Letters from our Readers - April 2007

War No More
I heard author Mary Ann Williams say she has a dream In some future date a boy will return from school. He tells his mother, " we studied in school today that people used to do war." "Some people in one country got some people together and went to another country and started killing everyone." 
"Whichever country killed the most people Won!!" The mother says, "we USED to do war, but we do not do war anymore." 
Now that would be a wonderful world to live in. I have lived through 2 major wars since I became a adult. One, in Vietnam and another in Iraq. I have looked at the pictures of the young men coming home in caskets. I have looked at the pictures of young men coming home without arms or legs. 
My heart goes out to the families of these young men. I wonder how we can support administrations that send our young people off to war for the profit of the military/industrial complex. President 
Eisenhower left office warning us of their quest for profits. Yet, within 10 years of his warning we were led into a unwinnable war. 
Why didn't we learn from this and keep it from happening again? Why did we allow an administration of greedy oil men take over? 
Why don't our religious leaders speak out? Instead, the far right religious leaders defend these war criminals while sanctimoniously these religious leaders try to justify this war. How can these people who profess to be followers of The Prince of 
Peace justify war? Where in the teachings of Jesus Christ can they find any reason to justify war? Especially wars that we are the aggressors? 
They are so obsessed with their twisted political agenda that they remain silent as our nation's young people pay with their lives and limbs. Where are the spiritual leaders who should be shouting with 
outrage at all the injustices of this administration? Why aren't they crying out at reports of our country torturing people? 
Of people being kidnapped and shipped out to foreign countries? Where are they when people's rights are being taken away? Our 
constitutional guarantees are being taken away and our spiritual leaders of the far right say nothing. Yet, they claim to be patriotic. 
They are more concerned with keeping "under God" in the pledge of allegiance than in our government. Let's support our troops and bring them home where they belong. 
They should be here to defend our country NOT invading other countries. Let the Moslem countries settle their problems, they will never accept Christians telling them what to do. They consider us infidels. They tell us we are a part of the problem, not a part of the solution. They want us to go home, so let's bring our young people home --NOW!! 
Let's do war no more. 
Bill Talley 
Houston, Texas

We Need To Pay Attention
A high-ranking military leader of a country that possesses lethal nuclear and biological weapons wants to test non-lethal weapons such as high-power microwave devices on American citizens in crowd-control situations before they are used on the battlefield against an enemy. The military official justifies this idea by calling it good public relations explaining ""If we're not willing to use it here against our fellow citizens, then we should not be willing to use it in a wartime situation," ...(Because) if I hit somebody with a nonlethal weapon and they claim that it injured them in a way that was not intended, I think that I would be vilified in the world press."
I know what some of you ultra red-blooded "God Bless George W. Bush!" Christian military types are already thinking: this is why we are fighting the terrorists over there- so they can't bring their insanity here!" But the genius who thinks of the rest of his fellow citizens as "human guinea pigs" is home-grown. He is Air Force secretary Michael Wynne. 
Now just a moment ago I was thinking that maybe one day I might want to engage in a "wartime situation" myself. I realized that I would need to test my "non-lethal weapon" of choice -in this case a device that would melt the eyeballs of the intended victim (painful- but non-lethal- according to Attorney General Gonzales) on my next-door neighbor first. I like my neighbor so that is why I will attack him BEFORE I go after my enemy- see the logic? Friends are first and enemies are second in my book! I worry about what my other neighbors would think if the device injured my neighbor "in a way that was not intended" and only caused one of his eyes to melt? Or only caused the skin to peel from my neighbor's body? Or, Heaven forbid, caused total blindness but without the eye melting? What a public relations nightmare that would be! My reputation as a self-righteous, human rights exporting American could take a real beating! I sure would hate to get sued because of that oversight! It would be a hassle to say the least.
Now that I think about it, maybe I can get Air Force secretary Michael Wynne to test the device out on some of you readers out there that I am not too particularly fond of ? You know who you are. Think of what it could mean in the "War on Terrorism!". Volunteer your eyes America so we can non-lethally maim the enemy over there! Each volunteer will receive a copy of the Bill of Rights, a copy of the Patriot Act and a red white and blue walking cane (for only a small fee of $19.99)! Why not test the weapons on secretary Wynne's friends, family and neighbors first- unless or course, they are not American citizens. And why we are at it lets draft the Bush twins Jenna and Barbara and have them contribute to the "noble" cause that is our struggle against terrorism in Iraq!
Now for the benefit of a select group of fellow contributors to The Bulletin (Ted, Gina, R.T. and Kay) the preceding 2 paragraphs were a "parody" and not to be taken seriously because, unlike Air Force secretary Michael Wynne and many of his colleagues in the government and armed forces, I would NEVER use my fellow citizens as guinea pigs for ANY type of battlefield weapons, lethal or not! Nope, not gonna do it! Read my Lips!
To summarize (for those of you who say it could never happen here) : a high ranking AMERICAN secretary of the ARMY wants to TEST "WEAPONS", such as "HIGH POWERED MICROWAVE DEVICES", on "AMERICAN" CITIZENS, in "CROWD CONTROL" situations, "BEFORE" they are used against "ENEMIES ON A BATTLEFIELD", so nobody gets "BAD PRESS" from the "FOREIGN" media.
If you are not appalled and outraged then you are not paying attention.
Richard Amburgey
Spring, Texas

Global Warming or Gloral Hoax?
Less than a decade ago, we were being deluged with unending reports on the coming horror that would be created by Y2K. Billions of dollars were spent to correct an imaginary problem. Then on that long predicted moment when January 1, 2000, came and passed, nothing happened! The fact was very simple - unless a computer had been programmed to cut off when its calendar turned over "00," nothing was going to happen. A computer is only a machine and doesn’t in itself know the difference between two zeroes and two of any other number. Some would argue that nothing happened because of all the money spent to prevent anything from happening. But, the companies that did nothing came out as good as those who spent millions. It was all a farce!
Then there was the hysteria about El Niño. Now, El Niño was real, but it was nothing new. It has existed as a weather cycle as long as weather has been recorded.
Now we have a new crisis - man-made global warming. If a scientist dares to question this theory of man-made CO2 causing a coming world disaster, that scientist is accused of being on the payroll of the big energy companies or of just being incompetent. No dissention is allowed in the discussing. Open scientific dialog is forbidden.
Any time political correctness demands that open discussion from both sides cannot be part of a discussion, true science goes out the window. 
But, some scientists have put their reputations on the line to do the unspeakable. They are challenging the global warming theory. In a 75 minute documentary, which can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XttV2C6B8pU , these scientists clearly show that the scientific evidence doesn’t fit the theory. These researchers say without hesitation that the sun causes global warming cycles. But, there is money involved in being on the global warming bandwagon. So, scientists who want their projects financed, must go with the cash-flow. 
Now, it doesn’t take a scientist to see good reason to question the global warming theory. Science has taught us that, thousands of years ago, there was an ice age. If that is correct, then this old world has been warming up for a long time. And, we should be glad it did or we would all be Eskimos. By the way, there was no man-made CO2 around way back then to cause all that melting of the ice.
I for one want to go on record as having my own theory about the cause of global warming. My theory will cause me to be labeled a heretic by the politically correct high priests. And, I do hope that the big energy companies will put me on the payroll so I can afford their products.
My theory is this: Global warming is caused by political rhetoric. 
Steve Casey 
Stonewall, LA 

Tommy Two Face
There he was, staring at me from the book shelf at the Montgomery County Library in the Woodlands. Tom Delay’s mug on the cover of his ghost written book (Stephen Mansfield is the writer and a poor one at that), “No Retreat, No Surrender”, was there for the asking. I knew immediately that it was going to be a whale of a read for fellow chicken hawks and tough guys Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity had written the foreword and preface of the book, respectively. 
After completing the short read (179 pages), it appeared to me that Tommy wanted the reader to come away with the notion that he has been a victim of a “vast left wing conspiracy”, that all Democrats are liberals and therefore communists (I haven’t heard Democrats called communists so much since the days of Wisconsin Senator “Tail gunner” Joe McCarthy and “Tricky Dicky” Nixon in the early 50’s), and that while he ran away from running for Congress here in Texas this past election, he really wasn’t retreating nor surrendering; he left office for noble purposes and after “four to five weeks of prayer (Page 162)”. 
Well, actually, there are problems right inside his own book believing his above mentioned “truths”. To begin with, it was none other than Republican US Congressman Joel Hefley of Colorado who chaired the House Ethics Committee who admonished Mr. DeLay, not once but three times (Page 146). 
As far as all Democrats being communists (Yeah, he says it on pages 7, 59,135 & 140) I would think that most fair minded Republicans would have difficulty with this premise. I can actually say that this Democrat, unlike DeLay, who is about my age, fought communism while in the service of the US Navy! 
Further, I sincerely doubt that the super hypocritical DeLay would be praying for five weeks to make up his mind on whether or not to run for Congress when all polls showed that he was a goner. Remember, the “Hammer’s” forte was counting votes when he became Republican party whip in the House. My guess is that he counted and then moved quickly to Virginia! 
Since Palm Sunday and Easter is upon us, I would suggest to Mr. DeLay that he prays for forgiveness for being such a total hypocrite to ensure that Jesus doesn’t do to him, upon his final days, as He did to the money changers in the temple in Jerusalem during holy week. That will not be a pretty sight at all! I can certainly feel his pain! 
It’s not too late, Tommy. Repent!! 
Jim Farrell 
Oak Ridge North

Universal Pre-K
Proponents of universal pre-K, such as the Texas Early Childhood Education Coalition (TECEC), are less interested in improving educational opportunities for children and more interested in growing the ranks of public school teachers. 
Educational opportunities for Texas four-year olds are abundant. Publicly funded pre-K is currently available to homeless, low-income or limited English proficiency four-year olds, as well as children who have an active-duty parent in the military, and those who qualify for the Head Start Program.
According to research published by the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) at Rutgers University, “Texas provided state-funded pre-kindergarten to… a higher number [of children] than any other state.” Altogether, 56 percent of Texas’ four-year olds are enrolled in publicly-funded pre-kindergarten programs. 
Furthermore, a study conducted by the Bush School at Texas A&M University shows high numbers of four-year olds enrolled in private pre-k programs: 154,000 (or 44 percent). The $2.3 billion price tag associated with making pre-k universal (by requiring public schools to educate four-year olds) is little more than a subsidy for middle- and upper-class families. Even a four-year old knows that money does not grow on trees. The over $2 billion in new spending will instead come from local property taxpayers.
Universal pre-k proposals prompt an important political question: Why are teachers unions so strongly for the proposal? A shortage of certified teachers exists. Many are teaching outside of their certified subject area. A February, 2006 report by CBS 11 News of Dallas found that many public school teachers repeatedly fail their certification exams. One North Texas teacher failed certification 47 times.
Vastly expanding the number of public school teachers when a shortfall already exists and with pre-k enrollment already high is a transparent attempt to increase the ranks of public school teachers’ unions. Teachers groups have a large and active presence in Austin, standing in the way of meaningful reforms to improve education while using all their political muscle to increase teacher pay and to water down standards. 
By requiring all public schools to offer universal pre-k, the state would grossly undermine parental rights. And with the currently extensive enrollment in both public and private pre-kindergarten, mandating pre-k for all four-year olds is a recruitment tool for teachers’ unions. 
Gina Parker Ford
Waco Texas

For Our Children
Once again the American people have a chance to choose a leader. In 2000 we elected Al Gore by over 5500 votes but he never became president so do we really choose our leader? 
Obviously, we did NOT in 2000. No, we still have an electoral college. It's winner takes all in each state. Gore won the national popular vote but because of questionable voting procedures he lost the race in Florida and that was decisive. 
The Florida state supreme court ordered a limited recount in questionable precints BUT the United States supreme court overturned the state court. This despite the so called 
conservative majority who said they interpreted the constitution by original intent. 
Any reading of the constitution is clear that the states should decide whether to recount the votes or not. However, these so called conservative jurists were republicans first and conservatives second so they elected George Bush president by 1 vote. Thus began a presidency that came to office unconstitutionally and has attacked the constitution continually. If Americans do not vote in overwhelming numbers to end this attack on the constitution we could lose our freedoms and form of government. 
We have already had freedoms taken away. Who would have thought that America would kidnap citizens of our country and other countries, send them to foreign countries, imprison them and torture them? Only to release them a year later in a foreign country after deciding they were innocent. They were kept for a year without their families being notified and released in a strange country with no means to return home. Who would have thought that we would violate the Geneva convention on the treatment of prisoners? Who would have thought our government can find out what books we check out at the library? That our phones can be tapped without judicial approval? How quickly we forget the imperial presidency of Richard Nixon and his "enemies list" of political opponents who he had the FBI and IRS harass. 
Innocent, patriotic Americans whose only crime was they disagreed with Nixon and opposed his re-election. What are young Americans dying for? If not, for our freedom 
and constitutional protections, then what? Why do we allow our young people to be sent off to wars that we should never have been involved in? Why do we say, "support the troops" as we send them off to war but forget them when they return to "rat and roach infested", molded walls with holes in them VA hospitals? Reduce the money to VA so they can not provide for these wounded troops properly? 
It seems BIG Brother has arrived. George Bush wants to be a dictator and it would not surprise me, if he gets the excuse, if he declares martial law and suspends the national elections in 2008. He is so power hungry. 
I am 68 and have never saw such a poor excuse of a president. Only Richard Nixon comes close. Bush's approval numbers are at 26%, the same as Nixon's when he resigned. What is wrong with congress? Why don't they impeach him and bring our troops home from another country's civil war? I thought we had learned our lesson in Vietnam about getting involved in a war where we were not wanted and hated, obviously not. 
Democrats PLEASE save us from these constitution hating republicans who claim to be conservatives. They are not for smaller government, we have a bigger government now than any time in history. They are not fiscally responsible, we have the largest debt in history. They are not for states rights, the so called conservative supreme court proved that. For the first time in our history we cut taxes in time of war. Because of that we have to borrow from other countries, now get this, including communist China. We are now at a communist government's mercy financially. We used to loan money to other countries, now we borrow. 
When I was a young man, America stood for what was right and set the example for the world. We did not invade countries but defended ourselves when invaded or attacked. Vietnam and Iraq have taken our pride away from us. Just as we were beginning to rebuild our esteem in the eyes of the world we invaded Iraq. Now, once again, we must hang our heads in shame as the aggressor and occupier. 
Democrats please win in 2008 and restore our national honor. Democrats do once again what the Clinton administration did, reduce our debt and restore our country fiscally. Please win and restore the constitution as the law of the land and pass laws that no future Bush can take away our constitutional rights. When you take the oath of office in 2009, mean it, when you swear to uphold the Constitution of the United States of America. 
When someone bombs our buildings, do as the Clinton administration did, find him and put him in prison. Yes, the cleric responsible for bombing the world trade center in the 90's is in prison. Bush says he does not care where Bin-Ladin is so he is still free. He took our troops from Afghanistan, where Bin-Ladin is, and still protected by the Taliban and put them in Iraq where he was not. Now, the Taliban is retaking parts of Afghanistan and we do little and Bin-Ladin still enjoys his freedom. 
My friends, I would like my grandchildren to live in a free country as I have. I do not want to leave them a country that disregards our constitution. I want there to be a middle class as there used to be. Why have our religious leaders led us astray? They used to be for the common working man against the multi-national corporations. They have been used by the republicans who have been used by the multi-national companies to destroy the middle class in America. Our jobs have been outsourced for corporate profit. Truly the blind have led the blind and are falling into the ditch together. 
Unfortunately, they are taking the country with them. Wake up America and once again vote the scoundrels out of office and put the party that historically has been for the working man back in office--the democrats. For our children and grandchildren. 
Bill Talley 
Houston, Texas

Regulate or Deregulate? 
So, let's get this straight. An article in the Austin American-Statesman tells us that Rep. Kirk Watson wrote a bill to regulate --- of all things --- commercial party boats. Evidently we're told that the many accidents on Lake Travis were the catalysts for the bill. 
It's interesting that legislation is sought to regulate party boats just one year after the legislature deregulated electric companies and higher education causing both entities to increase energy and tuition costs respectively to consumers. 
And what about the home insurance industry? Two years ago due to lax legislation and state officials "turning the other cheek" the industry doubled premiums almost overnight. 
Texans were promised by the governor and the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) that homeowners would see a 12-percent return of their premiums. So where is the money that we were promised? 
At the time I stated that Gov. Perry and then TDI Commissioner Jose Montemayor were lying to the public and that homeowners would never see a return on their premiums. I also wrote many articles highlighting that after the insurance industry over-corrected premium costs on the "hard" market it would keep the doubled premiums, which are the highest in the nation. Turns out that I was correct on both those calls --- and yes, I'm "tooting my own horn" on this one! 
So, what's it going to be? Are legislators going to regulate or deregulate various markets and companies? Or, perhaps they'll do what they've been doing all along. Legislators will continue to be "selective" whether they will opt to regulate or deregulate, perhaps being determined by the amount of special interest campaign contributions and perks they will get? 
Peter Stern
Driftwood, TX

What They Won’t Print
My wife, Rosemary, wrote a wonderful letter to the editor of the OC Register which, of course, was not printed. So, I decided to "print" it myself by sending it out on the Internet. Pass it along if you feel so inclined.
Dave LaBonte 
(Letter Follows)

The Bulletin Will
So many letter writers have based their arguments on how this land is made up of immigrants. Ernie Lujan for one, suggests we should tear down the Statue of Liberty because the people now in question aren't being treated the same as those who passed through Ellis Island and other ports of entry. 
Maybe we should turn to our history books and point out to people like Mr. Lujan why today's American is not willing to accept this new kind of immigrant any longer. Back in 1900 when there was a rush from all areas of Europe to come to the United States, people had to get off a ship and
stand in a long line in New York and be documented. Some would even get down on their hands and knees and kiss the ground. They made a pledge to uphold the laws and support their new country in good and bad times. They made learning English a primary rule in their new American
households and some even changed their names to blend in with their new home. 
They had waved good bye to their birth place to give their children a new life and did everything in their power to help their children assimilate into one culture. 
Nothing was handed to them. No free lunches, no welfare, no labor laws to protect them. All they had were the skills and craftsmanship they had brought with them to trade for a future of prosperity. Most of their children came of age when World War II broke out. My father fought along side men whose parents had come straight over from Germany , Italy , France and Japan. None of these 1st generation Americans ever gave any thought about what country their parents had come from. They were Americans fighting Hitler, Mussolini and the Emperor of Japan. They were defending the United States of America as one people. When we liberated France, no one in those villages were looking for the French-American or the German American or the Irish American. The people of France saw only Americans. And we carried one flag that represented one country. Not one of those immigrant sons would have thought about picking up another country's flag and waving it to represent who they were. It would have been a disgrace to their parents who had sacrificed so much to be here. These immigrants truly knew what it meant to be an American. They stirred the melting pot into one red, white and blue bowl. 
And here we are in 2006 with a new kind of immigrant who wants the same rights and privileges. Only they want to achieve it by playing with a different set of rules, one that includes the entitlement card and a guarantee of being faithful to their mother country. I'm sorry, that's not what being an American is all about. I believe that the immigrants who landed on Ellis Island in the early 1900's deserve better than that for all the toil, hard work and sacrifice in raising future generations to create a land that has become a beacon for those legally searching for a better life. I think they would be appalled that they are being used as an example by those waving foreign country flags. 
And for that suggestion about taking down the Statue of Liberty, it happens to mean a lot to the citizens who are voting on the immigration bill. I wouldn't start talking about dismantling the United States just yet.
Rosemary LaBonte

Illegal Aliens vs Legal Immigrants
Most American citizens think we need to crack down on illegal aliens here in the United States of America, that all illegal aliens should be arrested and prosecuted when they break our laws. But many of our citizens don't seem to realize that an illegal alien is illegal because he or she already broke the law when they entered the USA illegally.
All illegal aliens should be prosecuted and/or immediately deported...period. All of our USA laws should be enforced with absolutely no political considerations.
Immigrants were, are and always will be welcome here in the USA when they comply with our immigration laws, learn our language, live by our laws, fit into our society and truly become American citizens, pledging allegiance to our flag and our country.
May God save the USA!
R. T. "Dan" Hanchey 
Madison, MS

May Gina Pray?
Last week Gina Parker Ford asked the questions: "May I pray, who can pray, when can they pray, and most importantly, where can they pray?"
The answer to these questions are :"yes, anyone, anytime and anywhere". In America, If a person wishes to pray to God at 9:00 a.m. on a Sunday morning in Albany, New York- they can! If 2 people wish to pray to Buddha on a Thursday night in Tallahassee, Florida - they can! And, If 30 students wished to pray before their final Algebra exam in any school in America - they can! (and I should know because I was one of those students). It would seem obvious that with such broad latitude to pray, people like Ms. Parker would be at peace with the world yet I gather from her letter that she is still not satisfied. Why not? She feels that another law (House Bill 3678: the Religious Viewpoint Anti-Discrimination Act) has to be passed to insure that her ability to pray to whomever, wherever and whenever she wants is "clarified". 
Clarified? What is more clear than being able to pray to anyone or anything, anytime and anywhere you want? Nothing, unless that is not your real goal. She states: "No longer will there be any guessing, as the bill clearly codifies the many constitutional ways a student or groups of students may express their faith at school and at school-sponsored events). That is the real motive behind Ms. Parker's letter- she wants organized prayer back in school. She feels, as many people do, that the separation of church and state is wrongly persecuting whatever religion she believes in.
But it is not. Excluding organized religion from public schools is what allows Gina, and any and all people of faith who pray, to pray whenever and wherever they want in the privacy of their own hearts and minds. The key idea being: "in their own hearts and minds". No human being, group of human beings or entity on this planet can tell me when and where and to whom to pray. I decide that in my heart and mind and soul. Gina evidently does not believe the same way as me. She needs "groups" to perhaps help her "organize" and "codify" her prayers. When I hear someone cry about the lack of prayer in schools I realize that it is just another attempt to force one person's religion's view upon a captive audience- in this case, students. Ever heard of Sunday school Gina? It is a place where everyone in attendance cannot only pray but must pray! And, they are all in agreement to whom they are praying to. What a concept! I will bet that your religion has such a dedicated time and place to freely worship the God of your choice. I will also bet that you would be extremely outraged if another religion tried to force your school children to listen to their rituals before class every day or the "big game" every Friday night. To be fair (you do want to be fair don't you Gina?), we would have to not only allow a dedicated time period for every religion to be represented but also for non-religious believers too. How much of the school day would that take? What about religious schools themselves? Should they be exempt? Should Catholic schools have to allow a prayer time for Hindus and Christians and Muslims and Jews and so on and so on and so on and so on ...every day? If not, why? If this bill called for the establishment of the above scenarios would Gina Parker Ford be pushing for it passage? I dare say not.
Rick Amburgey
Spring Texas

Habla Espanol?
I went to a Bank of America to cash a check the other day. The teller asked if I had an account with them and when I said no she asked if I wanted to open one. Again, I said no. I explained why I did not want an account with that bank. Behind the teller were 2 large signs. One was printed in English and from what I could gather, the other had the same message - only in Spanish. I pointed out that the bank had paid twice as much to advertise to customers in 2 languages and that meant higher costs for the bank which would have been passed along to me- had I been a customer. 
I asked her if it was true that Bank of America was going to allow "illegal aliens" (their words, not mine) to open charge accounts. She confirmed my query. I asked her if she was going to pay me in pesos and if the bank was going to change it's name to Banco de Mexico. She replied "No" to both questions. I explained that I would not want to be responsible for making up for the lost income that Bank of America would incur when it dealt with "illegal" aliens who could not be expected to honor their debts- why should they?
Her defense was that Citibank and Wells Fargo was doing it too. I informed her that I would tell them the same thing. 
I went into a Sherwin Williams paint store the other day. They had brochures on the counter advertising their latest sale. The brochures were printed only in Spanish. Although I don't speak Spanish I found that with relative ease I could decipher the items for sale as well as their price. And then it dawned on me- if I could understand this foreign language then why couldn't the Hispanic customers do the same? In both scenarios the common thread is the eagerness for which our businesses cater to a foreign population. 
There are approximately 250 million English-speaking citizens of these Untied States compared to approximately 30 - 40 million non-English speaking "inhabitants". I call them "inhabitants" because a large and growing segment of these people are not citizens but rather they are illegal aliens. Of this segment, the vast majority are Spanish speaking. What I don't understand is the reasoning behind this conspiracy to make Spanish the accepted language in our country. Why do our business institutions give a minority such unequal status? Where is the logic that says it is wiser to require 250 million legal citizens to learn the language of 30 million illegal aliens? Why does every country and culture on the planet Earth teach their citizens English in order to do business with us except these Hispanic invaders? Do the businesses think that a Hispanic won't buy a Coke from them unless the label is in Spanish? Do they think the Latinos are so ignorant that they will not consume or buy anything unless it is written in their language? And if that is the case, then why are our businesses implying that they value the Spanish-speaking minority over the much larger English-speaking majority? Why is that? 
My nephew was denied employment with a company that he was qualified for because he was not bi-lingual- meaning that he could not speak Spanish. My friend was denied a job at our local McDonald's because she was not bi-lingual- again., because she could not speak Spanish. Does McDonald's feel that Hispanics won't eat their food because it is written in -what should be the national language of The U.S.- English? Why don't businesses cut to the chase and just print their signs and menus and advertising and labels in Spanish only? They, along with the U.S. government, seem to value that language and it's speakers more anyway.
Richard Amburgey
Spring, Texas

A Band-Aid On A Hemorrhage 
(It's the tax cuts, stupid!) 
Until the 110th Congress addresses inequities in our tax system, we'll continue to further plunge into the abyss of what is becoming irreversible national debt. It appears that this Congress is merely poised to put a Band-Aid on a hemorrhage. 
Tax-avoidance schemes are growing faster than the IRS' ability to crack down on them. 
Billions of tax dollars are lost through outsourcing of jobs to other countries. Companies leaving the United States each year is accelerating at an alarming rate. The loss in tax revenue is becoming almost incalculable -- exacerbated by enormous tax cuts for the wealthiest of Americans. 
In a December 2003 report, the IRS had identified over 400,000 taxpayers involved in tax-evasion strategies that are likely illegal. Earlier that year, the IRS had estimated the number at 131,000. It is clear that the IRS (and Congress) doesn't have a clue as to how much revenue is being lost -- but it is enormous. Now, three years later, the problem is only getting worse. 
The IRS tax code has become so incomprehensible that virtually nobody can understand it, leaving it subject to broad interpretation. 
The IRS Tax Code needs to be completely revamped. Tax loopholes for 'special interests' must be eliminated. Taxes on unearned income should have been increased -- not decreased. 
What has the Bush Administration done to solve the problem? They have declared that outsourcing of jobs is good for America, tax cuts will reduce the deficit, and have slashed in half the number of IRS auditors charged with auditing tax reports on multi-million-dollar incomes! 
Paul G. Jaehnert 
Vadnais Hts.

Presidential Hopeful In 2008
I am writing to you because your publication seems to be a bit more unbiased than some of the more popular forums present right now. Your paper is also published in my home state and old stomping grounds.
I just finished reading an article about a show called ‘Crashing the Parties 2004’ in which they followed the campaigns of several independent Presidential nominees and discussed the impact of non-partisan parties fielding candidates in a Presidential election. What interested me the most was the last paragraph of the article: 
‘The lesson of Crashing The Parties 2004 is that if you feel like you're just wasting your vote on Bush or Kerry, then you should find yourself a third party candidate for which to vote; sure, your guy won't win, but you'll have voted your conscience -- and you can show both the Republicans and Democrats that they're not the only games in town, that they might not always be the ones in power. But things in this country will never change unless we start acting now.’ 
There are a couple of things wrong and several things right with that particular statement. First, it makes the assumption that any independent candidate cannot win the election. When phrases like that are put into print, the general public believes that to be fact, which will influence their decision when it comes around to November 2. They think their choice won’t or can’t win, so they vote for one of the other mainstream political candidates, usually choosing what they consider to be the “lesser of two evils”.
Second, it should never be said that any vote cast in an election is a waste. People thinking that their votes don’t count are the reasons that we have such low voter turn-outs now.
About the things that are right…the last line. You are absolutely correct in the fact that things will never change unless we start acting….acting like adults, acting like responsible individuals, acting like we give a damn about the things that happen around us every day.
I am writing this letter not to denigrate nor to disparage your reporting or your publication, but to request your help. I am running for President of the United States and need some help in getting myself more well know in the media. I am currently speaking with any and all media outlets I can find an open ear in. A presidential campaign requires a lot of things, not just money. Being well known enough to have your name added to the ballots is one of them. I am not asking for donations, nor am I requesting your support or recognition. I just need information on how to proceed or whom I should contact that can help to get my campaign off the ground somewhere besides my own community. I am including my campaign website in the hopes that maybe you can or will help.
http://home.earthlink.net/~turtle007 
I thank you for your time.
Yours in service to Freedom and Democracy,
David J. Masters
Presidential Hopeful in 2008

Jesse & Al
About 27 years ago at television station WVUE-TV 8 in New Orleans Jesse Jackson, accompanied by two big bodyguards, and I talked. I got to know him rather quickly. He was easy to "read." He was touting his Rainbow Coalition. 
I told Jesse, "I know what you are trying to do, but it will not work. You want all of the USA's young people to grow up, become registered voters and vote for you when you run for president. But...right now...you are a preacher who has never pastored a church, and a politician who has never won an election. If you want to run for a national office, you must operate from a solid political base. You must first establish a local and state political track record. Go to a majority black city, run for council or mayor, get elected, do a great job for your constituency, run for governor and win, do a great job for your whole state, black and white, and then you can credibly run for president." 
Jesse listened patiently, but he never did it. His son Jesse Jackson, Jr., did, and he is a successful U. S. Congressman, representing the Second District of Illinois.
Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton label themselves Reverend, but they are not very reverent. And they share a common motus operandi. 
Jesse and Al create a lot of public controversy over some emotional issue, exaggerating it and fanning the racial flames. They attract mass media coverage, creating concern and generating interest all across the USA. Then they and/or their representatives quietly go to the victimized corporation or organization, they tell them to donate so many thousands of dollars to their "charity," and they'll make the problem go away. When they get the money, they quickly help negotiate a peaceful settlement or mutually satisfactory resolution of the "problem." And all in the name of "justice."
That is their "business," and it helps them successfully fund their flamboyant lifestyles. 
Ah-h...America, land of opportunity! Sometimes all you need is a good gimmick and enough gullible people to allow you to collect a small fortune, but it doesn't make it right. 
R. T. "Dan" Hanchey
Madison, MS 

Unlimited Giveaways at the Capitol
There are no limits to the special favors that big money enjoys at the Texas Capitol. Pay-to-play politics has yielded astonishing giveaways to the big electric utilities, telecommunication corporations, toll-road builders and other private interests that want a piece of our collective pocketbook. 
It's time for the legislature to limit the huge campaign contributions that have corrupted state government. During the last election, Texas' top 100 individual donors gave state politicians a total of $47 million, accounting for approximately one out of every four dollars in our political system. 
Without limits, a few big shots will continue to call the shots in Austin.
(To lean more and add your name to the petition to limit big money in Texas politics visit http://www.truecourageaction.net/ )
Craig McDonald, Director
Texans for Public Justice
Austin TX.

George Walker Bush
"Grand Strategist" or just a miserable president? 
Recently people have been buzzing about the almost ancient 2/11/2004 Washington Times editorial by Tony Blankely titled, "George W. Bush -- grand strategist" and depending on individual perspective, it seems that many are referring to it with some confusion, exaltation, excitement, skepticism, and/or trepidation regarding how to view George Walker Bush and his presidency. 
Washington Times Editor Blankely's writing about Bush basically refers to a book as the catalyst for discussion that portrays Bush as one of the top 3 American strategists in our history. The author of the book, "Surprise, Security, and the American Experience" (Harvard Press) released in March of 2004, is John Lewis Gaddis, the Robert A. Lovett professor of military and naval history at Yale University. 
*Note that George Walker Bush, Jr. graduated the same Yale University attended by Prof. Gaddis and also graduated by George Herbert Walker Bush, Sr. So, do "birds of a feather flock together"? Perhaps they do work together in "mysterious ways" to develop a myth and sell a book? 
I don't think that the presentation of liberal and more mainstream media showing the president as a 21st Century ogre vs. Gaddis' book portraying Bush as a strategy genius is confusing. Being a grand strategist may be a good and/or bad thing. The previous two examples of "Grand Strategists" referred to by the author --- presidents Franklin Delano Roosevelt and James Monroe --- did so mostly for the good of the majority. In contrast the Bush administration's premeditated manipulation and/or erroneous presentation of [faulty, misleading] intelligence and PR, tax cuts for the wealthy, massive amounts of tax dollars for the war-chest, aggressive military strategy, etc., were NOT good for the majority of Americans, especially for those thousands of innocent American children soldiers and Iraqi civilians who died for some evasive noble objective. 
In retrospect former President [and highly decorated General] Dwight D. Eisenhower's farewell address to the nation highlights the evolution and current status of the Bush administration. Eisenhower warned us of the potential for irreparable harm that may be caused by the greed and power of the developing "Military/Industrial Complex". Because Eisenhower prophetically viewed this back in the 1950's, the entity he viewed then has become a partnership of the Corporate Sector and the Military/Government. 
It is an interesting and worthwhile read into the inner-workings of our political system over the past 50 years and how wrong a government can go. Unfortunately, Eisenhower's message has come to fruition. 
My own opinion is that Bush's personal history shows that he is a first-class screw-up, e.g., his education and business experience, yet he was blessed to be born into a wealthy and politically powerful family; he has improved his status into being a screwed-up president who had significant and powerful allies in the sectors of government and industry. With the help of these individuals and groups he has transformed the base of our government and economy into a powerful --- yet negative (for the majority) --- dictatorial oligarchy that has numerous neo-fascist tendencies. 
Does this make Bush a "grand strategist"? Well, maybe. Does it make him a good president and human being? Heck, no! 
But "confusing"? Certainly not. Remember, to many historians Adolf Hitler, Attila the Hun, and Hannibal also were grand strategists. Fortunately, none of them were former American presidents.
Peter Stern
Driftwood, TX

Gun Rights
As a mother, an American and a human being I am frankly tired of listening to Gun Rights advocates proclaim that “Guns don’t kill people, People kill people”. The horror that took place in Blacksburg, VA last week, as well as the Nickel Mines, PA horror last fall and the numerous other disasters in our schools have shown us that had these mentally ill people not had the availability of guns, our precious children would still be with us.
Mental Illness has always been with us, what has changed is the easy availability of automatic weapons, particularly handguns. As every thinking person knows, there is no reason to have an automatic handgun other than the intention to kill people. You don’t use automatic weapons to hunt – if you do need an automatic weapon you are not a hunter and you need to find a sport that you are better at!
If you want to use those automatic weapons with impunity I wonder why you would not be marching right over to your local recruiting office – we could use your help in Iraq and Afganistan!
We have seen many of our “Rights” chipped away or eliminated without any outcry – lets not let this overly powerful gun lobby orchestrate our childrens’ safety any longer. Two weeks ago we made sure that Imus was gone within 48 hours for his offense – why can’t we do the same with the automatic handguns that are killing our children?
Andrea Lynch
Malvern, PA

If We All Had Guns
Cain slew Abel; he didn't have a gun. 
Samson slaughtered 1,000 Philistines, using the jawbone of a donkey; he didn't have a gun. 
Little shepherd boy David killed the giant Goliath with a slingshot and stone, finishing Goliath off with his own sword; David didn't have a gun. 
Jim Jones' followers drank poison, Davis Koresh's Branch Dividians were killed by fire and the Oklahoma bomber used a fertilizer bomb. 
There are many, many other examples. 
When someone wants to kill people, they kill people with whatever is available to them. They don't have to use guns. But, if they have a gun or guns and you don't, you are then a defenseless victim. 
Tougher gun laws accomplish nothing but allowing a shooter to go on his or her rampage unimpeded. But one armed and experienced citizen with a gun can put an end to the carnage immediately. 
Throughout the USA...where large numbers of citizens take advantage of right to carry gun permits...armed crime is considerably lower. The possibility of an intended victim being able to shoot back deters most gun wielding criminals. 
The greatest deterrent to armed crime is an armed citizenry. 
In Alpharetta, Georgia, where homeowners are required to own guns, home burglaries and home invasions are non-existent. 
The 2nd Amendment of our Constitution allows every law-abiding USA citizen to own a gun or guns to protect life and property. You need no permit to have a gun or guns in your home and/or in your extended domicile, your vehicle. 
Be sure to read your individual state's laws governing how you can legally carry a gun or guns in your automobile. Some states insist guns be visible, and some states require guns to be hidden from view. Be careful to obey the law in your state of residence and in every state where you travel. 
If you don't own a gun, get one. Learn to use it properly, and learn to shoot accurately. Then never hesitate to shoot when confronted by an armed criminal. The one who shoots first usually survives. 
R. T. "Dan" Hanchey 
Madison, MS

The Liberal Greedy Media
This is the Liberal Media's and Democrats main focus??.. It is an insult to the victims of this "crime" to focus the blame for this "crime" on the lack of 'gun control. It's an 'egregious' insult to all the victims of "crimes" of 'murder'. We should take notice that no one in the Liberal Media is assigning much responsibility to the murderer and to those who may have encouraged his dark opinion of our society. No, it's merely the 
availability of guns!! That's it!! How politically self serving (or stupid) can you get!!!.
The crime stats in States that have passed (Law abiding) citizen carry laws have seen a reduction in crime. It's the like's of Washington D.C. with strict gun control where only the criminal element have guns, that's where crime is out of control. The cities with 'strict' gun control have a total number of 'murders' per population that eclipses our entire country's total mass murder numbers and even singular murders. Florida, beset by random murders, had a 25% drop in homicides the first year they passed their carry law, despite the "Wild Wild West" predictions that the Liberal Media said would happen if citizens were empowered to protect themselves. But don't confront these rabid Liberals with the facts, it just makes them angrier and inspires them to spew more hate speech at the Conservatives and the Christian Right.
If anyone besides this 'Liberal' mass murderer should 'share' some of the blame it should be those who have at least a "peripheral" responsibility, by instilling hate for our country and teaching these warped minds to hate those who excel and succeed. It is the gun control, Christian hating, Liberal elements, the same Liberal elements that have tried to blame the lack of gun control for previous high profile murders.. It is also clear their phony concern for the victims, is the same as their phony concern for my son and his fellow soldiers. They "prey" on the emotions of the moment 'solely' to promote their obvious shameless political agenda to dis-empower the people and empower those hypocritical, privileged, all wise few who would like to change us into a Socialist-Police state.
Is that the only reason why the Liberals are taking what boils down to another anti-life stand in the name of "protecting life? .. I believe there is another overarching reason; it's the way these Elitists view us. As the lady on the U.N. World population Council said on N.P.Radio (to justify their study for their Socialist's agenda to determine the 'plus' or 'minus' "Dollar" value of various classes of people), "all but approximately five hundred million of the six billion of us are "GENETIC WEEDS". The message here is that the Liberal's agenda is to decide who are the weeds and implement the programs to get rid of them. That is why these Liberal saviors (pied piper's) are so doggedly working to convince us to let them take your unborn children to the sea and shamelessly we are helping them murder 
them.
So--NO -This is a not a gun issue, not a bomb issue, not a knife, poison etc. issue. It is a "MORAL" issue!!. It is one that started with Cain and Abel and with no blame being assigned to the murderous rock. God put "all" the responsibility on Cain and his sin of 'envy' of his brother's success (and in the "murderer's" writings envy was pointedly part of the motive for this recent mass murder.
An unbiased person would point out that part of the responsibility for these kind of 'immoral' acts should be assigned to those that have been stimulating them to their bitter fruiting. They are the hypocritical (with armed body guards) anti gun, hate spewing Rosie O'Donnell's/Carl T Rowans of this world and the violence promoting networks in the Liberal greedy Entertainment Media. It is further fed by the hate America spewing, violence advocating, Ward Churchill's and his fellow Liberal College professors who encourage the unstable students and the amoral in their midst to act, by validating their warped sense of justice.
The Bible says "The feet of the evil NEVER quit running to evil" We had better be just as faithful, vigilant and unrelenting in defending good as the Biblical description say's the evil are in doing evil. And in fact, as Christians we are commanded to do so. "We are our brother's keeper". If we 'cut and run' the consequences that have been prophesied will be wicked beyond our imaginations and they will make even 'these' seem like "the good old days".
Paul Lebedzinski
Huntsville, Texas

Bush Has a Yes Man 
I couldn't have put it better myself than "Percy1," a Chronicle blogger. 
"If Alberto Gonzales ever had any honor or credibility, he long ago sold it along with his soul in order to assure GW Bush that anything he wanted to do from warrantless domestic wiretaps to torture of military prisoners to firing prosecutors who weren't partisan enough in helping Republican candidates in a campaign was the divine right of a president. The sooner we are shed of this man as the best the country can offer in the way of a top attorney the better we all will be for it.
"But getting rid of this unprincipled lawyer is the easy part. How do we get shed of the partisan hacks this administration has managed to install with lifetime appointments on the Supreme Court? And regain the respect of the world after 8 years of ignoring and violating the most basic elements of international law?" 
Bill Barnes 
Conroe, TX

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