A trusted friend recently asked if I had seen the film “The Siege of Ruby Ridge.”  I had not before but took the opportunity to do so.  Considering that Hollywood is a lie factory, the film seems fairly honest, as far as one can tell.

Let’s always remember the facts.  Federal agents, in a clear case of entrapment, made a charge against Randy Weaver in an attempt to coerce him to testify against others, which he refused.  He failed to comply with an  order to appear in federal court, knowing that he would be imprisoned or coerced.

Six Federal marshals, heavily armed and in camo and body armor, invaded the Weaver’s land.  The did not announce themselves as law officers on legitimate duty.  One agent blew a hole in the back of the Weavers’ 14-year-old son  as he was retreating.  A friend living with the Weavers killed the shooter. 

The death of a federal officer incited even more brutal reprisal.  The Weaver homestead was soon surrounded and besieged by 200  “law officers”  from six different agencies, with armoured vehicles.  Federal officials changed the rules of engagement to allow their people to kill on sight.  A foreign mercenary, hired and trained by the U.S. government, firing from concealment, murdered Vicki Weaver. 

Remember:  Mrs. Weaver, an American woman against whom there were no charges, was standing in the doorway of her home holding her baby when she was murdered by the U.S. government.  It is hard to imagine any more flagrant abuse of citizens by federal power. In a sane and free  society Vicki Weaver would have a monument and a commemorative postage stamp.  In later court testimony, the assassin seemed satisfied with his act.

The siege continued for a week.   Besieged were Randy Weaver and his friend, both wounded, and three little girls, one an infant.  The besieged finally surrendered and Weaver was later exonerated in court.  None of the federal murderers received any punishment.

Along with the later murders by federal agents  at Waco, the truth ought to have sunk in.  Federal agents can freely kill innocent people if the people have been demonized by the press as right wing.  If you are a normal American, an unwoke and disobedient  “deplorable” as Hillary Clinton put it, or one of Obama’s contemptible people who cling to their guns and Bibles, remember you are fair game.

The Library of Congress sells reproductions of the “three most important” American historical documents: The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Emancipation Proclamation.  The first two are about self-government of the people.  The third is an unconstitutional executive order designed to encourage murder of Americans who did not obey federal power under the Republican party.  It did not free a single person.

Lightfoot Lindsay Graham is at it again. He now and then sends out slick multicoloured mailings to remind South Carolinians what a brave and stalwart conservative he is. I have noticed that these promotions have become less frequent lately. Perhaps because his great funder, the gambling king Adelson, has passed away.

In the latest he reminds us that he stood valiantly against the recent unqualified Supreme Court appointment. Of course it was going to pass anyway. But his latest bold gesture was a recommendation for the murder of the Russian leader who has thwarted the U.S. war-making Deep State. Need we say that this pseudo-macho posturing is not only beneath the dignity of a Senator but also an illustration of a shallow adolescent mind.

Your President, sworn to faithfully execute the laws and defend the Union, has now released into “your country” enough illegal aliens to outnumber the voting population of several States.
 
During the recent French elections I was struck by an ad for the pro-immigration forces. A comely young African woman asks a candidate: “Would you oppose someone like me coming to France for a better life?” This was considered a definitive putdown of a candidate opposed to mass immigration. Who but a bad person could possibly oppose someone wanting to improve his or her life?

This illustrates a major defect in our public discourse these days. The whole statement is momentary, personal, and emotional. Larger issues and time frame do not even appear relevant. What is France? Is it a resource for any foreigner who wants to improve their life? What does this mean for the French people, many of whom would like to improve their lives? Why doesn’t this educated person do something to improve the life of her benighted country rather than become a parasite on another people?