Blagojevich, Guilty As Charged...

Seventeen Charges to be exact.

This is the number of convictions former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich was dealt earlier this week.

Primarily it had to do with trying to "sell" Obama's former Senate Seat and with so many convictions, he is likely serve some serious Federal Prison Time.

The question arises as to Why? Why would someone of Blogojevich's stature and position risk all by stooping to such slimy activity? One gets the sense that when some individuals reach such heights they begin to think of themselves as invulnerable - e.g. Gerry Weiner, Bill Clinton, and Robert Edwards.

For whatever reason, Blagojevich has now lost much - most important his reputation is in shatters and is not likely to be restored.

But now enters the US System of Punishment...let's call it its Conrad Black moment.

The Prosecution will most certainly be asking for a prison sentence of at least 5 years but what will that accomplish?

• Will he be rehabilitated? Not Likely

• Will he be punished? Yes, but he has already suffered a great deal more than your ordinary offender due to his loss of status.

• Will it set an example for others who may think now or in the future of conducting themselves in a similar fashion? Probably.

So on balance the serving of hard time seems to make some sense.

But it is not going to address the chronic problem of overcrowding in Prisons. (i.e. California is in the process of letting thousands of inmates out since the State is broke and cannot afford to expand their existing facilities).

Nor is it going to help the inmate himself. He or she is likely to come out of the experience much more hardened.

It will certainly not help his family who will now be without his support both financial and emotional.

Nor will the imprisonment be taxpayer friendly. Using Canadian Figures - it costs $259 per day on average to incarcerate a prisoner - males cost $87,665 per year while female inmates cost over $150 k per year. Alternative methods of punishment cost but $5 to $25 per day.

So Alternative methods are much cheaper - are they as effective?

If I was the Judge punishing Rod Blagojevich I would rely upon those alternative methods and here is what I would do.

First, I would bar him from Public Office for life.

Second, I would confiscate current and future sale revenues from his story to be deposited to the general revenues of the State of Illinois.

Next I would fine him - $100,000 in total.

Then I would sentence him to 500 hours of community service, And,

Finally, I would place him under Home Arrest for 1 year, followed by 4 more years of probation.

In my opinion, this would address the objectives and much more of serving hard time.

Alas, it is not to be. The Prosecution will ask for time and the Judge will grant the request.

As I see it....

'K.D. Galagher'

Geert Wilders' Acquittal...

A VICTORY FOR US ALL.



If you have been following the travails of this Dutch Politician, you will know that this past week he was acquitted of inciting violence and hatred against Muslims.



By the end of his Trial, even the Prosecution was asking for his acquittal although it does beg the question why they charged him in the first place.



A refresher.



Wilders is an outspoken critic of Dutch and indeed European immigration when it comes to Muslims. More particularly, he sees the Muslim Religion as a threat to European Stability and views the Koran as dangerous as Hitler's Mein Kampf.


He is therefore extreme in his beliefs but he is not totally wrong in his beliefs either. That aside, in Free Speech Societies like Holland and the Western World - people like Mr. Wilders have the right to say what they want unless they are directly inciting violence against a person or group of persons.



As a Christian - someone might think and say that I belong to a weird sect - that I have two heads and eat worms - so be it. In fact, I respect their right to say whatever they want while not for a minute respecting what they say.



"I may not agree with what you say but I will defend to the death your right to say it" from Friends of Voltaire 1906.



But the issue of Muslim immigration must be aired since it has caused serious problems for Western Society, a Society based on Judeo-Christian Principles.



Muslims, almost by definition, have difficulty blending into our society given the fundamental differences between their religion and our own.



To cut off debate and pretend there are no problems, only serves to exacerbate the situation. Polarization will follow and in the end, extremists will gain control of the agenda.


It is interesting, that in many respects, the Muslim situation today parallels the Jewish situation 50 - 60 years ago. Then, Jewish immigration was discouraged while Jews kept to themselves and resisted integration into mainstream societies.


There is a big difference though. Jews promoted peace - they wanted to be left alone to their own devices and be successful in their endeavours.


In the current age - Muslims for the most part too promote peace - and they too seem to resist integration but a minority of Muslims - the Islamists - out and out hate Western Society. They will not be satisfied until we are destroyed.

In addition, a significant number of Muslims support Sharia Law and indeed our very own Premier came within a whisker of implementing it here in Ontario.

Some of the provisions of Sharia Law are incompatible with our own set of laws, especially when it comes to the treatment of women and young girls. We do not need different sets of laws for different groups of persons.

So to me a debate on this subject is most needed. How can we in Western Society preserve our Judicial System and Rule of Law and at the same time meet the needs of our fellow Muslims?

Geert Wilders freedom to speak to this issue and help generate needed debate is part of the solution and for that we all should rejoice - Christian, Jew and Muslim in his acquittal.

As I see it ...

'K.D. Galagher'