Tony, I'm gonna make a bet with you.
It'll cost you nothing. In fact, its only going to cost me no matter whether I win or lose.
If I win, I pay 50 dollars, If I lose I pay 100 dollars to the charity of my choice. I say my choice because I have a few favorite that I've looked into and have seen the good work they do. I donate money to a few groups here in Asia, about time I opened up my wallet again anyway.
I bet that not only will this bill be bumrushed into congress it's going to be bumrushed more or less intact as it was. From what I'm gathering the window of opportunity to make changes is rather small.
So let's say 25 percent change of the original legislation. I'll let you be the judge of it as well.
There is not bet on if it passes or not. 250 million or whatever millions of dollars ensures it won't be passed. As soon as the Republicans latch onto this they'll go into a frenzy. There isn't a democrat out there that will go out on life or limb for this legislation when they are staring down the twin barrels of a pissed off voting public shotgun.
To be honest, I object to the idea of throwing a huge wad of money at the problem. It seems to me that the only people standing to benefit are Advocaidiots and lawyers. Both of which I think are parasites. Do I really want a bunch of barely trained Matlock Wannabe advocaidiots running around representing kids in programs? The only reason the CASA program works, Court Appointed Special Advocate, is because the Advocates belong to a seasoned organization that provides support and training.
BOTH of which are massively lacking in the the current advocate groups. I like most of you survivor types, there are a few I really do think are morons, but over all most survivors of the older generation have struck me as pretty solid people. I like most of you all, I really do, but I'm not sure I follow the logic of having survivors out policing programs. I'd personally rather have trained law enforcement officials doing that. At least they can shoot people and get away with it.
Survivors as advocates for kids on the other hands makes sense to me. But that's a function already provided by a current organization, aka CASA. Has anyone gotten with CASA and popped the question about a possible expansion into this market?
Of course not, because they won't do it. Why would they when rarely ever do any of these kids ever see the light of day in a court room.
Now if this bill was about pushing the Washington state law that allows 13 year olds to say fuck off to unwanted therapy I'd be jumping up and down and wetting my pants with joy. At least that wouldn't cost the taxpayers anything beyond having the electric bill at congress run up during all the speeches for and against it.
It's a powerful law that MOST definitely without question is in the right direction. It forces the situation from the home and program and into the courts. The same courts where CASA and thousands of pro-bono lawyers. Other organizations are out there as well. Loads of them. All sort of them that are looking for volunteers.
Here is a question for you specifically Tony. I hear a fair bit about this Levine fellow. Has anyone ever asked him what he thinks about this Washington State law?
Why are we being so set on an unproven piece of legislation when we've already seen the baaawing from parents in Washington State?
My take on the comparison of HR 911 and the WA. STate law, HR 911 provides too many questions regarding it's effectiveness and a huge amount of speculation as to whether it'll make things worst or not and the other already has a track record of protecting the rights of young men and women.
Sorry, gotta say on a realistic point of view here I think the movement is settling for waaaaaaaaaay too fucking little and hoping for waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too much out of a few talking head pundits and politicians. All of them who either are badly informed or have alternate agendas. You ever wonder why some of the usual suspect advocaidiots are so hot for this bill?
I have myself, best answer I have... Money.. lots of it.. keeping them in lots of money through government grants.
To do what?
Beats the fuck out of me, I don't see a single advocaidiot organization out there capable of doing much of anything even if they had the money. Not sure why they'd even need money if this was pushed into the courts as well given that there are already numerous experienced organizations out there for us to join with.
HEAL?
Dude... seriously.. do I need to even say anything? I've gotten to the point where I can say Angela's name with out spitting or swearing. I doubt she'd even bother with taking Federal money anyway.
CAFETY?
Hur... lol, right.. I think they mean well, try hard, and have the occasional good idea, but really...
SIA?
Ain't they the folks doing a survivor reunion on the Queen fucking Mary? That's nice of them, I'm sure they'll get a huge turn out.....
:nods:
ISAC..
They went under..
TAUSA..
Don't even know if Barbe Stampe is even still alive. I suspect zombies ate her brains years ago.
FICA..
uhhh.. I think Kathy Moya is a great person, but my impression of FICA has always been that it is Kathy Moya.. and well that's about it.. Just Kathy.
I'd mention the YLF, but that bad boy got shoved down a garbage disposer by yours truly. Not a bad thing either... somethings just need to go away till a better time. Like when I grow up past my current mental age of 13.
Good luck with all of this though. I think maybe I need to go back to not caring for awhile or focusing on other efforts. I've always been a soft one for orphans. Possibly coz I'm one myself. Mebbe it's time for me to spend some more time on that for awhile. This entire HR 911 thing is really pissing me off and I don't want to sit here and watch what is probably going to be a repeat of the last fiasco.