Random Thoughts – Randocity!

I’ve long suspected that this is happening, but now I’ve been a victim of this exact situation.  In the state of the economy, especially here in California, local law enforcement agencies are apparently under the budgetary microscope. As a result, it now appears that law enforcement agencies have now joined the ranks of the scam artists… with one exception, they are legally sanctioned entities.  In my case, my car was stated to have been located near an expired parking meter and cited for this parking infraction when it was no where near the location on that date.  I do drive near that parking structure.  Near yes, but almost never closer than 2-3 miles near it.  Close enough that a local cop could have written down my plate number, seen the make, model and color and then used that information to create the scam citation.  Yes, I could have contested the ticket, but the main issue is that the citation had nearly every bit of information about my vehicle correct except the body style (which was conveniently absent from the notice to pay).  On top of that, the citation was issued so late in the contest process, I basically didn’t have time to contest it.  However, the license plate number was correct, plate expiration year correct, make correct, color correct.  The only thing that wasn’t correct and, of course, wasn’t written on the notice to pay the citation was the body style… how convenient.  The other two things that were conveniently missing from their ‘system’.. the VIN and the month of the plate expiration.  Two bits of information that would have conclusively proven my vehicle wasn’t there, but this information was conveniently absent.

Worse, law enforcement agencies can dig through the state’s plate database and simply choose license plates at random, write a citation based on some random vehicle incident, throw the ticket away and collect the money. That is assuming you don’t contest.  The issue, though, is that if the officer is thorough enough about the make, color and license specifics, then they have you regardless of what the body style says to be or where you claim to have been at the time.  Of course, if you happen to have conclusive proof that your vehicle wasn’t where the officer claims it was on the citation.. like a date stamped photograph of your vehicle at that moment in time (and how likely is that to happen) or some other proof your vehicle was locked up, then you’re likely going to end up paying the scam citation.  Even contesting it, you may still end up paying. As long as the vehicle is in your name and the citation is tied to your plate, you’re liable period.

Honestly though, would you actually be able to successfully contest this?  I mean, you can, yes.  But, is it worth the effort?  Sure, you could retain a lawyer, but that would cost you much more than the $45-$90 just to pay the citation.  You could do it yourself and go to court.  Again, they know this is a hassle and they are apparently exploiting this fact.  They know you’ll pay because the amount is too small for all that hassle.

Incidents like these are exactly what government and law enforcement don’t need or want right now.  Setting up scams to bring in cash isn’t the answer.  But yet, it is happening.. likely every day.  Note that in my case and because my car actually wasn’t where the officer claimed it was, I never received an initial citation.  The only notice I received was from the collection agency.  One officer stated to me when I called about this issue. “It might have just blown away”.  Uh-huh.. riiiight.  Maybe I didn’t receive it because my vehicle wasn’t actually there.  But, that doesn’t matter.  As long as the officer is thorough enough to go through the license database or write down your vehicle as you drive around town, they can easily set up scam citations to collect between $45 and $90 for the city, county (or the University in this case).  And worse, as long as it’s in your name and the majority of the information is correct, even a judge may still find you liable for the fine.

Government problems just beginning

These issues are the beginning of the end of the government as we know it.  When cops are now involved in state legalized racketeering, then there’s really no hope that this government can continue to exist.  We are about to head back to the old west of lawlessness.  If the police can no longer be trusted not to scam individuals out of their hard earned money, the no one can be trusted.  This is the era in which the US and local governments will collapse.  It will collapse under its own weight and ungainly methodologies.  By unscrupulously taking advantage of its own infrastructure for illicit monetary gain, the end of this government draws near.  It’s only a matter of time.

Government was initially designed to serve the people.  Unfortunately, now it’s just the opposite.  It now looks like people are now forced to serve the government.  As long as these scams continue unabated, there is no hope for law enforcement agencies to gain any respect or trust from the people, let alone the government.  And then they wonder why people no longer trust cops.  Hello?  Looks like the lights are on but no one’s home.

Our governments were designed to help us (the people).  Unfortunately, now government appears to be helping itself more than the people.  Of course, this issue is not the beginning.  In reality, we can consider sales tax, use taxes, income tax all forms of legalized monetary scams.  Ways to part you from your money.   Sure, it’s supposed to help us through programs, but the only thing it really does is help government remain in power.  If the American people stood up and finally said no to paying government fees, taxes and assessments in mass, it would be all over for government agencies.  They simply would not be able to function.  But, that’s not going to happen.  Too many Americans believe that government is still necessary.  But, do we need a government like this?  A government that is no better than your average street thug dealing dope?

I’m not saying that government deals in dope, but don’t they?  Just look at the FDA.  It’s supposed to help protect us.  But then, big pharma companies just use the FDA to put their expensive and hazardous drugs onto the market.  Some of these drugs make us highly addicted or, worse, the drugs become lethal.  Again, it’s another ‘legalized’ form of controlled chaos.  I guess it’s all really a point of view at this point.  It can only be called protection, though, if people don’t die.  When people begin to die because big pharma decides to push the latest pill, then that isn’t any better than the drugs being shipped in from outside the US.  So, how is the FDA really any better than a big drug cartel?

Government rethink

I think it’s time to rethink our governmental system.  It is now time to realize that what our forefathers put in place is now collapsing under its own weight.  Is there a governmental system that could work?  Good question. We already know that other governmental forms like socialism and communism don’t really work.   A democracy could work, but I think we’ve put so many laws into place that it’s now simply collapsing.  I think there’s a point at which there are too many laws and I think we’ve already reached and exceeded that number.  Worse, our governments have bastardized the bill of rights to fit the criteria of their point of view instead of what they actually mean.  So, for example, you can claim the right to bear arms as long as you’re in a state where it’s legal to do so.  Huh?  How is that possible?  The right to bear arms is a given right and cannot be revoked by any state.   Again, as for the fourth amendment, what’s actually considered an ‘unreasonable search and seizure’?   Because our forefathers weren’t more specific on this aspect, it is left open to interpretation.  Interpretation leads to modification.  Modification leads to the law only being valid under specific conditions.  These modifications were not sanctioned by the bill of rights.  Of course, so when it comes down to whether or not it violates the Bill of Rights, then it has to go in front of the Supreme Court.  And, oh yes, this court is appointed by the President.  If that is not conflict of interest, I don’t know what is.

Yes, it’s time to consider a new government.  One that goes back to our roots.  One that doesn’t try to save every business in the US.  One that focuses on the people as people, not as a business.  Free enterprise and entrepreneurship will survive no matter what.  Businesses can fend for themselves.  We no longer need businesses putting politicians in their back pockets simply to help keep the revenue flowing.  This isn’t a nanny state, yet I believe that’s where we are fast heading, if not already there.  Businesses don’t need any government officials ‘on their team’.  But, big business will always argue that it does.  That’s only because they want laws passed that benefit their ability to continue to make money.  Truth is, no one looks out for an individual.  Why should any third party look out for a company?

Government has sewn the seeds of its own destruction with situations such as all of the above.  It’s now time for us to find another fundamental way to continue our society (and the human species).  In the grand scheme of things, the government is probably the least important thing we have today.  What’s most important is Earth and ours, the human species.  Clearly, where we are today isn’t the answer.