True’s Miscellany for January 2014 (Part 2) Crime, Sex and Short Stories

The following are some thoughts on writing – hopefully not boring thoughts.  I’ve been working (and I use that term loosely) on some short stories.  I’m having difficulty focusing and I will tell you why.  Stories are meant to be read by someone, but the possibility of being formally published is remote.  It’s frustrating.  As some of you might know, I had – still do actually – a sister blog where I had posted some of my stories.  Then I was informed by those close to me that some of the stories bordered on pornography, so I deleted them.  It was not my intention to write pornography – whatever that is – but law enforcement and crime often, in reality, can be a pretty dirty business.  So, the quandary was and is, ‘how do I write about what I’ve seen, heard and experienced while leaving out the seamy side?’

Here’s are some examples:

I once talked with a FBI Agent who was working “kiddy porn.”  First off, I think that is an awful way to phrase a terrible crime – but it is the way that cops often describe it.  He told me that what he observed on a typical day was so perverted and disgusting that he had to shower as soon as he got home and try and forget, often with little or no success, his day’s work.  He said the burn-out on that squad was high; and that many agents were haunted by those images for years, even a lifetime.

It almost makes me laugh to watch some of those CSI programs.  One episode I remember, the investigator knelt in the midst of a rather gruesome murder scene.  I suppose they were trying to depict deep contemplation and a subsequent eureka moment.  In reality, murder and death scenes, suicides are often the worst, are something you don’t want to kneel in, spend much time in deep thinking, nor do you want to breathe.  The smell at times is not for weak stomachs.  The visual will give you nightmares.  On the Sheriff’s Office, we would often bring cigars to smoke.  If the smell of death and decomposition didn’t make you sick, the cigar certainly would.  And, to vomit just wasn’t something you’d want to do (not professional).  Nonetheless, the cigar smoke did seem to disguise the stench.  Except, I must add, the smell of death stayed in your cloths and seemed to become lodged in your nostrils.  After all, that is what odor really is – tiny particles floating in the air.  One other comment, autopsies are nearly as bad – especially when they saw the skull open.

I once attended a seminar on serial killers.  Ted Bundy was the principal topic.  He was executed in Florida (1/24/89) for various murders.  And, was alleged to be responsible for more than thirty murders of young women.  He was attempting to cheat the executioner by offering, periodically, to confess to and describe the murder of particular young women – including what he did and how he subsequently disposed of the body.  This was designed to give some sort of closure to parents of missing women.  His ploy did work for a while and allowed him to live a bit longer.  During the seminar for law enforcement types which I attended, one of Bundy’s taped confessions was played.  It was, I would briefly describe as, simply horrible.

Now, these are not the types of subjects that I want to spend a lot of time thinking about.  But, they are part of police work.  Some might say why don’t you write uplifting, positive, intriguing stories; but skip the graphic details?  I’m not sure I can – always.  It’s just not reality.

So my options, I suppose, are to modify stories in a way that my future grandchildren can read them.  Or, file the stories away – for what purpose I am not sure.

I did find that Google will attach a ‘warning,’ ‘adult content,’ for anyone visiting my short story blog.  I guess that’s a possibility too.

True Nelson

True’s Miscellany for January 2014 / Marijuana

It’s been awhile since my last post.  Well, I’ve been a little under the weather – although I hate to admit it.  The weather in Portland has been mostly mild (and that’s an understatement) compared to the Midwest and East Coast.  Nonetheless, I seem to have developed a very persistent cough that just doesn’t want to go away, or allow me a good night’s sleep.  No, I don’t smoke cigarettes or marijuana.

Speaking of marijuana, the President has made some interesting, if somewhat confusing, comments about the legalization of marijuana in Colorado and Washington.  Apparently, he supports the legalization of MJ in said states, but has also added a caveat.  If, for example, marijuana is harmless for responsible adults, why not a small amount of cocaine or methamphetamine?  I think this is a rhetorical question on his part and that he is not necessarily endorsing such a move; but he also seems to have articulated some potential risks down the road.  This issue is complicated.  I understand that.

Oregon, under its referendum process, is nearing a vote on the legalization of marijuana.  I kind of hope that Oregon voters, understanding the uncertainty of legalized marijuana and the resulting social construct, will vote the measure down.  I’m concerned about our young people.  Why don’t we let Washington experiment with their children before Oregon follows suit?

Now, some of you will be offended.  After all, some of you will claim marijuana is harmless, no worse than alcohol.  Alright, but is it OK if I disagree?  Such a statement of marijuana’s harmlessness is little more than ‘bumper sticker’ science.  Secondly, they will say that marijuana will not be sold to minors.  OK, and yes that same restriction has worked for alcohol really well, right?  No, once marijuana is legalized into the mainstream and readily available, kids will get it – big time.  Oh, you say, they already get it.  Yes, and they get heroin too.  Is that justification for legalizing that drug?  No, of course not.

I hope that Oregon voters wake-up and act like grownups.  Yes, I agree that an adult caught with a minimal amount of marijuana should be treated appropriately – a reasonable fine would seem adequate.  But, let’s not push it in the public’s face.  Let’s not imply to our children that any mind altering substance is OK.  As we all know, alcohol has caused untold misery.  But, we’ve learned to live with it, understand it, and theoretically help those who abuse it, with some success.  Marijuana is a social uncertainty.  Let’s see how it works out in Washington.  Oregonians, let’s wait a few years.

True Nelson

Law Enforcement / Profiling and Prejudice (Part 2)

Whether or not profiling is considered good or bad depends on how it is used.  Racial profiling has been defined by the Supreme Court as unconstitutional based on the ‘equal protection’ clause.  This means that law enforcement stopping someone for no other reason than their race is illegal – as it should be.

 

Regarding racial profiling some evidence has been developed based on statistics provided by police officers that it does exist, at least it would appear so to some.  Law enforcement personnel are required to note in their reports the race of the individual stopped or cited for traffic violations.  What does this mean?  Well, based on the percentage of a certain racial minority in a given jurisdiction, it appears that African Americans and Hispanics are stopped and/or cited more than Caucasians.  The percentage difference is not great, but is statistically significant.

What is never adequately explained in the research are the extenuating circumstances that led up to the traffic stop.  Did the police officer know prior to initiating the stop that the driver or passengers in a vehicle were minorities?  Are there certain cultural differences that are suspicious, but not necessarily criminal, that might trigger a police response?  Such as inordinately loud music on the car radio, strange modifications to vehicles like blacked out windows or graffiti, unusual driving patterns, drivers exchanging words or gestures with pedestrians, vehicle cruising slowly through a residential neighborhood at night and I could continue.

However, as they say ‘statistics can lie’ and often do when a particular group with a vested interest applies statistics.  But, of course, the elephant in the room that no one wishes to mention is that percentage-wise more crimes are committed by certain minority groups.

When I say minority groups, I mean this in the wider sense and I’m not necessarily saying people of color.  Young men and teenagers might be considered a minority group.  Caucasians within a certain ethnic group or with negative associations might be considered a minority.  Police know and understand these patterns and tend to act accordingly.

Behavioral profiling in criminal cases, although not new, is becoming a major trend in police agencies, including the FBI.  It is one more tool used to identify criminal suspects, particularly in the areas of ‘crime against person,’ such as sexual assault and murder.

Criminal profiling is as old as police work.  Many experienced police investigators use criminal profiling and call it intuition or instinct.  That is pretty much what the FBI’s Behavioral Science Unit does except they have taken profiling to another level by using quantitative analysis, massive data and computers.  Does the BSU generally provide more accurate analysis or opinions than an experienced police investigator?  Maybe, but not always.  Much of what the BSU provides would be considered ‘common sense’ by a very experienced investigator.

There is nothing particularly mysterious about profiling.  We all do it every day as we pass people on the street or observe them in the check-out line.  It is a skill we all learn early on in life.  If you didn’t possess that skill, you would be a sorry individual indeed – bungling through life, having people continually take advantage of you, and would probably not survive to old age.  Do I exaggerate?  I don’t think so.  Do we sometimes make mistakes?  Yes.

True Nelson

Law Enforcement / Profiling and Prejudice

I’d like to discuss social bias, prejudice, bigotry; all the usual suspects that make up who we are and how we treat others.

I was reading an article in the Scientific American magazine (January 2014) about the unconscious mind and how it controls human behavior.  It would seem that the goal of overcoming prejudice against various minority groups is a nearly impossible goal for the majority of us.

One of their experiments found that “many people who say they have a positive attitude toward minority groups are astounded when social scientists reveal contradictions (in that belief) using a simple test.”

My first reservation about this simple test is that the word ‘social’ should never be considered an appropriate descriptive modifier for ‘scientist.’  But, that’s just a pet peeve of mine.  However, I should point out that my major in college was Social Sciences – very interesting, but not a subject area that one would normally describe as science.  I found that sociology and psychology were far easier than zoology.

The test in question involved two buttons and a computer screen.  The left button to be pressed indicated either ‘good or white.’  The right button to be pressed indicated either ‘bad or black.’  Various pictures were shown to include puppies, spiders, snakes, kittens and a series of faces of different races.

The same pictures, or variations thereof, were later shown to the same group of test takers.  However, the buttons were changed:  left button indicated good or black, right button indicated either bad or white.  Latent prejudice among the test-takers was proven / at least indicated because the test-takers took longer to press the appropriate button – apparently indicating they had more difficulty associating black with good.

The article did not reflect whether or not minority individuals fared better on this test than Caucasians.  Furthermore, it did not indicate that all children grow-up with a notion that white is generally and intrinsically good, versus black which is generally and intrinsically bad.  Example:  good cowboys tend to wear white and bad cowboys usually are dressed in black, good witches are white and bad witches are black, when mourning people traditionally wear black, etc.  Now, some might jump-in with ‘yes, that’s true and children are programed from a very early age.’  OK, perhaps, but that concept of white / good, black / bad goes back centuries.  And, the association was usually not associated with race.

I’m sorry, but I hate this kind of research.  It does no good, draws lines apparently based in science, and makes one feel hopeless that things will ever change.

Which brings me to another related subject, law enforcement profiling:  good or bad.

To be continued…

True Nelson

Robert Levinson / Ex-FBI / Captive of the Iranians

I’ve been thinking about Robert Levinson.  He is the retired FBI Agent who disappeared in 2007 on the Iranian Island of Kish.

Levinson, who was operating as a private investigator, was initially described, by government officials and his family, as investigating cigarette smuggling.  He was to meet with a potential 'source' of information on Kish.

Kish Island is located approximately 12 miles from the Iranian mainland and falls within the territorial jurisdiction of Iran.  It is considered to be a rather attractive tourist destination.  And, is relatively free-wheeling compared to mainland Iran.  The island is a money maker for Iran – hence the relaxation of the strict standards that ordinarily apply to Iranian citizens and visitors to their country.  Make no mistake, however, it is part of Iran - a country that cares little for Americans, particularly those Americans connected with American intelligence agencies.

As we now know, or at least what has been reported as accurate, Levinson was working as a contractor for the CIA.  Apparently, Levinson had been recruited by certain CIA Analysts, and was collecting information on the CIA’s behalf.  What is concerning is that his actions were not appropriate under CIA guidelines, and were apparently hidden from higher-ups in the CIA bureaucracy.  I tend not to believe that, but that is the official story – at least for now.  Several CIA employees were fired or disciplined.  All the fired employees seemed to immediately land on their feet – obtaining other government positions outside the CIA.

Regarding Levinson, personally, he was from reports within the Bureau, very well liked, and an outstanding Agent.  He had a wife and seven children.  Post retirement, he was trying to make extra money as a PI to help his seven children through college.

The CIA was paying him very well on a contractual basis.  His last contract with the CIA was worth $120,000.  Interestingly, the CIA gave Levinson’s family a $2.5 million annuity to keep, early on, Levinson’s actual purpose in going to Kish a secret.  So, Levinson’s family will be taken care of financially.  This is, as we all understand, small comfort to the family.

Should Levinson have gone to Kish?  Well, in retrospect, we all know the answer to that.  In this day and age, all any foreign government needs to do is run a basic Google search on an individual’s name; and, bingo, they know Levinson was a retired Agent.  That would be enough to pick him up and find out what he was really doing in Iran.  Under questioning, he would quickly reveal his purpose.  FBI Agents are not trained to thwart intense interrogation techniques.  Furthermore, the more professional CIA operatives apparently did not know Levinson was even in the region – and, of course, he had no backup.  He probably was not even missed for several days.

On a personal note, it’s been many years since I was an Agent; but I would not accept an assignment or attempt to ‘vacation’ in any number of present-day countries; particularly Iran and North Korea.  To voluntarily go there, as far as I’m concerned would be fool-hardy, if not downright stupid.  I assume that the FBI advises their current Agents of that; just as I was advised not to have FBI credentials in my possession if an airplane on which I was traveling was ever hijacked to Cuba.  That was the advice given in the ‘70’s.  As a supervisor once told me, “eat your credentials if you have to.”

I want to be very clear here.  I have deep sympathy for Levinson’s family.  In a perfect world, the Iranians would now have all the information they need; and would return Levinson if and when the US had admitted their error – which the CIA has done – sort of.  My advice to the President is that he has to stop playing Mr. Nice Guy.  Someone in the CIA high-up needs to be fired.  Perhaps, it should be the Director.  The President’s position should be, ‘I don’t care if you didn’t know.  It’s your job to know.  I want your resignation.’

But, as we are all discovering, President Obama couldn’t really do that.  If he had such staunch principals, he would have to also resign.

And, so it goes.  Robert Levinson may not be alive.  Nonetheless, the FBI is offering $1 million for his return.  It’s been approximately three years since his family has heard anything.  They continue to keep his name before the public; but hope is dimming.  Of course, the CIA and our government continues to play footsie.  It’s their nature.

True Nelson

Suicide Bombers' Motivation / The Myth of Martyrdom

I just finished a book that I’d like to recommend to my readers.  The book is The Myth of Martyrdom by Adam Lankford.  It is a thoroughly researched book on “suicide bombers, rampage shooters and other self-destructive killers.”  Lankford is a Criminal Justice professor at The University of Alabama.

What his research has documented would seem to be intuitive to the average American citizen.  However, Lankford has taken the time and made the effort to bring the evidence to the table – interesting.

Many have erroneously compared the courage or motivations of suicide bombers and mass killers with war heroes; that suicide bombers are the equivalent of the soldier that throws himself on a grenade to protect his comrades.  Far from it.  However, this is a fiction promoted by many liberal scholars, prominent apologists, as well as radical Islamists.

In fact, it is the radical handlers who use troubled individuals to do their unholy work.  Suicide bombers, according to Lankford’s research, demonstrate little courage in their actions, are almost always deeply depressed, isolated and have previously indicated suicidal tendencies.

In the Muslim faith, suicide is considered a ‘mortal sin’ – if that is the appropriate designation.  However, potential candidates who volunteer for bombing attacks are convinced by handlers that strapping explosives to their bodies and detonating the blast in some public place is a final-exit technicality, or loophole, that will allow them to escape a hellish afterlife.  The frosting on the cake is that they will be considered a martyr – at least in some circles.

As Lankford stated:  “Today, there are more than ninety million people around the world who believe that suicide bombings are often or sometimes justified.  Within the United States, more than 200,000 people share the exact same view.”

There must be tens of thousands of potential mass killers available for the proper grooming (manipulation).  A sobering thought, don't you think?

True Nelson

Dave’s Killer Bread Founder is back in the Slammer / Dave Dahl / Postscript

I visited ‘Dave’s Killer Bread’ bakery a couple of days back, and it appeared that it was business as usual.  I, too, bought some bread.

Later, I talked to a few people about how they felt about Dave’s scrap with the Washington County Sheriff’s deputies and most seemed rather blasé about the subject.  Oh, they considered it kind of serious, but no reason to stop buying his bread.  Most appeared to want to give Dave the benefit of the doubt.  One person said, ‘Well, if the CEO of Safeway had done the same thing, would you stop going to Safeway?’  My answer was, ‘No, I guess that wouldn’t stop me from going to Safeway – although, I don’t really go to Safeway that often; but that I get the point.’

But, the more I thought about it, the more I felt that the comparison of Safeway to Dave’s Killer Bread was something of a stretch.  Dave Dahl is an iconic figure with a compelling story who is tied closely to his product.  The CEO of Safeway, whoever that might be, is not.

Then my thought process was, if the public was not adequately concerned enough about Dave’s conduct to boycott or stop buying his product, what would it take?

What we know about Dave’s manic, out-of-control behavior is minimal – as far as his mental state or the causative factors are concerned.  We do know that, in the process, he wrecked two Sheriff’s patrol vehicles and injured three deputies.  Furthermore, he led them on a helter-skelter chase that theoretically endangered others in the public.

So, my question is what would it take?  Most would offer that there is no good answer.  It depends.  Yes, I know; but what is the proper answer for the typical, honest, hard-working Joe.  When would he or she say Dave’s conduct is bad enough that I will no longer buy a product with which he is so closely identified?

What if, instead of the above scenario, there was some other scenario?  He ran down and injured a young boy riding his bike.  He wrecked the car of a wounded veteran?  He publicly burned the American Flag?  He used words that were abusive towards minorities or gays?  He spit on one of his employees?  He beat-up his wife (actually I don’t know if he has a wife)?

I guess everyone has their priorities, their hot-button.  I am of the opinion that cops and deputies have a pretty rough job; a job that most in the public would not care to do, even be afraid to do.  I am of the opinion that when you harm someone in law enforcement it is very serious; and the consequences should also be serious.

Will the ‘system’ treat it seriously?  I don’t think so.  Will we ever know what precipitated Dave ‘wild ride’?  No, I don’t think we’ll get the whole story?  Will this all blow over and will it be business as usual at Dave’s Bakery?  Yes, I think that may very well be the case.  Will Dave be involved in something similar down the road, reminiscent of his current brush with the law?  I hope not, but I am doubtful.

True Nelson

Dave's Killer Bread Founder is back in the Slammer / Dave Dahl / Part 2

It often seems, after publishing a blog post, I have some additional thoughts, even second thoughts, about what I said.

A couple of additional comments are in order:

First, I think Dave Dahl’s bail was way too low, if the reported circumstances are accurate.  Bail was originally set at $250,000; but, subsequently, reduced to $20,000.  The $20,000 figure is chump change to Dahl, who kicked in a mere $2000 (10%) with a bail bondsman picking up the rest. The theory behind bail is that the judge should set a sum that would insure, within reason, a subsequent appearance by the defendant in court.  It’s meant to hurt a little – give the defendant some serious consequences if he decides to skip.  As far as Dahl is concerned, $20,000 won’t cut it.  He probably did more than $20,000 dollars in damage to the patrol cars and the required medical treatment for our deputies.

Furthermore, Dahl endangered lives as he attempted to escape capture.  Additionally, he is an x-felon – a wealthy one at that.  I’m not sure, but he might still be on parole status.  The judge should have kept the bail high to emphasize the serious nature of his offense; and the judge should have made it clear to Dahl that he (Judge Eric Butterfield) considered the matter serious – which he did not.

Steve Houze, Dahl’s attorney, stated to the judge that Dahl’s behavior was “clearly a mental health issue.”  My question would be; precipitated by what?  I think most of us could make a pretty good guess.  Houze even said that Dahl’s condition was “extremely fragile.”  Does anyone honestly buy that?  This guy survived fifteen years in the penitentiary.  Come on Steve, you make the guy sound like he’s Miss Prim.  I bet the boys in the joint didn’t consider him ‘fragile.’  Attorneys have such a way with words, don’t they?

True Nelson

Dave's Killer Bread Founder is back in the Slammer / Dave Dahl

I guess that I wasn’t really surprised.  The recidivism for x-cons, like Dave, is extremely high.

For those who haven’t heard, but are nonetheless familiar with ‘Dave’s Killer Bread;’ Dave Dahl, x-con, and co-founder of the aforementioned bread is in the slammer once again, at least temporarily.  He posted $20,000 bond and was released Friday.

Thursday night, Dahl was involved in some sort of manic episode, slamming his Cadillac Escalade into two Washington County Sheriff’s Office patrol vehicles and injuring three deputies.  The deputies were pursuing Dahl due to his reported dangerous, out-of-control and erratic behavior.  No, Dave didn’t kill anyone – at least this time.

Dahl had used his personal story of x-con goes straight and makes good as a selling point for his various bread products.  Incidentally, it’s very good bread.  I eat it on a regular basis.

Dahl served fifteen years in prison for illegal drugs and associated criminal activity.  When last released from prison, he joined his family business, became very successful on his own, and seemed to epitomize the redemption story of bad to good.  A story that is extremely rare particularly involving success at his level.  The public bought it and supported him and his product.

Whether or not we are seeing the end of Dave or his bread remains to be seen.  Information has not been released as to whether or not his ‘episode’ was a mental breakdown or drug related.  If it’s the latter, that will not bode well for the continued success of his iconic bread.  Dave’s Killer Bread has outside investors that may not want to continue with Dave as their front man.  And, I can’t blame them for that.

If Dave had a mental breakdown, I wish him well; and hope he gets the proper medical help.  If Dave was flying on drugs and endangering the lives of others, the company has a real problem.  The whole product theme and the product itself has just been thrown in the dumpster.

Dave Dahl has a very good lawyer, Stephen Houze.  The other defense attorneys in the Portland area must be getting very envious.  Steve seems to get all the high-rollers that get in trouble.

Will I continue to buy the bread?  Yes, I suppose.  However, Dave’s image and story are due for retirement.  Don’t you think?

What about you readers?  Any thoughts?

True Nelson

"The US Government has a Problem with Dead People" (Postscript and Apology)

Someone close to me, after reading the preceding blog post, felt I appeared a little cold-hearted.  I don’t really consider myself as that; but, perhaps, my writing sometimes gives that impression.

“The questionable comment was as follows:  “Such a system would instantly include all the tax freeloaders like those ‘working under the table,’ drug dealers and others involved in criminal activities, as well as the reported 50% of American citizens who currently do not pay any income taxes.”  (Part of sentence underlined for emphasis.)

Now, I do understand that many Americans live near the poverty level through no fault of their own.  Life sometimes can be very unfair – as we all know.  To those who honestly struggle to get by day to day, I am truly sorry.  I should not have included those good people in the same sentence with ‘drug dealers’ and those ‘working under the table.’

However, my post was not intended to describe an all-inclusive, fair tax system.  My post was designed to highlight the reasons for the existing fraud and the obvious incentives for fraud in the present tax system.  Even the act of exempting 50% of the population from paying federal income tax has created another incentive – the incentive to keep reported income and any possible documentable income below a certain amount.  Are all of the 50% of Americans who do not pay federal income tax cheating?  No, of course not.  Are some of them, even many of them cheating?  Yes.

True Nelson

"The US Government has a Problem with Dead People" (Part 2)

There is an accepted premise in security circles, particularly attributable to the workplace but may be applicable here, that 10% of people are inherently dishonest and will steal from you regardless of security measures in place, 10% of people are inherently honest and will not steal from you under any circumstances, but the remaining 80% are prepared to go along with the trend or follow the herd.  In other words, most people will start to feel that theft is acceptable under some circumstances if those in management or supervisory positions appear to not particularly care one way or another.  Although this concept may seem like some sort of farcical generality, it is actually based on scientific research.  And, I think it is applicable to many of the programs that are currently administered by the federal government.

Every new administration talks the good talk about waste, fraud and misappropriation, but they never seem to do anything about it.  The only possible explanation is that, other than rhetorically speaking, they really don’t care that much about trying to solve the problem.  Why?  Perhaps any real corrective measures would be construed as politically insensitive, lead to adverse publicity and ultimately cost votes.  That said, I do think that the priorities of the typical politician are mostly about promoting themselves.  If one had a personality that did not fit within those egocentric parameters, it is doubtful that said individual would ever enter politics in the first place – and, if they did, they probably wouldn’t last long.  So, the waste, fraud and misappropriation continues.

I would be willing to bet that most people have hedged, misrepresented, or lied on their federal and state tax return.  Some even talk freely about how they have earned money under the table and didn’t report it or have paid someone in cash knowing that the money would never be reported as income by the recipient.  Some accept social services while misrepresenting their actual income.  Others, those that can afford it, hire attorneys and accountants to search for arcane loop holes in the tax code; loop holes that are not quite illegal, but certainly circumvent the code’s purported intent for fairness.

Does the government care?  It doesn’t seem to.  Do you feel like something of a sucker if you try to play by the rules?  Well, no need to; go ahead and join the herd.  You shouldn’t have to feel like a sucker.  Our tax system is so complicated, convoluted and polluted that there is no reason to even bother attempting to fully comply.  The income tax system doesn’t work and the federal government knows it.  And, for the most part, the public accepts it and its many opportunities to cheat.

Oh, right, what about my suggestions for the Social Security Administration:

The Social Security Administration has a database for deceased persons already in place, but they claim it is not entirely accurate.  Fix it.  We do not live in a Third World country – at least not so far.  People do not generally pass-on anonymously.  If one does, he or she should be checked through the SSA database.  How about getting a thumb print from everyone who signs-up for Social Security, Medicaid or Medicare?  No thumb print, no federal money.  Or, could it be said that thumb prints discriminate against minorities and the poor – an invasion of privacy?  No, not really – but it will / does discriminate against those intent on cheating the system.

How about those receiving federal payments being required to certify annually that they are still entitled to benefits, and that the residence and banking information is accurate.  If the SSA can’t contact the recipient through normal channels, stop sending money to a bank account – or require the bank to contact the recipient.  Compliance with the law shouldn’t be that difficult.  If recipients have the where-with-all to sign up for public benefits, they should certainly have the where-with-all to comply with certain requirements for continued payments.

How about prosecuting those that commit fraud?  I suppose it goes without saying that enforcement would require a good-faith effort to investigate potential fraud?  But, as we know, the relevant federal agencies always cite lack of resources for investigative efforts while they squander hundreds of millions of the taxpayers’ dollars.  Although the Fahrenthold article states the amount of theft from the government in dollars, he fails to note how many prosecutions resulted.  I would be willing to bet that the number of arrests and convictions is very small.  If the SSA, can’t handle the investigations (odd, don’t you think, considering the thousands of employees within their organization), how about turning it over to a private contractor to prepare preliminary investigations of wrong-doing?  Let the contractor be paid based on projected savings and recoveries.

I could go on, but I will jump to the bottom line.  Our governments, state and federal, have almost unlimited resources.  Self-serving politicians buy votes by doling out money to various voting blocks.  When the tax dollars run short, politicians simply ask for or demand more tax revenue citing potential, largely fabricated, dire circumstances.  Honest citizens, hardworking citizens get ‘hosed’ in the process.  It is as simple as that.

In my opinion to minimize fraud, in addition to the above:

Greatly reduce or eliminate the current corporate tax, with all the associated, phony tax exemptions now used by corporations.  Corporations do not pay taxes.  People pay taxes.  If a corporation pays a tax, it must pass it on to the consumer, or go out of business.  The public should understand that corporate taxes are a hidden tax on the uninformed consumer.

Discontinue income tax reporting for those earning less than $1 million per year.  Go to a national ‘value added tax,’ which is a consumer tax similar to a sales tax.  If you buy something you pay a tax.  If you want to save your money for retirement, your kids’ education, etc., you don’t pay any taxes on those dollars.  You can just stash your money or invest it.  Necessities, like food, would be exempt from taxation.  Such a system would instantly include all the tax freeloaders like those ‘working under the table,’ drug dealers and others involved in criminal activities, as well as the reported 50% of American citizens who currently do not pay any income taxes.

I know this is overly simplistic; but my point is we need a fair, transparent tax system with easy compliance and required enforcement - but does, nonetheless, make it difficult to cheat.

Let’s all join the 10% of inherently honest people.

True Nelson

"The US Government has a Problem with Dead People"

I liked David Fahrenthold’s (Washington Post) opening sentences to his recent article.  “The US Government has a problem with dead people.  For one thing, it pays them way too much.”

That has to be one of the classic understatements that I’ve heard recently.  He goes on to state that:

• The Social Security Administration, in the past few years, paid $133 million to beneficiaries no longer among the living.
• The federal employee retirement system paid more than $400 million to former retirees who were dead.
• And, a federal aid program paid approximately $4 million in federal money to pay heating and air-conditioning bills for more than 11,000 dead people.

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Apparently, our federal government is incapable of determining who died and when.  Personally, I don’t buy it.  I think that, in their efforts to dole out money, where the money goes and whether the money is appropriately allocated is really a rather low priority.  After all, the government is printing money night and day to ‘stimulate the economy’; and they must disseminate it somehow.

Some of you might say, True, you know nothing about politics and national economics or the Social Security Administration – just put a sock in it.

You might be correct, but I do know something about fraud, embezzlement and theft, and the motivations there of.  And, I do know something about the facilitation of fraud, embezzlement and theft.  And, I do know that if the above statistics are accurate, the federal agencies indicated are either grossly incompetent or a committed facilitator of fraud and theft.

Furthermore, isn’t it ironic that the federal government is in the process of assuming control of our healthcare when they apparently can’t seem to handle the social services that they already control?  Fraudulent healthcare claims will be infinitely more complex than simply verifying that someone passed-away.

Why, you may ask, would said federal agencies facilitate theft?  Well, let me ask you this.  The Social Security Administration has approximately 65,000 employees with multiple offices in every state.  Doesn’t it seem logical that they could dedicate say 50 or 100 employees, even 200 employees, to establish a database of people who have died – if the SSA decided that they actually wanted to do that?  Presumably, the SSA already has a database of all those who are receiving federal benefits.  Can’t they figure any way to periodically check to see if recipients of social services are still alive; in this day and age with all the technology available?  Can’t they cross-check data with other agencies like the IRS; and, if not, why not?  What about state records?  Certainly the states keep track of bodies left here and there?  The states even make an effort to identify them?  At least I thought they did.

What about getting some help from the NSA?  (Question meant as sarcasm - for those who thought I might be serious.)

Well, I have some simple suggestions for the SSA and other federal agencies.  But no doubt it will fall on deaf ears.

To be continued…

True Nelson