What could be worse for gun advocates than bringing an assault rifle to a presidential speech?

First, consider that gun violence is never going away from the headlines.

Then, consider how the majority of gun violence is the result from a conflict (i.e. Beltway Sniper), sometimes sprinkled with crazy (Virginia Tech massacre).

Finally, connect the dots and realize that an assault rifle brought to a heated conflict – a group of people protesting the President – will induce the most negative images of gun ownership: horrific and senseless violence.

This one man’s actions brings unnecessarily negative attention on the dangers of gun ownership. From Yahoo News:

Fred Solop, a Northern Arizona University political scientist, said the incidents in New Hampshire and Arizona could signal the beginning of a disturbing trend.

“When you start to bring guns to political rallies, it does layer on another level of concern and significance,” Solop said. “It actually becomes quite scary for many people. It creates a chilling effect in the ability of our society to carry on honest communication.”

He said he’s never heard of someone bringing an assault weapon near a presidential event. “The larger the gun, the more menacing the situation,” he said.

In conclusion, if you don’t want the second amendment further jeopardized then don’t be like this jackass in the news. Instead, show you have respect and common sense by leaving your guns at home.

Categories: Politics, Rant
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Want to Change the World? Change the Tax Code – Dan Pallotta – HarvardBusiness.org.

In a recent Huffington Post blog post, Harvard Business School Professor Clayton Christensen encouraged the new White House Office of Social Innovation to, “break down an antiquated assumption that all social innovation is the province of the nonprofit sector. Our language, accounting conventions, capital markets and tax codes all amplify the binary belief that profit is the opposite of philanthropy and incompatible with social innovation. It isn’t.”

Give consumers tax-deductibility on products and services they buy from for-profit companies whose work have embedded social good. This would break the 501 (c) 3 monopoly on “charity” and allow a host of financially incentivized, for-profit players to enter the game. It would also give 501 (c) 3s the freedom to change their tax status and break the bonds of their restrictive operating rules. Most important, it would open the door to social change to the most powerful economic force know to humanity: the entrepreneurial spirit

Categories: Politics
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If only the ailing Glenn Beck, 16 months ago, had received the health care he’s raving about today.

Categories: Entertainment, Politics
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Seth's Blog

via Willfully ignorant vs. aggressively skeptical.

It’s easy to fit in by yelling out, and far more difficult to actually read and consider the facts.

Categories: Politics
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WhiteHouse.gov Blog

via The Return of the Viral Email.

8 ways reform provides security and stability to those with or without coverage:

• Ends Discrimination for Pre-Existing Conditions
• Ends Exorbitant Out-of-Pocket Expenses, Deductibles or Co-Pay
• Ends Cost-Sharing for Preventive Care
• Ends Dropping of Coverage for Seriously Ill
• Ends Gender Discrimination
• Ends Annual or Lifetime Caps on Coverage
• Extends Coverage for Young Adults
• Guarantees Insurance Renewal

Categories: Politics
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HarvardBusiness.org

via How Effective is American Healthcare?.

The United States gets the smallest bang for the buck in terms of life itself amongst developed countries: it realizes the lowest level of “life returns.”

Categories: Politics
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