Deception, a Meaningless Gesture?
Some cynics would say Ms. Burke was pandering to her criminal base. Charitably, I would contend that she is having a bad century. In the simplest terms, Ms. Burke wants to shift the “Have You Been Arrested” and “Tell Me All About It” lines off the front page of government job application forms. Ms. Burke’s intention is to hide the applicant’s criminal past. She wants to delay embarrassing questions about prison time until deeper into the application process. Your parents and your teachers taught you this was unadulterated deception. But the old girl has been ducking in and out of government blind alleys for too many decades to even be annoyed by such a charge. Ms. Burke says the core problem is that ex-cons can’t get hired. Where better to place proven criminal minds than in the hallowed halls of justice, eh Ms. Burke?
Here’s the Noose, Have a Good Time
Quoting from Ms. Burke’s presentation to the Board of Supervisors, her own words appear to hang her. They should convince you there are valid reasons for not nominating her for the Articulation Hall of Fame or the Logicians Hall of Fame.
“Although the recent Board-ordered review of our employment practices produced inconclusive findings with regard to the issue of ‘upfront disclosure’ as a deterrent to employment, it is important to point out that the Department of Human Resources’ report, dated Aug. 20, 2006, provided inconclusive evidence that the current application process encouraged or discouraged the formerly convicted from applying.”
Even though two separate procedures were inconclusive, this astonishing woman concluded that the Sups should approve her radical recommendation anyway. Just because. Why because? Because Ms. Burke said so. That’s why. I have had more logical dialogues with homeless people who want to be on the streets. More importantly, notice Ms. Burke’s patently dishonest pancaking of the language. We aren’t talking about hardened ex-cons, she says. Fluff your dresses, ladies. We are talking about the “formerly convicted.” So sayeth the formerly elected Ms. Burke.
Postscript
To show she has a comic’s sense of timing, Ms. Burke cleared her throat and said she wanted to affix a caveat to her extreme recommendation. She said her unique brand of doctoring application forms should not apply to certain sensitive offices, presumably on the grounds they already are at capacity with bad guys in decision-making positions. The undeniably reflective Ms. Burke cited “Auditor-Controller, Chief Administrative Office, Children and Family Services, District Attorney, Human Resources, Office of Education, Probation, Sheriff, Treasurer-Tax Collector and other departments as deemed appropriate in order to uphold public safety.” At a future date, this will lead us into a philosophical discussion of which government offices can seamlessly absorb ex-cons. If the public had been paying attention, Ms. Burke would have deservedly been laughed into obscurity years ago. From her out-of-bounds list, I should judge the most ironic inclusion is “Human Resources.” Must be because they are too familiar with Ms. Burke’s tricks.
