Common Ground

Listening to Judy Gross, the wife of an internationally imprisoned government contractor (Alan Gross), on MSNBC, speak about a government department or agency ignoring her communication is par for the course for sleazy bureaucrats in Washington, D.C., regional federal offices, and American embassies around the world sitting at their desks, swollen with opulence, drinking coffee and lolling away time on nice salaries at least a third or more bigger than those of average Americans.  I also had this experience, writing to our embassy in Ukraine a few years ago (through both their Kiev and Washington, D.C. addresses) and getting absolutely no response whatsoever.  Same thing with the office of the U.S. Attorney of Western Washington (Jenny Durkan) -- absolutely no consideration for the concerns that I expressed to them in 2010, nor any reply.  Regarding the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine, I should have complained to their bosses at the State Department, but I had a lot going on at th

It has been slightly more than a week since the senseless mass shooting at the Washington Navy Yard in the District of Columbia.  The Party of Commons gives our condolences to the families of the slain and offers hope for the severely wounded, that they will be fully healed, soon, and that peace will be with them and their colleagues. [revised on 10/3/13] 

The Party of Commons offers our condolences to the families of the deceased victims, and our prayers for healing to the wounded of two different tragedies from earlier this week: the terrorist bombing in Boston and the industrial plant explosion in western Texas.  Thankfully, it appears that two culprits in the Boston incident were stopped from committing further mass mayhem by investigators and Boston area police (one suspect captured, and another killed as police acted in self-defense).  In Texas, however, negligence appears to be a factor in regards to enforcing or maintaining safety regulations, and it seems someone or persons should be held accountable.  It would not be surprising if de-regulation also played a role in the Texas tragedy.  For all the many detractors of regulation, this tragedy should open their eyes a little.  It's been a sad week, but through it all, we are reminded that however far apart one American community or state is from another, we are one America.