TRUMP PLEA DEAL - AS PUBLISHED 8/20/2023 MIAMI HEARLD

 AS PUBLISHED:

PLEA DEAL

Besieged by myriad legal charges Mr. Donald J. Trump, and his legal team must be overwhelmed. How to defend the onslaught of criminal accusations?  Could there be one "cures all" solution to this judicial quagmire?  Of course. Just plead insanity.  The evidence and the scientific support are irrefutable. At least 150 million fellow Amerian  citizens would concur, and it is only position for which his defense team could win support from them.  And Mr. Trump could be required to stay at Mar-A-Lago  until a team of mental health professionals determines it would be safe for society for him to leave; don't hold your breath, though.

AS SUBMITTED:

TRUMP’S BEST OPTION

Besieged by myriad legal charges Mr. Donald J. Trump, citizen of the United States Of America, and his legal team must be overwhelmed. How to defend the onslaught of accusations of crimes? Could there be one "cures all" solution to this judicial quagmire? You heard it here first:

Plead insanity.  The evidence and the scientific support are irrefutable. At least 150 million fellow U.S. citizens would concur. It would be the only position for which his defense team could win support from many. And Mr. Trump could be required to stay at Mar-A-LaLa until a team of mental health professionals determines it would be safe for society for him to leave; don't hold your breath.  So, from one who has absolutely no legal training, unless you count a year of business law,  but does have mental health credentials, plead insanity Mr. Trump, and save the legal expense, for which you have no budget line anyway. 

Subject: Shooting down objects just because they are there?

 LETTER TO THE EDITOR. MIAMI HERALD, PUBLISHED FEB 19, 2023

Subject: Shooting down objects just because they are there?

How can we shoot down objects about which we have no intel? Has anyone come forward and asked,

"Why did you shoot down our research object? When will you pay us to replace it plus the cost to us of the interruption of our research and communications? "How can any one be so brash and ignorant to destroy something just because a similar object was a probably a spy vehicle. There was no indication that the other two objects were a threat. And it cost us at least $500K to shoot them down, and we missed once, even more expense. Oye! Again we do things that make us the laughing stock of the world.

When will we grow up?

Barry J. White

Kendall

LIFE AFTER AFFIRMATIVE ACTION? READ AS PUBLISHED IN THE MIAMI HERALD JULY 4, 2023

AS PUBLISHED IN THE MIAMI HERALD JULY 4, 2023

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

LIFE AFTER AFFIRMATIVE ACTION? READ

I grew up in a one-bed-room apartment with my parents and two brothers until I was 16. My parents had basic jobs; we never went without. My brothers and I all graduated college, all with masters and/or professional degrees. 

Why did we do so well academically?

Early reading. Of course I do not remember how it started but at age six one of my uncles brought me his Time magazines. I do remember my mom having to take reading material away from me so I would go to sleep.

Now that affirmative action is gone we will live in a world of academic meritocracy. The largest commodity we sell is knowledge. Those who want all people to do well in life  must make sure that improved educational resources and opportunities are available at all ages and to encourage parents and those who care for young children to see that they develop reading skills early.  There is no shortcut or magic to it. Read and speak to your children (constantly). Regardless of the tone of your skin you can and must do that. 

Forget the idea that you have to know someone to get somewhere. The truth is you have to prepare yourself and your children to function in world of meritocracy. It is you against yourself.  Start reading and talking to your children as soon as you can; even in the crib. The average high income  child hears about four million more words than the low income child by age four.

If you care for a child read and talk to them early. If you are someone who wants everyone to succeed work to improve day care, pre-school, library resources and early education. We are all on our own but we are never alone as long as someone cares.

Barry J. White

President

Mental Health Association

of Miami-Dade County

mhamdc.org

National Catastrophic Property Insurance Fund - Proposa

 It is time to end the expectation that, on its own, the insurance industry will solve the problem of covering catastrophic losses.  It won’t. If the basic tenant of insurance coverage is to actuarily spread risk then let’s really do it. Establish a national fund to cover such losses with a premium to be paid by every property owner as percentage of their insurance policy rate. The rate could be adjusted up or down from the norm based on historic climate or specific events in that area or industry. 

PRAY FOR THE LIVING

AS PUBLISHED IN THE MIAMI HERALD ABOUT NOV 1, 2018

PRAY FOR THE LIVING

Of course we are praying for the lost souls and their loved ones in Pittsburgh but even stronger and more fervent prayer is needed for those who see such heinous acts as justified and purposeful. A huge percentage of our citizens have lost the essence of the Scriptures they espouse adopting bigotry and hatred as tools in their defense. So our prayers must be for those lost souls  as well as for the innocent souls they have encouraged to be massacred. May the Lord help us all return to the path of brotherly love and righteousness. 

Greed Inflation?

AS PUBLISHED IN THE MIAMI HERALD NOV 2, 2022

GREED INFLATION?

How do we know if we are seeing normal inflation or some opportunistic price raises, known as  price gouging?

What is we look at a company's average profit margin from 2014 to 2019, maybe adjusted for a trend. Then compare it to the average profit margin for 2020 to 2022, Any profit over what would be expected normally could be considered excess and should be paid to the U.S. Treasury, maybe over the next three years. 

We could call it the GAP Tax, Gouging Adjustment Penalty.  

As published in the Miami Herald May 29, 2022 ADHD medication study needs more study

 As published in the Miami Herald May 29, 2022

ADHD medication study needs more study

   The May 24 story “ADHD meds don’t lead to higher grades," claims far-reaching implications from a rather modest study. Fourteen pages and a sample size of 174 over three summers is hardly an exhaustive study. More peer studies and review would be required to support its conclusions.  
   Medication controls many aspects of behavior affected by ADHD. No one should be dissuaded from using or providing prescribed medication for ADHD by the referenced study.  ADHD is a genetically transmitted disorder. It cannot be cured  but it can be effectively managed given psychological and neurological evaluation followed by therapy and, if indicated, medication for life.
    Miami-Dade Public Schools System (M-DPS) does a fine job in the classroom with students with behavioral problems and learning exceptions However,  The Center For Disease Control (CDC) estimates that 8.5% of all school age children and 2.5% of the general population have ADHD.
   As of Oct 25, 2021, M-DCPS had 39,582 students with learning exceptions (ADHD is in the subcategory Other Health Impairments and shows 6504 students). However, given a student population of 350,000, and the CDC’s national average estimate of 8.5% we would expect to see approximately 30,000 students with ADHD alone (plus others) in that category.   This illustrates a national problem in under-identifying, evaluating and treating ADHD in schools and also in the incarcerated population.
                                                                                        Barry J. White
                                                                                        president
                                                                      Mental Health Association
                                                                      of  Miami-Dade County
                                                                                                   Kendall