Letters from our Readers - December 2005

Mister Ed 
I am concerned as more and more news comes out about the improprieties of Commissioner Ed Rinehart. First it was the sexual harassment charges, then possible political kickbacks for the North Walker Rd. landfill, then his $1000 fine from the Texas Ethics Commission, then his use of county prop­erty for his trucking business and race car hobby, and now a new investigation by the TEC for corporate contributions. Certainly, this all represents “a pattern of abuse”, as opponent Mark Cadwallader says. It’s time for Ed Rinehart to step down.
Victor Patton
Oak Ridge,Tx

Judging Tom DeLay
Parties NOT the solution, they're part of the problem America's two-party system is a catastrophic breakdown of a legendary credible political system that no longer works for the majority of American families. Perhaps DeLay should be tried by a judge supported by the Green Party? After all, Republicans AND Democrats have become such whiners and cry-babies when things go against them, we could be stuck in a trial up to the next millennium. Who better than the "insignificant third" party to rule on this matter? 
Just as unions first emerged to protect American workers from enslavement by powerful employers and companies who abused their rights, the two-party system in American politics evolved from the Whigs and Tories of the Revolutionary Days and were there to protect the rights of their respective members from government autocracy, interference and abusive taxation. And just as unions became frivolous and inadequate towards those ends and in stabilizing American life, our political parties now similarly abuse the system and have developed "franchises" instead that cater to their own special interests. 
In truth, political parties no longer manage America's existence, now the billions of dollars in the Corporate Sector does that. The two-party system has outlived its usefulness and merely appears to be the go-between of government and legislation for special interests. The current political system is for the betterment of corporate American and NOT for American families --- where historically it once was, and where it currently SHOULD be. 
But perhaps DeLay should be reviewed by a jury of "his peers", those same belligerent and primitive sociopathic whining politicos who are ruining the nation for most Americans? Or, perhaps it's the corporate sector who should decide DeLay's fate? Why not let GM, IBM or --- better yet --- Halliburton be the judge of whether Tom DeLay has done anything "wrong"? 
Reality sometimes has a peculiar way of "rearing its ugly head". A politician of DeLay's stealth and power won't have to pay for any wrongdoing in the political world we've created. With his obvious direct link to God, DeLay won't even have to pay for his bullying and multiple "sins" in the next life. It's up to American voters to change this medieval system over time. 
Peter Stern,
Driftwood, TX

Holiday For Heros
Thank you for your moving and well-written words on Veteran's Day. One so very seldom reads such articulate prose in newspapers these days. 
Kay Pierce 
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

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Thank you for writing down thoughts that many of us think and cannot express as well.
You wrote a stirring, eloquent article.
God Bless You!
Karen

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My son is a Plebe at the US Naval Academy and is a member of the wonderful group of young men and women continuing the tradition set by the Founding Fathers of our Nation. I found you article to be right on the money. While I’ve never served in the Armed Forces, many of my family members have. Second hand experience is no substitute for the ugly realities of war, but in my case it serves to consider it a true last resort. Cavalier decisions have cursed the World’s History and many have suffered. We will probably have this condition until the end of time as we know it. Honoring those who served is truly special. Your article help provide me with additional perspective.
Patrick B. Sweeney

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I came across your Veteran's Day column while perusing the Google news page, and wanted to congratulate you for a marvelous piece. It was balanced and thoughtful, and far outstrips the turgid prose found in a lot of our country's more illustrious newspapers. I thought you might like to know the reaction from a Southern California liberal who is appalled at the war-mongering of our current administration, most of whom managed to weasel out of military service themselves and thus never earned the perspective that was so eloquently described in your column. Good work.
Donald Brown
Hollywood, California

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Complements from a guy who read your article, posted on Google, while sitting at his desk in San Diego California.
The by-line reads Music Editor. If you did not miss your calling, you certainly have another: The ability to pen a humble, respectful perspective on a never ending dilemma.
Bill Jansen

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Thank you for www.thebulletin.com/archives/2005/november/veteransday2005.htm 
It's a fine tribute and well done history of the holiday. However, you might want to make a correction in it. You said: "Memorial Day has now become a day of reflection and remembrance -- a day to remember all of 
our fallen heroes from all of the wars." That's true. But today is Veterans Day, as you know and called it in the rest of the article. 
Veterans Day is in honor of all those, living as well as dead, who served with the U.S. armed forces in wartime. History has given us two holidays with (almost) the same purpose. I had to look them up to find 
out whether there was any difference.
Steven Zucker
Manhattan Beach, CA

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I just read your article on Google news. That was powerful . Thank you for stopping us today and making us think. I'm not a veteran ,but have always respected and admired them for their sacrifice. I am printing this off to show to my sons... I think I will put this away for Veterans Days to come
Brian Howard
Sterling Heights MI

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I just finished your splendid essay on the history of the Armistice/Veterans Day holiday. Many things occurred to me while reading it and I would very much like to share them with you, but do not have much time for writing today. However, when I got to the paragraph about Theodore Roosevelt, I remembered a letter to the editor that I had sent some months ago. It never got published, but I thought perhaps you might find it worth reading...
RE: Fathers, Sons, And War (Newsweek June 20, 2005)
I couldn't help but notice a curious omission in your otherwise fine treatment of the special bond between fathers, and the sons who follow them into military service. All four of Theodore Roosevelt's sons fought in France in the First World War, yet you chose only to mention Teddy Jr. who fought in both world wars and was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions on the beach at Normandy. But in 1944, Theodore Roosevelt had already been dead for 25 years, and Teddy Jr. was an Army General who would tragically die of a heart attack five days after the landings. 
A better choice would have been to highlight the poignant story of Theodore Roosevelt's youngest son Quentin, who was killed when his airplane was shot down over France on July 14th, 1918. Quentin was only 20 years old at the time of his death, and the news had a devastating effect on his father. Upon reading the unofficial dispatch announcing that Quentin had been shot down over enemy lines 3 days prior, the former president walked back and forth across the length of the piazza at his Sagamore Hill home asking "But Mrs. Roosevelt!" "How am I going to break it to her?" On the following day Roosevelt delivered a speech to the Republican State Convention at Saratoga, and a friend in the audience, Isaac Hunt, later remarked that he had never seen a face marked by such extreme human misery as was Roosevelt's when he mounted the convention dais.
We all are familiar with the story of how Theodore Roosevelt overcame a sickly childhood and went on to become a strenuous man of action, with a well-known fondness for war. Roosevelt was in the forefront of those agitating for America to become involved in the European conflict and when Congress finally did declare war on Germany and Austria in April of 1917, the old lion fully expected his sons to answer the call. Less well known is the grief, perhaps coupled with guilt, which marked the final months of Roosevelt's life. Theodore Roosevelt never fully recovered from the shock of Quentin's death, and he would follow his son to the grave six months later. 
In a letter to her son Kermit, Edith Roosevelt described just how deeply Roosevelt was affected by his youngest son's death. "Quentin's death shook him greatly," she wrote. "I can see how he thinks of him and not the merry happy silly recollections which I have but sad thoughts of what Quentin would have counted for in the future." 
In the end, Theodore Roosevelt finally learned the true meaning of war. 
Scott Tyson
New York, NY

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I don't live in Texas, but travel a great deal as a trucker through it now and then. I just wanted to say "thanks" for you words of remembrance and tribute to all veterans, especially those who served in WWI. I remember seeing a photo of a second cousin of mine dressed in his uniform during the war, and was told by my great aunt that he'd suffered "shell shock". For years, whenever I visited my grandma, in San Diego, I slept in a bedroom in which hung a photo of the ship my grandpa served upon as a blacksmith during the war. 
But perhaps my greatest memory, which made the most impressions upon my mind, were the cemeteries in Holland in and around Maastricht. German cemeteries, unkempt, unvisited most likely or not very often, which further helped me see the uselessness of it all. And if that wasn't enough, most people don't realize that Normandy isn't the only American National Cemetery overseas. There are more in France, Belgium and one in Holland, very near Maastricht (Margraten). 
The administrator there took me up to the top of the monolith there, which gave us a bird's eye view of it. Acres and acres of crosses, interspersed with Star's of David. That most of those boys went home after initial interment there, didn't make the place seem any smaller. And to walk among their graves and see how old they had been has forever left me grateful for any Vet who has served his country. 
I was 21 in 1980 when I was there. I have never forgotten it. And lest anyone think it is always in vain, even if so very stupid that men fight one another, I would strongly encourage a visit to Auschwitz, Poland. Even though I speak fluent Dutch, and believe I can express myself well enough in my own American English, words leave me in attempting to describe the horror of that place, even all these years later. 
God bless all Veterans! 
Allan Beamer 
Provo, Utah 

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I was surfing google's news page and found your article. I enjoyed and appreciated it, but you may want to correct the following:
"Some veterans voice their feelings clearly: Confederate General William T. Sherman’s admonition that “war is hell” is often remembered for its irony..." Sherman was a Union general. 
He is arguably still the most hated civil war personality in the state of Georgia due mostly to "Sherman's March to the sea"
http://www.cviog.uga.edu/Projects/gainfo/sherman.htm  
Rob Brown 
Indianapolis, IN

Medicare Jumble 
After reviewing the 2006 Medicare booklet, the heads of millions of elderly and/or disabled Americans will be reeling. 
The government pamphlet contains intricate mazes of words, sentences and laws that an attorney would have to ponder. Obviously, Washington legislators share little of the reality millions of Americans have each year in applying for the Medicare program. 
In addition, legislators provided the Medicare program with the legal right and audacity to charge lifetime "penalties" for those eligible applicants for medical and prescription medication who choose NOT to apply for these programs at the time of eligibility and then apply at a later date. Lifetime penalties? Who has the legal right to do such a thing? The Medicare program does. 
Everyone eligible to receive Medicare has for years paid into the system. There should be no penalties. It must be the right of every American taxpayer to apply for Medicare ANY TIME after his/her eligibility WITHOUT ANY PENALTY. A lifetime penalty for applying after eligibility is another special interest initiative that Americans can live without. 
It's time to make Medicare a system that is easy to comprehend and also to eliminate the absurd lifetime penalties for those applying after their eligibility date. 
Peter Stern, 
Driftwood, TX

The Bullpen
The Son becomes the Father is one of the best things I have read on Bush. Thanks for such a good editorial. I do enjoy the reading the Bulletin . 
Sam Adair 
Montgomery
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Your articles on the President are freaking brilliant, and right on target.
Antony

Big Foot
I live in the Piney-Woods of Northern East Tx. I'm an avid deer hunter and love the outdoors. Late one evening, I saw something that I just can't explain. I heard a rustling in the leaves, and saw some small underbrush moving. I thought it might be a deer, so I sat quietly waiting. I heard something almost like a snort. I couldn't relate it to a deer or a hog, still, I figured it was a deer. It started moving away from me rapidly when I caught a glimpse of it. It was approximately six and a half feet tall and fairly hairy, walking on it's hind legs. There are a few bear in this area, but this was no bear. As it retreated, I heard an almost primal scream. It was not like people have said. It didn't sound like a woman to me. The woods that are alive with sounds of animals, was dead silent until the following morning. I am a skeptic and don't believe in Bigfoot, but I can't explain what I saw and heard. 
Kevin Mark Rainwater

Control The Weather
Farmers invest their money in sophisticated seeds, spend weeks planting their crops and sometimes are forced to watch as day after day of unusual weather bakes their crops to a crisp, destroying their livelihood and raising the cost of produce in our supermarkets. But this may not be necessary.
Our satellites can spot approaching hurricanes from hundreds of miles away. Meteorologists can predict their paths with reasonable accuracy. But still we are forced to watch extremely powerful storms batter our coasts. The most powerful hurricanes cause substantial loss of life and destroy billions of dollars in property - shutting down businesses and costing workers their jobs. The recent storms in the Gulf of Mexico destroyed oil platforms and severely damaged refineries, causing a spike in the price of gasoline. What if there was something we could do to weaken such storms before they come ashore?
The idea of controlling the weather sounds like something from a science-fiction film, but it may be possible. People have been controlling the weather in small ways for many years. Since Benjamin Franklin’s pioneering work on electricity in the mid 1700s, multitudes have been using lightning rods to protect their property from thunderstorms. For half a century, ski resorts have been making their own snow when Mother Nature refuses to cooperate. Controlling the weather may seem unlikely now, but when the Wright Brothers were busy building their first airplane, most people would not have believed that flying across continents and oceans would become commonplace.
Controlling the weather in significant ways may not be very far off. Experimenting on weather modification is difficult, particularly because researchers studying weather have difficulty isolating variables, but a number of scientists report significant success. Their best results so far come from seeding clouds to increase the amount of rainfall. Some trials over Texas produced clouds that lasted 18 percent longer than normal and generated 71 percent more precipitation. These trials are starting to convince skeptics. And, while you might worry that bringing down more rain in one place reduces the amount of rain elsewhere, so far, data suggests that such effects are small to non-existent.
Scientists have also had success modifying other types of weather. Airports have managed to clear up cold fog around busy runways, and several major airports now have systems to dissipate fog. It may also be possible to reduce the damage caused by hail. One project showed such significant results in reducing hail damage to crops that it enticed the Canadian insurance industry to support a multi-year effort to reduce hail damage in Alberta’s largest cities.
Further research may lead to even greater ability to control the destructive forces of hurricanes and tornados. German and Russian scientists have devised a way they believe we might make hurricanes dissipate harmlessly by using jet engines to reduce the temperature of the ocean surface. Even if such plans ultimately fail, it may still be possible to at least weaken hurricanes or steer them away from cities and oil refineries, where they now cause the most damage. It may also be possible to weaken a tornado or lessen its lifespan. 
Other countries are investing in weather modification technology. According to Congressional testimony, China is “funding greatly-expanded weather modification research and operations program at $100 million per year, as well as training over 1500 new weather modification scientists.” Weather modification projects have also taken off in countries as diverse as Argentina, Saudi Arabia and Israel. 
I believe it is time for the United States to reexamine this issue. We need to assess what opportunities may exist to alleviate droughts by increasing rainfall. We need to look into the possibility of reducing hurricane and tornado damage by using advanced technology with our increasing knowledge of weather systems.
To take a step forward in weather modification, I have introduced legislation in the U.S. Senate. If Congress passes my bill, it will start a national weather modification research effort through federal and state programs. It will focus a portion of the executive branch on weather modification by creating a Weather Modification Subcommittee within the Office of Science and Technology Policy. It will gather outside experts on a Weather Modification Advisory and Research Board to advise the subcommittee. This board will work to promote the research and development of weather modification. With the hard work and determination of American researchers and universities, I hope we might one day make substantial reductions in the damage weather causes to people, crops and property.
U. S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison

A God-Free America?
Once again, atheist Michael Newdow, who first became infamous for challenging “Under God” in our Pledge of Allegiance, is attacking our Founding Fathers in court. As his new suit against our Pledge of Allegiance is pending, Newdow is planning to file another lawsuit - this time in an effort to remove “In God We Trust” from our currency.
In an attempt to gain more attention and bury the blessings and visions of our Founding Fathers, Newdow claims the rights of “atheists” who belong to the “First Amendment Church of True Science” are being violated. According to Newdow, the church’s “three suggestions” are to “question, be honest and do what’s right.” Newdow contends that taking up a collection (otherwise known as tithing) with “In God We Trust” on the money is a violation of the separation of church and state.
What Newdow and others who are hostile to religion must understand is that our Constitution does not provide freedom from religion, but freedom of religion, and whether it is money, monuments, or public prayer, Americans have the freedom to worship God.
Not only is the lawsuit frivolous, but it is a clear attack on our nation’s history and founding principles. Addressing the nomination of a Congressional Chaplin and the Founding Fathers, the United States House of Representatives noted in an 1854 report: “It [Religion] must be considered as the foundation on which the whole structure [America] rests. Laws will not have permanence or power without the sanction of religious sentiment, without a firm belief that there is a Power above us that will reward our virtues and punish our vices.” 
Furthermore, the Supreme Court has already stated in several cases that “In God We Trust” is not a violation of the fictitious separation of church and state. Speaking on the government's display of a Christmas nativity scene in Lynch v. Donnelly (1984), Justice O’Connor ruled that government declaration of Thanksgiving as a public holiday, printing of “In God We Trust” on coins, and opening court sessions with “God save the United States and this honorable court” are not only government acknowledgments of religion, but also they should not be understood as conveying government approval of particular religious beliefs.
Even the strict separationist, Justice Brennan, stated in Marsh v. Chambers (1983), “I frankly do not know what should be the proper disposition of features of our public life such as 'God save the United States and this Honorable Court,' 'In God We Trust,' 'One Nation Under God,' and the like. I might well adhere to the view ... that such mottos are consistent with the Establishment Clause, not because their import is de minimis, but because they have lost any true religious significance.”
Our nation is a religious nation, whether atheists want to believe it or not, and we cannot erase our history. In Zorach v. Clauson (1952), Justice Douglas reasoned: “We are a religious people whose institutions presuppose a Supreme Being .... When the state encourages religious instruction or cooperates with religious authorities by adjusting the schedule of public events to sectarian needs, it follows the best of our traditions. For it then respects the religious nature of our people and accommodates the public service to their spiritual needs. To hold that it may not would be to find in the Constitution a requirement that the government show a callous indifference to religious groups.”
Thus far, the Supreme Court has taken away prayer in public school, out of our graduation ceremonies, and even off our football fields. We cannot standby and let them deface our national motto because an atheist at a self-created “church” does not believe in God. A resounding message must reverberate across the country that our Founding Fathers looked to God when creating the greatest governing documents in history, and our nation should continue to do so today. Let us not forget the words of President Ronald Reagan, “Freedom prospers when religion is vibrant and the rule of law under God is acknowledged.”
Gina Parker
Waco TX.

Hijacked By Extremists
Stephen Chauvin's letter to the editor concerning Intelligent Design is interesting so it's a shame that no one will read much past the first line or two. For no matter how informed he is on this does not matter because his subject has been hijacked by the religious extremists - in this case the Christian extremists- to mean that God created the Earth in 6 days period. end of story. So instead of urging Mr. Pierce to "follow the evidence" he should instead be focusing his effort on the people who have distoted and molded this ideal to suit their own agenda.
Rick Amburgey
Spring, Texas

You Get What You Pay For
You guys put together something insightful with your education article. It is amazing that much of the public is not concerned about the ability of American schools to turn out the individuals needed to maintain a great society.
As a teacher, this has been a great year for me. My students recently won a state award. Parents have been involved and supportive. Administrators have been very professional. I look forward to my classes every morning and have few complaints.
The negative side of my job is the pay. My Christmas bonus from a former employer was equivalent to 50% of my total salary for my first year of teaching. Even more unfortunate is that Texas schools expect teachers to resign after three-four years (One recent study found journalism teachers resign after 2.2 years because of pressures associated with producing a yearbook). Some school districts have adopted a replacement policy that insures most teaching positions are filled with novice teachers.
At the same time there is a loud and persistent call for educational reform. Politicians, armed with antidotal stories and input from everyone except educators and the parents of public school students are leading efforts. 
Following the appearance of A Nation at Risk in 1983, a document void of scientific data that claimed American schools were falling behind other countries, politicians organized three summit meetings to improve educational standards. The incumbent president, state governors, state school superintendents and corporate leaders attended each summit. Missing were the teachers and principals directly involved in the educational process.
Politicians must place higher priority on educating young Texans. They need to take a stand on teacher pay and adopt an inclusive approach to making decisions. 
Jim Becka
Splendora, TX

Why Democrats don't have a prayer 
There are several reasons why the Democratic Party continues its spiral-down dilemma at the national and local levels and why it just can't seem to win elections against the GOP. 
Reason 1: Unbelievably Howard Dean was elected the Chairman of the Democratic National Party. This is the same Dean who, as a "top" potential Democratic Presidential Candidate in 2004, showed his unnatural ultra-liberally radical slant on almost everything the current administration is doing. He did nothing to gain urgently needed support from important sectors e.g., religious, corporate, moderates or conservatives of either party, health care, medical, and the list goes on. The concept Dr. Dean clearly cannot grasp is that you must increase the membership and support network of the Party in order to win states and/or national elections. You do that, as in any "relationship", by making mutual concessions, forging commitments and working together for common goals. Dean is one of the worst selections for DNC Chair, yet the Party voted for him. 
Reason 2: On the national level, the DNC currently has no dynamic, intelligent, multi-issue knowledgeable, viable individual slated as primary candidate for the 2008 Presidential Election. It waited too long in 2004 also! The Party had better get started now to find that person or they will lose again to the GOP. Two potential candidates come to mind: former Senator Bill Bradley (NJ) and current Governor of New Mexico Bill Richardson. Both gentlemen meet the criteria needed to win the presidency. If either is interested in the position of Vice President, a phenomenal and formidable presidential team is realized. 
Reason 3: Could someone please state the current platform of the Democratic Party? If I don't know it, I doubt most Americans know it either. The DNC needs a forceful, intelligent and creative manager to run the Party and its campaigns, from the presidential on down-the-line. Without a strong platform on the real issues, the Party remains lost again. 
Reason 4: On the state level, there are few real leaders available for the positions. State Chair-people must immediately and aggressively search-out new talent and bring them onboard. New blood drastically is needed all over. These reasons are NOT horrendously difficult to correct; however, for the past decade there has been no intelligent and aggressive Democratic leadership worthy of winning local elections, let alone to win bigger ones at the national level. 
Conclusion: Furthermore, by voting-in Dean as the Chair of the DNC, it is clear the Party has NOT learned from its many lessons, nor apparently does the Democratic Party (as a whole) know how to pull itself up out of the decade-long political quagmire in which it has almost purposely immersed itself. Yet, all that could change if the needed intelligent leadership emerges. Will it? Doesn't look like it will. 
On a positive note... there are many grassroots potential leaders coming "out of the woodwork" because it has become apparent to them and to many voters that our American society needs them. American families are hurting big-time! If more voters feel the same way at the national AND local levels, we may soon see a change for the better. If not, you may want to apply in advance for a passport and/or work visa to find a new nation of residence. 
Peter Stern,
Driftwood, TX

You Can’t Handle The Truth
If you rely solely upon mainstream media for "news," you are not getting "the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth," and sometimes you are being downright deceived. Often the real and relevant facts of a story are ignored in the beginning and only mentioned near the end...if at all.
Today's "newspapers," wire services (like Associated Press), and television networks are not real truth-seekers. Most of the "news" on local radio and television stations is based on wire service reports, many of which are simply ripped off the wire and read verbatum on the air. And much of today's reporting is biased in favor of the reporter's or the media outlet's own personal political point of view. 
Iraq was in violation of UN Resolutions for many years, and violated the terms of the agreement with the USA and its allies agreed to by Sadaam Hussein's regime when the first Gulf War was cut short, allowing Sadaam to remain in power. Sadaam was a threat to Iraq's neighbors in the Gulf region and to us, the U-S, because his regime was cooperating with the Islamic terrorists. And Sadaam slaughtered hundreds of thousands of his own Iraqi citizens. 
The "toothless" United Nations did not act. Sadaam's "friends" in Russia, France and Germany opposed any kind of action. So it was up to the responsible United States of America and our allies to take action against Sadaam's outlaw Iraq regime, and our actions were justified.
But no weapons of mass destruction (WMDs)!?! Wrong.
Among the horrific weapons verified as having been discovered in Iraq by the USA and its allies are 1.77 metric tons of enriched uranium...1,500 gallons of chemical weapons agents...over 1,000 radioactive materials in powder form, intended for dispersal over populated areas...large stockpiles of missiles...and much more.
Any of those materials could have been sold or given to Islamic terrorists by Sadaam, his sons, and/or anyone else in his corrupt government. And they could have been used on us, the people of the U-S. 
Would you as an American have preferred that tragic scenario to the Iraq War? I think not. 
The War On Terror is being fought in Iraq today. Would you rather it be fought here in the USA? Of course not. 
Our war causalties are minimal when compared to our other military conflicts of the past. Fewer Americans have been killed on the battlefield in Iraq during the past three years than die in traffic accidents here at home in the peaceful USA in one month. 
And no one should play politics with our lives, our future and/or our freedom and liberty. Some of our Senators, Representatives and other politicians need to be removed from office ASAP.
Our United States of America must be defended at all costs. It is a mission that our brave military men and women and our current duly-elected American administration clearly understand. And the Bush administration and our military forces must be enthusiastically supported by "we the people" if our great Republic and our American way of life is to survive.
I, my Army officer son, and our families and friends are very thankful that we have a President with the morality, ethics, strength, courage, determination and the will to stand up for what is right, regardless of any political repercussions by uninformed or ill-intentioned people here in the United States of America and/or around the world.
Thank God for our President, George W. Bush, and may God continue to bless the United States of America!
R. T. "Dan" Hanchey 
Ridgeland, MS

Why Not Sign Your Letter?
In regard to a letter to the editor entitled " Good Day Ms. Woode" I have a few observations. The writer seems to want to convey the idea that he is proud of his military service- listing the many benefits he and his family have received -yet this person signs the letter "name withheld". Perhaps this person is too proud to give his name but not too proud to accept the free meals and education and support that he has received throughout the years from the government.
The author berates Ms Woode for not listing her service credentials as if this diminishes her qualifications as a contributor to this paper or society in general yet this proud miliary man does not state his references either. Did he see combat? or was he an office clerk stateside? Did he earn his free education by risking his life or saving the lives of other people? Or was he a military welfare recipient living off the government teat? I know people who used and abused their military service as a way to avoid living in the "real world". 
I consider them to be no better a person than a civilian. So I take offense to the "anonymous" proud military man who takes the view that he is somehow better than people like Ms. Woode because he kept a steady job for 18 years. And wouldn't it be hilarious if Ms. Woode happened to be a decorated war veteran? I guess I happen to be one of those "citizens in our fine communities who do not believe that the U.S. Military is a fine and reputable organization" because I didn't collect a whole lot of goodies from Uncle Sam. But at least I believe in my convictions enough to sign my name.
Richard Amburgey
Spring, Texas 

Out Of Control
George W. Bush is history's greatest spending president. In his years in office, the feds have borrowed more than $1 trillion from foreign governments and banks --- more than all other administrations (from 1776 to 2000) put together. 
Of course, he did not do this alone. Kay Bailey Hutchinson and John Cornyn permitted --- indeed encouraged --- this calamity for our children. 
Through the generations, over thousands of years, each one usually left the world a little better off than it found it. Last month, the U.S. national debt passed the $8 trillion mark. 
Today, each child born in America has got his share of about $50 trillion in obligations to pay. For all practical purposes, he is born with a government electronic ankle tag on him. No other generation in history has ever done this to their progeny.
This is the Bush/Hutchinson/Cornyn legacy to our grandchildren. SHAME.
Mike Ford, 
Austin, TX

Gambling In Texas
I see the need for gambling in the state of Texas. They can go ahead and legalize it here or I can keep giving my money to Lousiana and Oklahoma they can use
it too. But as a Texan I would love to keep it here.
Let me be the one who decides where my money goes, I'm the one who works for it.
Elizabeth Bennett

Vote "No" On School Bond Issues
There are several important reasons why voters must vote a resounding "No" on any upcoming bond issues in county elections. During the past five years more state and local taxpayer dollars were wasted than ever before. Homeowners watched helplessly as their property taxes sky-rocketed as high as 400 percent; then, watched helplessly again as much of those tax dollars were dispersed to other districts under the "Robin Hood" clause. Those lost dollars caused school districts consistently to raise taxes. Several years ago the Dripping Springs ISD Board voted to eliminate a 20-percent homeowner exemption just after it voted to raise school taxes, thus being able to increase property taxes twice during a one-year period. This caused many home sales and foreclosures in the area.
Last year Hays County Commissioners Court voted a majority to pay out thousands of tax dollars in settling out of civil court with a developer, who may have had special interest ties to one or more members on the commission. What is happening in Hays County also is happening in other counties. Money is scarce and there are few legitimate options for counties to raise revenue.
Another dilemma is that during the past several years the governor and state officials have pushed more and more responsibility of providing school revenue, services and fees onto local counties. Consequently, people in local counties and other localities have been overburdened and are paying out more of their tax dollars while getting less and less in return for their expenditures.
Various counties continuously are forced to initiate a school bond package so that districts can expand to facilitate the ever-increasing population rapidly moving into older and less established communities. Other more inhabited counties are feeling similar pressure. While the problem is evident, the solution via selling bonds is NOT. If voters approve bond issues, it will ensure that their property taxes will be raised once again. At a time when home foreclosures are at the highest level ever, why would counties and districts opt to raise taxes again? The reason is that responsibility is being pushed down-the-line from the state to the county and then onto local taxpayers.
During the past decade, state legislators have "turned the other cheek" to sky-rocketing property taxes without providing urgent protection for homeowners. It is obvious that state officials have enabled the current property tax crisis and county taxes will continue to increase as long as the big tax/revenue picture continues to be swept aside. More homes will be for sale, foreclosures will occur and more people will move to some other less-taxed areas. While this reality truly may bother some lawmakers, they still are NOT resolving the real issue. Both state and local counties need to bring in more revenue without continuing to crush the middle and poor classes with increased taxation. Very few officials are focusing on improving this economic plight. Fortunately, or unfortunately, resolutions for inadequate public school financing and high property taxes are generated by the judicial branch rather than the legislative where it should originate. The truth is that legislators, headed by a lackluster governor, have been catering to the needs of their corporate and individual special interests instead of doing their jobs for the people of Texas.
So, what's a voter to do? Most voters agree to approve school bond issues because if they don't, our children and public education will suffer. In this manner, we let the state "off the hook" regarding its constitutional responsibility to provide adequate tax dollars for public education.
Voters must "bite the bullet" and say "No" to all school bond proposals and instead contact the governor and legislators to voice their discontent and disagreement with the current mode of poor or stagnant decision-making. Quite honestly, after approving bond issues for the building of new schools, many districts found that they didn't have the money to hire teachers for those new schools --- so, another bond issue emerges to raise the money for hiring new teachers. Bond issues may be endless if we don't deal with the REAL issue and get the legislature to accept its constitutional obligation.
Voters must demand REAL solutions to REAL problems. The revenue/taxation issue must be resolved without the negative "domino-effect" currently being supported by officials. United, we can make a positive change. Voting for bonds will only postpone the inevitable and will make current economic problems worse for Texas families and public education. If we don't demand positive change, this ongoing financing curse will be the legacy we leave to our children's children.
Peter Stern,
Driftwood, TX

War Of Words
I could respond to the "Bush on the Brink" article comments on corruption in the Republican ranks the way it seems to be handled over and over by conservative pundits and men on the street alike. I could run down a litany of offenses Democrats are guilty of and call it tit for tat. But, I am sick of moral relativism from both sides. Why can't it go something like this...During the Clinton years, if he lied under oath, if there were fund raising violations, etc. etc., those were wrong in and of themselves and the behavior of Republicans has ZERO relevance on that. Similarly, if DeLay laundered money, if Libby lied under oath, and if Cunningham took and inflated sales price for his home, those things are wrong and illegal and a price must be paid regardless of the Clinton year infractions. Notice I said IF guilty in both Rep. and Dem. cases. I have my opinions on guilt and innocence but those are not relevant either. Moral relativism goes round and round never freeing the mind to judge a case on its evidence. 
Incidentally the article states that 79% of Americans feel that the Scooter Libby case is important. That implies that some other percentage feels it is not important. So, more than 79% of Americans even know who Scooter Libby is???? Give me a break with that absurd statistic. Most Americans think scooter is in their garage. Only half vote for Pete's sake. 
The writer talks about the ever changing Democrat position on withdrawal from Iraq and on the initial decision to invade and suggests that this flip flopping will likely not harm them. Sadly, that is probably true. That doesn't make it right, just true and it is symptomatic of an underlying emotionalism and ignorance in parts of the voting populace. It is one thing to reverse a wrong decision, but to vacillate daily reeks of indecisiveness, a bad leadership quality, and a childish way to grab power. 
Raging that we should never have gone to Iraq is not only disingenuous from members who enthusiastically spoke out endorsing the war before it started, it is also COMPLETELY IRRELEVANT to today's actionable possibilities. Let's assume we all fall into agreement, it was wrong to go. Now what? We are still there. Do you liberals feel better? Can you go have your own "Mission Accomplished" moment now? 
Let the law handle the corruption, stop railing about why we went to war, and get back to work Washington. Though I feel we need to stay in Iraq, it is a legitimate debate to discuss when and how to end the war. This can be done with facts and future projections. Using hyperbole about liars, oil men, and an unjust war will never lead to a productive dialog on how to handle Iraq from this point forward. Meanwhile those who enjoy either making those claims, or defending against them, can call talk radio or write to the appropriate blogging sites. 
Chris Lenegar 
Magnolia

Who Wins At War?
War, there is only one way to win at the game of war and that is simply not play. There is never a winner when we play war. Its just piles of lined up bodies in flagged draped caskets or ones rotting on the side of the road. But usually most of the casualties that we hear so much about in the media are not even the players in the game, its the innocent civilians caught up in the war we created. Nameless, faceless friendly fire victims or acceptable losses. 
Who will be there champion of justice , who will be there voice, who do they turn to, the creators of this war? To the ones that brought them so much death, agony and horror. This war has not lessoned terrorism, it has helped forge it, gave it power and created more. 
Democracy can no longer be dealt with a gun in our hand and a bullet in the heads of those that do not obey. What makes this a wonderful world is its diversity, If I can wake up each day and can go all day without being offended, outraged, provoked, or angered in someway by what I hear, see or read I am not living In a free society. A free society encourages free thinking and with that comes a price, the price is choice not the dictaorship of democracy or death. 
I want to be proud of America again, before 9/11, before the, patriot act stripped away many of our freedoms. Before this administration declared acceptable torture, before preemptive strikes, before america became the most hated country in the world, before the "BIG" lie. 
It is time to speak up. let your voice be heard, sure one man cant change a thing. But thats what they are counting on our passive silence, is a sign to them that we agree, that we back what they are doing or have done. 
We have thousands of dead and injured Americans that are fighting a "Mission Accomplished" war in iraq. For what to protect our way of life? Last I seen our way of life has went straight to hell over these past 4 years. Fighting for our freedoms? Which ones. the ones that was stripped by the patriot act? To make Americans feel safer? I feel more at risk now from attacks then I did before the war. 
Can we call for a mulligan like they have in golf, if you don't like your swing you can call a mulligan and shoot it over. I say we have a "Bush" Mulligan lets just recall everything he did and give it another shot. Only if it was that easy. I feel sorry for our next president they will have a very tough job, fix the economy and stabilize our country, get an influx of new jobs into our economy, reform the tax bill, medicare, 
social security, do something about the environment and not to mention what to do about all the damage that has been done by this war, and then try to forge a lasting alliance with all the countries we have alienated. Good luck your going to need it... 
These are just my thoughts, it dont matter if you agree or disagree. Its what I think If anyone would like to discuss this im always open for free thinking people to discuss there views and you can email me. webmaster@antimedia.org  
Shawn
Conroe, Texas

Why Is A Pyramid On My Dollar Bill?
In her letter to the editor entitled: "A God-Free America?" the writer complains about atheists trying to remove God from our currency. Do people like her ever wonder why an Egyptian pyramid with eye at the peak occupies the back of our one dollar bill? Or why the Washington Monument looks like it does? Enter the word: "dollar bill and illuminati " and check out the resulting links. Then enter the words" washington monument and satan" in another search and check out the resulting links. Interesting - to say the least.
R Amburgey
Spring, Texas

Mr. Purvis Didn’t Burn Our Books
I am writing to inquire why it is that the road repairs performed in Precinct 2 are temporary rather than semi-permanent. Yes, i know that roads and road repairs cannot be made permanent, but I am left wondering what justifies shoddy work that must be re-done every six months, if not sooner.
Do you have any idea how many times the corners at Rabon Chapel and Highline have been patched? How about the number of times Mohawk Road has been recovered and patched? Or where the shoulders of the road have gone on Pine Lake Road?
When Malcolm Purvis was in office, a pothole discovered on Monday was repaired on Tuesday - And not with some cheap tar concoction that cannot withstand the weather, let alone the traffic.
And by the way Mr. Purvis didn’t try to burn or shred our library books - What that really means is Craig Doyal is so interested in the “County” but not in Precinct 2.
The residents of Montgomery County are intelligent and quite capable of supervising the reading materials available to ourselves and our children, I, for one, do not want government, in any of it’s forms, telling me what I can read.
Fix our roads and leave our library books alone.
Vicky Morris
Precinct 2

Hurricane Kay
I read in your fine paper that Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison wants to control the weather now eh?. In her letter to the editor she says : "I have introduced legislation in the U.S. Senate. If Congress passes my bill, it will start a national weather modification research effort through federal and state programs. It will focus a portion of the executive branch on weather modification by creating a Weather Modification
Subcommittee within the Office of Science and Technology Policy. It will gather outside experts on a Weather Modification Advisory and Research Board to advise the subcommittee. This board will work to promote the research and development of weather modification." 
It's a good thing that she belongs to the "less government is better" party better known as the GOP. I guess this establishes her credentials in belonging to a "party" that has created the biggest fiscal deficit in our history. After all, how will she control Mother Nature you ask? By pouring huge bundles of money into the hurricane to slow it down? Or maybe the "spin doctors" in her party can counter a tornado's rotation by insisting that it holds WMD's? Maybe with Tom DeLay's help funnel clouds can be "diverted" to another location. 
With all of the problems this country is facing this Senator wants to create another huge government burecracy? She also states : "China is "funding greatly-expanded weather modification research and operations program at $100 million per year ." So, is she suggesting that we spend -at the least- hundreds of millions of dollars per year just to keep up with the Chinese?
Imagine how that money could be spent on things we can control now such as poverty and homelessness. But maybe the Senator could be our best weapon in controlling the weather after all. Perhaps we can counter violent storms with an equally enormous "bunch of hot air" such as produced by politicians. We could call our's "Hurricane Kay”
Richard Amburgey
Spring, Texas

Christian?
"The government of the United states is not in any sense founded on the Christian religion." These words are found in the 1797 Treaty of Tripoli. We do not know who wrote the words but it is believed it was either, George Washington, John Adams or Joel Barlow, US envoy to Algiers and chaplain 
during the revolutionary war. The important thing is the treaty was ratified by congress and signed by President Adams without complaint or debate.
Our founding fathers were so intent in separation of church and state that the 
constitution does not contain the word --God. If they intended this to be a Christian 
nation why didn't they put it in the constitution? Why didn't they say this is a Christian nation in the constitution? 
This nation was founded by descendants of immigrants who had fled church states. 
England had the church of England as it's official church, some had as the official 
religion the Catholic church and others their own church states. Some of the colonies 
after coming to America for freedom from a church state created their own church state. 
Massachusetts only allowed Protestant Christians to hold office. Roman Catholics were not allowed to hold office in New York. Maryland did not allow Jews to hold office. In Delaware, officeholders had to attest to their belief in the Holy Trinity. Thanks to Thomas Jefferson and James Madison only Virginia had true religious freedom. They made sure the constitution did not mention God as they did not want the intolerance of religionists to take away religious freedom from Americans. They insisted on separation of church and state. 
It is strange that the very people who deny the separation of church and state today are the same group in the early years of our country insisted on separation of church and state. When the federal government tried to do away with Sunday mail service they objected strongly. Senator Richard Johnson, a war of 1812 hero, a general and a devout Baptist, declared that any preference to the Christian Sabbath would be unconstitutional. He reminded congress of the religious persecutions and intolerance that had caused the founders to draw a firm line--"the line can not be too strongly drawn"--between church and state.
Yes, the evangelicals insisted on separation of church and state until just a few decades ago. 
Study the 2000 years of Christian history and see how after the church took over governments how religious freedom was denied and all had to affirm allegiance to the state church. Notice the atrocities that the church state did to those they felt were a threat to their dominance. It happens 
every time there is a church state. Our founding fathers were wise enough to keep this from happening to our new country. 
I am a ordained Christian minister who like the founder of the Baptist church, Roger Williams, do not want a church state. Roger fled the Massachusetts colony as the church state there was persecuting him and his followers. When you have a church state some who agree are able to worship but the other churches and religions are persecuted. How would you like to have to pay tithes to a church you did not agree with? 
Religious Freedom can only be assured with Religious Tolerance. Yes, even tolerance of those with no religion. 
I am a Christian because I am a follower of Jesus Christ, not a follower of a church. My faith is not threatened if someone wishes me "Happy Holidays", instead of "Merry Christmas." Neither am I offended if the schools choose to call the Christmas holidays, holiday break. I am not offended if I am greeted by an employee of a store "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas." I am grateful that I live in a FREE country where all religions have the freedom to worship. I am more than glad to share the holidays with non Christians and I am willing to wish them "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas." 
Yes, the love of God inside me, includes everyone, not just Christians. I believe Jesus converted people with love not hatred. He is the Prince of Peace. He told his followers to follow peace with ALL MEN, not just Christians. My question is, is a person a Christian if he does not follow the teachings of Jesus? 
William Tally
Houston TX.

Can You Say Scapegoat? 
Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson advises me that the Department of Defense takes allegations of abuse among the its 68,000 detainees seriously. She says that, as of late last year, 71 of 187 abuse allegations investigated were found to be substantiated. She writes, "As a result, 36 courts-martial have been conducted and 115 service members punished." 
Torture has been established as U. S. government policy by the very highest level. The President is threatening to veto bills that prohibit torture. The Vice President is lobbying Congress NOT to prohibit torture. 
The Attorney General has invented an absurdly narrow definition of the word "torture" --- so the government can claim it does not torture. 
Therefore, the pertinent question (apparently not asked by Sen. Hutchinson) is: why are the enlisted personnel at the bottom who are ordered to inflict the pain being punished?
Why are PFC Lyndie England and other enlisted personnel punished, while those at the top (Cheney, Bush, Rumsfeld, Ashcroft and Gonzales) who require the torture walk free? 
Mike Ford
Austin, Texas

We Need To Control The Weather and The Universe.
A Foothold in Outer Space is Key to America's Place on Earth.
The next time you look up into a dark sky and see a moving light, do not jump to the conclusion that it is an airplane. You might be looking at the International Space Station. At present, it is bigger than a three-bedroom house, and it will be at least twice that size when completed. Since it is 230 miles above the Earth's surface and moving at over 17,000 miles an hour (orbiting about 16 times a day), you might find it difficult to believe that you can see it from your backyard without a telescope or binoculars. But the Station has giant solar panels powering it, which reflect sunlight extremely well, making it one of the brightest objects in the night sky. The Station is also a key to keeping America's future bright. 
The United States is facing increasing competition in high-tech industries. At present, just 32 percent of American undergraduates receive degrees in science or engineering compared to 59 percent of Chinese students. The advent of the internet has made it easier for people from other nations to compete with our workers. And other countries are increasing their investments in science research; China has even made significant strides in its own space program. 
In order to maintain our leadership in science and science-related businesses, we need to keep our commitment to the Space Station. In crucial ways, doing pioneering work on the frontiers of space contributes to making our scientific community the best on the planet. Dr. Richard Smalley, a brilliant Texan who won the Nobel prize for his work in nanoscience, was first inspired to take science seriously by the Soviet Union's successful launch of Sputnik in 1957 and the response of the United States: an ambitious space program of its own. After several missions to the moon, the U.S. program became less captivating; and we have since lost the interest of many students during their formative years when they are making decisions that could lead them to a career in science.
The Space Station helps the United States lead the world in science by making it the center of ground-breaking research. While the Station receives funding from 16 different countries, the United States remains at the nexus of the project. With the U.S. leading the project, we receive the lion's share of the credit for discoveries made in its laboratories. Our nation also operates as the headquarters for the scientific and engineering support work for the Station, bringing many of the world's brightest researchers to do their work here, while also adding numerous valuable jobs to our economy. With the Johnson Space Center located in Houston, Texans have seen firsthand the scientific and economic benefits of space-related discoveries.
The Station provides our scientists with a unique environment where they can conduct many experiments not possible on Earth. One planned project, led by American Nobel laureate Dr. Samuel Ting, will place a sophisticated particle detector on the Station to learn more about cosmic rays. This research must be carried out in space where researchers can collect data without the hindrance of Earth's dense atmosphere and gravity. The results could lead to breakthroughs in our fundamental understanding of matter and energy. As much as 70 percent of the universe is made up of dark matter, but at present scientists know very little about it. The planned research on cosmic rays may provide researchers with vital insights in understanding dark matter. Those insights could, in turn, develop new energy sources. Dr. Ting's research will also directly advance our knowledge of using superconducting magnet technology for propulsion and radiation shielding.
This kind of basic research in the hard sciences often leads to breakthroughs that make life better for us on Earth and fuel new industries. Individuals originally studied electricity and magnetism out of curiosity and for entertainment, often inviting an audience to watch their experiments. That work led to a vast improvement in our knowledge of the world, subsequently leading to the development of electric lighting, car engines and many other inventions we now consider necessities. 
The Station also makes possible other pioneering research. Biologists can study the growth of human cells without the influence of gravity, learning details that they would not notice on Earth. In the unique environment of outer space, scientists are able to learn more about things so basic that you may have thought they were already fully understood. By seeing how fire and water behave in outer space, they have discovered better ways of spraying water to put out a fire. They also hope that their new insights into the nature of fire may lead to the development of more efficient engines here on the ground. Finally, the Station will also act as a base for further exploration, eventually leading to an inspirational, manned trip to Mars, where the American flag will, one day, fly. Now, more than ever, is the time for the United States to continue its commitment to leading the world in outer space. Of the parts of the International Space Station funded by the United States, 97 percent have been produced; however, because of the Columbia tragedy, deployment has been delayed. People around the world are watching to see if the U.S. keeps its word and continues the work it started. In addition, many other countries are waiting to make their own contributions to the Station, increasing our return on the investment we have already made. 
As chairman of the Senate's Subcommittee on Science and Space, I am dedicated to bringing all of our hard work to fruition, while also ensuring that America maintains its leadership in space and science. Moving forward with the International Space Station plays a vital role in achieving that.
U. S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison

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