Date: 2020 May 11
APOK News
I would like to thank everyone who took the time to chomp through my first post in the series. There is so much to say and keeping it concise and on track is a challenge in itself… I kept fighting the urge to spin off into so many related topics. This particular post was very much the same. Trust me when I say, I would much rather focus on writing novels, but I find myself compelled to address the growing issues, living by the idea; “If we fail to act (vote, dream), what right do we have to complain?”
Before I get into this edition, I wanted to express a formal thank you to Ann Hebert for her review of both APOK and APOK Derailed. Words like these aren’t easily obtained. Writing is an art not easily appreciated and when someone takes the time and sends along a message, I am forever grateful.
Ann Hebert – “I thoroughly enjoyed the first two APOK books… your style of writing is so engaging… I didn’t want to put the book down… I am looking forward to the third one!!
With luck, you won’t be waiting too long for APOK 3. Thanks Ann!
LAWS, LAWS and LIES (Divisions)
If we are all equal why are we treated differently? This question circulates in the minds of many instigating countless discussions, protests and petitions signaling discontent over the lack of fairness and equality. Society for the most part accepts that we are born differently, and it is up to each individual to achieve whatever level of success possible. I would also argue that society is quite willing to endorse the fame and fortune of those showing great talent and hard work to succeed… so wealth is not the issue either. The frustration lives when public systems and processes are manipulated unjustly for selfish reasons to achieve or appease societal status, wealth and fame. These divisions create untrustworthy and hostile environments.
There have been news companies that spotlighted such action and demanded answers. Theatrical movies continue the dialogue, yet despite all of this attention we limp forward, unchanged. If anything we find ourselves further from the ideals of fairness and equality. If we don’t become involved and make time to take an interest to create positive change, we risk history repeating itself. With modern day advances, I fear we may never have freedom again.
The gap between rich and poor is expanding rapidly, insert stories like the HuffPost “The Golden Age of White Collar Crime” (Feb 10, 2020). It revives court documented stories of what some have called a Conspiracy of the Elites, getting away with stealing from the poor and feeding the rich. While events like this continue to surface and infuriate the public, we are left with limited options, but to trust that the government and law enforcement will improve at identifying and solving these problems. However with each passing story, government trust is eroding.
Let’s refresh how we got to where we are in the first place. A revolution fueled by Barons in 1215 forced King John to sign the Magna Carta limiting government power and installing a Legal Process. If you don’t remember who King John is, he’s the arch-villain in the famed Robin Hood stories. Up until that point, civilian rights were non-existent and there were limited non-violent actions to effect change. The Magna Carta introduced the idea of fairness under LAW, and provided a process.
Evolving from that process, citizens gained an ability to bring problems to light and have them addressed without violence, at the same time they felt protected knowing that they couldn’t be arbitrarily imprisoned. We grew a voice, instead of being oppressed. We took massive steps forward as a society, establishing further rights and freedoms yet as time passed and new laws and processes overlaid other rules and laws, lawyers became increasingly important.
JFK made a comment during a speech, “The Greater Our Knowledge Increases, the Greater Our Ignorance Unfolds.” This couldn’t be any truer today. With every APP on our phone we download, or product we buy, there are laws governing the use of them, and if we don’t take time to read the fine print written by lawyers we risk being held accountable to laws we didn’t know existed or understand… increasing our need for lawyers to defend us.
Lawyers represent both the last line of defense against oppression and oppression itself. Regardless of dim public opinion polls of that profession, so much rests in their arena. Write a will, buy a house, divorce, take civil action, crime and business are all governed by law requiring lawyers, we can’t escape their realm. As mentioned they represent the only non-violent mechanism society has. When involved in any such action we hope to be treated fairly under law. The problem isn’t the profession as much as it is that human beings are prone to being fallible. Lawyers represent the machine (system) as much as they are the oil that helps move the parts. Time is money, and to move through such a machine requires a lot of time. Have little money, have little action, and the division begins.
As I began this topic of conversation, I pointed out something that many of us know all too well, there are those among us who are treated differently than the rest. They appear protected by laws and quiet backroom deals that rarely see the light of day. Recently the former Attorney General of Canada exposed this activity involving corrupt politicians and a corporation involved in a bribery scandal. Yet what were the headlines? She was criticized for recording a conversation capturing political corruption. They implicated what she did was “deceptive”. In reality, what she did was obtain tangible evidence (audio recording) that can’t be challenged. If she didn’t record it, it would a “he said”, “she said” creating doubt in what she saw and heard. With her evidence the headlines should have highlighted the criminal code offence of extortion (blackmail) by political members; instead follow up articles pointed out that she lost her position because she wouldn’t submit to peer pressure.
While she stood her ground showing integrity, and refusing to allow corrupt politicians from influencing an investigation of corrupt corporate elites, we failed to show her unified support. There should have been protests and marches in her name and what she was standing for, equality, truth, justice and accountability. This was as much a stance for all of Canada and our future. In failing to act, we risk being treated the same, cast out without justification, disciplined by false statements while insulating a small wealthy section of society from prosecution. The very hope that was achieved 800 years ago eliminating the unbridled power of elites is dwindling and if we don’t wake up and start becoming involved we risk losing something far greater than money can buy.
Stay Safe.
Mike