http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-november-10-2011/penn-state-riots

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I think the student protests were without knowledge of paternos part. Heck once I heard that he knew about the problem for years that he probably needed to be fired and prosecuted as well. Local sports radio talking heads were speaking of the death penalty for the university football program

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In a rich man's house there is no place to spit but his face.
Diogenes Of Sinope

Paterno had to go. Not because he didn't do what he was supposed to, he did, but because he failed to realize that when a couple weeks had passed and he wasn't talking to a detective that the person above him failed to do his job. Some things in life are of such a nature where your duty lies not to your employer but to the government.

http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/049/chapter42/s42.42.html

§ 42.42. Suspected child abuse—mandated reporting requirements.
...
(b) Staff members of public or private agencies, institutions and facilities. Licensees who are staff members of a medical or other public or private institution, school, facility or agency, and who, in the course of their employment, occupation or practice of their profession, come into contact with children shall immediately notify the person in charge of the institution, school facility or agency or the designated agent of the person in charge when they have reasonable cause to suspect on the basis of their professional or other training or experience, that a child coming before them in their professional or official capacity is a victim of child abuse. Upon notification by the licensee, the person in charge or the designated agent shall assume the responsibility and have the legal obligation to report or cause a report to be made in accordance with subsections (a), (c) and (d).

Paterno made his mandatory report to the head of Penn State fulfilling his legal obligation. That person failed to make his mandatory report to Department of Public Welfare. That is a crime and I hope the head of Penn State serves time for it.

I hope the Pennsylvania Legislature changes their mandatory reporting law to place the duty to notify authorities on the person suspecting in addition to those above his head.

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Gary, I agree with your first sentence, however duty to government no. Duty to family, friends, society, yes. We the people created the government to do what we as individuals could not do efficiently. When the government becomes counterproductive it is time to change it.

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Gary, I agree with your first sentence, however duty to government no. Duty to family, friends, society, yes. We the people created the government to do what we as individuals could not do efficiently. When the government becomes counterproductive it is time to change it.

Jury duty is a duty you owe the government. Paying taxes is another. Bearing arms against its enemies is another.

The government is not all about efficiency, it is about checks and balances and not allowing mob rule and many other things; It is the framework for society.

I suspect you were born in the USA so you never had to swear the oath of allegiance to it.

"I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state or sovereignty, of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the armed forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God."

Nor do I disagree with the Declaration of Independence

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

Yes, there may be times you owe mankind a larger duty than you owe your government, but not in the case being discussed here, unless you are suggesting a lynch mob.

And this is far off topic, so open a new thread if you want to talk about duties further.

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I think another measure of accountability is likely to be meted out -- once the immediate criminal cases conclude, it seems to me that there will be some major civil suits to be made -- and Penn State and its football program are deep pockets to tap indeed...

As much as I love to watch college football; I still think it is one of our biggest hypocrisies today. I guess that I am part of the problem by being a fan.

A rich tradition in College rivalry has morphed into a Phony, semi-pro farce.
Most of the players are being exploited when they don't receive a proper college education or fail to make it to the pros.

My daughter played varsity sports in the Ivy league. No athletic scholarships, limited practice time, short seasons and minimal travel. Nearly everyone graduated with a legitimately earned diploma and went on to good jobs or quality grad schools-true student/athletes.

Penn State's problem is another symptom of what happens when you dumb down our education system, embrace mega-buck salaries and Athletic budgets and forget what College education is all about.

Fear of the athletic department's power and the huge potential loss of revenue prevented this problem from being nipped in the bud.