Published Brownsville Herald March 25, 2007
Note: On alternate Sundays, for the earliest view of this column check the link to the Brownsville Herald e-paper on the right and then click on Viewpoints on the left. You may want to comeback to this archive as it will be the unedited version with all the mistakes and run-on sentences as well as the other banalities that sometimes make the column too long!
On page A12 of the March 21, Brownsville Herald, a promise of an Immigration fix is reported in an article entitled “Immigration Bill to include path to legalization”. The brief descriptions available in the press and on the internet leave a lot to be desired.
The House version sponsored by Congressmen Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.) and Congressman Jeff Flake (R-Ariz) calls for citizenship for illegal immigrants, create a new worker program, stiffen worker verification procedures and overhaul the visa system to reduce waiting times for legal immigrants. The bill also calls for require some illegal immigrants leave the U.S. and re-enter legally and others to be granted amnesty.
The Senate version being pushed by Senator Mc Cain (R-Ariz) and Senator Kennedy (D-Mass) is very similar.
One of the first things that concern me is that it seems that one of the most knowledgeable Representatives in Congress, Sylvester Reyes (D-Tex), has not been invited to participate in the creation of this crucial legislation, though it has been said that he approves of many of the items.
The other thing is that this legislation seems to add numerous layers of bureaucracy and perhaps hundreds of jobs to clog the system even more and little effort made to rehabilitate an immigration system that can lose records for months and years where in at least one case the lost papers have left a potential new citizen in limbo for months after completing all the requirements for citizenship. There appears to be little or no oversight and no way to seek recourse. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted on 25th March 2007
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Published Brownsville Herald March 11, 2007
There is more than enough bad news in the news today and the saga of the Brownsville Navigation District keeps adding to it, seemingly without end.
From the beginning Port management both elected and appointed, have worked in secret to keep the details of a bridge that may have been doomed in its concept had it continued forward as a rail facility as well as a truck bridge.
It appears that access would have resulted in a noose of rail track around the city of Matamoros and I now even wonder, if a truck bridge would cause more ecological damage than it is worth. I seem to remember some wildlife issues coming to light at the time the Veteran’s Bridge was being built.
Further, one only need look at the report of issues that Mexico raised back in 1992 as described in the Torteya & Torteya Report of 2004, to see the concern. Mr. Kruse’s response, in an effort to resolve the issue of competition related to containerized freight identified at the time, has been undermined by stated BND goals of attracting containerized freight. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted on 11th March 2007
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Published in “The Brownsville Herald” February 25, 2007
On February 18 an article “Life in the Philippines – People’s War against terror” by E. Elizabeth Garcia, appeared in the Brownsville Herald. It noted that toxic waste residues might still be a problem at our former bases in the Philippines and mentioned the rape of a young woman there by a Marine.
I was saddened by the reports.
I served six tours in the Vietnam Conflict and frequently visited and worked in the Philippines at the facilities in Cavite City as well as those in Baguio, Santa Rita, Angeles City and Onlongapo.
Over the last forty four years or so, I have periodically lived and worked in the Philippines and consider it my second home. I have also frequently visited and continue to visit the Clark Airbase vacation area which is the home of a world class golf course, casino and gourmet restaurants not to mention a quite good duty free shop.
I also often visited the now excellent recreation areas at the former Subic Naval Base where in addition to the great golf course and casino there is also a world class marina. In fact, a family member currently leases a vacation residence that was originally a part of officer housing, to avail the family of the great golf and forest areas. The forest may be one of the few that still exist in the area due substantially to the military conservation efforts. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted on 25th February 2007
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Published Brownsville Herald February 11, 2007
As many of you who read my columns know I am Libertarian and advocate for the smallest government possible consistent with maintaining order.
The smallest should be the Federal Government whose basic goals should be related to protecting the people from harm and refereeing between the States.
In my scheme the most power would be reserved to the communities and the people. This concept has been sorely troubled of late because of the more appearances of misuse of office that pop up with each sunrise.
The worst of it is that our elected officials seem to think that they should rule by decree after secret meetings!
In the city the Mayor and commissioners are running the city; I wonder why we even have a City Manager! Read the rest of this entry »
Posted on 11th February 2007
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Published Brownsville Herald January 28, 2007
I am optimistic about seeing a reform of the immigration jungle that currently entangles the nation and encourages otherwise law-abiding folks to break the law. This issue, that keeps being pushed out of the way, has also gone on to precipitate a lack of confidence in the process and the “rule of law” that the “rulers” speak about so often.
Though the issue of a secure border and an orderly path for foreign workers to enter our country occupied only three paragraphs in the “State of the Union” address it was one of the few issues that was widely applauded in the Congressional body.
The Bush address was watched by 45.5 million folks on TV. A CNN poll described the audience as older than the average adult population, and more interested in politics in general. It was also reported that they were more likely to keep an open mind about the issues than those that don’t watch. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted on 28th January 2007
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Published Brownsville Herald December 31, 2006
The time of “Peace to men of good will” is still upon us and the three Magi are about to present gifts; though the advertising and Mall displays are changing to clearance sales, and the crowds at the favorite clubs and restaurants are starting to drop off. Like most folks I really like this time of year because I see bright smiles and happy attitudes everywhere.
This season was special to me because of the “Miracle on Calle Jacaranda” I described in my last column. I have had nothing but enthusiastic comments about the “miracle article” and it is rapidly becoming one of the most popular on my web site for re-reading and reprints. I prey that our optimism will not be disappointed. When I came to Brownsville from New York, well more than two decades ago, I was impressed with how courteous and respectful every one was. In fact I was shocked when I was driving down a two lane highway and as I approached a vehicle going much slower the driver pulled onto the shoulder and let me pass. My New York stunted brain had a tough time processing that. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted on 31st December 2006
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Published Brownsville Herald - November 26, 2006
As many of you know, who follow my attempts at bringing a little “Common Sense” into a perspective of how our representatives manage our community and its resources; I am an “info junky” and read – listen – and watch, a lot of news from a variety of media.
I am particularly interested in what opinions are expressed in all the media especially the opinion columns of the local papers. Those opinions are extraordinarily representative of how the community perceives the public trust is being managed.
Just a few days ago, on November 16 in the Brownsville Herald “Your Voices”, a very short letter to the editor, that ended with “Like President Reagan used to say, “There you go again” Caught my attention.
The item, only 43 words in length, really said it “loud and strong.” A Mr. Simon Soto described his perceptions, that the Port of Brownsville leaders were continuing with the “status quo”. He expects that they will do what is good for their personal well being and that of their supporters with little or no regard for the views of the public that went to the polls. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted on 27th November 2006
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Published Brownsville Herald, November 12, 2006
A friend, who I consider to be a real patriot, sent me the following first paragraph to a political editorial: “In January a slate of career politicians who stand against the rights of the individual, against fiscal responsibility and against any semblance of limited and responsible government will be ushered into positions of power within the federal, state and local governments.”
That political editorial was drafted well in advance of an election which took place over a decade ago. He had no doubt that it would be accurate regardless of the date of publication - so long as it ran in an even numbered year; and it would be accurate regardless of who gained or lost power in the general election. In the national elections “the folks” disappointed in the lack of success and the appearance of stagnancy with the Iraq conflict, either stayed home or voted for change. The folks also came out in a number of states and supported issues such as a marriage being “one man and one woman” and a few others described as “conservative” in nature. Mostly, I think voters were disappointed with the appearance of corruption and moral decay in their representatives; not necessarily factual, just the appearance. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted on 12th November 2006
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Occupying much of the news and the talk shows in the last few days has been a poor choice of words on the part of former Democrat candidate for President John Kerry. Reported as a joke gone bad or a peek at Mr. Kerry’s real sentiments, many in his own party are distancing themselves from him and assertions abound that would have one believe his political future may be over.
ABC news reported the incident as: Two days ago, Kerry stirred controversy when he told a group of California students those individuals who don’t study hard and do their homework would likely ‘get stuck in Iraq.’
Even after a considerable examination of the entire transcript and what was described as the statement as it was intended it still paints himself as belonging to a ruling class and believes that he is smarter and superior to the rest of us. Even the most superficial examination of available media shows any number of references to earlier misstatements and actions that lead to a similar conclusion. Though I am biased, in that I am a combat veteran of six years in Vietnam and I remember clearly the statements he made to the North Vietnamese during the peace negotiations and his testimony before Congress, I don’t think he really meant to say the specific words that are reverberating across the nation. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted on 7th November 2006
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Submitted 6/11/2004
I read the Letter entitled “Accountability needed before taxes are raised” moments ago. My first thought was that “someone was writing my sentiments.” After I completed it, I was very appalled at the manner in which very worthwhile issues were addressed. This was from an individual who has sought public office as a conservative!
The good points Mr. Ahumada made were lost in the unsubstantiated allegations of blackmail and favoritism and others. The allegation was made that $500,000 was being spent on two unneeded administration positions without specification or substantiation. Another attack was made as to the incompetence of another area administrator without valid specification, apparently only because he has an advanced degree and may have not addressed a traffic problem to Mr. Ahumada’s satisfaction, still with no example nor valid support. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted on 4th July 2004
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Submitted 6/8/2004 Published Brownsville Herald
In the last few days Dr. Z announced the elimination of 65 administrative positions and the addition of 1 Assistant Superintendent. I applaud the effort at fiscal responsibility demonstrated by the elimination of the positions. I hope they are indeed real positions and not just an attempt to reduce a needed service to apply pressure to get added money by extortion, as the city attempted to do in the wrangling over police salaries.
Dr. Z has earned a big Kudo; because in a bureaucracy of this size there are so many interest groups pulling at the purse strings, to protect their kingdoms, it can be an almost insurmountable task to remove or even reassign a position. Well done Dr. Z!
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Posted on 4th July 2004
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Sent 8/23/2003
I recently attended a meeting of the South Texans for Good Government and was positively impressed with their good intentions for the community.
It appears that there is a genuine desire accompanied with considerable effort to inform themselves and the community about the political processes so that proper decisions can be made about voting and other actions to be taken with regard to the political process.
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Posted on 30th November 2003
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