Letters from our Readers - June 2006

What Becomes of the Uninsured
I just wanted to comment on your article about "What becomes of the Uninsured". You did some great research and I appreciate most of what you reported. The main reason I am writing is because of your reference to Sound Health. I have not looked at their program but there is another "Consumer Driven Health Plan" that helps people who either want to spend their healthcare dollar wiser or cannot afford traditional Healthcare. Ameriplan Health is committed to helping people afford Healthcare with their "Discount Fee for Service" Plan that includes ALL Health issues and also helps those with on-going health problems. To cover the entire household is only $59.95 a month and it includes Physicians, Ancillary, a Hospital Advocate, Dental, Vision, Prescription and Chiropractic.
Nancy Harrison 

Make the Right Call
Example: an illegal Mexican who sneaks in here with his wife and five children.
He takes a job for five or six dollars an hour.
At that wage, with six dependents, he pays no income tax! At year’s end he files "earned income credit" of up to $3,200 free!
He qualifies for Section 8 housing and subsidized rent! He qualifies for food stamps! He gets free (no deductible, no co-pay) health care! His children get free breakfasts and lunches at school!
Bi-lingual teachers are required to teach his children English! Books and supplies are also supplied! He doesn't have to worry about car insurance! He doesn’t have to worry about life insurance! He doesn’t have to worry about Homeowner’s insurance!
He is provided with Spanish language signs, bulletins, and printed material! He cannot be fired, harassed, or sued! He and his family receive the equivalent of $20 to $30 an hour in benefits!
We, on the other hand are lucky to have $5 or $6 an hour left after paying His bills!
We also pay for the increased crime, graffiti, and trash cleanup! Sure the employer that breaks the law and hires him saves a few bucks, but look what he, and his new employee, cost us! They both need to pay, and pay dearly! 
John Sulak
Tyler, Texas

Kay's at it Again
I responded to a Kay Bailey Hutchinson column in the Villager (below). The good news is that they printed it today (5/25). The bad news is that they edited it down so much that I hardly recognized the piece! 
Let's see what you guys can do with it. 
Once again, US Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson, who should really be listed as a member of your Editorial staff, since she writes her "guest" column almost ever other week, beats the pro-Bush and pro-war in Iraq drum in her latest missive. 
Kay tells us that most Texans who responded to her recent "Listening Post" told her that "Freedom should not just be limited to the U.S". Wow. That's very profound. That sounds like something Dubya might mumble after taken five minutes to respond to a question at a presidential press conference. 
Taking the world wide freedom premise a step further, Kay forges on to tell us that most Texans told her that they support our country's effort to bring freedom to Iraq. 
Well, let's take Kay's premise of world wide freedom a step further and insist on freedom in North Korea, Iran, Saudi Arabia (That's right, not much freedom there, unless you are an American related to the Bush family!), Egypt, Uzbekistan (You remember those guys. Rumsfeld praised them for allowing us to land our planes there during the start up of the Iraq war. Only one problem. The president of that democracy boils his political opponents in oil! I guess, Rummy and Cheney can overlook that inconvenience since these bad boys are "our" bad boys! 
Let's stop the nonsense. We went to war in Iraq because it was the lowest hanging fruit and we thought we could get in and out of there in a few months. Bush and crew never considered an invasion of Iran or North Korea because those countries have real armies, unlike Saddam's rag -tag outfit. 
Instead of going into Afghanistan with our full forces and capturing Osama Ben Lauden, we hired the corrupt war lords to do the heavy lifting and then sent our troops to Iraq. The results? Osma is alive and well, the Taliban are on a comeback in Afghanistan, Iraq is a disaster and our foreign policy is in shambles. 
To hear Kay tell it, however, our foreign policy is sailing along on a firm and even keel, instead of resembling a barrel about to go over Niagara Falls! 
Jim Farrell 
Oak Ridge North 

Visiting Troops is an Inspiring Experience
Every year on Memorial Day we pause in remembrance of the men and women of the armed forces who have given their lives serving our country. This national holiday provides a reprieve from the routine of everyday life. Amid family gatherings, backyard barbecues and community events, we pay our respects to those who have paid the ultimate price in the defense of our nation.
Keeping our troops in your thoughts and prayers lifts the spirit of those in uniform, but delivering well wishes personally means much more – to you and to them. I recently had an opportunity to visit Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., and personally express my gratitude to the brave servicemen and women there. Most had been injured while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. 
When I look into the eyes of soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines who have confronted danger, I am moved by their enormous level of dedication. Observing the pride and dignity with which our military men and women wear their uniforms is a powerful experience.
As Chairman of the Senate’s Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee, I have a strong relationship with the military and I am familiar with their needs and way of life. But when I go to Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia, or a base in Texas, it is the personal conversations with young soldiers that continue to inspire me every time I hear from them firsthand what they are going through. I also swell with pride, for them and for our country, when they voluntarily proclaim their willingness to again answer our nation’s call.
On this particular visit to Walter Reed Army Medical Center, I was joined by members of the Houston Astros baseball team. The Astros were in town to play a series against the Washington Nationals, and they generously gave time to visit with and sign autographs for soldiers in the medical center. Many people look up to professional athletes, and the appearance of the Astros brightened the day for many patients. Yet, and the Astros agree with me, the true stars are those who wear a different uniform – that of the United States.
Hearing soldiers’ stories is inspirational. There is no wavering in the hearts of soldiers, and their inner strength is unmatched. When you witness this testimony firsthand, you are reminded of how minor the inconveniences of everyday life are.
At Walter Reed, I met a young solider from El Paso who recently returned from Baghdad with a serious leg injury. Having already endured numerous surgeries over the past five months, he still has more operations to come, followed by several months of rehabilitation. But his spirit is strong, and I was honored to thank him for his service to America. Another soldier in a wheel chair, who told me he was from Ohio, said his dream is to attend the University of Texas. I was delighted to learn of his interest in my alma mater.
These soldiers’ willingness to do a job that frequently places them in harm’s way in the name of protecting our nation and our way of life inspires me to do all I can in the Senate to serve their interests and provide them with the care and support they need.
Speaking with soldiers is an incredibly fulfilling experience, and one I encourage you to pursue. Our gratitude reminds them what they are fighting for, but we are the ones touched by the encounter.
Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison

Evacuating - An Emotional Trauma
An open letter to Louisiana's Governor Blanco, Commissioner Le Blanc and Senators:
Abandoning everything that you own, all you have worked for, life as you know it, all your everyday joys, that is real emotional trauma. If you live in a flood zone and a hurricane comes, all your choices are gone with the wind. It is not unlike having all your American liberties taken from you, and your very roots to the earth severed.
For many people, pets are much more than animals that live in the house. They are family; they are all the emotional support that some people have. Please don't add guilt to this devastating mix by forcing your citizens to leave their pets behind. Many will choose to die with their pets rather than make a heartbreaking choice. A pet is a lifetime commitment for the life of the animal, and animal lovers take this commitment very seriously. For these people, leaving a pet behind during a hurricane is like abandoning a child. Is this
something to be encouraged?
Abandoning an unwanted pet is not acceptable in many states, so how can a state possible make abandonment mandatory in an emergency?
Louisiana is still in America, being able to save your pet from disaster should not just be for the elite few. Please make the saving of as many lives as possible be the order of the day.
Nell Liquorman

With all this Horsepoop
“If someone is calling al Qaeda, we want to know about it.” 
Yes, sir, you bet. Alright, General Hayden, you’ve been in charge of finding out if anyone is calling al Qaeda. You’ve spent hundreds of millions, maybe billions. You’ve built a data base to see if anyone is calling anyone who calls in a pattern that an al Qaeda member would call if he were making calls. More gargantuan sums of money, time and effort. 
Line ‘em up and show us the results. Let’s have the perp walk of all the al Qaedas, all the al Qaeda caller uppers you’ve located, investigated, caught, apprehended and brought to trial! With all this horsepoop there must be a whole herd of ponies. 
Get on the stand and regale with tales of success. Of plots thwarted. Of desperate measures intercepted. Of terrorists captured or killed. 
Tell us how you’ve located Osama bin Laden. 
It’s been over four and a half years. Unlimited budget. Unlimited military might. No visible moral constraints. Tell us how you’ve tracked him down, hung him high and busted up his ring! 
Don’t tell merely that there have been no terrorists incidents since 9/11. It’s a lot tougher action to pull off since then, with every eye of every American, with all the airlines and airports and security companies, the local and state police, immigration and customs, all on alert. We don’t have to hear about all kinds of secret stuff you did to stop the next 9/11. 
Let’s not bother with that namby-pampy wimpy liberal stuff about civil rights, the constitution and no one being above the law not even you and the president you rode in on. You’re argument is you gotta do what it takes and the ends justify the means and it is security that makes us safe to enjoy whichever liberties we have left that we would like to enjoy in moderation. 
So, let’s take it on your terms. We see the horsepoop. Show us the ponies. 
Or admit that you have failed. Admit that all this effort and show and money, has bought us nought. Let us count the terrorists caught or interdicted. Let us see that it was only through your less than legal programs that we got them. 
It can’t be that your success is just too secret to share. I expect that it’s your failures that hide behind the coy veil of national security. 
Larry Beinhart

Satan ain’t Gonna Stop Evil
I just read Gina Parker's letter concerning "pork-barrel" projects and have some comments to make.
Ms.Parker rightly complains about politcians pet projects that cost the taxpayer millions of dollars that otherwise could be better spent. But she lumps "water free urinals" ,"shitake mushroom research" and a "University of Akron grant to research controlling federal spending" into the same category as a "Bridge to nowhere" in Alaska.
First, in simple mathematical terms, what did the first three grants and the bridge cost the taxpayer? The answers? $3.2 million dollars and Two Hundred Twenty-Three million ( $223,000,000) dollars respectfully. 
Secondly, what could be the possible benefits extracted from these studies? Well, water-free urinals could potentially save many hundreds of millions of gallons of water ( need I say more?), shitake mushroom research concerns disease treatment and prevention (ever heard of cancer Gina?) and if a half million dollar grant ends up discovering a way to save at least a million dollars well then that would be called a good investment (in anyone's book). The "Bridge to nowhere" would benefit 50 (fifty) Alaskans by eliminating a 7-minute ferry ride from Ketchikan to Ketchikan Airport on Gravina Island, Alaska. 
The "Bridge to nowhere" was secured by Rep. Don Young (R-AK). For anyone interested, the "R" next to Alaskan Representative Don Young stands for "REPUBLICAN". See the connection yet?
Lastly, Gina Parker invokes the image of George W. Bush "REPUBLICAN" valliantly using his "line item veto" power to slash wastefull spending from our budget. But, (pause until deafening laughter subsides) that is like giving Satan the power to stop evil- it just ain't gonna happen!
Richard Amburgey
Spring, Texas

Gambling in Texas
I think that if you want to spend your money here in texas playing 8-liners then that is your business. It is no worse than going to a fair or carnival and playing the crane machines and the quarter machines. I have walked into many gas stations and seen people playing the quarter machine it is still gambling your still trying to win. 
Sherry 

Change A Heart
As a Christian ordained minister I want to thank you for publishing the article, "AT THE CORNER OF CHURCH AND STATE" by Mark Williams. 
Mark explained very clearly the desires of our founding fathers to have separation of 
church and state. They clearly did not desire a Christian theocracy. Anyone who truly 
studies American history and our founding fathers discover that. They were too close 
to the theocracies of Europe of their day. They saw how politics corrupted Christianity 
and how the church corrupted politics. 
Study European history and you will discover how the church was involved in torture and murder. The church was responsible for wars to expand and keep it's control of states. 
They simply ignored the teaching of Jesus when he said, "MY kingdom is not of this world." They clearly believed just the opposite as the church controlled almost all of Europe. 
Truly politics corrupted the church. Many of our first European settlers came to America to escape the tyranny of the church. The pilgrims and others came so they could have freedom to worship as they pleased. There was not the freedom to do so in Europe. When they arrived here they too was just as intolerant of those who disagreed with them as those they had left behind in Europe. Our founding fathers, wisely, chose to set up a government that had separation of church and state. They knew no one has freedom unless everyone has freedom. 
To insure that, there had to be a separation of church and state. Jesus never forced anyone to believe what he believed. He ministered to those who came to him, he never forced his self on others. He taught about a God of love who created man to have free will and he never interfered with anyone's free will. He never forced his self on those who did not want to hear him. He said very emphatically, "My kingdom is not of this world." 
Following his example I do not impose myself on others. Non smokers say to smokers, " Your rights end at my nose." As a non smoker I agree with them. Non Christians say, "Your rights end at my ears." As a Christian, I honor their right and do not pray with them if they do not want to hear my prayers. In my opinion, that is the Christian thing to do. When I am at a public gathering I respect the feelings of those gathered there. If it is a gathering of Christians I will accept an offer to pray. If it is a gathering of non believers I respect their right to believe as they choose and do not force myself on them. I will gladly share my beliefs with those who are interested but not with those who make it clear they do not want to hear me. That is their God given right and I believe their right as Americans. 
I would hate to see the Christian fanatics take over the government just as I would hate to see the fanatics of any religion take over the government. To those who believe we are a Christian nation, what denomination do you feel should be the one to decide our laws? If your preferred belief gets control, what makes you believe it will remain in power? What if a denomination you strongly disagree with takes over? 
The only way our nation can remain a free country is to keep the church and state separated. Just study history and discover how true that is. If we do not learn from history, we are doomed to repeat it. Our nation was settled in part by people who left their homes to have religious freedom. The only way to keep that freedom to worship is to keep the church and state separated. We Christians should not try to force our beliefs on others. Christ taught first we must change man's hearts, then their lives will change. He did not teach we should force others to change before their hearts are changed. We Christians should be spending our time and efforts in changing men's hearts not their politics. 
Bill Talley 
Houston, Tx.

Deciphering Teddy
I have read the ramblings of Theodore Pierce in your fine newspaper for many months now. But his writings often confuse me. Then I realized that he uses his own" DaVinci Code" style of writing in his letters. I have now learned how to read what Teddy is really saying! So here is his last letter deciphered- point by point. Ted said:
1. "We need to do away with the NSA, the TSA, the CIA, the FDA, the NRA, the NSA, and bring all our soldiers home to the USA." 
Translation: If the government cannot do whatever the hell it pleases, to whomever it pleases, whenever it pleases- then what use is it?
2. "We need to stop using the term USA, it is offensive to those who are non-citizens."
Translation: If you don't play my way then I will take my ball and go home!
3. "We need to outlaw profit in American business, anything over the cost of doing business will be forwarded to the government each day and distributed to businesses that came up short."
Translation: Profit made -AT ANY COST- is the most important desire and achievement of Man.
4. " We need to provide free healthcare to the world so they will love us. It is our obligation because we are wealthy and decadent and became so on the backs of the poor."
Translation: Ted feels guilty of the fact that the richest country in the history of the Planet Earth is so selfish and greedy that it will not spare a small fraction of it's wealth to insure the health of it's own citizens (much less the rest of the people of the world). If Ted was a cowboy he would blame his herd's dying of disease on the fact that the cows should be responsible for their own healthcare.
5. "We can do this if we just stop using gasoline and strip the profits from the oil and pharmaceutical companies"
Translation: Big business (that relies on government welfare and subsidies via taxpayer money to attain it's obscene profits while passing none of the savings on to it's customers) deserves whatever they get -no matter how they get it (See also # 3 above). 
6." Once this has been accomplished global warming will cease, peace will descend over the middle-east as the smoke clears from what used to be Israel"
Translation: In a world without the above entities there is no hope and no reason to live. Man is helpless to control his own destiny. Armageddon is inevitable.
7. "When the ruins of Washington D.C. have been declared radiation free we can build a new America like our forefathers envisioned."
Translation: When the radical concepts of love and peace have finally imploded and destroyed our country, a "New World Order" based on the principles of unbridled greed, selfishness and military force will turn America into the religious/military dictatorship that it was always meant to be. 
8."Perhaps this time with real people representing us, not the empty dresses that we currently have."
Translation: Democracy just does not work. Onward Christian Soldiers!
Richard Amburgey
Spring, Texas

Why Do We Work For Fair Elections?
Even though the 284th District Court race is contested, the Sunday, June 4, 2006 Conroe Courier states on a front page headline “Wood to be sworn in as judge”. This announced appointment, by Governor Perry, 6 months before the election, the weekend of the Republican State Convention, the very week that most fall campaigns kick off, undermines the power of the Montgomery County vote. 
Over the past eight years I have been asked numerous times if I am in favor of judges being appointed rather than elected. After much thought, I have decided that judges should be elected by the people. Their election serves as a safeguard to justice. The judicial scales are then balanced, with the appointed Supreme Court and Federal benches on one side of the scale, and the elected District level and local judges on the other side of the scale, overseen by the will of the people they serve. 
Since 1998 I have worked Montgomery County elections as a clerk, as an alternate judge and as an election judge. I have worked primaries, general elections, and even a Montgomery County Hospital District election. I have spent 13 hours on a hard chair, and then when I was tired, did math – to account for every ballot and the sanctity of the election. I took vacation days from my job to work elections, I have spent sunny spring days inside, because I believe in fair and honest elections, and service to my community. 
I did not do this so one party would have a shoe-in candidate in a political race. 
Nancy McCoy is the most qualified candidate in this race. Carefully look at her and judge for yourself. Surely the local Republicans agree, else why this last minute tactic to run Wood as an incumbent? The excuse to fill the spot quickly lacks luster since it has been open since last September. 
If Montgomery County is to be a credible two party county, (a hope that even local Republicans have whispered to me), this type of behavior must stop. 
My Mother has often told me, “It is the neck that turns the head”. So who is the head of this house? I speak to Montgomery County voters. Who decides this election? You, or a few people in a private room and Governor Perry? 
Janis Allen 
Spring, Tx 

Where Is The Justice?
Normally, I refrain from writing "letters to the editors" however, this is one instance I feel compelled to do so. 
Being a Republican one would automatically think I would be delighted with the appointment of the 284th state District Court judgeship of Cara Wood. I am not.
Over eight months have passed since the position became vacant. There are only 5 months until the general election in November. Why not leave the issue to the voters? The voters have not actually spoken, only the Republican voters in the Primary. IF the actual interest of Montgomery County citizens were truly the issue, a non-partisan appointment would have been made within a month of the vacancy. Failure to have done so and then do so now, implies blatant politics at its worst.
Nancy McCoy, the opponent of the appointee has been described as "incredibly qualified" and based on the qualifications and background listed in the Conroe Courier, is more qualified and experienced than the individual being appointed.
It is my opinion Nancy McCoy's Republican opponent is being appointed on the basis of her political party only, for a position that should never be political. There is not Republican or Democrat justice. There is only Justice. 
Harriett Fabrick 

Priorities
Today I was stopped under the Loop 336 south / I-45 bridge by a Conroe Police officer. He was checking seatbelt usage in vehicles driving through that lane. I was told that even though I was wearing mine, it was worn improperly. I thanked him and drove on to my office. As I was contemplating the incident, a thought occurred to me. Why didn't he use his time more efficiently and move about 200 feet farther east and write 100+ tickets to red-light runners at the Frazier / Loop 336 south intersection.
I have seen the aftermath of numerous accidents there due to people running the red light to turn right. The visibility of drivers going south on Frazier is greatly impaired by the angle of the intersection and the railroad bridge abutment. Every time I approach that intersection, I watch one or more cars run that red light and cause panic in the loop drivers entering the area. I have often wondered why the law enforcement groups don't “sit and ticket” there instead of “click it or ticket” everywhere else.
I believe that seatbelts are important and have no gripe about the laws being enforced. What I do have a gripe about is decision of which is more important. Isn't it better to avoid the accident instead of being more concerned about the resulting issues? If the law enforcement officials don't care about reducing the accident potential, then why bother us about the equipment usage that we need because of the accident? It doesn't make sense to me. Instead of checking seatbelts, go ticket real lawbreakers that are really creating harm with their callus disregard for others safety.
When I watch someone run a red light and notice that a police officer was in view and does nothing about it, it makes me wonder why they will go out of their way to pursue a lesser problem (seatbelts) when they could have made a much bigger donation to safety by ticketing the red light runner. Instead they were probably too busy looking around to see who could be slapped on the wrist for not wearing their seatbelt properly. One red light runner is more dangerous than a thousand seatbelt lawbreakers.
How many accidents at Frazier and Loop 336 south will it take to get someone to ticket the real lawbreaking dangerous drivers? How many lives have to be lost there to get the law enforcement priorities straightened out? We have a wonderful law enforcement system in place filled with brave and honorable officers and I respect them greatly. As taxpayers, let's use them wisely to stop the accidents first and make the seatbelt issue secondary. Is it going to take someone with a video camera at that intersection to get results? Hopefully not!
Jon Miller
Conroe, TX

8 Liners
All gambling should be allowed in the State of Texas!!!!!!!! 
They keep saying the ones who don't have the money are the ones who will suffer. That's a crock!! People from Texas go to Louisiana every day of every week to gamble. We are building roads and schools for Louisiana. 
They have become a rich state off the people of Texas!!!!!!!!!! When you go to Louisiana 9 out of 10 cars are from Texas at the casinos and on the highways going to the casinos. Lawmakers of Texas need to wake up and smell the roses!!!!!!!!! Texas used to be a powerful state now we are poor and in debt. Well the time has come for strong measures and taxes aren't the answer. We are taxed to death!!!!!!!!!!!! We are adults not adolescences and how we choose our destiny is our problem not the State of Texas.
Name Withheld

Private Property Rights (Still) in Jeopardy
When the U.S. Supreme Court announced its decision last year allowing the City of New London, Connecticut, to take Suzette Kelo’s house for an office park and an upscale residential development, the public – unlike five of the Court’s justices – correctly recognized the decision as a frontal assault on private property rights. 
As a result, state legislatures around the country began looking for ways to rectify the problem. To their credit, Texas lawmakers were among the first to take action. But even they recognized their work as a stopgap measure during a special session to improve the situation until a more permanent solution could be found.
While most of the public’s attention is on school finance, legislative committees and task forces are working behind the scenes to come up with a solution to eminent domain abuse. Though now that the public outcry on this issue is waning, there may be some doubt whether there is any work left to be done. 
However, a quick look at a few cases of eminent domain reveals that the issue remains unresolved, and deserves continued scrutiny. Here are three examples.
Harry Whittington, more famous for his recent hunting encounter with Vice President Chaney, owns a city block near the Austin Convention Center. In 2001, the City of Austin decided it wanted to take his land – the problem was that it didn’t know why. Only after the condemnation process began did it come up with the idea of a convention center parking garage and chilling plant. Even so, the city convinced a court that it should be able to take the property, and proceeded to build the garage. 
However, it turns out that the city didn’t actually need the land for a parking garage – it already had a nearby garage with ample space. The city was just loathe to give up the parking revenues it received from leasing spaces in that garage to the general public. 
Mr. Whittington successfully appealed the district court’s decision, and may still obtain the return of his property – with a parking garage to boot! While this might be seen as a victory for private property rights, in all likelihood the city would have already prevailed in court if it had followed the proper procedures.
Or consider Frank Newsom, who owned property in Harris County that a developer wanted to purchase for a retention pond required for a permit for a new neighborhood development. By building the pond on Newsome’s property instead of his own, the developer could build more houses and earn more money, while the Malcomson Road Utility District would benefit from a higher tax base. Unable to convince Mr. Newsome to sell, the developer convinced the district to take Newsom’s property.
While the trial court initially found in favor of Newsom, the appeals court overturned part of the ruling and said that this taking was for a public use. While the court did leave open the possibility there might not be a public necessity for this taking, Newsom’s property and money are tide up fighting a court case which should have never begun. 
Finally, there is the case of FKM Partnership’s battle with the University of Houston. After FKM approached the university about the possibility of a partnership in a retail shopping center on FKM’s property, the university decided it wanted the property for itself. After at first claiming it needed the property to complete its obligations in creating right-of-way for Texas Highway 35, it later decided it wanted only part of the property to complete the acquisition of its east campus areas.
Again, a trial court found in favor of the property owner. And yet again, an appeals court found in favor of the local government entity, noting that there was nothing wrong with the case that the University couldn’t correct by updating its paperwork.
While all of these cases are on appeal and have yet to be finally decided, there is obviously something wrong with a legal system that allows such cases to proceed as far as these have. It is clear the Texas Legislature has much to do to protect private property owners from the overreach of local governments. 
Bill Peacock
Austin, Texas

Birch Society campaigns to secure borders
I notice the John Birch Society has concentrated their entire focus on their nationwide campaign to secure our borders and oppose ANY open borders legislation in congress, such as amnesty or “guest worker” bills, being promoted by the anti-American leaders we have been cursed with in The White House and congress. The Birch Society, I also notice, is working with The Minuteman volunteers, now protecting our borders, and through educational efforts is providing back-up public pressure on congress to stop this scandalous open borders sell-out of our Republic by our own leaders who are obviously front men for their New World Order Globalist bosses. Congressman Tom Tancredo (R-Colorado), a hero of the movement to secure our borders (and incidentally no longer welcome by the subversive White House crowd for obvious reasons), has warned that over 51 mid-east terrorist suspects have been arrested crossing our southern borders which I feel indicates the greater clear and present danger. I wish to absolutely urge ALL concerned citizens to go to The John Birch Society website at www.JBS.org  (or call: 1-800-JBS-USA-1 for free petition) and sign, download, or circulate the “Petition to Members of Congress” to secure our borders - Time is short ! 
Ed Nemechek
Landers, Ca. 

Texas Needs to Get a Grip on Gambling
Thank you for your insightful editorial regarding the gambling issue in Texas. 
You ask as to whether the lives of Texans will be truly enriched by eight-liners. 
My question is, why does there need to be justification to legalize gambling in Texas? 
Is this truly a dollars and cents issue, or a moral one? Yes, gambling can be most addictive, and the point is? It sounds to me as if the State of Texas is trying to become the moral compass of it's residents and that is NOT it's job. 
It makes absolutely no sense to this Texan that our residents are patronizing the gambling casinos in neighboring states, while our coffers suffer the consequences. 
Rita Moore

If I Were Bin Laden
"I don't know where bin Laden is. 
I have no idea and really don't care.
It's not that important. It's not our priority." 
"I am truly not that concerned about him."
- G.W. Bush, 3/13/02 (The New American, 4/8/02) 
If I had just snuck into the most powerful nation on earth and flown airplanes into buildings, I’d have a few things on my mind. First of all, what about money for future attacks? The nation I attacked is powerful enough to get my funding cut off. Also, my crime is so heinous, how will I find allies? Thirdly, war unifies a nation. What if their leader makes a sincere case that I should be stopped at any price?
Well, luckily, that leader and I enjoy the same funding source. My relatives have funded his oil projects since the 1970’s, so he won’t go digging there. And lucky for me, after my attack, he invaded a nation that had nothing to do with me, creating such anger that it now functions as my training ground. What’s more, he maintains a prison island full of people who also had nothing to do with me, except we share the same religion. I got worried in 2001 when he made that speech, “The terrorists didn’t just hijack airplanes, they hijacked the true meaning of Islam.” But these days, he doesn’t praise Muslims. He buries them. Which is why I’m more popular than ever.
According to the New York Times, I quietly slipped back into Afghanistan in early 2006. The only Americans I saw were private contractors building oil infrastructure, and a few US servicemen functioning as their private militia. No wonder Condi Rice got an oil tanker named after her. 
So I’m getting cozy and settling in. After all, President Bush said I’m no longer his concern. And I thought 9/11 number two was going to be hard. 
Joan Calloway

Immigration Thoughts
#1 Illegal aliens generally do NOT want U.S. citizenship. Americans are very vain thinking that everybody in the world wants to be a U.S. citizen. Mexicans, and other nationalities want to remain citizens of their home countries while obtaining the benefits offered by the United States such as employment, medical care, in-state tuition, government subsidized housing and free education for their offspring. Their main attraction is employment and their loyalty usually remains at home. They want benefits earned and subsidized by middle class Americans. What illegal aliens want are benefits of American residence without paying the price.
#2. There are no jobs that Americans won't do. Illegal aliens are doing jobs that Americans can't take and still support their families Illegal aliens take low wage jobs, live dozens in a single residence home, share expenses and send money to their home country. There are no jobs that Americans won't do for a decent wage. 
#3. Every person who illegally entered this nation left a home. They are NOT homeless and they are NOT Americans. Some left jobs in their home countries. They come to send money to their real home as evidenced by the more than 20 billion dollars sent out of the country each year by illegal aliens. These illegal aliens knowingly and willfully entered this nation in violation of the law and therefore assumed the risk of detection and deportation. Those who brought their alien children assumed the responsibility and risk on behalf of their children.
#4. Illegal aliens are NOT critical to the economy. Illegal aliens constitute less than 5% of the workforce. However, they reduce wages and benefits for lawful US. residents. 
#5. This is NOT an immigrant nation. There are 280 million native born Americans. While it is true that this nation was settled and founded by immigrants (legal immigrants), it is also true that there is not a nation on this planet that was not settled by immigrants at one time or another. 
#6. The United States is welcoming to legal immigrants. Illegal aliens are not immigrants by definition. The U.S. accepts more lawful immigrants every year than the rest of the world combined.
#7. There is no such thing as the "Hispanic vote". Hispanics are white, brown, black and every shade in between. Hispanics are Republicans, Democrats, Anarchists, Communists, Marxists and Independents. The so-called "Hispanic vote" is a myth Pandering to illegal aliens to get the Hispanic vote is a dead end.
#8. Mexico is NOT a friend of the United States. Since 1848 Mexicans have resented the United States. During World War I Mexico allowed German Spies to operate freely in Mexico to spy on the U.S. During World War II Mexico allowed the Axis powers to spy on the US. from Mexico. During the Cold War Mexico allowed spies hostile to the U.S. to operate freely. The attack on the Twin Towers in 2001 was cheered and applauded all across Mexico. Today Mexican school children are taught that the U.S. stole California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. If you don't believe it, check out some Mexican textbooks written for their schoolchildren.
#9. Although some illegal aliens enter this country for a better life, there are 6 billion people on this planet. At least 1 billion of those live on less than one dollar a day. If wanting a better life is a valid excuse to break the law and sneak into America, then let's allow those one billion to come to America and we'll turn the USA into a Third World nation overnight. Besides, there are 280 million native born Americans who want a better life. I'll bet Bill Gates and Donald Trump want a better life. When will the USA lifeboat be full? Since when is wanting a better life a good reason to trash another nation? 
#10. There is a labor shortage in this country. This is a lie. There are hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of American housewives, senior citizens, students, unemployed and underemployed who would gladly take jobs at a decent wage.
#11. It is racist to want secure borders. What is racist about wanting secure borders and a secure America? What is racist about not wanting people to sneak into America and steal benefits we have set aside for legal aliens, senior citizens, children and other legal residents? What is it about race that entitles people to violate our laws, steal identities, and take the American Dream without paying the price? For about four decades American politicians have refused to secure our borders and look after the welfare of middle class Americans. These politicians have been of both parties. A huge debt to American society has resulted. This debt will be satisfied and the interest will be high. There has already been riots in the streets by illegal aliens and their supporters. There will be more. You, as a politician, have a choice to offend the illegal aliens who have stolen into this country and demanded the rights afforded to U.S. citizens or to offend those of us who are stakeholders in this country. The interest will be steep either way. There will be civil unrest. There will be a reckoning. Do you have the courage to do what is right for America? Or, will you bow to the wants and needs of those who don't even have the right to remain here? There will be a reckoning. It will come in November of this year, again in 2008 and yet again in 2010. We will not allow America to be stolen by third world agitators and thieves.
Ben Wilson

Illegal Immigrants Voting?
I read in the paper that illegals might have voted in last week's elections, and oh, what an outcry. But judging from the record low turnouts at the polls, I say let 'em. Someone's got to make electoral decisions for us, since apparently, citizens don't want to. Perhaps those who've crawled through mud and dodged vigilantes to get here, will actually appreciate the privilege.
Bill Carlisle

Global Image of USA Worsening 
In a week when both the lunatic right wing press (Fox News, Washington Times, etc.), and the MSM told us that Dubya is on the rebound as a result of the death of Zarqawi, completion of the new fragile government in Iraq, and his secret trip to Iraq (I just loved the picture of Press Secretary Tony Snow and Presidential aide Don Bartlett sitting on a helicopter on its way to the green zone during Dubya's trip. They had flack jackets on , helmets that made them look like toy soldiers and a frightened expression that signaled that they had both soiled their pants!), a well respected opinion poll showed some very bad and troubling news indeed. 
It seems that the Pew Research Center conducted a poll that measured our country's popularity in countries throughout the world. The bad news was that our image has suffered even more in this past year than in the year before, thanks to our boy genius, Dubya, and his crusade in Iraq. 
For instance, in Spain, their countrymen had a 41% positive opinion of us last year. Today? 23%. 
In Turkey, the Turks went from a 23% positive opinion to 12% this year! 
In Indonesia, from 38% to 30% this year! 
These extremely low polls are troubling for many reasons not the least of which is Dubya's attempt to sway world opinion toward his diplomacy option dealing with Iran's nuclear capabilities. If our president is looked at by our friends (See above!) as an inept and bumbling leader, how will he be able to get their support for his overtures to Iran!!??!! 
I'm afraid with Dubya, things are going to get a lot worse before they get better. As an old Navy man, I suggest we baton down the hatches! 
Jim Farrell 
Oak Ridge North

A Better Place
Bill Talley made a great argument for the separation of church and state in his letter "Change A Heart" in the June 9-15 edition of The Bulletin. Those who think that religion and government should be intertwined should give a little thought to what may happen down the road. If the Muslims become the major religion in this country
at some point, how will they like to be ruled by the Koran? At the rate they are growing in numbers, this is not just a wild speculation, but a real possibility. 
But I suppose that if it is not likely to
happen in our lifetime, then we should not bother ourselves about it. Our self-
indulgence and greedy way of life just may end up being the downfall of our society. Is there no one out there who feels we should leave the world a little better place than we found it, or at the very least, not a worse place? 
Mary Kosmitis
The Woodlands, TX

A Moslem Fifth Column
I hope I am wrong but the behavior of Moslems living in non-Arab countries leads me to believe that most offer tacit support for international terrorism and an indeterminate number are more active in supporting terrorism. Since 2001, only Moslems have been involved in the most significant examples of international terrorism, including: the 9/11 Twin Towers and Pentagon attacks and home-grown Arab American terror groups subsequently arrested in the U.S., or those who participated in the Spanish commuter train, Fijian night club, and London City bombings, the daytime murder of a Dutch filmmaker, and, most recently, the 17 accused of plotting terror attacks in Canada. 
I remember watching on TV the unfettered joy of tens of thousands of Moslems in the Gaza Strip and the rest of the Arab world dancing and sharing tea and candy in the streets when they received news of the destruction of buildings and murder of 3,000 Americans on 9/11. In a recent poll, 79% of Pakistanis saw themselves as “Muslim first” and only 7% saw themselves as “Pakistanis first.” Based upon the international Arab country nationalities of Moslem terrorists in Jordan, Israel, Iraq, Lebanon, Europe, Canada, and the U.S., and elsewhere, and the financial and training support offered them by Iran and Syria for many years, I can’t help but wondering and worrying about what similar surveys of Moslems outside Pakistan might disclose. I also recall the two Arab Israeli teenage girls who were riding an Israeli bus several years ago. They were approached by an Arab man. He warned them that “something bad was about to happen.” He urged them to get off the bus. They did but warned no one of their encounter. The man was a suicide bomber and over a dozen innocent men, women and children on their way to work and school were murdered. What did all these and other Moslem-originated terrorist acts have in common? Moslems sought to indiscriminately murder non-Moslems. 
Why do I use the term “murder” instead of “killing”? My Webster’s New Universal Unabridged Dictionary (2003) defines murder as “to kill or slaughter inhumanly or barbarously.” 9/11 and the Madrid train bombings were examples of slaughter; sawing or chopping off heads of American and other civilian and military captives with rusty saws and swords or other forms of physical torture is considered barbarous to most Westerners. 
What accounts for this “Moslem first” mentality? Even to a casual reader of the Koran, it is striking how strongly Islam emphasizes the differences between the “believer” and the “infidel.” From the 7th century on, elaborate legal and social codes of behavior were devised to emphasize the superiority of Islam in every encounter between Muslim and non-Muslim. For instance, before the automobile, a non-Muslim could never be higher than a Muslim. So a non-Muslim rider on a horse approaching a Muslim on foot would have to first dismount before greeting the Muslim. Equally important, the duty of Jihad was impressed on Muslims whenever Islamic control was threatened. 
Before we focus on preventing illegal Hispanic émigrés into the U.S. we might be well advised to immediately take a closer look at what appears to be a large and growing Moslem Fifth Column in the U.S. and other first world countries and, indeed, throughout the non-Arab world. The need for prompt action is underscored by a recent BBC docudrama of a handful of Arab males who plan and execute a successful but thankfully fictional dirty atomic bomb attack on London. In this fictionalized account, an Arab woman informs the police of her suspicions about some of her newly arrived Arab neighbors. Scotland Yard is able to stop one explosion but not a second. An Arab British police translator reminds her non-Arab British superior that it is only a “small minority” that was responsible for this bombing. Unfortunately, it only took a half dozen or so terrorists to construct a weapons of mass destruction, and only two members of this terror group then used a rental van to set off one dirty bomb in downtown London. In the movie, thousands died or were injured. 
Notwithstanding local Moslem group protestations of loyalty to the U.S., I am still awaiting proof of that self-proclaimed allegiance—namely, the name of even one Moslem American who has voluntarily come forward with information leading to the arrest and conviction of even one terrorist in the first world without being bribed with reward money or threatened with legal action by the FBI or other authorities. Indeed, it was Moslem America’s silence that may have helped the 9/11 attacks to succeed in murdering 2,986 Americans. It was the silence of Fiji’s Moslem population that may have allowed the murder of 180, mainly tourists, in a Bali nightclub. It was the silent acquiescence of Spanish Moslems that may have contributed to the deaths of 191 Spaniards. 
Given the absence of any warning about actual terror attacks in the past by a close-knit Moslem Arab community of expatriates worldwide who seem to overlook terrorist activities for the sake of “intrafaith” solidarity and the nearly uniform hatred espoused against non-believers and the West by Arab leaders, in Arab classrooms, and the Arab media, one must wonder as to whether the fictional BBC movie “warning” reflects the true beliefs and actual behavior of Moslems. If not, something must be done and soon with Arab terror-supporting “rogue” states such as Iran, which may be seeking to develop nuclear weapons and already has short- and intermediate-range missiles that can reach Europe and is now developing an intercontinental missile that could reach the U.S., or an impoverished North Korea that would likely sell Moslem or other terrorists nuclear weapons or delivery systems.
A Moslem Fifth Column in the U.S., Canada and Europe might prove as dangerous as any Arab county’s control of American or other first world ports for the illegal entry and detonation of a dirty radioactive bomb or other nuclear, biological or chemical weapon of mass destruction in a first world city or other target. 
Michael Berns
Kissimmee, FL

The Truth
Great Story on Jay Ross Martin and the truth about downtown. While most media outlets were concentrating on brother fighting brother and skipping over the real story. The Bulletin was the only paper to spend the time and effort it takes to dig into a story and tell it. Thanks, and keep up the great work.
Name Withheld

Crime Linked to Lack of Community Life
Recent reports from the FBI indicate that rates of violent crime are once again on the rise. Experts point to the proliferation of gangs in medium sized cities as well as an increase in released prisoners as the most likely causes for this return to the violence levels of the 1990s. However, those are just symptoms of the overall problem.
The main cause of America's increase in crime is a lack of community life brought on by the isolation and alienation of suburban sprawl -- and the urban blight it creates. Talk to any beat cop and they will tell you that a lack of community interaction leads directly to an increase in crime. 
Regrettably, by ignoring the connection between the fragmentation of the physical landscape and its impact on society, we have missed the connection between sprawl's emergence and the overall breakdown in our society. Starting in 1945, when sprawl became government policy, our rates of violence began to increase dramatically. America now has the highest crime rates per capita, by a huge margin, of any first-world nation. 
England, generally considered the most violent European nation, has a population close to 60 million. The population in the United States is approximately 280 million. America had 102,560 rapes per year on average in the 1990s, while England's number was only 3,391. If those numbers are equaled out based on population, England's total would be multiplied by five. Despite this proportional increase there would still only be 16,955 rapes per year in England. Not even close to America's 102,560! (see Figure 1)
Figure 1. Comparison of Rape Rates by Country
The same is true for murder rates. In 1990s there were 23,440 homicides per year on average in the U.S., while in England there were only 669. Multiply that number by five and there still would only be 3,345 murders in England. Much less than America's total of 23,400 (see Figure 2). 
Figure 2. Comparison of Murder Rates by Country
These statistics make it very clear that the United States, by any calculation, and by a wide margin, is the most violent country in the developed world. 
What is causing this?
Other first-world nations have violent movies, television shows, and video games. They have pornography, drug users, prostitution, poverty, and racial disharmony. They have working parents, low church attendance, high divorce rates, and latch key kids. If you go down a checklist and compare the reasons “experts” have given for the breakdown in U.S. society, you will find that the same issues exist in Europe. However, those societies have not fallen apart as ours has. 
The one aspect of life in America that does not exist to the same extent or degree in Europe is suburban sprawl. Sprawl has eliminated our communities, without which our society is disintegrating. To better illustrate this, let's track America's increase in violence side by side with the emergence of sprawl.
Sprawl started in 1945 and was firmly in place by the 1960s. As a result, the aggravated-assault rate skyrocketed from 60 per 100,000 in 1957 to 200 per 100,000 in 1965, then erupted to over 440 per 100,000 by the middle of 1990s. This is an increase of over 700 percent. As sprawl emerged, violence increased ... dramatically. (see Figure 3).
Figure 3. Assault Rate per 100,000 People
But, you may be asking, how does community play a role in this increase? 
FBI agent John Douglas has spent over twenty years tracking and studying violent offenders, and he asserts that more than any other factor, children predisposed towards violence need responsible adult role models to be able to develop into well-adjusted individuals. Douglas and many other criminologists and psychologists indicate that healthy interactions with adult members of society are the key to helping dissuade budding violent offenders from their predatory impulses.
Regrettably, suburban sprawl has eliminated the places where children can spend time with responsible, caring adults. Without the adult supervision that was so common when we lived in small town or main street communities, many American children are left to their own devices, allowing those who are predisposed toward violent behavior to fall through the cracks in society, offering an opportunity for their “bad seed” to germinate and grow. 
Before sprawl existed, children could depend on the whole community to be there for support, guidance, and direction in the absence of a healthy parental figure. By simply being a part of a genuine community it would be much less likely for disturbed members of society to reach a point where their distorted fantasies take over their actions. This is what happens in other first-world nations, and this was the case in America until sprawl eliminated our communities.
Sprawl's connection to violence may seem tenuous to some, but statistics and common sense clearly show a link. Cause and effect may be difficult to prove in a court of law or to replicate in a double-blind scientific study. However, as the foundation upon which our society has been built, sprawl is clearly involved in what ails our nation. 
We need to stop blaming the symptoms, and start looking at the problem itself: the lack of communities caused by suburban sprawl. Only then can we get a handle on the epidemic of violence confronting our nation.
Douglas E Morris
Washington DC

A Cornucopia Of Thoughts
Reading the letters to the editor in the recent Bulletin made me wonder where we get our notions these days as Americans. 
There was Joan Calloways rambling letter. If I can follow it I think she suggests: 
A. Bush made no attempt to cut terrorist funding. 
b. Bush has no interest in finding Bin Laden 
c. Bush is personally growing exceedingly rich (or has done so) from Bin Laden family dollars, so will look the other way. 
Honestly, it is perfectly fine to disagree with the war, to have various views on terrorism and how to combat it, and to support a president or not, but when I read these conspiracy theories about oil, oil money, Haliburton, etc. and try to digest the notion that a world leader is yanking his country around simply for his own fancy and because of financial connections, I feel the urge to get a water sample from Ms. Calloway's municipal system. It doesn't even merit a response, but did she not read about all the funding we shut down and money we froze? Indeed it would be impossible to address this letter's claim rationally. 
Jim Farrell worries about the image the U.S. has abroad. Just to first nibble on the edges, I wonder what our approval was in the Arab world in say 1998. Its never been that great. But it is true it has dropped. There is a certain amount of negativity that will always be present when you are perceived to be the leader, regardless the politics of your leader, that is indisputable. Also, it would be interesting to know the approval rating of say, France, or Germany, or Canada in the rest of the world. Likely Canada has a higher one, and yet still entertained 17 terrorists. Would Mr. Farrell assert that we mandate Islam and become a Muslim nation? That is the ONLY way we will significantly improve our Arab approval rating. 
As for the rest, the downside to being perceived badly by Europeans or others is how it impacts our ability to engage them as allies. But remember, even as we grow further apart for many reasons from our traditional allies, should we be struck by a horrific attack here, we would have no difficulty whatsoever in putting together a coalition and sorting it out. The conundrum and fundamental difference here is easy to define. If like most people we can agree that terrorists indeed persist in scheming and plotting additional attacks on the west, we likely have little disagreement on how that may or may not be dealt with AFTER it happens. Where we part ways is that we seem to (right or wrong) believe in trying to act now (correctly or incorrectly) and not wait until after the fact. I simply cannot imagine a prevailing attitude that, knowing for example your family will be attacked, you wait to get your neighbors in full agreement before you make an attempt to prevent it. They are going to complain as you install huge lights, burglar bars, purchase weapons, etc. They may have the city council rule that you can't operate those big lights at night, it bothers everyone else. They take umbrage at the fact that you may steer clear of businesses owned by people of the country or But once you are attacked and a couple of kids are dead, strangely the entire freaking neighborhood loads up the shotguns and dogs in the pick up truck and try to find the bad guys. 
Too bad the two children are dead though.
Name Withheld

Good Samaritan
At a time when the radical right wing Evangelical Christians are down on "Good Samaritans" that give food and water to illegal immigrants found in the dessert close to death, it's heartening to know that I came across a "Good Samaritan" right here in our neighborhood. 
My daughter had taken her car for gas a few days ago and the darn thing wouldn't start. The gas station was close to our home so I went down to assist her. I consider myself just a "shade tree" mechanic but I was sure I could help. 
Well, I couldn't get the vehicle started after trying many and various methods. That's when the "Good Samaritan" showed up! Out of the blue, Raul Lira, the owner of a small tire shop in Oak Ridge, approached me and asked what the problem was? He tinkered with it and said he had to go to Sugarland but would return in a few hours and have it running. 
We got the car out of the way of the pumps and, sure enough, Mr. Lira came back, had the car towed to a shop of a friend and had the car working as if it were new! My charge, just the cost of the tow (I have a tow insurance policy!). 
At a time when many of us loss faith in human nature for various reasons, a Raul Lira comes along. Just as the bible taught us, the Good Samaritan assists not because he is like us in every way, but emulates the Lord in his heart. 
Thanks, again, Raul! 
Jim Farrell 
Oak Ridge North

Don’t Let the Door Hit You on the Way Out
Dan Rather leaves, and the profession he helped elevate chases him out with Enquirer-worthy snipes. What were the headlines yesterday? "Rather Departs Under Cloud of Scandal," "Dan Rather Finally Quits Having Stayed Too Long." I think journalists have forgotten that before Rather and his generation, the media was a propaganda branch of government, a ventriloquist at the service of the party in power. Rather and his cohorts made journalism a force to be reckoned with. They actually told people things that mattered. They were arrogant, even haughty, because the government they went after had shamelessly abused power (kinda like today), and in order to take on those challenges, you have to be rather fat in the head. You certainly can't accuse the press today of being fat in the head. I'd say submissive would be an apt description. 
And perhaps that's the reason for all the nasty remarks as Rather fades. Today, radio, TV news and print journalism exist as a Bush Administration mouthpiece. Now that the last giant of the profession has departed, the media can get back to sniveling for a seat at the table. 
Charles Sumnerian

Its Not One-Sided
After reading Mr. Amburgey's post on Satan ain't gonna stop evil, I have a few things to say. Yes, the "Bridge to nowhere" was a bad idea on Mr. Youngs part, but all Congressmen/women as well as Senators do the samething when it comes to re-election time. "Pork Barrelling" and "Case Working" are some of the ways these people stay in office. It is not just Republicans who are doing this! Democrats are also guilty of doing the same thing so they can stay in office. 
Now, on to the line-item veto. A line item-veto is the authority of the chief executive to delete part of a bill passed by the legislature that involves taxing and/or spending. Here is the kicker though, the legislature may override a veto, usually with a two-thirds majority vote of each chamber. President
George W. Bush has other ways of not passing a bill. He can 
A) Veto it, as everyone knows
B) Pocket Veto it
For those who do not know what a pocket veto is, it is when the President takes a proposed bill in The House and neither signs it nor veto's it. He simply pockets
it. If the House adjourns ten days the president has to consider the bill, it is then vetoed otherwise it is passed if they are still in session. After this, if it is vetoed by Congress adjourning, it is then up for
the House to overrule the pocket veto. So for saying that Satan ain't gonna stop evil, well there are other people and ways for them to stop evil then.
Josh Ryan
The Woodlands

State Your Name or Shut the Hell Up
C'mon editor, if a contributor won't sign their name to a letter then don't give them the space to spread an idea that they themselves don't believe in. Case in point: "A Cornucopia Of Thoughts" from last issue. I'm tired of wasting my time reading a letter only to find out that the author is a coward and unwilling to identify themselves. There is a medium for these people- it is called the republican party. Let them spew anonymously there. I stand behind my views so much that I am signing this one twice.
Richard C Amburgey
Richard C Amburgey
Spring, Texas

Global Warming
Our national security has never been more fragile. Terrorists aside, the most important, imminent threat facing our country is the impact of global warming. Thursday's announcement by the National Academy of Sciences that the planet is the hottest that it's been in at least 2,000 years further supports almost every credible scientific research study ever conducted--that global warming is here, and we are all at risk. 
While some naysayers have tried to cast doubt on the global warming pandemic, it is clear that their motivation comes from pressure by the oil and gas industry, not actual science. And while the current administration and politicians of Rep. Joe Barton maintain that the global warming threat is not severe enough to warrant stronger pollution controls, despite all the evidence to the contrary, we now know that changes to combat global warming are vital for the planet's survival. 
Understandably, some are reluctant to address this crisis for fear that our economy or livelihoods might be hurt. However, Al Gore makes the excellent point that with great progress, there is great opportunity for growth and industry. 
For example, companies that are heavily investing in more efficient cars are actually seeing far more profits than some of those companies still stuck in their old ways of doing business. Ultimately, with countless deaths linked to global warming, what choice to we have? 
Responsible Americans have had enough of the right-wing propaganda machine. We know that our country contributes up to 1/3 of carbon dioxide emissions--and this threatens us all. As the world's global superpower, our leadership on the issue of global warming is crucial. The global warming disaster is one that we all need to face--right now--and there are simple steps that each person can take: www.climatecrisis.net 
Ken Seifert
Arlington, VA

“Iraqis Rescue Hostages; 5 U.S. Troops Die”
America: What’s wrong with this picture? 
I was reading an article the other day and the first paragraph was about 17 Iraqis being saved and then it said 5 U.S. soldiers who died. The political factor of this war has gotten sickening. The politicians are so busy trying to cram good news about Iraq down our throats that to them our soldiers
being killed is just a footnote. Every time one of our soldiers loses his or her life over there it should be front and center not to follow behind some Iraqis being saved. I am an American and the lost of 5 U.S. lives
are more important to me than the saving of 17 or even 1700 Iraqi lives. General Casey and Sec. Rumsfeld was so busy bragging about the Iraqi Soldiers and policemen that getting them to talk about our soldiers still dying was like pulling teeth. 
It’s a shame that all of this new focus on Iraq’s progress is about politics and power. The GOP has found out that the mid term elections are going to be about Iraq so their strategy is “the best defense is offense”. So they justify the Iraq war as being part of the war on terror and say” if you are against the Iraq war then you are weak on terror”. GOP chairman Mehlman was being interviewed about Iraq and very often he would 
through 9/11 in his sentence. Dick Cheney was also being interviewed about Iraq and he answered just about each question with 
something about 9/11, “because of 9/11”, ”since 9/11”, ”due to 9/11”. 
Everyone knows Sadam and Iraq had absolutely nothing to do with 9/11 but once again the GOP will try and use 9/11 as a silver bullet against the Democrats like they did in 2002 and 2004 but I don’t know if the American people this time will fall for the same old soup warmed over for the third time. 
I say to the politicians “let’s cut the crap and stop using U.S. lives as a tool to
gain or retain political power”.
Kyle Palmer
Willis, Texas 

Good Old Tricky Ricky
Those who can, curb expenditures --- those who can't, support line item veto 
The Governor of Texas, Rick Perry, should keep his snout in his own backyard where it belongs and NOT in national affairs. 
Said Perry, “Line item veto authority is an important taxpayer protection, whether you are talking about the federal budget or state budget,” Perry said. “The line-item veto is a critical tool in eliminating wasteful spending – especially when an entire spending bill doesn’t merit a full veto.” 
Question: Who protects Texas taxpayers from the governor? 
Perry has been the most wasteful governor in the history of the glorious state of Texas. During the past five years of his rule, Perry called for and wasted regular and special sessions instead of doing what is best for the majority of hardworking Texans. Each session cost $2 million! Texans have NOTHING to show for those expenditures but excess fluff, smoke and mirrors. 
So, what is the governor doing urging Congress to grant the President of the U.S. line-item veto authority? "Dollars to donuts" if "Tricky" Rick Perry wants something it ISN'T in the best interests of hardworking Americans or Texans. You can bet it's for his own wealthy special interest campaign contributors. 
Perry is second only to President Bush in outrageous expenditures. We are spending $30 billion of American taxpayer money on the wars and "restoration" in Iraq and Afghanistan. Bush pleaded with Congress to approve those dollars and he got what he asked for. Evidently, a line item veto isn't going to curb very well those in ultimate control. It just enables them to buy whatever they themselves want. 
If Bush, Perry and others like them are so concerned about frivolous expenditures then because they themselves are the worst offenders, they each need to take a university course in Economics 101A, "How to Manage Your Budget" and then apply it practically in their jobs. 
What's next? Perry will try to get a line item veto for himself in Texas. That should work very well considering how Texas hasn't a REAL governor with intelligence, common-sense and moral decency. 
Better yet, let Bush and Perry step down from their positions and let someone else who isn't special interest oriented do their respective jobs properly, the way voters expected them to do. Maybe then we can save some taxpayer dollars? 
Peter Stern
Driftwood, TX 

Kill Them All
The horrific torture of those two young U-S servicemen found near Youssifiyah in Iraq could not have been carried out without the awareness, direct knowledge, tolerance and/or outright cooperation of the community in which those atrocious acts were committed. I'm sure everyone in that area could hear those U-S soldiers screaming. 
It is past time that all citizens of the world realize and acknowledge that civilian casualties are not only necessary collateral damage in any war but much deserved in the battle with militant Islam.
If I were in charge of our troops in the area of that barbaric butchery, I would order that whole area leveled, destroying every man, woman, boy and girl...much like Joshua at Jehrico in holy scripture or the atomic bombs at Hiroshima and Nagasaki. 
Regretfully, Americans no longert seem to have what it takes to defeat such a barbaric and evil enemy. Unless attitudes in the USA change, we will eventually lose this war of survival, losing our freedom and liberty. 
R. T. "Dan" Hanchey
Ridgeland, MS

Guns & American Sovereignty
Acclaimed actor James Earl Jones summarized it best when he said, "The world is filled with violence. Because criminals carry guns, we decent law-abiding citizens should also have guns. Otherwise they will win and the decent people will lose." 
Although this concept seems quite clear to most Americans, the United Nations has failed to grasp its obviousness and is quickly moving towards a global gun ban. 
As Wayne LaPierre, Executive Vice President of the National Rifle Association (NRA) stated, "This fight is about more than firearms ownership. This is a fight for our national sovereignty, our individual freedoms and the future of our nation."
Leading the unprecedented movement to ban guns throughout the world is the International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA). It's director, Rebecca Peters has not only claimed women should not be allowed to have guns to protect themselves against violent attacks, but she has also said, "I think that eventually Americans will realize that their obsession with arming themselves in fear, in a paranoid belief that they're going to be able to stave off the ills of the world through owning guns, through turning every house into an arsenal, eventually Americans will go away from that." 
It should not be up to the communist country of Cuba, the terrorist-sponsoring nation Libya, or the Sudan, which is the only country in the world that still allows slavery, to decide whether or not Americans have the right to bear arms. This summer, right here in the United States, these nations, along with others who not only harbor terrorists, but decry American freedoms, will be drafting the "Treaty on Small Arms" in New York. 
Adolf Hitler once warned his fellow fascists, "The most foolish mistake we could possibly make would be to allow the subject races to possess arms. History shows that all conquerors who have allowed their subject races to carry arms have prepared their own downfall by doing so."
But in America, our Founders already knew this, and yet they had the confidence that the power of freedom and self-government would lead to a better, stronger society than pure force could ever accomplish. James Madison noted this in the Federalist, No. 46: "[The Constitution preserves] the advantage of being armed which Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation [where] the governments are afraid to trust the people with arms." 
This is still true today considering the majority of the 100 nations supporting the U.N. gun ban have nothing comparable to the Bill of Rights – they do not support freedom, they do not support self-government, and cannot comprehend the liberties our troops protect every day in America. 
"We the People" must stop the U.N. gun ban, and I would encourage you to join me by supporting the NRA's "Shot Heard 'Round the World on the 4 th of July." For more information please visit http://www.stopungunban.org/  , and as the NRA states, "If millions of gun owners speak with on thundering voice of outrage, we'll stop the global gun ban treaty before it destroys our firearm freedoms." 
Gina Parker
Waco, Texas

Editor's Note: We encourage you to send in your Letters to the Editor, but please remember to give your name and town. `Anonymous' letters will no longer be accepted. Direct confidential questions by calling (936)539-2200 or e-mail editor@thebulletin.com.

LETTERS FROM MAY 2006

LETTERS FROM APRIL 2006

LETTERS FROM MARCH 2006

LETTERS FROM FEBRUARY 2006

LETTERS FROM JANUARY 2006

LETTERS FROM DECEMBER 2005

LETTERS FROM NOVEMBER 2005

LETTERS FROM OCTOBER 2005

LETTERS FROM SEPTEMBER 2005

LETTERS FROM AUGUST 2005

LETTERS FROM JULY 2005

LETTERS FROM JUNE 2005

LETTERS FROM MAY 2005

LETTERS FROM APRIL 2005

LETTERS FROM MARCH 2005

LETTERS FROM FEBRUARY 2005

LETTERS FROM JANUARY 2005

LETTERS FROM DECEMBER 2004

LETTERS FROM NOVEMBER 2004

LETTERS FROM OCTOBER 2004

LETTERS FROM SEPTEMBER 2004

LETTERS FROM AUGUST 2004

LETTERS FROM JULY 2004

LETTERS FROM JUNE 2004

LETTERS FROM MAY 2004

LETTERS FROM APRIL 2004

LETTERS FROM MARCH 2004

LETTERS FROM FEBRUARY 2004

LETTERS FROM JANUARY 2004