Monterey Bay Forum

Did a Vietnamese-American Texas attorney commit fraud when she signed up 1,000 Vietnamese fishermen in return for 60% contingency fees? Smells like fraud.

Roughly half of the 40,000 fishermen in the Gulf are Vietnamese refugees. Recently, one Vietnamese-American female attorney from a Texas law firm signed up over 1,000 of the refugees in exchange for 60% contingency fees. What explanation of the intricacies of the American legal system was individually given by that attorney to those 1,000 persons? What do you think that Vietnamese female attorney said? Probably something like, get a little now rather than wait a long time like in the Valdez spill? (more…)

BlogBabel Tags: economic, fishermen, fraud, gulf, livlihood, oil, vietnamese

What can get a handle on gang violence? Healthy, supervised activities is one avenue. Other avenues include individual commitments by the youth and parents made publicly and supported by the institutions that they respect — school, church, neighbors.

Churches, for example, have Graduation Recognition ceremonies. How about Initiation for Peaceful Solutions Ceremonies for youth starting by age 9 that are renewed once a year? And to bolster that public commitment by youth and parents blessed by priests and ministers create safe communities that are gun/knife/weapon free. Encourage parents to create ways to swoop up the guns and weapons that are on the streets and in the hands of children. And yes — structured activities such as soccer that encourage cooperation and healthy competition will enhance self esteem.

Below is how Live Oak, California is addressing the problem of gang violence. It is a start!!

A Volunteer Opportunity
A FREE 6 week indoor Soccer Program for youth ages 6 – 17 is being offered on Monday and Wednesday evenings from 6:00 – 9:00pm June 14th – July 21st. at Shoreline School in Live Oak. It is offered through a partnership between the Sheriff’s Activity League, the Live Oak Family Resource Center, Communities Organized for Relational Power in Action (COPA) and the Live Oak School District. VOLUNTEERS (adults and older teens) ARE NEEDED – coaches, refs, line refs, security, “team parent” etc. There will be a volunteer training on June 7th 6-8 pm. For more information call 476-7284 x 104.
Pre registration for players is June 3rd. Priority to youth living in the Live Oak School District but all kids accepted on a space available basis. Call same # to find out how to register There are many kids living in our community who cannot play soccer because their families cannot afford it. This program promotes self-esteem, teamwork and leadership skills while offering healthy activities in a safe space.

BlogBabel Tags: commitment by families, gang violence, sports

How to solve illegal immigration?

Work to change the conditions that draw people here illegally. Too easily people can get fake identification papers. The Border Patrol too frequently turns a blind eye to people entering illegally. There is no fence along the southern border — though money was allocated for one. The federal government for too many years has done too little.

Hence Arizona’s sensible response. More needs to be done, however.

So let’s make sensible changes:

** Built rapport with law abiding groups across the Border. Have a foreign workers program and all workers carry tamper proof identification cards. Make a fence that is not easily penetrated and well maintained. Provide foreign aid to families and children that encourages families to stay and or return to Mexico and other Latin American countries. (more…)

BlogBabel Tags: arizona law, border patrol, federal government, fence, illegal aliens, illegal immigration

Let’s see. The Christmas Day bomber. He got Miranda rights. And the Times Square fellow who almost blew up the Square. He initially got Miranda rights. With a hem and a haw. And the Ford Hood psychiatrist that shot a bunch of fellow soldiers. As he was in the military I suppose he will — if able to stand trail – get a military trial. And there was a student who shot a couple of recruiters. Who else have I left out? All this in President Obama’s first year.

Do I feel safer now that Obama is President? Do you feel safer? Who should feel safer? Jihadists probably do feel safer!! With Miranda rights given to persons who commit domestic terrorism it will be many a year before their legal rights are exhausted.

BlogBabel Tags: domestic terrorism, jihadists, Obama, safety

Choices for California: more of Boxer or…. ex-CEO Fiorina, Tom Campbell or Devore. Tom Cambell is a tax raiser. Fiorina failed as CEO. What about the other one?

Taxes are not the problem. We have to stop the politicians from spending.

See the following video. A bit heavy. I don’t care that Boxer only passed 3 bills in all those years. I do care that Boxer is a statist — always votes for more control for the government. She comes across as always right, haughty and not that smart. Her global warming ideas seem full of hot air.

So, if not Boxer — then who?

BlogBabel Tags: Boxer, Campbell, Fiorina, hot air movie

David Sweet is a former professor at UCSC. He publishes once a month in the Santa Cruz Sentinel. Recently, Mr. Sweet wrote a letter to the editor — to which James Jackson, Esq. responds:

Prize Hokum

“David Sweet advises that if we only leave Afghanistan, the government can guarantee reasonably paid jobs to all of us. I am sure they all nodded yes to this in his sociology class, but here in the real world this is prize hokum. Short of putting us all in the Re-elect Obama campaign committee, how will the government, which has no money but ours, do this?

Lift that barge, tote that bale.”

James Jackson, Aptos

BlogBabel Tags: Afghanstan, jobs, santa cruz sentinel, statist

Obama ran as a centrist. He governs as a leftist. He promised an end to bi-partisanship. He governs by out-sourcing legislation to Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid. (more…)

BlogBabel Tags: federal deficit, health care, Obama

Seems, concerning health care, that the Obama government does not trust people to figure out what they need. I say trust people to figure out what health care they need AFTER they have information and choice. And WHEN they know that they have the power to make decisions that affect their pocket book.

Let people decide the same way they do when they purchase a cell phone. (more…)

BlogBabel Tags: cell phones, health care, Obama-Care

New Jersey elected someone to make big changes. Like cut state spending. And, no more new taxes. And that is happening.

Why not cut taxes in California?

Let’s cut all government salaries over $100,000 to a flat $90,000 and see who wants the job. Let’s cut pensions so similar to the private sector. Government workers in certain jobs should get certain perks — but, given extra perks and security, they should not have the right to strike.

What say you to cutting taxes in California similar to New Jersey? (more…)

BlogBabel Tags: california, cap salaries, New Jersey, taxes