Aristotle, Madison, Lippman and Dewey Walk Into A Bar…

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All four thinkers are correct, however, neither of their ideas can thrive independently without the other three. The need for a wise leader is a convincing argument, yet Aristotle fails to express how this leader’s wisdom is evaluated. Do we trust a leader for his or her academic knowledge, logic and strategy, or are qualities like empathy, patience and mercy more or less important? How is wisdom interpreted? How do we monitor this leader? How do we evaluate his failures or successes? Who is responsible for cultivating the next leader? More importantly: who will guard the guard?

A strong, well-built system is perhaps the most convincing argument. Organized systems work best if they are, in fact, organized. Yet without a prominent leader to over-see all, how can we expect the system to sustain itself? Yes, having the many facets monitor each other is effective, yet who is to assume responsibility during times of turmoil and make the difficult decisions that affect all? Who is to be held accountable for failure? Who will guard the guards?

The idea of knowledge as the foundation of a given system is a provocative thought. And yet, how is this knowledge executed? To segregate decision-making into separate units hinders the ability to communicate and deliberate as a unified system. Just like no man is an island, all issues are interconnected and have ramifications. Who will unite the experts and make definite decisions? Who will out-smart the smart people?

Finally, experience is a valid argument for any position. Practice makes perfect, right? Yet if one is practicing imperfectly, perfection will never be reached. The world changes every day in everything from science to literature and one must keep up-to-date with advances in order to remain relevant. Also, if power is given exclusively to the masses, who, then, is to be held accountable?

No system is perfect, but to piggy back on Robert Dahl’s comments on democracy, a system is perfect by degrees. An efficient system will, however, apply the best practices to meet its specific needs and ensure the sustainability of the system and, most importantly, the well-being of all citizens.

Problem Memo on Human Trafficking

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Problem Memorandum

Memo to:            Carl Heastie, Speaker of the NYS Assembly

From:                    Craig B. Singer

Date:                     February 7th 2015

Subject:               Human Trafficking in New York State

Within the state of New York, terrible crimes take place on a regular basis that have been made illegal by the 13th amendment to the United States Constitution over 150 years ago due to their anti-democratic principles. These crimes are forms of modern day slavery, specifically labor trafficking and sex trafficking.

The New York State Interagency Task Force on Human Trafficking describes the act of labor trafficking as when, “he/she compels or induces a person to engage in labor, or recruits, entices, harbors, or transports a person to engage in labor…” (Hansell 2008). Labor Trafficking, however, should not be confused with a similar albeit different crime all together: Sex Trafficking.

Sex Trafficking involves prostitution, although this is only one component in the act of sex trafficking. Simply put, when an individual “intentionally advances or profits from prostitution [of others]” he or she is guilty of sex trafficking (Hansell 2008). But in a country where throughout our respective childhood educations we’ve learned about the evils of slavery; why would individuals willingly take part in such a hateful crime?

The primary incentive for people to participate in the illegal practice of human trafficking is financial gain. Patrick Belser, an economist for the International Labour Office, who published Forced Labor and Human Trafficking: Estimating the Profits and concluded that:

The profits of forced labour[sic] could amount to US$ 44.3 billion per year, of which US$ 31.6 billion are made by exploiting trafficked victims. This confirms that ‘modern slavery’ is a lucrative business, which funds the expansion of international criminal groups, contributes to corruption, and undermines the rule of law. (Belser 2005)

Within the illegal industry of sex trafficking that takes place explicitly on American soil, there is also a great deal of money being made through criminal enterprise. In a 2009 report titled Human Trafficking, Modern Day Slavery, and Economic Exploitation it was confirmed that, “In the United States, traffickers make on average US$67,200 annually per victim of nonconsensual sexual exploitation” (Koettl p.16).

The State of New York must do more to stop human trafficking not only because of its financial influence within organized crime, but more importantly because of the effects this criminal act has on its victims. Northern Iowa’s Human Trafficking Response Team’s website reports that, “It has a devastating impact on individual victims, who often suffer physical and emotional abuse, rape, threats against self and family [sic], passport theft, and even death” (justice.gov).

Further consequences that victims of human trafficking endure include but are not limited to “debt bondage, isolation, threat of exposure, use and threat of violence, and the use or threat of reprisals against loved ones” (justice.gov). However, the most significant crime that takes place within the act of human trafficking is the denial of ones basic human rights, most importantly, ones freedom. Even though the addition of the New York State Anti-Trafficking Law in 2007 has taken great strides towards addressing the issues, more work is required to ensure that human trafficking is completely eliminated within the Empire State.

Recently, an upstate New York resident became a victim of the sex trafficking industry that continues to thrive within New York and throughout the United States. Reporter for WGRZ Channel Two of Buffalo, NY, Claudine Ewing writes:

A Niagara Falls man was charged with sex trafficking of a minor and transportation of a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity. . . Marcellus Overton, 39, of Niagara Falls, enticed a victim under 18 between December 2012 and March 2013, to engage in a commercial sex act. The complaint further states that in March 2013, Overton knowingly transported the minor between New York and Georgia to engage in prostitution. (Ewing)

While the United States may have outlawed slavery in 1865, the fact that the crime of human trafficking continues to occur within the USA, and undeniably within New York State is appalling. I urge New York lawmakers, such as yourself, and other members of the New York State Assembly to address this predicament in the near future. In closing, I would like to express my gratitude for your consideration of this subject matter. I remain optimistic that a solution will be developed and initiated in due time.

 

References

Belser, Patrick. Forced Labor and Human Trafficking: Estimating the Profits, International Labour Office. Cornell University: ILR School. March 1st, 2005. Accessed February 6th 2015. http://digitalcommons.ilr.cornell.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi? article=1016&context=forcedlabor

Ewing, Claudine. Niagara Falls man charged with sex trafficking, WGRZ.com, WNY News, Gannett Satellite Information Network, Inc. January 15th 2015. Accessed February 5th 2015. http://www.wgrz.com/story/news/2015/01/15/sex-trafficking-niagara-falls-marcellus-overton-mandie-palmer-thomas-cramer/21828953/

Hansell, David A. and O’Donnell, Denise E. New York State Interagency Task Force on Human Trafficking: A report by the Interagency Task Force Implementation of the 2007 law, August 2008. Accessed February 5th 2015. http://criminaljustice.state.ny.us/ pio/humantrafficking/human_trafficking_rpt_aug08.pdf

Justice.Gov/USAO, Impact of Human Trafficking on Victims. Human Trafficking Response Team. Accessed February 6th 2015. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ian/htrt/htrt_ impact.html

Koettl, Johannes. Human Trafficking, Modern Day Slavery, and Economic Exploitation: A Discussion on Definitions, Prevalance, Relevance for Development, and Roles for the World Bank in the Fight Against Human Trafficking, The World Bank: Social Protection and Labor Div. May 2009. Accessed February 5th 2015. http://siteresources.worldbank .org/SOCIALPROTECTION/Resources/SP-Discussion-papers/Labor-Market-DP/0911.pdf