I sit here just days away from the end of the year, a time of the year full of celebrations and holidays and I cannot believe how sad and disgusted I am with today's NRA press conference and last night's radical right obstruction of government.

 These 2 events are so clearly tied together. How have we come to the point in our society that a small fringe element can control and harm all of us. How can a tiny section of Washington be so powerful and rabid that their renegade behavior is in opposition to even their own party. And then, in both cases the victim is blamed. The Republican party now tries to claim that it will be the White House's fault if no agreement is reached and the NRA claims that had there been MORE guns the hands of the public,  the many recent mass shootings would not have occurred.

Does any rational person believe that the solution to violent gun crime is to arm principals and teachers?   Does anyone out there really think that we should put an armed guard in every school. Should every theater usher have a gun? How about every fast food cashier, there have been mass shootings in movie theaters and fast food joints.

Does anyone out there think that with our current deficit, raising taxes on those earning more than $1 million dollars a year is a bad thing? First $250,000 would not fly, then $400,000. Now the Republican party feels the need to protect those taking home more than an even cool million per year. Their argument that greater tax of these high earners will harm the economy is nonsense. Every single non-partisan unbiased look at the deficit agrees that a blend of higher taxes and lower spending is the only solution.

How long will Americans continue to tolerate such behaviors in the public or private sectors?

not enough said