Recently, a friend loaned me a novel entitled "Unintended Consequences." It chronicles, with fact'n fiction, historical and recent events involving our Constitution and, in particular, the 2nd Amendment. The book, in parts, is 'mature' reading; however, in context, appropriate for the 'real and fictionalized' situations portrayed. Given the changed discourse in our Country today in which Traditional American Values are being denigrated by the momentum of 'social progressivism', this book will give you fresh insights into our past and potential future, albeit fiction.
It is important to note: "The reactive, violent, and illegal actions perpetrated by characters in the book, be they private citizens, military, or government, fictional or real, are not in any way condoned, encouraged, or approved as acceptable actions for anyone to take." -- rfh
It is important to note: "The reactive, violent, and illegal actions perpetrated by characters in the book, be they private citizens, military, or government, fictional or real, are not in any way condoned, encouraged, or approved as acceptable actions for anyone to take." -- rfh
| Author, John Ross's "Frequently Asked Questions" (FAQs) page  |
From Wikipedia at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unintended_Consequences_(novel)
(For the "Law of unintended consequences", see Unintended consequence)
Unintended Consequences is a novel by author John Ross, first published in 1996 by Accurate Press.[1]The story chronicles the history of the gun culture, gun rights and gun control in the United States from the early 1900s through the late 1990s. Although clearly a work of fiction, the story is heavily laced with historical information, including real-life historical figures who play minor supporting roles. The novel also features unusually detailed and intricate facts, figures and explanations of many firearms-related topics. The cover has a picture of Lady Justice being assaulted by an ATF agent.
Background
The story hinges upon the enactment and subsequent unintended consequences of several important pieces of U.S. gun control legislation and regulation: the National Firearms Act of 1934, the Gun Control Act of 1968, the Firearm Owners Protection Act of 1986, the Assault Weapons Importation Ban enacted by Presidential executive order in 1989 and the Federal Assault Weapons Ban of 1994.
Its thesis, as discussed in the Author's Note - A Warning and Disclaimer in the beginning of the book, is that enough bullying by what is widely perceived as a hostile occupation government will inevitably end in revolt if the occupied area is large enough and has a culture that is significantly different from the occupying state, and that this revolt will be undefeatable if the rebels use very low-tech "leaderless resistance."
Fictionalized accounts of historical events
The story contains several fictionalized accounts of real-life historical events. The author inserts fictional characters, dialog and the unspoken thoughts of real persons into these events. These events are not merely used as settings or backdrops for the action in the novel; instead, detailed treatments of some of these events occupy dozens of pages. In particular, the following events are featured prominently:
- Bonus Army March on Washington, DC (1932)
- Warsaw Ghetto Uprising (1943)
- Ken Ballew raid (1971)
- MOVE raid in Philadelphia (1985)
- FBI shootout in Miami (1986)
- John Lawmaster raid in Tulsa (ATF) (1991)
- Ruby Ridge incident in Idaho (1992)
- Waco Siege (1993)
- Oklahoma City bombing (1995)
Publication and reception
The book is out of print in its hardcover form. The hardcover edition is available for used purchase. The novel has sold over 60,000 copies over four printings.[3] The author's web site states that he is working on a shorter sequel that was originally scheduled for publication in 2006. However, this sequel has not yet been released.[4]
References
- ^ Ross, John (Jan 1996). Unintended Consequences. St. Paul, Mn: Accurate Press. pp. 863. ISBN 978-1888118049. Retrieved 2010-09-05.
- ^ Author's website
- ^ a b John Ross.net FAQ
- ^ Author's FAQ
- ^ Michel, Lou and Herbeck, Dan. American Terrorist. p. 304.
- Contact the Author at: http://john-ross.net/contact.php
Sources
External links
Unintended Consequences
The law of unintended consequences, often cited but rarely defined, is that actions of people—and especially of government—always have effects that are unanticipated or unintended. Economists and other social scientists have heeded its power for centuries; for just as long, politicians and popular opinion have largely ignored it.
The concept of unintended consequences is one of the building blocks of economics. Adam Smith’s “invisible hand,” the most famous metaphor in social science, is an example of a positive unintended consequence. Smith maintained that each individual, seeking only his own gain, “is led by an invisible hand to promote an end which was no part of his intention,” that end being the public interest. “It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, or the baker, that we expect our dinner,” Smith wrote, “but from regard to their own self interest.”
Most often, however, the law of unintended consequences illuminates the perverse unanticipated effects of legislation and regulation.
The first and most complete analysis of the concept of unintended consequences was done in 1936 by the American sociologist Robert K. Merton. In an influential article titled “The Unanticipated Consequences of Purposive Social Action,” Merton identified five sources of unanticipated consequences. The first two—and the most pervasive—were “ignorance” and “error.”
Merton labeled the third source the “imperious immediacy of interest.” By that he was referring to instances in which someone wants the intended consequence of an action so much that he purposefully chooses to ignore any unintended effects. (That type of willful ignorance is very different from true ignorance.)
The law of unintended consequences provides the basis for many criticisms of government programs. As the critics see it, unintended consequences can add so much to the costs of some programs that they make the programs unwise even if they achieve their stated goals.The law of unintended consequences is at work always and everywhere.
-- excerpts from: Rob Norton
at the source: http://www.econlib.org/library/Enc/UnintendedConsequences.html
at the source: http://www.econlib.org/library/Enc/UnintendedConsequences.html
 |  Unintended Consequences |
About the Author: http://www.econlib.org/library/Enc/UnintendedConsequences.html#abouttheauthor
Rob Norton is an author and consultant and was previously the economics editor of Fortune magazine.
Further Reading
Bastiat, Frédéric. “What Is Seen and What Is Not Seen.”
Online at: http://www.econlib.org/library/Bastiat/basEss1.html.
Online at: http://www.econlib.org/library/Bastiat/basEss1.html.
Hayek, Friedrich A. New Studies in Philosophy, Politics, Economics and the History of Ideas. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1978.
Merton, Robert K. Sociological Ambivalence and Other Essays. New York: Free Press, 1976.
Footnotes
"The law of unintended consequences is what happens when a simple system tries to regulate a complex system. The political system is simple, it operates with limited information (rational ignorance), short time horizons, low feedback, and poor and misaligned incentives. Society in contrast is a complex, evolving, high-feedback, incentive-driven system. When a simple system tries to regulate a complex system you often get unintended consequences."
-- H. L. Mencken
"An idealist is one who, on noticing that a rose smells better than a cabbage, concludes that it will also make better soup."
-- H. L. Mencken
"The law of unintended consequences pushes us ceaselessly through the years, permitting no pause for perspective.
cite: "Richard Schickel." BrainyQuote.com. Xplore Inc, 2011. 9 April. 2011. http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/r/richardsch112929.html
Legislation Pending in Congress
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment