done that" I feel like my opinion is entitled to at least a little weight. My observation is that the bulk of Iraqis are glad we got rid of Saddam's regime, regardless how we got there. They, like us, are weary of the continued violence and unrest. Yet already in Iraq we have more than enough manpower, ordnance and equipment to lay waste to the whole country if we wanted to. Throwing more bodies at the problem, a solution all too often urged by military officers, will not fix it.

On the other hand, a massive withdrawal may not yet be appropriate either. Iran could move right in and assist Iraq's Shiite majority in the creation of yet another antagonistic Islamic state, committing genocide, ruling the region with impunity, eventually nuking Israel every other weekend, bribing U.N. officials in "oil for food" programs, etc.

It would be nice if we could get all the bad guys rounded up for a massive showdown. Then we'd see who the real warriors are, if there be any, rather than the cowards who are always planting roadside bombs by night and blowing themselves up in crowds of civilians by day. First we need to find out who and where they are.

Much more human intelligence is needed to identify bad guys, and this has to come from the Iraqis themselves. They are the ones who've grown up there, familiar with the neighborhoods, the people, the language, what the Imams are preaching, who's in what terrorist network, and they are the one's whose future is most at stake. If they really want a democracy then they need to start acting like it, not by merely turning out to vote, but by seriously cooperating with both American and Iraqi military efforts to gather intelligence.

Freezer/Tag Filled

Don't read this if you belong to PETA. Then again, maybe you should.

Friday morning I was actually steelhead fishing with a fellow who offered to take me down the Clearwater River in his driftboat, yet I brought along my rifle just in case. And a good thing it was, for as we drifted along I spotted a whitetail buck and his would-be mate up the rugged slope from the north shore. Too far for me to confidently take a clean shot from the rocking boat, so I went ashore. Both deer disappeared above the rimrock at the top of the steep canyon. I hiked quite a ways up the slope and then downriver to no avail. Got back in the boat, then around the next bend in the river there were more deer. We put to shore downstream a bit so as not to spook the animals, and just as I jumped out of the boat two more does appeared on the slope just above me, more than 100 but less than 150 yards away. For a brief moment they both stopped and stood broadside, so I took the larger of the two.

After the shot both animals headed for a ravine but only one came out. Turns out my quarry only made it 10 yards or so, collapsing stone dead in the bottom of the ravine amidst the blackberry thorns. I'd hit her in the middle of the chest cavity just behind the shoulder, precisely my point of aim, destroying only a small portion of the rib meat on either side. After an awkward struggle to get her out of the ravine I cleaned her out, then drug her down to the shore where we heaved her in the back of the boat and floated downriver. That evening and Saturday were spent taking care of the high-quality meat, for which we are grateful.

I should mention that less than an hour after we had the deer tagged and in the boat, I spotted a super nice trophy buck, at least a 5 by 5 and really wide, gracefully browsing the foliage close to the river. Wow. Could've easily shot him from the boat. There was a time when I really would have been frustrated at not getting the trophy. Not anymore. Sure, we use all the meat whether it's from a trophy animal or not, but this late in the season the doe will be much better eating. If you're a trophy hunter who also takes good care of the meat and puts it all to good use, then that's okay. But if you're the type of hunter, all too common, who hunts only trophy animals, then fails to properly care for the meat and/or tries to pawn it off on whoever will take it, I have no use for you. You are rather selfish and should seriously reconsider your priorities. Leave the animals in the forest for others to enjoy.

Still haven't filled that tag

Although the other morning as I was driving up the mountain I did see a nice little buck that would have fit the bill just fine, standing broadside and perfectly still on the dirt road, not even 100 yards away. Easy shot had I not been in the truck. He just stood there for nearly 30 seconds, confused by the headlights. I knew he would run off into the thick timber as soon as I opened the door, but still I had to try. Sure enough, the moment the door clicked open, he took off as I scrambled to grab my rifle and rack in a round. Too late, Mr. Buck disappeared in the trees and kept going. Oh well a shot from the road hardly would've been legal anyhow.

Now I'm too busy with non-hunting endeavors, and it's too late in the season to be picky anymore. Next time I have a clean shot at a legal animal I'm going to take it even if it's a doe. Besides, we really just need the meat, not that we're super poor so much as we miss pure venison. You can't find that in a store.

Coleman Lantern

Electricity was restored within a few hours after a big wind storm blew through town a couple days ago. The incident got me thinking, however, about how well my family would do if the power stayed off for a few days or more.

Food: no problem, even if stores are closed for an extended period. We keep a well-stocked pantry that could possibly last several months.

Heat: might be a problem. We have a reasonable stash of wood, but the fireplace is so drafty that unless you're right next to the fire the house actually feels colder. The north Idaho winter, while not as cold as some places, isn't exactly mild. As long as we can keep the pipes from freezing we'll be fine if we bundle up, but what we really need is an efficient fireplace insert.

Cooking: Between the BBQ grill and backpacking stove to heat water and soup, we'll be fine. We keep plenty of fuel for both.

Light: No problem. Candles and flashlights are handy, as well as a big oil lamp, and my favorite, an old gas lantern.

This Coleman lantern is of the classic single mantle type with curved glass; I got it second hand from an older gentleman and it required some refurbishing. I soldered part of the upper housing back together, cleaned it all up, bought a new glass globe and mantles, oiled the pump and attempted to fire it up, only to discover that a new generator was needed.

Here's the cool part: this is a model that requires Coleman fuel/white gas, and a specific generator for said fuel. But after looking all over town for the correct generator, none was to be found. I finally found a kerosene type generator that happened to fit my lantern, and thought, why not experiment a little? I put everything together, and finally, the lantern worked perfectly with white gas OR kerosene, or any mixture of the two. This, without having to change generators! (the modern "multi-fuel" lanterns require that the generators be changed over when switching between those fuel types)

Kerosene is more efficient, safer to store and safer to use. Plus it makes an excellent weapons cleaner, lubricant and preservative. On the other hand Coleman white gas is cheaper and a little easier to get started when really cold, so take your pick. I haven't used diesel (low grade kerosene) or pump gasoline (low grade white gas) in this particular lantern yet, but they would work in a pinch. You just have to turn the little cleaning lever more often to keep the orifice from plugging up, and risk fouling the generator. Fumes are also more of an issue with pump fuels.

I love it when classy old gadgets work better than new stuff. Bring on the dark!

Common Sense in Idaho

I love this state. The town of Greenleaf, Idaho (population @900) now requires residents to own guns. Most households already have guns, so I suppose the law is a little redundant. The town's most violent crime in the last two years was a fistfight. Burglary is practically non-existent. A reason for passing this law might have been to ensure that anti-gun Californicators moving in would not want to buy up the town's cheap real estate.

Where's the bloodbath? Crime in the streets? The OK coral shootouts? Someone needs to call Sarah Brady asap and put a stop to this town's flagrant endorsement of violence!

An armed society really is a polite society.

Guess what else happened today? Over 80 million gun-owners DIDN'T SHOOT ANYONE!

M1A Squad Scout

This little rifle is . . . how can I put this without getting in trouble . . . almost as sexy as my wife!

I hope she gets me one for Christmas . . . but alas, there are mouths to feed and bills to pay. Maybe next year. If the new Congress even tries to pass a new "assault weapons" ban before then, Senators Fienstein, Kennedy and Chuck "the Shmuck" Schumer had better be ready for an uprising of the armed citizenry.

What guns to have when SHTF?

If/when the S*** Hits the Fan (SHTF), as in widespread civil unrest resulting from either natural disaster or invasion, what weapons should one have on hand for family defense?

There are as many opinions as there are weapons out there. Here's what I like. Sorry no links to pictures yet; for now I'm just getting down some thoughts.

First, there should be at least one firearm for each person in your family. If your kids aren't old enough to handle guns yet, they will be soon enough. You can't have too many, as long as you teach safety and responsibility along with shooting. A minimum of 100 rounds on hand for each firearm is a good start; at least 1000 in the case of .22 LR.

The basics:

Shotgun- A short barrelled 12 gauge pump is the well loved standard, and for good reason. I like the Winchester 1300 Defender, but most any brand will do. Use any buckshot from 000 to number 4. Even birdshot is fine at close range. Every household needs a shotgun. If you or your spouse don't like the 12 gauge's recoil, settle for a 20.

Pistol- one you can comfortably carry and conceal is best, because the whole purpose of a pistol is to have something on your person when long guns are not practical to haul around. I like the S&W model 60, 5 shot .38/.357 with 3" barrel. I LOVE my Springfield Armory 1911 in .45acp, but it's not near as comfortable to carry on a daily basis. (most states require a permit to carry- make sure you know the law)

.22 rifle- The bread and butter of every household. Great for teaching people to shoot, target practice, dispatching pests and small game. Ruger 10-22 is nice but over-rated and over-priced, Marlin model 60 is just as nice, under-rated and therefore reasonably priced. Don't overlook bolt and lever actions, though, especially for kids learning to shoot. For that purpose, a single shot is even better as it teaches beginners to make every shot count.

Centerfire Rifle(s)- now we're into the meat and potatoes, the Queen of Battle. Ideally one should have several, but if you could only have one, what would you get?

I would stick with my Savage 99 chambered in .308. Others may vary.

I do have others, and will probably get more, but the Savage is my go-to gun for all around use: highly versatile, accurate, reliable, powerful, fast handling and fits like a glove.

A better choice more specific for SHTF situations, however, might be either an AK-47 or an AR-15, not for their utility or firepower so much as the fact that these guns look scary. That can be a good thing, ie, nothing quite says "Go Away" to a bunch of looters as well as a gun that has "guerilla warfare" written all over it.

If you don't want to look like a bad guy, but still want semi-auto firepower in a handy package, consider the Ruger mini-14 or mini-30, SKS, or classy M-1 Carbine. If you have plenty of cash, a walnut-stocked Springfield Armory M1A Squad Scout would be totally sweet.

When more long range effect is needed: M-1 Garand, M1A/M14, FN-FAL, or CETME G-3.

I've gotta get away from this desk and go shooting!

What if Iran and China join forces against the USA?

You say, "It could never happen!" I say, "Not so fast, Buddy."

Consider:

China needs lots of oil.

Iran has lots of oil.

Iran wants nuclear weapons.

China has nuclear weapons.

Iran wants to nuke Israel, but the U.S. supports democratic Israel.

China wants to take back Taiwan, but the U.S. has said it will defend democratic Taiwan.

China's HUGE military buildup of the last decade enables them to project more and more power overseas, to protect oil shipping lanes, take Taiwan, or even invade the USA.

Iran's Islamo-Fascist regime hates the West, especially Israel and the USA. Lest anyone need a reminder, this is the regime that few months ago publicly hung a 15 year old girl for the "crime" of publicly holding hands with a man. That incident is but one of many examples of how extreme these people are. They are seething with hatred for anything that goes against the grain of their Sharia law, such as democracy.

"My enemy's enemy is my friend." - ancient middle eastern proverb

Still think it could never happen?

The back-room deals have probably been made already. Hope we're all ready. It's time to stop monkeying around in Iraq and focus instead on the real threats to world security.

Underestimated Enemy

I know this story is over a year old, but the situation in the far east isn't getting any better. I predict the time will come, perhaps in our lifetime, when U.S. citizens will at least face the possibility of a Chinese invasion. You read it here first.

The Japanese Empire never invaded us early in WWII when they still had the capability. As one of their admiral's wisely observed, "We cannot invade the mainland . . . there would be a rifle behind every blade of grass."

It wasn't our military they feared so much as the citizens: shooters, hunters, and armed civilians. They might have gained a foothold on our soil but they never could have controlled us.

Si vis pacem, para bellum! (if you want peace, prepare for war)

My Challenge to all able bodied men: (optional for women)

If you don't own a rifle and are over 18 with a clean criminal record, stop surfing the net and go get one. Now. Learn to use it well. If not, sleep easy in your bed like a sheep, knowing that REAL citizens who do their duty and arm themselves are the reason our nation will never be over-run.

Some recommendations:

Ruger 10-22 This bread and butter .22 is cheap and easy to shoot, accurate and fun. Not powerful, which is good if you're a beginner, yet still provides firepower in a pinch.

SKS (7.62x39) A mere 200 bucks will score you this classic semi-auto battle rifle. Ammo is still cheap and plentiful in states not yet taken over by the gun fearing pansies. Not the most accurate but it provides serious firepower in a rugged design. Plus the integral bayonet is wicked cool.

AK-47 carbine (also 7.62x39) about $400 bucks, but shorter and handier with detachable magazines. Just as rugged as SKS but even less accurate, depending on the quality of ammo.

AR-15 or any clone thereof (.223/5.56 NATO) This will take some cash, nearly $1000. Not as cheap to shoot as the SKS nor as powerful, but powerful enough for most situations. Very accurate, very fun, scary looks scare off bad guys.

Any lever action in any center fire caliber. I prefer the model 94 winchester for it's handling, but the Marlin is great too, and probably the better made gun.

Any military surplus bolt action in good shape. I could go on and on, there are so many good ones out there, from 60 bucks to several hundred. Personally I like either the classic k-98 Mauser, for which ammo is still cheap, or the phenomenally well made Swiss k-31 straight pull design (ammo not so cheap, but oh so good.) British 303 Enfields are classy but the formerly cheap ammo is getting scarce.

When you are ready, confident in your skills and have the cash, consider a well made bolt action sniper such as a Remington's model 7oo in either .308 win or .300 win mag. Put an expensive mil-dot scope on it and learn to calculate ranges and trajectories.

Keep lots of ammo on hand for whatever rifles you have. Shotguns and pistols are great for self defense, more on that later; Rifles are for self defense and WAR. The Rifle is the Queen of Battle; when a man picks one up he feels like more of a man. When a pansy picks one up, he just might turn into a man. When a woman picks one up, I have no idea what that does, but hey it sure is cool.

Si vis pacem, para bellum!

Oh, and be safe. If at all possible find someone competent to help you get started.

On that topic, here's the 4 universal safety rules (but not the only safety rules):

1) Treat all guns as if they are loaded all the time

2) never allow a gun to point in an unsafe direction

3) finger off the trigger until you intend to shoot

4) be sure of your target and what's behind it

I recommend the Nation of Riflemen website, among others.

Real guns, real people

Sometime (when it's not way past my bedtime) I'll post pics of nice old rifles, as I find them possessing of far more character than the plastic stocked models so popular today. While synthetic stocks can serve a practical purpose I consider them highly over-rated for the minimal degree of accuracy afforded. I much prefer the feel of hand-rubbed walnut or birch, in my hands and raised to the cheek, over anything extracted from a mold.

A couple of weeks ago I was walking through north Idaho timber with my son J.R. and Savage 99 levergun. Mine is in .308 Win, although my great-grandads was in .300 Sav. We were looking for deer, but one can only be so sneaky with a curious 3 year old in tow. Nevertheless we came upon a clearing and spotted a NICE whitetail buck. The Savage 99 lept immediately to my shoulder, but the deer was departing nearly 100 yards away, bounding through tall grass and thin trees such that I couldn't hold cross hairs on him, much less feel good about a shot. The buck was so graceful, majestic and beautiful I simply couldn't make myself risk wounding him, so I never pulled the trigger. J.R. and I watched in awe as he ran another 50 yards, hoping he might stop for a second or two before disappearing over the ridge, but the wise animal just kept going. Oh well. We hoofed it back to the rusty '69 GMC under a glorious sunset with joy in our hearts. Fresh venison would have been nice, but bonding with my son after such a long time in Iraq was even better.

The Situation

THESE are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated. Britain, with an army to enforce her tyranny, has declared that she has a right (not only to TAX) but "to BIND us in ALL CASES WHATSOEVER" and if being bound in that manner, is not slavery, then is there not such a thing as slavery upon earth. Even the expression is impious; for so unlimited a power can belong only to God.

That's the opening paragraph of The Crisis, written by the late and great Thomas Paine Dec. 23, 1776, shortly before General Washington's mid-winter crossing of the Delaware to take the Hessian garrison at Trenton. Up until that night the men were half starved, half clothed, half frozen and mostly demoralized after a long retreat across New Jersey. Many men deserted for the comfort of home, yet those who stayed with Washington deserve our thanks forever. Trenton was a small victory but a crucial turning point in that struggle. It gave the patriots the hope they needed to continue the struggle for the next 7 years. It certainly wasn't easy for them; sometimes my I almost get choked up with tears of gratitude when learning about what these great men and women did in forging our nation.

To quote someone famous, (was it Churchill?) Never have so few done so much for so many.

The way I see it now, our nation is under seige once again. Not by easily identified redcoats, mind you, but by a number of forces from within and without that have been attempting, subtely and systematically for the last several decades, to undermine the basic institutions that enabled us to grow from a handful of colonists into the land of liberty, prosperity, and peace we enjoy today.

Only one of the forces currently threatening us is the terrorism wielded by radical Islam. If only it were that simple! We must also contend with the forces of selfishness, socialism, laziness and mediocrity, rampant immorality, destruction of families, (the basic unit of any functional society) along with media deception, gun-control disguised as "safety," political correctness, judicial activism, bigotry, over taxation, and over-dependence on government to fix problems that simply aren't the job of government to fix. You can probably think of others. Most all these forces, along with other trends, can be categorized under one heading: The Forces of Evil. (the FOE) The FOE tend towards a condition of non-liberty and ultimately suffering. The Forces of Good tend towards a condition of freedom, peace and prosperity.

Why, you ask, "Doesn't LIBERTY mean I can just do whatever I want as long as I'm not hurting anyone?" The answer, my friend, is not blowin' in the wind. The answer is NO. Liberty is not something to be taken for granted. It is a gift that must be cherished, and with this gift come duties and responsibilities. If one believes the gift is from God, one knows that in order to enjoy liberty on a continued basis, one must act in accordance with the laws of God. If you'd rather not believe in God, and that's your choice I suppose, call it Natural Law, or a philosophy, or whatever. The crux of the matter is that liberty and freedom are not free. If we wish to keep them we must preserve them, and preserving them requires that we act in accordance with certain principles. Most of those principles are embodied in the 10 Commandments, although the list is not all-inclusive.

One of the most basic principles, and universal to all mankind whether religious or not, is embodied in what many call the Golden Rule. "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." That's easy enough. If you don't want people to take your money or force you to do stuff, don't take their money, and don't make them do stuff. Most folks abide by this admirably well, but many of the same folks go wrong when it comes to using the collective force of government. If I used force or the threat thereof to take the stuff you worked for, to keep for myself or give to a lazy person, the action would be considered criminal. Yet all too often folks think it's no big deal to gang up on productive individuals, hiding behind the cloak of government, and distribute their goods amongst those who don't work.

Many leftists refer to the 80's as the "Decade of Greed." If they actually did their research, this era of prosperity, investment and capital gains turns out to be the time when more people gave more of their income, per capita, to charity than any decade before or since. That's from IRS figures and I don't know how far back the numbers go, but the point is that most people will eventually share their stuff if not forced, some won't, and that's life. Most lazy people will figure out a way to work and earn money sooner or later, unless guaranteed a handout. Some won't, or can't, and they can simply live on the non-forced charity of others, or suffer. That's what churches, families and charities are for. When government isn't in the business of wealth re-distribution, people have more to give to worthy organizations, and they don't develop the attitude of "there's no need for me to give because government takes care of everyone already." Those who can't or won't provide for themselves have a strong incentive to be loyal to their families, extended families, churches and communities if they wish to receive charity. The charitable organizations are in a far better position to determine who is deserving of support than a bumbling bureaucracy of social workers handing it out like candy, fostering a system of perpetual dependence on government.

Of course, the leftists WANT to create this dependence on government for everything, so more people will have to keep them in power or starve. Thus the Democrat party continually seeks to expand the social welfare state, as if healthcare were one of the "inalienable rights" envisioned by the founding fathers. Baah.

Granted, good government requires a minimal amount of resources to serve its proper function of preserving liberty, order, and creating the circumstances wherein citizens can engage in free commerce. (This is what the founders meant by "promoting the general welfare," not social security, medicare, welfare, food stamps, etc.) A certain level of taxation is therefore tolerable, provided an accountable legislature spends resources within tight constitutional limits.

Now that the Democrats are back in power it is difficult to imagine our social welfare budget getting any smaller or our taxes any less. History has shown that when tax rates on the top 50% of wage earners go up, tax revenue actually goes down as a result of less productivity and investment. This is old news to those who actually study economics, but generally lost on the public at large amidst chants of "tax the rich" coming from the bolsheviks in and near D.C. Nevermind that the top 50% of earners already bear 96% of the tax burden.

No time like the present

to get this ball rolling. I've followed the blogosphere for some time now as a spectator posting on other sites, and it's finally time for a place of my own. This site is dedicated to God, Country, (USA) Family, (sweet wife + 4 munchkins) and anything of quality that makes life good.

In certain respects you could call me old-fashioned, longing for the good old days when things made of leather, wood, and real American steel were the norm. But hey I'm using a computer aren't I? Believe me, it took me a while to figure this thing out, and I don't like how it's made mostly of plastic. I'd rather tinker with a gun or an old car, or wrassle with one of the kids, but there is work to be done saving this republic of ours. I can't do that alone. Maybe, just maybe, this could become a forum of constructive ideas for saving America; whether you agree or not with the ideas set forth you are welcome as long as your discourse is respectful. This site will deal with a bit of everything past, present and future, from politics and religion to family, freedom and firearms.