Conservative Corner- Battle for the Buzz-kill

Whether it’s the over the counter medication for a simple head cold, high potency prescriptions for illness and allergies, or illicit street drugs for a quick high, Americans seem to have felt the need to self-medicate themselves in order to cope with life’s problems. Many people require medication prescribed by their physician to live and enjoy a normal life; however, there are those people who claim to use some medications and illicit drugs for their “recreational” use.

            Many of us have experience a time of “chemical experimentation”, and our youth may have enjoyed a few parties while being drunk and/or high. However, many of us have grown up, matured and no longer need the aid of recreational drugs. Unfortunately, the effects of overdoses have caused an increase in drug related deaths. According to latimes.com in 2009 drugs surpassed auto accidents in causes of death. About 37,485 people nationally were killed due to drugs.

            We all know drugs can, and do, destroy lifestyles and lives; in Clackamas County, drug deaths increased by 30 percent in 2013. Oregonlive.com tells us that even though heroin and cocaine use has somewhat declined, meth has gone up by 32 percent bring the death toll to 222 in Clackamas County alone. 

            How do we combat the chemical intrusion that kills so many people? That is a question, I believe, that has no easy answer. Unfortunately, we have been battling drug use and overdoes for quite some time. In the 1870’s the first laws were put into effect to control the use of opium, while the early 1900’s seen the first laws directed at cocaine use and marijuana laws first began enforcement in the 1910’s and 20’s.

            In the 1960’s drugs became signs of youth, rebellion, social discontent and political protest. During this time the government stopped doing scientific research for medical safety efficacy according to www.drugpolicy.org.  In June 1971 President Nixon began the War on Drugs and increased the size of the federal drug control agencies.

            President Ronald Reagan increased the offensive when he took office in 1981. His wife, Nancy Reagan, tried helping her husband by taking a major role with the “Just Say No” anti-drug campaign. Even though Bill Clinton was for drug abuse treatment instead of imprisonment, he continued with the same drug war policies that Reagan used.

            Trying to battle America’s use of drugs should still be an active program; unfortunately, we seem to be fighting this “war” the wrong way. CNN.com tells us the United States Government has already spent $1 trillion since 1971 with little to show for it. We need to invest our resources in America’s addicted personalities and a media front about what drugs can do to you.  Too many youngsters use drugs like a rite of passage. Many young people begin to smoke cigarettes to fit in to a group or to act older. We need to find a way to keep our young people from even wanting to try drugs. If the urge to use is taken away, perhaps the market will go as well.

            As I understand some Libertarians want little, to no government intrusion into personal lives, including legalizing all drugs. I am all for limited government, but in my opinion the last thing we need is some moron loaded up on meth, marijuana and, heroin to go crashing into a busload of kindergarteners because his or her head was on the dark side of the moon because drugs were made legal.

            Many people of the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s, have tried every combination of every drug has been used; the ones who grew up and matured either no longer use or use responsibly. Unfortunately, too many children of those years either never grew up, or have an addictive personality and should have never used drugs to begin with.

            We should not pressure our law makers to legalize illicit drugs just to make more room in the prisons, instead we need to find out why people use in the first place and try to help them keep away from these addictive substances. We also need to get back to the preemies of the old saying, “This is your brain, and this is your brain on drugs, any questions?”  If we can work with the addicted and work to keep kids off drugs, maybe we can make the buzz-kill of drugs complete.

                                             Dkhummel.com, dkhummel.blogspot.com

Conservative Corner- Enviro-Mental Health

Some of us may know the extreme pleasure of waking up early on a beautiful sun-drenched morning while sipping on a comforting beverage and gazing pleasantly on a bubbling creek, calm lake, or gently whispering ocean while birds sing with glee. Our planet is indeed a beautiful place full of wonder and visual majesty. Taking care of our planet is indeed an important task, most any conservative will tell you that, however, there are those that go too far in their attempt to try and “save the planet”.

I am well aware that not all people who take protecting the planet seriously are involved in violence in the name of defense of the Earth. Unfortunately, some people feel the need to stop the daily actives of certain companies or groups in order to make a point. According to Merriam-Webster. com, eco-terrorism is the act or crimes of sabotage with the intent to hinder the activities of companies or the government in the name of the planet.

Rebecca Rubin, eco-terrorist, Earth liberation Front and Animal Liberation Front member, plead guilty to dozens of crimes in Colorado, Oregon, and California in 2013. Additionally, oregonlive.com tells us the group Rubin belongs to, known as The Family, has caused $40 million in damage from 1996 to 2001. Unfortunately, some of these terrorist groups have incredible ways of looking at ways of “saving the planet”.

According to www.greenisthenewred.com even the term “eco-terrorist” is a propagandist label drummed up as an “exploited push by the political and corporate agenda”. This websites claims that the “green scare” is the new word for eco-terrorism. They also claim that the most dangerous part of the green scare is the continuing and “relentless scare-mongering.”

Perhaps the burning log trucks along and nailing spikes into trees to be logged are, in their opinion, a proper way to “fight” against the modern world. Eco-fighters, according to www.ecoterrorist.net claim acts of sabotage on behave of the natural world and repeatedly attack enterprises like logging companies, ski resorts, genetics research facilities, home construction sites, and the auto industry. Eco-terrorist organizations are responsible for 69 major attacks since January of 1999, including 14 in the Pacific Northwest. 

It seems the only thing more insane that companies and corporations that carelessly pump toxic pollutants into the planet are the eco-terrorists criminals who feel the need to destroy, and if necessarily kill, in their sad attempt to “save” a planet that, in my opinion, doesn’t really need our help to survive (See lbcommuter.com/2014/02/12/conservative-corner-the-snow-job). These people seem to care only for themselves and their friends. The consensus of many in the extreme environmentalist movement seem to believe that if the population of mankind needs to be drastically reduced and large companies destroyed for the world to continue to survive.

The same people also seem to have the idea that we shouldn’t cut down trees, use carbon-based fuel sources, eat meat, and drive vehicles, Even www.earthday.org instructs us to eat less meat, reduce your energy consumption, use “alternative” energy sources, recycle nearly everything, and even go as far as to adopt Obama’s failed climate plan.

I clearly understand saving electricity by turning off a light when leaving a room, shutting off a vehicle while sitting parked and recycling, however to many people think this isn’t nearly enough and wish to take away all the things in our society that, they think, may harm the planet. If we all do responsible things to care for the Earth, we won’t need to resort to unrealistic measures without acting like an eco-terrorist.

April 22 was Earth Day and I think a great way to “celebrate” would be to learn about some of the things we can do to help, protect and keep the Earth as nice as we can. Anyone who has spent any length time in the wilderness knows you carry out what you carry, don’t be wasteful and leave your area cleaner than what you found it. I encourage everyone to enjoy Earth day responsibly and I wish all of you good enviro-mental health.

                                  Dkhummel.com, dkhummel.blogspot.com

Conservative Corner: Defenseless Soldiers

Whether it is caused by a person with mental issue or someone with a political or religious agenda, it is always a tragedy when public violence occurs. Unfortunately, whenever someone is angry or feels they need to make an important statement about something, they choose to use a firearm in a public place.

On April 2 2014 34-year-old Spc. Ivan Lopez, who was said to be struggling with a psychological condition, according to CNN.com, used a .45 caliber pistol to kill three soldiers and wound 16. Psychological issues have only been a piece of gun violence on military posts or public places.

On November 5, 2009 Nidal Hasan gunned down 13 and wounded 31 while shouting “Allahu Akbar” (“God is greatest” in Arabic) according to www.reuters.com. Hassan received the death penalty for his role in the massacre, all while in defiance of the United States Military. Hasan was an Army psychiatrist. Since the Obama Administration has labeled the 2009 attack “workplace violence”, the victims will not be eligible for benefits.

As we all know, not all shootings are terroristic in nature, but many of the shooters do have mental issues and, unfortunately, a firearm in the right (or wrong) hands can be deadly. How can we stop troubled people from killing others without infringing upon the rights of the rest of us? We can’t. Shit happens.

I do have a possible connection to the Fort Hood shooting. I was in the U.S. Army in the late 80’s and was to be stationed at Fort Hood. I’m sure I still have buddies that are stationed there. I recall in the past that the military police carried rifles and pistols with them while on duty and no one got hurt.

I am sure that many people have the opinion that completely removing guns from our society will create the illusion of a safer society, however, that idea has already proven to be false. Even if weapons, even on a military post, are outlawed, someone will always find a way to kill, even without guns.

The idea of a military installation being a “gun-free zone” is preposterous. Our government spends millions of dollars and man-hours making sure we have the best equipped, best trained military in the world; yet, our government doesn’t trust our soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines with carrying weapons on installations. We entrust these people with our security and the security of our country, yet we take their guns away. The results are clear, the shootings in Fort Hood proves we need protection from those who mean to do us harm.

We already know gun-free zones don’t work. All the public shootings have occurred in gun-free zones, yet, we continue to keep people from having guns in areas that have proven to be targets for those who may be mentally unstable or have a point to

Conservative Corner: Christian vs. Commercialism

As a conservative I am a big fan of capitalism and commercialism, but as a spiritual person, I am troubled at our society’s view of certain holidays that are celebrated in America that shouldn’t be commercialized. The collaboration of capitalism in connection with the Christian faith really bothers me. The idea that Christmas isn’t here until Santa Clause makes and appearance or that it’s not Easter until the Easter Bunny shows up is truly disturbing.

             One of the biggest issues with America’s connection with the holidays is money. Christianity is supposed to be about love, brotherhood and friendship, not about the depths of ones pockets. To some it may be the way they choose to celebrate a few of the more popular holliday, however, the reasons for the major holidays come from the Christian faith.

            I am well aware that seasonal icons like Santa Clause and the Easter Bunny, while may be an Americanize way of celebrating, did not originate in America. Unfortunately, corporations have chosen to embrace these characters and use them on the children to make their parents buy more material items that they probably don’t need.

            What does the Christian celebration of Easter and the Easter Bunny have in common?  It has very little in common, indeed. Spring is supposed to be the season of new life and a new beginning, hence the Easter egg. Spring is the time when Jesus was resurrected from his tomb, and that’s about all the connection is. According to discovery.com the bridge between the new life in Christ and the hiding of eggs first made the appearance in 15^th century Germany, while the first documented account of an “Easter” bunny was in the 1500s and brought to Pennsylvania in the 1700s. However you look at it, there is no real connection between Easter as the retail stores like to see it and Easter as it was intended to be. Unfortunately, I believe the celebration of Easter today in the commercial since is what some want who may not be Christian.

            It seems that some people who may not choose Christianity as a faith still want to reap the benefits of the Christian holidays by not necessarily celebrating Easter or even Christmas, but the icons that are associated with them. Not that this kind of celebration is a bad thing, it just seems a little odd that these people want the benefits without having the faith system.

            Just in case you are not familiar with the Christian story of Easter, it can be reference from Matthew 28:1-20; Mark 16:1-20; Luke 24:1-49; John 20:1-21:25 in the New Testament  of the Bible. After Jesus was crucified his body was placed in his own tomb. A large stone covered the entrance of the tomb and was sealed. Soldiers guarded the tomb, but on the third day, a Sunday, several women, including Mary Magdalene, Mary, the mother of James and others witnessed a violent earthquake as an angel from heaven rolled the sealed stone from the entrance. The guards shook in fear as the angel, dressed in bright white, sat upon the stone. The angel announced to the women that Jesus, who was crucified, was no longer in the tomb, "He is risen, just as he said." This is the traditional story according to christianity.about.com.

            I understand that some people who may not agree with the Biblical scriptures may still want their children to know the joy of the holiday, but candy corporations are riding on the back of the Easter Bunny all the way to the bank. We learn from www.infoplease.com/spot/eastercandy that Easter is in second place for candy consumption and Americans have consumed 7 billion pounds of candy in 2011, according to the National Confectioner's Association. In 2012, Americans spent nearly $2.1 billion on Easter candy. I’m not truly sure, but I don’t think Jesus would approve of the holiday as is it celebrated today by many Americans. There is one good thing about the Easter Bunny, it reminds us of the Easter season, and maybe why we celebrate.

            Easter holiday traditionally has brought the biggest boost in attendance for many U.S. churches and is arguably the most important Christian holiday, as it marks the resurrection of Jesus Christ three days after his death by crucifixion, as described in the New Testament of the Bible according to www.christianpost.com.

I know that not everyone believes as Christians do and probably don’t have a problem with contributing to the American economy for the sake of a Christian holiday, but do ask all non-believers to not make it difficult for those who do believe. If you see a cross, crucifix, people dressed up as angels or in Biblical garb, please don’t cause a still. Let Christians celebrate the holliday their way, in peace. After all, to many Christians, the holliday only lasts a short time, despite what the marketing executives at Wal-Mart and Target tell you.

Please be tolerant and respectful to Christians during this holy time of Easter when we celebrate the rising from the dead and into Heaven of our savior, Jesus Christ.

Dkhummel.com, dkhummel.blogspot.com