Rational Nation USA

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth Another day. Another life cut short when a firearm discharges. A twelve year old boy dies at a Boy Scout Camp. With whom should the responsibility for this needless tragedy rest upon? Should criminal charges be filed against the irresponsible actions of whomever was responsible for this child? Must we accept there is nothing we can do as a society because of the 2'nd Amendment right to bear arms? Are there any responsible adults governing this nation? Yes, I know guns don't kill people, people kill people. But it takes the action of a person to discharge a firearm and when irresponsible adults set the stage for a child to have access to a loaded weapon unsupervised by a responsible adult please tell me just who is negligent and why the shouldn't be charged with negligent homicide? Click on this highlighted link for the full report. Via: Memeorandum

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth As the nation continues to flounder Gallop's recent poll highlights just how out of touch our government officials are with the people they were elected to represent and govern. It doesn't take a genius to figure out Americans want solutions and they want their leaders to act in their and the nation's best interests as a whole. Americans' confidence in all three branches of the U.S. government has fallen, reaching record lows for the Supreme Court (30%) and Congress (7%), and a six-year low for the presidency (29%). The presidency had the largest drop of the three branches this year, down seven percentage points from its previous rating of 36%. We know there is a problem, the question is will we do something about it ? Study the complete poll BELOW THE FOLD . Via: Memeorandum

LYRICS: There's a lady who's sure all that glitters is gold And she's buying a stairway to heaven When she gets there she knows, if the stores are all closed With a word she can get what she came for Ooh, ooh, and she's buying a stairway to heaven There's a sign on the wall but she wants to be sure 'Cause you know sometimes words have two meanings In a tree by the brook, there's a songbird who sings Sometimes all of our thoughts are misleading Ooh, it makes me wonder Ooh, it makes me wonder There's a feeling I get when I look to the west And my spirit is crying for leaving In my thoughts I have seen rings of smoke through the trees And the voices of those who stand looking and it makes me wonder really makes me wonder And it's whispered that soon if we all call the tune Then the piper will lead us to reason And a new day will dawn for those who stand long And the forest will echo with laughter GUITAR SOLO If there'

One of the first official videos from "Nights In White Satin" in 1967.

And from the original 1971 recording... A legendary progressive English rock band.

“...taxes are not raised to carry on wars, but that wars are raised to carry on taxes” “That there are men in all countries who get their living by war, and by keeping up the quarrels of nations, is as shocking as it is true; but when those who are concerned in the government of a country, make it their study to sow discord and cultivate predjudices between nations, it becomes the more unpardonable. “If men will permit themselves to think, as rational beings ought to think, nothing can appear more ridiculous and absurd, exclusive of all moral reflections, than to be at the expence of building navies, filling them with men, and then hauling them into the ocean, to try which can sink each other fastester. Peace, which costs nothing, is attended with infintely more advantage than any victory with all its expence. But this, though it best answers the purpose of Nations, does not that of Court Governments, whose habited policy is pretence for taxation, places, and offices.” Thomas Pai

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth Are liberals, those consistently leaning leftward proud the be an American? Lets see what the Washington Post and the polls say. Michelle Obama took some heat in 2008 for saying that, "for the first time in my adult life I am proud of my country ..." As it turns out, that sentiment isn't all that unusual on the far left of American politics. According to a new Pew Research Center study , only 40 percent of consistently liberal Americans say they often feel proud to be Americans . So, 60% of the political left are not proud to be an American. Hm, so, why don't they relocate to say France, Greece, Portugal, even China or Russia you might ask. On the other hand... ... it appears that just over 7 in 10 steadfast conservatives and 8 in 10 business conservatives are generally proud tom be an American. I suppose none of these "findings" come as a real surprise. As least they don't to me.

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth The following excerpt from a New York Times article is thought provoking and highlights the current realities present in the political and religious divisions in Iraq as well as the entire region. Difficulties in finding a solution to the unfolding and growing crisis are all too evident. If there is one thing perfectly clear it is that conventional wisdom and traditional western responses will be inadequate and very likely prove to be counter productive if undertaken. With this in mind the last groups we ought to listen to are the Neocons and the virulent knee jerk anti-Muslin crowd. The Obama administration has urged Iraqi politicians of different sects to come together, repeating admonitions that were so often heard in the years after the 2003 invasion. But the Pentagon — reluctant to commit more manpower to a complex and profoundly uncertain conflict — has quietly hinted it could live with Iraq’s current division, de

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth Republican Speaker of the House Boehner proving to be the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's best resource for raising money. Pointing out yet again the abject level of incompetency and political tone deafness the party is sorely afflicted with of late. Don't hold your breath republicans, conservatives, libertarians, and Tea Party folks for much better any time soon. POLITICO  - Speaker John Boehner’s announcement that House Republicans would sue President Barack Obama for misusing executive authority turned into a big payday for congressional Democrats. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee posted its best fundraising day of the year on Wednesday, bringing in $584,000, according to figures shared with POLITICO. “The only jobs that John Boehner and House Republicans have created are for partisan lawyers to sue the president and our grassroots supporters are already holding them accountable

from: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth We are individuals with all the natural and human rights our very existence bestows on each of us. Yet we live in a world of many cultures with many languages, religions, and traditions. And we all, regardless of culture, language, tradition, and religion, have the same basic needs and share a desire to be free from fear and want. Charlie Chaplin's final speech in the film the great dictator, with a splash of modern imagery. Song: Window by The Album Leaf What say You ?

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth POLITICO - Sarah Palin slammed Sen. Thad Cochran, who won his Mississippi primary last night, for possible “shenanigans” such as courting Democrat votes and his moderate policies. “Well, you know, as for the primary, and perhaps if it’s true, some shenanigans going on there, nothing should surprise you, but that’s old-school politics where it’s a bit of the status quo and that’s got to go,” Palin said Tuesday of Cochran’s Democrat outreach on Fox News’ “Hannity,” ahead of the Republican senator being declared the primary winner over Chris McDaniel. Well Sarah, looks like you're a bit miffed because you backed the candidate that didn't win the "R"primary. Really gal, what does it matter? McDaniel would have lost the general anyway. Who knows, just maybe Cochran can keep the seat in republican hands just a bit longer. Palin, who had endorsed McDaniel, further ripped Cochran as someone “promising bigger g

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth I find the following article fascinating. However given the tendency to class warfare not at all surprising. From POLITICO it is a must read. Some good stuff and more not so good stuff. Our informed and educated voting public should take these things seriously and act to force real change. Given the state of present day America it is questionable if much, or even anything, will change. Too many people are just going along for the ride , too busy or ambivalent to care. David Brock has a message for liberal millionaires: Don’t sweat being called hypocrites. Brock, a former “right-wing hit-man”- turned-top-big-money-Democratic-operative, is part of a behind-the-scenes campaign to convince donors it’s OK to attack the Koch brothers for spending millions of dollars while doing the exact same thing for the left. “You’re not in this room today trying to figure out how to rig the game so you can be free to make money poisonin

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth Spent over thirty six years of my adult life in either supervision or management in the private sector. While I am not so naive as to make the statement that favoritism or weak management does not exist in the private sector, I find it astounding that over four years four hundred and seventy Senior government executives were rated fully satisfactory or higher. Amazingly not a single executive received a marginally satisfactory or unsatisfactory rating. It has been said that five percent of employees cause ninety-five percent of the problems in businesses and I must say that over my thirty six years this proved to be fairly accurate. It is quite probable the same holds true in the public sector. So, doesn't it seems reasonable that of the four hundred and seventy executives at least twenty four would be unsatisfactory and dismissal from their position was in order? Perhaps the number is in actuality ever higher. Is it

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth As the Presbyterian Church voted to allow same sex marriages another large step has been taken in the long march to marriage equality. Perhaps sooner rather than later the day will finally arrive when all people realize that someone else's same sex marriage does not change or affect their traditional heterosexual marriage. From The New York Times . DETROIT — The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) voted at its General Assembly on Thursday to change its constitution’s definition of marriage from “a man and a woman” to “two people,” and to allow its ministers to perform same-sex marriages where it is legal. Both measures, passed by large majorities, are a reversal for a church that in 1991 and in 2008 barred its pastors from performing same-sex marriages, and that has held ecclesiastical trials for ministers who violated the ban and blessed gay couples. The Presbyterian Church, a historic mainline Protestant denomination th

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth Today's round up of articles that spell out less than desirable sentiments for the President's handling of national business. 1) White House Learned of Lerner's Crashed Hard Drive 6 Weeks Before Congress 2) Obama Has Two Options on Iraq. Both Are Terrible 3) Welcome to the White House's Nightmare 4) Approval of Obama's Handling of Immigration Falls to 31% With just shy of 3 years and 5 months left to serve in office it seems the President can't catch a break. Global and national problems, as well as a gaggle of alleged scandals just keep dogging our first bi-racial President. I hope the man hits a lucky streak. It will be good for all of us. Via: Memeorandum

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth No siree, you just can't make this stuff up. A man in Georgia managed to shoot himself in the private parts. I'm thinking this could be an event that could get men serious about firearm safety and such. I mean there ain't nothing more sacred to a man than his male member, especially those NRA and home grown militia types. If the mass shootings at schools won't get the menfolk up in arms maybe this will. Bibb Crime Files: Man accidentally shoots himself in penis A Macon man was treated at Coliseum Northside hospital Thursday after he accidentally shot himself in the penis. The man was parked at the gas station at about 9:30 p.m. when he attempted to holster his .45. Immediately after the gun went off, he drove to a friend's house in Lake Wildwood. When he got to the friends house, he took off his pants and saw that he had "shot himself in the penis and that the bullet exited out of his buttocks.&q

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth It is one thing to advocate for an estate tax to keep the nation from eventually (possibly) being heavily influenced by inherited wealth as the Clinton's have done. Apparently it is quite another to actually pay them, at least for Bill and Hillary. They are taking full advantage of financial strategies that benefit the top 1 percent of the nation. You know, those individuals that liberals love to hate. Well, when it seems politically expedient to do so. Don't get me wrong, personally the death tax rubs me the wrong. But really, wouldn't it make sense for those advocating hefty estate taxes to at least opt out of the very benefits you have politically and publicly been against? I mean if you're wanting to be a leader shouldn't you set an example? Somehow do as I say, not as I do just doesn't cut it. Or at least it shouldn't. Bloomberg - Bill and Hillary Clinton have long supported an estate t

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth In a huge boost for President Obama one of the alleged mastermind behind the terrorist attack on the Consulate in Benghazi has been captured in Libya by United States Special Operation Forces. Of course regardless the positive news there are some who are already attempting to paint the capture as an Obama political stunt and diversionary tactic. We also have that paragon of " Fair and Balanced " reporting and suggesting that the timing of the capture was to boost Hillary Clinton's anticipated 2016 presidential run. You just can't make this sh*t up. Reporting below from the Washington Post . U.S. Special Operations forces captured one of the suspected ringleaders of the terrorist attacks in Benghazi in a secret raid in Libya over the weekend, the first time one of the accused perpetrators of the 2012 assaults has been apprehended, according to U.S. officials. The officials said Ahmed Abu Khattala was

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth This is chilling. Another wake up call that the NRA (National Reactionary Arsenal)will ignore and claim this is why teachers, administrators, and all citizens walking the streets need to be armed with weapons. Funny, when I was 15 years old (that would be 47 years ago) we didn't seem to have this problem. But then again the nation didn't have an NRA that was in bed with firearm manufacturers and saw their mission and primary purpose as the marketing arm for firearm manufactures firearm proliferation. While I was at one time a hunter and a firearm enthusiast, as in target practice and sporting, I now fully agree with the argument that the present NRA and it's leadership is in reality criminal in it's reaction to the growing menace of firearms proliferation. The organizations resistance to any meaningful reform of our patchwork of firearm regulation and it's apparent support for open carry tells us ALL

One of my favorite classical Overtures. Enjoy, and for all you DADS out there Happy Father's Day Sunday!

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth Below is another sobering and accurate assessment of the present situation and how we helped Iraq get to this point. At noon today, President Obama issued his first statement on the deteriorating situation on Iraq. “This is not solely or even primarily a military challenge,” he said. “The United States will do our part, but understand that ultimately it’s up to the Iraqis as a sovereign nation to solve their problems.” Obama left the door open to unspecified “actions,” but repeated that the Iraqis themselves had to seize the opportunity that the years of American effort gave them. This will no doubt be greeted by the President’s opponents with something akin to apoplexy. They will be arguing that in fact the problem does have a military solution, that the U.S. can solve it, and that whatever is happening, everything would be better if we applied more force. We have now reached the rather ironic situation in Iraq where

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth When the administration of George W. Bush made it's decision to invade Iraq ( using questionable justification it helped set up the scenario we see unfolding today. Ultimately the decision destabilized the region further, created more anti American sentiment in the region, and set up Iraq for civil strife and internal political instability. All for a cost of billions in U.S. taxpayer dollars, loss of American life, and loss of Iraqi life. I could go on for a very long time but Fareed Zakarian does a better job of presenting the evidence if you will than I might. The Washington Post - It is becoming increasingly likely that Iraq has reached a turning point. The forces hostile to the government have grown stronger, better equipped and more organized. And having now secured arms, ammunition and hundreds of millions of dollars in cash from their takeover of Mosul — Iraq’s second-largest city — they will build on these

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth Apparently today was meant for religious discussion. Brought to us by Looney in Washington DC and Loonier in Oklahoma. TPM - Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX) on Tuesday repeatedly confronted a faith leader -- who also happens to be a noted church-state separatist -- about his Christian beliefs during a House Judiciary Committee hearing on religious freedom. “Do you believe in sharing the good news that will keep people from going to hell, consistent with the Christian beliefs?” Gohmert asked Rev. Barry Lynn, executive director for Americans United for the Separation of Church and State. Lynn responded that he wouldn't agree with Gohmert's "construction of what hell is like or why one gets there." When Gohmert pressed him to say whether he believed people "would go to hell if they do not believe Jesus is the way," Lynn again answered that he thinks failing to ascribe to a certain set of Christian b

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth Oklahoma republican Scott Esk believes in biblical law handed down from God. Including death for homosexuals, he'd be fine if by stoning. You just can't make this stuff up. Read the full story HERE , complete with Esk's Facebook postings. Where do the miscreants come from? Via: Memeorandum

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth ... The president and vice president, the only government officials elected directly by the entire nation, have a special responsibility to nurture this national solidarity. So, of course, President Obama had to take all measures necessary to secure the release of Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl. Of course, he had to do all he could do to not forsake an American citizen. It doesn’t matter if Bergdahl had deserted his post or not. It doesn’t matter if he is a confused young man who said insulting and shameful things about his country and his Army. The debt we owe to fellow Americans is not based on individual merit. It is based on citizenship, and loyalty to the national community we all share. Soldiers don’t risk their lives only for those Americans who deserve it; they do it for the nation as a whole. It is not dispositive either that the deal to release Bergdahl may put others at risk. The five prisoners released from Guantánamo Ba

by: Les Carpenter Rational nation USA Purveyor of Truth As we remember Europe's Liberation from Nazi tyranny and honor all the heroes that made it happen. "Here, we don't just commemorate victory, as proud of that victory as we are; we don't just honor sacrifice, as grateful as the world is; we come to remember why America and our allies gave so much for the survival of liberty at this moment of maximum peril," Obama said. Their story should remain "seared into the memory of a future world," he said, describing Normandy as "democracy's beachhead." He said, "It was here, on these shores, that the tide was turned in that common struggle for freedom. "What more powerful manifestation of America's commitment to human freedom than the sight of wave after wave of young men boarding those boats to liberate people they'd never met?" Complete CNN article BELOW THE FOLD . Via: Memeorandum

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth Charles Krauthammer, a conservative and FOX News regular contributor getting it right with respect to the Bergdahl prisoner swap. Kudoa Mr. Krauthammer. Now if you can just get the multitude of conservatives that are on the wrong side on board. POLITICO  - Charles Krauthammer says he supports President Barack Obama’s deal to bring Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl home. “Had the choice been mine I would have made the same choice,” Krauthammer told Fox News’ “Special Report” on Wednesday. “It’s a difficult decision, and I would not attack those who have done otherwise.” Krauthammer said those in the West “put a value on the individual human life the way that the ones at the other end of the table don’t,” specifically citing an example in which Israelis had to release 1,000 terrorists in exchange for one sergeant who had been taken captive. “These are dangerous militants, but we have long engaged in and all other countr

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth Reserving judgement until all the facts are known is always the most prudent and therefore rational course of action. Retired General McCrystal agrees. TPM - Retired Gen. Stanley McCrystal on Wednesday said it was too soon to "judge" Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl and the Obama administration's decision to negotiate for his release from the Taliban. "I think we're going to have to wait and talk to Sgt. Bergdahl now and get his side of the story," McCrystal told Yahoo News about the soldier, who has been characterized as a deserter by some of his platoon members. “One of the great things about America is we should not judge until we know the facts. And after we know the facts, then we should make a mature judgment on how we should handle it.” The retired general defended efforts to return Bergdahl after he left his post in Afghanistan. “We did a huge number of operations to try to stop the Taliban from

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth It certainly didn't take long. Here's what Paragraph 1 of Article II Section 2 of The Constitution of the United States says... The President shall be commander in chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the militia of the several states, when called into the actual service of the United States; he may require (emphasis mine) the opinion, in writing, of the principal officer in each of the executive departments, upon any subject relating to the duties of their respective offices, and he shall have power to grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against the United States, except in cases of impeachment. Senator Graham is referring to the National Defense Authorization Ac t in which Congress built into the NDAA provisions requiring the President to give Congress a 30 day notice prior to moves such as the Bergdahl Gitmo 5 prisoner swap. Considering the wording of the above article and se

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth Is the NRA softening its hard line stand on the heels of recent events in Texas eateries? Could reason, reasonableness, and responsibility suddenly have taken hold in the rifled halls of the organization's executive offices? Has what has essentially becolobbying arm of firearm manufactures anode gun dealers across the country finally showing signs of a conscience? Following in part is the statement from the NRA-ILA issued May 30, 2014. Their mild "condemnation," while an apparent attempt to get the more vocal and militant in their ranks to tone it down, was couched in the usual rhetoric we've grown accustomed to hearing. Now we love AR-15s and AKs as much as anybody, and we know that these sorts of semiautomatic carbines are among the most popular, fastest selling firearms in America today. Texas, independent-minded and liberty-loving place that it is, doesn't ban the carrying of loaded long guns

Music is by far more enjoyably than politics! ENJOY