Rich's Random Thoughts

Rich's Random Thoughts

By Rich Briggs
The Weekly Recorder
March 21, 2008

*Being an authority figure is not easy. Of course, anyone who is of age, regardless of status, is regarded as an authority figure. Depending on your standing in society, those of us who are authority figures are looked at in certain ways. We are held to a different standard, as well we should be. Parents should not be their child/ren’s buddies. They need to be the authority figures who set the standards for the rules at home and how the children are supposed to behave and conduct themselves. If they fall out of line, then they are supposed to be punished for what they did wrong. At least, that is the way it is supposed to be (not that that always happens).

Educators, of which I am one, are also held to a certain standard. We are responsible for teaching children certain subjects so that they may learn the basics, like reading, writing, math, English, science, social studies, and the like. We are charged with preparing children for elementary school, high school, and whatever their post graduation plans may be. However, some of my colleagues (non co-workers) have abused that authority by engaging in sexual relations with their students (this includes female, as well as male, teachers) and they are giving the rest of us a bad name. For them, temptation is far more important than professionalism. For that, they should surrender their teaching certificates and move onto another line of work, and one that does not involve children, of any age.

This brings me to law enforcement officers or, in layman’s terms, the police. I was always brought up to respect authority figures and, especially, police officers. They are trained, and sworn, to serve, protect, and defend. Most of them do an outstanding job in this profession and deserve our respect and admiration. Yes, we get upset when we see police, both state and local, setting up speed traps, pulling people over, and writing tickets. That ticket is sure to deflate anyone’s day, what with the fine, not to mention the points on your auto insurance and driver’s license. My last speeding ticket was back in 1991. I had learned my lesson the hard way and did not want any more points on my license. It just wasn’t worth it anymore.

However, above and beyond that, policemen who are out on patrol and can face any type of situation possible earn every penny they make and, in my point of view, are drastically underpaid. The recent case involving the shooting death of Mike Ellerbe, the 12 year old who was behind the wheel of a stolen SUV during Christmas of 2002, comes to mind. The officers involved were peppered with questions as to why they shot a child in the back during the confrontation. Any death involving a child is tragic, but we are missing the bigger picture that was not addressed during the officers’ trial. Why was a 12 year old boy behind the wheel of a stolen SUV? Did anyone bother asking that question?

The family of Ellerbe received $28 million in a civil suit in the death of their son. The taxpayers will probably be on the hook for this settlement. Thank you, jury and justice system. Did anyone bother to ask Ellerbe’s parents why their son was all by himself, behind the wheel of a stolen vehicle on Christmas Eve? Oh, that’s right, we aren’t allowed to ask that question because it would be demeaning to the family involved because they happen to be African American. I don’t care what ethnic background the family comes from. I want to know why these parents were negligent in the care of their son, which eventually resulted in his death.

It’s past time to quit blaming society for one’s problems. We are now well into the 21st Century and the time has come and gone where we stop blaming everyone else and start taking a good, long look in the mirror and wonder why we can’t take responsibility for ourselves and those in our care. We have been asking policemen to stop doing their jobs because it has resulted in the deaths of “innocent” people. We are taking the tools of their trade out of their hands and are asking them to play nice with the apprehension of suspects. Criminals have rights, too, they say. Enough is enough, people. I say we applaud our law enforcement officers when they take scum off the streets who are causing innocent people harm. If it requires “excessive” use of force, so be it. By any means necessary, whether it is use of a firearm, or taser, we need to let the police do their jobs and get out of their way while doing so. If you break the law, you deserve your punishment. Don’t do the crime if you can’t do the time.

*So, now, Pennsylvania is the setting for the next big presidential primary for the Democratic Party. Hillary Clinton has paid a visit to our area, as has her husband , former President Bill Clinton. Last week, the former president paid a visit to Washington and Jefferson College, then visited the Senior Citizen Center in Canonsburg. He then paid a visit to Beaver County. Hillary visited, I believe, Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall in Oakland, then marched in the St. Patrick’s Day parade last Saturday. Their daughter, Chelsea, also visited the area, all in an effort to win Pennsylvania and its delegates for the Democratic Convention this summer. Barack Obama was scheduled to visit our area this week, albeit in Beaver County.

You will forgive me if I didn’t get caught up in all of the hype regarding the former President’s visit, nor was I overly impressed with Hillary being in the area, either. Chelsea has grown into a beautiful young woman and she, naturally, was stumping for her mother. I was most impressed with her, until she said her mom would shepherd in a progressive agenda for our country once elected. That’s when I turned tail. The last thing this country needs is a progressive agenda, allowing us to destroy ourselves.

John McCain has, effectively, wrapped up the Republican nomination, so all of the attention has shifted to the Democrats, with Clinton and Obama. We are supposed to be mesmerized by the fact that a woman and an African American male are both running for president and one is going to receive the Democratic nomination. In either case, history will be made. By and large, that is good but, again, we have to look past race and gender and look at the bigger picture.

Each candidate will usher in higher taxes and allow President Bush’s tax cuts to expire. Do you want to pay higher taxes? It is said the economy is in a recession, thanks in large part to gasoline prices, the housing market, and the credit crunch, and the cost of other goods due to the cost of gas. Do we want higher taxes on top of that? Each one is talking about change, especially Obama. Each one is said to be able to reach across the aisle and work with Republicans (McCain is said to be able to work with Democrats).

All of these supposed changes will come with a price and we, you and I, will end up shouldering the costs of those changes with more, and higher taxes, crippling an already suffering economy. Clinton is said to have the experience and Obama is said to have the charisma and is a uniter. That is all well and good if you are shooting a commercial or delivering a marketing campaign. Where is that going to get you when you are on the hot seat in the Oval Office? Folks, this is still only March and we have a long way to go during this presidential campaign. I hope we can look past the hype and the style and start concentrating on the substance. Remember, these candidates are not trying to sell you a car or a house. They want your votes so they can become President of the United States.

Too much can happen between now and November. We have the conventions this summer, then the general election in the fall. Don’t buy into all of this hype so early. Educate yourselves on all of the issues and listen very carefully to what each candidate has to say. Let’s not fall into a trap that we cannot get ourselves out of for the next four years. Be very careful and very diligent as these candidates ask for your votes.

*I wish all of you a very blessed Easter holiday this Sunday.