tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17737034443310421882024-02-21T10:14:32.792-08:00RethboAdam B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13635630634832831355noreply@blogger.comBlogger59125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1773703444331042188.post-82983717209643692032019-02-23T17:33:00.000-08:002019-09-06T21:00:05.680-07:00Comparing the Top 3 Audio Outlines Companies<h3>
Audio outlines—an awesome study strategy</h3>
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Put down the eye drops. Get off your rear. Embrace the freedom to study anytime, anywhere. All you need is an ear. Audio outlines help you mitigate exam anxiety and juggle the challenges that life and law school throw at you.<br />
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Here's a side-by-side comparison of the three main audio outlines companies:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkje71jJDwGaLTrACxU2rL2WsRwTczponYiZ5djy8ErlYvtgmlFkbcrEj5qrYPGUHI9Wp4vhbzbTGrptDqNAYBtknvXk6eKtb-RbgTGc4Pjj4D0T0ZUkWyWKu6BXc0zBKYmSkhGZ1SyisJ/s1600/Best+Audio+Outlines+-+Comparison.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="959" data-original-width="839" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkje71jJDwGaLTrACxU2rL2WsRwTczponYiZ5djy8ErlYvtgmlFkbcrEj5qrYPGUHI9Wp4vhbzbTGrptDqNAYBtknvXk6eKtb-RbgTGc4Pjj4D0T0ZUkWyWKu6BXc0zBKYmSkhGZ1SyisJ/s640/Best+Audio+Outlines+-+Comparison.jpg" width="558" /></a></div>
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<strong>First, look at the stars</strong>. AudioLearn lags behind with an average 3.8-star rating. AudioOutlines maintains a more impressive 4.5-star average. But <a href="https://crushendo.com/">Crushendo</a> has a <em>flawless, 5-star rating</em>.<br />
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<strong>Second, look at the fans</strong>. Though newer than both AudioOutlines and AudioLearn, Crushendo has nearly four times the Facebook likes of AudioOutlines and AudioLearn combined. Popularity doesn't mean everything but it says something.<br />
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<em><a href="https://www.facebook.com/mycrushendo/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">>> Find Crushendo on Facebook <<</a></em></div>
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<strong>Now, let's talk efficiency</strong>. Everyone knows it's harder to be concise than verbose. Distilling doctrine to its critical parts is not for the faint of heart. While AudioOutlines and AudioLearn take somewhere between three and four hours on average to cover a given subject, Crushendo does it in just an hour.<br />
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<strong>What about subjects? </strong>Crushendo wins again, covering all subjects tested on the Uniform Bar Exam (UBE). AudioOutlines misses several, including keystones like civil procedure and evidence. AudioLearn omits secured transactions.<br />
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<strong>Despite all that, innovation may be the greatest differentiator</strong>. Crushendo offers audio flashcards (affectionately dubbed "CrammerTime"), hundreds of proprietary mnemonics (a.k.a, memory hacks), and even optional classical background music.<br />
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<strong>That all must mean Crushendo is crazy expensive, right? </strong>True, one thing the comparison chart doesn't show you is cost. AudioOutlines and AudioLearn both sit in the same ballpark ($20 to $30 per audio outline). Crushendo comes in a touch higher with $37 per audio outline. That said, Crushendo always <em>includes</em> written outlines and visual flashcards to complement your audio.<br />
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<em><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FQsm6IHZgU" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Still not convinced?</a></em></div>
Adam B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13635630634832831355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1773703444331042188.post-33987259669245645582018-09-28T14:13:00.000-07:002018-09-28T17:12:25.302-07:00Why Kavanaugh Should Not Sit on the Supreme Court<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhORjQc6R0_FMVbLo5kwsfOzFkuwFDWDOnUmrKvppTKtotaeUBAsj7vNdLWK5BLcmVfM7OAEbqNcfRC1lHxJECpk7jEVMskRNPOyYBmZCjXiU7-HD4MieZNi_vhuuxieS3PMNLz48RdBlb0/s1600/433px-Judge_Brett_Kavanaugh.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="599" data-original-width="433" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhORjQc6R0_FMVbLo5kwsfOzFkuwFDWDOnUmrKvppTKtotaeUBAsj7vNdLWK5BLcmVfM7OAEbqNcfRC1lHxJECpk7jEVMskRNPOyYBmZCjXiU7-HD4MieZNi_vhuuxieS3PMNLz48RdBlb0/s400/433px-Judge_Brett_Kavanaugh.jpg" width="288" /></a></div>
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Last night, I watched substantial portions of the Kavanaugh hearing with my eight-year-old son. I didn't plan it that way. Not our typical father-son bonding session. But I was watching everything on my phone in my room when he wandered in, full of curiosity. He first heard Ford's testimony. We had to pause it a few times, so I could explain some terminology that he hasn't had to worry about before. Thankfully, he's mature beyond his years and what followed was a meaningful discussion.</div>
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<h3>
Through the eyes of an eight-year-old</h3>
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After hearing from Ford. I asked him if he thought she was telling the truth. He quickly agreed. He said the tears gave it away.</div>
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Then I showed him portions of Kavanaugh's testimony. I asked him if he thought he was telling the truth. He thought so. But now he was less confident. Kavanaugh had tears, too. </div>
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Turns out, tears are not an unbroken trail to truth.</div>
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One possibility that we discussed is that they were both telling what they<i> thought </i>was true. Maybe she incorrectly thought <i>Kavanaugh </i>was her attacker when it was someone else. <i>Could she really be 100% sure?</i> Or, maybe Kavanaugh was too drunk to remember the attack. <i>Could he really be 100% sure?</i></div>
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Other possibilities involve more sinister characterizations of either Ford or Kavanaugh. Maybe we're too trusting, too slow to condemn, or just too naive, but my son and I both balked at such dark thoughts. </div>
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Our conversation came to no clear resolution. I had a meeting to go to and he had a trip to an indoor playground ahead of him. Not that any amount of discussion could have clearly resolved what exactly happened between Ford and Kavanaugh decades ago, at least based on the current evidence.</div>
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<h3>
Where I'm at</h3>
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Though our conversation ended last night, an internal dialogue has continued for me much to my to-do list's chagrin. Rather than stew endlessly, I decided to write my thoughts as a form of therapy.</div>
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I don't have it all sorted out, but I no longer believe Kavanaugh should become a justice on the Supreme Court. </div>
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Three reasons I want someone else</h3>
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<li>Though I've suspended judgment about whether he <i>actually</i> assaulted Ford, the fact that such an assault is <i>comfortably within the realm of possibility</i> is concerning. He drank <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/maryland-drinking-age-could-brett-kavanaugh-legally-drink-high-school-2018-9">too early</a> and he's admitted that he sometimes drank too much. He apparently lacked restraint at parties and did things that he says make him "cringe" now. His <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/24/business/brett-kavanaugh-yearbook-renate.html">high school yearbook</a> and college <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/what-tnc-secret-all-male-society-kavanaugh-joined-yale-1135214">fraternity memberships</a> suggest that he was possibly as obsessed with sex as he was with alcohol. Ford offered a compelling testimony that Kavanaugh got himself drunk and sexually assaulted her at a party. And she testified without anything to truly gain from the endeavor. Sure, Kavanaugh is a Republican and Ford is a Democrat who <a href="https://heavy.com/news/2018/09/christine-blasey-ford-democrat-bernie/">has given small</a> (very small, we're talking <i>double-digit</i> donations) to support her party in some way. But all she's <i>really</i> gained by coming forward is death threats, relived trauma, and what must feel like near-suffocating attention. </li>
<li>Even if Kavanaugh did not sexually assault Ford (or <i>anyone else</i>), he does not seem to have come to terms with what appears to be a major and lifelong drinking problem. The way <a href="https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2018/09/28/lynne-brookes-kavanaugh-classmate-cuomo-cpt-intv-vpx-bts.cnn">some former classmates at Yale responded</a> to his testimony yesterday gives cause for pause. </li>
<li>There are more credible candidates for the job. And candidates who would be less polarizing. Doubt and polarization are not what our country needs. I urge our President to nominate, and our Senate to vet, a candidate that our children can have confidence in. If you're a staunch Republican, cast aside any "now or never" vibe. If the mid-term election comes first, let it come. Even if that election paints more of the Senate blue. Maintaining the integrity of black robes is that important.</li>
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I fully recognize that reasonable minds can disagree with me on this. </div>
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So, let's talk reasonably if you see it another way.</div>
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Adam B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13635630634832831355noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1773703444331042188.post-49069263507833668252017-07-03T00:19:00.001-07:002017-07-04T10:53:47.105-07:00Why I didn't leave God, Christianity, and Mormonism<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">During Sunday School today, my teacher asked, “By a show of
hands, who has seen a close friend or family member leave the Church within the
past two years?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">Most hands shot up. A sobering sight. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">I’m not writing to discuss how I have personally seen
others’ faith appear to blossom or shrivel in recent years. I’m writing to
share my own story. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><b>A few years ago, I almost abandoned God, Christianity, and
the Mormon church. Here’s why I made the choice to hold on. </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">It all started my
second semester of law school. Winter. Cold and dark. The middle of an almost
suffocating inversion. If you've never been to Utah during the winter, just
imagine a haze so thick and air quality so poor that you can taste
it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">While my peers were studying
case law, I couldn't pull myself away from the internet. I fixated on my faith. I devoured everything I could find about Christianity and in particular, the Mormon church or The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Actually, that's only
half true. I devoured everything <i>negative</i> that I could find.
Searched far and wide, deep and dark. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">After several weeks, I asked
my Bishop if I could talk to him. He kindly obliged. I sat alone with him in
his office, door closed. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">"I don't know if
I'll be Mormon forever," I told him. In reality, I didn’t know if I could stay any flavor of Christian. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">I don't tell you this
to boast. A faith crisis is no badge of honor (nor should it be a badge of
shame). I share it because it happened. It is what it is. And maybe, just
maybe, sharing my story will benefit someone hanging by a thread over a chasm
of despair.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">Just how dark did it
get for me? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">I think I can describe
it best by twisting a <a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/3-ne/8?lang=eng">few passages</a> in
The Book of Mormon. The passages describe what happened in the Americas at the time
of Jesus Christ's crucifixion.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">Great and terrible
tempest. Terrible thunder, shaking my world as if it were about to divide
asunder. Sharp lightning, never before heard. Core beliefs aflame or sinking to
the depths of the sea. Smooth places became rough for me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">I tossed and turned. I
wept in the shower. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">I told my wife the
things that didn't seem to add up in my mind, the roads or connections between
truths that had become broken up. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">I told my wife everything. She wept too. But man,
she was a saint. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">She'd married me, in
part, because we shared the same core beliefs about God, Jesus, and the purpose
of life. There I was, on the verge of putting an ideological crater between us,
a crater she never bargained for or ever saw coming. Though heartbroken, she listened
as gentle as a lamb. She told me what she believed and why and then gave me the
emotional elbow room that I needed to sort things out. I didn't know much; almost everything was in flux. But I knew she loved me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">The member of the
stake presidency that came to visit me in our home was much like my wife. Kind
and thoughtful. I could feel that he genuinely cared about me and my family.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">Amid my doubts, I made
some effort to reach out to God in a way the internet couldn't offer. I read
scripture. I prayed. In fact, I probably prayed more earnestly than I ever had
before.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">I don't know that you
need to know the specific truths or untruths that consumed me as I waded through
the internet's dredges. I read a host of accounts from those who'd divorced
their faith. I saw a bit of myself in the stories I read. But only a bit.
Everyone's struggle seemed different. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">Yes, there was a
similar tone of bitterness, frustration, and even anger, at times, in many stories that I read. And yes, many seemed similar in that the individuals would
ultimately go their own lonely way, with at least an initial spring in their
step, rejoicing in a perception of newfound "freedom." <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">But one person would
trumpet a particular discovery, whether true or not, that she or he could not
reconcile with her or his faith. And another would trumpet another. No two shared the same set of concerns. No one shared my exact concerns.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">Some of the concerns I
read about were similar to concerns that I'd already had and felt that I'd reconciled. <i>How could someone leave over something like
that?</i> I wondered. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">This got me thinking, <i>how confident can I be that my own
concerns, though not yet reconciled for me, are not also reconcilable?</i> In
other words, I began to <a href="https://www.lds.org/media-library/images/quote-uchtdorf-1173300?lang=eng">doubt my doubts</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">And that, for me, was
the beginning.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">Over the last few
years, I've reflected almost daily on how I almost left and how grateful I am
that I stayed. What’s the most important lesson I learned from it all? I can
best explain by running with a metaphor first introduced to me by a humble Mormon
leader about a year ago.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #222222;">Parable of the Puzzle</span></b><span style="color: #222222;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">Imagine you're sitting
at a table, building a puzzle. The puzzle's pieces are both big and small, and
almost innumerable. You've been building this puzzle your entire life. Every
time a piece snaps into place, you feel some exhilaration. The puzzle is far
from finished, but from what you can make out, it's going to be
beautiful. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2znoJ9qav-crt672fglEVJX1tRhRfNqk8Z2yYmas_b-aPSv-vCCFSBw-FNPySO9IOcD6NW39Kw3AmUlSUG15-RJuoEvKgmuE4Rw95o0IYloJl2ma1M2qX4cbmgSkvpHtGSxkeWUnFYy7J/s1600/puzzle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="419" data-original-width="503" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2znoJ9qav-crt672fglEVJX1tRhRfNqk8Z2yYmas_b-aPSv-vCCFSBw-FNPySO9IOcD6NW39Kw3AmUlSUG15-RJuoEvKgmuE4Rw95o0IYloJl2ma1M2qX4cbmgSkvpHtGSxkeWUnFYy7J/s1600/puzzle.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">But then you see it. A
hole in the puzzle. There are other holes, of course, but for whatever reason,
this one captured your eye more than the others. <i>This is the piece I will
place next,</i> you say to yourself. So, you start digging. You scan the
pile, making sure every unplaced piece is right side up. You can't seem to find
the right shape. You look at the pieces surrounding the hole. None of the
pieces you're finding seem to be the correct colors. You look under the board,
under the table, under the chair. <i>Where is that piece? </i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">Your search becomes
frantic. Your hands tremble. You look at the puzzle box. <i>Maybe the
puzzle is broken. Maybe it has missing pieces. Curse the company that made this
puzzle!</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">You begin to question
all the other pieces you'd laid on the table. <i>Was any of this
right? </i>In frustration, you lift the legs on one side of the table and
just as you are about to flip the table and walk away, you see it. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">No, it wasn't the
piece you were looking for, but it's a nice piece and you can see where it
should go. You take the piece and place it. Suddenly, you see other pieces that
you can place, pieces that you'd ignored while you were obsessing over that one
hole. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">For the first time in
a long while, you step back and look at everything on the table. You still
can't make out the entire picture, but the canvas is coming to life. Somehow,
placing each piece not only fills the canvas, but also fills something inside
you. There's still a healthy heap of pieces to place. So, you decide to stay at the
table. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #222222;">My Missing
Pieces </span></b><span style="color: #222222;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">For a time, my
concerns, my holes, my gaps, were all I could see. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">I felt no gratitude
for the pieces already placed. God had already given me much. Countless
experiences feeling God's love. From testimony meetings to temples, early
morning seminary to late night prayer, quiet groves to mountain peaks. I dare
say I had even experienced miracles. But all of that had faded from view.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">I also felt no
appreciation for the other pieces that were ready for my placing. There were
principles, truths, that I'd been taught and understood, but had procrastinated
placing fully in my life. I wanted to demand that God give me something else.
Right then, right there. <i>Fill this gap and this one, or I'm gone. </i>I
ignored the other gaps God was already offering me the pieces for—pieces that I frankly should’ve felt more urgency to place. Pieces that could and would elevate
how I lived my life.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #222222;">Why Missing Pieces
Make Sense</span></b><span style="color: #222222;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #222222;">If you’re Mormon, you
may be able to recite the Articles of Faith. I memorized them growing up. But I
never paid too much attention to number nine, until that humble Mormon leader helped me
see it in a new light. </span><span style="color: #333333;">We shouldn’t shake every time we have questions about our faith,
even great and important questions, because “[w]e believe all that God has </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.01);">revealed</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.01);">, all that He does
now reveal, and we believe that He will yet </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.01);">reveal</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.01);"> many <b>great
and important</b> things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.</span>” <a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/pgp/a-of-f/1?lang=eng">Article of Faith 9</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">That means even if you were a perfect student of the scriptures
and you'd understood, remembered, and applied everything that every ancient
and modern prophet had ever revealed, you would still have great and important
questions. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">If you’re not Mormon, but share our Christian faith, you may remember
what Isaiah said about our limited understanding, “For my thoughts are not your
thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are
higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts
than your thoughts.” <a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/ot/isa/55.6-13?lang=eng#p5">Isaiah 55:8-9</a> (if you have a moment, click the link and read the <a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/ot/isa/55.6-13?lang=eng#p5">surrounding verses</a>; they're amazing).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">I certainly still have questions. Some of them are great and important
to me. But that doesn’t mean that I can’t enjoy peace. Indeed, the “peace of
God . . . passeth all understanding.” <a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/philip/4.7">Philippians 4:7</a>. </span></span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">As I’ve
tried to give a loving Heavenly Father the benefit of the doubt about which of
my gaps should be filled next and when, rather than force His hand, I have felt
peace beyond my understanding. </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">I no longer shudder at the thought of my questions. But I do
shudder at the thought that I almost gave up on God, Christianity, and
Mormonism because of them. </span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">God is good. Really, truly good. If your faith is teetering, hang on a little longer. More light will come.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: inherit;"><b>If you enjoyed this, you may also be interested in:</b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.rethbo.org/2014/01/mormon-temples-shouldnt-freak-you-out.html" style="text-decoration-line: none;">Regarding Mormon temples</a><br /><a href="http://www.rethbo.org/2013/08/31-favorite-mormon-talks.html" style="text-decoration-line: none;">31 Favorite Mormon talks</a><br /><a href="http://www.rethbo.org/2013/03/thoughts-on-gay-marriage.html" style="text-decoration-line: none;">Thoughts on gay marriage</a><br /><a href="http://www.rethbo.org/2015/10/lets-ponderize-not-scandalize.html" style="text-decoration-line: none;">Let's #ponderize not #scandalize</a><br /><a href="http://www.rethbo.org/2014/05/in-resurrection-they-neither-marry-nor.html" style="text-decoration-line: none;">Thoughts on marriage beyond the veil</a></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.rethbo.org/2013/07/some-mormons-search-web-and-find-faith.html">Some Mormons search the web and find faith</a></span></span></div>
Adam B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13635630634832831355noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1773703444331042188.post-6131083460918676362016-12-26T12:43:00.002-08:002016-12-26T12:55:57.206-08:00From Creative Commons Library to LiabilityI love copyright law, as ugly as it is.<br />
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<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="520" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fadambbalinski%2Fposts%2F1827316080873868&width=500" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" width="500"></iframe><br />
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My previous legal publication dealt with personal jurisdiction: <a href="http://digitalcommons.law.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3042&context=lawreview">Wonky Walden: The Dizzying New PersonalJurisdiction Rule</a>.Adam B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04638753430791876111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1773703444331042188.post-288856984174438382016-12-01T11:22:00.001-08:002017-05-07T01:59:40.402-07:00Introducing "Lifey" and "Lifey Health"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHxABHZZMtdiMuhutSDpqQ1uRZqjUom59P9UASyQbdwnYO96vJXQYwhw7T0ytbWZxdXSnGszcc3GFPagpduwAmYvo7OBSQnPy2hNPbDYY_pjgjf8um-TLlbWxL_UiwnlUZLbCcDZxI3VjY/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-12-01+at+12.20.15+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHxABHZZMtdiMuhutSDpqQ1uRZqjUom59P9UASyQbdwnYO96vJXQYwhw7T0ytbWZxdXSnGszcc3GFPagpduwAmYvo7OBSQnPy2hNPbDYY_pjgjf8um-TLlbWxL_UiwnlUZLbCcDZxI3VjY/s400/Screen+Shot+2016-12-01+at+12.20.15+PM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
This is a little different. I want to brag for a moment about my little brother, Alex, the founder of <a href="http://preparetoserve.com/">Prepare to Serve</a>. This post is completely uninvited and unreviewed by him, though he's sitting across the office from me as I type...<br />
<br />
Alex recently launched two major projects, both of which I fully believe in and I hope many people will soon learn about.<br />
<br />
The first project is called <a href="http://lifey.org/health/">Lifey Health</a>. It is a budding massive database of candid personal interviews and surveys of people suffering from chronic physical and mental illnesses across the spectrum. As I understand it, his goal is to get virtually every chronic illness represented in a way that fosters a sense of hope, perspective, and community for those recently diagnosed, as well as a machine to de-stigmatize physical and mental illnesses for the public at large. I admit bias, but to me, it's an inspired project, just like Prepare to Serve. He has interns assisting him and already has roughly 300 videos featuring people with personal experiences with illnesses of many kinds (and he only started in September!). To me, these projects are helping #LIGHTtheWORLD.<br />
<br />
The second project is to help people create free life histories through an efficient and innovative process at his studio. Yes, FREE. My little brother is CRAZY, but in all the good ways (except for the fatal flaw that he doesn't own a car... haha). The "Lifey" personal history process (life+selfie) is perfect for the older and often less tech-savvy. People can schedule a time to come in for three hours and talk about their lives, with the help of an outline and prompts. It only takes an hour for the browsable, embeddable, 4K "Lifey" to be prepared after that.<br />
<br />
Check out this 90-second explanation of that brand new personal history project! If you want to schedule a "Lifey" for yourself or someone you love, go to <a href="http://lifey.org/">lifey.org</a>. I imagine time slots will fill up quickly.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/f3GFMlG4V6w" width="560"></iframe>
Adam B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13635630634832831355noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1773703444331042188.post-91335988946173241312016-11-17T09:35:00.002-08:002017-05-07T01:58:10.196-07:00REVIEW | Mifold Booster Car Seat <span style="font-family: inherit;"><span data-offset-key="2n43d-0-0" style="color: #1d2129; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-text="true"><span style="background-color: white;">Some things to know before you buy the hottest new car seats for your kiddoes. Candid review of the <a href="https://www.mifold.com/">Mifold</a></span></span></span><span data-offset-key="2n43d-2-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-text="true"> Grab-and-Go Car Booster Seat by a father of three young kids who has used a fair number of car seats and booster seats in the past.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span data-offset-key="2n43d-2-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-text="true"><br /></span></span>
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4uB4UPrcvuw" width="560"></iframe></span><br />
Adam B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13635630634832831355noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1773703444331042188.post-17301063758673442542016-11-09T08:00:00.000-08:002016-11-09T08:31:17.973-08:00America's future is bright<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7wIQ6mB6NTHe2anTIRKCu-LJrPqDaL7B7H0yu3Xd-nUNdTXxQH2Z0MeeWuo04TH6FmovJZo4ejQBMa3CCUD07UcdABvwE7dxxh8jx232z9j2K7URxO2OysI2L5XGEBw0vUb6zlhL_975S/s1600/door-1781593_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7wIQ6mB6NTHe2anTIRKCu-LJrPqDaL7B7H0yu3Xd-nUNdTXxQH2Z0MeeWuo04TH6FmovJZo4ejQBMa3CCUD07UcdABvwE7dxxh8jx232z9j2K7URxO2OysI2L5XGEBw0vUb6zlhL_975S/s200/door-1781593_640.jpg" width="131" /></a></div>
Like many, the last 24 hours for me have been intense. I have been among the most stubborn ranks of the #nevertrump crowd. I put my all into doing everything I thought I could to keep Donald Trump from being elected. And yet, Donald Trump will be the 45th president of the United States of America.<br />
<br />
I have said it before, but I'll say it again: I believe so strongly in the American people that I believe we can stand united, even in the face of sometimes disappointing and even divisive leadership. America is, and can always be, as great as We the People make it. And today, from my vantage point, we are making America a light on a hill.<br />
<br />
My Facebook feed has become flooded with inspired messages of hope, peace, and love from people from all walks of life and political leanings.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIOqgKUotDgKL07v9h6zTHSBPfgwG5klbo86ZSPkn9uvvd61IwGSOD61snPfL72roNGwu1P-JmT8Gz3m0UaQjIDpZ4_Ji1QCcxz23sfhYOucLj5YDNzKY__ZXc2Ruu6wpcytIu__PoE4E7/s1600/America%2527s+Future+is+Bright.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="337" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIOqgKUotDgKL07v9h6zTHSBPfgwG5klbo86ZSPkn9uvvd61IwGSOD61snPfL72roNGwu1P-JmT8Gz3m0UaQjIDpZ4_Ji1QCcxz23sfhYOucLj5YDNzKY__ZXc2Ruu6wpcytIu__PoE4E7/s640/America%2527s+Future+is+Bright.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I am beyond grateful to live in a country where I am surrounded by such amazing people. America is <i>already</i> great. And, We the People are making it better every day. God bless America!<br />
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<br />Adam B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13635630634832831355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1773703444331042188.post-9366459018381044962016-11-07T09:22:00.001-08:002016-11-09T10:23:49.756-08:00Official Evan McMullin Endorsement | Third Party Debates Founder<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
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Dear Supporters:</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Since I launched <a href="https://www.change.org/p/nbc-third-party-debates-2016">my petition</a> a couple months ago, nearly twenty thousand people have
signed. Thank you for your support. Your active and civil engagement
this election has been inspiring.
</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I fully recognize
that we came together from diverse backgrounds. Some of us came as strong
supporters of a particular third party candidate, others came
undecided. None of us were willing to settle with the binary choice
thrust upon us by the two major political parties.
</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
My personal
experience this election has involved a growing dissatisfaction with
Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. For reasons not worth rehashing
here, I simply cannot trust either candidate. That said, I am praying
for a peaceful transition after tomorrow. I will try to see the best
in whomever we elect president. Even if turns out to be Donald
Trump. Even if it turns out to be Hillary Clinton. I will condemn
none for voting differently from how I voted. We can agree to
disagree. The freedoms of speech and conscience are sacred; <i>they</i> make
America great.
</div>
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<br /></div>
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I find myself in an
interesting position. Through some twist of fate, you all have shown
me a significant degree of trust by signing my petition and giving me
the opportunity to reach you. I am humbled by this. I have debated
long and hard about whether it would be appropriate for me to use
this unique opportunity to attempt to unite us behind the individual
that I believe to be the best third party presidential candidate for
our country at this particular time. I have decided that while we may
not agree on all things politically and we may ultimately vote
differently from one another this election regardless of
endorsements, I know that my personal freedom of speech is safe with
you. So, I am going to use it. I encourage you to do the same in the
comments on my blog post or on our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/3rdpartydebates/?fref=ts">Third Party Debates Facebook page</a>
and, of course, anywhere and everywhere else you deem appropriate. I
also specifically invite Jedi Knight (yes, that is his actual name),
who has helped me as co-admin of the Third Party Debates Facebook
page, to share his own official endorsement of the candidate that he
has decided upon because he has chosen to support a different
candidate than I have. Do I look down upon him? Do I consider myself
his moral or intellectual superior? Of course not! I love him to
death and I fully respect his freedom to make his own voice heard.
</div>
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It is with that
lengthy introduction that I announce my official endorsement of Evan
McMullin and his running mate, Mindy Finn. Before August, I was
leaning towards Gary Johnson. His track record of reigning in budgets
and his pledge to shrink big government appeal to me. However, I
don't see eye to eye with him on other issues. Still, he appeared to
be a better option than Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
But then, Evan
McMullin suddenly burst into the picture. I have followed Evan
McMullin with deep interest since his announcement early August. This
video attempts to recap some of what I have witnessed over the past
few months. To me, Evan McMullin's momentum has been nothing short of
miraculous, especially in light of the fact that his campaign has
only had a fraction of the funding and time of all other campaigns.
To me, this kind of momentum in spite of the odds, is the mark of a
true leader. A leader who inspires.<br />
<br /></div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="315" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fadambbalinski%2Fvideos%2F1801032186835591%2F&show_text=0&width=560" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" width="560"></iframe>
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<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
In addition to
following Evan McMullin in the media, I have had the chance to meet
him in person. I trust him. I like him. I have also met Mindy Finn. I
feel the same way about her.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I have researched
their stances on the issues, both on <a href="https://www.evanmcmullin.com/">their website</a> and elsewhere
online. I don't agree with them on everything, of course. Also, both are human, just like the rest of us. I also
recognize that he did not enter the race at the ideal time. But I
don't fault him for crossing his fingers for someone with more name
recognition and political experience to enter the race and carry the
banner of his cause. I admire him beyond words for taking a stand
when no one else would, no matter how late in the game.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Like any candidate
gaining traction, McMullin has been the victim of misinformation. I
have tried to address some of the common myths about him <a href="http://www.rethbo.org/2016/11/2016-election-miracle-evan-mcmullin.html">here</a>. </div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
It is with great
confidence and enthusiasm that I issue my endorsement of Evan
McMullin. I pray for unprecedented voter turnout tomorrow. I pray
that each voter will at least research the McMullin-Finn ticket and
consider casting a vote in that direction. And I pray that each and
every voter will vote her or his conscience (even if that means she
or he votes for someone else).
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
One final thought: I
believe so strongly in the American people that I believe we can
stand united, even in the face of sometimes disappointing and even
divisive leadership. Whatever happens tomorrow, whomever is elected,
America is, and can always be, as great as We the People make it.
</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
God Bless,</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Adam</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/3rdpartydebates/?fref=ts">Third Party Debates</a></div>
Adam B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13635630634832831355noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1773703444331042188.post-51329368349105567652016-11-05T11:57:00.001-07:002016-11-07T10:32:33.826-08:00Open letter to Evan McMullin | Guest Post<span style="font-family: inherit;">by Becky Turley Rasmussen</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbhiFjjFVBFAbAQt0ksnH6imRwMIVkJe-M1hiuLthOJ615yOD1QzkWbdvUp91p0VJeK8NA-HJspeIgoRjfN-K-T-64m1aiRPOv1MD7iUx8inT22eiYWPMcCmokDmIeMRQug2k8SK7Tj3qK/s1600/becky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbhiFjjFVBFAbAQt0ksnH6imRwMIVkJe-M1hiuLthOJ615yOD1QzkWbdvUp91p0VJeK8NA-HJspeIgoRjfN-K-T-64m1aiRPOv1MD7iUx8inT22eiYWPMcCmokDmIeMRQug2k8SK7Tj3qK/s320/becky.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: inherit;">Here we are in the last stretch. A little more than 72 hours remain until Election Day polls close. This morning, at 9:00 a.m., my phone chimed and I dismissed a notification from my timer declaring, “Pray for Our Nation!” I stopped folding laundry, closed the door to my room, then knelt in prayer.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: inherit;">Nearly five months ago, my heart sank when the Republican and Democratic presidential nominees were announced for the 2016 Election Cycle. I felt a deep sense of sadness and hopelessness for both my children and this land that I love dearly. In that moment, I remember sending a silent heavenward plea, “Dear God, Please help us!”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: inherit;">A couple of weeks later, on June 30, 2016, I read an article about the possibility of Mitt Romney entering the race. "My wife and kids wanted me to run again this time, interestingly enough," Romney said. "I got an email from one of my sons yesterday, saying 'You gotta get in, Dad! You gotta get in!'"</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: inherit;">Hope soared nationwide! Yet Mitt never announced a Hail Mary bid for the White House.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: inherit;">On the eve of Independence Day, I felt so sad. I struggled to muster enthusiasm for our upcoming 4th of July festivities. At church, we sang patriotic songs and I literally cried knowing that neither Hillary Clinton nor Donald Trump could provide America the future she deserves. I came home and posted this message on my Facebook timeline:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: inherit;"> "On July 4th 1776 it was necessary to absolve from the British Crown. In our day, July 4th 2016 it is time to absolve both the democratic and republican parties. You don't have to choose between a corrupt criminal and a fraudulent buffoon for your Commander & Chief. America, raise a worthy candidate for President and elect an Independent president for 2016! </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: inherit;">If you haven't read the declaration of independence recently, read it now. You'll be astounded at how we sought independence from Britain for the same tyranny that our two party system is delivering now."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: inherit;">I spent that day fasting that in some way our God would raise a worthy candidate to save this nation. Little did I know that a man named John Claybrook and a man named Joel Searby had quit their jobs and put their lives on hold in an effort to recruit such a man. I had no idea that two courageous men were fighting my battle as warriors on behalf of me, my children, and millions of other Americans. Their task proved more difficult than they expected. As John and Joel pleaded with former presidential candidates, well known congressman, and celebrity status household names they continually received rejection. Alas, by the end of July, John went home to Austin, Texas, in the face of defeat.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: inherit;">Early in the morning of August 4, John received a text message from Joel Searby announcing, “We have a candidate!” He immediately, booked a flight to meet and interview the candidate, Evan McMullin. In the process of clearing him as a man worthy to represent Americans, they learned that the only questionable detail in McMullin’s background was a speeding ticket from a couple years prior.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: inherit;">It’s important to note that I don’t have access to television in my home. We don’t subscribe to any local or national networks. But on August 8th, 2016 I walked next door to borrow an egg. While I was in my neighbors living room their television announced that, “Evan McMullin, a 40 year old CIA agent and Brigham Young graduate was announcing his bid for the White House.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: inherit;">I couldn’t believe my ears. I immediately ran home and searched for Evan McMullin’s <a href="https://www.evanmcmullin.com/">website</a>. I registered as a volunteer and donated money to your campaign. It wasn’t much, maybe $15 or $25. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: inherit;">On Wednesday, August 10, I received a phone call from John Claybrook, your Deputy Campaign Manager asking me if I would be willing to contact all of the supporters that had registered in Utah and invite them to a campaign launch at the Hub in Salt Lake City. That day I rallied around the table with my children Giana (17), Alia (15), and Isaac (14). We called, text messaged, and left voice mail for everyone on that list.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: inherit;">A surge of hope filled my heart. John expressed so much gratitude and kindness toward our family. He demonstrated the kind of gentleman-like behavior that is missing in our society. As our family engaged in contacting your supporters we learned that so many of them had been praying for someone to save us from a Clinton or Trump presidency.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: inherit;">That night we assembled at the Impact Hub and began our meeting by reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. I felt chills as our pledge thundered through the room with meaning. I listened to you address hundreds in a crowd at the Impact Hub. I stood nearby and listened to you take questions from skeptical and condescending reporters. I observed your brilliance and candor first hand with a new sense of optimism.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: inherit;">I brought home petition packets and engaged family, friends, neighbors, and perfect strangers in the effort to get you on the ballot in Utah. I felt so honored to act as a courier for the petition signatures. When I delivered Utah County’s petition signatures into the hands of Brian Henderson at the Utah State Capitol I felt like I was truly engaged in a great cause.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: inherit;">Over the next few weeks, I continually promoted you, but began to feel discouraged. It seemed like I was drowning in a pool of apathy and negativity. So many Americans were resigned to our terrible and awful state. At that point, I realized that only God could soften our hearts. I began to pray regularly asking God sincerely, how I could help this campaign. One morning after I offered a sincere prayer, I wrote a Facebook post, that elicited a response from an old friend. I sent her a very long-winded reply that was personal and genuine about why I felt like voting for you was not a wasted vote. That <a href="https://www.facebook.com/becky.t.rasmussen/posts/10210775488289199">post</a> went viral with more than 5000 shares in one week I had newspapers calling me and people all over the country asking me how they could get involved.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: inherit;">I shared this experience in a closed Facebook group, “<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/286843901680732/">Americans for Evan McMullin</a>.” A fellow supporter from the south, meekly asked, “Would it be weird if we all started praying at the same time each day?” Hundreds immediately felt enthusiastic. One supporter from Hawaii said she would wake up at 6:00 a.m. each morning to pray as a nation with us. For the first time in so long we weren’t Mormons vs. Jews or Evangelicals vs. Catholics. We were Americans who loved God and loved one another. You brought us together in an election that has been so divisive.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: inherit;">Within just a few days the campaign started picking up momentum. Pretty soon we were leading Utah and getting national media coverage. Now, here we are just 3 days away from the outcome. I want you to know that no matter the outcome, I am so eternally grateful for the hope you gave us. This election has taught me that God hears and answers our prayers. Even if this election doesn’t end the way I want it to, I know with certainty that God fearing citizens are fighting for goodness in a society that is abandoning principles. I know that a loving father in Heaven blessed this effort and the hands of those who labored on your behalf. My children learned what it means to be latter-day warriors.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: inherit;">I’ll cherish memories of sitting in a conference room planning grass roots efforts with you. I’ll cherish the friendships that formed through this campaign. I’ll work to raise sons that demonstrate the courage that you Joel, and John demonstrated during this election. You are my friend. You are my hero! Thank you for doing what nobody else would.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: inherit;">I want you to know that I have contacted every man and woman in my contact list on your behalf. As I prayed on your behalf this morning I literally wept with tears of gratitude for how close we are to realizing our goal. As I typed this letter to you, I received a text message from my friend Cheryl that reads: Have you voted yet? Are you planning to vote Tues? I’m encouraging my family and friends to vote and make your voice heard!..... (I know you have, but I was inspired by your post and I am working my way down my contact list!)</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: inherit;"> </span><span class="_5afx" style="background-color: white; color: #365899; cursor: pointer; direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; text-decoration: none;"><a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/goevan?source=feed_text&story_id=10211106694249141" style="background-color: white; color: #365899; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration: none;"><span aria-label="hashtag" class="_58cl _5afz" style="background-color: white; color: #4267b2; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration: none;">#</span><span class="_58cm" style="background-color: white; color: #365899; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration: none;">GoEvan</span></a></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: inherit;">My vote is my voice! My vote counts and I voted for you! We love you, Evan! I don’t know if I’ll see you on Monday because I have to set up electronic ballot boxes at Freedom Elementary School as the TST Election Worker on Tuesday, but I’ll be celebrating all that we have achieved with you on Tuesday!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: inherit;">When I walk into our Election Party, I will be</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: inherit;"> </span><span class="_5afx" style="color: #365899; cursor: pointer; direction: ltr;"><a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/cominghome?source=feed_text&story_id=10211106694249141" style="color: #365899; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration: none;"><span aria-label="hashtag" class="_58cl _5afz" style="color: #4267b2; unicode-bidi: isolate;">#</span><span class="_58cm">ComingHome</span></a> </span><span class="_5afx" style="color: #365899; cursor: pointer; direction: ltr;"><a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/mcmullin4president?source=feed_text&story_id=10211106694249141" style="color: #365899; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration: none;"><span aria-label="hashtag" class="_58cl _5afz" style="color: #4267b2; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit;">#</span><span class="_58cm" style="color: #365899; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit;">McMullin4President</span></a>.</span></span>Adam B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13635630634832831355noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1773703444331042188.post-49737025987599492512016-11-03T16:44:00.001-07:002016-11-04T13:24:08.214-07:002016 Election Miracle: Evan McMullin<b><span style="font-size: large;">WATCH THIS VIDEO! THEN READ ON...</span></b><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="315" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fadambbalinski%2Fvideos%2F1801032186835591%2F&show_text=0&width=560" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" width="560"></iframe><br />
<u><b>Myth #1</b></u><br />
To be gaining this type of momentum, Evan McMullin must have some big money donors.<br />
<u><br /></u>
<u>Fact</u><br />
Evan McMullin's campaign has had only $1.0 million to work with this election. None of it has been outside money. That means none has come from super PACs, party committees, or 501(c) "dark money" interest groups, like the Clinton Foundation.<br />
<br />
In contrast, Donald Trump has received $59,389,531 in outside money. An alarming $189,453,103 of outside money has poured into Hillary Clinton's campaign.<br />
<br />
Just how much money have the other campaigns had to convince you that you should vote for their preferred candidate?<br />
<br />
Hillary Clinton? $687.1 million.<br />
Donald Trump? $250.0 million.<br />
Gary Johnson? $11.4 million.<br />
<br />
Don't believe me? <a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/pres16/"><b>Proof</b></a>.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<u>Opinion</u><br />
What Evan McMullin and Mindy Finn have done with only $1 million in a little more than three months is nothing short of a #2016miracle. If money is not responsible for their success, what is? Simple. Message.<br />
<br />
<u><b>Myth #2</b></u><br />
Evan McMullin received $12,000 from the Clinton Foundation.<br />
<u><br /></u>
<u>Fact</u><br />
The Clinton Foundation has paid Evan McMullin nothing. Zero dollars. As mentioned, McMullin has received nothing from any 501(c) and that includes the Clinton Foundation.<br />
<br />
<u>Opinion</u><br />
This obvious and weak fabrication reflects poorly on those who perpetuate it and the candidates they support. But it does prove one thing. Evan McMullin is much more than a #nobody. To the opposition, he is worth libeling.<br />
<br />
<u><b>Myth #3</b></u><br />
Evan McMullin is not married because he is a homosexual with "two mommies."<br />
<u><br /></u>
<u>Fact</u><br />
McMullin's mother is married to another woman. But Evan McMullin advocates for traditional marriage and has promised that he would not leave office without finding a First Lady.<br />
<u><br /></u>
<u>Opinion</u><br />
McMullin has been uniquely prepared to foster a desperately needed environment of inclusiveness and tolerance toward the LGBTQ community in this country, while simultaneously standing firm for his personal beliefs regarding traditional marriage.<br />
<br />
<u><b>Myth #4</b></u><br />
Only 11 states can vote for Evan McMullin.<br />
<u><br /></u>
<u>Fact</u><br />
This map.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1wFmsIFeRjhce9jui9Ic5cCSWPU5DgSXdnZniFEmhwhD-TEmXsuY0ezHd-XtIrwf289HwNSVwCLCvaWnqLc1yrEIHlbE9x7s_og1qL9jHCdxu6cYRLm1tKthlzuBA8kqFcQRiXO_c3hrj/s1600/MAP-Oct11-V2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1wFmsIFeRjhce9jui9Ic5cCSWPU5DgSXdnZniFEmhwhD-TEmXsuY0ezHd-XtIrwf289HwNSVwCLCvaWnqLc1yrEIHlbE9x7s_og1qL9jHCdxu6cYRLm1tKthlzuBA8kqFcQRiXO_c3hrj/s640/MAP-Oct11-V2.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<u>Opinion</u><br />
How electrifying would it be to be in one of those states that gets to write in Evan McMullin! I am honestly a little jealous that I live in a state where he is on the ballot. It would be so satisfying to every democratic and patriotic fiber in my soul to go through the ballot check, check, check, and then stop, slow down, and correct the ballot's deficiency by carefully writing in bold, undeniable letters, "E-v-a-n M-c-M-u-l-l-i-n" and chuckle a little as I hop the final hoop of writing in vice presidential ballot placeholder, "N-a-t-h-a-n J-o-h-n-s-o-n," knowing I am really backing Mindy Finn.<br />
<u><br /></u>
<u><b>Myth #5</b></u><br />
Standing up with Evan McMullin and Mindy Finn is a waste of time.<br />
<u><br /></u>
<u>Fact/Opinion</u><br />
This unfortunate rhetoric exalts a <i>perception </i>of practicality over principle and conscience. This <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PLe_nn6sR2-TfQNLJpZ6GzIG6JR6yX0tJG&v=Q9UBkIdPA-8"><b>video</b></a> makes it clear that when you stand up with Evan McMullin and Mindy Finn, you stand on bedrock American principles. And you do <b>not </b>stand alone. Far from it. McMullin's message is sweeping the dry political fibers of this country like a wildfire.<br />
<br />
When you #standupwithevan and #standupwithUtah, you join the ranks of millions who have abandoned their fears and dared to hope for a #2016miracle.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDCbNtvwD59o4Dk-zSQdGJx7_5AEaHP1_a-76SwgzJj_EogDamGh8VWU_MaB9wTiWhmY5kXoJl9fJjBDkQJuboMn5ogk-KlZYS777DDoYCPgaUJEpPVspz_2Csuhzc_9NWMo8MpsGKCgLi/s1600/McMullin+thumbnail+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="632" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDCbNtvwD59o4Dk-zSQdGJx7_5AEaHP1_a-76SwgzJj_EogDamGh8VWU_MaB9wTiWhmY5kXoJl9fJjBDkQJuboMn5ogk-KlZYS777DDoYCPgaUJEpPVspz_2Csuhzc_9NWMo8MpsGKCgLi/s640/McMullin+thumbnail+%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
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<br />
<br /></div>
Adam B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13635630634832831355noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1773703444331042188.post-14759744418877928212016-10-12T08:00:00.003-07:002016-11-04T12:59:04.656-07:00Forget #DENY270, Evan McMullin could win outright<span style="font-family: inherit;">For the first time
this election, a third party candidate is in a statistical tie for
the lead in a state: Evan McMullin. You <a href="https://www.evanmcmullin.com/breaking_evan_mcmullin_in_historic_surge_in_new_utah_poll">can thank Utah</a> for making
America <i>hope</i> again. But you can bet the tie won't last long.
McMullin will surge to major margins in Utah. Mark my word. McMullin,
a true conservative who entered the race only in August, still
suffers from low name-recognition and low funding. That will change as fast as you can say V-I-R-A-L. Thank you, internet.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Utah is as
conservative and anti-Trump as states come. Many who are currently
planning on voting for Clinton or Johnson to stop Trump will flock to
McMullin, who is much more in harmony with the bulk of Utah voters on
the issues than Clinton or Johnson. Those who are voting Trump out of
fear of Clinton will hear the bell. Once they realize McMullin is not
only a legitimate contender, but a probable winner of the state, they
will abandon the sinking Trump ship or derailed Trump train (pick
your metaphor) to keep any possible chance of a Clinton victory out
of reach. As it has been said, "Everything Trump touches dies."
Utah will not die. Utah's six electoral vote will go to McMullin.
This will not help Clinton hit 270. The only candidate this will help
hit 270 is Evan McMullin.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This momentum will
inspire hope in Americans across the country. There is an option that
meets them at the intersection of feasibility and conscience. Most of
the country believes America is on the wrong track with Obama.
McMullin is the only legitimate path to smaller federal government
and more state power. Johnson suffers from the condition of being
liked by a few in many places, but without the focused firepower to
likely take a state, except for maybe New Mexico. Even if he takes
New Mexico, he'll only have five electoral votes, while McMullin will
win six. In a 12th Amendment scenario, this would make McMullin the
third party candidate on the table before the House, where he was
most recently a chief policy director. That alone gives America hope
that it will not have to elect a candidate that is arguably
impeachable out of the gate. There is a reason the 12th Amendment
exists. Its process does not strip power from the voice of the people
or the states, but does precisely the opposite. It allows the
representatives<i> elected by the people</i> in each state to come
together and cast one vote that represents their state's best
interests. It gives each state essentially a veto vote power against
divisive, disliked, or distrusted front runners (or in this case, all
of the above). It is a genius safeguard. Thank you, Constitution. But
we may not even need a 12th Amendment scenario.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Clinton has more
experience than any candidate, perhaps in history. But hers is not
the kind of experience most American's are impressed by. Arguable
gross negligence in handling national security matters is just one
fatal flaw in her resume. Perhaps even more importantly, she
represents a move further down the path of big government, which cuts
contrary to the American spirit. A Gallup poll shows that nearly 70%
of Americans not only say that big government is wrong, <i>but
America's biggest threat.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This is why Gary
Johnson has gained some national traction this election, even though
he is the same person he was in 2012, when he only took 1% of the
popular vote. But the thing is, McMullin also offers a major course
correction away from big government, without giving the Libertarian
party and its other, more radical ideas, a windfall this election.
Also, even though Johnson has been a governor and McMullin has never
been elected to office, McMullin is leaps and bounds more competent
and capable when it comes to national and international issues. This
is likely why Johnson has avoided the offer by some news
organizations to host a debate between him, Stein, and McMullin. Even
though Johnson supporters want to see a debate like that, Johnson is apparently afraid of McMullin, as he should be.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Because
big government is a major threat in the eyes of most Americans,
Hillary Clinton is a major threat. Some polls have suggested huge
swaths of America voting for her,
not out of affection for her but out of utter loathing for Trump, the
antithesis of peacemaker and
arguably the worst possible poster child to carry the conservative
banner.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">But
the American base no longer has to settle. Utah has given the
country a glimmer of hope. An option that is
not only #NeverTrump, but
#NeverHillary. A sane option.
A decent option. An option our children can look up to. An option who is a peacemaker that inspires. An option who is fostering productive and unifying
dialogue regarding bedrock
American principles. An
option that should dominate the discussion in the final month leading
up to the election, thanks to the internet. An option that will spread
across the dry political fibers of this nation like a wildfire. We
are about to witness something unprecedented and jaw-dropping. Never
again will the Republican or Democratic party be able to put forward
nominees that mute the voice and conscience of the vast majority of
Americans.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Having
Evan McMullin win the election outright should now be our goal. And it could happen. More
than enough states will have the option of voting for him for him to
win the election outright. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-rBfUh1eEWVxyGtFT_8TYVd8IcmcuJVZ2Y3F1nJqvwMujEYA3W7t17Pm4rQxu6Ihw53HsdFG9vSc8H2Yb21jz4GZQaPieV5CULzNVZl2sMDPQU7pq7BvNqILXLIQVKr5epqULWHiWPk0m/s1600/MAP-Oct11-V2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-rBfUh1eEWVxyGtFT_8TYVd8IcmcuJVZ2Y3F1nJqvwMujEYA3W7t17Pm4rQxu6Ihw53HsdFG9vSc8H2Yb21jz4GZQaPieV5CULzNVZl2sMDPQU7pq7BvNqILXLIQVKr5epqULWHiWPk0m/s640/MAP-Oct11-V2.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Everywhere that can't check a box or officially write him in, can still write him in and help send a message to the
House in the event McMullin falls short of 270. And how electrifying
would it be to be in one of those states that gets to write him in
(whether it is "counted" in the traditional sense or not),
rather than just check
a box! I am honestly a little jealous. It would be so satisfying to
every democratic and patriotic fiber in my soul to go through the
ballot check, check, check, and then stop, slow down, and
correct the ballot's deficiency by carefully
writing
in bold, undeniable letters,
"E-v-a-n
M-c-M-u-l-l-i-n"
and chuckle a little as I hop the </span><a href="https://www.evanmcmullin.com/how_to_vote_for_evan" style="font-family: inherit;">final hoop</a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> of writing in vice
presidential ballot placeholder, "N-a-t-h-a-n J-o-h-n-s-o-n,"
knowing I am really backing
Mindy Finn. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Do
you not like big government?</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Vote
McMullin / Finn.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Do
you want more power restored to your state?</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Vote
McMullin / Finn.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Are
you tired of powerful lobbyists and political spenders determining the course of elections?</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Vote
McMullin / Finn.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Do
you want to send a message to the world that </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">hope</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">, not fear, is the
driving force of America?</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Vote
McMullin / Finn.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Who
are Evan McMullin and Mindy Finn? </span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Google them. If you do, the more
read, the more you will like them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Give them a chance.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">If you do,
together we will make history. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The kind of history our children will
look back on and smile.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">-------------------------</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Dig this kind of thing?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Check out this video and get pumped.</span><br />
<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="469" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fadambbalinski%2Fvideos%2F1788990734706403%2F&show_text=1&width=560" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" width="560"></iframe>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<br />
If you thought that was fun, watch this!</div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="315" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fadambbalinski%2Fvideos%2F1801032186835591%2F&show_text=0&width=560" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" width="560"></iframe>
<br />
<br />
Another great video (this one was produced by a close friend)!<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="315" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fworley%2Fvideos%2F10153800006445566%2F&show_text=0&width=560" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" width="560"></iframe>Adam B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13635630634832831355noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1773703444331042188.post-49513496465618064892016-09-17T19:16:00.002-07:002022-02-01T07:57:34.722-08:00Guns and Humanity: Solving the refugee crisis | Evan McMullin interview<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSdAbN2qYwThBNDe771I5aEw-UFwmpAcWPM6GgzHLUKCZ3njgH5EX1qRonbQIswF-ndg4Y9IWuSAd4NzpmK1OQZ1PIZwCC2VhJgfWpQ0RAzqYYNV1rbSGG-bl0xLgTSBXzDy7jNW0hJBwQ/s1600/web1.001.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSdAbN2qYwThBNDe771I5aEw-UFwmpAcWPM6GgzHLUKCZ3njgH5EX1qRonbQIswF-ndg4Y9IWuSAd4NzpmK1OQZ1PIZwCC2VhJgfWpQ0RAzqYYNV1rbSGG-bl0xLgTSBXzDy7jNW0hJBwQ/s640/web1.001.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">refugee photo by <a href="http://www.mstyslavchernov.com/">Mstyslav Chernov</a><br /><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
I recently sat down with Evan McMullin, independent presidential candidate, at his Salt Lake headquarters for an exclusive, thirty-minute interview on the refugee crisis, terrorism, and religion.<br />
<br />
McMullin has a unique perspective on those issues. He lived in Jordan and worked for the United Nations. There, he helped refugees from various countries, including Syria, through the screening and resettlement process. He later returned to the Middle East and worked for the CIA. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Watch </b><br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yoa1nH2gXM">Full</a> | <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVrqqavwSMs">Part I</a> | <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuwCT6_w7aM">Part II</a> | <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UZps8bJjZo">Part III</a><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7yoa1nH2gXM" width="560"></iframe>
<b><br /></b><br />
<b>Listen</b><br />
<a href="https://drive.google.com/open?id=0BzlzOpcjLC60aHdNZ1k2WmwwRGM">Full </a>| <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzlzOpcjLC60MGxQT0hUUGM0MUE/view?usp=sharing">Part I</a> |<a href="https://drive.google.com/open?id=0BzlzOpcjLC60bzJFM1Nyb1RHZ1E">Part II</a> | <a href="https://drive.google.com/open?id=0BzlzOpcjLC60TmpTSGdyTnplSGs">Part III</a><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
<b>Transcript </b>(English) (español abajo)<br />
<br />
Balinski: Every day 34,000 people leave their homes to escape conflict, persecution. Currently, there are 21 million refugees worldwide, more than half of them are youth, minors. What is to be done?<br />
<br />
McMullin: Well, it's a great question and I would add to that you have so many million refugees but you also have people who are designated Internally Displaced Persons as you probably know. These are people who haven't been forced out of their countries, they've been forced out of their homes, but they're still in their countries. The acronym is IDPs. I think when you include IDPs, the number of people . . . is over 60 million—well over 60 million, so it's a huge crisis. What do we need to do? Of course, the answer depends on the situation, but war is a major cause for massive refugee flows. In the Middle East, for example, we see evidence of that. Another cause for major refugee flows is the abuse of dictators of civilian populations which can be a part of war too. In the Middle East right now we see all of the above—we see a brutal dictator, one of the world's worst, most brutal dictators Bashar al-Assad in Syria who is carrying out mass atrocities against Syrian civilians.<br />
<br />
Balinski: You mentioned Syria, I want to zero in on Syria because nearly five million refugees come from Syria, about a quarter of the refugee population comes from Syria. Now there's some interesting data about refugee mindsets in the United States, 71% of Americans say they're generally open to the idea of having refugees come here and even 15% say, "Hey, just come and stay in my home." But when it comes to Syrian refugees the mindset's completely different, the majority of Americans say "stay away." Why do you think that is?<br />
<br />
McMullin: Well I think it's because our leaders—many of our leaders—have vilified Syrian refugees in a way that I think is really unnecessary, unproductive and just misguided all around. You know ISIS said that it would put its terrorists in the refugee flows and that they would come if the United States took refugees from Syria that there would be their personnel in that mix as well. The reality is though of course ISIS is going to [say] that because they want us not to help the refugees because that reinforces this Muslim vs. Christian, United States vs. Middle East narrative that they want to further because it helps their cause. It doesn't help global peace, it doesn't serve our interests, it serves their interests, so that's what they've been promoting, and some of our leaders have foolishly bought into that.<br />
<br />
Balinski: So are you saying that's a vain threat then—that ISIS is going to sneak in terrorists with the flow of refugees from Syria?<br />
<br />
McMullin: Well, they've done it into Europe, but in Europe it's a little different because you can—it's easier to get to Europe from the Middle East than it is to get to the United States from the Middle East. If you are a refugee or a terrorist from the Middle East and you want to get to Europe you can walk across land, you take a boat or two—there are a lot of challenges in this process, but it's still easier than getting to the United States. If you want to get to the Untied States as a refugee if you really are a refugee or if you're a terrorist pretending to be a refugee, then you've got to go through a vetting process that takes a year and a half to two years. We start with people who are already less likely to threaten us in the first place, so we're talking about..<br />
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Balinski: Do you believe that the current vetting process is robust enough at this stage or should that be . . .<br />
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McMullin: I do, I think it's very robust, sure it could be made better. I mean we can always improve and I think we should always try to improve, make improvements, but the important point is when we select people to come to the United States through the refugee process, we first choose people who already aren't likely to threaten us. So, we're talking about children, or maybe a single mother with five children and she just cares about providing for her children—highly unlikely to be a terrorist—or an elderly couple or people who have suffered immensely, maybe they've been tortured by for example the Assad regime or by ISIS. These are people who are clearly aligned with us, not with our enemies and not with the people who would want to send terrorists here. So we start—this is a very important point—we start by choosing people who are less likely to threaten us, and then we put them through a year and a half to two years of vetting. And if you are—let's say Adam that you are a terrorist leader and that you wanted to get one of your terrorist operatives into the United States—probably the worst way to go about it would be to have them come as a refugee because you're going to subject them to all kinds of scrutiny that they wouldn't get if they just flew to Mexico and just walked across the border, or you could find one of your terrorist operatives in Europe with a European passport and they could just fly in without a visa, so there are just many better ways to do it—the worst way would be to go through the refugee process.<br />
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Balinski: So the White House recently announced that next year we're going to accept 110,000 refugees, but only 10,000 are going to be from Syria. Is this enough? Can we do more?<br />
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McMullin: Well, I think we could do more, certainly. I mean there are a lot of refugee crises, obviously the worst are in the Middle East right now, especially with Syria. I think that the most important thing though and this is something that the Obama administration has not focused enough on, is solving the core problem that creates the refugees.<br />
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Balinski: And what's that core problem?<br />
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McMullin: The core problem starts with Bashar al-Assad—his brutal mass atrocities against the Syrian people which I have been outspoken about over time and there've been a lot of media coverage about it. That has pushed people out, it's created a lot of refugees, it's also created a dynamic in which ISIS and other terrorist organizations thrive. These terrorist organizations—they look for dictatorships because they know that under especially brutal dictatorships they can—these terrorist organizations can come into the populations and generate support from the populations as an alternative to the brutal dictator, and they can also foment divisions between people in those environments where governance is weak. So, bottom line is dictators end up creating terrorists—in the short term or the long term. That's what Bashar al-Assad has done both by torturing the Syrian people, and by in general depriving them of their universal liberties. ISIS has come in to then make the problem worse. So you asked what the solution is. The solution is to defeat ISIS. The solution is also to constrain Assad and to deprive him of his sources of power so that we can negotiate his departure from Syria and then get the region back on track and allow Syrians to move back to Syria and rebuild Syria, which is what they want.<br />
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Balinski: So you mentioned some things about Syria specifically and to me it seems a little bit reminiscent, almost of, maybe not quite to the magnitude of, but approaching the magnitude of the holocaust, and what happened to the Jews in Germany. And before that time period you know there were some polls done and the American people by and large the super majority—67% of them said we don't want to take these people in and they kind of gave a cold shoulder to these people who were just trying to escape the holocaust conditions. What can be done to change the American mindset today so that we don't give the cold shoulder to these Syrians because they're from Syria, if that should even be the case?<br />
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McMullin: Well I think it begins with leadership. Your points are so valid and so important and in retrospect we look back on our actions during World War II and during the holocaust with a bit of shame. There was a boat—I forget the name of it—but a boat with a lot of Jewish refugees from Europe that came to the United States seeking refuge and we turned it away. And that's a dark you know episode in our American history.<br />
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McMullin: Luckily, finally we did the right thing and we stood up for what was right and many of our soldiers sacrificed their lives in Europe to free Europe and also to stop the holocaust, but I think our leaders need to remind us of some of our core ideals as Americans and remind us of the fact that we are a nation of immigrants and part of that is refugees. I mean, my family first came in the United States in the 1600s before it was the United States. They came to Massachusetts and they were seeking economic opportunity, but they were also fleeing the lack of liberty that they were experiencing in Ireland. And then about two hundred years later they joined the church and ultimately made the trek across America.<br />
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Balinski: And when you say church, you mean the LDS church?<br />
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McMullin: The LDS church, exactly, the Mormon church and they then also seeking religious liberty made the long and arduous trek across the country here to Utah, but that's not where it ends for me. My mother's family—they escaped Europe and the holocaust, some of them were of the Jewish faith, the Jewish background and they escaped the Nazis in Europe and came to the United States and settled in Philadelphia. And you know, all of that—these are classic American stories, many Americans can tell stories like these about their ancestors and others frankly, we acknowledge were brought here in captivity and their fight for freedom lasted longer and occurred here in the United States. So we haven't always been exactly perfect, but this, we are a country of refugees and of immigrants and it has made us strong and why has it made us strong? It's made us strong because we've always, we've been a place where people from around the world believe they can come and find liberty. That means people with the best ideas in science and technology—feel that they can come . . .</div>
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Balinski: Einstein was a refugee.<br />
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McMullin: Einstein—exactly, can come to the United States and build their dreams and then as a result build us and make us stronger and give us a better opportunity to be a force for good in the world.<br />
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Balinski: You shared some personal things regarding your family history and the way they can relate to refugees coming for opportunity, liberty. I'd like to go down the personal path just a little bit more.<br />
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McMullin: Sure, yeah.<br />
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Balinski: So you worked in Jordan for a little bit vetting and helping refugees get settled for the United Nations and then later you returned to the Middle East and you worked as an operative for the Central Intelligence Agency. How did those experiences shape the way you see the refugee crisis?<br />
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McMullin: That's a great question. You know what I've learned both working in the humanitarian space and in the national security space, is that humanitarian crises and national security are not separate things. They are not, they shouldn't be categorized separately. and I think a lot of people do that, and I remember I used to be a senior adviser on national security topics in congress. I remember when I was in discussions for that job, I was asked, do you think that solving terrorism is more of a humanitarian issue, a governance issue, or is it more of a military issue- we need to attack and defeat and kill the terrorist? And I thought, this is interesting, that the question is set up so that it's either/or- it's actually both. National security issues and humanitarian issues are part of the same picture in my mind, and that's what one of my primary take ways was from having worked in the humanitarian space and in the national security space and so when I for example see that there are over 5 million Syrian refugees now and that doesn't include the internally displaced people that we talked about earlier- the IDPs- that's another several million inside Syria and these people are living like refugees, they're just still in Syria. When I look at that, I see a humanitarian issue, but I also see a national security issue. Because why? Because half of those people are children and these are children that are adolescents that are not, that are being under-educated. They're not in school, they're not in school enough, they're being many times, they're not being nourished the way they need to be, they're at risk for being exploited and then radicalized as well, and so in an environment, in a place that's flush with terrorists, the last thing you want is a whole generation of youth that isn't in school and that isn't being, you know, isn't being brought up in a healthy way, and so this is both a humanitarian issue and a national security issue and I think we need to see it- most Americans care unfortunately, they tend to care more about national security issues than humanitarian issues, but my argument would be they're the same, they're part of the same picture. We need to care about these giant refugee problems, especially in the Middle East. If not for moral reasons which I think are valid and should be very powerful for us, for national security reasons.<br />
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Balinski: Now in the past you've spoken on amping up the ideological attack on terrorism, on these radicals. What do you mean by ideological warfare?<br />
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McMullin: I mean that we have to win the battle of ideas. So the war on terror- it happens on the battlefield and in the dark alleys, and I was a part of that as an Operations Officer with the CIA, but we also need to win the- just as we did in the Cold War with communism- we need to show that our ideas- the principles on which our society has been founded, and on which it thrives- are those that are freedom and diversity- you know principles of individual liberty and self-rule and the empowerment of people. We need to continue to make the case to the world, and especially to those in the Middle East who might be vulnerable to radicalization by a a radical Islamist. We need to make the case to them that liberty and freedom and the tolerance that needs to come with that is a better way. And I don't think we've been very good at that. Al-Qaeda and ISIS has been so good at digital media and social media and it's very well accompanied their success on the battlefield and they've been able to merge those two so that they recruit a lot of people. So we just need to be better about fighting the battle of ideas. What does that mean? It means engaging on social media. It means helping our Muslim partners and our Muslim allies in the region, make the case to their fellow Muslims that that's not true Islam, that's not the kind of Islam that should be advanced or practiced, we need to do better coordinating efforts within the US government. We have one agent doing one thing and another doing another thing. We need them to be better organized. I think we need the effort to be better funded. But we also need to do a better job, and there are efforts under way- I'm not suggesting that nothing is happening- there are international efforts that we play a role in, but I just think they need to be stronger and better orchestrated.<br />
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Balinski: If we could jump back again to your personal experiences. Were there any defining moments for you, or key individuals or refugees that you personally met that have impacted you and the way you look at things?<br />
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McMullin: Yes, absolutely, so there's one in particular. I worked with a lot of refugees when I was in Jordan and many of them, most of them were resettled, if they were resettled they were resettled to Europe or to Canada, but and I don't know fully where all of them ended up going, but the one that I know who came to the United States- he was a young man who had, he was an Iraqi. Refugees I worked with were Somali and Syrian and Iraqi mostly.<br />
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He was in college and was seeing the kind of torture and abuse that Saddam Hussein was carrying out against the Iraqi people- terrible things and I could if we had more time, I would share stories. So he opposed Saddam Hussein and he printed out leaflets that called for the opposition, for people to rise up against Saddam Hussein and he distributed them around, left them around his university campus and the intelligence service, Saddam's intelligence service discovered that he and a couple of friends had been responsible for this, and so they arrested him and they took him to prison and they tortured him. And while he was in prison he witnessed horrible torture of other people too, and as he was being tortured he witnessed the torture of other people.<br />
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Eventually they let him out. I think his people paid a bribe and he was let go- that's how things work in dictatorships, and he then went into hiding and his family raised more money and they paid a smuggler to take him out to the desert of Iraq headed towards Jordan, and- it's just a remarkable story- and he then, the smuggler dropped him in the middle of the desert, pointed him in the right direction and he just walked for days towards Jordan and eventually he got there.<br />
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He could've died doing that, but he crossed the border in the desert and was discovered by some basically nomads in the Jordanian desert and they took him and they brought him to safety and ultimately he made his way to Amman where I interviewed him and I was responsible to begin the vetting process with him. We had many long interviews where I challenged his story to make sure that it all held together and I had already worked for the CIA for some time. Before I was doing that, I took a year off and I was then working for the UN, and so I knew a lot about Iraq and a lot about the environment and I could tell if stories made sense or not, and his story checked out and I assessed him to be a good young man- somebody who could then be further vetted by whatever country, and eventually the United States said, OK, we think we want to vet this guy, so they spent a year and a half vetting him and he came to the United States and now he works with the US military, training special forces before they go out on counter terrorism missions.<br />
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And that's, that's a typical American story and a typical refugee story. I think it's an outstanding one- it's one in which somebody fought for freedom where they were. They fled when they were abused because they wanted their basic universal rights, and they're one of the few who made it to the United States and he is now more patriotic than many Americans, and doing more to protect our liberty and freedom here in the United States and the cause for freedom around the world than most Americans will ever do. And I think that's something that I wish more Americans would know- that story, they will hopefully after watching this video. But this is why, this is one reason why refugees are so important in this country.<br />
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Balinski: Let's change gears for a second. let's talk about religion and the role this plays in the discussion we're having here. Four out of five Americans, according to a recent Quinnipiac poll say that they they think that it's very likely, or at least likely that a major terror attack is going to happen in the near future. And the majority of those believe it's going to be at the hands of extreme Muslims. What role, if any, should a refugee's inclination towards Islam impact the way they're welcome here?<br />
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McMullin: We will face other terrorist attacks in this country. I think- I'm sad to say- but I think that's the case. We've been very fortunate under President Bush's leadership and I know that can be controversial, but after 9-11, we avoided having another major terrorist attack or any terrorist attack in the United States. We've been less fortunate recently, in recent years, there's a lot that goes into that. Part of it is the fact that we've allowed the Islamist terrorist threat to spread in an unprecedented way with ISIS, so I think that Americans' concerns are valid, and frankly that's one of the reasons why I'm running for President, that I know from day one what we need to do to increase our security here in the United States in a way that none of the other presidential candidates do. And I just think it's so important that we have a president who knows how to lead on that issue.<br />
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Balinski: So you're saying that the concerns are valid, but to what extent should someone's Muslim affiliation or Muslim religion play into the. . .<br />
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McMullin: Well I think what we need to do first of all is decouple the idea that Muslims, Islam= terrorism. That's not the case. That's just not the case. There are very tiny percentage of Muslims who are terrorists. That's the reality. There's a lot of frustration in the Muslim world about a lot of things and that can lead them sometimes to be supportive of terrorism, some of them, when they are not themselves terrorists. That's a problem too. But the vast majority of Muslims are not terrorists and they're not supportive of terrorism, and that's where we need to start.<br />
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Balinski: Sorry to interrupt you. In the past you've talked about how Muslims have been vital in the counter-terrorism efforts. Can you elaborate on that?<br />
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McMullin: Absolutely. Yeah, and look, I would say first of all Muslims have been more attacked, more killed, more harmed by terrorism than even we as Americans have, that we need to realize that far more Muslims have been killed by terrorists than Americans of any kind- Muslim or Christian, Jewish, or any other kind of faith, so they get it too. The majority of Muslims, again, are opposed to terrorism and so we have to recognize that. So, with that as a basis then we can understand that we have Muslim allies in our efforts against terrorism and their countries and their people, right. When I was working in the CIA there were countries that did a lot to help us and there were also individuals who outside of their, whatever their government was doing- they stepped up to help us. And frankly we could not have had and do not have success against terrorism without the support of our Muslim partners and allies. And it's either because they were in the battle with us- they were there in the fight with us- or it's because they allowed us to use their, you know place where we could base our special forces or CIA operatives, or traditional military forces. They allowed us to fly over their country on a counter terrorism operation, these we- in order to be successful against Islamist terrorists, we need the support of Muslims and they want to help us because they- the vast majority of them are also opposed to terrorism. They see what it's doing to their faith- it's destroying- not destroying it- it's harming their faith, as well as it's creating refugees who are mostly Muslims in the region. They see it too, and they want to solve it. But actually they're looking to leadership from the United States- they need our leadership because we know how to organize these efforts better than any other country and they see us not leading now and that's been a major source of frustration, and then when we have presidential candidates who attack Muslims and other people based on their faith, or ethnic backgrounds, that also harms their willingness to work with us, or their feeling like they can work with us, because they think, 'What's happened to America? America doesn't' stand for personal liberty and religious liberty and tolerance like it did before.' And I'm going on about this, but it's just such an important topic. When that happens, it harms our national power- our national power comes from many different sources, one of them is our core values around liberty and tolerance that comes with liberty, religious freedoms. Other countries see this, and they say they aspire to it, other people aspire to it. And they trust us as a result of this- it generates a lot of good will and that means that these countries are willing to work with us- they trust us to come, for example, base some of our military equipment and military personnel on their territory which is actually a very unique thing. Most countries would not invite the military of another or a major power, especially onto their territory, because it would pose a threat to their country. But countries allow us to do that- even beg us to do that- because of the good will that is generated by our ideals, and so when we have a presidential candidate who is violating those ideals and who is desecrating those ideals it is a direct assault on our national power.<br />
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Balinski: We have time maybe for just a few more questions. This issue is bigger than you- it's bigger than any one leader. What can everyday Americans do to pitch in to the cause and combat against refugee crisis, the war on terrorism?<br />
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McMullin: Great question. The first thing is, we need to all across the, in this country advocate for our leaders to have a comprehensive strategy for defeating ISIS and for stopping the mass atrocities that Bashar al-Assad is committing against the Syrian people and for helping countries develop better governance that leaves them less vulnerable to terrorist takeovers which create these refugee crises. We have to demand from our leaders that they have a plan, and a commitment to that plan, because if not, the situation is going to get worse and worse. On a daily basis refugees are settled all around the country. People should find organizations that help refugees become integrated into our society, and find jobs and learn English and all of that. All Americans have the opportunity to get involved in that effort, and they should. And that's what I would say and then the lastly in the case where there are leaders who are attacking refugees and vilifying refugees, we need to stand up to those leaders. And we need to demand that they speak the truth, that they acknowledge there is a process to vet refugees and that terrorist organizations do have a harder time getting terrorists into the United States through a refugee process than they do through other ways that are way more efficient and that have a higher probability, unfortunately of success. We need to make sure that our leaders speak the truth, because many times, all too often in national security topics and on refugees, our leaders have been responding to a mob mentality that they've helped generate and they have not spoke truth to the American people. We must call those leaders out, and make sure that when they do that, they can't get away with it.<br />
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Balinski: Evan McMullin, thank you very much.<br />
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McMullin: Thank you.<br />
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*Special thanks for helping with the Spanish captioning: Miriam Allred, Christina Morgan, and Naty Maluenda Brown<br />
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Balinski: Cada día 34,000 personas se van de sus casas para escapar de conflictos y persecución. Ahora hay 21 millones de refugiados en todo el mundo, y más de la mitad de ellos son menores de edad—juventud—que se puede hacer?</div>
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McMullin: Buena pregunta y quiero agregar de que tienes millones de refugiados pero también tienes personas que son designadas Personas desplazadas internamente, como probablemente sabes. Estas son personas que no han sido forzadas a salir de sus países, que han sido obligados a abandonar sus hogares, pero todavía están en sus países. El acrónimo es IDPs. Creo que cuando incluyes personas que han sido forzadas a abandonar sus hogares debido a los conflictos y otras situaciones en todo el mundo es más de 60 millones—más de 60 millones, es una enorme crisis. ¿Que necesitamos hacer? Por supuesto, la respuesta depende de la situación, pero la guerra es una causa importante de los flujos masivos de refugiados. En el Medio Oriente, por ejemplo, vemos evidencia de ello. Otra de las causas principales de los flujos de refugiados es el abuso de los dictadores de la población civil que pueden ser una parte de la guerra también. En el Medio Oriente en este momento vemos todo lo mencionado anteriormente: vemos un dictador brutal, uno de los peores, los dictadores más brutales del mundo, Bashar al-Assad en Siria que está llevando a cabo atrocidades masivas contra los Sirios.</div>
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Balinski: Usted ha hablado de Siria, quiero concentrarme en Siria porque casi cinco millones de refugiados provienen de Siria, cerca de un cuarto de la población de refugiados proviene de Siria. Ahora hay algunos datos interesantes acerca de la mentalidad de refugiados en los Estados Unidos, 71% de Americanos generalmente están abiertos a la idea de tener refugiados aquí y 15% dicen ”vengan y quédense en mi casa.” Pero cuando se tratan de refugiados de Siria la mentalidad es completamente diferente, la mayoridad de Americanos dicen “Mantente Alejado”. ¿Porque cree que es así?</div>
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McMullin: Bueno, yo creo que es porque nuestros líderes—muchos de nuestros líderes—han vilipendiado refugiados Sirios en una forma que creo que es realmente innecesario, improductivo y simplemente equivocada por todas partes. Se sabe que ISIS dijo que pondría terroristas en las corrientes de refugiados y que vendrían si Estados Unidos toma refugiados de Siria que habrá personas en la mezcla también. La realidad es, sin embargo, por supuesto que ISIS va a hacer eso porque no quieren que ayudemos a los refugiados y eso refuerza Musulmanes contra Cristianos, Estados Unidos contra el Medio Oriente narrativo que quieren aún más, ya que ayuda a su causa. No ayuda a la paz mundial, no sirve a nuestros intereses, que sirve a sus intereses, así que eso es lo que han estado promoviendo, y algunos de nuestros líderes han comprado tontamente en eso. </div>
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Balinski: Está diciendo que es una amenaza vana entonces—¿que ISIS va a meter terroristas en las corrientes de refugiados de Siria? </div>
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McMullin: Bueno, lo han hecho en Europa, pero en Europa es un poco diferente porque puedes –es mas fácil entrar a Europa desde el Medio Oriente que entrar a los Estados Unidos desde el Medio Oriente. Si usted es un refugiado o un terrorista del Medio Oriente y quiere llegar a Europa se puede caminar por la tierra, se toma un bote o dos hay una gran cantidad de desafíos en este proceso, pero todavía es más fácil que entrar a los Estados Unidos. Si quiere entrar a los Estados Unidos como refugiado si realmente es un refugiado o si usted es un terrorista pretendiendo ser un refugiado, entonces usted tiene que pasar por un proceso de investigación que lleva un año y medio a dos años. Comenzamos con personas que ya son menos propensos a amenazarnos, en primer lugar, por lo que estamos hablando . . .</div>
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Balinski: Usted cree que el proceso de selección actual es lo suficientemente robusta como en esta etapa o debe ser que</div>
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McMullin: Si, creo que es muy robusto, seguro de que se podría hacer mejor. Me refiero a que siempre se puede mejorar y creo que siempre hay que tratar de mejorar, hacer mejoras, pero el punto importante es cuando seleccionamos la gente a venir a los Estados Unidos a través del proceso de refugio, primero elegimos las personas que ya no son susceptibles de amenazarnos. Por lo tanto, estamos hablando de los niños, o tal vez una madre soltera con cinco hijos y ella sólo se preocupa por ofrecer a sus hijos—altamente improbable que sea un terrorista—o una pareja de ancianos o las personas que han sufrido mucho, tal vez han sido torturadas por, por ejemplo, el régimen de Assad o ISIS. Estas son personas que están claramente alineados con nosotros, no con nuestros enemigos y no con las personas que quieren mandar terroristas aquí. Empezamos—este es un punto muy importante, empezamos por escoger las personas que son menos propensos a amenazarnos, y luego los tenemos entre un año y medio a dos años de investigación de antecedentes. Y si usted—digamos Adam que usted es un líder terrorista y que quiere mandar uno de sus agentes terroristas a los Estados Unidos—probablemente la peor manera de hacerlo sería que vengan como refugiado porque vamos a someterlos a todo tipo de escrutinio que no obtendrían si sólo volaran a México y apenas cruzaron la frontera o podrás encontrar uno de sus terroristas operativas en Europa con un pasaporte de Europa y pueden entrar en avión sin visa, entonces hay mas mejores maneras de hacerlo, la peor forma de entrar es por el proceso de refugio.</div>
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Balinski: Así que la Casa Blanca ha anunciado recientemente que el próximo año vamos a aceptar 110.000 refugiados, pero sólo 10.000 van a ser de Siria. ¿Es suficiente? ¿Podemos hacer más?</div>
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McMullin: Bueno, creo que podremos hacer más, sin duda. Quiero decir que hay una gran cantidad de las crisis de refugiados, obviamente, que los peores están en el Medio Oriente en este momento, especialmente con Siria. Creo que lo más importante, sin embargo, y esto es algo que el gobierno de Obama no se ha centrado lo suficiente en, está resolviendo el problema central que crea los refugiados.</div>
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Balinski: Y cual es el problema central?</div>
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McMullin: El problema central comienza con Bashar al-Assad— Sus brutales atrocidades masivas contra la gente de Siria, que han estado francos sobre el paso del tiempo y han tenido una gran cantidad de cobertura mediática sobre él. Eso ha empujado a la gente, que ha creado una gran cantidad de refugiados, también se ha creado una dinámica en que ISIS y otras organizaciones terroristas prosperan. Estas organizaciones terroristas buscan dictaduras porque saben que bajo las dictaduras —especialmente brutales —pueden entrar en las poblaciones y generar el apoyo de las poblaciones como una alternativa al dictador brutal, y también pueden fomentar las divisiones entre las personas en aquellos entornos en los que el gobierno es débil. Así, en el fondo son los dictadores creando terroristas—en el corto o largo plazo. Eso es lo que Bashar al-Assad ha hecho al torturar tanto la gente de Siria, y, en general, privándoles de sus libertades universales. ISIS ha llegado a hacer que el problema aun peor. Preguntas ¿cuál es la solución? La solución es derrotar ISIS. La solución es impedir Assad y privarlo de sus fuentes de alimentación de modo que podemos negociar su salida de Siria y luego obtener la región de nuevo y permitir que los Sirios regresen a Siria y reconstruir Siria, que es lo que quieren.</div>
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Balinski: Así que usted ha mencionado algunas cosas sobre Siria y en concreto me parece un poco reminiscente, casi de, tal vez no del todo a la magnitud de, pero aproximación a la magnitud del holocausto, y lo que le pasó a los Judíos en Alemania. Y antes de ese período de tiempo se sabe que hay algunas encuestas realizadas y al pueblo estadounidense. Por lo general la gran mayoría—67 % de ellos dicen “no queremos tomar estas personas” y se les da la espalda a estas personas que están tratando de escapar de las condiciones del holocausto. ¿Qué se puede hacer para cambiar la mentalidad americana de hoy para que no demos la espalda a estos Sirios porque son de Siria, si eso debería ser el caso ?</div>
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McMullin: Creo que comienza con el liderazgo. Sus puntos son válidos e importantes en retrospectiva miramos hacia atrás en nuestras acciones durante la Segunda Guerra Mundial y durante el holocausto con un poco de vergüenza. Había un barco—se me olvidó el nombre—pero un barco con muchos refugiados Judíos de Europa que vinieron a los Estados Unidos buscando refugio y los rechazamos. Y eso es un oscuro episodio de nuestra historia en los Estados Unidos. Por suerte, finalmente hicimos lo correcto y nos pusimos de pie para lo que era correcto y muchos de nuestros soldados sacrificaron sus vidas en Europa para liberar a Europa y también para detener el holocausto, pero creo que nuestros líderes tienen que recordar algunos de nuestros ideales como Americanos y recordarnos el hecho de que somos una nación de inmigrantes y parte de eso son refugiados. Mi familia vino por primera vez en los Estados Unidos en la década de 1600 antes de que fuera los Estados Unidos. Llegaron a Massachusetts y que estaban buscando oportunidades económicas, sino que también estaban huyendo de la falta de libertad que estaban experimentando en Irlanda. Y después de unos doscientos años más tarde se unieron a la iglesia y, finalmente, hicieron el viaje a través de América. </div>
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Balinski: Cuando dices la iglesia ¿te refieres a la iglesia Mormona? </div>
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McMullin: La iglesia LDS, exactamente, la iglesia mormona y entonces también buscaban la libertad religiosa, hicieron el largo y arduo viaje a través del país hacia Utah, pero eso no es donde termina para mí. La familia de mi madre se escapó de Europa y el holocausto, algunos de ellos eran de la fe judía, y el fondo se escaparon de los nazis en Europa y llegaron a los Estados Unidos y se establearon en Filadelfia. Y sabe que todo eso—estas son cuentas clásicas Americanas, muchos Americanos tienen cuentas así de sus antepasados, y otros reconocemos que fueron traídos aquí en cautiverio y su lucha por la libertad fue más larga y ocurrió aquí en los Estado Unidos. Por lo tanto, no siempre hemos sido exactamente perfectos, pero esto, somos un país de refugiados y de inmigrantes y nos ha hecho fuertes y ¿por qué nos ha hecho fuerte? Nos ha hecho fuerte, porque siempre hemos sido un lugar donde la gente de todo el mundo creen que pueden venir y encontrar la libertad. Eso significa que las personas con las mejores ideas en la ciencia y la tecnología—sienten que pueden venir.</div>
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Balinski: Einstein fue un refugiado. </div>
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McMullin: Einstein exactamente, pudo venir a los Estados Unidos y construir sus sueños y luego como resultado nos construyó y nos hizo más fuertes y nos dio una mejor oportunidad de ser aún más fuerte para el bien del el mundo.</div>
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Balinski: Usted compartió algunas cosas personales con respecto a sus antepasados familiares y la forma en que pueden relacionarse con los refugiados procedentes de la oportunidad, la libertad. Me gustaría ir por el camino personal, sólo un poco más.<br />
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McMullin: Por supuesto.<br />
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Balinski: Así que usted trabajó en Jordania por un tiempo investigando y ayudando a los refugiados a instalarse en las Naciones Unidas y, después, regresó al Medio Oriente y trabajó como un agente de la Agencia Central de Inteligencia . ¿Cómo han estas experiencias dado forma a su visión de la crisis de refugiados?<br />
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McMullin: Esa es una gran pregunta. Ya sabes que lo que he aprendido trabajando en el espacio humanitario y en el espacio de la seguridad nacional, es que las crisis humanitarias y la seguridad nacional no son cosas separadas. No son, y no deben ser clasificados por separado, y creo que mucha gente hace eso , y recuerdo que solía ser un asesor en temas de seguridad nacional en el Congreso. Recuerdo que cuando estaba en conversaciones por ese trabajo, me preguntaron, ¿cree que la solución de terrorismo es más una cuestión humanitaria, un tema de gobierno, o es más de un militar emisión- tenemos que atacar y matar a la derrota y ¿terrorista? Y pensé, esto es interesante, que la pregunta estaba configurad de modo que uno o el otro, en realidad son los dos. temas de seguridad nacional y las cuestiones humanitarias son parte de la misma imagen en mi mente, y eso es uno de mis caminos principales para llevar es de haber trabajado en el espacio humanitario y en el espacio de la seguridad nacional y por lo que cuando , por ejemplo, veo que hay más de 5 millones de refugiados sirios ahora y que no incluye los desplazados internos que hemos hablado antes- el IDPs- eso es otro varios millones dentro de Siria y estas personas están viviendo como refugiados, sólo están todavía en Siria. Cuando miro , veo un problema humanitario , pero también veo un problema de seguridad nacional. ¿Por qué? Porque la mitad de esas personas son niños y estos son niños que son adolescentes, no reciben educación . No están en la escuela , no están en la escuela lo suficiente , que muchas veces no están siendo alimentados adecuadamente , que están en riesgo de ser explotados y luego radicalizaron también, y por lo que en un ambiente, en un lugar que está a ras con los terroristas , la última cosa que quiere es toda una generación de jóvenes que no está en la escuela y que no se está , ya sabes, no está siendo criada en una forma saludable , y por lo tanto se trata de una cuestión humanitaria y un tema de seguridad nacional y creo que tenemos que verlo- Muchos Americanos tienen interés desafortunadamente, tienen mas interés en problemas de la seguridad nacional que los problemas humanitarias, pero mi razonamiento es que ambos son los mismo, son parte del mismo imagen. Necesitamos preocuparnos de estos problemas gigantes de refugiados, especialmente en el Medio Oriente. Si no es por razones morales, que creo que son válidas y deben ser muy poderoso para nosotros, por razones de seguridad nacional.<br />
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Balinski: Ahora bien, en el pasado usted ha hablado de fortalecer el ataque ideológico contra el terrorismo, contra estos radicales. ¿Qué quiere decir con guerra ideológica?<br />
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McMullin: Quiero decir que tenemos que ganar la batalla de ideas. Entonces la guerra contra el terror - sucede en la manera normal pero también en secreto, y yo fui parte de eso como Oficial de Operaciones con la CIA, pero también necesitamos ganar - tal como lo hicimos en la Guerra Fría con el comunismo - necesitamos mostrar que nuestras ideas - los principios en que fundamos nuestra sociedad, que la ayuda a prosperar - son los de libertad y diversidad - Usted sabe, los principios de libertad individual y autogobierno y al darle poder a las personas. Necesitamos continuar a hacer el caso al mundo, especialmente a los del Medio Oriente quienes podrían ser susceptibles a la radicalización de un Islamista. Necesitamos presentarles la idea que la libertad y la tolerancia que la acompaña es una mejor opción. Y no creo que hemos tenido éxito con eso. Al-Qaida y ISIS han utilizado la prensa digital y las redes sociales, y les han acompañado muy bien en su éxito en el campo de batalla y han podido combinar ambas para reclutar muchas personas. Entonces necesitamos mejorar nuestra lucha en la batalla de ideas. ¿Qué quiere decir eso? Quiere decir que participemos en las redes sociales. Quiere decir que ayudemos a nuestros socios musulmanes y nuestros aliados musulmanes en la región, ayudar a los demás musulmanes ver que eso no es Islam verdadero, no es el tipo de Islam que debe avanzar ni ser practicado, necesitamos mejorar los esfuerzos de coordinación dentro del gobierno E.E.U.U. Tenemos un agente que hace una cosa y otro agente que hace otra cosa. Necesitamos que sean más organizados. Creo que necesitamos que el esfuerzo sea financiado mejor. Pero también necesitamos hacer un mejor trabajo, y hay esfuerzos ya - no digo que no - Somos partes de esfuerzos internacionales, solo creo que necesitan ser más fuertes y mejor orquestados.<br />
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Balinski: Si podemos volver a sus experiencias personales. ¿Hubo algunos momentos determinantes para usted, o individuos claves o refugiados que usted ha conocido personalmente que lo hayan impactado a usted y su perspectiva?<br />
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McMullin: Sí, absolutamente, hay uno en particular. Trabajé con muchos refugiados cuando yo estaba en Jordania y muchos de ellos, la mayoría de ellos fueron reasentados, si fueron reasentados fueron reasentados a Europa o Canadá, pero no sé completamente a dónde fueron todos ellos, pero el que yo conozco que vino a los Estados Unidos, era un hombre joven quien tenía, él era un iraquí. Los refugiados con los cuales yo trabajaba fueron somalíes y sirios y iraquíes más que todo, y el era universitario y veía el tipo de tortura y abuso que Saddam Hussein llevaba a cabo contra el pueblo iraquí- cosas terribles y si tuviéramos más tiempo, compartiría historias. Entonces él se oponía a Saddam Hussein él imprimió folletos que exigían la oposición, que la gente se levantara en contra de Saddam Hussein y él los distribuyó en todas partes, los dejó por su campus universitario, y el servicio de inteligencia, el servicio de inteligencia de Saddam, descubrió que él y algunos de sus amigos habían sido responsables, entonces lo arrestaron y lo llevaron a prisión y lo torturaron. Y mientras estaba en prisión él presenció la tortura de otras personas. Eventualmente lo liberaron. Creo que su gente pagó un soborno y lo liberaron- así funcionan las cosas en las dictaduras, entonces él se ocultó y su familia recaudó más fondos y pagaron a un contrabandista que lo llevaran al desierto en Irak camino hacia Jordania - es una historia increíble- y el contrabandista lo dejó en medio del desierto, le señaló la dirección correcta y él caminó muchos días hacia Jordania y eventualmente llegó. Podría haber muerto haciendo eso, pero cruzó la frontera en el desierto y fue descubierto por algunos nómadas en el desierto jordano y lo llevaron a seguridad y al fin él fue a Ammán donde lo entrevisté y yo era responsable por empezar el procedimiento de investigación con él. Tuvimos muchas entrevistas largas donde yo desafié su historia para asegurarme que todo era correcto y yo ya había trabajado en la CIA por mucho tiempo. Antes de eso, me tomé un año libre y en esta época trabajaba para la ONU, entonces yo sabía mucho de Iraq y mucho del ambiente y yo podría determinar muy bien si las historias tenían sentido o no, y su historia si tenía sentido y evalué que era un buen hombre joven- alguien que después podría ser examinado por cualquier país, y eventualmente los Estados Unidos dijo que estaba bien, creemos que queremos examinar a este hombre, entonces pasaron un año y medio examinándole y él vino a los Estados Unidos y ahora trabaja con el ejército EEUU, capacitando a las fuerzas especiales antes que salgan en misiones en contra del terrorismo. Y eso, eso es una historia americana típica y una historia típica de un refugiado. Creo que es una historia excepcional- es una historia en que alguien luchó por la libertad de donde estaba. Huyó cuando fue abusado porque quería sus derechos universales básicos, y es uno de los pocos que llegaron a los Estados Unidos y ahora es más patriótico que muchos americanos, y hace más para proteger nuestra libertad aquí en los Estados Unidos y la causa de libertad en todo el mundo que muchos americanos harán en toda la vida. Y creo que eso es algo que quiero que más americanos sepan- esta historia, y con suerte lo sabrán después de ver este video. Pero es por eso, esta es una razón por la cual los refugiados son tan importantes en nuestro país.<br />
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Balinski: Cambiemos de rumbo por un momento. Hablemos de la religión y el papel que hace tiene en el debate aquí. Cuatro de cinco americanos, según una encuesta reciente de Quinnipiac, dicen que creen que sea muy probable, o por lo menos probable, que un ataque grave pasará en el futuro cercano. Y la mayoría creen que va a ser por mano de musulmanes extremos. ¿Qué papel, si hay alguno, debería la inclinación de un refugiado a Islam impactar la manera en que están bienvenidos aquí?<br />
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McMullin: Nos enfrentaremos a otros ataques terroristas en este país. Creo- me da pena decirlo- pero creo que es el caso. Hemos sido muy afortunados bajo del liderazgo del Presidente Bush, y sé que puede ser muy controversial, pero después del 9-11, evitamos tener otro ataque terrorista grave o cualquier ataque terrorista en los Estados Unidos. Hemos sido menos afortunados recientemente, en años recientes, hay mucho que añade a eso. Es en parte porque hemos dejado que la amenaza terrorista islamista se difundae en una manera sin precedente con ISIS, entonces creo que las dudas de los americanos son válidosválidas, y francamente esao es una de las razones por las cuales yo me postulo como presidente, sabía desde el principio qué se necesita hacer para mejorar nuestra seguridad aquí en los estados unidos de en una manera que ninguno de los otros candidatos presidenciales sabenninguno de los otros candidatos presidenciales sabe. Y pienso que es tan muy importante que tengamos un presidente que sabe guiar en ese asunto.<br />
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Balinski: Entonces dice que las dudas son válidosválidas, pero ¿a qué punto debe la afiliación musulmana o religión musulmana de uno ser parte de…<br />
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McMullin: Pues creo que lo que necesitamos hacer primero es disociar la idea que musulmanes, Islam=terrorismo. No es asiasí. Simplemente no es asiasí. Hay un porcentaje pequeñísimo de musulmanes que son terroristas. Esao es la realidad. Hay mucha frustración en el mundo musulmán de muchas cosas y eso a veces puede conducirles a apoyar ael terrorismo, algunos de ellos, aunque no son terroristas. Eso es un problema también. Pero la mayoría de los musulmanes no son terroristas y no apoyan el terrorismo, y necesitamos empezar ahí.<br />
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Balinski: Perdón por interrumpir. En el pasado ha hablado de que los musulmanes han sido esenciales en a los esfuerzos en contra del terrorismo. ¿Puede elaborar?<br />
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McMullin: Absolutamente. Sí, y mire, yo diría primeramente que que los musulmanes han sido más atacados, más muertos, más lastimados por el terrorismo que aún nosotros como americanos, que necesitamos darnos cuenta que muchos más musulmanes han sido muertos por terroristas que americanos de cualquier tipo- musulmán, cristiano, judío, o cualquier otra fe, entonces ellos lo entienden también. La mayoría de los musulmanes están opuestos en contra delal terrorismo entonces necesitamos reconocer eso. Entonces, con eso como base podemos entender que tenemos aliados musulmanes en nuestros esfuerzos contra el terrorismo y sus países y su pueblo, verdad. Cuando yo trabajaba en la CIA habían muchos países que hicieron mucho para ayudarnos y también habían individuos quienes nos ayudaban afuera de lo que hacía su gobierno. Y francamente no podíamos tener ni tenemos éxito sin el apoyo de nuestros aliados y socios musulmanes. Y es porque estaban en la batalla con nosotros- estaban en la lucha con nosotros- o es porque ellos nos permitieron utilizar su lugar donde podíamos basar nuestras fuerzas especiales o operativos CIAs, o fuerzas militares tradicionales. Nos permitieron volar sobre su país en una operación antiterrorista, para tener éxito contra terroristas islamistas, necesitamos el apoyo de musulmanes y ellos nos quieren ayudar porque ellos, la mayoría de ellos también se oponen al terrorismo. Ellos ven que está destruyendo- no destruyendo-, lastimando su fe, y también está creando refugiados quienes son mayormente musulmanes en la región. Ellos lo ven también, y lo quieren resolver. Pero la verdad es que buscan liderazgo de los Estados Unidos- necesitan nuestro liderazgo porque sabemos organizar esos esfuerzos mejor que cualquier otro país y nos ven no guiando ahora y eso ha sido una fuente principal de frustración, y cuando tenemos candidatos presidenciales quienes atacan a los musulmanes y a otras personas basado en su fe, u origen étnico, eso también lastima su disposición de trabajar junto con nosotros, o sienten que no pueden trabajar con nosotros, porque piensan, -¿Qué pasó con América? América no soporta la libertad personal ni la libertad religiosa ni la tolerancia como antes. Estoy hablando mucho de eso, pero es un tema muy importante. Cuando eso pasa, lastima nuestro poder nacional- nuestro poder nacional viene de muchas fuentes diferentes, uno de ellos es nuestros valores principales sobre libertad y la tolerancia que viene con la libertad, libertades religiosas. Otros países ven eso, y dicen que aspiran a eso, otras personas aspiran a eso. Y confían en nosotros como resultado de eso- genera mucha buena voluntad y eso significa que estos países están dispuestos de trabajar con nosotros- confían que vamos a venir, por ejemplo, a basar equipo militar y personal militar en su territorio lo cual es una cosa muy única. La mayoría de países no invitarían el ejército de otro poder principal, especialmente a su propio territorio, porque sería una amenaza a su país. Pero países nos dejan hacer eso, aún piden que lo hagamos, por la buena voluntad que se genera por nuestros ideales, entonces cuando tenemos un candidato presidencial quien está violando esos ideales y quien profana esos ideales es un asalto directo a nuestro poder nacional.<br />
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Balinski: Tenemos tiempo paraor solo algunas preguntas más. Este problema es más grande que solo usted, es más grande que cualquier líder singular. ¿Qué pueden hacer americanos cotidianos para ayudar a la causa y combatir contra el crisisla crisis de los refugiados, la guerra contra el terrorismo?<br />
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McMullin: Excelente pregunta. La primera cosa es, necesitamos que todo el país esté a favor de que nuestros líderes tengan una estrategia comprensiva para derrotar ISIS y paraor parar lasos atrocidades que Bashar al-Assad está cometiendo en contra del pueblo sirio y paraor ayudar a los países a desarrollar un gobierno gobernanza mejor que les deja menos vulnerable a adquisiciones terroristas que ayudan a crear estoas crisis de refugiados. Tenemos que exigir de nuestros líderes que ellos tengan un plan, y se comprometaen a este plan, porque si no, la situación se va a poner peor. Cada día los refugiados se establecen por todo el país. Las personas deberían encontrar a organizaciones que ayudean refugiados a integrarse a nuestra sociedad, y encontrar trabajo y aprender inglés y todo eso. Todo americano tiene la oportunidad de involucrarse en este esfuerzo, y lo deben hacer. Eso es lo que quiero decir y finalmente en el caso que haya líderes que están atacando a los refugiados y están haciéndoles villanos, necesitamos resistir a esos líderes. Y necesitamos exigir que hablen la verdad, que reconozcan que hay un proceso para examinar a los refugiados y que les cuesta más a las organizaciones terroristas poner terroristas en los Estados Unidos por medio del proceso de los refugiados que por otros medios que son mucho más eficacesz y que tengan una probabilidad más grande, desafortunadamente, de éxito. Necesitamos asegurarnos que nuestros líderes hablan la verdad, porque muchas veces, con mucha frecuencia en los temas de la seguridad nacional y de los refugiados, nuestros líderes responden a una mentalidad de la multitud que ellos han ayudado a generar y no han dicho la verdad a la gente americana. Tenemos que decirlo a estos líderes, y asegurarnos que cuando hagan eso, no pueden salir sin consecuencias.<br />
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Balinski: Evan McMullin, muchas gracias.<br />
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McMullin: Gracias a usted.<br />
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Adam B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13635630634832831355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1773703444331042188.post-2678809301095134572016-09-08T11:00:00.000-07:002016-09-08T11:21:51.244-07:00Open letter to Utah TV stations: Host third party debates<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS20HS4UVSounS5glsLViybWbZUq4RvoTYimjn1Tb7YzfpM1sf7JdVRn5EhcBts2buE7f9fQYZdvgyyzI2_lIMzeeGK3aqSGZwl0ucCWT6Co51919uqD9R0AH8BDacRT9EyvhURrngAz7-/s1600/the+real+debate.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS20HS4UVSounS5glsLViybWbZUq4RvoTYimjn1Tb7YzfpM1sf7JdVRn5EhcBts2buE7f9fQYZdvgyyzI2_lIMzeeGK3aqSGZwl0ucCWT6Co51919uqD9R0AH8BDacRT9EyvhURrngAz7-/s400/the+real+debate.jpg" width="400" /></span></a><br />
I took a brief break from work to put some finishing touches on the following letter. I just got done reaching out to my friends at Utah television stations and sending each of them a copy to pass along to their respective news directors. Here's hoping something comes of this!<br />
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If you have<span style="font-family: inherit;">n't signed the </span><a href="https://www.change.org/p/nbc-third-party-debates-2016" style="font-family: inherit;">petition</a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> or joined our </span>Facebook<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/3rdpartydebates/" style="font-family: inherit;">group</a><span style="font-family: inherit;">, please do. Thanks for your support and uniting in this gre</span>at cause! I will keep you posted on how things progress.<br />
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Dear KSL, KUTV, FOX13, ABC4, and KBYU,<br />
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Major television stations and networks need to begin hosting debates between third party presidential candidates. The Republican candidates had their debates. The Democrats have had theirs. Now it is time to give the proper attention to third party candidates. I am contacting you because I believe Utah is the best market to get the ball rolling on this. I can guarantee you that if you air such a debate, people will watch. There are at least three huge reasons that this is a credible guarantee.<br />
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First, two of the major third party candidates, namely Gary Johnson and Evan McMullin, have their headquarters in Utah. Whether Utah likes it or not, it has become the front lines for third party campaigns.<br />
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Second, a recent poll suggests that 24% of Utahns are planning on voting third party and 14% remain undecided. We’re talking about hundreds of thousands of people in Utah alone who are seriously considering alternatives to Trump and Hillary. Nationally, 44% of Americans want a third party candidate in the general election, according to a CNN poll. This comes as no surprise when polling also suggests that a super majority of Americans dislike Trump and a super majority of Americans distrust Clinton.<br />
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Third, thousands of people, nationwide, have signed various petitions demanding third party candidates be allowed debate access. See, e.g., Include All Qualified Candidates in 2016 Presidential Debates, 15,325 supporters; Allow third party candidates into the general election debates, 6790 supporters; Let Viable Third-Party Candidates Into the General Election Presidential Debates, 15326 supporters; Have third parties represented in the 2016 Presidential election debates, 977 supporters; Add Candidates Jill Stein and Gary Johnson to the National Presidential TV Debates, 5737 supporters; Hold Inclusive Presidential Debates in 2016, 1780 supporters; We Will Never Vote for Hillary: INCLUDE JILL STEIN IN PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES, 64,304 supporters; etc.<br />
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It may be true that neither Clinton nor Trump nor the Commission on Presidential Debates would agree to a debate with a third party candidate. But that does not have to mean that there cannot be debates. There is no reason for not hosting separate debates between third party candidates, in addition to whatever debates may take place with Trump or Hillary in the future. Millions of Americans want to vote third party but need avenues, like debates, to weigh third party options against one another. Because of this, I started my<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.change.org/p/nbc-third-party-debates-2016" style="font-size: 12pt;">own petition</a><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">,</span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;"> </span>only a few days ago, specifically aimed at bringing about debates between third party candidates. It already has hundreds of signatures.<br />
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What would it take to make this happen? What are your hesitations to this? Whatever they are, let me know and I will do all I can to rally folks to overcome any roadblocks.<br />
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Sincerely,<br />
<br />
Adam Balinski</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/3rdpartydebates/">Third Party Debates</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Media contacts for each third party campaign:<br />Gary Johnson - Media@johnsonweld.com <br />Evan McMullin - press@evanmcmullin.com <br />Darrell Castle - commsdirector@constitutionparty.com<br />Jill Stein - press@jill2016.com</span><br />
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---------------<br />
Dig this sort of discussion? Then check out this blog post, which helped get this all going.<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 16px;"><a href="http://www.rethbo.org/2016/08/an-open-letter-to-america-vote-your.html">Open letter to America: Vote your conscience, not an un-choice</a></span></div>
Adam B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13635630634832831355noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1773703444331042188.post-68656295042330468572016-08-27T15:21:00.000-07:002016-09-08T11:44:12.207-07:00Open letter to America: Vote your conscience, not an un-choice<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/N5XNK8U46lo?rel=0" width="630"></iframe>
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Dear America,</div>
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This is not a letter about the merits of my favorite presidential candidate, though I have been very open about <a href="https://www.evanmcmullin.com/issues">whom</a> I currently support. This is about something far more important. This is a rallying cry to resuscitate a democracy that seems to be suffocating.</div>
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Imagine with me for a moment three friends by a water cooler.</div>
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<i>Friend 1: No, I don't like A, but I voted for A because I hate B. I actually like C more, but I'm no idiot: C didn't stand a chance, just like the other wackos, D, E, and F.</i></div>
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<i>Friend 2: Totally. I actually loath A and came to love D, but I didn't want to risk giving the country to B. There is no doubt: B would have single-handedly destroyed the world as we know it.</i></div>
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<i>Friend 3: So, yeah... I didn't vote. A and B are both disappointing. But I didn't bother to think about any of the others, like C or D or whomever.</i></div>
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<i>The day is November 9, 2016. And those reflections, whether spoken or unspoken, are far too common across America<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">.</span></i></div>
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At least that is how the day after the presidential election will be if the majority of Americans continue to choose captivity to fear and a broken two-party system, or worse, political bondage by ignorance and idleness.</div>
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In America, we're as free as we choose to be. Candidates don't win or lose; we, the people, simply choose. And right now, America is paradoxically choosing its un-choice. </div>
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Polls regarding Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are consistent about at least one thing: The majority of Americans <a href="http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/other/clinton_favorableunfavorable-1131.html">dislike</a> and <a href="http://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/poll-voters-dislike-clinton-and-trump">distrust</a> both. Generally, people hate Trump more, but trust Clinton less. A <a href="http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/other/clinton_favorableunfavorable-1131.html">super majority</a> of Americans don't like Trump and a <a href="http://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/poll-voters-dislike-clinton-and-trump">super majority</a> don't trust Clinton. No one in his or her right mind would hire a babysitter, let alone a roofer, he or she didn't trust, but <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/clinton-leads-trump-by-5-points_us_57c0a25ee4b085c1ff296063">we're about to elect</a> such a president.</div>
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And think about this for a moment: <a href="http://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/poll-voters-dislike-clinton-and-trump">One-third</a> of people who say they plan on voting for Clinton say they're doing it primarily to hurt Trump and a <a href="http://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/poll-voters-dislike-clinton-and-trump">super majority</a> on the Trump side say they're doing it to hurt Clinton.</div>
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In a nutshell, we (speaking for the majority) don't like Trump and Clinton; we don't even trust them. But one of them is about to be Commander in Chief.</div>
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That is unless everyday folks like you and I get off our rears, stop playing to our fears, and declare our independence.</div>
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<b>Declare independence from ignorance.</b> Invest effort to study out all the candidates, not just the candidates two political parties have heaved upon us<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">—</span>parties to which <a href="https://www.evanmcmullin.com/issues">more than 40% of Americans</a> do not subscribe. You have no excuse. Each candidate is only a click away. Alternatives to Trump and Clinton include leaders like <a href="http://www.castlereport.us/">Darrell Castle</a>, <a href="https://www.evanmcmullin.com/issues">Evan McMullin</a>, <a href="https://www.johnsonweld.com/issues">Gary Johnson</a>, and <a href="http://www.jill2016.com/plan">Jill Stein</a>.</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzXTkmkcR7LLralf97hGKOrCE3dSRBwoujOApB_Rzi8oYwKfPYAom6ofl-iEEPu9GndQXAyvFckxHu_0iUaA2ayzgtTnE_TraaJz55BqVsoXksvEwEuiexbT9Iu6N1xxCwE3secWlCbC_F/s1600/options.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzXTkmkcR7LLralf97hGKOrCE3dSRBwoujOApB_Rzi8oYwKfPYAom6ofl-iEEPu9GndQXAyvFckxHu_0iUaA2ayzgtTnE_TraaJz55BqVsoXksvEwEuiexbT9Iu6N1xxCwE3secWlCbC_F/s320/options.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">America, you have options.</td></tr>
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<b>Declare independence from fear.</b> Vote for the candidate you <i>personally</i> like and trust most, even if you have to write him or her in. It doesn't have to be one iota more complicated than that.</div>
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A vote primarily based on candidate popularity is not much of a vote at all. Predictor polls aren't there to tell you how to vote. They are there to tell you how hard you still need to work to get the best candidate into office. Sure, if you try to vote with the masses, you'll have a better chance of saying on November 9, "I won! I voted for the next president!" But such a victory is hollow and hides within it a grave loss: the loss of living authentic and actually making a difference. (If you end up voting for Clinton or Trump because you sincerely believe in one of them, by all means vote that way; just don't vote for one or the other by default, or worse, out of submission.) </div>
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<b>Finally, declare independence from silence.</b> Tell others who you actually believe in and why. If you like them, they deserve the attention.</div>
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It's time for America to unshackle itself from any moral or political cowardice.</div>
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This is not supposed to be a land of fear and a home of two-party slaves. God bless the land of the free and the home of the brave!</div>
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Sincerely,</div>
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An everyday American<br />
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Help me make this happen: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/3rdpartydebates/">Third Part Debates 2016</a> / <a href="https://www.change.org/p/nbc-third-party-debates-2016">Sign Petition</a><br />
Also, consider supporting this cause: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/OpenTheDebates">Open the Debates</a> / <a href="https://www.change.org/p/commission-on-presidential-debates-include-all-qualified-candidates-in-2016-presidential-debates">Sign Petition</a></div>
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<i>"Ignorance, when voluntary, is criminal, and a man may be properly charged with that evil which he neglected or refused to learn how to prevent."</i> - Samuel Johnson<br />
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<i>"If we are to guard against ignorance and remain free, as Jefferson cautioned, it is the responsibility of every American to be informed."</i> - Ronald Reagan<br />
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<i>"It is better to be unborn than untaught, for ignorance is at the root of all misfortune."</i> - Plato<br />
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***UPDATE***<br />
I just sent the following letter to all of the Utah news stations:<br />
<a href="http://www.rethbo.org/2016/09/open-letter-to-utah-tv-stations-host.html">Open letter to Utah TV stations: Host Third Party Debates</a><br />
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Adam B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13635630634832831355noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1773703444331042188.post-51128748883324916572016-07-31T10:58:00.003-07:002016-07-31T20:22:26.082-07:00A favorite Sunday tradition<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGSdQrZscNMLCEsW17yg4UUpGvf93W-ZrO0klran9HEPrqNyQfeUlpOR81XYGenpJ33aJeiohCU5zdt96B2nkWAXRaC_SLwGCvXJQOpRw2ieOKcIoC9uCvHl5f37Hdwox1EOqPWLhuAJZ6/s1600/IMG_20160731_092808493+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGSdQrZscNMLCEsW17yg4UUpGvf93W-ZrO0klran9HEPrqNyQfeUlpOR81XYGenpJ33aJeiohCU5zdt96B2nkWAXRaC_SLwGCvXJQOpRw2ieOKcIoC9uCvHl5f37Hdwox1EOqPWLhuAJZ6/s400/IMG_20160731_092808493+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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Getting ready for church with three young kids can be chaos. It's often stressful and sometimes easy to feel like the Sabbath is anything but a "day of rest." It's not uncommon to get out the door late, leaving in our wake a home that looks like it's been hit by a tsunami.<br />
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But a couple years ago, we began a Sunday morning tradition that has really helped create a feeling of peace and love in our home during that otherwise hectic time. Our place is still usually pretty messy and sometimes we still get to church late, but it's a much more enjoyable process for everyone. When we get to church, we tend to be more spiritually prepared.<br />
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Here's what we do: We plug our kids in. I know, it sounds like lazy parenting, but in this situation, it's been very effective. We don't just plug them into anything. We cast uplifting, religious, kid friendly YouTube videos to our TV. Often when we let our kids watch shows during the week, our kids get cranky, but watching these particular shows usually has the opposite effect. Our kids have really grown to love this tradition and they often request to watch what they affectionately call "Jesus movies" each Sabbath.<br />
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They sit and snuggle. Sometimes we join them (that's the best). They get up and play together, while the shows continue to stream in the background. They stop and watch some more. They play some more. We usually get the kids ready one at a time while this is happening. It's been a decent recipe for low-key goodness.<br />
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We asked our oldest kids what some of their favorite "Jesus movies" were and they helped us put together a playlist. We'll try to add to it as time goes on. Let us know if you have any favorites that we should add to ours! Also, we'd love to hear what your family has done to make Sundays special. We're always looking for more ideas. God bless!<br />
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Here's the playlist our kids helped us put together, enjoy!<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/videoseries?list=PLe_nn6sR2-TdGSfmeYAlwe7Ugpkhqx-f7" width="640"></iframe>Adam B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13635630634832831355noreply@blogger.com1Provo, UT, USA40.2338438 -111.6585337000000240.0399588 -111.98125720000002 40.427728800000004 -111.33581020000003tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1773703444331042188.post-62427449864747942492016-05-19T13:59:00.002-07:002016-08-29T09:16:59.386-07:00NFL concussion settlement: Who wins, who loses<div style="text-align: center;">
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzJk3BIG2fjQrDHTFUcKui8WpSuSa-F8HFOQmzRq2UKR0B70LAyjL8Y1gijVYNeY-fzEgZwEUV61PwKkfMW-eE-ChgCddKM-8OQcSd3wyyeOgDsBOvn-5JeOazaOH1QeqMROSOKvcDRDQa/s1600/football.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzJk3BIG2fjQrDHTFUcKui8WpSuSa-F8HFOQmzRq2UKR0B70LAyjL8Y1gijVYNeY-fzEgZwEUV61PwKkfMW-eE-ChgCddKM-8OQcSd3wyyeOgDsBOvn-5JeOazaOH1QeqMROSOKvcDRDQa/s400/football.png" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">Image by Artamp</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;">Though a court recently
found no “obvious” red flags in the proposed concussion settlement between the
NFL and thousands of ex-players, the settlement is fundamentally unfair.</span><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">[1]</span></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;"> True, it’s generally easy
to accuse class action settlements of unfairness.</span><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">[2]</span></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;"> But the proposed NFL
settlement—even in its current mutation—merits a double-helping of criticism.</span><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">[3]</span></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;"> The settlement gives only some
players a fair shake while others get the shaft. All the while, the NFL wins big.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; text-align: center;">Concussion Settlement Basics: The NFL’s Victory</span></h3>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="background: white; font-family: inherit;">The
settlement’s basic terms are easy enough to understand: All 20,000-plus retired
NFL football players, except those who opted out, will <i>forever</i> forfeit rights to sue the NFL for health problems related
to head trauma.<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">[4]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span>
In return, each ex-player can receive <i>limited</i>
compensation for <i>only specific </i>health
problems related to head trauma.<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">[5]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span> Though ex-players don’t have to do anything
to prove the NFL actually is to blame for their cognitive problems,<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">[6]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span> the NFL—thanks to the
settlement’s recently updated terms—has unlimited appeals in challenging each
individual claim.<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">[7]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span> </span><br />
<span style="background: white; font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span>
<span style="background: white; font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;">For likely less than one-tenth of the NFL’s annual revenue,<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">[8]</span></span></span> the NFL will shield itself
from potentially “billions in liability” and “embarrassing discovery . . . </span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;">likely
to draw new attention to the medical histories of former players from as far
back as the 1940s,”</span><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">[9]</span></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;">
without having to admit any wrong-doing.</span><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">[10]</span></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Further, despite the lead plaintiff’s well-publicized goal of forcing the NFL
“into changes, including changes to players’ practice routines,”</span><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">[11]</span></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;">
or “ensuring that future generations of football players do not suffer” as they
have in the past,</span><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">[12]</span></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;">
nothing in the settlement actually mandates any specific changes in the way the
league is run.</span><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">[13]</span></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;"> In
a fair settlement, compromises are made by </span><i style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;">both</i><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;">
parties. But here, some have complained, “[T]his is everything the N.F.L.
wanted.”</span><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">[14]</span></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></span></span>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;">The Players That Do Okay</span></h3>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;">The settlement
treats thousands of current retirees with </span><i style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;">known
</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;">brain problems alright, presenting them a transparent offer to fast-track
recovery. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;">Not all injured
former players have the luxury of the time in litigating their individual
claims. The proposed settlement meets at least one key goal by “help[ing] guys
who need it now.”</span><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">[15]</span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;"> One way the settlement
accelerates the timeline is by offering remedies without former players having
to prove the NFL is in fact responsible for the cognitive problems suffered.</span><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">[16]</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Adam/Downloads/Balinski.%20Concussion.%20Rough%20Draft.%2011-17-14.docx#_ftn16" name="_ftnref16" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[endif]--></span></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;">Further,
diseased ex-players have a better idea than those who currently appear healthy
what the settlement actually means for them. The terms of the settlement were well
publicized and any ex-player or family of deceased ex-players had the freedom to
opt out.</span><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">[17]</span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Those facing known issues could make educated decisions about the fairness of
the terms in respect to their specific problems. It is telling that some of the
former players and player families burdened with known challenges considered
what the settlement offered and opted out.</span><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">[18]</span></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Adam/Downloads/Balinski.%20Concussion.%20Rough%20Draft.%2011-17-14.docx#_ftn18" name="_ftnref18" title=""><br /></a></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Adam/Downloads/Balinski.%20Concussion.%20Rough%20Draft.%2011-17-14.docx#_ftn18" name="_ftnref18" title=""><!--[endif]--></a></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;">The Players That Lose</span></span></h3>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="background: white; font-family: inherit;">Many former NFL
players do not know what damage was done to their brains over the years playing
football. They do not know which, if any, diseases will affect them in the
future or too what magnitude. For such players, the settlement is a terrible
deal.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<h4>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;">Unfair Timing</span></h4>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">First, the timing of the settlement is unfair for two reasons: it forces former players with diseases that have not yet manifested themselves to bargain in the dark. Second, while a public hearing will scrutinize the fairness of the settlement, that hearing will only happen after the opt out window has closed.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Unlike other class actions,
where you have a pretty good idea of your injuries before opting in or out,
many retired players have no idea which diseases, if any, will affect them. How
are such players supposed to critically read the settlement’s terms when they
do not know which terms will be personally relevant? The settlement lists many
diseases, and to the casual reader without a specific disease in mind, it would
be easy to assume it protects every problem relating to head trauma, but it
does not.<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">[19]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span> The
terms of the settlement force undiagnosed players to make a choice before they
know what they are bargaining away.<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">[20]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span>
This is a fundamental problem with the nature of this settlement and not
something tweaking a term or two of the agreement could adequately address.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;">Additionally, the timing of the opt-out period forced players to make premature decisions about the settlement’s fairness. Players had to decide whether to opt out of the proposed settlement before October 14—more than one month before the settlements fairness hearing on November 19.</span><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">[21]</span></span></span><span style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;"> Thus, if new issues about the settlement came to their attention at the hearing, they are powerless to remove themselves from the class action. Therefore, the opt-out period should be extended until after the fairness hearing.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<h4>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;">Player Peer Pressure</span></h4>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">The pressure to jump on the settlement bandwagon was more than that
found in a typical class action. Unlike a typical class action settlement where
a hodgepodge of previously unconnected people are united by an accident, this
settlement “involves emotional nuance </span>because the retirees were
teammates, friends . . . bonded by a sport that in many ways has shaped them as
adults.”<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">[22]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;">Attorneys, who “stand to get $112.5 million . . . if the deal goes through,”</span><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">[23]</span></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;">
have used that nuance to shame former players into accepting the settlement.
For example, Craig Mitnick, an attorney representing former players,</span><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">[24]</span></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;">
has said players who criticize the settlement are "basically putting their
middle finger up to [their peers] suffering from dementia or Alzheimer's or
Parkinson's[,] . . . delaying medical treatment[,] . . . ignoring the fact that
there are people out there that need this now … and . . . attempting to hold
this thing up for their own selfish purpose."</span><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">[25]</span></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;">
While there may not be anything the settlement’s terms themselves can do to
remedy such unfair peer pressure, it is important be aware of.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;">Holes in Compensation Plan</span></span></h4>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The initial proposed settlement
was shot down by the court for primarily one concern: Despite what financial
experts from both sides agreed,<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">[26]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span>
the judge—completely unassisted by a financial expert at the time—felt there
was a chance that the $765 million to be set aside by the NFL would be insufficient
to sustain the agreement’s 65-year lifespan.<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">[27]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span>
Consequently, mainstream media has focused almost exclusively on that rather <i>remote </i>danger without adequately
scrutinizing other aspects of the settlement. Thus, when the NFL removed the $765
million cap and made the potential payout “unlimited,” the public largely
embraced the updated settlement as a victory for NFL players.<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">[28]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span>
For example, lead plaintiff Kevin Turner quickly celebrated the new settlement: “[T]his settlement is guaranteed
to be there for any retired player who needs it.”<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">[29]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span> Chris
Seeger, an attorney representing NFL players, has framed the new settlement as
a “100% guarantee” and stated, “There is no scenario where a player won’t get
paid.”<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">[30]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span>
Slightly better, yes: The remote danger of the settlement’s funds running out is
gone. But the settlement’s current terms are still far from a “100% guarantee”
for anyone and there <i>are</i> former players suffering, and who will suffer, from
brain trauma that <i>won’t</i> get paid.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;">First, mood or behavioral
problems stemming from head trauma are not compensated.</span><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">[31]</span></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Mood and behavioral problems can impact quality of life just as much as
cognitive problems. However, it may be unfair to the force the NFL to compensate
mood or behavioral problems without any proof of cause. Thus, players should
have to prove at a least a minimal correlation between such problems and their
participation in the NFL; previously existing problems should not be
compensated.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;">Second, former players with only
minor or even moderate problems do not qualify for compensation—the payouts are
only for those who are “severely impaired” or “almost fully dependent on
another person for most activities of daily living.”</span><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">[32]</span></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Even minor problems, if shown to correlate with professional football, should
be compensable. The settlement’s scaling of damages is good, but the scale
should extend to cover</span><i style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;"> all</i><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;"> wrongs,
not just the</span><i style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;"> big</i><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;"> ones.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Third, the testing that
determines compensation under the settlement is questionable. Oddly, some of
the testing looks for some things which do not affect player compensation at
all.<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">[33]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span>
But inefficiency is not its greatest problem. The testing is not appropriate
for every disease covered in the settlement.<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">[34]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span>
Moreover, it is not appropriate for older patients—those most likely to try to
receive compensation.<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">[35]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span>
Finally, the settlement requires review at a frequency—every ten years<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">[36]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span>—that
likely does not keep pace with medical advances in brain trauma treatment and
diagnosis. It has been predicted that likely in less than ten years great
progress will be made in diagnosing some diseases linked to brain trauma.<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">[37]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span>
If that proves to be the case, there may be undue delay in incorporating improved
methods into the NFL’s test battery. To fix this problem, the settlement should
mandate a review of testing procedures at least every five years and have an
independent committee decide which tests are most appropriate for all impacted
ages.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Fourth, at least one key brain
disease linked to repetitive trauma is ill-addressed in the compensation plan:
Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). CTE “is associated with memory loss,
confusion, impaired judgment, impulse control problems, aggression, depression,
and, eventually, progressive dementia.”<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">[38]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span>
CTE has been <span style="background: white;">“found in many dead ex-players.”<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">[39]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span> Harshly, even
though pre-death symptoms are beginning to be identifiable, CTE is only
compensable at all if it <i>kills</i> you.<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">[40]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;">Compounding the unfairness, CTE is only compensable if it killed you before
July 7.</span><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">[41]</span></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Thus, any retired football player—or more accurately, any family of a retired
football player—killed by CTE </span><i style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;">during</i><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;">
the 65-years of the settlement’s lifespan cannot receive </span><i style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;">any </i><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;">compensation for it. Further, it may be “decades after the last
brain trauma or end of active athletic involvement” before CTE manifests
itself, meaning that some retired players who failed to opt out of the
settlement may not have any clue CTE will affect them.</span><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">[42]</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The way
attorneys <i>charged with protecting NFL
players' collective interests</i><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">[43]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span>
try to justify CTE’s mistreatment in the settlement plan falls short. Rather
than to save the NFL potentially millions of dollars in liability, they say
that the “July 7 cutoff was added to take away any financial incentive for
suffering players to commit suicide.”<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">[44]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span> First, it is difficult to
imagine that a player would consider killing himself to get money he, as a dead
man, cannot spend. Second, even if some players could be tempted to take their
own lives to financially benefit loved ones because the settlement offers up to
$4 million for CTE if it kills you,<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">[45]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span> the appropriate solution
is not to further <i>limit</i> the
compensation plan as attorneys have, but to <i>expand
</i>it to fairly compensate <i>the living</i>
who suffer from CTE. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<h3>
<span style="background: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;">Conclusion</span></span></h3>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Some have argued
the NFL won nothing in this case because no one should be compensated for
assuming known risks,<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">[46]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span> but only the NFL and the
players themselves know whether the actual risks were truly understood. While
the settlement is no official acceptance of fault on the part of the NFL,<a href="file:///C:/Users/Adam/Downloads/Balinski.%20Concussion.%20Rough%20Draft.%2011-17-14.docx#_ftn47" name="_ftnref47" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">[47]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> </span>the
NFL will not have to answer under oath why its Mild Traumatic Brain Committee “<span style="background: white;">was once led by a rheumatologist with no previous
expertise in brain research.”<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">[48]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span> Or, whether that
committee, as players have alleged, “not only denied a link between football
and brain injury, . . . [but] also waged aggressive attacks against mounting
medical research showing that repetitive hits to the head lead to conditions
such as depression and dementia.”<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">[49]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;">Sure, players
who are currently racing against their degenerative clocks, or the families of
those already deceased, should be able to manage alright under the settlement.
Those people knew enough to make educated decisions about whether to seize the
quick remedy or to opt out and chance an independent suit. However, some ex-players
have been pressured into giving up unknown rights in exchange for an offer full
of holes—holes that many such players will inevitably fall into.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div>
<!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br clear="all" /></span>
<br />
<!--[endif]-->
<br />
<div id="ftn1">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Adam/Downloads/Balinski.%20Concussion.%20Rough%20Draft.%2011-17-14.docx#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> <span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Turner v. NFL (<i>In re</i> NFL Players' Concussion Injury Litig.), 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS
91534, 14 (E.D. Pa. 2014)</span>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn2">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Adam/Downloads/Balinski.%20Concussion.%20Rough%20Draft.%2011-17-14.docx#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> <i><span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">See</span></i> Melissa
Hart, <i><span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Will
Employment Discrimination Class Actions Survive?</span></i><span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">, 37 <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Akron
L. Rev.</span> 813</span>, 835–36 (2004) (“Lawyers, judges, academics, and the
media complain that<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="sssh"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">class actions</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>are used to force settlement of
meritless claims; that they are primarily tools of collusion between defendants
and plaintiffs' counsel; and that absent plaintiffs are not adequately
represented by plaintiffs' counsel who seek only whatever resolution will
maximize their attorney's fees.”) .<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn3">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Adam/Downloads/Balinski.%20Concussion.%20Rough%20Draft.%2011-17-14.docx#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> The
first edition of the proposed settlement was shot down, but the second—and
current—has preliminary court approval. <i>Turner</i>,<span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"> 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS at 4, 35. The second
mutation, born after six months of additional negotiation, <i>id.</i>, has been trumpeted as a “win-win” for all, </span>Andy DeGory,
<i>New Concussion Settlement a Win-Win</i>, <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">SI.com</span> (June 26, 2014),
http://mmqb.si.com/2014/06/26/new-concussion-settlement-kevin-turner/, <span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">but is debatably even worse than the first.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn4">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Adam/Downloads/Balinski.%20Concussion.%20Rough%20Draft.%2011-17-14.docx#_ftnref4" name="_ftn4" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;">[4]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> <i>Turner</i>,<span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"> 2014 U.S.
Dist. LEXIS at 70</span> (“<span style="background: white;">Unless you exclude
yourself (opt out) from the Settlement, . . . you cannot sue the NFL Parties,
the Member Clubs, or related individuals and entities, or be part of any other
lawsuit against the NFL Parties about the issues in this case.</span>”).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn5">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Adam/Downloads/Balinski.%20Concussion.%20Rough%20Draft.%2011-17-14.docx#_ftnref5" name="_ftn5" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;">[5]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><i><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> Id.</span></i><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> at 9–10,
45–46.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn6">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Adam/Downloads/Balinski.%20Concussion.%20Rough%20Draft.%2011-17-14.docx#_ftnref6" name="_ftn6" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;">[6]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> <i>Id.</i> at 9.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn7">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Adam/Downloads/Balinski.%20Concussion.%20Rough%20Draft.%2011-17-14.docx#_ftnref7" name="_ftn7" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;">[7]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> <i>Id.</i>
at 10; DeGory, <i>supra </i>note 3 (“One change of note is that
the NFL’s ability to appeal claims is now unlimited, whereas they were limited to
10 appeals a year in the July agreement. Some argue that this could give the
league a loophole to minimize claims.”).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn8">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Adam/Downloads/Balinski.%20Concussion.%20Rough%20Draft.%2011-17-14.docx#_ftnref8" name="_ftn8" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;">[8]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> Though
the settlement amount is now unlimited on paper, it would not likely exceed $765
million in reality. <i>See </i>DeGory, <i>supra
</i>note 3 (explaining analysts
representing both the NFL and the players have agreed that $765 million should
be enough). In contrast, the NFL rakes in roughly $9.2 billion annually. Ira
Boudway, <i>The NFL's Secret Finances: A $10
Billion Mystery, </i><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">BusinessWeek.com (</span>Sep.
4, 2014<span style="font-variant: small-caps;">), </span>http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-09-04/nfls-secretive-finances-a-nearly-10-billion-mystery.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn9">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Adam/Downloads/Balinski.%20Concussion.%20Rough%20Draft.%2011-17-14.docx#_ftnref9" name="_ftn9" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;">[9]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> Jason
M. Breslow, <i>NFL Reaches $765 Million
Settlement in Concussion Lawsuit</i>, <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">PBS.org</span>
(Aug. 29, 2013, 4:57 PM), http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/sports/league-of-denial/nfl-reaches-765-million-settlement-in-concussion-lawsuit/<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn10">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Adam/Downloads/Balinski.%20Concussion.%20Rough%20Draft.%2011-17-14.docx#_ftnref10" name="_ftn10" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;">[10]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> <i>Turner</i>,<span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"> 2014 U.S.
Dist. LEXIS at 45.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn11">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Adam/Downloads/Balinski.%20Concussion.%20Rough%20Draft.%2011-17-14.docx#_ftnref11" name="_ftn11" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;">[11]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> Michael
David Smith, Kevin Turner, Suffering from
ALS, Explains why he’s Suing the NFL, NBCSPORTS.COM (June 7, 2012, 12:04
PM),
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/06/07/kevin-turner-suffering-from-als-explains-why-hes-suing-the-nfl/.<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn12">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Adam/Downloads/Balinski.%20Concussion.%20Rough%20Draft.%2011-17-14.docx#_ftnref12" name="_ftn12" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;">[12]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> DeGory,
<i>supra </i>note 3.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn13">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Adam/Downloads/Balinski.%20Concussion.%20Rough%20Draft.%2011-17-14.docx#_ftnref13" name="_ftn13" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;">[13]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> <i>See </i><i>Turner</i>,<span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"> 2014 U.S.
Dist. LEXIS at 35–82</span>. Though there is a small victory in that “[t]he NFL
will . . . allocate $10 million toward medical, safety, and injury-prevention
research and toward educating retired players on NFL benefits
programs." Ryan Wilson, <i>NFL,
Former Players Reach Settlement in Concussion Lawsuit</i>, <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">CBSSports.com</span> (Aug. 29, 2013, 12:41 PM),
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/23380915/nfl-former-players-reach-settlement-in-concussion-lawsuit
(internal quotations omitted). Contrast the NFL concussion settlement with the
proposed NCAA settlement which imposes strict rules like prohibiting any
athlete playing with a concussion. <i>NCAA
reaches proposed settlement in concussion lawsuit</i>, <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">NCAA.com</span> (Jun. 30, 2014),
http://www.ncaa.com/news/ncaa/article/2014-07-29/ncaa-reaches-proposed-settlement-concussion-lawsuit.
There is no good reason why the NFL settlement should not include similar
mandates.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn14">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Adam/Downloads/Balinski.%20Concussion.%20Rough%20Draft.%2011-17-14.docx#_ftnref14" name="_ftn14" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;">[14]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> <span style="background: white;">Ken Belson, <i>When
Settlement Buys Time</i>, <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">N.Y. Times</span>
(July 18, 2014) [hereinafter Belson, <i>Buys
Time</i>], <i>available at</i>
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/19/sports/football/former-nfl-players-make-difficult-choice-in-opposing-concussion-settlement.html?_r=1
(quoting Sean Morey, former NFL player against the current settlement
agreement).</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn15">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Adam/Downloads/Balinski.%20Concussion.%20Rough%20Draft.%2011-17-14.docx#_ftnref15" name="_ftn15" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;">[15]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> <span style="background: white;">Brent Schrotenboer, <i>Ex-Players Clash on NFL
Concussion Lawsuit Settlement</i>, <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">USA
Today</span> (Aug. 19, 2014, 6:20 PM),
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2014/08/19/nfl-concussion-lawsuit-settlement-sean-morey-plaintiffs/14303249/
(quoting Shawn Wooden, a former player).</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn16">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Adam/Downloads/Balinski.%20Concussion.%20Rough%20Draft.%2011-17-14.docx#_ftnref16" name="_ftn16" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;">[16]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><i><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Turner</span></i><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">,<span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"> 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS </span>at 9–10, 45–46.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn17">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Adam/Downloads/Balinski.%20Concussion.%20Rough%20Draft.%2011-17-14.docx#_ftnref17" name="_ftn17" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;">[17]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> <i>Id. </i>at
31–32.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn18">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Adam/Downloads/Balinski.%20Concussion.%20Rough%20Draft.%2011-17-14.docx#_ftnref18" name="_ftn18" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;">[18]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> E<i>.g.,</i> <span style="background: white;">Belson<i>,
Buys Time</i>, <i>supra</i> note 14. (stating that other athletes and the
family of Junior Seau, a former NFL player, opted out of the settlement and
will sue independently). </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn19">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Adam/Downloads/Balinski.%20Concussion.%20Rough%20Draft.%2011-17-14.docx#_ftnref19" name="_ftn19" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;">[19]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> <i>Turner</i>,<span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"> 2014 U.S.
Dist. LEXIS </span>at 61.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn20">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Adam/Downloads/Balinski.%20Concussion.%20Rough%20Draft.%2011-17-14.docx#_ftnref20" name="_ftn20" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;">[20]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> <i>Id.</i>
at 70.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn21">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Adam/Downloads/Balinski.%20Concussion.%20Rough%20Draft.%2011-17-14.docx#_ftnref21" name="_ftn21" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;">[21]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> <i>Id.</i>
at 41.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn22">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Adam/Downloads/Balinski.%20Concussion.%20Rough%20Draft.%2011-17-14.docx#_ftnref22" name="_ftn22" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;">[22]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> <span style="background: white;">Belson<i>, Buys Time</i>, <i>supra</i> note 14. </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn23">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Adam/Downloads/Balinski.%20Concussion.%20Rough%20Draft.%2011-17-14.docx#_ftnref23" name="_ftn23" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;">[23]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> <span style="background: white;">Schrotenboer, <i>supra </i>note 15. </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn24">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Adam/Downloads/Balinski.%20Concussion.%20Rough%20Draft.%2011-17-14.docx#_ftnref24" name="_ftn24" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;">[24]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> Ken
Belson, <i>Brain Trauma to Affect One in
Three Players, N.F.L. Agrees</i>, <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">N.Y.
Times (</span>Sept.<span style="font-variant: small-caps;"> 12, 2014)</span>, <i>available at </i>http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/13/sports/football/actuarial-reports-in-nfl-concussion-deal-are-released.html.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn25">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Adam/Downloads/Balinski.%20Concussion.%20Rough%20Draft.%2011-17-14.docx#_ftnref25" name="_ftn25" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;">[25]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> <span style="background: white;">Schrotenboer, <i>supra </i>note 15.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn26">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Adam/Downloads/Balinski.%20Concussion.%20Rough%20Draft.%2011-17-14.docx#_ftnref26" name="_ftn26" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;">[26]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">DeGory, <i>supra
</i>note 3.</span><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn27">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Adam/Downloads/Balinski.%20Concussion.%20Rough%20Draft.%2011-17-14.docx#_ftnref27" name="_ftn27" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;">[27]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> Turner
v. NFL (<i>In re</i> NFL Players' Concussion Injury Litig.), 2014 U.S. Dist.
LEXIS 91534, 4 (E.D. Pa. 2014).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn28">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Adam/Downloads/Balinski.%20Concussion.%20Rough%20Draft.%2011-17-14.docx#_ftnref28" name="_ftn28" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;">[28]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> <i>E.g.</i>,
DeGory, <i>supra </i>note 3.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn29">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Adam/Downloads/Balinski.%20Concussion.%20Rough%20Draft.%2011-17-14.docx#_ftnref29" name="_ftn29" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;">[29]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> <i>Id.</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn30">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Adam/Downloads/Balinski.%20Concussion.%20Rough%20Draft.%2011-17-14.docx#_ftnref30" name="_ftn30" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;">[30]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> <i>Id.</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn31">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Adam/Downloads/Balinski.%20Concussion.%20Rough%20Draft.%2011-17-14.docx#_ftnref31" name="_ftn31" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;">[31]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> Declaration of Robert A. Stern at 12, <i>In Re</i> NFL Players’ Concussion Injury
Litigation, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 91534 (E.D. Pa. Oct. 6, 2014) (No.
2:12-md-02323-AB).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn32">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Adam/Downloads/Balinski.%20Concussion.%20Rough%20Draft.%2011-17-14.docx#_ftnref32" name="_ftn32" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;">[32]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><i><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> Id</span></i><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">. at 13.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn33">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Adam/Downloads/Balinski.%20Concussion.%20Rough%20Draft.%2011-17-14.docx#_ftnref33" name="_ftn33" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;">[33]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> <i>Id.</i> at 11–12.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div id="ftn34">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Adam/Downloads/Balinski.%20Concussion.%20Rough%20Draft.%2011-17-14.docx#_ftnref34" name="_ftn34" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;">[34]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> <i>Id.</i> at 11 (explaining the tests are not well
suited for Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer’s disease). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn35">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Adam/Downloads/Balinski.%20Concussion.%20Rough%20Draft.%2011-17-14.docx#_ftnref35" name="_ftn35" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;">[35]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> <i>Id.</i> at 12 (stating the Mini
International Neuropsychiatric Interview’s “inclusion in the battery is
unnecessary because the results are not used in any way to determine
compensable diagnosis”).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn36">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Adam/Downloads/Balinski.%20Concussion.%20Rough%20Draft.%2011-17-14.docx#_ftnref36" name="_ftn36" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;">[36]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> <span style="background: white;">Schrotenboer, <i>supra </i>note 15.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn37">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Adam/Downloads/Balinski.%20Concussion.%20Rough%20Draft.%2011-17-14.docx#_ftnref37" name="_ftn37" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;">[37]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> Stern,<i> supra </i>note 30
(discussing anticipated advances in Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE)
diagnosis).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn38">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Adam/Downloads/Balinski.%20Concussion.%20Rough%20Draft.%2011-17-14.docx#_ftnref38" name="_ftn38" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;">[38]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> <i>What is CTE?</i>, <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">BU.edu</span>, http://www.bu.edu/cte/about/what-is-cte/ (last
visited Nov. 11, 2014).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn39">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Adam/Downloads/Balinski.%20Concussion.%20Rough%20Draft.%2011-17-14.docx#_ftnref39" name="_ftn39" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;">[39]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> <span style="background: white;">Schrotenboer, <i>supra </i>note 15 </span>(highlighting
“<span style="background: white;">Junior Seau, who committed suicide in 2012”).</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn40">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Adam/Downloads/Balinski.%20Concussion.%20Rough%20Draft.%2011-17-14.docx#_ftnref40" name="_ftn40" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;">[40]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> Stern,<i> supra </i>note 30.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn41">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Adam/Downloads/Balinski.%20Concussion.%20Rough%20Draft.%2011-17-14.docx#_ftnref41" name="_ftn41" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;">[41]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> <span style="background: white;">Schrotenboer, <i>supra </i>note 15.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn42">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Adam/Downloads/Balinski.%20Concussion.%20Rough%20Draft.%2011-17-14.docx#_ftnref42" name="_ftn42" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;">[42]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> <i>What is CTE?</i>, <i>supra </i>note 37.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Adam/Downloads/Balinski.%20Concussion.%20Rough%20Draft.%2011-17-14.docx#_ftnref43" name="_ftn43" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;">[43]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> <span style="background: white;">Schrotenboer, <i>supra </i>note 15.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Adam/Downloads/Balinski.%20Concussion.%20Rough%20Draft.%2011-17-14.docx#_ftnref44" name="_ftn44" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;">[44]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> <i>Id.</i>
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Adam/Downloads/Balinski.%20Concussion.%20Rough%20Draft.%2011-17-14.docx#_ftnref45" name="_ftn45" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;">[45]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> <i>Id.</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Adam/Downloads/Balinski.%20Concussion.%20Rough%20Draft.%2011-17-14.docx#_ftnref46" name="_ftn46" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;">[46]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> <i>E.g.</i>
<i>NFL, Players Reach Concussion Deal</i>, <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">ESPN.com</span>,
http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/9612138/judge-nfl-players-settle-concussion-suit
(last updated Aug. 29, 2013, 7:46 PM) (on Aug.29, 2013, Jason Holzem left a
comment on the article criticizing the suit via three hypotheticals: “I was
feeding alligators in the swamp and got bit and lost my hand. I sued the parks
. . . . I was running by the pool and slipped and fell, so I sued the public
pool . . . . I was drinking water from the urinal and got sick, so I sued
Applebee's . . . .”).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Adam/Downloads/Balinski.%20Concussion.%20Rough%20Draft.%2011-17-14.docx#_ftnref47" name="_ftn47" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;">[47]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> Turner
v. NFL (<i>In re</i> NFL Players' Concussion Injury Litig.), 2014 U.S. Dist.
LEXIS 91534, 45 (E.D. Pa. 2014) (“The NFL parties deny that they did anything
wrong.”).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Adam/Downloads/Balinski.%20Concussion.%20Rough%20Draft.%2011-17-14.docx#_ftnref48" name="_ftn48" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;">[48]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> <i>Id.</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Adam/Downloads/Balinski.%20Concussion.%20Rough%20Draft.%2011-17-14.docx#_ftnref49" name="_ftn49" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;">[49]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> <i>Id.</i></span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Adam B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13635630634832831355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1773703444331042188.post-78108297928760575842016-05-19T13:54:00.001-07:002016-05-19T13:58:14.583-07:00Defense of the jury system<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9fHGnwIv6xEQztKWvbmI-P4A-GrnPuVJF-cHBolmDqXVFfoPS-pO16R2bIyP_UnKi4_XGxXXIswSdGfFN2UsGb-5aq_uGBlYES8HvMTicpd-Erh029voMoAc1LYs9emmBAw-48yh-7P1V/s1600/Lady-justice-jury.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9fHGnwIv6xEQztKWvbmI-P4A-GrnPuVJF-cHBolmDqXVFfoPS-pO16R2bIyP_UnKi4_XGxXXIswSdGfFN2UsGb-5aq_uGBlYES8HvMTicpd-Erh029voMoAc1LYs9emmBAw-48yh-7P1V/s1600/Lady-justice-jury.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lady Justice and a jury</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 200%;"> </span><span style="line-height: 200%;">Juries are not
perfect, but if I were on trial, I would rather have a group of biased strangers,
who must reach a unanimous decision (at least in federal court) within the bounds set by a judicial referee,
ultimately decide my fate than have one judicial referee call all the shots.</span></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Juries are not as unpredictable as the news media often
make them seem. According to a survey of 30 years of jury studies, “the jury
system is healthy.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/abbalins/Downloads/Are%20Juries%20Worth%20It.htm#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> "Quite
a bit of their decision is determined by the case that the lawyers present to
them. . . . [W]hat seems like a wild card, in fact, follows rules. The strength
of the evidence in the case will give you a good sense about what a jury is
going to do."<a href="file:///C:/Users/abbalins/Downloads/Are%20Juries%20Worth%20It.htm#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> <o:p></o:p></div>
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Juries take parties’ fates out of the hands of
just one human judge. “The strength of the jury is a diversity in decision
making, which makes for a very robust process.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/abbalins/Downloads/Are%20Juries%20Worth%20It.htm#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
Additionally, juries serve “many purposes and functions that go beyond the
finding of facts in any one particular case."<a href="file:///C:/Users/abbalins/Downloads/Are%20Juries%20Worth%20It.htm#_ftn4" name="_ftnref4" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">[4]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
For example, they may awaken a deeper sense of civic duty in the individual
jurors, awaken them to a better understanding of the law in their jurisdiction,
or instill in them respect for the judicial system. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
However, the jury system is not without its flaws. Even those
who claim the system is “healthy” have their reservations: “It's not clear that
juries are the best way to decide to impose the death penalty, because of an
inherent flaw in the system. People who oppose the death penalty are not
allowed on capital juries.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/abbalins/Downloads/Are%20Juries%20Worth%20It.htm#_ftn5" name="_ftnref5" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">[5]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
However, this limitation on jurors is not entirely illogical. Jurors are there
to uphold the law and if they do not support the law, then they really have no
place as an arbitrator of the law.<a href="file:///C:/Users/abbalins/Downloads/Are%20Juries%20Worth%20It.htm#_ftn6" name="_ftnref6" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">[6]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
Moreover, judges have commented that jury bias in itself is not necessarily
fatal to justice: <o:p></o:p></div>
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All
jurors come to Jury service with certain biases and prejudices . . . Our system
envisions these flawed individuals since no juror comes to jury service devoid
of these leanings. The history of the jury system shows us that these flawed individuals
can set aside these flaws and reach verdicts which are just and fair.<a href="file:///C:/Users/abbalins/Downloads/Are%20Juries%20Worth%20It.htm#_ftn7" name="_ftnref7" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">[7]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Others have been
more cynical of the jury system: <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Not
long ago, the right to trial by jury was held to be so "justly dear to the
American people," that regardless of "whether guaranteed by the
Constitution or provided by statute, it should be jealously guarded by the
courts." That is no longer the case.<a href="file:///C:/Users/abbalins/Downloads/Are%20Juries%20Worth%20It.htm#_ftn8" name="_ftnref8" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">[8]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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In doing so, they have
claimed “lawyer manipulation” of juries through jury selection can stack the deck
in favor of a result “completely inconsistent with the case itself.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/abbalins/Downloads/Are%20Juries%20Worth%20It.htm#_ftn9" name="_ftnref9" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">[9]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
This challenge is weak. The adversarial system makes it highly unlikely any one
side can stack the deck: the attorneys on the other side are trying to do the
exact same thing. Further, even if one could theoretically hand-pick a jury, do
you really think anyone can become so competent of human psychology to conclusively
know which way any other individual, whom he or she has only known for a matter
of moments via a survey of questions, will vote on a matter? Personally, I
doubt it. People are difficult to throw in predictable personality boxes. <o:p></o:p></div>
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But critics have not stopped there; they have also complained of juries being “costly
and time consuming.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/abbalins/Downloads/Are%20Juries%20Worth%20It.htm#_ftn10" name="_ftnref10" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">[10]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
While that may be true, I am okay with paying the price tag of justice (or at least what appears to be the best semblance of justice humanly attainable). <o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/abbalins/Downloads/Are%20Juries%20Worth%20It.htm#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
Susan S. Lang, <i>Judging the jury: Does the
American jury system work?</i>, <span style="text-transform: uppercase;">Cornell
Chronicle </span>(Sep. 9, 2008), http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/2008/09/judging-jury-does-american-jury-system-work.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/abbalins/Downloads/Are%20Juries%20Worth%20It.htm#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> <i>Id.</i> (quoting Valerie Hans, author of <i>American Juries: The Verdict</i>).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/abbalins/Downloads/Are%20Juries%20Worth%20It.htm#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> <i>Id.</i> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/abbalins/Downloads/Are%20Juries%20Worth%20It.htm#_ftnref4" name="_ftn4" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">[4]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a><i> Id. </i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/abbalins/Downloads/Are%20Juries%20Worth%20It.htm#_ftnref5" name="_ftn5" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">[5]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> <i>Id.</i> (citing Hans).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/abbalins/Downloads/Are%20Juries%20Worth%20It.htm#_ftnref6" name="_ftn6" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">[6]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> <i>See </i>Waterman
v. State, 822 So. 2d 1030, 1033 (Miss. Ct. App. 2002) (“It is presumed that
jurors follow the instructions of the court. . . . If the presumption were
otherwise, it would mean our jury system was fatally flawed.”).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/abbalins/Downloads/Are%20Juries%20Worth%20It.htm#_ftnref7" name="_ftn7" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">[7]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> Wright v. Ctl Distrib., 679 So. 2d 1233, 1234 (Fla.
Dist. Ct. App. 2d Dist. 1996) (quoting the lower court trial judge). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/abbalins/Downloads/Are%20Juries%20Worth%20It.htm#_ftnref8" name="_ftn8" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">[8]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> Matthew
Forbes, Comment, <i>Juries and Jurors:
Juries on Trial: Constitutional Right Versus Judicial Burden: An Analysis of
Jury Effectiveness and Alternative Methods for Deciding Cases</i>, 48 <span style="text-transform: uppercase;">Okla. L. Rev.</span> 563, 564–65 (1995).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/abbalins/Downloads/Are%20Juries%20Worth%20It.htm#_ftnref9" name="_ftn9" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">[9]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> <i>Id.</i> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/abbalins/Downloads/Are%20Juries%20Worth%20It.htm#_ftnref10" name="_ftn10" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">[10]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a><i> Id.</i></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Adam B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13635630634832831355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1773703444331042188.post-78922026775535963472016-03-05T16:21:00.002-08:002016-03-05T22:02:08.422-08:00The good news about Donald Trump<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizgNRmtIptJNBFPADNdxbCQ7B4gqzTCwEuvDwtI-zFQ4Y3kTGcKiaqG8y27mnprULimSBYkCDzxCkujmZJc5ncGmGB7B4xt0Bb-sjp228xVBGj9aG3oXY6zOIJtWkT8B9jlI5H-TwNmwSP/s1600/Trump_smiling_with_eyes_closed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizgNRmtIptJNBFPADNdxbCQ7B4gqzTCwEuvDwtI-zFQ4Y3kTGcKiaqG8y27mnprULimSBYkCDzxCkujmZJc5ncGmGB7B4xt0Bb-sjp228xVBGj9aG3oXY6zOIJtWkT8B9jlI5H-TwNmwSP/s320/Trump_smiling_with_eyes_closed.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Trump smiling, eyes closed to reality. <br />Photo by Marc Nozell. Used with permission.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #111111;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Donald Trump is not going to snag the Republican nomination: There will likely be a brokered convention.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #111111;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Going into today, Trump had only won about 46-49% of the allocated
Republican delegates; he needs at least 50% to win the nomination outright. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #111111;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">That may seem like a very narrow margin. But it really is not that narrow given the
nature of the primaries and caucuses that lie ahead.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #111111;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #111111;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">[<i>Going forward, I use "primary" very loosely, referring to both primaries and caucuses.</i>]</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #111111;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Until today, the vast majority of the Republican primaries have
been “open.” In “open” primaries you don’t have to be a Republican to have your
say in who should be the Republican nominee.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #111111;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/volokh-conspiracy/wp/2016/03/02/so-far-trump-wins-open-primaries-and-cruz-wins-closed-and-the-calendar-is-starting-to-change-toward-more-closed-primaries/">Some</a>
have speculated that a substantial number of Democrats have opted to vote in
the Republican primaries instead of their own. The thinking is that they want
to see Trump nominated. He would be<a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/trump-lose-clinton-sanders-general-election-article-1.2548986"> relatively easy</a> for Hillary Clinton to beat
in November.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #111111;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It may sound like a bit of a conspiracy theory, but the track
record suggests it isn’t far-fetched. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #111111;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Of the four Republican primaries that have been “closed,” Trump
has won only one. Put another way, he has received only 70 of the 167
allocated “closed” delegates. That’s 42%.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #111111;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Here’s the good news: Roughly 1800 Republican delegates
are still up for grabs, and nearly 1100 of them come from “closed” primaries.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #111111;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Trump currently has 329 delegates and he needs a total of 1237 delegates to
win the nomination through the primaries. That means he needs to win at least
908 more delegates. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #111111;">If Trump were to maintain
his current capacity for capturing “closed” and “open” primary delegates </span></b><span style="color: #111111;">(which is questionable
given the way the mainstream media, social media, and prominent Republican
leaders, like <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iefXdC794I">Mitt Romney</a>,
have increasingly lambasted him, for, <i>inter
alia</i>, his instinct toward crimes against humanity, e.g., <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/insiders/content/2015/s4410698.htm">waterboarding
and “a hell of a lot worse”</a>),<b> he
would only win 726 to 743 more delegates. That would put him at just a touch
over 1000 delegates—nearly 200 delegates shy of the magic 1237-delegate mark. <o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #111111;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Tonight’s results will put this theory to a pretty good test.
All four of today’s Republican primaries are “closed.” If precedent is
predictive, of today’s 155 available delegates, Trump should only win about 65
of them. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #111111;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Some <a href="https://www.ksl.com/?sid=38746197&nid=757&state=1646254983">preliminary results</a> are already in for Kansas and Maine.
And guess what? Trump is losing handily, regardless of what <a href="http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2016/president/ks/kansas_republican_presidential_caucus-4322.html">the polls</a> had predicted would happen.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: inherit;">My faith in American humanity is beginning to grow again.</span><br />
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: inherit;">***UPDATE*** Trump is looking to do even worse than I predicted earlier today. Based on what <a href="https://www.ksl.com/?sid=38746197&nid=757&state=569435131">has been reported</a>, he'll only get around 57 delegates or 37% (opposed to 65 delegates or 42%). He'll technically "win" two of the states, but by slim enough margins. All and all, a great night for those who are not fans of Trump! Here's hoping the Trump Train is losing momentum!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: inherit;">Here's my breakdown of how many delegates will soon be coming from "closed" primaries.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbB8m6LmmTxvgd_z9SkWfihP5SHYcwolvZxCLpqaq0ZEFlSGZoM23rTJ1qKqgwNsYfI-vEQY_rzv3x4JgkUnOywBbDXudcQOMWiVOqtfMf0EjoMcCrc2hVftansgBkPIaJa_SS6KOBs2c5/s1600/remaining+delegates.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbB8m6LmmTxvgd_z9SkWfihP5SHYcwolvZxCLpqaq0ZEFlSGZoM23rTJ1qKqgwNsYfI-vEQY_rzv3x4JgkUnOywBbDXudcQOMWiVOqtfMf0EjoMcCrc2hVftansgBkPIaJa_SS6KOBs2c5/s1600/remaining+delegates.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">This information is my synthesis of data</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> found on <a href="https://ballotpedia.org/Closed_primary">Ballotpedia.org</a> and <a href="http://www.politico.com/2016-election/results/map/president">Politico.com</a>.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: inherit;">Related posts: <a href="http://www.rethbo.org/2016/02/if-facebook-likes-elected-next-president.html">If Facebook 'likes' elected the next president</a></span></div>
Adam B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13635630634832831355noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1773703444331042188.post-79425604300443405042016-02-27T08:45:00.002-08:002016-02-27T12:59:16.542-08:00If Facebook 'likes' elected the next president<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Donald Trump (82 delegates) is leading the Republican primary handily, with Ted Cruz (17), Marco Rubio (16), John Kasich (6), and Ben Carson (4) leaps and bound behind. In the Democratic primary, Hillary Clinton leads Bernie Sanders 505-71.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Interestingly, candidate Facebook popularity is not what you would expect given the primary results. More people have 'liked' Sanders than Clinton. On the Republican side of things, Carson is the only hopeful giving Trump a run for his money. Kasich has so few 'likes' that he didn't even make it on the graphic below.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
For kicks, since a <a href="http://draftmitt.org/">couple hundred thousand people</a> (full disclosure, I am one of them) have attempted to force Mitt Romney to make another run at the presidency in 2016, I included him in the graphic below. While another run would be highly unlikely, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/mitt-romney-still-not-a-candidate-but-a-keen-if-not-obsessive-observer/2015/09/30/698d70ea-6782-11e5-9ef3-fde182507eac_story.html">Romney did say</a> that Trump would not bag the Republican nomination. At this point, it is difficult to see how Romney could be right about that without entering the arena.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijkKd4p_8c5VujW4gdxd7lXgPl2ZFhwP7CE_M99Te3JYvMhIlbvcf8RAt0dbXYTuUOl0PeYWfq6DgfqCFN32ZkAMOCRsRGnrDBpC4CQ0lgY3Lyee_rlvNEqCGuE0UqRA2QIHgeUuG86HHf/s1600/If+facebook+likes+elected+the+president.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijkKd4p_8c5VujW4gdxd7lXgPl2ZFhwP7CE_M99Te3JYvMhIlbvcf8RAt0dbXYTuUOl0PeYWfq6DgfqCFN32ZkAMOCRsRGnrDBpC4CQ0lgY3Lyee_rlvNEqCGuE0UqRA2QIHgeUuG86HHf/s640/If+facebook+likes+elected+the+president.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All candidate photos taken by Gage Skidmore except Sanders and Cruz (which are public domain).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Adam B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13635630634832831355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1773703444331042188.post-58370360041909723372016-01-06T09:44:00.001-08:002017-04-21T16:35:12.792-07:00Victim of the Curve: The day law school grades come out<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJtUyDNy0x5RX0W-UxRQlGf4MBTDidXe8VqTgSppfI1H11DPmbFScJ_SJEA8JNjqFJNnWZvOJje0nBuEx1gtO7mwucvjdQmqY0AgMQcJzCB2Cieuv_5GyVXNtYIJC_gJc-eaL7STC6cxB5/s1600/bell+curve.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJtUyDNy0x5RX0W-UxRQlGf4MBTDidXe8VqTgSppfI1H11DPmbFScJ_SJEA8JNjqFJNnWZvOJje0nBuEx1gtO7mwucvjdQmqY0AgMQcJzCB2Cieuv_5GyVXNtYIJC_gJc-eaL7STC6cxB5/s640/bell+curve.png" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">That blessed bell curve.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;">It’s coming. That great and terrible day. That day
when law school grades appear, crushing the souls of many—if not most—first-year
law students across the country. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;">For me, getting up the courage to open my first-year
grades was unlike any other experience I have ever had in education. But it was a little like the time that I stood in my swim trunks, staring off the edge of a large cliff
overhanging a waterfall, debating whether to take the plunge. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;">If you haven’t gone to law school, it may be hard to
appreciate the trepidation experienced by your attorney-aspiring, over-achiever
friends. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;">With permission, I want to share a story. It's
penned by a good friend of mine about his personal experience. He would like to
remain anonymous. But he is someone I deeply respect. I sat by him in at least
one first-year class. I was always impressed by his preparation and comments. I
always expected he would rock finals.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="line-height: 107%;">“The
day my law school grades came out”</span></b><span style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;">The
day that my first semester law school grades came out, I thought my world had
ended.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;">I
didn’t do nearly as well as I had hoped. In fact, I did a lot worse than I
thought was realistic. We were told over and over that this would happen. We
were told that 90% of us would think we would be in the top 10%, and that at
least 80% of those would be disappointed (which, by the way, is a gross
understatement; try sickened, mortified, shell-shocked, or numb). As a
mathematical fact, 50% of us would be in the bottom half of our class (thanks
to the curve). Fifty percent of us would not be able to escape that loathed
bottom fraction.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;">The
day that my first semester law school grades came out, I found out I was a
victim of the curve.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;">Maybe
it’s my fault for having such high expectations. I think I had sound reasoning
for believing I would do well, though. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Physics,
arguably one of the hardest subjects to study known to mankind. You know the
phrase, “It’s not rocket science”? Well, yeah, it is. So, I knew that being
successful in Physics provided convincing evidence that I had strong intellectual
capabilities. Add to that this anecdotal evidence: I know of two other
Physicists here, and the one whose grades I know about is in the top 15% of his
class. Of the two or three other Physicists I know who went to law school, all
were in the top 10%. Additionally, I think most of the other students here I
know who have technical degrees all did well. So, I figured that, in an arena
where the competitive landscape is virtually unknown, I had a pretty good lay
of the land based on past success. I suppose, though, as your stock broker will
tell you, past success is no indication of future performance.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;">The
day that my first semester law school grades came out, I thought I had
overvalued myself.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;">I
was at school in an empty classroom when I found out what my grades were. The
day before, my wife and I had agreed to go out to dinner after grades came out,
regardless of how well (or not so well) I did. But when I saw my grades, I was
instantly embarrassed. I was almost too ashamed to tell my wife what they were.
She had always built me up; she had always believed in me. She supported me
when I spent so much time at school that I didn’t see my kids for days at a
time. I had worked as hard as I possibly could have, and did the very best I
knew how, and now I would have to disappoint her. I couldn’t go to her and say,
“My grades weren’t so good, but I know I could have done better if I had just
done X” because I had absolutely no regrets about my efforts. I didn’t know how
I could face her; I felt humiliated.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;">The
day my first semester law school grades came out, I let my heart turn to stone.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;">My
wife still insisted we go to dinner. And, honestly, I couldn’t think of any
better way to drown my sorrows than by eating myself into a food coma. On the
way to the restaurant, my wife tried to console me. She reassured me that she
loved me, and that everything would work out fine. As she spoke, I could hear
undertones of “I still need you to provide for this family,” and “Your kids
still need a father, and I still need a husband.” I was practically
inconsolable, but her unspoken pleadings told me I had to come to terms with my
grades and move forward.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;">The
night of the day my first semester law school grades came out, I had to answer
the question of what tough people do when things get tough.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;">It
is inevitable that a competitive person will place at least some of his
self-worth on his performance as compared to his peers. It is the nature of the
trait. Thus, losing, or at least not winning, damages his self-esteem. I am
him. However, I knew that, to move forward, I had to find a way to get my heart
back, to get my legs under me, and to stay in the game. Thinking of my poor,
pitiful self had been exhausting, and I needed a break. I decided to move my
mind to thinking about some mentoring I wanted to do at the high school I
graduated from. It was hard to fight off the feeling that, with poor law school
grades, I would be a worthless mentor (“Hi kids, I’m the dumb guy who is here
to help you not be dumb.”), but fight I did. I made sure that the last thing I
did before I closed my eyes for bed was to take the first step towards becoming
a mentor.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;">The
morning after the day my first semester law school grades came out, I started
trying to convince myself that I was still the same person I was before I knew.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;">I
was faced with the reality that my grades would not be getting me a job. I
couldn’t say to an employer, “Look my grades are good, so I’ll probably be a
good attorney.” I had to find another way to differentiate, but for the life of
me, I could not think of one nice thing to say about myself. After a while of
forcing good thoughts into my mind, I was able to come up with one thing. A
little more effort and I was able to come up with another thing, and soon good
thoughts began pouring in. It was practically a religious experience! It felt
incredibly wonderful to acknowledge the good things about myself, and to set
aside the number that I almost let ruin me.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;">The
morning after the day my first semester law school grades came out, I started
being able to put things in perspective.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;">Law
school is an exercise in the margin. What does that mean? How well I did is not
the same as the grade I got. Because of the curve, everything is relative. The
curve hides the nuances of actual performance. The perfect score is illusive.
In thinking about the curve, I am reminded of Michael Phelps at the 2008 Summer
Olympics. Phelps was chasing his 7<sup>th</sup> gold medal, and in the last leg
of the 100-meter butterfly, he was trailing the Serbian swimmer. At the very end,
just when it looked like the Serbian had Phelps dead-to-rights, Phelps made one
last lunge forward, and out-touched his competitor. He won by one one-hundredth
of a second! Put another way, the Serbian lost by just as much. Now, does
anyone look back on that race and say, “That Serbian guy really sucked”? No!
For that matter, can that be said about any of the swimmers that lost in
earlier rounds? No! For crying out loud, just qualifying for the Olympics is a
remarkable, praiseworthy feat! This is the realm that we, as law students, live in;
we are scholastic Olympians. We live in the margin, so half bad is still pretty
damn good.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;">The
morning after the day my first semester law school grades came out, I realized
I would be okay.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;">Over the last two years, I have been able to observe
my friend. His attitude has really impressed me. He’s stayed diligent and never
thrown in the towel. He’s stayed in the game. From what I understand, his GPA
has been on the climb since. To me the exact number (and its relative position
to his peers at a top-forty law school) doesn't matter as much as the fact that
he's stuck with it, continually outperforming himself. (I mention the ranking
of the school but like class rank, that’s a fairly superficial metric as well.) He has had fantastic, meaningful work experiences throughout law school and I
have no doubt other great opportunities are on his doorstep come graduation.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;">As he has reflected on the last two years, he has
shared with me the following insights:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">I
have realized that raw go-and-get-it-ness counts every bit as much as my GPA. That
single-digit-and-decimals number in that loathed bottom fraction occupies one
line, less than <span style="background: white;">5%, of my resume,
and potential employers are recognizing my hard work</span>.</span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="line-height: 107%;">I
have realized that nobody in my family asks me what my law school GPA is before
saying “I love you,” and none of my friends ask for my GPA before agreeing to
hang out. </span></i><span style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;">True
that. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;">So,
if you’re a 1L and your GPA is less than what you’d hoped, take heart. So it
has been with almost every 1L that has gone before. They survived and so can
you. You are much more than a number.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;">Or, maybe
your finals somehow made it to the top of your professors’ subjective
stacks. That number doesn't define you either. That
number may give you a temporary advantage in the employment game, but do not
rest on that laurel. Any relative employment power that GPA has will depreciate
like the value of a new car driven off a dealer's lot. Before you know it, very few
employers will give undue deference to your GPA and your actual work experience,
product, and colleagues will do the talking.</span></div>
Adam B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13635630634832831355noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1773703444331042188.post-54038775324972147882016-01-05T13:25:00.002-08:002016-01-06T09:27:05.611-08:00"It is not good for man to be alone": Reaction to today's BYU Devotional<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS-_6Yhgx4moBmdDV4FwHF-HBC57UK6r5MAOzjVkuJzpJqxSW5KZjCo99x1-1Wkv1G_1OdDBlNTnzELRYDcGl4PRtcwZpwREEWKr2lrjYl63RbICrS6wnqIknFHtKmWF9wQaEu9z3u7IM0/s1600/worthen.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS-_6Yhgx4moBmdDV4FwHF-HBC57UK6r5MAOzjVkuJzpJqxSW5KZjCo99x1-1Wkv1G_1OdDBlNTnzELRYDcGl4PRtcwZpwREEWKr2lrjYl63RbICrS6wnqIknFHtKmWF9wQaEu9z3u7IM0/s400/worthen.png" width="400" /></a></div>
During law school, I have regrettably been hit and (mostly) miss with my devotional participation. But today was a hit. And wow, it was awesome.<br />
<br />
The president of BYU and his wife spoke. The president used to be a full-time law professor and I have bumped into him in the halls from time to time. He has always struck me as a deeply sincere and loving person.<br />
<br />
I'm grateful I was able to listen to their remarks on my laptop while eating lunch. Their delivery maybe lacked fireworks but their content captivated me. Being so amped about my decision to tune in, I felt like bumping their talks here on my blog and through social media.<br />
<br />
If I had to choose a favorite, I would have to go with President Worthen's talk, entitled "It is not good for man to be alone." If you only have a few minutes, I would recommend starting there (at 20:37 in the <a href="http://www.byutv.org/watch/55d239df-9511-47e2-a90b-67b635fa6932/byu-devotional-address-president-kevin-j-worthen-and-sister-peggy-worthen-1516">video</a>). His wife starts at 10:16 (there is some music and intro material before that).<br />
<br />
You can watch it right here!
<script height="360px" src="http://player.ooyala.com/iframe.js#pbid=YTJhZmJmNWZlNTc5MGM4ZTViZTY0NGJh&ec=B3dHd2YTpqW_6eVPlBLgPNaQdjljfKeF" width="640px"></script><br />
<br />
<br />Adam B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13635630634832831355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1773703444331042188.post-91936929811113475762015-12-09T13:48:00.001-08:002016-08-29T09:40:45.731-07:00BYU vs. Utah Vegas Bowl: 10 reasons I’m stoked<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz7DOYNPlK4enlohQsDk00aFlV_90ZR_LoTt3wD6wHXmlDkLbce6P3iONYpNvHfy5QJZJYClpsyiHvUyyoMx_KUPy-M0GrzxNUr7A2GyJmq0LuuvxOh3REMWK50FCuojeMihJ6-vIcR_wL/s400/BYU+football.jpg" width="400" /></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">BYU fans rush the field after an overtime victory against Utah (2009)<br />photo by <a class="external text" href="http://www.flickr.com/people/30816404@N04/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #663366; font-size: 13.3px; line-height: 21.28px; padding-right: 13px; text-align: start;">qbac07</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I know some folks are bummed about the news of BYU playing Utah in the Las Vegas Bowl this year. I have to admit that I was bummed at first too.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Wait, no I wasn’t.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I was stoked. And that excitement has only grown. I can’t imagine a more epic way for either team to cap a three-loss season. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Here’s why:<br />
<br />
<h4>
1. BYU is more of Utah’s equal than Ute fans want to admit.</h4>
<br />
I will confess. The Cougars are the underdog. But just barely. Both football teams are 9-3. Of course, no two schedules are footballs to footballs. <br />
<br />
However, don’t forget there was a four-game overlap between these rivals’ particular schedules. Both BYU and Utah played Michigan, Fresno State, Utah State, and UCLA. BYU outscored the four by 33 points; Utah outscored the lot by 30 points. BYU went 2-2 against the clan (including a one-point loss to UCLA); Utah went 3-1. <br />
<br />
Both BYU and Utah have been ranked this season. BYU peaked in the AP poll at #19. Utah peaked at an amazing #3 before the team started losing. Utah is currently ranked #20 in the AP poll. BYU is technically unranked at the moment. But if the AP poll listed 30 teams—instead of 25—<a href="http://espn.go.com/college-football/rankings/_/poll/1/seasontype/2/year/2015/week/15">BYU would currently be #28</a>. An eight-spot gap between Utah and BYU doesn’t mean much in a sport where rankings are largely a product of speculation—not science—and are in constant flux. Calling BYU “unranked” and therefore unworthy, is to exalt technicality over reality.</div>
<div>
<br />
<h4>
2. Brace yourself for the first-ever Holy War bowl game.</h4>
<br />
The Holy War. On steroids. I will take a Holy War battle anytime. Ironically, this historic Holy War of all Holy Wars is hosted in Sin City. [The last time BYU and Utah played in December it was 1897 (so says <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_War_(Utah_vs._BYU)">Wikipedia</a>). I didn’t bother to figure out if it was technically a bowl game or not. I have no idea how bowl games operated more than a century ago, if they existed. What matters is BYU won…]<br />
<br />
<h4>
3. BYU’s chance to snap Utah’s four-game Holy War winning streak.</h4>
<br />
This one speaks for itself. Enough is enough. Come on, BYU!<br />
<br />
<h4>
4. BYU’s chance to definitively snag back the Beehive Boot from the Aggies.</h4>
<br />
In the 44 years since the Beehive Boot began getting kicked around to the best D-1 FBS football team in the state, BYU has dominated, bringing the 100-year-old authentic pioneer footwear (with likely mythical properties) home 22 times, compared to Utah’s 13 and Utah State’s 9. But this year, the boot ain’t in BYU’s bag yet—and arguably couldn’t be without this final matchup. Since both Utah and BYU beat Utah State this year, without a BYU vs. Utah matchup, the technical tie would have been broken by popular vote (which Utah would likely have won given its ranking, even though BYU outscored Utah State by 23 more points than Utah). <br />
<br />
<h4>
5. Bronco’s last game with the Cougars.</h4>
<br />
Despite signing a more lucrative head coaching deal with Virginia last week, Bronco Mendenhall will have one last chance to work his magic with the BYU squad. BYU football players have talked about trying to win this one for Bronco, sending him off with another double-digit win season. Of course, the Utes hope to send Bronco away with his seventh loss against them (since Bronco became head coach, the Utes have gone 6-3 against BYU).<br />
<br />
<h4>
6. Bronco’s chance at win #100.</h4>
<br />
Bronco has won 99 games during his BYU head coach tenure. A win against Utah would be win #100. Statistically, a thing of wonder.<br />
<br />
<h4>
7. Kyle Whittingham’s last game coaching Utah before taking over BYU.</h4>
<br />
Not actually true. As far as we know, anyway… One can hope, right? He’s certainly among the names being tossed around. <br />
<br />
<h4>
8. There are plenty of awesome sub-duals.</h4>
<br />
For example: Mangum v. Wilson.<br />
<br />
Utah senior Travis Wilson will be quarterbacking his second bowl game. Last year, he was the Las Vegas bowl MVP, leading Utah to a crushing 45-10 win over Colorado State. His stats this year have been decent: He’s thrown 2000+ yards for 13 touchdowns and rushed nearly 500 yards for another 6 TDs. He has thrown a fair number of interceptions though: 10 (or one for every 1.3 TDs).<br />
<br />
BYU freshman QB phenom Tanner Mangum will be playing his first-ever bowl game. His stats have been off the charts for his someone with his tenure: Though his rushing game is virtually non-existent (only one rushing TD), Mangum has tossed for 3000+ yards and 21 TDs. His TD to interception ratio is an astounding 3:1 (only 7 interceptions). No other QB in BYU history (not even NFL legend Steve Young or Heisman-winning Ty Detmer) has come even close to his <i>freshman </i>productivity or efficiency.<br />
<br />
<h4>
9. Things may get feisty. </h4>
<br />
Remember BYU’s last bowl game? Fists could fly again. Especially since BYU and Utah have a history of high tensions. For example, Ute fans (I acknowledge this kind of behavior is not representative of the vast majority of Ute fans) have not hesitated to throw beer at BYU player family members. I am definitely not encouraging or even condoning any form of violent or nasty behavior, on or off the field, by either team. Hopefully, it will be a gentleman’s game. But if history really does have a way of repeating itself, it could get interesting.<br />
<br />
<h4>
10. It’ll be a nail-biter.</h4>
<br />
Mark my word. In true Cougar fashion, it will come down to the final minutes. Remember the Mangum Miracle at Memorial? Or, the sequel a week later against Boise State? Not to mention the last time BYU beat Utah (sadly, we have to go back to 2009 for this...). It was overtime and BYU won 26-23.<br />
<br />
In fact, four out of the last five BYU vs. Utah games (trying to repress any memory of the 2011 massacre…) have been won by a score or less!<br />
<br />
Excited yet? <br />
<br />
Good.<br />
<br />
<br />
You should be.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
[CORRECTION: This article originally highlighted a sub-dual between senior running back Devontae Booker (Utah) and junior running back Algernon Brown (BYU). But Booker won't be playing due to knee surgery. Obviously. My bad.]</div>
Adam B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13635630634832831355noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1773703444331042188.post-13223434992688592442015-11-06T09:43:00.005-08:002015-11-19T18:56:33.863-08:00Rethinking Mormon policies about married gays and their children<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdwI45EjhYXPgXbwgUkChdCceY8DCge7o9GL-iL8ZOtSiWb42OkdO0SquvKRZkUcm1rMqMrtAowy88VZQoaYv95tNQciotMXVgZ5Yc8eDXhI4Vvc6_JOOGBiCWfLSQAqghvnEUJlPt9uzN/s1600/LDS_church_office_building.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdwI45EjhYXPgXbwgUkChdCceY8DCge7o9GL-iL8ZOtSiWb42OkdO0SquvKRZkUcm1rMqMrtAowy88VZQoaYv95tNQciotMXVgZ5Yc8eDXhI4Vvc6_JOOGBiCWfLSQAqghvnEUJlPt9uzN/s400/LDS_church_office_building.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LDS church office building</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
One <a href="http://www.sltrib.com/home/3144035-156/new-mormon-policy-makes-apostates-of#disqus_thread">article </a>on the Salt Lake
Tribune has 3202 comments (and counting) this morning. No, I did not read them all. But I get
the feeling that most of the comments mirror the sentiments of this sampling:</div>
<br />
"The LDS Church. Always looking for new ways to alienate people and turn them away."<br />
<br />
"Pitting parents against children is their MO [modus operandi] and has been their MO for a very long time." <br />
<br />
"For those active [M]ormons that find the latest pronouncement of apostasy for those engaged in sex marriage or co-habitation offensive or embarrassing, you can make your voice heard."<br />
<br />
"So kids get to suffer for the "sins" of their fathers? How Christ like [sic]."<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
Of course, the
Tribune isn't the only website posting articles discussing the LDS (Mormon) Church policies related to gay marriage. The other articles I have seen have
sparked similar commentary. As a Mormon who tries to be faithful, I feel
obliged to respectfully dissent from the outcry against the church I know and
love. To me, the policies make sense. They are not embarrassing. They are not
shocking. Here’s my personal opinion why.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
First, context. The LDS policies I'm referring to come from an updated version of a handbook for church leaders. The
<a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/288685756/Changes-to-LDS-Handbook-1-Document-2-Revised-11-3-15-28003-29">updated
handbook</a> appears to have first been made public by John Dehlin (who was
recently excommunicated from the Mormon Church) on Scribd. The policies are these:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->“Serious [t]ransgression . . . includes . . .
homosexual relations (especially sexual cohabitation)” and “<i>apostasy</i> refers to members who [among
other things] . . . [a]re in a same gender marriage.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--> “A
natural or adopted child of a parent living in a same-gender relationship,
whether the couple is married or cohabiting, may not receive a name and a
blessing.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->“A natural or adopted child of a parent living
in a same-gender relationship, whether the couple is married or cohabiting, may
[not] be baptized and confirmed, ordained, or recommended for missionary
service” unless church leaders believe that the child (1) is of legal age
(currently, 18 in the United States), (2) no longer lives at home, (3) and disavows
gay cohabitation and marriage.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
Now, I will do my best to explain
why I think those policies are wise guidance from <a href="https://www.lds.org/church/leaders/first-presidency?lang=eng">the First Presidency</a> for the
times we live in.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
It should come as no shock that the
Mormon Church (along with most other Christian churches) condemns homosexual
relations, especially sexual cohabitation. This has always been the case. What
is new is an express, blanket determination that members in a same-gender
marriage are apostate [i.e., abandoning or renouncing Mormonism]. This makes
explicit what should have been implicit. It’s safe to say that if you’re Mormon
and you enter a gay marriage, you’re not only breaking the sexual laws of the
church, but you’ve essentially thrown up a white flag: You have told the world
that you no longer have any interest in even trying to live the sexual laws of
the Mormon Church. How could this not be an act of apostasy or abandonment of
the Mormon Church?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
Now, there may be members of the Church who plan on entering a gay marriage, in hopes that one day the Church
will fundamentally change its doctrines, especially in light of recent U.S. Supreme
Court jurisprudence. The updated LDS Church policy makes it clear that that
door is forever closed (though that should have already been clear from
previous official Church statements that the <a href="http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/supreme-court-decision-will-not-alter-doctrine-on-marriage">Supreme
Court Decision Will Not Alter Doctrine on Marriage</a>). This type of clarity
is, in fact, a good thing for Mormons and non-Mormons who experience same-sex
attraction. They don’t have to make important life choices (like whether to
become or stay Mormon, or whether to enter or continue in a homosexual lifestyle)
based on guesswork. They know the Church’s stance and what to expect. They should
abandon any misplaced belief that the Church will change in this regard.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
The policies regarding children are
perhaps more controversial. To some those policies are difficult to reconcile
with the LDS doctrine that people are punished for their own transgressions and
not for the sins of their parents. But I don’t see the policy as a punishment.
The policy is instead the product of careful balancing of competing principles
applied to a complicated situation. Try to honestly answer the following
questions:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Should the Mormon Church baptize minors against
the consent of a gay parent?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Should the Mormon Church baptize a non-minor who
still lives at home against the consent of a gay parent?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Should the Mormon Church baptize anyone who believes
gay cohabitation and marriage are okay, when a fundamental LDS doctrine is that
gay cohabitation and marriage are the opposite of okay?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
My answers are, “No, no, and no.” I
have a hard time believing that many non-Mormons or anti-Mormons would disagree. These policies
can’t be evidence that the Church’s <i>modus
operandi</i> is to “pit children against parents” or brainwash children to call
fundamentally wrong what parents believe is fundamentally right. The policies
suggest the opposite. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
The Church policies show respect for parental
control—even homosexual parental control—and peace in the home—even homosexual
homes. The Church can wait. Would-be church members can wait. There comes a
time when respect for a child’s freedom of choice must trump respect for a
parent’s contrary wishes or beliefs. And the LDS Church says, in these sensitive circumstances, that that time comes
when a child becomes an adult and lives on his or her own. It is a hard line to draw,
but that line seems reasonable to me. That gives gays ample opportunity to
raise their children according to the dictates of <i>their own</i> consciences, without worrying too much about Mormon missionaries trying to teach their children the exact opposite.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
I suppose it could be possible that
a set of gay parents would want their children to become Mormon, but I have a
very difficult time imagining it. Mormonism stands strongly for eternal,
traditional families. Why would a gay parent ever want a child to join a church
that fundamentally opposes the composition of the household? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
I will leave it at that for now.
Law school, work, and other priorities are calling to me. I hope that I have
not said anything abrasive. Please comment below, especially if you disagree
with anything I have said. Thanks for reading this post. If you enjoyed it, I
recommend a similar post published by one of my good friends. It is available <a href="http://wellbehavedmormonwoman.blogspot.com/2015/11/response-to-new-church-policy-gay-marriage-children-baptism.html?m=1">here</a>. Borrowing the words of that friend, "my post is intended for help and perspective, not as [official] pronouncements of Church doctrine or policy."</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
God bless.<br />
<br />
***UPDATE***<br />
Since posting this, the LDS Church has publicly discussed the updated policies via an apostle's <a href="http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/handbook-changes-same-sex-marriages-elder-christofferson">video interview</a> and an official <a href="https://www.lds.org/pages/church-handbook-changes?cid=HP_WE_11-11-2015_dPFD_fCNWS_xLIDyL1-A_&lang=eng">letter to church leaders</a>. Both are worth your time.<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
Adam B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13635630634832831355noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1773703444331042188.post-57141538089823923892015-10-06T13:23:00.001-07:002015-10-06T15:56:11.326-07:00Let's #ponderize not #scandalize<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5y6lXOdZVn2EuL_hlJr3O7UM8k3MEOnvhoaE1Yx38FKOZHCDaJLMTFDJkJVEF4-JeewalgQXjlQndTX22F9-l2f7aPUks2F6tA4mzrssPX77ImmoqOz1yFnkHZPFYJ0hNauCgkNq-KQvP/s1600/ponderize.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5y6lXOdZVn2EuL_hlJr3O7UM8k3MEOnvhoaE1Yx38FKOZHCDaJLMTFDJkJVEF4-JeewalgQXjlQndTX22F9-l2f7aPUks2F6tA4mzrssPX77ImmoqOz1yFnkHZPFYJ0hNauCgkNq-KQvP/s640/ponderize.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">Adapted from <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTiQcm6_IwE&index=70&list=PLClOO0BdaFaNO2atx0ohZ96DeNLPBV58I">YouTube </a>screenshot</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We have proven it yet again. As Latter-day Saints (Mormons), we can be our own worst enemies in the media. The way we sometimes bicker and build mountains of molehills must cause outsider eye rolls.<br />
<br />
The irony is that we are generally pretty forgiving and slow to leap to conclusions about others' intentions when it comes to non-members. But when it comes to the foibles of members of our LDS church family, from one small act we are somehow blessed with pure knowledge of the dark inner-workings of souls.<br />
<br />
Remember how brutal some internet-vocal Mormons were in response to the color of LDS violin phenom <a href="http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865629183/Lindsey-Stirling-responds-to-modesty-criticism-on-Instagram.html?pg=all">Lindsey Stirling's dress</a> back in May? Now, the angst is aimed at former NBA baller and current LDS leader Devin Durrant.<br />
<br />
Last Sunday during general conference, millions heard Durrant's call to come closer to God through "ponderizing" a particular verse of scripture each week. While the coined phrase is admittedly cheesy (his whole demeanor seemed to say, "I know the word 'ponderize' is a bit silly"), the idea is awesome. The idea is putting a verse of scripture someplace you'll see it throughout the week and reflecting on its meaning and application in your life.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHNS3VQlhWKwrc7E4VJ8Ci53a-WzUDH_MexeEhBfFTqKJI-f8zzCYts4oNG0lB9ZjfHDBsrrGLMCu5vogIWWzA9CWVsP5Tx5DzIDE16zw-afMPjXkHs1ViX530uyXde9h7uS8fsSiDyF-g/s1600/contention.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHNS3VQlhWKwrc7E4VJ8Ci53a-WzUDH_MexeEhBfFTqKJI-f8zzCYts4oNG0lB9ZjfHDBsrrGLMCu5vogIWWzA9CWVsP5Tx5DzIDE16zw-afMPjXkHs1ViX530uyXde9h7uS8fsSiDyF-g/s640/contention.png" width="356" /></a>Personally, I was deeply touched by his invitation. Even before conference was over, I chose a scripture for the week and made it my phone background.<br />
<br />
"What's your verse?" you ask.<br />
<br />
You aren't going to believe it: "Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and<b> that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together</b> in the same mind and in the same judgment."<br />
<br />
I had never really paid much attention to that verse before. I came across it by way of random navigation in the <a href="https://www.lds.org/pages/mobileapps?lang=eng">Gospel Library app</a>. I certainly had no idea just how timely <a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/1-cor/1.10?lang=eng">1 Corinthians 1:10</a> would be.<br />
<br />
Last night, my wife got me up to speed about how some members have been attacking Brother Durrant because his son had set up a website to sell "ponderize" merchandise (T-shirts, wrist bands, etc.). I came across an article by an old classmate and friend of mine who reported on <a href="https://kutv.com/news/local/lds-church-leader-apologizes-for-ponderize-merchandise-website">KUTV.com</a> about how Brother Durrant promptly apologized. In response to public outcry, his son took down the site.<br />
<br />
In a way, it looks pretty bad. Durrant is an investor by profession. Was this an opportunist's attempt to cash in on conference? Is the Durrant family really trying to serve God or is it trying to serve its own bank accounts?<br />
<br />
I can see where critics are coming from. However, as a student of the law, I have begun to appreciate a little just how difficult it is to get into others' minds and figure out their intent. We have a very limited sampling of words and acts, and absolutely nothing from the actual thoughts of those we accuse. Even so, the idea that Brother Durrant or a member of his family would try to get rich quick on a conference-based T-shirt seems pretty far fetched.<br />
<br />
As mentioned, Durrant is an investor by profession. I have only a little experience investing and the thought of making and maintaining a website, packing and shipping some "ponderize" shirts, sounds like a whole lot more of a nuisance than a rainmaker. In terms of opportunity cost, it just wouldn't make sense to me to go down that road, unless I was doing it more as a service, a way to remind people of what I thought was an important message.<br />
<br />
The Durrant's have been "ponderizing" for some time. They are big fans. Making shirts to help others jump on board probably sounded fun. I highly doubt they had even a hint of nefarious purposes. Why else would they be so willing to drop their prices to just cover costs or donate any profits?<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="https://kutv.com/news/local/lds-church-leader-apologizes-for-ponderize-merchandise-website">source</a> </span><br />
<br />
Alrighty, I think I have about made my point. There is a <a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/moro/7.45?lang=eng#44">scripture</a> about charity that says charity "thinketh no evil." Though it can be good to have our eyes open to what is going on around us, we really should give others the benefit of the doubt.<br />
<br />
Even if they are Mormon.<br />
<br />
Even if they are church leaders.<br />
<br />
Rather than "scandalize" (mixing 80% negative assumption with 20% truth to come up with a theory about what's in others' hearts), let's try something more productive. How about we "ponderize"?<br />
<br />
#whatsyourverse #ponderize #notscandalize<br />
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<br />Adam B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13635630634832831355noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1773703444331042188.post-84987725222173319972015-09-25T10:14:00.002-07:002015-10-29T09:48:25.313-07:00Dude Perfect tribute<span style="font-family: inherit;">Our love for <a href="http://dudeperfect.com/">Dude Perfect</a> runs deep. <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">A few months ago, our five-year-old discovered <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/corycotton">their videos</a>. He'</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">s pretty much an addict now.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">They deserve a definite shout-out for making good, clean entertainment. A few weeks ago, our boy wanted to try his hand at a trick shot video. He came up with his own shots </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">(though we tried to give them</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"> </span><span class="il" style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Dude</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"> </span><span class="il" style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Perfect</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">-worthy names)</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Without further ado, here's the final product:</span><br />
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/edbDHy_1Dzs" width="560"></iframe>Adam B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13635630634832831355noreply@blogger.com0