From: owner-roc-digest@lists.xmission.com (roc-digest) To: roc-digest@lists.xmission.com Subject: roc-digest V2 #412 Reply-To: roc-digest Sender: owner-roc-digest@lists.xmission.com Errors-To: owner-roc-digest@lists.xmission.com Precedence: bulk roc-digest Monday, January 1 2001 Volume 02 : Number 412 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 29 Dec 00 16:48:22 PST From: roc@xpresso.seaslug.org (Bill Vance) Subject: SRA - Legal Scholars Say Govt Regs as a "Cause". (fwd) On Dec 29, Brad3000 wrote: [-------------------- text of forwarded message follows --------------------] FYI - This is very interesting.... read! -- Brad/RKBA-Unity! Legal Scholars Say Government Regs. Led to Boston Shootings By Sierra Times - Posted: 12.29.00 http://www.sierratimes.com/arvc122900.htm Government s Warrantless Search & Attempted Warrantless Seizure Leads to Shooting Rampage; Boston Again the Scene of Tax Revolt; Legal Scholar Says Government Evasion of Constitutional Require- ments for Tax Searches and Seizures Led to Killings Reports indicate an employee of a Boston Internet consulting firm shot and killed seven co-workers who apparently participated in plans to honor warrantless government searches for and seizures of the employee s earnings, accrued and future. The law, constitutional and statutory, requires a Fourth Amendment warrant, executive or judicial, for tax searches and seizures, but the IRS has routinely operated without them, provoking an outcry, producing litigation, and fomenting office stress that has now resulted in violence. "Without a valid warrant, no legally valid proof of a tax debt exists," said Virginia L. Cropsey, J.D., a graduate of Wayne State University School of Law and the University of Michigan, and author of an Internet newsletter and new website that expose the legal insufficiency of IRS notices of levy. "The Fourth Amendment accords protection to a person s "effects," Cropsey says, "and that includes a person s accounts receivable." The Fourth Amendment was inspired by the 1761 speech in Boston against the writs of assistance by James Otis, an attorney engaged by the merchants of Boston. British issuance of the writs of assistance, which are similar to the current IRS "process" led to the Revolutionary War. A young John Adams, later second President of the United States, heard the Otis speech and was inspired to draft a provision, Article XIV, for the 1780 Massachusetts Declaration of Rights, which later became the basic language for the Fourth Amendment, Cropsey says. At the time of the construction of the Bill of Rights, Richard Henry Lee, Senator from Virginia, and an ancestor of Robert E. Lee, saw to it the word "effects" rather than "possessions" was used in the Fourth Amendment, so that accounts receivable, which would include the apparent shooter, Michael McDermott s earnings, have Fourth Amendment protection. This means, and the 4th and 5th Amendment pre-judgment seizure case law shows, that a warrant is required, according to Cropsey. Additionally, wages are special property for purposes of pre-judgment seizure under the Supreme Court decision in Sniadach v. Family Finance Corp. You can t seize property for taxes in this country pre- judgment without a sworn statement, says Cropsey. "Certainly the government should have to swear the debt is owed and demonstrate probable cause for these searches and seizures. The IRS has no business writing your employer about you and interfering with your employment relations without proper authorization." Recently Cropsey showed that the Fourth Amendment s "no warrants" clause was intended by the Framers to require at a minimum, an executive branch warrant for tax seizures. I call it all about adjectives, said Cropsey. I read the case law more carefully than most attorneys, and noted that the Supreme Court said in its 1977 opinion in GM Leasing that a judicial warrant was necessary for entry into private premises for tax seizures. I knew from the plain language of the Fourth Amendment, and from research I did on the 1762 case of Entick v. Carrington & Three Other King s Messengers, a British sedition case, and from other research, that at least an executive branch warrant was necessary for other tax seizures. I m a bit like the kid in 6th Sense I don t see dead people, but I see something the others didn t due to my careful reading of the Fourth Amendment s 'no warrants' clause I see executive branch warrants." These executive branch warrants were held to be required for federal tax seizures. Pre-1954 case law exposed in a 1998 opinion in Williams v. Boulder Dam Credit Union by Clark County Nevada Magistrate Victor Miller held the executive branch warrant is required, Cropsey says. Cases concerning the issue of the warrant requirement are just beginning to make their way through the courts, she says. In order to avoid a Fourth Amendment test, the government does not cross the line and technically seize the property; it has not been using the language obfuscated case law says is required for seizure "is seized and levied upon," according to Cropsey, who says she spent over 1000 hours researching the issue and who has 60 pages briefed on the subject in the Michigan Court of Appeals, as well as on the question of whether private sector employers are required to withhold wages without a signed wage withholding order in effect. "They used quite a few standard legal tricks. It was a textbook case of stealthy encroachment." The levy situation leaves banks and employers subject to suit on contracts, and without a defense that they honored a levy under 26 U.S.C. 6331 & 6332 since no levy occurs, according to Cropsey. Cropsey s briefs show the pre-1954 case law was continued in effect by Congress under the 1954 Code. Since then, a consumer snatch-back line of cases in the Supreme Court makes clear that the Due Process clause of the Fifth Amendment requires sworn statements for pre-judgment seizure. These standards also apply to federal tax seizures according to the Supreme Court, Cropsey says. Cropsey says her research also shows future earnings aren t property under state law, and therefore under 26 U.S.C. Sec. 6331, the federal tax levy statute, so the IRS cannot reach future earnings with current levy process as they currently do. "The situation is despicable; every member of Congress, every President in modern times, bears responsibility for allowing this situation to occur," she says, and encourages citizens to write Congress and the President and demand the IRS obtain the warrants the Constitution requires for tax searches and seizures. The warrant is critical to show all the necessary procedures and laws have been complied with to allow the government to seize the property, she says. "One judge stated he d never seen anything like what my research exposes in 23 years on the bench." "The IRS can t get a warrant for these tax seizures because no competent authority can swear the tax debt is due and owing. The Constitution prohibits direct taxes without apportionment. The government is avoiding a test of the Constitutionality of the income tax by not technically seizing the property. It s a double-end run of the Constitution, one the framers Fourth Amendment language was written to prevent, and one which must end immediately," Cropsey said. "The IRS has engaged in a calculated campaign to intimidate attorneys, legislators and others who should have reported this situation into silence the situation is grim." The article submitted by Red Hen Resources - Troy, Michigan [------------------------- end of forwarded message ------------------------] - -- - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- RKBA! ***** Blessings On Thee, Oh Israel! ***** RKBA! - ----------------+----------+--------------------------+--------------------- An _EFFECTIVE_ | Insured | All matter is vibration. | Let he who hath no weapon in every | by COLT; | -- Max Plank | weapon sell his hand = Freedom | DIAL | In the beginning was the | garment and buy a on every side! | 1911-A1. | word. -- The Bible | sword.--Jesus Christ - ----------------+----------+--------------------------+--------------------- Constitutional Government is dead, LONG LIVE THE CONSTITUTION!!!!! - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 29 Dec 00 16:40:13 PST From: roc@xpresso.seaslug.org (Bill Vance) Subject: Junk Mail Get-Back (fwd) On Dec 29, BOBWORN@aol.com wrote: [-------------------- text of forwarded message follows --------------------] From: BOBURWELL BCC: BOB WORN This may not stop junk mail, but it would get someone's attention !! Subject: what a great idea! Here's the deal: Tired of getting all those Pre-approved letters in the mail for everything from credit cards to 2nd Mortgages, and crap like that? If the answer is, "Yes!". Read on. If "no," read on anyway. Well, most if not all of those letters come with a postage "PREPAID"envelope. So why not get rid of some of your other junk mail and put it in these cool little envelopes! If you didn't get anything else that day, then just send them their application back (TOTALLY BLANK)! Just make sure your name isn't on anything you send them. Heck, you can send it back empty if you want. Keep 'em guessing that way. Let's turn this into a chain letter. Eventually, The banks will begin getting all their garbage back in the mail. Let's let them know what its like to get junk mail, and best of all they're paying for it! Twice! Only in America! Send this to a friend or two or three.....or ten.....or twenty!!! [------------------------- end of forwarded message ------------------------] - -- - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- RKBA! ***** Blessings On Thee, Oh Israel! ***** RKBA! - ----------------+----------+--------------------------+--------------------- An _EFFECTIVE_ | Insured | All matter is vibration. | Let he who hath no weapon in every | by COLT; | -- Max Plank | weapon sell his hand = Freedom | DIAL | In the beginning was the | garment and buy a on every side! | 1911-A1. | word. -- The Bible | sword.--Jesus Christ - ----------------+----------+--------------------------+--------------------- Constitutional Government is dead, LONG LIVE THE CONSTITUTION!!!!! - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 30 Dec 00 12:09:53 PST From: roc@xpresso.seaslug.org (Bill Vance) Subject: Government Causes California Energy Crisis (fwd) On Dec 29, Rich Martin wrote: [-------------------- text of forwarded message follows --------------------] From the Home of Rich & Peggy Martin Grand Prairie, TX 75050 RichSlick@excite.com It's nice to be important, but it's important to be nice. _______________________________________________ INTRODUCTORY COMMENTARY In this part of the country, we haven't heard much about the energy crisis California is experiencing. We in Texas have another problem. The Fedl govt wants to outlaw construction and establish the infamous double nickle to "clean up" our air. It seems we have too many refineries in Texas. Rich Martin Editor of Slick - -------- Original Message -------- Subject: Government Causes California Energy Crisis From: Howard Rothenburg "We'd rather have brown-outs than people-outs!" That line was delivered about 20 years ago by Tom Hayden, who at the time was Jane Fonda's husband and a member of the California Legislature, representing the "People's Republic of Santa Monica." Though his consituents were city people, they kept him in Sacramento to spout his Luddite, back-to-the-land politics until he was removed from office by term limits. He and his cronies kept power plants from being built, while the population of their state climbed, all the while spouting lines such as that, to the delight of the environmentalists. Now those short-sighted legislators are looking at those never-really-expected brown-outs, and in true collectivist fashion, they are demanding that we in the rest of the West give them OUR power. They are guilt-tripping those of us in neighboring states, so that we will use less electricity in the evening. We are expected to be "neighborly" and let our homes get cold on zero- degree nights, so that the people in Los Angeles won't advance on Sacramento with torches and pitchforks. The "beautiful people" in California are the perfect example of irrationality. The same people who demanded long waiting periods for firearm purchases then turned around and screamed at the gunshop folks, when told that the waiting period doesn't include exemptions for movie stars, even during riots. However, despite their anti-technology stance, of course, they exempt themselves. A drive past "Commie Tommy's" place shows no lack of lights or electronic alarms, and I doubt that he has cut the cords to the computer, the HDTV nor DVD player. Likewise, the Nefarians demand that we junk "inefficient" older and larger cars and SUVs, yet I haven't seen them giving up limos or those private jets which burn as much fuel taxiing to the runway as my Camaro uses driving from here to Los Angeles. Guilt is the favorite weapon of the Nefarians. They used guilt about inner-city school quality to force a million school kids onto buses across town in the 1960s, and guilt about the Antarctic "ozone hole" to force a halt to sales of Freon in the Northern Hemisphere (despite a complete lack of proof that the two are related in any way). Sometimes they go to ridiculous extreme in their attempts to manipulate, such as when several entertainers vowed to move to Canada if Duhhh-bya were to become President. Of course, they are abandoning their promises, but they truly did expect that we would all vote for Prince Al, rather than risk having them leave. I'm reminded of Jerry Brown's plaintive bleat that "The people didn't vote the way we told them to," following a 1974 initiative fight. Alec -- or a thousand Alecs -- is not worth more than a single Tere or a Toni or a John, people who work to support their families and will never own a Learjet. Perhaps these smug, self-important elitists should take the pizzas to Bosnia themselves . . .then stay there. That would improve both countries. It would also give them something to do other than trying to make the rest of us feel guilty for having had the foresight to build powerplants. But then, to a Nefarian, ANY foresight is to be condemned. When an individual or community prepares for the future, that makes them more difficult to bring under control. Two decades ago, during the "survivalist boom," anyone with more than a couple of days' food on the shelf was painted as a paranoiac and lampooned in the media and theater. Then came the "Y2K" panic, and suddenly it was acceptable to throw a couple of extra cans of corn into the shopping cart, until the crisis evaporated. Now that things are back to (ab)normal, there is subtle pressure to draw down the reserves again. This winter, we have this new campaign to convince us that the people who have brought the threat of dark, cold nights to Fresno are not actually responsible for their actions. It is our GREED, you see. Our selfish desire to use Utah electricity in Utah is to blame for the current situation (no pun intended) facing the Golden State, not Californians' willingness to let the environmentalists push them back to the Dark Ages. In other words, the needs of those who refused to prepare outweigh the needs of those who did, courtesy of Sacramento, who has called in the marker they issued on November 7th. The little pig who built his house of brick is to be forced to give it up to the one who built with straw, with an order by the Clintoon Administration. It would be one thing if we were doing this for the good of our neighbors on the Coast, to help them through a crisis, but the majority of the population (and power usage) is in the warm southern half of the state, where lack of electricity isn't likely to result in blocks of ice with people inside them. No, the true casualty of of rolling blackouts would be the Nanny State, the belief that Sacramento or Washington will kiss it and make it all better. Some of my readers in California may believe that I am attacking them. In truth, I am simply trying to provide a little perspective. It is not necessary to embrace the "Corporate World" to have light, nor to war against it in the name of ecology. The true ecologist sees the whole picture, of which mankind is a part, and tries to find the best set of trade-offs. It is the "envinronmentalist" who sees Man as being at war with Nature. To these people, other people are a blight which must be kept out of the forest ("No Motor Vehicles"), and considers periodic disastrous floods to be a good price to pay for saving the clapper rail's habitat. After all, the farmers who lost their homes and livelihoods only have one vote each, and are outnumbered by the Beautiful People in Santa Monica and Sausalito. The big question is whether the power problems will turn on a light in the minds of a few million Western voters. _________________________________________________________________________ Keith R. Wood is keeping a light in the window for those who would like to respond to his columns, either directly (caa@bctv.com) or through the Mailbag. www.SierraTimes.com Cut out the middlemen. Send donations to: Boys Scouts of America National HQ 1329 Walnut Hill Ln. Irving, TX 75162 http://www.SaveOurScouts.com [------------------------- end of forwarded message ------------------------] - -- - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- RKBA! ***** Blessings On Thee, Oh Israel! ***** RKBA! - ----------------+----------+--------------------------+--------------------- An _EFFECTIVE_ | Insured | All matter is vibration. | Let he who hath no weapon in every | by COLT; | -- Max Plank | weapon sell his hand = Freedom | DIAL | In the beginning was the | garment and buy a on every side! | 1911-A1. | word. -- The Bible | sword.--Jesus Christ - ----------------+----------+--------------------------+--------------------- Constitutional Government is dead, LONG LIVE THE CONSTITUTION!!!!! - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 30 Dec 00 13:44:29 PST From: roc@xpresso.seaslug.org (Bill Vance) Subject: [our-constitution] Million Marxist March (fwd) On Dec 30, Charles Nawrocki wrote: [-------------------- text of forwarded message follows --------------------] This is a very interesting questioner, please read and re-post to your friends. >Date: Sat, 30 Dec 2000 09:49:30 -0500 >Reply-To: our-constitution@egroups.com >Subject: [our-constitution] Million Marxist March > >http:// >www.keepandbeararms.com/information/XcIBViewItem.asp?ID=911 > > >A quiz for Million Mom marchers to consider. >OK now, no cheating > >1. Ted Kennedy, Charles Schumer and Barbara Boxer strongly denounce private >gun ownership. Their bodyguards; however, carry: > >A. Toy guns with trigger locks >B. Glocks, and Berettas >C. Sheilds and swords >D. Slingshots >E. Very heavy purses > >2. You and your baby daughter are awakened in the middle of the night by >your estranged, abusive ex-husband. Although you have a restraining order >against him, he is drunk and beats down your front door with a crowbar >screaming, "If I can't have you, nobody can!" You should: > >A. Call Barbara Boxer. >B. Call 911, and tell them that they should arrive within 30 seconds. >C. Threaten legal action. >D. Grab a ping-pong paddle. >E. Reason with him (maybe he was an abused child). > >3. Since 1987, 34 states have enacted concealed carry laws. Violent crime >decreased in these states and the anticipated "Dodge City" mayhem never >materialized. Even critics were surprised. Concealed carry succeeded >because: > >A. Sunspot activity decreased after 1987. >B. Trigger locks rendered guns inoperative and therefore safe. >C. Sarah Brady scared the crooks away. >D. A healing wave of pacifism swept over the hearts of criminals in these 34 >states. >E. Janet Reno said that crime should stop. > >Schools, churches, subways, and restaurants have often been assaulted, but >rarely military bases, police stations, or shooting clubs. The reason for >this is because: > >A. The targets aren't sitting or kneeling. >B. VA benefits are lost if you shoot a soldier. >C. You can't enter an army base without bumper stickers. >D. Schools don't threaten felons with detention hall. >E. All of the above. > >5. Logic, reason, and common sense: > >A. Are irrelevant if they contradict your feelings. >B. Should not apply to firearms. >C. Defy opinion polls. >D. Pale beside hysteria, fear, and political ambition. >E. All of the above. > > >6. Every dictator always disarms his victims, before beginning to >annihilate freedom loving people. The reason for this is because: > >A. Guns commit crimes. >B. Guns cause accidents >C. Guns cause suicides >D. Making sure that her family is defenseless is the only way that a >mother can demonstrate love for her children >E. All of the [------------------------- end of forwarded message ------------------------] - -- - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- RKBA! ***** Blessings On Thee, Oh Israel! ***** RKBA! - ----------------+----------+--------------------------+--------------------- An _EFFECTIVE_ | Insured | All matter is vibration. | Let he who hath no weapon in every | by COLT; | -- Max Plank | weapon sell his hand = Freedom | DIAL | In the beginning was the | garment and buy a on every side! | 1911-A1. | word. -- The Bible | sword.--Jesus Christ - ----------------+----------+--------------------------+--------------------- Constitutional Government is dead, LONG LIVE THE CONSTITUTION!!!!! - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 31 Dec 00 08:38:21 PST From: roc@xpresso.seaslug.org (Bill Vance) Subject: {NewsUCanUse} VIN: Dec. 31 column (fwd) On Dec 30, Rich Martin wrote: [-------------------- text of forwarded message follows --------------------] FROM MOUNTAIN MEDIA THE LIBERTARIAN, By Vin Suprynowicz The Guild of Regulators is alarmed Predictably, those who distrust the discipline of the market (consumers simply stop patronizing shoddy products and unreliable firms), and instead demand massive government control of how businesses operate, are shocked -- shocked! -- to learn that president-elect Bush actually intends to move forward with a review of excessive or counterproductive federal rules. Never mind that Mr. Bush forthrightly campaigned on a platform which called for a review of such regulations, and the often absurd costs they impose on American businesses in relation to the consumer benefits (if any) derived. "We intend to submit regulations imposed during the previous administration to a strict and thorough review," says Juleanna Glover Weiss, a spokeswoman for Vice President-elect Dick Cheney, who's in charge of transition planning. "They will probably take a really harsh look at anything that happened in the last three months of the Clinton administration," predicts Joan Claybrook, who headed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration under President Carter and now works for Ralph Nader's Public Citizen. Well, good. The Constitution invests the law-making power solely in Congress. Yet President Clinton and his regulatory henchmen have followed - -- in many cases even outdone -- their predecessors in spinning vast entangling webs of new regulation (here in the West, even ruling huge swathes of land off limits for public use with a wave of the magic pen) without so much as telling Congress in advance, let alone submitting these ideas for their legislative debate and approval. In Texas, Gov. Bush managed to simplify regulations on industry, reform the practice of tort law, trim taxes, and generally treat businesses as if they were innocent till proven guilty. ... Surely nothing there we'd want to import to the nation's capital! These cries of alarm are largely cynical attempts to embolden the reactionary shock troops of the regulatory state, of course. By starting their ululations loud and shrill and early -- like geese rising up to their full height and flapping their wings and hissing aggressively -- they hope to frighten Mr. Bush's most timid or casual supporters from acting too boldly. In fact, Gov. Bush is far from the kind of radical anarchist or libertarian who's likely to shut down so many Washington bureaucracies that the trains will be running overtime, carrying newly unemployed bureaucrats and their steamer trunks home from Washington City (more's the pity.) But if the new administration takes a skeptical look at the costs and benefits of proposed workplace "ergonomics" regulations; so-called "affirmative action" racial hiring quotas for federal contractors; proposals to effectively ban popular new sport utility vehicles through Draconian new corporate average fuel-economy standards -- even the question of whether Americans should be "allowed" to install full-sized home toilet tanks -- such an application of common sense is long past due. Most significantly, it appears the Bush administration hopes to maintain the hands-off posture toward electronic commerce which was one of the best things Bill Clinton never did. Indications are that Mr. Bush hopes to refrain from attempting to tax this newest and fastest-growing new economic sector (it would be nearly impossible, anyway) -- and even to allow Americans to encrypt their private electronic correspondence as they see fit, without demanding that the FBI be given the electronic equivalent of the power to steam open every letter in the U.S. mail. Mr. Bush and his appointees should resist the screeching of this tiny special-interest chorus, and get on with the commonsense agenda endorsed last month by the residents of 30 states. It's a modest enough agenda -- actually, hosing out every bureaucratic ant farm not authorized by the Constitution would be more in keeping with the oath of office Mr. Bush proposes to take on Jan. 20. And wouldn't it be a shame if these protesters -- having driven themselves hoarse shouting their objections to the very modest plans of Messrs. Bush and Cheney -- were to find themselves beset with laryngitis by the time someone finally gets around to proposing that? Vin Suprynowicz is assistant editorial page editor of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, and editor of Financial Privacy Report (952-895-8757.) His book, "Send in the Waco Killers: Essays on the Freedom Movement, 1993-1998," is available by dialing 1-800-244-2224; or via web site http://www.thespiritof76.com/wacokillers.html. *** Vin Suprynowicz, vin@lvrj.com "When great changes occur in history, when great principles are involved, as a rule the majority are wrong. The minority are right." -- Eugene V. Debs (1855-1926) "The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed -- and thus clamorous to be led to safety -- by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary." -- H.L. Mencken * * * To subscribe, send a message to vinsends-request@ezlink.com, from your NEW address, including the word "subscribe" (with no quotation marks) in the "Subject" line. All I ask of electronic subscribers is that they not RE-forward my columns until on or after the embargo date which appears at the top of each, and that (should they then choose to do so) they copy the columns in their entirety, preserving the original attribution. The Vinsends list is maintained by Alan Wendt in Colorado, who may be reached directly at alan@ezlink.com. The web sites for the Suprynowicz column are at http://www.infomagic.com/liberty/vinyard.htm, and http://www.nguworld.com/vindex. The Vinyard is maintained by Michael Voth in Flagstaff, who may be reached directly at mvoth@infomagic.com. [------------------------- end of forwarded message ------------------------] - -- - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- RKBA! ***** Blessings On Thee, Oh Israel! ***** RKBA! - ----------------+----------+--------------------------+--------------------- An _EFFECTIVE_ | Insured | All matter is vibration. | Let he who hath no weapon in every | by COLT; | -- Max Plank | weapon sell his hand = Freedom | DIAL | In the beginning was the | garment and buy a on every side! | 1911-A1. | word. -- The Bible | sword.--Jesus Christ - ----------------+----------+--------------------------+--------------------- Constitutional Government is dead, LONG LIVE THE CONSTITUTION!!!!! - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 1 Jan 01 00:59:17 PST From: roc@xpresso.seaslug.org (Bill Vance) Subject: FCC Public File Auto-FAQ This "FAQ" is auto-posted once a month via cron triggered script, and may be triggered off by hand from time to time in between if the info is requested by someone, such as when the House recently voted down the AW Ban and the Media threw a hissy fit. The purpose of this FAQ is to inform people what they can do about Media generated lies and misinformation. While the FCC only handles Broadcast Media, (TV and Radio), some of these techniques will work for magazines and newspapers too. If I've missed something, or you find errors, let me know and I'll add/fix it. 1.a. Send letters of complaint to the Station Manager every time it happens with all the time, details, other info, and your complaint(s). 1.b. Send an additional copy for their FCC (Federal Communications Commission) Public file. 1.c. Send an additional copy to the FCC itself, in case they don't put it in their Public file. 2.a. Send a letter of complaint to their Station Owner as per above, with copies as per above (1.b and 1.c). 3. Send copies of their replies to you along with yours to them to their FCC Public file, so that it gets nice and fat, again, with copies to the FCC itself. 4. If you can afford it, send all corespondence by Certified Mail with Return Receipt Requested. Send a copy of the Return Receipt with everything that goes to the FCC itself, so that they will have additional evidence if the Station is cheating on their Public File. 5.a. Go to the Public Library and look up "Standard Rate and Data Services" (SRDS) "Directory of National Advertisers." It is found in many major Libraries (in the business/reference stacks), and lists EVERY current advertiser, who the players are at both the company and advertising agency(s), and the appropriate telephone and fax (and probably E-Mail by now) addresses. If your Library doesn't have it, it can be requested. Otherwise you can watch their commercials for a few days to a week, listing all their advertisers. There are other references that have the addresses for the nation's business headquarters too. look them all up and pass the addresses and phone/FAX numbers etc., around so that everyone can bitch to the sponsors. IF enough people do that, it'll get back to the Station. Tell them if the Station continues their nastiness you'll _consider_ changing to brand(X), (otherwise they'll just write you off as a loss). 5.b. The above, (5.a.), can be a lot easier and less time consuming if you're dealing with a newspaper's or a magazine's ads, as they are right in front of you for the listing. 6. If they put on something good or even just more reasonable, call and compliment them on it, but do _not_ send any kudos to their FCC file, or write to them about it. That way they have to keep it up and hope, as there is nothing good in the file or in writing that they can show the FCC to justify their Station's License. 7. Federal Communications Commission, Complaints and Compliance Division Room 6218, 2025 M Street NW Washington, D.C. 20554 FAX: 202-653-9659 FCC Attn: Edythe Wise - -- An _EFFECTIVE_ | The _only_important_difference_ between Nazi-ism, Fascism, weapon in every | Communism, Communitarianism, Socialism and (Neo-)Liberalism hand = Freedom | is the _spelling_, and that the last group hasn't got the on every side! | Collective brains to figure it out. -- Bill Vance - - ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 01 Jan 2001 09:48:08 -0600 From: larry ball Subject: RKBA Is Further Demonized About.COM's most recent newsletter has an article concerning workplace violence. A list of warning signs from a Satore Township was included. I have copied it below. Take a look, you guess it, a "fascination with weapons" is something that should concern all employees. Happy New Year Larry Ball lball@inetnebr.com Indicators for Managers In addition to the behavioral warning signs which are so often associated with a potentially violent employee, there are other indicators available to supervisors and managers. These indicators are oriented to a manager=92s view of employee behavior and may be more easily utilized than some of the specific behavioral warning signs discussed previously. An employee exhibiting these indicators is not necessarily an individual who is prone to violence; however, violence is always a possibility when these warning signs are evident. These indicators are typical of an employee in difficulty; they strongly suggest that some kind of immediate intervention is needed: 1. Excessive tardiness or absences. Beyond simply missing work, an employee may also reduce his or her workday by leaving early, departing the work site without authorization, or presenting numerous excuses for otherwise shortening the workday. This is a particularly significant indicator if it occurs in an individual who has been typically prompt and committed to a full work day. 2. Increased need for supervision. An employee typically requires less supervision as he or she becomes more proficient at their work. An employee who exhibits an increased need for supervision, or with whom the supervisor must spend an inordinate amount of time, may be an individual who is signaling a need for help. Managers should be alert to such a change and consider offering professional intervention if the situation so warrants. 3. Reduced productivity. If a previously efficient and productive employee experiences a sudden or sustained drop in performance, there is reason for concern. This is a classic warning sign of dissatisfaction and the manager should meet with the employee to determine a mutually beneficial course of action. 4. Inconsistency. As in the case of reduced productivity, an employee exhibiting inconsistent work habits may be in need of intervention. Employees are typically quite consistent in their work habits and, should this change, the manager has reason to suspect the individual is in need of assistance. 5. Strained workplace relationships. Many of the classic behavioral warning signs may be identified under this category. Should a worker begin to display disruptive behavior in the workplace it is imperative that the manager intervene as quickly as possible to diffuse a potentially violent situation. This indicator should be taken quite seriously. A worker who exhibits disruptive behavior is in need of immediate counseling and, if appropriate, professional employee assistance. 6. Inability to concentrate. This may indicate a worker who is distracted and in trouble. Employee counseling is indicated. 7. Violation of safety procedures. This behavior may be due to carelessness, insufficient training or stress. If an employee who has traditionally adhered to safety procedures is suddenly involved in accidents or safety violations, stress may be indicated. This may be a serious situation which requires the intervention of professional employee assistance personnel. Stress is a significant contributor to workplace violence; it is of sufficient magnitude that the topic has been given special attention elsewhere in this study. 8. Changes in health or hygiene. An employee who suddenly disregards personal health or grooming may be signaling for help. 9. Unusual behavior. As mentioned previously, a sustained change in behavior is often an indication of an employee in difficulty. Common sense is the best judge of this issue. Workers are typically quite familiar with the personalities of their peers and are often quick to notice significant changes. The work environment should be managed in such a way as to ensure trust and open communication so that workers undergoing a difficult period may be offered prompt assistance. 10. Fascination with weapons. This is a classic behavioral warning sign that should be easily recognized by coworkers and managers. 11. Substance abuse. This is such a prevalent problem in the American workplace that it has been given separate consideration in this study. It is important that every organization have some methodology in place to identify and assist an employee who has become the victim of drug or alcohol abuse. 12. Stress. As discussed elsewhere in this study, stress is a serious and widespread problem in the workplace. As with substance abuse, an organization should have procedures in place to identify workers who are victims of stress and provide an effective intervention program. The implementation of stress mitigation and personal wellness programs should also be considered by employers. 13. Excuses and blaming. This is a classic behavioral warning sign that is often easy to identify but just as often ignored by managers. A worker who engages in this behavior is often signaling for assistance, requires counseling and, possibly, professional intervention. 14. Depression. Depression is a common ailment in America but not all individuals suffering from depression are prone to violence. If, however, the depression is evident for a sustained period of time, professional intervention is recommended because a violent outcome is always a possibility. Many of these indicators for managers are alternative ways of interpreting the key behavioral warning signs associated with potential violence. They are almost always warning signs of an employee who requires help. An astute manager will often be quite aware of these indicators through experience and instinct. These tools--experience and instinct--are valuable components of good management and should never be ignored. Any employee who exhibits one or more of these indicators must be assumed to be in need of assistance or intervention. Managers must be alert to these indirect pleas for help and provide a positive, timely response to ensure a safe and secure work environment. New Arenas for Violence is now available from the Greenwood Publishing Group. This is a definitive study of workplace violence that includes causal factors, intervention, prevention, and case studies of the issue. Read the synopsis. (ISBN 0-275-9 5652-0) - - ------------------------------ End of roc-digest V2 #412 *************************