Who Would Jesus Jail?

Who Would Jesus Jail?

Opinion and Political Commentary by Jonathan P. Glassel

The Scriptures are largely silent, but one can deduce from Jesus’ Ministry to the poor, the weak, the powerless and the infirmed, that the lower classes would probably not have been His first choice to throw in jail.

In Chisago County, these dregs of society are collectively known as “Poor White Trash” or PWT’s of which I am proud to be a card carrying member.

Nationwide, Blacks are the most jailed class of American. One out of every three black males born today will spend time in jail or prison and currently one out of eight black men in their twenties are in jail.

Can’t really say what Jesus may have thought about this, but when I pass this statistic to most folks in these parts, the answer is the same, “Is that all? I figured there would be a lot more than that!” As if to say, “We would be somehow safer with more non-violent people in jail.”

Having lived in the Deep South for 25 years or so, I have probably become acquainted with more Black men than most Minnesotans will, say 40 or 50 guys.

Statistically, according to the Prison Industrial Complex, five of these guys should have been evil. I have not found that to be the case. Blacks are just normal folks like the rest of us.

A social worker friend brings up an interesting point. Blacks are more likely to be poor and since poor people occupy most jail space, it may not be racial at all.

Kinda makes me feel all warm and fuzzy knowing that poverty keeps our jails full. Which raises the logical questions? Who wants these poor muthas in jail and is it really cost effective to jail non-violent poor people?

Minnesota has traditionally passed the cost of jailing to the individual counties, preferring that poor people be held locally, at the expense of local property owners rather than wealthy individuals and corporations as is done by most states.

The State of Minnesota, passing unfunded mandates and criminal law, uses incarceration rates and quotas established by the Prison Industrial Complex to jail Blacks and poor people while passing the financial burden to local property owners.

Nationwide, most states spend an average of 6.89% of the state budget on prisons and jails. The State of Minnesota spends only 2.70%. However, when the cost to the Counties is factored in, the total cost exceeds 9% of the State Budget, more than most states.

In other words, most states pay their dues to the Prison Industrial Complex from State Income and/or Sales Taxes. In Minnesota, we pay for these excesses with Levy dollars assessed to your home and property.

This maneuver has been quite popular with former Governor Pawlenty. Every time the state budget needed balancing, unfundated mandates were established to pass the financial burden of state operation to local government.

This tactic could be quite beneficial if Pawlenty becomes President. With one stroke of his pen, he could eliminate the National Debt by assigning that debt (about $30,000) to each man, woman and child in the country and simply say, “Hey, it’s your problem, now. Not mine.”

Throughout history, governments and unscrupulous business persons have profited from the misery of others. For centuries, European traders amassed great fortunes in the African slave trade. When the British finally abolished slavery in 1840, these traders turned to the lucrative Opium Trade. Britain and America actually went to war with China to insure wealthy Opium traders could profit from the addiction of millions of Chinese.

This Anglo American induced drug epidemic did not end until the Communist Revolution a hundred years later when the drug addicts were simply executed, taken out and shot.

In today’s world, The Prison Industrial Complex profits from the misery and forced incarceration of millions of non violent Americans.

The Criminal Justice System is big business, not only in this country, but right here in Chisago County.

While most people know the story of Jesus and his execution, not by the Jews, but by the State sponsored Prison Industrial Complex of the day, few know the story of Chisago County’s County Attorney, Janet Reiter’s rise to power.

Like many lawyers, Janet was lured into the Prison Industrial Complex at an early age. Her naïve and giddy thoughts of punishing bad guys was an inspiring force. Trouble was there weren’t enough bad guys to go around, so she settled for the only job she could find, working as an assistant county attorney.

Despite the drawbacks of working in small rural community with little crime and fewer blacks, Janet was able to exploit the weaknesses of poor people. In time, she was able to get a better job in a larger county where she honed her strengths by prosecuting poor people who could not defend themselves.

Life moved on in Chisago County without Janet.

Through a fluke in the electoral process, Janet’s predecessor, Katherine Johnson, having no practical experience prosecuting poor white trash was elected as County Attorney.

The jails quickly emptied. Though Katherine’s ineptitude saved the County several hundred thousand dollars, the Prison Industrial Complex became quite alarmed.

The empty jails had not resulted in the predicted crime wave.

Katherine was in a real bind. She needed to come up with some criminals’ real quick. Our Judges didn’t have anything to do and staff was facing layoffs. It was decided to make criminals out of ordinary citizens. Code enforcement officers were dispatched throughout the County to issue citations for lawns not cut to County specs and other minor infractions.

Unfortunately for Katherine, a Code Enforcement Officer issued a citation to retired Judge Clifford. Judge Clifford is a card carrying member of the Prison Industrial Complex who had been jailing PWT’s when Janet was still in diapers. He was pissed.

But Katherine was desperate for a conviction and decided to prosecute. Judge Clifford flipped out and went about North County pointing out code violations of other residents, forcing Katherine to proscecute all perceived violators.

All was well, the courts filled up. PWT’s were returning to jail and the taxpayers were being fleeced again. However Judge Clifford was still pissed.

He recruited and reportedly funded Janet’s campaign, leading to Katherine’s defeat in the 2006 Election.

If Janet can jail enough PWT's, Minnesota's Inbred Judicial Selection Process (MIJSP) will probably tap her to be judge one day, allowing her to follow in the footsteps of her mentor, Judge Clifford.

And the cycle will continue.

A select group of lawyers getting rich jailing non violent poor people at the expense of middle class taxpayers.

Jesus was known for His compassion toward the poor. I wonder if He would have compassion for the taxpayers, as well?

Denise Martin Chisago County Press, Mary Helen Swanson North Branch ECM Post Review, Johanna Puelston Isanti Chisago County Star fiefdompolitics written in cowardly anonymity Tim Okeefe or his wife FishLakeKarpa

Coercion or Free Speech?

Coercion or Free Speech?

Successful Prosecution Sets Dangerous Precedent

Opinion and Political Commentary by Jonathan P. Glassel

A legal precedent is set when a Judge makes a decision about a certain legal matter.

Even if this Judge’s decision is to jump from a cliff, the inbred judges that follow in his footsteps will be duty bound to leap from that same cliff.

Sooner or later, someone with enough money and sharp lawyer may be able to get this precedent overturned in Appellate Court, but until then, our inbred judges will continue to jump from the same proverbial cliff.

With unemployment in Chisago County hovering around 10%, one would think Chisago County Attorney Janet Reiter would have little trouble finding enough PWT’s (Poor White Trash) to fill the jails.

But Janet is a real trooper for the Prison Industrial Complex and is always seeking new ways to increase jail populations.

As reported by Denise Martin and the Chisago County Press, Chisago County Attorney Janet Reiter coerced a coercion related Alford Plea from a Lent man for the grand total of $100 in fines. No reports are available as to the amount of taxpayer dollars spent by Reiter in this “No Contest” conviction.

Minnesota statutes regarding coercion are extremely broad and not usually enforced in this manner, especially when politicians are involved.

Coercion sounds nasty as it is usually related to Coercion of Prostitution, i.e., a person of authority coercing sexual favors from an underling wanting to keep their job.

In this case a young politician got pissed at an old politician and wrote a letter he wishes he could take back.

Janet Reiter used this letter to end the young man’s political career with another of her nonsensical, probably politically motivated prosecutions.

The extreme broadness of this conviction puts freedom of speech at risk in Chisago County.

As an example, suppose you were mad at your commissioner, George McMahon for introducing a 2-3% tax increase. Say you went to public forum and told George, “If you pass this tax, I will not vote for you next time and I will tell the world you are a “Tax and Spend Liberal.”

Technically, you have met Reiter’s requirement of coercion, defined simply as anyone stating “either you do something I want or there will be consequences.”

The amount of time you spend in jail for such a statement depends upon the financial loss incurred. Say your single vote cost George the election. George would lose his $30,000 job as commissioner.

Since the amount of damage exceeds $2,500, you could face fines of $20,000 and ten years in prison. If you had the money to hire a good lawyer, you could “beat the rap,” however, the stigma of being charged with coercion could never be overcome in a small community like Lindstrom and Chisago.

As was the case with the young man from Lent, whose standing in the community was lessened, your right of dissent would be compromised, your free speech neutered.

The great philosopher Plato once stated "The price of apathy towards public affairs is to be ruled by evil men."

It can be argued that World War II started when the first German citizens were coerced to give up their free speech.

As such, Reiter’s “Coercion” cannot stand.

The young man from Lent’s standing in the community cannot be restored with the return of $100, but the ability to pick and choose who runs for public office cannot be determined by Janet Reiter, her cronies or the County Attorney’s office.

We need to reserve that right for “We the People,” not “Us the Government.”

Denise Martin Chisago County Press, Mary Helen Swanson North Branch ECM Post Review, Johanna Puelston Isanti Chisago County Star fiefdompolitics written in cowardly anonymity Tim Okeefe or his wife FishLakeKarpa

It Takes Three to Tango

It Takes Three to Tango

Opinion and Political Commentary by Jonathan P. Glassel

If you have ever had the misfortune of being prosecuted in Chisago County, the County Attorney probably closed their case by telling the jury, “These laws are for your protection, you must enforce them and return a guilty verdict."

In all too many cases, the laws exist because some politician did not understand the simple fact that anything written can be interpreted to mean most anything Government or some inbred lawyer wants it to mean.

This is not the case with the open meeting laws. Open meeting laws were designed to protect the citizenry from back room deals and shady politics by forcing the decision making of local government leaders into the limelight.

Basically, the law states that a quorum of leaders cannot meet without public notice. On a three person board, a quorum exists if any two board members are at the same place at the same time.

Hence, an accidental meeting at a coffee shop could technically violate open meeting laws. The County Board of Commissioners is a five person panel, so the quorum is three which allows any two Commissioners to communicate regarding a specific matter.

Open meeting laws prohibit serial meetings. While Commissioner “A” can speak of a single matter to Commissioner “B”, “B” cannot speak of this same matter to Commissioner “C” without violating the open meeting law.

About this time, you are probably asking yourself, “How the “bleep” do they ever get anything done?”

Dysfunctional as it sounds, the law seeks to force the debate of any given issue into the public eye. Problem is commissioners are reluctant to speak openly on some issues, giving rise to backroom negotiations and deal making by Commissioners seeking to exercise or solidify more than their fair share of power.

When longtime County Administrator John Moosey announced he was leaving Chisago for a similar job in Alaska, many in Government and the community panicked. County Board Chair Lora Walker’s phone rang off the hook.

No one in Chisago County is more qualified to hire the new administrator than Lora Walker. As such, there was no panic on Lora’s part, just confident determination to set up a process that would insure Moosey was replaced with the best possible candidate, while addressing the concerns of the other Board Members.

A matter of this magnitude needs to be discussed with others.

Lora chose Vice Chair McMahon, but it was too late. George, in his arrogance had already selected Kristine Nelson-Fuge of the County Attorney’s Office. In George’s mind, the case was closed.

By law, Lora was now unable to discuss this matter with any other Commissioners.

Unfazed, Commissioner Walker set about to develop a plan on her own,

that would, first and foremost conserve taxpayer dollars.

Unfortunately, Lora’s plan required a small degree of complexity which overwhelmed her male counterparts, who chose not to trust Lora’s judgment in favor of George’s costly plan to install his friend and crony Nelson-Fuge to the position.

Commissioners Montzka and Greene quickly “sieg heiled” George’s plan and Nelson-Fuge was installed as interim Administrator.

Lora played by the rules. I don’t believe George did and once again, the citizenry got stiffed while George gains political clout at the expense of the taxpayers.

(Sounds a lot like Bob Gustafson)

When George was elected, I thought he would bring non-dysfunctionality to this board, setting aside petty differences for the betterment of Chisago County.

I was wrong.

For some time, I have been receiving reports of the backbiting Commissioner McMahon has been routinely leveling at his colleague, Commissioner Walker, Chris Eng and others.

I think we can all agree there is no logical reason to dislike Commissioner Walker.

She is one gutsy lady.

But, even if he had a reason to dislike Lora, one would expect that George could be professional enough to function in spite of some perceived petty grievance.

Maybe George doesn't like girls, or perhaps women in positions of authority that he cannot control. Maybe George's Liberal Tax and Spend ideology has been thwarted by Lora's "No New Taxes" stand.

But ultimately, I suspect George is about control and his backbiting of Lora is meant more as a example to the other commissioners, coercion as it were, of what he (George) is willing to do to them, should they choose to operate independently of an agenda known only to George.

George arrogantly exerted his authority in the work session this past week, leaving little doubt of his intent to install the person of his choice to succeed John Moosey as Administrator.

Though half deaf, I counted three occasions where George, with no concern for the other Commissioners tried to "slam dunk" Nelson-Fuge as permanent administrator.

My eyesight is still OK and I clearly saw Reiter and Moosey, laughing, giggling and damned near "high fiving" every time George tried to "unlevel" the playing field in Nelson-Fuge's behalf, leaving little doubt that he (George) was their (the Government’s) guy.

Commissioner George McMahon is extremely wealthy. There is little doubt George earned every nickel through hard work and dedication toward the goal of becoming rich.

Every rich person will list “emotional detachment” as the biggest key to their success.

Life is rarely a win/win situation. When George earns a quarter million dollar commission, someone is bound to get hurt, but it is, after all “just business.”

Unfortunately for the taxpayers, George is unable to bring this “emotional detachment” to County Government.

The logical conclusion; George is playing with your money, not his own.

Confident people are deeply aware that they derive their confidence from strengthening their innate qualities and need not depend on others. So the more confident people are, the more peaceful they will be with both themselves and others. Even in disagreement or when pointing out the errors of others, confident people can remain calm and open-minded. Since they need not defend their self-worth by ‘winning’ in the argument, confident people can stay focused on the merits of different views and opinions without becoming hurtful toward others.

The essential difference between arrogance and confidence is not one of quantity or degree, but of quality and origin. Arrogance is needy and dependent on others, derived from comparison with the external. Confidence is free and independent of others, found and cultivated in the self. Buddhism in a New Light 9

Denise Martin Chisago County Press, Mary Helen Swanson North Branch ECM Post Review, Johanna Puelston Isanti Chisago County Star fiefdompolitics written in cowardly anonymity Tim Okeefe or his wife FishLakeKarpa