Winston-Salem Journal LTE MO 06/25/12

Benefit

Dianne Dawson Garrett’s guest column, “Play it forward” (June 17), began with a quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson. On the subject of “the order of nature,” Emerson failed to capture that the rendering “benefit” to the giver, from those who receive, is that the giver has the reward, the benefit, of knowing that he did good.

There are no selfless acts.

LLOYD V. EVANS II

Winston-Salem

Political scheme

Of all the many political schemes to buy votes that President Obama has used, his latest is the most blatant and, some say, illegal. His decision to exempt 800,000 illegal aliens from deportation is a slap in the face of every unemployed American because it pushes Americans furthur to the rear in trying to find work. Obama knows this, but he is more interested in getting re-elected than standing up for American workers.

The June 18 article “In Ala., workers vanish after immigration law” should be titled “Illegal aliens vanish after immigration law.” The article states that unemployment in the state has fallen from 9.8 percent to 7.2 percent. This law drove tens of thousands of illegal aliens from the state, opening up job opportunities for American workers.

Many say that these individuals should not be punished by being deported because they were brought here by their parents. But if this reasoning is pursued to its logical conclusion, then no parent would ever be sent to prison for murder or any other crime because that would punish their children for something the parents did. How absurd.

I trust every unemployed Americans will consider this latest ploy when they go to the ballot box in November.

HOWELL D. JACKSON

Walkertown

Bump in the road

Thank you for acknowledging significant progress at the state crime laboratory (?) (“A big bump on road to reform,” June 20).

Notwithstanding 40,000 submissions annually, lab operation under ISO 17025, the highest international standards for forensic laboratories, is imminent. The new Forensic Science Advisory Board experts complement the lab’s work. Two independent 2011 DNA audits found perfect compliance with FBI standards. In 2010, the DNA database exonerated over 100 individuals and solved crimes with 420 “hits.”

Yet independent certification of lab scientists has created confusion.

Only this state requires certification. Our lab scientists have qualified as expert witnesses in thousands of trials, and remain experienced, knowledgeable and skillful. Nearly 70 percent of eligible analysts are certified; the unsuccessful will test again; the remainder will test once eligible.

Following legal advice, analyst test results were placed in private personnel files. Revealing such information without a court order is a criminal misdemeanor, and subjects those responsible to disciplinary action, including dismissal and suit by the employee.

We did not resist disclosure. But recognizing the tension between personnel privacy and the district attorneys’ disclosure obligations, I proposed that district attorneys obtain court orders for disclosure while complying with personnel privacy laws. Forsyth County District Attorney Jim O’Neill followed this precise process.

An internal communications breakdown, not forgetfulness, caused the notification failure which the Forsyth judge ruled was “inadvertent.” However, the responsibility remains mine.

I deeply regret this “bump in the road,” but the lab is determined to emerge even stronger and better.

JUDGE JOSEPH JOHN

DIRECTOR, STATE CRIME LAB

Raleigh

Placing blame

The writer of the June 20 letter “The governed people” blamed just about everyone who has ever led/ruled for the world’s problems. This writer sounds a lot like our president, who sounds more and more like a third-grader with each passing day.

“President Obama, did you do this?”

“Yes, but it was not my fault.”

“Whose fault was it?”

“The guy who had this job before I did.”

If re-elected, will he realize that his predecessor will have been himself?

There is a song that was popular in the 1960s titled “The Name Game.” In the song, Shirley Ellis tells us how to rhyme any name. I think the campaign song for the 2012 Obama campaign should be a play on this: “The Blame Game.” Names suggested for blame could be George W. Bush, Big Oil, Congress, Supreme Court and, of course, Wall Street.

Realize that recent grown-up presidents found ways to work (play well) with others. The 2001 Bush tax cuts passed 58-33 in a Democratic-controlled Senate, the extension of these cuts in 2010 passed 81-19, again in a Democratic-controlled Senate. Bill Clinton passed meaningful legislation in his last six years with a Republican Congress and Ronald Reagan passed effective legislation during his two terms with a Democratic-controlled Congress.

What’s missing from this administration? Maturity and respect for others.

TOM D. JONES

Winston-Salem