The British Brexit vote was ADVISORY. This means that the House of Commons still has to pass a bill stating that Britain will leave the European Union.
We have democracies in order to have momentous and complex decisions made by people who have carefully studied the pros and cons, and who then vote in the manner that they believe will be best for their country.
I think it has become pretty clear that Brexit is not good for Britain.
The Pro-Brexit leaders are now taking back some of the promises they made to get people to vote for exit. Some towns were unclear about how the European Union was providing them with subsidies. And the MARKETS. The markets HATE the idea of Brexit.
I do not know what Britain will do now. Personally, I think the House of Commons needs to vote to stay in the European Union.
The Brexit vote is going to cause chaos in the markets for quite some time. The rich will get richer and the poor will get poorer. The middle class needs to hold on to their investments. Now is not a time for amateurs to be in the market.
Monday, June 27, 2016
Wednesday, June 22, 2016
MY INVISIBLE MOTORCYCLE
"You should always ride your motorcycle as if you were invisible to everyone driving a car," said my U. S. Marine motorcycle riding instructor. How did I get a Marine instructor, you ask?
I decided to sell my Super Beetle and buy a motorcycle so that I would have the money to open a private law practice in Tucson, Arizona. A doctor friend help me buy a used 350cc Honda. He was so appalled at my lack of motorcycle riding skills that he suggested I take a course on how to ride.
"The best course in the area is taught by the US Marines," he told me. So I called the US Marines and asked if I could take their course. I honestly do not think any marines actually learned anything the day I took the course. They all thought it too much fun to teach the lady lawyer how to ride. But I did learn how to ride. I still have the US Marine Motorcycle Course Graduate Certificate they gave me.
I ALWAYS rode as if I was invisible, even after I taught my 75 pound Lab mix dog how to ride behind me.
Tasha was so sad that she could no longer ride with me that I built a wooden platform that attached to the back of my bike to support her while we rode together. The first time she rode, I patted the seat of the bike, and she hopped right on. She balanced and leaned into the curves better than any human passenger.
I am not real certain that she and I were still invisible, but we did have fun. Now days, it would probably be considered doggy endangerment. Sigh.
All of you can make the world a safer place by training yourselves to LOOK for bikes, both human powered and motor powered. If you can not be aware of bikes, how can you be aware of children?
I decided to sell my Super Beetle and buy a motorcycle so that I would have the money to open a private law practice in Tucson, Arizona. A doctor friend help me buy a used 350cc Honda. He was so appalled at my lack of motorcycle riding skills that he suggested I take a course on how to ride.
"The best course in the area is taught by the US Marines," he told me. So I called the US Marines and asked if I could take their course. I honestly do not think any marines actually learned anything the day I took the course. They all thought it too much fun to teach the lady lawyer how to ride. But I did learn how to ride. I still have the US Marine Motorcycle Course Graduate Certificate they gave me.
I ALWAYS rode as if I was invisible, even after I taught my 75 pound Lab mix dog how to ride behind me.
Tasha was so sad that she could no longer ride with me that I built a wooden platform that attached to the back of my bike to support her while we rode together. The first time she rode, I patted the seat of the bike, and she hopped right on. She balanced and leaned into the curves better than any human passenger.
I am not real certain that she and I were still invisible, but we did have fun. Now days, it would probably be considered doggy endangerment. Sigh.
All of you can make the world a safer place by training yourselves to LOOK for bikes, both human powered and motor powered. If you can not be aware of bikes, how can you be aware of children?
Friday, June 17, 2016
BREXIT - WHY IS IMPORTANT
From across the seas, I worry that the Brexit proponents want to win so badly that they are using fear and hate.
As a US citizen, I am used to watching the use of fear and hate in order to win elections. Often, using fear and hate leads to a crazy citizen turning into a violent citizen. Britain has lost an amazing woman working for the common good, shot by someone who believed in hatred.
In the Robin Hood story, Robin is a Saxon, a hero for standing up to the invading Normans. But earlier, the Saxons were the bad guys, burning and looting coastal England. The many cultures of the British Islands is one of the reasons for the success of the British Islands.
If Britain stays in the EU, they keep the pound and their passports, and free emergency health care wherever they travel in the EU.
The Moscow Times is cheering the prospect of a Brexit. Russians are hoping that real estate in London will tank*, so they can invest ill gotten monies while prices are low. More importantly, Russia believes that an EU without Britain is a weaker EU. Russia is committed to exploiting weakness in neighboring countries.
I think California has become a beacon to the world. Everyone dreams of living in California (usually in a beach hut). The truth is many of our beaches have really cold water, and life in California can be really hard. But we welcome everyone, trying our best to treat everyone equal. For many, for years, California was one of the few places where people could find almost unconditional acceptance. I believe this is why California is doing well financially.
I believe Britain is doing well financially for the same reason that California is doing well.
To stay or leave is Britain's choice. Please do not make this choice because of fear and/or hate.
* When an investment "tanks", it is an investment that has rapidly lost value.
As a US citizen, I am used to watching the use of fear and hate in order to win elections. Often, using fear and hate leads to a crazy citizen turning into a violent citizen. Britain has lost an amazing woman working for the common good, shot by someone who believed in hatred.
In the Robin Hood story, Robin is a Saxon, a hero for standing up to the invading Normans. But earlier, the Saxons were the bad guys, burning and looting coastal England. The many cultures of the British Islands is one of the reasons for the success of the British Islands.
If Britain stays in the EU, they keep the pound and their passports, and free emergency health care wherever they travel in the EU.
The Moscow Times is cheering the prospect of a Brexit. Russians are hoping that real estate in London will tank*, so they can invest ill gotten monies while prices are low. More importantly, Russia believes that an EU without Britain is a weaker EU. Russia is committed to exploiting weakness in neighboring countries.
I think California has become a beacon to the world. Everyone dreams of living in California (usually in a beach hut). The truth is many of our beaches have really cold water, and life in California can be really hard. But we welcome everyone, trying our best to treat everyone equal. For many, for years, California was one of the few places where people could find almost unconditional acceptance. I believe this is why California is doing well financially.
I believe Britain is doing well financially for the same reason that California is doing well.
To stay or leave is Britain's choice. Please do not make this choice because of fear and/or hate.
* When an investment "tanks", it is an investment that has rapidly lost value.
Monday, June 13, 2016
DEATHS IN A CULTURAL WAR
The deaths in a gay nightclub in Orlando were horrible, tragic, appalling. Words are not enough to describe how I feel.
I believe very strongly that each and every one of us are of equal importance in making our country and our world a vibrant home for us all.
It takes a really crazy person to kill people who are dancing in a club. It is almost impossible to stop a crazy person who decides to kill groups of unarmed people. This particular crazy person had been a security guard at a courthouse. It was easy for him to buy guns.
I also believe very strongly in freedom of speech. This belief means that I will not stop the hate radio that spews nasty words about gays, about women, about minorities, about Muslims.
But people can hold advertisers responsible for the deaths that result from such speech. This is done by not purchasing their products.
People who come to modernized countries from poor rural countries can have a hard time adjusting to their new country. Rather than hate them for their cultural conflicts, we need to teach them how our country offered them a safe place to live, because we believe in treating everyone equally. Parents can help by explaining that, in this new country, people have to follow new rules of living.
But prejudice against LGBTs is HUGE. It was not so long ago that the US was putting people in prison for homosexual acts.
The best way to fight back is to reopen the nightclub and PARTY ON. To close the nightclub is to allow the crazy person to win.
Israelis brought babies to eat in the restaurant where people had died the day before. Life goes on, they said. We win by living our lives. The French reopened the nightclub where a massacre took place.
DO NOT LET FEAR CONTROL YOUR ACTIONS!
I believe very strongly that each and every one of us are of equal importance in making our country and our world a vibrant home for us all.
It takes a really crazy person to kill people who are dancing in a club. It is almost impossible to stop a crazy person who decides to kill groups of unarmed people. This particular crazy person had been a security guard at a courthouse. It was easy for him to buy guns.
I also believe very strongly in freedom of speech. This belief means that I will not stop the hate radio that spews nasty words about gays, about women, about minorities, about Muslims.
But people can hold advertisers responsible for the deaths that result from such speech. This is done by not purchasing their products.
People who come to modernized countries from poor rural countries can have a hard time adjusting to their new country. Rather than hate them for their cultural conflicts, we need to teach them how our country offered them a safe place to live, because we believe in treating everyone equally. Parents can help by explaining that, in this new country, people have to follow new rules of living.
But prejudice against LGBTs is HUGE. It was not so long ago that the US was putting people in prison for homosexual acts.
The best way to fight back is to reopen the nightclub and PARTY ON. To close the nightclub is to allow the crazy person to win.
Israelis brought babies to eat in the restaurant where people had died the day before. Life goes on, they said. We win by living our lives. The French reopened the nightclub where a massacre took place.
DO NOT LET FEAR CONTROL YOUR ACTIONS!
Thursday, June 9, 2016
STANFORD RAPE
I know everybody is angry at the Judge in the Stanford rape case.
As a former defense attorney, I believe that judges should be more lenient in sentencing. I just want the leniency to apply to Black and Brown people as well.
Let me share with you the possible thinking of a judge.
Sentencing is done for punishment, to prevent further crimes, to show others what happens when they commit a similar crime, to keep dangerous criminals off the street, and to rehabilitate the criminal.
A young man with no criminal record is going to be extremely frightened regarding ANY jail time. Often, too much jail time just turns young men into lifetime criminals.
I thought that this particular young man had learned his lack of respect for women from his father. I am certain that the young man now understands that "20 minutes of action" can cause an entire lifetime of grief for both himself and for his victim.
I believe that this particular young man is unlikely to repeat his crime.
I think the total devastation of the young man's life is a real deterrent to other college males.
I am against the worst punishment he faces. A lifetime of registering as a sex offender will be a lifetime of not getting jobs, not getting education, and being unable to find a place to live. I believe that sex offenders should be able to get off the public list if they demonstrate years of living a responsible life, and if a psychologist determines that they are unlikely to reoffend.
I believe that the sentence was given in the hope that a promising young man will become rehabilitated, rather than become a lifetime criminal.
Studies show that a large percentage of campus sexual assault are perpetrated by the athletes. By isolating and idolizing athletes, we allow them to assume that they can treat women as women are treated in the HBO show about professional athletes. This has to stop. Any ideas on how to do that would be welcome.
As a former defense attorney, I believe that judges should be more lenient in sentencing. I just want the leniency to apply to Black and Brown people as well.
Let me share with you the possible thinking of a judge.
Sentencing is done for punishment, to prevent further crimes, to show others what happens when they commit a similar crime, to keep dangerous criminals off the street, and to rehabilitate the criminal.
A young man with no criminal record is going to be extremely frightened regarding ANY jail time. Often, too much jail time just turns young men into lifetime criminals.
I thought that this particular young man had learned his lack of respect for women from his father. I am certain that the young man now understands that "20 minutes of action" can cause an entire lifetime of grief for both himself and for his victim.
I believe that this particular young man is unlikely to repeat his crime.
I think the total devastation of the young man's life is a real deterrent to other college males.
I am against the worst punishment he faces. A lifetime of registering as a sex offender will be a lifetime of not getting jobs, not getting education, and being unable to find a place to live. I believe that sex offenders should be able to get off the public list if they demonstrate years of living a responsible life, and if a psychologist determines that they are unlikely to reoffend.
I believe that the sentence was given in the hope that a promising young man will become rehabilitated, rather than become a lifetime criminal.
Studies show that a large percentage of campus sexual assault are perpetrated by the athletes. By isolating and idolizing athletes, we allow them to assume that they can treat women as women are treated in the HBO show about professional athletes. This has to stop. Any ideas on how to do that would be welcome.
Monday, June 6, 2016
CALIFORNIA - VOTE TOMORROW
I am not going to tell you how to vote. Just VOTE!
I will make an exception if you vote in San Jose, California. Please vote for Measure C. It is on the back page of the last ballot, so you have to look for it. Disabled people deserve to have medical marijuana clinics that are easy to visit.
NO ONE will precisely mirror your political views. So pick the person who is the best fit for your political views. We have all seen what happens when you vote for pretty and entertaining.
If you do not vote at all, you take the risk that you will be represented by a person who will pass laws that you will really hate to obey.
SO VOTE!
I will make an exception if you vote in San Jose, California. Please vote for Measure C. It is on the back page of the last ballot, so you have to look for it. Disabled people deserve to have medical marijuana clinics that are easy to visit.
NO ONE will precisely mirror your political views. So pick the person who is the best fit for your political views. We have all seen what happens when you vote for pretty and entertaining.
If you do not vote at all, you take the risk that you will be represented by a person who will pass laws that you will really hate to obey.
SO VOTE!
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