Why is it so hard to do the right thing?  Why do people struggle with this concept?

Greed?  Selfishness?  Just plain, old-fashioned sin?

Then again, what is “right”?

Ah, this last one we could conceivably argue all the livelong day.  For many days, even.  But there are some things which are, yes, I’m going to say it, black and white. 

Take theft, for example.  No one would disagree that stealing is wrong, but many would consider the reason behind it.  This, however, the reason, does not make it right.  It may excuse the behavior, it may invite leniency, but it doesn’t change the fact that stealing is wrong.

What if a man were starving, and stole a loaf of bread out of hunger?  This is common example, we’ve all heard or used it.  Well, I say, why didn’t he first ask?  Why didn’t he make use of one social service program or another to feed himself?  Sure, applying for food stamps takes weeks and the paperwork is interminable, but he could start there, and move on to a soup kitchen or a food bank.  Or, he could simply ask someone for a meal or a snack to tide him over.

One would feel sorry for this man, and most, I think, would help.  Why don’t people simply ask?  Pride?  Or just degeneracy?  Of course, I have to think that most people would have done something long before they get in this position, but some don’t plan, sometimes things happen unexpectedly, and there could be other reasons as well.

But stealing is still wrong.  Someone else has worked for and earned the item in question, and another person is not entitled to have it, just because.

Jumping far to the other side of the subject, what’s this we hear about, continuously, this “wealth preservation”?  I don’t know about you, but I don’t really have any to “preserve”; I understand some do.  The question of right, in this instance, involves a more personal preference, an opinion, if you will, as to how one wishes to dispose of his possessions.  He basically has two choices – hang on to enough to live for however many years he has remaining, and spend the rest, or hang on to it all, period, so he can leave something to his children or grandchildren.

Of course, the trick is knowing how much longer you have, and therefore how much you need.  And, too, if one chooses to spend it all, he may have a very short period in which to accomplish this – no one knows for sure when his time has come.

Let’s be more specific: a man left money to his wife and his two daughters.  Whatever was left, after his wife passed away, was to be split.  A trustee was supposed to “preserve” the principal.  He chose to spend it.  Why?  What stopped him from doing the right thing?  Well, I kind of think he’s a jerk, but that’s really no defense.  Or reason.  Just a lame excuse.

We could speculate that the wife had more than a little something to do with it – after all, most of the principal was spent on her.  But that might open up a whole new lawsuit.

Because yes, folks, there is a lawsuit.  Naturally.  Because so many people have an apparent inability to do the right thing.  In a nutshell, we tried to stop the financial bleeding, they opposed this.  Of course they would, it was taking money “from” them; now, granted, money they weren’t exactly entitled to, because the man in question had made the decision what to do with what HE had earned, but the attorney working on this deal had a financial interest as well.  Unethical?  You bet!

Again, NOT the right thing to do.  But who is going to call them on this?  Well, I did.  Didn’t do any good, and you know why?  Because there are no sanctions against people who do the wrong thing.  None.  Why, again?  Because our world has become a do-your-own-thing place, a world where everyone is “right” and good and bad, wrong and right, are relative.  Wouldn’t want to offend anyone, now would we?

What about duty and honor?  These words/concepts seem to be dead as well.  I’m not going to ask why, because I really have no idea – except, perhaps, to direct your attention to the preceding paragraph.  That might be it.

Does one have a duty to his children?  Of course, but one must first define the extent of that duty.  Does one have a duty to “preserve his wealth” for those children?  Probably not – his wealth, his choice, really.  Of course, once he’s deceased, all bets are off and whoever is left in charge calls the shots.

What about property?  Property can be anything from great-grandmother’s wedding rings to old family china to actual property, as in real estate.  Someone who possessed honor and had a sense of duty to his family would strive to pass these things along to the next generation.  Again, in spite of intentions, once the individual is gone it’s all left to others.  And, if those “others” don’t exhibit these qualities, again, all bets are off.

Of course, sometimes, even those still living lack a sense of duty and honor when it comes to family history.  Their attitude is somewhere along the lines of “it’s MINE” and, because of that, “I can do whatever I want!”  Both assertions are true, but both also show a lack of integrity.

Long story short or, rather, long blog long, one should ponder how and where and why he is in this life, and consider those who came before and actually made that life possible; and, too, think of those who came afterwards and who will remember him in a certain way – with pride, or with disappointment.  When you’re part of a family, you have a responsibility to preserve and maintain the history, for those who are also part of that tradition.  You don’t get to be selfish and you don’t get to do whatever you want.  That’s part of the price of living, because without those who came before you, well, duh – you wouldn’t be here!

I will no doubt piss off a few members of law enforcement, if they happen to come across this blog today, but seriously, GET IT TOGETHER.

I do understand, as much as any civilian can, and appreciate what our officers deal with on a daily basis.  I’m sure they’re overworked and underpaid; well, for the most part, like any other profession.

But please don’t insult me by talking over what I’m trying to tell you or explain to you, and please try to keep track of important paperwork.  And please, for the love of God, don’t insist that you can’t question a suspect or investigate a crime unless you have actually observed it.

Holy crap.

After three hours of painful waiting – on a very hard bench, in a very boring place, listening to screeching children – I obtained a temporary order of protection last Wednesday night.  As of 1:00 pm today, it has still not been served.

Oh, he’s aware of its existence; he stopped in on Friday and I told him to leave.  He went to the police department, who knows why, and they called me.  Said they didn’t have a copy, even though I assured them that the county had said they would fax it to them on Wednesday night.  They said they couldn’t enforce the order until he’d been served; I informed them that he’d seen it, he knew of it, and they damn well better enforce it if I need them to do so.  This, of course, after she finally shut up long enough and quit repeating herself numerous times to I could get in a word edgewise.

So I called the county.  They promised they had faxed it to both my local department and to the county where the subject has supposedly been staying.  So they faxed it again.  This time it was received.  Of course, by then he’d left and so couldn’t be served then and there.

Everyone has said “three to five days” is about how long it takes to serve papers.  Since I was in the phone call mode, I also called the county where this is supposed to be served and they assured me they had received it.  Good. 

That was Friday.  Today is Tuesday.  Still nothing.

Back to the phone.  I called the domestic violence unit; oh, she said, we never tell anyone 3-5 days.  Good to know.  Here, she tells me, call this Sergeant in the north zone, he can tell you what’s going on.  So I did.  He called back.  Wrong zone.  However…he was very nice, very helpful, and he found the problem.

Not only was I told the wrong zone, but they can’t find the order.  He asked who I talked to – had no idea; he read a list of names, nope, not ringing a bell because I’m pretty sure the lady I talked to never gave her name.  Convenient, yes? 

But wait – it’s IN the computer, but there’s no HARD COPY.  What, can’t just hit the “print” button?  Apparently not.

So, once again, I’m going to do the job of someone else who dropped the ball.  Did I mention this is a PROTECTIVE ORDER?  Nice job, everyone – and trust me, that’s very heavy on sarcasm.  That’s twice that the county failed to follow its own procedure.  In one case.  I wonder how many other protective orders have “disappeared” or not arrived?  Is it that difficult to send a fax? 

But wait again – it just gets better!  I faxed my own copy, then I called the county office again.  Oh no, she says, we don’t fax it outside of this county, we use the USPS.  Really.  So for an address that’s about two feet over the county line, you use the mail?  The fax doesn’t reach that far?  Seriously??

Oh, and you mailed it on Thursday?  Using what, carrier pigeon?  Pony express?  WHERE THE HECK DID IT GO??  Do you know why they do it this way?  Because…it’s procedure.

Yep, procedure.  Gotta love bureaucracy.  Let’s use the most inefficient method possible because some moron thought – what?  Faxing was too time-consuming?  He thought the phone bill might go up?  Naw, probably has a cousin who has a brother who has an ex-wife who has a sister who works for the postal system and he thought maybe they get a commission or something.  Sheesh.

She also told me that they DID fax it to my local department and they have the fax transmission – both days, Wednesday and Friday.  Again, WHERE THE HECK DID IT GO?