THE DRUG PROBLEM

          This newspaper and many other media sources most often view the drug problem from the user’s prospective.  The focus is on drug related crime and young addicts overdosing or trying to get clean.  Don Winslow has written two powerful books: THE POWER OF THE DOG and CARTEL which expose the drug problem from the supply prospective.  While both books are fiction, they are fact based and review the historical background of the war on drugs over the last twenty years.

          What Winslow makes clear is that as Mexican drug cartels are defeated and large shipment confiscated, an unimpeded flow of marijuana, amphetamines and heroin continue to flow north to the States and an estimated 15 to 20 billion dollars annually flow south to Mexico.  As one kingpin gets knocked down, another takes his place.  The Mexican government, often with DEA acquiescence, supports the least objectionable of the cartels.

 There is simply too much money involved, providing payoffs to law enforcement, judges and elected officials to do otherwise.  Those who take the moral high ground and refuse the bribe are threatened with death. The most successful Mexican political families rise on the back of the drug trade as the Kennedy family rose on the back of prohibition.

          The supply will always be there to meet the demand, no matter what interdiction strategies are implemented by the United States.  Our efforts have wasted millions and guaranteed that Mexico remains a war zone with thousands of innocent casualties. 

Only two policies can possibly break the back of the drug trade. First, state sponsored decriminalization and regulation of the sale of all illegal drugs.  The November 7 issue of the Economist editorializes that: “If governments really want to limit the harm from drugs-saving addicts lives, crushing dealers profits and slashing the number of people who take them in the first place- then they must seize control of the markets themselves.”

 The Second policy is to convince Americans that there are healthy alternatives to recreational drug use.  Unfortunately, both approaches are pipe dreams and show little promise of altering the supply or demand of illegal drugs.

PENNSYLVANIA IS APPROACHING THE UNGOVERNABLE

          As a lawyer and unabashed progressive liberal I am not proud to be   a Pennsylvanian or a registered democrat within its borders.  Our Commonwealth’s legal and governmental institutions are operating in a manner that makes the federal dysfunction appear to be a well oiled machine.  Elected democrats are making matters worse.  Let me count the ways.

                   The promise of a socially enlightened Democratic Governor has degraded into a budget impasse that is beginning to cause irreparable damage to the very individuals who were to receive an increase in badly needed services. Moreover, while education was the centerpiece of Governor Wolf’s campaign, poor school districts are being strangled as they struggle to maintain even the most basic learning environment.  Somehow, making the sick, suffering and most needy in Pennsylvania go through a near death experience before the cavalry arrives does not seem fair or just. 

          No solution is in sight as Pennsylvania’s credit rating prepares to plummet and legislators wait for the party across the aisle to blink. The budget is not the place to draw an ideological line in the sand as human services scramble to save what they can. It is a place for old fashioned horse trading to get the services up and running for those who need them.

          Our Democratic Attorney General and the Pennsylvania Supreme Court are the laughing stock of the nation.  Kathleen Kane’s legal license has been removed because of pending perjury charges and is now ineffective as Pennsylvania’s top prosecutor.  The only function in which she can excel is to slowly release her hoard of sensitive emails that continue to embarrass a Supreme Court Justice and possibly other members of the “old boys’ network” who she claims are responsible for her difficulties.  While no one can seem to explain how the offending emails and the perjury charges are related these two important Commonwealth institutions continue to lose credibility and respect.

          The Supreme Court suffered a previous blow when another sitting member, Justice Seamus McCaffery, resigned last October as a direct result of the email scandal.  I was encouraged that a new group of reformist candidates were running for the three Supreme Court openings in November. The opportunity to reshape Pennsylvania jurisprudence for decades to come seemed like a breath of fresh air.

           My elation with the democratic Supreme Court candidates was severely dampened with the recent wave of attack ads sponsored by democratic interest groups.  Predictably, the Republican candidates are now responding with attack ads of their own.  In my view these ads are unnecessary, unprofessional, confusing to voters and undermine the legal profession and our highest court.  This is exactly the wrong message for so called reformist candidates to send.

          With the Governor’s office, legislature, Attorney General and Supreme Court paralyzed by inaction or scandal, what is to be done? One can only hope that all candidates for the Supreme Court will denounce the attack ads in an attempt to return a semblance of decorum to these important campaigns. Further, let us hope the ghosts of former Governors Tom Ridge and Ed Rendell return to the halls of Harrisburg to help guide our misplaced lawmakers to a commonsense solution to the budget debacle.  Lastly there is always the possibility that Attorney General Kane will cop a plea deal and sail off into the sunset to join the disgraced politicos who have preceded her. 

          Only then can Pennsylvania return to the ranks of the commonly mediocre rather than the present borderline ungovernable.

         

          

EXPENSES FOR HOME LAND SECURITY GET A FREE PASS

          Of all the social and political topics swarming around in the fall air, those involving human life seem to invoke the most emotion.  Abortion, euthanasia, gun control, capital punishment and terrorist attacks first appear as black or white issues:  do something or people die.  Of course there are embedded shades of gray.  When does life begin? Is the right to die a democratic liberty?  Do more guns cause or prevent mass killings?  Do certain killers deserve to die?  How much expenditure is too much to prevent another attack against the homeland?

          In my view this last topic, terrorism, generates the least discussion and disagreement among the public. There is little debate concerning the massive amounts of money and willingness to accept less privacy associated with protecting the homeland.  There is little discussion as to whether the federal government should continue to have a blank check to take whatever action necessary to prevent future terrorist attacks.  One insight into this lack of pushback against the expense and intrusion of homeland security is a recent July 2015 Rasmussen poll.  It found that 52% of Americans believe the United States is a more dangerous place than before 9/11.

          The FBI definition of terrorism is: “a violent act dangerous to human life that violates federal or state law and appears to be intended to intimidate or coerce a civilian population; to influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion; or to affect the conduct of a government by mass destruction.”

          Most people get the “violent act” part and stop there.  They do not consider the “affect the conduct of government” portion of the definition.  Since 9/11 Congress has spent over two trillion dollars on the war on terror.  This includes our interventions in Iraq, Afghanistan and the most recent efforts against ISIS.  This figure does not include another two trillion dollars in direct economic costs to the economy following 9/11.  Nor does it include the non economic impact of increased surveillance on Americans resulting from the Patriot Act and other policies.

          I am now in the camp that believes our war on terrorism since 9/11 have made matters worse and increased the terrorist threat.   This month we celebrate our fourteen year anniversary of Afghan military involvement.   The ongoing quagmire has gained no strategic advantage and been a fertile recruitment tool for ISIS. Moreover, I believe that if the enormous costs of homeland security and the war on terror had been applied to repairing America’s infrastructure and ongoing social problems, we would be better off as a country.  How can we as a nation find that cutting entitlements to needy Americans is preferable to scaling back these bloated programs?

          The truth is that terrorism has done more harm to the nation since 9/11, not by killing Americans, but by changing our goals and priorities. To use the FBI definition, the terrorism threat is: “affecting the conduct of government.” This is exactly the result that Osama Bin Laden had in mind by bringing down the twin towers. His strategic goal of long term US entanglement in the Mid East combined with worsening economic and social problems that threaten our democratic institutions (that cannot be addressed because of the expensive war on terror) has come to pass.  Bin Landen may be dead but the impact of his actions continues and is growing.

          I do not know the true cost benefit analysis of our war on terror. It is impossible for the average person to factor in the plots that may have been averted.  I do know that tenfold more Americans die from gun violence than from acts of terrorism.  On the other hand, large financial commitments to prevent a massive killing field and trillion dollar losses like 9/11 may be justified, if security efforts are in fact responsible for this result.

           I simply wish that this issue would generate some of the emotion and debate as other topics involving potential loss of life in America.  Are we getting our monies worth with the war on terror and homeland security and are the tradeoffs worth it?  Hopefully the new election cycle will place this topic front and center.

ON THE ROAD TO ISTANBUL

         

           Saint Augustine famously said: “The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page.”  Having escaped my insular corner of the planet for an all too short trip to Turkey, Israel, and a few Greek Islands, this quote is indeed an understatement.

          We all know people who live compact lives in homogeneous communities and believe they have all the answers to the problems facing humanity.  It is my experience that the smaller an individual’s worldview, the more imbedded the position that his/her beliefs are the singular solution to political, social and economic problems.  Conservative fundamentalists of all persuasions are not travelers.

          Istanbul in modern Turkey is a sight to behold.  Fourteen million people in a swirling melting pot covering three thousand years of Greek, Byzantine and Ottoman history.  The City spans both the European and Asian continents.  It makes the cultural diversity of New York City or Toronto feel superficial.

          Istanbul is a city of 3000 Mosques where the call to prayer can be heard from every corner.  The political structure remains democratic and secular.  Istanbul is one of the fastest growing metropolitan economies in the world. The Turks are proud of their heritage and hope to be the first Moslem country admitted to the European Union.

          There are 19 Turkish American Community Centers within the United States.  Their stated purpose is to: “represent a broad spectrum of Turkish American society, promote secular democracy and respect toward diverse lifestyles.”

          To not understand (or care) that countries like Turkey, China, Russia, India or Brazil are as much a part of the fabric of humanity as we are, is to miss what it means to be human.  Diverse but equal.  Discovering that there are hundreds of paths seeking the same answers.  Acknowledgement of cultures that were thriving as advanced civilizations long before Christianity or Western Europe were a reality.

           Our last day in Istanbul was a holiday.  We saw large crowds jam into the inner city, weddings in the parks, young children with ice cream, and thousands practicing their faith.  Just like us.

          Mark Twain’s conclusion in Innocents Abroad that: “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts”, is true now more than ever.  Those of us without the means or good health to travel can utilize other methods to learn more about foreign cultures and beliefs.  And to embrace them when they appear in our community.

          Politicians pushing “English only” agendas, demanding that only Christian values are worthy of being assimilated into American culture, or insisting that an American Moslem could never be President, should be compelled to spend a week in Istanbul.  It would be a humbling and heartwarming experience.

          

WHAT WOULD A TRUMP PRESIDENCY LOOK LIKE ?

          Now that Donald Trump continues to surge in the polls, it is time to consider the unthinkable.  His candidacy may actually be with us for the long haul, through the primaries and beyond.  Democrats are certainly hoping this is the case.  With the Clinton e-mail debacle, the Trump campaign soaks up a great deal of media attention until all Clinton investigations are completed by the end of the year.  Democrats are delighted that Trump forces more mainstream republican candidates to spend valuable financial resources and political capital to appease conservatives, more than they would like this early in the primaries.

          But what if Trump is not an apparition?  What if by March or April, all of the most conservative candidates throw their support behind him and he wins the republican nomination? What if his continued appeal as an outsider garnishes enough democratic and independent support to pull off a general election upset? What would a Trump presidency look like?

           In listening to Trump’s pressers and stump speech several thoughts come to mind.  First, the “art of the deal” way of doing business does not prepare him for the infighting among cabinet members, partisan party politics or diplomacy.  He is now top dog at Trump Inc. with no one above him on the organization chart.  He is able to make decisions based on past experience and intuition, with little input and no committees.  This is the opposite of governing a complex nation in a pluralistic society.

          Second Trump does not understand the importance of being politically correct and in fact boasts about his lack of discernment.  As President, every word uttered by Trump would be dissected and analyzed. Shooting from the hip would not serve the Presidency or the nation well. His term in office would require a second full time press secretary to explain and walk back from his gaffes and confusing remarks.

          Lastly, Trump seems more adept at reacting to problems then in developing a vision for the future. He is able to forcefully explain what he is against, who is an idiot and where mistakes were made.  He is unable to articulate what a Trump presidency would look like or what it would accomplish.  Without a well defined game plan it would be difficult for him to hold together the political coalition that got him elected.

          In short, the very factors that are serving Trump well during these early primary months would be his undoing as President.  A warning to the growing number of Trump supporters.  Be careful what you wish (vote) for.

USE THE CITY’S BAD SUMMER AS A SPRINGBOARD FOR ACTION

         The City of Washington has not had a good summer.  The national media has focused on a small community’s inexplicable spike in heroin overdoses and increased crime.  The City Mission experienced a depilating fire.  A little known web site (roadsnacks.net) has captured our attention by crowning Washington the most redneck city in Pennsylvania.  This was based on the High School graduation rate, the number of dive bars, tobacco and gun stores, mobile home parks and Waffle House restaurants, among other factors. Even an attempt to “redd-up” a vacant lot and make it into an art filled Parklet backfired and was not to be.

         This is not the time for City residents to shurge their shoulders in defeat or for County residents to nod their heads in agreement with the City’s plight.  This is the time to stand up and take action.

         It is my humble opinion that lifelong residents of our community are myopic and cannot see the forest through the trees.  I have lived in the idyllic bedroom communities of Hunterdon County New Jersey, Swarthmore Pennsylvania and Fox Chapel Pennsylvania.  None provided the outstanding standard of living available in my adopted home town of East Washington Pennsylvania.  Let me count the ways.

         Housing costs and property taxes are so favorable, particularly within the City, that I shout the praises of Washington as a place to retire at every opportunity.  The benefits of a major metropolitan area and airport are minutes away.  Washington sits at the intersection of two major interstates which have attracted a minor league baseball franchise, Casino, first class wellness center, unlimited dining choices, traditional and discount shopping venues and a volunteer symphony.  An exceptional Hospital, thriving daily newspaper, small Liberal Arts College, beautiful park, farmers’ market and numerous places of worship are situated within the City’s borders.  Public transportation has been vastly improved.  The County as a whole is at the center of America’s new energy boom which will provide economic opportunity for decades to come.  Lastly, a community of hard working friendly people are employed in local government and in the retail outlets and professional offices.

         I can assure you that community leaders throughout the Country would love to have the opportunities available in our area with which to plan and revitalize a small American city.  There are certainly problems that must be addressed including widespread drug use and the crime it fosters, poverty, minority unemployment and a shrinking tax base.  So what is to be done?

         First, the fruits of economic development, evident throughout the County must be utilized in reviving the City.  It is simply not fair for the County to continue to use the City as a dumping ground for all of its unpleasant but necessary social services, governmental and low income needs, without making the renaissance of the City its first priority.

         Second, non City residents must recognize the benefits the City provides to the rest of the County and be willing to help pay for this privilege.  This can be accomplished through a County wide taxing scheme that does not go to the City’s general fund, but is earmarked only for City redevelopment.  The County must be an equal partner in choosing and implementing projects in return for raising the funds.

         Third, the County must begin a major campaign to attract small retailers and retired individuals looking for a place to settle apart from the expensive northeast corridor and even from the burden of Allegheny County taxes.  There are many who prefer to settle in a low cost area that offers a change of seasons with quick access to an interstate and an airport.  The City business district is an excellent location to build garden apartment style retirement housing, interspersed with specialty retail shops.

         Fourth, renovation plans must not leave behind our City’s citizens in most need of assistance.  While our small City school system is a dying breed in public education, it performs remarkably well given the number of low income and academically challenged students.  Give educators the resources they need to improve test scores, graduation results and post secondary school placement.

         Lastly, bring meaningful job training programs into the City to address the unemployment and underemployment in a County of plentiful jobs.  There is no reason that jobs related to the energy boom should not be filled with local well trained students as opposed to “out of towners”. Give energy companies tax credits to do the training and hiring.

         This is not the time for Washington Officials to become insular, defensive or to point fingers.  It is time to be bold and think outside the box.  It is their responsibility to do so and the rewards will be great. Thankfully resources are available to make this happen. While some new programs may fail, others will not and the City will become a better place.

         

THE DONALD HOLDS A TEA PARTY

         Many of us were wrong about the Tea Party for the same reasons we are now wrong about Donald Trump. While both initially appeared as simplistic distractions, dedicated to Obama baiting after the 2008 election, Trump and the Tea Party have evolved.  Dismissing their brand of conservative populism as a passing fad of misplaced anger and below the surface racism was a mistake. It is time to grudgingly acknowledge the staying power of a political movement that is not going away any time soon.

         The Tea Party web site now lists 15 non-negotiable core beliefs as the center of its platform.  At the top of the list are: “Illegal aliens are here illegally” and “pro domestic employment is indispensable.”  It is no coincidence that Trump’s stump speech makes these positions the focus of his campaign.

         Both progressives on the left and now, Tea Party members on the right, seek to replace the status quo.  The difference is that progressives are advocating for others, less fortunate, while tea party conservatives are advocating for themselves, with a personal all or nothing mentality.

          Progressives, to their credit and largely explaining their marginalization in modern politics, are pragmatic and willing to see the big picture.  When the debating is over, inside the voting booth, they will soften their positions and accept incremental change from moderate democrats over the republican alternative.  The number of progressives willing to follow Senator Bernie Sanders down the rabbit hole into an election disaster like the 1968 George McGovern campaign are few.

         On the other hand, Tea Party adherents demand representatives who will support their views, without compromise.  While their ideological take on the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights does not stand up to a fair and impartial critique, it feels right to them and that is all that matters.  The election of a moderate republican is ridiculed with the same contempt as the election of a moderate democrat.

         Once it is understood that the Tea Party views any politician willing to change a position to get elected or to compromise a position after elected as unacceptable, the love affair with Trump begins to make sense.  Today’s Tea Party would not support Ronald Reagan who made legendary concessions to Tip O’Neil, the democratic Speaker of the House, to responsibly run the government.  It will support Trump because he has remained consistent on oddball issues like Obama’s birth certificate and he attacks immigration, political correctness, the media and moderate Republicans without mercy.

         Donald Trump has staying power with the Tea Party because his firebrand pronouncements are delivered with unfiltered certainty.  For the Tea Party this is exactly the mouth piece they have longed for and Trump knows it.  He has discovered the one audience that thrives on his take no prisoners, shoot from the hip brand of politics.

         Over time, the Donald may not be able to develop a viable campaign organization or articulate policy positions acceptable to the Tea Party base. In this case, Senator Ted Cruz will be right behind him to pick up the Tea Party flag and carry on. No one but Trump could make Cruz appear to be the more mainstream candidate.

         A self centered populist political movement, threatening a tall fence and wielding a sledge hammer rather than an inclusive umbrella cannot win a national election.     But the Tea Party, with either Trump or Cruz as its candidate, will smash tables full of traditional china, in the primaries and beyond.