The weekly Daley: Some thoughts from 2012

With a nod to Ian Fleming’s James Bond introducing himself:

“Cliff. Fiscal Cliff.”  It does seem as though Fiscal Cliff has taken on a persona of its own. It has become that “monster from under the bed” lurking out there that nobody wants (mostly) but nobody doesn’t not want bad enough to do something about it. Here comes Fiscal Cliff. Yikes, run for your life. We can only stand and stare stupidly while the monster, Godzilla-like, destroys everything we hold dear. I wouldn’t be surprised to find out that Fiscal Cliff is actually the missing piece of the Mayan Calendar — the piece that explained everything just before it caused the end of the world.

I’m picturing a gaggle of government employees throughout Washington, D.C., fingers poised over a big, red button, waiting for the order to PRESS said button. But that also brings up a picture of a smaller gaggle of government managers waiting for someone higher up to give the order to give the order to PRESS the button — and on up the organizational chart to the top — wherever and whoever that is.

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. 

How could something so simple and clear be so rightly and wrongly interpreted by so many to so many for so long?

I say, if you’re going to be a “strict constructionist,” then you have to stick to the language as written. That is, the reason we have the right to keep and bear arms is because a “well regulated militia is necessary to the security of a free state.” That sure sounds like the Founding Fathers intended gun-owners to be members of a state or local militia. I’d be OK with that.

“Any bad guy determined enough can find a gun somewhere” is one argument against any further gun control. My brother the conservative used that one on me just the other day. It couldn’t be more true. But if one takes it out to its logical extreme, that crime will happen no matter what, why have a police force or bother with rules against anything?

It seemed as though the 2012 election would never end. Polls and surveys described a nation sick to death of political ads and constant campaigning.  Now it’s not even two months past, and it’s only a dim memory. It’s kind of like we all took that drug you get before a colonoscopy or open heart surgery, the one that removes any memory of what just happened to you — for your own good. In my experience, that is a wonder drug, but I’m not so sure we should forget all the stuff that helped make the election process so dismal.

Remember Mitt Romney? Whatever happened to that guy? Or how about the 9.9.9. guy? I can’t remember his name. I can picture him, big as life, head of a big Pizza company, but the name is escaping me.

The San Francisco Giants swept the Detroit Tigers in four to claim their second World Series title in three years. It was over too soon. It should have gone to seven games — with the Giants winning at home in the bottom of the ninth.

Resolutions. I’m sticking with the ones I always make, the ones I can keep. Not overdoing my exercise, eating just the right amount of red meat, minimizing toxic situations involving toxic people. I like broccoli, so I wouldn’t mind eating more broccoli, alongside the red meat.

I hope your 2013 is everything you want and need it to be. Happy New Year!

Chris Daley is a staff writer and columnist for the Mountain Democrat. His column appears each Friday. 

Chris Daley

Chris has written a weekly column for the Democrat for more than 20 years and has Master’s Degrees in Russian History, Psychology and Career Counseling. He has been a staff writer for a number of years and enjoys it because he "learns so much about so many things."

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