A4 Saturday, December 10, 2011
OPINION
Lessons learned after elderly woman assaulted An elderly woman was assaulted and robbed a few days before Thanksgiving. It’s a common crime, to be sure, but not one to ignore. Her family told me the story, which I share for the lessons. Those lessons include the definition of the ideal target for bad guys — a woman who is old, slow and alone. Other lessons come in rethinking what one should carry while out and about, along with corporate policy concerning fraud and communications, especially during the holiday season, a bad guy favorite. The crime occurred in the driveway of her home of 51 years. The physical damage was “just” a huge bruise on her hip. The emotional trauma is large. The victim is 91. She moves slowly, using a walker. After shopping at a nearby grocery store, she arrived home about 5 p.m. She got out of the car, leaving her purse on the front seat,
EDITORIAL
HAROLD MORGAN
NEW MEXICO PROGRESS
and was standing at the rear driver’s side door, when a man approached and began asking directions. The family suspects she was followed home. He said, “She is lost,” referring to the vehicle waiting at the curb. The man knocked her down, grabbed the purse and jumped into the vehicle, a dark sedan of recent vintage. She didn’t see the driver. The man was Hispanic, medium build, well dressed and wearing a light-colored ball cap. A neighbor heard her screaming. Police arrived quickly. The purse contained house and car keys, two check books, cash,
Roswell Daily Record
credit cards, a debit card, and all her identification — driver’s license, Social Security card, AARP, Medicare, health insurance card and more. While she was in the ER, the family began trying to close checking and credit accounts. It was nearly impossible to reach Bank of America. Family members called four numbers, twice getting bounced to Merrill Lynch, the brokerage subsidiary. As the police officers were leaving, a Bank of America credit card staffer called, checking on her card, which, by chance, hadn’t been used since May. The card was used at a Smith’s gas station six minutes before the call and 90 minutes after being stolen. The next day family members went to BofA’s Albuquerque main office. They found personable, professional staff constrained by information hidden in BofA’s corporate netherworld. Calling the
branch resembles calling the rest of BofA. New accounts were opened, checks ordered and processes started. Remember counter checks? Not available. Days later a new snafu prevented accessing the new accounts. The family’s other immediate post-assault idea was to alert Smith’s about the fraudulent card use. Perhaps, they naively thought, Smith’s could track down the transaction, check the cameras and tell the police. That’s not Smith’s policy; Smith’s waits for the cops to call. Asked about a possible quickresponse exception, Marsha Gilford, Smith’s media contact, emailed corporatespeak, “Smith’s is very happy to cooperate with local police to help solve crimes and that may include sharing video from our security if they think it is relevant.” In fairness to Ms. Gilford, she should not have been expected to seriously engage
the inquiry on a tight deadline. In large organizations, policy things take time. Still, she did respond and that’s good. Th e F e d e r a l T r a d e C o m mission provides excellent i d e n t i t y - t h eft information.See www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites /idtheft. The victim’s bridge buddies shared their experience. Stow the purse, they advise. Carry what you need in a pocket book that fits your pocket. Carry identification, some cash, one credit card and one or two checks. Leave at home your other checks, your Social Security card, Medicare ID. The stuff left at home should not be in a desk drawer. Thieves check desks first. Caution is today’s word. Let’s run from paranoia. But let’s all be cautious, especially the perfect targets — the elderly and the slow. © New Mexico News Services 2011
World Opinion The eurozone
The markets have reacted relatively calmly to the threat by ratings agency Standard and Poor’s to downgrade the entire eurozone, including France and Germany. In theory, this raises the possibility that these countries’ borrowing costs will rise. In practice, the bond yield for Italy, for instance, remains significantly lower than it was a week ago. For France and Germany, the warning reinforces the case for their eurozone reforms to be passed. The credibility of the ratings agencies has never recovered from their misjudgments prior to the credit crunch — but that is not to say they are wrong now. Many European states are running large deficits and even Germany, whose own fiscal governance is sound, is vulnerable because of its exposure to riskier investments. But the whole point of the deal struck by Angela Merkel and Nicolas Sarkozy is that it addresses the underlying problems of individual economies. Member states of the eurozone will simply not be allowed to run more than a very modest deficit; if they do, they will be fined. The European Central Bank will meanwhile be allowed to purchase the bonds of eurozone states, thereby effectively pumping money into their economies. This marks a significant concession by Merkel. These eurozone reforms are hard to reconcile with the principle of national sovereignty, as governments may well find when they put them to their electorates. But of themselves the Franco-German proposals would make for better economic management in Europe, and it is in our interests that the eurozone should be stable. Guest Editorial London Evening Standard
Myanmar
Aung San Suu Kyi, the iconic leader of Myanmar’s pro-democracy movement, shook hands with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and had a private dinner with her on Dec. 2 in Yangon. This would have been unimaginable just half a year ago. After meeting with the country’s new president, Thein Sein, Clinton praised the steps he has taken for political reform, including the release of political prisoners and dialogue with pro-democracy forces, and said the United States will consider upgrading diplomatic relations with Myanmar. However, Clinton stopped short of explicitly referring to the possibility of lifting Washington’s economic sanctions against Myanmar, saying Thein Sein’s reforms had only just begun. She also warned the regime against military cooperation with North Korea. Clinton’s visit to Myanmar is the first step for President Barack Obama’s new security strategy, which defines the Asia-Pacific region as a “top priority.” Having been under autocratic military rule for years, Mynamar is now making steady progress toward democracy. This development can only be very beneficial to the U.S. and its allies. But there is no room for unreserved optimism about the country’s current regime, whose key posts are occupied almost exclusively by former senior military officers. Washington has good reason to think it would be premature to lift sanctions. The U.S. move is also intended as a warning to China, which has been increasing its influence over the geopolitically important Southeast Asian country. In order for the Myanmar regime to claim that democracy has taken root solidly in the country, it must release all political prisoners, reconcile itself with ethnic minorities and amend the constitution, which provides legal foundation for the military’s rule. We hope the nation’s new government will pluck up the courage to make such bold moves. Guest Editorial The Asahi Shimbun, Tokyo
Some battles more important than others
The precise moment of realization my life had faded to total insignificance is as vivid as a New Mexico sunset. But certainly not as appealing. It was the recent mor ning I awakened and reviewed the day’s agenda. It included writing a huffy protest letter. Nothing new there. Writing huffy prose has been a way of life. The label “curmudgeon” fits. I wear it with some pride. The disturbing “aha moment” in this case was the realization I was going to wax indignantly about a ... chicken thigh. More later on what got me to this sorry point. For now, I
Doonesbury
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CANTWELL LOOKING ASKANCE
ponder probable causes that might well have better occupied my attention. Such concerns litter the New Mexico and national landscape. I might have ruminated on the inconsistency of Occupy Wall Street protestors camped out to draw attention, with
Question: I’ve heard about something called vibration therapy, which is supposed to strengthen bones. As a woman in her 60s with borderline osteoporosis, I worry about weak bones and fractures. Can the vibration therapy improve my bone density and protect me from fractures? Answer: There’s a reason you’re starting to hear about lowintensity vibration therapy for strengthening bones and reducing the risk of fractures. That’s because two low-intensity oscillating devices designed for home use are coming onto the market soon. These low-intensity vibration devices gently stimulate muscle and bone when you stand on them. They are not to be confused with high-intensity, wholebody vibration machines or
some justification, to the excesses of corporate America and the filthy rich. It is worth parenthetically noting that, until police eviction, they were hunkered down at Zuccotti Park which was provided to New York by, ummm ... a corporation. Or, I might have noted, right here in my own town spirited citizens gather on occasion to bemoan, with some justification, the excesses of Big Government. It is worth parenthetically noting the tea party gathers here, as I suspect they do in towns across New Mexico, in a park provided by ummm ... the government.
25 YEARS AGO
plates. These are used mainly for exercise training but are sometimes promoted for bone building. Low-intensity devices provide a tiny fraction of the vibration exposure you would get from the highintensity machines used by some athletes. Our bones are in constant flux, as old bone is resorbed (broken down) and new bone is created. If breakdown outpaces creation, you may develop low bone density and eventually osteoporosis (see illustration). See HARVARD, Page A5
Across this wonderful land well-meaning, concerned citizens are protesting. Albuquerque residents who likely spend a lot of their paychecks at Wal-Mart to stretch their dollars are protesting Wal-Mart’s plan to build in their neighborhood. Citizens who would benefit from nuclear energy and who are grateful for the military protection of nuclear arms stand side by side with signs horrifying the possibility of the government placing nuclear waste anywhere near their zip code.
See CANTWELL, Page A5
Dec. 10, 1986 • Terri Cooper, a former Roswell resident, is among 31 students at Texas State Technical Institute named to the 1987 edition of Who’s Who Among Students in American Junior Colleges. Cooper, 28, of Lubbock, is the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. T.G. Reynolds of Roswell. A 1976 graduate of Roswell High School, she is an interior design technology student. She will graduate from TSTI in May. Selection to Who’s Who Among Students in American Junior Colleges is based on academic achievement, service to community, leadership in extracurricular activities and potential for continued success. • Sunset Elementary School’s Citizens of the Month for November 1986 have been announced by principal Peggy Brewer. They are Andrew Beutcher, Michelle Burke, Lucia Carlos, Yolanda Corrales, Matthew Eich, Cynthia Galvan, Alice Gonzales, Charles Haynes, Rene Holly, Chris Houston, Iris Jurado, Monica Martinez, Sandra Martinez, Amber McClarin, Rosemary Rodriguez, Isaac Sanchez, Jacob Smith and Tracy Vance.