The link is to Timothy Snyder's video, episode 3 on oligarchs. In it, Snyder speaks (starting at 9:15) about the Supreme Court's decision on Citizens United and what it will mean. This video was made in 2017 and is more relevant today.
As for how the law works in practice, I couldn't afford a lawyer when my childre…
The link is to Timothy Snyder's video, episode 3 on oligarchs. In it, Snyder speaks (starting at 9:15) about the Supreme Court's decision on Citizens United and what it will mean. This video was made in 2017 and is more relevant today.
As for how the law works in practice, I couldn't afford a lawyer when my children were removed from my custody in 1986 because while I was at work in intensive care, my new husband ordered my 16-year-old son to put on his winter coat on a 95-degree day and sit outside by the dog because he failed to give the dog water which was his assigned task. My son wasn't harmed, although my husband used poor judgment. My son called the police, and they took my five children into foster care. My children were returned after six weeks, but my husband was court-ordered away from our home for 18 months.
I was desperate to get my children returned. I tried to write a proper motion and filed it with the court using the Amendments to the U.S. Constitution, which stated that my children were taken without due process and in violation of some amendments, including the Fourteenth Amendment equal protection law. The attorney, Guardian ad Litem for my children lied and told me the 14th Amendment only applies to African Americans. Now, I have found out that it applies to corporations as well. What a slap in the face. Also, I was told my children only have rights under an ASPCA ruling, another lie.
At the time, case law was such that if a woman left her children with a person who abused them, she would lose custody forever. That was case law for about the next fifteen years in the U.S. I was told how fortunate I was to have my children returned at six weeks, let alone ever. Our community was devastated by worker layoffs, which also affected the lawyer class, and they were using DCFS to extort parents. I know of a family who sold their home to pay an attorney to get their children returned. It was the worst thing that ever happened to me, and I'll never think of our country and our legal system the same way because I know how it really works and who is in charge.
That isn't the only travesty of justice our community endured due to the loss of jobs. People's homes were taken by "Special Assessment." But that's another story.
Thank you, Thom Hartmann, for explaining the lies and evil forces that led to the Citizens United coup.
I doubt you would have prevailed if you hired an attorney, if you did you would have to take out a second mortgage and wind up with the same results.
Attorneys are officers of the court, meaning that work for the system., judges are also representatives of the system, and the only way to even attempt a fair outcome is via a Jury trial., and those rack up billable hours for the attorney's. And even with a jury trial, the Judge puts his thumb on the scale, by recognizing or failing to recognize objections, and by the instructions he gives the jury. If the Jury doesn't follow instructions he can throw out the verdict.
I was called to Jury duty in Santa Cruz, CA and voire dired. The prosecution asked me a question and I answered by quoting Justice Marshall, I went home straight forth.
There are no jury trials in juvenile court. It is the most antidemocratic system you can imagine, and it places children who had been safe with their parents into unsafe homes. The dumbest thing about it is that the reason most children are taken is "neglect." For example, parents who can't afford a dentist are called negligent. So, the system takes the kids from the parents and places them with strangers to whom they give the money to care for the children properly. Why not help the parents to begin with? But then all those patronage jobs, Gardian ad litems, judges, and parasitic lawyers wouldn't be needed.
There is so much more I want to say on this topic, but I have just stopped trembling from the most hurtful memories of a lifetime, and I want to stay calm for the rest of the day.
Oh, I need to say that someone I told about this awful thing that happened to me said that there are worse things that happen in our "justice system," like the parents whose children died in a disaster like a fire and were in jail or executed like the father in Texas who was proven innocent by forensics soon after the execution. The Innocent Project has proven how faulty our justice system is. And look at what Trump is getting away with.
My children told me how horribly they were treated during the six weeks they were separated from each other and placed in foster care. It's a stark reality that in our system, you can't sue the State due to Sovereign Immunity. This means that we only have the rights we can afford or are allowed to have by the local authorities. The financial barriers to justice are a clear indication of the inequality in our system, where justice is a privilege, not a right.
I am sorry that I dredged up such painful memories. The closest I came is that Mom, separated from Dad, lived with her sister and husband. Hubbie didn't appreciate all of the people disturbing his life, Mom was pregnant, so Mom put sis and I up for adoption.
A nice lady, she had already adopted a boy (Rusty) wanted a daughter and my sister was a cute little blonde. But the deal was I came with, because they wouldn't split us up, so I was a tag along after thought, still she treated us nice but after my sis was born, some lifted my mothers wallet on the subway, and she went to the police, told her story, and told her she should try to get in public housing.
She tried, but one child wasn't enough, so she clawed back Sis and I, which upset the nice lady we lived with,as she was promised she could adopt us.
Next stop a housing project where I learned the realities of life. And actually as I survived, I am grateful I learned so much more there than I would have in Beavers household
You are correct about Juvenile, injustice system, I skirted it. I would hide on Friday nights because a cop from the 21st Precinct would scoop me up and keep in jail, overnight "for my protection", but that is another story. .
That's terrible, William. This country has enough resources for families to be secure in basic necessities. No mother should fear not having what she needs for her children. It sounds like you have at least one story that needs telling.
Don't take this wrong. This was a different time, and all the resources we have now, did not exist, and there was no such thing as child protection services, and I am glad.
I have no regrets or druthers about anything. I like who I am, and where I am in life now, and everything that has gone before, everything that has happened to me, good and bad, are a stepping stone, and had it not been for the stones and my steps I wouldn't be where I am.
Now I can't say the same for the events of the last eight years., well the preceding four of the eight was an interregnum. I see a the ship of state sailing into a shitstorm.
I have flashbacks that cause me to tremble and pace the floor when something triggers memories. I'm usually fine, content, and enjoying my family and life. Writing and sharing help me, and I try to help others when the opportunity presents itself.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=biZVrh821RA
The link is to Timothy Snyder's video, episode 3 on oligarchs. In it, Snyder speaks (starting at 9:15) about the Supreme Court's decision on Citizens United and what it will mean. This video was made in 2017 and is more relevant today.
As for how the law works in practice, I couldn't afford a lawyer when my children were removed from my custody in 1986 because while I was at work in intensive care, my new husband ordered my 16-year-old son to put on his winter coat on a 95-degree day and sit outside by the dog because he failed to give the dog water which was his assigned task. My son wasn't harmed, although my husband used poor judgment. My son called the police, and they took my five children into foster care. My children were returned after six weeks, but my husband was court-ordered away from our home for 18 months.
I was desperate to get my children returned. I tried to write a proper motion and filed it with the court using the Amendments to the U.S. Constitution, which stated that my children were taken without due process and in violation of some amendments, including the Fourteenth Amendment equal protection law. The attorney, Guardian ad Litem for my children lied and told me the 14th Amendment only applies to African Americans. Now, I have found out that it applies to corporations as well. What a slap in the face. Also, I was told my children only have rights under an ASPCA ruling, another lie.
At the time, case law was such that if a woman left her children with a person who abused them, she would lose custody forever. That was case law for about the next fifteen years in the U.S. I was told how fortunate I was to have my children returned at six weeks, let alone ever. Our community was devastated by worker layoffs, which also affected the lawyer class, and they were using DCFS to extort parents. I know of a family who sold their home to pay an attorney to get their children returned. It was the worst thing that ever happened to me, and I'll never think of our country and our legal system the same way because I know how it really works and who is in charge.
That isn't the only travesty of justice our community endured due to the loss of jobs. People's homes were taken by "Special Assessment." But that's another story.
Thank you, Thom Hartmann, for explaining the lies and evil forces that led to the Citizens United coup.
I doubt you would have prevailed if you hired an attorney, if you did you would have to take out a second mortgage and wind up with the same results.
Attorneys are officers of the court, meaning that work for the system., judges are also representatives of the system, and the only way to even attempt a fair outcome is via a Jury trial., and those rack up billable hours for the attorney's. And even with a jury trial, the Judge puts his thumb on the scale, by recognizing or failing to recognize objections, and by the instructions he gives the jury. If the Jury doesn't follow instructions he can throw out the verdict.
I was called to Jury duty in Santa Cruz, CA and voire dired. The prosecution asked me a question and I answered by quoting Justice Marshall, I went home straight forth.
There are no jury trials in juvenile court. It is the most antidemocratic system you can imagine, and it places children who had been safe with their parents into unsafe homes. The dumbest thing about it is that the reason most children are taken is "neglect." For example, parents who can't afford a dentist are called negligent. So, the system takes the kids from the parents and places them with strangers to whom they give the money to care for the children properly. Why not help the parents to begin with? But then all those patronage jobs, Gardian ad litems, judges, and parasitic lawyers wouldn't be needed.
There is so much more I want to say on this topic, but I have just stopped trembling from the most hurtful memories of a lifetime, and I want to stay calm for the rest of the day.
Oh, I need to say that someone I told about this awful thing that happened to me said that there are worse things that happen in our "justice system," like the parents whose children died in a disaster like a fire and were in jail or executed like the father in Texas who was proven innocent by forensics soon after the execution. The Innocent Project has proven how faulty our justice system is. And look at what Trump is getting away with.
My children told me how horribly they were treated during the six weeks they were separated from each other and placed in foster care. It's a stark reality that in our system, you can't sue the State due to Sovereign Immunity. This means that we only have the rights we can afford or are allowed to have by the local authorities. The financial barriers to justice are a clear indication of the inequality in our system, where justice is a privilege, not a right.
I am sorry that I dredged up such painful memories. The closest I came is that Mom, separated from Dad, lived with her sister and husband. Hubbie didn't appreciate all of the people disturbing his life, Mom was pregnant, so Mom put sis and I up for adoption.
A nice lady, she had already adopted a boy (Rusty) wanted a daughter and my sister was a cute little blonde. But the deal was I came with, because they wouldn't split us up, so I was a tag along after thought, still she treated us nice but after my sis was born, some lifted my mothers wallet on the subway, and she went to the police, told her story, and told her she should try to get in public housing.
She tried, but one child wasn't enough, so she clawed back Sis and I, which upset the nice lady we lived with,as she was promised she could adopt us.
Next stop a housing project where I learned the realities of life. And actually as I survived, I am grateful I learned so much more there than I would have in Beavers household
You are correct about Juvenile, injustice system, I skirted it. I would hide on Friday nights because a cop from the 21st Precinct would scoop me up and keep in jail, overnight "for my protection", but that is another story. .
That's terrible, William. This country has enough resources for families to be secure in basic necessities. No mother should fear not having what she needs for her children. It sounds like you have at least one story that needs telling.
Don't take this wrong. This was a different time, and all the resources we have now, did not exist, and there was no such thing as child protection services, and I am glad.
I have no regrets or druthers about anything. I like who I am, and where I am in life now, and everything that has gone before, everything that has happened to me, good and bad, are a stepping stone, and had it not been for the stones and my steps I wouldn't be where I am.
Now I can't say the same for the events of the last eight years., well the preceding four of the eight was an interregnum. I see a the ship of state sailing into a shitstorm.
I admire your passion. Keep reconnecting with your inner wisdom and strength. Children all over the world need advocates.
OMG Gloria.. what a horrendous and stressful struggle for you to go through. Glad you survived it. Are you okay?
I have flashbacks that cause me to tremble and pace the floor when something triggers memories. I'm usually fine, content, and enjoying my family and life. Writing and sharing help me, and I try to help others when the opportunity presents itself.