SEX CHANGE PAID FOR BY TAXPAYERS

I wrote an article last year entitled Jailed Persons Entitled To Adequate Health Care. The bottom line was that jailed prisoners were entitled to adequate medical health care. Generally viewed as the best possible health care.

 

The courts had decided that to preclude prisoners from adequate health care was cruel and unusual treatment prohibited by the Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution.

 

The thrust of my column was that the medical care prisoners were entitled to and receiving was paid for with taxpayer dollars. Which in many instances provided the prisoners with better coverage or coverage itself which taxpayers did not have.

 

Based on the court decisions, civilian prisoners in local, state and federal jails were and are receiving terrific medical care.

 

I did not think it was fair that a murderer, burglar or rapist should receive better medical care than tax paying American citizens. There was something about the concept that bothered me.

 

Now comes Bruce Manning.

 

Manning was recently convicted of leaking 700,000 secret documents while serving in the military. He was sentenced to 35 years in jail. He has already been sent to the military correctional institution at Fort Leavenworth. A military jail.

 

Last week on the Today Show, Manning's attorney read a statement by Manning. He said.....I am Chelsea Manning. Note the adoption of a female first name. He also said.....I am female.

 

He went on to say he wanted to live as a female and that the female gender was the real him. He requested hormone therapy as soon as possible. He did not request a sex change operation.

 

A spokesman for the Fort Leavenworth military prison said the U.S. Army was not going to pay for any hormonal treatment.

 

I believe the spokesman spoke in error. The only distinction between Manning and other prisoners is that Manning is in a military jail. I do not believe that distinction alone will deny him hormonal treatments and, if proven necessary, a sex change operation. All at taxpayer expense.

 

Lets spend a moment examining the nature and extent of the problem. The politics of it, also.

 

People who require a sex change are simply defined as persons with one gender on the outside and another on the inside. A man who believes mentally his innards make him a woman, a woman who believes she is a man otherwise than in appearance.

 

It is a medical illness. A mental one. A for real one. It is technically called gender dysphoria. In layman's terms, gender identity disorder. The disorder results in severe emotional distress. The medical profession views such persons as people in serious medical need.

 

Gender identity disorder is not new. It was recognized hundreds of years ago by American and Canadian Indians. Also by native Mexicans. It was not frowned upon. It was viewed as a third gender. Male, female and transgender. It was no big deal.

 

Shoot fast to last week. California's Governor Brown signed a new law. One which permits students to decide which rest room and locker room they wish to use. The law goes into effect January 1. The law obviously is to assist transgender students.

 

Turns out the transgender problem is serious one in California. It affects just less than 2 per cent of the population. A significant number.

 

There have been six recently conducted national studies. They showed that 3 per cent of the United States population is affected by transgenderism. Roughly 700,000 persons. Another significant number.

 

The problem is bigger than most were aware. It affects such large numbers of people.

 

You will recall that with the same sex marriage issue, people came out of the closet. With transgenderism, they are coming out of the shadows.

 

I view transgenderism as a new and major civil rights issue over the course of the next decade. It will become increasingly vocal. I suspect that in 10-15 years, it will be constitutionally protected as race, color and gender are today.

 

There can be no other way. The problem is medically recognized. It affects a significant portion of the population. The result is cast in stone.

CHARACTER

Character is an interesting word. Subject to many definitions. All basically reflecting the same thing. Moral quality. Right conduct as opposed to wrong conduct.

 

Character encompasses the existence of or lack of certain virtues such as integrity, honesty, loyalty, and good behavior habits.

 

The Bible defines character as any behavior or activity that reflects the character of God.

 

Many of today's political figures are lacking in character. Moral fiber.

 

I specifically refer to three primary candidates in New York City's political races as examples.

 

First, there is former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer. Several years ago he was caught enjoying the services of a prostitute. While he was Governor. The tryist was arranged at a Washington, D.C. hotel. The Governor paid the New York City prostitute some where in the area of $4,000-$5,000. Paid her train ticket from New York City, also. Then did her with his socks on.

 

Spitzer had prosecuted prostitutes while Attorney General. A bit hypocritical that he was now using their services as Governor.

 

Spitzer resigned his Governorship.

 

Now he seeks a come back. He is a Democratic candidate for Comptroller of New York City. He believes the public has forgiven his misdeeds. That he has atoned for his wrongdoing. He resigned his exalted office, made a bleary eyed public confession on television with his wife at his side. He believes his days in purgatory are at an end.

 

There is Kristen Davis.

 

Davis is 38 years old. Once a librarian. She also seeks the Democratic nomination for Comptroller. The same one Spitzer seeks.

 

Davis is a former Manhattan madam. She spent four months in jail for being one. Interestingly, she claims Spitzer was a client and she provided him with prostitutes.

 

Davis was arrested two weeks ago by the FBI allegedly for selling prescription pills for cash.

 

Finally, Anthony Weiner. A candidate for New York City Mayor. He is a candidate in the Democraticprimary for the position.

 

Weiner is a former Congressman. While one, he sent pictures of his nude body, including his genitals, over the internet to women. When caught, he resigned. He did the same I am sorry bit before thetelevision cameras with his faithful wife at his side. Weiner claimed he had learned his lesson and would sin no more. He had stopped the conduct which brought him down.

 

Weiner waited a short period and announced his desire to be New York City Mayor. Unfortunately, Weiner had not stopped sending his genitalia exposed pictures over the Internet. Three post confession episodes came to light.

 

I believe Spitzer, Davis, and Weiner lack the moral fiber we should demand of our political leaders. The mere fact that they were discovered and thereafter believe the public would not hold them to account in and of itself suggests a lack of proper moral thinking.

 

I believe the electorate should not support any of the three. Unfortunately, it appears Spitzer may win. Why, I do not understand. His perhaps was the slimiest wrongdoing of all. He prosecuted and jailed persons who engaged in prostitution.

 

The issue comes up regarding former Presidents who strayed from their marriage vows.

 

There was John Quincy Adams. An ugly fellow appearance wise. History tells us he was a frequent nightly visitor to Mt. Whoredom in Boston. The place off the Boston Commons where prostitutes sold their wares.

 

After election to the Presidency, he swam daily across the Potomac. Warm weather and cold. Each morning. In the nude. He enjoyed early morning liaisons during the swim times. He is quoted as having said....."The art of making love, up in furs, in the open air, with the thermometer at zero, is a Yankee tradition."

 

Thomas Jefferson's relationship with his slave Sally Hemings is well known.

 

Warren Harding was one of the worst, if not the worst, President the United States ever had. He had a long time relationship with Carrie Phillips, the wife of a friend. He fathered a daughter, Elizabeth Ann, by her.

Nan Britton was another of Harding's lady friends. It was reported that he used to do her in a White House broom closet.

 

Calvin Coolidge also lacked in Presidential qualities. He was not lacking in his zeal for sexual conquests, however. He had a need for many sexual partners. He did every female he could. So much so that sexologists have labeled the need for excessive sexual partners as The Coolidge Effect.

 

Franklin Delano Roosevelt was one of our best Presidents. He was also handicapped and confined to a wheel chair. Such did not restrain his sexual activities. It is well known that he had a long term relationship with his wife's secretary, Lucy Mercer. He is also known to have carried on an affair with his own secretary at the same time. He also maintained a relationship with Princess Martha of Norway during World War II. For a man with physical disabilities, he performed wonders.

 

Dwight Eisenhower had England's Kate Summersby during World War II. She was his driver.

 

John Kennedy's many sex encounters are well known. From Marilyn Monroe to anyone he could get. It is reported he had to have a woman every three days or suffered a headache. He did not let his bad back inhibit him.

 

Lyndon John was a sexual animal. He utilized his penis wherever possible. It was reported he had an unusually large one. It was described as jumbo in size. It was referred to at Washington cocktail parties as Johnson's Jumbo Johnson.

 

William Clinton was a transitional President from my perspective when it came to sexual escapades. Whereas prior to Clinton, the media and public looked aside at a President's sexual activities, the Republicans sought to embarrass and punish him for his Monica Lewinsky, Jennifer Flowers and Paula Jones activities. All for naught. Clinton survived. He is regarded as having been one of our finest Presidents.

 

In view of the preceding Presidential escapades, are Spitzer, Davis, and Weiner any different? They are. I am not condoning infidelity in any fashion. The Presidents listed all strayed. God is there judge, not me. These other three are different, however. They seem to have gone a step further. Therefore making them subject to judgment and criticism.

 

Spitzer hurt people for the same thing he was doing. Davis as a former madam and illegal seller of prescription pills, goes beyond  an illicit sex encounter. Weiner needs no description. He is a sexual fruitcake.

 

On the other hand, what do I know? None of us is perfect. Most if not all of us are sinners. I guess it is the degree of imperfection that is important.

 

I am a firm believer in the admonition.....Let he who is without sin cast the first stone. The problem is who acted as Spitzer and tried to jail people for the same activities he was doing. How many public servants were madams or pimps and sellers of illegal drugs? Weiner is in a class all himself. A public servant sending pictures of his privates over the Internet, promising he would sin no more, and then sinning again.

 

It may be the quality of the sexual escapade that is important rather than the mere act of illicit sexual intercourse. Spitzer, Davis, and Weiner went a step too far. Their conduct deviant.

 

There is a corporation called Honest Tea. Many of you may be familiar with it.

 

Honest Tea does an annual survey. Many topics are involved.

 

This year the question was asked as to which was the least honest city in America. Guess who won? You got it right! Washington, D.C.

 

Surprised? No. That is the way it is. Unfortunately.

 

NAZI GREECE ON THE RISE

I recently returned from five weeks in Greece. I had a similar trip last year at this time.

 

I wanted to write this column two weeks into my Greece trip. However, I was concerned. Perhaps afraid might be the more appropriate word. I feared that once published, I might be detained and interrogated. Or, interrogated and then detained. Either way, not a comfortable situation.

 

You may think I am a bit daffy at this point. You will not by the time you finish reading what I have to share with you..

 

Greece has suffered the most of the euro nations. There are 1.4 million unemployed. The unemployment rate is 27 per cent. Sixty five per cent of the 27 per cent unemployed are under 25. The Greek Stock Exchange has fallen 85 per cent since 2007.

 

Men cannot feed their families. Single mothers, their children. A new group of impoverished is visible on the streets. The Greek people themselves.

 

Demonstrations flourished last summer. Thousands would gather to protest in the front of Parliament in Athens. I was there when three occurred. I walked through them. No one bothered me. What I saw were people of all ages angry at Merkle and Germany. Every time Merkle's name was mentioned, male and female alike would spit on the ground.

 

There are no demonstrations this summer, except for a few union organized ones. Things have moved beyond demonstrations and protests.

 

Whereas last year, the people were openly angry with what they perceived as their German caused plight, this year there was almost a reverent silence. Like everyone was waiting for something to happen.

 

People are still hungry. Families still miss meals. Never the less, this quiet exists. Perhaps the quiet before the storm.

 

Hitler came to power as a result of Germany's economics at that time. The Allies had foisted unreasonable reparations upon Germany which made Hitler's ascent possible. The German people were broke because of the reparations that had to be paid. Similar to the Greek situation of today where the Greek people are economically depressed because of the euro/Germany problem.

 

There is a Nazi party in Greece today. It has been in existence in one form or another for more than  twenty years. Some years actually dead. Existed merely on paper. The Nazi party was revitalized several years ago. It is called the Golden Dawn Party.

 

Initially, a nothing. Today, it is the third largest political party in Greece. Greece has a coalition government. No administration can survive without the 18 votes of the Golden Dawn Party. Ergo, its influence is significant.

 

It has been suggested that if a new national election were held today, the Golden Dawn Party would capture significantly more seats. 

 

Now for the practicalities. As you read through the next few paragraphs, think of the similarities with what occurred in Nazi Germany beginning in the late 1920s.

 

There are blackshirts. Young good looking men. Black shirts and pants. Walk the busy streets Athens in large groups. Like 15-20 at a time. Ride mopeds two at a time, generally on two or more mopeds.

 

My Athens hotel was in the downtown area near Parliament. I am not ashamed to admit I felt intimidated each time I walked past such a group. Even when the mopeds drove past me. Sometimes they starred like they could see every part of my being.

 

There is a Youth Movement. The young  wear only black shirts with the Party's insignia. No black pants.

 

The Golden Dawn Party has a flag. It has an insignia that appears to be a swastika. Not exactly. Close enough however so there is no question.

 

Hitler needed a scapegoat. Someone to blame for Germany's ills. He picked the Jews. The Golden Dawn Party, immigrants. Greece has had a massive influx of peoples from all over in recent years. Most escaping wars and/or tyranny. The claim is the immigrants took jobs that should have gone to Greeks and that the Greek government is broke because it cannot afford to support dependent immigrants.

 

Several years ago, Greece started a program of arresting and deporting immigrants. For no reason other than they were immigrants. In 2010, Parliament passed a law granting citizenship automatically to second generation persons. It was almost immediately repealed. A new law replaced it. The new law gave police the power to detain people for HIV testing and sex identity. Many immigrants had become part of the sex industry in order to survive economically. Once arrested, most are never released. They are kept jailed for months or forever. No judge, no nothing.

 

Hitler's Jews of yesterday are Greece's immigrants of today.

 

The Golden Dawn Party is not to be outdone, however. They are negative about Jews as well. They claim Jewish bankers internationally are partially to blame for Greece's economic woes.

 

The Greek police and Golden Dawn Party members have an informal affiliation. It has been reported that at least one half of the Athens police force are members of the Golden Dawn Party. The blackshirts carry weapons illegally. Nothing is done.

 

One of the reasons for the police support is that during the early demonstrations, no one came to the aid of the police. The mobs  were incensed and the police many times could not contain them. The blackshirts came to help. They stood with the police.

 

During recent demonstrations, the police have supplied the black shirts with batons and radio communication equipment.

 

There are beatings. Openly on the streets of Athens. Of immigrants. The police stand by and do nothing. Store fronts of businesses owned by immigrants have large X's painted on their doors and windows. Plus signs saying..... Do Not Do Business Here. Again, the police do  nothing.

 

The government does not interfere either.

 

It is claimed that at least half the judges are supportive of the Golden Dawn Party.

 

The Party continues to experience growing influence and power in Athens itself. It is spreading its tentacles to the suburbs. It wishes to capture the hearts and minds of the middle classes living in the suburbs.

 

The Golden Dawn Party's new member gathering techniques speak volumes. If you are hungry and can feed neither yourself or your family, the Party will give you food. Bags of food. If you are in trouble with the police/charged with a crime, the Party will resolve the problem to your satisfaction.

 

All that is required in either instance is allegiance to the Golden Dawn Party. In writing. Coupled with open participation in the Party's activities.

 

Frequent bags of free food are handed out at various intersections to those who are hungry. Immigrants of course are precluded from receiving this help. A person must first prove he or she is not an immigrant in order to qualify for the free food.

 

Party members are viewed as Robin Hoods. Not my description. The label given to them by the Greek people.

 

The Party has frequent rallies. The organization has a theme song. Auschwitz. The lyrics are anti-Semitic. One line goes.....F--k Anne Frank. Another.....Juden rous, Jews out.

 

Strangely, the Golden Dawn Party denies the Holocaust. An inconsistency.

 

American and Israeli flags are burned.

 

The party's hero is Adolph Hitler. He is viewed as a great social reformer and military genius. They believe in "Hitler for a 1,000 years!"  They believe the Golden Dawn Party will succeed where Hitler failed.

 

They greet and otherwise recognize persons with the Nazi salute.

 

There are moneyed people who support the Golden Dawn Party. Their identities are unknown.

 

All of the preceding results from the poverty and despair brought on the Greek people by  euro/German inspired austerity programs. Ironically, the Greek people blame the Germans for the euro and austerity problems. Yet they are leaning the way of Hitler's Germany in order to survive.

 

While all this is going on, the Greek people and government stand silently by. The people because they are eating or are afraid. The government because it wants to stay in power.

 

Why do I have to tell you what is happening in Greece? Where is the media? Isn't a growing Nazi party in Greece worthy of consideration? Why are we not being made aware? Why the silence?

 

History does repeat itself. It is happening again.

 

Scares the hell out of me!

 

THE REAL AMERICA

Michael Moore is a leading American liberal. In the forefront of the fight to help the poor. He was an integral part of Occupy Wall Street, has picketed the White House, written books and created documentaries supporting the cause of the poor. It was recently reported that his net worth was $50 million.

Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson are likewise fighters for the poor and downtrodden. Their net worths respectively are $5 million and $10 million.

Detroit was once America's city on the hill. A successful and popular community. This past week Detroit filed for bankruptcy. The first major United States city to do do.

Infrastructure has been dramatically neglected in last 15-20 years. Money has been desperately needed by cities. To repair bridges, streets and schools for example. The necessary monies have been denied primarily by Republicans. The same group which led us into two unnecessary and expensive ten year wars.

The Travon Martin case has consumed the media in recent months. Martin was black. Zimmerman an Hispanic. Prior to Martin's death, Hispanics were grouped with Blacks. Latinos, Hispanics and Blacks were all considered persons of color.

The media labeled Zimmerman a white Hispanic. Never before had an Hispanic referred to as white.

The United States is the only major industrial nation without government provided/paid for medical coverage. Obama was successful in having a program passed. The Republicans keep fighting it. They want the Obamacare law rescinded/repealed. The United States House of Representatives has voted close to forty times to repeal the law. The House of Representatives is Republican controlled.

Many on the Republican right believe government mandated medical assistance is not required. Churches and neighbors will step in and assist those who are ill.

Banks placed the United States economy in serious danger. Their actions culminated in the recession which began in 2008. The United States bailed out the banks. The government did not bail out the millions who lost and are losing their homes as a result of mortgage foreclosures.

Bank of America was a primary culprit in the bank wrong doing which led to the recession. It was recently reported that Bank of  America stock almost doubled in the past 12 months. It was also reported that United States banks have been flooded with profits this past year. The net profit of the six largest banks for the second quarter was $23 billion. Up 40 per cent for the same period from the previous year. Overall profits for the past 12 months totaled $70 billion. 

Banks are clearly making money.

In the meantime, banks are not lending money on any significant basis. They invest among themselves and in safe markets. Their profits increase dramatically while middle America can neither borrow nor get out from under mortgage foreclosures.

American banks have been determined to be too big to fail and too big to prosecute. So says the United States government. Their wrongdoing has gone unpunished.

Halliburton is a major international corporation. They are into everything from oil drilling to providing services to the military in war zones to corporate farming to whatever. They have the capacity to rule the world.

Halliburton was a player in the Gulf Spill. The largest oil leak/spillage in history. Halliburton recently plead guilty to destroying evidence in the spill investigation. Halliburton plead guilty to one misdemeanor for its wrongdoing, was fined $200,000, and placed on three years probation. Halliburton also agreed to contribute $55 million to the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation. A tax deductible gift.

The United States Department of Justice announced it would not pursue any further criminal prosecution of Halliburton.

The Christian right exerts great influence in the United States. With a large segment of the population and in the halls of Congress.They come out with new programs on a consistent basis. The most recent of interest is by a religious right organization known as the Family Research Council. The group wants to eliminate pornography on college campuses. They are fighting to rid dormitories of porn.

The Council claims abstinence is the ultimate solution to the problem. The hormonal one.

Pat Robertson is a prominent religious who is a leader in the Republican right. Many  thoughts emanate from him. They ultimately become policy. One involves the role of men and women. Robertson said the following is ".....painful for ladies to hear.....if you get married, you have accepted the headship of a man, your husband is the head of the wife, and that is the way it is, period."

Fifty per cent of the American public subscribe to one or more of the anti positions. They are against Obamacare, porn on campus, and women's rights.

The pending New York City mayoral election has candidates of a different bent running for office. Immorality appears to be a necessary ingredient in a political candidate. 

Anthony Weiner wants to be Mayor. He resigned his Congressional seat in 2011 when it was discovered he was Tweeting pictures of his privates over the internet. He claimed he saw the error of his ways and corrected himself. Now it comes out he continued to so Tweet even after having been caught, resigned, and promised to sin no more.

Eliot Spritzer is a former Governor of New York State. He resigned after he was discovered doing business with a prostitute. With his socks on, which I found an interesting quirk. He now says that is all behind him and he wants to be Comptroller of the City of New York.

Weiner is a leading candidate for the Democratic nomination. The primary is soon. The winner will in all likelihood be Mayor of New York. Spritzer appears to be a shoo in for Comptroller. 

Twenty five years ago, it would have been difficult for either of them to win. Let alone run.

Americans have made a turn about when it comes to morality and candidates who are a bit tarnished. Americans may hate the sin, but love the sinner. A forgiving nation.

GERMANY.....BIGGEST WHORE HOUSE IN EUROPE

Germany has a propensity for coming up with ideas which appear brilliant on the surface. Ideas which will benefit Germany. Ideas that  supposedly will benefit others they intend to do business with. Everyone eats!

In the final analysis, only Germany benefits. Only Germany eats.

The perfect example is the euro union which Germany was an instrumental party in conceiving and selling to fellow European nations. Each nation would be better off economically.

It did not work that way. Germany benefited/benefits big time to the detriment of other countries. Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Cyprus being prime examples.

Germany came up with another plan which was to work to the benefit of a certain group. Prostitutes.

Germany adopted a law in 2002 which legalized prostitution. A simple one page law. Its purpose was to      de-stigmatize prostitution. The ladies henceforth would be considered employees as in all other occupations. They were to have contractual rights with their pimps, the right to pension benefits and medical insurance, the right to unionize.

Prostitution was henceforth to be viewed as a voluntary occupational choice. The selling/rental of a woman's body was no longer to be considered immoral.

The world's oldest profession had come a long way. St. Augustine considered prostitution immoral and wrong. However, he viewed it as a necessary evil. Hundreds of years later, Germany gave it dignity.

What was the thinking behind the new German law? Was it really the welfare and dignity of the women involved? Or, was there more?

All of the above and perhaps more. Prostitution as a legal occupation became subject to taxation. Taxed nationally by Germany's federal government. Taxed additionally by Germany's municipalities. Pursuant to the law, the municipalities had the responsibility of overseeing the prostitution business.

Prior to the 2002 law, there were 100,00 prostitutes in Germany. Three years after its adoption, there were 200,000. Today, there are 400,000.

Competition became keen. Young ladies flocked to Germany. Easy money was in the offing.

The problem was too many got into the business. Most involuntarily, the rest by choice. Of the 400,000 present day prostitutes, 300,000 are estimated to have come from Eastern Europe. Primarily Romania and Bulgaria. Most  brought into Germany by unscrupulous pimps who had now become legitimate businessmen. Promises were made that the young ladies would have a better life. Lies, of course. They unknowingly were forced into prostitution when they arrived. Threats and beatings became commonplace to keep the women in line.

Where economics is involved, matters come down to supply and demand. Legality brought with it the tremendous influx of new ladies to the profession. As evidenced by the 400,000 prostitutes presently in Germany.

Today, there are 3,000 brothels in Germany. Five hundred in Berlin alone. It is estimated that 1.2 million men pay for sex daily.

With so many women available, competition became cut throat. Prices for sex services suffered. They dropped. Dramatically. In 2002, the charge for oral sex and intercourse was 40 euros. Fifty four dollars American money. Today, 10 euros. Thirteen dollars American money. In many instances, less than 10 euros. Whatever a lady can get.

A buyer's market.

Package deals have come into play. There is a twelve story brothel in Cologne. Every floor and every room occupied by a working girl who must be kept busy. Hi rises are common in the German brothel business. The Cologne one offers the customer all the sex and all the alcohol he wants for as long as the customer wants it. For 50 euros.  Roughly $65 American money. Another in a different city offers all the sex the customer can handle in one visit for 50 euros. These prices include multiple companions.

Germany has also become known as the discount sex capital of the world. Obviously.

Tour promoters from other countries, including the United States, offer six day packages. Business is booming. Thailand formerly had the distinction of being the sex capital. Germany has outdistanced Thailand because of it cheap prices.

Big business requires marketing to continue successfully. Brothel operators offer all sort of incentives. An afternoon discount for men 66 or older. A 20 per cent discount to the unemployed. Day passes. Rebates to golfers. Flat rates. Flat rates being the one price for all services for as long as desired described herein before.

Prostitutes have been left behind. Those whose lives were to have been enriched by the 2002 law. There are no contracts, pension or medical plans. The ladies are subjected to significantly more abuse than before.

Business is tough. Brothel operators have become tough. The girls are required to service more men per day. Whereas most used to do 10 men per day, the number is now 20 or 40, depending on the brothel involved. Unbelievable! In the infrequent times they are not working, the ladies are kept crowded in small single rooms with one bed. No toilet facility, except down the hall.

Germany and the municipalities are not suffering, however. They are getting rich tax wise.

Germany's federal government taxes a prostitute's income. Brothel operators are also taxed. A flat rate per prostitute per day. Twenty five to 30 euros. Note per day.

The municipalities also tax. Acceptable conduct in the taxing world.

All this amounts to triple taxation. Not double taxation.

The tax flow dollars are tremendous. No source could be discovered  which measured the federal government's take. However, information was available indicating the tax income of certain municipalities. Astronomical!

Not everyone is inclined to voluntarily pay taxes. Tax avoidance is a universal game at every level and profession. Bonn was concerned the street walkers were not paying. Without  a brothel operator or pimp, it was difficult to compel voluntary payment.

Bonn put in automated pay stations on the streets. Like parking meters. Each street walker is required to deposit 6 euros a night. Nine dollars American money. Police keep tabs on the ladies. They cannot be arrested for prostitution as it is legal. They can however be fined for not having their 6 euro receipt.

Bonn's cost for each meter was $11,575 American money. The number speaks for itself as to the tax dollars involved.

The Bonn street walkers are incensed. They consider the meter double taxation.

Bonn does provide a service. It has constructed large wood garages where the ladies can take their customers to do the deed in the privacy of a customer's car.

The thrust of this article is not that prostitution is legal in Germany. It is legal in other places. Nevada, Amsterdam, and Sweden for example. The thrust is to show another example of how Germany came up with a brilliant idea to help a  certain class. The help did not materialize. Never the less, Germany benefited. The class walked away empty handed. In worse condition than before.

Germany did it with the euro union. It has done it again with the prostitutes.

Please Germany, no more brilliant ideas! No ideas! You are bad news!

REFLECTIONS

The world is in turmoil. Much is happening. I want to comment on some of the events occurring. Reflect on them country by country, area by area. Starting with Egypt. Followed by Venezuela, Thailand, Washington, DC, Africa, and Greece. Ending with our beloved Florida.

Egypt is in revolt again. Demonstrations and protests ongoing. Morsi out. Monsour in. The Egyptian Army controlling events, as it has for several decades.

Mubarak was ousted last year. He had been a staunch friend of the United States for years. Even supported Israel. Did the United States support Mubarak when his government was threatened? Absolutely not.

Instead the United States turned its back on their loyal friend of many years. Hillary Clinton cried out that democracy had to be supported and Mubarak should resign. Many  Washington governmental leaders agreed. All thought it wonderful that democracy was finally coming to Egypt. After all, Mubarak was nothing but a tyrant.

At the time, I spoke out on my television/internet show the Key West Lou Legal Hour that the United States should stand with Mubarak. He was and had been our friend. His track record proved the same. 

I further stated that in Mubarak the United States knew what it had. Whoever the new leader would be, there was no certainty he would continue the Egypt-United States relationship that had existed for years.

Finally, I said why push a genuine democratic form of government on a people that might not want one. People live in different ways. Such must be respected.

Mubarak got overthrown. He is in jail awaiting the outcome of his appeal regarding his conviction on less than valid charges. Morsi was his replacement. He was a tool of the far religious right. The Muslim clergy were in actual control. Not what the people expected. The demonstrators returned. Morsi was ousted last week.

Now comes Monsour. At the time of my preparation of this column, the United States has publicly acted in quiet fashion. I assume our leaders have learned how easy it is to burn one's fingers in such a situation.

The Egyptian Army stepped into the fray last week. The Army deposed Morsi and replaced him withMonsour.

Many are unaware that for several decades, it was and is the generals who run Egypt. Egypt's leaders serve at their behest. The Army is the power behind the throne.

Now to Venezuela.

We take for granted the simple things in life. Those things we have every day and never think of being without. Venezuela has been experiencing an eye opening revelation regarding being without that which is simple. And unquestionably necessary.

Toilet paper.

Venezuela needs 125 million rolls of toilet paper a month. For some reason, in the past few months there is a shortage of toilet paper. Simply put, there ain't any! One woman complained it took her two weeks to find a roll.

Necessity generally controls events. Kimberly-Clark Corp. manufactures toilet paper. Prior to the shortage, they were manufacturing toilet paper at a facility in Venezuela. Because of the shortage, Kimberly-Clark has agreed to make a $37.1 million additional investment in Venezuela. They have agreed to build another plant.

The problem/scarcity continues. People are having to make do until the new plant rolls out the toilet paper needed.

Why didn't Kimberly-Clark build the new plant earlier? They had to foresee the shortage. They were in the business.

Something amiss here?

The Catholic Church has had and continues to have its problems in the United States and world wide. Especially regarding their priests who molested young boys. The question arises as to whether other religions have similar problems. Not necessarily pedophilia. Yet activities that do not reflect well upon a religious group.

Thailand is the place! Buddhist monks the culprits! Those generally bald headed, long robed, sandal footed, and non communicative men of their god, Buddha.

Buddhist monks are involved in what has been deemed inappropriate behavior. Such as wearing stylish aviator eyeglasses, traveling with luxury brand name bags, wearing wireless headphones to listen to music. Those are the mild things. Also included in the accusations were consuming alcohol, extorting money, driving sport cars, and having sex with women.

For shame. 

What has happened to God's/Buddha's representatives on earth?

On to Washington, DC and Africa.

The President recently made an official African trip. I think it was wonderful! Engaging with emerging African leaders has long been overdue.

The cost of the trip is not finalized. It was projected to be between $60 million and $100 million. It costs a lot of money to transport a President. Staff in the hundreds, several airplanes, secure automobiles, etc. I understand.

What I do not understand is why I and and everyone else cannot visit the White House. Specifically, take a White House tour. Sequestration has cut off the funding.

It cannot cost anywhere near what it cost for the President to visit Africa. And is just as important! Mothers, fathers, children, visitors and Louis should be able to see the house the President lives in.

What really galls my butt is Congress. The first week into sequestration, they got all excited. They were going home Friday. Sequestration had cut airline controllers. Passenger delays were projected at three hours. Congressmen did not want to wait three hours. Our a__hole leaders who cannot get anything done in a timely fashion, in a matter of hours passed a law rescinding the controller portion of sequestration. Even more galling, Obama signed it.

And I and thousands of others could not visit our taxpayer supported President's house. 

Greece. Poor Greece. I am in Greece for five weeks at the present time. I have already spent a few days in Greece's capital, Athens. I was in Athens and Greece about the same time last year.

Things have not changed. Merely gotten worse. More stores closed. More begging on the streets. More unemployment. More fathers who cannot feed their families. More young college graduates with out work.

I wandered through two major demonstrations in front of Parliament last year. 

The people were aroused. Hated Germans. Hated their political leaders.

Greeks are a simple people. Truly. Americans are miles more sophisticated. The Greeks leave government to those they elect. The people would rather work not too hard, enjoy their families, and sing and dance in their free time. They have not been involved. Till now. And still only in a protesting fashion.

Last year I pointed out that Germany had the distinction of having started World Wars I and II. I thought they might be the cause of a third World War. The war would begin in Europe. All over the euro situation. Forget the Middle East.

My present trip causes me to adjust my thinking a bit. War will not come first. Revolution will. The fathers and college students and everyone else have had it.

The pot brews. Soon perhaps to boil over.

Greece could be in the calm before the storm. Last year they were yelling and screaming and complaining. This year their dispositions are different. They are calm. They say we listened to the government. They were wrong. We have been downtrodden before. We survived. We will survive again. We will do what is necessary.

That necessary could include civil unrest. The overthrow of the government.

Germany will come second. Greeks hate Germans vehemently. They believe Germany could ease their pain. Germany refuses. That then brings to their minds.....Germans are no good. Look what they did to us in World War II.  Germany occupied Greece during World War II. Atrocities galore.

Last but not least is beloved Florida.

Pot pipes. There is a new law.

The first conviction for possession a pot pipe is a misdemeanor. The second, a felony. Jail time can be involved. 

My problem with the law is that with the second conviction, a person loses his or her right to vote. A basic right.

Governor Scott supported the bill big time. It has become popularly known as the Bong Bill.

Lets bring Walgreen into the picture.

Walgreen recently had a problem with Oxycontin pills. A big item in the illegal drug market. Supposed to be used as a pain killer. Can only be obtained with a prescription. Drug users have taken to it. It is claimed Oxycontin gives a high similar to heroin. The pills are addictive.

The pills are in high demand. Improper and/or illegal steps have been taken to make the supply available to drug users.

Somewhere along the line, Walgreen got involved. Specifically how I do not know. I am not saying Walgreen's actions were illegal. However, Walgreen recently agreed to pay a $80 million fine for its involvement.

$80 million is a drop in the bucket to Walgreen. A recent news article stated Walgreen's quarterly sales were $16.5 billion.

My problem is that the little guy gets screwed again and the big guy gets a slap on the wrist. Take the two time pipe carrying offender and take away from him the right to vote. Take a major corporation such as Walgreen and fine them. Remove none of their rights or abilities.

I consider this another too big to prosecute situation.

Both scenarios grossly unfair.

Reflect is the word. Think about these things.