November 30, 2013 at 12:50 P.M. I am sitting at computer number #9, Morningside Heights branch of the New York Public Library. The letters and all graphics have been altered to a massive size which makes writing the essay that appears below very difficult. I cannot say whether I will have to deal with this computer crime at other computers. I hope not. Clearly, New Jersey officials are still experiencing difficulties with the idea of freedom of expression or when it comes to accepting ANY limits on corruption. Worse, federal and New York authorities seem incapable of controlling the situation. Threats should be directed at me, not my loved-ones. ("How censorship works in America.")
Ron Wyden, Mark Udall, and Martin Heinrich, "End the N.S.A. Dragnet, Now," (Op-Ed) The New York Times, November 26, 2013, p. A25. (Americans are finally waking up to the imminent threat to privacy and freedom of expression from flagrant violations of their civil rights indulged in by N.S.A. operatives.)
"A Glimmer of Sense On Guantanamo," (Editorial) The New York Times, November 26, 2013, p. A24. (If the President of the United States is unable to close America's notorious concentration camp at Guantanamo, Cuba, then who has the power to do so? Mr. Boehner? Mr. Klapper? Mitt Romney? Mr. Netanyahu, perhaps?)
"New Jersey Goes All In, Online," (Editorial) The New York Times, November 26, 2013, p. A24.
New Jersey's ugly history of mafia involvement in courts and police activity as well as prosecutors' offices is fueled by vast sums of money to be made in the state's rich gambling industry and related (even supportive) fields that cater to the "luxury needs and comforts" of big-time gamblers: prostitution -- child-prostitution included! -- drugs, and other illicit activities. ("Mafia Involvement in New Jersey Courts and Politics" and "New Jersey Welcomes Child Molesters!")
Until recently, at least publicly, it was recognized even by New Jersey's corrupt politicians that the gaming industry -- while lucrative in terms of generating revenues for the state's coffers that might conveniently "disappear" into the pockets of politicians -- brought many evils to the shining city on a hill that New Jersey has become for one and all.
For one thing, gamblers tend to become addicted. Families may be destroyed, businesses driven into the ground, crimes are often committed by desperate gamblers.
It is the responsibility of public officials to assist in controlling social evils rather than creating conditions that will make such evils thrive as unavoidable side effects of policies enriching the mafia -- the mafia, clearly, runs the Garden State.
Not having gambled in Atlantic City -- nor anywhere else for that matter -- this is not an affliction that I can fully appreciate or judge. Nevertheless, it is quite real. I have seen many lives destroyed by gambling and gamblers. ("Cement is Gold" and "Law and Ethics in the Soprano State" then "Ken Zisa Still Stealing by Fraud.")
Knowing this tendency to addiction in gamblers and N.J.'s association with legal corruption, as well as the obvious entanglement of the gaming industry with organized crime for decades in America's "Soprano State," Mr. Christie -- as U.S. Attorney -- was cautious about endorsing expansion of the gambling industry to "online" and/or "offshore" enterprises. These terms usually refer to mafia fronts.
"Internet gambling goes live in New Jersey on Tuesday. It's the biggest expansion of the casino business in the state since the 1970s. For gamblers with addiction problems, the process of tapping a paycheck and maxing out a credit card has just become infinitely easier."
Also easier will be physical assaults on women and children by men in the throes of this addiction, more crime resulting from desperate efforts to find money to pay casinos and other assorted "lenders," more mob guys "connected" to the likes of Bob Menendez and Richard J. Codey, or Stuart Rabner, and many of the state's other tainted judges who are often drawn from the mafia's criminal ranks. ("Does Senator Menendez have mafia friends?" and "Stuart Rabner and Conduct Unbecoming to the Judiciary in New Jersey" then "More Mafia Arrests in New Jersey and Anne Milgram is Clueless.")
More "clueless" is Mr. Christie, it seems, who in the best tradition of high Greek tragedy, has discovered his tragic flaw in ambition. Ambition allows Mr. Christie to "look the other way" when great crimes are committed -- including computer crime today aimed at silencing me -- in order to please "paying constituents" whose support will be needed in a forthcoming presidential run. ("You Gotta Pay to Play!")
Crusading corruption busting is all well and good, but it will not finance a national presidential campaign. How much in "contributions" have you received already, Mr. Christie? Is there a danger that you will sell the one aspect of your public persona that voters respect for thirty pieces of silver? If you were elected to the presidency, Mr. Christie, the temptations would only become greater. Would you remain "incorruptible," Governor Christie, if you became President Christie? ("De Blasio and Christie.")
"Gov. Chris Christie, who signed the legalization bill in February, used to worry [emphasis added!] about all this. 'I'm also really concerned about setting up a whole new generation of addicted gamblers,' he said on a radio show in January. 'If you can sit on the edge of your bed with your laptop and gamble away the paycheck, that's a lot different than making the decision to go down to Atlantic City to gamble in a casino.' ..."
When money talks it seems that legal ethics and the governor's integrity walks. ("Christie Attacks New Jersey's Corrupt Judges.")
All of this is distressingly reminiscent of Bob Menendez's recent adventures. ("Bribery in Union City, New Jersey" and "Is Menendez For Sale?" then "Senator Bob, the Babe, and the Big Bucks" and "Menendez Consorts With Underage Prostitutes.")
In a state that symbolizes corruption and disgustingly failed courts, a further temptation to sin is hardly necessary, nor are the increased inducements to bribery of the FEW officials in the legislature and attorney general's office responsible for (please feel free to laugh) "regulating" the gaming industry. ("New Jersey's Feces-Covered Supreme Court" and "New Jersey's Legal System is a Whore House" then "New Jersey is Lucky Luciano's Havana" and "Is Union City, New Jersey Meyer Lansky's Whore House?")
The residency or presence requirement in New Jersey for gamblers is easy to fake. Expect further organized crime activity and corruption, more indicted judges and prosecutors, more lies, cover-ups, silence and stone-walling from Trenton.
I will continue to write.
