Category: government

The Rooster Bar by Grisham

On By Rick McIn books, economics, education, ethics, governmentLeave a comment

Rooster Bar (2017) is the 25th legal thriller novel by John Grisham.

Grisham was inspired to create the story after reading an article entitled “The Law-School Scam” that appeared in The Atlantic magazine in 2014. …

I continue to be impressed with Grisham. He’s getting better as an author.

This entertaining and unpredictable plot touches on many current topics including:

  • Law School diploma mills
  • American student debt
  • Medical malpractice
  • U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
  • Corruption in Sengal

In the novel the fictional law school is based on REAL for profits like the Florida Coastal School of Law, part of the InfiLaw System of law schools owned by Sterling Partners.

Florida Coastal is ranked in the bottom 25% of U.S. law schools. About 35% of graduates — most with student debt of about $200k — found full-time long-term jobs practicing law within nine months of graduation.

Students should be very wary of signing on with InfiLaw.

Amazon

related – “The Law-School Scam,” by Paul Campos

Gray Mountain by John Grisham (2015)

On By Rick McIn books, ethics, governmentLeave a comment

Another excellent Grisham.

This time a female protagonist – Samantha Kofer.

She’s a young lawyer let go by the world’s largest legal firm in New York because of the 2008 Recession. The one on George Bush’s watch. The one caused by lack of government banking regulation.

Samantha is furloughed. She can keep her health benefits and legacy at the firm for a year if she does charity legal work.

She relocates to the rural Appalachia Mountains in Virginia. A slowly dying coal town.

Most of the book deals with a battle against strip-coal mining lawyers. I found it fascinating.

The book is titled Gray Mountain, one of those that’s been decimated by strip mining.

There are other clients. All too poor to be able to hire a private lawyer. Case studies.

Amazon

Some found it preachy. It is.

Some found it too slow moving. I’d disagree. It kept me going.

Some critics I’m sure never read the book. They are some sort of Trump / Coal advocates. Lashing out.

No sympathy for Trump supporters

On By Rick McIn economics, ethics, governmentLeave a comment

Here’s another article telling me I should be recognizing and caring about this Trump supporter as a human being.

But I don’t. He’s wrong. He’s unethical and immoral. If this farmer goes bankrupt due to Trump’s stupid trade war with China, he deserves it.

The same person votes against the social safety network he might one day need. You can’t fix stupid.

Trudeau lost the confidence of many Canadians

On By Rick McIn governmentLeave a comment

I like Trudeau. He’s fantastic compared against the egomaniac psychopath toddler President.

But somehow he’s managed to lose a lot of supporters. In a short time.

Trudeau still might win the next election. Scheer, his Conservative opponent, is a terrible alternative.

why are TAXES so complicated?

On By Rick McIn economics, governmentLeave a comment

Rich people and corporations pay accountants to find every loophole. That’s why Amazon reported $11 billion of U.S. income yet claimed a federal income tax rebate of $129 million.

Complicated systems benefit the rich, make those of us who don’t hire accountants pay.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

That’s in the USA.

For my low income and simple return, I’ve never been upsold by online software. I use SimpleTax Canada and have been very happy.

related – Elizabeth Warren has a great idea for making Tax Day less painful
You shouldn’t have to file your taxes. The government should do it for you.

Why I’m outspoken about Trump

On By Rick McIn ethics, governmentLeave a comment

It’s called ethical action.

If you don’t take action against things you think are wrong, you are partly responsible. You’re an enabler of wrong.

Happily I have no employer or anyone else pressuring me to stay quiet.

HOW Democrats can beat Trump

On By Rick McIn governmentLeave a comment

There are a confusingly large number of candidates running to win the Democratic nomination.

I like YANG best so far, but he’s not got a good chance this time around.

No matter who ends up on top, ALL other candidates should immediately rally behind the winner. Ask their supporters to work together.

This is one thing Hillary bungled last time.

Bernie was first to sign the pledge.

World Book Day – April 23

On By Rick McIn books, education, governmentLeave a comment

It’s World Book Day. An event organized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

I bought a book on Audible.com recommended by my author brother.

related – Ford government cuts Ontario Library Service budgets in half

Boomtown Rats – I Don’t Like Mondays

On By Rick McIn ethics, government, musicLeave a comment

A song inspired by a 1979 school shooting in San Diego. ☹️

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Though the family was very poor, the killer’s father — Wallace — had given his daughter a Ruger 10/22 semi-automatic .22 caliber rifle with a telescopic sight and 500 rounds of ammunition for Christmas 1978.

She later said, “I asked for a radio and he bought me a gun.” When asked why he might have done that, she answered, “I felt like he wanted me to kill myself.”

The killer will die in prison.

The father, I assume, is free. If it were up to me, I’d put him in prison too.

… on male privilege

On By Rick McIn ethics, government, humour, musicLeave a comment

I doubt any human has had life easier than me — a white, male, heterosexual Canadian born 1957.

Talk about privilege.

Any man calling himself victim to the women’s rights movement is an idiot. And a snowflake. 😀

Click PLAY or watch it on Facebook.