The answer to yesterday's Who Am I was the author of the nursery rhyme Mary Had A Little Lamb, Sarah Josepha Buell Hale.
We had a discussion yesterday on the blog about the decline in the middle class and how often in history when a society had no middle class a revolution ensued. We all believed if there was a revolution it would be vocal instead of with guns. I found the following article pretty interesting and relative to the discussion. The article is long but certainly worth reading.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/08599202251600;_ylt=AlHzDtOjb1REHURI2GaE9nis0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTNranI1OTNsBGFzc2V0A3RpbWUvMjAxMDA5MzAvMDg1OTk
Scared now? This is what bad journalism, outright lies, political parties that worry more about getting elected then what is best for the country, and hate speak leads to. It just boggles the mind. What is your reaction to the article?
We also have talked about the out of control justice system. Here are two articles that will just make you want to slap someone in charge.
http://www.aolnews.com/crime/article/deaf-texan-stephen-brodie-exonerated-of-child-sex-assault-freed/19653273?icid=main%7Chtmlws-sb-
They questioned him without an interpreter? Then the judge allowed the interview into evidence? One man goes to jail for twenty years and those responsible for erroneously putting him there are enjoying a nice retirement with full benefits? You reaction?
From Texas to Oregon. Doesn't really matter what state you are in:
http://www.oregonlive.com/clark-county/index.ssf/2010/09/sexual_abuse_charges_against_former_vancouver_police_officer_dismissed.html
There was more on the news this morning about the Spencer Case. The daughters not only recanted their testimony but said they were given rewards by the prosecutors if they answered the way the prosecutors wanted them to. Ice cream, candy, and money. Also on the news this morning was that one of the reasons the judge freed Spencer in 2005 was they found evidence in one of the investigator's house that would have exonerated Spencer.
Now I no longer wonder why innocent people hire attorneys before talking with police or district attorneys.
Your comments about anything or anywhere on the blog are always appreciated.
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4 comments:
I only read part of the first story... have to go out. Will read the rest later. But of course I think these militant "patriot" groups are nuts. Well, deluded at best. Lotsa luck if they ever really try to take on the gov't. If there's an upsurge in this kind of activity, I think this quote from the article says a lot: "Obama's ascendancy unhinged the radical right." They've been unhinged for quite a while, but they are outdoing themselves lately. Idiots.
I get really upset with stories about people released after long years of imprisonment for something they didn't do. And even more upset when it comes out that they "confessed" after hours of unrelenting interrogation. That's pretty scary. More so than "patriots" running around playing soldier. As is the story about prosecutors bribing kids to lie about a parent. Sheesh!
It's all both troubling and depressing, Bill. I think you nailed it, when you listed the reasons militia groups form. I have no idea where this country is headed, but if we don't stop taking away rights and start taking care of basics, including the needs of the population and the rights of citizens, it could get less than pretty. Probably most frightening of all are the "lone wolves," who give even those with the best of intentions a bad name.
The justice system... these two articles just support the discussions we've been having. The last one... as you know, I ghost wrote a book on false allegations, usually brought by the wife. I watched tapes of interviews with the children and was appalled at the leading questions and how interviewers would continue asking the same questions, worded differently, until they got the answers they wanted. The tapes were then spliced, prior to being shown to juries. And, yes the children were offered various rewards, from "Good girl" to hugs to candy to a new doll or stuffed toy. Children are quick to learn that giving the "expected" answers gets more positive results than telling the truth. Sad, but true.
It's been slow and insidious, but integrity, honesty and ethics have been too often replaced by greed and ambition and the desire for power and I'm somewhat afraid it's invaded much of our gov't, from local to national, and much of our population, particularly in large corporations and entities.
Hi Pat
There is no doubt the militia group is nuts. But that is what scares me crazies with guns and no clue.
The stores about innocents being freed after a long time in prison seem to be more ferquent. You can see from DR's comment that it isn't that all unusual for presecutors to bribe kids.
Bill
Hi DR
It is troubling and depressing and we do need to stop taking away rights and go back to basics. The lone wolves are troubling because they can easily become leaders.
I remeber you ghost writing the book about false allegations. A lot of times brought by the wife to get out of a bad marriage. It is a common practice for the same question to asked over and over again until the questioner gets the answer they want.
We have slowly lost our intergrity starting before Enron, I think when the savings and loans failed is when it started.
We need new leaders that live by honesty and intergrity.
Bill
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