Rep. Diane Watson Loves Cuba?

During a town hall held at the Ward African Methodist Episcopal Church this past Thursday, California Congressional Representative Diane Watson (CA) continued the standard rebuttal to critics of President Obama’s health care overhaul, charging them as “racist." She then offered her praise for both the communist Cuban socialized medical system and Dictator Fidel Castro; calling on her constituents to disregard what they may had heard in the past about the Communist dictator, and she referred to him as one of the brightest leaders she has ever met. What in the world is Representative Watson thinking? Her comments are often offhand and offensive. She is the reported the biggest liberal in Congress.

Thanks to KABC, there’s audio of Watson heaping praise on Castro, Guevara, and the Cuban health system at her town hall meeting last night — as well as injecting her usual racial poison into the health care debate. Here is a transcript of some of her rhetoric:

"And lemme tell ya, before you say “Oh, it’s a commu–”, you need to go down there and see what Fidel Castro put in place. And I want you to know, now, you can think whatever you want to about Fidel Castro, but he was one of the brightest leaders I have ever met. [APPLAUSE]

And you know, the Cuban revolution that kicked out the wealthy, Che Guevara did that, and then, after they took over, they went out among the population to find someone who could lead this new nation, and they found…well, just leave it there (laughs), an attorney by the name of Fidel Castro…"

In a measure of defense for the Cuban Health Care system, Secretary General of the United Nations Kofi Annan stated in 2000 that "Cuba should be the envy of many other nations" adding that achievements in social development are impressive given the size of its gross domestic product per capita. "Cuba demonstrates how much nations can do with the resources they have if they focus on the right priorities - health, education, and literacy."

One may find numerous other glowing reports of the success of socialized medicine in Cuba.

Here, however, are some faults in the Cuban Medical System:

1. The Canadian Medical Association Journal states, "In its population statistics, the Cuban government has hidden for the past 49 years the fact that 2 million Cubans have emigrated or have died as a result of political executions, wars fought overseas, unsafe emigration and poor health care for adults." ("Health Consequences of Cuba's Special Period") 2. Katharine Hirschfeld ("Re-examining the Cuban Health Care System," July 2007) reports criticizing the government is a crime in Cuba, and penalties are severe. She notes that "Formally eliciting critical narratives about health care would be viewed as a criminal act both for me as a researcher, and for people who spoke openly with me." 3. According to Hirschfeld the Cuban Ministry of Health (MINSAP) sets statistical targets that are viewed as production quotas. The most guarded is infant mortality rate. The doctor is pressured to abort the pregnancy whenever screening shows that quotas are in danger. Once a doctor decides to guard his quotas, patients have no right to refuse abortion. 4. Marxist "revolutionary" efforts have included such practices as "deliberate manipulation of health statistics, aggressive political intrusion into health care, decision-making, criminalizing dissent, and other forms of authoritarian policing of the health sector designed to insure health changes reflect the (often Utopian) predictions of Marxist theory." These practices are well documented for the former Soviet Union and China. 5. Cuban doctors defect to other countries because their salary in Cuba is only $15 per month. Therefore, many even prefer to work in different occupations, generally in the lucrative tourist industry (e.g. taxi drivers), where earnings could be 50 to 60 times more. (Katherine Hirschfeld. "Re-examining the Cuban Health Care System") 6. There is no right to privacy, patient's informed consent, or right to protest for malpractice in Cuba. The patient has no right to refuse the treatment, including for religious or ethical reasons. 7. Many of the medical facilities in Cuba are poor, offering buildings in poor state of repair and mostly outdated. 8. The Canadian newspaper National Post, based on interviews of Cubans, finds that in reality even the most common pharmaceutical items, such as Aspirin and antibiotics are conspicuously absent or only available on the black market. Surgeons lack basic supplies and must re-use latex gloves. Patients must buy their own sutures on the black market and provide bedsheets and food for extended hospital stays. (The Official Site of the Finley Medical Center) 9. Cubans often rely on sociolismo (eciprocal exchange of favors by individuals, usually relating to circumventing bureaucratic restrictions or obtaining) and corruption. (Sergio Díaz-Briquets, Jorge F. Pérez-López. Corruption in Cuba) 10. A recent 20/20 television report (John Stossel, September 7, 2007) addressed the quality of care available to Cubans by arguing that patient neglect was a common phenomenon. 11. Human Rights Watch complains that the government "bars citizens engaged in authorized travel from taking their children with them overseas, essentially holding the children hostage to guarantee the parents' return. Given the widespread fear of forced family separation, these travel restrictions provide the Cuban government with a powerful tool for punishing defectors and silencing critics." (Human Rights Watch World Report 2007 - Cuba, January 11 2007). Doctors are reported to be monitored by "minders" and subject to curfew. The Cuban government uses relatives as hostages to prevent doctors from defecting. Well, back to Representative Diane Watson and her active mouth, here are a few other fine comments she has accumulated over the years: She that the only opponents of Barack Obama and his move to socialize America are those who object to socialism because, in her words, “[Barack is] the first President who looks like me.” She attacked Ward Connerly for marrying a white woman. She bragged about Washington, D.C. being a “chocolate city.” She polluted the Hurricane Katrina aftermath with race card-playing nonsense. By the way, Chequevara stated in 1961: “The United States is the great enemy of mankind. Against those hyenas there is no option but extermination.” Castro's chief assassin, Che signed his letters "Stalin II." Thousands of innocent Cuban peasants were murdered by Che Guevara himself. Their crime? Opposing socialism. Does anyone seriously think that Representative Watson would exchange her current health care service for a Cuban national program?

The Human Touch

The Human Touch Your place in my heart is not always better than the touch of your hand. Emotions do not embrace and caress the flesh that enfolds worlds of desire. Yet, we settle for soft ripples of remembrance and distant communication Because even innocent contact implores a response and realizes the romance. The touch rushes the blood of love through the skin as it escapes the pores And makes apparent the heart's feeble weakness for courage of expression. Like quicksilver, tactile electricity demands an immediate response And its ruddy expression paints instant recognition of the nervous solicitude. In quick manner, the heart stops to await helplessly a return of warm consideration As, meanwhile, the flesh courteously presses its rash convergence for signs of limitation. Anticipation steers the mystery of pawing intentions and inevitable reaction As fingertips strive to measure degrees of inner thoughts and emotions. Soon the novelty turns to a mechanical grip or a spiritual enclosure. The curious hand begins to calm the impatient, longing heart And to create an indelible memory as it feeds the relentless brain The simple delicacy of the intimate human touch.

The Rights of Women in Afghanistan

The plight of Afghan women is still very much in jeopardy. Five years ago, after the government resisted the powerful Taliban, came peace and it seemed that traditional taboos were easing as millions of Afghan women eagerly registered and then voted for a presidential candidate in large numbers. Women in the last election But, the Washington Post reports, on August 20, 2009, as Afghans went to the presidential polls, the season of emancipation seemed long gone. This time, a combination of fear, tradition, apathy and poor planning contributed to deny many Afghan women of their rights. Unfortunately, women are always at risk in present-day Afghanistan. In fear for their lives, many families kept their educated women home home, even if the men ventured out to vote. Some segregated female polling rooms in cities were nearly empty and women who had worked at polls in the previous election decided not to risk going out. (Pamela Constable, Washington Post, August 31 2009) Considering that a few years ago Afghan women were never allowed to venture out alone, advancements have been instituted. Even though conditions have improved after the end of Taliban rule, the fear of their regime is still very much alive. Masuda Jalal, former acting Minister of Women's Affairs states, "At the first sign of insecurity, the head of the family protects his women and children, and the first measure they take is to keep them inside the house." (Alissa J. Rubin, Los Angeles Times) Rubin continues in her report, "Many Afghan women have reached this conclusion: that if they are to persuade men to stand behind them, they will need mullahs as allies and Islam as a shield." The women fear they cannot successfully achieve new freedoms without this help. The Taliban and gender apartheid Upon seizing power, the Taliban regime instituted a system of gender apartheid effectively thrusting the women of Afghanistan into a state of virtual house arrest. Under Taliban rule women were stripped of all human rights - their work, visibility, opportunity for education, voice, healthcare, and mobility. When they took control in 1996, the Taliban initially imposed strict edicts that:

• Banished women from the work force
• Closed schools to girls and women and expelled women from universities
• Prohibited women from leaving their homes unless accompanied by a close male relative
• Ordered the publicly visible windows of women's houses painted black and forced women to wear the burqa (or chadari) - which completely shrouds the body, leaving only a small mesh-covered opening through which to see
• Prohibited women and girls from being examined by male physicians while at the same time prohibited female doctors and nurses from working

Hideous tortures to Afghan women were routinely doled out by the Taliban. Women were brutally beaten, publicly flogged, and killed for violating Taliban decrees.

• A woman who defied Taliban orders by running a home school for girls was killed in front of her family and friends.
• A woman caught trying to flee Afghanistan with a man not related to her was stoned to death for adultery.
• An elderly woman was brutally beaten with a metal cable until her leg was broken because her ankle was accidentally showing from underneath her burqa.
• Women and girls died of curable ailments because male doctors were not allowed to treat them.
• Two women accused of prostitution were publicly hung.
• (Feminist Majority Foundation Reports)

Changes in Afghanistan after Taliban control Yet, BBC News reports a recent Human Rights Watch report said many gains made by women since the fall of the Taliban have been reversed. (November 15 2006) Unjust treatment of Afghan women continues after Taliban rule. “Simply put, this is a patriarchal society,” said Manizha Naderi, director of Women for Afghan Women, one of four organizations that run shelters in Afghanistan. “Women are the property of men. This is tradition.” (Kirk Semple, The New York Times, March 2 2009) Although notable efforts are underway to make their daily lives better, especially in Kabul, the capital, many hopes have diminished as cosmetic changes have failed to change traditional Afghan attitudes toward women. When I did not put on a burqa, my problems started as soon as I stepped outside the house," says Rahila Khan, a student of Kabul University. "People in the neighborhood taunted my parents, policemen and soldiers called me a prostitute, and I was sexually harassed on several occasions." (Owais Tohid,The Science Christian Monitor, August 25 2003)

The following examples of Afghan inequality exist: 1. Women convicted of escaping from home and illegal sexual relations are imprisoned. The first offense carries a maximum penalty of 10 years, the second 20. These are two of the most common accusations facing female prisoners in Afghanistan. Now, the youngest female criminal is just 13 years old. These women's small children must stay with their mothers if no one else will claim them.

Two-thirds of the women in Lashkar Gah's medieval-looking jail have been convicted of illegal sexual relations, but most are simply rape victims – mirroring the situation nationwide. The system does not distinguish between those who have been attacked and those who have chosen to run off with a man. (The Independent, "The Afghan Women Being Jailed For Being Victims of Rape," August 18 2oo8)

2. In March of 2009, Karzai signed a marriage law bill for Afghanistan's Shiite minority that critics said essentially legalized marital rape. The pushback, both from the international community and Afghan women, forced Karzai to suspend enforcement. But a revised version released last month appears little better, giving a husband the right to withhold food to a wife who refuses to have sex with him. Karzai then used a legislative loophole to pass the revision by decree. (Ben Arnoldy, The Christian Science Monitor, August 18 2009)

The Shia Family Law, passed by Parliament and signed by President Hamid Karzai, restricts women’s rights by, among other things, condoning marital rape; limiting travel outside the home for work, school or medical care without a husband’s permission; and denying inheritance and child custody.

3. Mostly, the women volunteers during elections are not dispatched to talk to male voters. Gender separation seen in the campaign roles also plays out on the campaign trail. At a rally in Daikundi for Abdullah Abdullah, the men filled the bazaar, while women listened from a private square, hidden from view by sheets. A Karzai rally in a hotel ballroom kept the women sitting on the left and the men on the right. 4. Deadly diseases such as TB and polio, long eradicated in most of the world, flourish in Afghanistan. They hit women and children very hard. One in four children dies before the age of five, mostly from preventable illnesses such as cholera and diarrhea. Reports show that half of all women of childbearing age who die do so in childbirth, giving Afghanistan one of the highest maternal death rates in the world. Average life expectancy hovers around 42 years. (Ann Jones, TomDispatch.com, February 5 2007)

5. Ann Jones also reports, "About 85% of Afghan women are illiterate. About 95% are routinely subjected to violence in the home. And the home is where most Afghan women in rural areas, and many in cities, are still customarily confined. Public space and public life belong almost exclusively to men."

6. Afghan women and girls are, by custom and practice, the property of men. They may be traded and sold like any commodity. Although Afghan law sets the minimum marriageable age for girls at sixteen, girls as young as eight or nine are commonly sold into marriage. Women doctors in Kabul maternity hospitals describe terrible life-threatening "wedding night" injuries that husbands inflict on child brides. In the countryside, far from medical help, such girls die. (TomDispatch.com)

In Afghanistan, any woman on her own outside the home is assumed to be guilty of the crime of "zina" -- engaging in sexual activity. That's why "running away" is itself a crime. One crime presupposes the other. Indefinite jail terms are often the penalty but if returned home to her husband or father or brothers, they may then murder her to restore the family honor.

7. In Kabul, where women and girls move about more freely, many are snatched by traffickers and sold into sexual slavery. The traffickers are seldom pursued or punished because once a girl is abducted she is as good as dead anyway, even to loving parents bound by the code of honor. A mother may want her to stay away after being kidnapped because she can be killed by her father.

8. Many girls kill themselves. Suicide also brings dishonor, so families cover it up. Only when city girls try to kill themselves by setting themselves on fire do their cases become known, for if they do not die at once, they may be taken to the hospital.

9. According to editor Katrina Vanden Heuvel, the presence of foreign troops in Afghanistan, in general, and in Kabul, in particular, has highly increased the incidence of both prostitution as well as trafficking. So-called "survival sex" for $40 or $50 (more than most women make in a month) is voluntary because very poor women and girls, mainly from the impoverished countryside where there is very little to eat, trade sex for food. (The Nation, February 2 2009)

Heuvel states, "Trafficking occurs when criminal elements start bringing in women--forcibly or coercing them under other guises. Girls--in this case mainly from the Uzbek and Hazara tribes, as well as a number of Chinese girls in Kabul--are actually trafficked in to fill the 'needs' of foreign troops."

10. Is the answer education? Dr. Sima Samar, Chair of the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission, reports hundreds of girls’ schools have been destroyed. Teachers have been murdered – some right in front of their students. Girls have had acid thrown in their faces on their way to or from school. One 75 year-old woman was nailed to a tree and killed for "collaborating" with the government and the US; another woman was beheaded. Those terrorizing the girls and women are Taliban or "warlords," who are principally drug traffickers, with known records of human rights abuse. (Feminist Majority, March 27 2009)

"Don't teach girls English, as it is a language of the Christians. Just teach them Islamic education,'" says school teacher Abdur Rehman. "'The women do not have to run the government, they just have to run their houses.'" Mr. Rehman quotes these threats by officials outside Kabul while advising her of her teaching duties.

According to the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights, new legislation says that Afghan Shi'ite women will not have the right to leave their homes except for "legitimate" purposes, and forbids women from working or receiving education without their husbands' express permission. (Golnaz Esfandiari, Radio Liberty, April 4 2009)

11. In Pashtun areas, women are bartered to settle tribal disputes or purely to earn money for their families or first husbands under a ritual called "buth." Seemi Jan was sold for $2,000 when she was just 16. Girls as young as six are being married into a life of slavery and rape, often by multiple members of their new relatives. The Independent reports, "More than 60 per cent of marriages are forced. Despite a new law banning the practice, 57 per cent of brides are under the age of 16." (Terri Judd, February 25 2008)

"I served my 30-year-old husband like a maid for years. But he married another woman without my consent and threw me out of the house," recalls Ms. Jan, who now assists a local nongovernmental organization working for women in Kabul. "Now I [learn] that my husband is planning to sell my 14-year-old daughter. For me nothing has changed." (The Science Christian Monitor, August 25 2003)

12. Religious views present women as second-hand citizens. PBS Films Independent Lens reports in January 2004, the loya jirga ratified a constitution that included an equal rights clause referencing gender — something not included in the United States' constitution— proclaiming that all Afghan citizens, men and women, "have equal rights and duties before the law." However, this clause is open to interpretation and could be used to undermine women’s rights, as “the law” includes religious law. (www.pbs.org/independentlens)

Old ways pervade the new government. In a New York Times article from Dec. 16, 2003, Sighbatullah Mojadeddi, head of the Afghan Constitutional Loya Jirga, said "Even God has not given [women] equal rights because under his decision, two women are counted as equal to one man." (CBS News Online, March 1 2005)

What is the future for Afghan women?

According to a report by Ann Geracimos of the Washington Times (August 30 2009), "Microfinance companies that issue the loans (for cows or looms to start small businesses by Afghans) say they have their greatest success working with women, who almost invariably repay what they borrow. One government-run lending agency, the largest in Afghanistan, grants 95 percent of its loans to women, and 99 percent of those loans are repaid"

Geracimos continues, "The U.S. government is also aware of the potential. It has allocated $27 million that soon will be distributed in small flexible grants 'to empower Afghan women [private organizations] at the local level,' according to Melanne S. Verveer, the U.S. ambassador at large for global women's issues."

Mr. Pazhwak, the USIP (United States Institute of Peact) program officer, says he believes Afghanistan could make progress against the endemic corruption that has become a hallmark of government if there were more women in senior government posts.

"There are women politicians who are equally corrupt as men because the system is corrupt," he acknowledges. But, he says, "Power corrupts, and most power is in the hands of men." (Washington Times, August 30 2009)

Innocence

Innocence Innocence is its own reward. Given at conception from the grace of the highest love, Fiercely protected from those who might spoil its virtues, And set free to explore a snug island of earthly delights. Pirates of purity raid the fragile sanctuary Attempting to distort every vestige of chaste life. And only the most stable fend off the evil marauders For long tomorrows of pristine perfection. Time eventually weakens even the most innocent As it sweeps away the clean remains of juvenile behaviors And carelessly tosses them away without ceremony Into boxes neatly stored in the closets of the adult mind. Longing and regret eventually occupy the seasoned stage To play their somber roles in tales of lost simplicity And stories of bygone, careless times: Simple, outdated vignettes soon shrouded by drawing curtains. Innocence is the unrealized reward given freely to all. Too quickly undervalued and tarnished By covetous hands of greedy, loveless animals Or by the innocent pawns moved by the rights of natural passage.

Does Personality Affect Drug Abuse?

Many different factors can contribute to drug abuse. Some researchers believe people may have an addictive personality, which makes them more vulnerable to abuse. Are some people more susceptible to addiction? What makes one "susceptible to addiction"? To understand that, we must realize what all drugs (including alcohol, which is a drug) have in common. Drugs are basically pain killers. They kill physical and emotional pain. A person may start using drugs or alcohol to numb pain, leading to addiction. Stress, losing a loved one, physical injury, illness, or even boredom cause many people intense pain. So pain can make anyone "susceptible to addiction." False information is also a contributing factor to susceptibility. Today, the idea that everything can be fixed with a pill is widely promoted. Everything from headaches to active children are treated with substances touted to safe and non-habit forming. A caution here: attempting to diagnose a drug addiction by anyone but a professional is both ineffective and potentially dangerous. This information is, by no means, complete, and the post is informational. In general, these traits seem most likely to contribute to an addictive personality:

• Aggressive
• Impulsive
• Sensitive
• Emotional
• Anxious
• Lonely

The addictive personality is sometimes described as an anti-social personality. A person with anti-social personality traits lives life in search of continuous gratification. These people may engage in reckless behaviors such as excessive gambling, overeating, and risky sexual behavior. It is notable that writers, actors, musicians, and other people working in creative industries appear to have frequent problems with addiction? For example, Edgar Allen Poe, Allen Ginsberg, Beethoven, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, John Steinbeck, Tennessee Williams, Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson... the list of these people who have documented issues with alcoholism and drug abuse goes on and on. Although some would claim drugs make people more creative, a more logical explanation for the link between creativity and addiction is that people who exhibit the traits of an addictive personality tend to be drawn toward creative occupations. Also, since creative people often live their lives in the public eye, their struggles with addiction simply receive more media attention than the problems of an average person. Of course, the drug abuse itself can have its own effect on the addict’s personality. Such drug cravings stem from drug residues accumulated and stored in the user's fatty tissue due to earlier drug use. Drug residues can mobilize due to stress, physical activity, weight loss, etc. and get back into the blood stream, triggering physical cravings. (www.friendsofnarconon.org) A person struggling with drug addiction is often described as:

• Withdrawn
• Secretive
• Irritable
• Apathetic
• Reckless
• Disrespectful
• Moody

New research by Professor Annalena Venneri of the University of Hull has opened speculation that scientists may one day find out what a child's personality will be like by simply scanning the brain. The discovery raises the startling possibility of being able to discover a young child’s future personality by analysing the shape of their brain. The four main personality types were classified by psychiatrists as "novelty-seeking, harm avoidance, reward dependence and persistence." (Daily Mail, April 2009) The research suggests that children are born with certain personalities and also indicates that their brain develops differently depending on the type of person they become. Scholarly Interpretation

Today, according to the University of Plymouth's Department of Psychology and Dr. C.A.P. Kenyon, the reason why people take drugs is often explained in three models:

• the disease model
• the physical dependency model
• the positive reinforcement model

The most popular contemporary view of why humans self-administer potentially lethal drugs is that these chemicals activate the reinforcement system in the brain. This system is normally activated by natural reinforcers such as food, water, sex etc. (McKim, 1997) A more thorough investigation of all the models is presented at the website www.flyfishingdevon.co.uk.

I Hate To Make Mistakes, Don't You?

What is a mistake? Don't we all hate to make mistakes? Mistakes are events that cause some degree of pain, loss or struggle. We don't like the consequences of such behaviors that we believe produce this self-initiated pain and hence we call them mistakes. Most teach us that mistakes are all bad. If we accept this view, we most certainly will experience negative self-judgments when we make mistakes. Some are raised with the idea of perfection, the notion that we must never make a mistake. These judgments can be debilitating. The irony though is that these events we try so hard to avoid may be precisely what we need to experience. Since mind can mean only "what it is like to be me" or "your experience of the world," it is a distortion of language to consider a mistake means a distinct mental substance universal to all. In fact, language makes a distinction between the word error and the word mistake. An error is a deviation from accuracy or correctness. A mistake is an error caused by a fault: the fault being misjudgment, carelessness, or forgetfulness. Look at this illustration of the difference. " Now, say that I run a stop sign because I was in a hurry, and wasn't concentrating, and the police stop me, that is a mistake. If, however, I try to park in an area with conflicting signs, and I get a ticket because I was incorrect on my interpretation of what the signs meant, that would be an error. The first time it would be an error. The second time it would be a mistake since I should have known better." (Robinson, P. "In the Matter of: The Gatekeeper: The Gate Contracts") Should we make mistakes? So, errors may indeed lead to mistakes. And, mistakes are based on actual experience that varies from person to person. We all err and we all have faults which cause these errors; therefore, often making a mistake is a very personal, subjective matter. We will continue to make major and minor mistakes during our entire lifetime. Mel Schwartz, a visionary psychotherapist and founder of The Emergent Thinking group, believes the fear of making a mistake is utterly imprisoning. He asks, "Who gets to be the judge of what constitutes a mistake?" From a spiritual perspective, it might be argued that there is no such thing as a mistake. Even the very notion of mistake produces a reaction that induces fear and conformity. Schwartz says, "In this state we tend to dishonor our intuition as our inner voice becomes stilled, and we choose the safer path." When we do not take risks, we decrease the chance of mistakes or accidents, but we also limit opportunities for discovery and learning.This certainly doesn't mean we should take stupid risks. But rather, we should make room for exploration that leads us to new learning. Accidents and mistakes can be the very best teachers. Can we understand how the following quote often stands true?

"A mistake is an event, the full benefit of which we have not come to realize."

The word serendipity is a great example of how what is viewed as a mistake can be an amazing discovery in disguise. Serendipity is defined as: "The faculty of making fortunate discoveries by accident." (highselfesteem.com)

Why do we make mistakes? The inevitable question is why do we make mistakes? Joseph T Hallinan, an American Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, thinks he knows why – humans are pre-programmed to make blunders. His book, Why We Make Mistakes, attracted winning reviews on its publication, with one critic predicting that it would change the face of mainstream behavioral science. Hannigan says that we are subconsciously biased, quick to judge by appearances and overconfident of our own abilities. Most of us believe we are above average at everything – a statistical impossibility that leads to slip-ups. Personally," he says, "one of the most surprising things I learned was how bad our vision is and how many tricks our eyes play on us." (Sophie Morris, "Oops, We Did It Again...," The Independent, March 16, 2009). In one Cornell University experiment Hannigan cites, subjects were asked to seek directions from a stranger, but a pair of actors carrying a door would pass between the two conversants in the middle of the exchange. As the door passed, the person giving directions would swap with someone else – and their interlocutor rarely noticed that they finished the conversation with a different person. What can we do after we make mistakes? Short of apologies and telling the affected parties about what happened, we can possibly take some actions. Thanks to Calvin Sun of Tech Republic for these suggestions:

#1: If possible, come up with a plan to fix the problem.

#2: Don’t blame others.

#3: Stop looking back.

#4: Determine whether the mistake can occur elsewhere.

#5: Put the best face possible on what happened.

"The higher up you go, the more mistakes you're allowed. Right at the top, if you make enough of them, it's considered your style." Fred Astaire "There is a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in." Leonard Cohen

Michael Jackson and the Coroner's Report

Finally, a partial coroner's report on Michael Jackson has been released. Amid speculation that the entertainer's death was the result of a drug overdose, the question, of course, turned to "How did this happen?" The following information is now public. Many stones are left unturned. "The office of the Los Angeles County coroner confirmed Friday that it had ruled Michael Jackson’s death a homicide. It said the cause was a mixture of the powerful anesthetic propofol and the anti-anxiety drug lorazepam, both of which, previously disclosed court documents say, Mr. Jackson’s doctor has acknowledged administering to him the day he died." (Solomon Moore, "Jackson's Death Ruled a Homicide," The New York Times, August 28 2009) Who may have killed Michael Jackson? The last physician to treat Mr. Jackson, Dr. Conrad Murray, a cardiologist who was acting as the entertainer’s personal physician at the time. Dr. Murray has denied any responsibility for Mr. Jackson’s death. Los Angeles Times Staff Writers Richard Winton, Harriet Ryan and Andrew Blankstein report Dr. Murray administered the sedatives Valium, lorazepam and midazolam -- five times over six hours because Jackson pleaded for the powerful anesthetic before his death. But none of the sedatives put Jackson to sleep and he continued to demand his "milk," the word the doctor said the pop star used for propofol. (August 28 2009) Murray said he finally relented and at 10:40 a.m. added the drug to Jackson's intravenous drip, according to the records. On June 25, the day of the homicide, he briefly left the bedroom of the star’s home (10 minutes to use the restroom) and returned to find him unconscious. Dr. Murray, however, has not been named by authorities as a suspect. Dr. Murray's lawyer is demanding that the coroner's office release the full autopsy report. Edward Chernoff said he needs to know the exact levels of the various drugs in Jackson's system and said the refusal to release the report suggests "gamesmanship." Dr Murray told investigators he was not the first doctor to administer propofol to the star. According to Murray, he was concerned that the singer was becoming addicted to the drug and had been trying to wean him off, using alternative drugs. (BBC News, August 29 2009) The L.A. Times report also states Jackson had specifically asked concert promoter AEG Live to hire Murray as his $150,000-a-month physician to travel with him to London, where he was scheduled to perform 50 concerts. The heat is also being turned up on Jackson's longtime friend and dermatologist Arnold Klein, who investigators believe facilitated the singers' years-long drug abuse. Law enforcement sources told FOXNews.com that a recent search of the Beverly Hills pharmacy yielded records of Klein prescribing controlled substances to himself. The Washington Post reports that the coroner has subpoenaed medical records from general practitioner Allan Metzger, anesthesiologists David Adams and Randy Rosen, and holistic nurse practitioner Cherilyn Lee, who has said that Jackson unsuccessfully requested propofol from her, telling her he would "pay a doctor anything" for the drug. (Ashley Surdin, "Coroner Confirms Death of Jackson Was Homicide," August 29 2009) California Attorney General Jerry Brown announced that at the request of the LAPD, his office would launch an independent investigation into several doctors who may have treated Jackson in recent months. What killed Michael Jackson? A surgical anesthetic combined with other medication created a cocktail that killed him. According to the L.A. Times, officials listed the cause of Jackson's June 25 death as "acute propofol intoxication" with the additional factor of "benzodiazepine effect." (Richard Winton and Harriet Ryan, August 29 2009) Propofol, normally used with instruments that measure oxygen levels, blood pressure and heart rate, to anesthetize patients for surgery is believed to be one of the drugs responsible although Jackson had several other drugs in his system, including midazolam, an anti-anxiety medication; diazepam, or Valium; lidocaine, a local anesthetic; and ephedrine, a stimulant and decongestant. CNN reports, "The drugs said to have contributed to Jackson's death are routinely used in hospital settings, but should never be combined at home, medical professionals say." (Elizabeth Landau, August 28 2009) The effects of Propofol can be compounded when there are other drugs in the system, especially those like lorazepam, a member of a class of medications called benzodiazepines. Benzodiazepines also slow breathing, and Mr. Jackson was given three different benzodiazepines in the six hours before receiving propofol, according to court documents. What is the background of the killer drugs? CNN further reports, Propofol has generated controversy in the anesthesiology community because of reports of its abuse by health care workers. A 2007 study by the International Anesthesia Research Society found that "about 18 percent of the 126 academic anesthesia programs in the United States had at least one reported instance of propofol abuse within the previous 10 years." There is not adequate accounting of propofol in hospitals, said Dr. Paul Wischmeyer, professor of anesthesiology at the University of Colorado, lead author of the study. The drug is often abused by risk-taking people who may have had trauma earlier in life. Because propofol is not a controlled substance, doctors other than Anesthesiologists can get it, even if they are not trained in using it, and that's where they can get in trouble. Propofol can cause patients to stop breathing, but in the operating room, anesthesiologists are equipped to resuscitate them. Why was Michael Jackson killed? In the six weeks before Jackson died (including June 25, the day of Jackson's death) Dr. Murray administered propofol intravenously to Jackson nightly to help him sleep. Some sources say the toxicology reports have led investigators to suspect that Murray gave Jackson more propofol than he told police. Dr. Eugene Viscusi, anesthesiologist and director of pain management at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania states, "The use of propofol in a nonmonitored setting is 'ludicrous,' The Food and Drug Administration has not approved propofol for use as a sleep aid." (Elizabeth Landau, CNN, August 28 2009) Where Was Michael Jackson killed? The L.A. coroner's office confirms that Jackson died in his rented Westwood mansion on June 25. What does the charge of homicide mean? The coroner's classification of homicide -- the killing of one person by another -- does not always translate into criminal charges, and those close to the investigation have said Jackson's history of drug use and health problems could complicate any prosecution. The coroner's report did not cite the nature of the homicide finding or whether the coroner's office concluded that a crime took place. The Washington Post reports, "The ruling means Jackson died at the hands of another, but whether criminal activity is involved -- such as gross negligence or intent to harm -- remains undetermined." (Ashley Surdin, "Coroner Confirms Death of Jackson Was Homicide," August 29 2009) MTV News legal expert Peter T. Haven says unless Murray is proved to have had full knowledge that the dosage he gave Jackson would be fatal but continued anyway, a criminal charge will be hard to pursue. However, it's worth noting that a medical malpractice charge may be pursued if it's determined Murray acted below the standard care expected of a physician. (Jayson Rodriguez, mtvnews.com, August 28 2009) Murray could face involuntary manslaughter charges as a result of the coroner's report. But, reports say the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration states it has no record of Dr. Murray ordering, purchasing or obtaining propofol. (Voice of America News, AP and Reuters, August 28 2009) A Final Word At the request of the Los Angeles County District Attorney and the Los Angeles Police Department, "the final Coroner's report, including the complete toxicology report will remain on Security Hold" until their investigations are complete, the coroner's statement said.

Yield, Yield, Yield

I am writing this simple post in hopes of saving a life some day. I am beginning to think most people do not know the meaning of "Yield" as it relates to traffic. I just about bought the heavenly farm the other day when another young driver ran right through a "Yield sign" and directly in front of me. Please understand that drivers have a wide range of reaction speeds. The laws are made for the safety of all drivers, not just for the convenience of those who hurry from destination to destination. Getting behind the wheel means driving defensively and taking reasonable responsibility for all others on the road. Trying to yield can be a very stressful exercise for many safe drivers. I understand that in crowded urban areas, drivers make quick decisions about yielding (or not yielding) to cars, based on the amount of frantic, honking traffic behind them. Every year we tend to see more traffic signs including yield signs, as the Federal Highway Commission and state and local traffic commissions review accident-prevention and the spending of federal funds. Honking and frantically urging drivers to yield will most likely add to their feelings of peril. Consideration may often be required, even on a crowded, race-track-like Interstate. After all, let's consider this important projection about traffic. In the next 20 years the number of elderly drivers (persons 70 & over) is predicted to triple in the United States. Many of these seniors are frequent drivers. As age increases, older drivers generally become more conservative on the road. Many mature drivers modify their driving habits (for instance to avoid busy highways or night-time driving) to match their declining capabilities. And, statistics show that older drivers are more likely than younger ones to be involved in multi-vehicle crashes, particularly at intersections. (SmartMotorist.com) One interesting study found that seniors, despite being careful, had a particular problem with yielding. Yield areas can be a prime accident zone for older drivers. Lawrence Nitz, a political scientist from the University of Hawaii, conducted a three-year study of Hawaiian traffic records and found that drivers over 75 were far more likely than other motorists to be cited for certain offenses, including failing to yield to pedestrians, backing up unsafely and failing to stop at a flashing red light. So, many of these drivers do not yield correctly. Doesn't that mean people in the traffic flow should take extra caution in yielding zones? OHIO LAW STATES THE FOLLOWING: 4511.43. Right-of-way at through highways; stop signs; yield signs. (B) The driver of a vehicle or trackless trolley approaching a yield sign shall slow down to a speed reasonable for the existing conditions and, if required for safety to stop, shall stop at a clearly marked stop line, but if none, before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection, or, if none, then at the point nearest the intersecting roadway where the driver has a view of approaching traffic on the intersecting roadway before entering it. After slowing or stopping, the driver shall yield the right-of-way to any vehicle or trackless trolley in the intersection or approaching on another roadway so closely as to constitute an immediate hazard during the time the driver is moving across or within the intersection or junction of roadways. Whenever a driver is involved in a collision with a vehicle or trackless trolley in the intersection or junction of roadways, after driving past a yield sign without stopping, the collision shall be prima-facie evidence of the driver's failure to yield the right-of-way. (Prima-facie means evidence which — unless rebutted by contradictory evidence — would be sufficient to prove a particular proposition or fact.) The law is very clear about who is at fault when an accident does occur at a Yield sign. Granted, slamming on the brakes and coming to a complete sudden stop may be a very dangerous practice while yielding; however, caution must be taken. Granting a certain amount of consideration to the yielding driver should help prevent serious collisions. Using a "zipper" approach to yielding may cause a violent crash. Here is some good advice from a civil engineer, a department of transportation worker who designed and constructed many highways. The idea of "merging" was intended for the people merging to "fall in at the back of the pack" since they will always be the slower car by design than the mainline traffic at the speed limit, and this way, yielding cars do not impede the flow to cause an accident. According to the engineer, weaving interchanges are an old design that is very unsafe and dangerous. What a person does should be textbook and for his/her safety and the safety of everyone else. "Keep up the safe driving. And do not worry that the honker behind you is just in a big hurry, has no idea what 'yield' means, probably does not know it is there, and eventually he be in an accident of his own." Is this the best advice? "When pulling into moving traffic, time your move carefully and accelerate quickly so you don't force oncoming drivers to hit their brakes. Be patient and wait for a big opening, then hit it! If the traffic is moving at 60 mph and it takes you a leisurely 30 seconds to get up to speed, you'll need almost half a mile of empty highway to avoid endangering or irritating other drivers." (wikiHow.com, "How To Avoid Annoying Other Drivers") The last words about yielding on the roadways are "Be Prepared." 1. Know the definition of the Yield Sign. 2. Be cautious when yielding or approaching yielders. And, 3. Know how to yield in the safest fashion.

Gangs In Ohio -- You Better Believe It

2009 Institute for Intergovernmental Research

Besides being within Ohio’s prisons and jails, gangs can be found in nearly every community in Ohio. These agencies will be joining forces in combating gang activity and its impact on the quality of life for Ohioans.

“It is very important to have partnerships and utilize a team approach when dealing with security threat groups. Terrorism and threats from gangs can only be contained and controlled when law enforcement partners with various agencies to cripple their threats,” stated the Director of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (DRC) Reginald A. Wilkinson on September 4, 2003.

Gang History

Gangs moved into Ohio in the early 1990s, starting with California groups, such as the Rolling 20 Crips. Then, Chicago gangs moved to the area bringing their sophisticated rules, codes and symbols, said Linda Schmidt, a member of the Ohio chapter of the Midwest Gang Investigators Association. (Jessie Balmert,Ohio University Post) "More than 5,800 gangs with about 222,400 members commit crime in the Central Region, which includes Ohio," according to the 2009 National Gang Threat Assessment. Between 2004 and 2008, the percent of law enforcement agencies reporting gang activity in the Central Region increased from 45 percent to 55 percent. The most prevalent gangs are the Chicago-based Gangster Disciples, Latin Kings and Vice Lords, which includes mostly African-American men, according to the assessment. Data from the Ohio study suggest that gang members' criminal careers begin with property offenses (e.g., auto theft, burglary) and progress within 1.5 to 2 years to drug-related crimes and violent crime. (C. Ronald Huff, Research in Brief) Gang Facts Research shows that within an hour, Ohio's law enforcement officers will arrest approximately five teens, nearly 46,000 teens in a year. National youth-gang related homicides are up over 40 percent from 1999 to 2003, the latest year for which data are available. Law enforcement leaders recommend a one-two punch to address teen and gang crime: tough and close supervision combined with research-tested interventions that pull kids away. (www.fightcrime.org) Ohio gangs operate in rural areas to avoid interstate highways, populated by the highly effective state highway patrol, preferring local roads similar to U.S. Route 33, said Schmidt. Rural areas are stocked with fertilizer and chemicals necessary to create drugs like methamphetamine, she added. Gangs also migrate to rural areas because fewer law enforcement groups patrol and those that do are less educated about gang activity, said Steve Coffman, president of the Ohio chapter of the Midwest Gang Investigators Association. "They can kind of hide in plain sight," he said. Powerful and well-organized Mexican drug-trafficking groups have seized control of drug distribution throughout Ohio, flooded local markets with increasingly cheap heroin and are using Columbus and Dayton as distribution hubs for southwestern Ohio and parts of Indiana, local and federal U.S. drug-enforcement officials say.

The Columbus Dispatch reports,"The situation in Ohio reflects a larger national trend: U.S. officials say Mexican cartels operate in at least 195 U.S. cities and dominate the drug trade in every region of the country except for isolated pockets such as the Northeast and southern Florida. The report predicts that heroin abuse will increase among white, suburban users." (Jeremy Schwartz, Cox News Service, August 18 2008)

Columbus has emerged as a regional distribution center for Mexican heroin supplied to markets throughout Ohio, West Virginia and western Pennsylvania.

Distributors from other markets often travel to Columbus to purchase Mexican heroin to sell in their home areas, the report said. It may also be noted that inn Dayton, Mexican traffickers have replaced African-American gangs as the primary wholesale distributors of cocaine, marijuana and heroin.

A Few Gang Headlines:

1. The Hard Times Gang, mostly comprised of Somali immigrants, came to Athens County from Columbus within the past year to sell narcotics. The gang is responsible for burglaries, firearm theft and murder in the county said Detective Jerry Hallowell, Athens Country Sheriff's Office. (Jessie Balmert,The Post, April 4 2009)

2. The Dayton Daily News reported that law enforcement agencies have connected assaults, drug trafficking, shootings and homicides to more than a dozen local street gangs. (Steve Bennish, Dayton Daily News, March 5 2008) 3. Toledo police say gang activity is picking up. Now, officers are toughening up tactics. (Lisa Rantala, wtol.com) 4. Swat raids have been made on drug gangs in Cleveland with ties to the Chicago-based Latin Kings. The raids disrupted a major Cleveland drug ring. (Ana Jackson, July 22 2009) 5. The Columbus City Police say they have 85 active criminal gangs and 1100 documented gang members. When CPD’s summer strike force was slashed, police decided to focus their resources on known gang members and known gang activity. (www2.nbc4i.com) 6. The Akron Police Department's Gang Unit has identified 30 gangs operating in the city.

Hispanic Gangs

Abbr	Full Name	Description	States with major activity
18	18th Street Gang	Formed in the 1960s in the Rampart district of Los Angeles, thought to be one of the most violent street gangs in the country. Members are tattooed with XVIII or 666 (when added up becomes 18). Heavily populated with illegal immigrants from south of the U.S.-Mexican border, the gang also includes Asians, African and Native Americans, as well as Whites. Some chapters are very well organized They are reputed to be well linked with Mexican and Colombian drug cartels. According to Border Control.ORG, "In 1995, a report showed that 60 percent of the 20,000-strong 18th Street Gang in Southern California included illegal aliens" 9 Today the group has a wide latino population, and retains a high percentage of illegal immigrants. The actual numbers of illegals is not known, however, due to sanctuary policies in many of the cities in which they prey.	California, Georgia, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Utah, Virginia, Washington,
Norte	La Nuestra Famila	Established in 1960s at Soledad Prison, to protect inmates from the Mexican Mafia, a prison gang of mostly southern Californians. As the original members were released from prison, they began recruiting members into their street gangs. Due to the rivalry with the Mexican Mafia, there may be a link to or this is just another name for Nuestra Familia or the Norteños	California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina,
LK	Latin Kings	The Almighty Latin Kings (and Queens) - Puerta Rican Immigrants, formed in 1940s. Today is one of the largest latino gangs and is found in most major cities of the states listed, coast to coast, north and south. Today the population is mostly Mexican, however, the spectrum includes Spanish, Caribbean, Latvian, Italian, Portuguese, or South American. 1980's, Felix Millet and Nelson Millan, two inmates in the Connecticut prison system, created the Almighty Latin King Nation of Connecticut. In 1986, Luis Felipe, calling himself King Blood, took the Connecticut King Manifesto and added a few of his own writings and prayers. He formed the Almighty Latin King Nation of New York State at the Collins Correctional Institution. He was serving a lengthy sentence for attempting to kill his live-in girlfriend. Within a few years, the Latin Kings spread through the New York State Prison system and onto the streets. New York City, by the early 1990's had several hundred members which grew into the thousands throughout New York State and nearby New Jersey by the mid 1990's. Today the group has a wide latino population, and retains a high percentage of illegal immigrants. The actual numbers of illegals is not known, however, due to sanctuary policies in many of the cities in which they prey.	Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin,
Solido	Los Solidos Nation	A merger of the Ghetto Brothers and Savage Nomads in Hartford, Connecticut, now calling each other Solido (Famly). Active in Hartford, New London, East Lyme, Norwich, New Britain and Waterbury, but have also spread to other states as members have fled from RICO investigations	Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont,
MS-13	Mara Salvatrucha	Family of Salvador - Associated with the southern "families" of Mexican National Gangs, the 13th letter is M and the S in MS-13 also stands for Sur or Sureno ("South"), with original links to El Salvadorian nationals who eventually crossed illegally into the U.S. across the U.S. Mexican Border. Today the group has a wide latino population, and retains a high percentage of illegal immigrants. The actual numbers of illegals is not known, however, due to sanctuary policies in many of the cities in which they prey.	Alaska, Arkansas, California, Georgia, Maryland, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington,
Netas	Netas	Puerta Rican group established in a Puerta Rican prison by Carlos Torres-Irriarte. An early rival of the Netas was Grupo 27 (Group 27) which eventually was blamed for Torres' murder in prison. By 1993, many chapters had merged into the Latin Kings (See Above)	Connecticut, New Jersey, New York
NF	Norteños	Northerners - Organized in Folsom Prison in 1968, later became a loose organization of north and south memberships -- i.e if you lied north of Bakersfield you were a northerner and when you went to prison you would join the northern prison gang, if you lived south of Bakersfield you were a Sureno, a southerner and that would be the prison gang you joined when you went to prison. Notice the inevitability of going to prison, these are not garden clubs. The Nortenos associate themselves with the number 14 (the letter N is the 14th letter), 4 dots in a tattoo, and will invariably call themselves a family ("Nuestra Familia" or La Nuestra Familia). Today the group has a wide latino population, and retains a high percentage of illegal immigrants. The actual numbers of illegals is not known, however, due to sanctuary policies in many of the cities in which they prey.	Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Nevada, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Washington,
MM	Sureños	Southerners - Also known as the Mexican Mafia. Formed by Rodolpho Cadena and Joe Morgan in the correctional facility at Tracy, California. They prison gang became the most powerful in the prison system and as members were released from prison they began to recruit in their home locals. When prisoners who were members of the Mexican Mafia were released they formed the Surenos gangs on the outside. Chief Rivals are the La Nuestra Familia (Northern Familes). Today the street gangs "graduate" to prison and become members of the Mexican Mafia. The Surenos control much of the illegal prison activities in the prison systems of nearly every state in the union. The members may be found wearing a MM tattoo or SUR for Surenos. They also may refer to other chapters as being part of Le Eme (The M). In the last few decades, conflicts with Black prison gangs has led to a loose alliance (for mutual protection) with such unusual partner as the Aryan Brotherhood a white supremacist prison gang and domestic terror group.	Arizona, California, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington
TS	Texas Syndicate	Originated in the early 1970s at Folsom Prison in California, mainly to protect members against non-native Texan prisoners who were preying upon them. Includes members from all over Latin America with largest populations in prison being Mexican, Colombian, and Cuban.	California, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Washington
Note: Sources for information in this table are found in the sources section below, numbers 4, 5, 6

Gangs Or Us, Robert Walker; National Gang History, "Gang Reduction Through Intervention"; KnowGangs.com -- Chart Sources

Ohio Immigration Laws

E. Dennis Muchnicki is a lawyer who represents people facing deportation, and he said Ohio citizens complain even to him that when they alert authorities about illegal immigrants, nothing happens. (Stephanie Czekalinski, Columbus Dispatch, February 3 2008)

Lax law enforcement is a major complaint of people who think illegal immigration is out of control. But authorities, especially local Ohio police departments, are limited in what they can do, although some politicians are pushing to give them more authority. Generally, local and state police agencies cannot enforce federal immigration laws, mainly because lacking proper documentation is a civil infraction, not a criminal act.

Currently, Ohio law enforcement agencies can enter into agreements with the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency. However, they are limited to the enforcement of criminal provisions of immigration law. In June, 2007, the Ohio Attorney General issued an opinion, finding that a county sheriff may arrest and detain an alien for a civil provision of immigration law. Also, the Attorney General issued another opinion which stated that current Ohio law only permits county sheriffs to enter into agreements with federal officials to enforce criminal provisions, but not civil violations of immigration law.

According to George Munoz of Poder 360 online magazine, "Calling people 'illegals' is wrong. Violation of immigration laws is not an automatic crime. Therefore, labeling 12 million immigrants in this country as 'criminals' or 'illegals' is not only inaccurate, it may be libelous." (2008)

Munoz points out that a civil infraction is not a crime or a felony. Under the law, the “unauthorized presence” of foreigners in our country because of lack of a valid visa or documents is subject to a due process hearing and deportation if the infraction is not cleared up. This is a civil—not a criminal—proceeding.

Munoz further explains, "This civil law violation is upgraded to a crime if a person who was deported reenters our country without the proper documentation. But the fact is that most of the 12 million immigrants whose presence is 'unauthorized' are not deemed to be guilty of a crime, which means they are not, in fact, 'illegals.'"

So, what do local authorities do with civil violations? According to the Dispatch, Columbus police pass tips for investigation about illegal aliens on to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. In most of Ohio, officers do not contact ICE about minor violations, such as a driver being unable to provide identification for fear of swamping immigration agents.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security can, under the Criminal Alien Program, deputize state and local officers to enforce immigration laws, and Butler County is leading the way.

Butler County sheriff's office is foremost in Ohio to finish training for enforcing the immigration laws. Groups advocating immigrants' rights and civil rights criticized Butler County Sheriff Richard K. Jones in 2007 after deputies detained 18 undocumented immigrants, only to release them the same day. Jones has become adamant about stopping the illegal immigration problem in Butler County.

Jones rightly complains that many of these illegal aliens are housed in his jail for crimes they have committed in addition to breaking immigration laws. The thousands of dollars it costs to house these illegals must be paid by every taxpayer in Butler County.

To prove his convictions, Jones mailed a bill to the Federal Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for prisoners believed to be "Undocumented Aliens" housed in the Butler County Jail in 2005. The bill, calculated through the end of October, was for a total of $71,610.00 covering the fifteen (15) identified individuals who had been currently in jail, some of whom had been in jail since June, 2005. It represented a total of 1,023 billable days at $70.00/day. Future bills of the same nature were mailed out at the end of each subsequent month, beginning November, 2005.

Ohio State Sen. Gary Cates, R-West Chester, has proposed a bill that would give Ohio sheriffs the authority to enforce immigration laws. Last year, 244 immigration bills became law in 46 states. Such laws have been challenged as unconstitutional because they infringe on the federal government's power to enforce immigration laws.

Here is the context of the legislation and its current status according to one report (Ohio Commission on Hispanic/Latino Affairs, March 13 2009)

Senate Bill 35

"Senate Bill 35 would mandate that the Ohio Attorney General pursue a memorandum of agreement with Immigrations and Customs Enforcement to deputize Ohio law enforcement officers as immigration enforcement officers. This would provide for the enforcement of both criminal and civil violations of immigration law."

The bill is currently in the Senate State and Local Government and Veterans' Affairs Committee, and has received two hearings (1st- sponsor, 2nd- all parties). At this point SB 35 may be scheduled for a committee vote at any time.

Senate Bill 260

"Senate Bill 260 authorizes a county sheriff, at the direction of the county board of commissioners and with permission from Immigration and Customs Enforcement, to investigate civil violations of immigration law, and take persons charged with civil violations of immigration law into custody. Currently, law enforcement agents may investigate only criminal violations of immigration law, and take into custody persons charged with criminal violations of immigration law."

As of now this bill has not yet received any hearings.

A website does exist for reporting employers who use illegal aliens. The purpose of this website is to expose "alleged" employers of illegal aliens. In this effort we need your help states website WeHireAliens.com. (FIRE Coalition) Here are some of the employers across Ohio who have been reported. I stress that this information is alleged and merely reported by someone. Verification of its accuracy is dependent on WeHireAliens.com reports. 1. Golden Corral -- Akron, Cincinnati, and Hamilton 2. Big Lots Discount Retail -- Columbus 3. Kellermeyer Building Services,LLC -- Maumee 4. Silverline Windows -- Marion 5. Koch Foods -- Port Union 6. Hampton Inn -- Bowling Green 7. Mendozas -- Cincinnati 8. Bob Evans Farms, Inc. -- Columbus 9. Consolidated Biscuit Company -- McComb 10. Cintas Corporation -- Mason Report to ICE (866) 347-2423 option 1 Report to EEOC (800) 669-4000 Report to Federal Employment Immigration Case Workers (202) 693-0051