Category: Guest Authors

There are so many candidates for Biggest Losers of 2013 that they deserved their own column. Here they are:

Losers:

Andy Reid: Kansas City treated the former Philadelphia Eagles coach like the Second Coming, inexplicably ignoring his horrendous big-game record and three-word press conferences. Well, they got exactly what they deserved. Like clockwork, Reid jumped out to a 9-0 start, made the playoffs, and then imploded. His hallmarks of terrible play-calling and horrible time management were on full display as he blew a 28-point lead — the second-worst playoff collapse in NFL playoff history. But hey, there’s always next year — for Reid to do the exact same thing.

Big Ten Football: Speaking of bad football, just look at how pathetic the Big Ten has become. Neither Michigan State nor Ohio State, the conference’s best, would rank better than sixth in the SEC, and that’s being generous. This bowl season, yet again, demonstrated how bad the conference really is: it went 2-5, and, had Georgia and Stanford not defeated themselves with inexcusable dropped passes, the Big Ten would have been 0-7. Add in the dismal performances of its incoming teams (Maryland and Rutgers), and that record would show two more losses. The Big Ten has officially become the Big Who Cares conference.

Miley Cyrus: Talented? Absolutely. Trashy? Yep, and that’s a shame, because Miley would still have a tremendous following, maybe even a bigger one, if she stopped her dignity-be-damned headline grabbing antics.

Some parents want her to still be the wholesome Hannah Montana character that she rode to fame, but that’s not fair, as she has blossomed into a young adult entertainer. But she continually pushes it too far.

The irony is that the more these brash celebrities try to emulate the very best, such as Madonna, the farther they fall from the mark. Madonna showed keen entertainment and business acumen, and always stayed ahead of the curve while creatively pushing the line but never crossing it so as to appear outright trashy. That is what made her such a worldwide icon, a label that fits to this day. Cyrus, on the other hand, is the butt of jokes and will likely be a has-been in five years. Ultimately, talent is still what sells, not gimmicks — a lesson the young Wrecking Ball will soon learn.

Obamacare: Our government messes up virtually everything it touches, and health care will be no exception. The Obamacare website/IT disaster illustrated our government’s propensity to vastly overspend (over $1 billion) on things that either don’t work or are totally inefficient. How people think that bureaucrats making potentially life-and-death medical decisions will work remains a mystery.

Yet, through it all, there is still no alternative offered by the anti-Obamacare Republicans. You can’t beat something with nothing, as the last several elections proved. If the GOP doesn’t learn that message quickly, they will wake up in 2016 as losers yet again. Advice for 2014: Don’t get sick.

New Yorkers: The exodus of money from New York City has already begun, as new Mayor Bill de Blasio has embarked on the liberal pat of “taxing the wealthy” to pay for his “universal” pre-K pet project (and as we know, anytime a politician uses the term “universal,” you know it’s going to be bad).

This writer took issue with former Mayor Michael Bloomberg on several of his signature issues — namely soda bans, anti-tobacco policies and stop-and-frisk. That said, Bloomberg and his  predecessor Rudy Giuliani (both Republicans) presided over a huge renaissance for New York: crime decreased, streets were cleaned, deficits were transformed into surpluses, and the once-stagnant economy roared to life. Unlike many big cities where outgoing mayors leave a trail of disaster for the new guy, New York doesn’t have that problem. There are good reasons that America’s biggest city hasn’t had a Democratic mayor in two decades; de Blasio should heed that lesson and tread lightly.

But he won’t. And sadly, the Big Apple will start to rot. Is it four years yet?

Trial lawyers: The main reason our society has become so selfish is because trial lawyers have ingrained in Americans the belief that they have the “right” to sue for absolutely everything, whether or not there is any fault. Accountability and personal responsibility have disintegrated, and the once-automatic response of helping people in distress has morphed into turning the other way for fear of liability, Good Samaritan laws notwithstanding.

Sure, there is a need for a strong legal advocate when a wrong
has been committed, but we have reached the point where we live in fear
of lawsuits. Spill coffee on yourself? Sue the restaurant. Don’t like
the grade your college professor gave you? Sue. Get fired for not doing
your job? Lawsuit time.

Three recent doozies illustrate how crazy it’s become:

1. The family of former Kansas City Chiefs football player Jovan
Belcher has filed a wrongful death suit against the team, blaming
concussions and possible brain injury for his actions — which included murdering his girlfriend by shooting her nine times while legally drunk
(more than twice Missouri’s legal limit), and killing himself. Tragic as
that is, no one forced Belcher to play football, and all of today’s
players know, or should know, the risk of concussions and brain trauma.
To blame the team (and the league, as many conveniently do) is bad
enough. But to sue? Those people are the ones who need their heads
examined.

2. A pharmacist in Ireland refused to give a potentially
life-saving Epi-pen adrenaline injection to a girl having a severe
allergic reaction to peanuts because the mother didn’t have a
prescription with her. The girl died in the street. Was that non-action
due to an imbecile unable to bend a rule to save a life, or fear of
being sued if he intervened? Either way, it is a horrendous sign of the
times.

3. Perhaps most perplexing is the car commercial where a vehicle
jumps on top of a train to get around traffic. There are four, yes
four, different disclaimers admonishing viewers, “Do Not Attempt,” along
with, “Fantasy. Cars Cannot Jump On Trains.”

Really? Is that what it has come to in this country? Companies
feel it necessary to add disclaimers to shield them from liability in
case some moron attempts to drive his car onto a moving train?

If only we could sue trial lawyers for bringing frivolous lawsuits, and the judges who allow them.

2013 Biggest Losers

By Chris Freind

It’s that time of year again when we contemplate those in our region who made life more enjoyable over the past year, and, of course, the biggest boneheads of 2013.

Winners

Broomall Fire Company: Sure, these volunteer firefighters are heroes on an everyday basis, since they routinely do things contrary to human nature, like running into places everyone else is trying to escape. And yes, they are always kind enough to give Santa Claus a lift around Marple Township on their fire truck so they can spread much-anticipated Christmas cheer. But this year, they did something extra special.

As Santa was passing by, a beautiful girl with special needs came running down the street with her grandfather to catch a look. Her eyes twinkling with excitement, her smile a mile wide, she was thrilled to have been so close. But as she stood there in awe watching the truck move away, it got better. Much better. The driver stopped the truck, turned around and came back. The whole crew — and Santa himself — then gave the girl the gift of a lifetime, inviting her to ride along with them throughout the neighborhood. There wasn’t a dry eye to be found.

Seeing acts of kindness like that rekindles faith in humanity and restores the true meaning of Christmas where it belongs — in the heart.

Opera Singers At Fellini’s Cafe in Media: It’s all too easy to get caught up in the immense negativity that surrounds us, but dinner at Fellini’s on Opera Night, where the singers — literally right beside you — belt out songs of passion while hitting notes seemingly not possible, makes the bad things immediately melt away. The singers, some of whom rush back to service their tables after performing, leave patrons breathless, stunned by how beautiful, how intense, and how intimate an opera song can be.

Being in downtown Media at Christmastime is spectacular; eating fantastic food even better. But leave it to the passionate Italian opera singers to make that experience priceless.

St. Joe’s Prep High School football team: The underdog Hawks routed a three-time state champion from Pittsburgh to win it all, earning the No. 1 ranking in Pennsylvania and good enough to be 38th best in the country.

And hey, if a Catholic school wasn’t going to win the championship, the Jesuits are the next best thing!

So kudos to the Hawks and best wishes for continued success. Perhaps next year, they will be able to accomplish the one goal that has eluded them — beating my alma mater, Malvern Prep.

Chip Kelly and the Eagles: Truth be told, the Eagles would have made the Winners list even if they had lost to the Cowboys. Kelly has the team, and just as important, the fans, believing again — something that had been woefully lost during the last years of coach Andy Reid. Kelly led the last-to-first transformation with creativity and guts, and now, the Iggles are going to be a very, very tough team to beat, especially in cold Philadelphia weather.

And here’s the best part: Chip actually says more than three words at press conferences. That alone makes him a huge winner in Philly’s book.

Delaware County: Delco scored big by attracting corporate powerhouse Sunoco, which will be vacating its offices in Center City and moving into the Ellis Preserve in Newtown Square.

Gee, I wonder why. Could it be that Delaware County has lower taxes, safer streets, lower taxes, better schools, free parking, lower taxes, easier access, and did we mention lower taxes?

Though, to be fair, Delaware County Council has to watch itself on the tax issue, as businesses and residents have seen a considerable tax spike over the last several years. Take a lesson from Philly. If you want less of something, tax it. Be careful.

Losers

It wasn’t too “taxing” to it figure out this year’s biggest loser, which certainly takes some of the fun out of it. That dubious honor goes to:

Gov. Tom Corbett: He was sitting at a 17 percent approval rating before pushing for, and achieving, a signature item: giving Pennsylvanians what will be the highest gas prices in the nation (an increase of 30 cents per gallon when fully phased). Talk about the gift that keeps on giving. And that’s his answer to win people over?

At least he achieved pension reform before the whole system exploded. Oh, wait. Sorry. He didn’t. Nor did he achieve what should have been a slam dunk — privatizing liquor, an issue on which almost all Pennsylvanians agree. Nor did he lower the country’s second-highest corporate tax rate to attract companies — a win-win since it would have also added union jobs. Instead, he kept trying to outsource the lottery to a foreign firm while consultants (and campaign contributors) reaped millions in taxpayer-financed fees.

But above all, Corbett is the biggest loser because he again deliberately failed to answer questions on the most pressing issue on many inquiring minds — and what will be the most decisive issue of the 2014 election — his handling of the Jerry Sandusky investigation while attorney general.

The Tom and Jerry Show is far from over, and legions of Penn Staters are salivating at the chance to make their voice heard on this issue — at the ballot box.

Philadelphia: What a shame that Philly makes this list every year. A city in a prime location with not one but two major river systems that could be tastefully developed (yet won’t be) continues to stagnate, as its residents and businesses continue their exodus to greener pastures. Sunoco, Citibank and countless others have fled, and with them, Philadelphia’s best and brightest.

And Mayor Nutter’s answer? Tax more, invent new taxes, ignore the pension bomb that will soon explode, and throw more money at a failed school system, all while leading a bloated, massively inefficient and downright hostile government.

It’s gotten so bad that Nutter makes John Street look good. What a legacy.

Weatherpeople: It’s one thing to make a lot of money being wrong so often. But what makes weather anchors so despised is how they overhype every single “weather event” (whatever that even means) to the point where many viewers are downright frightened, especially senior citizens. Ironically, news directors and the weather-morons haven’t yet figured out that their formula is a recipe for disaster. The more they cry wolf, and the more they needlessly scare people in their misguided quest for ratings, the more people tune out — and decreased ratings mean lower ad revenue.

So what are the chances of less babble about radar double scans and Alberta Clippers (seriously, who cares?) and more straight talk on the weather? Sorry to rain on that parade, but a snowball’s chance in hell.

By Chris Freind

The Christmas Season is finally here, that festive time of eggnog and good cheer, where “it’s better to give than to receive.”

OK. Scratch that last one, for at least two big constituencies would strongly disagree.

1. Children, since there’s nothing better than ripping open presents after interminably waiting for Santa.

2. Every country on Earth, all salivating at receiving the mother lode of U.S. government intelligence operations, courtesy of Mr. “Secret” Santa himself, former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden.

At first, Snowden’s actions — exposing the NSA’s massive domestic spying operations — merited him a big Christmas gift, but as the extent of his security breeches become known, he deserves nothing but coal and a jail cell.

The scope of Snowden’s actions, and ultimately who received what information, may never be known, but it is clearly the largest exposure of intelligence secrets in history. Like most stories that garner huge attention, however, many of the major points are being overlooked in favor of juicier, albeit less important, angles. Worst of all, actions are now being contemplated that should not even be on the table, from amnesty for Snowden to severely curtailing U.S. intelligence capabilities.

Let’s review the situation:

1. The NSA is wrong to spy on Americans without probable cause. Period. It is unacceptable that the agency hacked into (or outright demanded) the private data of phone carriers, Internet providers and search engine companies for domestic intelligence-gathering activities. If government agencies need information related to an individual being investigated, they should use the proper — aka legal — channels to conduct their operations. The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act court (FISA) was established in 1978 for just that purpose.

Trolling through millions of records of law-abiding citizens, just because the agency has the capability, should unequivocally be a violation of the Fourth Amendment’s unreasonable search-and-seizure provision. And it’s unnecessary, as FISA courts are highly effective: In 33 years, only 11 of 34,000 FISA warrants were rejected.

Ironically, there’s significant doubt that the NSA’s domestic spying efforts are even productive. Just this week, a federal judge, in stating that the NSA’s actions were likely unlawful, concluded that the government didn’t cite a single instance in which the program “actually stopped an imminent terrorist attack,” according to the Associated Press.

When our government becomes as intrusive as those we fight, it’s time for major changes. So let’s recap — no more unregulated domestic spying.

2. For everyone and everything else, it’s fair game. There should be no restrictions — none — on intelligence-gathering operations conducted outside the United States. And that includes even our staunchest allies.

It is dangerously naïve to believe that our friends will always do the right thing. Self-interest and greed are powerful motivators, and can quickly erode the integrity and common sense of otherwise reasonable people.

Because national security and the lives of millions hang in the balance, the NSA must always adhere to a “trust but verify” approach, achieved through 24/365 surveillance and eavesdropping operations, not just on the bad guys, but everyone.

If it didn’t engage in such operations, we might never have known about the individuals, companies, and yes, friendly governments, that have jeopardized global security by deliberately violating treaties and laws. A good example is those who have secretly helped build Iran’s nuclear program.

And just last week, numerous entities, from Ukraine to the Philippines, were nailed by the U.S. for violating sanctions placed on Iran. That type of information doesn’t come out of thin air, but from aggressive, hard-nosed spying, both human and electronic. Any changes in how we collect and share intelligence as a way to mitigate international fallout from the Snowden leaks would be disastrous and should be resisted at all costs.

3. Hey allies — stop whining! So you got spied upon. So what? Deal with it, but at least be honest. You spy on America, or at least attempt to, on a regular basis. You’re just not very good at it.

Don’t get your underwear in a twist because we’re so much better at it than you. Of course, our status as world leader also makes us your protector, not because we have to, but because it’s the right thing to do. Much the same way that America saved you — and all of humanity — by winning two world wars.

Since no one ever looks to China to save the day when things get dicey, how about this? If any country steps up and fully takes over America’s place on the world stage — militarily, economically, politically — entirely on its own, we’ll stop spying on you.

What’s that? No takers? Well then, maybe you should stop pouting over the NSA listening to your phone calls and eavesdropping on the unfathomably exciting G8 Summit conversations.

The lesson? “Mr. Ed” (Snowden) notwithstanding, don’t kick a gift horse in the mouth.

How Edward Snowden, (a contractor, not even an NSA employee), was permitted access to so many classified documents is something that needs thorough investigation, as well as why his computers were configured to hide his movements.

That aside, had he exposed the domestic spying operations only, one could make the case that his actions were rooted in patriotism and liberty. But he didn’t.

Instead, he has put the security of the world in serious jeopardy, and without question needs to be held accountable and brought to justice.

And that would be the best present of all.

Let NSA Spy Sans Limits Overseas

By Chris Freind

On a recent morning in Munich, Germany, an American hailed a cab. The driver, considerably younger than his mid-60s passenger, immediately recognized that his fare was from the States. Exuding a pride that broke out into a huge smile, he exclaimed, “Ich bin ein Berliner,” showing his keen awareness of JFK’s famous words in Berlin in 1962.

Such stories drive home the point that, despite our problems, America still means so incredibly much to the rest of the world. Truth is, if not for the incalculable blood and treasure the United States expended defending freedom, much of Europe and Asia would still be in rubble, its citizens living under tyranny.

It’s all too easy to get caught up in our issues, falling victim to pervasive negativity while forgetting our illustrious past and losing sight of all that we do right. This Thanksgiving, rather than selling ourselves short, let’s give thanks for the blessing of living in the most benevolent nation the world has ever known.

America’s past is certainly not without its faults, from slavery to internment camps, and from mistreatment of Native Americans to supporting brutal foreign leaders. But through it all, America is a nation that has uniquely conquered so many of its demons, expelling them in an attempt to rectify mistakes, to make things better — to make things right.

That liberalism (small “l”) has not gone unnoticed around the world. America, for virtually its entire existence, has been a beacon of hope for millions who crave freedom, tolerance and a fresh start.

When the Irish suffered during the potato famine, they didn’t head east to the much-closer Europe, but to the distant shores of America. In the aftermath of the Vietnam War, countless Southeast Asians, including many who fought against us, sought refuge in the safe confines of America. Millions who flee persecution and death from tyrants risk life and limb to make America their home. And why? Because America offers even the poorest and most downtrodden the opportunity to carve out a life not just of existence, but one whose standard of living is more than most would ever dare dream.

Like JFK, Ronald Reagan re-instilled faith in America, both at home and abroad, when he spoke in glowing terms of our nation as the “shining city on a hill,” whose potential and promise were limited only by one’s imagination. How right he was.

Just as President Kennedy intimately connected with a Europe in the middle of the Cold War, reassuring free peoples and inspiring those trapped behind the wall, so did Reagan when he bonded with millions by challenging General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev to “tear down this wall.”

And that is exactly what happened. Because of America’s resolve, the wall of oppression fell, freeing more people from authoritarian rule than at any point in world history.

America remains the rock star of the ages, with the world wanting our blue jeans and Coca-Cola. Even more, they want to emulate us and everything we stand for; they want to be “American” in every sense.

Upon their nation’s surrender in World War II, many Japanese soldiers feared what their American captors might do to them. And the Americans did plenty.

They accorded the exact same medical treatment to the Japanese as to their own soldiers. They openly shared cigarettes with their prisoners — something that Japan prohibited when the tables had been turned. They fed the Japanese the same food that the Americans received. In short, despite many wartime atrocities committed by the Japanese against American POWs, America treated its vanquished foe with unprecedented restraint.

Most telling, during the surrender ceremony on the battleship Missouri, the Japanese officers were absolutely mystified as to how much dignity the Americans allowed them to maintain — certainly not expected since the United States was under no obligation, having achieved total victory.

It is exactly that kind of benevolence — doing the right thing because it is the right thing to do, with no strings attached — that still carries the day and earns the admiration of the world.

Throughout most of history, victors enslaved their conquered peoples and laid waste to their lands. Yet America has always done the opposite, pouring untold billions into Japan, Germany, Italy, and later, Southeast Asia and the Middle East. Unlike most countries, America, for the most part, has left the nations with which it warred and occupied better off than when it found them.

And when famines and disasters strike, it is always America that is first in, leading the way. While we’re still waiting for other nations to send aid for Katrina and Sandy, the United States has sent people, supplies and billions to help fellow humans in need: Haiti after its devastating earthquake; Thailand after the Christmas tsunami; Japan after its tidal wave and nuclear disaster; and most recently, leading the relief effort after the most powerful typhoon on record smashed the Philippines.

On that last point, one has to look only at how the world’s two biggest economies responded to the Philippines disaster, which left thousands dead and millions homeless, to see which has the true moral authority. America immediately sent millions in money, manpower, and aid, opened airports, rebuilt roads and sent an aircraft carrier to coordinate rescue, relief and reconstruction operations.

China sent $100,000. And no, that’s not a misprint. That was the incomprehensibly meager contribution from the world’s second largest economy to its neighbor.

So on this Thanksgiving, let’s say a prayer of thanks for who and what we are, and another prayer that America’s beacon of hope always remains lit.

And God help us all if we fall.

Here’s a toast to America! Happy Thanksgiving!

America Being America