1. What is a conservative?
2. What about shooting victims that survive?

We have gone through an absolute convulsion of media micro coverage on the Charlie Kirk shooting. One of the most interesting offshoots was the firing of Jimmy Kimmel for making an innocent comment. It had nothing to do with the comment but instead had everything to do with using the incident to accrue power to the executive against the constitution.

We must have heard a thousand times that Charlie Kirk was a ‘conservative.’ No one explained how Kirk was a conservative or how he practiced his conservatism. Whenever I hear the use of such all encompassing words it gets me to wondering just what the user means. In this case I think it is just lazy journalism. 

Words such as ‘conservative’ have become trigger words that are meant to evoke an often erroneous image in the listeners mind. ‘Conservative’ has been shaped to evoke the image of someone who believes in a long established set of rules and norms that are the basis for sound and sane society.

For instance most would say conservatives defend intelligent use of our resources such as nature, money and manpower. It also evokes the image of a person very much in control of themselves, not prone to impulsive actions, deliberate in their thoughts and actions.

Now think of those who claim the mantle of conservative. For the most part they are destroying nature and causing irreversible climate change; their policies often do not make any monetary sense; their actions are often impulsive and poorly thought out (use of guns). As for self control, they are often led by a pack leader (such as a wealthy strong man) and seldom act outside the pack.

If you think about it this is hardly the image the lazy journalist conveys when they blankly utter the phrase ‘conservative’ as in ‘conservative Charlie Kirk.’ When you think of what Kirk did, it was hardly ‘conservative.’ He was much more of a far right radical extremist than someone who was trying to save and maintain a society.

But of course for today’s mass media lazy journalism that doesn’t rouse the wrath of the king is the coin of the realm these days. So our pathetic, corporate media spent precious air time making an extremist into a Marty. It always helps to have a bag of reliable words at the ready.

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My second thought related to Kirk is why do we never hear of what happens to those shot and injured. I guess most of us just kind of assume that those victims, since they didn’t die are able to go merrily on their way and resume life. But when we all think about it, if you have been shot, there is a very good chance you will have life altering problems.

But in our society even if you have such life altering problems due to someone else’s shooting of a gun you are saddled with the financial responsibility for the rest of your life. Maybe a person needs special living accommodations? Perhaps round the clock nursing care? Maybe they can never work again? 

Miya Rodolfo-Siosan (4 minutes)

Long time Iowans can remember back to the November 1991 shooting on Iowa’s campus by graduate student Gang Lu. Lu killed himself and six others died from gunshot wounds delivered by Lu. However, one victim survived. Miya Rodolfo-Siosan was permanently paralyzed from that day until her death in 2008.

From https://nihcm.org/publications/gun-violence-the-impact-on-society we get just a glimpse of the effect of gun violence on those who survive:

“An average of 118 people a day died from a gun-related incident in 2023. For every person who dies by firearm, more than two survive, often with significant and expensive mental and physical injuries. {ed note: That is ~40,000 dead and over 100,000 who survive and must figure out how to live a year}

In June 2024, US Surgeon General, Vivek Murthy, MD, issued a Surgeon General’s Advisory on Firearm Violence, the first publication from the Office of the Surgeon General dedicated to the health issue. 

Gun violence has significant health and economic consequences, especially among child and adolescent survivors. Gun violence can place a strain on health care systems, with survivors increasing hospitalizations and spending by 1,449% and 1,713% respectively.

Gun violence in the US has steep economic consequences, totaling $557 billion in 2022. Most significant are the quality-of-life costs, which include the value of pain and well-being lost by survivors of firearm injuries, decedents, and their families.”

The numbers and the consequences of gun related deaths and injuries to our society is simply staggering – way over half a trillion dollars a year!

It is way past time to stand up to those who allow this carnage to continue.