Back to work after your three-day weekend, Human Scum!

Enjoy my correspondence with readers on topics of the day

To read this issue in your browser, click on the headline above.

5-28-24

Eric Zorn is a former opinion columnist for the Chicago Tribune. Find a longer bio and contact information here. This issue exceeds in size the maximum length for a standard email. To read the entire issue in your browser, click on the headline link above. Paid subscribers receive each Picayune Plus in their email inbox each Tuesday, are part of our civil and productive commenting community and enjoy the sublime satisfaction of supporting this enterprise.

Tuesdays at 11:30 a.m. I talk with WGN-AM 720 host John Williams about what’s making news and likely to be grist for the PS mill. The WGN listen-live link is here.

The demented standard bearer of the Republican Party offered this holiday greeting Monday

He is a hateful, spiteful child — petulant, nasty, immature. Many pundits nearly crapped their pants when, in September, 2016, Hillary Clinton noted:

You could put half of Trump’s supporters into what I call the basket of deplorables. The racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic, Islamaphobic—you name it. And unfortunately there are people like that. And he has lifted them up.

I wonder how many will even take note of Trump’s use of “Human Scum” to describe his critics.

Notes and comments from readers — lightly edited — along with my responses

Offender or ‘Justice-impacted individual’?

ES - (emailed through an intermediary) I can't comment on Eric Zorn's post without paying him, but I'd like to say this regarding his item on how Illinois House Bill 4409 replaces the word “offender” with “justice-impacted individual” in the Adult Redeploy Illinois program.

It may seem contradictory that the term "justice impacted individual” implies that the law has impacted the person who broke that law but it's also the reality. When someone is convicted of a crime, or even if they're just arrested regardless of their guilt, they are harmed by a criminal legal system that claims to be about reform but is actually about imposing institutionalized racist punishment. If Zorn, or any reader, could spend time in an American prison — or even go through a grueling trial — and walk out saying they haven't been impacted (quite negatively and disproportionately to whatever crime was committed) by the so-called justice system, I'd reconsider my take. But if Zorn wants to add to these harms by using language that defines a person by an act, one which we have no context in which to situate, then let that free-speech-for-paid-subscribers-only coward throw a stone.

Zorn — Free subscribers — about 85% of my readers— can simply email me directly, There are instructions in every newsletter. And limiting comments at the Picayune Sentinel to paying subscribers has been an excellent way of keeping the conversations generally civil and on point. I’m not afraid of differing opinions, I’m afraid of drive-by shit-throwers fouling the exchange of views with ignorant hostility issued from behind a veil of anonymity. Many publications have eliminated comment boards altogether because they can be so toxic. But even that isn’t an abridgment of freedom of speech -- there’s a big ol’ internet out there and countless venues to express yourself. Have at it.

To your point, ES: The carceral system has four aims -- retribution, incapacitation, deterrence and rehabilitation. Only the last falls under the heading of “reform.” We imprison those justly convicted of rape, for instance, to punish them, to prevent them from raping more people, to serve as an example to others who might be tempted by commit a similar crime and also to put them in a position where they want to and can better change their ways (“reform”).

Contextualize rape, murder, armed robbery, vehicular manslaughter or any number of other crimes all you want, but language that suggests those who commit such crimes are best thought of as having been impacted by the laws and the courts that enforce those laws is to invert reality is a way that trivializes their transgressions and implies that they are passive actors, victims rather than victimizers.

In the case of wrongful convictions this is obviously true. But to adopt such terminology generally is an affront to those impacted by crime. And it reinforces the view that liberals and progressives care more about perpetrators of crime than victims of it.

Joanie Wimmer — So anyone who ever got a DUI should be known for the rest of their lives as a “criminal” or “ex-convict”? As opposed to, say, a “neighbor,” or a “Dad,” or a “Mom,” or a “friend”? I really get tired of the self-righteous “othering” that is shown by so many people when the subject of the criminal justice system comes up. It illustrates why some folks are promoting this change in our language. As an attorney I have defended people accused of crimes since 1981. I had a few bad eggs that I represented — sociopaths if you will — but most of my clients were either regular people who made a bad decision under difficult circumstances or were innocent.

Skeptic — It’s very hard to stop people from making blanket judgments on those who have a criminal record. Changing words used isn’t going to matter. It reminds me of how terms to refer to intellectual disability changed over time. They would get dropped after they became terms of derision in the general language. Simpleton and moron were once clinical terms. Mentally retarded was a clinical term until fairly recently and has been replaced with intellectual disability. The downside of the last change is that it causes confusion. If a psychologist evaluates a child and tells the parents that their kid has an intellectual disability, then sometimes do not take it seriously. If they are told the kid is MR, then it would always get their attention. This is very important because the diagnosis is used to compel public schools to provide appropriate accommodations. The basic problem is not the term, it is the tendency to "othering."

Zorn — How do we square this concern with “othering” with the general social trend of categorizing and classifying people by various identity characteristics? And how do the more censorious of you square this seeming tolerance and understanding with the tendency of those on the far edges of the political debate to “cancel” forever people who commit some error in language usage or offer an unpopular opinion?

Pro-Palestinian protesters not answering questions

Micheal Plunkett — You asked “Are you on Team Hinz or Team Cherone?” regarding which pundit had the better take on the refusal of pro-Palestinian student protesters to speak to reporters or passers by — WTTW-Ch. 11 reporter Heather Cherone, who defended protesters declining to engage, or Crain’s Chicago Business columnist Greg Hinz who argued they should be able to defend their views.

I fully agree with protestors who decline to engage. Almost anyone initiating a conversation like that is actually looking for a confrontation, not a conversation. And as a bonus, the silence drives their opponents crazy. Good for the peaceful protesters. They have done a remarkable job so far at being peaceful. That in itself sends a good message.

Laurence E Siegel — Someone is saying that the protesters shouldn't talk to the media because journalists are sometimes mean? Then what is the point of the protests? I thought they were out to get public attention for their cause. Furthermore, as a follower of the news, I want more than prepared and staged statements. Let's hear what the protesters themselves really think. Are they united in their demands? How many want Israel dissolved as a country and how many simply divestiture from Israel? Can one protest against what's happening in Gaza without being in favor of every demand being made by the protest leaders?

Zorn — Not everyone who seeks dialogue with a protester is seeking a confrontation, though they may be seeking a dialogue that turns into a clarifying argument. In general, anyone who goes out in public and beards passers by with slogans and placards is being confrontational and basically inviting confrontation. Confrontation is kind of the point. Those whose views are so ill-formed and weak that they fear engagement ought to think about sitting out the protest.

Here are the results of that click poll:

I was misquoted!

C Pittman — I take great exception to your editing of my comment concerning Ken Griffin's donation to the bike and walking path along the Lake Shore Trail. Labeling his politics as "conservative Republican" is not what I wrote or meant or even agree with. Griffin is a business friendly fiscal conservative, as are many more moderate Democrats and Independents. He was a supporter of Democratic mayor Rahm Emanuel. He then backed the moderate Republican Irvin for governor, not Darren Bailey. And when leaving Illinois, he moved his company to the ethnically diverse and socially liberal city of Miami, not The Villages.

Zorn -- Apologies for that. I edit most letters and comments for context and clarity and do my best to preserve the integrity of the opinion expressed. I removed the reference to Griffin’s brand of politics in the online version, but here is some info on that that explains why I interpolated as I did:

Griffith’s largest federal recipients are political action committees associated with Republican leadership in the U.S. Senate and House: the Senate Leadership Fund, which has received $59.1 million since 2016, followed by the Congressional Leadership Fund, which received $40.5 million. Other major recipients include Honor Pennsylvania ($8.8 million), the National Victory Action Fund ($8 million), the Conservative Solutions PAC ($5.1 million), the Better Future MI Fund ($4 million), the Strong Leaders Fund ($3.5 million), the Protecting Americans Project Action Fund ($2.5 million), and the Freedom Partners Action Fund ($2 million).

He's also donated to U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), Governor Scott Walker (R-WI), Nikki Haley and Future45, a PAC supporting Donald Trump.

It’s the economy, stupid

Marc Martinez — The statistics on public assessment of the economy that you presented in News & Views were depressing. But you should have mentioned that the report also said that 49% of Democrats and 53% of Independents were among those that believe we are in a recession.

I think this means three things.

First, most people do not know or understand economic terms. I doubt that most could correctly define 'recession'.

Second, people respond to such questions based on how they feel about their own situation with regard to the economy.

And third, the media/government are terrible (intentionally?) at sharing the facts. This includes stories that inanely state that 'prices will come down as inflation slows'. No one should be surprised that people that believe this will be disappointed when prices do not come down, which they won't because price rises due to inflation are permanent.

Similarly, reporting on the stock market focuses on the daily fluctuations which are just as often down as up. The reported percentages and nominal values are not understood, but always include nonsensical 'reasons' for the change which are usually 'reactions' to 'good' or 'bad' economic news. So, there are many days where viewers are being told things are bad.

Mortgage rates have continued to rise and were at 7.11% until the recent fall to just below 7%. But the main story line that is incessantly repeated is that homes are unavailable and unaffordable because of the economy and interest rates.

BobE — I commend to you the Tribune editorial, “Americans are not all economically ignorant. They just mostly care about different measurements than elites.”

Voters see inflation and cost of living as being within the control of the president. On MSNBC they never get tired of pointing out otherwise. But that’s because they don’t well understand what most Americans want from their leader.

Ergo, Trump’s presidency may have posted weaker growth, but it had low inflation. So polls show he is perceived as a better steward of the economy than Biden, whose tenure has featured all this growth but also stubbornly high inflation.

Beth Bales — I think most people's feelings about the economy are rooted in their own experiences, particularly at the gas pump and the grocery store. Prices are insane. I judge everything by the price of a box of Cheerios, b/c I buy that all the time, and it's been more than 8 bucks a box for quite some time now. I filled up my car last week, and while it hasn't been the highest in the past three years (when I got it) it's pretty high, and higher than it was. You can't tell me that "the economy is humming along," because that is not my experience (except with the retirement accounts -- and I know what goes up can come down. But I like the totals at the moment). Everyday experience counts for a lot of the negativity among huge swaths of the American public.

Pete Zackrison — Biden has been trying to bring down inflation and has been partially successful. No President has control over prices and lots of stores take advantage of “inflation” to mark up their prices over inflation. I see nothing from Trump discussing how he would bring down inflation or prices.

Zorn — I will grant that many people couldn’t define “recession” — a drop in the Gross Domestic Product in two successive quarters — and don’t really grasp the distinction between inflation and rates of inflation, but some of the other terms in this Harris Poll are pretty easy to understand:

• 49% believe the S&P 500 stock market index is down for the year, though the index went up about 24% in 2023 and is up more than 12% this year.

• 49% believe that unemployment is at a 50-year high, though the unemployment rate has been under 4%, a near 50-year low.

Yes, prices are still high after the 2022 inflationary spike. Breakfast cereals are appallingly expensive. But let’s not blame Biden for the entire price increase in your box of Cheerios:

General Mills Inc. on (March 20) reported fiscal third-quarter net income of $670.1 million. …

The results exceeded Wall Street expectations. … The maker of Cheerios cereal, Yoplait yogurt and other packaged foods posted revenue of $5.1 billion in the period, which also topped Street forecasts. (Associated Press)

Rather that say feelings are more important than facts, maybe the Tribune should point out that a good stock market and economic growth along with low unemployment is good news for everyone directly or indirectly. Alao that Trump has offered no good ideas how to bring down inflation, and indeed the protectionist tariffs he is proposing will likely increase prices.

Here are two tweets for ya’:

Jacob, a former Tribune metro editor, is referring to the Tribune editorial and cites the Economic Policy Institute.

Kim Foxx announces new policy on evidence found during routine traffic stops

David Leitschuh — I am somewhat surprised you had no comment on the outrageous new policy announced by Kim Foxx recently.. She said Cook County prosecutors will no longer bring charges against people for illegal guns and drugs that are discovered in the course of lawful minor traffic stop, which is both a further frustrating dereliction of duty by Foxx which continues to endanger public safety, and a glaring example of the progressive mindset that is both self-defeating and harmful to our society.

The overwhelming majority of firearms crimes are committed by offenders who are illegally possessing and carrying a firearm. (And the overwhelming majority of these are also repeat offenders.) Getting these illegal guns out of their hands and off the street is one of the very best ways to reduce violent crime.

The Cook County prosecutor's office under Foxx routinely fails to fully charge offenders who qualify for charging enhancements such as possession of a gun while on parole, or as a felon, or for serial repeat offenders. Her department is also deficient in their sentencing recommendations to the court, and for not certifying juveniles who are repeat firearms offenders being certified for adult prosecution. (The majority of armed teenage carjackers are charged in juvenile court with misdemeanor trespass to vehicle for which they are regularly given probation and released.)

Giving violent criminal offenders a pass or a break in the name of social justice is the height of hypocrisy as Blacks are also disproportionately the victims of these violent offenders.

And now Foxx wants to take this a step further and disregard the laws against criminal possession of illegal guns as well as drugs even when it comes about from a lawful traffic stop for minor violations. Hopefully, presumptive new Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O'Neill Burke will quickly reverse this along with many other of Foxx' bad policies when she takes office in December. But it’s galling that Foxx continues to pursue her ideological agenda at the expense of public safety in her remaining time in office.

Garry Spelled Correctly — Crimesha, as Foxx is known on the Second City Cop blog, has been a disaster for Chicago and Cook County.

She came up with this latest insane policy in response to the killing of Dexter Reed by cops. But it's obvious the cops had an informant that told them Reed had a gun and was going to kill someone with it, so they stopped him. Reed decided to shoot it out with the cops, resulting in his death.

Zorn — “Crimesha” -- which invokes the “-esha” ending often found in the first names of African American women and girls — is racist. I wouldn’t associate myself with that bit of name-calling if I were you.

Foxx has described this new policy as one with the long-term goal of building trust between residents of crime-ravaged neighborhoods and the police that patrol those neighborhoods. The vast majority of these searches turn up nothing and make those searched feel picked on.

Foxx also underscored that drugs and weapons in plain sight could be the basis for arrests and charges.

I don’t know about all that and would like to see some statistical evidence one way or the other and I would also like to hear from the residents of high-crime areas to see if they like this idea.

Right now I’m wondering about the timing. Foxx has been in office since December, 2016 and has a bit more than six months left before she steps down. If this is a good idea, what took her so long to light on it? If it was the Dexter Reed story, well, that’s flimsy as hell. We still don’t know why police really pulled him over and why he might have decided to try to shoot his way out of the traffic stop, and it’s hard to argue that the neighborhood would be a safer place if he were still tooling around with a gun.

My guess is that the next state’s attorney — presumably O’Neill Burke — will rescind the policy anyway, so the reason I didn’t comment on it is I doubt it will have any effect or be around very long

A better speed camera idea?

Andreas Danckers — You and John Williams last week proposed the idea of speed cameras on expressways to cite drivers going 85 mph or more, and readers agreed:

I have an even better idea: Citations should be issued to the registered owners of vehicles based not on excess speed, but rather the excess kinetic energy of the particular vehicles.

Those of us who paid attention in physics class will recall that kinetic energy is what packs the punch in mechanical systems, and that it rises not in proportion to speed (velocity) but even faster, as the square of the speed.  It's also proportional to the weight (mass) of the object.  By way of example, a 7000-pound SUV going 40mph has twice the kinetic energy of a 3500-pound sedan going the same speed ... but that same 3500-pound sedan, if it's going 80mph instead of 40mph, has four times as much kinetic energy.  Double the weight, double the kinetic energy.  Double the speed, quadruple the kinetic energy.

The math is easy(ish), the policy less so.  However, the gist is that we should issue fines based on the extra kinetic energy due to speeding.  It's the kinetic energy that translates into property damage and physical injury.   If I drive a VW Golf at 40mph in a 25 mph zone, my excess kinetic energy in arbitrary units (let's call it EKE) is 975.  The Chevy Suburban that's right on my bumper has an EKE of 1853.  But take that extra speed onto the highway, and the potential for harm goes way up.  My VW Golf, going 75mph in a 60mph zone, has an EKE of 2025, and that of the Suburban (which of course is still tailgating me) is 3858.  Drive at absurd but not unthinkable speeds, and the numbers swell rapidly: 

What I propose, then, is that citations be issued based on this EKE, with a multiplier for circumstances -- like school and construction zones -- where speeding is particularly menacing.  In the above examples, I and the Chevy Suburban might have paid fines of (say) $150 and $300, respectively, for driving 15mph over the limit in town, and about twice that for driving 15mph over on the highway. 

It's on the highway that this starts being meaningful.  Cars and trucks alike routinely rocket through the Tristate Tollway's construction sites (speed limit 45mph) at 80mph or faster.  With a 2x multiplier for the construction zone, here are the fines that should be issued at 80mph, based on the above EKE scale and with the same arbitrary units:

My VW Golf:   $1350

The Chevy Suburban:  $2650

A loaded semi at 45,000 lbs:  $15,000

As you can see, the math isn't much of an impediment.  Nor is the technology; speed cameras are cheap and reliable, and the tollway system is basically a giant speed-timing machine that could generate thousands of citations per day based on time between toll gates.  The hurdle is a lack of political will, presented in the form of arguments that the police and the prosecutorial system are understaffed, and/or that costs outweigh the benefits.  These arguments are patently wrong.  Fines like those above would more than pay for the systems and clerical support needed to collect them.  

As for benefits:  Pedestrian, cyclist and motorist deaths in the US are a scourge whose numbers rival those from opiates and guns, and the single greatest factor in them is speed.  Based on my having driven in other countries where automated speed cameras are in widespread use, I can vouch for drivers being much more observant of speed limits ... and, miraculously, they all still seem to get where they're going without undue delay.  They also have much lower rates of vehicle-caused deaths.

Zorn — Sounds good to me. Might even be able to apply it to speed cameras in the city.

Ya gotta see these tweets!

Here are some funny visual images I've come across recently on social media. Enjoy, then evaluate:

Vote for your favorite. I’ll share the winner in Thursday’s main edition.

Usage note: To me, “tweet” has become a generic term for a short post on social media. And I will continue to call the platform Twitter if only to spite Elon Musk:

There’s still time to vote in the conventional Tweet of the Week poll!

Thank you for supporting the Picayune Sentinel. To help this publication grow, please consider spreading the word to friends, family, associates, neighbors and agreeable strangers.

Contact

You can email me here:

I read all the messages that come in, but I do most of my interacting with readers in the comments section beneath each issue.

Some of those letters I reprint and respond to in the Z-mail section of Tuesday’s Picayune Plus, which is delivered to paid subscribers and available to all readers later Tuesday. Check there for responses.

If you don’t want me to use the full name on your email or your comments, let me know how you’d like to be identified.