On 24 Oct 2015 17:52:20 -0700, in bit.listserv.ibm-main Timothy
Sipples wrote:

>Just to close out this issue of the IRS "scandal," after a long investigation 
>(including the FBI) the U.S. Department of Justice has closed its case with no 
>criminal charges. See this press report for example:
>
>http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-irs-conservatives-20151023-story.html
>
>The investigation went over 100 interviews and over one million pages of 
>documents. I'll quote from the Justice Department's statement:
>
>"Not a single IRS employee reported any allegation, concern or suspicion that 
>the handling of tax-exempt applications – or any other IRS function – was 
>motivated by political bias, discriminatory intent, or corruption."
>
>Moreover, DOJ notes that former IRS director Lois Lerner is completely 
>absolved and, in fact, was the first IRS official to recognize the problem 
>(such as it was) and try to correct it. As a "thank you" for her good civil 
>service, a political party hounded her out of office. :-(
>
>Facts are facts, and I try to understand them as best I can.

Note the party controlling the Department of Justice and the party
claiming to be harmed.  Also note that Lois Lerner invoked her right
against self-incrimination instead of testifying before the Republican
dominated congressional committee investigating the issue and that the
committee either didn't or couldn't offer her immunity from
prosecution.  These are facts too.  If people can interpret the facts
of how the two job entry sub-systems work (JES2 and JES3) to come to
opposite conclusions as to which is best in similar situations, it is
highly likely that in political affairs where the facts are murkier
and harder to weight there will be ongoing substantial disagreements
as to what the conclusion should be and whether the Department of
Justice made a correct decision.
>
>Now back to mainframe-related topics....

Actually the parallels between this dispute and those concerning the
long term viability of the mainframe in terms of murkiness and
vehemence of position are several.  I am of the camp that even though
I believe the mainframe is a platform that is too easily dismissed by
some, the number of mistakes made by IBM may mean it has a less viable
future than it should.  As a stockholder this saddens me.

Clark Morris
>
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