The wisdom of our elders

December 10th marked the 61st Anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Decleration of Human Rights by the United Nations in 1948.

The UN is not a popular body with many conservatives, and, frankly, much of the scourging it receives from the right is amply justified. I’m not speaking here of the fevered imaginings of conspiracy theorists, but rather, for example, of very real scandals like Human Rights Commission’s chaired by totalitarian  regimes, such as Libya, that make a mockery of the very concept of universal human rights. We can also point to the sordid spectacle of a General Assembly seemingly always at the ready to condemn Israel, while standing silent as terrible atrocities are perpetrated on other corners of the planet. To this short list might be added endemic corruption and sundry other woes.

Perhaps it was inevitable that the United Nations would never live up to the high expectations of its founders. Collective defense, after all, was always destined to founder on the rocks of diverging national interests- as dangers and opportunities, benefits and burdens, are never evenly distributed across the international system. Moreover, to paraphrase a famous quote, collective defense is unnecessary when unanimity exists about a threat, and essentially unworkable absent such a consensus.

Be that as it may, and despite the ample amounts of justly deserved criticism that can, and should, be leveled at the UN, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights remains a document worth celebrating. Quite simply, it represents the collective wisdom of western civilization on human rights as it emerged from the horrors of the Second World War.

We’d do well to remember the dark passage of the war years- the global cataclysm- that sets the context for the adoption of the Declaration, and to revisit its clear, unambiguous, statement about the dignity of every person. Horror, after all, is not something confined to the history books. We flirt dangerously with a descent into new, and more awful, forms of barbarism the moment we forget that the “recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.” This principle has been, and remains, the sole basis upon which a more decent common future can be constructed.

In solidarity then, with all those whose dignity and rights are denied,  wherever they may be:

PREAMBLE

Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world,

Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people,

Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law,

Whereas it is essential to promote the development of friendly relations between nations,

Whereas the peoples of the United Nations have in the Charter reaffirmed their faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women and have determined to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,

Whereas Member States have pledged themselves to achieve, in co-operation with the United Nations, the promotion of universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms,

Whereas a common understanding of these rights and freedoms is of the greatest importance for the full realization of this pledge,

Now, Therefore THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY proclaims THIS UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance, both among the peoples of Member States themselves and among the peoples of territories under their jurisdiction.

Article 1.

• All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood. 

Article 2.

• Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.

Article 3.

• Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.

Article 4.

• No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.

Article 5.

• No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

Article 6.

• Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.

Article 7.

• All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.

Article 8.

• Everyone has the right to an effective remedy by the competent national tribunals for acts violating the fundamental rights granted him by the constitution or by law.

Article 9.

• No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.

Article 10.

• Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him.

Article 11.

• (1) Everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law in a public trial at which he has had all the guarantees necessary for his defence.
• (2) No one shall be held guilty of any penal offence on account of any act or omission which did not constitute a penal offence, under national or international law, at the time when it was committed. Nor shall a heavier penalty be imposed than the one that was applicable at the time the penal offence was committed.

Article 12.

• No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.

Article 13.

• (1) Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state.
• (2) Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country.

Article 14.

• (1) Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution.
• (2) This right may not be invoked in the case of prosecutions genuinely arising from non-political crimes or from acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.

Article 15.

• (1) Everyone has the right to a nationality.
• (2) No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality nor denied the right to change his nationality.

Article 16.

• (1) Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution.
• (2) Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses.
• (3) The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State.

Article 17.

• (1) Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others.
• (2) No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property.

Article 18.

• Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.

Article 19.

• Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

Article 20.

• (1) Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.
• (2) No one may be compelled to belong to an association.

Article 21.

• (1) Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives.
• (2) Everyone has the right of equal access to public service in his country.
• (3) The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures.

Article 22.

• Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social security and is entitled to realization, through national effort and international co-operation and in accordance with the organization and resources of each State, of the economic, social and cultural rights indispensable for his dignity and the free development of his personality.

Article 23.

• (1) Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.
• (2) Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work.
• (3) Everyone who works has the right to just and favourable remuneration ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity, and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection.
• (4) Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests.

Article 24.

• Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay.

Article 25.

• (1) Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.
• (2) Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection.

Article 26.

• (1) Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit.
• (2) Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.
• (3) Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.

Article 27.

• (1) Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits.
• (2) Everyone has the right to the protection of the moral and material interests resulting from any scientific, literary or artistic production of which he is the author.

Article 28.

• Everyone is entitled to a social and international order in which the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration can be fully realized.

Article 29.

• (1) Everyone has duties to the community in which alone the free and full development of his personality is possible.
• (2) In the exercise of his rights and freedoms, everyone shall be subject only to such limitations as are determined by law solely for the purpose of securing due recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms of others and of meeting the just requirements of morality, public order and the general welfare in a democratic society.
• (3) These rights and freedoms may in no case be exercised contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.

Article 30.

• Nothing in this Declaration may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or person any right to engage in any activity or to perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms set forth herein.

 

Quite the column!

Oh my.

In today’s NJ a former D city councilman whose family has been a D kingmaker for decades has ripped the congress and all incumbents as well.

That’s right he’s a democrat just like Queen Nancy, the San Francisco treat.

Now I’m no smart guy but when a former D councilman rips the change we could believe in; that tells me there is mass hysteria building.

The left base is flipped out because The President advocates just wars. The Independents have deserted him. The R women are back on track and in Delaware our manufacturing capacity has ended.

I could go on but instead read Councilman Poppiti’s DE Voice piece. It’s quite the column.

Climate Change versus Missile Defense

Let’s look at Climate Change:

Many world leaders are in Copenhagen right now (and why they would go to talk about “global warming” during the winter in Denmark speaks to the lousy planning involved in the whole thing) discussing what to do about the climate change “crisis”. This “crisis” has been discovered due to the fine work of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (or IPCC).

The IPCC’s 2007 report states that

the best estimate for the low scenario (B1) is 1.8°C (likely range is 1.1°C to 2.9°C), and the best estimate for the high scenario (A1FI) is 4.0°C (likely range is 2.4°C to 6.4°C).

(The whole “Summary for Policymakers” report can be found here.) These estimates are calculated from computer models that use over 1,200 equations (many simplified non-linear) and 1,300 variables. As a computer science and physics major, I know what can be done with 1,200 equations and 1,300 variables. So count me as skeptical as to the reported confidence of these assessments.

Taken at face value, what they mean is that, according to the IPCC, the earth will be between 1 and 3.5 degrees warmer in ~50 years — if the assumptions made today about 1,300 variables are accurate.

Let’s look at missile defense:

The spiral light from earlier this week in the Norwegian sky was caused by (according to CNN – the whole article can be found here) a failed Russian missile test:

“Typically, with rockets that fail, you will see it go out of control and start spiraling.

[In video footage], you could actually see something was spiraling very quickly,” [Pal Brekke, senior adviser at the Norwegian Space Centre in Oslo] said. “Immediately, I thought this must be a rocket that had been launched.”

In addition, we know that Iran is attempting to build there own nuclear missiles and North Korea has already successfully exploded a nuclear bomb while also testing long-range missiles. We’re largely propping up nuclear-armed Pakistan’s economy and greatly assisting their military.

The Heritage Foundation will be releasing a movie entitled “33 Minutes” in February 2010 (a short trailer for the movie can be found here). Once an enemy has fired a missile, the US would have at most 33 minutes to shoot it down.

Climate Change versus Missile Defense:

The choice our leaders have is 1) consider hobbling our economy during a horrible recession because a limited group of well-compensated scientists think that it will be 2 degrees warmer in 50 years, or 2) protect our country from existing foreign nations bent on our destruction.

Sustainable Energy Utility — Delaware Leading the Way with Market-based Solutions

Delaware’s Sustainable Energy Utility (SEU) is really starting to gear up. Delaware was long a laggard when it came to making our homes, businesses, and buildings more energy efficient. Senator Harris McDowell and University of Delaware Professor John Byrne worked together to create the Sustainable Energy Utility. You should check out the website: http://www.energizedelaware.org/.

There is a lot of talk about efficiency, green economy, etc. The SEU is a national model that is up and running. Furthermore, the SEU uses market-based solutions — not additional mandates and regulations. Senator McDowell has succeeded despite attempts by many big government/anti-business folks who wanted to shut him down. The graphic nearby already shows the benefits to the voluntary program.

Congratulations are in order.

New Castle County Republican Committee Launches Effort to Address Transit Issues

Once again, the GOP is taking the lead on proposing constructive alternatives in New Castle County. From the New Castle County Republican Committee:

12/8/2009

Republicans Launch Effort to Improve New Castle County Transportation  

-New Working Group Comprised of Members from Across County; Includes Rail Experts and Officials from State Senate, House, County Council and Local Governments-New Working Group Comprised of Members from Across County; Includes Rail Experts and Officials from State Senate, House, County Council and Local Governments

- Initial Focus Will Be on Rail

 

WILMINGTON (December 8, 2009) – The New Castle County Republican Committee today announced the formation of a new Working Group on Transportation.  The Working Group has begun a comprehensive review of NCCo transportation issues, challenges and opportunities, with the goal of advancing proposals that will transform Delaware’s transportation infrastructure, serve as an economic engine and be environmentally friendly. 

The effort will be led by Michael Stafford, an attorney with experience in transportation policy and planning, and chairman of the Colonial Republican Committee.

“Its long past the time we got serious about modernizing our infrastructure in New Castle County and ensuring it can accommodate future growth and economic development,” said Stafford.   “We have a tremendous opportunity to establish a state-of-the art transportation system that will make our state a model in the region.” 

The Working Group will put particular focus on the proposal to extend commuter rail service to the fast-growing areas in lower New Castle County, south of the C&D Canal.  The prospect of new BRAC-related jobs in Maryland has also drawn attention to the need for enhanced commuter-rail access south of Newark.  “Certainly, in my community below the C&D Canal, there is significant interest in commuter rail service to Wilmington, Philadelphia, and now, Maryland,” Stafford said.

The Group’s formation was heralded by United States Representative Mike Castle.

“As a long-time supporter of Amtrak and commuter rail, I applaud this effort and look forward to working with the Group to ensure our state has the absolute best transportation infrastructure possible in order to attract and capitalize on economic opportunities,” said Congressman Castle.

As part of a broad agenda introduced last month, “New Solutions for New Castle County,” New Castle County Republicans identified transportation planning as a critical public policy priority. 

“The economic and environmental benefits of commuter rail are compelling,” said Michael Fleming, NCCo Republican Committee Chair.  “Our goal is to deliver a plan that is a win-win – good for our economy and quality of life, but funded in a fiscally-responsible way.”

State Representative Tom Kovach further commented on the need for effective planning.  “A transit-oriented development approach is critical in the re-development of struggling, populated areas, by linking jobs with existing housing,” said Kovach.  “Transit-oriented development encourages a variety of uses, including housing, offices, retail, public parkland and other civic uses to be located within walking distance of a transit station.”

The Working Group is comprised of members from every corner of the county, including elected officials from the State Senate, House of Representatives, County Council, the City of Wilmington and local governments.  Other members include the President of the Delmarva Rail Passenger Association.

Initial Group Membership includes:

• Tom Posatko, President, Delmarva Rail Passenger Assoc.
• Mike Brown, Wilmington City Councilman
• Liane Sorenson, State Senator
• Tom Kovach, State Representative
• Greg Lavelle, State Representative
• Deborah Hudson, State Representative
• Bob Weiner, New Castle County Councilman
• Karen Jennings, Townsend Town Council
• Charles Dixon, Middletown Town Council
• Andrew Lundgren, Attorney
• Michael Fleming, Chairman, NCCo GOP

The Group has initiated an analysis of both commuter and freight rail in New Castle County, and in the coming months will work closely with transportation experts, public officials, academics and others to develop a plan for introduction in the first half of 2010.  The Group intends to hold public forums and welcomes input and engagement with all those interested in enhancing the county’s infrastructure.

For more information on this project please visit:

http://www.nccgop.com/news.asp?NewsID=382

Is Another Markell Appointee Hiding – Failed Delaware Transparency Part IV

This is the 4th part of an on-going look at the lack of transparency in Governor Markell’s Administration.

When Treasurer Markell won his gubernatorial race in Delaware, his Treasurer’s seat became an appointment opportunity for him to fill. He selected Velda Jones-Potter (You can find her bio here). Other than her City Councilman husband, Charles Potter, she had no previous, direct political experience. She was one of the business professionals brought in by Governor Markell to change business as usual in Delaware.

On February 9th, 2009, Treasurer Jones-Potter issued a joint press release with Auditor Tom Wagner in which she said:

“In light of all of the ‘pay to play’ scandals that headline our newspapers on a daily basis, there is absolutely no reason why any of us as elected officials should be entitled to any gift or gratuity based simply on the fact that we hold elective office, I think Governor Markell’s Executive Order is a great first step to help restore citizen’s faith in government.”

Of course, that was then, and now she is running to actually be elected as State Treasurer. So in late October, during “National Save for Retirement Week”, Treasurer Jones-Potter seems to have been the recipient of a “gift or gratuity based simply on the fact that [she] hold[s] elective office.” At the end of this post, you will see a copy of a print ad that was run in newspapers across Delaware as well as the audio of a Public Service Announcement (PSA) that was run on various radio stations. You’ll notice that neither ad states who paid for it.

Senator Colin Bonini, also an announced candidate for the Treasurer’s office, asked the current Treasurer a simple question: “Who paid for these ads? The taxpayer or someone else?”

The response from the Treasurer was “we’re not going to tell you so go file a FOIA”.

Seems to me that the Treasurer is hiding something. If not, then why not answer the question without creating a legal hurdle? Is she just another member of the Governor’s circle who is circling the wagons and avoiding accountability? Or is it an innocent political mistake by a neophyte, creating an issue where there isn’t one? The solution for her and the taxpayer is simple… Answer the question. Who paid for these ads?

For a couple of previous posts on the lack of transparency within the Markell Administration, check here and here.

Update on 12-9-2009:

It seems that the Treasurer likes to pick & choose to whom she speaks. Obviously, members of the news media, such as Mr. Williams with the News Journal, got access while elected officials did not, as evidenced by the letter below.

I leave it to the reader to decide two things: 1) Is it appropriate for a member of the Executive Branch to deny public information to an elected representative while providing that information to the media? And 2) does the Treasurer’s negotiation of a contract requiring the vendor to produce ads promoting the Treasurer constitute a “pay-to-play” (i.e. a gift) by the vendor to get that contract?

End of Update

Jones-Potter PSA

Ambulance crew unable to find place for suicidal girl… in Britain.

The BBC ran the following last Thursday (The whole article can be found here):

A mentally ill, suicidal teenager was ferried around for hours by an ambulance crew because no N[ational Health Service] unit would accept her, the BBC has learnt .

The girl eventually had to be taken to a police cell, documents revealed under the Freedom of Information Act show.

The case is revealed in a memo sent by one of the paramedics who dealt with the incident, which he described as a “clear system failure on the part of mental health services for children in Ipswich which caused distress and harm to the patient”.

Ahhh, the benefits of a government-run system — 15 year girls suffering acute mental illness wind up in adult jails. Four different government-run facilities either denied her access or were unable to take her. The paramedic crew drove her around for 3 hours until eventually taking her to jail, where she spent 6 hours.

A spokesperson for the East of England Ambulance Service said: “While in a similar situation it would be the police, rather than the ambulance staff who would need to be aware of the arrangements in place, we can confirm that our operational staff are fully conversant with the action they should take in an incident involving any young people in Suffolk detained under Section 136 of the Mental Health Act.”

Suffolk Police said: “Changes in the Mental Health Act now allow for someone suffering from a mental illness to be transferred from one place of safety to another where it is considered to be in the best interests of the person concerned and with the agreement of those agencies involved in providing the care.

“The time taken to refer someone to the most appropriate health care professional can be affected by a number of issues for example, the degree of intoxication affecting some members of a highly vulnerable group of people or the availability of “out of hours” support from other agencies”.

The ambulance folks blame the police, which seems odd, and the police say that the decision as to where to send someone “can be affected” by “”out of hours” support” (Which I think means “Is there anybody actually working in the facility?”). Furthermore, the legislature now “allows” through the “Mental Health Act” that you can transfer a patient to the best place for that patient as determined by… the Police (at least in this case). And a doctor gets involved exactly when?

Finger-pointing, nobody working, jailing teens, legislation driving medical decisions… That is a great system.

Good News on Joblessness, but What is the Long Term Picture?

There was good news on the national jobs front this week. The unemployment rate dropped .2% from 10.2% to 10%. I have long been a pessimist on the jobs front, and I remain one. A detailed analysis of the employment picture combined with a first hand knowledge of the small business climate makes me quite skeptical. The following is some information in an analysis piece from National Public Radio (The whole article can be found here).

The jobless rate usually sees a sizable drop during the economic recovery — and bigger recessionary spikes in unemployment are typically followed by larger declines during the first year of improving unemployment. So it would be no surprise if, a year after the unemployment rate begins to drop, it falls to the 9 percent range.

So, the authors expect unemployment to fall to, perhaps, 9% in the next year. I find this number very optimistic, but their job is to watch leading indicators and compare historic trends, so they certainly have a lot of credibility. I hope that they are correct. However, their further analysis is much more troubling.

If [the historic US job growth] pattern persists, the U.S. economy needs to keep expanding without interruption until 2020 for unemployment to fall to its pre-recession low of 4.4 percent. Should the next recession arrive earlier, as we suspect, it will take much longer. The implications constitute nothing short of a wake-up call for policy makers who promise to get job growth back on track.

In other words, if the US keeps following the same economic policies of over-regulating business, providing corporate welfare to protect large corporations at the expense of entrepreneurs, and over-taxing job creation, it could be decades (or maybe never) until we get back to 4.4% unemployment.

The world has changed. We can’t unchange it. We either adapt or fade away. As evidenced in Delaware by the Left’s 30 year attack on manufacturing and manufacturing job creation, it seems that they’d like to see us fade away — and they are winning. Or should I say that Delaware and the country is losing. Again to quote from the article:

The “great moderation” of business cycles once extolled by many economists, including Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, is history. The trend rate of growth is shriveling. In other words, business cycles are back with a vengeance…

It is at least conceivable that either enlightened policy measures, or good luck, or both, will result in a decisive break from these patterns.”

I’m not a gambler (having never bet a quarter in a US casino), so I don’t want to just wait for “good luck”. I’m not seeing much in the way of “enlightened” policies from the General Assembly or Congress. It is certainly time for new leadership.

The Constitution says “Promote the General Welfare” not “Provide Welfare”

There is nothing that I could add.

SURJ Announces Subsidized Volunteer Opportunities

The following is a JPEG copy of an announcement from SURJ, the criminal justice reform non-profit whose board I chair. Therefore, the links in the graphic are not live. If you’d like to see the News Journal article about the Vista opportunities, please click the following link. If you are interested in applying online, please select the following link.

SURJ is a leading advocate in Delaware for reforming our criminal justice system. I believe that our criminal justice system is fundamentally flawed, and that our every increasing incarceration rate demonstrates that failure. If you’d like to know more about SURJ, please visit our website at http://www.surj.org. If you’d like to donate a few bucks to the cause, you can do that at the SURJ website, too.

My personal thanks to Sam Waltz for his help in distributing this message.