April 15, 2006
The Investigation Continues...
When did this phrase work its way into our news lexicon? The use and abuse of this phrase really struck me a couple of weeks ago, and I have been meaning to blog about it. I was reading the newspaper when I came across a blurb about a local bank discovering what they thought were some suspect one hundred dollar bills. Apparently, the police were notified, the Secret Service was called in, the bills were found to be authentic, yet an "investigation continues." Huh?
If the bills were real, why would the investigation continue? Are they investigating why a bank (usually expert at handling money) would think authentic bills were fakes? Maybe our real bills are too easily confused as bogus? They do look funny. Is the investigation related to how some individual came into possession of the particular series of currency in question? Maybe "the investigation is continuing" wasn't just the lazy journalism of this news reporter at all, but was offered by the Secret Service people so that they could stay on and enjoy a couple more days on sunny Cape Cod. That would be a slick way to buy a day or two off for an overworked Secret Service agent: investigate a report of counterfeit bills (or even plant some), identify the currency as legitimate, and then hang out for a few days under the auspices of a continuing investigation. Maybe the Secret Service has a two day minimum?
Personally, I would like an investigation into why the investigation was continuing, and how many days we paid people to stay here investigating.
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Cape Cod, counterfeit, journalism, government, tax-dollars, funny-money
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Posted by capecodcyclist at 10:28 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
April 13, 2006
A Quaint Drugging Village With a Fishing Problem
What happened last week in the town of Falmouth, Massachusetts, could have just as easily transpired in just about any small town in the United States. Last Friday morning, before many of us had even gotten to work, local law enforcement officers conducted raids on the homes of nine Falmouth area teenagers. The early morning raid resulted in the arrests of nine teens, and was punctuated by the confiscation of more than $6,000.00 worth of marijuana, various drug paraphernalia, and $3,500 in cash from one of the suspects alone. The raids, and subsequent arrests, were the culmination of a four month undercover operation conducted by the Falmouth police. The investigation was conducted by a 23-year-old, female, undercover officer from the Barnstable County Sheriff's department who posed as a high school student, and the results speak for themselves.
The reactions in the days since the raids have run the gamut from exclamations of outrage at the conduct of the undercover operation and cries of entrapment from enabling parents, to the news being met with the heartfelt appreciation of many students, parents and residents who long to see the distraction of drugs eradicated from school property. What is most surprising about the public reaction to the results of this investigation, is the obvious denial that runs rampant throughout the community. Anyone who has graduated from a public high school in the last 25-30 years (at least here in New England) knows how prevalent drugs are. Still, every time a drinking or drug related teenage death occurs, arrests are made, or a tragedy occurs, the reaction is the same. The stunned looks and dropped jaws are apparent everywhere, but what was the big surprise?
The supposed adults in the community began authoring excuses for this little mistake within a few days of the arrests. The lead headline in the editorial section of yesterday's Falmouth Enterprise read: "Put Arrests Into Perspective". Despite acknowledging that the undercover officer was able to purchase drugs on school grounds 32 times, the piece asks, "How serious is it?" The column goes on to question whether the "media hoopla" surrounding the arrests might have been the result of "a slow news day." The author even openly inquired as to the possibility that maybe these teens were just good kids who had made bad choices.
Was this editorial for real? Is this how we judge the seriousness of such stories today? Apparently, the media's scales of justice weigh the two sides differently; are these good people doing illegal things, or are these bad people doing illegal things? It seems that this is the gauge that is now being applied to everyone from our corrupt, good-intentioned politicians, to the "good" kid with the digital scales, blunts and bags of money in his bedroom. Admitting that the problem of drug use is rampant in our society (amongst teenagers and adults) is necessary to honestly putting this situation into perspective. Drug use is real, marijuana is just the tip of the iceberg, and it is not just our teenagers abusing them.
Here in Falmouth, some concerned parents will surely continue their efforts toward combating the drug problem. They were active in this before any arrests ever occurred. Lines of communication may even be opened as a result of this shakedown, and some kids may even get the help they need. But what of the countless teenagers throughout this community and throughout the country who will not get that help? What of the untold legions of adults who will continue on with their own bad habits, without any consideration for the examples they are setting for our children? As the Falmouth Enterprise has asked, how serious is it? In my opinion, it is all too serious. Falmouth, Massachusetts, Cape Cod hometown to the author of America the Beautiful,, can now count itself as yet another example of America the Ugly. We are continuing to see the results of generations of denial, enabling and tolerance of drug and alcohol abuse in our society. Although exposing these flaws may be an embarrassment to some, denying their seriousness is contributing to the problem, not helping. It was a very wise person who said, "problems should not just be faced, they should be attacked." Acknowledging and confronting these problems is our last and only chance at regaining control. Many of us are encouraged by these small signs that we may still have the strength of conviction to continue the attack. Our future may depend on it.
Related articles:
Technorati Tags: Massachusetts, Cape Cod, law enforcement, crime, illegal-drugs, high-school, education
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March 03, 2006
Lets Get Positive in 2006
Elect Jeff Perry State Representative 5th District Barnstable:
"While our First Amendment certainly protects free speech, especially political speech, it does not allow someone to make false statements with the reckless intention to damage someone's reputation. Speaking to many local officials, I am hearing more often that some well qualified individuals decide not to seek elected office due to their apprehension that their personal integrity will be under constant attack."
Representative Jeff Perry of Sandwich hits the nail on the head with his column this month. It is a sad commentary on our local, state and federal politics when running for office requires that you must be ready to endure such libel and slander. Hopefully the voters will take Jeff Perry's message to heart, and send a clear message to the candidates that negative, attack campaigns will not be tolerated. Enough is enough...
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Massachusetts, politics, Republican, Representative Jeff Perry
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February 10, 2006
Who is Deval Patrick?
Is affirmative action doomed?:
"Patrick's attempt to rewrite the law of affirmative action, rather than prudently withdrawing the government's brief in this explosive case, must be ranked among the most peculiar decisions of the Clinton Justice Department."
"Peculiar" would not have been my word choice. In doing some research on Deval Patrick, I stumbled upon the above article. Is running on a platform of bringing "compassion" back to Massachusetts just a toned down version of his obvious racial preferences agenda? You be the judge.
Read the Article:Is affirmative action doomed? How the law is unraveling by Paul Burka From The New Republic, October 17, 1994
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politics, Massachusetts, Governor's race, Governor, Election, Campaign, Deval Patrick, Cape Cod
Posted by capecodcyclist at 08:56 PM | Comments (0)
February 07, 2006
Libraries as Terrorist Sanctuaries
TCS Daily - Libraries as Terrorist Sanctuaries:
"Not content merely to make possible homeland security investigations as difficult as possible for the government, librarians nationwide have also taken to regularly destroying computer user lists, posting signs warning patrons of possible FBI surveillance and abuse, and turning off video cameras, as was done in Newton."
After logging onto CLAMS and finding that a book I wanted to read was available, Jesse and I went to the Falmouth Public Library tonight. I read the above story after we had returned home. I didn't notice any signs warning of FBI surveillance while I was at the library tonight, but if there were any, I would not have been concerned. I would have been more concerned if my public library was opposed to their computers being just that: public and subject to law enforcement review. You see, I have nothing to hide, and if such a minor intrusion into my life saves someone else's, it is worth it.
This irrational, misdirected fear is getting out of control. Are the inmates taking over the asylum?
Posted by capecodcyclist at 08:50 PM | Comments (0)
Someone Should do a Survey
People have been leaving Massachusetts in droves. As a matter of fact, unlike the rest of the country, more people are leaving than coming. Massachusetts is the only state that can claim that distinction for both of the last two years. What is driving our friends, families and coworkers to pack it up and move away?
While some may point to finances, and others complain that our harsh, northeast winters are to blame, I am not so sure that I subscribe to either theory.
I would like to know just how much the fanatical left wing politics of many of our representatives and residents is driving people away. To say I am disenchanted with many of our elected representatives, and that I have lost faith in much of the humanity we share our hometown's and State with is an understatement. Would I be packing it in and moving away if most of my family was not living here? You bet I would.
I am sick of the insufferable, self-righteous attitudes.
I am sick of the feel good mentality.
I am sick of criminals and deadbeats having more rights than their victims.
I am sick of schools indoctrinating our children with their beliefs (or denying them their own).
I am sick of being labelled a racist, a sexist, a bigot, etc. for expressing these concerns.
I am sick of the fact that I could go on and on with this list, and it grows more each day.
Bitter? You bet I am; and I think that if we were to survey the people who have left Massachusetts, many of these folks were too. If you care about this state and the future of our communities, it is something to think about. The political climate here is more rotten than our winter weather, and it could lead to Massachusetts' eventual downfall.
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