What’s going on with Whitney Houston?

Earlier tonight, I was having a premonition about her, but I couldn't pick up exactly what was up. I remember hearing shortly after she filed for divorce that she was working on a new album, but I haven't heard any new material from her just yet.

I was sad to see her go through so many problems in the past ten or so years, and I hope that all is well with her. She is a great talent and I think music would benefit from having her voice back.

I hope my premonition was not because something bad happened to her, I only wish her well.

Iraq victory at the expense of Afghanistan?

I constantly hear conservatives pundits complain that liberals and "mainstream media" don't want to admit and/or report that the troop surge in Iraq is working. While they insist that liberals (and "their" media) are invested in a policy of defeat in Iraq, I don't think there is such a sophisticated agenda in reporting. If there were, they would be reporting that the reduction of troop attacks/casualties that is a partial measure of success of the surge has merely left Afghanistan venerable to failure. The truth is that there has been more troop casualty in Afghanistan than in any year since the first year of that war, which brings me to my title subject? If liberals are invested in a policy of defeat in Iraq, are conservatives invested in a policy of defeat in Afghanistan? By focusing on success in Iraq, Republicans can draw attention to a turnaround of an issue that is so fatally damaging the party, which feels like a political power play to me.

I am NOT a "defeatist" when it comes to the Iraq war, if you have any doubts, please read my post on the this topic

http://www.smarterthanthem.com/2007/11/now-why-are-we-in-iraq.html

Still, I believe that Afghanistan, with it's very, very dangerous, and NECULEAR neighbors is a FAR more important fight than Iraq in the war on terror and with Pakistan seeing some major instability in 2007, I believe the war on terror has lost its focus and has become a "political" button to push to strike fear in those who might support candidates who are less "fear mongering" when it comes to terror.

I believe it was Bill O'Reily that I heard state that America is a good and noble country, contrary to many believing otherwise and I generally agree. However, this topic requires a drill down: I believe if you were to ask the 70-80% who believe that America is a good and noble country if they think that POLITICIANS are basically good and noble, I think more would think they are not. I believe if you were to ask those who report they do NOT believe the US is a good and noble country if they think believe that the people of the United States are generally not good and noble or just that US politicians are not, that more than not, would say politicians.

Unfortunately, I believe there are two types of politicians. The first, are those who involve themselves because they TRULY want to make a difference, but realize that the network of checks and balances make that very difficult, and they finally give in to the system. I would place Arnold Schwarzenegger in this category. The other group consists of power hungry narcissists who become involved in politics to feel important. Personally, given my career history in Human Resources, I'd love to have a seat in congress just for the GREAT benefits package they receive and NO, but in spite of that, I would still do the absolute best I could at the job.

The sad reality is that politicians are running things and I find only a few who appear to have conviction (not to be confused with "morality"), regardless if I agree with their politics and I have no doubt that 90% of politicians are using success and/or failure at any given moment of war in Iraq and/or war on terror as a political tool. Given the sacrifices of our men and women in uniform towards ALL our efforts of national security, anger does not begin to describe my loathing.

 

Support for WGA tactics are diminishing

Recently, I heard the other side. I posted earlier this month that I reluctantly supported the WGA and I am more reluctant today after hearing the other side of the story. The so called below the line WORKING employees who are put out of work by this strike right before the holidays is unnecessarily cruel. With or without a contract, this strike could have waited until after the holidays. Given that apparently 48% of writers are unemployed at any given time (WGA's own statistics), that means that of the 12,000 or so members, almost 6,000 have no immediate effect to a strike, and when you consider that there are definitely more upper middle class writers than are upper middle class below the line NON UNION workers, I can only say that I think the timing was ill conceived.

Also, as more details of the negotiation sticking points have been revealed, I am not impressed with writers whose TV script base hasn't diminished wanted to be compensated for ad supported internet streams a few days after its original airing. What I read is that the producers were offering six weeks; I would have insisted they wait for the show's season ends before being able to collect.

Listen, I'm not saying the studios and producers aren't being a bit greedy, I think they probably are, but who invested in the technology that allows for streaming show episodes? Who ultimately takes the risk that what is written will generate profitable revenue? That's the producers and studios. I've read that the studios and AMPTP really wants to scrap the residuals system in lieu of some other form of payment. Now I'm not naive, I'm sure if they can figure out how to make it look good on the surface, but ultimately end up benefitting them over the WGA members in the long run, they would consider that ideal, however, I also would like to see some other system explored that replaces the administrative nightmare that is residuals with something that accomplishes the same goal. I will post my suggestions at a later date.

Listen up WGA writers, I support the notion that you should be paid for future profitability of your work, no question there, but I urge you to consider what, of internet media distribution, has REPLACED by TV viewership and the resulting ad revenue and what is actually an expansion and start from there with your negotiations.

Congratulations Pam Melroy

Congratulations Pamela Melroy, on your successful landing. Don't tell me that in America you can't be whatever or whoever you want to be when we have a woman commanding a space shuttle. I realize that some have more to overcome than others, but Shuttle Commander Pamela Melroy just successfully landed Discovery at 10:01am PST and did so smoothly and safely.

Congrats Ms. Melroy.

NOW why are we in IRAQ?

First we were told that the IRAQ invasion was to rid them of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD's). Well, we now know that there wasn't any. Then, we were told it was to liberate the IRAQI people from a brutal dictator. Okay, well, they are liberated from a brutal dictator, no matter that they are now under the rule of insurgents and terrorists, they're at least liberated from a brutal dictator. Finally, we were told that it was to bring stability to that region; however, I cannot remember the region ever being so unstable in my lifetime.

Notwithstanding the claim that we are now winning in IRAQ, we are losing miserably if in fact the current objective (of our ever CHANGING reason(s) for going in and being in IRAQ) is to stabilize the region.

Turkey is being threatened by the Northern Iraqi Kurdish people and Turkey is threatening to invade. Pakistan is under Marshall Law. Iran is claiming they will have Nukes in about a year and I'd suggest that North Korea is quietly becoming a dangerous, DANGEROUS place. Keep your head in the sand if you wish, regular people in middle eastern countries are most likely blaming the US invasion of IRAQ for the instability. It WILL create a whole new breed of children, who hate Americans and blame Americans for their problems, ready to be suicide bombers and unfortunately, they won't be as wrong as they were in the past.

I am not one of the extremists who believes we should just cut and run (although I wish we could), I just don't think it's fair or just for us to go in, tear up the IRAQI's country, then split. However, I can "unsafely" say, that I can only HOPE that I will live long enough to see the damage that George W. Bush and company has done to the country and the world repaired.

US Recession Warning!

I cringe every time I hear pundits say that the economy is strong, stronger than ever. Not because I think they're lying, but because I KNOW they're wrong. I know I'm not the only former upper middle class individual who's struggling, and like so many others, I look around and wonder, why is there so many suffering financially if the economy is so great?

Either the experts are not experts, or they're hyping the economy to keep consumer confidence up. Either way, they are blind if they can't see the handwriting on the wall. After reading this post, I'm certain you'll see it too.

THE US WILL BE IN A RECESSION BY THE SECOND QUARTER OF 2008.

Now here are the factors that a rank amateur like me can see, that the experts don't see, at least not collectively. Different economists see SOME of the different pieces, but here is the complete roadmap.

1. This will be a dismal holiday shopping season and we know this will affect corporate earnings and payroll (no big revelation here)
   
   1. Painful gas prices will pinch consumer disposable income
      
   2. Painful gas prices will increase merchant cost, which will be passed to already pinched consumers
      
   3. The dismal exchange rate of the dollar will further increase merchant cost of merchandise
      
2. This will lead to a Wall Street sell off, which will panic both corporations and employees.
   
3. Employees will be rightfully panicked because this will lead to widespread layoffs
   
4. Employees who remain employed will be paying more for their employer sponsored health plans (they're learning this now, which will further depress holiday spending)
   
5. Layoffs in the retail and financial sector will lead the way
   
6. The already depressed entertainment market will be further depressed as the writers' strike continues, pickets will slow this sector
   
7. Mass instability in the Middle East (Pakistan and Iran) will cause holiday travel, particularly air travel to be slower than expected
   

 

All these factors will contribute to the US being in recession by the second quarter of 2008, but the single BIGGEST contributor to the recession will be foreclosed families FINALLY being removed from their homes. You see, it takes approximately three to six months and in some instances up to a year, for someone to actually have to LEAVE their home following foreclosure. During all these months of foreclosure, homeowners don't have to pay their mortgages and that money, while devastating the financial and credit markets, are currently being invested back into Consumer Staples and other retail items. As these families move from their homes and have to move into rental properties, that excess income that they had from not having a mortgage will evaporate. This will be the final nail in the coffin of the US economy.

 

Don't be fooled by smoke and mirrors, the economy is NOT strong, this will not be a soft landing, it will be a crash landing with mass economic casualties, mark my words.

Reluctantly Supporting WGA

For the last two months or so, I've been asking around as to WHY the producers and studios don't just turn their backs on the WGA and move on without them. Sure it will take a while to re-staff with talented NON-UNION writers and begin again, but it's a process and there are PLENTY of willing and hungry takers I'd bet. Well as the strike unfolded, I realized that this is exactly what they might have in mind, and I'm not happy about that.

It's been a long time since I've supported a union group against a corporation because generally their demands were inconsistent (substantially richer) with what most workers with comparable skills were getting and because many of the workers themselves had no idea what they were already getting, OR what they were demanding. I found this to be the case with UPS and also with Grocery Workers. I challenge anyone who thinks that the union has their back in these negotiations, ESPECIALLY when they think they have a WIN to take a visit to Detroit, Michigan and see their future.

So then WHY is the Writers Guild so different in my eyes? First, because they don't make more than the average with their skill starting out. Because Entertainment is primarily a speculative business, new writers make entry level wages, and there isn't the same type of SCALE that you have with everyone making the same thing based on years of service. Second, because there isn't steady work for many writers, having a union ties their individual jobs together into a career allowing them to have benefits and retirement plans, something that you have to gain tenure over years to obtain in a regular job. Last, when a grocery cashier leaves their job, the grocery store doesn't continue to benefit from their skill and when a UPS driver leaves, the packages they delivered don't continue to earn money for the company. The fact that studios and producers continue to earn money from the writer's product for years to come begs the question, why shouldn't the writer as well? My take is they should.

So in this rare instance when I support a unions position in a dispute such as this, I'd suggest this strike be settled by giving producers and studios the option to negotiate up front payouts to writers in exchange for future residuals (I only suggest this because the process of paying residuals is inefficient on its face, I've seen this first hand. The massive waste of processing $3.21 checks isn't my thing). It's isn't something that has to be decided up front, but instead based on the first run success of the program. So for example (using a comment I heard from a Lost writer) if first print DVD sales total one million and their cut would be $ .10 cents per DVD, then they can individually negotiate a $250,000 payout forever for that season (instead of the $100,000 that the $.10 would yield). Then they can save and/or invest as they see fit and take advantage of current value of the money and the studio and producers can save the administrative cost of tracking residuals. This is just a wild example and would become part of an already complex contract structure.

Hey, actors (represented by SAG or Screen Actors Guild) have to be present to work on a project and so do Directors (represented by DGA). I could say the same about television and radio talent (AFTRA), but writers are much more venerable because their work can probably be disbursed to Vancouver. One striker commented that this was a union busting move by the producers and studios and I couldn't agree more.

 

Is DOG, The Bounty Hunter Racists?

Maybe, or maybe not, but when, oh when will parents learn.... Parents, if you try to challenge or come between your children about the men/women they are in love with, your children will most likely turn on you. This is a battle you probably can't win, so why alienate your children by trying?

Is ANYONE asking who taped and leaked this conversation or is it a given that his son did so because he was PISSED that his dad refused to accept his black girlfriend; I submit it was the latter.

If I understand correctly, this was a conversation between Dog and his son whom he wanted to break up with his black girlfriend because he was afraid she would be offended by some of the language they used when he brought the girlfriend around, and that she would in turn go crying to the press about him, right? Well, DOG, as an black person, I COMPLETELY understand what you were saying. I admonish other black people that potential employers are saying the same thing behind your back ("don't hire them, they'll sue you for descrimination") and it's hurting us all. I think many are way too sensitive regarding this word. It'll be a cold day in hell before I every give someone else's words that much power over me because they are just that, words. After all, hatred resides in a person's heart, it's there regardless of the words they use, or whether they smile in my face. I don't have time to be offended by someone's words, and I ESPECIALLY don't have time to be offended by those words used by someone who doesn't have malice in their heart (I don't know which category the DOG falls into).

Obviously, A&E will do what is needed to keep their advertisers happy and I hope the DOG learns an important life lesson from this; If you consider it private, keep it private, because any and everything you do (especially if you're in the spotlight) has the potential to be exposed at some point. Trust no one, ESPECIALLY not a child who you're trying to come between them and the "love" of their life.

Who are these people?

This weekend, I was watching a documentary entitled "After Innocence". It chronicled several men who were released from prison after DNA proved they were wrongfully convicted. It was a sad tale of the permanent scar that remained on their lives as they lost those years of their life where most people develop their identity as an adult by building a career and family.

One of the issues that were highlighted was the "oops sorry" attitude as they are sent on their way without any compensation or support. Now my personal opinion is that there is NOTHING worse than being imprisoned for something you didn't do, it's possibly a fate worse than death to be rotting in a prison shouting your innocence and being generally dismissed for 10, 15, 20 or more years. I would go mad.

Realizing how much of a nightmare this would be I cannot image WHO ARE THESE PROSECUTORS are that are FIGHTING to keep innocent men incarcerated? That may very well be the cruelest and most vicious things I've ever seen in the practice of law.

Now it was a step in the right direction that Mr. Nifong, the prosecutor in the North Carolina Lacrosse team rape case had to serve one day for his role in this false prosecutor, but I think the penalty must be more frequent and severe. The punishment needs to be preventative (read my post on preventing drinking and driving) due to the fact that we cannot give someone fifteen years of their life back after they are wrongfully imprisoned. I think that any prosecutor that engages in behavior that hinders a fair trial, such as witness tampering or intimidation, withholding evidence or presenting false or manufactured evidence should be criminally charged, and if convicted, should do HARD time mandatory sentences. Now the thought of a PROSECUTOR having to go to prison, that's scary. Being tossed in the penitentiary with the perpetrators that they have put away, should act as a very strong deterrent for any prosecutor to engage in such questionable practices.

As for anyone who will lament that "we are taking away the tools they used to get bad guys", I say that the integrity of the system is so much more important than that. It's like saying we can't win unless we play dirty and while I could state so many reason why that's ridiculous, if you don't already know that, then nothing I say would make a difference.

We are so distracted by our various wars, "war on drugs", war on terror", "war on gangs" and "war on poverty", but I'd like to see a war in injustice. If would could implement the same type of mandatory sentences on dirty prosecutors as we have on crack users, I'd call that progress.

Kanye West Rock’s SNL

I was watching a repeat episode of Saturday Night Live tonight featuring performances by Kanye West. I don't think I knew much about who he was until the nanny played it in the radio and my little one came home singing the hook to "Gold Digger".

Since that time, I've followed some of the "unconventional" behavior that has been reported on this artist, but I didn't really follow his music. Heck, I don't follow rap music in general. Maybe a song here and there, but since I was a teen, and LL Cool J was the hot rap artists (okay, did that just date me or what), I've followed a mixture of R&B, Pop and whatever the kids listen to (as in Hillary Duff, Cheetah Girls, and HSM tracks).

My critique, review etc. of this performance….HOT in a word. His lyrics were relatable and decipherable, but most of all I loved the background orchestra that accompanied his band. The music was unbelievable. I think possibly, that's what I've been missing in most rap music.

Currently, I have a few songs on my MP3 that have rap collaborators, but as soon as possible, the cut "STRONGER" will join the other rap cuts, Kick Push and "Show Me Whatcha Got" on my playlist.

I hope it is Mr. West's immaturity that causes him to react the way that he does in some situations and I sincerely hope that he will learn that the cockiness' and conceit that he has is unwarranted. We can all see his talent (as demonstrated by his record sales) and I'd hate to see him alienate the industry in the long term.

I hope to continue to enjoy his music and I just might go out and by the first rap album that I've purchased in years.

New DUI Law in California

It's too little, too late. Not the law, but the time in a person's drunk driving career in which they FINALLY face appropriate penalties.

First, let me share a little about the law with you. At the prosecutors' discretion, if an intoxicated driver causes a fatal accident, they can be tried for second degree murder instead of the current manslaughter. My first problem with this is that we shouldn't leave something like this to the discretion of prosecutors UNTIL we have a fair justice system. If judges can be stripped of "discretion" in crack sentencing, then I'm sure prosecutors in this case can as well. Second, while I have no scientific statistics, my personal experience tells me that by the time a person is caught DUI, they have done it MANY times. Why would we wait until someone is dead before we appropriately punish this crime? If it were up to me, I would make everyone's first drunk driving a MANDATORY 30 day sentence. After all, nobody ever HAS to drink and drive. It's a bad and dangerous choice EVERY SINGLE TIME. This is a penalty stiff enough to deter and that's exactly what we need. Even a person who has the "disease" of alcoholism, who for whatever chemical changes have taken place in his brain cannot will him or herself not to drink, can choose not to drive. And if we are to consent that they've lost that control as well, then why would we punish them MORE harshly when they do it the fifth or sixth time, or even when they kill someone, if it's not a choice, then punishment would NEVER be appropriate. Of course smellier bull has never been proffered.

In my humble "bloginion", there is NEVER any excuse for DUI (okay, maybe while on a prescription medication that you didn't know impaired you), but with alcohol in particular, while there may be many reasons or excuses for drinking to excess, there is never a reason or excuse to drive while drunk.

I am losing faith, respect and integrity?

Recently, as I read how local, state and federal governments waste, pillage and steal our tax dollars, I have become more and more disenchanted with them. Of course, I lost respect long ago, and I have no faith that they can accomplish anything worthwhile. I'm not even convinced that public services couldn't be delivered faster, better and cheaper than they are now with government. I live in an area where most have given up on public services when given the choice and collectively, we can agree that we are paying taxes for almost nothing. For awhile I was willing to consent that I should pay the government for the streets and highways, but when I witness how traffic mostly stands still during the time most of us want to use it, I've decided they really don't deserve to be paid for that as well.

I've noticed that all the tax CUTS have expiration dates, but tax increases never do and that politicians treat tax dollars are like credit cards that they intend all along to file bankruptcy against. Even the good politicians are a waste of oxygen because no one can accomplish much in politics alone.

Now mind you, this is simply a rant, but a pre-cursor to my proposed solutions. History has a couple of examples that I love, the recall of former California Governor, Gray Davis and the political human (almost) sacrifice staged by KFI's 640 (http://www.kfi640.com) host, John and Ken in 2004 against Orange County congressman David Drier. I read on http://www.blogactive.com, that David Drier is gay and although I don't recall John and Ken discussing this on their show during their attempt to lay Mr. Drier on the altar of inexplicably lost elections, (for which I partially respect) I can't help but believe that revealing that tidbit of information would have sealed his fate.

For years, we've been told that the MASSIVE perks that come along with most political offices are necessary in order to attract the brightest and best to serve the "public interest", however I am convinced that politicians are neither the best nor the brightest and may possible be not only the worst and dumbest, but also the most morally bankrupt and power hungry we have to serve up.

So the first thing I recommend is that we either start paying them a teacher or cop's salary OR better yet, make it like jury duty, everybody has to serve at some time, for a two, four or six year terms and it's a random process. Coming soon, more of my ideas.

Celebrity Love Search - Continues

As I mentioned before, I don't consider entertainment news particularly critical, but when I think it makes a statement towards some other issue, I'm not shy about weighting in.

I recently learned that VH1 is casting "Rock of Love II". Yet another installment of Brett Michaels looking for love which leads me to believe that things didn't work out exactly with Jess, the pink and blond, raspy voice cutie that Brett ultimately chose over Heather. I couldn't help but to feel sorry for Heather, the stripper who was so committed to Brett that she had his name tattooed to the back of her neck.

I couldn't help but to be reminded to another seemingly committed suitor who was scorned, not once, but twice (three times if you count Mr. Tango), the "fabulous" Miss New York".

Realizing that VH1 is now airing a second installment "I Love New York" and has recently been running promos for Flavor of Love 3, I can't help but wonder if Flava Flav would have been happier with Tiffany (aka New York) than with "Hoops" or "Deelicious", two relationship which clearly didn't work, AND would Brett have been happier with Heather.

I have long thought that men and women tend to choose mates who are not good for them. Women will chose for security, or an obvious "bad boy" who they hope will reform as a result of their love and men will choose a woman whom they can "show off" to their friends or one who is easily dominated. Both fly in the face of good old fashion love and compatibility as the healthy foundation of a lasting relationship, but after all, I did inadvertently use the term "old fashion".

As I recently read that Charlie O'Connell and his bachelorette, the longest Bachelor pairing to date, had decided to go their separate ways, I begin to wonder if the mating/dating shows that are airing and re-airing are meant to find real love or just for our entertainment.

How to slowly and systematically eliminate the black race…

Convince Black women that they cannot have a baby until they are in a stable healthy marriage.

 

Mission accomplished!

Black Men In Prison Didn’t Fight The Plea

This weekend I was in my car, yelling at the radio. Not because I've lost my mind, but because two host, which I cannot identify (because I don't know who they were) were discussing the statistics regarding the number of black men in prison and/or in the "injustice" system. Now I'm generally not one to pound on my chest lamenting the racial inequities in our society, but this time, I was screaming to the radio that this is all about one thing – PLEA BARGAIN. Yes, there are many African Americans making poor choices. My guess is that many of the incarcerated are there for drug related charges and the difference between being INCARCERATED on drug related charges and not is the quality of lawyer you have and whether or not that lawyer has incentive to plead your case out, or whether they are paid by the hour to defend you. Overworked public defenders will plea, private attorneys, with the support of a family (often, a two parent family granted), who is willing AND able to sacrifice, provide moral support by coming to court. When you have a single mother, working 10 or more hours every day with two or more jobs and two or three other kids to care for, providing the emotional support to a trial that even the lawyer (who is pressuring you to plea) doesn't support just isn't an option.

When OJ was acquitted, my primary emotion was shock. Over the years, I periodically revisited that shock until I watched the vast majority of the Phil Spector trial. As ridiculous as the defense "theory" of what happened sounded, I cannot deny that I had a good amount of reasonable doubt in hearing WORLD RENOUND experts testify to alternate theories of what actually happened. It opened my eyes to how ones knowledge of how to "play" the system (based on having "created" it) is the difference between the nearly 33% of black men who can expect to spend time in prison and the 6% of whites. As for Hispanics, I argue that they are a group that because of their religious foundation (something that the black community USED to have) are not yet making the poor choices that both blacks and whites are making, respective to their own communities. One thing I know FOR CERTAIN white teens are NOT doing less drugs, white teenage girls are NOT having less unprotected sex although they are having less babies because in that community, a stigma is still attached (as possibly it should be) to illegitimate children.

The bottom line is that the difference in blacks and whites in their imprisonment rates are not related to the actions, they are related to REACTIONS.

Poor, poor Britney Spears

I'm certain I'm not the first to do so, but I am OFFICIALLY predicting that we will soon learn that Brittney Spears is suffering from Schizophrenia or Bi-Polar disorder, but most likely Schizophrenia. Having known several people who are suffering from such mental illnesses, I feel so terribly sorry for her, but unfortunately, there is nothing I can do to help her.

Click below to view Brittney's new Video "Gimme More"




One of the things that's really sad about this is that I believe people in her inner circle probably KNOW this, but they would rather continue to send her back and forth to drug/alcohol rehab because in her business once people believe she is recovered from addiction, she can continue to work and they can all get paid, but if she is exposed to be schizophrenic, the likely hood of her being able to work is much less. Let's face it, given the poor prognosis of functionality of schizophrenics, what company is going to schedule and sponsor a worldwide tour for her?

While I believe that drugs and alcohol are compounding Britney’s mental illness(es), there are MANY, MANY drunk and stoned entertainers who continue to record and perform until their addiction kills them, but a schizophrenic is even so much LESS reliable than even a substance abuser.

I recently viewed Brittney’s latest video, which I understand from media reports was her “vision”. As I watch this video of her watching herself in two different personas I can’t help but to think this is exactly how she is feeling in her life.

As the child and sibling of schizophrenics, I have the deepest sympathies for her boys and unfortunately (as we learned with Andrea Yates), someone with that mental illness cannot be trusted to raise children un-monitored. My thoughts are with her and her family.

“I am not a physician and have not treated Brittney, I am providing my beliefs and observations based on what has been reported not an official diagnosis”. In the past she has been a brilliant business woman and entertainer, whether or not I was a fan of her work and for that I respect her and I wish her nothing but the best.

Soon I will post my other thoughts on the poor treatment choices (based on patient compliance) for schizophrenics and how I’d like to support alternative options for them in the future.

Utah Mine Collapse

During the time this tragedy was unfolding, everyone wanted to talk about Michael Vick. I'm not a media basher, but every time I heard people talking about Vick, meanwhile, these miners could have been dying a slow death, in a black hole, deep under the ground. As time ticked on, and especially after the rescue workers were killed, I knew, as did the families, that they had given up on finding these workers, dead or alive.

I will admit, it was painful for me. Almost as painful as watching a parent agonize over a missing child, wondering if they are dead or alive and these feelings presented the following dilemma for me; To regulate or not to regulate.

In this country, I believe our local and federal governments are WAY too parental with us. They tell us what drugs we can take and when, they regulate our sexual behavior through criminalization of prostitution and sodomy laws, although some of these laws are no longer enforced thank goodness. With that being said, do I wish to see the government outlaw or severely restrict this type of mining activity? I had to answer this question NO. I did some careful research and, without boring you with the details, I can say that mining activities are quite highly regulated. I honestly don’t think that more regulations will do anything more than raise the price of the resulting retail products that are derived from mined coal. So what is the answer then?

I have no question that these miners were aware of the danger that was present in this job, but for the time that they worked these jobs, they were allowed to have jobs that gave them the dignity to take good care of their families. There are many dangerous jobs, police, firefighters, military etc. and in each of these cases, I believe that the men (and women, in many cases) who work and serve in these jobs with pride, wish that their families will push on and have the lives that their fallen loved ones would have desired for them.

If it is discovered that there was any wrong doing on the part of the company, I hope they will pay for that wrong dearly, but aside from that, my only other hope is that if those miners did unfortunately die a slow death, the company will see fit to continue looking for them, and for any last words or messages that they may have left for their families. You are all in my thoughts and I hope you find the strength to have the life that your loved ones would have desired for you.

The "Jena 6" - My Thoughts

The last thing I want to do is turn this blog into a racial forum, but I have to comment on this issue because I care about it. I am one who is frequently frustrated when I hear black people defending those who don't seem to deserve defending. I think it cheapens the cries for support for real victims and overall hurts the cause of equal justice. Now that I've heard the whole story, I understand that this ISN'T one of those situations, but I wouldn't have know it. I think it's important for people to learn that the need to preface remarks in support of the Jena 6 with the disclaimer that we MUST teach our children not to respond to this type of provocation with violence. We have to act civilized if we want to be treated that way, and you don't respond to non violent threats, regardless of how vile the provocation may be, with violence.

Having heard the whole story, I now understand WHY the community is so polarized over this issue, there is no question that the Jena 6 represent another chapter in unequal justice for poor and/or minority citizens in this country.