IUD's will beat scattershot almost every time.

Only if you're going to use the beer to overthrow the government.

__________________
2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL

OK. Is that your final answer?

__________________
2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL

Well I do use beer to defend myself from myself. Does that count?

Did I say Castro? I said Cuba degenerated in the 1930's I can also add Haiti to that list.
Venezuela has ONE party elections and the new penal code removes free speech. The USSR had elections as did Saddam (he won with 99.96% of the vote in his last election) Elections mean *****. Democracy is MORE than elections. It is the rule of law and the trust that the Government is of the people and for the people.

BTW Haiti was a democracy for 100 years as was Argentina and Chile.
What does the time a nation was a democracy have to do with it? Russia was a democracy for almost a year between the revolution and the Bolshevik hijack. It was again a democracy from 1992 until Putin started to monkey with their constitution. Now it is falling into a one party non-Communist state.

The thread through all these failed democracies is that there was no bill of rights. If you start messing with ours, where will you stop. Take away one right and you are on the way to taking them all.


It is a good thing for the Government to be afraid of it's people. We are afraid of it and it should be afraid and respect us.

__________________
"I have no convictions ... I blow with the wind, and the prevailing wind happens to be from Vichy"

Current
Monika '74 450 SL
BrownHilda '79 280SL
FoxyCleopatra '99 Chevy Suburban
Scarlett 2014 Jeep Cherokee
Krystal 2004 Volvo S60
Gone
'74 Jeep CJ5
'97 Jeep ZJ Laredo
Rudolf ‘86 300SDL
Bruno '81 300SD
Fritzi '84 BMW
'92 Subaru
'96 Impala SS
'71 Buick GS conv
'67 GTO conv
'63 Corvair conv
'57 Nomad

OK, fair enough and thanks for answering my question. I didn't know Haiti, Argentina and Chile were democracies for that long before succumbing to oppression. Yes, I know it takes more than a staged election to have democracy. In the case of Russia though, it's not like Putin has gone against the nation's will. They truly embrace him there (probably a good majority of them) and consider Yeltsin one of the worst presidents ever. At least watching some of the documentaries on Russia it appeared that most Russians don't care about democracy. They just want good prosperity, stability, security and a strong, proud country.

Just about every country has a constitution and some sort of "bill of rights" though they might call it something else. IMO it doesn't guarantee anything but it's still nice to have. Just look at the Patriot Act and how it's monkeying with the constitution.

__________________
2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL

How has it impacted your life?

They have unlimited access to our private records now.

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Is that right? Assuming what you have said is factual and accurate, in what way is that different from "before"?

And back to my previous question, how has that impacted your life (again, assuming factual and accurate).

Patriot act is the 1st step toward taking away all our privacy
like gun control is the start for taking all our guns away?

__________________
cult plus time equals religion

Only if you're an evil terrorist.. are you??

__________________
1985 CA 300D Turbo , 213K mi

Is gun control part of the Patriot Act?

I agree that it could be construed in a way as to violate the 4th amendment, but so far it has been upheld.

[Amendment IV]
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Most of the Patriot act deals with anti-money laundering and the denial of American banking to suspected or known terrorists. There are also provisions for such things as background checks for HAZMAT truck drivers. It also paves the way for agencies to share information and strengthens the ability for the Government to gather information on foreigners living in the USA.


When I worked in the financial industry Patriot Act was a big PITA as we had to get additional proof of identity of any person who tried to open an account with us. We also had to implement many new checks to make sure that the money being invested was not the result of a money laundering scheme.


I for one do not agree with anything that limits citizens and legal alien residents rights under the constitution. You are right that by challenging the 4th amendment, it makes it easier to challenge the 2nd and vice versa.

__________________
"I have no convictions ... I blow with the wind, and the prevailing wind happens to be from Vichy"

Current
Monika '74 450 SL
BrownHilda '79 280SL
FoxyCleopatra '99 Chevy Suburban
Scarlett 2014 Jeep Cherokee
Krystal 2004 Volvo S60
Gone
'74 Jeep CJ5
'97 Jeep ZJ Laredo
Rudolf ‘86 300SDL
Bruno '81 300SD
Fritzi '84 BMW
'92 Subaru
'96 Impala SS
'71 Buick GS conv
'67 GTO conv
'63 Corvair conv
'57 Nomad

9/11 didn't directly impact my life either... So I guess, everyone should have just let that go, too. Of course, according to the ignorant majority, they did. The FBI doesn't see any connection with the boogey man whodunit. And let's see, "man-made global warming" doesn't affect me, or pollution in China, or their poisoned bottles, or childhood obesity. Yet for some reason, they still strike me as 'problems'. Weird huh? But according to the Federal Government, I am a terrorist since I talk about the Constitution, and I'm subject to extreme scrutiny should I decide to establish an "offshore corporation" that, despite being completely legal, qualifies for warrant-less investigation.

You don't seem to understand the mind of a true conservative.

If it doesn't impact you own behind than it doesn't matter. Health care for people who cannot afford it due to ongoing health issues doesn't matter. Social Security for those who won't have any other funds doesn't matter. The FBI looking into other people's underwear doesn't matter.

But, don't even think of taking away my submachine gun.......or raising my taxes.

Everything else doesn't matter.

Can I make it any more simple for you?