First Blog

  • Crime control is impossible without police presence. • Police presence is impossible without public support. • Public support is impossible without capable public leadership. The weakest link in this equation resides with the quality of leadership. Weak leadership implies rampant crime. Weak leadership implies poor police presence. Weak leadership implies an unsafe public. Weak leadership destroys families, tribes, towns, cities, and countries.

The scale of crime and punishment.   This is a timeless hierarchy, sweeping across human history. When the citizen parks illegally, there is a punishment appropriate.  When the small time street crook is caught for stealing a few bucks and is caught, punishment appropriate is administered.  (The police are here) When the corporate embezzler steals thousands and is caught, punishment appropriate is administered. (The district attorney is here.) The ancient Code of Hammurabi ends here. When the CEO of a "cannot fail company" errors costing billions to investors is caught, there seems to be little punishment, aside from possibly losing their position. (Politicians are here - sometimes.) When the high level administrator of a nation agency errors costing lives and trillions in treasure is exposed, who is punished?  In many cases there can be an increase in their level of admiration. (Who is here? Who is complaining? Who is punished, except for the public?)

With the arrest of a man for quadruple homicides in Washington DC this week, having been found first by his DNA signature leading to a name,and then tracking his cell phone traffic*, we are confronted with the issue of whether all citizens should have on file a DNA record.  One's DNA signature is absolutely unique. Of course, when there is an issue, there is a controversy.  Should we or shouldn't we have such records?  The one group claims individual rights while the other claims the greater good.  Samo, samo. In this note we argue in favor of DNA typing.  Here are some reasons. a. Clearly when a perp leaves DNA floating about, he/she becomes more easily identifiable.  Just as in the early days of finger printing.  Now no self-respecting perp leaves those about anymore.  b. Having a DNA signature will allow medical researchers in the decades ahead to make dramatic correlations between the DNA and various diseases and other medical conditions.  This could lead to remarkab