---

 [ LOS ANGELES ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=312)

#  LA’s Predatory Ways Support The Powerful, Divide The Rest

THE VIEW FROM HERE - The Torah-Bible is important not because Moses wrote it or because it is divinely inspired.

Written by Richard Abrams.

December 01 2021

<a class="a2a_button_facebook"></a><a class="a2a_button_twitter"></a><a class="a2a_button_email"></a><a class="a2a_button_print"></a>[](https://www.addtoany.com/share)

 [Comments](#disqus_thread)

THE VIEW FROM HERE - The Torah-Bible is important not because Moses wrote it or because it is divinely inspired.

Rather, it often sets forth the most vital political and moral questions for mankind. After God set brother against brother and Cain slew Able, God feigned ignorance of the deed and asked Cain. “Where is your brother?” to which Cain retorted, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Gen 4:8-10) An affirmative answer is the foundation of all civilized life, but God gives no answer. It is up to us to answer. Ironically, Jewish tradition with its 613 Commandments actually rests on questions. Hillel expanded Cain’s single question into three, the answers to which allow mankind to create a heaven or hell on earth. The Romans observed, “"Faber est quisque fortunae suae”

Abraham Lincoln Reminded Us That “A House Divided Cannot Long Stand”

When brother is pitted against brother, civilized society cannot endure. His opponent, Senator Stephen Douglas, however, proposed popular sovereignty where whites could vote to own other men, thereby being the architects of an eternally divided nation. While Lincoln feigned the possibility that the country would become either all slave or all free, he knew, as Jefferson and most of the Founding Fathers knew, the incitation of slavery was running its course. Millions chose to destroy the Union rather than admit that all men are brothers.

The Declaration had made this moral fact clear, stating, “That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, . . . “ Because all persons had inalienable rights including Life, Liberty, and Pursuit of Happiness, any government which failed to secure these rights was not legitimate. Just as the Torah-Bible is the product of men, the Declaration’s invocation of the Creator as bestowing inalienable rights was a rhetorical devise. In reality, civilization flows from desires and actions of men; it is not a gift of the gods or of one creator.

Thanatos Aka the Death Wise Appears to Be Alive and Well

This is not a good thing. Society which cannot look after the least of us cannot long endure. Matthew 25:40 answered Cain’s question. “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Nonetheless, our society still savagely brutalizes the weak, imprisoning young men for unconscionably long terms. We bankrupt families with horrendous medical bills so that insurance company CEO can rake in millions of dollars per year. Thanks to the US Supreme Court in Pilot Life Ins. Co. vs. Dedeaux, 481 U. S. 41 (1987), group insurance companies were given a green light to cheat millions of Americans resulting in untold suffering and needless deaths. Workers were trapped into a health care system which tied them to their employers, who would buy insurance from places like Aetna for the lowest possible premium, knowing that medical claims would be denied.

The average citizen would not have become poorer over the past four decades while the top 1% became vastly more wealthy if our society believed that all men are their brothers’ keeper and that each individual has inalienable rights. Does Los Angeles lift up the least of us by the mass destruction of rent controlled apartments in order to make a tiny gaggle of developers wealthy, thereby creating vast homelessness?

Even Councilmember Mike Bonin exposed the vile underpinning of mayoral candidate and fellow councilmember Joe Buscaino’s proposal to vanquish the homeless from sight on the bogus basis of offering shelter. As Councilmember Bonin explained, such a plan means that the homeless will be offered the worst alternative so that our streets can be cleansed of the poor and their plight erased from our minds.

Soon to be former mayoral candidate, [Mike Feuer,](https://bit.ly/3DbRJzK) presided over a criminal enterprise the entire time he was city attorney. If City Attorney Feuer had a good faith reasonable belief that the city council’s Vote Trading System did not violate Penal Code § 86, he’s had plenty of opportunity to so state. Is Feuer’s silence a practice run at his assertion of his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination? After all, former Glynn County Alabama prosecutor Jackie Johnson was arrested for violation of oath and obstruction of justice for her failure to bring charges in the Arbery murder case. As for Garcetti, he feels safe. Penal Code, § 86's statute of limitations has run since he was a councilmember. HOWEVER, each time Garcetti signed a measure which he knew was the product of the illegal vote trading system, he became a party to the criminal conspiracy. Without Garcetti’s consent, the council’s unanimously approved projects would have died.

Where Is the FBI During All These Long Years of Abusive Criminality?

The FBI selects one or two sensational examples, thereby allowing the crimogenic city and judiciary to flourish. As a follow up to the Cain–Abel story, the Torah-Bible shows that when the authorities become predatory abusers of their fellow men, they destroy society itself. Sodom was ruled by four corrupt judges: Shakrai ("liar"), Shakurai ("awful liar"), Zayyafi ("forger"), and Mazle Dina ("perverter of justice") and let’s not forget their disciples California Chief Justice Tani Gorre Cantil-Sakauye and former California Attorney General Kamala Harris (e.g. Baca Case 2015 <http://bit.ly/1As5sLJ>, Orange County Scott Dekraai murder case).

As history teaches us, predatory ways succeed for a long time during which the leaders ignore their Cassandra’s as did King Priam of Troy. Predatory abuse and internecine hatreds can make individuals wealthy and powerful. April 8, 2021, CityWatch, [**Hate Money Stalks America** ](https://bit.ly/3fUBy1z) Has any society heeded its Cassandaras?

We have been continually warned that predatory divisiveness destroys society. Nonetheless, today vicious power mongers spread hideous myths to turn brother against brother. Facts play no role for the Wokers. Nick Sandmann and Kyle Rittenhouse must portrayed standard bearers of racism; reality be damned. For the Trumpists, the 2020 Presidential election was stolen.

Violence does not deter either side, but rather it becomes further justification for more hatred. The Dems refuse to admit their brand of social justice in Defund the Police is myopic at best. After decades of abuse, many minorities have been turned into predators by a crimogenic criminal justice system and suddenly ending bail does not turn them in peace loving saints.

*(Richard Lee Abrams has been an attorney, a Realtor and community relations consultant as well as a CityWatch contributor. The views expressed herein are his own and do not necessarily reflect the views of CityWatch. You may email him at* [*RickLeeAbrams@Gmail.com*](mailto:RickLeeAbrams@Gmail.com)*)*

[![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/ME%20DENTAL%20SPA/me%20dental%202026%20final.jpg)](http://medentalspa.com/)

 ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/banners/signup-for-cw.png)

## Get The News In Your Email Inbox Mondays &amp; Thursdays

 First Name

 [ ![LA DWP #2 (Pay Your Bill Help)](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/LADWP/dwp%20level%20pay%205-7-25.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/82 "LA DWP #2 (Pay Your Bill Help)")

 [ ![Home - HHR Rent is too High - SB-2](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/HHR/AHF-rent-too-high.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/104 "Home - HHR Rent is too High - SB-2")

 ---

##  Featured CityWatch Stories

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/34/065h-34e1b43b.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33212:reminder-to-the-red-states-turnabout-is-fair-play&catid=395)

### [Reminder to the Red States, Turnabout is Fair Play](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33212:reminder-to-the-red-states-turnabout-is-fair-play&catid=395)

GELFAND’S WORLD - Indiana has been pounded by rains that resulted in widespread flooding. While the rain was still comi…

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/0f/061a-0f1ada2f.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33148:brace-yourself-for-a-worse-housing-crisis&catid=398)

### [Brace Yourself For A Worse Housing Crisis](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33148:brace-yourself-for-a-worse-housing-crisis&catid=398)

PLANNING WATCH - The California State Legislature will soon vote on the following draft legislation. Please carefully…

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/d0/065o-d02f23ac.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33213:californias-empty-classrooms-are-a-warning-sacramento-cant-ignore&catid=378)

### [California’s Empty Classrooms Are a Warning Sacramento Can’t Ignore](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33213:californias-empty-classrooms-are-a-warning-sacramento-cant-ignore&catid=378)

A STUDENT'S VIEW - California is spending more on public education, yet classrooms are emptying, campuses are closing…

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/75/064a-75d5dbb3.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33199:your-boss-owns-your-workday-not-your-brain&catid=425)

### [Your Boss Owns Your Workday—Not Your Brain](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33199:your-boss-owns-your-workday-not-your-brain&catid=425)

THE NEURAL WORKPLACE - California must protect workers before workplace surveillance crosses the final frontier: the hu…

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/fe/064i-febc3c1a.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33203:all-talk-no-action-nithya-ramans-reckoning&catid=401)

### [All Talk, No Action: Nithya Raman’s Reckoning](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33203:all-talk-no-action-nithya-ramans-reckoning&catid=401)

THE BOTTOM LINE - Nithya Raman lost the homelessness gavel, and the most damaging verdict didn’t come from Republicans…

---

##  [ LOS ANGELES ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=312)

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Aug-2026/065m.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33215:a-second-karen-bass-term-gets-her-and-us-four-more-years-of-well-earned-voter-outrage&catid=312)### [A Second Karen Bass Term Gets Her (and Us) Four More Years Of Well-Earned Voter Outrage](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33215:a-second-karen-bass-term-gets-her-and-us-four-more-years-of-well-earned-voter-outrage&catid=312)

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Aug-2026/065l.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33216:the-cynicism-of-homelessness&catid=312)### [The Cynicism of Homelessness](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33216:the-cynicism-of-homelessness&catid=312)

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Aug-2026/065f.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33218:la-public-health-is-very-sick&catid=312)### [LA Public Health Is Very Sick](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33218:la-public-health-is-very-sick&catid=312)

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Aug-2026/065p.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33219:second-judge-clears-way-for-curren-price-to-face-trial-on-12-public-corruption-felonies&catid=312)### [Second Judge Clears Way for Curren Price to Face Trial on 12 Public Corruption Felonies](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33219:second-judge-clears-way-for-curren-price-to-face-trial-on-12-public-corruption-felonies&catid=312)

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Aug-2026/065k.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33220:olympics-la28-controls-the-money-trapping-city-hall-and-taxpayers&catid=312)### [Olympics: LA28 Controls the Money, Trapping City Hall and Taxpayers](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33220:olympics-la28-controls-the-money-trapping-city-hall-and-taxpayers&catid=312)
<div data-id="1" 
	class="eb-inst eb-hide eb-emailform eb-1 eboxContentLocker"
	data-options='{"trigger":"onPageLoad","trigger_selector":"","delay":3000,"early_trigger":true,"scroll_depth":"percentage","scroll_depth_value":80,"firing_frequency":1,"reverse_scroll_close":true,"threshold":0,"close_out_viewport":false,"exit_timer":1000,"idle_time":10000,"close_on_esc":false,"animation_open":"slideInDown","animation_close":"fadeOutDown","animation_duration":400,"disable_page_scroll":true,"test_mode":false,"debug":false,"ga_tracking":true,"ga_tracking_id":"G-P16BQ7X1SW","ga_tracking_event_category":"EngageBox","ga_tracking_event_label":"Box #1 - Global Email Signup Form","auto_focus":false}'
	data-type='popup'
	>

	<button type="button" data-ebox-cmd="close" class="eb-close placement-outside" aria-label="Close">
	<img alt="close popup button" />
	<span aria-hidden="true">&times;</span>
</button>
	<div class="eb-dialog eb-formVer" role="dialog" aria-modal="true" id="dialog1" aria-label="dialog1">
		
		<button type="button" data-ebox-cmd="close" class="eb-close placement-inside" aria-label="Close">
	<img alt="close popup button" />
	<span aria-hidden="true">&times;</span>
</button>	
		<div class="eb-container">
						<div class="eb-content">
				
<form action="https://citywatchla.us2.list-manage.com/subscribe/post?u=34d69f33624fd058ee9b56516&amp;id=4bfa422f51&amp;f_id=00d6c2e1f0" class="eb" method="post" id="mcform-1" name="mcform-1" target="_blank">
			<div class="eb-form-header"><p><img src="/images/2023/06/be-a-city-watcher.png" alt="be a city watcher" width="350" height="97" loading="lazy" data-path="local-images:/2023/06/be-a-city-watcher.png"></p>
<p>Sign up to receive our special e-news blasts on Monday and Thursday evenings!</p></div>
	
					<div class="eb-field-row">

			
			
			
			<input class="eb-input" type="email" name="EMAIL"  placeholder="Email address"  id="EMAIL" value="" required>

			
		</div>
										
	<div class="eb-footer">
    	<button class="eb-btn" type="submit" name="subscribe" style="background-color:rgba(93, 183, 93, 1);color:rgba(255, 255, 255, 1)">
    		Sign up    	</button>
    </div>
</form>			</div>
		</div>
	</div>	
</div>
<div data-id="3" 
	class="eb-inst eb-hide eb-yesno eb-3 "
	data-options='{"trigger":"onScrollDepth","trigger_selector":"","delay":0,"early_trigger":false,"scroll_depth":"percentage","scroll_depth_value":80,"firing_frequency":2,"reverse_scroll_close":false,"threshold":0,"close_out_viewport":false,"exit_timer":1000,"idle_time":1000,"close_on_esc":false,"animation_open":"fadeInUp","animation_close":"fadeOut","animation_duration":300,"disable_page_scroll":false,"test_mode":false,"debug":false,"ga_tracking":true,"ga_tracking_id":"G-P16BQ7X1SW","ga_tracking_event_category":"EngageBox","ga_tracking_event_label":"Box #3 - Yes \/ No Donation Popup Box","auto_focus":false}'
	data-type='popup'
	>

	<button type="button" data-ebox-cmd="close" class="eb-close placement-outside" aria-label="Close">
	<img alt="close popup button" />
	<span aria-hidden="true">&times;</span>
</button>
	<div class="eb-dialog " role="dialog" aria-modal="true" id="dialog3" aria-label="dialog3">
		
		<button type="button" data-ebox-cmd="close" class="eb-close placement-inside" aria-label="Close">
	<img alt="close popup button" />
	<span aria-hidden="true">&times;</span>
</button>	
		<div class="eb-container">
						<div class="eb-content">
				
<div class="ebox-yes-no">
	<div class="ebox-yn-text">
		
		
		<div class="ebox-yn-headline" style="font-size:22px;color:#888888">
			<p>If you only give once a month, would you consider giving to CityWatch?</p>
<p>Your support fuels our mission to promote and facilitate civic engagement and neighborhood empowerment, and to hold area government and its politicians accountable.</p>
<p>Would you like to help? Even if you can only give $5, it will make a difference.</p>		</div>
			</div>
	
	<div class="ebox-ys-buttons" style="font-size: 16px;">
		
<a
					data-ebox-prevent="0"
		data-ebox-cmd="close"
				target="_self"
		href="https://www.citywatchla.com/donate"
		rel="noopener"
	
	
	
	
	class="ebox-ys-btn"
	style="background-color:#2ec664;color:#ffffff;min-width:100px">
	Yes
	</a>
<a
	
	
			data-ebox-cmd="close"
		href="#"
	
	
	class="ebox-ys-btn"
	style="background-color:#ef2345;color:#ffffff;min-width:100px">
	Not Right Now
	</a>	</div>

	</div>			</div>
		</div>
	</div>	
</div>