02.23.08
Deceptive Hearts
I was looking over the pages here for Deceptive Hearts and decided it’s a difficult format for reading. So I’ve posted it on my website. That way anyone wanting to read it won’t have to search through the older posts. I will be writing on the story again on Monday.
Here’s the link: http://egparsons.com/everlastinglove.htm
02.20.08
Children Kidnapped By CPS
This is not an article on the need for reform of the Child Protective Services nationwide and I will not bore you with all the facts and figures. They are available on the Internet from any family rights organization. If interested, do your own research, as I did. There is no need for reform. The entire system should be abolished and those working within the system pushed into the real world and made to do honest work for a change. Barring that, they should be imprisoned for eagerly participating in organized criminal activity.
We’ve all heard of organized crime syndicates and the legal-looking fronts they use to get around the legal system in an attempt to hide their true criminal activities. CPS is no different. They were put into place as a legal front for a larger, more heinous organization. The front is a good one, the protection of children. Behind the scenes, it’s an organization that kidnaps or harvests children for money. There’s no denying the need to protect our most innocent of citizens. An organization governed and overseen in an appropriate manner could work as a true protection for all children, both rich and poor without violating the rights of families. CPS is NOT such an organization, never has been, never will be.
If you have money (lots of money) you need never fear your children being harvested by CPS. Not to say, they won’t come after them. The likelihood is less, and if it happens, you will have the financial resources to fight them off. It’s the poor and middle-class that need to tremble in fear of this vast, government sanctioned, and criminal organization. This is especially true of the poor. Those who have no access to legal representation other than court appointed legal counsel. Court appointed legal counsel = NO REPRESENTATION.
Anyone who has ever worked within the CPS system knows that only about ten percent of children are removed from their homes for legitimate reasons. The general public may or may not be aware of this, but even if aware, they may not know that the other ninety percent are NOT removed mistakenly or with the best of intentions. No, the children are removed intentionally to keep up the quota. CPS must keep the quota high in order to be eligible for more and more federal funding. Sometimes these children are placed in foster homes indefinitely or the parental rights are removed and the children placed for adoption. CPS covets this adoption scenario because a plan implemented by our President pays them for every child adopted out of the system. Some would say the government and The President had only the interest of the children in mind when implementing this pay off for harvested children, but no government official could possibly be that ignorant of what is going on behind the scenes of the CPS.
The gross violations of human/family/parental rights perpetrated by CPS, their arrogant disregard for the laws of this country, and their blatant denial of constitutional rights are coming to light. The public is being made aware of their criminal activities, their harvesting of children, their use of illegal threats, intimidation and misuse of law enforcement to coerce families into doing as they bid—most especially poor families who have little defense against them. Those poor are easy targets for CPS, but nowhere in our laws or the constitution is there any reference to poor family being equal to bad parents, nor should there be. In this country the poor and middle class are entitled, under the law, to the same rights as those bestowed upon the wealthy. It’s past time those rights were upheld.
©Copyright Elizabeth Melton Parsons
http://egparsons.com Contact Me
02.11.08
Tax Season
I’m sorry I haven’t been around for a few days. It’s tax season and I’m swamped. I’ll get back to the blog novel (Deceptive Hearts) as soon as all this madness is behind me. Take care and check back from time to time. Elizabeth
PS: For all you writers out there who think you can’t file on a business loss because you didn’t earn any or enough on royalties and other payments…check with a tax professional. You can file a business loss even if you made little or no money on your writing.
02.07.08
Ex Offenders Forced Back To A Life Of Crime By Our Legal System
Walking slowly out through the prison gates, the young man never looked back. Freedom. What did it mean for him? He’d spent five years of his life behind bars for a non-violent crime he didn’t commit. He’d had no trial. After many threats and intimidation without benefit of adequate counsel he’d cut a deal with the prosecutor. At eighteen he’d had his entire adult life still ahead of him. His head was full of all the exciting dreams of youth. Those dreams had died during his five years behind bars.
Now he was free and his emotions were tangled. There were feelings of elation, happiness, and fear. He was scared to death. Would anyone hire an ex-con? Would he find a decent place to live? He had no money. His parents, who had very little, were determined to help him to the extent they could. He made up his mind to work hard and begin a new life—a life of freedom. He had his parole transferred to another state and left with a small bud of hope growing deep inside.
Things weren’t easy. He’d developed a drug problem in prison and once out, fell in with the wrong crowd. His mother gave up and abandoned him to the streets. His father stuck by him and in time he kicked his addiction, obtained gainful employment and rented a small apartment. He did well on his job, was promoted and met a nice girl. He continued to make the payments on his fine and was finally off parole. Two years had gone by since his release from prison and he was happy. He’d be okay.
Until one day he received a letter from the prosecutor’s office where he’d been imprisoned. According to the letter he was in the other state illegally. He phoned and explained that he’d been allowed to legally leave the state through a transfer. The prosecutor didn’t care about any explanations. That transfer was for parole, he was now on probation and would have to come back to the other state or risk being in violation and being arrested to serve out his ten years of probation behind bars. His father knew someone of importance in the state and a meeting was arranged. The young man got leave from work and traveled to the other state to sign papers for a transfer. The prosecutor asked if he was going to pay off the remainder of his fine in full. No, he told them. He didn’t have that kind of money and had no fast way of obtaining it.
If he wasn’t going to pay the money, then they didn’t have time to do the transfer papers. He’d have to come back. He explained what a hardship it had been to travel there the first time. They didn’t care. He’d come back and he’d remain for the four months it would take to do the paperwork or he’d be arrested. He’d also be monitored to make sure he didn’t leave the state. The young man was confused. He’d lost his freedom for five years on a breaking and entering charge. He’d paid a debt to society he hadn’t owed. He’d done all that was expected of him since being released. His life was just turning around. Now they wanted him to give up his job, his home, and his girl—come there to live on the street. How was this possible in a country like the USA? He returned home, feeling desperate. He knew he needed a good attorney, but couldn’t pay. His father couldn’t pay, but found a place where they offered free legal services. Will they be able to help or will this young man be forced by the system to become a homeless person and in all probability a repeat offender?
There are several things wrong with the above scenario. First, because of being poor, there was no adequate legal defense. Two, he was bullied and threatened into cutting a deal and confessing to a crime where the prosecutor had zero evidence against him and where there were witnesses to the fact he was somewhere else at the time the crime was committed. Three, he was allowed a transfer to another state to begin life anew and once he’d become a law abiding contributing member of society, he was threatened with arrest if he wasn’t willing to give up this new life and go back to the jurisdiction where he’d been convicted with no money, and no where to live. And last and most important, there is still no access to adequate legal counsel to fight against this kind of railroading for a person of limited financial means.
Let us imagine for a moment that all the above was true except the part where the young man was innocent. If I did a survey would most people say he was getting what he deserved? How could that be? He served his full term minus a couple of months for time served in jail before being convicted, and good behavior while in prison. If he’s getting what he deserves, does that mean he doesn’t deserve a second chance—he should pay for this one crime for the rest of his life? And do we truly want all the people released from prison every day to be forced by the system to return to a life of crime or do we want them to turn their lives around and become law-abiding citizens?
The above story is true.
©Copyright Elizabeth Melton Parsons
02.06.08
Deceptive Hearts ~ Chapter 3 continues…
***
“Mom! Mom, where are you?” Lily went from room to room and when entering the kitchen, saw Dee sitting on the patio outside the kitchen door. She took a few deep breaths to calm herself and watched her mother for a minute before going to her.
“Mom, I just came from Daddy and he…Mom, are you smoking?”
“No, Lily, I’m trying to set my face on fire.” Sarcasm laced her words, as she raised her brows and looked up at her youngest daughter.
“But you quit smoking when I was just a little girl. You know those things will kill you.”
“You aren’t a little girl any longer and I don’t need a lecture. Sit down and tell me what’s so urgent.”
Lily lowered her bottom onto the edge of a chair and stared at Dee. She’d never seen her like this, so…so un-mom like. “I just talked to Daddy. He told Sarah and me that he’s seeing an attorney next week about a divorce.”
Taking a long pull on the cigarette, Diana closed her eyes and blew the smoke out slowly. It seems Warren couldn’t wait to be rid of her. He couldn’t even keep his word about waiting until he was able to leave the center to say anything. Now she’d have to tell Robbie.
“Mom? Don’t you have anything to say?”
“What do want to know, Lily? He asked for a divorce. I told him I’d fight it, but I can’t force him to stay in a marriage he’s determined to leave. I have no intention of covering for him with you or your brother and sister. This divorce is what he wants and any explanations will have to come from him.”
©Elizabeth Melton Parsons
Continued at:
02.01.08
Decetive Hearts…cont.
“Sarah, I’m not sure I can explain. The accident simply made me realize how fast things can change. I could have died and I’ve never truly lived.”
“Daddy, that doesn’t make any sense. Are you saying your life has no meaning—that your career and your life with Mom meant nothing? What about Lily, Robbie, and me? Being our father means nothing to you?”
“It has nothing to do with my career or you children. I’ve always been happy and proud to be your father. How do you feel about Russell, Sarah?”
“He’s my husband, a part of me. I love him and can’t even imagine my life without him. What does that have to do with this?”
“That’s what has been missing in my life and I can’t live that way any longer.”
“Are you saying Mom doesn’t love you? Has never loved you? Because if so, you’re wrong, Daddy. Mom would be lost without you. Oh, Daddy, you are so wrong. She loves you. I see it in her eyes when she looks at you. Mom adores you. I can’t believe you don’t know that.”
“Lily was right when she said Dee has been a good wife to me. She’s been wonderful. And I have no doubt she cares for me, but not in the same way you care for Russell. We settled—settled for less than what you and Russell have. It wasn’t so bad before Robbie was born. I had my work. Your mother had her painting and the gallery. After Robbie, she gave that up and devoted herself to being the best wife and mother she could be.”
Sarah sank to her knees beside his chair. “I remember—the little place on Maple Lane. Mom took Lily and I there all the time when we were younger. She was a different person there. Her face would glow as soon as she opened the door. I’d forgotten.” Those were the only times she’d seen that look on her mother’s face. She laid her head on her father’s knee. “I’m sorry, Daddy, so sorry.”
©Elizabeth Melton Parsons All Rights Reserved
Continued here:
