December 5, 2008
Greets and Huggers. Posted the evening of December 5, 2008. Strange times we live in. The three corner stones of our automotive industries, (GM, Ford and Chrysler), employing millions of Americans, (some directly and most indirectly) … standing hat in hand, asking for a handout from you and I. 34 Billion dollars. 60% of American oppose the bailout. Never mind, they are not American institutions any more. They are multi-national. So share with me … how many parts in your Ford/GM/Chrysler product are manufactured in our America? How many in China, Mexico, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam … ad nauseam ... countries which have no worker protections nor environmental protection laws? Has it dawned on you yet that “global economy” means that the jobs go to whomever has the lowest standard of living? Is willing to work for the least amount? Put another way … if they can get some pilgrim in India, (earning $15.00 per day), to provide “tech support”, for a product you purchased here with dollars, (a product manufactured in China — by a pilgrim earning $20.00 per day)), what incentive is there for them not to do so? These are conscious marketing decisions made by the CEO’s of the big three, (course, also made by the CEO’s of other American conglomerates), to improve their bottom line, (and get their big bonuses). And the shareholders cheer them on because they also benefit from the increased dividend, don’t they? Never mind that this is the greatest transfer of wealth in the history of the world: a world wide economy not based on tangible wealth … but credit. An economic bubble based on “I will gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today.“ Well … it’s Tuesday and the payments are due. We will all have to pay for the bad decisions made by these CEO’s … and the bad choices WE made in consuming more than, at any given point in time … we earned.
It is time for all of us, as Americans, to take a step back. Look at how and what we consume … and most important: how we pay for it. As a society, we can not continue a lifestyle based on credit. Nor can we continue to consume limited resources at the hedonistic wasteful rate we have. Share with me, is it really good policy to give a tax credit to soccer moms for purchasing a 3 ton SUV, ($45,000.00 on a 72 month note), which gets 13 miles a gallon, to cart her 7 year old daughter to soccer practices? Or for that matter, you driving your 13 mile per gallon pickup truck to the courthouse to attend a 10 minute case management, when the same thing could be accomplished by a conference call? As Holden’s prosecutor, I encourage lawyers to file a written guilty plea, (signed by their client), with a “firm trust account” check, instead of driving to Warrensburg to enter a plea on behalf of their client. As a society, we need to restructure our infrastructure on a European model with a focus on mass transit. Or in the alternative, shift from having and encouraging bedroom communities or 5 acre country estates, to once again having centralized neighborhoods and self sustaining small towns on railroad hubs. A distribution system based on rail transport, instead of airfreight and long haul trucks. An inventory system based on actually paid for, in stock, bulk delivered inventory … instead of shipping in parts as they are used. This may not be the change we want … but it is the change we have to make.
As for you and I? It is time to re-evaluate ourselves and our profession. First, take a long hard look at why you decided to practice law … incur a horrendous student loan debt and expend 7 years of your life: a 4 year undergraduate degree and 3 years of law school. Think about it. You are only “here”, on the average, (depending on your gender), for 73 years. That means you have invested almost 10% of your life becoming a lawyer. Course, assuming it will take you 10 years to pay off your student loan debt … that’s another 13 percent of your life. That’s almost 1/4 of the time you have here. And you contribute how? Are you here to serve … or just make a living? There are only three professions: doctors, lawyers and priests. A profession is not a business, (although like anything else in life, there is a “business” component). All three have two common denominators: all three serve our fellow beings at a very personal level and they define who we are as persons. When asked “Who are you” … isn’t the answer given by a doctor, “I am a doctor.” Isn’t the answer given by a priest … “I am a priest.” … and isn’t the answer given by a lawyer … “I am a lawyer.” Share with me … do you really believe an auto worker defines himself as being an auto worker … or does he/she define themselves as a person who makes his living building cars? We are the caretakers, guardians, of our system of justice and our Bill of Rights. If you believe otherwise, you are not a lawyer. You are just a person who practices law for a living … and have wasted 1/4 of your life. Being a member of the legal profession, a professional, is an ongoing educational process fueled by a desire for personal and professional growth and a desire to serve someone other than the folks holding your student loan debt.
ALBERT LEA, Minn. (AP) - Teens Charged in Nursing Resident Abuse. “Two teenage girls who worked at a nursing home have been charged with abuse, accused of taunting, spitting on and groping residents who suffered from Alzheimer’s disease. According to the criminal complaint, filed Monday, 19-year-old Brianna Broitzman and 18-year-old Ashton Larson laughed earlier this year as they spat in residents’ mouths, poked and groped their breasts and genitals, and at times mocked them until they screamed.” These aren’t “teenage” pranks. These are the depraved acts of young adults preying on helpless human beings: outrageous acts that need to be addressed accordingly. Force them to dress up in a “Pitbull” suit and throw them into Michael Vick’s cell.
And proof that there are also still caring, loving, human beings – USA TODAY — Pilots fly doomed dogs to better life. “Pilots are donating their time, planes and fuel to transport dozens of dogs a month from overcrowded shelters where they face almost certain death to rescue groups and shelters several states away that are committed to finding them homes. The mission-of-mercy relocations are flown by general aviation pilots who have signed on with the recently formed Pilots N Paws, a Web-based message board where pilots can access information about animals in need.” With the down turn in our economy and many home foreclosures in some parts of our America, animal shelters in some areas are overflowing while others have room. General aviation pilots are like most motorcycle riders: they fly/ride for the joy/enjoyment of flying/riding. And like motorcycle riders, will look for a good excuse to take a ride. What better excuse than saving the life of one of our charges? Some talk the talk and some walk the walk.
MSNBC — World’s oldest marijuana stash totally busted. “Nearly two pounds of still-green plant material found in a 2,700-year-old grave in the Gobi Desert has just been identified as the world’s oldest marijuana stash, according to a paper in the latest issue of the Journal of Experimental Botany. A barrage of tests proves the marijuana possessed potent psychoactive properties and casts doubt on the theory that the ancients only grew the plant for hemp in order to make clothing, rope and other objects … The scientists are unsure if the marijuana was grown for more spiritual or medical purposes, but it’s evident that the blue-eyed man was buried with a lot of it.” A blue-eyed man? A caucasian, in China, 2,700 years ago? With his stash? The answer is simple: just a European doper who got side tracked/lost going out for Chinese food to quell his “munchies”! The reason I know? There were no 2,700 year old munchies buried with him.
Der Spiegel – US Soldier Seeks Political Asylum in Germany. “Andr� Shepherd is the first American GI to have applied for political asylum in Germany. Shepherd, who deserted to avoid going back to fight in Iraq, argues that the war there is in violation of international law … On Jan. 27, 2004, Shepherd enlisted in the army. Joining the military got him training, a well-paid job as a helicopter mechanic, health insurance and his father’s approval. He wanted to see the world beyond Cleveland. And he dreamed of a day when, instead of digging the sand out of the engines of Apache helicopters, he would be flying them … In September 2004, after completing Basic Training, Private Shepherd was transferred to the 412th Aviation Support Battalion, stationed at the Katterbach Barracks near the southern German city of Nuremberg. From there he was sent directly to Iraq. Shepherd served for six months at Camp Speicher, a US base near Tikrit. His job consisted of servicing the engines of the AH-64A Apache helicopter — for 12 hours a day, six days a week …” Interesting perspective in the German press. I didn’t realize completing “basic training” qualified you to be a helicopter mechanic. A quick check on-line sure showed a bunch of openings in the private sector. Airframe mechanics must pass FAA certification: probably requires more training than the 90 days spent in Basic Training, (18 months practical experience in the specific job or complete a formal training course acceptable to FAA – the Army’s training program is). But then, this is the “Army Of One” and “Be All You Can Be” Army. Times sure have changed since I served.
Sitting here editing these Ramblings, my ‘Lil Buddy and Willie sharing the seat with me. On the evening news, more jobs lost: our economic bubble continues to deflate. Almost 1/2 million Americans lost their job in November alone. The unemployment rate is now at 6.7%. No one seems to be at the helm. No one is minding the store. There is, (from what I am seeing and reading), internal battles/power plays in both the Democrat and Republican parties, in both cases between the respective parties fringe elements and centrists. Seems strangely similar to early 30’s Germany, which led to the rise of Hitler. The German people wanted a strong leader to save them. Isn’t that what the American people are crying for now as well? The German people were willing to give up their civil liberties. Are we? And news on campaign finance: Obama spent over a billion dollars. He outspent McCain 4 to 1 in targeted States. The commentator opined Obama changing his mind about public financing, allowed him to win the election. So much for campaign finance reform. And finally O.J. Simpson was sentenced to 15 years in prison today: he will be 70 years old when he becomes eligible for parole.
I love our pellet stove: our total gas bill for November was $60.00. I will be curious to see what it is for December. Ft Timmerman remains cozy and warm – and for that I will say a prayer of Thanks when I finally curl myself around Susan and drift off to sleep. Oh! And of course, after saying a prayer for the safe and soon return of our men and women in uniform, (care to join me?) Be and sleep well, the best there is, is on watch so you can. If my post offends, I apologize – that is not my intent. As always …
A Warm Brotherly Hug
Karl (the dumb old country lawyer from Holden, Missouri … and the Editorial Staff, Karly, Willie, my ‘Lil Buddy … and Dinker, the copy boy)