Articles written by Rick Fontes - Page 2

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About me - Rick Fontes

A photographer by trade, specializing in child portraiture. A curmudgeon by inclination and, I suppose, a frustrated philosopher of sorts.

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Politics, News & Issues > Drug Laws & Prevention Solving the problem of drug trafficking: 6 of 27
Our US Federal Government stands poised to throw many millions of dollars more into the failed war on drugs. Recent headlines proclaim "Millions more to Mexico" to support its battle against the drug dealers. The officials involved on both sides of the border speak of how this increased funding will lead to victory over thos... More..
Politics, News & Issues > US Politics (Other) Has the voter become irrelevant in US politics: 7 of 30
Consent of the governed is the most fundamental pillar of our American system of government. With the tyranny of European monarchy fresh in their memories, the founding fathers crafted a form of government dedicated to the principles of equality. They felt it important that no one citizen or group of citizens be be made supe... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Government & Policies The American Revolution II: 2 of 8
Revolution. What a soul-stirring word. Revolution. By definition, the overthrow of a government, form of government, or social system by those governed and usually by forceful means, with another government or system taking its place. There are many of us who feel that the United States is ripe for a second revolution. We co... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Political & Economic Theory Political theory: Relevant or passe: 2 of 8
One definition of "theory" is : A speculative idea or plan as to how something might be done. Using this definition, a theory has no practical value until it is proven to be workable and then is implemented. At that point it ceases to be theory and becomes established fact. The constitution of the United States was not draft... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Constitutional & Contract Law Constitutional enumerated powers of the American government: 1 of 4
The United States of America represents the grandest experiment in democracy ever attempted on planet Earth. Our form of government is anchored by one document, the Constitution of the United States of America. The founding fathers, knowing the likelihood that the men elected to office in the future would seek to increase th... More..
Politics, News & Issues > International Politics (Other) How President Bush is ending the Wild West in his administration's foreign policy: 1 of 4
I am reminded of a cartoon I saw years ago in a humor magazine. It depicted a a lynch mob running down the main street of some dusty western town. A man running at the front of the mob is asking of the fellow carrying the rope, "This lowdown skunk we're afixin' to hang, what did he do?" History may be written by the winner b... More..
Politics, News & Issues > US Elections (Other) Should voters have to pass a civics test to be able to vote?: 1 of 4
Many laws have been written to extend guaranteed suffrage to various groups within our nation. The question arises each election cycle as to whether one group or another is the target of an effort to curtail their right to vote and the courts will usually come down very heavily on the side of universal suffrage. As long as t... More..
Politics, News & Issues > US News Vermont movement to secede from the United States: 6 of 22
Who would have believed it? Travel back a few decades in time and the only folks talking about secession were here in Texas. We have long held a popular myth that Texas somehow retained the right to secede from the union based on our former status as a genuine sovereign nation. Whenever the subject was mentioned outside Texa... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Government & Policies Do we need a new Constitution?: 3 of 11
How could we possibly assume that we need a new constitution when we have never given the current one a chance. The genius of the United States Constitution lies in its simplicity. The framers crafted a splendid document designed to direct the activities of the three branches of government while providing adequate checks and... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Homeland Security Rolling in a national database for identifying US residents: The Real ID Law: 4 of 14
The Real ID law is one of the most hotly contested pieces of legislation in recent memory. Most of the arguments, pro or con, seem to focus on this new law as if it were a stand alone event. The Real ID law is far from a unique, self-contained work. On its face it purports to provide law enforcement and security personnel wi... More..