Tag: guns

health, healthcareLeave a comment

Why we can’t have essential things

Mark Cathcart

The meme But this is much less funny. The drug companies have been conspiring to raise the prices for generic drugs. albuterol, sold by generic manufacturers Mylan and Sun, jumped more than 3,400 percent, from 13 cents a tablet to more than $4.70. https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/investigation-of-generic-cartel-expands-to-300-drugs/2018/12/09/fb900e80-f708-11e8-863c-9e2f864d47e7_story.html?utm_term=.4ec5cbabdebd Continue reading Why we can’t have essential things

Life, politics, religionLeave a comment

What’s the deal with guns?

Mark Cathcart

Again, skirting around the election, whenever the topic of guns in America comes up, usually after yet-another-mass-shooting, I simply don’t understand. I have no context. I recently had the chance to hear Guardian journalist Gary Younge discuss his new book “Another Day in the Death of America: A Chronicle of Ten Short Lives” (via @amazon), with BBC Radio London, broadcaster and journalist, Robert Elms. So much rang true. It was great hearing two people discuss guns and the bizarre attitudes towards them in the USA. Among the qoutes, and the serious discussions about 10 kids being killed by guns, the … Continue reading What’s the deal with guns?

Life, Politics, politics, travelLeave a comment

She said, he said

Mark Cathcart

Friday evening we were waiting for a table for dinner, or a place at the bar, everything was looking pretty busy. I stood at the bar by a couple that looked like they were finished eating, but couldn’t get the attention of the bar staff. “She” spoke up to get the barmans attention. I thanked her and after we’d got our drinks, and cleared up that I wasn’t from Australia, the conversation went like this: Her: How are things in Europe? Me: Not so good, Nice sounds terrible. I suspect though at 7pm tonight, at a bar somewhere in Europe … Continue reading She said, he said

politicsLeave a comment

Texas is an Ass

Mark Cathcart

Just this week, Governor Abbott vetoed what many consider a key mental health provision, and given many of the continuing gun massacres are blamed on mental health issues, add that to guns in Texas, and a lot of people are upset with Abbott. This post isn’t about guns, or mental health, or bashing Republicans. It doesn’t really matter what side of the political spectrum you are on, Texas pride aside. The Governor and Legislator are increasingly making Texas look like an ass. I’m not talking about all the seemingly dumb laws on the books, or, the way and process the … Continue reading Texas is an Ass

Life, politicsLeave a comment

Something for the weekend – Ruby Ridge

Mark Cathcart

I continue to try to get behind some the things held as “norms” here in Texas, and more broadly in America. This week has seen many examples of the gun lobby an the freedom from big government get riled up. Even as a Brit’ I watched with amazement the FBI “invasion” at the Siege of Waco on UK TV. But the whole episode waas too easily dismissed when you stand back and look at those involved, almost as easy as “nut jobs!”. I came across the story of a Texas Resident John Joe Gray, who is still holed up as … Continue reading Something for the weekend – Ruby Ridge

LifeLeave a comment

Bullets gone wild

Mark Cathcart

So here is one for the conspiracy theorists. According to Jim Hightower, writing in the Austin Chronicle, the DHS has puchased 100 years worth of bullets. That equates to 1.6 billion bullets. Buying in bulk always gets a good price, how else can you explain the rise of Costco? The agency currently uses some 15 million bullets per year, which I presume are all for target practice. At the peak of the Iran war, our Army was shooting 6 million rounds per month, so that would allow the TSA to wage a 20-year war on us. The good news is … Continue reading Bullets gone wild

Life, Politics, politics5 Comments

Civilians, the Vietnam War, gun control

Mark Cathcart

I didn’t move to America until 1982, the almost 20-year war was well over by the time I got to NY. I worked with a few managers who’d been in various services roles, allegedly my favorite VP was in a navy seal underwater demolition expert. The war was mostly never discussed. I saw the films, as far as I recall I slept through most of Apocalypse Now not once, but twice. Last night I sat gripped through Zero Dark Thirty, as a docu-drama it was pretty good, didn’t waste time glamorizing the death of Osama bin Laden, and seemed at least to present … Continue reading Civilians, the Vietnam War, gun control

Life, PoliticsLeave a comment

Gun for sale?

Mark Cathcart

Friday up the road in Georgetown Texas a man in dressed in camouflage clothes walked through a neighborhood and was openly carrying a rifle. He was duly arrested without incident according to this report in the Austin American Statesmans Blotter blog. There isn’t much detail, but in the rush to publish, along with lack of likely follow-up, since there was no incident, the Statesman and the other mass media outlets are missing a useful opportunity to inform people about the gun control debate. I think what would be really useful for gun arrests/incidents now would be the answer to the … Continue reading Gun for sale?

Life, Politics, politicsLeave a comment

Texas, It’s not like anywhere else

Mark Cathcart

Living in Austin it’s all to easy to think you are in Texas, but really like it’s often said “Austin is a liberal oasis in Texas“. More often, Austin isn’t in Texas, but you can see it from here! One of the first things I had to get used to is the Texas Legislator only being in town once every 2-years. That’s right, in what seems a total anomaly  the elected officials of the State of Texas are only in the capital to make/pass law every two years.  I’d guess this stems from the days when they had to ride horses to get to … Continue reading Texas, It’s not like anywhere else