Worse than not news

Who, what, when, where, how, and, if independently verifiable, why are the hallmarks of journalism. At least, so I was taught when I first encountered the concept in school. If the story did not contain the first five, then the story was incomplete. The sixth element was allowable only if it could be ascertained by one or more sources independent of involvement in the incident.

News: A three alarm fire that has been claimed to be arson by a Fire Department Investigator, was brought to the attention of authorities around ten o’clock last night. The fire, which appears to have been started on the loading docks, located at the back of the old paint factory on Second and Maple Streets, created the need to evacuate the surrounding neighborhood. Any tips leading to conviction of the perpetrators would be eligible for rewards.

Not News: It was horrible. People were told to leave their homes. The city needs your help.

Worse than not News: The big fire yesterday, which anonymous sources say was set by Joe Blow who hates the owner, was bad for everybody. The big fire today is bigger than the big fire last night, so it will get worse for everybody. Any information that puts Joe Blow in jail will get the informant money.

On matters of most import, the major American media becomes more and more exemplified by the third example. Instead of news we get opinion and/or propaganda. The same lies that the news used to cheer lead the drumbeats that got us into war with Iraq are now beating the drums for war with Iran. This in behalf of a nation that has no constitution. American news quickly assigned blame for the latest assassination in Lebanon to Syria. Why wait for facts or even ask who else might be responsible.

Now, into the circle file...

A Pre 9-11 Mindset

In the early 13th Century, Genghis Kan outlawed torture. In 2006, Congress reinstated torture as an interrogation policy. Early in the Thirteenth Century, the King was stripped of his ability to detain a person with out charges being brought. In 2006, Congress voted to restore that power to the State. A truly pre 9/11 mindset.

65 to 34 and 253 to 168 the US went from being a Banana Republic , Tin-Pot Dictatorship to a pre-middle ages Authoritarian Despotism. Good bye Magna Carta. It only applies to foreigners, we’re told. If you believe that, I’ve got a bridge in Brooklyn you aught to buy from me. The Resident can declare you an enemy combatant, send you to Guantanamo, deny you a lawyer, not tell you what the charges are, keep secret the evidence against you, and torture you for the names of other “Guilty” people. That is what Habeas Corpus no longer applying means.

Yesterday, 300 people were denied their First Amendment Right to peacefully assemble and protest. Under the new rules, they could be charged with threatening the material interests’ of businesses and thereby becoming an Enemy Non-Combatant. Have you ever donated to an umbrella type Charitable organization? If they then take a portion of that money and distribute it to an other charity that the government later proclaims aids “Terrorists,” surprise, you are now, an Enemy Non-Combatant. Off to Guantanamo! I am not exaggerating. At least 34 Senators and 168 Representatives agree with me as does a coalition of hundreds of Constitutional Scholars and Lawyers and over 30 newly retired military officers and over 100 retired analysts from the CIA, NSA, and FBI.

John Christensen , of the third century church said,

“He or she, who is not angry when there is cause for anger, sins. Anger looks to the good of Justice. If you can look at in-justice without anger, then you are unjust.”

Unreasoned patience is what occurred in the 1930s. As people were being carted off, held with out charges, and tried and convicted in secret courts, good God fearing and otherwise intelligent German people remained silent. Are we too busy watching TV, cheering our favorite sports team, to do the right thing? As Dante’ warned us,

“The hottest places in Hell are reserved for those who remain neutral in times of crisis.”

Now, into the circle file...

Electronic Voting Machines

In just a little bit more than a month, I will be asked to cast my vote, for the second time, on a machine that has no paper record. A machine made by a company that also makes ATMs, which, weather you ask for a receipt or not, create a paper copy of every transaction. In addition, the programs that both the ES&S machines, which record the votes, and Diebold machines, which tabulate the totals, are programmed using a program similar to Windows as the basic operating system. If you have used Windows as long as I have, since Windows 3.1 in 1991, you can be certain of two constants: At some point, the system will crash (it seems nearly always at a critical juncture); Windows' operating systems have always been extremely vulnerable to malicious manipulation.

The reason that systems like Windows tend to fail is that they are written by a limited number of people and not peer reviewed during the creation process. The public then tests it by practical application and the problems then become apparent. Programs like Linux are created by 10s of thousands critiquing, evaluating, and improving the stability and security until consensus is reached that a viable system has been created. After release, continued evaluation is not just allowed, it is encouraged. Owners of proprietary systems actively seek to keep the inner workings secret.

I can state this as a fact because I've purchased each Windows upgrade for two reasons. Exploring its weaknesses and playing computer games (to test the strength). Voting is not a game nor should it be done on a system long noted for its frailty. I use an operating system call Linux for all computer activities that require security such as on-line transactions and surfing the web. I also print a paper record of every transaction I make with my computer. This has proved very helpful in resolving disputes with both my telephone company and a credit card provider. My vote is as important and should have a paper record of every vote made in order to resolve disputes should the need arise.

The machines have the capacity to attach a printer and the operating system is capable of creating a paper record. The only excuse my elected officials have given me for not having a paper record is the expense. Surely the integrity and validity of our vote is worth the few extra dollars required to ensure this.

Now, into the circle file...

Fear Tactics as policy of Government and the GOP

In all fairness, I must confess that I've taken words from an excellent article by Brent Budowsky that I read on Buzzflash.com. Hopefully I haven't been overly plagiaristic in my endevour or am forgiven if I have been. The following is the context of a Letter to the Editor of my local Right Wing Newspaper

As I reread our Constitution, which this week is set aside to honor, and ponder on how those patriots were so willing to give their very lives to create the situation where that document could take root, I am disappointed in the current crop of Americans.
Casually, fearfully, timidly, and meekly Americans are surrendering freedoms acquired by the blood of American heroes. Public policy driven by fear is taking away our freedoms bit by bit. These are the very freedoms that President Bush says the Islamo-Fascists hate us for. When he said that he is doing everything possible to keep us safe, I didn’t realize that would include removing the freedoms our enemies hate.

President George Bush implores us to be afraid, and wants us to think: we may not be comfortable with a President who claims the unilateral power to abrogate the Bill of Rights and violate Federal Law at will with a signing statement, but he makes us feel a little bit safer, so it's ok. And so it happened. President George Washington, having actually fought with his troops, rallied his followers with bravery, for a cause greater than themselves, their lives, greater even than the Nation they created and the times they lived in. Shall we sit in fear in front of our TVs, leaving home only to go shopping, while our government continues to chip away at the freedoms which our Constitution so eloquently endowed us?

On the bank of the Delaware, George Washington quoted Thomas Paine,

"These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of this country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like Hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly".

President George Bush wants us to sacrifice nothing except our courage, our freedom to criticize government policies, and freedom from government intrusion of our private affairs. The fact that I have nothing to hide does not mean I am willing to have it exposed for any reason that does not comply with the rights given to me by the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution.

Now, into the circle file...