Sometimes Authority is Just Plain Wrong! ~by Legal Pub

Sometimes, authority gets sidetracked and becomes incredibly wrong.  Take for instance New Jersey where police recently threatened to arrest two Somerset County teenagers going door to door offering to shovel snow.  While there may be local ordinances that prevent door to door solicitation, it was never meant to ban these high school seniors from distributing their fliers door to door.  Yet, that is exactly what Matt Molinari and Eric Schnepf were told by local police in Bridgewater.  .

Police apparently confronted the youth after receiving calls concerning suspicious young men with paper fliers and shovels.  Who next, the Girl Scouts?  While neither Moinari nor Schnepf were arrested, they apparently were lectured as to the law. 

There is nothing wrong with the intent of banning scam artists from harassing residents. But this goes to far.  What society needs is more hard working young men like these two teens. Common sense suggests that shovelers going door to door are not scam artists.  Yet common sense is needed not amended legislation. Sen. Mike Doherty proposed legislation blocking local ordinances as they apply to those  offering to shovel snow within 24 hours of a storm warning. Entrepreneurship and hard work are virtues that need to be promoted, not repressed.

Besides Legal Pub, New York Times, USA Today and Glenn Beck were also apparently offended by the local authorities lack of common sense. 

New Age Bonnie and Clyde Hit the Banks? ~by Legal Pub

Times are changing. So is crime. Recent news suggest that an internet hacking ring has stolen as much as a billion dollars from banks around the world.  Cyber-security firms are suggesting better security and higher rewards for bringing hackers to justice.   Since 2013, hackers have been credited with more than 100 banks heists in 30 countries.  Russian security company Kaspersky Lab suggest that the problem needs to be addressed.

Can hackers familiar with the banks' operations, use that knowledge to steal money without raising suspicions?  Can ATMs be reprogrammed to transfer money to fake accounts?  Are hackers interested in the money or identities?  Hackers seem to have differing answers depending on whether they are infiltrating Russia, U.S., Germany, China or Ukraine banks .In one case, $7.3 million was taken by hacking an ATM.  Meanwhile, the U.S. is focusing on improving cyber-security after breaches in Target, Home Depot, Sony and Anthem's computers.

Congress needs to replace the antiquated patchwork of state laws with a national standard giving companies 30 days to notify consumers if their personal information has been compromised.  Furthermore, the government needs to authorize companies to fight back by hacking the hacker's computers and freezing their abilities.  After all, we have the right to bare arms for self defense, why not give Sony the right to fight back and freeze all of the hacker's assets?  In the states, we shoot back at crooks.  Why not extend the principle to the internet?

Bruce Jenner No Stranger To The Lime Light ~by Legal Pub

Bruce Jenner was an Olympic decathlon star in 1976.  He was on the Wheaties box. He even was a regular on the Kardashian show (Keeping Up with the Kardashians.)  Lately, there are rumors that the 65 year-old may be transforming into a woman after recently ending a 23 year marriage. None of that warrants attention at Legal Pub.  However, a recent auto accident involving the media icon may be fair game. Jenner was involved in an accident that resulted in the death of a woman.  His publicist recently indicated that Jenner had not been texting prior to the chain-reaction collision in Malibu.

Apparently, Jenner is willing to offer his cellphone records that show he was not distracted at the time of the four vehicle crash on the Pacific Coast Highway.  Sources suggest that Jenner's Cadillac Escalade rear-ended a Lexus sedan that had hit a Toyota Prius.  It is unclear at this time why the Toyota Prius had slowed or stopped on the highway. What is clear, however is that the Lexus veered into oncoming traffic and collided nearly head-on with a Hummer.  Kim Howe, 69 years-old, was the driver of the Lexus.  Unfortunately, Kim lost her life in this accident.

Jenner has cooperated with authorities and has been quoted as saying, "My heartfelt and deepest sympathies go out to the family and loved ones, and to all of those who were involved or injured in this terrible accident... It is a devastating tragedy I cannot pretend to imagine what this family is going through at this time. I am praying for them."

The white Lexus had damage to both front and rear-ends.  Jenner apparently passed a field sobriety test and submitted a blood sample to police. The question is whether subpoenas for phone records will be issued.  Even if all of the data is produced, experts offer differ in the interpretation of the data when the question is whether the driver was texting at the exact time of the accident. Whenever anyone dies in an accident, it is tragic.  Whenever anyone associated with the Kardashians does anything public, it has potential to end up in a media circus.  In the middle of all of the stories and publicity, the memory of Kim Howe and her tragic death should not be tarnished or forgotten.

Love, Is It All in the Eyes of the Politician? ~by Legal Pub

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee could be a presidential hopeful.  But on Super Bowl Sunday, the politician said being gay is a lifestyle choice akin to choosing to drink alcohol or use profanity.  This former Baptist pastor may win the 2016 Republican presidential nomination but he also apparently believes that forcing people of faith to accept gay marriage as policy is on par with telling Jews that they must serve "bacon-wrapped shrimp in their deli."  Open mouth, insert foot.

The former Baptist pastor is counting on social conservatives and evangelicals who have input in early nominating to help him.  His comments seem to solicit support from the conservative corners of his party.  Yet he also appreciates different viewpoints on gay marriage, adding that he has gay friends. Nevertheless, he remains opposed to rights for gays and lesbians.  Rhetoric is central to a politicians arsenal. As such, politicians lose credibility and sacrifice their integrity in the pursuit of fame and power.  (Yes, most of us watch House of Cards.)

What would we like to hear?  The truth.  In 2016 it is time for government to get out of the marriage business!  Instead of state sanctioned marriage, leave spiritual bonding and commitment ceremonies up to religions and private groups without government involvement.  Enforce the Constitutional separation of church and state. As such, anyone can become committed to any other consenting person provided that organization accepts such relationships.  Individual churches and organizations can decide whom they want bonded spiritually in eternal commitment.  However, the government should no longer mandate automatic property rights.  Consequently, if someone wants to own property jointly, title the property in both names. If you want a joint bank account with your significant other, go to the bank and put the account in both names. The list goes on and on. No more automatic 50% ownership of assets after a ceremony.

However, politicians will only say what they think will get them elected. Consequently, don't look for changes anytime soon even if it is the right thing to do in 2016.