You'd think that having lunch with someone that you do business with would not involve an act of congress.
I just called a local business person to have lunch.He is employed by one of the cities in the county in an unrelated capacity.
Since I invited him to lunch, I was expecting to treat. I was surprised when he said, "I'd be happy to have lunch with you but I have to pay for my own lunch."
He went on to say that he had just had a meeting with his staff explaining to them the new ethics laws as a result of the undercover sting operation known as The Tennessee Waltz.
Many people have expressed their concern to me regarding all the new legislation that seems to crop up every time criminal activity takes place.
Apparently a very few individuals dictate total control of the masses.
Take the airline security checks as an example.
A few very sick individuals hijacked some planes and as a result the entire flying population regulations had changed.
Or how about the problems in some courthouses and schools.
Once again, a few sick human beings went crazy and killed people.
As a result, the way kids are treated in schools and courthouses has changed in the entire United States.
The list goes on and on and on, but why.
In my opinion it's because we do not enforce the laws we have and are too lenient with the dispensing of punishment.
This editorial did not start out on the subject of punishment, but in my opinion, it's because of the punishment, that crime is at such proportions.
For every action there should be consequences. Whether they be good or bad isn't the point.
Equally important is that the punishment fit the crime.
I'm not an authority on the law but it appears that the way it now stands, that's not the case.
Why should we, the innocent, have to suffer due to the deviant actions of the criminals?
Why should we be searched every time we want to board a plane, enter certain buildings or carry a favorite back to school?
Why should we have to be the ones to be constantly on the lookout for criminal activity at airports, courthouses, schools, stadiums or other public places?
Why are we, the innocent, the ones to be so inconvenienced that we have to plan for at least an extra hour for plane flights. Not to mention the embarrassment of being searched and treated like criminals.
I know, I can hear you already saying, but it's for our own safety. Exactly. But why should we have to pay the price by being unnecessarily delayed, searched and treated criminally. The guilty ones should be paying the price. Not the innocent public.
The guilty should be dealt with publicly and in a manor that would deter anyone from committing like crimes.
I know that's not popular with some, but I believe our founding fathers would be turning in their graves if they saw how innocent people are being mistreated.
The most distressing thing happening is not the mistreatment of the innocent, but rather the apathy people show towards the most powerful tool they have. Their vote.
It seems the ones that scream the loudest, aren't even registered.
So, here is my solution: Make the punishment fit the crime; adhere to the belief that we are innocent until proven guilty; punish publicly and allow parents to parent. That way, ethics will take care of itself.
Don't get me started on being politically correct.
What's your thought?