Wednesday, March 22, 2006

Letters to the editor

Senate has his respect, governor not so much

EDITOR:

It is really disappointing to see the governor of my (lifelong) state behaving like a kid who did not get all the goodies he wanted at the candy store. Who does he think he is fooling? It's not his concern for the child or other needy New Mexicans that has him pouting over this last session. It's his desire to get re-elected as governor and his posturing for the Democratic presidential nomination down the road.

The Senate and in particular, Sens. M. Sanchez, A. Smith, B. Sanchez and T. Jennings, have my utmost respect and support for not forgetting the checks and balances that are in place. I remind the governor that, to my knowledge, there are still three branches in our government: the executive, legislative and the judicial. And they are in place for good reason.

The House, on the other hand, has forgotten about the separation of power. Under the leadership of Rep. Lujan, the House acted as no more than an extension of the legislative branch. I remind Rep. Lujan and other representatives that cooperation and total submission (caving in) have entirely different meanings. You have constituents with district needs that may be different from those of the entire state, the governor's perspective. Stand up and be counted! Forget about your greedy reasons for jumping when the governor barks. You were elected to work with the governor, not to do his bidding. There is nothing wrong with a little bit of gridlock! Be your own person. You can't fund every request that comes before you. The governor understands this but would prefer that you focus on his self-serving agenda and for you to feud with the Senate to see which one is better at responding to his every command.

I do not agree with funding for the Spaceport. Education and, perhaps, a voucher program to help children, in my eyes, is a higher priority. But be that as it may be. All in all, much was accomplished that is good for all New Mexicans thanks to some conscientious legislators. I congratulate you and thank you for your efforts.

John López
Bosque Farms

Prisons don't prevent recidivism in the least

EDITOR:

An answer to "Crime is Down and Recidivism is Up" by David Farabee (Abq. Journal) Feb. 6.

Calling a prison, a correctional institution, is the greatest contradiction in the English language. There is no real attempt to prevent recidivism in the least! There was a large body of work done, prior to 35 years ago, on the aggression center in the mammalian brain. Suddenly, no more scientific investigation has been carried out. I am not referring, in the slightest, to pre-frontal lobotomy.

All of the investigators, in the final compendium on the subject, in 1970, cried for further work to be carried out to no avail. If this center could be narrowed to a point or small area and then modified or ablated, aggression-related crimes could be successfully dealt with. White collar or greed crimes, could be more easily prevented, recidivistically, by the threat of the surgical procedure after a succeeding crime and more eager to provide restitution!

I proposed to my Democratic Senator that he support more nationally directed scientific investigation of this matter, to no avail! Think of the return on the investment, if successful, of a few dollars and a little time. The basic research has been done, and the area involved, found to be inferior and posterior to the pituitary gland, in a non-critical area of the human brain. Criminals could be returned to society, self-supporting and tax-paying, completely unlike the present. There would be no recidivism nor taxpayer expense for jail time!

Charles H. Rundles
Belen

Ten-point plan for future give good blueprint

EDITOR:

On March 12th, I had the privilege to view C-Span's program, "Road to the White House." I was primarily interested in a speech by Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) before the Democratic parties of Hillsborough County and the City of Nashua, N.H.

Naturally, being an avid supporter of Sen. Kerry for many years and more enthusiastically since the presidential primaries of 2003 and the presidential election of 2004, I listened intently to Sen. Kerry's message. I came away totally impressed and ready to continue the fight for democracy in America, as well as the Democratic Party's values.

Much has been said on mainstream media, etc., that the Democrats "do not have a plan." I'd like to share the following 10-point plan seen through the eyes of a vital, exuberant and wise Democrat, and servant of our government for 24-plus years:

1. Obey the law and protect civil rights in this country.

2. Tell the truth, and tell it to Americans all the time.

3. Fire the incompetents and restore competence and integrity to Washington.

4. Chase the money changers from the temples of democracy, and reclaim it for the grassroots of this nation.

5. Bring our troops home from Iraq.

6. Find Osama bin Laden, and secure our ports and homeland.

7. Stop subsidizing "Big Oil," and start investing in energy alternatives.

8. Make access to affordable health care a right and not a privilege.

9. Reduce the deficit and respect work over wealth.

10. Invest in education and fight for American jobs that restore the American dream.

In his closing remarks, Sen. Kerry said: "We know who we are, and we know what's worth fighting for. We want to lead this nation to the greatness it deserves. We know what to do, we will do what we need to do, and I cannot wait for the elections of 2006."

Dotti Janiak
Los Lunas

Trolley would be good for downtown tourists

EDITOR:

The recent article on the Heart of Belen redevelopment mentions access to downtown Belen from the Rail Runner station via elevators on either side of the Reinken overpass. Not mentioned is that such an arrangement would require pedestrians to cross somewhere mid-bridge and often in the dark.

Given Belen Police Department's lax enforcement and local drivers' habit of ignoring speed limits, etc., this is a supremely bad idea, one likely to result in occasional dead tourists.

A better idea might be a pedestrian walkway across BNSF tracks, such as the several such crossings over Tramway near I-40 in Albuquerque. Difficulties arise, however, from issues of safety and negotiations for rights-of-way.

Another idea may actually prove cheaper than either of the above: A rubber-tire trolley such as operate in many "Old Town" districts across America.

The route would be train station to Wisconsin to Reinken to Third to Harvey House and through downtown Belen and back again.

The trolley schedule would, of course, be matched to the Rail Runner's departures and arrivals.

Gary E. Nordell
Belen

Best solution for problems is voting

EDITOR:

I am still not a Republican nor am I a Democrat, but I have something to say. Many letters give solutions to our stressed political system and I want to add my 15 cents, with inflation.

The first solution is for people to vote. Turnouts for voting are not good and, in a free country, this is our right and it is our responsibility in order to keep the government honest.

The second is that we need term limits on all elected offices. In the meantime, don't re-elect anybody, don't vote for anybody with a degree in law, don't vote along party lines and don't be discouraged if your candidate loses — change takes time.

The third is that no candidate should go unopposed. Instead of spending your time on long, sarcastic, snide, stereotypical letters to the editor about opposition, run for an election and help clean up your own side. My wife ran as a Republican for State Senate in Maine several years ago against a person that had never had opposition. She lost but she made a difference, her opposition changed parties for the next election.

The fourth is to have campaign reform. As it stands, the person with the most campaign money is the person most often elected. The more time that our politicians spend to get re-elected, the less time they have to do their jobs. Money is about capitalism, not about democratic government and they are not the same thing.

The last point is that too many people think that we have only a two-party system. It is this way because we let it be that way. There is nothing in the Constitution or the law that says that there are only two parties. Lincoln was a third-party candidate and look at what he accomplished! There are many third-party candidates that are well qualified but don't have the big money backing them to get elected; look them over, you might find a new view of things.

That's my 15 cents worth — who would like to up it to 20 cents?

George J. Couch
Los Chavez

Politicians generate ideas for letter writers

EDITOR:

It has been said that in the middle of the 19th century, the director of the U.S. Patent Office in Washington, D.C., wanted to close it because, in his view, there was nothing left to invent.

Seven years ago, a man in Chicago was interviewed by a journalist who was doing research on lottery winners to find out what changes they have made in their lifestyles. A year earlier, the man won a multi-million-dollar lottery but had hardly made changes and revealed to the journalist that he was actually bored because "he had nothing to do." Here was a guy who was fortunate to get an opportunity to expand the options in his life but old habits and lack of imagination were impeding it.

On Feb. 22, 2006, I read a letter in this op-ed from a writer who had not written a letter to the op-ed, for some time, because he was waiting for "something new" for "words and ideas of substance," "something interesting to talk about." It seems to me there is a common thread in the three stories. He then continued to expound on the same old themes of which he has been complaining.

Oftentimes, I read a letter in which the writer makes a statement in the first paragraph and then proceeds to contradict it in the rest of it. Interestingly, they seem to be from Republicans or religious individuals. Hmm!

Obviously, the writer was referring to political issues. There is enough talent among our politicians to generate issues on a daily basis to keep people writing for generations. I have come to believe that it is a strategy so we forget the mishap du jour very quickly, so to speak. No one talks about Libby, Rove, DeLay or Abramoff anymore. So, it is working and it is up to us to keep them going. If Democrats were in power, the situation could be similar.

Looking from my side of the fence, the neo-conservatives in the administration keep trying to hide an elephant in a jewelry store and creating incredible situations no one can support or explain and Republicans cannot come to terms with criticizing their leaders. Do they find themselves like deer in the headlights? Join the crowd, but Democrats did it first!

From the letter and previous others, I have concluded the writer meant to be waiting from someone of the opposition, to write something to snicker about.

People who like to write always find things to motivate or inspire them. Sometimes looking at the same subject for a second or third time provides an insight one never had before. Art, literature, music and op-ed letters are created with variations on a theme. To say there are not interesting things to write about is like an astronomer looking at a clear night sky saying there is really nothing out there on which to focus his telescope.

Martin Ortiz
Los Chavez

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