The Boston Marathon bombing will most likely be solved by analyzing thousands of photos, video footage, and a lot of difficult police work. This morning the New York Times tells us that video gives us the first clues:

In the first major break in the hunt for the Boston Marathon bomber, F.B.I. personnel on Wednesday found security video clips that showed a man they believe may have played a role in planting the explosives that killed three people and injured more than 170 on Monday.The videos also showed at least a handful of others whom the authorities want to question, either because of what they appear to be doing in the video or their proximity to the blasts, a senior law enforcement official said.

The official said the authorities were trying to boil down the number of people of interest in the videos and would then decide whether to ask the public’s help in locating them.

via Suspicions in Boston Attack Turn to Man Seen in Videos – NYTimes.com.

Of course, it’s not like on the TV show 24 where they could find and track a car in real time from cameras all over LA, but, by reconstructing the scene over time, a clearer picture of who done it will emerge. Because of the high profile of the crime, the FBI will get their man.

Locally, 2 nights ago, someone tried to break into my neighbor Pat’s garage. They broke the glass, but didn’t get through the screen. Had they been successful, the door had a deadbolt, double keyed. It’s just a sign of the times. My own garage has plywood screwed to the inside of two windows that were broken repeatedly by thieves, I don’t like it, but the break ins have stopped. The next day, after Pat’s attempt, we all asked his neighbor, Larry, did his camera’s show anything? They have before. We’ve also found who did a hit-skip total of a car thanks to another camera, and saw a woman drive up, walk onto a porch and steal what UPS had left. Cameras aren’t the end-all panacea of solving crimes, but they do help.

Which brings us to the aerial surveillance program proposed in Dayton. There is a small vocal group that’s very opposed to an eye in the sky. Would they be against using surveillance footage of the Boston Marathon bombing to help solve the crime? Doubtful.

Criminals don’t stop doing crime because of fear of getting their picture taken, nor do they stop because they know they can go to jail. For the most part, crime happens because someone didn’t learn the difference between right and wrong, something is broken with their priorities in life, or, they don’t feel as if they have any other options. In this “land of opportunity” one opportunity is to be incarcerated. We have the highest incarceration rate on the planet. Something like one in 31 has spent time in prison. We spend a lot of money keeping people locked away for doing minor crimes, much of it related to drug addiction.

Catching criminals isn’t solving our problems quickly enough, just like having the biggest, baddest military isn’t scaring anyone away from waging terror on us, since a conventional war isn’t really a sane option. If we want to look at the real problems in our country, no surveillance cameras are needed- the real crime is the divisive nature of our economy. On one hand, we have the subsistence population (as Leona Hensley called them, “only the little people pay taxes”) and those who are pocketing, literally billions (without anyone making a connection between our economic mess and the cold hard fact that the giant sucking sound wasn’t Mexico – but Wall Street):

Certainly, plenty of hedge fund titans took home billion-dollar paydays last year despite the fact they lagged the big gains in stocks. For example, Steven A. Cohen, who controls $15 billion in assets at SAC Capital Advisors, which has been under intense scrutiny by government investigators, fell just short of the market’s returns for 2012. His take-home pay, however, was about $1.4 billion, earning him the No. 3 spot among the best-paid hedge fund managers.

via Hedge Fund Titans’ Pay Stretches to 10 Figures – NYTimes.com.

If you wonder who robbed your garage, or bombed the Boston Marathon, and want to point fingers- think about a $1.4 billion dollar paycheck, and where it came from? All those foreclosures, that devastated the value of your home? The medical bills and insurance that became too expensive for you to afford? The reason we don’t have cops on our streets and are resorting to spy cams in the sky? The reason we can afford to pay to put dopeheads in prison but not make college affordable- it’s that it’s legal to pay yourself $1.4 Billion a year by manipulating the financial system and screwing the entire county.

Of course, I want the marathon bomber caught and brought to justice, just as much as I want the people who stole my bike and my kids’ bikes to be arrested too- but, I think we often get confused about what crimes are most heinous. Losing faith in our society is the most dangerous possibility, and most of us feel powerless to change it.

Throughout history, when the gap between rich and poor becomes unbearable, usually, a revolution resets the system.

It’s not big brother that should scare you, it’s our brothers and sisters who are not paying attention.

And just for entertainment, here’s a partial report on how much Steven A. Cohen spent buying his freedom from prosecution:

Contributions to Political Committees

COHEN, STEVEN
GREENWICH, CT 06831
SAC CAPITAL ADVISORS

AYOTTE, KELLY A VIA FRIENDS OF KELLY AYOTTE
	08/27/2010	2400.00	10020821933
	09/27/2010	2400.00	10020821923

COHEN, STEVEN
GREENWICH, CT 06831
SAC CAPITAL ADVISORS, LP

EVERY REPUBLICAN IS CRUCIAL (ERICPAC)
	12/08/2009	5000.00	10990143759

COHEN, STEVEN
STAMFORD, CT 06902
S.A.C. CAPITAL ADVISORS

LARSON, JOHN B VIA LARSON FOR CONGRESS
	10/31/2008	2300.00	29932513667
	11/02/2012	2500.00	13960811624

COHEN, STEVEN
STAMFORD, CT 06902
SAC

BAUCUS, MAX VIA FRIENDS OF MAX BAUCUS
	10/30/2008	2300.00	28020733244

COHEN, STEVEN
STAMFORD, CT 06902
SAC CAPITAL

DODD, CHRISTOPHER J VIA FRIENDS OF CHRIS DODD
	09/08/2008	2300.00	28020563047

 

LIEBERMAN, JOSEPH I VIA FRIENDS OF JOE LIEBERMAN
	06/29/2006	2100.00	26020431247
	06/29/2006	2100.00	26020431247
	08/03/2006	10000.00	26020770291
	09/20/2006	10000.00	26020770291

COHEN, STEVEN
STAMFORD, CT 06902
SAC CAPITAL ADVISORS

CAMP, DAVID LEE VIA DAVE CAMP FOR CONGRESS
	10/30/2008	2300.00	29991679919

 

CANTOR, ERIC VIA CANTOR FOR CONGRESS
	11/04/2008	2300.00	28993356222

 

DEMOCRATIC SENATORIAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE
	09/27/2006	26700.00	26020872167
	06/07/2007	28500.00	27020281185

 

KIRK, MARK STEVEN VIA KIRK FOR SENATE
	09/22/2009	2400.00	29020410060

 

MCCONNELL, MITCH VIA MCCONNELL SENATE COMMITTEE ’14
	10/31/2008	2300.00	29020051570

 

REID, HARRY VIA FRIENDS FOR HARRY REID
	10/28/2008	2300.00	29020061009

COHEN, STEVEN
STAMFORD, CT 06902
SAC CAPITAL ADVISORS LP

PORTMAN, ROB VIA PORTMAN FOR SENATE COMMITTEE
	04/28/2010	2400.00	10020441720

COHEN, STEVEN
STAMFORD, CT 06902
SELF

GRASSLEY, CHARLES E SENATOR VIA GRASSLEY COMMITTEE INC
	06/10/2008	2300.00	28020722889
	06/10/2008	2300.00	28020722889

 

SMITH, GORDON HAROLD VIA FRIENDS OF GORDON SMITH
	10/24/2008	2300.00	29020160119

 

WYDEN, RONALD L VIA WYDEN FOR SENATE
	05/01/2009	2400.00	29020260602

COHEN, STEVEN
STAMFORD, CT 06906
CLAYTON HOLDINGS INC.

OBAMA, BARACK VIA OBAMA FOR AMERICA
	09/04/2008	250.00	11972481476

COHEN, STEVEN
STAMFORD, CT 06906
SAC CAPITAL

LIEBERMAN, JOSEPH I VIA FRIENDS OF JOE LIEBERMAN
	08/07/2006	250.00	26020770502

COHEN, STEVEN
WESTPORT, CT 06880
ADVANCED RADIOLOGY CONSULTANTS

AMERICAN COLLEGE OF RADIOLOGY ASSOCIATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE
	04/21/2012	250.00	12971231222

COHEN, STEVEN
WESTPORT, CT 06880
SRA PC

JOHNSON, NANCY L. VIA JOHNSON FOR CONGRESS COMMITTEE
	03/05/2004	2000.00	25980354365
	10/23/2006	2000.00	27930468046

COHEN, STEVEN A
GREENWICH, CT 06831
S A C CAPITAL ADVISORS LLC

BENNETT, ROBERT F VIA BENNETT ELECTION COMMITTEE
	05/05/2004	2000.00	24020542925

COHEN, STEVEN A
STAMFORD, CT 06902
S.A.C. CAPITAL ADVISORS, LLC

MANAGED FUNDS ASSOCIATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE
	04/27/2007	5000.00	28991310128

COHEN, STEVEN A
STAMFORD, CT 06902
SAC CAPITAL

DODD, CHRISTOPHER J VIA CHRIS DODD FOR PRESIDENT INC
	03/31/2007	2300.00	13961167632
	03/31/2007	2300.00	13961167632

 

HATCH, ORRIN G VIA HATCH ELECTION COMMITTEE INC
	10/06/2010	2400.00	11020050260

COHEN, STEVEN A
STAMFORD, CT 06902
SAC CAPITAL ADVISORS

ALL AMERICA PAC
	11/07/2006	5000.00	27940122910

 

BAYH, EVAN VIA EVAN BAYH COMMITTEE
	11/07/2006	2100.00	27020042338

 

GRAYSON, C M ‘TREY’ VIA FRIENDS OF TREY GRAYSON
	09/25/2009	2400.00	29020403781

 

SUNUNU, JOHN E VIA TEAM SUNUNU
	03/23/2007	2000.00	27020144274
	11/30/2007	300.00	28020041233
	11/30/2007	2300.00	28020041234

COHEN, STEVEN A
STAMFORD, CT 06902
SAC CAPITAL ADVISORS LLC

THUNE, JOHN R VIA FRIENDS OF JOHN THUNE
	04/24/2009	2000.00	29020251131

COHEN, STEVEN A
STAMFORD, CT 06902
SAC CAPITAL ADVISORS, LLC

FORD, HAROLD E JR VIA HAROLD FORD JR FOR TENNESSEE
	08/03/2006	2100.00	27020030600
	08/03/2006	2100.00	27020030600

COHEN, STEVEN A MR
STAMFORD, CT 06902
SAC CAPITAL ADVISORS

ENSIGN, JOHN E VIA ENSIGN FOR SENATE
	05/07/2009	-2400.00	10020014007
	05/07/2009	2400.00	10020014007
	05/07/2009	4800.00	10020014007

 

NATIONAL REPUBLICAN SENATORIAL COMMITTEE
	10/17/2007	28500.00	28020111672
	07/07/2009	30400.00	29020304603
	10/31/2012	30800.00	12021110536

COHEN, STEVEN A MR.
GREENWICH, CT 06831
S.A.C. CAPITAL

BUSH, GEORGE W VIA BUSH-CHENEY ’04 (PRIMARY) INC
	02/03/2004	2000.00	24962770813

COHEN, STEVEN A.
GREENWICH, CT 06831
SAC CAPITAL ADVISORS

TRUTH ACCOUNTABILITY AND COURAGE POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (TACPAC)
	12/16/2009	5000.00	10930278718

COHEN, STEVEN A.
STAMFORD, CT 06902
SAC CAPITAL ADVISORS

BONO MACK, MARY VIA MARY BONO MACK COMMITTEE
	12/15/2009	2400.00	10990214333

COHEN, STEVEN A. MR.
GREENWICH, CT 06831
SAC CAPITAL ADVISORS

ALTSCHULER, RANDOLPH MR. VIA RANDY ALTSCHULER FOR CONGRESS
	11/12/2010	2400.00	10992489248

COHEN, STEVEN DR.
WESTPORT, CT 06880
ADVANCED RADIOLOGY CONSULTANTS

AMERICAN COLLEGE OF RADIOLOGY ASSOCIATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE
	05/20/2008	250.00	28932487551
	05/21/2010	250.00	10990781432
	05/23/2011	250.00	11931687310

COHEN, STEVEN E.
BRIDGEPORT, CT 06605
NORWALK COMMUNITY COLLEGE–STATE

DONOVAN, CHRISTOPHER G VIA DONOVAN FOR CONGRESS
	10/04/2011	200.00	12950416897

COHEN, STEVEN E.
BRIDGEPORT, CT 06605
NORWALK COMMUNITY COLLEGE

DONOVAN, CHRISTOPHER G VIA DONOVAN FOR CONGRESS
	06/29/2012	200.00	12940768914

COHEN, STEVEN M. M.D.
WESTPORT, CT 06880
ADVANCED RADIOLOGY

MURPHY, CHRISTOPHER SCOTT MR. VIA COMMITTEE TO ELECT CHRIS MURPHY
	08/15/2008	250.00	29990942206

COHEN, STEVEN MR
GREENWICH, CT 06831
SAC CAPITAL ADVISORS

TOOMEY, PATRICK JOSEPH VIA FRIENDS OF PAT TOOMEY
	04/05/2010	-2400.00	11020120412
	04/05/2010	2400.00	11020120412
	04/05/2010	4800.00	11020120411

Total Contributions:    273450.00

Joint Fundraising Contributions

These are contributions to committees who are raising funds to be distributed to other committees. The breakdown of these contributions to their final recipients may appear below

COHEN, STEVEN A.
GREENWICH, CT 06831
SAC CAPITAL INVESTMENTS

TAKE BACK THE HOUSE 2010
	10/21/2010	15000.00	10992287101

Total Joint Fundraising:    15000.00

Recipient of Joint Fundraiser Contributions

These are the Final Recipients of Joint Fundraising Contributions

COHEN, STEVEN
GREENWICH, CT 06831
SAC CAPITAL ADVISORS, LP

EVERY REPUBLICAN IS CRUCIAL (ERICPAC)
	10/21/2010	5000.00	10992275351

COHEN, STEVEN
GREENWICH, CT 06831
SAC CAPITAL INVESTMENTS

CONTINUING A MAJORITY PARTY ACTION COMMITTEE (CAMPAC)
	10/21/2010	5000.00	10992336354

PROSPERITY ACTION INC.
	10/25/2010	5000.00	11990320464

Recipient Total:    15000.00

TRY A: NEW QUERY
RETURN TO: FEC HOME PAGE

And note- he’s also entered under “Stephen” for a little kicker
Contributions to Political Committees

COHEN, STEPHEN
STAMFORD, CT 06902
SAC CAPITAL ADVISORS

KANJORSKI, PAUL E. VIA PENNSYLVANIANS FOR KANJORSKI
	03/31/2008	2300.00	28932437233

COHEN, STEPHEN A
STAMFORD, CT 06903
ERNST & YOUNG LLP

ERNST & YOUNG POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE
	06/12/1997	300.00	97032163373
	05/12/1998	300.00	98033183936
	05/05/1999	300.00	99034524474
	04/07/2000	500.00	20035602569
	03/22/2001	500.00	21990078827

 

SCHUMER, CHARLES E VIA FRIENDS OF SCHUMER
	02/21/2001	1000.00	21020150168
	06/28/2004	1000.00	24020452502

COHEN, STEPHEN MR.
STAMFORD, CT 06903
ERNST & YOUNG L.L.P.

GIULIANI, RUDOLPH W VIA RUDY GIULIANI PRESIDENTIAL COMMITTEE INC
	12/23/2007	2300.00	28990602997

Total Contributions:    8500.00

TRY A: NEW QUERY
RETURN TO: FEC HOME PAGE

Whomever said “money is the root of all evil” never imagined it being reported this way on the FEC database. Buying your freedom when you are out of this world rich, is relatively cheap.