I read a comment by one of my uninformed readers. This person claimed the I should ‘thank right wing extremists for fighting for my rights.’ Really? I don’t quite see it that way, but then I worked for a living, and am retired on a fixed income. Simply put, I’m a normal person who has been sold to special interests.

The only ‘right’ extremists in the GOP work to protect is a misguided view of the 2^nd Amendment. The truth is that they are supporting the NRA gun lobby, who represent gun manufacturers and gun sellers. They have no concern about the lives of innocent men and women who are murdered every day by the use of a gun. They protect the rights of suspected terrorists to purchase assault rifles. They support heavily armed radical militias who perform acts of domestic terrorism such as the situation in Oregon.

These extremists want to revoke the 1^st, 4^th, 14^th, and 15^th Amendments. They are not protecting my rights; they seek to destroy my rights and those of others whom they believe inferior to them.

I do not believe in organized religion; it makes no sense to seek advice or instruction from another man. God gave us free will for a reason. However, I strongly support the 1^st Amendment. Religious freedom is the cornerstone upon which our nation was founded. I also support the part which commands that ‘no religion will be established as a national religion. Right wing extremists seek to violate the 1^st amendment and install Christian religious fantasy as the only faith in the land. If you believe in a major religion, you believe in fairy tales, ghosts, and wizardry.

Right wing extremists support the Patriot Act. Under provisions of this unconstitutional law, the 4^th Amendment has been revoked. Government agencies and law enforcement are allowed to invade our privacy through searches of our electronics and personal records without a court-issued warrant under sections of the Patriot Act. Across the United States, law enforcement agencies have seized millions of dollars in assets and cash from law abiding citizens, under provisions of the Patriot Act, if they ‘suspect drug enforcement violations.’ Valuables and cash confiscated by the authorities are seldom returned. Once again; who’s protecting me here? Right wing extremists support the Patriot Act and deny 4^th Amendment rights.

The 14^th Amendment requires ‘equal protection under the law’ for all Americans. The GOP doesn’t believe in this part of the Constitution. Although the Supreme Court cited this amendment when upholding same-sex marriage, extremists on the right seek to revoke the 14^th amendment and overturn the Court’s decision. They claim it is based on Christian beliefs, but the truth is that they are supporting special interests. Businesses would be forced to pay minimum wage, and contribute to social security, Medicare, and workman’s compensation. Once again; whose rights are they fighting for?

The 15^th Amendment “prohibits the denial of the right to vote based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude.” Attempts by GOP governors in some states are changing the voting laws. Their intention is to reduce the number of minorities who appear at the voting booths. They falsely claim that these laws are needed to reduce ‘voter fraud.’ The truth is that voter fraud exists in only .012 percent of investigated cases. Minorities usually vote for Democrats.

So, disgruntled reader; which of my rights are they fighting to protect? The way I see it, they are simply bowing to their owners; the one-percent and the Christian religious right. (Please re-blog.)

Op-Ed

By James Turnage

Photo Courtesy of Chris Yarzab

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