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Letters from our
Readers - September 2004
Lawyers Are Heroes Too
Regarding our lawyers. As a qualification, I've worked very closely with our legal professionals for the past 25 years in five different states and the federal system. During my time observing the give-and-take of the courtroom, I have had the privilege to come in contact with thousands of lawyers and hundreds of judges in our country, and I salute them for their integrity and dedication.
These folks fight our battles for us, they
are our civil soldiers. Our public defenders,
prosecutors, divorce lawyers, personal injury
attorneys, these are the people that do our heavy lifting, protect our rights, fight our fights in a court of law. They are all bound ethically to defend our rights and redress our grievances, even though they may not agree. If they hire-on as your attorney,
they must protect your rights and plead your case.
They are bound by law. Speaking of law, we are so fortunate to live in a country ruled by law rather than might. As an example, here in King County our courthouse was built in 1913, before women had the right to vote. Yet, because we live by the rule of law, and live in a representative democracy, in that old courthouse that was built at a time when women were excluded, we have
approximately 50 percent female judges, 40 percent female lawyers and the support staff is overwhelmingly female. We are all afforded union representation.
All because we live by the rule of law.
We praise, revere, and respect our military
soldiers but when it comes to our civilian soldiers we bash them, criticize them, ridicule them. Maybe we should honor them and respect our legal professionals just as we do our military professionals.
I was told by a judge when I first started my career that the true sign of a free society is the citizens' ability to go to civil court and
fuss-and-fight, spit-and-moan, receive justice without resorting to violence. Don't ever give up our right to sue nor ever cap jury verdicts. What a wonderful country.
Dan Lavielle
Seattle, Wa.
A Brilliant System
"That this government of the people, by the people, and for the people,
shall not perish from the earth."... Abraham Lincoln
Our founding fathers knew that extremists like today's Radical Left and
Radical Right would always be around. That's why they devised a brilliant system
of checks and balances in our governmental structure. That same 'check and balance' system exists in political society. Today, if one or the other group is allowed to take over, we run the risk of living under Communism on the extreme left or Fascism on the extreme right. It is the vast "middle-majority" that keeps the pendulum from swinging too far in either direction. Our history is peppered with difficult periods where radical factions became a real threat
to the nation's stability. In every case, the middle-majority stepped in and did what was necessary to ward off specters like Communism or Fascism. Now, in 2004, a specter has returned. We are faced with the powerful "extreme Right" and the threat of Fascism, which strikes terror in the hearts of all reasonable Americans.
The dictionary defines Fascism as "a system of government characterized by
one-party dictatorship, forcible suppression of opposition, private economic enterprise under centralized government control, belligerent nationalism, racism and militarism. So far we are seeing only the seeds of Fascism in our government. But, given the opportunity to nurture those seeds for another four years, we could see them grow into something monstrous and unrecognizable in a land where the 'fruited plain of Democracy' has flourished for over two hundred years.
In the following manner, under the leadership of George W. Bush, our
government is seriously crossing the boundary between Democracy and Fascism:
1. By fanning the fires of the "Religious Right" -- President Bush undermines
"Separation of Church and State," a key tenet of the United States
Constitution.
2. By undermining "separation of church and state" -- we see the possible
abolishment of this sacred Democratic principle and the establishment of a "one
party dictatorship."
3. By the introduction of "belligerent nationalism" -- President Bush defied
the United Nations and started a war with only a handful of supporters.
4. By the introduction of "militarism" (a direct result of belligerence in matters involving war) -- we are well into a stage where most of the nation's financial resources go to support increasingly powerful military forces.
5. By the exchange of cabinet appointments for huge campaign contributions --
we see the seeds of "private economic enterprise under centralized government
control" … and vice versa.
6. By government manipulation of the media and needless invasions of privacy
-- we see "suppression of the opposition."
7. By polarization of the nation over religious and moral issues -- we see
the seeds of "racism" being planted and nurtured.
Whether you agree or disagree with this analysis, the facts of what's happening in our country speak for themselves. Democrats and Republicans are rallying as never before to keep the pendulum from swinging too far in a very dangerous direction. Now, more than ever, we need to be united in a quest to preserve our Democracy and, by working with other nations, make the world safer and better for ourselves and future generations. We need to work together toward a future where preservation of the environment is more important than corporate gains; Where looking for alternative energy sources is more important than looking for more oil to burn up in the atmosphere; Where the funding of public schools comes without strings attached; Where the state of our nation's economy is not determined by trickle-down economics; Where everyone has affordable health care; Where our leaders strive to unite people on issues they have in common rather than polarize them over issues that are personal and private;
Where compassion is an intrinsic value of both parties and not something
conveniently attached like a label that can be removed when the polls close.
If we truly believe in a government "of the people, by the people, and for the people," in November the vast middle-majority of Democrats and Republicans
will join forces. They will come together to elect a new body of leaders -- leaders who understand the importance of bringing the pendulum back to center where it belongs.
Nancy J. Parsley
Montgomery, TX
You May Be An Anarchist If
I just moved to Conroe from Florida about a month ago. I was getting so tired of all the republicans I saw everywhere, and somehow I came across your Bulletin newspaper... I read the Busho Gas comic and found it quite amusing, thought you might like to check out this website www.crimethinc.com It's almost an anarchist site, but it has a lot of cool flyers, stickers, etc. My friend in Florida had ordered a pack of their stickers and there's one you're supposed to put on all the gas pumps; it says, Fortified with 100% Iraqi blood, thank you for buying death-by-products, or something of the sort. Your comic in here made me think of it, and maybe you'd find that website entertaining. Thanks for showing me that Texas isn't completely brainwashed by dubya.
Brittany Svoboda
Conroe, Texas
There Has To Be Absolutes. Now Go Polish Your Boots
If this is such a free country, then why are they, the Woodlands Library, basically banning most of the Christian books. One of the arguments was to put some of the inappropriate material in the adult section.
Homosexuality is a sin and should be treated as such. We should not be so tolerant with such that we consider it "normal". Our country has forgotten the One who put us here and the One who set the standards for right living. There has to be a right and wrong. There has to be absolutes.
Concerned Citizen
Atrocities A Figment Of Kerry's Mind
There is no lie about what John Kerry did after he came home. He testified to Congress that the military were committing atorcities that were a figment of his imagination. We were at war. He betrayed the men he deserted and his country. No one helped the enemy more than John Kerry. Ask the POW's that survived what they think of him when they were showed his traitorous statement and toutured because they would not sign it. Some of which did not make it home thanks to Kerry.
I have personally met swift boat vets that are against him and for good reason. They have a valid issue that needs to come out. How would you feel fighting and have one of your own saying you are committing atrocities and it was untrue? I am old enough to remember what John Kerry did and he is Unfit for Command. The Vets are not all Republicans and to infer that is left wing
bias. www.kerryonIraq.com
Treva Bennett
Sun City Ca
Texas Getting Health Coverage to Children in Record Numbers
The number of Texas children and families getting assistance from the Children’s Health Insurance Program is great fodder for Texas newspapers and editorial pages these days. But those using CHIP to bash state leaders are, intentionally or not, missing a very big part of the Texas children’s health care success story.
The truth is more children are getting health insurance coverage from the State of Texas in 2004 than any other year in history. Why the confusion? Because CHIP is not the only taxpayer funded children’s health insurance program. Children’s Medicaid, another state-federal partnership, gets health coverage to hundreds of thousands of poor Texas kids.
Today, CHIP and Medicaid serve more than 2.1 million Texas children. That’s 1.1 million more Texas children getting health coverage than just five years ago.
Texas is prioritizing health care spending, with health care spending far outpacing our population and inflation growth. Since 1990, Texas Medicaid spending is up 400% compared to 27% population growth and 37% inflation growth. CHIP funding is up from $1.7 million in 1998 to $563 million in 2003. Medicaid funding is up from $10.3 billion to $16.2 billion during the same period.
Even when facing a massive $10 billion state budget shortfall last year, Texas legislators appropriated $1.2 billion in new health and human services funding. We protected CHIP eligibility for families earning up to 200% of the federal poverty level.
It is true that there are children leaving CHIP rolls. But it’s unclear whether the improving Texas economy or other factors are behind the change. According to the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, 40% of those leaving the CHIP failed to complete the renewal process, 18% were found ineligible because of their income of other reason, and 25% were redirected from CHIP to Medicaid because their family incomes were so low.
Federal law requires that the poorest children are covered by Medicaid rather than CHIP. Although CHIP offers a better match of federal dollars to state expenditures, Texas has no choice but to move qualified recipients from CHIP to Medicaid if they qualify for Medicaid, and 25% of the children who leave CHIP enroll in Medicaid.
Critics point to legislatively-mandated enrollment changes as a reason for falling CHIP rolls. It is true that to avoid fraud and misuse of tax dollars, CHIP families are now required to reenroll every six months instead of once a year. But even after the changes in enrollment criteria, more children are re-enrolling in CHIP in 2004 than 2003, and fewer are found to be ineligible.
In fact, more Texas children are enrolled in CHIP and Medicaid than experts anticipated. The Texas Legislature will have to address $600 million in unexpected CHIP and Medicaid funding needs when we reconvene in Austin in January. When the new $600 million and the matching federal funds are taken into consideration, Texas will ultimately spend $2 billion more on health and human services in the fiscal year 2004-2005 state budget that the previous two-year budget cycle.
So the next time you hear criticism of Texas’ commitment to CHIP and health care, remember the truth. More than a million more Texas kids are getting health coverage from the State of Texas than just five years ago. Thirty-two percent of Texas children are covered by Medicaid or CHIP, up from 16% in May 2000.
Ruben Hope
Conroe, Texas
How can the Pope not be aware of the Vatican's crimes?
The pope condemns human cloning and arrogance of man. This all sounds nice but ask a starving child or someone dying of a disease which cloning research can cure - Who is more arrogant, those who want to help improve the quality of life and create life or those who take life? And to put things in a more clear perspective, let's not forget that all previous popes were all against blood transfusions, organ transplants, prescription drugs, vaccines etc. and yet the current pope would have surely died 15 years ago if not for these scientific advances.
But did he refuse these advances of science? No! And while the pope also compares cloning to "the Nazi experiments carried out in WWII", he waves a beautiful flag but speaks nothing of the truth. For one, not telling of the vatican's profiting from their helping Nazi criminals to flee Germany to escape justice. (Attys Easton and Levy - Alperin v. Vatican Bank was originally filed in Federal Court in San Francisco in November 1999. The plaintiffs are concentration camp survivors of Serb, Jewish, and Ukrainian background and their relatives as well as organizations representing over 300,000 Holocaust victims. The plaintiffs seek an accounting and restitution of the Nazi Croatian Treasury that according to the US State Department was illicitly transferred to the Vatican bank and other banks after the end of the war.
Even considering its great strength to hide the truth and point the finger at others, the very foundation of the vatican is crumbling as is the myth of god. Humanity owes its existence to The Elohim. ELOHIM were spoken of in the bible, god was not. And the vatican has likely known this for a long, long time.
The Raileans
Ye-Ha For Tobacco
While there was no discernible "Ye-Ha!" in Texas at the recent elevation of Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas) to Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce; the jubilant celebration at RJR and tobacco growing states is unmistakable.
Historically, tobacco legislation has to pass through the House Committee on Commerce. Once again, the Tobacco Cartel has managed to place one of its most dedicated defenders in charge of anti-tobacco legislation and put off the inevitable demise of tobacco another four years. Barton has the power now to assure anti-tobacco bills are never considered and thus "die in-committee".
The combination of Barton’s "Kill Bill" status and the no-policy-policy of corporate led congressional leaders like Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson (R-Tex) have lowered Texas to the morbid status as the leading Tobacco State.
It is naive to assume that congressional representatives like Barton and Hutchison work for the health and welfare of their constituents. It is more accurate to recognize that they respond best to corporate direction and the needs of wealthy tobacco investors.
It is obvious that Barton and Hutchison supporters don’t mind the 400,000 deaths per year from tobacco. It is obvious that Barton and Hutchison supporters don’t mind the $80 billion per year in expenditures for tobacco related illnesses. It is obvious that Barton and Hutchison supporters don’t mind the Senate’s recent $12 billion buyout of tobacco growers.
Leonard Jensen
Fort Worth, Texas
What Would You Expect from The Courier?
In the Courier article on August 27, 2004, Shannon Bones compared the deaths of our 943 American soldiers in Iraq to the more than 17,000 Americans who have died in car crashes caused by alcohol. She then asks why "no one is protesting alcohol".
As a matter of fact, Ms. Bones, I presently have a Mothers Against Drunk Driving ribbon attached to the radio antenna of my car!
I hate these kind of comparisons! This comparison degrades the deaths of our soldiers as well as our loved ones who have died on America's streets by drunk drivers.
This speech was given to Republican Women.
Wake up, Women of Montgomery County! The caption on a Villager photo in the Thursday, Aug. 27, 2004 paper showed the first woman delegate from Montgomery County to attend a Republican National Convention. If this is true, why did it take over 30 years for the Montgomery County Republican Party to send a woman delegate to their National Convention?
Spend your time comparing a Kerry / Edwards administration vs. the Bush / Cheney administration and their impact on the Iraq War, healthcare & prescription drugs in America, the environment, and jobs within our shores!
Janis Allen
Spring, Texas
Where Do I Get Bumper Stickers?
I saw the Kerry address in Montgomery Co. to get bumper stickers. I guess I missed the Bush one in an earlier edition of the Bulletin. Could you pass it along for my students ? Also any Green, Reform or Libertarian addresses to get bumper stickers or buttons.
Randy Neumeyer
History Instructor-NHCC
(The Montgomery County Republican office address is 310 Collins in Downtown Conroe. Maybe one of our readers can help with Green, Reform, or Libertarian information.)
Questions All Americans Need to Answer for Themselves
First, let me state that I am a Veteran, I am a Christian, I am Patriotic and I love America. Americans need to answer a few open questions concerning their support for the Bush Administration. Who would have ever imagined that we would enable a president and an administration to use carte blanc on turning the country and the world upside down?
Deficits don't matter? No kidding? Tell that to your children and grandchildren. Wonder what they will think of us for handing them such a legacy?
How will they judge us for invading countries on false pretenses and killing thousands of innocents while condemning the former dictator for killing thousands of innocents? How will they judge us for putting reservists on the battlefield on active duty for long tours of duty where many of them die? How will we stack up as a nation of men and women who blame only a few for the atrocities at Abu Ghraib prison, rather than look to the core?
How will we be seen as a nation of parents who celebrate a president who goes AWOL to avoid a war while past veterans of war try to rip apart Kerry, a comrade in arms who put his life on the line for his country? What will we have told our children about honor, duty and country in that perverse exercise?
How will we be seen as a moral nation who raises cain about gay marriages, abortion, yet underfunds the education of our own children in the No Child Left Behind Act? How will we fare in the eyes of our children, as we look the other way, while our leader and representatives give themselves, the rich, 2 Trillion dollars in tax cuts while cutting Veterans benefits, including those returning from the Iraq War? How is it many veterans have been turned away completely from getting any benefits at all, after putting their lives on the line for this great nation?
How can Alan Greenspan continue to issue warnings that Social Security and Medicare are in peril, when the "haves" are having an endless beer bust on the 2 Trillion dollar tax cuts of redistributed wealth to the rich at the expense of the working people? To add insult to injury, these rich fiduciaries of public job creation thank us hard working Americans by sending our jobs overseas to China? How will our kids write the history of a lame America in the making, because we, their fathers and mothers, don't seem to know what to do about it all?
I would hate to live to see the report cards our kiddos give us for fouling the streams, rivers and lakes to where the fish cannot be eaten without concern. For destroying the great country, the endless wildernesses in our land by allowing CO2 emissions and mercury air pollutants to cover every square inch of every state in land area and water area, without exception. Without one square inch anywhere in this land being immune to our irresponsible yielding to the greed of Bush's "have-mores." Or when the air and ozone warnings tell us to stay indoors on certain days. We have become our own jailers, and our bars are the chemicals that restrict our movements or kill us. Our children must know how bad we fail at not doing anything about it.
If Bush gets reelected, the other shoe must fall. Social programs will be privatized into oblivion. Putting more Americans in the category of "poverty and uninsured." Wonder what our kids will say if we continue to believe the tripe that tax cuts help American jobs with livable wages when the poverty/employment figures don't lie? How will they judge us?
I can vote and speak out, but I cannot manipulate an election or pay for billions of dollars of advertising to affect human action of any kind. I can vote and tell my friends and family to go and do likewise. I can say to them that I understand basic mathematics. I am not trying to pull the wool over anyone's eyes, including my own. That deficits do matter and tax cuts are fatal when we have 400 billion dollar deficits that get added to a 7.5 trillion dollar debt each year. I can tell others. That's all I can do. So everybody just vote your conscience. All of us who have one will do the right thing, I guarantee it.
Mick Walker
Humble, Texas
McNeel Must Be A Moron!
I read to the end the long diatribe regarding the 'taking over' of a restaurant by unexpected patrons. It was strange to regard anyone disagreeing with turning a sports bar into a political haunt, especially when (as stated in the first part of the 'report') these people were supposed to have an area set aside for them. Whenever I go to a place and it's full (as this area apparently was) there may be accommodations made but not at the detriment to other patrons. Perhaps our 'writer' (opinionated little guy that he is) doesn't consider his rants to be trivial, but to dine and see Kerry's face (and sometimes his ugly billionaire mutt) is asking too much of most sane people. Thanks for letting us see that there are some thinking people out there, and that you, in your attempt at 'humor' or 'reportage' have seen fit to besmirch them "but I think it's insane for people making ten-thousand dollars a year
wanting so hard to re-elect George W. Bush..." Only a moron could say that and mean it, clearly the billionaire and his mutt don't care about anyone making $10,000 a year
Joe Marquez
How We Can Win The War
It is a shocking reversal of the President's prior declarations to say that he doesn't believe we can win the war on terror. We can and must defeat the brand of radical Islamic extremism that is threatening our nation and the free world.
The President's statement today is a reflection that his Administration does not have a global strategy to win this war by attacking the terrorists, protecting the homeland, and preventing the rise of future
terrorists.
A comprehensive strategy should include, at a minimum, the following policies, which currently are not being aggressively pursued by the Administration:
Attacking the Terrorists
**Doubling the United States Special Forces capabilities (to 100,000);
**Increasing Army end strength by 60,000;
**Creating a strategy to eliminate known terrorist sanctuaries;
**Reforming intelligence agencies to recruit better sources, improve
collection activities and promote information
sharing.
Protecting the Homeland
**Strengthening counterproliferation efforts around the globe to secure nuclear and radiological materials around the globe;
**Developing the full range of needed medicines to counter bioterrorism;
**Deploying a border screening system for foreign visitors that connects all U.S. terrorism databases;
**Investing in personnel, infrastructure, and technology to secure our
porous borders;
**Securing vulnerable chemical plants;
**Requiring screening of all cargo placed on passenger aircraft and cargo
containers that enter U.S. ports.
Preventing the Rise of Future Terrorists
**Creating partnerships to provide secular educational opportunities for
youth in Muslim countries;
**Developing partnerships between the U.S. and Middle East nations to stimulate economic growth and transition to free market economies;
**Building joint academic centers between U.S. and Middle East universities
to promote scholarly and cultural exchanges;
**Improving communication of United States policies and values in the
Arab/Muslim world."
These policies and others are recommended in the 9/11 Commission
Report and Winning the War on Terror(available at
http://www.house.gov/hsc/democrats/issues_winning_war_terror.shtml
Congressman Jim Turner
I'm Impressed
You put the swift action retort in, I'm surpised, but impressed, didn't think it'd happen. Thank you.
However, once again I pick up your paper to find more extreme exagerations in it. 'Star wars' and 'no child', both phony.
Please come on, the President realizes that a nuclear defense shild is the right thing for America, and I agree. I mean how on Earth chould you be agianst a program to keep those pesky N. Korrean nukes away, we must confront reality, and take preventive measures while we can, didn't you read the 9/11 report, lack of imagination was the key word. We must act to defend ourselves against the very real threat of nuclear weapons, and the missel shield is the way to do it.
No Child Left Behind Take for instance the simple fact W took Texas illiteracy rates for third graders from a horrible 23% down to a more reasonable less than 2%. How, by changing the horrible whole language method being taught around the county, to the method being practiced in the most expensive of private schools, phonics. This change had an enormous impact for Texas, the scientifically proven methods Bush used, and by implementing phonics reversed that trend even as non-English speaking immigrants are still coming into the country.
The bill mandated more frequent tests for those in the pivotal years of learning, and 1.1 billion to the schools that adopted the phonics method over the disastrously failing whole language method. Bush has changed the landscape of American education and put public schools on the same footing as private ones. Education expenditures are also up an outstanding 49% under Bush.
The failings of the whole language method, New York City: 65% East LA: 57%
Miami: 63% Nationally: 23% of the nation's adults (16+) can only read at the most rudimentary level.
The inventors of whole word and men leading the national campaign to undo the No Child Left behind Act, Kenneth Goodman
reproter "Should teachers correct spelling errors?" Goodman “What’s an error”
Why shouldn’t we switch to the method taught in even the finest private schools in our public schools? Goodman “Even if tests show phonics works better, you shouldn’t be telling teachers how to teach.”
Somehow no one objects to history or science tests, but the most underlying and important skill we gain is reading. How can a child learn History or Science if one can’t read?
Frank Smith, the other inventor of whole language “Reading is in fact, overvalued”
“Literacy doesn’t make anyone a better person” Those on the methods initiated by these two ‘academics’ the nation has been turning out millions of illiterate children.
Dems vs. Republicans education goals
In her book, it takes a village; Hillary Clinton endorsed reading recovery, a whole language approach to remedial reading that produces shockingly poor results. New Zealand reports no reading acceleration
Indiana a quarter of the students who took this program still couldn’t read.
Not anymore, the No Child Left Behind Act is so earth shacking, so right for every American, not even Senator Kerry claims it needs to go, he only says it needs to be properly funded, totally ignoring the fact that Education expenatures have risen 49% under Bush.
William Lawrence
Montgomery, Texas
You are so right
I'm so glad someone finally put in print just how President Bush got in to Yale and managed to stay there and eke out with a low "C." He continued that attitude and past times when he was assigned to the Guard in Alabama. He was indeed gone a good deal of the time....I'd heard this and saw the page of his records that they so proudly displayed, even though it showed he was absent for several months and was grounded because he didn't take a physical. I just found out for sure that this is indeed true, as well as other rumors of those years. I have a relative who served in that unit who has verified those rumors to me....unfortunately, my relative has a very high-ranking job in an east coast TV station and would lose his job if he publicized his first-hand knowledge of those events.
Now, our "Leave No Child Behind" President has instead severely underfinanced that program and embraced another plan: "Leave No Millionaire Behind."
Bea Rouse
Montgomery, Texas
Check Your Facts
Re the swift boat editorial---do you ever check the facts before you say something is a "lie" You are "smearing" combat veterans [the swift boat veterans] As a professional researcher and attorney [and a combat
veteran of Viet Nam], I have carefully researched the facts---but not the opinions,
and my conclusion is that two purple hearts were unintentionally inflicted and at a time when there was no "hostile fire"--a requirement for the award of a purple heart.
The same situation, "no hostile fire"
applies when he was awarded the bronze star.As to the silver star--if you consider killing a wounded man as deserving of that award, then I can't convince you otherwise.
Cotton Ruthven
Old Miss.
If You’re Not Republican Get Out Of Montgomery County
I read with some amusement your letter titled, "You May Be An Anarchist If". The tone of your letter leads me to believe you are a "young person", even though you recently came here via Florida.
Why did you move here in the first place, in as much as Montgomery County is primarily a Republican county. I can only wonder at your wisdom since you obviously have such a dislike of Republicans. It must be that either your parents moved here and you had no choice, or if you are an adult, you may qualify for the title "dubya" yourself. Or would that be, "dubyess".
Now, I won't preach to you about the criminality of placing unwanted stickers on gas pumps, you obviously lack the maturity to understand the rebuke, but I will say that if you so strongly believe our fuel supply in this country is based on blood money, then you can truly protest by not buying any gasoline. None ... nada ... zero ... you can ride a bicycle or horse to work.
Of course, you can always move back to Florida, where the topic of discussion by Democrats is whether a chad is hanging or not.
Larry L. Melton
Conroe, TX
Over 2,000 Christian Books In The Woodlands Library
In a world of many uncertainties, there are few absolutes. One absolute, however, is that you are wrong about the Woodlands Library banning Christian books. There are over 2000 Christian books in the library.
Never has one been rejected unless it is not in good condition or because there are already enough copies. The library does not want to dictate to you about your beliefs, but it is here to serve all the taxpayers. What boots? From one who knows.
Name Withheld
(The heading on the letter last week was ‘There has to be absolutes, now go polish your boots.’ The letter was about the library banning Christian books, and Homosexuality being a sin. The letter ended with [There has to be right and wrong. There has to be absolutes.] I added Now go polish your boots. I just think it looks better when the local Gestapo high steps it across the county to have shiny boots. -Mike
Ladyman, Editor)
Amen and Amen
Letter re: How We Can Win The War by Rep. Jim Turner & A Hole in the Boat, Is the middle class going under? by Mark Williams
Hi, I'm writing from San Diego County, California. I'd like to comment on Jim Turner's letter, and Mark Williams commentary.
That's an interesting list that Congressman Jim Turner says will help win the war. But the two items that resonate with me are "Deploying a border screening system for foreign visitors that connects all U.S. terrorism databases; Investing in personnel, infrastructure, and technology to secure our porous borders.
Amen and Amen from a native Californian. You've heard of California, the state with the most legal and illegal immigrants. The state with the most people living in poverty and with lowest education. The state whose education and medical systems are melting under the onslaught of millions of illegals. The state that recalled its governor for pandering to illegals. [per exit polls: 70% of general population, 60% of voters from union households, 40% of Latino voters]
And to Mark Williams, it's true that Bush has done all but stand on the border and holler "Y'all come on over". But don't forget that Kerry has promised an outright amnesty for millions of illegals in his first 100 days.
So either way the blue-collar middle class will take it in the shorts. Unless -- I SAY UNLESS -- each of us gets mad as hell-cats and burn the grassroots around both of them. Have you heard of the "Political Human Sacrifice" project of two drive-time talk radio hosts in Los Angeles county? http://www.johnandken.com
Their listeners have selected 2 Congressman to be replaced [sacrificed] by voters in their districts, because the Republican refuses to speak out against illegal immigration [his voting record is worse than Teddy Kennedy's] and the Democrat is totally committed to supporting anything illegal that comes his way. I guarantee if you call your Congressman and ask if they know about the Political Human Sacrifice in California against David Dreier and Joe Baca, they will have heard about it.
The powers-that-be in both parties have tried to keep the subject of illegal immigration off the table in this election cycle. But that danged firestorm in the grassroots just won't go away and keeps getting hotter by the day. Adding fuel to the fire is this week's TIME Magazine cover story "Who Left the Door Open?"
http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=40417
And your call to the White House 202-456-1111 and your Congressman 800-648-3516 will keep the fires stoked.
Barbara Vickroy
Escondido CA
We are in big trouble
I agree with your article. We are in big trouble. I don't see either political party addressing the concerns of America. There is a deafening silence.
Globalism, corporate greed, unrestrained illegal immigration, foolish liberal judges, divided and uneffective government, unprincipled trial lawyers, generations of poorly raised children, a dishonest news media and the demise of basic decency both here and abroad has left us in a tough spot.
The Democrats are culturally repugnant and have sold out the cultural values of the middle class. The Republicans are totally in bed with the Global Corporate dominance and have economically sold out the Middle Class.
Another election year is upon us and there is no change in sight. I don't trust either party. There words are just noise on the television. The lack of inspiration and hope in the campaigns is very disappointing.
Every year more freedoms go the way of history and greater uncertainty and fear looms on the horizon. It does not matter who wins the election for the average American. We pull for our party, knowing full well, if they win they are taking the country no where.
Like the good sheep we have been trained to expect to be fleeced in the season. I would go march on Washington DC but I have a 60+ hour a week job I need to hold on to. Good jobs are hard to find.
Good Article,
Don Sparks
Katy Texas
You flip flop like Kerry and go back to Florida
First I would like to respond to the letter by Janis Allen "What would you Expect from the Courier". The "article" that you are talking about, was not an "article" but a "letter to the Editor" just LIKE the one that YOU WROTE and submitted to the Courier. I like the Courier and I read it every, no I do not agree with everything that is published in the paper. The same with the Bulletin. I read it and there are times that I do not agree with what is written, but isn't that called "Freedom of Speech"?
Are you a Democrat? Just wondering because you seem to "flip flop" just like Kerry does? You write that you hate the comparisons of deaths of soldiers and victims of drunk drivers....are they both horrible, death is death is death...there is no way to make it pretty! Like I said in a previous letter, the soldiers need our support wether we agree with the War or not!
Ok, so the woman that is a delegate from Montgomery County is the first one from Mo. Co? Your point would be???????? Do you know how many delegates there are for each convention from each state? Do you know how many counties are in the State of Texas? Did you check to see if there has ever been a Democratic woman delegate from Mont. County?
I would like to know if you know the answers to these questions, before you tell the woman of Montgomery County to wake up!!
Secondly, I would like to respond to the lady "You May Be An Anarchist If" by Brittany Svoboda. All I have to say is, if you don't like Conroe & Montgomery County.... GO BACK TO FLORIDA!!! I have been in this County my whole life and I wouldn't' t have it any other way! Yes, there are alot of Republicans that live in Mo. County, and NO WE ARE NOT ALL BRAINWASHED BY DUBYA! We are just citizens that are concerned with how our nation will be during the next 4 years if we let Kerry into office! Can you tell me one thing that Kerry has said or done, that he has actually stood behind? You may not agree with all that Bush says or does...but at least he sticks behind what he says. He says he is going to do something and he ACTUALLY does it! That is more than you can say for Kerry!
J. Reeves
Willis, TX
You make me want to puke
I just picked up the bulletin for the first time (and last) to look at the ads. I read some of your articles bashing Republicans and as usual, ad nauseam, it was the same old mean hate filled rhetoric that comes out of the side of the mouths of crazed left wing radical liberals. The dems shrillness only gets louder and the lies and name callling begins when they know they are losing the battle to turn our country into a socialist welfare state. The liberal democrats can dish it out but they can't take it. The bulletin made me want to puke.
Don't bother answering with more of your hateful blah blah blah. I'll delete it on sight.
Maureen Cromeans
Spring, Texas
Silly Me
Silly me, I didn't realize I had to choose my place of residence based on my political affiliations.
To judge all Floridians on faulty equipment seems somewhat immature to me. The hanging chad may be the topic of discussion by Democrats; that's only because the Republicans stole the Florida vote.
I prefer my youth to your close-mindedness.
Brittany Svoboda
Conroe, TX
The thing speaks for itself
It's so obvious that these guys have been bought and some have their own agendas, like O'Neill. You sure do your homework----I'm glad you set out the specifics on the Bush tactics and who is obviously behind these ads. Why else would two of Bush's campaign quit after their connections came out. I was glad to learn that the picketers were honing in on one these financiers of this slander, Perry. One goes so far as to say he "knows," though he can't come up with any facts to prove it, that his service and injuries were all a huge scheme by Kerry because he knew he was going to run for office....he'd have us believe that Kerry did what? ....sorta stuck his leg out in the way of shrapnel or bullets, carefully receiving three minor injuries?
How dare he accept three purple hearts, a silver medal and bronze medal for being there only four months . . . course, that's probably only slightly less that Bush was on duty in Alabama.
There is a legal term that I think applies to this ridiculous issue: res ipsa loquitur--"The thing speaks for itself." If Kerry's boat and Rassman's boat hadn't been under fire, why the heck was Rassman in the water and needing rescue? Was he out for a midnight swim? . . . did he jump in so he could be saved and get a medal, a part of his grand scheme, too? . . . or would they have us believe that Rassman wasn't in the water at all? Pullllllleeeeze!
I was also terribly disappointed in Bob Dole's statement of last week, doubting that any of Kerry's injuries brought blood. His statements are a slap in the face of all veterans who received purple hearts for "minor injuries." I guess Mr. Dole thinks the only people entitled to receive them are those who lost an arm or leg....or loss of the use of an arm.
TALK ABOUT INCENTIVE to make the Swift Boat ad. I'd like the neighbors of each of those guys to keep a look out for a sudden show of economic improvement now, such as new cars, etc.
Check this out-----Swift Boat Vet Got $40M Contract From Bush
Click here: www.Misleader.org : Daily Mislead
Bea Rouse
Montgomery
No textbook left behind
There is a problem in American education that can be solved right here in Texas. The system of selecting school books in Texas has evolved into a process that does not serve students, teachers, administrators or book publishers well. It can and should be changed.
First and foremost, the books cost too much, eating away at school budgets like cancer. This is caused by the fact that they are simply too long and too large. We have many students in Texas that do not weigh as much as the textbooks they are assigned in school.
Why do they contain so many pages? Quite a few are consumed with expensive to publish pictures which excuse students from having to read to learn. Also, much of the material included in today's school books is
not addressed by teachers, who are unable to wade through hundreds of pages in a single semester. Some teachers actually write guided reading plans so that students only need to focus on the important parts of the book and skip the unnecessary areas. Certainly, there are standards that
can be applied to determine the minimum content, and this process might identify the extra (often untaught and overlooked) information that adds cholesterol to our
education system. Focusing on core information and reducing the number of
pictures and the excessive volume of verbiage would significantly reduce
both the size and cost of textbooks.
Congratulations to the publishers
that use highly qualified teachers and professionals to write their books.
Each time a new book is published and adopted it is a revised and updated edition of the former book, yet taxpayers again are charged the high rate for each book.
School budgets are strained by the high cost of textbooks today, but this should not be the case since textbook publishers have an
economic advantage over the commercial publishing world. Whereas, Barnes and Noble and their distributors take a cut of every book you buy at their stores, textbook publishers usually do not share the profits from school books with middle men. They sell directly to school systems. This should make school books cheaper than commercial books but it doesn't.
Repeat sales of textbooks appear to be necessary because students simply wear them out going back and forth between home and classroom, and they occasionally lose them altogether. Administrators say that their ability to collect the used books or the cost of the replacement textbooks is hampered. Educators say that they need more options in recovering the cost of lost books from the student. They want the
student to pay for lost books and not the
taxpayers. With many books costing sixty dollars per subject this amounts to an incredible sum.
Texas replaces its textbooks every eight to nine years on average. These books might last longer if classroom sets were provided and each student kept their own books at home. Some systems choose this option and say that it is a great way to alleviate many problems.
Another improvement would be for textbook publishers to specify the readability level at which they are written. Giving a ninth grade student a text book which is actually written at a ninth grade reading
level reinforces the need for a student to advance in learning to read while at
the same time learning math, science or history. Allowing students to coast through a grade while reading books written two or three grade levels lower does not serve the student or the public interest well.
Conversely, books above grade level have the opposite problem.
Finally, the back loaded system of having publishers bring hardbound, completed textbooks to the Texas State Board of Education for approval must be changed. Publishers should be asked to provide drafts or galley prints (like commercial publishers do with authors) in
advance. This would allow many interested groups sufficient time to review the proposed books and offer comments on content. Only after the content is accepted, should publishers print and bind the books.
The system of selecting textbooks in Texas affects many other states. A mandated reduction of 10% in the cost of textbooks would have saved Texas taxpayers $30 million in 2003 alone, while at the same time
making books smaller and lighter, and allowing publishers to maintain the
same profit margins by not having to reproduce unnecessary pictures or
verbiage. Imagine what this effort could save school systems around the
nation.
Linda Bauer
Member, Texas State Board of Education
District 8
(Editors Note: Imagine what we could save if we used a 50 cent cd?)
Protect our children
As a former Montgomery County Womens Center staff person and board member of the Texas Association Against Sexual Assault, I have served victims of child molestation, incest and sexual assault. I am deeply concerned about the misinformation unsupported by fact that those in our community use to connect homosexuality to the "recruitment" and abuse of children.
Over 90% of sexual violence is committed by heterosexuals, over 50% of those perpetrators are known by or related to the victims. Montgomery County Womens Center offers volunteer training that educates about who molesters really are, how they select and manipulate their victims and what we can do to stop this crime. False information hinders the work of agencies that serve victims and misdirects community effort to protect our children.
Jeanne Edmonds
The Woodlands, Texas
What Is That?
A few years ago, the Texas Federation of Teachers arranged a visit to an Austin elementary school for a group of teacher union leaders from another nation. As we walked down a hallway we passed a cafeteria where students were eating lunch… a spectacle which stopped the foreign guests in their tracks.
Pointing at the activity in the cafeteria one of them asked, “What is that?” Upon learning that the school serves lunch to students, a guest asked incredulously, “You feed them lunch every day?”
“Yes,” replied the school principal, “and we feed them breakfast too.”
Schools in other nations don’t feed schoolchildren. In fact, our schools serve children in many ways that Americans take for granted, though these extra services to children are rare outside our borders.
The first of these extra services comes very early in the day, when a school bus picks up students and carries them to school. While other nations leave that task to somebody else, our school bus drivers frequently provide door-to-door delivery of their precious cargo.
Since the U.S. is the only industrialized nation without a national health care system, our schools also have shouldered part of this responsibility. Whether it’s aspirin or insulin, school nurses are ready to help. School nurses are rarely found in other nations’ schools, and the cost for any nurse visiting a school would come out of the nation’s health care budget, not from school funds.
School money doesn’t pay for organized sports in most other nations. Our coaches teach all day and then tackle this task after school and on weekends. Other nations’ schools let municipal programs, privately-formed clubs and associations, or religious institutions bear this load.
The list of services provided by our schools, but hardly ever found in other countries, is long. We counsel kids, feed them and tend to some of their basic medical needs. We provide educational opportunities for teenage mothers (and often watch over baby so mother can continue her education). We give troubled children a variety of special classes where they can continue to learn despite their behavioral problems.
Because our schools are “full service” institutions, we often get a bum rap from politicians who want an excuse to vote against school funding. Critics point out that 90 cents of every education dollar spent in the other countries winds up in the classroom, while only about half of educational spending in Texas goes directly for instructional costs. The allegation is that our schools waste money, while foreign schools are more efficient.
Probably our schools could be more efficient, but the main reason we don’t drive every dime of education dollars directly into the classroom is that we pay for services to children that other nations’ schools ignore. Transportation, school meals, sports programs and counseling services cost money. But these things are also important if we want to give every kid a fair shot at an education.
Classroom teachers make up about 50% of the work force in our schools, but that does not mean that the other folks on the payroll are drones who contribute nothing to the cause. Take away our buses and some children would never make it to school. Cutting out breakfast and lunch programs would leave many children trying to learn with empty bellies. Eliminate extra-curricular programs and some students will drop out and lose a shot at a college scholarship.
We can never repay the debt we owe the dedicated teachers who have made Texas schools a shining star in recent years. Nor do adequate words exist to thank the bus drivers, food service workers, school nurses, guidance counselors, secretaries, aides and paraprofessionals who give our schools the ability to take care of so many of children’s needs.
Texas’ public schools will provide a great education to over 4 million students this year, but that is only half the story. No other nation does so much good for so many kids as do our full-service public schools.
John Cole
Pres., Texas Federation of Teachers
Where Is Rummy?
Is it just me or has Rumsfeld become an albatros for the Bush Adminisration? It's pretty obvious that he's not around---not even mentioned. Like, "Rumsfield who?
And, what about Powell? I can't help but to think that Colin Powell's absence . . . or boycot of the RNC Convention, just has to be because of his feelings about the war, etc. Why else wouldn't they be parading their favorite, most respected African American Secretary?
Throughout the testimony before the UN, the beginning of the Iraq invasion, and up until literally a very few weeks ago, he has been in line and doing as he was told.
NOW, with the RNC convention going on in New York . . . instead of him being a speaker . . . he's in Panama for an inocuous inauguration!
Why hasn't a reporter caught up with him and asked him why he's not at the convention?
Why hasn't a reporter asked anyone at the convention why? Why is no one . . . virtually NO ONE answering these questions?
Come on, folks . . . let us all know.
Bea Rouse
Montgomery, TX
Clarity Of Message
You have to give credit to the Bush administration. Their message is clear. People not only understand it they, believe it. The only problem is it is completely untrue.
The words coming out of the Bush administration are a study in bait and switch. They are the pinnacle of “say one thing and do another.”
Yet…. People still don't see it.
Why?
Because they don't want to see it. People are voting for what they think George Bush stands for – not what he actually stands for.
Because The Bush administration stays on topic no matter what happens – no matter what the facts.
Because no one challenges the assertions. Bush makes a statement and no one stands up and say “Hey! Mr. President you are wrong!”
Because the Bush administration understands the KISS principal. Something John Kerry doesn't.
The past 3 and a half years have explained to me how Hitler came to power in Germany. Previously I naively was mind boggled by how it was that the good, sane citizens of Germany came to be led around the nose by a Nazis. The recipe is actually fairly simple. The ingredients are fear, pejorative statements, secrecy, lies, a bought press and economic uncertainty. The directions are easy: stir.
The Bush administration has the poor and middle class thinking they are getting tax relief when it is Bush' peers who are actually getting the lion's share.
The Bush administration has people believing that there is no global warming.
The Bush administration has people believing that budget deficits don't matter.
The Bush administration has people believing that “strong" decisions as opposed to good decisions are what are important.
The Bush administration has people believing that outsourcing American jobs is good
The Bush administration has people believing that letting illegal aliens work in the United States is good.
The Bush administration has people believing that it good to have a law that says that the government CAN NOT request competitive contracts on drugs for seniors or the poor.
The Bush administration has people believing that it's OK to ignore the Geneva Convention.
The Bush administration has people believing that the fact that there were no Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq should not reflect on their decision making.
The Bush administration has people believing that people standing up for what they believe in is unpatriotic.
The Bush administration has people believing that it's OK to have amendments to the constitution that take away people's rights instead of protecting them.
Honestly…. I don't know what scares me more; The bush administration or the people who believe what the Bush administration tells them.
Angie Pratt
www.politicalposts.com
How Hope Keeps From Losing Sleep
For the past few months I have enjoyed reading your enlightened take on Montgomery County, Texas, and USA politics. For the most part, I think you are right on. I even read the letters to the editor from the 'far right' who are almost always wrong. I have wondered though why you would print letters from anyone who would not have their name printed. If a letter to the editor will not allow a name to be attached, the letter should go in the trash.
In your September 3 issue you printed a letter from State Representative, Ruben Hope stating his views on the current state of Childrens Health Care in our State. His letter seems to pretty much take the rationalized position of all of our State Officials that everything is great. He even mentions that the current state of CHIPS is "great fodder for Texas newspapers and editorial pages" and guess what appears in the Sunday September 5 issue of the Houston Chronicle but an editorial on this fiasco that counters all claims that this program is a success. What are we to believe? I think I will take the opinion of a conservative oriented newspaper editor over the vested interest straight down the party line view of a super conservative state legislator.
I once read something to the effect that the ability to rationalize is what separates those of us with relatively sound minds from those who are overwhelmed by issues and events. I think Mr. Hope's and Governor Perry's ability to rationalize the CHIP issue will keep them from loosing any sleep over sick children but please do not try to foster this distorted view on the rest of us. "You can fool some of the people some of the time---------, etc."
If you want to print this, you can print my name but but please leave address and phone number off.
Thanks for listening.
Thad S. Yarbrough
Spring, Texas
No Hope for kids
Regarding " The Bulletin” (Montgomery County)- Letter, 9/12/04, “Texas Getting Health Coverage to Children in Record Numbers" by State Rep.
Ruben Hope In his quest to cloud the reality of devastating cuts to the Children's Health Insurance Program, Rep. Ruben Hope fails to mention the most obvious reason for the enrollment decline in the program: budget cuts passed by the legislature reduced the number of CHIP slots by over 160,000. Rep. Hope and his fellow Republicans, led by Rep. Wohlgemuth, made a conscious decision to balance the budget by slashing funding for health and human services. It's a simple fact - there isn't anything accidental or unclear about it. To date approximately 150,000 children have fallen off CHIP because of this decision.
Contrary to Rep. Hope's claim of a health care success story, recent census estimates confirm that Texas is still last in the nation in the rate of uninsured people and that the problem is getting worse not better. Texas also ranks dead last when it comes to insuring children. No amount of political spin will help uninsured kids get the reliable access to health care they need to grow into responsible adults.
I hope that politicians like Rep. Hope and Rep. Wohlgemuth realize that while children cut off of health insurance may disappear from state budget documents, they do not simply vanish off the face of the earth. Instead of regular visits to the doctor's office, uninsured kids get their health care in emergency rooms where costs are significantly higher and services are less efficient. In addition to higher local taxes, this means we all wait longer for emergency care in over-crowded hospitals.
The truth is that cuts to CHIP are bad for children and bad for Texas.
Garnet Coleman
State Representative, Texas
You do not have the right to dictate what we read in a free country
I just have to respond to Concerned Citizen’s letter (the Bulletin Issue 36, Sept 3 - 9) about the Woodlands Library "basically banning most of the Christian books." I would like to know who made the argument that the reason was to "put some of the inappropriate material in the adult section."
First of all, it is NOT the Woodlands Library. It is the South Branch Library of the Montgomery County Memorial Library System. It would help if Concerned Citizen at least got the name of the library correct.
Second of all, the staff at the South Branch Library is NOT banning Christian books. Like all the other branches in Montgomery County there is an excellent collection of Christian books (fiction and non-fiction) on the shelves that library patrons may check out and read.
There are more than enough people in this county who are trying to ban books. They don’t need any help in that area. I think one of the groups is called the Raving Lunatic Club. Disclaimer: That may not be the correct name of the organization that I am thinking of.
By the way, when I say non-fiction Christian books I mean novels.
On the other hand perhaps there are people in Montgomery County who do NOT want to see Christian books on the shelves. Perhaps there are people in Montgomery County who are offended by Christian books. There may even be some folks who are offended by the Bible being on library shelves and want it banned. That is the problem with wanting to ban books you don’t like or you think are offensive. Everyone wants to get on the bandwagon. I can almost guarantee there is at least one book in every library branch in Montgomery County that will offend someone.
For example, I think Romeo and Juliet should be banned. I mean, have you read it? Gang violence, dysfunctional families, murder, disrespect towards parents, premarital teenage sex and suicide. They don’t even speak good English in that book! To make it worse the priest, the religious icon of the community, actually participates in the coverup of Romeo and Juliet’s lewd and salacious behavior! And to think this book is actually required reading in most high schools and possibly middle schools around the country including **GASP** MONTGOMERY COUNTY! There may even have been some offensive language. Yes, I am sure there was. I’m just glad I read the Cliff’s Notes, avoiding most of the insalubrious and offensive sections. It probably saved me from a ruined life. You will be able to read examples of Romeo and Juliet’s more offensive passages (taken out of context, of course) on my personal website: www.I_am_Right_and_You_are_Wrong.com. Disclaimer: That really isn’t my website. I just made it up.
Concerned Citizen is correct about one thing. We DO live in a free country. And in a free country people have the privilege AND the freedom to read whatever they want to read. No one is forcing you, Concerned Citizen, to read anything you don’t want to read at any of the Montgomery County Library branches. And you, Concerned Citizen, DO NOT have the right to dictate what other free citizens may and may not read. Once that right is taken away we no longer live in a free country.
Ken McKee
Huntsville, Texas
Don't Protest Your Perceve Tourment!
Sir The Protest culture from Ghandi to the RNC Has become a social event of those who perceve tourment, have time on their hands, want to vent light candels sing poetry etc. The general public is horrified at the thought of the group shown on C-Span having any Meaningful Political power. The marches did more to turn off any undecided voters from Dem leanings than all the $$$ being spent by either party. As for the guy who got thrown in jail ,heb got his moneys worth now he can cry big tears sing songs write poetry, articles etc. My heart gushes estrogen for this poor mistreated fellow.
Name Withheld
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