I stepped away from this blog after going through a small bout of depression, then getting laid off from a job I had for 15 years. Over the last year as I watched events unfold around the world, I realized that I need an outlet to put all of my thoughts somewhere other than in my head. The same rules apply from my original post. "This blog is a collection of my opinions and mine alone. These opinions come from my personal interpretations of facts that I have read or personal experiences. I do understand that some purported facts may be false, that is why I have put in my two cents. I do not care if you agree or disagree with me. I welcome constructive dialogue. The problem with the world is that everyone thinks they are right and will not listen to what anyone else has to say. I will listen and respond in the manner to which I am treated." My welcome back blog is going to be my thoughts on our police departments. I know this topic is controversial, but I don't care. I support our law enforcement personnel.
There have been a lot of stories in the news about police brutality and police abusing their power. I am curious why in our society we are quick to say only a small amount of Muslims are extremist, the rest of the followers of Mohammed should not be classified based on the actions of the few, yet we group all law enforcement as corrupt and abusive. The former is true, a minimal amount of Muslims support terrorism, just like a minimal amount of police officers abuse there power. Police officers who buy shoes for a homeless man or attend an autistic boys birthday party when no one else showed up are not newsworthy on a national scale. Random acts of kindness displayed by police are local stories. Stories of when a police officer, or multiple officers shoot a suspect or use excessive force are national headlines. Police officers that are doing there job, whether it is issuing traffic citations, arresting criminals, or breaking up fights are vilified instead of people pointing out that they are just doing their job.
Are there bad police officers? Yes, there are and they should be caught and prosecuted. There are abusive people in every profession, granted it can be more deadly for an abusive police officer. But to vilify the majority for the acts of the few is wrong. To wage a "war" on the police by randomly attacking and killing police officers is wrong. I am not African-American, I do not know what it is like to have decades of distrust in my community, my ethnicity has not been unfairly targeted, I know this. I do know that there is distrust on both sides do to stupid stereotypes. Not all African Americans are criminals, not all Italian Americans are mafia, and not all police officers systematically arrest or shoot people for no reason. Towns and communities need to work together to eliminate stereotypes and distrust. Leaders on both sides need to work together to build respect for all people, with the understanding that crimes will be investigated and prosecuted on both sides of the equation, and that the arrested do not need to fear for their lives.
I have police friends. All of them would be the first to give you the shirt off of their back if you were in need. They would rush in to a dangerous situation to save lives without regard for their own. They would do all that is required of them and more, including laying down their own life to save an innocent. I have friends married to police officers that dread the day that may come when there is a knock on their door informing them that their spouse was killed in the line of duty. Police officers are just like you and me in many regards. They have families, they like sports, or the theatre. They worry how they are going o pay there bills or if their children did their homework. The difference is they are charged with enforcing the law.
Yes I stand with blue and I stand with equal justice. I do sleep better at night knowing that there are police officers on the street keeping me safe. Love me, hate me, everyone is entitled to my opinion!
Thursday, March 24, 2016
Friday, January 24, 2014
Making a STATE-ment
I was fortunate the other day to hear South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson give a speech at an event at work. His speech centered on State's rights. I thought this was appropriate that South Carolina was championing the 10th Amendment based on their history with the Nullification Crises when they declared tariffs passed during the Andrew Jackson presidency as unconstitutional and South Carolina being the first state to secede from the Union beginning the American Civil War. AG Wilson went on to use the analogy of the movie The Blob describe the National Government. In the movie the blob is a small creature. As it come in contact with anything that it devours it grows larger and larger until it is no longer containable. This is definitely a fitting analogy.
The purpose of the Bill of Rights was to address concerns the individual states had in regards to items not specified in the Constitution. Understandably there was much concern over having a strong centralized government. A war was just fought against the many abuses of power experienced under English colonial rule. The framers attempted to allay fears by promising the Bill of Rights in return for passage of the Constitution. The 10th Amendment was passed stating "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."
Our government is a federal republic, meaning that we are a confederation of separate entities existing under a central government with representatives elected by us to handle our interests. We rely on the national government to provide things like defense, trade, and minting of money. Education, roads, and public safety are the responsibility of the states. The problem comes when the national government has the ability to strong arm the states into complying with its wishes. Take for example the state law of being 21 to consume and purchase alcohol. Each state has the ability to determine alcohol consumption. The national government attempted to force compliance to make the law 21 and over by threatening to with hold highway funds.
The national governments is not the only one to blame. States can not argue for states rights when they are lining up with there hands out. States are always applying for grants and handouts especially when it comes to road repair and welfare. Military bases contribute a lot to state coffers, yet the states will not assist with education or public safety on military bases.
If we truly want state rights we need a partnership with the national government. We can't condemn them with one hand while sticking our hand out with the other asking for money. Love me, hate me, everyone is entitled to my opinion!
The purpose of the Bill of Rights was to address concerns the individual states had in regards to items not specified in the Constitution. Understandably there was much concern over having a strong centralized government. A war was just fought against the many abuses of power experienced under English colonial rule. The framers attempted to allay fears by promising the Bill of Rights in return for passage of the Constitution. The 10th Amendment was passed stating "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."
Our government is a federal republic, meaning that we are a confederation of separate entities existing under a central government with representatives elected by us to handle our interests. We rely on the national government to provide things like defense, trade, and minting of money. Education, roads, and public safety are the responsibility of the states. The problem comes when the national government has the ability to strong arm the states into complying with its wishes. Take for example the state law of being 21 to consume and purchase alcohol. Each state has the ability to determine alcohol consumption. The national government attempted to force compliance to make the law 21 and over by threatening to with hold highway funds.
The national governments is not the only one to blame. States can not argue for states rights when they are lining up with there hands out. States are always applying for grants and handouts especially when it comes to road repair and welfare. Military bases contribute a lot to state coffers, yet the states will not assist with education or public safety on military bases.
If we truly want state rights we need a partnership with the national government. We can't condemn them with one hand while sticking our hand out with the other asking for money. Love me, hate me, everyone is entitled to my opinion!
Saturday, January 11, 2014
Vaccines and Autism
Recently a an article has gone around the web indicating that Jenny McCarthy's son may not be autistic after all, and that her crusade against vaccines may have been a farce. I also watched an episode of Law & Order:SVU in which an infant contracted measles from an unvaccinated child and died. This has caught my attention and I have looked into what I can with my limited medical knowledge to form my thoughts on the subject. I want to start off by saying that I am pro-vaccine. I welcome any arguements that may be presented logically to help me understand the other side.
First I think I need to explain what I can about what autism is. According to Autism Speaks, autism is a broad term for a group of complex disorders of brain development... characterized, in varying degrees, by difficulties in social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication and repetative behaviors. Autism Speaks says that the development of autism, or autism spectrum disorder, have roots in early brain development but most normally emerge between 2 and 3 years old. Causes of autism seem to be a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
I look at vaccinations like I do medications. There are side effcts. Some medications cause drowsiness, itching, bladder issues. Some cause suicidal tendencies and even death. There is a risk putting anything into the body. The MMR vaccine has been administered together since 1971. The vaccine has been so effective in the US, that measles, mumps and ruebella have been considered eliminated in the US since 2000, though cases do tend to pop up among unvaccinated people. MMR is considered endemic according the the CDC and WHO websites becuase vaccines are not available to people living in undeveloped countries as readily as in first world countries. Why do I bring this up? The MMR vaccine was thought to be the cause. According to Duke Health, the MMR vaccine coincided with the rise of autism in Great Britain in the early nineties. The MMR vaccine was first made mandatory in the UK in 1988. It became a scapegoat. Remember the MMR vaccine had been been made mandatory in the US in 1971. No such correlation between the vaccine and autism occured in the US. What is clear is that the number of measles outbreaks that have occured plus the number of deaths associated with measles has risen since people stopped using the vaccine. Many reputable health organizations, doctor organizations, and medical research hospitals have said that they have found no link between autism and the MMR vaccine.
In regards to Jenny McCarthy, I do not agree with her and I think that she is a moron, however I think that she has helped bring a lot of attention to the autism cause and raise money for research. I just hope that no deaths or outbreaks have occured because people put their faith in the extensive medical knowledge of a celebrity as compared to true medical professionals and scientists.
If 100 out of 100 kids could be saved because of the MMR vaccine but one may get autism, I think it is worth the risk. I am not trying to be insensitive but I think about the other side. Infants can not get the MMR until they are 12-15 months old. If a unvaccinated child who is old enough gets measles and passes it to an infant who dies, that is far worse. I am not sure where the line between big brother and parental choice should be, but the infants parents did not have a choice at all. Love me, hate me everyone is entitled to my opinion!
First I think I need to explain what I can about what autism is. According to Autism Speaks, autism is a broad term for a group of complex disorders of brain development... characterized, in varying degrees, by difficulties in social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication and repetative behaviors. Autism Speaks says that the development of autism, or autism spectrum disorder, have roots in early brain development but most normally emerge between 2 and 3 years old. Causes of autism seem to be a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
I look at vaccinations like I do medications. There are side effcts. Some medications cause drowsiness, itching, bladder issues. Some cause suicidal tendencies and even death. There is a risk putting anything into the body. The MMR vaccine has been administered together since 1971. The vaccine has been so effective in the US, that measles, mumps and ruebella have been considered eliminated in the US since 2000, though cases do tend to pop up among unvaccinated people. MMR is considered endemic according the the CDC and WHO websites becuase vaccines are not available to people living in undeveloped countries as readily as in first world countries. Why do I bring this up? The MMR vaccine was thought to be the cause. According to Duke Health, the MMR vaccine coincided with the rise of autism in Great Britain in the early nineties. The MMR vaccine was first made mandatory in the UK in 1988. It became a scapegoat. Remember the MMR vaccine had been been made mandatory in the US in 1971. No such correlation between the vaccine and autism occured in the US. What is clear is that the number of measles outbreaks that have occured plus the number of deaths associated with measles has risen since people stopped using the vaccine. Many reputable health organizations, doctor organizations, and medical research hospitals have said that they have found no link between autism and the MMR vaccine.
In regards to Jenny McCarthy, I do not agree with her and I think that she is a moron, however I think that she has helped bring a lot of attention to the autism cause and raise money for research. I just hope that no deaths or outbreaks have occured because people put their faith in the extensive medical knowledge of a celebrity as compared to true medical professionals and scientists.
If 100 out of 100 kids could be saved because of the MMR vaccine but one may get autism, I think it is worth the risk. I am not trying to be insensitive but I think about the other side. Infants can not get the MMR until they are 12-15 months old. If a unvaccinated child who is old enough gets measles and passes it to an infant who dies, that is far worse. I am not sure where the line between big brother and parental choice should be, but the infants parents did not have a choice at all. Love me, hate me everyone is entitled to my opinion!
Friday, December 27, 2013
An Open Letter to Karl, Sarah, Constanza, Kyle, Chad and Blashley (Ashley)
"It may be hard for an egg to turn into a bird: it would be a jolly sight harder for it to learn to fly while remaining an egg. We are like eggs at present. And you cannot go on indefinitely being just an ordinary, decent egg. We must be hatched or go bad." CS Lewis
There is no better quote that sums up not only change, but progression in life. This latter half of the year has brought many changes that has had/ will have an impact on my life and an even bigger impact on the lives of friends. I do struggle with change sometimes but it is a necessity if we ever wish to grow. I think it is because of this that the bitter pill to swallow is bearable. I think the duality of change is oxymoronic. Some instances leave you in sadness while others leave you in joy. Three such events happened this year. I know that they are all for the better, but there is an air of uncertainty.
The first was the departure of my longtime General Manager Karl. Karl and I have been together almost since the start of my tenure at the Capital City Club. Karl came 2 months after I started. As much as him and I disagreed on some elements of food service and club operations he truly was a mentor that aided me in my career development. I learned alot from him, many things that I will emulate as I continue in my career. What you may ask? I do believe that I am less reactionary to events and can actually think many scenarios through before making a decision. I have become a better public speaker and have more confidence in my self. He also trusted me to run a club and multiple departments. I have never had a manager put more faith in me then he did. Karl had a better opportunity and took it after 20+ years with the company. I wish him the best of luck though I can tell he is not here anymore.
The next was joyous. My best friend Sarah and her soul mate Constanza got married. What a couple! When the world was giving them hundreds of reasons why they would/should not be together, they persevered through it all and got married. For as long as I have known Sarah, this is the kind of relationship that had eluded her for so long and she finally found it. This is the epitome of good things come to those who wait.
Finally two of my closest friends have had opportunities that will enable them to follow their career dreams, but have left me with both joy and sadness. First my buddy Kyle has had the opportunity to see his business take off. Unfortunately that means I will be losing the best a la Carte captain I have ever had, but Kyle has worked so hard to establish Triangle Precision Painting (if you need painting in the Raleigh area look them up!) and the opportunity was there to take it to the next level. His business partner and one of my oldest friends in Raleigh, Chad, finally graduated from college and has found an awesome job. The catch is that he has to move to Auburn, Alabama. He and his awesome girlfriend Ashley, whom I also consider a great friend, are packing up and moving, unfortunately a week earlier than expected. Chad and I sat and talked the other day. He asked me for some advice. I said to him, nothing is going to change for you. What I meant that to mean was, he is not go to change who he is. He is still going to be the person who works hard, who knows what he wants in life, who is going to go out and make friends and knows how to have a good time. His life may have changed, his location may have changed, but he is the same Chad who makes the most of every opportunity. Ashley is the same way, head strong with the compass set toward the future. These two will complement each other well in their new life together.
Change can suck if you do not embrace it. Every change comes with opportunity. It is like Eleanor Roosevelt said, :"You have to accept whatever comes and the only important thing is that you meet it with courage and with the best that you have to give." Love me, hate me, everyone is entitled to my opinion.
There is no better quote that sums up not only change, but progression in life. This latter half of the year has brought many changes that has had/ will have an impact on my life and an even bigger impact on the lives of friends. I do struggle with change sometimes but it is a necessity if we ever wish to grow. I think it is because of this that the bitter pill to swallow is bearable. I think the duality of change is oxymoronic. Some instances leave you in sadness while others leave you in joy. Three such events happened this year. I know that they are all for the better, but there is an air of uncertainty.
The first was the departure of my longtime General Manager Karl. Karl and I have been together almost since the start of my tenure at the Capital City Club. Karl came 2 months after I started. As much as him and I disagreed on some elements of food service and club operations he truly was a mentor that aided me in my career development. I learned alot from him, many things that I will emulate as I continue in my career. What you may ask? I do believe that I am less reactionary to events and can actually think many scenarios through before making a decision. I have become a better public speaker and have more confidence in my self. He also trusted me to run a club and multiple departments. I have never had a manager put more faith in me then he did. Karl had a better opportunity and took it after 20+ years with the company. I wish him the best of luck though I can tell he is not here anymore.
The next was joyous. My best friend Sarah and her soul mate Constanza got married. What a couple! When the world was giving them hundreds of reasons why they would/should not be together, they persevered through it all and got married. For as long as I have known Sarah, this is the kind of relationship that had eluded her for so long and she finally found it. This is the epitome of good things come to those who wait.
Finally two of my closest friends have had opportunities that will enable them to follow their career dreams, but have left me with both joy and sadness. First my buddy Kyle has had the opportunity to see his business take off. Unfortunately that means I will be losing the best a la Carte captain I have ever had, but Kyle has worked so hard to establish Triangle Precision Painting (if you need painting in the Raleigh area look them up!) and the opportunity was there to take it to the next level. His business partner and one of my oldest friends in Raleigh, Chad, finally graduated from college and has found an awesome job. The catch is that he has to move to Auburn, Alabama. He and his awesome girlfriend Ashley, whom I also consider a great friend, are packing up and moving, unfortunately a week earlier than expected. Chad and I sat and talked the other day. He asked me for some advice. I said to him, nothing is going to change for you. What I meant that to mean was, he is not go to change who he is. He is still going to be the person who works hard, who knows what he wants in life, who is going to go out and make friends and knows how to have a good time. His life may have changed, his location may have changed, but he is the same Chad who makes the most of every opportunity. Ashley is the same way, head strong with the compass set toward the future. These two will complement each other well in their new life together.
Change can suck if you do not embrace it. Every change comes with opportunity. It is like Eleanor Roosevelt said, :"You have to accept whatever comes and the only important thing is that you meet it with courage and with the best that you have to give." Love me, hate me, everyone is entitled to my opinion.
Thursday, December 19, 2013
STFU ACLU!
This is going to be more of a rant than anything else. I am so tired of the American Civil Liberties Union. Do not get me wrong, I believe that our civil liberties need to be protected. I believe organizations such as the ACLU do just that. Perhaps its not the ACLU I am mad at in general, but with organizations like them as a whole whose face I see as the ACLU. I don't know, but this time of year really gets me going!
This is the holiday season for many faiths and cultures. For Christians its Christmas, for Jews its Chanukkah, for African-Americans its Kwanzaa, pagans get winter solstice, Festivus or Yule. The list goes on and on. Why is it wrong to decorate for these holidays? I understand that Christmas and Channukah are more popular in public decorations, but lets face it, they are celebrated by the majority of people in the United States. Some see them as religious holidays, others see them as family holidays. There is no difference putting up a Nativity scene, to setting out a menorah, or setting up a Christmas tree. They are symbols of the holiday. Why can't a government put them on their property? Some of you will say that there is supposed to be a seperation of church and state. I am familiar with the First Amendment. Freedom of religion is designed so that any one can practice any religion they want. It prevents the government from saying "You must be a member of whatever religion I deem appropriate." It was a response to Great Britain requiring all of its citizens to be members of the Church of England during colonial times. Last I checked there was no such law requiring any such membership in the United States. I argue that not allowing such displays violates the freedom of speech provision of the First Amendment!
It has gotten to the point in this country that it is politically incorrect to say Merry Christmas during the holidays or God bless you after someone sneezes. If someone wants to get offended that I said this so be it. I believe however that the majority of the population understands that it is not an attempt at discrimination or for me to force my beliefs on anybody, rather it is an attempt to communicate good will. If I should have wished you a Happy Chanukkah instead, please tell me and I will rephrase. If you don't want me to say anything than tell me and I won't. I work with a guy who does not believe in saying God bless you after he sneezes, he informed me, now I don't say it to him. he was greatful that I used my manners, and I was greatful he used his. It was about courtesy and that was all. I am going to continue to put out my Nativity scene, I will say merry Christmas rather than Happy Holidays and I will support any government institution that wants to put out a menorah instead of a Christmas tree because it is the intent of the action that means to promote good will.
Love me, hate me, everyone is entitled to my opinion!
This is the holiday season for many faiths and cultures. For Christians its Christmas, for Jews its Chanukkah, for African-Americans its Kwanzaa, pagans get winter solstice, Festivus or Yule. The list goes on and on. Why is it wrong to decorate for these holidays? I understand that Christmas and Channukah are more popular in public decorations, but lets face it, they are celebrated by the majority of people in the United States. Some see them as religious holidays, others see them as family holidays. There is no difference putting up a Nativity scene, to setting out a menorah, or setting up a Christmas tree. They are symbols of the holiday. Why can't a government put them on their property? Some of you will say that there is supposed to be a seperation of church and state. I am familiar with the First Amendment. Freedom of religion is designed so that any one can practice any religion they want. It prevents the government from saying "You must be a member of whatever religion I deem appropriate." It was a response to Great Britain requiring all of its citizens to be members of the Church of England during colonial times. Last I checked there was no such law requiring any such membership in the United States. I argue that not allowing such displays violates the freedom of speech provision of the First Amendment!
It has gotten to the point in this country that it is politically incorrect to say Merry Christmas during the holidays or God bless you after someone sneezes. If someone wants to get offended that I said this so be it. I believe however that the majority of the population understands that it is not an attempt at discrimination or for me to force my beliefs on anybody, rather it is an attempt to communicate good will. If I should have wished you a Happy Chanukkah instead, please tell me and I will rephrase. If you don't want me to say anything than tell me and I won't. I work with a guy who does not believe in saying God bless you after he sneezes, he informed me, now I don't say it to him. he was greatful that I used my manners, and I was greatful he used his. It was about courtesy and that was all. I am going to continue to put out my Nativity scene, I will say merry Christmas rather than Happy Holidays and I will support any government institution that wants to put out a menorah instead of a Christmas tree because it is the intent of the action that means to promote good will.
Love me, hate me, everyone is entitled to my opinion!
Contempt of Court
Recent events have me wondering who our justice system really serves. I know that there are Constitutional rights bestowed to protect the accused, and based on history that is a good thing. Unfortunately the Constitution does nothing to protect the victims. I also understand that laws and court decisions are based on precedent, interpretation, and tradition. There is definitely a human element associated with it. Often times I wonder if our justice system is a joke.
Recently a teenager in Texas was found guilty due to "affluenza." WTF? Is that a real thing? Affluenza was a term coined by British psychologist Oliver James as a mental condition and anti consumer theory in which the desire to have more leads to emotional distress and/or having so much that you are wasteful with what you have. The judge ordered that this teenager serve 10 years of probation after killing 4 people while driving drunk. Here is my problem with this. 1) He killed four people. 2) He was drinking and driving. 3) He was drinking underage. All three of these are illegal. Where is the affluenza? What we truly have is a case of Ididn'tgetmyassbeatenoughasakiditis. The real problem here is that the child lacked discipline and as a result caused this. The parents lack of involvement in this kids life caused this behavior, but I believe that everyone is responsible for their own actions. Once again this teenager is not being held accountable.
I buy a cup of hot coffee. I spill said coffee in my lap. How is that not my fault? How would I have been unaware that the coffee would have been hot? But Stella Liebeck did just that. She then sued McDonald's and was awarded $2.6 million by a jury. A judge lowered the award to just over $600,000. But damn, where is personal accountability?
There are stories all over the news about burglars who break into someones home. The homeowner than shoots the intruder. The intruder than turns around and sues the owner. If the homeowner would have shot and killed the intruder than it would have been considered justifiable homicide. The courts are forcing people to shoot to kill.
I don't blame the lawyers, they are doing there job. It is their responsibility to defend their clients or advocate for their clients. I blame the jury's who respond with emotion instead of fact. I blame the judges for allowing such nonsense. Ultimately it is the legislature's fault for not passing laws to protect the victim's. In the late 90's John Walsh of America's Most Wanted Fame, advocated a Constitutional Amendment that would protect victim's. This Amendment has had the backing of every Attorney General and President since Janet Reno and Bill Clinton. The text of the amendment from the National Victim's Constitutional Amendment Passage website is as follows:
Congress also need to address frivolous lawsuits where people are suing for obscene amounts of money where there is a personal accountability factor. Perhaps we need to incorporate the French system in which a plaintiff in a case is responsible for all court costs of the defendant if the verdict is for the defendant.
Love me, hate me, everyone is entitled to my opinion.
Recently a teenager in Texas was found guilty due to "affluenza." WTF? Is that a real thing? Affluenza was a term coined by British psychologist Oliver James as a mental condition and anti consumer theory in which the desire to have more leads to emotional distress and/or having so much that you are wasteful with what you have. The judge ordered that this teenager serve 10 years of probation after killing 4 people while driving drunk. Here is my problem with this. 1) He killed four people. 2) He was drinking and driving. 3) He was drinking underage. All three of these are illegal. Where is the affluenza? What we truly have is a case of Ididn'tgetmyassbeatenoughasakiditis. The real problem here is that the child lacked discipline and as a result caused this. The parents lack of involvement in this kids life caused this behavior, but I believe that everyone is responsible for their own actions. Once again this teenager is not being held accountable.
I buy a cup of hot coffee. I spill said coffee in my lap. How is that not my fault? How would I have been unaware that the coffee would have been hot? But Stella Liebeck did just that. She then sued McDonald's and was awarded $2.6 million by a jury. A judge lowered the award to just over $600,000. But damn, where is personal accountability?
There are stories all over the news about burglars who break into someones home. The homeowner than shoots the intruder. The intruder than turns around and sues the owner. If the homeowner would have shot and killed the intruder than it would have been considered justifiable homicide. The courts are forcing people to shoot to kill.
I don't blame the lawyers, they are doing there job. It is their responsibility to defend their clients or advocate for their clients. I blame the jury's who respond with emotion instead of fact. I blame the judges for allowing such nonsense. Ultimately it is the legislature's fault for not passing laws to protect the victim's. In the late 90's John Walsh of America's Most Wanted Fame, advocated a Constitutional Amendment that would protect victim's. This Amendment has had the backing of every Attorney General and President since Janet Reno and Bill Clinton. The text of the amendment from the National Victim's Constitutional Amendment Passage website is as follows:
Section 1. The rights of a crime victim to fairness, respect, and dignity, being capable of protection without denying the constitutional rights of the accused, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State. The crime victim shall, moreover, have the rights to reasonable notice of, and shall not be excluded from, public proceedings relating to the offense, to be heard at any release, plea, sentencing, or other such proceeding involving any right established by this article, to proceedings free from unreasonable delay, to reasonable notice of the release or escape of the accused, to due consideration of the crime victim's safety, and to restitution. The crime victim or the crime victim's lawful representative has standing to fully assert and enforce these rights in any court. Nothing in this article provides grounds for a new trial or any claim for damages and no person accused of the conduct described in section 2 of this article may obtain any form of relief.
Section 2. For purposes of this article, a crime victim includes any person against whom the criminal offense is committed or who is directly harmed by the commission of an act, which, if committed by a competent adult, would constitute a crime.
Section 3. This article shall be inoperative unless it has been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States within 14 years after the date of its submission to the States by the Congress. This article shall take effect on the 180th day after the date of its ratification.Congress also need to address frivolous lawsuits where people are suing for obscene amounts of money where there is a personal accountability factor. Perhaps we need to incorporate the French system in which a plaintiff in a case is responsible for all court costs of the defendant if the verdict is for the defendant.
Love me, hate me, everyone is entitled to my opinion.
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
Giving up the mortal coil
At the beginning of the year I decided to try to be more healthy. I quit smoking, hit the gym losing 40 pounds, and have quit drinking. There was no real reason as to why, just happened. It became something to do and an attempt to achieve goals that rested solely on will power. These were things that no one really could help me with and success or failure rested entirely on me. I did very well. To date, I have gone 245 days without a cigarette. I am still 20 pounds under what I started the year with, and I have not gone binge drinking since my birthday. All would be good, or so one would think.
In the beginning of October while I was at the gym I started having chest pains. I took a small break and went right back to working out. The chest pains did not come back that night but decided to go and see my doctor. My doctor referred me to a cardiologist. The pain would continue to come and go. It was mostly a sharp stabbing pain that would last a few seconds and go away. After I got back from vacation the cardiologist finally called with an appointment. After many tests the doctor concluded that I had pericarditis, an inflammation of the heart lining. The medicine that he prescribed was $300 after insurance for a 30 day supply. So I got it anyway, I mean its my heart and all. Three days into taking it, my legs go numb. It hurts to walk. So $300 goes down the drain. Doc says stop taking it. He next wants me to take 2 Bayer aspirin twice a day. Risk of bleeding and bruising. So I take it. Get light headed. Now I am on blood pressure meds and Advil. No adverse side effects but symptoms still there.
Last night while laying in bed, the chest was hurting and the left arm seemed to be numb, but it could also have been in my head. Went to sleep thinking that I may not wake up. Moments like that kind of make you think. I started thinking about all of the things I have missed because I put the job first. My family, friends, trips I wanted to go on, all played second string to the job. Funny thing is at my last cardiologist appointment my doctor wrote on a prescription pad, "Get a new job." Perhaps its time. The job hunt will start come January. I do not know what I may do, I know it needs to allow time for life. I am learning that if you keep saying someday, one day there will be no days. I need to avoid that, make today some day.
If perhaps finality is upon me, know this: My only regret will be that I let the job kill me.
Love me, hate me, everyone is entitled to my opinion.
In the beginning of October while I was at the gym I started having chest pains. I took a small break and went right back to working out. The chest pains did not come back that night but decided to go and see my doctor. My doctor referred me to a cardiologist. The pain would continue to come and go. It was mostly a sharp stabbing pain that would last a few seconds and go away. After I got back from vacation the cardiologist finally called with an appointment. After many tests the doctor concluded that I had pericarditis, an inflammation of the heart lining. The medicine that he prescribed was $300 after insurance for a 30 day supply. So I got it anyway, I mean its my heart and all. Three days into taking it, my legs go numb. It hurts to walk. So $300 goes down the drain. Doc says stop taking it. He next wants me to take 2 Bayer aspirin twice a day. Risk of bleeding and bruising. So I take it. Get light headed. Now I am on blood pressure meds and Advil. No adverse side effects but symptoms still there.
Last night while laying in bed, the chest was hurting and the left arm seemed to be numb, but it could also have been in my head. Went to sleep thinking that I may not wake up. Moments like that kind of make you think. I started thinking about all of the things I have missed because I put the job first. My family, friends, trips I wanted to go on, all played second string to the job. Funny thing is at my last cardiologist appointment my doctor wrote on a prescription pad, "Get a new job." Perhaps its time. The job hunt will start come January. I do not know what I may do, I know it needs to allow time for life. I am learning that if you keep saying someday, one day there will be no days. I need to avoid that, make today some day.
If perhaps finality is upon me, know this: My only regret will be that I let the job kill me.
Love me, hate me, everyone is entitled to my opinion.
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