The Good Wife v. The Bad Congress

by Walter Brasch

      For almost a year, the people of the critically-acclaimed and popular CBS drama, “The Good Wife,” kept a secret, one so powerful that viewers were shocked by the abruptness of what happened on screen, March 23.

      Will Gardner (portrayed by Josh Charles), one of the major characters, was killed by his client during murder trial. Within seconds, even before the show’s conclusion, viewers were texting and tweeting, shocked and confused and angry and upset and sad, all at the same time. There was no hint in the entertainment media that Will would be killed off.

An Injunction Against the First Amendment

by Walter Brasch

Vera Scroggins of Susquehanna County, Pa., will be in court, Monday morning.

      This time, she will have lawyers and hundreds of thousands of supporters throughout the country. Representing Scroggins to vacate an injunction limiting her travel will be lawyers from the ACLU and Public Citizen, and a private attorney.

      The last time Scroggins appeared in the Common Pleas Court in October, she didn’t have lawyers. That’s because Judge Kenneth W. Seamans refused to grant her a continuance.

      When she was served papers to appear in court, it was a Friday. On Monday, she faced four lawyers representing Cabot Oil and Gas Corp., one of the nation’s largest drillers. Seamans told the 63-year-old grandmother and retired nurse’s aide that to grant a continuance would inconvenience three of Cabot’s lawyers who came from Pittsburgh, more than 250 miles away. He also told her she might have to pay travel and other costs for the lawyers if she was successful in getting a continuance.

Lettuce Look at Some Prices

 by Walter Brasch

      I was resting at home when Marshbaum called to ask if I wanted to go with him to look at the lettuce.

      “The supermarket’s got lettuce for less than two bucks a head,” he said enthusiastically.

      “What’s so unusual about that?”

      “Because it’s going to be extinct in a few weeks.”

      “You’re buying up lettuce and selling it on eBay as antiques?” I sarcastically asked.

      “Don’t be ridiculous! I’m buying the best heads, storing them, and selling them for four bucks in a couple of months.”

      “What makes you think anyone would pay four bucks a head when they can get them now for less than two bucks?”

Disposable Assets in the Fracking Industry

by Walter Brasch

     The oil and gas industry, the nation’s chambers of commerce, and politicians who are dependent upon campaign contributions from the industry and the chambers, claim fracking is safe.

    First, close your mind to the myriad scientific studies that show the health effects from fracking.

    Close your mind to the well-documented evidence of the environmental impact.

    Focus just upon the effects upon the workers.

    The oil and gas industry has a fatality rate seven times higher than for all other workers, according to data released by the Centers for Disease Control. (CDC). According to the CDC, the death rate in the oil and gas industry is 27.1; the U.S. collective death rate is 3.8.

No Merit Badge for This Scout

by Walter Brasch

      Rex W. Tillerson, a resident of Bartonville, Texas, like many of his neighbors was upset with his city council. That’s not unusual. Many residents get upset at their local governing boards. And so they went to a city council meeting to express their concerns that the council was about to award a construction permit.