Isn’t it about time America shed its pseudo-history. Historians have exploded the myth of the isolated frontiersman. But every wingnut, abuser and basically violent soul still points to the second amendment of the Constitution as justification for antisocial and pathological behavior, if not outright savagery. The aura of violence created by the second amendment has cost us public figures from presidents to rock stars, not to mention thousands and tens of thousands on the streets every year. We see that basic antisocial hooliganism once again in the reactionary response to the present push for decent universal insurance, something the citizens of every ‘advanced’ nation, except ourselves, take for granted. But then, of course, we are not an advanced nation. The richest nation in the world is not only not a culture – unless whole-cow hamburgers and adulterated colas constitute a cultural base – we are not even a society. We have no basic social community. And I would suggest that this lack of social cohesion in America is precisely a consequence of attitudes fostered by the second amendment.

            The bulk of Americans are decent, law-abiding and relatively rational citizens. There is no reason why we should not enter the ranks of truly civilized nations, except for this screaming, vicious minority – a screaming, vicious minority that the oligarchs, the super wealthy, traditionally exploit to subvert any movement toward democracy that might lessen the success of their greed : something we are seeing again today, in the responses to the movement for universal decent health care.

            It’s time we begin to squelch this vicious and violent minority. Repealing the second amendment would send a clear message.