July 10, 2012
Evil's triumph
"All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good people to remain silent." I have always liked that quote. Bobby Kennedy spoke it often, and as I think about the problems we face in our country I think about that quote and ask, how can leaders remain silent in the face of evil?
Look at our Supreme Court. David Prosser, who, in my view lacks both the credentials and the temperament to be a judge, let alone a Supreme Court justice, is a case in point. He apparently has an anger issue and he attacked Supreme Court Justice Ann Walsh Bradley. He was choking her. He doesn't deny that fact and in fact said that he found his hands on her neck! He asked himself, What should I do? And he responded, remove his hands from her neck. The next question should have been, "Now what would a rational lawyer do next?" But instead of resigning from the court as he should have, he was last seen flitting around asking his fellow justices to recuse themselves because they saw him choke a female justice.
What would happen to any citizen who attacked a justice? Tried to choke her? Prison would be a good guess. What happens to Prosser now? He will be paid well over $100,000 per year to serve us. He goes unpunished and evil triumphs because good people remain silent. Are we on notice that Justice Prosser is a threat to the safety of our Supreme Court justices? If there is another "incident" are we liable?
I must ask, where is the Bar Association? Why have the officers of the State Bar remained silent? And now it turns out that former Prosser aid and Assembly speaker John Gard urged governor Walker to appoint three members to the judicial panel who are, in Gard's view, "fiercely conservative" to the panel. I am not making this up! Gard assured the governor's office that his nominees "would never wimp out." Is that sufficient to take another look?
How can we restore confidence in the Supreme Court? Can't be done unless good people speak up--Where are the deans of our two law schools? What example are they setting for their students? When I was in law school they did not have a legal ethics class but we had people with impeccable ethical standards to lead the way. We had Frank Remington, Bob Skilton, Nate Feinsinger, Bill Foster, Robert Curry, and Gordon Baldwin, who could be counted on speak up. I am confident what they would say today.
Nate taught that if a negotiator ever lies he must resign. Why? Because the process depends on honesty.
David Prosser should resign. And John Gard? Oh good grief who cares?
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What Prosser should do is just like complaining about the weather. I have been struck by the media and everyone else who think the "Wisconsin Uprising" was mainly about collective bargaining. For me it was about tyranny. "One ring to rule them all and in the darkness bind them."
-John E. Davey | Kendall, WI | July 10, 2012
Since 9/11 suppression of dissent has become the coin of the realm. We are governed by those who are scared, frightened and unethical people. Everybody is desperate to keep what they have. So, of course, no one will speak out against Prosser. Gableman proved a justice can do anything, no matter how down and dirty, and get away with it. Walker and the law school folk probably are scared - the bar too. It's leaders don't want to mess with those supported by billionaires.
Tyranny is the word. Beat people down, scare them and treat the elite differently. There is no "rule of law" for the elite. Only excuses. Most guys who did what Prosser did would be in jail. Arrested at least.
Our country has third-rate banana republic type leaders and our supreme court is a joke. Three justices - all conservatives - have been embroiled in scandal. So much for "law and order." That's for chumps not the elite.
-JR | Boaz, WI | July 11, 2012
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