1.Question but RESPECT Authority
Back in the 60s, a friend was wearing a button proclaiming that we should “Question Authority.” Another friend came up to her and asked “Why?” We should Always Question, but also RESPECT, Authority as the only way that True Progress can be made Peacefully.
From Rodney King to Michael Brown to Floyd George, the Common Denominators are people Deliberately Disobeying the Law and NOT Following Orders given by the Police. And if the Left argue that some Offenders were “unarmed,” ask 5’ 2” Lori Lightfoot to “take down” 6’ 4” Hulk Hogan. Good luck.
At some point, even the most naïve Enabler becomes an Arrogant, Stupid, Systematic Abuser of Power (ASS). Police face Deadly Danger on a Daily basis — even in Joliet and Chicago. Even 6’ 4” Floyd George had Methamphetamine in his system and resisted staying in the squad car before he was wrestled to the ground. And, at the time, the knee restraint used was condoned by the Minneapolis Police Department. Change the rules? Sure. Burn down neighborhoods? Absolutely NOT.
Regardless of what other “issues” might or might not be involved in the situations, simply put, had the Offenders RespectedAuthority, the outcomes would have been much different. And Nothing is an excuse for Looting and Arson, period.
While ALL needless Violence is unacceptable, and we can and should Question Authority when it falls short, we should always start by questioning Ourselves and our Assumptions. There were on average approximately 1000 deaths/yr by police since 2016 for all reasons, including self-defense. But, in 2016, for example, of the 2870 African-American Homicides, 2570 (90%) were at the hands of other Blacks.
If ALL Lives Matter, and most certainly they do, then why does Antifa not March Daily about Black on Black Crime? Simply put, because the Left and their All-Too-Willing Accomplices in the Main Stream Media (MSM) wish to portray the “Right” as Racist instead of themselves as Enablers of Entitlement. The Left is, in essence, asking People addicted to Entitlements to vote for their Dealers and Pimps.
Simply put, while we should always Question Authority and work to build “a More Perfect Union,” c ] we should also Always RESPECT Authority even as we work to steadily improve upon the past. Anarchy and Violence are Tools of the Left to “Win” in the Streets what they cannot Win at the ballot box.
2. TRUTH and Positive OUTCOMES v Main Stream Media (MSM) Fake News Agendas
While the MSM could use these Tragic Events as “Teachable Moments” to remind their audiences that “Resisting Arrest is not only Against the Law, it is Dangerous,” this does Not fit their Leftist Agenda.
Instead of saying that President Trump is condemning Looting and Arson, the MSM say he opposes “Demonstrations.” Instead of Reporting Accurately, the MSM Deliberately attempts to Misinform. So, while clearly the Left has used Floyd George’s death to promote nation-wide demonstrations, NBC’s Chuck Todd focuses on “possible right-wing instigators” for the looting and arsonists being seen daily on TV. Such shameless Fake News only is “effective” when it goes unchallenged.
Similarly, while JB Pritzker and Lori Lightfoot waited entirely too long to call In the National Guard, Lightfoot then condemned “Vigilante Justice” when Hispanic gangs in Little Village protected local businesses from Looters. Small shop owners who would have otherwise been burnt out of business refused to press charges. Simply put, Vigilante Justice is better than no Justice at all. Even the CPD confirmed that property owners, including small businesses, have the Right to Protect their Property.
Liberal Mayors and Governors would rather blame the Police than themselves and looters for the damage done. They would Enable Criminals rather than truly EMPOWERING Communities. It is time to Seek the TRUTH with Positive Win-Win OUTCOMES and then Remember in November that there are Win-Win Alternatives Available for Positive Change.
3. EMPOWERMENT = Rights AND Responsibilities — Catch and Sentence v Catch and Release
Chicago’s Mayor Lightfoot and Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx have adopted a Losing Policy of “Catch and Release” that has put far too many hardened Criminals back on the streets with minimal consequences for their antisocial behavior– even before the onset of COVID-19.
Conversely, if Will County Court Chief Judge Richard Schoenstedt adopts a “Catch and Sentence” policy where, in addition to possible Jail time, all Individuals would face extended periods of time in a Community Service Corps (CSC) that would ensure that there are significant Consequences for negative behaviors including that they will be Monitored over a period of Years to prevent recidivism, then Will County could achieve significant Positive Outcomes compared to Cook County. From Vocational Training to picking up and Recycling Garbage, everyone can contribute positively to the Community. As noted:
“If the ONLY thing we do quickly is to implement After School programs for our Children and JOB Programs for ALL individuals, including those on Probation and Parole, we can dramatically Reduce GangCrime and Drugsand help make Chicago and Joliet Models for the Country on the way towards achieving a Gang-Free, Drug-Free, Full-Employment Economy in America that SAVES LIVES and Billions of Tax Dollars– a good start indeed to Paying Off the Pensions and CUTTING TAXES.”
And, while most Liberals are fine with using GPS for “Contact Tracing” for COVID-19 positive patients, using the same technology would be a highly cost-effective way to Monitor Convicts on Probation and Parole to ensure that they are showing up for jobs, rehab, etc. and NOT involved with other Criminals in Antisocial Behaviors on a 24/7/365- ongoing basis. We must focus on OUTCOMES and NOT Ideologies.
If, instead of continuously complaining about President Trump, Will County People and Politicians were to work TOGETHER on a BIPARTISAN basis to implement Positive Win-Win Programs to Break the Cycles of Gangs, Drugs, Dropouts, Abuse and Joblessness, you could stand in stark contrast to the utterly FAILED Lose-Lose Entitlement System in Chicago — SAVING LIVES and Tax Dollars in the Process.
Instead of relying on the MSM Fake News, Voters would have strong Positive OUTCOMES of Will v Cook County that they could use in Comparing Systems in November. And, in a FAIR and OPEN Comparison between a Left-Wing Antifa Socialist Chicago Model and a traditional American Will County Alternative, may the Best System Prevail. May we always Seek the Truth and the Win-Win Way. Time will tell. — Kimball Ladien, MD
Dr. Ladien is a Physician and Scientist in Chicago and is the author of Safe Haven (1993, 2018), The Chicago Project (2018) and Obama and the MURDER of Don Young (OMDY, 2018).
