Blind Justice

 

It only takes one broken link.

Statues of Lady Justice, the embodied likeness of the Roman goddess Justita, adorn many courthouses throughout the United States. Blindfolded, with a sword in one hand and a scale balanced in the other, she represents a fair and impartial judicial system. Justice is meted out impartially, without regard to the station of either defendant or plaintiff. The law and the facts presented should determine the outcome of any trial, independent of the race, gender, age or wealth of the accused. In our Constitutional Republic, the rule of law is the glue that holds civilized society together. All are guaranteed a fair trial by a jury of their peers, have the right to not self-incriminate and everyone is considered innocent until proven guilty. These are the linchpins of our judicial system. These rights are enumerated in our Constitution, Bill of Rights and court decision precedent. Without them, our judicial system fails.

Unfortunately, our system of justice is being perverted by District Attorneys that use their position to reject the law and set their own standards of justice. Progressive District Attorneys in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, New York and other blue cities decide that precedent and written laws are irrelevant when holding accountable those accused of committing criminal acts. They lead an effort to create a more equitable outcome by reducing or eliminating bail and ignoring criminal behavior in an effort to decrease the number of persons of color incarcerated. The lawlessness witnessed in the cities that have District Attorneys that embrace these ideals is unprecedented. Criminals who understand that there will be no consequences for illegal behavior will be emboldened to escalate their criminal actions.

District Attorneys fail their citizens and abdicate their responsibility to hold criminals accountable when those committing crimes are arbitrarily released without appropriate bail. Bail is meant to keep dangerous offenders off the streets. Those released instead of remaining jailed, are free to go out and commit more criminal acts. Darrell Brooks, the perpetrator of the Christmas parade massacre in Waukesha, Wisconsin was released on a $1000 bail, for felony offences in Milwaukee County, including being charged with running over his girlfriend with his car. DA John Chisholm bragged about his policy of leniency in 2007, “Is there going to be an individual that I divert, or put in a treatment program going to go out and kill somebody? You bet. Guaranteed. It’s guaranteed to happen. It does not invalidate the overall approach.” His prophesy was fulfilled. Far too many have paid the price for his recklessness. This cannot continue.

“Defund the Police” casts aspersions upon the very people charged to uphold the law and protect the citizenry from bad actors. Police are vilified and use of force incidents are criticized in an effort to divert the criminality from the offender to the police officer. Mistakes made by police in the heat of the moment are used to attack policing as a whole. Dishonest claims that “systemic racism” permeates law enforcement is repeated over and over by the mainstream media. The number of actual unlawful arrests, police “targeting” persons of color and reports of police “brutality” are so rare that each incident is amplified by the media for weeks and months to make it appear that it as common place as issuing a speeding ticket.

Without the “Thin Blue Line” our society devolves into lawlessness and anarchy. “Woke” DA’s that devalue the work of law enforcement by releasing accused criminals on low bail or fail to even charge them with a crime is extremely discouraging to officers trying their best to protect the citizenry. When these DA’s continually disparage law enforcement, morale and any enthusiasm to enforce the law wanes. When police face more scrutiny than criminals, the resolve to place themselves at risk fades. The assault upon and the lack of respect for law enforcement has begun to take a toll. Fewer and fewer people are willing to apply for positions in law enforcement. In the recent past, there were many more applicants than positions available. This has fallen precipitously. Without qualified candidates to fulfil the role to actually “keep you and your community safe”, our society becomes more and more vulnerable to lawlessness. Police need our support, not unwarranted vilification. Prosecutorial misconduct by “Woke” DA’s is increasing. Don’t stand by and allow another link in the chain of justice to break.

Time to Move On

 

COVID-19

Since pivoting from the strategy of “slowing the spread” to attempting to stop all infections, the Federal public health “one size fits all” approach from the CDC to the NIAID has been an abject failure. Guidance and mitigation efforts have been haphazard and have concentrated far too much on vaccinations to control the pandemic. The use of therapeutics has been largely dismissed as an effective treatment option by Federal public health officials. Current vaccinations are proving ineffective in slowing the infection rate and transmission of the new Omicron variant and the infection numbers have skyrocketed. Thankfully, the hospitalization and death rates are not following suit and continue to decrease in relation to the infection rate.

Federal public health policy has, unfortunately put all their eggs into one basket, and our nation has suffered great losses to our economic system, adversely affected our children’s learning and emotional development, led to an increase in mental health disorders, drug overdoses, suicides and criminality. Far too many of our fellow citizens have suffered and died as the result of what should be considered medical malfeasance by our Federal public health officials.

The dominant variant of COVID-19 is the Omicron, causing more than 90% of all infections worldwide. A recent study from South Africa indicates that this variant is extremely contagious, but the vast majority of those infected suffer mild or no symptoms with a low rate of hospitalizations. This variant follows the normal trajectory of viruses as they mutate. Higher rate of transmission with a lower rate of severe symptoms and lethality.

Pfizer will not have an effective vaccine to combat the Omicron variant until March. If the course of the disease mirrors what has occurred in South Africa, the need for that vaccine will likely have passed.

It is time that we strongly consider the fact that the pandemic phase of this disease is ending and that public health, at the local and State level, pivot to acknowledging the reality that we are entering the endemic phase of this disease. We need to concentrate on manufacturing and distributing effective therapeutics to manage symptomatic individuals and to continue to develop vaccines that are effective in mitigating symptoms of any new variants. Dr. Fauci stated on Wednesday, that we will never eradicate COVID-19. We also need to acknowledge that reality.

The published study of Omicron in South Africa; The wave increased at a faster rate than previous waves, completely displacing the Delta variant within weeks and began its decline in both cases and hospital admissions in the fifth week following its commencement.

There are clear signs that case and admission rates in South-Africa may decline further over the next few weeks. If this pattern continues and is repeated globally, we are likely to see a complete decoupling of case and death rates suggesting that Omicron may be a harbinger of the end of the epidemic phase of the Covid pandemic ushering in its endemic phase.

CDC Director Walensky testified before Congress, when compared to delta, infections with omicron were associated with a 53% reduction in adjusted risk of symptomatic hospitalization, displayed in the first panel; a 74% reduction in adjusted risk of ICU admission, displayed in the middle panel; and a 91% reduction in adjusted risk of mortality, displayed on the third panel.

No patients with omicron required mechanical ventilation. Additionally, this study found that those infected with omicron who were hospitalized had a shorter duration of hospital stay compared to those with delta. The duration of hospital stays was approximately 70% shorter, with the median of stays being 1.5 days for omicron compared to about 5 days for delta.

Looking at all hospital admissions for omicron, 90% of patients were expected to be discharged from the hospital in three days or less.

Sorry about all of you that are totally immersed in relying upon the government to keep you safe. The…...Pandemic…….is……..over!!!!!

 

 

Dialogue

 If we fail to engage….

Debate, discourse, discussion, conversation, banter, talk, describe the diverse ways civil society communicates. In spite of the proliferation of digital communication, we seem to be losing the ability to communicate on a personal level. With information, entertainment and communication at our fingertips, our ability to reach out and connect with each other should improve. Unfortunately, texting, Twitter, Snapchatting, and the like has caused our dialogue to devolve into short snipes that often are inappropriate and vulgar. We use social media to debase people we don’t even know. Not having to face one another, enables one to say things that would never be said in person.

It has become so easy to simply fire off invectives at those in which you disagree when one can simply communicate through the ethernet. Why take the time to actually converse with someone when you can simply send a text message. Sit down and properly discuss issues and understand opposing viewpoints, not so much? Case in point; Seems that some of my Op-eds have generated considerable consternation from those who disagree. Anonymous voice mails describing me as a “f-bombing” hypocrite, derogatory comments in letters to the Editor and op-eds disparaging me as a partisan hack. Name calling is the last refuge of those who cannot logically disprove an opposing point of view. This type of discourse is exactly why our society has been so wracked with hatred toward those that fail to share a common opinion.

In a scene from Cool Hand Luke, starring Paul Newman, the captain of the guard, played by Strother Martin decries, “What we have here is a failure to communicate.” Newman is a convict on a chain gang that continually fails to obey the orders of the prison staff, prompting this response as he receives punishment for his disobedience. Our society has developed an even greater breakdown in our ability to communicate. Back in the day, politicians of both parties could disagree during debate in the halls of government, yet still be friends. That is becoming a thing of the past as one’s political leanings are all important, overtaking the responsibility to properly serve one’s constituency. In other words, fealty to Party before service to the people they represent.

As our public discourse devolves into bytes of criticism and attacks, we run the risk of losing our civil society altogether. We become tribal, believing those in which we disagree are our enemies. A nation that squabbles among themselves opens opportunities for our world competitors and adversaries to take advantage. When we fail to openly debate and respect each other’s opinion, we further devolve into self-centered, everyone for themselves people, and all suffer equally. When we spend so much capital vilifying those with which we disagree, we tear apart the fabric that weaves civil society together. We need to recapture the ability to listen and fight the urge to shut down debate. Institutions of higher education need to return to being the centers of open inquiry and vibrant debate. We need to return to treating others as you would want and expect them to treat you.

Social media and the numerous news media outlets continue to preach division and distrust of your fellow citizens. Hollywood uses their bully pulpit to promote their values and morals that the majority of this nation rejects. A society thrives upon mutual respect, not blind allegiance to any political ideology. A society thrives with a vigorous exchange of ideas and viewpoints. A society thrives when we learn to embrace our faults, our differences and work together to enhance the quality of life for everyone. A society that cannot engage in reasonable dialogue is doomed to failure. We had better learn to live with each other before this nation ceases to exist. If you can’t convince yourself to love your neighbors, at least try to tolerate them. “On the contrary: If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, it will be as if you are placing burning coals upon his head.” Follow this example and it just may be easier to have that cordial conversation with someone from the other side of the aisle.