As much as one might try to ignore it, the rediculosity of the near constant barrage of network news creeps into a person's consciousness. On this fine day, the latest thing to make the news is that one of the male Wisconsin's Supreme Court Justices assaulted another of the Justices in her office, while five other Justices looked on. This occurred during what is being called a "discussion" about the legitimacy of Governor Scott Walker's recent evisceration of public employee unions. It sickens me that our "duly elected officials" cannot participate in discussions without resorting to violence. In fact, the term discussion has no place in the characterization of this event.
As telling as this crime is, it seems that the real news about it will never see the light of day. A man, (who just happens to be a self professed Republican) choking a woman who disagrees with him would warrant immediate firing in any other workplace. The fact that he was supposedly "defending" the governor's "right" to negate one hundred years of civility and good faith agreements that have been arrived at through generations of bargaining shows that expediency has certainly eclipsed decorum. Any sense of legitimacy that one holds in public office becomes null and void when thuggery such as this is not dealt with severely. The fact that we are even hearing a lame defense of Justice Prosser is disillusioning. The Justices are supposed to be guiding us to a more just future through their well-considered decisions about things that come up during the practice of our way of life. They are no more insulated from the law than any of us. If I had been in justice Prosser's office, choking him, regardless of why I might have done it, would get me at least a stay in jail. Had I ever done anything remotely similar in the workplace, I would be looking for another line of work.
As many might understand, assaulting someone based on their beliefs falls into a category we sometimes refer to as hate crimes. Sadly, the sexual overtones of a man beating up on a woman and the very nature of the crime, have yet to be elucidated by those who bring us the "news" Putting your hands around the neck of someone who is pissing you off is dangerously close to attempted murder. If he was out of control enough to overstep the boundaries of civility, there is little to suggest that the skills needed to guide a civil society toward justice exists in him. Is there any question that those who use power and control need to be held accountable for crimes that they commit? The validity of our state's highest court depends on unblemished integrity of the justices that we send there. Ruffians have no place in government generally and certainly not on the bench of the highest court in the state.
As telling as this crime is, it seems that the real news about it will never see the light of day. A man, (who just happens to be a self professed Republican) choking a woman who disagrees with him would warrant immediate firing in any other workplace. The fact that he was supposedly "defending" the governor's "right" to negate one hundred years of civility and good faith agreements that have been arrived at through generations of bargaining shows that expediency has certainly eclipsed decorum. Any sense of legitimacy that one holds in public office becomes null and void when thuggery such as this is not dealt with severely. The fact that we are even hearing a lame defense of Justice Prosser is disillusioning. The Justices are supposed to be guiding us to a more just future through their well-considered decisions about things that come up during the practice of our way of life. They are no more insulated from the law than any of us. If I had been in justice Prosser's office, choking him, regardless of why I might have done it, would get me at least a stay in jail. Had I ever done anything remotely similar in the workplace, I would be looking for another line of work.
As many might understand, assaulting someone based on their beliefs falls into a category we sometimes refer to as hate crimes. Sadly, the sexual overtones of a man beating up on a woman and the very nature of the crime, have yet to be elucidated by those who bring us the "news" Putting your hands around the neck of someone who is pissing you off is dangerously close to attempted murder. If he was out of control enough to overstep the boundaries of civility, there is little to suggest that the skills needed to guide a civil society toward justice exists in him. Is there any question that those who use power and control need to be held accountable for crimes that they commit? The validity of our state's highest court depends on unblemished integrity of the justices that we send there. Ruffians have no place in government generally and certainly not on the bench of the highest court in the state.
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