In our great nation, I am often surprised, sometimes dismayed and many times confounded by what we choose to focus our considerable angst.
Currently, the country is in an uproar over the Second Amendment. The outcry of “They are taking our guns” can be heard from Maine to Florida to New Mexico to Washington. People all across our great nation are saying things such as “You can’t change the Bill of Rights” or “Amendments are set in stone.”
Well, actually both amendments can be changed and have been, but I am not here for a gun control argument. What I am here to point out is the hypocrisy of the people railing against the “attacks on the Second Amendment,” while directly under their nose, many of our other so-called sacred amendments are being dismantled.
The First, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Eighth and 10th have been, are and will be trampled on in the name of “progress.” That is our hollowed Bill of Rights and where is the outrage? Where are the signs? Where are the rallies?
The First Amendment stating Freedom of Speech has been under the gun for more than a century. From registration fees to permits to outright laws prohibiting it, our speech has been and will be censored on a daily basis. We have all seen people taken away by police for being the lone descending voice at some public meeting, rally or hearing.
The Fourth Amendment — prohibiting unreasonable search and seizures — is a complete joke at this point. Oh sure, we all see on television shows such as “Law and Order” that some shiesty lawyer get a scummy client of with some motion about there being “no warrant for the search” and “the search was illegal,” however, in the real world, this simply does not happen.
Between questionable traffic stops, profiling and “relaxed” criteria for smashing through doors, the Fourth Amendment is in shambles. Of course, many out there will disagree with this statement but only because it has not been them looking down the barrel of police assault rifle because they “fit the description.”
The Fifth Amendment, which sets out rules for indictments, eminent domain and due process, is in complete disarray. The Patriot Act has all but put an end to many of our sacred steps of due process while local governments have run amok with eminent domain.
Once again, the outrage is tethered at best, and non-existent, at worst.
So why the outpouring of support for the Second Amendment? Why do we care more about our guns than our civil liberties? Is it as simple as guns are tangible items? You can hold a gun in your hand but holding onto due process may prove more elusive.
The ridiculous nature of what we choose to be upset about doesn’t stop with the Bill of Rights.
We have all either heard, are or know someone that has uttered something along the lines of “Why did we bail out the auto industry? If they were any other failing business, they would have gone under.”
Between the bailout the banks received and the life preserver floated to the automakers, many Americans feel “business is business” and if it cannot be run properly it should be shut down. Makes sense right? And the fact that tax dollars were used to bail out these businesses were rescued by taxpayer dollars added even more fuel to the ever-growing fire.
So why then is no one calling for the Postal Service to be put out of its misery? Here is an institution that is losing $14 million a day and it’s propped up by tax dollars, yet no one is hollering to pull the plug.
I am not saying that is what I would do or that I want them to shoot the postal service, but where is the outrage? Why is running the postal service on a ridiculously unsuccessful business model OK, but helping the auto makers is not?
What’s the difference?
Richard Clark is the universal desk chief for Halifax ENC; his column appears in this space every Sunday. You can reach him at 910-219-8452 or at Richard.Clark@jdnews.com.