Letters from our Readers - May 2005

Poetry Slam Article 
Hello, let me start by saying that poetry or any form of self expression I appreciate, in its various forms. But from what I have witness from most poetry slams is better to be known as shock poetry, its entire purpose follows along the same lines of such people like howard stern using shock DJ type of hype. And each poet involved in poetry slam has very little to do with enlightment of self expression. All it really boils down to, is who can better shock the audences with there lude vulgarity, disturbing mental pictures put to words. Yes it is still poetry but without the standard contrast to there type of poetry its little more then a rant, of death and vulgarity. I feel poetry slam could be so much more then what it is in its current state. It creates a facade of what upcoming poets may precieve of what poetry is or where its going. That poetry of love and enlightment has no room in todays world of poetry. You have no ability to compete in todays poetry unless you sink into vulgarity and destruction. 
This is just my take on previous poetry slams, maybe if they would take the same time composing something of enlightment rather then seeing what they can manufacture to shock the audence. They may have something that would be remembered and lasting. 
Here is a poem me and my wife composed, you would never see anything like this on poetry slam. 
Our colors don't run, but our tears do 
For our men and women in combat, 
and the innocent Iraqis too 
We have gone against the UN 
War was never declared 
Now our men, women and Allies 
Are fighting from land, sea and air 
Are we liberating the Iraqies 
From the terrisot leader Saddam Hussien 
Or taking over the oil fields For americas gain 
The big city is burning, 
The oil fields on fire 
Casualties on both sides, 
The outcome to be drastactly dire 
We sit and watch CNN 
Listening to what we are being told 
Wandering how much is being held back 
What the Military does not want us to know 
Our National Guards are securing areas 
Are all three to blame, for the terriost attacks on US? 
Bush, Ben Ladin and Saddam Hussien 
We stopped Iraq from taking, 
The country and it's oil from Kuwait 
Yet we are doing the same thing, and calling it a Crusade 
Under the stripes of old glory, lies a nation that is ashamed 
After this war is over america will never be the same 
Our colors don't run, but our tears do 
For our men and women in combat, 
and the innocent Iraqis too 
Shawn Brockup and Mary McPherson

Fallacious Statistics Give Fallacious Impressions 
According to the Commerce Department, Factory-goods orders went up 0.1%. “Hey!” you say, “things must be going alright.” And … you would be wrong. You have just witnessed what happens when people are given fallacious statistics. Specifically, fallacious statistics give fallacious impressions. 
Looking closer at the numbers is appropriate. The fact is that factory orders consist of durable and non-durable orders. Durable orders actually went down. Truth be told, most non-durable categories also went down. Want to know what went up? Oil went up. 
Now. What does “oil went up” mean? Does that mean that we made more oil? Nope. It means the price of oil went up. You see, factory orders are calculated based on price not quantity. Thus… what we have here is a clear indication that oil inflation is affecting the economy. 
“But wait,” you say. “If that's true how come everybody keeps insisting on excluding oil from inflation numbers.” The answer is quite simple. If you don't exclude oil from inflation numbers, you would be forced to admit that we have a problem with inflation. Something that no one wants to do. 
If you admit that there is a problem with inflation then interest rates have to go up. Why? Because if the U.S. Government is going to continue attracting foreign investors to buy our IOU's (both budget and trade deficit) they have to be compensated for the risk associated with the value of the dollar going down. 
“But wait,” you say. “If interest rates go up, how am I going to be able to afford the nice new house I bought with an Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM)? The answer, of course, is you may not be able to. 
This concept of fallacious statistics applies to GDP as well. Americans aren't making more goods and services. Americans are simply paying more for good and services. You see … GDP is also based on prices and not discreet quantities (increments) of goods and services. 
Whoa Nelly! What the heck does all this mean? 
This is an explanation of why we seemingly have so much contradiction today in the economy. Here are a few examples: 
The Fed raises interest rates. Thirty-year fixed mortgages goes down. Name me one economist 10 years ago who would stand up in public and make that prediction. 
Inflation statistics go up, and the value of the dollar goes up. 
Consumer spending goes up. Consumer income goes down. The stock market goes up. Huh? 
The problem is that we currently have such large imbalances in today's markets that conventional wisdom isn't doing very well. A secondary factor is that free markets are not free. The Federal Reserve is actively manipulating the credit markets. And, as a result of this manipulation, for example, it is also manipulating the currency market and the housing market. This manipulation is, in all actuality, pervasive in today's American economy. 
The net result is a huge amount of uncertainty. People, and more specifically investors, don't like uncertainty. Watch out for the stampede when the herd of lemmings changes course in the face of fear or for a butterfly flapping his wings in Japan. 
Last one out is a rotten egg! 
Angie Pratt
http://www.politicalposts.com 

Week of Thanks
Following a record-breaking fund-raising campaign that raised $2.95 million, Montgomery County United Way volunteers and staff will host a “Week of Thanks” in May to show appreciation to local residents and businesses for their contributions. 
During the Week of Thanks, beginning May 9, staff and volunteers will fan out across the county visiting area businesses and organizations; send out letters and post cards of appreciation; and publish “thank you” advertisements in local publications. 
“I’m very excited and proud to have exceeded our campaign goal this year,” said Dr. Tom Butler of Montgomery College, who served as chair of the 2004 campaign. “Of course the key to our success was the hard work of the volunteers who served on my campaign cabinet and the various individual campaigns, the support of the amazing MCUW staff, and the teamwork that comes from having a unified purpose. That, coupled with the generous spirit of our businesses and community, resulted in a successful campaign.”
Joan Simek, MCUW director of fund development, also attributes the success of the campaign to the generosity of area residents. “We all know Montgomery County is one of the fastest growing counties in Texas, but what some may not know is the type of people moving into our community. They are kind, caring and compassionate people – people committed to what matters,” explained Simek.
“We sincerely thank the community for their generous support,” she said, adding that she wished she could shake the hand of everyone who participated in the campaign.
Support for the fundraising effort came from many sectors, including employees from corporations, local government, retailers, and others. Dianne Bass, who led the County employee’s campaign, said that many County employees have made it a habit over the past few years to contribute to United Way through payroll deduction. 
“Luckily, some have served in United Way leadership roles and have educated others about the difference their contributions make to residents of Montgomery County through the services provided by agencies that make up United Way,” Bass explained. “It takes money to provide those services. Most county employees can look around and see others who are not as fortunate as they are. Giving even a few dollars each pay check isn't all that painful and really does make a difference." 
Employees of the non-profit sector also contributed generously to the campaign. The non-profit sector was chaired by Nancy Harrington, who serves as the executive director of the Montgomery County Women’s Center. Harrington says that this year, the campaign had support of some of the smaller non-profits that had not run campaigns in the past.
“I really tried to impress on everyone how important our commitment is in encouraging the private sector - I believe that when they see how hard the agencies worked, and how much they contributed, it helped them impress on their employees the importance of these funds.” 
Jill Vaughan, who chaired the campaign’s commercial division, says she is always amazed by the generosity of the community. “The success of the campaign is reflective of the giving community we have here in Montgomery County.”
Butler says that throughout the course of the campaign, the committee’s motivation “came from knowing that the funds we were raising could really make a difference in our community. I guess that’s what really matters.” 
In May, volunteers on the MCUW fund distribution committee will meet to determine how the money from the campaign should be distributed. Their recommendations will then go to the Board of Directors for approval. Last year, $1.92 million in funding was given to sixty-two area health and human service programs. 
More information about the annual MCUW fund-raising campaign and the programs it supports is available by calling Montgomery County United Way at (281) 292-4155.
Teri Woo
Montgomery County United Way

Crawfish Article 
I wish we could get this kind of complete coverage on the bands and not the controversies of an event in the Houston papers. 
It seems the Houston papers are so enamored by bands from Minnesota and Washington state they forget there are really good bands here in Houston that people would rather hear about. 
Leslie T 

An Open Letter to Tom DeLay
Dear Tom,
I never thought I would be writing a letter like this, but then I guess you never thought that you would have to send a 2,540-word e-mail to supporters to present your side of a spiraling ethics problems. And upon reading your missive, I was both flattered and amused that you spent so much time mischaracterizing what you called "The Bell Complaint." Really, you had me at "partisan stalker." You didn’t have to go to all that trouble.
But since you seem so interested in rewriting the history of "The Bell Complaint," you might want to review "the DeLay letter" posted online by the House Ethics Committee. Just to be extra helpful, I posted it online at ChrisBell.com. 
In your e-mail, you claim, "The Committee dismissed two of the allegations Bell made against DeLay and deferred the third at his request." This is why I find it so helpful to write things down. You and I have very different memories of what the Ethics Committee said about the complaint I filed against you.
For something written by lawyers employed by Congress, the DeLay letter is pretty clear that nothing was "dismissed." In fact, you were unanimously admonished for your conduct by the Ethics Committee, which wrote on Oct. 6, 2004, that your actions "are also ones that your peers who sit on this Committee determined, after careful consideration, went beyond the bounds of acceptable conduct." The Ethics Committee went on to write, "It is clearly necessary for you to temper your future actions to assure that you are in full compliance at all times with the applicable House Rules and standards of conduct."
In your email, you claim that my allegation of improprieties at involving Westar Corporation was dismissed. Sometimes my memory plays tricks on me, too.
In the DeLay letter, the bi-partisan Ethics Committee wrote that "a Member may not make any solicitation that may create even an appearance that, because of the contribution, a contributor will receive or is entitled to either special treatment or special access to the Member in his or her official capacity." The Ethics Committee then went on to admonish you as follows: "On the basis of the information before the Committee, the Committee concluded that your participation in and facilitation of the energy company golf fundraiser at The Homestead resort on June 2-3, 2002, is objectionable in that those actions, at a minimum, created such an improper appearance." 
I guess it's hard for me to understand why you're so confused by that.
Then you claim in your email that the committee dismissed my allegation that you violated various standards of ethical behavior when you misused FAA resources to track down state Rep. Pete Laney's plane during the 2003 quorum break.
The DeLay letter makes it perfectly clear that you went to the wall to convince them that this was kosher, but the Ethics Committee found that "those arguments are not persuasive." The letter says that your actions were "objectionable" (there's that word again) and that what you did "raises serious concerns under the fundamental concepts of separation of powers and federalism."
Yes, they did leave the third allegation about illegal campaign finance shenanigans on the table pending a criminal investigation, but all in all, the Ethics Committee concluded that what you did "went beyond the bounds of acceptable conduct."
If you really think that the Ethics Committee dismissed all of my allegations, then why did you remove a majority of the Republicans on the Ethics Committee who voted to admonish you, including the Chairman, and replace them with your lackeys? Why did you change congressional rules to make it impossible for Congress to police itself?
And if you really did nothing wrong, why not submit to a full investigation by your peers like former Speaker Newt Gingrich, Sen. Rick Santorum, and Rep. Tom Tancredo (Republicans all) have suggested?
If you spent half as much time trying to clean up Congress as you did trying to clean up history, you would not be in this mess. Texans respect folks who own up to their mistakes and try to right their wrongs, and if you face your situation with moral courage instead of political expediency, you’ll be fine.
Warmest possible regards,
Chris 
ChrisBell.com

I Hear Your Voices of Reason 
I enjoy the Bulletin and look for your issues in magazine racks when I visit restaurants. I just noticed the caption , "Montgomery County's Voice of Reason" on your cover & I have to agree. 
As I read the 4 letters in the May 6th edition, I applaud you for allowing readers to reasonably tackle challenging topics-- instead of assuming that every topic is simplistic. I commend Shawn Brockup and Mary McPherson for their observation that poetry slams these days tend toward shock rather than sensitivity-- and thank you for the thoughtful poem! Thank you, Angie Pratt, for tackling the complicated subjects of economics, interest rates and statistics these days. Kudos to all who Teri Woo acknowledged for United Way contributions and hooray to Chris Bell for telling it like it is, especially exposing the hype and arrogance of Tom DeLay. 
It is reasonable to understand that many issues are complex-- including freedom of information. Today please acknowledge some deserving Montgomery County public servants-- many thanks to Commissioners Reinhart, Chance and Meador as well as Librarian Jerilynn Williams for not buckling under to those who would promote censorship. Although I have not used my library science credentials from University of Missouri(other than a heavy dependence upon reference librarians), I have to admire their service toward the purposes that our country has developed for public library systems. Today these people are on the front line in defending our right to information-- the freedom that U.S. citizens utilize to make informed decisions. 
T. Allen 
Spring, TX

Card Sharks
I was just reading Card Sharks in response to a problem I have with Providian
right now. I sent in a payment for $2879.37, effectively paying off the account with them, which had been closed at my request months earlier. My checking account has been hit with this charge three times since May 4, 2005, effectively overdrawing my account and incurring $120 in overdraft fees, not including the $400 they paid for me that I still owe.
Providian has instructed me to fax copies of my bank statement to their Payment Research Department. Hopefully it can be resolved in as little as three business days, but CAN TAKE UP TO 90 DAYS! I was told the Providian is already generating a letter to customers that were affected by this problem. 
How many customers were affected by this "technical error" and why isn't this news? Additionally, I spoke with four nice people in India with varying degrees of language proficiency, prior to speaking with someone in the US.
Is this news?
D. Markellos

What Would Jesus Do?
I never did get a chance to Thank you for the Article. You did an amazing job and I had several parents tell me to thank you for having our story told.
I can't stress enough how grateful I am to you & your efforts. You were very eloquent in the manner you "exposed" the issue with the Pastor. Please let me know if you need any help in the future. I would be glad to help if I can.
Gwena Margolis

Please Help Me
Hello! My name is #### and I am a single mother of 4 beautiful children. I'm not sure if you're the person I need to speak with and if you're not then please forward my email to someone you might think could help. See my children were taken into CPS custody about 8 months ago because I lost my apartment and was living in my car. I couldn't get a job while I was pregnant because everyone considered me a "health hazard.”
CPS is requiring me to have a 3 bedroom home and a stable job before returning my children home. ### was born a month premature and I've had a very bad time trying to recover from her delivery. I am so afraid that I'm going to loose my children to the state. I went to a visit to see my children today and my case worker informed me that if i dont have a place by June that they are going to terminate my rights. My children are the most important aspect of my life. Without them I would be nothing. I lost my father when i was 18 to a heart attack (he died in my moms bed in our home) and my uncle a year earlier when he was struck and killed by a ford truck right in front of me. A year after my father passed I lost my grandfather( the only one I had left) and four months ago I lost my other uncle to Diabetes. I cant afford to loose anyone else in my family. I'm struggling to find a job. Ive faxed my resume to everyone in the paper and i have yet to receive a response. I need to get into my own place for my children's sake. My children have been through enough. I need some help. Any kind of help. Don't get me wrong I'm not asking for a "free handout." I'm willing to work for everything that i get. Please if you or anyone you know has any kind of information that could help me and my children please email me or send it postage mail. ANY kind of help is GREATLY appreciated. Please hurry though... I don't have much time. I just want to keep what I have left of my family together and give my children the best possible life that I can give them. Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to read and understand my story. There aren't many people in the world that are willing to help anymore. You are truly an angel. Thank you so much and may GOD bless you and your family.
Name Withheld

(If any of our readers can help please e-mail us at editor@thebulletin.com and we will forward your message.)

Cancer 
I have just discovered that I might have prostrate cancer and I am self employed w/o insurance and really no money what can I do do you have any suggestions?
D. King

Radio sucks 
I agree with your comments, they take off desent radio stations and dont give a crap about there audience or what they like, just there money!!!! 
I try to fine desent good programs , its not easy. 
I wish the stations like Star 790 oldies and good country like KIKK, could get other stations to work at. Well wish in one hand and spit in the other, see which one gets fuller faster. 
If you know where I can hear them again let me know I,ll be there #1 fan. 
Sherry

Roy Head 
You don't know me and will, probably, think me a little "goofy!" It's O.K. my kids would agree! However, there are really unusual coincidences that can give you the preverbial "goose bumps!" 
I woke up this morning--for some strange reason--thinking about Roy. I decided to go on the internet and see if I could find out if he is still playing in the area. And, there you were! Great article about him. I'm not a groupie. I'm too old!! But, I have followed him, periodically, whenever and wherever I knew he was playing. The last time I saw him was at The Hop in the Clear Lake area quit a while back. 
I am a retired school teacher and whenever he would see me, he would always play "Most Wanted Woman" for me. Course, I looked a lot better back then!! 
My parents had a ranch in Simonton, Texas and he would play at the Round Up rodeo on some Saturday nights. I was there every Saturday night and would have climbed out of a hospital bed to get there when he was playing. 
One more Roy Head "sighting and trivia" occurence. Roy was playing at the skating rink in Wallis, Texas one night. I lived in Wallis where I was teaching. The people that owned the rink asked me if I would come help them set up. No problem! Roy Head was to be there that night. They even "allowed" me to clean up their travel trailer for he and his wife to stay in. Lord, I got to change the linens on HIS BED!! You would have thought that was the most important thing in my life! WELL, IT WAS!!! 
I will be there tonight with bells on! Maybe, he'll sing it for me! 
Thanks for your time! 
Carol Henderson 
Magnolia, Texas 

More Roy Head Fans
Hope you don't mind me writing to you but just seen your great article on Roy Head. He's someone I've followed since the 60's. I'm a fan and music collector from the UK. I'd love to write and get in touch with Roy. Do you have an email or postal address for him? 
John Marriott 
UK

Let’s Make Every Day Law Enforcement Day
“Jimmie Carl, wave to the nice policeman, he’s our friend.” Today those enduring words from my grandmother still bring a smile to my face. My grandmother was right, our policeman and policewomen are our friends and quite often our “unsung” heroes.
Until we need help, or if we have broken the law, how often do we wave at, speak to, or even think about our State Troopers, our Sheriff and his Deputies, our Police Chief and his officers, our Constables and their deputies, etc.; maybe one day a year on Law Enforcement Day?
The men and women who have the awesome and dangerous responsibility of protecting us, and like our firefighters and schoolteachers (two other dangerous occupations) our lawmen and women are highly underpaid!!! Entry level for a Conroe Police Officer or Deputy Sheriff is about $35,000, with a max of “maybe” $50,000. Why in the world can’t we pay our lawmen and women $50,000 at entry level, and at least $100,000 max???
If we can pay big bucks for a broken down new building, an overpriced old building, an almost useless “grassy knoll park”, and spend $17 million on a football stadium, surely we can pay our lawmen and women a fair wage.
Remember 9/11 and all the promises the feds made to our law enforcement? Boy, howdy! Those promises sure made our “politicos” look good. Just think, six hundred million ($600,000,000) for law enforcement grants. It sounded like someone in Washington really gave a tinker’s damn about our local security and law enforcement. 
Well, a couple of Sundays ago, how do you think our high Sheriff and our Police Chief and their officers felt when they read in the Sunday Chronicle and Courier that the new proposed budget cuts law enforcement grants 90%? That’s right, this is not a Courier misprint (smile). I mean, a 90% cut!!! The six hundred million promised is now only $60 million. When our professionals are underpaid, a few under-qualified people may “slip-in” to law enforcement. If we pay lawmen a decent salary, there will be no “slip-ins”; our new applicants will be highly qualified and willing to compete for good paying jobs. 
Our underpaid lawmen and women must be brave, know the law, follow procedure, respect the suspect’s rights, and the paperwork must be correct. The very best arrest, if not written up “by the book” may allow a guilty person to go free. Newsprint and t.v. time is often dedicated to heroism or tragic mistakes by law officers, but what about the every day, best-of-the-best cop on the beat? Because of his training or his experience, or maybe he was just born with the ability to sum up a situation, whether it’s a simple incident, or a serious crime scene. 
A 28-year old deputy sheriff is doing a routine drive, he gets a hot call, back up is 20 minutes away. He’s on the scene in three minutes. The deputy finds a 43-year old male beating a 19-year old girl. When the officer approaches, the man turns on him, a full-fledged fistfight occurs. What is this well-trained, clean-cut father of two thinking? He must make a judgment call! Several adults and children have gathered. The deputy tries his pepper-spray, to no avail. If he draws his weapon someone may be injured or killed. He chooses to subdue the man without using his weapon. The officer is fighting one-handed. He must protect his weapon from the man’s grasp. When back up arrives the suspect has been subdued and handcuffed. 
A jailer has an uneasy feeling about an 18-year old, first offender. He makes an extra check, prevents a suicide, and saves a life. 
An officer decides not to arrest a 13-year old dropout for fighting and abusive behavior toward an officer. Instead, he returns the boy home, and a few days later drops by to chat and “listen” to the teenager. They talk about school, the problems of having just one parent, trouble with neighborhood children, and the boy’s future. A few years later the boy graduates with honors.
Some country folks have trouble with young adults mud-dragging on private property and county ditches. While driving down a ditch, a young man gets stuck and abandons his truck. Neighbors gather, law enforcement is called. It was not a 9-1-1 emergency, no one was angry, just neighbors smiling and swapping trespassing stories, and waiting an hour to show-and-tell a nice policeman their problems. 
A young deputy arrives, in his mind, he sees a traffic jam, he is angry, mind-set and nervous. He sees an old man blocking a stuck truck, “You move your truck, or I will have it moved.” The old man tries to explain. Suddenly the scene changes. The young officer made an aggressive move with his right hand toward his hip. Dead silence fell over the crowd. Hopefully, the deputy was going for his cell phone. Fighting back anger, with raised hands, the old man said, “Yessir, yessir, yessir. I will move my truck.” The county put up steel posts, the next day they were gone. 
The young officer is still underpaid and overworked, and we will still give him a wave and a smile.
An old man stopped on South Fannin at a convenience store for gas; three men walked up and asked to “borrow money”. It was obviously not a loan. There was no one else in sight, no help, and no witnesses, only the passing cars.
He was scared but stubborn; the men cussed and threatened him. Not knowing what else to do, with shaking hands, he pointed the gas nozzle toward the men, and said, “No.” They threw down their cigarettes and their threats were louder. Suddenly, a deadly calm came over the old man. A state trooper had stopped at the convenient store for coffee. The trooper was inside, but that glorious black and white chariot was right there. Smiling, feeling very brave, the old man said, “You will burn in hell or go to jail.” One of the would-be muggers said, “We were just kidding around, Mister.” Then they were gone. The trooper, with cup in hand, got in his unit and left, unaware that his very presence may have saved a life.
I would like to speak directly to any peace officer reading this column, “The work you do and your very presence anywhere, anytime is very important to us, and if I may be so bold, on behalf of the folks in Montgomery County, we say Thank you!” Maybe we Montgomery Countyians could lead Texas into making every day “Law Enforcement Day”. Can’t you just hear the politicos up in D.C. “ Hey, everyone down in Texas is waving at the cops and paying ‘em more money, and it all started in Montgomery County, Texas. Hmmm, do you think our soft-money guys would let us keep our word on law enforcement grants? 
J.C. Edwards

Wake Up America
Wake up America. We're under attack and its not just from the terrorists. Our way of life is facing the biggest threat since world war 11, and the cold war. Immigrants have decided to use our constitution against us to change our country to fit their needs. The sad part is, that some of our leaders still can't see what is going on. The ones that can see, are apparently willing to sell our country out, in order to create the illusion of a growing economy. Some how, they have the impression that the only thing that matters is a growing economy. They conveniently forget all the wars that we have fought to maintain our way of life. Here is what they are doing. 
They are using unlimited population growth from both illegal and legal immigration to grow the economy to try to pay for their overspending over the past decades. This in reality is a cancerous growth. The combination of illegal immigrants driving down wages, free trade, military expenditures overseas, and foreign aid is pushing us into the abyss. By the way, when they mention how many jobs were created last month, they also conveniently forget to say how many were lost. We should also keep in mind, that the unemployment figures do not reflect the large numbers of people who give up finding a decent paying job, fall off the unemployment rolls, and end up living with a relative. How did Congress get so out of touch with the American people? Lobbyists and special interest groups. 
It seems that every group has a lobby effort, except for the vast majority of traditional America. Congress has conveniently forgotton traditional America, since we are more inclined to go to work every day, and trust that our leaders know what they are doing. Until Congress puts the vast majority of traditional America first, we will continue to watch our country go down the drain. Now, they have not only let our traditional religions be compromised, but they are willing to allow our children to be brainwashed into believing that it is ok to allow anyone to live here, and change our country to fit their needs. They are even allowing our own television stations to participate in this. Well now they have gone too far. This has all been a political game for decades now, in which we were losing. Now, they have unleashed the power of traditional christians and traditionalist combined. Here is our trump card to finish these games once and for all. 
We must combine the religious people with people who want this country to remain English speaking. We can do this with one combination amendment calling it the traditional amendment. I have a rough draft already. This will easily pass with at least 70% of the population supporting it. This proposed amendment will absolutely not combine church and state, but only restore our way of life and keep it that way. This amendment will protect the pledge of allegiance, prayer before sporting events, and Christmas pageants, along with ensuring our homes, neighborhoods, schools, businesses, and governments remain in English. It also preserves non traditional Americas right to speak whatever language they like in their own home, own family operated business, and protects their right to worship as they please. I wrote this amendment in 2 hours. Imagine how good lawyers and writers can make it. I'll include it down below. 
We should also find a 3rd party willing to commit to these principles. I have been trying to convince the www.constitutionparty.com to stand up for traditional America. By forgetting about the Hispanic vote, and going for the republican and democratic vote, we can eliminate this catering to the Hispanic vote. There are many more potential votes in those 2 parties, than in the Hispanic vote. Their current platform is not practical anyway. Perhaps we could all start sending them a copy of the rough draft amendment with their online contact form. Maybe this would convince them. 
By the way, there will be no trouble. 80% of the population is on our side, as well as the military. If there is trouble, we can cancel NAFTA, permanently!! 
Unlike most amendments, this one needs to be somewhat specific. Congress cannot be trusted to stand up for traditional America. This can be improved obviously. 
Our vision of America is a country who respects all cultures and religions, but also recognizes the importance of maintaining and protecting our traditional language and traditional religions from compromise. It is in this context, that the majority of traditional Americans pass this amendment to insure our way of life remains foremost. 
Traditional language is defined as English, as evidenced by overwhelming usage during recent decades. Traditional religions are defined as judeo christian, Protestant and Catholic as evidenced by overwhelming members over recent decades.
Congress shall pass laws insuring the dominance of our traditional language and religious customs and displays. These laws shall include, but not be limited to, as follows.
Immigration laws shall be vigorously enforced and immigration numbers shall be limited to ensure controlled assimilation.
All federally taxpayer funded business must be conducted exclusively in English, with regards to our internal population. Congress shall make rare exceptions such as intelligence gathering and other vital areas.
Withhold all federal money from the states unless they conduct their business exclusively in English, with regards to their internal population. This includes taxpayer funded schools, but is not limited to only schools. All foreign language classes shall remain at the high school level, and always remain as an elective.
Require city governments to enact ordinances that insure all city business must be conducted exclusively in English. In addition, cities must pass ordinances that any new outdoor signs in any form shall be exclusively in English. Any city who disregards or tries to circumvent these laws shall be banned from any taxpayer funds or assistance in times of peril.
Insure that no ones home, neighborhood or place of business, is subjected to uninvited foreign media in all its forms. Television and radio stations remain in English, while still allowing them to maintain a cultural theme on a dedicated channel, if they so choose. 
Corporations and businesses that hire outside of the immediate family, shall be prevented from asking what language a prospective employee speaks besides English. Employees can only be screened for other languages when their job deals primarily with foreign countries. No one can be required to learn a foreign language or be discriminated against for not learning one. 
All government and taxpayer funded entities at all levels, may return to their traditional religious customs and displays. This includes, but is not limited to, the Pledge of Allegiance as written, morning prayer, and any traditional religious displays that were allowed in decades past. All government, corporations, businesses, and individuals shall be protected from lawsuits for requiring English to be used in all types of communication, and for disallowing other religious displays and customs on their time. 
To preserve non traditional America, Congress shall not infringe upon anyones language, and religious customs and displays in their own home, own family operated business, and place of worship as long as they are within existing legal and moral boundaries. No one shall be prevented from searching out or receiving legal foreign media inside their own home, inside their own business or a non taxpayer funded entity.
Todd Neufeld 
Oklahoma City

Bad Bad VLTs
i recognise that you tried to write a balance column on gambling and i applaud you for it. but be careful accepting the cry of the scaremongers that vlts would cause the social costs conservatives appear to be obsessing over. las vegas isn't doing too bad and it's crime rate is among the lowest for a city its size. if the issue here is whether racetracks (and only racetracks) are allowed vlts, then the record shows that vlts at racetracks cause little harm, certainly less than state-run lotteries and keno which, in many states, are pushed in neighborhood stores, truck stops and even fast food outlets. racetracks are far less accessible and not open to abuse by under-age users. if you really want to see what vlts can do for a job intensive industry such as racing, go to charles town wv where the crime rate has dropped, unemployment is down and education is being paid for by terminals at racetracks. there is a knock-on effect as well. horse farms preserve green space and provide jobs and income for everyone from hay farmers to farriers and builders. texans are going to gamble. right now they go to bordering states. i believe it would help voters decide if you found out how many jobs will be lost if the texas racing industry has to shut down because of competition from casinos and racetracks in other states with vlts. 
then ask, realistically, how much money would flow to local education from vlts. ok, some estimates may be too high. in other states, delaware, for example, the estimates worked up before the introduction of slots proved low. there are always people who will be against change. 
a look at the record nationally, i believe, would disprove many of the arguments against allowing vlts, if they are restricted to racetracks.in all fairness, i should disclose: i am a shareholder of magna entertainment, which owns lone star park and which would benefit from the introduction of vlts.
Online Reader

Promoting Prescription Drugs To High School Students
Melanotan hormone, the latest and greatest prescription tanning device is scheduled to launch in 2007. A clinical trial is currently being conducted in Queensland, Australia. Self-tanning hopefuls are using a small solid injection in the skin under the arm. Melanotan is said to give the skin a tanned appearance while acting as an internal sunscreen. A systemic drug it will slowly release a steady stream of hormones into the body -- allowing the appropriate level of melanin to be produced. This spanking new product, available only by prescription, hopes to serve and protect sun worshipers and make cancer causing tanning beds obsolete. Plus, turn its maker, the Epitan Corporation of Melbourne and shareholders thereof into billionaires. This is all good news. Right?
So why is this prescription only product being promoted to ninth graders?
Freshmen in high school this year will graduate in the year 2008. They will be old enough to comprehend prescription drug commercials and certainly wise enough to “talk to their physician” about the benefits of Melanotan. They’ll also be in the workforce and be able to afford a vanity wonder drug. Are these the reasons that promotional material regarding Melanotan was a class assignment for a ninth grade science class at The Woodlands McCullough High School last week? It is clear to me the Epitan Corporation nailed their target market! Does this also explain why sentence number thirteen on the hand out, handed to hormonally driven teenagers, with inquiring minds, mentioned Melanotan, erectile dysfunction and increased libido? (Yes, I have a copy of it.)
My fourteen year old daughter came home the other day with an assignment that she had completed in science class. She told me that she, along with thirty of her classmates, spent the majority of class time reading a handout entitled “Promotional Material Regarding a Revolutionary Type of Tanning -- Melanotan Facts”. She also said the class had to review a pamphlet and answers questions including an essay. The essay asked the teens; Would you buy this product when it comes out in 2007? What did you think about this product? Would you recommend it to a friend?
My questions are: Did I miss the memo or fail to notice the parental consent form that
permits C.I.S.D. and The Woodlands McCullough High School, or any public school district for that matter, to promote prescription drugs to my child? How many other districts and schools are doing it locally and nationwide? Please kick me, but are they receiving tax deferred kickbacks and donations to do so? Don’t our children get bombarded enough with prescription drug commercials? Don’t we all? Can we at least stop the marketing material from “educating” and influencing our children? Isn’t it time for us to construct, present and pass a bill prohibiting prescription only pharmaceutical companies from advertising to the general public?
Or is this too hard of a pill for our Republican Congress to swallow?
Sheryl Warren

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