Category: Editorial

There are the ‘Dumb and Dumber’ in Memphis, TN. Who are the dumb and dumber in Memphis?

“Dumb and Dumber” is said to be a 1994 American buddy comedy film directed by Peter Farrelly, while starring Jim Carrey(Lloyd Christmas) and Jeff Daniels(Harry Dunne). The film was released on December 16, 1994 and it grossed about $247 million at the box office.

They say that the movie has developed a cult following in the years after its release and is regarded as one of the best comedies of the 1990s.

Who are the dumb and dumber in Memphis? And who is the dumb, and who is the dumber?

They are Jim Strickland and C.J. Davis. And Jim Strickland is the dumb, and C.J. Davis is the dumber.

They are the ones who should be blamed the most for the “situations” or “crisis” in terms of ‘crime-infested Memphis’ or ‘crime concerns’ in the community.

In terms of cunningness, C.J. Davis is cunning, and Jim Strickland is more cunning. But both of them are very irresponsible.

One of the urgent priorities of the next mayor, when he takes office next January in 2024, is to fire C.J. Davis. She should be removed from the position of Memphis Police Chief.

If he doesn’t do that, it means that he is another kind of ‘the dumb.’

Memphis does not need another dumb thing.

The Memphis Times
www.memphistimes.org

Published: October 7, 2023

DUI = driving under the influence.

Multiple Shelby County corrections officers were indicted recently in terms of the case of Mr. Gershun Freeman. Shelby County Sheriff, Floyd Bonner, was said to have called the indictments as “political” or/and politically motivated.

Mr. Bonner doesn’t deserve too much of our precious time and energy, but the Times makes its comments about Mr. Bonner regarding such incident as short and concise as possible.

Mr. Bonner’s political rhetorics seemed to have been designed for political excuses for both himself and his accused employees, and/or for political justification in terms of their alleged crimes or misconducts.

The Mephian democracy is not perfect. It reached uppermost limit when the local voters elected such irresponsible government officials like Jim Strickland and Floyd Bonner.

However, the Memphian domocracy showed its possibility or full potential, too, when the local constituents elected such decent government official like Steve Mulroy.

Public office doesn’t contain alcohol, but it contains power. Mr. Bonner can find it very hard to admit that he has a power problem, not alcohol problem. DUI not by alcohol. But DUI by power.

The Memphians found Mr. Bonner in a drunken stupor. He seems to have been driving his political vehicle while under the influence of power. He is producing such political impression of staggering drunkenly to his feet. Figuratively speaking or metaphorically speaking, he is like a drunk stumbling in the dark, looking for the loo.

His car can be pulled over by the sheriff’s deputies. Or/and his vehicle of power should be pulled over by the local constituents. His political gesture is dropping some hints for the coming Memphis mayoral election.

Mr. Bonner can or is recommended to take a long shower with warm water when he goes home today after his work. And he can have a good sleep. And the next morning, he can or should pledge himself to be a good kid or at least a better kid.

His drunken dance is ugly, but funny. And such his drunken dance seems to be so-called “Political” or “Politically Motivated.”

The Editorial of the Memphis Times.
www.memphistimes.org

Published: September 25, 2023

<Background Information>

– DUI = driving under the influence. (DUI is called as the crime of driving a vehicle while drunk.)

– Floyd Bonner = Shelby County Sheriff. He is running for Memphis mayor.

– Steve Mulroy = Shelby County District Attorney. He is said to recuse himself from the case of the October death of Gershun Freeman in the Shelby County Jail, known as 201 Poplar.

– Glenn Funk = Davidson County District Attorney General.

– Van Turner = former Shelby County Commissioner. He is running for Memphis mayor, too.

– “Davidson County District Attorney General Glenn Funk has decided to charge nine employees of the Shelby County Jail with second-degree murder in the death at 201 Poplar last year of inmate Gershon Freeman, the Memphis Flyer has learned, though the indictments so far remain sealed.” (Memphis Flyer, September 20, 2023)

– According to media reports and court records,

“Two officers, Stevon Jones and Courtney Parham, were charged with second-degree murder and aggravated assault while acting in concert with others. Jones was also charged with assault causing bodily harm. Jones also faces an additional count for assault.

Jeffrey Gibson, Anthony Howell, Damian Cooper, Ebonee Davis, Lareko Donwel Elliot and Chelsey Duckett were charged with aggravated assault resulting in the death of another.” (The Commercial Appeal, September 21, 2023)

– “Funk was chosen to handle the case by the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference, following standard procedure with a district attorney recused from a case.” (The Commercial Appeal, September 21, 2023)

– Shelby County Jail’s mortality rates have been rising in recent years: 52 deaths since 2016. (The Commercial Appeal, September 21, 2023)

[Related Content] Former inmate speaks out after indictment of two jailers also charged in Gershun Freeman death (ABC24 Memphis, September 22, 2023)

[Related Content] Shelby Co. DA ‘frustrated’ by sheriff’s allegations of political indictments in Freeman case (The Commercial Appeal, September 21, 2023)

[Related Content] Nashville DA Charges Shelby Jailers in Gershon Freeman Case (Memphis Flyer, September 20, 2023)

[Related Content ] Gershun Freeman dies in jail; Deputies charged in inmate’s death in Memphis (Fox17 Nashville, September 24, 2023)

[Related Content] More details revealed about Shelby County corrections deputies charged in Gershun Freeman’s death (ABC24 Memphis, September 21, 2023)

[Related Content] Mulroy, Bonner spar over indictments in Gershun Freeman death (WREG News Channel 3, September 21, 2023)

[Related Content] [Press Conference] SCSO Press Conference (WREG News Channel 3, September 21, 2023)

[The End]

• “Battle”, “Blow”, “Counterblow” between Mr. Mulroy and Mr. Strickland.
  
  Steven J. Mulroy is the District Attorney for Shelby County, Tennessee. He was elected DA in August 2022. And Jim Strickland Jr. is the current mayor of Memphis, Tennessee, serving since 2016. Those government positions are very important for the lives of local residents, and they have great impacts and can have great effects on the local community.
  
  It was being talked about “a back and forth between Steve Mulroy and Jim Strickland” over getting tough on crime in the city of Memphis and Shelby County recently. And local media defined it as “battle”, “blow”, “counterblow.”, “DA responds to Mayor’s criticism.” And Mr. Mulroy said, “Three strikes, you’re out.”
  
  However, we have to add another name for the ongoing discourse about, from, and between Mr. Mulroy and Mr. Strickland. The third name is “PIC” which is the abbreviation of “Prison-Industrial Complex.”
  
  According to Tufts University Prision Divestment, current estimates indicate that there are approximately 2.3 million people incarcerated in the United States, with an additional 4.5 million people on probation or parole. The US has the world’s highest incarceration rate and, despite representing under 5% of the global population, the US holds almost 20% of the global prison population (Prison Policy Initiative).

• What is the Prison-Industrial Complex(PIC)?

Abolitionist organization Critical Resistance explained it as “the Prison Industrial Complex (PIC) is a term we use to describe the overlapping interests of government and industry that use surveillance, policing, and imprisonment as solutions to economic, social and political problems.”

The prison-industrial complex (PIC) is said to be a term, coined after the “military-industrial complex” of the 1950s, used by scholars and activists to describe the many relationships between institutions of imprisonment (such as prisons, jails, detention facilities, and psychiatric hospitals) and the various businesses that benefit from them.(Source: Wikipedia)

They say that the PIC is not just the prisons themselves or incarceration. The PIC is said to be an interlocking web of many different systems that assure the powerful will stay in power. In terms of “PIC”, there exists such issues of (A) the expansive network of people and parties with vested interests in mass incarceration, and of (B) how this network functions to fill prisons and support mass incarceration.

It seems that there are such players in terms of the field or the industry including, but not limited to government and law enforcement agencies, private prison companies, suppliers and service providers, lobbying groups and politicians, and so forth. Justice Education Project analyzed like this. “Some of these systems include prisons, the bail system, the police, courts, and more.

The Project continued to say, “Private prison companies rake in huge profits for incarcerating people and politicians garner support for being “tough on crime.” All of these people and companies profit greatly from incarcerating, transporting, feeding and exploiting prisoners.”

Such players are not the only players in the field. Even media play their roles for that. It is said that mass media helps to depict a large variety of oppressed peoples (people of color, poor people, LGBTQ+ people, immigrants, youth) as criminals or people who need to be stopped.”

ChatGPT says, “Some politicians and interest groups may support policies that lead to increased incarceration rates or longer sentences, which can further the growth of the prison system.” It is said that the prison-industrial complex is criticized by many activists, scholars, and advocacy groups for a variety of reasons, including, but not limited to incentive for incarceration, mass incarceration, inequity and racial bias, lack of rehabilitation, human rights concerns, and so on.

ChatGPT concludes like this, “Efforts to address these concerns include advocating for criminal justice reforms, reducing mandatory minimum sentences, improving rehabilitation programs, and reassessing the role of private companies in the prison system.”

• PIC, Memphis, and Shelby County, TN
  
  We have a fundamental question about, to, and for Mr. Strickland about his policies on crime. He can answer or make his comment when he is ready to.
  
  Question: Is Jim Strickland, Mayor of Memphis, one of those politicians who have been suspected to support such policies that can lead to increased incarceration rates or longer sentences, which can further the growth of the prison system in Shelby County, TN?

We ask another question to ourselves. Why is the prison industrial complex a problem?

We present this explanation instead. Justice Education Project explains, “Private prisons make more profit with more inmates, so instead of working with the goal of rehabilitating people and returning them to society, they work with the goal of keeping as many inmates incarcerated for as long as possible. This then contributes to the cycle of over-policing and longer sentences.”

Justice Education Project concludes, “The Prison Industrial Complex exploits incarcerated people on a daily basis. Private prisons not only make a profit just from holding incarcerated people, but can also force those people to partake in prison labor due to a loophole in the 13th Amendment. Our criminal justice system is riddled with injustice, but the PIC creates and upholds some of the most inhumane and unjust systems.”

Whenever we see the face of Mr. Strickland in the television regardless of whether you think his face is handsome or not, or even ugly, it is suspected that the “IMAGE” of PIC is overlapped or superimposed with his face.

As the Times pointed out in another editorial, in order to respond the local crime in Memphis and Shelby County, the COMPREHENSIVE COUNTERMEASURES are necessary and the INCLUSIVE SOLUTIONS should be suggested.

Just only trying to send more people into prison cannot solve the various social problems in Memphis and Shelby County in terms of “fighting against crime” or “getting tough on crime.”

In order to treat or cure diseases on human body, you need to cure the cause, not the symptom. That is the fundamental difference between ‘charlatans or quack doctors’ and ‘excellent or noted doctors.’

It seems that Mr. Strickland has been thinking of or talking about such symptoms during the last 7 or 8 years. But the good news is that a new mayor will be elected on this coming October, 2023. It is really a good news.

Published: July 26, 2023

The Memphis Times
www.memphistimes.org

[Related Content] Mulroy says mayor’s criticism ‘misleading,’ urges cooperation to solve crime problem

[Related Content] Mulroy says mayor’s criticism of woman who shot at police last November is ‘misleading’

[Related Content] [Editorial] The Important Issues for the Imminent Mayoral Election in Memphis

[Related Content] [Open Letter] An Open Letter to Jim Strickland, Mayor of Memphis

[Related Content] [Editorial] How to have better local police around Memphis

[Related Content] [Editorial] The Gilded Age in Memphis

Every election has its own issues. Memphis suffers from more than several important issues for the daily lives of the Memphians. Here are some of the important issues which were, are, or will be talked about or discussed before, during, or even after the mayoral election in the city of Memphis, Tennessee.

First, the MINIMUM WAGE should be increased in the city of Memphis. The minimum wage is said to be the lowest hourly wage that employers are legally required to pay their workers. The working class in Memphis deserves better and higher wages no matter what.

The issue of the minimum wage in Shelby County and the city of Memphis is much more important than any other counties or cities in the State of Tennessee because it is closely related to or connected with other socioeconomic factors in and for the city of Memphis where such economic opportunities and financial tranquility or serenity are so much important for the social stability and prosperity.

Second, as you already know or may know, we should deal with the urgent issue of fighting against crimes. However, it is not enough to adopt a stopgap measures or such policies. A myopic or a short-sighted way of thinking cannot solve or decrease the social problems of crime in the city of Memphis.

The COMPREHENSIVE COUNTERMEASURES are necessary for responding to the local crimes. And the INCLUSIVE SOLUTIONS should be suggested not only in order to fight against the local crimes, but also in order to decrease the increasing crimes.

Of course, we have to deal with different kinds of street crimes. But the Memphians have to open their eyes in terms of so-called “Hybrid Crimes” in Memphis. Such crimes are the mixture or the cross-breed of the physical(violent) and the white-collar crimes which actually exist in Memphis.

The criminals who commit such hybrid crimes don’t run away when they are caught or when their crimes are discovered or revealed. Instead they tries to hurt or threaten the victims or destroy the lives of the victims through various way including, but not limited to extraordinary schemes or unbelievable machinations.

Third, the GOVERNMENT REFORM must be pursued. Both the political and legal accountability should be found and realized for the government officials who are allegedly corrupt or even criminal. Judicial decisions should be verified by microscope. Administrative actions should be reviewed with attention. Political activities of local politicians should be monitored with seriousness.

Citizens, media, and activists should be more involved in the local democratic process. The local democracy of Memphis should not proclaimed or declared only in the school textbooks. The spirit of democracy should be alive in the local community.

Forth, the RULE OF LAW should function fundamentally in the city of Memphis. There seem to be a lot of serious allegations not only judicial misconducts or police misconducts, but also even judicial crimes and police crimes. And so-called “crooked” lawyers should be censured, condemned, denounced, sanctioned, or even disqualified.

And even though Memphis is located about 3 hours away, by car, from Nashville, but the Memphians need to pay attention to what’s going on in the General Assembly in Nashville because the laws of the State of Tennessee were, are, and will be made there in Nashville. The lives of the Memphians are governed by the constitution and laws of the State of Tennessee including the constitution and laws of the United States of America.

Fifth, the spirit of COMPASSIONATE SOCIETY should be valued or realized in the local community. Such culture of exclusion, discrimination, coercion, disregard, negligence, or ignorance has been deeply penetrated into or widely distibuted over the local culture or minds.

The city of Memphis has been facing very challenging local issues which are both political and social. Some of the urgent issues among them are the minimum wages, the comprehensive countermeasures against the crimes, the government reform, the rule of law, the spirit of compassionate society in the local community, and so on.

Memphis should take a leap in order to move forward, not backward. This city should not be stalled or in a rut.

One vote of a Memphian citizen for the next mayoral election had never been more important than that of the year of 2023 throughout the entire history of the city of Memphis.

You can make a history. And you can make a difference.

Published: July 16, 2023

The Memphis Times
www.memphistimes.org

On July 1, 2023, in this editorial, the Times warns against the establishment of a “governmental-industrial complex” in the city of Memphis and in the county of Shelby County in the State of Tennessee in the United States of America.

“In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.” – Former President Dwight D. Eisenhower (1961).

On January 17, 1961, in the farewell address, President Dwight Eisenhower warned against the establishment of a “military-industrial complex.” His farewell address was said to have surprised the general public at his strong warnings about the dangers of the “military-industrial complex.”

They say that the military-industrial complex refers to the close and mutually beneficial relationship between a nation’s military establishment, the defense industry, and the government. It is a term that was coined by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in his farewell address in 1961.

Critics are said to argue that it can lead to a perpetual state of conflicts, as the defense industry relies on military spending for its profits, while mentioning such phenomena of “interconnections”, “interdependence”, and/or “cooperation” between the military, defense contractors, and government agencies.

They say that the military-industrial complex can also create ethical dilemmas, as decisions regarding military interventions and weapon development are influenced by profit motives.

The City of Memphis and Shelby County have many fundamental problems for functioning as municipal governments, but some of the characteristic malfunctions seem to be originated from the real or potential existence of “governmental-industrial complex” in the city of Memphis and Shelby County, TN, in the U.S.

One of the fundamental problems within or from the local governmental agencies is the chronic diseases of “manipulation of records.” Where there exists any possibility of issues or legal disputes, there exist such maladies of manipulating records or distorting the factual allegations or evidence.

The crime, practice, and such culture of the manipulation of records are only one of the maladies afflicting the city of Memphis and Shelby County. Such maladies are real and deplorable.

Such manipulated records are used for judicial crime where the judges can have find ways for excuses in the name of “judicial discretion” when they make intentional misjudgments or mistakes for “factual findings.” Judges almost always have an excuse for their very calculated misjudgment or intentional mistakes in the name of the judical discretion or judicial power.

However, they are not just misjudgments or mistakes, but they are fundamentally crimes. They are judicial crimes and judical coercion. Judges are or can be criminals in the City of Memphis or Shelby County. Such criticism, allegations, or possibilities are real here. They are not just hypothetical or theoretical. They are real.

At the same time, there are many reasonable allegations about the illegal or unlawful activities in terms of the local law enforcements. We are not just talking about “police misconducts”, or “police (intentional or unintentional) mistakes” which were based on the notorious reputation as “Local police are organized gang or legalized gang of thugs.”

We are even talking about “police crime.” If there exist such crimes within the local law enforcement agencies, there are more likely to exist that bigger level of criminal activities exist in the higher level of authorities than the those of the lower level of police power.

It is our human experience that more power produced more corruptions, and that absolute power caused and was connected to arbitrary discretion or oppressive mechanism, which were eventually manifested. That is our empirical knowledge and observation. That is not just theoretical. Human history successfully, consistently, and continuously showed and demonstrated that.

Such “Governmental-Industrial Complex” is Corporations and Government Complex. Overall, such complex is “Money and Power Complex.” Such complex (allegedly) exist in Shelby County and the City of Memphis.

There exist such allegations that corporations are dependent on the both corrupt and criminal government officials, and such corrupt officials were and are bought, directly or indirectly, by the hidden bribery of corporations under the table or behind the curtain.

Local government officials get or are suspected to get their bribery. Corporations get the maximization of their profits. It is win-win situations for them. However, justice is lost, and the innocent victims suffer from the consequences of such crimes during the course of their business between governmental-industrial complex.

There exist such phenomena of “interconnections”, “interdependence”, and/or “cooperation” between the governmental agencies and industrial sectors here in the local communities. Industry relies on government spending and power for the maximization of its profits and for the cover-ups of its hybrid crimes. Local government officials are dependent on, and became DOMESTICATED by the bribery from industry.

Such “Governmental-Industrial Complex(in other words, Money and Power Complex)” led to a perpetual state of CORRUPTIONS and CRIMES in the City of Memphis and Shelby County.

Published: July 1, 2023 (Saturday.)

The Memphis Times
www.memphistimes.org

[Reference]

President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s Farewell Address (1961) (link)

Eisenhower’s farewell address (Wikipedia) (link)

[Video] President Dwight Eisenhower Farewell Address (C-span) (link)

“Democracy is based upon the conviction there are extraordinary possibilities in ordinary people.” – Harry Emerson Fosdick.

“We do not have government by the majority. We have government by the majority who participate.” – Thomas Jefferson.

“Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn’t mean politics won’t take an interest in you.” – Pericles.

It is said that elections make a fundamental contribution to democratic governance. And they say that elections also reinforce the stability and legitimacy of the political community.

Elections are said to play a crucial role in democratic societies by promoting citizen participation, ensuring accountability, and facilitating the peaceful transfer of power. It is said that elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative democracy has operated since the 17th century.

The term “election” is said to refer to a formal process in which individuals or groups choose or select someone for a specific position, such as a political office or a leadership role. By electing officials, it is said that citizens can have a say in selecting leaders who will make decisions on their behalf and work towards fulfilling their interests and needs.

The Britannica encyclopedia mentions this below about the meaning and the importance of elections. “Because direct democracy—a form of government in which political decisions are made directly by the entire body of qualified citizens—is impractical in most modern societies, democratic government must be conducted through representatives.”

The Wikipedia encyclopedia explains these below in terms of such election campaigns. “When elections are called, politicians and their supporters attempt to influence policy by competing directly for the votes of constituents in what are called campaigns. Supporters for a campaign can be either formally organized or loosely affiliated, and frequently utilize campaign advertising. “

The encyclopedia mentions more like these. “It is common for political scientists to attempt to predict elections via political forecasting methods. The most expensive election campaign included US$7 billion spent on the 2012 United States presidential election and is followed by the US$5 billion spent on the 2014 Indian general election.”

The 2023 Memphis mayoral election will take place on October 5, 2023(Thursday). The filing deadline for this election is July 20, 2023. The current mayor Jim Strickland (D) is term-limited. Early voting starts in September.

They say that about twelve candidates have declared their candidacy as of June, 2023, including six Democrats, three Republicans, and two independents. While the election is officially nonpartisan, many candidates (and officeholders) are said to be affiliated with a political party. It is said that Memphis, the 27th-largest city in the U.S., has had a Democratic mayor since 1992, and Memphis is also holding elections for county clerk and all 13 seats on the city council in 2023.

The declared candidates for the next mayoral seat are Joe Brown, Brandon Price(Salamander Brandy), J.W. Gibson, Van Turner, Paul Young, Floyd Bonner, Karen Camper, Frank Colvett, Michelle McKissack, Willie Herenton, and so on.

According to University of Memphis professor Otis Sanford, the issues of crime and police conduct will have an outsized effect in the October election. “[…] The race for mayor will come down [to] who has the clearer and most convincing message — not just about fighting crime, but changing the culture in the police department in light of the police killing of Tyre Nichols,” Sanford said.(Source: Ballotpedia)

“The ballot is stronger than the bullet.” – Abraham Lincoln.

“The future of this republic is in the hands of the American voter.” – Dwight D. Eisenhower.

“The ignorance of one voter in a democracy impairs the security of all.” – John F. Kennedy.

Both the ferocious dogs and the tottering ones already began to run in the next mayoral race in the City of Memphis. Which dog are the Memphians going to choose for their next mayor?

“The future of the City of Memphis is in the hands of the Memphian voter.” – The Memphis Times.

Published: June 29, 2023, (Thursday.)

[Link] The Memphis Times
www.memphistimes.org

[Editorial] The Importance of the Next Mayoral Election in the City of Memphis (June 29, 2023)
www.memphistimes.org/20230629_election

[Reference]

The declared candidates (Source: Wikipedia except Brandon Price)

Joe Brown, former Shelby County Criminal Court judge and former host of the reality court show ‘’Judge Joe Brown’’ (Party affiliation: Independent),

Brandon Price(her social name is Salamander Brandy), Executive Director of the church Path of the Holy Hands, a member of Black Lives Matter Memphis and the New Black Panther party,

J.W. Gibson, former Shelby County commissioner,

Van Turner, former Shelby County commissioner and president of the NAACP Memphis branch (Party affiliation: Democratic),

Paul Young, president and CEO of the Downtown Memphis Commission and former director of the Memphis Division of Housing and Community Development (Party affiliation: Democratic),

Floyd Bonner, Shelby County Sheriff (Party affiliation: Democratic),

Karen Camper, Minority Leader of the Tennessee House of Representatives (Tennessee House Minority Leader) (Party affiliation: Democratic),

Frank Colvett, city councilor (Party affiliation: Republican),

Michelle McKissack, member of the Shelby County Board of Education and a former broadcast journalist,
(Party affiliation: Democratic),

Willie Herenton, former Memphis mayor (1992-2009) (Party affiliation: Democratic),


[Reference]

The Official campaign websites:

Joe Brown (I) for Mayor (link)

J.W. Gibson for Mayor (link)

Brandon Price(Salamander Brandy) (no link)
(Her campaign website is being made right now.)

Van Turner (D) for Mayor (link)

Paul Young (D) for Mayor (link)

Floyd Bonner (D) for Mayor (link)

Karen Camper (D) for Mayor (link)

Frank Colvett (R) for Mayor (link)

Michelle McKissack (D) for Mayor (link)


[Reference]

The Memphis Municipal Election is this fall. Here’s who has pulled a petition for office. (link)

Memphis mayoral frontrunners Turner, Bonner share stage for first time in 2023 (link)

Memphis mayoral candidates meet to discuss crime, transportation and more at Mosaic Church (link)

The Death Of Tyre Nichols Is Looming Over Memphis’ Mayoral Election (link)


[Reference]

Voting Quotes:

“There’s no such thing as a vote that doesn’t matter.” – Barack Obama.

“Voting is a civic sacrament.” – Theodore Hesburgh.

“Voting is the expression of our commitment to ourselves, one another, this country, and this world.” – Sharon Salzberg.

“Voting is as much an emotional act as it is an intellectual one.” – Monica Crowley.

“A man without a vote is a man without protection.” – Lyndon B. Johnson.

“Bad officials are elected by good citizens who don’t vote.” – George Jean Nathan.

“Our political leaders will know our priorities only if we tell them, again and again, and if those priorities begin to show up in the polls.” – Peggy Noonan.

“Talk is cheap, voting is free; take it to the polls.” – Nanette L. Avery.

“This process of election affords a moral certainty that the office of President will seldom fall to the lot of any man who is not in an eminent degree endowed with the requisite qualifications.” – Alexander Hamilton.

“Democracy is about voting and it’s about a majority vote. And it’s time that we started exercising the Democratic process.” – Debbie Stabenow.

“The first duty of a man is to think for himself.” – Jose Marti.

“Not voting is not a protest. It is a surrender.” – Keith Ellison.

“By voting, we add our voice to the chorus that forms opinions and the basis for actions.” – Jens Stoltenberg.

“People shouldn’t be afraid of their government. Governments should be afraid of their people.” – Alan Moore.

“I love voting day. I love the sight of my fellow citizens lining up to make their voices heard.” – Beth Broderick.

“Somewhere inside of all of us is the power to change the world.” – Roald Dahl.

“If you don’t vote, you lose the right to complain.” – George Carlin.

“Someone struggled for your right to vote. Use it.” – Susan B. Anthony.

“Voting is not only our right—it is our power.” – Loung Ung.

“Every election is determined by the people who show up.” – Larry J. Sabato, “Pendulum Swing”.

“Elections belong to the people.” – Abraham Lincoln.

“One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.” – Plato.

The City of Memphis and Shelby County have the fundamental problems in the criminal justice system in multi-layers factors.

The local communities should recognize or realize that there exist such allegedly fundamental and serious malfunctions, corruptions, misconducts, manipulations, and even crimes within the justice system in order to move forward or proceed toward the just, fair, better, and brighter future.

The justice system is said to refer to the legal framework and institutions that are responsible for upholding law and order, administering justice, and resolving disputes within a society. Its primary purpose is said to ensure fairness, protect individual rights, maintain social order, and promote the common good.

The key components of the justice system are legislation, law enforcement, judiciary, legal profession, corrections, legal aid, due process, and so on.

The justice system around Shelby County and the City of Memphis face various challenges and criticisms including, but not limited to inequality and bias, large caseloads, access to justice, rehabilitation and recidivism, evolving legal landscape, and so forth.

However, there are “unparalleled” elements, cultures, and realities in the local justice system in Shelby County than those of any other local governments in the United States. There are too many, and too much problems and allegations in the justice system here in the local communities. They include, but are not limited to legal coersion, manipulation of records, false charge or accusation, cover-up, schemes, framing up, fabrication, building up, making up, figment, etc.

We cannot stress too much the urgent necessities to address these challenges and improve the justice system in Shelby County and the City of Memphis to ensure that it remains fair, equitable, and responsive to the needs of the local communities and the American society.

The justice system here in the City of Memphis and Shelby County are not just malfunctioning, but it is, allegedly, not only corrupt but also criminal itself. Those who are within the system should be held accountable.

The good and responsible citizens around the local communities should recognize or realize this. And at the same time, the Tennessee State government and the Federal government should be involved in trying to fix such fundamental problems.

The preamble of the U.S. Constitution is like this. “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”

The U.S. Constitution was established in order to establish Justice. However, the justice is not found in Shelby County and the City of Memphis. Justice here in the communities is manipulated, corrupted, crooked, and even “criminal.”

Such justice should be found by the cooperations between the good citizens and the higher levels of governments which are more powerful than the municipal governments which are alleged to be corrupt, malfunctioning, manipulating, and even criminal.

The City of Memphis and Shelby County can be called or should be treated as so-called such “Banana Republics” about, with regard to, or in terms of justice. Justice should and must be found and established in Shelby County and the City of Memphis.

Justice should be just. Period.

[Link] [Report] About the Legal Coersion toward Mr. Hwang
www.hwangstory.com/2023-06-22-legal_coersion

[Link] [Report] Mr. Hwang filed the criminal complaints on June 19, 2023.
www.hwangstory.com/2023-06-22-legal_coersion

Published: June 22, 2023, (Thursday.)

[Link] The Memphis Times
www.memphistimes.org

<Footnotes>


. The name of Memphis Police Chief is Ms. Cerelyn “CJ” Davis(link).

. The name of Mayor of the City of Memphis is Mr. Jim Strickland(link).

. The name of Mayor of Shelby County is Mr. Lee Harris(link).

. Tennessee Bureau of Investigation(TBI) Memphis Field Office (link)

. Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) (link)

. Federal Bureau of Investigation(FBI) – Memphis (link)

. Electronic Tip Form | FBI (link)

. FBI Investigation (link)

. FBI (link)

. The next court day for Mr. Hwang’s case is July 21, 2023 at 9:00 a.m. at General Sessions Criminal Court Divison 7(Shelby County General Sessions Court(link)).

. The name of the investigator in the case was Mr. Sgt. D. Campbell at the Memphis Police Department – Mt. Moriah Station.

.Memphis Police Department – Mt. Moriah Station(link)
Address: 2602 Mt Moriah Rd, Memphis, TN 38115
Telephone: (901) 636-4199

. The name of the judge at Division VII is Bill Anderson, Jr (link).

Scorpion vs. White Christmas. What does this mean?

Memphis police chief, Cerelyn “C.J.” Davis created the Scorpion unit which is so-called specialized street forces, whose members were charged in Tyre Nichols’ fatal beating. And she was said to oversee a hyper-aggressive street crime unit in Atlanta, named Red Dog, that was ultimately disbanded following a public backlash and a series of lawsuits. The Memphis police chief was chosen and appointed by Jim Strickland who was the mayor of City of Memphis.

What is needed in Memphis instead of “Scorpion” or “Red Dog” is “White Christmas.” What does this mean?

“White Christmas” can be a unit name for a specialized white-collar crime unit in Memphis and Shelby County. It can be a hyper-aggressive unit against those alleged white-collar criminal in local communities because those criminals destroy innocent people’s lives and continue to commit felonies including, but not limited to heinous crimes or very cunning ones.

The specialized team can detect, investigate, punish, and deter those crimes which are allegedly committed by judges, politicians, government officials, police officers, professionals, attorneys, accountants, business leaders & their managers, especially big corporations, and so on.

Those white-collar crimes around Memphis are originated, conceived, or nurtured from American greed, the lack of moral integrity, the paralysis of conscience, the insensibility against crimes, the senselessness toward sense of guilt, and so forth.

Those criminals know what they’re doing. But they don’t know the horrible consequences of their criminal behaviors toward the lives of the innocent indivisuals over the entire courses of their lives.

As you already know, the lyrics of the song, White Christmas, starts like this.

“I’m dreaming of a white Christmas…”

The Editorial of the Memphis Times
www.memphistimes.org

Published: March 4, 2023

Governor Lee delivered his fifth State of the State address on February 6, 2023. The theme of the address was called “Tennessee: Leading the Nation.” Lee is said to present budget and legislative priorities for the upcoming year to a joint session of the General Assembly and fellow Tennesseans.

Mr. Lee’s proposed $55.6 billion budget is said to include so-called “strategic funding” to modernize transportation, ensure economic and educational opportunity, preserve our natural resources, protect children, strengthen families and more.

According to the website of the Office of the governor, “Tennessee is leading the nation as a guiding light for opportunity, security and freedom,” said governor Lee. “I’m proud to propose a budget and strategic policies that ensure our state continues to be a shining example for educational opportunity, strong families, innovation and economic prosperity.”

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has been serving as the 50th governor of Tennessee since 2019. He was reelected in the 2022 gubernatorial election. There are 18 sections in the Tennessee Constitution Article III which defines the legal status, election, powers, functions, roles, or duties of the Executive Department whose head is the Tennessee governor who holds the supreme executive power.

The supreme executive power is vested in a governor in the State of Tennessee. Tennessee Constitution Article III – Executive Department. Section 10 says, “He shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed.”

The legal definition of using “shall” and “may” is that, generally speaking, “shall” is mandatory and “may” is permissive. Therefore, it is mandatory that the governor should take care that the laws be faithfully executed in the State of Tennessee.

We have to, however, point out this. Before it is said from the Office of the governor that Tennessee is leading the nation, he should make sure that the laws be faithfully executed in Tennessee.” We’re not in the position to evaluate all of the law enforcement situations and environments in all of the counties, cities, or towns in Tennessee, but we know several things about Shelby County and the City of Memphis.

The case of the death of Mr. Tyre Nichols is just one kind of the tip of the iceberg. Below the tip on the surface, there exists unseen rest of the iceberg. They say that “What you can see of a problem or difficult situation is only one small part of a much larger hidden problem.” That is true. Mr. Nichols’ case is just only the tip of the iceberg. Both the local news articles and the national news media reported only the tip of the iceberg.

Mr. Hwang is the publisher and editor of the Times. He knew and knows that the realities of the law enforcement is unrealistically distorted in the jurisdictions of Shelby County and the City of Memphis. Not only the law enforcement, but also the legal interpretation and judicial function seem to be contaminated, unfair, and disfuntional. And even shockingly(or unshockingly) criminal.

Those cases of the death of Mr. Nichols and the destruction of Mr. Hwang’s life are, literally, just the tips of the entire icebergs, whose names are Shelby County and the City of Memphis.

Governor Lee, do you want to lead the nation? That’s fine. But, please, try to do that only after you take care that the laws be faithfully executed here in Shelby County and the City of Memphis because things are not working properly here.

Let’s say there is a baby who crawls on the floor and gets down on his hands and knees. At one point, he declares that he is going to enter the 100 meter race in the next Olympic games. Is he going to be a sprinter in the competitive race?

Governor Lee declared more than several policy goals, priorities, and their related budget plans. That doesn’t necessarily have to be bad. That’s fine. But, from our point of view, he has to have, manage, strengthen, or improve the BASICS. What are the basics of such governors’ job? The first task of their job is to take care that the laws be faithfully executed. But the fundamental problem is that the laws are not faithfully executed in Shelby County and the City of Memphis.

Mr. Jim Strickland messed Memphis up. He is the Mayor of the City of Memphis. Governor Bill Lee should spend more time on monitoring the law enforcement situations in Shelby County and the City of Memphis.

Tennessee Constitution Article III – Executive Department. Section 10 says, “He shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed.” And “shall” is MANDATORY.

The Editorial of the Memphis Times
www.memphistimes.org

Published: February 8, 2023

One of the beauties of the Tennessee Constitution is that it guarantees the people’s right to alter, reform, or abolish the government in such manner as they may think proper.

Tennessee Constitution Article I – Declaration of Rights. Section 1 is as follows. “That all power is inherent in the people, and all free governments are founded on their authority, and instituted for their peace, safety, and happiness; for the advancement of those ends they have at all times, an unalienable and indefeasible right to alter, reform, or abolish the government in such manner as they may think proper.”

Article I – Section 2 is as follows. “That government being instituted for the common benefit, the doctrine of nonresistance against arbitrary power and oppression is absurd, slavish, and destructive of the good and happiness of mankind.”

The government of the City of Memphis should be REFORMED. That is our argument or a legal one on the basis of the Tennessee Constitution Article I – Section 1 and 2.

Memphis is not peaceful right now. There are streets and areas which are not safe. Those who don’t feel happy appear to want to leave for another places, cities, or States regardless of their ability to do or fulfill that. That means that the local government can’t or doesn’t function for being instituted for the local people’s PEACE, SAFETY, and HAPPINESS. That is exactly against Tennessee Constitution Article I – Declaration of Rights. Section 1(one).

A lot of local or district government officials are suspected to exercise or perform ARBITRARY power from their political, judicial, or administrative discretion. There have been social signs, symptoms, or phenomena around Memphis and Shelby County in terms of political, social, or legal OPPRESSION. That is exactly against Tennessee Constitution Article I – Declaration of Rights. Section 2(two).

It is, therefore, very natural to confirm or conclude that the Memphians ascertain their own constitutional right to alter, reform, or abolish the government in such manner as they may think proper. It is really both logical and legitimate.

We don’t, however, demand or expect the reform of the human character of Mr. Jim Strickland who has been the Mayor of the City of Memphis. We’re afraid it is too late for him to change his own political character let alone to his indivisual one. And human beings and politicians don’t or can’t change their personalities that easily or that often. That is the human nature of indivisuals and politicians.

That’s why we demand the reform of the City of Memphis and the Police Department of Memphis. Such demand is based not only on the public opinion from the local community, but also on the Tennessee Constitution, which is the supreme law of the Tennessee land except the U.S. Constitution.

Our political and legal demand for the reform of the local government is the constitutional demand of Tennessee. It is not just local, but CONSTITUTIONAL.

The Editorial of the Memphis Times
www.memphistimes.org

Published: February 5, 2023