“Former New
York Mayor Michael Bloomberg ramped up his efforts to fight gun violence on
Wednesday with a plan to spend $50 million on a grassroots network to organize
voters on gun control… Bloomberg's group, called Every Town for Gun Safety, will
focus on state and local lawmakers, ‘corporate boards, and state and federal
elections - fields of play formerly occupied almost solely by the gun lobby,’
according to a statement” (Former
New York Mayor Bloomberg to spend $50 million in anti-gun drive).
Imagine if
anti-gun billionaire Bloomberg spent $50 million to focus on the causes of
urban crime, such as mental illness, poverty, unemployment, and illiteracy.
Moreover, imagine “focusing action on crime and anti-social behavior hotspots,
repeat victims, and prolific or high volume offenders” instead of lobbying
prodigiously with affluence for more gun control for law-abiding citizens who
own legal guns (Debating
Gun Control and Illinois Conceal Carry).
A righteous,
delusional billionaire is throwing his money at organizing voters on gun
control. But why?
It appears
that Bloomberg believes regulation of nonviolent citizens, who are proficient
in handling a weapon, will reduce urban crime, even though depriving upstanding
citizens’ constitutional right of self-defense against felons will not prevent
violent crimes (The
Folly of More Restrictions...).
Seemingly,
Bloomberg also believes that exorbitantly funding the control of guns, aimed at peaceable
citizens, will diminish criminal behaviors, even though channeling millions of
dollars for gun control legislation will not deter criminals or deranged
terrorists from obtaining and using illegal weapons (A
Letter to a Friend about Gun Control).
“Bloomberg
detailed his plans in an interview with the New York Times published Monday — in
which he predicted his crusades
against guns, smoking, and obesity would serve him well in the afterlife” (Business
Insider).
“In his own
words: ‘I am telling you if there is a God, when I get to heaven I’m not
stopping to be interviewed. I am heading straight in. I have earned my place in
heaven. It’s not even close’” (Michael
Bloomberg Is Starting a Gun Control Organization to take on the NRA).
Oddly
reminiscent of Illinois Governor Pat Quinn’s grandiose delusion: “I know that I
was put on earth to get [pension reform] done”; evidently, Bloomberg thinks he
can buy his way into a “heaven” that confusingly depends upon a belief in a monotheistic
“God” and, of course, that perplexing pre-interview at the porthole of the
so-called “pearly gates.”
I once heard “It [was] easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a
rich man to enter the kingdom of God” (Matthew 19. 24). However, that's a different issue of control, isn't it?
Glen, I like and respect you tremendously. But I could not disagree more fiercely on gun control. And I'd strongly advise you not to label Bloomberg delusional. He's many things but delusional is not one of them. There are millions of us who want strong gun control, but we usually don't vote or donate money or time with the monomaniacal obsession of NRA extremists. But after each mass shooting - and they're coming closer and closer together - more people wondering why a gun should be as easy (in some places) to buy as a cheeseburger or paperback novel. The forces are mounting - a motivated billionaire just might help us hit critical mass. You underestimate him at your peril.
ReplyDeleteMr. Sasso,
DeleteYou are obviously oblivious to the violent crime in this world that occurs without the use of a firearm. Apparently you have no problem with the government CONTROLLING your every move. You are part of the sheep, that when the time comes to protect yourself will run to those that are prepared. Mayor Bloomberg is a lunatic. Research the Bible if you are a Christian on the use of deadly force to protect yourself and loved ones.
Richard, please read Bloomberg's interview with the NY Times and his quotation again: "I am telling you if there is a God, when I get to heaven I’m not stopping to be interviewed. I am heading straight in. I have earned my place in heaven. It’s not even close." This is a delusional zealot speaking.
ReplyDeleteUnbelievable rhetoric, how arrogant is THAT to say "when I get to heaven".....good GOD, what presumption, good grief, where is his money to help the poor, disorientated, deceived, helpless, elderly, disabled, misinformed, delusional, uneducated, starving, sick slaves in our society? Ignorance is bliss, we all KNOW what makes a violent sick society.......no jobs, no security of financial savings, no good health because of people like Bloomberg and their corporations of profit over the essentials for the human being.....clean air, clean water, clean land, decent job for a decent shelter with clean no-chems food with opportunity to work hard to become as highly educated as possible for EACH AND EVERY INDIVIDUAL CITIZEN IN THIS COUNTRY. THAT is what will stop crime.............duh.
DeleteNow that money is speech, these self-appointed representatives of God can pick any pet issues they want to spend their millions on. Take away their billions and end the monstrous economic inequality we have and watch gun violence decrease by leaps and bounds.
ReplyDelete"Now that money is speech..." speaking of being delusional. Money has always talked. It is only now that it occurs blatantly and in the open. Now, because money has bought & arranged our governmental systems and has such controls money fears nothing, except maybe mass civil unrest & violence. And it would have to be far greater than the actions of the 60's due to monies control of 99% o the media.
ReplyDeleteFrom a Colleague:
ReplyDeleteGlen, this reminds me of that terrific Edward Gorey cartoon with the word nothing spelled out in giant, stone letters and people prostrating. The caption reads, "Is NOTHING sacred?" Apparently so! First the man buys himself a third term, then he has the hubris to state that he can buy his way into the Pearly Gates! He's a Reform Jew (as am I, so I feel that I can say this) and he needs to go back and study with the rabbis--all of this is explained, studied and discussed, and, for all the bad he's already done (help decimate the middle class, make the poor poorer & the rich richer, impose his arrogant will upon the people of NYC, and last--but certainly not least--rob the city's children of their public education)--some of which has quite possibly been the causation of gun violence--the scales are tipped, and not in his favor.
The best thing that he can do for everyone is to go away and leave us alone--as I'd suggested in a mass e-mail about the Kochs, MB should purchase a private island for all his family & friends. He can declare himself ruler (why not? He's already done it once!) and set his own laws to his heart's content.
That's my story & I'm stickin' to it!—C
From Mark Pennington:
ReplyDeleteThink of all the good that his money could be used for.... Instead it is for the purpose of self-adulation and, dare I say, some hidden profit motive. That is the cynic in me.
From John Alletto:
ReplyDeleteHe's gonna change the USA.....Dictator Bloomberg would love to change what you eat, drink and everything else in your life. He has already stated that you need to give up your rights to the government for your own good because they know better.
Glen, perhaps we shouldn't confuse a large ego or rhetorical bravado with delusion. The man built a media business information empire from the ground up and then started out in politics at the level of mayor of New York. This is a man who understands the world with exquisite precision, believe me. And he has done a lot of good for people with his wealth. And he still has plenty of it. Money is the mother milk of politics. He may have failed once before with his "Demand a Plan" campaign, but he can afford to fail - time and again.
ReplyDeleteHe simply disagrees with you about gun control. And I am not wrong about political opinion on gun control in this country- any pollster will tell you among suburban and urban women, from their teen years on, support for gun control builds with every year they age. Elderly women are nearly the mirror image of the NRA. They just need mobilizing - and a 72 year old multi-billionaire with one thing on his mind might just do that.
"...Bloomberg has taken from workers, vetoing the Prevailing Wage Bill while likening the higher wage campaign to communism. He has taken from children through cutbacks to child care and after-school programs. He has taken funding from the homeless and he has taken away the dignity and civil rights of minorities through his 'stop and frisk' policy. A long-term pattern of taking from the poor and redistributing to the rich has caused New York City to become the most unequal city in the U.S...."
ReplyDeleteFrom NationofChange at: http://www.nationofchange.org/20-richest-americans-takers-not-makers-1390833796
“Some gun control proponents simply lack the prudence or empathy to imagine themselves at the mercy of a violent criminal. This is often especially true of the rich and famous, epitomized by Michael Bloomberg, who live in fortified compounds and are attended by private security guards paid to confront whatever danger might present itself. These elites consider facing physical risk to be someone else's job, just like the servants who take out their garbage or clean their toilets. Most Americans, however, are not so fortunate. If they and their loved ones are going to be protected at all from violent crime, they must see to it themselves” (Antigun Journalist Admits Wife Wished for Gun When Criminal Struck).
ReplyDelete