Oakland’s police chief Anthony Batts has announced that Oakland Police will not responded to 44 different crimes if planned layoffs occur at midnight. It was useful for Batts to announce the categories in advance for criminals to chose from a criminal dim sum list of free crimes including grand theft, burglary, vehicle collision, identity theft and vandalism.
If you are the victim of burglary, you will be told to make a report online and not to expect police to respond.
Here the list of free crimes in Oakland:
burglary
theft
embezzlement
grand theft
grand theft:dog
identity theft
false information to peace officer
required to register as sex or arson offender
dump waste or offensive matter
discard appliance with lock
loud music
possess forged notes
pass fictitious check
obtain money by false voucher
fraudulent use of access cards
stolen license plate
embezzlement by an employee (over $ 400)
extortion
attempted extortion
false personification of other
injure telephone/ power line
interfere with power line
unauthorized cable tv connection
vandalism
administer/expose poison to another’s
That allows ample room for most criminals to plan a life of crime without the risk of police interference.
This is the response to the planned layoff of 80 officers. That is roughly one-tenth of the force. As we continue to gush billions in Afghanistan and Iraq, our cities are returning to a state of nature. According to the city of Oakland, each of the 776 police officers currently employed at OPD costs around $188,000 per year. The city council asked OPD officers to pay nine percent of their salary toward their pensions. However, the union would only agree if the city promised no layoffs. The city refused.
Source: NBC.
Blousie,
To quote a famous felt frog, “It’s not easy being green.”
I think that it was a brilliant move of Police Chief Butts to go on the offensive in this way. By enumerating the list of offenses that will no longer be investigated, he is bravely trying to telegraph that we’re not in Kansas anymore, Dorothy; that if we stop feeding Toto, Toto is going to go underground.
Of course, this story pretty much mirrors the one in Colorado (can’t remember which city).
Because police protection and investigation of crimes such as the ones listed are absolutely the foundation of what we think of in terms of “government services,” it is quite obvious that we, as a country, are circling the drain big time. I say, close some of the 630-plus overseas military bases, and retread that wealth back into our country in order to ensure proper enforcement of laws and to fund economic revitalization projects, such as infrastructure improvements.
FYI:For drivers with lead feet.
Do you know the speedtraps in your hometown?
This is for real…..in much detail. Even to the description of the unmarked cars used for lasering and ticketing in all states.
Click on what ever state you want. It will have a list of the available cities and towns. Click on the one you want.
You can see cities in the U.S. and Canada.
SPEED TRAPS – NO JOKE…CHECK IT OUT!
I had no idea this was available to everyone.
http://www.speedtrap.org/speedtraps/stetlist.asp
That’s only because you’re green!
(If this appears twice, ignore one)
That’s only because you’re green!
Most certainly agreed, Blouise. I just wanted to make clear I have no interest in being a personality.
First define the principles; next develop the policies; then seek the personalities.
“Already I stand upon enough shoulders.”
I find myself unable to sleep.
I have been thinking of the kind words directed at me by my fine companions in this truly wondrous salon of ideas. They are most kind and most appreciated. I am truly fortunate to have found such a congregation of minds so abundant in riches and generous in spirit. I hope it is not me that generates those words but rather the ideals and ideas to which I offer in the spirit of making America a better country for all people. This being said, I feel compelled to make this clear at the onset.
I personally have no interest in holding a public office. Like Jefferson, I find the idea of holding public office an onerous duty. I have no issue with formulating policy platforms and working on organization – helping draft statements to shape the legal and philosophical basis of a political movement, but I do not wish to be political creature of that public nature that is a candidate or office holder. I am a private person by nature and seek no personal public glory for this endeavor. Anything I do to these ends I do out of a duty to the principles upon which this country was founded, the sacrifices of the Founding Fathers and the many brave and courageous men and women from all walks of life and from all races, religious traditions and cultures who have fought and died for the ideals that are often summarized with the shorthand term “the American Dream”.
For even in the limited role of writer, advisor or organizer, I am standing upon their shoulders and their sacrifices. Sacrifices that people of like minded dissatisfaction at the current distorted status quo of American politics should keep in their hearts and minds if we are to rise together and reclaim our common interests in liberty, freedom and the rule of law from the monied special interests who have co-opted the American Dream to their personal ends of greed, high crimes, ego worship and death.
If anything is to come of this, we must band together with other like minded peoples and seek out candidates that will be uncompromising in promoting the ideals and interests of the natural human citizens as We the People define them based upon the Declaration of Independence and the idea of a secular government for all found in the Constitution under the banner of a Constitutional Populist Party. We the People should seek to restore not just the rule of law, but the unprecedented dream of a just, equitable and free society that drove men like Jefferson, Hamilton and Adams to put pen to paper in the first place and throw off the tyranny of King George and the British Monarchy. To be free of the tyranny of corporatism which besets our country now, a danger which Jefferson was acutely aware of, we must rise together. To correct the mistakes of those who put their personal interests above our common interest, we must take concrete steps required to move us away from the abyss at which We stand. Away from the precipice of fascism and authoritarianism and toward the aspiration that is the American Dream – a dream so deftly defined by Thomas Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence. Then as it is now, we should expect resistance as tyrants do not surrender easily or fight fairly. This will be no easy task and I will require all of your assistance and then some if we are to stand a chance a reaching the ideals of the American Dream. This is an ensemble piece, not a solo performance.
I often say that one lives to be of service but I do not mean the self-service of greed or self-aggrandizement. I do not seek the title of Senator or Representative or any title more grand than simply an American. An American which perhaps Jefferson or my grandfather would have been pleased to call brother. One who defends the ideal before gratifying the self. Illusions about the value of self that are destructive and trample upon the value of us all. A crime in itself as we are all truly created equal.
We’ve seen the path which that self-service leads to and it is dark and treacherous and inhumane and inequitable. I submit that those who think it is better to be feared than to be loved do not understand the true nature of what engenders respect. Respect which is the true foundation of just governance. Respect is not fear. Fear only creates fear and fear makes people do stupid things. It is a tool which evil men will use to make people act against their best interests and the best interests of our shared country. We should instead seek to create the best ideas, the most just and equitable society, the very portrait of a free and liberated people who put ideals above worshiping any individual.
To that end, I will never seek public office. Already I am stand upon enough shoulders. I willingly offer mine upon which others can stand if they are up to the challenge of reclaiming our country, but I do not seek to be elevated myself beyond the role of perhaps a voice of conscience, a purveyor of ideas and ideals. If dreaming is required, please, let me welcome you to my dream – an American Dream of the American Dream. I offer it freely for all to share. Let this define my role in serving ideals of our Founding Fathers, the American people and the Constitutional Populist Party if anything is to become of this once and future great experiment, this land that is supposed to be of liberty and justice for all.
As ever, one lives to be of service.
Swarthmore mom–
“There is one issue that constantly divides republicans from democrats. It is the issue of reproductive freedom. ”
And how about tax cuts for the rich?
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Jill–
I may not have been following this thread as carefully as I should have.
You said: “I guess I’m a little frustrated. I’m hoping you’ll point out where I said the Tea Party movement didn’t have any racists in it because I said the opposite several times.”
You didn’t say that it didn’t have racists in it.
You also said: “The actual origin of the movement goes back to long before Obama became a public figure so the belief that it started to get rid of a black president is contrary to facts. (It’s great propaganda from the administration though.)”
I was attempting to make the point that many of the folks in the tea party movement wouldn’t be up in arms if someone like Bush–or another white man–was president. It’s not propaganda I’m listening to. I came to that conclusion on my own after listening to some of the protesters being questioned by reporters…after reading some of their protest signs…after seeing birthers at the protests.
**********
I would beg to differ with this statement though: “The tea party is a group of sincere people led by a group of insincere, powerful people.”
I DO believe–like you–that they are being used by folks like Dick Armey. The powerful people understand the mentality/mindset of many of the people involved with the tea party. The powerful folks didn’t create the mindset though–they’re just feeding and leading the beast.
On another subject: Many of Obama’s financial advisors are folks from the Clinton administration. Summers, Geithner, and Rubin are three that come to mind. I’d hazard a guess they’re just as bad as those from the Bush administartion though.
Hey. No pressure. 😀 😉
Not THE Miss Brunner?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miss_Brunner
… or a Turley
… or a Madison … or a Hamilton … or maybe, even, an Adams
More to come.
Awww. That’s the nicest thing anyone has said to me in a long time. I guess I need to get to work then.
Yep … somebody has to be a Jefferson
Maybe I should get to writing then?
Immigrants love the Constitution and many of them understand it far better than those whose roots have been planted in this soil for generations.
A “true secular interpretation of the Constitution” is just that.
If all one wants is to be represented as a “white protestant” then the RNC is the party to which one should belong.