Jackson Free Press

Intervention is never easy. It generally implies that the subject of the intervention has an addiction that they themselves have not yet fully perceived to be a problem. No one likes to admit being out of control, and it's no picnic for the friend or family member who is putting a relationship on the line in hopes of brighter days that are only realized after what will surely be a long, difficult road to recovery.

I am writing this as a concerned family member—not to a person, but to a party: the Republican Party. I am one of you, and I am here to suggest that the most outspoken and extremist voice is not always the voice of reason (from any party). I'm writing this because I don't want you to continue down the dark, lonely road of negative propaganda. It is addictive, and it's a hard reputation to shake.

Both sides play games when any given electorate doesn't get its way. An outspoken activist from one side will promise to leave the country if so-and-so is elected, and their counterparts from the opposing team will throw around dooms-day scenarios and Antichrist comparisons. Neither of these strategies is appealing or helpful.

I could criticize the actions of both major parties, but my desire for this rant is to call out the negativity of the Republicans because I truly desire more out of you. And for the record, trying to spin the derogatory label, The Party of No" into "The Party of Know" still doesn't make it cool. Be relevant. Become, again, a party of distinction.

I use to enjoy reading about Ronald Reagan—especially his childhood and his early life in radio and then actor. It was like taking a trip back in time, and I think that, later, part of his political charm came from the fact that he was from a different era, and that he showed an idealism of what it meant to be American. His core message was that America's brightest days were still ahead, and whether you agreed with anything he ever did politically or not, you have to admit that he was selling hope to a generation of voters that longed for the by-gone Norman Rockwell version of America.

The Republican Party has quit selling hope. These days, too many of its members preach a message of doom-and-gloom. Why do so many conservative pundits now give the impression that we should all horde gold and stockpile guns while we can? This kind of message leads to fear and conspiracy theories and even downright paranoia—all of which are popular calling cards for many so-called "patriot" groups.

The FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) indicates that more than 14 million guns were sold in the United States in 2009. That is a more than 10 percent increase over 2008 sales. I'm not anti-gun: I own some myself, and I go hunting on occasion. But what does it mean when people in the USA buy more guns in one single year than the number of active troops of the combined armies of the top 20 countries in the world?

Obviously, no political party owns God, nor does any political party have the inside information as to the will of God. But with that said, the Republican Party has in the past taken pride in being called the "religious right." Why, then, do we not genuinely ask ourselves, "What would Jesus do?" Again, I'm not claiming to have the inside scoop, but I'm thinking it probably wouldn't be to stock up on guns and gold.

My message of intervention is simply that I wish there were more voices of reason. I know they are there, but more-vocal extremists overpower them.

Don't live in fear, and don't use fear for political advantage. Elected officials have a job to do, and we the voters expect you to work together and find common ground with those that you don't agree with.

Invest in gold if you want, but invest more heavily in people.

New JFP columnist Scott Dennis is Morton, Miss., native who lives in Pearl. Dennis earned a computer science degree from Mississippi College, and works as an IT Specialist with the U.S. Geological Survey. He says he is blessed with a wonderful wife and a small but growing family.

Previous Comments

ID

159469

Comment

Welcome to our newest columnist, Scott Dennis. Take a read.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2010-08-21T10:50:32-06:00

ID

159470

Comment

I love this. Scott seems like a well-reasoned Republican--something that's truly missing these days. I look forward to more of his columns in the future.

Author

golden eagle

Date

2010-08-21T11:01:12-06:00

ID

159471

Comment

I do, too, golden. I know I won't always agree (or disagree) with him, but from I've seen so far, he is smart, reasoned and not averse to the same factchecking we do on all our stories. And he writes under his real name and photo. I'm thrilled to have him.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2010-08-21T11:34:35-06:00

ID

159473

Comment

Very refreshing - more people with some god-given common sense.

Author

Duan C.

Date

2010-08-23T06:52:10-06:00

ID

159475

Comment

His criticism of current Republican philosophy ("The Republican Party has quit selling hope") and message to the fringe activists ("Don’t live in fear, and don’t use fear for political advantage. Elected officials have a job to do, and we the voters expect you to work together and find common ground with those that you don’t agree with") are both spot-on. I, too, very much look forward to future articles from Scott Dennis.

Author

jamesparker

Date

2010-08-23T11:21:37-06:00

ID

159480

Comment

Certainly this is a good start for the new columnist. However, as two of my road dogs, Ham Bone and Turkey Leg, informed me this weekend as we downed a half-gallon of corn liquor, an elephant is an elephant and sooner or later it's going to start acting like a truculent elephant, because that is its instinct, definition and purpose for being. As a good Democrat with a history of being kind and fair to republicans, I'll wait a couple of hours to see if this elephant acts and conducts itself according to its legacy, history and nature, or rather is a fish out of water, that needs to come on home to the Democratic Republic of America. Welcome, welcome, welcome, Dennis!!! We're so happy to have you here. Strangely, republicans don't last long over here. I don't know why they take a quick run after a few weeks of battle-torn toe to toe action. Maybe they don't like going toe to toe with rough and tough Democrats. It's a jungle out here, and the lions rule followed by the mules. You know what I'm saying!?

Author

Walt

Date

2010-08-23T17:02:38-06:00

ID

159484

Comment

Maybe they don't like going toe to toe with rough and tough Democrats. It's a jungle out here, and the lions rule followed by the mules. You know what I'm saying!? Careful, Walt. You try to keep making us tough independents into Democrats! Sneaky! Scott, be sure to take Walt with a grain of salt. He's our resident Democratic curmudgeon. (And we have one than one Republican version as well.) And again welcome, Scott. I'm glad you wrote me that e-mail. ;-)

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2010-08-24T09:20:27-06:00

ID

159489

Comment

I guess Donna is talking about the infamous Bubba as the republican Curmudgeon. Surely, I've beat down and retired him by now. Where is Bubba, the arch-republican? Licking his wounds I bet. By any measure he has a high threshold for pain. We bring the pain! Scott, you seem to be real trooper. Ham and Turkey aver you'll last about 2 months. I'm more optimistic. At any rate, unless the republicans pull the wool on the gullible among us in November, and take back the House and Senate, it'll be hard for any republican to withstand the onslaught we got coming at the GOP. Good luck with showing us a different kind of republican. I remember when the republicans tried to recruit me. I asked if I would still be able to practice love among all my fellow kind and they say no. I then asked if I would be able to keep hope alive and they said damn Jessie and hell nall. I then asked if I would be barred from seeking solutions to America's problems and they said of course but Fox News reports on the solution daily and nightly. Finally, I asked if I would be allowed to think and act independently and I was told that an independent is a Democrat scared to declare their true allegiance or alliance. I don't know if they were being totally honest with me or not. I then asked if I could peep into the republican party to see how diverse they were. I looked in and saw an awful sight, 5-10 negroes dancing, eating watermelons and with their hands held out seeking favors. I then saw one negro sitting up high and speaking to the group as if he were the leader. I then scanned the audience and saw nearly every member in attendance looking as if they wanted to kill that sitting high negro. In the end, I declined the money and membership and promptly joined the Democrats. We shall see if you were asked the same questions and whether your writings and positions on issues line up with the party platform. As John McCain learned you're a republican or you're not.

Author

Walt

Date

2010-08-24T17:22:25-06:00

ID

159491

Comment

Wow. What a friendly welcome from Walt---I think.

Author

Dave Coleman

Date

2010-08-24T17:45:17-06:00

ID

159494

Comment

Walt- I am right here, you haven't done anything to run me off, Donna put me on post hold so it not really worth it to make comments now.

Author

BubbaT

Date

2010-08-24T17:55:41-06:00

ID

159500

Comment

Walt, it's nice to see your post is as entertaining, witty, and consistently off the mark as always. I have plenty of respect for Mr. Dennis. Its OK for Republicans to disagree on the role of government in our lives. Unlike the Democrats, we can disagree on issues such as abortion and guns. There are pro-choice Republican that are elected to office, for example. There are Republicans such as Lott and McCain (who you mention as an example for your argument, and yet he won his Republican primary last night) who think one way on immigration and Republicans who think differently. I tend to think lower tax rates stimulate the economy and a government's role should be limited in our lives while protecting our liberties and I don't apologize for those views.

Author

Mark Geoffriau

Date

2010-08-25T07:49:25-06:00

ID

159502

Comment

"But what does it mean when people in the USA buy more guns in one single year than the number of active troops of the combined armies of the top 20 countries in the world?" I think I can answer that one easily. Our population outnumbers the active troop number handily. An economic downturn combined with percieved raising crime rates indicate an atmosphere where people would do well to prepare to fend for themselves. This combined with the usual trend of hunters buying the newest latest protein collecting device every season easily produces such sales numbers. Add to all of this sport shooters stockpiling to ensure their hobby supplies because everyone else is buying up the inventory and the numbers become almost predictible. I'm sure there is some fear buying going on, and the presence of a minute number of the population hoarding for the imagined "hordes of commies" cannot be denied. I think that the idea of gun confiscation is the silliest thing I've heard in a while, especially in light of the latest supreme court decisions. Nevertheless I ordered about 5,000 rounds of ammuntion during the "Obama panic". I did so because an average round of sporting clays (think golf with a shotgun) is 50 rounds and I also shoot other firearms for sport, hunting, and pleasure . While bubba rightwing and his crowd emptied the shelves at walmart I was not going to be left out of my hobby due to their panic. Many of my friends did the same for the same reasons. As a result of all of this sillyness the market is collapsing on some types of new firearms and it is a buyers market for collectors and sport shooters as well as for individuals that wish to acquire a gun or two for self defense in the gravest of extremes. Looks like I am going to enjoy reading your columns and I hope to see you at the next Sal and Mookie's event.

Author

Jacksonlibertarian

Date

2010-08-25T09:43:50-06:00

ID

159503

Comment

. Unlike the Democrats, we can disagree on issues such as abortion and guns. This statement shows glaring ignorance. Many Democrats are anti-abortion, including right here in Jackson.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2010-08-25T09:46:02-06:00

ID

159504

Comment

Bubba, you put yourself into moderation mode with your blanket statements about "minorities." Show more personal responsibility, and you wouldn't have to have every comment checked for user-agreement violations. It's on you.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2010-08-25T09:48:03-06:00

ID

159507

Comment

a government's role should be limited in our lives while protecting our liberties and I don't apologize for those views. But yet a majority of Republicans are against Pro-choice/abortion? Wouldn't pro-choice be considered as an individual liberty? Please correct me if I'm wrong? I'm just trying to reach a logical conclusion?

Author

Duan C.

Date

2010-08-25T10:34:48-06:00

ID

159509

Comment

Libertarians typically favor abortion rights, Duan -- one of their many differences with Republicans. True libertarians tend to be consistent with their small- or no-government views, and I respect them for that, even as I think they have unrealistic views about self-regulation. And I don't know many true Libertarians who take sides in partisan disputes between Dems and Republicans. Like independents, they typically call B.S. on both sides, as needed. Some people call themselves libertarians who seem to be anything but.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2010-08-25T11:49:20-06:00

ID

159511

Comment

Thanks Ladd for making me aware on that. When I seen the comment, a government's role should be limited in our lives but we have legislators blocking same sex marriage and wanting to reverse other measures - such as "planned parenthood" - I thought that sounded kind of hypocritical in regards to "conservative" issues

Author

Duan C.

Date

2010-08-25T12:08:55-06:00

ID

159515

Comment

Nearly all of the libertarians I have known have been against abortion rights, even though this baldly contradicts their professed beliefs. The controversy over abortion largely derives from the fact that people cannot agree over when personhood begins. Reasonable people disagree vehemently, and there is no way to settle the question with scientific evidence. You would think that libertarians would stand up for individual liberty on this question, trusting women and their doctors to make their own determination rather than imposing a decision by the government. But again, I have encountered very few avowed libertarians who were pro-choice. It strikes me as hypocrisy.

Author

Brian C Johnson

Date

2010-08-25T13:19:24-06:00

ID

159516

Comment

Really, Brian. Most libertarians I have known, outside Mississippi anyway, have been in favor of abortion rights. In Mississippi, I've met few so-called libertarians who seem to have any idea what libertarianism is, jacksonlibertarian (above) excluded, of course. Too many people around here seem to confuse it with corporate Republicanism, which in general seems more than willing to use difficult issues like abortion as a political wedge issue.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2010-08-25T14:50:14-06:00

ID

159527

Comment

The usual libertarian explanation for an anti abortion stance is that all people are worthy of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness regardless of age. Defining what consists of a person is a matter of opinion and probably always will be. You can see it both ways, which is why libertarians cannot be covered with a blanket statement. Personally I think most abortions are the result of dismal planning on the mother's part (and the father's) and cutting down on these should make everyone happy. Other cases are rather clear cut as necessary, such as those where the baby may not live but the mother will die. Still others fall into a gray area that makes all thinking people pause for at least a moment and wonder what they would do in the mother's shoes. As for the marriage issue most true libertarians are anti gay marriage, as well as anti straight marriage, as a function of government because we should have the freedom to associate with whom we choose based on our moral and/or religious beliefs. Paying the government to become married reeks of the stench of feudalism. Marriage should be a faith commitment or a personal one between two people, not a way for the government to punish those that wish to create a family unit by charging them a fee. We tend to be anti-drug war , anti-war for anything except to stop a clear and present danger to the soil of the USA , and lean towards more personal responsibility combined with less government involvement all around.

Author

Jacksonlibertarian

Date

2010-08-25T21:01:03-06:00

ID

159528

Comment

Maybe I've been talking to too many libertarians from Mississippi. On the other hand, the thought of talking to someone like Rick Santelli makes me ill. I look forward to reading more columns from you, Mr. Dennis.

Author

Brian C Johnson

Date

2010-08-25T21:03:48-06:00

ID

159545

Comment

Thanks Mark for recognizing my talents. I admit I consider you a talented writer and debater. I always knew you were an admirer of mines. Smile. I would like you more if you knowingly and purposely placed more humor in your posts. This is not to suggest that you don't make me laugh frequently. I still can't believe you can engage in such propaganda and make-believe with a straight face. I keep waiting on the punch line that never comes. I rarely miss the point, Mark. I just don't believe republicans any longer have a point. I watched the Bush years, you know. Reagan years, too. I admit Reagan did a few good things among many bad ones. He, he. Sadly, my buddy, Mark, the only thing the GOP, RNC, Conservatives and the TEA party got going for them right now is race and racism. Y'all should pray about half the country never overcomes this sickness. Otherwise, y'all are screwed. Keep up the good work though, Mark. I admire your talents!

Author

Walt

Date

2010-08-26T17:00:09-06:00

ID

159570

Comment

Duan, I'm pretty sure Walt picked up on Mark's attempt at damning with faint praise and he responded in kind. As for the GOP blogger, it was a good article.

Author

Jeff Lucas

Date

2010-08-27T07:51:59-06:00