Gun ownership/carry rights should be in the forefront of this National Election, but unfortunately, this theme has been relegated to a minor role.
I have an idea that might bring it back to the forefront of the election.
Prior military service members may remember hearing an old military parable that went like this: A base commander of an Army post somewhere here in the US got tired of his troops being considered second-class citizens in the local area, so he devised an idea of how to raise the consciousness of the local citizens to the fact that the troops had a real and positive impact in their lives. In those days, the Army paid most troopers in cash. The Base Commander ordered them paid in two-dollar ("Racetrack") bills, which were never seen otherwise in the local merchant economy. As the two-buck notes circulated, the townspeople began to realize just which side their bread was buttered on, and respect for the troops went up.
Here's how we apply that principle to gun rights in this election.
Idea donated: no need to pay me royalties.
To Bush, make a campaign donation of exactly Seven dollars and sixty-two cents ($7.62) Include a note telling him that that number signifies your dedication to the possession of high-caliber semi-auto weapons. You might even suggest a few in that caliber: AK-47, SKS, M-14, G-3 (Put those weapon designations in the note section of your check).
To Kerry, make a donation of twenty-two cents. Include a note saying that you support the right to keep and bear firearms, but realistically, you think that after Kerry gets his hands on the Second Amendment, Twenty-Two rimfire caliber is about all we will be likely to be legal to possess. (Put ".22 Long Rifle" in the note section of your check).
Then spread the word around the Blogosphere. What will happen if enough people make these donations is that we will simultaneously demonstrate the power of the Blogosphere and of gun rights as an issue.
Maybe someone even more nerdish than I could put up a website just to collect, then forward the donations.
Great Idea! checks sent, and idea posted/linked to try and help spread the word.
Posted by: delftsman3 | July 29, 2004 at 02:47
I like the idea and will follow thru to Bush. I'm with Jesse on contributing to Kerry, though... He would just take all those small donations, average them in with the rest of his donations, thereby reducing the average contribution, get my point? He would then point to how many of the "little people" are supporting him.
On the other hand, I wonder how much his bank charges him to process each check...
Posted by: Daniel Day | July 27, 2004 at 21:51
Simply Brilliant.
Posted by: Jack | July 26, 2004 at 22:58
I can't pry the 22 cents out of my hands...they refuse to give that bastard even one penny, much less 22.
$7.62 to Bush is another matter entirely. Great idea, I think I may make similar donations to my congress critters...
Posted by: Jesse | July 26, 2004 at 12:57
Sorry about the double-ping....it's a Typepad issue. Everytime I trackback to Typepad sites, Typepad reports back a ping error, but posts the trackback anyway. This means if I make a minor edit after posting, the Typepad site gets pinged AGAIN because MT thinks it didn't go through the first time.
Posted by: dgci | July 25, 2004 at 15:24
I like it, I love it, I want some more of it!
A most excellent idea, and it's been touted to my readers!
Posted by: dgci | July 25, 2004 at 15:20
Fully endorsed, blogged and linked, amigo.
Brilliant plan you have. One of those "Why didn't I think of that?" types.
I humbly salute you, sir.
Jim
Sloop New Dawn
Galveston, TX
Posted by: Jim | July 24, 2004 at 21:30
For the website design, I see a couple of target bulls, one with "Donate to Bush/Cheney" and the other with "Donate to Kerry/Edwards" Each bull would have the respective "7.62" or ".22 Long Rifle" label on it. Clicking on either would link to the appropriate political donation website.
Calling all site designers....calling all site designers....
Posted by: Rivrdog | July 24, 2004 at 21:01