Letters to the Editor

Patriotism when no one is looking

Editor:

I recently visited Valencia High School when I received a pleasant surprise.

I was sitting in a waiting room along with two other students when the morning announcements came over the intercom, starting with the Pledge of Allegiance.

I was surprised when the two students immediately stood and began reciting the pledge when they knew no one was watching. It made me feel good about our youth and future of our country.

So, kudos to Valencia High School and the Los Lunas Schools district for carrying on the tradition.

“… one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

George Greenlee

Bosque Farms

Bill was important

Editor:

I am a retired pre-school teacher and I am in favor of the Clear Horizons Act SB 18.

Why? It’s simple. The act sets pollution targets: 45 percent by 2030/75 percent by 2040/ net zero by 2050.

What it means to me is using less asthma medications from pollution. When I drive to Albuquerque to hike the Sandia Mountains and I see pollution, I have to increase my asthma medications.

These medications cost $400 for a maintenance dose of 120 puffs and an emergency dose costs $300 of 200 puffs. These are used every time I hike with pollution. These drugs cost $5.00 to make.

This morning hiking the Los Lunas Hill preserve I saw pollution from Albuquerque down through the Manzano Mountains.

As a pre-school teacher in the 80-90s, we only had one child with asthma medication and in 2010, I often had three children with asthma medications. Pollution is not good for children or adults.

This bill also holds polluters accountable for paying for clean up instead of us. It stream lines the law to major emission sources (over 10,000 metric tons annually). The cost of inaction is high — $3.3 billion to clean up climate-related disasters (1/3 of our state budget).

This is an important bill to help us in our future and for all of us to support. It saves us money.

Pat Duncan

Los Lunas

(Editor’s note: Clear Horizons Act failed on the New Mexico Senate floor Wednesday, Feb. 11. Seven Democrats sided with Republicans in rejecting the bill.)

Sucking up could be beneficial; no sincerity needed

Editor:

Frustrated you can’t advance your career even though you know you deserve it?

Having trouble getting a business deal done because you don’t have the right connections?

Maybe you want a presidential pardon for yourself or someone close to you?

There’s a solution! Suck up to those who can help you. You must have little or no integrity but hey, you deserve what you want.

Wondering how to suck up? Here are some examples. Almost all Republican members of Congress suck up to Donald Trump. Learn from them; ask them for tips. Be as obsequious as is humanly possible in your effort.

Other role models include billionaire Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon, who spent $75 million for a “documentary” on Melania Trump (Bezos paid for it by cutting 300 jobs at his newspaper).

Or, take former Venezuelan presidential candidate and Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Corina Machado, who ditched any semblance of dignity and integrity by giving her Nobel Prize to Donald Trump (he was tickled pink to get it!). Machado did so knowing it would please him after his multiple verbal tantrums about not getting one.

Or, take FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association). FIFA’s president sucked up to Trump by awarding him the first ever FIFA “Peace Prize.” It was adorable seeing Trump breaming with pride on receiving it, which was created just for him!

Sucking up to most people requires covering up a lack of sincerity since most well-adjusted people being sucked up to see right through insincerity. But not if the target is the increasingly senile Donald Trump.

No pretense of sincerity is needed. Narcissist Don just wants the attention. But you best hurry while he is not totally senile.

Good luck; follow the above advice and you are on your way to becoming a successful suck up!

James Rickey

Los Lunas