Letters from our Readers - September

The "Intelligent" Design movement 

From the August 12, Magnolia Potpourri:
"Mark Cadwallader, who holds a master's of science degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Houston, will be one of four panelists debating the validity of intelligent design, or creationism, as a scientific theory during a Sept. 18 forum at Montgomery County College.”
Excuse me, but how can this be called a "debate?" Cadwallader stated there would be no opposing views on the panel. How can people with the same views debate anything? 
The ID "movement" is psuedo-science, in other words it's founders, creationists, shed their wolf's clothing for that of a sheep in an attempt to remove the stigma of "creationist science" from their position. This is right-wing religion's version of the camel's nose in the tent of education.
Their strategy is simple, create evolutionary doubts where there are none. They have repeatedly misrepresented scientist's opinions and research on evolution and put forth unscientific, untestable theories against evolution. I don't want to take up all this space with examples, one can go the the ARN Bulletin Board - Access Research Network, or TalkDesigns/ TalkOrigins websites to investigate for themselves. I wouldn't expect anyone to just take my word as "gospel.”
The IDists object that textbooks do not reflect what they believe to be, the "controversy" of micro -to- macroevolution - "whether the processes observable in extant populations and species (microevolution) are sufficient to account for the larger-scale changes evident over longer periods of life's history (macroevolution).”
But while the specific mechanisms which could have lead to macroevolution are under investigation, the occurrence of macroevolution is not disputed, as ID claims.
That aside, science textbooks should reflect accurate and current evolutionary science. However, scientists in the fields studying evolution have little to do with the textbooks published and their use by the teachers. Six years, as is the reported policy of Texas schools, is a long time to go between updating textbooks, as scientific research changes almost daily. But that is a budgetary matter, not a scientific matter. 
With the teaching-to-test policies of today's educational system, I would also be interested in the teachers' views as to how much time they could devote to these particular intricacies of evolutionary science. Ultimately, it will be up to Texas residents to decide. As a neighbor to the north, I would only hope that decision is made from intelligence and education, not ID hype.

Doug McGee
Cleveland OK
BS Wildlife Ecology-Herpetology

Cajun Catfish Festival 

My name is "Average Joe" Crane. 
I grew up in Conroe ( as did my Father who was on Capital records) and Graduated in 1988 ( wow is that all of a sudden "a long time ago"?) 
Anyway, after years of ups/downs and sideways-es, I am now happily married with a beautiful Wife and Daughter and a great house and great job and well, the point of this note is that I'm also a professional singer songwriter, now "from" Austin, and just signed on after being asked to play at the Conroe Cajun Catfish Festival in October. I only found your web-site after doing a google search for "Conroe Cajun Catfish Festival" and your article on the bands of the festival came up 2nd on the list. 
I liked your article but I'm confused on why it said " This weekend's Cajun Catfish Festival"????? 
I hope I'm not gonna be a month late for my own show. =o) 
Take care and keep up the great work ! 

Joe Crane
Austin, TX 

(Note from Webmaster: The article Joe is referring to is one from 2001. The Bulletin covers the Catfish Festival extensively each year, so it’s perplexing that this was the only article to come up in a search. To access additional Bulletin stories about the Catfish Festival and its performers, go to www.thebulletin.com and click on the archives. Catfish Festival stories will be in the October folder of each year.)

What library policy changes were really about 

Tom Lancaster and Mark Cadwallader, former or current members of the RLC or CTFFL, have been busy writing letters to the papers attacking three of our commissioners, Ed Chance, Mike Meador and Ed Rinehart for NOT going along with Cadwallader and Lancaster’s plans to rewrite our current library policy.
Judge Alan Sadler admitted in the Conroe Courier, July 23, 2003, that members of the RLC were involved in writing at least the first draft. Tom Lancaster and Mark Cadwallader in the same article say that they worked on the first and second draft. In one of the later drafts it was proposed that Judge Sadler and the commissioners would appoint 11 citizen members, who could NOT be librarians or library volunteers.
These citizen members would be allowed to judge all library materials, including ADULT books and their decisions would be binding, not advisory. Judge Alan Sadler would have the final word on book selections. Cadwallader is quoted as saying, “If you want to keep up with the latest releases, go to Barnes and Noble.” These proposed changes were by no means small revisions to protect children.
Parents and residents of Montgomery County should be warned when reading letters by Lancaster and Cadwallader. Parents know how to parent their children, and help them with their book selections. Ask parents and children who stand in long lines at storytime about what Lancaster calls the “extensive vulgar and pornographic literature available to our children at our libraries.” Is that why storytime is filled to capacity? Perhaps Lancaster and Cadwallader should form their own library, using the policy they tried to push through on all of us.
Ed Chance, Mike Meador and Ed Rinehart did not as Lancaster says, “reject parental rights and place children in harm’s way.” My parental rights are still intact, and children are not in harm's way in the library. Unsupervised children looking for pornography are not likely to make a visit to the library, but will look elsewhere to find real sources for pornography. Tom Lancaster in his letter also misquotes Mike Meador, who actually said that professional librarians should select books, not commissioners. 
This county deserves better than to have the government, in the form of Judge Alan Sadler, determining our library selection and policy. 

Ellen Dubuisson
The Woodlands

Can someone tell me?? 

Just recently the small city of Montgomery Texas (population 356-1990) extended and revised its speed limit within its city proper. The speed limit was adjusted downward inside and curiously outside of it city limits on the eastern approach of its city limits.
Inside the in city the limit was reduced for almost a mile from 55 to 45 and extended all the way to its eastern city limit. This kind of speed limit is usually found in heavy populated areas where there is an existing left hand turn lane. In the new and revised 45-mile an hour speed limit there is an existing left hand turn lane. And oddly, the only business found in this 1 mile of the revised 45-mile an hour zone is at the start of the new zone nearest the center of the city. Most surprisingly the speed limit was also reduced outside of the city’s eastern approach to 45 from 60. This I find very interesting and gives the appearance that something is amiss in City of Montgomery. With its new philosophy on traffic control is this two light town becoming downright unfriendly or is it positioning itself to bolster its city revenue by becoming a speed trap? 
The city has almost a non-existent business tax base and in 1990 there were only 174 families living in Montgomery. The largest city employer, Montgomery High School is tax-exempt. 
Can someone tell me what the TXDOT or county guidelines are for the setting of speed zones on state highways in Texas? If they do exist, is the City of Montgomery within those guidelines? Can someone tell me how it came about that the speed limit was changed from 60 to 45 outside of the city of Montgomery and in Montgomery County? Can someone tell me who sets the speed limit in Montgomery County and can they explain to me why the speed limit signs are posted that change the speed limit from 60 to 55 to 45 in such a short distance on the eastern approach of the City of Montgomery? An approach, which by the way has a clean line of sight and not a single business or driveway within those new short zones? 
As Montgomery is located on a state highway (SH 105), can someone tell me if a state law, which restricts the operating income of city’s budgets to 25% in traffic enforcement income, applies to the City of Montgomery? Can someone tell me what the budget of City of Montgomery was last year and what was the percentage derived from traffic enforcement? Can someone tell me if the state has an audit system to check if cities are complying with that state law? Can someone tell me if Montgomery is complying? 
In my opinion the new extended zones increase many fold the risk to persons traveling on the eastern side of Montgomery. On a number of occasions I have seen City of Montgomery police cars traveling a very high rate speed of speed in the middle turn lane headed towards FM2854 in purse of a speed violator. The speed of the police vehicles in my opinion is excessive and in a number of cases the pursuit goes into Montgomery County and past the FM2854 intersection. I suspect the new speed limit will produce many more high-speed adventures. 
Several weeks ago I was headed east on 105 and stopped at the traffic light at FM 2854 and SH 105. Suddenly a police vehicle from City of Montgomery appeared in the middle turn lane headed east towards Conroe. I estimate it was traveling at least 70 MPH as it went through the intersection. It continued east on 105 and I would estimate it reached well over 100 MPH. 
I called the Montgomery County Sheriffs Office and I was told it was en route to a break in progress call. It was also 615 PM and there were still many vehicles on the road. In my opinion I don’t think we need to have the City of Montgomery making calls in the county nor do we need to put lives of the good people of Montgomery County in danger to make a break in call. If a City of Montgomery vehicle causes an injury or death I don’t think they have the financial resources to make restitution to injured parties. In my opinion the unnecessary extended zones will likely increase the chances that an injury will occur from the observed demonstrated methods of traffic enforcement by City of Montgomery police vehicles. 
Can someone tell me if the City of Montgomery acted properly in its reduction of its speed limits? Did it conduct a traffic engineering study and if so does the study reflect the 85th percentile speed of free flowing unimpeded traffic guideline or is this just an unfriendly means or sleight-of-hand, in my opinion, to make money??

Name Withheld

What price shall we put on our children's safety?

As reported in the Conroe Courier on August 20, 2003 our children's bus stops have been drastically changed, {clustered}, to reportedly save our district $750.000.00. With no regards to what danger we put our most prized possessions {our children}in. 
I would personally like to know what financial idiot came up with this serious blatant attack on our children, and how in the world did it get passed our city leaders and Board of Trustees, who are supposed to be trustees, and looking out for our children's best interest. Were they all asleep? Have the no conscience?
Let's see, we need to save 750k out of our huge budget this year, so let's put our most innocent part of our community walking down the roads with no sidewalks, with many streets not properly lighted, so that when we have time change, they will be walking down these roads in the dark.
Even if our children were perfect and walked in a line single file, like little ducklings to these bus stops, how do we protect them against speeding cars, the climate, the pedophiles that unfortunately prey on our youth, or the rapist who roam our streets. WOW THIS MUST BE GREAT NEWS FOR ANY DRUG DEALERS WHO FOCUS AND TARGET OUR CHILDREN. Why are the board of trustees and the upper management of the transportation dept. forcing our children out of the parent's direct line of sight?
So who is going to take responsibility for this, and who will walk into that emergency room and look into the eyes of these innocent victims and admit I am the one who allowed this to happen to you. Or who will tell the victims parents {I am so sorry about the loss of your loved one, but we needed to save money} while the victims parents are at the local funeral home.
Let's not even bother discussing what financial burden of settling lawsuits will put on our system. I challenge every person who reads this to stand up and say THIS IS WRONG OUR CHILDREN DESERVE BETTER. Even those who do not have school aged children should be appalled at this new policy of Conroe ISD.
I believe it is our responsibility as a community to protect our youth, as they are our future. In my opinion anyone in the board of trustees, or in management, or who supports this new policy and does nothing to reverse it, [THE BLOOD OF THESE FUTURE VICTIMS ARE ON YOUR HANDS]
I recently attended the funeral of a two and a half year old little boy; I believe the preacher put it best when he said, {WE MUST ALL ATTEND FUNERALS IN OUR LIFE, BUT THE SMALLER THE CASKET THE HARDER IT IS TO ACCEPT}.
I attended the Conroe Board of Trustees meeting last night and was appalled at the attitude of some of the board members, saying we were patrons at this meeting, expressing our great concerns for our children's safety, Do they not realize that we as tax payers pay their salary, and we are voters also. If our system funds were so depleted it might be a tad bit easier to try to understand, But while setting through the budget and expenditures, What is more important our children's safety, or some 2.3 million dollar football stadium. 
Our bus drivers have stated that MR. PATTERSON HAS TOLD THEM TO ONLY PICK UP CHILDREN AS A CLUSTER OR THEY WILL BE FIRED. HE ALSO REFUSES TO TALK WITH THE PARENTS ABOUT THESE ISSUES. I SAY IF HE CONTINUES THIS POLICY, HE SHOULD BE TERMINATED AND REPLACED WITH SOMEONE WHO UNDERSTANDS THAT HIS JOB IS A PUBLIC SERVANT. 

James Robert Pottorff
Conroe Texas

Proposition 12

I write in support of the defeat of Proposition 12 and to present my thoughts on the dangers of tort reform prompted by the fact that my mother lives in a nursing home.
Tort reform has reared its ugly head in Tennessee, as it has in Texas, as it has in the nation's capitol. All of us must stand firm against it. Proponents of tort reform would benefit from it, but victims of medical malpractice would most definitely not benefit. 
Malpractice lawsuits are being blamed for the medical crisis, but they are not the problem. Insurance companies that demand outrageous sums of money for coverage are the problem.
Do those insurance company moguls really think that most of us don't know that their slippery business and accounting practices and lost investment income are to blame for their price-gouging of policyholders? 
Placing a cap on malpractice lawsuits would have devastating consequences for nursing home residents and their families. A civil suit is nearly always their last recourse to seek justice when abuse, neglect and even homicide occurs in a nursing home. 
Tort reform would blunt the effectiveness of civil suits, denying residents and their families even the lesser justice of a meaningful day in civil court. Even more to the point, it would remove the last incentive, which is money, that most nursing home owners have to provide at least adequate care.
If a cap is to be placed, it should be placed on insurance premiums, not on malpractice lawsuits.
Instead of trying to impose their will on the legal system with no regard for the well-being of old and disabled people in nursing homes, those self-serving insurance company nabobs should spend their time setting their financial house in order, and President Bush, Governor Perry, and legislators should work to bring the unregulated insurance industry to heel.

Jane Marshall
Clarksville, Tennessee 

SFASU

This summer Stephen F. Austin State University received some much anticipated and welcome news when the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board approved a planned $28 million University Center renovation and expansion. This approval culminated a lengthy process that included a student vote overwhelmingly in favor of raising fees to fund construction and affirmation by the Texas Legislature and the governor.
The current center was built in 1959 and last renovated in 1977.
The architect designing the new three-story complex with an atrium at its core has observed that ³this project actually reaches out and touches all parts of your university.² Indeed, when completed in 2006, the center ­ with a movie theater, food court, lounges, retail shops and meeting and game rooms ­ will serve current students, attract new ones and benefit generations to come.
The center¹s ambitious upgrade is just one of many recent positives for SFA. A new human services and telecommunications building is scheduled for completion for the spring 2004 semester. Not only is this the first new construction on campus since 1984, but it also will greatly enhance the university¹s telecommunications functions. A recent $292,555 grant is providing stronger infrastructure and modern technology, including wireless high-speed connectivity to remote campuses, workstations and specialized software.
Another project, scheduled for completion in time for the Lumberjacks football home opener on Sept. 18, is an expanded and renovated press box at Homer Bryce Stadium. It is perhaps the largest project at the stadium since it was built. And regents recently approved a new athletic training facility that will provide academic space for the athletic training program. Come fall, the university, which already offers a bachelor¹s degree in this field, will be one of only two Texas schools to offer a master¹s.
Other construction this academic year has included four new broiler houses dedicated this past September. Operated by the Center for Applied Poultry Studies and Research, the facilities have cemented SFA¹s reputation as a center for excellence in poultry science. A new equine center also is in the works.
At the same time, the number of students attending SFA is growing. An increase in enrollment for this year¹s second summer term meant that the university¹s enrollment increased for seven of the past eight registration periods. Growth in the number of graduate students has been particularly strong.
All these positives have come about despite the recent state budget crisis. This is not to suggest that SFA has escaped untouched. Yet, despite a reduced budget for the coming year, the university is not reducing services. Nor is it facing layoffs like some other Texas colleges and universities.
This momentum can be attributed in large measure to SFA¹s leadership. Dr. Tito Guerrero III, who assumed the presidency in 2001, and his team of administrators have judiciously managed the university¹s finances during challenging economic times while enhancing its programs and facilities. SFA truly is a university on the move, and we have every expectation this trend will continue. 

Kenneth James
Kingwood, Texas
Chair, Board of Regents, S.F.A.S.U.

Vote “Yes” on Proposition 12

Access to patients for medical care from obstetricians, neurosurgeons, and pediatricians is critically limited in the state of Texas. When these essential services are not available in the majority of Texas counties, reasonable people certainly agree that something must be done. On September 13th Texans will have an opportunity to approve of Proposition 12 that allows a limit on non-economic damages in medical malpractice suits.
Proposition 12 will amend the Texas Constitution but it does not restrict the right of Texas citizens to their day in court. It does not prevent a citizen from recovering economic damages that may have been incurred by true negligence. It does not prohibit a reasonable recovery for non-economic damages. It is a measure intended to restore the proper role of medical liability and to make medical care accessible to every Texan.
Medical liability litigation is out of control. It is the single largest contributor to lack of patient access to medical care in Texas. It is literally smothering the practice of obstetrics and gynecology in our state. We are losing the talents of some of our most experienced obstetricians as a result of early retirement or moves to states where the litigation environment is more favorable than in Texas. Our best and brightest college students know the burden of liability upon the medical profession. Even if they choose to study medicine, many are likely to avoid the high risk specialties such as obstetrics.
Medical liability litigation does not identify “bad doctors”
Almost 90 percent of obstetricians in Texas have been sued at least once and over 85 percent of these claims fail. The ability to file suit for obstetrical mishaps can extend up to 21 years; this is far beyond the limitations for other medical specialties. Such liability exposure has elevated liability insurance premiums and the discomfort of adversarial practice to a level where many obstetricians can no longer continue to care for their patients.
The Texas Legislature has done the right thing by passing tort reform. Now it is time for the voters of Texas to ensure that health care remains accessible to all of us. 
The ability to bring life into the world should be a joyous experience for families and their obstetricians. A mother needs to know that her care is rendered by an experienced, well trained, and caring obstetrician. This relationship cannot continue to be impaired by the current adversarial circumstance of medical liability. 
“Yes” for Proposition 12 on September 13th is a step in the right direction. Future generations of Texas mothers should not have to worry about 'Who is going to deliver my baby?”.

John C. Jennings, M.D.
President, Texas Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists 

Deathmetal

I found your article on Deathmetal interesting but not completely accurate. 
Although Infernal Dominion claims that deathmetal is totaly about anti-christianity, rape and murder, that is not a true statement. There are many deathmetal musicians who have christian beliefs and a positive outlook on life. I have a deathmetal band called Infliction and we are on the same label as Infernal Dominion. I and two other members have christian beliefs, one is athiest and the other is confused. Our lyrics are mainly about anti-abortion, child abuse, poverty, suicide, and (all) religions that involve deadly results. Basically re-informing people of what's out there, sharing our own experiences and expressing our point of views. We want to relate to people and say to them I know what you're going through, I've been there but I made it through. To me the music is more important than lyrics but I believe that if you're going to have lyrics they should be made for building not tearing down.. 

Bulletin Online Reader

Churches should butt out 

I was extremely impressed with this article. It takes intestinal fortitude to buck the religious hypocritical right. The one thing that wasn't mentioned about the catholic church is that it has been condoning same sex pedophiles for a long time. Who are they to tell anyone else how to live their lives when they hide priests who sexually molest young boys. Live and let live. According to the bible, ours is not to judge anyway, that is to be left up to God. 

Sheryl Stiles 
Texarkana, TX

T. Lancaster response 

Intelligent design is another guise for creationism - that having generally failed to be upheld in the courts - and is blatantly anti-science. Phillip Johnson, creator of the intelligent design concept, stated, “Either evolution is true or creation is true. To eliminate one is to confirm the other,” and in 1996, “This isn't really, and never has been a debate about science…. It's about religion and philosophy.”
Nothing published by advocates of intelligent design has been confirmed by experts in any scientific field under their attack. Rather, ID Creationist writings have been debunked by scientific experts. Not a single area of science has been affected in any way by intelligent design theory. In actuality, this “scientific” movement which seeks to permeate the American academic and cultural mainstream is religious to its core. 
Discussion of alleged alternative religious theories in science classes is valuable time taken from learning science. If parents feel that creation stories are important to the student, together they could read the many creation stories in the Bible and in other texts of creation stories of the world. If school boards feel that students need comparative religion classes in which all the creation stories of many religions are compared, they will direct high schools to offer an elective course in comparative religion. At any rate, let’s not pretend that intelligent design “super”naturalism debunks scientific naturalism. For an analysis of intelligent design, read "Unintelligent Design" by Mark Perakh. 

Karyl Palmisano 
The Woodlands, TX

Vote “Yes” on Proposition 12

Getting a second opinion is always a good idea, particularly when you have a serious medical problem. Today, Texans are suffering from a serious lack of medical care. The American Medical Association says the physician shortage has reached crisis proportions in Texas and lives are in peril.
We have very similar problems in New York State, where I am both a practicing nurse and medical defense attorney. But in Texas, you have the opportunity to solve this problem.
The Texas Legislature recently passed comprehensive reforms aimed at helping alleviate this medical crisis. It has been left to voters, however, to decide the fate of a constitutional amendment that will go a long way in helping your state attract and keep good doctors. Texas trial lawyers, however, are urging Texans to vote against it.
Who’s right? Is Proposition 12 good medicine for Texas? I urge you to ask your doctor for an opinion.
Your doctor will tell you Texas has one of the most severe doctor shortages in the nation. Thirty years ago, the state enjoyed the same coverage of medical care as the rest of the nation. But by 2002, there were only 64 general practitioners to care for every 100,000 Texans. In most other states, there are 120 to 135 doctors for every 100,000 people. Only Missouri and Oklahoma have fewer doctors for their citizens. 
Texas’ doctor shortage is only getting worse as a growing number of Texas’ doctors are retiring or moving away. 
Your doctor will tell you the shortage is caused by the high cost of medical lawsuits and liability insurance. Doctors in Texas pay more for insurance than in most other states, and the cost has doubled over the past three years. In that same time, the likelihood a doctor will be sued has doubled.
Today, almost half of all doctors in Texas have malpractice claims filed against them, although nine of 10 claims are dismissed as unfounded. 
While the cost of liability insurance is driving many doctors out of business, it’s not the only reason for the doctor shortage. Many doctors are simply leaving the profession because they can no longer afford to practice good medicine.
Many doctors worry the quality of their care is damaged by extra, unnecessary tests and medications prescribed to avoid potential malpractice claims.
Your doctor will tell you frivolous lawsuits will stop – and the high cost of liability insurance will fall – if there is a limit on the amount of money that can be awarded to patients and their families for “pain and suffering,” the non-economic damages that are crippling Texas medicine. 
A recent report by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says the 24 states with caps on non-economic damages have decreased the number of frivolous lawsuits and lowered the price of medical liability insurance. Despite dire predictions by trial lawyers, medical care has not deteriorated in states with caps; the number of medical complications and death rates remain unchanged. Best of all, states with caps are home to 12 percent more doctors than states without caps. 
Caps are undeniably effective. But Texas trial lawyers are urging voters to say “no” to Proposition 12. They say caps will undermine patient rights to secure just compensation for injuries.
This claim was soundly refuted by Texas Senator Bill Ratliff in a commentary published throughout the state. Caps do not limit the amount of lost wages, past and future, patients and their families can recover. Nor do caps limit how much one can recover for past or future medical expenses. As noted by Sen. Ratliff, a cap on non-economic damages does not lessen any Texans’ right to just compensation for injuries.
What’s the remedy for Texas’ medical crisis? Ask your doctor. And when you do, ask where she or he will be practicing medicine if Texans don’t vote to approve Proposition 12 on September 13th. 
Proposition 12 is good medicine for Texas.

Colleen Whalen 

Donald Kaul

Just discovered Donald Kaul when one of my workers left a column on the bulletinboard.
This man is the intellectual ice tea in a sweltering summer politic. I went to the internet and am currently reading back columns. The George Bush doll, religion, and a few others. I am hooked. Is there a single website for this man????

Jon Erickson

HEART Endorses Proposition 12

The Board of Directors of Healthcare Excellence And Responsible Taxation (HEART) has endorsed Proposition 12, the constitutional amendment concerning civil lawsuits against doctors and healthcare providers, and other actions, authorizing the legislature to determine limitations on non-economic damages.
The issue is one of 22 amendments and other questions to be determined by Texas voters on September 13.Ê Proposition 12 is the proposed amendment to the State constitution that would enable the legislative branch to place a limit (or cap) on the amount of jury awards for paining and suffering. Those damages currently average $3.5 million and have skyrocketed seven times higher than the cost of living.
Steve H. Farber, M.D., P.A., founder and chairman of HEART, said vote was taken over the weekend. It followed a public debate on the issue last week when Farber squared off with Willis attorney Nancy McCoy over the merits of the proposal, with the cardiologist taking the pro stance and McCoy arguing against.
Proposition 12 appears to have taken center stage in the pre-election campaigning.
"No matter how you intend to vote," Farber said, "the important thing is to go to the polls election day, exercise your will and allow your voice to be heard. Every vote does count.”

Writer Unknown

Why Prop. 12 is Wrong for Texas

If another injures you, you have a fundamental Constitutional right to ask a judge or jury to determine what all of your actual damages are, economic and non-economic. You should not give up that right so that insurance companies can achieve greater profits or because doctors erroneously believe it will lower their malpractice premiums.
Proposition 12 will not reduce malpractice premiums or healthcare costs. Similar legislation didn't do so in California. Prop. 103 (caps on premiums themselves and rebates passed 13 years later) is what lowered premiums in California.
Proposition 12 reads:
“A Constitutional Amendment concerning civil lawsuits against doctors, and other actions, authorizing the legislature to determine limitations on non-economic damages.” 
This language is so broad that the Legislature can cap these actual damages in all cases if they so choose. Capping damages in cases involving criminals, drunk drivers, terrorists, etc. could be a consequence.
The broad language of Proposition 12 is alone sufficient reason to vote “no.”
People should be fully accountable for their actions. Especially doctors. This is because bad doctors can do a lot of damage, and the profession does a very poor job of policing itself. 
For example, a Houston doctor has now finally had his licensed suspended. He was sued 78 times with liability payments paid out 45 times totaling $13.3 million. He had been arrested with cocaine in his Jaguar 5 days before a patient died on his operating table. This doctor lives in a $3.6 million house.
If the medical profession wants to stop malpractice awards, they need to stop the malpractice. Or at least stop those who commit it before they do it 78 times. If they did, there would be no arguable need for a remedy as drastic as Proposition 12.
Dr. Abraham J. Twerski of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine says that between 10-15% of physicians are addicted to either alcohol or drugs. These doctors represent a huge danger to society.
Arbitrary caps on damages take away the incentive for wrongdoers, insurance companies and corporations to behave responsibly, settle meritorious claims, or correct dangerous conditions.
The Proposition 12 winners are the Texas Medical Liability Trust, the largest medical malpractice insurer in TX and the special interest lobbies with which it is affiliated.
Another winner is Rep. Joe Nixon, who got tort reform passed by railing against out-of-control mold claims. He then filed and was paid on a $300,000 mold claim by his personal insurer, including $13,000 for landscaping and damage allegedly done to his driveway by a truck during the remediation process. A fired former executive of Farmers said the $13,000 was not covered by his policy, but she was ordered to pay it to make sure Nixon remained a “friend of Farmers.”
You and your family lose, because you have given away your rights so that insurance companies can have special protections in the law. Other losers are children, seniors, and nursing home residents. They have little or no “economic damages” and are defined by Proposition 12 as worth less in society than a highly paid executive or someone with easily proven past or future lost wages. 
The poor lose. They can only get a lawyer on a contingent fee basis. 
Proposition 12 seeks to make it economically infeasible for lawyers to take cases on a contingent fee basis. Thus, the poor may lose access to the courts.
There is no “Lawsuit Crisis” other than the marketing tool by that name created by the Insurance Lobby. Damage awards are decreasing. The greatest components of damage awards are economic damages, not the non-economic damages targeted by Proposition 12. Also, punitive damages are awarded in only 3.3% of tort trials won by plaintiffs, and the median award is only about $38,000.
Huge verdicts are rare, though widely reported, but are justified when there has been a big wrong. Frivolous lawsuits, on the other hand, tend to go nowhere in the court system and do not cost astronomical amounts to defend. Often they don't even survive summary judgment. Judges and juries are not as stupid as the insurance lobby would have you believe.
Pain and suffering are very real components of actual damages. These damages should be awarded if the evidence supports it. The Legislature can place arbitrary caps on these verdicts. Unfortunately, they can't do anything to cap the amount of damage that a negligent or impaired doctor, or other, can actually cause.
There are enormous safeguards in the system now, which provide special protection to doctors. This is probably why doctors are found liable less often than other tort defendants. 
Insurance company profits are not as high as insurers would like because of underwriting misjudgments, not because of lawsuits. During a good economy, the competition to write policies becomes intense, and insurers price the policies too low for the market, hoping to make up for the deficit with investment income from stocks and bonds. When the market fell and interest rates plunged, they lost a lot of that income, but were stuck with those improperly priced policies. This is called the “recurring soft cycle.”
Claims mismanagement is rampant. Insurance companies are very adversarial with plaintiffs, and they deny claims that should be paid. They behave as though all claims are frivolous and all claimants the enemy. It's irresponsible and expensive to deny meritorious claims, refuse reasonable settlement offers, and then take a hit at trial because a jury sees you're wrong.
Also, the insurance industry has spent millions of dollars perpetuating the myth that we are in the throes of a massive litigation crisis which will put all doctors out of business and threaten the very core of society and that is the reason your insurance premiums are so high.
Proposition 12 is wrong for Texas because it:
1. Strips you of your fundamental Constitutional right to ask the courts, and not the insurance lobby, to decide what your full amount of actual damages are in the event that you are wronged by the actions of others.
2. Removes full accountability for wrongdoing and gives the insurance companies special legal protection.
3. Takes away the incentive for physicians, corporations or “others” to be responsible for their actions. 
4. Closes the courthouse doors to the poor, those without a high paying job and anyone not able to pay a lawyer by the hour. 
5. But will not reduce either doctors' malpractice premiums or health care costs.

Nancy McCoy 
Attorney, and Author of Butterflies Do Not Sleep In Hot Tubs, and The Heart Twisters

Trash

Why would you print such trash as this? A retired writer from Des Moines is certainly not in touch with a conservative area such as Montgomery County, Texas.ÊOur country could certainly benefit from a media blitz covering what is GOOD about America; and I dare say that information could fill an entire newspaper every week!

Dwayne Nicklin

(Editor's Comments: The only thing we can say is one man's trash is another mans treasure. The GOOD thing about America is that every person has a right to an opinion. Even a lowly retired writer from a God Awful heathen place like Des Moines.)

Mouse speaks up

It seems that evil; dark forces are once again trying to destroy our reputation with with fans and club owners in the local public press (aka. The Bulletin") Statements like "Too Bad Mice are quickly and quietly fading from memory" are inflamatory and are aimed at damaging the livelihood of professional entertainers because of personal bad blood and a conflict of intersts.
As they say, "the proof is in the pudding", so where is the proof? We are calling all you MICE FANS to speak your minds to the so-called press by emailing the editor of the "BULL"-etin at editor@thebulletin.com with your comments. Your letters will likely not be printed, since the political double-standard that exists at this "birdcage lining -slash- fishhead wrapping" tabloid (who would like nothing more than the whole world to convert to HOMOSEXUAL DEMOCRATS at age 3) cannot deal with the truth when faced with it.
This mentality says "if it isn't printed, it isn't said". You would think that TOO BAD MICE were members of the RLC! We just want to give people honest entertainment and a chance to get LAID after they have worked hard all week and have nothing to look foreward to other than a bleak weekend of mowing the lawn and reading the "BULL"-etin. Don't get me wrong, we are grateful to the press for showing an interst in the local music scene and TOO BAD MICE, but when lies are put forth by music writers who still live with MOMMY at age 43, who abuse their position to exact revenge on bands they have ripped-off and then having been called on it, then someone has to speak up and put a stop to this grade-school political back-stabbing. In your own "BULL"-etin words, Too Bad Mice are the "Most fearsome modern rock experience to date" and "The most hellacious band in this town".
So lets see where you fans really stand and speak out for GWAR's sake and we'll see you at RICE STADIUM on October 4th! 

Thomas Graham
Too Bad Mice

(Editor's Comments: You can find all the letters sent to me at your urging below.)








(Nobody cares.)

Help! 

After five years of indulgence and suffering, I have written a book. However, my product is not quite finished. I wrote factual reports for 40 years, but find that writing fiction is quite the contrary. If any of your readers have experience in writing, editing, and would like a challenge, I would welcome them to contact my e-mail address. (E-mail Buck1@Lcc.net ) The book titled "The Last Crime," is highly unique with many scenarios never before seen or read. 

Buck Buckner
Montgomery, Texas

The Book Battles and Talk Radio

The Corporate Right Wing Republican propaganda machine has been very effective in promoting books advocating their worldview using their dominance of talk radio. Twisted writings from authors like Ann Coulter would never have made any bestseller lists without the support of Corporate Right Wing Republican talk radio. The civility of American politics and the depth of political discussion in our nation have suffered badly as a result. Democratic and non-Corporate writers are not getting the attention they rightly deserve with a few notable exceptions like Senator Clinton, Michael Moore and Al Franken. In this column, we will try to expose our readers to some great books not being effectively covered in the media.
Our Democratic Voices column has frequently mentioned The Best Democracy Money Can Buy by Greg Palast. This book is a must read for anyone wishing to get a more balanced outlook on the state of politics today. Greg Palast is the best investigative reporter in the United States.
We recently received copies of The Greatest Sedition Is Silence by William Rivers Pitt. I think it is the best overall examination of the Bush Administration to date that we have ever read. William Rivers Pitt is the writer we can wish we were. If you want a real understanding of the injustices facing us today, read this book.
Jim Hightower has just published Thieves In High Places. It is excellent. We highly recommend all the Hightower books but this may be his best.
Dr. Charles Kelly has two excellent books available. They are Class War In America and The Great Limbaugh Con. You can see directly into the economic and tax myths of the Republican Right by reading these books. We recommend The American Challenge by Bob Zimmerman for similar insights and more.
Other highly recommended books on Bush are Shrub by Molly Ivins, The Bush Dyslexicon by Mark Crispin Miller and Fortunate Son by J. H. Hatfield. For a look into the vast Right Wing Conspiracy, read Blinded By The Right authored by David Brock. Several books on War are also more than worth reading including War Is A Racket by Brigadier General Smedley D. Butler and War On Iraq by William Rivers Pitt. For a good look at press censorship, read Into The Buzzsaw edited by Kristina Borjesson.

Stephen Crockett and Al Lawrence 
Hosts of Democratic Talk Radio http://www.DemocraticTalkRadio.com

Victory of Proposition 12

"The real winners of this election are the people of Texas who can be more certain that doctors will be there for them when they're sick or injured.
"The physicians of Texas and our patients owe a debt of gratitude to the Republican and Democratic legislators who recognized the serious threat to health care in Texas and passed the legislation enabling today's vote.
"We also thank Governor and Mrs. Perry for their tireless campaigning on the issue.
"I can't end the thanks without pointing out how hard our doctors, their spouses, and others in the medical community worked to keep the debate focused on the true issue-access to care.”
TMA is the largest state medical society in the nation, representing more than 38,000 physician and medical student members. It is located in Austin and has 120 component county medical societies around the state. TMA's key objective is to improve the health of all Texans.

Charles W. Bailey, Jr., 
President, Texas Medical Association

Lake Conroe 

A few of us remember when there was no Lake Conroe and there were even more trees and very little traffic-much nicer than now.

Catherine Price 

Nicole Huff 

How funny that The Bulletin can print the truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth but do you see that in The Courier. (Only if it benefits the good ole guys). Monty West hit it on the nail when he said that Nicole cares about the under privilaged of this county. She truely does care for the needy. She has a heart as big as the State of Texas. Nicole has always looked at the big picture of all matters which the MCHD Board has had to face. I sat on that Board for a brief time and I never knew of one time that Nicole done anything wrong, other than speak out for the indigent. But of course that is what has certain people upset in this county, she does care for the indigent. I for one am sick and tired of all this mud being tossed around, so when election time comes around you can bet I'll be out there going from door to door asking for support for new faces in various different offices. 

Sandy Mathis

Out of Line

"Perspective," by Donald Kaul, (Issue 36, Sept. 5-11, 2003) in my opinion is way out of line! First I have never met anybody yet that could make a baby from scratch nor even make a bug for that matter! This simple fact tells me there is a Power that knows more than us. We have been fed a snow job for a long time, there is absolutely more proof for God, than proof for evolution! Yes, you do have to add a little faith to the mixture, but you would have to add a lot more for evolution. We just want the easy way out--we want to make the rules ! We are still, just stubborn little children at heart! We want our way ! 
To be moral you must believe in God because otherwise, it is simply what you want to do, be it good or bad; it is simply your wishes because that is your particular pleasure. An underlying question comes up in this article, why do people hurt each other in the name of religion? This is not a perfect world and believe it or not there are many liars and deceivers among us ; surely Mr.Kaul you have met a few that were not "Christians"! 
It is true ,we do not want religion forced upon us in our schools and courts but I submit neither do we want disbelief forced upon us! The fact that we are a more diversified country than when our forefathers wrote the constitution has nothing to do with this issue of deleting God from our nations perspective. We all have equal rights (perhaps Mr Kaul doesn't believe that)and different choices. I prefer the rules on the stone; thou shalt not kill , thou shalt not steal! Remember dear neighbors, absolutes are often painful, but at least you know what to expect! 

Patty Lebedzinski
Huntsville, TX

Evolution vs Virgin Birth

I'm beginning to wonder how anti-Christian activists such as Donald Kaul maintain their sanity. Forsaking every effort aimed at eradicating all expressions of Christian faith from view, foolish believers still manage to seep their lamentable anti-intellectualism into the public square. Now don't bristle, Mr. Kaul is not talking about the Christianity in one's heart or mind - any idiot belief with which Christians choose to pepper their thought life with is OK with him.
It's the Christian faith that makes its way into your otherwise free speech and discourse that drives tolerant people such as Mr. Kaul to distraction. According to him, people should simply keep their religious views to themselves. This is Mr. Kaul's religious view, which he graciously shared as a singularly felicitous exception to his rule that religious views should be kept to oneself.
It must be hard to be so smart. To know without investigation or consideration of the evidence, the falsehood of the virgin birth. To know that Jesus Christ, whom even the Muslims respect, was only a clever liar. To know without being on-hand at the dawn of the cosmos that men and women came about from nonliving particles self-organized by a grand explosion. Oh, if only we all could be born so wise to understand these self-evident truths innately. Bear with us, wise one.
Adding insult to injury, after years of evolutionary indoctrination and revisionist history, only a small minority is washed of harmful Christian presuppositions. But take heart and don't feel singled out, Mr. Kaul, because the government schools under the watchful care of the national educators' unions cannot seem to teach basic reading skills to our children either.
I am compelled to correct some of Mr. Kaul's faulty thinking, however. Had he been alive in the twentieth century, he would never have written a statement such as "In almost all wars both sides are imbued with the firm conviction that God is on their side.”
In fact, the overwhelming majority of bloodshed, by a body count of many tens of millions, was perpetrated by the anti-theists Hitler, Stalin, and Mao. These men shared Mr. Kaul's contempt for "fundamentalist" Christians, although I am sure that's where the similarity stops between him and these "fundamentalist" naturalists.
On behalf of the 58% of Americans who believe that you must believe in God to be a moral person perhaps I can add clarification. What they should have said is that it is only belief in God that creates the possibility of being a moral person. You see, in order to make judgments such as good and evil, moral and immoral, you need an absolute moral law to serve as the standard by which such judgments may be pronounced. Only an Absolute Moral Lawgiver, such as God, may supply absolute moral laws.
Without an Absolute Moral Lawgiver, there can be no notion of what is "better" for the individual or for society. There is only room for differences - your preference vs. my preference. The preference that wins out will win based the law of the jungle - "might makes right." Or, in Mr. Kaul's treasured evolutionary terms, "survival of the fittest." For the cultures dominated by Hitler, Stalin, and Mao, this didn't work out the way Mr. Kaul might have guessed.
I don't want to leave Mr. Kaul with the impression that there was no useful information in his essay. I did not know, for instance, that the doctrine of the separation of church and state was written into the constitution. I knew of the protection clauses that were written by the framers to protect religious practice against intrusion from government, but for my own edification - and that of other readers - can I get a reference for this doctrine?
Perhaps in a follow up article, Mr. Kaul can continue his series on other kinds of hatred, besides the Christian kind, that divide Americans and whip up prejudice. Perhaps he can start with his own.

Gary Merkel
Newark, DE

“Priceless”

Your response to Thomas Graham - Too Bad Mice - was Priceless. I never heard of “Too Bad Mice.”

Dorothy Cromeens
Madisonville, TX

Proposition 12

Much of the rhetoric related to Proposition 12, funded by lawyers, has been directed against physicians. The claims have been that doctors are incompetent, money hungry and uncaring individuals. Most physicians, accustomed to being viewed under a magnifying glass, have done little to defend themselves.
During my quarter century of service as a paramedic I have found physicians to be dedicated individuals willing to work long hours. The emergency department physicians I have worked with have always been very competent professionals working under difficult conditions.
Our physicians need a pat on the back for their hard work.

Jim Becka
Splendora, TX 

Re: Open Letter to Martin Sheen 

I have just finished reading the Open Letter to Martin Sheen, written by J. Scott Davis, United States Navy Retired. I don't know when this letter was written but I would like to respond to it. I to am retired from the U.S. Military, the U.S. Army. I have two brothers who served in Vietnam before me. One son just completed a tour of duty in Kosovo. And both of my sons were recently alerted to deployment to Iraq. 
To Mr. Davis I have this to say. Bill Clinton lied about a sexual relationship, and it didn't cost us any lives. George W. Bush lied and continues to lie about Iraqi Weapons of Mass Destruction, Saddam Hussein threats to Americans and people of the Middle East. His lies "have" cost us lives and continue to cost lives! My sons are now looking at deployment to Iraq because of George Jr's lies. 
Mr. Sheen is absolutely correct when he says that there was no cause for invading Iraq. Mr. Davis, how many ambushes did you drive into? How many patrols did you go on down the streets of Iraqi cities? How many body bags have you loaded bodies or body parts into? If you are so damn proud of George W. Bush, why don't you try coming out of retirement and volunteering to take the place of one of my sons who will soon be in Iraq? 
Americans have never fought for our rights on a soil outside of the United States. It has always been about politics, always will be! I salute Mr. Sheen and all who speak up about this unjust conflict; and support our troops at the same time. 
No, Mr. Davis, it is you who stand in shame for supporting this administration and its war on the civilians of Iraqi cities. The Iraqi military gave up before being invaded. 
Thank you for allowing me to vent! 

Bobby McGill 
U.S. Army Retired

Rich #######s own Lake Conroe 

I lived around the Lake Conroe area for years and I am sad to say that anytime I wanted to go enjoy the lake I was run off by snobs who insisted I was trespassing on their property. The little park they built for the public on Highway 105 West is nice.....but, com on man, its so little and its not open all the time. I guess Lake Conroe is just for the rich pricks that there are so many of around there. 
At this time I live in Western Australia and I am able to run my dogs on the beach every day and enjoy the clean blue waters without being hassled by police or rent-a-cops telling me that I am invading someone’s space. The people there (suck bad ......the way I see it....as they see they are able to keep people off the lake under the guise of trespassing. Down here ....no one is allowed to build a house on the beach as it would obstruct the view and hamper the peoples access to the beach. 

Earl and Stephanie Christy
Australia

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