Friday, April 27, 2012

Social Security “the unsustainable” political experiment

USA Today 04/24/12 Kelly Kennedy

 “Trustees Report Social Security outlook worsening”

 http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/story/2012-04-23/medicare-social-security-report/54494662/1

 The Medicare and Social Security trust funds are both on "unsustainable paths" — as they have been for years — and will be exhausted by 2024 and 2033, respectively, a trustee report released Monday said.

 "The projections in this year's report are somewhat more pessimistic than last year's report," Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said.

 Geithner said the 2010 health care law would lower costs by changing how people pay for health care. Administration officials also said that, without the health care law, Medicare's trust fund would be exhausted in 2016.

 "It's in a much stronger position than it was a few years ago because of the Affordable Care Act," Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said, adding that spending in Medicare is growing at a slower rate than in the private sector. Even so, officials said, it's not enough. The trustees have predicted the depletion of the Medicare Trust Fund every year since they first began issuing reports in 1970, and they ultimately extend the deadlines out a few more years. However, the realities of Baby Boomers hitting senior-citizen status, Americans living longer and an economy that has supplied fewer workers to pay into Medicare and Social Security have left the trust funds paying out more than they take in.

 Common Sense Review

 This is no shocking revelation. We have known this for decades, yet once again Chicken Little stands crying “the sky is falling” without a plan on how to correct this problem unless we the citizens of the US give up our freedoms to Obamacare.

 I find it interesting that the people who tell us that Social Security is “not sustainable” are the same who will not seek the benefits in their retirement years. Why are those not affected by the issues tend to have a solution for the problem but if their idea fails… Oh well! In the test tube of political strategy, real people are affected.

 I have a great test for the human tolerance.. Let’s take all govt officials (even the President) and have them live on a working wage of $35,000/year… If they are over the age of 65 then you must live on the retirement and social security benefits. After a year of this experiment, I would bet dollars to doughnuts, that the fed govt would come up with a sustainable plan.

The scientific point to Juvenile violence

USA Today 04/24/12 Liz Szabo “Violence ‘ages’ children’s DNA: Study: Exposure can cuase some disease to show up years earlier” http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/story/2012-04-24/violence-cellular-mark/54493338/1 In fact, a new study suggests that violence leaves long-term scars on children's bodies — not just in bruises on the skin, but also altering their DNA, causing changes that are equivalent to seven to 10 years of premature aging. Telomeres are special DNA sequences that act like the plastic tips on shoelaces, which prevent the DNA in chromosomes from unraveling. They get shorter each time a cell divides, until a cell can't divide anymore and it dies. Several factors have been found to shorten telomeres, including smoking, radiation and psychological stresses such as early life maltreatment and taking care of a chronically ill person. Common Sense Review It is interesting. We have known for years that violence beget violence. Basically, if children see violence in the home they tend to be violent. Yet there has never been a collation between DNA and Psychological damage. I am curious what psychological stresses shorten the DNA strain. Would the issues of bullying, single parent strife or parental neglect be the focal point of defining juvenile psychological stress? This article caught my eye due to the increase in juvenile offenders of violent crimes. As the govt throws money at programs to research these problem, the one on one confrontation of these situation are left in the dust and we will have a generation of children who are angry who feel they have no avenue but to drugs or jail…

Monday, April 23, 2012

Detachment from the people… Orrin Hatch arrogance is his downfall

The Washington Post 04/21/12 Paul Kane

“Orrin Hatch in strong Position heading into Utah GOP Convention”

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/orrin-hatch-in-strong-position-heading-into-utah-gop-convention/2012/04/20/gIQAtaw1VT_story.html

Two years ago, Sen. Orrin G. Hatch looked like a sure goner. Tea party conservatives were after him and it was only a matter of time before they got him.

But the six-term Republican from Utah enters the state Republican convention Saturday as the heavy favorite with the real possibility of securing enough support to win the Senate nomination outright, forgoing the need for a statewide primary. His standing is a clear triumph over the insurgent, tea party element of the GOP, both in Utah and nationally, and it has served notice that the establishment can fight back.

Seeking his seventh term — which, if completed in 2018, would make him the second-
longest serving Republican in Senate history — Hatch’s hard-fought campaign for survival upended the notion that the tea party had become the dominant force in the Republican Party and proved that even in today’s environment, old-fashioned political guile and determination can sometimes trump the rebellious energy of a grass-roots insur­gency.

Some critics think that Hatch, 78 — never one to be mistaken for a moderate — has moved his policy positions and his political rhetoric so far to the right to appease the most conservative activists in Utah that his victory would in fact be a win for the tea party. But even that, it appears, would not have been enough.
Yet on Sunday:
Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch will face off against conservative former state Sen. Dan Liljenquist in a June primary after the six-term incumbent failed to win 60 percent of the vote at the state Republican convention on Saturday.

Hatch took 57 percent on the first ballot and then 59 percent on a second ballot, one on one fight against Liljenquist. Hatch needed to win 60 percent of the vote to avoid a June 26 primary.

Common Sense Review

For Orrin Hatch who has six terms in the Senate, believe he is the favorite in the Utah GOP convention. Yet after the convention, the votes show that he doesn’t have the seat wrapped up but has to campaign for the June 2012 primary.

Gee, possibly Sen. Hatch is detached from the people of Utah and they have spoken.
This is a common occurrence. Many of the representatives of the people who hold multi term seats tend for lose touch with the people they represent. Should it be an unheard that the process for a representative to consult with constituents when there is a bill coming forward that has impacting effect on the people that representative serves?

I don’t any representative who doesn’t go back to the people.

Note to Orrin Hatch:

Your arrogance will bring you down…

The Great Misdirection of a President and Magician Obama

The Grand Rapids Press 04/22/12 Jim Kuhnhenn

“Scandals hamper Obama’s Message White House uses outrage, deflection as it tries to sidestep messes”

http://news.yahoo.com/trouble-threes-scandals-hamper-obamas-message-192628153.html

It isn't Mitt Romney who's giving Barack Obama fits as the president moves into re-election mode. It's those federal bureaucrats carousing in Las Vegas, the Secret Service consorting with Colombian prostitutes and U.S. soldiers posing with bloody enemy corpses.

The scandals are taking a toll. They are distracting embarrassments that are dominating public attention while Obama seeks to focus on difficulties abroad and jobs at home. And they are giving Republicans an opportunity to question his competence and leadership, an opening for Romney in a race so close that any advantage might make a difference.

The White House response has been textbook — a mix of outrage and deflection.
"The president has been crystal clear since he was a candidate about the standards that he insists be met by those who work for the federal government and on behalf of the American people and for the American people," says White House spokesman Jay Carney.

By the time the president got home, General Services Administration officials were appearing before congressional committees about a lavish Las Vegas conference and junkets to resorts, and more evidence of excess was beginning to emerge. Obama's attempts to draw attention to his efforts against oil market manipulation on Tuesday and to help the economy on Wednesday were drowned out by further Secret Service revelations and by the publication of gruesome photos depicting GIs with the bodies of Afghan insurgents.

Common Sense Review

I am amazed on the blatant blame game…. “My message isn’t being heard because the Secret Service can’t keep it in their pants, the GSA are wasting tax dollars, etc…”

Apparently they don’t offer “Leadership skills 101” at Harvard, or maybe he took it but he was so wrapped up in the “Communist Manifesto” to pay attention.

As the President of the United States is the leader of these organizations, to which there are auditing and oversight agencies to handle these issues and the heads of these dept know it. So what is not being said?
If you know you have to report all expenses from a conference to the accounting dept., why would you put your job on the line when inevitably you are going to be caught?
As well as, the Secret Service has on the ground supervisors, so why would you obviously break you job duties to be with a prostitute?
Yet among these questionable acts, the Pres. Obama’s campaigning message is being missed. From his own actions, the president records shows his lack of love for the constitution, his ability to mislead the American people by encouraging racial tensions, misinform legislation and its overreaching arm on to the people and his inability to stand for this great country.

My question is….. Are these acts created by and manipulated by the current administration so the American people can forget about Pres. Obama’s poor decisions of the past?

Friday, April 13, 2012

Progressive organizations use Trayvon’s death … to intimidate corporations..

The Washington Post 04/12/12 Tom Hamburger

“Trayvon Martin Shooting spurs protests against companies with ties to legislative group”

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trayvon-martin-shooting-spurs-protests-against-companies-with-ties-to-legislative-group/2012/04/12/gIQAs8HuDT_story.html


In recent days, advocacy groups have targeted more than a dozen corporations over their financial support for the conservative organization that encouraged states to pass the “Stand Your Ground” legislation cited as a defense for George Zimmerman, the man charged with second-degree murder in the Feb. 26 shooting.

The advocates are celebrating decisions by several major food and beverage companies to sever financial ties with the organization, the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, McDonald’s, Kraft Foods and Wendy’s have cut their support for the group, although all played down any connection to the Florida shooting.

The ALEC controversy is now sparking a broader debate about corporate participation in politics and the polarized state of political discourse. At a minimum, it has strengthened calls for companies to develop clear policies explaining their spending.

“I would caution companies to be very aware of where their money is going,” says Nell Minow, director of GMI Ratings, which provides corporate governance information to investors, corporate auditors and regulatory agencies. “Companies are going to realize they can take a real reputational hit with this kind of affiliation.”

Ron Scheberle, executive director of ALEC, said Thursday that the attacks are part of an “intimidation campaign . . . to silence our organization” led by left-wing activists opposed to the group’s free-market agenda.

The list of companies now targeted includes AT&T, Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, Diageo, Wal-Mart and the industry trade group Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA).

Common Sense Review

When this incident came out and people were hollering “Racism” yet Zimmerman was Hispanic, I thought there is an underlying issue that will be brought up.. In a discussion with a group, I said this will be a gun issue.. It is coming out, I am kinda right…

The one thing I didn’t like about this article is it didn’t say who were the organizations intimidating ALEC companies? After some research I found some of them…

Common Cause.org (Motto: Holding Power Accountable) Has a preprinted protest for anyone to sign up , in a “Keep It Simple Stupid” format. The message in the letter:

Stop risking your company’s reputation. Your association with the American Legislative Exchange Council aligns you and your stockholders with a partisan drive to deny millions of Americans their right to vote, an attack on public schools, and the proliferation of “Stand Your Ground” laws that promote vigilantism.

You company probably joined ALEC to get help in lobbying for legislation that impacts your business. But ALEC’s agenda these days puts the pursuit of private profit ahead of the public interest. It pulls business leaders like you into a radical ideological crusade involving issues that have nothing to do with your company.

The undersigned urge you to join leaders of Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Kraft Foods, Intuit and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in withdrawing from ALEC. Be a good corporate citizen. Protect your company’s good name.

As well as, on their “10 Things you can do to Help”, #6 “Be a Mentor to a Young Person or Help Out at a local School”… I have a feeling they are not encouraging the study of the Constitution or Founding Fathers…

People for the American Way, whose mission statement is “People For the American Way is dedicated to making the promise of America real for every American: Equality. Freedom of speech. Freedom of religion. The right to seek justice in a court of law. The right to cast a vote that counts. The American Way.”

Board of Directors include
• Alec Baldwin, Actor
• Kathleen Turner, Actress
• Rev. Timothy McDonald, McDonald is deeply rooted in struggles for civil rights, economic and social justice
• Deborah Rappaport, president of the Rappaport Family Foundation, make investments in and provide operational support to entrepreneurial progressive organizations and individuals, with a particular focus on increased voter participation and increased progressive voices in the media.

Progress Now,(Motto: Building Online Progressive Movement… Translation… “We are going to get your kids”)

Mission: “ProgressNow State Partners serve as non-stop, multi-issue advocacy organizations. Year-round, we promote progressive ideas and causes with creative earned media strategies, targeted email campaigns, and cutting-edge new media. Working with our allies, we have significantly improved the communications effort of the entire progressive community in our states.”

Executive Director Denise Cardinal was press secretary for sitting North Dakota Democratic Senator Kent Conrad..

It is time to put these Progressive organizations in their place…. Time to Army up…

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Bailout thieves million dollar wage frozen… Awe Poor things!

The Wall Street Journal 04/07-08/12 Damian Paletta

“Bailout Chiefs’ Salaries Fronzen”

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303302504577327801243195294.html

Overall pay will remain frozen again this year for chief executives of American International Group Inc., AIG +4.27% General Motors Co., GM +1.12% and Ally Financial Inc., three firms that haven't repaid all their government bailouts, the Treasury Department said on Friday.

Treasury gained power in 2009 to approve executive compensation at firms that received exceptional federal assistance, following public outrage at big bonuses paid at AIG after the financial crisis bailouts. CEOs at AIG, GM and Ally didn't request pay increases this year, people familiar with the matter said.

All but one of AIG's top 25 executives was projected to earn more than $2.3 million in 2012, and nine of those will earn at least $5 million. The government said its goal in reviewing the pay packages is to ensure that pay doesn't exceed what is offered at comparable firms.

The U.S. still has $36 billion invested in AIG, $26 billion invested in GM, and $12 billion invested in Ally, part of the $700 billion Troubled Asset Relief Program created in 2008 at the height of the financial panic.

Robert Benmosche, CEO of New York-based AIG, will continue to be paid up to $10.5 million in cash and stock in 2012. His pay was set when he joined the insurer in August 2009. The government still owns a 70% stake in the insurer, and plans to sell that over time.

GM CEO Dan Akerson's 2012 pay package is worth about $9 million in cash and stock. He has been a vocal critic of the pay restrictions, arguing they should be lifted because the U.S. is no longer GM's majority owner.

Common Sense Review

Gee, get taxpayers money for failing to make the company I run succeed…

Only in an Obama American do people get millions for failure yet poor people have their wages frozen… I am mixed about this..

I believe in opportunity to succeed or fail in business but you don’t get millions for mismanagement….

Fat Cats purr at the hands of Barrack Obama

The Wall Street Journal 04/07-08/12 Robert Frank

“A ‘Fat Cat’ with the President’s Ear”

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304072004577327853694265034.html

When President Barack Obama attacked "fat-cat bankers on Wall Street" in 2009, Robert Wolf had a ready response.

"I said 'Mr. President, I know you think I'm overweight, but I can think of better names to call me,'" Mr. Wolf recalls. "He laughed."

Humor and self-deprecation have served Mr. Wolf well in his often conflicting roles as presidential pal and Wall Street power broker. The 50-year-old president of UBS's UBS +2.85% investment bank has remained a leading voice in the industry while also serving as Mr. Obama's chief Wall Street fundraiser and his current BFF (best friend in finance).

President Obama has made top earners and the "reckless practices" in banking targets of his re-election campaign, calling for higher taxes on hedge-fund managers and private-equity bosses, and more regulation of finance.

Mr. Wolf and top Democrats in financial services play down the numbers. Mr. Wolf says the president's fundraising "is going very well" and that Mr. Obama is simply doing fewer events in New York. He says he personally has given "tens of thousands" to the Obama campaign and the Democratic National Committee in the past 12 months.

Mr. Wolf co-hosted a dinner and event at a carpet and furniture store in New York last month, where guests paid $35,800 a plate and "we had to turn people away who wanted to come," he said. Among those attending were billionaire hedge-funder Marc Lasry, banker Blair Effron and Roger Altman, the Evercore co-founder and former Clinton cabinet member.

Common Sense Review

I find the conflict of interest and with the President’s bold and profound statements of not misleading the citizens …. Oh wait, this president will not be known as “Honest Barack”…

Yet it is interesting when the President is encouraging congress to pass the “Buffet Rule” (tax the rich), but he is friends are these rich people. So what is the catch…

First, Pres, Obama stated when he was campaigning for the office, he pledge to not have lobbyist at the White House…

The Pres. has excoriated the wealthy to the point were he praised Senate who talked down to the CEO of the Auto Companies at the Senate hearing for flying their corporate jet to DC to attend the hearings…

I have seen this scenario more than once and it reminds me of the movie “Transformers 3-D” where a character states “it is better to be the right hand of the devil, then in his way”.

King George endorses taxes on the people

The Grand Rapids Press 04/08/12 Matt Vande Bunte

“Heartwell urges support for GRCC millage: City Commission to Weogh Endorsing $100 Million Request”

http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2012/04/mayor_heartwell_grand_rapids_c.html

Calling Grand Rapids Community College “a cornerstone of our community for the past 96 years,” Mayor George Heartwell is urging colleagues to pass a resolution of support for a millage that would ensure the school “can continue to serve their growing student population into the next century.”

GRCC next month will ask Kent County voters to accept a 0.35-mill tax hike that would generate almost $100 million over 20 years to fund building maintenance and renovations, as well as technology. Grand Rapids City Commission on Tuesday will consider endorsing the request.

“This is clearly one of the really big issues for Kent County and Grand Rapids, being the host community,” said Heartwell, who last month helped GRCC launch its millage campaign. “They’ve deferred maintenance for far too long on many of these buildings. The need for the millage is unquestioned in my mind. They absolutely need it.”

Voters on May 8 will consider the new tax, which would increase an existing 1.78-mill levy. The hike would add $26.25 per year to the property tax bill for a house valued at $150,000.

“As far as I can tell, everyone (on City Commission) is on board with it,” said First Ward Commissioner Dave Shaffer, a GRCC alum whose sister and parents also attended the school. “I’m in support of it mostly due to the fact that GRCC has been a big part of my life and a lot of other people’s too.

Common Sense Review

Once again King George doesn’t know his place. The mayor and city commission are supposed to represent the people so when the commission seeks to endorse the proposal to raise taxes on the people basically means the residence of Grand Rapids already voted for the tax increase. So if there is no vote then we have a tyranny.

Sounds about right…

Yet 1st wart commissioner Dave Shaffer, endorsed the tax increase because he has family members who attend GRCC but do they live in Grand Rapids and will have to incur the tax increase… Gee that is missing from the article….

Now for a business that owns it’s buildings and property, they are have to budget in maintenance and repairs. Yet when you have access to the tax payer’s dollars, why would you feel to have to budget for maintenance and repairs. What an idea!

Maybe it is times to force school and university to live within their means, instead of teaching the students how to beg.

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Grand Rapid’s King George like Pres. Obama’s Budget

The Grand Rapids Press 02/18/12 George K. Heartwell

“Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell: Obama budget is good for cities, good for America”

http://www.mlive.com/opinion/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2012/02/mayor_obama_budget_is_good_for.html

On Feb. 12, President Obama presented his budget proposal for the federal government’s fiscal year that begins on Oct. 1, 2012. From the instantaneous chorus of election-year negativity we heard, I fear we can look forward to seven months of vitriol.

Grand Rapids Mayor George K. Heartwell says America depends on strong cities.

I want to set forth some facts about this budget and its impact on cities before the atmosphere gets too clouded with misinformation. The Administration’s budget is good for cities. It is good for Grand Rapids.

Here’s why I can say this with perfect confidence:

• The budget includes $467 billion over six years for reauthorization of highway, transit, rail and multimodal projects and an immediate infusion of $50 billion for transportation projects. This is desperately needed investment in our transportation infrastructure. It is also a major job generator. Consider the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act money that came to Kent County (totaling $110 million); and drive on I-196 from Fuller to Ottawa to see how some of this money was used. Or look at the new bus transportation facility of The Rapid. The fiscal year 2013 federal budget will provide funding for more vital, local projects like these.

• In the public safety categories, there is a provision for $257 million for community-oriented policing, another $415 million for Justice Assistance Grants, and $670 million in firefighter assistance grants. Also, the budget includes $4 billion for COPS police hiring grants and $1 billion for SAFER firefighter hiring grants.

• $12 billion is included for Pathways Back to Work for year-round youth employment. There is another $8 billion for Community College Partnerships for job training. And the Dislocated Worker Assistance program is included at $1.24 billion.

• Local K-12 schools will be able to compete for $850 million in Race to the Top funds.
• Public Housing Operating Funds, Homeless Assistance Grants and Housing for the Elderly Grants would all increase in the fiscal year 2013 budget. The Sustainable Communities Grants would be funded at $100 million. Although lower than last year’s appropriation, there would still be $3 billion for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program. And HOME Investment Partnership funding is included at $1 billion.

Transportation infrastructure, public safety, job training, public education and low income housing are areas of critical importance to Grand Rapids.

Let there be no mistake. President Obama is a thoroughgoing urbanist. He knows the challenges and problems cities face. After all, he worked as a community organizer in one of America’s leading cities, Chicago. It should be no surprise that his budget contains elements of critical importance to cities.

I suspect that the immediate push-back from House leadership and the Republican candidates for President has as much to do with election-year politicking as it does with good sense.

Having said that, however, I have to acknowledge that the radically different opinions about the budget may signal a divide beyond partisanship: one between urban America and our suburbs and rural areas.

It behooves all Americans to ensure that our cities thrive.
The Obama budget is fair, equitable, compassionate and prudent. These are values I subscribe to. These are the values that make us great.

Common Sense Review

Mayor Heartwell doesn’t have a clue. He mentions that “it behooves all Americans to ensure that our cities thrive”… First of all those who live rural don’t have to ensure the cities are robust. These people who live outside the cities have a different lifestyle by not having access to city services (water and sewer, streets) and focus on maintaining their homes and properties.

Second, we who live in the city do encourage city growth yet the Grand Rapids city officials spend out tax dollars like teenagers at the mall. The mismanagement of GR City funds (current deficit is $12 million) is why the city is constantly looking for new ways of increasing fees, new taxes (city gas tax) yet work on projects like putting “round-a-bouts” at Michigan/College to lower emissions.

George, let’s be honest … you like Pres Obama’s budget because is dictates to the masses how to live and how much money we are allowed to keep….

Remember the last King we had named George, the American people had a revolution against….

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

The GSA chief resigns due to excessive spending… or stupidity

Washington Post 04/02/12 Lisa Rein and Joe Davidson

“GSA chief resigns amid reports of excessive spending”

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/gsa-chief-resigns-amid-reports-of-excessive-spending/2012/04/02/gIQABLNNrS_story.html?tid=pm_pop

The chief of the General Services Administration resigned, two of her top deputies were fired and four managers were placed on leave Monday amid reports of lavish spending at a conference off the Las Vegas Strip that featured a clown, a mind reader and a $31,208 reception.

Administrator Martha N. Johnson, in her resignation letter, acknowledged a “significant misstep” at the agency that manages real estate for the federal government. “Taxpayer dollars were squandered,” she wrote. At the start of her tenure in February 2010 she called ethics “a big issue for me.”

Organizers spent $835,000 on the event, which was attended by 300 employees. The expenses included $147,000 in airfare and lodging at the hotel for six planning trips by a team of organizers. Among the other expenses were $3,200 for a mind reader; $6,300 on commemorative coin set displayed in velvet boxes and $75,000 on a training exercise to build a bicycle.

Among the “excessive, wasteful and in some cases impermissable” spending the inspector general documented: $5,600 for three semi-private catered in-room parties and $44 per person daily breakfasts; $75,000 for a “team-building” exercise — the goal was to build a bicycle; $146,000 on catered food and drinks; and $6,325 on commemorative coins in velvet boxes to reward all participants for their work on stimulus projects. The $31,208 “networking” reception featured a $19-per-person artisanal cheese display and $7,000 of sushi. At the conference’s closing-night dinner, employees received “yearbooks” with their pictures, at a cost of $8,130.

Common Sense Review

The General Service Administration resigned due to excessive spending at a training conference in Las Vegas… What the problem?!?!? This administration has shown that “money is no object” when it comes to entertainment and govt events.

What kind of training or who in their right mind thought the govt would approve $3,200 for a mind reader and what Is the purpose to purchase a $6,300 on a commemorative coin set with display…. I don’t think they should be fired for excessive spending but should be fired for stupidity…

Who was the genius that thought “Sure these are justifiable work related expenses”….

Strip searches are Constitutional according to Supreme Court

Washington Post 04/02/12 Robert Barnes

“Supreme Court upholds jail strip searches, including for minor offenses”

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/supreme-court-upholds-jail-strip-searches----even-for-minor-offenses/2012/04/02/gIQAsZB4qS_story.html

The Supreme Court ruled Monday that those arrested for even minor violations may be strip-searched before being admitted to jail, saying safety concerns outweigh personal privacy rights.
The court’s conservatives ruled against a New Jersey man who was strip-searched after being mistakenly arrested on an outstanding warrant.

“There is a substantial interest in preventing any new inmate, either of his own will or as a result of coercion, from putting all who live or work at these institutions at even greater risk when he is admitted to the general population,” Kennedy wrote.

More than 13 million people are admitted to jails each year, Kennedy wrote.

Justice Stephen G. Breyer wrote a dissenting opinion, joined by the rest of the court’s liberals. He said corrections officials must have reason to believe that the person arrested poses a danger before subjecting them to a strip search that is “inherently harmful, humiliating, and degrading.”

The case was brought by Albert Florence, a New Jersey man who said he was subjected to two invasive inspections in 2005 after being mistakenly arrested for not paying a fine.

A state trooper pulled over Florence’s BMW in 2005 as he and his family were on the way to his mother-in-law’s to celebrate the purchase of their new home. He was handcuffed and arrested in front of his distraught, pregnant wife and young son.

He spent seven days in jail because of a warrant that said, mistakenly, that he was wanted for not paying a court fine. In fact, he had proof that the fine had been paid years earlier; he said he carried it in his glove box because he believed that police were suspicious of black men who drove nice cars.

Florence was jailed in Burlington County and then Essex County before a magistrate ordered him released. At Burlington, he said, he was forced to disrobe in front of an officer and told to lift his genitals. At Essex, he was strip-searched again and, he said, was made to squat and cough in front of others, a maneuver meant to expel anything hidden in a body cavity.

Kennedy’s opinion said corrections officials “must have substantial discretion to devise reasonable solutions to the problems they face.”

Common Sense Review

This case causes me kind of teetering on whether this is unconstitutional illegal search and seizure or whether the safety of the facility is more important.

If I was mistakenly arrested, I wouldn’t want to be strip searched. How often does that happen?

Should we adjust our law to protect the rare occasion of mistaken identity? Isn’t the laws of the US are created to protect the innocent yet are we to protect those who are not innocent?

Yet does the Constitution protect against illegal search and seizure? Does the Constitution wait for the door to open or does it kick the door down?

Monday, April 2, 2012

Survey , says…… Detroiter doubt their city can get help

The Detroit Free Press 03/29/12 Todd Spangler, Paul Egan, Cecil Angel and Bill Laitner

“Free Press Poll: The most important thing to Detroiters…. FIX OUR CITY: Many say they doubt anyone can help”

http://www.freep.com/article/20120329/NEWS15/203290584/Free-Press-poll-The-most-important-thing-to-Detroiters-fix-our-city

A deeply divided Detroit overwhelmingly wants improved city services even if it means Gov. Rick Snyder's administration must step in, though residents are skeptical of what it can do for them.
By a slim margin, city residents remain supportive of Mayor Dave Bing and the Detroit City Council staying in charge for now.

But a Detroit Free Press/WXYZ-TV poll showed that 7 out of every 10 Detroiters consider it essential or very important for the city's looming fiscal crisis to be addressed in a way that improves basic services -- even if it requires state intervention.

With the city facing a crisis that could potentially lead to bankruptcy or the appointment of an emergency manager with sweeping powers unless it reaches an agreement with the state, the Free Press and WXYZ-TV (Channel 7) commissioned a survey of 400 Detroiters, with Lansing-based pollster EPIC-MRA.
Conducted March 24-26, the poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percentage points. More than 6 of every 10 said the city is on the wrong track, and 78% gave Detroit negative marks for providing basic services. About 78% of respondents were African American, 13% were white and 9% other.

An even larger percentage -- 50% -- believe neither Bing nor the council will be able, in the end, to clean up the city's financial mess.

That is clearly part of the conundrum for the city: The poll found that 50% of Detroiters say the mayor and council should remain in charge -- compared with 44% who want the finances fixed, even if it means the state taking a measure of control.

Common Sense Review

Why does this has to be an issue, if the people of Detroit don’t want the state’s help to correct their financial ills. So be it!

I don’t have an issue with Detroit not wanting help but then don’t beg the state for funds to help balance their budget. Nothing is for free…

Contrary to popular belief, the state doesn’t want to own Detroit. Yet using state forensic accountants to review their records to find issues that can be corrected to make Detroit solvent again, is not a crazy idea. The Detroit city officials are so afraid of losing their power and authority that they would push help away to save face.

If Detroiter don’t stand up to their officials, they will continue in this uncertain financial boat that will never find the stable land it deserves.

Grand Rapids gets over their hissy fit with developer

The Grand Rapids Press 03/29/12 Matt Vand Bunte

“Grand Rapids inks Parkland deals: School sale switcheroo still irks, but officials pleased to get space”

http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2012/03/grand_rapids_inks_parkland_dea.html

A messy process that left Grand Rapids leaders feeling betrayed over a developer’s switcheroo also has produced an outcome that, if not justifies the means, at least benefits three city neighborhoods, elected officials said.

After discussion that included barbs at the Grand Rapids Board of Education and a frustrated rebuke of the deputy city manager, Grand Rapids City Commission voted 5-1 Tuesday to amend a Brownfield deal for redevelopment of the former Oakdale School as a National Heritage Academies charter school instead of the apartments previously proposed.

“I think all of us felt betrayed (when the land was sold to NHA),” Second Ward Commissioner Rosalynn Bliss said. But she and her colleagues, except Mayor George Heartwell, voted to approve the documents that will deed three small pieces of parkland to the city.

Looking to generate revenue to pay off old debt, GRPS agreed to sell four former schools to Ojibway Development. The developer, Bruce Michael, proposed low-income apartments at the sites. But after buying three of the schools, Ojibway re-sold the properties to National Heritage Academies.

Heartwell, who lashed out at Ojibway after the developer sold the land to NHA, said the process involved “a breach of trust” with the "flaky" developer that he would not support, even if neighborhoods would benefit from the deeded parkland.

“The way this transaction occurred was simply not right,” Heartwell said. “A ‘yes’ vote, to me, feels like rewarding (bad) behavior.”

Heartwell chastised Eric DeLong, deputy city manager, for adding the escrow agreement to the agenda with little notice, though others lauded DeLong's work.

Common Sense Review

I am so amazed at the arrogance of the Grand Rapids City officials. They make a deal to sell property and when the new owner doesn’t do what they want, they throw a public hissy fit.

The City of Grand Rapids is in debt $12 million, and they have room to complain when they need to sell city assets.