NBC - "Charity is Bad"

Apparently, to the intellectual vapor-weights at NBC, Government Welfare is good, but private charity is bad.  That is the only take-away I can get from this piece about the West, TX fertilizer plant explosion.  You see, since Texas is a low tax, low spending, low regulation state, most of the victims of the blast are having to *gasp* rely on relatives, friends, and their community to get back on their feet.

Some of them -prepare yourselves, this is shocking- may even receive charitable (that is: "free") health care.

If only there were some way that taxpayers could involuntarily be put on the hook for... these things... that... they're already getting?

Seriously, I don't get what NBC (or the "experts" they sought out) thinks is wrong here.  Why should people in Beaumont or Amarillo be on the hook (involuntarily) for a fertilizer plant explosion in West?  Charitable contributions are pouring in.  Even NBC acknowledges that.  No one is going to the State with their hand out and being turned away- no one is going to the State with their hand out.  By way of example:

“I haven’t had any calls requesting assistance,” said Eva Cruz Hamby, who heads health services for McLennan County.

No.  Calls. For.  Assistance.

And somehow this is bad?

Of course it is.  If the nation heard about this in a positive light- a community, state, and nation coming together without any appreciable government assistance, people might get the idea that the Government shouldn't be in the charity business.  We can't let the Knights of Columbus and the Red Cross take care of everything; people might decide that those taxes that are going to various offices of emergency management, or paying for FEMA might be being wasted or something.  Heaven forbid that the American people be self-reliant and able to take care of their own affairs without Government intervention.

In its breathless reporting that nearly 1/4 of Texans don't have health insurance, it simply glosses over the fact that 100% of them have access to health care.  Every county has a county hospital which will provide care regardless of ability to pay.  Even most private hospitals (not-for-profit or otherwise) will do the same.  For the times when that isn't enough, other charities pay for people, neighbors help neighbors.

But to the idiots at NBC, this is a bad thing.  Because it proves the lie that the Government must be responsible for taking care of you.

Pioneer Project: Producing Projectiles Why Me?

You could take that question one of two ways.

If I'm asking it (that is, I'm saying, "Why me?" or you're saying, "Why you?") the answer is fairly simple- someone had to take this thing from a "plan to have a plan" stage to a "plan that we're trying to implement" stage.  And I volunteered.

If you're asking it (that is, You're saying "Why me?"), the answer is a little more difficult.  Why should you trust me, Some Internet Guy, with your hard-earned money?  Why should you care about this endeavor?

And I could answer "you have to trust someone," but a) that's not very helpful and b) it's not true.

So let's see if I can provide and answer that is both more helpful and true.

Either you believe that we're in dire straights in this country, or you don't.  If you don't, then read no further- there is no reason (beyond any generosity you may be feeling) to help us with the Pioneer Project.  If you do, however, then you have to ask yourself what you are going to do about it.

The sad fact is that "our" politicians do not listen to us because they are not "our" politicians.  They work for themselves and their own power (which is hardly surprising, however disappointing it may be).  Their power and privilege are best served by serving a variety of paymasters, none of whom are you and me.  This is even true of our political leaders who aren't supposed to be politicans (*ahem*SCOTUS*ahem*).

A further fact is that a reckoning is coming.  I don't know whether it's coming next week, next month, next year, or next decade.  I do know it's coming.  I further know that it isn't getting any further away.  It will never be longer until the reckoning occurs than it is today.

And that scares me.

So I and others on the Ace of Spades site proposed this project- a combining of efforts to see like-minded people through the hard times when that reckoning occurs.  But that project requires certain things- among them resources (particularly monetary and material).  Now, there are various ways we could get those resources, but we like the "self-reliance" model.

That is, we plan to provide a product that people want and sell it for a price they will pay.  Yes, this hand-loading endeavor will be "mine."  I (exclusively) will operate it at least in the early days.  Hopefully it will expand.  But a fair portion of the profits from that endeavor will be channeled back into the Pioneer Project to fund other people's projects.

Maybe you want to start a farm-to-market truck in a rural or semi-rural area.  The more resources we have, the better we can help you do that.

So I'm not asking you to give me money.  I'm asking you to invest in your future, and that of your family. 

Think it over.

Pioneer Project: Producing Projectiles

The first Project of the Pioneer Project has been decided upon: reloading.  Short version: see that pay-pal link over at the side?  Send it some cash.

Long version:
I will be getting the operation off the ground (if off the ground it can be gotten).  But there are lots of things that need to happen to make it legit (and not just a way for you to fund a fun new hobby of mine). 

First, there's an LLC.  If this is going to be for the Project, then it needs to be a seperate entity from any specific person in The Pioneer Project. 

Second, there's an FFL.  Well, really it's a quasi-FFL.  You don't need the full FFL just to sell ammunition, but you do need a Federal Permit which is quite like an FFL.

That paperwork costs money. 

Then you actually get into the practicum of re/loading ammunition.  Since I'm new at this, we'll be starting small.  I figure if I can produce 500 rounds per week pretty quickly, I'll be doing pretty good.  But there's equipment to be purchased- both durable equipment (like the press, dies, and so forth) and consumables (like brass, bullets, and powder).

Once I'm up and running, I'll expand.  Then I'll sell re/loaded ammunition to, well to anyone, but Pioneer Project members get first dibs.

So click that pay-pal "donate" link, and toss some coin our way.  It might well be a better investment than your stocks and bonds.

UPDATE:
I've received at least one request for a detailed breakdown on what your money gets you.

Below is a list of approximate costs.  The Pioneer Project will be getting an LLC as soon as possible.  Assuming the rest of the money comes together, we already have someone willing to donate both the legal time and the filing fee.

Manual Press		150.00
Die Sets		120.00
Shellplates		120.00
Scale		150.00
Calipers		30.00
Case Trimmer		100.00
Case Tumbler		60.00
Chronograph		100.00

In addition, there will be consumable materials- brass, primers, bullets, etc. I'm either going to start with .38/.357 or .45 Colt as I've been told it's better to start with revolver rounds until one is more comfortable with the process and getting precise length completed cartridges.

The Pioneer Project

The Declaration of Independence could describe modern times.  So could the Texas Declaration of Independence.  The Federal Government ignores the Constitution whenever, wherever, and however it wants.  The productive class is required to subsidize the unproductive class.  Hard work, far from being rewarded, is seen as some kind of greed or hate.  The desire to protect ones family, rather than being common sense, is painted as some kind of mental disease.

Liberal Politicians (from both Parties) seek to destroy your liberties.  The Media assists them.  From newscasts to weekly TV series American values are mocked and derided.  Things our parents would have been ashamed to see, let alone to do, are shown not only as though they are normal, but as if they are laudatory.

You don't agree with the status quo.  You still believe in hard work.  You still believe that the first place someone should look for support is family, then Church, then community.  You believe that the Rule of Law is still important.

You are not alone.  Millions of Americans still believe in hard work and family.  Millions of Americans still believe in the Promise of Liberty.

But what can we do against the status quo?  How can we fight back to regain our Liberties and reassert our values?

Let me introduce you to the Pioneer Project.  Like our spiritual ancestors- the American Pioneers- we believe in hard work, liberty, and opportunity.  Your life will be as rich, or as poor, as you make

The purpose of the Pioneer Project is three-fold.

(1) The primary mission is to provide material and financial assistance to any member attempting to set their proverbial stake in the ground and get to work.

(2)The second mission is to provide training and intellectual assistance to anyone, member or otherwise, who also wants to go on their own.

(3) The third mission is to connect all these individuals in a community of trust and mutual ambition.