What's Sauce For The Goose...

I'm a longtime member of the NRA - and damn proud of it. I'm also a member of two other gun-rights groups that might be considered a little more extreme than the NRA; the Second Amendment Foundation, and Gun Owners of America (I can hear the drones beginning to circle overhead now...).

The Second Amendment Foundation was founded by a man named Alan Gottlieb. Gottlieb is an interesting person. He is a successful businessman, author, and political activist (conservative, of course) - a self-described "anti-communist, free-enterprise, laissez-faire capitalist."

He can also at times be a bit of a loose cannon, albeit one that makes you think.

Gottlieb recently suggested that politicians at all levels be required to pass background checks similar to those proposed for gun-buyers.

“If politicians want universal background checks, we should start with them,” said Alan Gottlieb, chairman of the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms.

He pointed to recent political scandals in the New York Legislature, which just passed a new restrictive gun control law, where a state senator and state assemblyman were arrested last week, as “one small example.”

“But look at politics in recent years,” Gottlieb observed. “From state and federal scandals, to arrests involving several members of Mayors Against Illegal Guns, we have had example after embarrassing example of public officials being charged with violating various laws. Does anyone think former Congressman Anthony Weiner, who had to quit his post over a lewd e-mail scandal, whould clear a mental health screening to buy a gun?

“If you compare percentages,” he continued, “the rate of criminal activity by politicians is probably far higher than the rate of crimes committed by the general public.

“What this underscores,” he said, “is the reason gun laws don’t work and never will. People who make the laws we have to live under break them anyway, just like criminals routinely disobey gun laws. Based on their own experience, politicians should know that the gun laws they pass will not prevent crime.”

Gottlieb pointed to crooks like former Louisiana Congressman Bill Jefferson, sent to prison after authorities found $90,000 in his freezer during an investigation. He cited former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, now in prison for racketeering and extortion.

“It is both sad and disgraceful that the list goes on and on,” Gottlieb said. “There are politicians with domestic violence problems, others who accepted bribes, some who stole money or were involved in other criminal acts.

“No wonder citizens are disgusted with politicians and don’t trust them,” he concluded, adding tongue-in-cheek, “And these people want to know why there’s a run on guns and ammunition?”

He may be on to something. Here's another example.

There is a bill working its way through the Texas state legislature that would require drug testing of welfare recipients and those receiving unemployment benefits. Fail the test and either enter a drug treatment program or lose your 'entitlements.' Sounds like a good idea to me.

There was an amendment to the bill that was proposed, but unfortunately defeated, that would have required members of the state legislature to also take drug tests. Fail and you're kicked out. That makes even more sense to me.

The point, of course, is to make our political 'masters' play by the same rules they want to impose on us. Below is an updated version of an email that's been floating around for a while. You've probably seen it. I would not only vote for, but actively support and campaign for anyone with enough cojones to run for public office on this platform.

Tea Party members ... Libertarians ... 'None of the Above' ... are you listening?

Congressional Reform Act of 2013

1. No Tenure/No Pension

A Congressman/woman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they're out of office.

2. Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social Security.

All funds in the Congressional retirement fund move to the Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social Security system, and Congress participates with the American people. It may not be used for any other purpose.

3. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan, just as all Americans do.

4. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise.

5. Congress loses their current health care system and participates in the same health care system as the American people.

6. Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the American people.

7. All contracts with past and present Congressmen/women are void effective 06/01/2013.

The American people did not enter into such one-sided contracts with congresscritters. Congress made all these benefits for themselves. Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career.

The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators who served their terms and then returned home and went back to work. Since when did politicians achieve elite status?