Honest Reporting OR Journalist Joke?

[UPDATE Below - Update II]

Some months ago I became intrigued with the coming together of two fairly popular blogs, Lost Coast Outpost, ie., Hank Sims, and the Readheaded Blackbelt, ie., Kym Kemp from Southern Humboldt.

The difference, if any, is minor. What is striking, however, is the advertising now displayed prominently on Kym's blog. Since Hank Sims is connected to KHUM radio and he was displaying news reports as part of the normal blog format. Kym Kemp, on the other hand, even before hooking up with Sims was beginning to post mostly local Southern Humboldt news and matters of public interest with a proliferation of police and Sheriff Department press releases. These press releases are canned accounts published online by these organizations given to the general public as accurate news. These agencies tell the public what they want them to know. This kind of one-sided, biased reporting is reprehensible when employed by the Times-Standard newspaper with salaried reporters.

The integrity and credibility of such blog reporting, or I should say LACK of integrity and credibility, was emphasized when I read the following excerpt by Glenn Greenwald in his Salon.com article: “Officials say” journalism - Yet again, the American media misleads by uncritically printing unverified, false claims from the U.S. military. (Or in our case: “claims from the local police.”)

Instead, what we see here is the standard template of American media reports: in the very first paragraph, media outlets typically state as fact what are nothing more than official assertions, and then append on to the end of the paragraph the rote phrase “officials say” (standard first paragraph: A, B and C happened today, officials say“). Over and over, this is the journalistic practice that converts media institutions into little more than glorified press release outlets for the U.S. government and military. They routinely write entire articles where the narrative and storyline are shaped exclusively by unverified claims of officials. There is a protected free press precisely because institutions are needed to check and scrutinize government claims — based on the long-standing recognition that those in power tell self-serving lies, something which has happened over and over in the war in Afghanistan — not uncritically amplify them and convert them into Truth under the guise of independent reporting. 

But this “officials say” form of American journalism converts government claims into journalistic fact. In that regard, it’s not merely redundant, though it is that: who needs a media outlet to re-print government press releases, when one can just go read those press releases on one’s own? It’s worse than redundant: it launders government claims as verified fact, as though they’ve been checked and confirmed by an independent media arbiter. That’s why government officials love to “leak” falsehoods to reporters while hiding behind the shield of anonymity, rather than just themselves dissemintaing those falsehoods: not only does that practice shield them from accountability, but it masquerades their lies as “reporting.” Today’s example is just illustrative, and far from the most important: this is the model, more than any other, that shapes American journalism. [Emphasis added.]

As such, these outlets become nothing more than propaganda tools. In Kym Kemp's case, when I challenged her postings regarding Mendocino County Sheriff Tom Allman's reports she actively defended him, and her reporting based upon his press releases.

There is an exception I'd like to mention here that I think is rather noteworthy and that is the Humboldt Herald by Heraldo. While the Humboldt Herald occasionally publishes Press Releases the general format is far more newsworthy in it's reporting. Recently, the Humboldt Herald added two others in addition to Heraldo posting articles: Mitch and Eric Kirk. Eric Kirk has the Southern Humboldt blog, SoHum Parlance II.

The diversity in the Herald has certainly increased it's purview.  So, honest reporting or journalistic joke?

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[UPDATE :: Thursday, June 21, 2012]

Interesting update to this idea of “blog reporting.” Are blogs and bloggers (people that write blog articles and post these articles on blogs) actually “blog reporters”? In other words, should they answer to a higher set of standards and priorities than the average blog opinionator or “glorified press release outlets”?

Would you say that the Humboldt Herald blog predominately “acts” like a blog news outlet? Now compare the Humboldt Herald to Eric Kirk's SoHum Parlance II. Do you get the same answers? I don't think so.

Now look at Eric's post on the Humboldt Herald for Thursday, June 21st, 2012, Drama at the Democratic Central Committee and tell me, even if it isn't by Kirk's own words as timely as he would like, a news report.

So, should these writers – bloggers be held to the “reporter” standard? Or did Eric's use of a bogus picture he says was used as an (unspoken) joke adversely affect the credibility and integrity of the Humboldt Herald? Did he move it into the blemished commonality of an opinionating blog?

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[UPDATE :: Friday, June 22, 2012] 

 Upon checking the Redheaded Blackbelt blog this morning I found of the seven postings, six were nothing more than Press Releases. Over on Lost Coast Outpost it was basically the same thing.

--Joe

Why Kym Kemp Is A Collaborator

Kym Kemp continues to repeat and publish her primal beliefs, in this case recite the police and news media propaganda justifying the blatant murder of Aaron Bassler. Bassler was gunned down like a mongrel dog by three police officers hiding in ambush. The commenter, Nick Wilson, says that Bassler was identified by someone that knew him when he supposedly shot Jere Melo at a distance. That person's word or more factually, that person's unsubstantiated word was, the only basis used to gun down Bassler like a dog. Be sure to read Wilson's complete comment.

The Rule of Law demands, actually requires much more than someone's simple belief that another is guilty of some crime justifying summary execution. In that regard, Kym Kemp is a collaborator because she works in collaboration with the Mendocino County Sheriff and all others that justify, promote and defend the blatant murder of an accused person. This reality shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone when you consider her stand on the growing, manufacturing and selling of marijuana and the criminals that do engage in such activities.

So, if you support the Rule of Men, I guess you know what that makes you?

Why write this post? Here's why:

"It does not require a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority keen to set brush fires in people's minds" - Samuel Adams

--Joe

Silence is Consensus

There is an interesting phenomenon called the “Silent Treatment.” What amounts to perfunctory consensus rejection, or so most believe. It's practiced on blog commentary all the time.

The Free Dictionary defines the:

silent treatment
n. Informal
Maintenance of aloof silence toward another as an expression of one's anger or disapproval

Mostly the “silent treatment” means that you do not exist, therefore you do not need to be recognized as legitimate and accepted as a co-equal. The problem is, you DO exist and when these kinds of people give you the "silent treatment" they expose themselves as weak and illegitimate people. The circle closes when they become what they would have others be.

Silence, in this context, has another meaning too: Consensus or agreement. In the following context as laid out below in my article, Pounding Sand –Kym Kemp Style you'll notice NO comments disagreeing with any observation in that article. That means there is a “consensus agreement.” – which works for me.

Just a noted observation since changing formats and affiliations the old Readheaded Blackbelt had a certain character that is now lost. Now all you get are press releases that are mostly unanswered propaganda. Oh! well, to each his own.

The following quote came from Glenn Greenwald's latest article: State-dominated media and Iran

NOTE: The definition of "collaborator."
That led me to this observation: “this is what establishment-serving journalists in Washington mean when they boast that they, but not their critics, engage in so-called ‘real reporting’; it means: calling up Serious People in Washington and uncritically repeating what they say.”
http://www.salon.com/2012/04/05/state_dominated_media_and_iran/singleton/

[Picture Source]

--Joe

Pounding Sand - Kym Kemp Style

This is the Kym Kemp of the Redheaded Blackbelt blog - a co-conspirator of and with Hank Sims of the Lost Coast Outpost blog. This post is NOT about Kym Kemp per se, some personal vendetta, blog or comment censorship as much as it is about what it means to be a responsible ADULT.

You can find the definition of what it means to "pound sand" here or as defined here the second variation: "A variant meaning is to suffer or to act in a pointless manner" – the titled meaning used for this posting.

I recently had an interesting and sort of profitable email conversation with Kym. (Probably more profitable for me than her, but what the heck?) I figured she'd be, or at least the incentive would be there for her to be more honest in our efforts to communicate. We were talking about “after-the-fact” blog censorship – arbitrary blocking and deleting comments in the public comments section based upon individual ignorance, bias and personal prejudice – a form of racism*. I thought about what she said in that conversation and about what she did NOT say. I tried to answer her concerns about talking to her like a "small child." That and while she said I usually talk over everyone's head, my comments somehow become nothing more than unacceptable "negative," "ugly taunts. Apparently, according to her, I was unable speak to her like a mature adult. There is a time to be a whinny little baby and then there is the time to grow up and become an adult. Adults understand that most children live in the moment where life's realities are defined by how everything affects and profits them. Adults, on the other hand, know that life encompasses much, much more than living an animal existence. In the process I happened to read her comments posted on her affiliate blog. Also posted below. (A place I never make comments just to avoid this kind of a double-edged trap.)

Then it occurred to me, when she had accused me of treating her like a small child, why. What she said and what she wanted me to give her the right to do, was exactly the same conversation I'd had with my own daughter when she was moving out of adolescence. She wanted to be an adult and wanted her mother and me to treat her like an adult, but without any responsibility or accountability. She naively believed that being an adult meant that she had the right to come and go, do and say whatever she felt like WITHOUT any personal accountability. Of course, we all know that the world does not work like that, even though they all believe it does. Being an adult meant that you were free from any rules or laws. Enforcement of any rules or laws amounted to nothing more than a wannabe adult making "ugly taunts." That's when our relationship got dicey – for awhile. Even so, during this time she had a protected environment to grow and become a more mature person – her stated goal. So, what does that say about Kym? 

Kym's problem, the one she refuses to accept, is that she is exactly what she still is, an adolescent. I say that, because just like my daughter, she refuses to accept responsibility for her stipulated lifestyle beliefs. She believes that 50 years of an ingrained criminal culture involving large amounts of tax-free easy money, lying, stealing, money laundering, corruption and murder has or had NO morally detrimental or harmful effects on the social structure or the integrity of the individual, family and community, including the business community. Not only does Kym believe this nonsense, but she's constantly trying to justify and legitimize why the individual has the moral, ethical and legal right to trash social and societal rules, norms and laws at will - at the individuals sole discretion. (I posted the above referenced relevant comments below.) Notice her comment: “Just because people are willing to break stupid laws doesn't mean they are willing to be immoral.” This judgmental statement, in and of itself, "stupid laws," defines the morality, or rather, amorality of the speaker. It is that judgement repudiating the majority right to define and enforce rules of the road; LAW, that is "immoral." Here the mantra is the defacto enforcement of the Rule of Men replacing the Rule of Law. I believe, therefore I am truth, right and justice – LAW.

To me, her statement is morally repugnant and highly offensive. Why? Because of the untold numbers of the murdered dead, rotting in those hills who scream out something altogether different. These people,  so-called innocent "plant growers" – pot growers et al. and business community alike, whether they intended to become or ever wanted to become, are all part and party to the deaths of these “innocent plant growers.” Growing that “plant” and “breaking stupid laws,” as she so naively puts it, is not only immoral, but is the self-centered, self-righteous arrogance of the “corrupt to the gut” amoral.

a·mor·al [http://www.thefreedictionary.com/amoral ] 

  1. Not admitting of moral distinctions or judgments; neither moral nor immoral.
  2. Lacking moral sensibility; not caring about right and wrong.

There is an easy way to illustrate and bring home what and how these people, not only the growers, but all the local businesses and untold numbers of non-grower "growers" that have exploited this corrupt, immoral and depraved criminal enterprise, enforce their personal, opinion based beliefs and judgments on a day to day basis. Notice that on her blog and that of Hank Sims you will NOT find any rules or guidelines for making comments on their blog. Here is an example of what I mean along with MY Comment Guidelines, located first paragraph top left. Again, reinforced under Pages: Comment Etiquette below. They simply expect you to divine or submit like a little puppy to their unspoken demands and personal prejudices. Since I'm not a mind reader that created a bit of problem when being judged by bigotry, bias and racist prejudices – not to mention childish ignorance and bullying stupidity. They, and others, divine the right to judge everyone as you go. They post NO rules of the road so that everyone knows without doubt what is and is not expected. They not only want to be judge, jury and executioner, they expect everyone commenting on their blog to give them that right. How this corrupt way bleeds over into society was graphically demonstrated when the Fortuna police asserted this right by killing Jacob Newmaker March 16, 2012. I've written fairly extensively how this police killing is the result of enforcing the Rule of Men. See below Self Defense Is a Bitch and Resist AND Die - Why?

Then there is the OTHER SIDE – The Dark Side. Where the totally innocent person or family that wants absolutely nothing to do with the corruption and it's handmaidens, the criminal elite that get drawn into a serious life and death struggle to survive. Two good examples of this are the Saturday, March 24, 2012 Times-Standard account of "Victim recounts harrowing home invasion, torture" and the Arcata Police home invasion by deception of a 64 year old Barbara Sage by "about a dozen officers with guns drawn." You can read about that in today's Times-Standard here: Arcata woman sues city, police over potless pot search; suit alleges unlawful search, rough treatment hastened husband's death.

Synonymous to the Rule of Men is its root cause: CORRUPTION. What does one rotten apple have in common with a barrel of good apples? A whole barrel full of rotten apples, that's what. Kym's moralizing and devaluing law is symptomatic of much more than an adolescent attitude and understanding. It is the sand pounding of her constant justification that, in view of the corrupt and depraved consequences, where rot is the norm, that is reprehensible and intolerable. It is the dead in these hills that do the judging. No matter how much sand pounding Kym does in support of this corruption and these criminals, the dead are still dead. You can't censor them.

--Joe

UPDATE: How Your Elected Representatives Work for You

[UPDATE :: Tuesday, October 25, 2011]

I came across this on Eric Kirk's blog yesterday:

Open Thread on Friday Night’s Meeting

and was totally repulsed and personally offended by the comments of these self-righteous, sanctimonious hypocrits that I read by both him and Ernie Branscomb - two local businessmen operating in the Garberville area for years. There are dead people buried in those hills and several generations of people raised in that criminal culture - a culture that spans all parts of society including all the business people that washed that criminal money in their decades-long efforts to justify their crimes by feigning ignorance and a natural right. The untold millions of criminal dollars that has washed through and over Humboldt County ALONE touches or has touched everyone, including this writer one way or another, with its cancerous corrupt tentacles. The elites of Southern Humboldt try to put on a pretty face for everyone to see believing that they are inoculated from the disease. Problem is, the rancid, rotten smell from their festering pussy sore and the residual excrement can't be ignored anymore. (No pun intended.)

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How Your Elected (SoHum) Representatives Work for You  

[Note: "SoHum" means, Southern Humboldt and now, decades that picture is synonymous for Garberville, CA]

Why "synonymous"? Because it tells you something about the character of Garberville. Not the character today, but when that sign first proclaimed "WELCOME! The friendly folks are here to serve you good stuff." The welcoming and accepting hand was out for everyone. You could go into Garberville and be served in your dirty, dusty logging duds right alongside a family in their Sunday best that just came from church.  I know, I did both. It didn't matter who you were, you all got the same - the best they had to offer.

Well, this is what the local business people in Garberville have to offer today. Impressions of a Homeless Meeting - Kym Kemps latest on the homeless people's situation in Garberville. Since I referenced her original article: Even Laundry Nazi’s Get Hurt Feelings it's only appropriate to follow up.

Be sure to follow the links at the bottom of her article, (1) Ernie's view and (2) Eric's view - One a true blue Elitist and the other a wannabe Elitist. Actually, one is a lawyer and the other some sort of businessman and community leader - I'll let you figure out who's who.

If there is one thing the "Occupy" people are demonstrating, is that all politicians are bought and paid for whores. The question everyone needs to ask is, who is the worst one? The Pimps that pay off these corrupt prostitutes or their willing patrons? In Southern Humboldt it doesn't take long to figure out who the Pimps are.

There is a simple truth in the World, a truth wannabe Elitist never seem to understand: People must live - Life lives one way or another. Take away all the jobs, kick people out of their homes, what are they going to do? Just blow away or die? People like Eric Kirk and Ernie Branscomb that suck off this Capitalist Whore want all the benefits of the deprivation they cause and exploit, but no part of the responsibility for what they've had a part in causing.

There's another Universal Truth most people never ever seem to learn, that is, until it's way too late: "You shall always reap what you sow" - For the Kirks and the Branscombs of this world that means: "What goes around ALWAYS comes around."

--Joe

What Does the Obama Murder of an U.S. Citizen Mean?

[UPDATE Below  ::  Authorities shoot, kill murder suspect Aaron Bassler; suspect had finger on trigger, officials say] [UPDATE II] [UPDATE III]


What Does Obama's Due-Process-Free Assassination - Murder of a U.S. Citizen Mean for YOU?

All nations derive their ultimate right to legally exist from the Universe and it's Arbitrary Law governing all matter. Consequently, it means the total delegitimazation of the United States as a valid country with the Universal right to continue existing as a legal entity. President Barach Obama's criminal conduct resulting in the deliberate crimal murder of an American citizen in an open and complete violation of the United States Constitution establishes or codifies America's total anarchy as a rogue nation in this world. The American people are now faced with the same choice as their founding fathers faced with England's tyranny.

If, as most people are like you, the reader, unable to understand the significance of legal or legitimate existence, as either by an individual or as an individual country in a world of nations or legally existing countries, then for especially Humboldt and Mendocino Counties and in particular for the citizens of Eureka California, accept that it means this:

It means the same thing, complete impunity for murder by accusation. Whip up a mob and you're free to kill anyone with total abject impunity.

A good example of what's going on locally right now is this matter of some anonymous individual claiming the a guy named Aaron Bassler killed some wonderful person named Jere Mello. So, the Mendocino Sheriff's department has a kill on sight or is it "kill or capture"? There is no proof and no probable cause presented anywhere, but that certainly does not deter the locals from their blood lust. Look at Eric Kirks latest perverted statement, "Melo Shooting Suspect Exchanges Gunfire with Law Enforcement." There is absolutely NO PROOF that what he claims is the truth. All anyone has is the Mendocino County Sheriff's Press Release. A good example of the local blood lust is referenced in Kirk's post at Kym Kemp's blog: Aaron Bassler And Law Enforcement Exchanged Shots Today. -- Again, no proof. Only the self-serving News Release from the Sheriff's Department offered as god's-gospel truth. Reading the comments on her blog will make most decent Americans ashamed such people are their neighbors.

Here are the relevant links from the Times-Standard -- No solid reporting here, only repeated Press Releases.

1) Officials mourn loss of Fort Bragg councilman Jere Melo - 08/30/2011

2) Aaron Bassler wanted in Melo's death; considered armed and dangerous - 08/30/2011

3) Fort Bragg councilman was shot at opium grow; draws light to world of opium poppies - 08/31/2011

4) Search for suspected gunman in Melo shooting continues; Link between deaths of councilman, land trust employee not ruled out - 09/01/2011
5) Officials: Bassler wanted in two shooting deaths - 09/03/2011 
[Authorities said they have obtained an arrest warrant for suspect Aaron Bassler, 35, in connection with the shooting deaths of Matthew Coleman and Melo, but did not given further details on how the crimes were connected.]
6) Murder suspect Aaron Bassler still at large; DNA evidence places him at Aug. 11 killing - 09/27/2011
7) Fort Bragg murder suspect fires upon officers Thursday; sheriff's deputies unhurt, return about 10 shots - 9/30/2011

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It was here that company came and I wasn't able to publish this post. Before turning off the computer, this news article from the AP confirmed the Aaron Bassler had been shot down like a mongrel dog just like howObama gunned down Anwar al-Awlaki. Sheriff Thomas Allman of Mendocino County wants everyone to trust and believe in him when says Aaron Bassler is guilty just like Barack Obama's accusatory claims. 

[Source - Source]

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Need I say anything more? The proof is what it is: Authorities: CA slayings suspect killed in manhunt - When he "raised his high-powered rifle."
[Source]

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[UPDATE :: Sunday, October 2, 2011]
Authorities shoot, kill murder suspect Aaron Bassler; suspect had finger on trigger, officials say is the headline in today's Times-Standard.

REALLY? More newspaper propaganda justifying police lawless action. Read what Allman says happened, if you can believe what Kaci Poor reports for the Times-Standard:

The team, positioned approximately 40 yards away from and 25 feet above Bassler, identified him by his black clothing and the high-powered rifle he was carrying. Without making verbal contact, the team fired seven shots into Bassler's chest. Bassler did not return fire before he died. 

According to Mendocino County Sheriff Tom Allman, while there was never a shoot-to-kill order made by commanding officers, the SWAT team had sufficient cause to fire on Bassler without first establishing verbal contact. 

Bassler had his finger on the trigger of his gun, a round in the chamber and the safety off, Allman said. It was evident by that, and his previous actions, that any contact with law enforcement officers would be met with “deadly and lethal engagement,” he said.

"It was evident" that someone put in that position would try to defend themselves, but where was the proof that this "someone" was Aaron Bassler? Someone was wearing black clothes and carrying a rifle and  that's all anyone knew. "Bassler had his finger on the trigger"? "The safety off"? "A round in the chamber"? What divine power gave these god-almighty judges that insight at "40 yards away"? Bassler's murder is no different than that of Anwar al-Awlaki.

It all starts with vilifying the Awlaki's and the Basslers and the Cottens of this world. It ends with your son or daughter, maybe even your father or mother that attends the Unity Church of the Redwoods.

For those of you that often wondered what Karma meant? Please observe the precise definition as it is played out, defined and enforced upon America. [Emphasis added]

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[UPDATE II :: Monday, October 3, 2011]
The depths of moral depravity and wanton criminal behavior by all parts of government that is encompassing the United States viciously impressed upon the people is illustrated in the following quoted article and is a related, rather extensive point regarding state-sanctioned murder based completely upon a simple accusation: "It was evident (to Sheriff Tom Allman for sure) by that, (after-the-fact supposed probable-cause evidence) "his finger on the trigger of his gun, a round in the chamber and the safety off" - that any contact with law enforcement officers would be met with 'deadly and lethal engagement.'" On that account we must take Sheriff Tom Allman's word, because summarily executing the boy foreclosed on any of the proof.
In the article by Glenn Greenwald: So much evidence, there’s no need to show it - posted today, we see the issue and what drives the depravity:

That mentality — he’s a Terrorist because my Government said he’s one and I therefore don’t need evidence or trials to subject that evidence to scrutiny — also happens to be the purest definition of an authoritarian mentality, the exact opposite of the dynamic that was supposed drive how the country functioned (Thomas Jefferson: “In questions of power, let no more be heard of confidence in men, but bind him down from mischief with the chains of the Constitution“).  I trust My President and don’t need to see evidence or have due process is the slavish mentality against which Jefferson warned; it’s also one of the most pervasive ones in much of the American citizenry, which explains a lot.

Yes, the lawless, anarchistic, mob mentality explains a lot. What value life compared to someone's worthless opinion?

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[UPDATE III  ::  Monday, October 3, 2011]
The HILL'S Blog Briefing Room: Rep. Ron Paul sees Awlaki killing as 'possible' impeachable offense - And that's the test of American will to see if they've got the guts enforce the Constitution.

--Joe

How Your Elected Representatives Work for You

I recently became aware of this porta-potty matter in Garberville, CA when Kym Kemp tweeted her article:  Even Laundry Nazi’s Get Hurt Feelings - Where she lays out the issue fairly well when it comes to dealing with homeless people and the mostly adversarial situation that exists with the business community. In Garberville, a community that prides itself by sustaining its viability and future on the illegal growing and selling of marijuana, these homeless people present a blight to those pseudo prosperous and upstanding folk. These fine people worry that putting a porta-potty in a small, rundown county owned dime-size park at the north end of town will somehow attract these vagrant folk to all flock to Garberville. So, the consequence are, since there are NO public facilities in town, unlike Crescent City where they have permanent facilities scattered all over town, they would rather have human urine and feces all over their town. This is what happens when you have an inbred political system that worries more about appearance, but never about smell. Point in fact, is their requirement for a "permit" to install and use a portable toilet.

Today, a couple of weeks later, Thursday, June 9, 2011, there appeared on the front-page of the Times-Standard this masterpiece by Thadeus Greenson:  Port-a-problem? Portable toilet stirs debate in Garberville - He starts out by saying, "Some deep-seated issues are bubbling up in Garberville, brought to a head by a single unpermitted port-a-potty. " Read the rest of what he says and you will find out that his words, "deep-seated issues" are profoundly accurate and encompassing.

What was not brought into the issue was the general public and what they want and I'm not talking about the "transient and the homeless population." Greenson says the town of Garberville, that being the business community, by and large, has a longstanding problem with what to do with the homeless people. So, when they started using the county owned, but veterans park overseen by a local chapter of Veterans of Foreign Wars and a concerned citizen, Debra Carey, using her own money had a porta-potty installed there she ran afoul of the local business people's weapon of last or is it first resort, NO PERMIT or permission. Personally, I'd think that under the circumstances the local veterans would WANT to see the park with toilet and water facilities.

What interested me what Greenson reported was the people's county representative, Supervisor Clif Clendenen said:

[S]everal things are clear: The area has suffered chronic issues surrounding homeless and transient populations, the community has taken a hands-off approach to the issue and the problems have persisted.

”If we don't do anything, we know what that looks like,” he said. “It looks like the last two or three years, which I don't think have been that successful.”

Clendenen said he's entertaining the park idea, but only if it's done right. The supervisor said he'd like to see a “tough love” approach, with the community agreeing to offer certain services -- a place for people to be, a bathroom and running water -- in exchange for a bit of cooperation, like folks agreeing not to loiter or panhandle in front of stores, to clean up after their dogs and to generally reduce their impact. To that end, Clendenen said, he's been encouraging chamber members and the two veterans groups to set aside their differences and try to come together with a cooperative solution.

Casey's port-a-potty, he said, wasn't part of the plan.

”That's exactly what I had promised the chamber folks that we wouldn't do,” Clendenen said, stressing that whatever is done has to be coordinated and well thought out.

Wasn't part of the "PLAN"? Whose "plan"? He just said NO ONE had done anything in the past two or three years" and that "do nothing" approach was successful. So what "plan" is he talking about? Sheriff's Officer Swithenbank talks about a FIVE year problem.

Clendenen's whole approach to this problem recognizes only the interests of the business community. He wants the "homeless and the transients" to support the business community when THEY do everything to NOT support their needs. What's Clendenen's priority in the face of a local citizen that has the foresight, community concern and wherewithal try to deal with the problem in a minimal way by installing a porta-potty on public county property? The "county" represented by Clendenen removes it.

Then you've got the Sheriff's Department's Sgt. Kenny Swithenbank, a local, laying out their policing priorities, none which really has anything to do with the general public's concerns: 

[H]e said his office receives calls daily relating to the homeless and transient populations in town. It's generally nothing too serious he said, just drinking in public, smoking marijuana, loitering and things like that. (Comment: Which is exactly what people do when they are just trying to live in Garberville, California - "loitering and things like that")

”It has gotten to be way too big of a problem,” he said, adding that populations have exploded over the last five years. “People get that 'overrun' feeling.”

Swithenbank said he'd like to see the area open as a park and wouldn't oppose a bathroom, if it was run correctly and police could enforce the laws there. However, the sergeant said he would strongly oppose anything resembling a homeless encampment.

”Word gets out and they come from everywhere,”

In those words, Officer Kenny Swithenbank speaks the truth and clearly defines the real issue plagueing that community, fear. - “People get that 'overrun' feeling.”

 "HE WOULD APPOSE"? Therein lies the answer to who really is running the county. "Anything resembling" is extremely vague and open to personal interpretation. Well, that fact is Kenny Swithenbank, you've already got a homeless encampment and it is called Garberville, California.

Local businesses sucked off the illegal pot people for decades and never bitched about how that class of people looked and comported themselves, as long as they had plenty of cash dollars and scurried off back into the hills once they paid their way for coming into town.

For more on this issue, Kym has a couple more blog posts worth a read. She belabors the solution as it apparently evades her. Take a look:

1. Today: Homeless Camp or Park in Use?
2. The Times Standard Pee–ks at the Porta Potty Issue
3. …The More They Stay The Same

 To paraphrase Debra Cary, people have to live. A fact the the Garberville and surrounding businesses better get through their heads is that includes "transients and the homeless." That was the total justification for a generation of people to populate the hills and byways of Humboldt, Mendocino and Trinity counties and support themselves and their families outside the law, when they said there was no other way than grow, sell and export marijuana.

What this issues shows is how the county works for the people. At least that's the appearance they want everyone to believe in. All Clendenen worries about is "appearance." That's mostly all the Sheriff's department worries about too. Screw the common needs and the people, just don't look bad while trying to survive. Government is supposed to serve ALL people. That includes all those on the margins of society. This issue is really all about how you successfully "cut off your nose to spite your face."
[Source]

--Joe

Who Sees the Forest for the Trees?

For some time I've peripherally observed the issues surrounding the proposed Caltrans' project at Richardson Grove State Park. That is until I read the February 8, 2011, Times-Standard's rather hyped news report headline: Richardson Grove rally takes a violent turn - protest against road construction project spills into Caltrans lobby. That is when I realized matters had become more ominous and I wondered why. One of the local blogs that I follow, Redheaded Blackbelt by Kym Kemp, was writing about this project after she became alarmed at some of the language being used by people objecting to the project. Since her husband works for Caltrans she has in inside connection and vested interest. I've posted links for her current postings at the end of the article. Some of the commentary is very revealing why there is such a issue and why it continues to escalate.

Watching this dispute unfold produces several questions about why certain situations are allowed to happen. For example here is a short excerpt of Eureka City Police Chief Garr Nielsen:

Aside from minor injuries to the two officers, Nielsen said that none of the protesters was injured during the demonstration. No officer used his baton, Taser or pepper spray during the incident. 

"All in all, it went as well as it could have given the situation," Nielsen said, adding that the protesters could have been arrested at any time during their more than three-hour stay in the building but that he decided to let the protest continue until 5 p.m. "It's just too bad that it had to get confrontational like that at the end."

Chief Nielsen had previously said:

"Quite frankly, I didn't think these people were going to get so defensive," Nielsen said, adding that multiple people kicked officers, while others simply lay down on the ground.” 

I'm not quite sure how someone laying down on the ground is “violent.” He says “he didn't think these people were going to get so defensive.” How he can justify that statement is beyond me when he opened the door to these people and let them illegally occupy that area for three hours. If they were outside the law, and as he says, “could have been arrested at any time,” why were they allowed in there in the first place? It seems to me he was setting these people up for a confrontation.

I've illustrated the above news article and police commentary to demonstrate what, it seems to me, is the root of the problem. Notice what the Times-Standard reported both from demonstrators and Caltrans. First, at no time I can ascertain has the Times-Standard has reported nothing of substance on these contentious issues that fully addresses the demonstrator's concerns. Consistent with that, notice what Caltrans District 1 Director Charles Fielder says:

“Fielder said that work for the project, which is dependent on a water quality permit he expects to receive later this month, will be up for bid in the spring and could begin as soon as May. 

Plans do not call for any old-growth redwood trees to be removed. 

'This particular project is very minor in nature, and yet when you look at some of the information that gets posted and a lot of it is simply incorrect," Fielder said. "Either people are misinformed, or they choose to be misinformed.'” [Emphasis added]

"People are misinformed," for that he bears no responsibility? Some people think differently: 

Perhaps due to the advocacy of the project by our elected officials and inadequate media coverage dismissive of our concerns while unquestioningly accepting the Caltrans spin. 

What has been lost in the latest round of media coverage, as has been the case all along, is the fact that this project cannot be justified on any grounds whether practical, economic or moral. [Emphasis added]

"Cannot be justified on any grounds."These are strong words. Has Caltrans adequately answered these issues to any reasonable persons skeptical judgments? Personally, I don't think so and here is why.

His statement, “choose to be misinformed” demonstrates a "dismissive," condescending and disparaging attitude that is wholly offensive. These people have genuine concerns with questions that need answering in a respectful and decent manner. They DO NOT need to be told how to think or what to believe. At the same time these protesting against this project DO NOT need to be hyping clearly indefensible issues when they are promoting another agenda.

If, as Mr Fielder says, these people are “misinformed,” why hasn't he seen to it that the proper information is put forth in such a way there can be NO dispute or contradiction? That would require Caltrans talking TO the general public, in particular those objecting, and not AT them. So far Caltran's efforts to communicate clearly hasn't got the job done. In so doing they, in particular Mr. Charles Fielder, are partially at fault for the current impasse and unnecessary public demonstrations.

Simply put, if what Mr. Fielder says is true and from what I've read seems so, what Caltrans has posted: “Plans do not call for any old-growth redwood trees to be removed,” then that issue comes off the table or becomes mute. Anyone that can prove otherwise needs Caltrans to accept such evidence and properly deal with that matter in timely manner. If not, then anyone that continues to promote Caltrans' cutting of old-growth redwoods is simply lying and trying to cause trouble – they become illegitimate and Mr. Fielder's attitude and statement is justified.

What would it take for Caltrans to accommodate these people's “misinformation” by taking these known issues that are in dispute, designate a website to this matter and one by one lay out the facts for each of these issues that everyone can see and present that information in simple, straightforward, comprehensible language? Let the facts speak for themselves. 

It may seem to Mr. Fielder, Caltrans and the Times-Standard newspaper that this whole matter is nothing more than misinformation-caused “tempest in a teapot.” It may be great for the Times-Standard to publish these kinds of misleading headlines: “Richardson Grove rally takes a violent turn” when publishing the proven facts rather than the personal opinions of someone responsible for enforcing a contested project, would eliminate such escalating possibilities – real violence.

Links: 1) Here. 2) Here. 3) Here. 4) Here. 5) Here.

[Source]

--Joe

Bullshit Bazoo

  

Bullshit Bazoo [UPDATE Below] [UPDATE II]

A recent demonstration protesting proposed work at Richardson Grove as defined by Barbara Kennedy in her "My Word" article in the Thursday, February 10, 2011, Times-Standard is clear on the subject of Caltrans “spin.” I asked Kym Kemp on her blog “Redheaded Blackbelt” why there were no current websites addressing the concerns of the public and answering the questions raised by these demonstrators and other concerned citizens. She offered me two links, one that is basically generic publicity brochure put out by Caltrans and the other to a blog article by her. (Caltran's brochure for comparison.) Barbara Kennedy says:

"Perhaps due to the advocacy of the project by our elected officials and inadequate media coverage dismissive of our concerns while unquestioningly accepting the Caltrans spin, other groups seeking to heighten public awareness have taken a different approach. Those folks attending the rally itself spanned all ages and diverse segments of our community and were clearly concerned about the effects of the project.
What has been lost in the latest round of media coverage, as has been the case all along, is the fact that this project cannot be justified on any grounds whether practical, economic or moral." [Emphasis added] You can read her complete article here.

Then you have Kym's article where she lets her petticoat show: "Just the Facts ma’am ..."
You also have this from Kym, posted February 7, 2011: Huge Semis And A Military Convoy–Flyer From The Protest - You can get a good idea about the attitude these SoHum people have for the demonstrators reading their comments, specially Ernie Branscomb.

My problem with all of this is that there really isn't any current, up-to-date objective reporting. It's just too easy to brand people or accuse people who are really concerned with the environment, their children's future and community well-being as some sort of kooky terrorist. (That's the only thing that could justify the EPD deploying officers with fully automatic rifles, if true.) If what Kym Kemp, whose husband works for Caltrans, says is true, then there's been spin on both sides of the project.

Then there is Stan Binnie's My Word article, “Nothing good can come to redwoods as result of Richardson Grove project” in today's Saturday, February 12, 2011, Times-Standard. Interestingly, his article is not currently posted on the T-S website. At least I couldn't find it. Located here today Sunday, February 13, 2011, Times-Standard.

He presents himself as somewhat of an authority on such matters, as he says: “Before moving to California, I worked as a horticulturist for the University of Wisconsin. My educational qualifications are a B.S. Degree in Horticulture and M.S. Degree in Plant Pathology from the University of Illinois. In the 25 years I worked in Waukesha County, a rapidly urbanizing area west of Milwaukee, I witnessed the death of hundreds of mature maple and oak trees from damage to their root systems during the construction process.” He then goes on to discuss possible damage to roots larger than 2 inches and his lack of confidence in who, if any, will monitor this issue to protect the longevity of these old-growth trees. He continues with propose the obvious contradiction of “constant foot traffic” damage to a redwood's longevity caused by compacting the soil around a tree, damaging its network of fine surface roots and restricting the intake of water and nutrients with the “heavy equipment crushing their roots or the fact that the project will require the cutting, filling and compacting of soil over the delicate root systems. The bottom line is that, as far as the trees are concerned, nothing good can come of them as a result of this project.”

My problem with Mr. Binnie's commentary is that it misrepresents decades of well established facts. (Enlarge the picture.) Look at the present highway and tell me that the pavement doesn't run over the top of all those old-growth redwood trees root systems and has from the very first day that highway was constructed. The number of cars and trucks that's passed through Richardson Grove is beyond count. Everyone of those trees has had crushed roots, damage to the network of fine surface roots and a restriction of water and nutrients for decades. Those trees are still alive. So, how can anyone in good-faith justify this book-learned nonsense, that what Caltrans proposes is detrimental to those trees?

As far as the actual issues raised about this “project,” it appears to be either a “spin project” and a total lack of consideration for the general public or a tempest in a teapot. His observations about the news media's disinterest in making any “effort” to “obtain statements from opponents of the project” is obvious in their reporting. When doesn't the newspaper simply accept the self-serving news or press releases from the police department and publish them without any question?

However, Mr. Binnie does define the actual “truth” motivating this whole issue and set the “intent” behind the opposition to the “project.” In his own words: “My wife and I moved here nearly eight years ago to escape the overdeveloped, congested and hectic pace of San Diego. We liked the idea that there were fewer people, less traffic, a slower pace of life, that there were many recreational opportunities and that this area was home to some of the most stunning scenery in the world, including parks where magnificent old-growth redwoods are growing.” [Emphasis added]

As a man that put his chainsaw to many an old-growth redwood and who hauled many a load of logs down through Richards Grove in the mid-sixties I too sympathize with Mr. Binnie's sentiments and take pride in the fact this is my family's home for many generations. Whenever my wife and I decide to take the “scenic route” we always thank the people that had the necessary foresight and fervent belief in self and what is valuable to make sure these parks were set aside for everyone's benefit. We all share responsibility for the protection and preservation of these parks.

What we don't need is the bullshit politics and over-the-top “spin” from all sides and a complicit news media. What we need are the facts laid out in simple terms that are consistent with accepted science and reality. Then everyone can make up their own minds like responsible adults.

---

UPDATE :: Sunday, February 13, 2011]

Bullshit Bazoo Ala Carte compliments of Humboldt Herald.

Typical propaganda peddled by the likes of Humboldt County's premier wordmeisters and extreme authorities on all matters relevant, i.e., "contradictions between Cal-Trans and science." The only contradictions are between what people say and what they do. Decades of facts speak for themselves and defeat the worthless opinions of people promoting their own personal agenda. At least Mr. Binnie had the common decency to set out his agenda BEFORE contradicting himself and everyone else that supports the basis of his "expert" nonsense.

---

[UPDATE II :: Tuesday, February 15, 2011]

One of the reasons this article, “Bullshit Bazoo,” is predicated or based upon, is the fact that Caltran's information approach to their proposed Richardson Grove project is sorely lacking and deficient. Rather than approach their obligation to provide justifiable, easily understood information and facts to support their decisions and propositions, they produce a wholly deficient “let me tell you how it is” generic brochure with some additional rather convoluted pieces of information on their website and expect that should be good enough. Based upon the latest demonstration at the Caltran's offices in Eureka on Monday, February 7, 2011, and other issues raised in blog commentary it is not.

This morning's Times-Standard of Tuesday, February 15, 2011, "McKinleyville residents express their frustration on rezoning" offers a similar situation with the County Planning Department's handling of “multifamily rezoning as well as its general approach to planning in the unincorporated area.” That “approach” as defined by a McKinleyville resident as “top down.” They, all of the government representatives and officials SAY they will recognize and respect the rightful concerns of the public, but what the DO is the very opposite. Rather than address the central is the “County staff” made excuses for why “they” were in a bind along with the county and expected the unhappy, dissident landowners to just simply shut up and go along with being told how it's going to be, never you mind the adverse consequences.

This brings me to the comment posted to this article apparently by a Caltran's employee, Phil Frisbie, Jr. - Public Information Officer / Web Content Administrator. Herein lies the same attitude – dictating without any consideration for the facts. Rather than spend his time productively by answering the central issue I raised with Caltran's over their handling of this project, he's telling me how to write my blog. Typical with the Elitist Attitude, he doesn't know what he's talking about. Mr. Frisbie, Jr. justified my article, “Bullshit Up The Bazoo.”

---

[Source and Source]

--Joe

Boohoo!

[UPDATE Below]

This is what greeted me this morning: Legalize-marijuana measure loses in California

Supporters of Proposition 19 are out in force trying to explain why the measure FAILED.

Here's an excerpt from the AP report:

“Prop 19 supporters blamed the outcome on the older, more conservative leanings of voters who participate in midterm elections and pledged to try again in two years.” [Emphasis added]

There may be some truth to that analysis, but I think, when you consider the worry everyone feared, as projected in this article posted on MSNBC: Reefer sadness for pot farmers – there's an even more pragmatic reason.

Here's a list of some of the local blog articles and follow-up comments:

1. Here's what Eric Kirk and some of his followers say here: Why did legal pot lose last night?
2. Kym Kemp: The Emerald Triangle’s Response To Prop. 19–Flowers Among The Weed?
3. NC Journal: Conservative Sweep?
4. A fair sampling of local comments at Humboldt Herald.

There's probably a more on this subject, but I got tired looking. This article poped up on Twitter thanks to NCJ's Ryan Burns: Minds Don't Change That Much, But Voters Do -  A good article about why people vote the way they do. In the end, really just an exercise in futility.

So, why did California voters shoot down Prop. 19 when all the polls showed it would pass? Money. It's as simple as that. When you can NET $150,000 to $200,000 plus a year AFTER you pay for all the hard lifting, there is a vested interest in all businesses that profit off this large amount of tax-free money coming into these communities. Even the small 10 to 15 plants a year anyone can grow nets a tidy sum. Regulating and taxing these growers would expose their lucrative operations. No one really wanted see that happen either.

Apparently with all the local buzz on the possible adverse benefits of legal pot growing some people are put out at the Humboldt Grower's prices. Here's what Kym Kemp thinks the growers need to do: Attitudes Towards Humboldt Growers - Join forces as one big corporation, then lobby and advertise.

My idea use some of all that tax-free money to buy representatives that will serve your interests first. The way the laws are today, no one would know where the money originated. That way everyone associated with this criminal so-called industry could be legitimate mainstream crooks and become active members of the ruling elite.

[UPDATE :: Friday, November 5, 2010]
Kym Kemp's latest take pot matters consequences as she sees them: Smokers Calling For A Boycott Of Emerald Triangle Growers? Problem is, she lives in a fantasy world. Think she'd get a clue if she understood why voters across the U.S. voted in a majority of conservative, Tea Party Republican types? Think she'd admit this was part of the backlash I talked about?

--Joe

The Virtues of Mary J

[UPDATE Below] [UPDATE II]

These are the "virtues" of Mary Jane and her rag-tag band of ...  Future Farmer's of America?

Here's Mary's definition for “virtue” – something seriously lacking today:

1. an immoral or evil habit or practice.

2. immoral conduct; depraved or degrading behavior: a life of vice.

3. sexual immorality, esp. prostitution.

4. a particular form of depravity.

5. a fault, defect, or shortcoming: a minor vice in his literary style.

6. a physical defect, flaw, or infirmity: a constitutional vice.

7. a bad habit, as in a horse.

What's wrong with growing, buying, doing business with growers, and selling marijuana? To hear it said today, there's nothing wrong with marijuana – except for one minor problem, it's illegal. So, everyone's that has profited from marijuana in one way or another has a “virtue” problem. Virtue goes right to the heart of “character.” This is the definition of “character”:

1. the aggregate of features and traits that form the individual nature of some person or thing.

2. one such feature or trait; characteristic.

3. moral or ethical quality: a man of fine, honorable character.

4. qualities of honesty, courage, or the like; integrity: It takes character to face up to a bully.

5. reputation: a stain on one's character.

6. good repute.

7. an account of the qualities or peculiarities of a person or thing.

8. a person, esp. with reference to behavior or personality: a suspicious character.

Good character doesn't sound much like lawless, criminal behavior, does it? All these pot-growers and their support team-enablers would like everyone today to think of them as simple, respectable, family people doing what was necessary in an unjust and an unfair world to feed, cloth, roof and protect their families. Well, for those few, those of us that did see ourselves as actually “simple, respectable, family people that actually DID feed, cloth, roof and protect our families totally within the confines of the law look upon this scourge as a direct assault on all our families future survival. These people think they are better than we are because they got the money, the property and the businesses to prove it. More than that, they are quite quick to point that out how G** D***** self-righteous they are NOW that Californian's might just prove them right all along. That makes those of us “law-abiding” citizens, those of us that paid the price, made the sacrifices, lived within the law: WRONG as HELL.

The big focus over the years was on the growers and sellers, but for some reason everyone overlooked how these growers and sellers laundered all that cash; tax-free money. The “boom and bust” reality of all that cash greasing the wheels was the real corrupting force behind the facade of respectability. Here's what Kym Kemp at the Redheaded Blackbelt blog recently said to me regarding this issue:

I think both types (growers and non) contributed to make Humboldt a wonderful place to live. It is just that most people who are not growers don’t value their contributions and what they have provided. SoHum for instance would not have a vibrant arts and non-profit community if it weren’t for the growers. Also our volunteer fire depts are often staffed and supported by many growers. Our rural roads are maintained by growers.

The costs of growing illegally are often ugly–increased violence and lack of accountability. But those are because of the laws against marijuana not because of marijuana.

You might note, the "non" growers she's referring to are the money launderers, all the respectable, upstanding people and their businesses that made all these so-called "mom and pop" growers or more respectably, pot farming possible. The corruption runs deep in Humboldt County.

Here relevant post: Humboldt Grower’s Association On Al Jazeera and my comment she answered.

That is an absolutely amazing statement, even if I says so myself.

To reaffirm that reality is the Times-Standard newspaper article, "My Word: Going legit, if Proposition 19 passes" published Friday, October 8, 2010, written by Jordan Anderson, owner of NCCFA (Northern California Cannabis Farmers Alliance).

“If you are like me, you are one of thousands of commercial medical marijuana growers in Northern California, and you, like me, are concerned about what Prop. 19, the “tax and control” initiative will do to our economy. You have thrived in a community that supports and even depends on the (variably legal) medical marijuana commerce. If you are like me, when you first heard about the initiative, your first desire was to vote against it. You have exhausted hours discoursing with friends, acquaintances, and probably even strangers about how this will hinder our community and its economy. You, like me, are scared of change and the end of our day in the sun.”

And so does Kym:

Hopefully, the local supervisors are working already to provide a framework that will allow our local growers to create a niche market that allows them financial success when competing against the mega factory grows in Oakland.

Because what it may take to eradicate most marijuana from Humboldt is not an act of God but a failure of our local government to create a friendly place for mom and pop growers to farm.

He and Kym would like everyone to believe that he and his kind are some kind of pioneers that made growing, selling and smoking marijuana legal in California. Yeah! But he has worries:

“The threat of legal loopholes and corporate commercialization will swallow up our small private farms (now considered full-scale, commercial grow-ops), and our way of life will come to an end.”

From where I stand that sounds like Divine Justice to me.
[Source]

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[UPDATE :: Wednesday, October 13, 2010]

An interesting virtue discussed at Greenchange: Legal marijuana may improve public safety
Prop. 19's legal marijuana could improve safety
Chip Johnson | San Francisco Chronicle |

[UPDATE :: Thursday, October 14, 2010]

A really sobering perspective that I've tried to enunciate. Some people think that I'm against legalizing the growth, sales and consumption of marijuana. That's not true. It should have been legal for the past 50 years. My problem is, people should be clear about the consequences of their actions and the irreversible and intrenched damage done to society for whatever their reasons. There's blood on cannabis and people should step up to that reality. Coming along well after-the-fact and saying that what everyone did was for altruistic reasons is pure BULL SHIT.

That said, Glenn Greenwald, says in his indomitable way, why marijuana needs to become legal. More than that, why everyone has a vested interest in see that it does. Here's why:

The Wars on Drugs and Terror: mirror images. Here's a portion of what he said:

The most important commonality between these two wars is that they continue -- and will continue -- for reasons having nothing to do with their stated justifications.  Both wars ensure an unlimited stream of massive amounts of money into the private war-making industries which fuel them.  By itself, the increasingly privatized American prison industry -- fed a constant stream of human beings put in cages as a result of drug prohibition laws -- is obscenely profitable.  Add to these powerful profit centers the political fear that officials have of being perceived as abandoning any war before it is "won," and these two intrinsically unwinnable wars -- unwinnable by design -- seem destined to endure forever, or at least until some sort of major financial collapse simply permits them no longer.

It's the perfect deceit.  These wars, in an endless loop, sustain and strengthen the very menaces which, in turn, justify their continuous escalation.  These wars manufacture the very dangers they are ostensibly designed to combat.  Meanwhile, the industries which fight them become richer and richer.  The political officials those industries own become more and more powerful.  Brutal drug cartels monopolize an unimaginably profitable, no-competition industry, while Terrorists are continuously supplied the perfect rationale for persauding huge numbers of otherwise unsympathetic people to join them or support them.  Everyone wins -- except for ordinary citizens, who become poorer and poorer, more and more imprisoned, meeker and meeker, and less and less free.

--Joe