Update from the
Heartland
No.629
30.12.13 – 5.1.14
Blog version: http://heartlandupdate.blogspot.com/
To all,
Aslan Soobzokov sent the latest update in
his extraordinary efforts to find justice for his assassinated father –
Tscherim Soobzokov [15.August.1985].
“Appreciate your input. All that I profess is based on
evidence and well-reasoned analysis.
“FYI communication was attempted with the executive branch.
The results are consistent to my efforts thus far.
“Frankly I sense wrath from the ‘evil doers.’ They should
know that I do not fear the after life nor the process.”
The Washington
Post reported the U.S. Government (USG) petitioned Associate Justice
Sotomayor, as the cognizant, duty justice, to lift the temporary injunction she
issued New Year’s Eve on behalf of the Little Sisters of the Poor, exempting
them from compliance with some provisions of the PPACA [PL 111-148; 124 Stat.
119; 23.3.2010] [432], regarding the
availability of contraceptive services.
There are a number of similar cases working their way through the
judicial process. The Little
Sisters of the Poor, a non-profit, charitable, religious organization, objected
to the imposition of certain parts of the PPACA on religious grounds. There are also for-profit corporations
making similar claims with respect to medical coverage for their employees
under PPACA. When we add several
disputed end-of-life incidents, we begin to see the fundamental question: where
do the boundaries of individual sanctity, autonomy and dominion lay? The availability of certain services
does NOT mean anyone is required to use them. I understand, appreciate and accept the personal objections
on religious grounds to contraception or abortion by the nuns of the Little
Sisters of the Poor organization.
Do the Little Sisters have the right to intrude upon very private
medical decisions of its employees?
Which is dominant, the rights of the organization or a citizens
fundamental right to privacy? Can
the State force medical services to keep a brain-dead woman on life support
because she is carrying a first trimester fetus? To me, all these questions boil down to where the
individual’s fundamental right to privacy ends? When or how or under what conditions can the State or a
corporation or any organization dictate the private choices of an individual
citizen?
With the Colorado recreational marijuana use
law now operational, the diversity of opinion continues to percolate around us. More opinions:
“The perils of legalized pot”
by Ruth Marcus
Washington Post
Published: January 2 [2014]
and
“Colorado's Pot Experiment – Other states can see how
legalization works out in the Stoner State”
Editorial Opinion
Wall Street Journal
Updated Jan. 2, 2014 10:31 p.m. ET
We complain about the Nanny State and the big, nasty
government intruding into our private lives, and then we have opinions like
these. I struggle with reconciling
the dichotomy. There is rarely any
proselytizing about individual responsibility and accountability, and even more
rare to focus on parental responsibility.
Just because these substances are available does not mean or require
use. The decision to use
psychotropic substances is a personal, private choice. In my most humble opinion, our
objective should be: first, to prevent any collateral damage or injury; second,
to eliminate the criminal sub-culture that thrives on smuggling and violating
prohibition; and third, to establish good quality and dosage control at
regulated sources through the distribution system. In a free society, our attention must be on public safety
and order and avoid intruding upon private choices and affairs. It appears from afar that Colorado is
attempting not just legalization but proper regulation as well. Probability says, Colorado may not have
produced a regulation scheme that is complete or fully effective. Yet, we must congratulate Coloradans
for their efforts to attain a better state of affairs regarding the use of
marijuana. We need Colorado to be
successful and show us the way toward ending this damnable, foolish, wasteful, so-called
war on drugs and help us attain a more enlightened free society.
Comments
and contributions from Update no.628:
“I hope the Textron buy of Beechcraft works out. Like any
conglomerate they have their problems but the one good thing I can say about
them even in my tenure at Bell years ago, if a good business case was made
for an upgrade program or a new aircraft they would fund it. Fast forward
they are funding two Bell civil programs right now in the 525 heavy medium
civil transport and the SLS at the other end of the spectrum about the
size of the 206B3, plus they are making noises like they a doing company
funding (general research) and probably some IRAD money for the V280 tiltrotor
both for military and civil applications.
I hope they aren’t looking at Beech as a money source from their product
line, but will inject funds for new product development.”
My reply:
I
sure hope you are correct. Beech
is a venerable and noble company with a long history. I would expect Textron to invest in Beechcraft. We have to get through regulatory
approval, closing the sale, and then accomplishing some degree of unspecified
integration. I suspect I will
observe the process from afar; I expect to retire next year . . . at least from
the corporate world. I want to spend
much more time writing.
Another contribution:
“I have to agree that Snowden should be held accountable for
his treasonous actions. If there is anything positive to come out of this
entire affair, it is that the NSA and other security agencies and departments
needed an eye opener to what they perceived as impenetrable systems and
methods. Shame on all for their laxness and apathy in that regard.
“Also, I saw pieces of the info the NSA allowed 60 minutes
to see regarding the intelligence gathering of the phone traffic. I found
it both reassuring and irritating. Reassuring in that it confirmed that
conversations were not being acquired outside the due process of the laws
protecting our civil rights. On the other hand, I found it quite
irritating that it now provides additional information and a fairly clear road
map for our enemies as to what it now takes to work around our systems.
“All in all, we have lost in our progress to protect this
republic and each other. Shame on those who think/believe this is
democratic progress. If intelligence data were to be disseminated to
those in need as it should be, then those that truly feel they need to know
should join the agencies and departments, take their applicable oaths to defend
this republic, and put their words into actions with meanings.”
My response:
Well
said. I am still struggling with
the authenticity of Press reports and other sources regarding the Snowden
affair. I have yet to see one
reportedly authentic document. I do
not believe the USG would have reacted as it has if there was not some veracity
to his betrayal. For all these
Press and other sources, how do you prove the accuracy of the “documents” or
their observations and opinions?
How do we know these things are really happening?
Assuming
that even a mere fraction of the claimed Snowden documents are authentic, you
are precisely correct . . . an indictment of the NSA security procedures and
the gross complacency of those charged with protecting the NSA’s systems and
information.
I
trust the USG is deep into adaptation and modification of its collection and
security processes, as it has done after every compromise – Ames, Pollard, Walker,
Hanssen, et cetera. I have faith
we shall overcome the damage done by Snowden.
A different
contribution:
“Interesting development. I hope Textron runs Beech and
Cessna separately. Take advantage of some shared services - but let the two
evolve to complement each other in the market (and reduce the head to head). I
saw Scott [Donnelly, CEO Textron] at AIA the week before Thanksgiving. He's a
good guy. Former GE.”
My reply:
Interesting
development, indeed! Likewise, I
hope Textron keeps Cessna & Beech separate to preserve name recognition and
brand identity. I would like to
see a blended product line catalogue that would not relegate Beech to props and
Cessna to jets. I also hope
Textron sees the wisdom of completing certification of the H200, Premier II –
simply too good of a design to pass up.
We shall see how this goes.
My very best wishes to all. Take care of yourselves and each other.
Cheers,
Cap :-)
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