Shameful Police Action

Late March 18 a man was rushing his wife, another family member to a Dallas hospital. They had received word that his mother-in-law was dying. A block from the hospital the roads were somewhat disserted as the man approached an intersection, the light was red but with little traffic. With the flashers on the driver slowed and moved through the intersection once it was clear and proceeded into the hospital entrance.

Dallas police officer, Robert Powell, rushed up behind him with is lights flashing. The driver kept going down the drive and into the parking lot with his flashers still on. As the family got out of the car the officer drew his car and ordered the occupants back into the car. The video clearly indicates that the driver was trying to explain that they needed to get inside to see his wife’s dying mother before she passes. The police officer told him to he could care less what the family needed to do, he wanted them back in the car.

The driver’s wife and her sister ignored the police officer and walked off. The officer demanded the license and insurance. The driver said he was not certain he had the insurance card but he had the registration card. The officer threatened to tow the car and to put the driver in prison. The driver kept trying to explain what was happening but the officer remained cold and unmoved even after a nurse came out to confirm that the mother-in-law as within minutes of dying. Another police officer had not only arrived but suggested to Officer Powell to not issue the ticket and let the driver get inside. Powell who later stated to his department that “I handled everything appropriately” remained unmoved and held the man thirteen minutes as he slowly wrote the ticket, and then lectured the driver on his attitude.

When the driver arrived at his mother-in-law’s bedside he was too late. She had passed away just a few minutes before.

While Powell feels he was justified in his actions, I do not. The context clearly showed that the man was headed for an emergency. His story made sense. If Powell had any doubts, at the very least he could have followed the man inside. I recognize police officers have a tough and stressful job, but that said we need police officers who have enforce the laws with common sense and compassion. Powell’s actions last night serves as an example of what we do not need to see from our law enforcement officers. If anything Powell’s actions and attitude ostracizes the officers from the public by decreasing the respect given to them.

The Dallas Police Department initially put Powell on dispatch duty. The Dallas Chief of Police Kunkel upon hearing about the matter and after it was published in the press appeared before the press earlier today to say that after reviewing the tapes he has suspended his officer. The Chief issued an apology to the family and community as a whole. Chief Kunkel says that Powell will remain suspended without pay until the review is complete and the review could recommend that Powell be dismissed.

Given that the department’s initial reaction was mild and no suspension took place for a week I am left wondering if Chief Kunkel would have taken this action if the driver of the vehicle was not NFL running back Ryan Moats and the matter had not come to the attention of the press.

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AIG - New Meaning

Once again AIG, American International Group, has come under criticism, and justly so, for awarding hefty bonuses to executives when the firm is in such dire financial conditions, including to those who made decisions that has brought AIG to the doorstep of bankruptcy. If the bonuses must be paid, let them be paid in AIG stock.

AIG and its executives are appropriate symbols of the horrendous shortcomings of a poorly regulated American financial system. Its initials are taking on new meaning. “A” could readily stand for any of these…appalling, aristocratic, atrocious or arrogant.

“I” could readily stand for any of these terms….impassive, immoral, ignoble, imperial, impenitent, indifferent, or insufferable

“G” could stand for…. gamblers, greed, or gluttony.

In my view, AIG now stands for Arrogant Ignoble Greed. What does AIG represent for you?

Arrogant Ignoble Greed is a company in disrepute and though there are those who argue that it is too big to fail, no company should be too big to fail. AIG should be pushed into bankruptcy, with its salvageable parts sold off. The firm’s ignoble leadership should be dismissed in disgrace and left to defending themselves in the law courts against those who will sue them for various their misrepresentations and actions.

Trickle-down Economics A Bust?

The “trickle-down” economic theory holds that as the wealthy and top income earners flourish that those at the bottom end of income scale will also become more economically stronger. The assumption holds that if those at the top succeed that they will create opportunities for others to do well. Often coupled with this assumption is the argument that if government and regulations were diminished or eliminated that the entrepreneurs will make bundles of money and so will everyone else if they but work hard.

I agree that hard work should be rewarded I have never agreed with the liaise-faire roll of government and that regulations are a hindrance to capitalism. The current states of the American financial and housing industries are testaments that the rosy theory of deregulation is found wanting.

Trickle-down does happen but is more limited that we would recognize. In Scripture there are laws against usury. Usury is a means to help the wealthy to increase their stores at the expense of those with little income and the vulnerable. Farmers were to not pick-up fruit and reaping that had fallen to the ground. Nor were they to go into every corner of the field during harvest. It was a means of providing for the poor…a primitive welfare system. Those with wealth are frequently reminded to care and assist the poor. If the trickle-down theory works, then why would the Bible have these teachings?

History has shown that if the wealthy have unfettered power, that they will maximize their profit and keep their employees in a form of endured servitude. In the middle ages the Lords were fat while the serfs starved. For those who will point out that was not America, I would remind them of the robber barons who paid pittance, kept their employees in high priced poor quality company housing, and threatened physical harm to break-up efforts when employees tried to band together to improve their living conditions and wages as there was nothing trickling down to them. If the trickle-down theory held they would not have had to organize and there would not need to have been a slew of employment laws to protect the workers. These American serfs demonstrate that unfettered capitalism as the trickle-down advocates proclaim has serious flaws.

Until the last year most economists and politicians held that the economic environment was strong. If any environment could give proof of the trickle-down taking place it would be evidenced in the declining poverty rates. In January 2000 the poverty rate stood at 4.6%. Eight years later, in 2008 the poverty rate stood at 7.2% without any significant change in the definition point of the poverty rate.