To Catch a Perverted Justice

For fans of the show, "To catch a predator', and think what they're doing is good, maybe you need to take some time and think about it.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10912603

The police are doing all of the catching, It's MSNBC that's capitalizing on it playing vigilante. Is it good or bad? Unfortunately, it's hard to see the line in the sand unless it gets drawn in bright yellow spraypaint. Initially, perverted justice is a group of internet cops dedicated to capturing online predators after our children...sounds good so far...The police set up a sting with a 'decoy' to facilitate capture...again no problem... Then Chris Hanson pops out, putting the person on natinal TV, destroying their lives, jobs, families, future, and life...woah, hold on a minute. Isn't this a bit of Vigilanteism? Why yes it is, and in fact there's already the suicide of a District Atourney to prove it. God only knows how many others there are since Dateline doesn't show that far ahead.
The fact is, that this show does harm. It took one human being's life, ruined the lives of hundreds, and put the lives of millions of kids in jeopardy. These sick men are killing themselves. And why not, they have nothing left to live for? Even if they don't, and the go through the prison system, what reason do they have to seek help? Remember, they will get out someday. average sentence for their crime is 2 years. These men are comming out more dangerous, and better educated on how to get away with their crime. Worst of all, they've got nothing to strive for, not even redemption, since we all know their faces, why should they bother? People with nothing to live for also have nothing to fear. In fact, we're creating a whole new breed of predator. One that is to smart to get caught. One who is not just intent on having their way with our children, rather one that plans on NEVER GETTING CAUGHT, AT ANY COST. Even if that includes a young child's life.

I could go on spouting all sorts of propaganda here, but there's a message section to the site where you can read mine, and others posts.

http://insidedateline.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/02/27/70742.aspx#comments


For every pathetic individual that gets caught by the show, how many evil, twisted, violent individuals learn from it? Many of the people you catch aren't very bright. Imagine what the intellectual Jeffrey Dahmer types are getting out of it?Food for thought...

The state of lies

http://news.independent.co.uk/environment/article2099971.ece

Wow. This time it’s real, undeniable and right in our faces. Islands are sinking, storms, like the world has never seen before are brewing, and the planet is falling into chaos, and yet the men who hold the power would have us believe that it’s all an illusion. That we are in fact innocent of the crime of planetary destruction.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/frontpage/story/0,,2004399,00.html

I suppose that, as the saying goes, “you can produce any study to prove anything you want” holds true, so somebody will come out with something that these lowlifes can use as ammunition in the halls of government. Of all the gall. Of all the unmitigated, unscrupulous, deeply selfish acts, these people have an adjenda. It’s to sell you the fossil fuels that started this mess in the first place, and this study means that, someday soon, someone will be looking at them to stop making money. I suppose $10,000 is a small price to pay to keep the shareholders happy. Now it’s no surprise that these companies have ties to the Bush administration, so you’ll understand why G.W. hasn’t jumped on the ‘lets clean it up’ bandwagon just yet. Why should he, he just made a war over OIL, the one goodie that can be held fully accountable for the destruction. Think of the scandal should the world develop technology the removes the need for oil, then bans it’s use. The Iraqi war would then be a hell of a lot less profitable, would it not? No worries Exxon. Not while old George is on the case.

A New Spirituality

As time passes, we’re stepping away from our spirituality, into a more, physical plain of reality. Here, there is no room for God, only the science of change that’s moulding our society into some jungle beast that feels nothing for the prey it captures and kills for it’s dinner. It knows it’s own hunger, nothing more.
More and more I see the signs of apathy. It plagues our ideologies, our streets, and most of all, our media, the greatest teacher of all. You need only watch one episode of ‘The Aprentice’ to know what I mean. Through the influence of roll models, such as, Donald Trump, we’re taught that the roots of success are in knowing when your rivals (or peers) have their back turned so you can drive the knife in. What’s worse is that this behavior is well accepted in todays society. We praise the ruthless corporate guy simply for the wads of disposable income afforded to him as he claws, and betrays his way to the top.
It’s obvious that we, as a society, have conveniently dropped the ‘community’ principals of the past in favour of the ‘individual’. We’ve backed away from what we’ve all learned in Sunday school, and replaced it with Monday night TV.
Truth be told, it’s not all bad. The church is a relic. A throwback to a time when men huddled in their caves praying for the rains to stop, and the sun to come out again. To them, only God was up to such a task. Today, we, as a species, control it all. We are the masters, and have no room for God. It doesn’t mean that we have to completely give up our spirituality, but rather addopt a new form of faith. A faith in each other, where every man/woman/child is God. Where we seek each other’s guidance, or forgiveness. In our new faith, maybe we can find a renewed source of compassion. One that doesn’t say, “they did it to themselves, they can deal with it”, but rather says, “they made a mistake and need our help”.

I recall, not to long ago walking downtown Toronto and every block was some poor individual, asking for a handout. Between myself, and my fiance, we often carry pockets full of loonies and toonies to give away. As I approached one man, ready to drop some coin in his hat, his attention was on a clean cut, suit-and-tie-guy talking on his cell. Too far away to hear their exchange of words, I saw this poor man reach out with his hat, hoping that the man would make it a bit heavier. Instead, this pillar of society, this valuable asset to the economy, this suit wearing, polo smelling hero walks past the man, brushing past his, held out, hat nearly knocking it out of his grasp. Then he proceeded to glare at the poor individual like you would to a telemarketer, if only you could transmit a play by play of your face through the phone. Ahhh. Our hero.

Another time, I asked a friend as to why she refused to give vagrants money. As she put it, “they only buy drugs or alcohol with it.”
My reply was simple; “So what. Let them. You’re going to go home tonight, lock yourself safely in your home. Go to your fridge and grab a nice snack, then cozy up on your couch and watch a bit of TV. He’ll be here, in this doorway, chugging back mouthwash, and likely urinating on himself.”
Her response was priceless, “So, I work for my money. Why should I give it to him?”
To which I could only say, “There’s a reason he’s here, and I doubt it’s because he’s lazy. Nobody wants to eat out of garbage cans because it’s easier than the 9-5. He may be sick. He may be unskilled, or his brain may simply be wired wrong, but whatever it is, he does not WANT to be here. You don’t have to give your hard earned cash. You don’t have to do anything. Just don’t ignore him. Don’t write him off, don’t try to reform him and don’t pretend that he doesn’t matter.”

Credit companies keeping the Poor, Poor

I read an article yesterday;
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070225/ts_alt_afp/useconomypoverty_070225003515


For one reason or another, there’s people who can’t pay their bills. Job loss, illness/injury, even over extending themselves financially. For anyone who hasn’t had to deal with this, the system is brilliant and simple. When a person defaults on their credit payments, the account gets sold to a collection agency. That’s right, SOLD, to the collectors. The idea is that they buy the account, at a reduced price, from the credit card companies, with the idea that they can hound the affor mentioned debtor, until they’re ready to draw the blood from their own veins to clear their debts. This goes on and on with one of two possible outcomes; 1. the debt is paid to the satisfaction of the collection agency, or 2. they lose track of the debtor whereby they attack the person’s personal credit rating as listed with the credit bureau.
The irony is, that even if the debtor meets the the first criteria, his credit report is sullied with a derogatory comment that could seriously hinder his possibility of future loans for many years to come. Needless to say, if, god forbid, the debtor does not pay off his loan, he/she can forget about credit for a long, long time. No credit cards, car loans, or mortgages. This person’s future is destroyed, at least for the next 7 years, when their debts come off of the books. If, however, the creditors contact the debtor before the 7 years are up, that time is extended another 7 years from the date the contact was made. This creates a vicious cycle where, someone who has dug themselves into this hole, even with good intentions to reimburse these companies, is left with a bad credit score, limiting them financially, and can seriously alter their lifestyle. These days, it’s common to go through a background check when applying for a new job. A negative credit rating can mean that someone qualified for a skilled position is left working a minimum wage job simply to get by. It’s somewhat like a double edge sword, where job loss causes the debt, and the debt prevents the person from acquiring a new job. Even renting an apartment in the shadiest of neighbourhoods is difficult at best, and would require some substantial deposit.
It’s not the fault of the companies. They’re simply looking out for their own best interests. It isn’t their fault if we cannot pay our debts. They have a business to run. The fault lies solely with the credit reporting system, and the penalties imposed. The fact that our entire, financial, lives can be traced through our social insurance numbers, and can be broken down into a few lines on a sheet of paper. This sheet of paper stays with us our entire lives, clearing every few years, but never allowing for someone to fully free themselves of it’s grasp. The system, in this country needs to be amended, if we are to redraw the poverty line. We need to create a system for loan/debt forgivness where the poor can appeal these derogatory remarks on their record, and start a new life, possibly with better pay, and more opportunities. Punishing a poor person for being poor is a crime in itself, and we do them an injustice by allowing this to continue.
If we want to redraw the lines, we need to make changes. We need to stop punishing people this way, and allow, those that earn it, a way to redeem themselves.

First in line

I'm not sure why I'm here. For some silly reason, I feel like I have something to say. We'll see if it's worth reading.

Today, I think the world changes. Not some drammatic convergence of powers that force a new big bang, but the whimper of some beaten dog that, with a glimmer in his eye turns on his master. Is he damaged, or is he changed?