Monday, July 30, 2012

Our wrong-headed national motto


On this day in 1956 President Eisenhower signed legislation to change our national motto.  It had been “E Pluribius Unum”, which, for those of you who didn’t take Latin, means “Out of many, one.”  Now that’s a great motto.  It is all-inclusive and succinctly gets across the idea that though we may be a pluralistic society, we are all in this together.
The new motto since 1956 is “In God We Trust.”  Think of all the issues that accompany that.  Suppose you don’t believe in god.  Which god?  What exactly does that mean, anyway?  It’s almost like the old Alfred E. Newman catch phrase, “What, me worry?”
I can hardly abide the symbolic surface religiosity that permeates this society.  I’m putting my trust in hard work, rational thought, common sense, and the New York Times.  

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Is Algebra Necessary?


Finally, 50 plus years after I was forced to take algebra, somebody has asked the right question.  That’s the headline in the lead article by Professor Andrew Hacker in today’s New York Times “Sunday Review.”  You can find it at <http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/29/opinion/sunday/is-algebra-necessary.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper>.  
Hacker points out that many colleges require algebra, and it acts as a roadblock to students who are more interested in art or music or literature. He notes that algebra has little application to the real world.  He says that even in occupations that require math, companies train their employees in the math they need.
Two hundred years ago college students took Latin and Greek and memorized long passages of literary works.  Now they don’t, although maybe they should.  I know that I remember much more of my high school Latin class than I do of my high school algebra.  Let’s dump it. 

Pointers


Yesterday I walked in Palmerton using a list from the AFL-CIO of union members who were not registered to vote.  I know--go figure.  That’s not what I want to talk about, however.  What I want to do is give you some pointers.  
My friend Marian and I were doing a door-to-door in Nesquehoning last fall, and we agreed that you could almost always tell when a house was vacant.  Later I read a confirmation of this in a John Sandford mystery novel.  One of Lucas Davenport’s detectives speculated that a house with people in it gave off a certain vibration--breathing, walking, cooking, even sleeping--that was absent when the house was vacant.  
I’ve occasionally been wrong.  I’ll be sitting on the steps writing a note when the door opens.  Nonetheless, that happens less than one time in ten.  
Here are a few other things I’ve learned:
  1. If the paper is still on the porch, you won’t get an answer.
  2. Only about half of the door bells work.
  3. Never peer in to see if anyone is there.  It’s rude and frightens people.
  4. If you half turn away from the door, people are more likely to open the door.
  5. If you are wearing a baseball cap, take it off when the person comes to the door.
  6. People are more likely to open the door for a couple than for one person.
  7. If a kid tells you his mother is on the back porch and you can come in through the house, don’t go.  She’ll be sunbathing, and you will both be very embarrassed.
100 days to go to the November election.  I’ll be out again next weekend.  

Dear Readers:  The above post was completed last night, but I couldn't get on the Internet.  The electrical storms we are having messed up more than the clock on the microwave.  It is a reminder of how fragile the grid is.  As Barry Commoner once said, "Nature bats last."

Friday, July 27, 2012

The Parade of Nations


The Parade of Nations is being televised tonight from London.  The announcer said that 35 nations have never won an Olympic medal.  Tiny countries like Central African Republican or Mali have a hard time scraping the money together to fly anyone to London, to say nothing of training programs, coaches, and competitive experience.
I suppose it is disloyal, but when some tiny nation is competing against the U.S., I have to root for the tiny nation.  Actually, it is very American to root for the underdog.  Go Estonia.  Go Cameroon.  Go Fiji.

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Photo I.D., cont.


Terry Whiteman, the Chair of the Carbon County Labor Chapter, organized a demonstration at the Courthouse this morning.  We had about 15 people, and we were covered the Times News and Channel 13 (same company).  Somebody must have notified the Tea Party, because one of them showed up. I’m guessing it was the Times News, which is friendly to that political persuasion.  
I don’t watch Channel 13, but I’m guessing the Tea Party guy was given equal time to the 15 of us.
I made up four signs:
  • If you think a photo I.D. is easy to get, you haven’t tried to get one.
  • “Voter I.D., which is going to allow Gov. Romney to win the state of PA: Done.” --House Republican leader Mike Turzai
  • Photo I.D.--the real voter fraud.
  •   # of voter fraud cases brought by Att. Gen. Tom Corbett:   ZERO.
I was pretty pleased with my signs.
Mike Schirra and Sarina Berlow spoke to the group.  Both were eloquent.  
By the way, Rep. Doyle Heffley sent me a letter detailing the law on photo I.D.  I think his data is out-of-date.  He said that only one percent of registered voters lack photo I.D.  That was the figure advanced the by the Republicans when they were pushing the bill.  Everybody now recognizes that the one percent figure is a gross underestimation.
Tomorrow I’m taking a guy from Palmerton to get his photo I.D.  I’m driving him to Hazleton.  I’ll let you know the results of that.

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

The NCAA


Yesterday the Penn State football players had a meeting with Coach Bill O’Brien to discuss the NCAA punishment.  The Morning Call ran a picture of one of the players walking away from the meeting.  I would like to know how keeping that player from participating in a bowl game is in any way justified.  I would like to know how taking away 112 victories from Penn State teams from 1998 to 2011 is in any way justified. 
As far as I know, none of those players were implicated in the Freeh report.  None of those players were involved in covering up child abuse.  Coach O’Brien was not implicated.  The thousands of students at the main campus and at the branch campuses were not implicated.  
The NCAA decision punishes the innocent and fails to punish the guilty.  The NCAA president said, “These events should serve as a call to every single school and athletics department to take an honest look at its campus environment and eradicate the ‘sports are king’ mind-set that can so dramatically cloud the judgment of educators.”
I don’t even know what that means.  

Monday, July 23, 2012

Ordering ammo


An acquaintance of mine (I hesitate to call him friend) who is an N.R.A. member told me that a number of N.R.A. members were thinking about planning a rally to defend the right to buy ammo over the internet.  Evidently they are worried that the fallout from the Aurora massacre might lead to calls to ban unrestricted ammo sales on the net.  The shooter bought most of his ammo on-line.
I think my “acquaintance”  was just trying to irritate me.  I don’t really know.  

Sunday, July 22, 2012

Weed dating


Here’s how it works.  Each participating woman is given a row of vegetables to weed.  The women are given instructions on distinguishing a vegetable from a weed.  Each woman is then assigned a man to work with.  The men move on to a new partner, and new row, every five minutes.  
I learned about weed dating in the July 21 issue of Lancaster Farming.  The article quoted Brian Cox, a 47-year-old artist and musician, who noted, “The typical speed dating, it’s just kind of awkward.  But this is just beautiful, because it’s like outside, it’s very organic.  Literally.”
As a guy always interested in coming to the aid of lonely people, I will be happy to provide the venue for weed dating.  I have ten rows of corn and beans and a large squash patch, and they are very weedy.  I’ll explain the difference between corn and squash and weeds.  Conversation will be easy--the heat, the gnats, and the long rows are all possible topics.  It may be too late to plan the event for this summer, but I am definitely considering it for 2013.

Saturday, July 21, 2012

Walking in Nesquehoning


The Carbon County Labor Chapter sent out three teams this morning on a Labor-to-Labor walk.  We met a Demo HQ in Lehighton at 9 a.m.  Two teams covered Summit Hill; I was part of a three-member team in Nesquehoning.  I was the driver, while Sandra and Emilio were runners.  The targets were AFL-CIO members.
We passed out three pieces of literature. The first was a letter that explained the Carbon County Labor Chapter and its purposes.  The second was an info sheet explaining Romney’s record on out-sourcing.  The third detailed the requirements for a photo ID to vote in November.
I didn’t talk to the Summit Hill teams, but in Nesquehoning we had great success.  It is always inspiring to meet fellow union members who understand the importance of re-electing Obama.  I plan to do this every Saturday morning from now to November.

Friday, July 20, 2012

Penn State and Collective Guilt


I have liked Penn State since I attended 4-H conferences there in the 50‘s.  I had a wonderful time in graduate school; both my Master’s and Ph.D. degrees are from Penn State.  My years there were among the happiest of my life.
On the other hand, I have never been to a football game.  Living in Grad Circle, I could hear the roar of the crowd when Penn State scored a touchdown, but the only athletic events I attended were gym meets.  I thought the adulation for Joe Paterno was overblown even before the Sandusky affair, but I simply didn’t pay much attention.
Nonetheless, I am angry about the calls to shut down the Penn State’s football program for a year or two.  I firmly believe that people who commit crimes should be punished, but “collective guilt” is an abomination.  In what way are the current coach and football players guilty of any crime or any action that connects with the abuse of the children?  How can an institution be guilty?  People who commit crimes are guilty.  People who don’t report crimes are guilty.  They should be punished, but to punish innocent bystanders show a complete lack of due process--and morality.

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Rep. Jerry Knowles attacks me


The Hazleton Standard Speaker published a letter from Rep. Jerry Knowles criticizing Commissioner Bill O’Gurek and me for our “nonsensical criticism” of the voter ID law.  He said that he sat through hours of hearings.  Voter fraud is rampant.  The purpose of the law was to prevent fraud.
Unfortunately for Rep. Knowles, we already have the reason for the law from Rep. Turzai, the Republican leader of the House.  He said it was to ensure the election of Romney. 
Mr. Knowles can bluster and backfill all he wants, but his leader has already spilled the beans.  Rep. Knowles provides us with a good definition of hypocrisy.  

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

McCain


In 2000 in California I became a Republican briefly.  Al Gore had the Democratic nomination wrapped up, and McCain was running against George W. Bush in the Republican primary.  I thought at the time (later confirmed), that W. was an idiot, so I registered Republican to vote for McCain.
I had some real doubts about that decision in 2008, when McCain ran a terrible campaign and, even worse, picked Sarah Palin as his running mate.  Even then, though, I remember how he took the microphone from a woman who was attacking Obama’s patriotism and explained that while he and Obama had differences, Obama was a good American with whom he happened to disagree.
As Linda said, every now and then he surprises you by doing the honorable thing.  He did it again today.  Michelle Bachman is running around saying the Muslim Brotherhood has infiltrated high levels of the U.S. government.  She is referring to Huma Abedin, aide to Hillary Clinton.  McCain spoke on the floor to the Senate, criticizing Bachman and defending Ms. Abedin.  I heard some of the speech, and it was a good one.
Sen. McCain, thank you.

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Envy


Many times I envy people who are non-political.  I’m a member of the Pennsylvania Earth Sciences Association.  Last night our meeting was held at the Lehigh Gap Nature Center, where Dan Kunkle led a walk to explain the geology of the Gap.
I was in Nesquehoning at a meeting of the Carbon County Labor Chapter, where Matt Cartwright spoke.  I think Cartwright is one of the most impressive candidates I’ve ever met, but on some level I would have liked to learn about the geology of the Gap.
Tomorrow afternoon I should be pulling weeds in the truck patch--the peppers and okra are becoming overwhelmed.  Instead Freddie and I will be driving to Nesquehoning to talk to the residents at Maple Shade about absentee ballots.
On Saturday morning I like to sleep late.  Instead Linda and I will be meeting at the Democratic HQ in Lehighton for a Labor canvass.  
If I weren’t doing what I can to make America better, I would feel guilty.  Nevertheless, I must tell you that I think how easy and pleasant it would be to behave like 95% of Americans, restricting my involvement to voting once a year.  I have no clue how they do that.  I can’t. 

Monday, July 16, 2012

Nixon and Romney


During the course of the Watergate investigation, Congressional staffers discovered that Nixon had a taping system installed in his office.  They immediately asked for the tapes.  Nixon refused.  He said the tapes proved his innocence, but investigators would not be allowed to have them as a matter of principle.  To release the tapes would compromise the powers of the Presidency.
Naturally, anyone with a lick of sense knew this was not credible.  If you were accused of a crime and you had tapes that proved your innocence, you would run to the court with those tapes.  Sure enough, when the Supreme Court finally ordered Nixon to turn over the tapes, they proved he began the coverup of the Watergate break-in the night it happened.
Romney says now that he is not releasing any more tax returns.  He released one, and that is enough.  The tax returns he won’t release show nothing illegal; it is simply a matter of principle that he refuses.  
Naturally, anyone with a lick of sense knows this is not credible.  

Sunday, July 15, 2012

Dumb right-wingers


Why are people on the right so numbingly dumb?  I know we have some silly people on the left, waving their fingers at Occupy gatherings and trying to organize without any structure, but for downright stupidity, you need to look to the right wing in this country.  
Here’s a small example, from an article by Katha Pollitt that appeared in the July 2/9 issue of The Nation.
“Sea-level rise” is a “left-wing term,” said Virginia state legislator Chris Stolle, a Republican, successfully urging its replacement in a state-commissioned study by the expression “recurrent flooding.”  
You can insert your own comments here.

Saturday, July 14, 2012

A Walk in Palmerton


This morning Linda and I canvassed three streets in Palmerton--Avenue A, Avenue B, and Lehigh Avenue--from one end to the other.  I have now canvassed these streets so many times people are starting to recognize me. 
Most people weren’t home, of course.  (I heard a consultant say that contacts with one in five households is the norm.)  Nevertheless, in that two hour walk, we met two people who needed rides to the polling place, two people who did not have picture ID, and one person who registered to vote.  If everything goes right, that is five more votes for the Democrats in November.  
Sometimes when I roll out of bed on a Saturday morning, I wonder if these walks are worth the effort.  They are.

Friday, July 13, 2012

Numbers

I made a mistake yesterday on the number of Carbon County voters who do not have picture ID.  The Times News article today by Amy Miller quoted Commissioner O'Gurek, who noted that 2,286 Carbon voters do not have a driver's license.  That's about 500 more than I posted.


While I'm quoting statistics, here's a few more from the latest issue of Harper's:
--Percentage of Americans who believe that anti-American speech should be protected by the Constitution...45
--Minimum number of U.S. states whose constitutions forbid atheists from holding public office...6
--Number of private U.S. citizens killed in terrorists attacks in 2010...15
--Number killed by falling televisions...16

Thursday, July 12, 2012

Picture ID, cont.


A few days ago I discussed the large number of Pennsylvania voters--758,000-- who do not have picture ID.  That figure seems very specific, but it was arrived at by comparing the list of current registered voters with the list of people who have a driver’s license.   
Today I spoke to the Carbon County Commissioners, sitting as the Election Board, about my problems at the PennDot License Center on last Friday.  Commissioner O’Gurek noted that Carbon County has approximately 1,700 voters who lack picture ID.  (I didn’t write down the number, but I think that is accurate.)  If just 1/3 of those voters try to get their ID between now and November, the License Center will be swamped.  
The Commissioners urged me to contact the Secretary of State, the director of PennDot, and Governor Corbett about my experience, and I will do that.  
I also heard from the Carbon County Registrar today that she had received a message from State Representative Heffley’s office that PennDot would begin accepting birth certificates without a raised seal.  She also noted that she had not yet received notification of this development in writing.
In light of what the Speaker of the Pennsylvania House said about the ID law ensuring Romney’s victory in the state, I don’t think I’m being too paranoid to think that the law is doing exactly what its supporters hoped--it is discouraging people from voting.

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Boehner as President?


Hey, it could happen.  In 1947 the Presidential succession law was changed.  Prior to that year, if the President and Vice President died in office, the Secretary of State was next in line.  The 1947 law changed the order, moving up the Speaker of the House (now John Boehner), followed by the Present Pro Tempore of the U.S. Senate (currently Sen. Inouye).  Fifth in line would be Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
This is just wrong.  In 1947 it was generally assumed that the President and the House majority would be from the same party.  While exceptions had occurred in the past, that had been the normal order of things.  Now, however, we frequently have divided (and deadlocked) government in the U.S.
If Air Force One crashed and Joe Biden had a fatal illness, John Boehner, the man who represents the interests of Tea Party fanatics, the Koch Brothers, and Karl Rove, would become President of the United States.  
We need to change the law back to what it was before 1947.  It is true that the Speaker is an elected official, but she or he represents one of 435 House districts, hardly a mandate.  The Secretary of State, on the other hand, was appointed by the elected President and has the trust and confidence of the President.  Think about it--Clinton or Boehner?  That is a law that needs changing. 

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Myths on ID

In today's Morning Call, Wayne Woodman, GOP Lehigh County Chair, said "You have to provide ID for virtually everything.  Every time you go to the doctor's office, in many cases when you pay with a credit card, or even when you turn in your gun in Allentown."

Pay attention here, Mr. Woodman.
1.  You do not need to show a picture ID to receive a blood test or an M.R.I. at the Blue Mountain Health system in Carbon County.  In addition, I have yet to be asked for picture ID when I see my family physician.
2.  Not everyone has a credit card.  I don't.
3.  Many people have never flown on an airplane, and many of them do not intend to.
4.  And this is important, you can have a picture ID that doesn't have an expiration date.  That won't work in PA in the November election, of course.

Now let's get to the real reason, so aptly described by Mike Turzai, Republican House Majority Leader.  This law "...is going to allow Gov. Romney to win the state of Pennsylvania."  The purpose of this law is to disenfranchise people and nothing else.


Monday, July 9, 2012

If they want war...


Northern Sun, the company where I buy most of my tee shirts, sells one that says, “It’s only class warfare when we fight back.”  President Obama is proposing to extend what were supposed to be temporary Bush tax cuts to people who make less than $250,000 a year.  (Note that if you make $300,000, you still get the cut on the first $250,000).
Immediately and predictably the Republicans howled about class warfare.  I thought about that tee shirt.  I also thought about the quote by the leader of the Minutemen on the Lexington Green in 1775.  “If they want war, let it begin here.”  

Sunday, July 8, 2012

Dick and Judy's Excellent Campaign Adventure, Part 3


Dick and Judy White, our Illinois correspondents, have posted earlier about the Tammy Duckworth campaign for the U.S. House.  Here is their third installment, reported by Judy.
It truly “rocks” to be a Democrat!  
Last Sunday night we had the privilege of attending a concert fund raiser for Tammy Duckworth at a large local restaurant/bar/entertainment venue called John Barleycorn.  The fund raiser was given by Joe Walsh - no, not her Tea Party Republican opponent in the House race –but the guitarist/singer formerly with the Eagles.  The place was packed with approximately 500 attendees, who were all in a celebratory mood.   The concert was spectacular – Joe had everyone swaying and dancing and, often, singing along.   Popular entertainer Richard Marx (who makes his home in Chicago) also showed up and did a couple of numbers.     
Joe was backed up by a five-piece band and three exceptional background singers, all of whom were allowed a solo piece.  Very nice touch.   
It’s an evening we won’t soon forget.  To help us remember, here is a link to a local newspaper article: 
Campaign activity has generally slowed since the primary, but is gradually picking up again now.   Dick “marched” in a local Memorial Day Parade with Tammy as well as a 4th of July Parade on a very hot (100 degrees+) day.  That’s dedication!   He has also assisted the campaign staff with canvassing in some key neighborhoods.   I have been volunteering one day a week at the campaign office doing whatever they need me to do, mostly making calls to encourage supporters to attend campaign events in their area.  
Making calls for the campaign and canvassing are not always easy things to do.  However, most of the response we have received is heartening and that’s what keeps us going.  When we come across a non-supportive nasty response, at the direction of the campaign staff, we must “bite our tongues,” thank them for their time, and end the call.  For me, in particular, this is extremely hard to do.     
There has been one debate between the candidates to this point, which was not open to the public, but it was televised on a local station.  Tammy did well overall, but we were a little disappointed.  The two moderators seemed to allow Joe Walsh more time, allowing him to interrupt too often.  He is not really running against Tammy – he’s running against President Obama, emphasizing her connection to and agreement with the President.   The campaign staff, however, was happy with Tammy’s performance at the debate.  She was challenged to a 2nd debate – while she was at camp with her unit (she is still serving in the Guard).  I’m sure Mr. Walsh was aware of this, because she was totally out of contact and could not respond.
Joe Walsh made a major faux pas last Sunday at a Town Hall where he criticized Tammy for talking about her war injuries, saying “real heroes don’t talk about their military service.”   In truth, Tammy will discuss her injuries to emphasize the top-notch medical treatment she has had with the VA – which makes her a strong advocate for Medicare and the ACA (and her advocacy for a single-payer system for all).   She has never called herself a “hero,” but often refers to the fellow soldiers who saved her life as heroes.    This is not the first time Joe has made derogatory remarks about Tammy.  Also, he must not think that we, as his constituents, are very bright since he has said he plans to do “squat” for the District and prefers to be a poster child for the Tea Party!
Tammy is in the process of conducting an “American Dream” tour where she holds open meetings for all to attend and ask questions.  As I understand, these have been very successful.   We plan to attend a session this coming Monday evening at a local sports bar, hoping to bring some friends along with us.

Friday, July 6, 2012

You are goddam right I'm angry


758,000 Pennsylvanians lack the ID required to vote, according to an article in the July 5th Morning Call.  Today I took one of those 758,000 to get his ID. It did not go well.
Paul and I arrived at the Lehighton PennDot license center on on Route 443 at 1:15 p.m.  My friend took a number from the dispenser.  It was number 20.  The person being served was number 59.  We had to go up to #100, then start at #1.
The room was full of bored and irritated people, including crying children.  None of the seats had arms, so the elderly who had trouble getting out of their seats had to be helped.  The elderly man two seats over from me only had cash, so the guy with the pierced lip next to me explained to him that he would have to go to the Rite-Aid to get a money order.  The DMV does not accept cash--only checks or money orders. The guy with the pierced lip already had his money order.
I had told my friend to bring a book, and I had mine, but time still drags.  The guy with the pierced lip was number 77.  Quite some time after he was called I saw him in the line to get his picture.   I went up to him and asked him why he was still there.  He told me that his money order was $1.50 short, so he had to go back to Rite-Aid for another, which cost $2.00.  
Incidentally, the crowd in that waiting room was of all genders, races, and classes, but we were united in our disgust at the way Pennsylvania treats its citizens who need DMV documents or help.  Talk about solidarity.
At 2:45 my friend was called.  He had his library card, two utility bills in his name, and his original birth certificate provided by the Palmerton Hospital, which his mother had given him.  Not good enough.  To get an ID card, you need a birth certificate with a raised seal.  You need to send for that.  It takes up to six weeks.  I went up and asked the clerk why this wasn’t posted.  It was, in a rack of documents on the wall as you came in.  Not exactly easy to find.
We then went to Representative Heffley’s office in Lehighton to apply for a birth certificate with a raised seal.  I spoke to Rep. Heffley and expressed, in what I hope was a civil manner, just what I thought of this process, which he had voted for.  
We filled out a form to get a birth certificate (which cost $10, and they don’t accept cash, so I have to go back on Monday with a check), and that will come in about six weeks.  Then we have to go back to the DMV, wait again, and, if Paul is approved, wait in another line for a photo.
Paul has voted for years.  He is not a criminal.  He is not pulling a fast one.  All he wants to do is vote.  I am willing to put in another day driving him to the DMV, but I can tell you, this:  anyone who says this is free, or this is easy, or this is about preventing fraud is a liar.  

Thursday, July 5, 2012

Higgs boson


The headline read, “Physicists Find Elusive Particle Seen as Key to Universe.”  The picture accompanying the article in today’s Times showed a room full of physicists in Geneva cheering and clapping upon receiving the news.
Isn’t it just wonderful that in a world where Muslim extremists are destroying cultural artifacts in Timbuktu, where Jewish extremists continue to settle on Palestinian land, where Ukrainian nationalists riot against people speaking Russian, where American fundamentalists believe the world began about 6000 years ago, where Mormons believe that native Americans are one of the lost tribes of Israel, where bombs continue to explode in Iraq, and where reason and moderation seem to have left on holiday, there are still men and women who care about expanding knowledge and advancing science.  
Congratulations to CERN and the Large Hadron Collider.  I don’t understand the Higgs Boson any more than I understand fiber optics or DNA, but I know enough to know that I want to stand with those physicists.

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

We've lost the war on drugs


On Independence Day I should be writing something patriotic and uplifting, but I was struck by some statistics in an article by Eduardo Porter in today’s New York Times entitled “Numbers Tell of Failure in Drug War.”
The U.S. government has spent between $20 and $25 billion each year of the past decade to counter the drug trade.  More than 55,000 Mexicans and thousands of Central Americans have been killed as a result of drug violence.  Most of the drugs involved are destined for the U.S.
Here’s more.  About one if five inmates in state prisons and half the people in federal prisons are there for drug offenses.  In 2010 a total of 1.64 million people were arrested for drug violations, mostly for possession of small amounts.
Here is part of Mr. Porter’s conclusion.  “  A war on drugs whose objective is to eradicate the drug market--to stop drugs from arriving in the United States and stop Americans from swallowing, smoking, inhaling or injecting them--is a war that cannot be won.”  After all the lives lost and money spent over the past four decades on the War on Drugs, that is a truth that ought to be self-evident.

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

More health care decision fallout


The on-line news source Politico reported that Indiana Congressman Mike Pence compared the Supreme Court’s ruling on the health care bill to the September 11 terrorist attacks.  He said it during a closed-door Republican House meeting.
Enjoy your holiday.

Monday, July 2, 2012

Abortions in Mississippi


A federal judge temporarily blocked Mississippi from closing its last remaining abortion clinic.  A full hearing is scheduled for July 11.  The governor of Mississippi, Phil Bryant, said he wants Mississippi to be “abortion free.”
The judge said that Mississippi had submitted no evidence that safety or health concerns motivated the passage of the bill.  
Last year over 2000 abortions were performed in Mississippi.  If the last clinic closes, women seeking abortions will have to drive to a neighboring state.  The clinic is now receiving calls from frantic women asking if they can still get an abortion.  Go to <http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/03/us/mississippis-lone-abortion-clinic-given-temporary-reprieve-fields-rush-of-calls.html?_r=1&hp> for the full story.
Incidentally, what I would tell the Governor of Mississippi is this.  If you close down the clinic, you will end legal abortions.  You will not stop illegal back alley abortions.  You will be killing women.  You are a monster acting in the guise of a Christian.  You are an evil man.

Sunday, July 1, 2012

Plea Bargaining


Many of my students, who tended to be idealistic, told me they would never plead guilty to a crime they had not committed.  Would I?  Of course.
Today’s issue of the Morning Call had a long article about the pressure judges put on defendants to plead guilty as part of plea bargaining agreement. 
Let’s say you are charged with a crime that carries a five-year sentence.  The judge tells you that if you plead guilty, you’ll get 100 hours of community service with no jail time.  If you plead not guilty, you go to trial and can get the full five years.  How would you plead?
Plea bargaining benefits quite a few people.  It benefits the D.A., who gets a conviction without having to go to trial.  It benefits the judge, who clears his or her calendar.  It often benefits the defense attorney, who will be paid for the defense.
Two groups do not benefit.  First are the people who are innocent, but plead guilty because they don’t want to go to jail.  The second group is society, because criminals who have committed terrible crimes are given a light sentence in return for the guilty plea.  Even worse, people who actually committed the crimes go scot free when innocent people plead guilty to avoid jail time.
I understand the rationale for plea bargaining.  I still think it is a lousy system.  No wonder people are cynical about the judiciary.