Improving Scrutiny Part II

The Purpose of Checks and Balances

At the heart of any human system maintaining it's function is the realization that we aren't dealing with machines. Machines function as designed, or not. When they don't function as designed they are broken and either need to be fixed, patched or discarded. Humans, at their best, don't always function as designed. The virtue of a machine is that it is a tool that does something. The virtue of humans is that we use tools to do things. The vice of our tool use is that we can use those tools for good or ill, for selfish purposes or as intended. People use drugs recreationally that intended to treat pain. People steal from their businesses. The purpose of checks and balances is to keep ourselves in line. The principles are to prevent abuse and to mitigate its occurrence.

Separation of powers has two purposes:

1. To reduce the temptation to abuse power.
2. To provide a glass barrier that leaves a record when folks break the rules
3. Irregularities must be recorded and audited periodically
4. Infractions must be punished according to set and regular rules
5. Those entrusted with separated powers must not be allowed to defeat the rules.

Staying Alive in a Time of COVID 19

Steps in Contact Tracing

Anyone who's been following the news and government actions, since this Pandemic became a real crisis sometime in March can be excused for being confused, if they were believing the things the President was saying. The virus is everywhere. It is spread by droplets, large and small. The scientists keep learning new things about how dangerous it is. People get it and don't know they got it. Others get severe pneumonia symptoms. Now we find out that it gets into the blood and causes a wide variety of symptoms, organ damage, symptoms similar to myalgia in some people, invisible lung damage in others, and death in too many people.

Scrutiny and the Courts

Thousands of U.S. judges who broke laws or oaths remained on the bench

In a research article published by Reuters: (https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-judges-misconduct/) They report on how too many judges at state and local level have been given immunity, impunity and passes to commit crimes themselves. Worse their victims have found it nearly impossible to get compensation or accountability when they've been clearly harmed by the behavior of the judges. The article sums itself as follows:

Reuters Report

He Didn't want to die

He did not want to die
He did not want to be a martyr
He wanted to see his neices & nephews grow old.
To sit by their beds
And tell them stories at night.
The kind of scary stories
With a safe kind of fright...

Good night.
Sleep well.
Hope your dreams are not as disturbing as mine.
For I see prophesies & visions;
Warnings of what is coming
Unless we do the right thing.
A Dragon emerges from my heart
soars above a scorched plain.
Will humans listen?
Or plunge the world in darkness again?

There is no cure
For what ails you.
You can torture thousands.
Drink their blood.
Bathe in it.
It is all the same.
An empty, hollow game.
Your soul is already in hell.
The suffering you inflict,
The pain & conflict
You will feel.
From your own vile judgement
There is no appeal.

I've reached the nadir of my despair.
It is not that I no longer care.
But I say a serenity prayer.
I focus on what I can change
And let go of what I can't.
These times of dysfunction
Only illustrate what is proper function.
We need a revolution
In our communities & hearts.

Reform Emergency Response to get Community Policing & Communities

Reform Emergency Response.

I've been listening to people talk about reforming the police and they all have good ideas. Some want to simply defund the police – even eliminate them – One twitter friend says [same as me].

"We need REAL police reform:

• no outta town cops
• no guns unless SWAT
• no shooting suspects in the back
• no military assault gear
• no qualified immunity"

Black Lives in DC Matter!

I agree entirely with the following:

"The senseless murder of George Floyd and other people of color, is a shame and an injustice. The violence generated by white supremacist   and systematic racist prevents the building of a more perfect union. The consequences of the lack of corrective action by churches, corporations, civic and social organizations are a part of what must change. GABIDDC will not stand on the sidelines and be a part of silence that is deadly. We will soon asking you to attend our vitual meeting to create a plan of action for implementing chang. GABIDDC is a representative organization and public opinion directs our work. Stay tuned and continue for healing and positive change."

Black lives in DC matter.

 

GABIDDC

Truman E Carpenter

Truman E Carpenter, was my Grandfather. I never met him. He died January 5 1938, approximately. My mother [See: Sally Ann Holte/Mom] was orphaned at the beginning of 1938 when his plane went down. She was barely 2 years old when he died. Doing research on him, I thought some of it was interesting stuff and wanted to share it somewhere along with URLS to other places there is info on him.

Some of Those URLs are here:

• US Navy Memorial Page
• Registry of Warrant Officers