SEPTEMBER KALEIDOSCOPE No, this subject does not describe a Picasso or Jackson Pollack work of art! Rather, this September kaleidoscope" fits the definition of Webster's New World Dictionary (circa 1884) of kaleidoscope: "anything that constantly changes".

A sweep through online and some paper versions of Newsweek, The Wall St. Journal, Baltimore Examiner, Washington Post and Baltimore Sun, provides a kaleidoscope of "news" : neither artistic nor orderly. Truly, here is are living example of "mixed" artistry as the "other new year" begins : September and the rush of Fall 2007 events :

In the Nation :The "endless" Presidential campaign continues

The primary beneficiaries of this part of American democracy continue to be the political "handlers" / consultants in the James Carville and Karl Rove mode. More money is being siphoned into the candidates' cash registers, via business wheeler-dealer Hsu and his fat cat friends funneling money into the coffers not only 3/4 million dollars into the Hillary Clinton campaign, but smaller but still-in-the-millions to many other candidates. Other beneficiaries continue as before: the ad agencies, the television industry. It is the American people who are getting turned off, after 9 months' "political pregnancy" and 13 months to endure the endless debate rhetoric, even after the jumble of early primaries just 4 months away in January.


In Maryland: Doctors still in danger with the false security of medical insurance "comfort"

For the past 4 days, the public has been treated to the news that the Med Mutual medical insurance company's $ 69 million surplus means that there are no problems for doctors continuing practice in Maryland, no threat of excessive lawsuits or aggressive trial lawyers operating under the protection of minimum tort reform as encouraged by the Md. Legislature. In the words of Brian Frosh, medical malpractice trial lawyer and Md. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman (no conflict of interest ?) : "the Legislature was right not to enact strong tort reform along with the premium subsidy of 2 years ago". His solution: turn the money back to the State bureaucrats to lessen the $1.5 billion budget deficit -- no return to the doctors as policyholders of Med Mutual. Maryland's legislative leaders continue to ignore the warning of dedicated doctor crusader Dr. Carol Ritter that "the malpractice problem is more than about subsidies and temporary surplus. It is about the moral imperative of supplying adequate healthcare to all." Dr. Ritter is both morally and medically correct.


In Baltimore City: a 28 % voter turnout -- problems continue

Is this low voter turnout the meaning of Baltimore's grass-roots democracy and one-party government? "All politics is local " -- but is all politics based on single party control and management from the back rooms? A significant impact of the City primary is that Baltimore now has its first woman Mayor -- but there needs to be real policy and good management of the bureaucracies that almost are smothering our public school system. The new superintendent appears to be a potential leadership answer -- but in a recent observation by Abell Foundation President Bob Embry, there must be more of the spirit of "Teach for America" than just technical/ somewhat robotic "qualifications" from handbooks and training manuals.

Increasingly frightening numbers of homicide increase and gang warfare for drugs are clouding the "human horizon" for our City. Not only law enforcement, but education and volunteer community groups must step up to the plate to help stop this unchecked trend.


In Congressional hearings, General Petraeus is NOT General Betray Us !

The so-called statement ( "General Paetraeus or General Betray Us ?") in a $150,000 New York Times ad, by a so-called "liberal" organization. "MoveOn.org" issued that description of a respected military /non-political leader charged with the management of the difficult problems in post-war Iraq. MoveOn.org provided a mixture of campaign rhetoric and politics to convey policy by that rabble - rousing headline. This "spin" statement was published, during Congressional hearings last week, as Gen. Petraeus analyzed problems and mistakes in a war that has been filled with difficulties that rival the tragedy of our nearly a decade in the Vietnam quagmire. MoveOn.org exceeded the bounds of decency and even truth in that national newspaper ad.

"The World According to Greenspan"

This title of the current week's "Newsweek" magazine is the prelude to his new book , "The Age of Turbulance". Brilliant as the 20-year Federal Reserve Chairman, Greenspan is the living exponent of what has come to be called "Fed Speak": in effect , analytical and thoughtful assessments of the American economy and its increasing global impact. Greenspan's impact on steering Fed's impact on the economy had significant impact as that economy moved through 20 years, 1987 - 2006 , of turbulence to unprecedented growth. As noted in the Newsweek article , the end of the cold war, globalization, the rise of China , the rampant rise of information technology set the stage for economic growth, high productivity, low inflation, and rising markets. Greenspan sees the inconsistency between professed conservatism and increased government spending. His legacy will be better understood through his memoir, but the impact of 21st century's economic beginnings is yet to come. The story will continue!

O.J. Simpson

At the beginning of September 2007 , the American people again have to endure Simpson's dishonesty and selfish ego. Enough said!

Welcome, September and Happy "other" new year !

Labels: Baltimore, crime, Maryland, politics

  6:24 AM •  1 Comments •

From Prison to Jericho: A Baltimore adventure in Hope Did I ever imagine having a common experience with Charles Colson, Richard Nixon's White House aide who spent 7 months in a federal prison for a Watergate conviction ? The answer is a firm "no" -- until the reading of a recent Baltimore Examiner commentary by editorial page editor Marta Hummel. That commentary is the story of Colson and the "Prison Fellowship" nonprofit he established to provide a host of services to prison inmates -- including job training to prepare for new lives after release.

Why did Marta's interesting article cause a change of mind to see a connection between Colson and Wills? No, I have not served any time behind bars! But, two years ago, volunteer work as a trustee of a nonprofit social service agency opened my vision to the world of prisoner rehabilitation.

Episcopal Community Services of Maryland helps at-risk youth to move their lives beyond drug addiction and poverty to pre-school education and after-school academic enrichment. 2006 marked the year I received a call from 2 energetic professionals at ECSM: Jean Cushman ,Executive Director,and Sara Gallagher, staff associate who holds Towson University and University of Chicago degrees in urban policy. Their request: to help secure a 2-year, $ 650,000 Dept. of Labor grant to help released prisoners prepare for employment and keep a job. Hard work and teamwork began at that moment .

Training former prisoners to get jobs and leave the world of drugs -- before and, sometimes, during prison. Is that really possible ?

Yes ! --- ECSM received the grant , as several of us -- volunteers and staff -- prepared a proposal and "networked" the granting agency to enable "Jericho" to begin its work. That work is assistance to ex-prisoners with training to interview for jobs , receives substance abuse counseling , education, transportation and other ways to take control of a new life.

A 2-week training session is held, Monday through Friday , 8:30 Am to 3 PM . The ex-prisoners/ now students work with professional staff on all aspects of re-entering the workforce and address the question: "What job are your ready for ?" With the help of Jericho staff, students "graduate" to knock down the barriers to employment"

ECSM has partners to provides the first employment experience: American Works of Maryland and Goodwill Industries of the Chesapeake to move training classes' graduates to find a job. Former prisoners are enrolled in Jericho for a full year, as the they look for both promotions and better paying jobs.

As an observer of Jericho's job training classes, I see the same hope that Chuck Colson must see in the work of " Prison Fellowship" These classes are powerful, as staff and volunteers encourage and train their ex-prisoner students to hustle for job interviews and do those interviews "just right". In east Baltimore's Collington Square area, the "walls of Jericho" are opening for those whose past lives had to change for the better. There is hope for cities like Baltimore that face daily challenges of crime and the drug culture.

Thanks to the commitment of Episcopal Community Services, the response Labor Department's employment division in a competitive proposal process , and Marta Hummel's thoughtful analysis in The Baltimore Examiner. You gave me the inspiration for this "good news" story of prisoner help in Baltimore .

Labels: Baltimore, Chuck Colson, prison

  9:23 AM •  1 Comments •