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A Few Questions For The Local Law Men
Because deputies and other law enforcement officers in this jurisdiction make decisions which effect the lives of others, We ask... read more

A Few Questions For The Local Law Men
Because deputies and other law enforcement officers in this jurisdiction make decisions which effect the lives of others, We ask the following questions.

Are they trained in rational decision making with the same rigor as other professions of which are required the same, such as medical doctors and air traffic controllers? Or does their training concentrate more on self survival and controlling a situation?

Because local officers save lives, is it OK for them to mistreat the innocent, just slightly? Is it OK for them to mistreat the guilty, just slightly?

I myself was asked to leave the lobby while attempting to visit an inmate, because I pressed an officer with a rational question. After he was unable to provide a rational answer. I said to him exactly these words. "You're just guessing aren't you? You don't have a rational answer. Do you?" Instead of admitting his ignorance in this one particular question, he ordered me to leave the premises.

My question was simply this: "What rational reason could there be for disallowing visitors to wear sandals?" I myself, had full dress shoes and wore a business coat on that day in the lobby as the officer and I spoke. Key West, Tue, Jan 29, 2013 1pm

Could this have been an error on his part? Or is this behavior policy for law enforcement officers in this jurisdiction?

What exactly was the officer attempting to accomplish? Teach me respect?

Whom did the officer believe he was punishing? Me or the inmate I was attempting to visit?

What did the officer end up accomplishing with this behavior?

While we are all aware that jail visitor policies are intended to keep everyone safe, are they designed to encourage or discourage visitation?

If ask the same question again, ( without any of the additional behavior some readers might erroneously superimpose -hand gestures, raised voices- none of which occurred ) will an officer ask me to leave again?

Our local authorities can simply ignore this. Sadly, this is the response I expect and which deeply motivates my continued disappointment in the growing disconnect between law enforcement and the realities of the modern world. Please act to reassure me instead.
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Debate Required To Maintain Democracy
Some Should Just Keep Silent
While debate is required to maintain a democracy, it rarely leads to resolution. This is not in... read more

Debate Required To Maintain Democracy
Some Should Just Keep Silent
While debate is required to maintain a democracy, it rarely leads to resolution. This is not inevitable, however. It's cause is an easily rectifiable deficiency. Socratic Method is one of the most highly regarded methods of guiding discussions toward rapid and definitive resolution. This is the forum where the residents and elected leadership of the Florida Keys can discuss the serious business of everyday policies in a public forum and quickly arrive at definitive answers for difficult issues.

To learn more about Socratic Method look at these:
University of Chicago Law School
Standford University
psychology.com

Don't tell me what you think. Ask me a carefully framed question. Formulate questions which reveal the advocate's own axioms, then follow up with questions posing the advocate's axioms against the advocate's affirmation. In this way proponent and opponent come to resolution by their own belief system not just two idiots trying to force their own beliefs onto each other.

If one is unable to demonstrate inconsistancies between the advocate's axioms and affirmation, one might just be wrong.

This process might be too complicated for some. Those should refrain from voicing their opinions on important matters and should never be put in authority where they might make decisions which effect the lives of others.
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I like Kevin's B take on it. Though local businesses beleive they survive off of local customers, many of those local patrons are actually displaced from elswhere by touriss. Lose the tourists, l... read more

I like Kevin's B take on it. Though local businesses beleive they survive off of local customers, many of those local patrons are actually displaced from elswhere by touriss. Lose the tourists, lose the local patrons as the realocate their patronage.
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WOW Adam. That's a lot of nasty things to call me. I'm really tired of facts being thrown around out of context to the point that people get hurt.

I was following the logical fallacy of the ... read more

WOW Adam. That's a lot of nasty things to call me. I'm really tired of facts being thrown around out of context to the point that people get hurt.

I was following the logical fallacy of the slippery slope. If you require drug screens for this one "PUBLIC SERVICE" then why not for ALL PUBLIC SERVICES? How about a drug screen every time you use the toilet? Might as well just make it mandatory every day for every citizen so NO ONE CAN USE DRUGS!

Does this make sense? Of course not.
As an individual (usually) law-abiding citizen, I take responsibility for MY OWN actions. You're not required to pity anyone, and if you don't want to see the face of homeless and poverty stricken people -- WHO USE DRUGS TO FUCKING FEEL LIKE A DAMN HUMAN AGAIN -- then just stay in your home and never leave because it's fucking out there. In every town across America there's a welfare mother and her drug addicted kids. How does not helping them help them? How is attacking the welfare of those who NEED IT MOST aiding the welfare of our great nation?
And Adam, I'm sorry you feel that way about me, but thankfully I'll be fine whether you hate drug addicts like me or not.
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I agree with Todd German's Sunshine Law comments and add, having now run three times for the county commission and three times for mayor of Key West (before 2011), my impression is there is deep-se... read more

I agree with Todd German's Sunshine Law comments and add, having now run three times for the county commission and three times for mayor of Key West (before 2011), my impression is there is deep-seated resistance in too many officials covered by the Sunshine Law to do what they can to avoid the appearance of violating it. For example, if two city commissoners have lunch at Pepe's on Caroline Street to talk about poems they want to submit to the Robert Frost poetry contest, that is not a violation of the Sunshine Law, but it sure causes people who see them together to wonder if poetry is what they actually discussed, doesn't it? What about county commissioners attending the annual dinner hosted by Ocean Reef Club Assocition (ORCA)for county commissioners, which is closed to the public? County Commissoner Kim Wigington delines to attend that lucheon because of the Sunshine Law. Perhaps the solution is not talk of, or actual changes to, the Sunshine Law. Perhaps the solution is putting people like Kim into positions where covered by the Sunshine Law. For such people try to avoid the appearance of impropriety in other areas of ethical concern, as well - such as conflict of interest.


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Im just taking the devils advocate here to provide an example of Socratic Method.

The affirmer supposes that elected officials are required to justify their positions. All they are required... read more

Im just taking the devils advocate here to provide an example of Socratic Method.

The affirmer supposes that elected officials are required to justify their positions. All they are required to do is get elected.
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