Tuesday, March 26, 2013

A Suggestion to Address Violence in Our Society

Here are the letters that Hank wrote to Ben Cardin and Arne Duncan. I think they are self explanatory.


Letter 1:


Senator Ben Cardin
509 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC  20510

Dear Senator Cardin,

I would like to propose an idea that several of my senior friends agree would be a worthwhile endeavor: namely, mandate Anger Management classes for all elementary school children, with a follow-up reminder class in high school. This may provide a useful counter to bullying against youngsters and help diminish the need to settle arguments with guns when older. In fact, this may prove even more useful to reduce gun deaths than proposed laws limiting the size of ammunition clips. It may even save some marriages.


Letter 2:

U.S. Department of Education
Attention: Secretary Arne Duncan
400 Maryland Ave. SW
LBJ Education Building, 7W311
Washington DC 20202

Attachment: letter sent to Senator Ben Cardin

Dear Secretary Duncan,

1. The majority of firearm killings use small pistols not covered by any of the proposed restrictive gun/ammo laws.
2. Many killings also use knives or weapons other than firearms.
3. Many killings result from domestic disputes (and even some suicides are caused by domestic violence).
4. Therefore, I deduce that perhaps over 90% of all killings do not use the type of military type weapons or ammo that are contemplated being restricted.
5. Which leads me to the question: why does Congress and the Administration focus, seemingly exclusively, on perhaps 10% or less of the killing problem and ignore the remaining 90%? For purposes of this proposal I am ignoring other types of accidental deaths (e.g., by automobile).
6. I would like to suggest there is much more bang for the buck in attempting to diminish the perceived need for killing in the first place –which leads me to my suggestion that MANDATED classes in anger management be instituted in early grades of elementary school, with follow-up classes in high school for reinforcement of previously learned techniques. Hopefully this will lead to a mentally healthier society.
I hope my suggestion will bear fruit.


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Monday, March 18, 2013

Three Books on the High Cost of Healthcare

Dory started a lively discussion on the high cost of healthcare by recommending the book, Catastrophic Care: How American Health Care Killed My Father--and How We Can Fix It. This book blames high cost on the lack of market forces. While the author makes a good case, there is still some question if market forces work on life-or-death situations. But there are many situations in which there is time to consider treatment options. One situation is the diagnosis of heathy people with potential health problems, even though no symptoms have yet occurred. This is covered in another book mentioned in today's meeting, Overdiagnosed: Making People Sick in the Pursuit of Health. Both books have drawn attention due the Time magazine article, Bitter Pill, by Steve Brill which was widely covered by mainstream media.

 So why did the high cost of healthcare received so little attention during the Obama Care legislation? There was actually a popular book,  Money-Driven Medicine, which was release in March 2009 just in time for the healthcare debate which followed. There was a grassroots movement which tried to call attention to the cost issues raised in the book. A movie was released with the same name. There is still an active website, http://moneydrivenmedicine.org, where you can view clips of the movie. 

Maybe  Obama wanted to tackle one villain at a time. Rather than going after all the healthcare problems, he chose to focus first on the Insurance. Obama had always said that his bill was just a start. Maybe the nation is now ready for the next step, but with the gridlock in Washington, it is unlikely anything will be done soon.


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Monday, March 11, 2013

World Court

There were some questions about the World Court in today's discussion about the Kenya Election. First of all there are actually two World Courts. The term, "World Court," normally applies to the International Court of Justice, ICJ, which deals with governments. But it can also mean the International Criminal Court, ICC, which deas with individuals. The Kenya case was against an individual, Uhuru Kenyatta, so "World Court" means the ICC in this case.

 The question at today's meeting was how is a case brought to the ICC. According to wikipedia a case be opened as a result of a complaint from individuals or organizations for crimes in "States Parties." Crimes outside a state party, require a referral by the Security Council or a declaration by the state to grant the ICC jurisdiction. There was some question if the ICC had jurisdiction in Kenya. It appears that Kenya is no longer a State Party to the ICC, but the ICC had jurisdiction for the Kenyatta case. (Note, the United States and Israel have taken themselves out of the jurisdiction of the ICC.) 


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Spotlight on Maryland

The first topic on Lowell's handout which covered Maryland bills on gun control and the death penalty was not covered in today's meeting. This is strange since these bills are attracting national attention. Fortunately, we have Ken to remind us of the importance of local issues.

Here is nice summary by Ken of currents issues pending in the Maryland legislature. (Note: this blog post has be updated from an earlier post with current news from Ken)



1) Firearm Safety (SB281/HB294)
 
Either bill could be sent up to the House floor at any time.  Sending up the Senate-passed SB281 would expedite the process.  It will still have to go through a barrage of amendments in the House.
 
 
(2) Death Penalty Repeal (SB276)
 
The Senate passed SB276 27-20 with Senator Kittleman (LD9) voting YES and Senators Kasemeyer (LD12) and Robey (LD13) voting NO.  The House Judiciary Committee voted 14-8 almost immediately to send it unamended to the the House floor, where it could be acted on at any time now.
 
 
 
(3) Offshore Wind Energy (HB226)
 
After House passage of HB226, the Senate amended and passed it 30-15. Senators Kasemeyer and Robey voted YES and Senator Kittleman voted NO. Final passage would require that the differences be resolved and this is expected.
 
 
(4) Corporate welfare for Lockheed Martin ?
 
That’s what SB631 and identical HB815 are called by David Moon of the blog Maryland Juice.  Senate Bill 631 is on the Senate floor and ready for passage there.  House Bill 815 had a hearing on Feb. 28 in the House Ways and Means Committee on which Howard County Delegate Frank Turner (LD13) sits.
Here are the bills along with the Fiscal and Policy Note explaining them.
 
 
Here are the comments of the blogger:
 
 
(5) Voters’ Rights Protection (HB220)
 
This anti-dirty tricks in elections bill is ready for House passage on the floor.
 
 
(6  Fund transportation projects via gas tax increase (HB1515/SB1054)
 
House Bill 1515 is scheduled for hearing on Fri., Mar. 15 in the House Ways and Means Committee.  The identical Senate bill is still in the Rules Committee.  Here are the Administration-backed bills and an explanation of them by WJLA-TV:
 
 
(7) Medical Marijuana Decriminalization (HB1453)
 
House Bill 1453, sponsored by Del. Anderson of Baltimore City and others, would decriminalize marijuana use, possession, or sale and is scheduled for hearing in the House Judiciary Committee on Mar. 19.
 
 
Ken Stevens
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