[asa] Ottawa Citizen: The Skeptics Are Vindicated?

From: Dave Wallace <wmdavid.wallace@gmail.com>
Date: Fri Nov 27 2009 - 09:34:42 EST

Randy Isaac wrote:

And with all due respect, I would disagree on all points. I do understand what you are saying but I see no scriptural justification for judging others before having a chance to hear all the evidence.

Randy

I'm not sure what you are saying.  Are you saying:
a) that we need to hear all the evidence before coming to a hard conclusion
or 
b) that there is insufficient evidence to warrant further investigation

If you are saying "a" then I agree.  If you are saying "b" then I disagree and I expect Cameron would as well.

IMO Britian either needs to appoint a Royal Commission or lay criminal charges if that is what the crown attorney sees as appropriate upon a full review of the purloined emails. 

This seems to be a pretty accurate description as I have observed commissions in Canada:

a Royal Commission is a major government public inquiry into an issue. They have been held in states such as the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Saudi Arabia. In Hong Kong, Ireland and South Africa, a Commission of Enquiry or Commission of Inquiry is similarly organised.

A Royal Commissioner has considerable powers, generally greater even than those of a judge but restricted to the "Terms of Reference" of the Commission. The Commission is created by the Head of State (Sovereign, Governor-General or Governor) on the advice of the Government and formally appointed by Letters Patent. In practice—unlike lesser forms of inquiry—once a Commission has started the government cannot stop it. Consequently governments are usually very careful about framing the Terms of Reference and generally include in them a date by which the commission must finish.

Royal Commissions are called to look into matters of great importance and usually controversy. These can be matters such as government structure, the treatment of minorities, events of considerable public concern or economic questions.

Even if one takes position "b" I still think a Royal Commission is appropriate just to clear the general poisoned atmosphere which seems patently obvious if even just from the discussion on this list over the last few days.

Dave W




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