My response to: "You need to do more", from "Don't ignore Obama"

 

Nat'l Education Assn. letter from Pres. Mary Hatwood Futrell to Susan Titus Glascoff, May 29, 1986

Yeamans, Robin*,3/8/20, Int’l Women’s Day noting scant progress since 1970, SusanT.Glascoff comment 

 I sadly agree with all you wrote, hence maybe we should try another tactic- getting some significant coordination among female activists & the good fathers' rights groups & authors of new George Wash LawSch research noted below. Man Alive wrote ~2 decades ago that treating abuse as 50/50 impairs solutions. I think ~1993 the Founding Fathers began with 100 guys ( one being BIDEN, so maybe we could get him to tout that more now as it opened stating something like- we all know that women are treated unfairly). Consider getting such a "Coalition" to emphasize that on 9/25/18 the House passed WITHOUT DISSENT H.Con.Res.72 re safety 1st of kids of divorce if abuse alleged. As you know CPPA & CJE co-authored it & got CA to pass own version 1st, 8/23/18, HR113. Few states have passed own version as major media failing to report even though family courts are under state jurisdiction. Ditto re reporting of 9/5/19 fed-funded gender bias in FC study by research from DC's George Wash Law Sch (emphasize had 5 authors, 3 MALE)- even noted in 2000 appealed cases 14% of abusive fathers got custody even when court AGREED re abuse, but court never gave custody to credibly accused abusive mothers! (Wash. Post reported it some July 29, low-read time & no follow up.) CJE has tracked child murders due to abusive custody/visits since 2008. ~664 reported when H.Con.Res.72 passed, ~734 now (36 just since GWLS research)! ALL pres. candidates are angry re public distress re health care costs. State stress causes & exacerbates health issues- suggest public read Atty. Barry Goldstein's 2014 bk- "The Quincy Solution: Stop DV & Save $500 Billion." Barry says # now ~$750B. Promote CONNECTING DOTS to all serious issues ( contests?) since kids from dysfunctional homes &/or environments are more likely to turn to substance abuse & all that often leads to- doing poorly in school, committing suicide, gun violence, becoming abusive to family, etc, etc! Ask questions-- How kids turn out EVERYWHERE determine EVERYTHING- How could it not? How can we lead yet lament fallout - separating immigrant kids & parents when we don't even protect our own? Aren't we hypocrites re lots issues?  H.Con.Res.72 is compassionate & constructive- wants results vs pointing fingers. Even the CDC uses the ACE study list of adverse issues- 4 or more cause lots dysfunctions. Promote passing the languishing SAFE CHILD ACT! Focus of ALL groups & as many individuals as can must be maximizing chance of kids becoming responsible adults! Aren't we in danger of doing too little too late? 1988-Nat’l Coalition / Family Justice -“abusive custody best-kept U.S.secret!” Still! Epigenetics- Child trauma can harm gene expressions causing dysfunction being passed / future generations!

*Retired CA lawyer, for decades often handled custody cases, often with permission in other states; as pres./Advisory Bd/NCFJ she used to fly to NY for meetings/ I was/remain Exec. Dir. & founder of Adv.Bd.

PS.4/29/20-Child murders since 2008 now 746.  Reports that DV has increased re Covid-19 stay-at-home

Why Humanity’s Prime Focus Must Be Maximizing # Kids Becoming Responsible Adults, 11/19 STGlascoff

“Childhood Abuse, Complex Trauma & Epigenetics,” Fabiana Franco, PhD, 10/30/18- over past decade studies increasingly show life experiences & environmental factors play important role in who we become. “Interpersonal early life stress can impact 2^nd & 3^rd generation offspring.”Lists many references. ”Epigenetics & the Human Brain,” Dr. Moshe Szyf, June ’08, reviews evidence showing association between certain epigenetic patterns, suicide, and child abuse. Also lists many references.

Problem- failure to personalize & “connect dots,” enabling compounding of problems. Samples follow. Individuals in denial enable media, organizations, gov’t officials & influential figures to stifle research, a vicious cycle. Paternalism is of course a root problem. Consider that after decades of assorted efforts by activists, the House passed without dissent H.Con.Res.72 re safety 1^st of children of divorce if abuse alleged (co-authored by the Center for Judicial Excellence who regularly update child murders -now 711 since 2008- due to court-ordered abusive custody/visits, ignored except for NYT brief mention 7/29/no follow up!). In almost daily contacts plus some meetings (~50 tonight with AAUW), I’ve yet to find anyone who’s heard about it! Yet since family courts are under state jurisdiction, how can the public create demand if they don’t know OR are in denial?? Ditto fact that all are ignoring (except one Wash. Post article July 29) federally funded new research about gender bias in courts when mothers allege abuse, esp. child sex abuse- 14% dads get custody if abuse proven- https://ssrn.com/abstract=3448062.

1. 11 documentaries over ~2 decades, most award-winning. CJE 2008- “Family Court Crisis: Our Children at Risk,” 2011 NoWayOutButOne- mom/ kids got asylum in Netherlands from U.S.( judge-“I agree there was abuse but giving father custody since mother is too ‘emotional’ about it.” Mom had hospital documents proving permanent brain damage of son since dad hit him!
2. Outline re 57 articles delivered to SC spring 2019 along with above 2 documentaries & book, “The Quincy Solution: Stop DV & Save $500 Billion,” by Atty. Barry Goldstein. Consider connect dots contest with incentives & ideas for solutions/only constructive & compassionate permitted.
3. Data left on table of 2002 (BMCC’s annual conf)- U.S.Supreme Court, U.S. v. Lanier No. 95-1717, 1997 appeal releasing judge serving less than 2 yrs of 25 yr sentence for requiring moms to give him oral sex if wanted custody since “he wasn’t given sufficient warning behavior at issue illegal!
4. American Tort Foundation annually updates Judicial Hellholes across U.S. I attended 11yr case in Brooklyn, NY (near top hellhole list). I was interviewed by key media source & key investigative source- 1^st twisted what I said & gave no credentials, 2^nd simply ignored it, even valid RICO filing. Noted expert witness was denied giving details to jury re 7 hr interview with abused wife. Three female judges recused for bias- all ignored contradiction- husband wealthy, wife in bankruptcy…
5. Retired judge prepared “guestimate” for me 2008, reporting it costs ~$4,500 to operate ONE COURTROOM for one day in NYC (noting ~ in major cities). Tons of legal shenanigans cause lots cases where there’s power imbalance to drag for years, bankrupting many. Court costs are taxpayer expense & bankruptcies cost society lots- as businesses get back pennies/dollar, ETC!
6. Posted 12/8/10- “Organized Crime in U.S. Family Courts,” case Mannix v Maram No.10 C 3849.
7. 8/12/12, DV Victims/Advocates Forming Nat’l…-85% kids witnessing DV/ moderate/severe PTSD.
8. Cognitive Dissonance- When people presented evidence vs beliefs, new evidence not accepted.
9. Man Alive Fathers’ Rights Group- “Treating abuse as 50/50 impairs solutions.”
10. Google power of compounding- long flat base abruptly rises, ck- earn penny/day/double 30 days

Noted atty re‘05 NY Matrimonial Commission “moved Titanic deck chairs “ In 1988 he suggested founding NCFJ whose pres. said “Abusive custody best-kept secret in U.S.” Let’s change that!!

U.S. House passed family court child safety resolution. All states must pass own version, CA did.

Received in Senate (09/26/2018)

115th CONGRESS 2d Session

H. CON. RES. 72

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IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

September 26, 2018

Received

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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of Congress that child safety is the first priority of custody and visitation adjudications, and that State courts should improve adjudications of custody where family violence is alleged.

Whereas approximately 15 million children are exposed each year to domestic violence and/or child abuse, which are often linked;

Whereas child sexual abuse is significantly under-documented, and under-addressed in the legal system;

Whereas child abuse is a major public health issue in the United States, with total lifetime estimated financial costs associated with just one year of confirmed cases of child maltreatment (including physical abuse, sexual abuse, psychological abuse and neglect) amounting to approximately $124 billion;

Whereas according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, federally launched, funded and tracked longitudinal research into “adverse childhood experiences” (the ACEs study) has shown that “children who experience abuse and neglect are also at increased risk for adverse health effects and certain chronic diseases as adults, including heart disease, cancer, chronic lung disease, liver disease, obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and high levels of C-reactive protein”;

Whereas research confirms that allegations of domestic violence, child abuse, and child sexual abuse are often discounted when raised in child custody litigation;

Whereas research shows that abusive parents are often granted custody or unprotected parenting time by courts, placing children at ongoing risk;

Whereas research confirms that a child’s risk of abuse increases after a perpetrator of domestic violence separates from a domestic partner, even when the perpetrator has not previously abused the child;

Whereas researchers have documented a minimum of 653 children murdered in the United States since 2008 by a parent involved in a divorce, separation, custody, visitation, or child support proceeding, often after access was provided by family courts over the objections of a protective parent;

Whereas scientifically unsound theories are frequently applied to reject parents’ and children’s reports of abuse;

Whereas in cases involving allegations of family violence courts should rely on the assistance of third-party professionals only when they possess the proper experience or expertise for assessing family violence and trauma, and apply scientifically sound and evidence-based theories;

Whereas most States lack standards defining required expertise and experience for court-affiliated or appointed fee-paid professionals in custody litigation or the required contents of custody-related expert reports; and

Whereas custody litigation involving abuse allegations is sometimes prohibitively expensive, resulting in parental bankruptcy, as a result of court-mandated payments to appointed fee-paid professionals, in addition to attorneys’ fees: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that—

(1) child safety is the first priority of custody and parenting adjudications, and courts should resolve safety risks and claims of family violence first, as a fundamental consideration, before assessing other best interest factors;

(2) all evidence admitted in custody and parenting adjudications should be subject to evidentiary admissibility standards;

(3) evidence from court-affiliated or appointed fee-paid professionals regarding adult or child abuse allegations in custody cases should be admitted only when the professional possesses documented expertise and experience in the relevant types of abuse, trauma, and the behaviors of victims and perpetrators;

(4) States should define required standards of expertise and experience for appointed fee-paid professionals who provide evidence to the court on abuse, trauma and behaviors of victims and perpetrators, should specify requirements for the contents of such professional reports, and should require courts to find that any appointed professionals meet those standards;

(5) States should consider models under which court-appointed professionals are paid directly by the courts, with potential reimbursement by the parties after due consideration of the parties’ financial circumstances; and

(6) Congress should schedule hearings on family courts’ practices with regard to the objective, fair, and unbiased adjudication of children’s safety and civil rights.

Passed the House of Representatives September 25, 2018.

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2017–2018 REGULAR SESSION House Resolution No. 113 Introduced by Assembly Member Rubio (Coauthors: Assembly Members Calderon and Lackey) Calderon, Lackey, Acosta, Aguiar-Curry, Arambula, Baker, Berman, Bigelow, Bloom, Bonta, Brough, Burke, Caballero, Carrillo, Cervantes, Chau, Chávez, Chen, Chiu, Choi, Chu, Cooley, Cooper, Cunningham, Dahle, Daly, Eggman, Flora, Fong, Frazier, Friedman, Gabriel, Gallagher, Cristina Garcia, Eduardo Garcia, Gipson, Gloria, Gonzalez Fletcher, Gray, Grayson, Harper, Holden, Irwin, Jones-Sawyer, Kalra, Kiley, Levine, Limón, Low, Maienschein, Mathis, Mayes, McCarty, Medina, Melendez, Mullin, Muratsuchi, Nazarian, O’Donnell, Patterson, Quirk, Quirk-Silva, Rendon, Reyes, Rivas, Rodriguez, Salas, Santiago, Steinorth, Mark Stone, Thurmond, Ting, Voepel, Waldron, Weber, and Wood) June 13, 2018 Relative to Piqui’s Resolution. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST HR 113, as amended, Rubio. Digest Key Bill Text WHEREAS, According to the California Partnership to End Domestic Violence, one-half of the approximately 15,000 victims sheltered in California’s state-funded domestic violence programs each year are children and 75 percent of domestic violence victims have children; and WHEREAS, The United States Department of Justice estimates that in 30 to 60 percent of families where either domestic violence or child maltreatment is identified, children experience both forms of abuse within the home; and WHEREAS, According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), child abuse is a major public health issue, with a lifetime cost of over $200,000 for each victim; and WHEREAS, According to the CDC, children who experience adverse childhood experiences, also known as ACEs, including abuse, are at an increased risk for chronic, adverse physical health effects as adults; and WHEREAS, According to the UCLA Women’s Law Journal, research shows that victims of domestic violence are at a great disadvantage in child custody disputes and mediations when there is an allegation of domestic violence; and WHEREAS, According to the Domestic Violence Legal Empowerment and Appeals Project, abusive parents, including those who are accused and adjudicated batterers, tend to be granted sole custody or joint custody by the courts, placing children at risk; and WHEREAS, Article I of the California Constitution declares that all people have the inalienable right to pursue and obtain safety. A child’s safety should be a priority over all other considerations; and WHEREAS, In family courts, there is great need for an increased presence of court reporters to create records and legal representation for those who are unrepresented during custody litigation cases; now, therefore, be it WHEREAS, Court reporters should be present to create records in all family law matters, particularly in domestic violence and contested custody cases; now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, That all court-related professionals should be trauma-informed and trained in recognizing, evaluating, and understanding evidence and the impacts of domestic violence and child abuse; and be it further Resolved, That a court reporter should record all hearings in domestic violence and contested custody cases, and all litigants should have access to the court records; and be it further Resolved, That when a child witnesses domestic violence or reports being is injured or abused, or when there is substantial evidence of child injury, family courts should ensure that the safety of the child has priority over all other considerations in any custody or visitation decision; and be it further Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the California Supreme Court, the Judicial Council, and the author for appropriate distribution. ___________________ REVISIONS: Heading—Line 2. Revised  August 23, 2018 Amended  IN  Assembly  August 06, 2018

Judicial Forum, 10/26/14, sponsored by Nat'l Coalition for Family Justice- Questions by Susan Titus

Glascoff, Advisory Bd. Director of NCFJ & longtime nat'l public advocate

Two pertinent fairly recent books inspire useful questions- The Death of Common Sense, by Philip K. Howard, Esq. & HOW- How We Do Anything Means Everything in Business & in Life, by Dov Seidman

1. What can be done to insure judicial orders get followed? Aren't judges being demeaned & our legal system mocked when some judges enforce contempt orders while others don't (some don't even issue them) & victims must turn to Appellate, costly in time & money (for victims & taxpayers, including those denied timely access), if Appellate even accepts the case?
2. How can COMMON SENSE be enforceably applied re ALL types of cases, but especially when harms children? With regard to custody, why aren't moms & kids being believed when studies show fabrications of abuse run about 2%? In 3 recent prominent statistics relating to male violence- 70 out of 71 were men arrested for child pornography, 5% of males are born with greater tendency for violence, 1% of males seem to have predisposition for pedophilia.
3. HOW can we create compassionate, constructive legal remedies that don't favor those with most power but recognize inherent gender differences & fact that it is in everyone's best interest to create checks & balances versus cycling abusive behaviors?
4. Since judges are just as human as everyone else, HOW can enforceable sanctions be established when orders violate common sense & obviously fairness?

PS- A few proposed remedies & stark examples why needed: (some not new but still ignored)

I- a) Pay incentives for judges getting fewest filed complaints. b) Additional training required when receive serious complaints or over established min. #; removal if too many. c) Review boards, & include public posting of orders issued but not enforced & by whom.

II- a) Ex.-9+yr ongoing Brooklyn Taub divorce/bankruptcy ETC case- start of bankruptcy of wife, judge said husband still worth $41 million (result of many judges not enforcing orders)

b) oldest daughter's estranged husband allowed to get passport for minors without mom signing & tho husband rarely pd child support & earlier had criminal court order- supervised visitation, & he's now seeking custody. LAW needed- barred from custody if ever credible abuse alleged.

c) Columbia U. 9/21/14- Forensic conf. re custody. Etc.- key judge speaker – issued settlement order (Taub) at least 1 1/2yrs ago, enforced virtually nothing, bnkrptcy & legal costs increasing.

III- LAW needed- settlement agreements MUST include enforceable comparable lifestyles, incl. a “look-see” whenever credibly requested after & fines imposed for violations.

IV- a)Find ways to close loopholes, issue escalating fines for delaying tactics plus set fees for required items. b) To avoid high cost of transcripts & tampering, record- 1 taped copy for each party + judge.

Need+ Sample Ideas re Legal Reforms, All Topics, Esp.re Kids, Oct.2,2014 St. John'sUniv. SusanTitusGlascoff  

                           (Please- google documentary, NoWayOutButOne, & also my name; see PS pg3)-10/5 minor edits+PPS pg4

I have one goal, RESULTS, meaning we must create enforceable checks & balances on our entire legal system that maximize fairness!! WHY do most feel it is often NOT fair? Because the goal has become Who CAN Win Versus What Is Fair, no matter the topic!! WHAT are the driving forces? Greed &/or punishment &/or Dr. Jekyl/Mr. Hyde behavior. Isn't greed to varying degrees part of everyone's self-preservation instinct? When you are involved in a lawsuit, don't you hire a lawyer to win? Isn't the winner often who can find the most loopholes & drag suit longest, meaning who has the most power & control, often decided by money &/or influence? Thomas Jefferson said, “The germ of the destruction of our nation is in the power of the judiciary... it needs more checks & balances... the only remedy is to inform public discretion.” Everything is interrelated, hence compounding. Jefferson's germ is a cancer about to metastasize since it's been ~200 yrs. Compounding builds long dense flat base, then explodes!

What's the worst problem? How it affects kids. Why? Since how they turn out determines everything. Judges, lawyers, those in child protective services, teachers, CEOs, ETC. each have the same percent of dysfunction as the rest of us- influenced by childhood. A 1996-2006 study of just federal judges found ZERO sanctions given to ~843 judges in 29 states, despite 1000s of filed complaints! CA sanctioned 1, so not in the 29. No states yielded credible results. Advocates have long requested better training re abuse for family court issues. Judges ( Some have specialty in corporate law, etc. since family courts are deemed less prestigious.)must also rely on data provided, sometimes skewed by *GALs, by Dr.Jekyl /Mr. Hydes, case overload, politics, by money paid, etc. People fear criticizing judges & lawyers- result might worsen. Lawyers criticizing judges have lost license. To win appeals requires appellate judges to overturn colleagues' decisions- versus self-preservation! Tons of research, conferences etc have yielded little. Legal abuse has multiple facets. Increasing polarization of pay hurts families, hence kids. All contracts are legal documents. One CEO paid $400,000 to a lawyer to guarantee him $12 million severance pay if he was fired! Isn't that legalized thievery? Doesn't outrageous pay squeeze everyone?          *Guardian ad Litems- lawyers appointed to supposedly represent kids' best interest

 

Since fact our health system needed better care at lower cost finally sparked enough discussion to begin getting results, why can't we insist on a similar dialogue re establishing legal accountability? Can't a compassionate, constructive approach help by emphasizing power of indoctrination & cycling abuse? NYT had recent article noting problem of pedophiles who'd served their time finding it impossible to find lodging since they had to remain 1000 ft from schools, etc. I wrote NYT that media in general, by failure to expose abusive custody & visitation, help create pedophiles & other dysfunction by ignoring court abuse. People are outraged when I say there's data supporting 58,000/yr abusive custody & visits!

HOW can we (YOU at this conference) halt this cancer, acting as catalysts to get media dialogue going to create sustained public demand for enforceable checks & balances on our legal SYSTEM? ANY IDEAS YOU HAVE ARE WELCOME! But consider theme- every court decision must pass fairness groundrules- every state must create an enforceable plan or have one imposed. Suggest contests with incentives for creative constructive ideas since resistance to change often hardens with accusations, even when well-documented & presented compassionately. HOW about we each agree to contact ONE influential source, state goal -must include broad coordination? Some ideas for contacts-

1. former Mayor Bloomberg's Mayors Against Illegal Guns (deBlasio joined)- since one key focus is how gun violence hurts kids; suggest extension to include how to stop courts hurting kids via excess incarceration, abusive custody & visitation & unfair equitable distribution that impoverishes one parent relative to other, & other insensitive & unfair practices, etc.,
2. enlist major media such as 60 MIN, major newpapers, etc,(60MIN ignored July'12 request thru contact)
3. investigative reporters- ex. 3x pulitzer prize winner, Walt Bogdanich-July 12,'14 NYT article, Reporting Rape &Wishing She Hadn't, describing known reluctance to expose rapists mostly since it hurts sports & college reputation. Again- protecting one's own/self preservation wins. Suggest sample pg2 statistics be combined re a few legal abuse issues.[STG will try, too-interviewed by him '98 re hlth advocacy topic]
4. contact authors of existing school programs that foster good relationships such as Atty. Lynn Gold-Bikin's Partners where HS kids use charades to act out relationship issues; suggest adapting to pre-k-12 & also coordinating with other programs to have something required in all schools; include improving help for kids of divorcing families & better coordinating with social services especially GALs is needed to help insure judges don't award abusive custody or unsupervised visitation. Media & many schools focus almost exclusively on problems of poor, omitting similar problems for most kids of divorce.

I will digress from my focus on kids to briefly highlight other legal excess & show (to enlist interest) interrelationships. In 2011 Atty. Philip Howard wrote the book, The Death of Common Sense, which analizes studies showing how excess suing adds huge costs to business, health care, education, individuals, & families via suit, passing many costs to all taxpayers. He estimated ~30cents per health care dollar due to defensive practices & suits. In 2008 to help with another speech I was giving, a retired judge prepared a “guestimate” that it cost ~$4500 to operate one courtroom for one day in NYC. That's taxpayer expense which hurts families. (Much has been written about kids, esp.non-whites being incarcerated too easily & long, promoting cycling abuse;huge cost) NYT just published that legal costs for capital cases across U.S. are overwhelming state budgets since getting execution dates takes average of 16 yrs & can take 25 yrs! (Added 10/5- NYT editorial bd 9/27-A Group Shout on Climate Change giving verdict on UN Climate Wk- Sec. Gen, presidents, mayors noted alarming changes, U.S./China possible cooperation; “trick might be bottom-up movement”as 300,000 marchers. STG-might counter lots legal resistance

In 1995, our esteemed panelist, Karen Huffer, established international recognition via her book, Legal Abuse Syndrome, describing a public health menace -PTSD caused by varied legal abuse. A 1993 Reader's Digest reported lg % of kids of divorce do far more poorly in school, yet few yrs ago a google legal abuse site said abuse of legal system ranks divorce as biggest civil court money maker. Since I'm the director of the National Advisory Board to the National Coalition for Family Justice (501C3 since 1988), I was asked to start attending the Brooklyn Taub divorce case Feb. 5, 2007 since legal abuse had already been suspected from outset, June 2005. Case ongoing 9+yrs, & I'm still attending- its the worst case of the over 10,000 the coalition has tried to help. Some highlights are, even though the husband had federal fraud convictions in 1998, judges keep doubting wife. He stole custody of youngest son at 14 & mother never saw him since. Father got mere 3 months probation for extortion re covering up sex abuse of that son by a rabbi. When wife declared bankruptcy in July 2008, female judge said she'd done her homework & estimated Mr. Taub was worth at least $41 million, yet same judge & other judges ignoring he had been ordered to pay wife maintence & mortgage! He's currently claiming he must reduce the already low maintenance -he often doesn't pay- because he can't afford it due to retiring. The settlement also said neither allowed to disparage other or kids from first marriages. Yet now it seems husband will be allowed to testify in favor of oldest daughter's estranged husband getting custody even though he had criminal court order for supervised visitation for indicated finding of sexually touching 10yr old daughter. He has rarely paid child support, yet judge waived mother's right to sign passport so husband could take kids to Israel (with what money?). 

       Aspects of above case are rampant across the U.S. The American Tort Foundation ranks areas they label Judicial Hellholes, & NYC was recently ranked 3^rd in the U.S. A RICO suit (federal racketeering for money-laundering, etc) was filed in Taub case but judge (who gets accolades in the news) denied it as “frivolous!” A new book, The Robert's Court, merely puts custody issues in a string of problems but doesn't elaborate, & briefly notes excessive legal bills make representation out of middle class reach.

    I've been doing public advocacy my entire adult life. I'm in WWho in Amer, Business &Finance, etc, have masters in Health Advocacy & Math, 5 sons-2 step, 8 grndkds,1^st married 23yrs to high-level atty.

PS-I'm clueless what's best wording, what samples to include, etc! As others have said, “Democracy pg3 is a team sport!” We are in danger of doing too little too late re many serious issues, with excess & outright abuse of legal system usually a factor, often controlling. Data overwhelms- decades of books, conferences, research papers, judicial forums, articles- ??results??- even though well-presented plus detailed appeals made to judges, lawyers, Att. Gen'ls, gov't, media.....I've contacted 100s, written tons!

WHAT'S the ELEPHANT in the ROOM? Failure to personalize- connect all the interrelated dots back significantly to YOUR doorstep. Sept/Oct 2014 Audubon mag.- climate change(& how it imperils over ½ of NAmer. Bird species by 2080) - “ biggest public myth is belief many scientists disagree... 97% agree! We're not good at recognizing incremental changes that could pose potentially calamitous risks...

We need a new relationship with energy to go with our evolving new relationship with climate....Major university studies show intentional strategy to sow doubt, but aerial pics of Miami show moon tides now pushing water on streets through storm drains...23 of 25 densely populated counties border coast... Lots analyses here & abroad- global transition to clean energy is technically & economically feasible. Barriers to achieving it are social/political.”“Political” includes legal barriers & increasingly apply to everything. 9/23NYT-Watchdog for Police is Accepting Complaints-let's bombard them, expand nat'lly.

WHAT'S ANOTHER ELEPHANT in ROOM? Not requiring only WIN/WIN ideas since greed, self-

preservation, & power of indoctrination are strong. Sept. 2014 Readers' Digest, pg 80- “Ancestors had to get 'carrots,' meaning food & mates. If don't get carrot today, get another chance tomorrow. But if fail to avoid predator- whap! Our brains became wired to hyper-focus on bad news.” Lots of studies show emotional brain damage from abuse, yet even when we get evaluation including mostly good, studies show tendency to focus on criticism. Cliché applies-“catch more flies with honey than vinegar.”

How about incentives for judges to get fewest filed complaints, all issues, but esp. re kids? How can we constructively expose contradictions- Megan's Law- keep pedophiles away from kids but abusive custody or unsupervised visitation- judges order kids to live with pedophile? AMEND-if doubt, err on caution, etc.Military, sports, colleges, police promote rape by not constructively handle abusers/ note cycling. Re lots issues-scrutinize plea bargains, rethink sealed records, citizen review bds, rewards.

Need to elevate prestige of family court judges, require better training(all court actors) & increase pay.

Team up with someone when you approach a source. Do your homework- appeal to their self-interest. Maybe google reviews of hopeful or helpful plus troubling books, etc. such as Animal Madness- How Anxious Dogs, Compulsive Parrots.... Help Us Understand Ourselves; HOW- How We Do Anything Means Everything in Business & in Life; Perfect Match (novel accurately portraying how courts fail kids & protective parents when sex abuse occurs); The Death of Common Sense (by lawyer re courts) Beyond Outrage- What Has Gone Wrong with Our Economy & Our Democracy & How to Fix It; Border Patrol Nation & also The Divide-each re how we are becoming police state, but esp. vs poor & esp. vs people of color- policies keep them poor; Positive Parenting for a Peaceful World (great short easy read); yr 2000 movie, Pay It Forward (challenge-make them entertaining enough to draw crowds).

Support & request entertaining, constructive media such as described on front page NYT Arts 9/23, A Marriage in Trouble in Triplicate, theater acting out- “This is the way we were, way we are, & way we will be. And we are fools if we think we can separate any of these versions from the others...3 sets of couples play same couple at different stages.” It was taken from 6-part TV series of 4 decades ago when marriage rates began decline. Since people want to be happy, I'm hoping re-evaluation ensues, to increase marriage & keep together or deal more constructively with divorce, esp. for sake of kids.

NYT, 9/23, America Out of Whack- growing doubts free market can distribute growth rewards to those making it possible. STG- Isn't that because legal SYSTEM is used as weapon vs those who seek fairness?

PPS 10/5- I ran out of time to get this pg ready for Oct.2 conference. Some ex's also came afterwards/pg4

1) Since my theme is since we often fail to interrelate things (connect dots), they compound (ex-deferred maintenance of roof leak), I had page explaining Butterfly Effect- “small change in one place can result in large changes later.” On back of page I had a graph of compounding-long flat base, finally abruptly rises, then skyrockets. Since kids learn what they live, the more bad experiences they have (worse earlier it starts), the more they compound. To sense compounding double penny daily for one month-

 1, 2, 4, 8.... Even I, a former math teacher, am always astounded by final amount! 

2) NYT 9/27/14- a) Nicholas Kristof, Stranger Danger & Guns- reports extremely disturbing statistics- 92% of Americans & 75% of N.R.A. members favor universal background checks before gun purchases since other statistics show what we've often heard- homes with guns have lots more suicides, murders, accidental gun deaths, etc.     b) Frank Bruni, The Wilds of Education, REMINDS us that education is supposed to challenge & expand young minds (How else would all sorts of inventions occurred?). He cites several examples where some parents have objected to books (that refer to rape, civil disobedience, etc, even though they're full of life lessons about responsibility,etc), commencement speakers, etc. despite many students protesting. 

DO WE STILL HAVE DEMOCRACY IF less than 50% of voters DETERMINE LAWS, etc. FOR rest of us?

1. NYT 10/3/14, Jim Dwyer, Bureaucracy Turns Hero into a Rogue, states “by omitting essential context suggested a therapist was acting in self-interest in fund-raising, when in fact principal & others were using it to enable a disabled kid to write a creative book.” The legal system VERY regularly allows cases to be determined via “omitting essential context!”
2. NYT 5/21/14- Joseph Berger, 71 Are Accused in Child Pornography Case, Officials Say, noting 70 men & 1 woman, & said “we can no longer assume people who prey on children are drifters as they included a police chief, nurses, boy scout leader, etc.” THAT'S NOT NEW NEWS! Nor is fact most sexual abusers are male. So why do judges, etc continue to doubt mothers' claims?
3. Phyllis Chesler's 2001 book, Women's Inhumanity to Women-“a peculiar silence surrounds woman's inhumanity to woman.” I agree. She says “women love & depend on each other, but can't change cruelty to each other till admit it. They often choose peace over conflict which often means accepting status quo & punishing anyone challenging it. More need to choose justice.”I've noted cruelty of some female judges.
4. 4/11/14- Mothers' Day in Washington DC- 4-day conf. (?5^th) re safe mothers who lost custody of kids to batterers & molesters. ALL-DAY SEMINARS TO TEACH MOTHERS HOW TO TRY TO HELP KIDS LIVING WITH ABUSERS!! Is this Iraq? When several studies have long shown fabrication of abuse is ~2%, WHY can't we focus on the kids, not fathers' rights? BUT NOT WITHOUT COMPASSION as many were 1^st abused themselves, which is why we must do everything to stop cycling abuse of all sorts! 98% of divorces are not about abuse, but can't ignore ~58,000 divorce cases/yr have judges order kids to abusive custody/unsupervised visits!!
5. NYT letters to editor, 2/10 re 2/3/14, “The Middle Class Is Steadily Dwindling. Just Ask the Business World,” virtually all indicate belief capitalism can't survive when too few can buy what capitalists make; such wealth hasn't been seen since Gilded Age. I AGAIN EMPHASIZE THAT ALL CONTRACTS are LEGAL DOCUMENTS, henceVIA LEGAL SYSTEM we must ESTABLISH CHECKS & BALANCES FOR FAIRER PAY TOP TO BOTTOM. Note continued exploitation of parttime workers (Part-Time Schedules, Full-Time Headaches, 7/18- & there was flurry of too few efforts to “limit harshest effects,”
6. NYT 9/21 Kristof- Alicia Keys Asks: Why Are We Here? Picture of nude (covering essentials) pregnant Alicia with peace sign on belly-to finally get attention,“galvanize infantry of fans from feeling frustrated to improving world.” She asks support for 12 groups; next steps -petitions, rallies, protests, fundraising...