Claims And Issues

"MAXIMIZE PROFITS, MINIMIZE EXPENSES" FOR FOOD? REALLY?

(Food Pantry photo by Desiree Rios/New York Times)

Unprotected food delivery workers are on strike today. They are striking to get hazard pay and hand sanitizers as they deliver food during the coronavirus pandemic. Hazard pay? Adding five dollars to a delivery during the pandemic. Hand sanitizers? What's next for the food production industry to save expense by not providing each worker? And where is OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration?

Oh, I forgot. OSHA is in Washington, D.C. And Washington is currently under occupation.

Workers at other grocery stores are talking about their own conditions. They say that they do not have health benefits or leave among other things. So there we have some other examples, I suppose, of what's next for the food production industry to save expense by not providing each worker with protections.

And as a result, they save expense in their business by not providing us with protections.

Please read the disclaimer. ©2020 Dennis J. Wall. All rights reserved.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS AWOL* IN THE FACE OF THE ENEMY.

*AWOL = Absent Without Leave.

The federal government is doing so little during the crisis.  For all intents and purposes, there is no federal government right now.

Washington, D.C. blizzard.jpg via Wikimedia Commons.

The story is also laid out by David E. Sanger, Zolan Kanno-Youngs, and Ana Swanson in FEDERAL GOVERNMENT / A Slow Response, Measured in Nonexistent Tests, Masks and Ventilators, NEW YORK TIMES online Tuesday, March 24 and in print Wed., March 25, 2020, at A9.

Please read the disclaimer. ©2020 Dennis J. Wall.  All rights reserved.

People Really Want to Help, And That's Who We Are.

People really want to help, and that's who we are.
Rebecca Solnit, interviewed by On Being in 2016.

People who really want to help were featured in an op-ed by Dr. Ann-Marie Slaughter in The New York Times. I cannot input all the hyperlinks to the people and organizations she mentions, but thankfully I don't have to because she already did. Go to the op-ed online and access the links to these people who really want to help, and that's who they -- and we -- are.

Here are many of the helpers named in the article:

Governors.

• Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan. Governor Whitmer has put together state task forces to coordinate responses to the coronavirus, Covid-19, in education and in the work force. She announced that Michigan Medicaid would provide free testing for the coronavirus.
• Governor Andrew Cuomo of New York called out the New York State National Guard to deliver meals to New Yorkers who must stay at home.

City officials.

• Mayor Jenny Durkan of Seattle, Washington. Mayor Durkan initiated a proposal for the City of Seattle to issue $800.00 vouchers to over 6,000 families to help buy food and cleaning supplies. She ordered that most evictions be stopped in the City of Seattle.
• The City Council of Columbus, Ohio. The City Council activated an emergency fund of $1 Million to aid citizens of Columbus affected by the coronavirus to buy food and pay for housing.

Individuals and Private Groups.

• Indianapolis food pantries. In response to the pandemic, food pantries set up drive-throughs to make it easier for people who use the food pantries in Indianapolis to pick up their food.
• An Indianapolis man named Jeb Banner. Mr. Banner is the CEO of a software company. In response to the coronavirus pandemic, he invented Indy Service Workers Venmo List so that people whose wages are not enough and who have to rely on tips in order to put food on the table but are not working so they cannot receive tips of course --people like waiters, cooks, and bartenders -- can electronically and safely receive tip donations at this time.
• The National Domestic Workers Alliance. The Alliance has started a fund for workers who cannot work right now and live paycheck-to-paycheck: house cleaners, home aides, and others.

Universities.

• Universities across the country have shut down the danger of close proximity in in-person classes, and have moved the classes to online safety, greatly lessening the reach of the pandemic.
• Universities have taken steps as a group generally, to make experts available to inform the public about the coronavirus. Slaughter mentions in particular the Johns Hopkins University's Coronavirus Research Center, and she gives a hyperlink for it in her op-ed. It is such an important resource that I too am giving a hyperlink for it, here.

Dr. Slaughter concludes her op-ed this way, and it is an appropriate way to end this article as well:

Right now, we can follow the lead of local and regional leaders and step up ourselves. Through the virus, we are rediscovering the dark side of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous “inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny.” But we can also rediscover what is possible and what we are capable of as a nation. We can use this crisis to create a better America.

Please read the disclaimer. ©2020 Dennis J. Wall. All rights reserved.

 

NO, THIS IS NOT A WAR.

Despite what some old men say, this is not a war. This is a pandemic. The qualities called upon in a pandemic are very different from the behaviors that war requires.

War requires people to kill. Pandemics require people to save lives.

War means caring first for your own army's wounded and not caring, at least at first, about an enemy's wounded. When people are sick in a pandemic, the situation is the opposite. We take care of all sick people, we tend to them, we show compassion. Either out of our faith or out of our self-interest, if we do not want to die with them.

(Photo by Ted S. Warren, AP)

We are not faced with an unseen enemy.  We can see the pandemic because we have the eyes to see with.

 

Please read the disclaimer. ©2020 Dennis J. Wall. All rights reserved.

USING A MAGIC-8 BALL ON THE CORONAVIRUS.

“It feels like somebody is using a Magic 8-Ball to make these decisions. There is no consistency. There doesn’t even seem to be consistency in who’s making these decisions.”
Kelly Hills, quoted in No More Than 10 People in One Place, Trump Said. But Why? NEW YORK TIMES online, Monday, March 16, 2020.

On the Rachel Maddow TV Show on Monday night, March 16, they showed the typed one-page sheet titled "Guidelines" issued by "the White House." The page was a splash of different fonts, mismatching bullet points, and indents all over the place.

Later "the White House" issued a more presentable 100 pages also titled "Guidelines" and posted them online.

Continuing our look at 21st Century Journalism, I took note that all of the articles I read in the New York Times referred to the 10-person social distancing limit as part of "the White House Guidelines," except one. Some even falsely attributed the 10-person limit to the Centers for Disease Control. 

The Centers for Disease Control in truth recommends a social distancing limit of 50 people. This means that the CDC recommends against gatherings larger than groups of 50 people. I read only one article in the New York Times that recognized and published this fact -- and it reported that fact not once but twice. 

It's long past time for government officials to speak the truth. Isn't it about time that people who can ask questions and write truthful answers be the ones we call journalists?

Please read the disclaimer. ©2020 Dennis J. Wall. All rights reserved.

THE REASON YOU JOINED UP IN THE FIRST PLACE.

The reason you joined up in the first place was to protect America and stop injustice.

This man told his father that nothing bad would happen to him from testifying under oath because this is America. Here they don't take retribution against you because you told the truth especially when you were subpoenaed to testify.

Andrew Harnitz/AP

Except they did.

That was his time. Now is your time. The reason you joined up in the first place was to protect America and to stop injustice. Now is your time.

Honor the people, like this person, who protected America and is the victim of injustice. He deserves a medal, an award, an honor. I understand that you formed the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Iraq Veterans, Vietnam Veterans, and all of these groups with a simple mission: to continue to protect America and to stop injustice including by honoring those who protect America and are the victims of injustice.

Now it is time to fulfill your mission.

Please read the disclaimer. ©2020 Dennis J. Wall. All rights reserved.

JOURNALISTS DON'T PUBLISH WHO APPOINTED THESE PEOPLE. THEY'RE OUR CORONAVIRUS DEFENSE?

Dr. Robert R. Redfield was appointed as the head of the Centers for Disease Control in March 2018.

Dr. Robert Redfield via CDC website.

Dr. Redfield had to be told by a Member of Congress at an open Hearing in the House nearly two years after he was appointed, that the CDC already has the authority to pay for every single person in America to be tested for the coronavirus.

Previously, Dr. Redfield and the CDC refused to adopt the World Health Organization's test for the coronavirus, opting instead for America's own test. They failed then too.

Dr. Steven Hahn is Dr. Redfield's boss.  Dr. Hahn, a radiation oncologist from the University of Texas, was picked to run the Food and Drug Administration in the Federal Government in December 2019.

 

Photograph of Dr. Stephen Hahn via University of Texas.

 

 

Under his leadership, the Food and Drug Administration has required the Centers for Disease Control to re-do tests for the coronavirus Covid-19.  This new procedure reportedly has had the effect of throwing sand in the gears, slowing the CDC's efforts to protect the public with testing.  Fewer people will test positive if fewer people are tested, even now, of course.

Journalists do not seem to have reported when these people were appointed to their current posts, or how they got appointed, or who appointed them.  Given the failures of the FDA and the CDC in the face of the coronavirus, shouldn't we be told?

Please read the disclaimer. ©2020 Dennis J. Wall.  All rights reserved.

 

 

Investigations Lead to Trials or Dismissal. Murder Trial in Netherlands.

Did you know that Russian KGB actors are on trial in the Netherlands for 298 murders?

Since 2014 when an airliner was shot down in eastern Ukraine with Russian missiles, governments led by the Netherlands have  been investigating the murders of 298 passengers and crew members.  Most of the people who were murdered were Dutch.

However, the murder trial could not be held by the United Nations because the Russians vetoed it.  So the Netherlands is holding the murder trial.  See Andrew Kramer, Trial Over Downing of Jet in '14 Starts for 4 Russians, NEW YORK TIMES, Tuesday, March 10, 2020, at A6.

Investigations lead to trials or dismissal in any functioning justice system.  The justice system is working in the Netherlands.

Please read the disclaimer. ©2020 Dennis J. Wall.  All rights reserved.

A Prayer For America.

    Oh, Divine Master, grant that we may not seek so much to hear what we want to hear

    As to speak the truth;

    That we may not seek so much to win

    As for You to Win;

    And that we may not seek so much to worship compromise

    As to stand for justice.

    Amen.

DEMONSTRATING THE GUTS TO CONFRONT THE CAPTAIN ... NOT this MR. ROBERTS.

In the classic movie Mr. Roberts, the title character had the guts to stand up to the Captain of the ship.

 

Not so much this Mr. Roberts.

Certainly not when women are involved.

Some background is in order before we talk about what he did -- or did not do -- most recently.

At first, the current leader attacked the forewoman of the jury. John Roberts did not protect her. He had nothing to say.

Then the current leader attacked U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson. John Roberts did not protect her either. Again he had nothing to say.

Then the current leader attacked two of the Justices of the U.S. Supreme Court, Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor. John Roberts did not protect them. By now it seems to be a pattern: Again he had nothing to say in defense of either woman who both serve on the Court that bears his name.

And then a U.S. Senator used the words of another Justice to call out that Justice, Brett Kavanaugh by name, along with Justice Neil Gorsuch. The Senator had the audacity to repeat Kavanaugh's words that opponents of his nomination would cause the U.S. "to reap the whirlwind." The Senator told Kavanaugh that it was Kavanaugh who "released the whirlwind and you will pay the price!" That moved John Roberts to speak. He chastised the U.S. Senator for hurling the words of Kavanaugh against Kavanaugh and Gorsuch.

We do not expect a Chief Justice of the United States to rule in favor of our cherished positions, certainly not every time and perhaps not any time. But we do reasonably expect a Chief Justice of the United States to stand up for judges who may have no-one else to stand with them in the face of such harassment.

When the Chief Justice of the United States does not behave like a Chief Justice of the United States, it is good to recognize the behavior of the person for what it is, rather than continue to hold him in high regard because of his title and in spite of all the evidence.

Including in the press.

 

Image of Henry Fonda and Jimmy Cagney in the movie Mr. Roberts via imdb.com.

Image of Chief Justice Roberts by Erin Schaff / New York Times.

 

Please read the disclaimer. ©2020 Dennis J. Wall. All rights reserved.

WHAT IF ANYTHING MORE COMES THEIR WAY? AND OUR WAY?

On October 31, 2019 the United States House of Representatives voted to formalize impeachment inquiry procedures.  Many news outlets reported this, including CNN, so it was obviously known at the time.

A string of emails from June through October 2019 became public in January 2020.  Those emails revealed that the acting comptroller of the Defense Department, Elaine McCusker, sent and received many of the emails.  The House impeachment inquiry included testimony about them.

Briefly, the emails reflected concerns about compliance with law over the withholding of previously appropriated military assistance to Ukraine from the United States.  One official of the current regime wrote that the decision was made at the top.  He tried to blame the Department of Defense though.  The story of the hidden emails was first reported by Kate Brannen, Exclusive:  Unredacted Ukraine Documents Reveal Extent of Pentagon's Legal Concerns, JUST SECURITY, January 2, 2020.

Elaine McCusker famously wrote back in an email to him during this time:

You can't be serious.  I am speechless.

Associated Press, Ukraine Backlash Continues as Pentagon Nomination is Withdrawn, LOS ANGELES TIMES, March 3, 2020.

After these emails had been written from June through October, and after the House formalized its impeachment inquiry in October, Elaine McCusker accepted the regime's formal nomination in November to be Comptroller of the Defense Department.

She must have remembered those emails.  She did not count on them becoming public.

Her nomination has just been withdrawn.  Associated Press, supra.

The truth will out.  And in this regime, promotions for the "speechless" are out too.

Clearly it is not enough to be speechless in private.  Nothing good comes of it or, if good does come, it comes a long time later after a whistleblower's complaint is made public.  Beyond withdrawing previously announced promotions for those who remain publicly silent, what if anything more will come their way?  And our way?

Photograph via the Department of Defense.

Please read the disclaimer. ©2020 Dennis J. Wall.  All rights reserved. 

 

 

THE CHIEF JUDGE SPOKE UP. THE CHIEF JUSTICE WASN'T AVAILABLE.

The Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia stood up for another judge in the same District.  Chief Judge Beryl Howell defended Judge Amy Berman Jackson from unfair outside attacks.

Judge Howell did not shy away from her responsibility to have Judge Jackson's back.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Chief Justice wasn't available. See THEN THEY CAME FOR YOU, JOHN.

Please read the disclaimer. ©2020 Dennis J. Wall.  All rights reserved.

 

LAST FRIDAY, AMERICAN EXCEPTIONALISM CAME TO ORLANDO.

America always was exceptional for its diversity and for its democracy.   Last Friday, people came together to talk about the United States Constitution.  The occasion was Barry Law School's Fifth Annual Forum for Constitutional Law Scholars.

   
The speakers came from all over the country, including:

• Colorado.
• Illinois.
• Louisiana.
• Nevada.
• Ohio.
• Tennessee.
• Texas.
• Virginia.
• Washington, D.C., and
• Wisconsin.

    The speakers came to America from all over the world.  They were all in Orlando to talk about the United States Constitution.  Their entire roster is worth noting, but here are just a few of the names of people who spoke about the United States Constitution last Friday in Orlando:

• William Araiza.
• Sonja Garza.
• Doron Kalir.
• Alexandra Klein.
• Anibal Rosario Lebron.
• Ken Levy.
• Glenn Magpantay.
• Eang Ngov.
• Reginald Oh.
• Jeffrey Parness.
• Meg Penrose.
• Timothy Schiell.
• Jeff Schmitt.
• John Tahranian.
• Dennis Wall.

    I think you get the idea.  Last Friday, American exceptionalism displayed its diversity and its democracy in Orlando.  To put it simply, America visited Orlando last Friday.

Please read the disclaimer. ©2020 Dennis J. Wall.  All rights reserved.