Ruminations, August 23, 2009

Pan Am 103, Humpty Dumpty and the meaning of “life”

"When I use a word," said Humpty Dumpty in Lewis Carroll’s Alice through the looking glass, "it means just what I choose it to mean — neither more nor less."

Humpty Dumpty came to mind when reading of a Scottish court’s definition of a “life sentence.” Convicted terrorist Abdel Basset al-Megrahi, as you are aware, was released from a Scottish prison and sent home. Megrahi had been convicted for the murder of 270 people on Pan Am 103 and on the ground in Lockerbie, Scotland. He was sentenced to “life” imprisonment. “Life,” in this case, does not mean life but 8 years.

Opponents of capital punishment often use the argument that “life in prison” is a better alternative, since it removes the moral issue of the state’s taking someone’s life and, at the same time, provides a significant punishment. The problem with that idea is that many governments have defined a life term to be, on average, 12 years – and sometimes less.

In British courts, for example, Craig Sweeney was convicted and sentenced to "life" for the abduction and sexual assault of a three-year-old girl. Life, in his case, was defined as six years (actually, after allowing for time served, 5 years and 108 days). Interestingly, Sweeney will be released from prison before his victim reaches puberty.

A couple of things that can be said for capital punishment are that it means just what it says and it’s permanent.

In the Megrahi case, the jury may have fully intended for Megrahi to spend the rest of his days in prison. Alas, there is often a compassionate soul who will come along after sentencing and redefine “life” to mean something less than “life.”

Humpty Dumpty also had a great fall. Is it possible that those whose job is defining life sentences as other than “life” will fall also? We can hope.

Kennedy’s noblesse

Senator Edward Kennedy (D, MA) has written a letter to the Massachusetts state legislature urging that the state change its senator succession laws by allowing the governor to appoint a successor rather than wait for a special election. In his letter, Kennedy said "It is vital for this Commonwealth to have two voices speaking for the needs of its citizens and two votes in the Senate during the approximately five months between a vacancy and an election." It is a noble thought, isn’t it?

The Massachusetts senate selection law itself is only five years old. In 2004, the law was changed from what Kennedy is now recommending to its present status. What’s changed since 2004?

• In 2004, Massachusetts Democratic Senator John Kerry was running for president and had he been elected to the presidency, the Massachusetts governor who would have appointed his successor was a Republican. So the law was changed to take away the appointment prerogative from the governor to a more democratic process – a special election.
• In 2009, Massachusetts Senator Edward Kennedy’s health prognosis is poor and the current governor is a Democrat. If the Massachusetts governor, after a senate vacancy occurs, immediately appoints a new senator, then Democrats will maintain 60 votes in the U.S. Senate – a position that enables them to unilaterally pass any legislation.

A respectful observer might accept Kennedy’s request based upon what it says: "It is vital for … for the needs of its citizens."  A cynical observer might say that Kennedy’s request is pure and base politics.  

Which type of observer are you?

AARP’s members disagree on health care

Formerly known as the American Association of Retired People, AARP, founded in 1958, states its mission “is to enhance the quality of life for all as we age, leading positive social change and delivering value to members through information, advocacy and service.”

During the course of its brief history, AARP has taken political stands on issues that it perceives as beneficial to its members. It has recently taken a position supporting President Obama on health care. This, obviously, is a controversial position. It is so controversial that, AARP has confirmed, 60,000 members have resigned from AARP.

Sixty thousand members is a lot – except when an organization has 40 million members, as does AARP. So that resignation number is just a blip, isn’t it?

Yes and no. Statistically speaking, yes it is a blip.

But to appreciate the significance of that number, we need to look at what AARP is to its members. AARP represents a lot more than an old-timers club. In fact, AARP was formed to get members insurance and other benefits. And with 40 million members, they have significant leverage in negotiating with institutions. AARP has programs for health, auto, homeowners, long term care and life insurance. They provide investment advice and other services.

If you were an AARP member and had insurance with them, you would probably be reluctant to abandon AARP regardless of how you felt about their support for the President’s health care program. So that 60,000 figure, while less than 2 percent of AARP’s membership, are people who feel so strongly opposed to AARP’s political stance that they have chosen to abandon the AARP benefits and programs. That’s a pretty strong statement by a lot of people.

Moral assassins

The New York Times last week reported that the Blackwater security firm, during the George Bush administration, was contracted by the CIA to provide training in the assassination of al-Qaeda operatives in Afghanistan. There seems to be a number of Democrats, especially Jan Schakowsky (D, IL), member of the House Intelligence Committee and Senator Diane Feinstein (D, CA), member of the Senate Intelligence Committee. They seem to be very upset that the CIA would try to take out al-Qaeda leadership.

At the same time, there is little concern over the fact that the United States is currently assassinating al-Qaeda operatives using unmanned drones flying in Afghanistan. (The New York Times also identified a base in Afghanistan from which the drones fly – good intelligence for the Taliban, but I digress).

Guess it’s more moral to kill people using aircraft than rifles.