The Elitism Thing

Some thoughts on elitism
by Steve Burdette

I read the following essay about mid-week just past and found it both remarkable in its clarity and its thesis intriguing. It certainly has me rethinking my adoration for the caucus process. I frankly think Burdette's essay should be read by many, many people, so I asked Mr. Burdette to let me do my little part by publishing it here on my blog. I hope you'll pass it along to others of your thinking, caring friends. Mr. Burdette holds an MLS degree from the University of Minnesota. I have some news tid-bits for you following the essay. [Charlie Leck]

Having spent most of my "adult" life working for money, and loathing the experience all the way, I came to realize that it is labor (the effort, not the movement) which prevents us from reform. I cannot begin to sum the number of rallies, protests, or even simple events such as tours of the Capitol building that I was unable to attend due to work. As I advanced in my career, I eventually earned paid time off (PTO has replaced "vacation") but even then, I generally had to list a "reason" for using my PTO so that someone could determine how meritorious my request was in comparison to others. When I finally attained the level of "working professional," with enough income to not worry about paying my bills or living from paycheck to paycheck, my eyes turned to politics. I'll make almost seven times the "Federal Poverty Level" in 2008 before taxes, but it takes nearly that amount for me to feel as if I have enough money to not worry about losing my home, my car, or some other essential.

When I finally began my political awakening, I was astounded at the things that I could not do because of decisions made by my elected representatives. I wondered where I might find the grandiose politicians so reverently discussed during my primary school history classes: JFK, Bobby Kennedy, MLK, Rosa Parks (admittedly, not all active politicians, but activists to me) – where had these people gone? I saw Ronald Reagan as a president on the walls and wondered then what it was like to be president. Now I wonder how this country could have elected someone like Reagan when President Carter seemed to be doing so well based on what I had read. I then learned two lessons: public perception, and money. People liked Ronald Reagan, and didn't care how he could/should/would lead the country. The disillusioned Dixiecrats embraced Social Conservatism, and we began a steady march backwards in time. When the Iran Contra Scandal precipitated "I don't remember" as a valid excuse to a Congressional Committee, and Oliver North is now an expert frequenting FOX News, it has become clear that we have lost our way.

As I have advocated so many times, the Founding Fathers forgot to add the "Sanity" branch of government. I call it the missing Fourth Branch. They naively assumed that we would build upon the foundation they laid and create a country that continued to prosper. Certainly the Second Amendment's "Right to Bear Arms" clause made complete sense, even I agree with that notion. But the "strict constructionist" judges like Alito and Roberts are so flawed in their approach that they cannot fathom the notion that Founding Fathers never conceived a child carrying a semi-automatic weapon into an elementary school and killing or wounding dozens of his classmates. Or it happening again. Or again, perhaps instead of Columbine, at Virginia Tech. They would never believe that a political party would become so drunk with power it would convene at a cost of millions of dollars to the taxpayers to argue whether or not the Federal Government had a place in determining the fate of Terry Schiavo. They would have expected those millions of dollars to go for the common good. They certainly held their beliefs in God and faith closely, but they certainly could have established a state religion, and they not only elected not to, but phrased quite clearly that Congress was forbidden from doing so. Their error lies in assuming that we would understand their intent, a separation of Church and State, although not so specifically enumerated in the Constitution. I often tell my proselytizing friends that they should introduce an amendment at the Federal level repealing the second amendment. We undid prohibition, we can undo the separation. I have yet to see anyone take up the challenge.

Indeed, elitism seems most prevalent today amongst the most devout. My own experiences are that the more devout a person is to any faith, to the point of unquestioning loyalty, the more elite they become. It might be argued that Liberalism is a faith, as well. I agree entirely in the concept of Liberalism, and yet when I tell my liberal friends that I do not think we should have a law mandating seat belt usage for adults (call it my furthering of Darwinism) they get all ruffled about how people should be forced to protect themselves. "Those who are willing to sacrifice a little liberty for a little security deserve neither and will lose both." My mother constantly harps about us slowly selling our rights in the face of the common good, and I am hard-pressed to defend or deflect her remarks. Yet I don't see anyone introducing legislation to repeal the "Seat Belt Law" in our statehouse. Instead, I see efforts to make it more draconian, all for my own protection.

Elitism is a word that must be used carefully, but we must guard against it, too. I do not tell someone who doesn't wear their seatbelt they are breaking a law: I call them a fool and agree it's their right not to do so. The same, in a circumspect way, appeals to "Susan." In her world, as in mine, my life is limited to the news and information I can gather driving to and from work, and maybe on an evening broadcast of the news. I try to catch up with online news sources, but I also need to eat and sleep. I have the luxury of watching near-real-time video clips over my high-speed Internet connection in a suburban home. I no longer worry about paying my electric bill, and when I look at it, my life and those of my peers borders on excess. My computer comes with an Operating System that contains games, while people in other countries, and even in my own, struggle to eat and work two jobs to put food on the table and keep the electricity and heat running for another pay period. Am I elite or an elitist because I enjoy my successes? No, but my experiences in life are certainly different than that of a black, single mother of three who lives in a poor, urban neighborhood who cannot take time off from either of her jobs (neither of which provide healthcare) to take her sick child to the doctor. If I feel sick, I call my manager and say I am not coming into work today, I'm "using a day of PTO" and that's the end of the discussion. She has no recourse.

Is it any wonder, then, that our society is so fractionalized? If not by monetary means, then by faith. If not by faith, then by class. If not by class, then by gender. I look at the open warfare between the Clinton and Obama camps and am saddened. Is anyone perfect? I think not. Did Hillary really mean to imply that she expected Barack Obama to be assassinated with her references to the tragic events of Bobby Kennedy's assassination? I don't think so. Did or does Barack Obama believe the rants of Jeremiah Wright? Doubtful. But we expect perfectionism from everyone nominated to public office. Ever had a mental breakdown? You're no good. Had a marital transgression? Clearly you can't be trusted to not do so again. Made a mistake or two in the past? We can't trust you with our future then, can we?

Has it never occurred to anyone that we learn from our mistakes, and that the best leaders our nation has produced are not models of exemplary lives, but ones who have experienced the horrors of war, the tragedy of personal loss, or the struggle under an oppressive government from which we sought our own independence. I often wonder what kind of conversation might ensue between the leaders whose faces we depict on Mount Rushmore, were they able to converse, about the state of our union now. Would they laugh, as sadly as I do, when George Bush says "The state of our nation is good" or that we aren't in a recession? Would they not be insulted that a man such as Bush was not only handed the election by the judicial branch, but then re-elected by the public after failing so miserably? Washington would be disappointed, unquestionably. This is not the America he envisioned.

Until we remove the litmus test of perfection from our leaders and our friends, family, colleagues, and until we realize that someone is bound to be offended by something we say almost any time we open our mouths to speak, we will live in a society where everyone is an elitist, or a condescending person. Everyone is a victim at some time, but some people are perpetual victims (think Bill O'Reilly or Rush Limbaugh) who are not only decrying their own status as a victim, but trying their damndest to ensure you believe you're a victim, too.

Until such a time as people turn away from such propaganda, and are free to actually learn about the individuals they seek to elect, I expect little progress on the front of Progressive Politics. Such a movement requires an active and informed electorate – and while the electorate is active, they are seldom informed. When the Right Wing stops trying to save my soul, and the Left Wing stops trying to save me from my own ineptitude, it is possible we will see movement on the progressive front. Until then, I can only echo the words of Edward R. Murrow in saying, "Good Night, and Good Luck."

News Tid-Bits

Obama will speak in Saint Paul on Tuesday evening – tomorrow. I imagine his campaign will try to pack the Excel Center. It is being promoted as a close to the national primary campaign. I'm guessing he'll announce his victory. It would be extraordinary if Hillary Clinton were to show up to introduce him and congratulate him. It would show the party is learning something about winning.

It appears Republican Senator John Cornyn of Texas is in a bit of trouble. He has a fierce challenger in Rick Noriega, who is an Afghanistan vet. This is quite extraordinary. Cornyn was Bush's constant rubber stamp fellow in the Senate and it may now cost him. This is a race to keep your eyes on and check out this Rasmussen report.

Scott McClellan's book is getting the cold shoulder and I find it interesting. Many columnists mention it without even giving its title. Nothing new the opinionators are saying. Read this column by Kevin Cullen published today in the Boston Globe as an example. Actually, the impact of McClellan book, What Happened: Inside the Bush White House and Washington's Culture of Deception, will grow over the next month and it will convince many people, who have been on the fence, that Bush was a liar on the War in Iraq. What was the depth of the lying? Read this report by the Center for Public Integrity. Of all the reviews I've read, the Associated Press report on the book appears to be the most balanced and unbiased. McClellan says publically that Bush didn't actually lie. The book appears to say something else.

I'd suggest a better memoir to you. Why not read Wiser in Battle: A Soldier's Story, written by former commander of U.S. Forces in Iraq, Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez? It gives a better picture of what was going on inside the White House regarding the war. There's a good article about it on AlterNet.

Minnesota Public Radio has an interesting little challenge going. It lets you decide how to spend 3.3 trillion dollars of the tax payer's money. Put the budget together and decide how much goes where. It's called Budget Hero. Don't expect to play it in 3 or 4 minutes.

Thanks to Steve Burdette and come on back tomorrow.

Wendy and Arne Speak with One Voice

How delightful to hear political unity from two wonderful Governors of different parties!
by Charlie Leck

What a delightful day! I popped open the morning paper and went immediately to the Opinion Page, as I always do, and saw the column immediately. My coffee tasted better than it has in months. I drank slowly and read the column with such pleasure. [The State We Love Needs Our Protection]

Wendy Anderson and Arne Carlson were two of my favorite governors in the years that I have lived here. I had the fortunate opportunity to engage in significant personal conversation with each of them – with Wendy back in the days when I served on the State Central Committee of the Democratic Party and with Arne over a period of years from 1967 through about 1975 when I was a rather close personal friend. They are both good and thoughtful gentlemen. What marked both of their terms of administration was the recognition that the good of the state always comes before the good of a political party.

How refreshing! I’ve not witnessed much of this kind of thinking lately – by leaders of either party.Thank you to these good men.To them I say that I hope we will hear more from you. Your unified statements on many other issues would be appreciated. What shall we do to restore our public education system? How shall we deal with improving our crumbling infrastructure? How can we build a modern, exciting and efficient transportation system? How can we regain our position as one of the most respected and admired states in the nation?

Get together more Mr. Governors! Please! Speak in a unified voice and give us the leadership we are so desperately lacking. This is too good an idea to let your voices fade away. Keep speaking!As for this particular issue, about which you wrote in today’s paper, I will support you advice to vote for the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment with all my might and I will urge everyone to vote for it.

“Minnesota is a state that the two of us have been proud to represent and serve for nearly five decades. The Minnesota we fought to protect through our public service is slipping away, but now we have a chance to protect it by voting for the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment.” [Wendell Anderson and Arne Carlson, former governors of the State of Minnesota]

My goodness, it is going to be a wonderful day!

Swiftboating Barack Obama

The party on the right will stoop to many dirty tricks in this year’s election!
by Charlie Leck

A few weeks ago, in one of my blogs, I guaranteed you that Barack Obama would be swiftboated – a new verb in the American lexicon thanks to the 2004 presidential elections. If you wish, read that earlier blog.

The big mistake that John Kerry made in 2004, according to the 20-20 hindsight pundits, is that he didn’t retaliate and attack his attackers as scoundrels, liars and political cheats. Kerry should have put them on the absolute defensive and exposed them for what they were.

Now the same kind of mud-slinging, lying attacks have begun on Obama. It will be interesting to see how he responds to them. The most awful so far can be seen on this video. It may send you running to the bathroom, to puke, but I urge you to view it anyway. Then take a look at SNOPES and its debunking of the lies in the video.

The ultra-right wing of the Republican Party is a very dirty, cheap and loathsome group of people. Though they claim to be devoted to Christ, they’re hearts are filled with hatred.

All of us who support Obama and are anxious to see him elected must make sure the people we know, who are likely to believe this stuff, get the real facts about each of these lying liars. We’ll have to keep checking in at web sites like SNOPES and others, like TRUTH OR FICTION.

The 2004 election was extremely close. John Kerry appeared to be the winner when Ohio exit polls showed him to be carrying Ohio in a big way. It was a shocker, and somewhat mysterious, to later find that he lost the state. Many political scientists say the swiftboat lies were enough to tip Ohio over to George W. Bush.

That is not the way we want our system to work. Each of us has to play a part in condemning the lies and liars who tell them in this year’s election.

We wish the press would be more vigilant in attacking these liars and exposing their low-down tricks, but we can’t count on that. Some of the press, like FOX, will actually encourage such behavior.

The Democratic Party ought to have a monitor in charge of listening to or reading these notorious loud-mouths, who will say anything to encourage a Republican victory. Guys like Rush Limbaugh should be carefully monitored each day and the American people should be alerted about every lie he tells.

Competition in the Global Marketplace

Corporate America gets it, while we the people and our politicians lag behind!
by Charlie Leck

The world really is flat! It is something we little folks are having a hard time accepting. It’s time to recognize reality. America will never be what we knew it to be when we were young.

Remember? Remember the feeling of greatness we had as Americans? My grandchildren will never know that same tremendous feeling. America simply stood at the top of the mountain and there were no competitors for our position at the spot. We were the “king of the hill” and no one could knock us down. No nation could mass produce quality goods the way we could. The entire world was our marketplace. The largest, most powerful corporations in the world were American and they depended on the skill and initiative of the American worker.

Our dollar ruled the world’s monetary system. We set the standard for the evaluation of currency around the globe. As our economy went, so went the strength of the world’s monetary system.

Then, a couple of years ago, Tom Friedman made the remarkable observation that the world had gone flat. Incredible fast transportation and instantaneous communications, including the Internet, had shrunk the world and brought us all on to a level economic playing field. You can listen to an MIT lecture by Friedman here. A description of the lecture, taken from MIT World, is reproduced at the conclusion of this blog.

Our nation no longer dominated in the field of industry and finance. Massive work forces in places like China and India had surpassed us in terms of initiative and energy. Nations in Europe, unified, were proving to be every bit as industrious and inventive as America.

The giant corporations were no dummies. They recognized the trend years and years ago – long before Friedman’s book – and they adjusted their approach accordingly. The large, successful corporations in the world are no longer American companies. They may keep their headquarters here, but they are global organizations and they are as at home doing business in Uzbekistan as they are in America.

The academic world and the corporate world have accepted the fact that the world has gone flat.

The only elements of our society that haven’t accepted the facts are you and I – the common, once-proud Americans. We, and the politicians in Washington, continue to think America dominates and still runs the show.

It’s time to get our heads up out of the sand! The rules of the game must now be rewritten and we must learn to be more cooperative internationally and more open to negotiation rather that dictum. If we are going to keep pace with the rest of the world, we’ve got to get a move on!

This includes every phase of life you can think of, including health care delivery and education. We’re being manhandled in those two areas and there are many others, like transportation, where we’re falling behind also. If you haven’t read THE WORLD IS FLAT, it’s not too late. You’ll see how correctly Friedman nailed this global situation.

If you were a betting man, would you put down money that the next great fuel system for automobiles, which won’t depend on non-renewable energy sources, will come from America? I’d take the rest of the field, as they say.

Welcome to a new world! I’m not pessimistic about it. Quite the contrary! I think it’s going to be exciting and my grandkids, if they think more globally and internationally, will enjoy the ride.

This is how MIT World,a mighty fine web site to look in on regularly, described the Tom Friedman lecture.

In his latest book, The World is Flat, Friedman describes the unplanned cascade of technological and social shifts that effectively leveled the economic world, and accidentally made Beijing, Bangalore and Bethesda next-door neighbors.” Today, “individuals and small groups of every color of the rainbow will be able to plug and play.” Friedman’s list of “flatteners” includes the fall of the Berlin Wall; the rise of Netscape and the dotcom boom that led to a trillion dollar investment in fiber optic cable; the emergence of common software platforms and open source code enabling global collaboration; and the rise of outsourcing, offshoring, supply chaining and unsourcing. Friedman says these flatteners converged around the year 2000, and “created a flat world: a global, web-enabled platform for multiple forms of sharing knowledge and work, irrespective of time, distance, geography and increasingly, language.” At the very moment this platform emerged, three huge economies materialized -- those of India, China and the former Soviet Union --“and three billion people who were out of the game, walked onto the playing field.” A final convergence may determine the fate of the U.S. in this final chapter of globalization. A “political perfect storm,” as Friedman describes it -- the dotcom bust, the attacks of 9/11, and the Enron scandal -- “distract us completely as a country.” Just when we need to face the fact of globalization and the need to compete in a new world, “we’re looking totally elsewhere.” [MIT World Lectures]

This and That from the Holiday Weekend

I was lolly-gagging and rolling on the floor with the grandchildren for the weekend and now it's time to catch up!
by Charlie Leck

Obama's Running Mate
While I was sitting near Geneva Lake, I read a piece by David Brooks about choosing a running mate. I won't go over it all, but it is interesting to think about that person Barack Obama might choose to run with him – to give him a better chance of winning the Presidency.

Bruce Springsteen seems silly, though he would be popular among an awful lot of people. Hillary Clinton would be popular among women, but she won't accept an invitation. Would you rather be Vice President of the U.S. or the Senior Senator from the State of New York?

The list of possibilities goes on and on; yet, here's what Barack Obama needs to do. He must choose someone who is popular and who is bright and who, most importantly, can campaign effectively.

I know who is on the top of my list. Don't guffaw and chortle when I mention his name. Give me a chance to explain where I'm going.

What about a Barack Obama and Michael Bloomberg ticket? Jesus, Mary and Joseph! What a great ticket that would be!

Bloomberg is the current Mayor of New York City and he is doing one helluva job.

No one knows quite what political party Bloomberg belongs to. He started off as a Democrat. For convenience sake he switched over to the Republican Party. For the same reason, he became an Independent.

Here the facts about Mayor Bloomberg, He's bright! He's well spoken! He correct-on on most issues! He's successful! He's rich! He knows how to set goals and get things done.

Bloomberg is widely admired. Should he one day become President of the United States, our nation would perform well under him.

The fact is – personally – he would have been my first choice for the office this year. Here is a GREAT ticket for 2008 – OBAMA & BLOOMBERG!

Blogs I should have told you about
Ross Douthat, in his Atlantic Monthly blog, ponders the issues in picking both the Republican and Democratic Vice Presidential candidate. There are some good thoughts. A commenter, after reading Douthat's opinions, builds a strong case for picking Senator Jim Webb of Virginia. It's a choice I wouldn't mind.

Stan Fish was great in explaining why he should be a candidate for the University of Colorado's new professorial chair that must be occupied by a political conservative. Isn't that absurd? Smith exposes the University of Colorado for its simplistic stupidity. Sound interesting? Read it here.

Freakonomics, one of my favorite blogs, was posing some pretty interesting questions about what it means to be average and some of the psychology of advertising. It isn't mind bending, but it is interesting.

Why the polygraph is not allowed as evidence in the courtroom
Dick Cavett's recent blogging has been about the lie detector test he so handily manipulated to the dismay of famed legal defense attorney, F. Lee Baily. If the topic raises your curiosity, go take a look.

Buddies in Georgia
I haven't seen their faces in 50 years; yet I spoke with them on Memorial Day. They want me to return to New Jersey for a 50^th year reunion of our high school graduation this coming Thanksgiving weekend. My wife and I looked at each other and shook our heads. No weekend is more important in our annual lives than Thanksgiving. The kids come home and they bring the grandkids. We have all sorts of young traditions. We celebrate our wedding anniversary. One of the grandkids celebrates a birthday. We always drive over to the community of Excelsior and we wander down the street, as a family, doing our Christmas shopping. We end the day at an extraordinary chocolate shop and buy gifts for uncles and aunts and cousins all across the country.

I understand that a 50^th high school class reunion is a very special and rare occasion, but I haven't many years left to enjoy these wonderful Thanksgiving weekends with my family. I'll write something special and send it back to the reunion as a message of greeting and good cheer.

Getting back to work
The vacation is over. Now comes the period of recovering from the break.

Recharging the Batteries

Remembering, mourning, celebrating, and resting up! The things of a Memorial Day weekend...
by Charlie Leck

It feels strange and uncomfortable to go 4 days without posting a blog. For those of you who come here regularly, I apologize. A need for a vacation and some time with family has taken me to Williams Bay, along the shores of Geneva Lake, in Wisconsin. I've had a few days of restfulness, doing virtually nothing whatsoever. This is my first visit to this area and I'm finding it quite beautiful and interesting.

A little visit to the Chocolate Festival near here, a ride out on to the lake in a tour boat, hearing about the history of this place as a summer home for Chicago's wealthy business tycoons at the turn of 19th into the 20th century, and lots of good dining and sleeping is recharging my batteries and getting me ready to launch into the political fight throughout this summer and autumn.

Readers have requested I continue to write more personal, biographic essays and I will be doing that, too. Other readers have asked that I catch them up on my recent reading and recommendations about books. That, too, is coming.

I've finished several books on the Bin Laden family and the creation of the person who is Osama bin Laden. I'll soon be summarizing those for you and fleshing out the personality and general religious freakiness of that strange international terrorist. I'm now reading Jane Smiley's book about 13 ways to look at a novel. Quite good and I'll tell you about it.

Today, Memorial Day, I've spent some hours thinking about my dear, recently departed sister and considering how the pain of her loss keeps coming back to me everytime I think of her. I'm doing a memorial book about her that will be ready by Christmas time. Memorial Day celebrations always get my wife and I thinking about the family and friends we've lost and we chat about them and remember how much they meant to us and how much they contributed to making us what we are.

Look for my return to the blog world on Wednesday, 28th of May. I hope you all had a good Memorial Day weekend.

Striking Out Might Casey

Twas' Me What Struck Mighty Casey Out
by Charlie Leck

I received the above photograph from my brother yesterday and it brought back to mind the awesome poem about MIGHTY CASEY AT THE BAT, which we enacted on a sunny Day in May, nearly 60 years ago, at Chester Public School in New Jersey. Zeb Robbins played the part of Mighty Casey and Teddy Gilliam was my catcher. Bobby Thompson was the daring umpire. The girls, of course, were not allowed in the little play; however, if truth be told, Liz Metzger could out-throw and out-hit us all.

Please understand that this is a quickly written draft and my very sincere and heart-felt apologies to Ernest Lawrence Thayer!

There was no joy in Mudville on that cloudy, cheerless day
When a big buffoon, named Casey, showed his feet were made of clay
Whilst the cloudy-cover thickened and thunder shook the stands
I stood so proud upon the hill and doffed my cap to all the fans

T'were nearly 60 years ago when I were called into that game
To face the Mighty Casey who tried to smear my name.
As I threw some warm up pitches to my frightened catcher, Teddy,
The fans threw back abuse at me and all their boos were steady.

Our nine had come to Mudville to play 'em for the crown
And we had 'em where we wanted – one out to get and them two down
When Nasty Flynn had got to third and Blake stood down on second
And Hub, our crazy manager, did at me wildly beckon

Zeb played that much feared batter on that day in May back then
And thousands roared and hollered, as I strode in from the pen,
Mocking me and all my playing mates, who cowered in the field.
Old Casey spat a wad at me from which I quickly reeled.

The sweat drizzled down from me and caused my eyes to sting
Whilst Casey looked so much at ease and gave his bat a swing,
Banging the massive hunk of oak atop the tiny plate,
And I writhed a bit in fear at his fearsome look of hate.

The crowd begun to holler for me to throw that purdy rock
So Mighty Casey could swat it up, right at the Mudville clock.
And so I did with all my might and closed my eyes as well
And felt the breeze stir in my face from Casey's potent yell.

"Weren't my style," said Casey as he let it pass him by
And all the town heard the umpire's clear, resounding cry.
"Steerike," screamed Bobby Thompson, calling pitches on that day
And the rowdy crowd rose up as if the ump they'd slay

I took some speed off a second pitch that Casey let pass too,
Whilst Bobby called out loud and clear that it was now strike two
And the crowd cried out to kill the ump and throw him in the ditch
But Casey waved 'em off and signaled me to pitch.

Casey's eyes grew cold and stern and looked out at me with spite,
That caused me to tremble there and say a prayer in fright
But gods ne'er hear or care what low-rank players ask
Yet, on that heroic day, in the angels' sight I'd bask

Whilst muses sang so sweetly, I fired a bullet to a giant standing there
And he n'er saw the blur a-comin' 'til in Teddy's glove it did tear
Whilst Casey swung, far too late ,and behind the clouds the sun did hide
And gasps and groans is all'st I heard from Mudville's sullen tide

Mighty Casey had stuck out on that well-known day in May
And all the fame came down on him alone that strangely funny day
Whilst I was the feller that slung the ball with my fearsome, mighty arm
And should be known to all around as old Charlie who caused the harm