How to etc., continued

Not that it would matter if gun-owners were that conscientious. Lawmakers seem deeply concerned with the minutia of District firearm legislation, so much so that they spend an incredible amount of time on the details, picking through every tiny aspect of the issue: from the actual possession of guns, to various features that may or may not cross the line of legality, down to songs or shows that might potentially glorify the ownership, use, or concept of the gun, to the extent that, during my high school years a popular song on the now-defunct HFS had edits not only for language, but also to remove reference to a .45.

Of course none of this affects the die-hard criminal, and his lack of concern does not affect the outcry for legislation. With the multitude of other issues our government faces on a daily basis, not to mention the legions of issues it ignores, why is gun control one of the handful that garners such focused attention? It could be that gun issues, being easier to understand and much louder than economic events, liven up what seems to be a dull government. Our political system, in fact, seems somewhat like the family station wagon: generally dependable, runs decently, works well on a day-to-day basis, and possesses some nostalgic charm, but you certainly aren't rolling it out to impress a date.

The average eligible voter sees government this way: stodgy, rather than cutting edge, and a body that, like stereotypical parents, don't care so much what he thinks. As a result, a big slice of folks eligible to vote never actually go through with it. In addition to the not voting, most of our countrymen do not contact representatives, work for campaigns, staff the polls, or get involved in any other aspect of government more intense than watching the fireworks on July 4th. Rather than mention the whole not-impressing-a-date thing, most citizens cite statistics as the basis for their political lethargy: how could one vote, one letter to one representative, one measly volunteer in one minor campaign, possibly matter? It certainly seems logical. For years the government had lurched along perfectly well without me. The President makes difficult decisions on a daily basis without my input. Campaigns progress, congressmen wake up and wander into their offices, and survive days, weeks, years without ever hearing from me. Even my fellow citizens, who technically share my responsibility for the future of our republic, want no part of my opinion. Those deadbeats have even banned politics from polite conversation. With all this apathy around, why bother worrying about issues? After all, you'd just be wasting time better spent watching YouTube, or playing around with your Wii.

And yet against all odds there exist a number of folks who do have strong political views, and occasionally even excellent ideas. Rather than seeing the government as a babbling old crone, best left alone to her bingo and old stories, these folks view her as young, desirable, and totally worth the effort if you can her to look you over. And these people are in luck! America has long been a land of hope and opportunity. Our greatest export, the American Dream, hinges on the fact that ordinary people can, in fact, do extraordinary things. And in spite of daunting statistical arguments from the disillusioned, the fact remains that our political system is defined by its reliance on the common man and his needs.

(tune in to future posts for more!)