Politics at the Olympics

Not since Jessie Owens gave Hitler and his master race policies a black eye at the Olympics has there been a better opportunity for us to peacefully look a tyrant in the face and cheer for our Olympians - both gay and straight - as they strike a blow for justice and equality. Should the Olympics be political? When the host country oppresses fellow human beings for simply being born different, I say you bet!

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The Irony of Affluenza

Wayne D. King

This past week 16 year-old Ethan Couch walked away, virtually unpunished, from his responsibility for a fatal car crash in which he  - in a drunken stupor - killed four people. Couch didn’t physically walk away, he received a slap on the wrist in the form of probation from a judge who apparently bought his attorney’s defense that Couch suffered from “Affluenza” - a “condition” brought on by wealthy parents who never taught him the difference between right and wrong and further imparted on him the belief that his privileged life entitled him to a different Golden Rule than the rest of us, the great unwashed. Where we commoners think, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” Ethan Couch thinks, “Those with the gold, make the rules.” 

The irony of this defense is that it is a self fulfilling prophesy. Bemoaning the tragedy of being taught to believe that the rules of society don’t apply, even condemning it, while at the same time virtually insulating everyone involved from any consequences associated with its affects.

By virtue of wealth the offender become only superficially responsible for his actions and his parents - who should have been charged and prosecuted for negligence or as accomplices before and after the fact if “Affluenza” is indeed a condition brought on by their neglect - go on their merry affluent way. Their wealth shields their child from the consequences of his actions and they bear no responsibility legally for the outcome.   

By accepting the defense itself, the Judge thumbed her nose at the notion that no-one is above the law, irrespective of their wealth or social standing. By sentencing him to probation, she has gravely wounded the judicial process nationwide and has further insulated the wealthy from the consequences of their actions.

Let’s skip over the discussion of charging a minor as an adult for the time being, even though it is relevant to this case because if Couch were simply tried as a minor they would be able to at least incarcerate him in a juvenile detention facility as a repeat Juvenile offender and perhaps both punish him and get him treatment that doesn’t simply reinforce the notion that he is entitled. He could have been treated until 21 and then depending on his behavior sentenced to a term of incarceration as an adult or released with cause. 

Affluenza is indeed a condition but not as represented in this case. It is a condition that affects and infects the very heart of the American idea. It is the condition that allows AIG JP Morgan, and Countrywide to break the Global Economy without serious consequences; It is the condition that allows Johnson and Johnson to knowingly bribe doctors to give worthless medications to children and the elderly; It is the condition that makes it legal for Blackstone Corporation to take out an insurance policy on a credit default swap covering debt owed by Codere and then paying Codere to default on the loan, triggering the insurance payment on the credit default swap; It is the condition that allows Halliburton to be “persons” with respect to contributing vast sums to political campaigns and “non-persons” when it comes to destroying evidence in the Deep Water Horizon oil spill for which they were fined a paltry $200,000 and no one went to jail.  

It is the condition that allows the wealthy to privatize profits when their bets pay off and socialize losses when they don’t.

The whole notion of “Affluenza” seems tailor-made for one of Saturday Night Live’s famous “Seriously?” sketches with Seth Meyer and Amy Poller. It is the legal manifestation of the Theatre of the Absurd and it would be funny - uproariously funny - if it weren’t for the fact that the attorney’s of Mr. Couch were serious - dead serious. 

If we are seriously going to consider this as a condition, then we had better be prepared to hold someone responsible. Otherwise we may as well change the national motto on the dollar bill from E Pluribus Unum to Illigitimate Non Carborundum - Don’t let the bastards get you down - because all window dressing for social and judicial equality will have been stripped away.  

Lady justice will parade down the road, stark naked, and no one will notice.

Note:

Killed by Couch were Breanna Mitchell, whose car broke down the night of June 15; Hollie and Shelby Boyles, who lived nearby and had come outside to help Mitchell; and youth minister Brian Jennings, a passer-by who had also stopped to help.

Two teens riding in the bed of the teen’s pickup were critically injured. Solimon Mohmand had numerous broken bones and internal injuries. Sergio Molina remains paralyzed and communicates by blinking his eyes, according to testimony last week.

About Wayne D. King:  Former Senator Wayne D. King has most recently been CEO and Vice President for Business Development and Innovation at MOP Environmental Solutions. A recovering politician, publisher, journalist and President of Moosewood Communications – a public relations and communications company. King’s experiences run a broad gamut of the communications industry, public policy and economic and community development. 

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The Irony of Affluenza

 

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The Irony of Affluenza

2013
Wayne D. King

This past week 16-year-old Ethan Couch walked away, virtually unpunished, from his responsibility for a fatal car crash in which he  - in a drunken stupor - killed four people. Couch didn’t physically walk away, he received a slap on the wrist in the form of probation from a judge who apparently bought his attorney’s defense that Couch suffered from “Affluenza” - a “condition” brought on by wealthy parents who never taught him the difference between right and wrong and further imparted on him the belief that his privileged life entitled him to a different Golden Rule than the rest of us, the great unwashed. Where we commoners think, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” Ethan Couch thinks, “Those with the gold, make the rules.” 

The irony of this defense is that it is a self fulfilling prophesy. Bemoaning the tragedy of being taught to believe that the rules of society don’t apply, even condemning it, while at the same time virtually insulating everyone involved from any consequences associated with its affects.

All In at Mowglis

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wealth the offender become only superficially responsible for his actions and his parents - who should have been charged and prosecuted for negligence or as accomplices before and after the fact if “Affluenza” is indeed a condition brought on by their neglect - go on their merry affluent way. Their wealth shields their child from the consequences of his actions and they bear no responsibility legally for the outcome.   

By accepting the defense itself, the Judge thumbed her nose at the notion that no-one is above the law, irrespective of their wealth or social standing. By sentencing him to probation, she has gravely wounded the judicial process nationwide and has further insulated the wealthy from the consequences of their actions.

Let’s skip over the discussion of charging a minor as an adult for the time being, even though it is relevant to this case because if Couch were simply tried as a minor they would be able to at least incarcerate him in a juvenile detention facility as a repeat Juvenile offender and perhaps both punish him and get him treatment that doesn’t simply reinforce the notion that he is entitled. He could have been treated until 21 and then depending on his behavior sentenced to a term of incarceration as an adult or released with cause. 

Affluenza is indeed a condition but not as represented in this case. It is a condition that affects and infects the very heart of the American idea. It is the condition that allows AIG JP Morgan, and Countrywide to break the Global Economy without serious consequences; It is the condition that allows Johnson and Johnson to knowingly bribe doctors to give worthless medications to children and the elderly; It is the condition that makes it legal for Blackstone Corporation to take out an insurance policy on a credit default swap covering debt owed by Codere and then paying Codere to default on the loan, triggering the insurance payment on the credit default swap; It is the condition that allows Halliburton to be “persons” with respect to contributing vast sums to political campaigns and “non-persons” when it comes to destroying evidence in the Deep Water Horizon oil spill for which they were fined a paltry $200,000 and no one went to jail.  

Crown Vetch

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Unsigned Open Edition Prints

It is the condition that allows the wealthy to privatize profits when their bets pay off and socialize losses when they don’t.

The whole notion of “Affluenza” seems tailor-made for one of Saturday Night Live’s famous “Seriously?” sketches with Seth Meyer and Amy Poller. It is the legal manifestation of the Theatre of the Absurd and it would be funny - uproariously funny - if it weren’t for the fact that the attorney’s of Mr. Couch were serious - dead serious. 

If we are seriously going to consider this as a condition, then we had better be prepared to hold someone responsible. Otherwise we may as well change the national motto on the dollar bill from E Pluribus Unum to Illigitimate Non Carborundum - Don’t let the bastards get you down - because all window dressing for social and judicial equality will have been stripped away.  

Lady justice will parade down the road, stark naked, and no one will notice.

Note:

Killed by Couch were Breanna Mitchell, whose car broke down the night of June 15; Hollie and Shelby Boyles, who lived nearby and had come outside to help Mitchell; and youth minister Brian Jennings, a passer-by who had also stopped to help.

Two teens riding in the bed of the teen’s pickup were critically injured. Solimon Mohmand had numerous broken bones and internal injuries. Sergio Molina remains paralyzed and communicates by blinking his eyes, according to testimony last week.

Cows on a Blue Ridge at Dusk

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December 17, 2013

About Wayne D. King:  Author, podcaster, artist, activist, social entrepreneur and recovering politician. A three-term State Senator, 1994 Democratic nominee for Governor. His art (WayneDKing.com) is exhibited nationally in galleries and he has published four books of his images, most recently, "New Hampshire - a Love Story”. His novel "Sacred Trust" a vicarious, high voltage adventure to stop a private powerline as well as the photographic books are available at most local bookstores or on Amazon. He lives on the “Narrows” in Bath, NH at the confluence of the Connecticut and Ammonoosuc Rivers and proudly flies the American, Iroquois and Abenaki Flags. His website is: Anamaki.com

Alexandra in the High Sierras

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Obama Provides a Glimpse into a Post-Presidency Moral Leadership

President Obama was powerful today speaking on the Mall at the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington. For the first time I realized that the sadness of the Obama Presidency, brought on by an intransigent congress will soon unfold into a powerful Post-Presidency with Barack Obama.  Endowed with the portfolio of a two-term presidency and the freedom to speak and to lead people - not self aggrandizing politicians, President Obama will be unleashed to exercise the moral leadership that has been denied him by a broken political system. Those expecting him to talk about current legislation will be disappointed with what he said today but for those who see the moral arc of the universe more broadly they will be fired up, knowing that he - and we - have much more to do. Unless I miss my guess, this was his opening salvo and he is ready.

Is the Real Problem with Chuck Hagel his lack of Loyalty to the Military Industrial Complex?

The controversy over Chuck Hagel's nomination brings to mind the warnings of President Dwight Eisenhower upon his departure from office that American's would do well to be wary of the Military Industrial Complex.

Over the years support for the troops has become the cloak of invisibility for the Military contractors. Yet when push came to shove the funding of the Military contractors has taken priority over funding that directly benefit the troops on the ground and after their return.

Senator Hagel's great strength is that his first priority will be to protect the troops. Having been an enlisted man himself, he has always placed the needs of enlisted men and women above the needs of Military contractors.

Generally speaking when someone like Lindsey Graham speaks out against an American Hero like Chuck Hagel we would do well to follow the money to find out what the real agenda is. I'm betting that a lot of military contractors are looking down the barrel of budget cuts and looking to create every advantage they can over our responsibility to provide support to the troops. Graham isn't going to come out and defend his "investors" in the MIC, that would be too crass and obvious. Instead, he manufactures other more "Mainstream" concerns.

I want a leader at Defense who will put the well being of our troops first when the inevitable budget cuts come and who will be an honest broker in the middle east, giving preference to neither side and expecting honor and sacrifice from both in negotiating a lasting peace.

Dusk Dims Not Her Colors
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Elizabeth Warren's Indian Heritage

I can empathize with Elizabeth Warren. I don't know all of the details of how she did or did not use her Cherokee and Delaware bloodlines during the course of her life but as the grandson of a Grandfather who was Algonquin and a Grandmother who was Oneida (Iroquois) I know that I proudly embrace my heritage.  My mother's family came on the Mayflower yet when asked about my heritage I am most proud of the one that ties me most closely to the land. I'm an all American mutt but if forced to choose one box into which I am willing to be placed it is Indian and by God or the Great Spirit I will continue to proudly fly the Iroquois Flag along with the American one.

By the way, for those who wonder, the correct reference is now once again American Indian, not Native American. I have not taken the time to understand why yet but once I do, I will share it with my friends here.

Benjamin Netanyahu: To Meet or Not to Meet?

As you might expect, President Obama certainly anticipated that he would take a drubbing from Fox News and the Romney Campaign for choosing not to meet with Benjamin Netanyahu this week. The easiest thing to do politically would have been to meet with him so why did he take the more difficult road? Most likely because - as has been his usual approach - when the choice is good policy or good politics the President chooses Good Policy and hopes that the American people will appreciate being treated as grownups and can see his reasoning when it is presented.

So why not meet with Netanyahu?

The middle east is a complex place with many competing interests. Layered on top of this cake of diversity are a myriad of problems some of them long-standing and some more temporal related to an issue that has either just arisen or in some way is constrained by time and the urgency of now. The Palestinian/ Israeli dispute over a homeland is one example of a long-standing problem; the concerns about Iran’s nuclear program as one of the most pressing temporal problems. Often the alignment of countries shifts with respect to the different problems based on the self interest of the individual countries or religious groups. So for example, on the Palestinian questions Israel finds itself isolated but when it comes to the questions of a nuclear Iran most of the nations in the middle east would find themselves aligned with Israel and the U.S.. Few countries are willing to tip the balance of power in the Middle East in the direction of Iran – a Persian nation and away from the largely Arab nations. Peace between the Israelis and Palestinians will only come when there is a party perceived to be an honest broker that can not only bring everyone to the table but be able to push both parties to make concessions that they know must be made but demand a level of selflessness inconsistent with the urge for a politician to position himself for the next election (or herself someday I hope).

Given the number of countries who are stakeholders in the struggle for a Palestinian homeland (or who consider themselves to be stakeholders) President Obama would either have to suspend his campaign to meet with all of the leaders or choose between nations, diminishing the credibility of the US role as broker for peace.

 The question of Iran is a much more immediate and dangerous one calling for cool heads and thoughtful negotiations.

The last six weeks of a US presidential campaign is hardly the time or place for that. President Obama knows this and so too do Netanyahu and Mitt Romney but their agenda are different. In the case of Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Obama both are doing what they should do. Netanyahu wants to use the elections as an opportunity to leverage assurances from the US President that we will support any decision made by the Prime Minister – including direct military action at any time. He believes that with American’s distracted by the campaign for President that this may be the best possible time for an attack and that such an attack would force the two candidates to prove their bona fides with Israel by competing to show who was the most supportive of Israel in the wake of an attack. In doing this Netanyahu is in fact serving his own county’s best interests – but not ours. The climax of a fiercely contested presidential campaign is no time for taking action that requires cool heads.

 In choosing not to meet with Netanyahu, President Obama is doing just what he should do. Choosing wise diplomacy and policy over politics of the moment that risk not only the reputation of the US but risk inflaming the region and perhaps drawing the nations across the globe into a world wide cataclysm.

So if both Netanyahu and Presient Obama are doing just what they should be doing to represent the best interests of their own countries, how does one explain the actions of Mitt Romney? In theory at least, he should be supporting the President’s decision to keep Israel on a short leash until after the campaign is over. Yet he is not. He is advocating for the most dangerous approach – the one that may advantage him politically but puts the United States in a gravely dangerous position. This is not merely the result of inexperience on the part of Romney and his staff. It is much more serious than that.

 In taking the position he has taken Mitt Romney has shown that he would not hesitate to place the country in jeopardy if it meant that he could draw a partisan or personal advantage from it.

 It is often said that in politics the narrative that one campaign constructs about its opponent is only effective insofar as the opponents actions prove it to be true. The Narrative that Romney’s opponents have created that he is without a moral core and prone to choosing personal and partisan gain over the nation’s best interests on matters of critical importance gains credibility with each passing day and each such test of Mr. Romney’s judgment and loyalty.

 Each of these three world leaders is tested in this scenario. When faced with a choice between their own best interests and those of the nation they lead, or wish to lead, Netanyahu chooses Israel, President Obama chooses the United States and Mitt Romney chooses . . . Mitt Romney.