In the midst of highly unpopular bailouts of Wall Street, many justifications have been given about why Washington feels the need to act. Some claim that capitalism and the free market are to blame, but we have not had capitalism. If you compare our financial capital to our aggregate debt, this would be obvious. In the same way, we have not had a truly free market. The monetary manipulations of the Federal Reserve, a complex tax code, the many “oversight” agencies and their mountains of regulations show that we are far removed from a free market economy.Another unsatisfying argument is that certain entities have to be bailed out because of their economic importance. Supposedly, some entities can be so big, so important, that no matter what they do, citizens must perpetually sustain them. more >>
I must take issue with Professor Williams’ column of Oct. 1, “Destroying liberty with subsidies” and the quote from Justice Brandeis that “the greatest dangers to liberty lurk in the insidious encroachment by men of zeal, well-meaning but without understanding.” In other words, stupid-but-benevolent men constitute the greatest threat to our freedom. How about men of bad and oppressive intentions, such as George III, Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan, or the Islamic terrorists? For Professor Williams to endorse this sentiment by Judge Brandeis is to condemn the most ordinary of political oppositions that we can experience in a democracy. Isn’t it true that one side always accuses the other side of not understanding the obvious tenets that are embraced by the first side, even though the intentions of the other side might be the best? Most, if not all, of us do not have the unerring judgment and flawless perspective of Professor Williams, but that does not make us ineligible to participate in the political life of our country. I am reluctant to take issue with such an individual who states that even the founders of this nation were imperfect in their execution of its beginnings because I feel vulnerable to his meticulous scrutiny when I criticize him. He further states that we are unwittingly in the process of returning to mankind’s normal state of affairs, i.e., the state of “tyranny, arbitrary control and abuse mainly by our own government.” Is he suggesting that our government should be the object of loathing, fear and disgust? He comes very close when he uses the word “abuse” in his litany of undesirable results engendered by well-meaning zealous citizens acting with an imperfect grasp of the truth. more >>
To the Victoria Community: After announcing my diagnosis of ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease), my experience of the love and care of so many prompts me to use this means to express my thanks. more >>
In recent months, opponents of the proposed nuclear power facility have, perhaps unwittingly, used what can only be described as scary language to evoke questions, discussions and debate — all of which are welcome and necessary. However, some of the questions raised are attempts to bring about fear and uncertainty, rather than broaden the discussion. So I’d like to share some facts about nuclear energy and Exelon’s proposed project in Victoria County: Safety: Stringent federal regulation, automated, redundant safety systems and the industry’s commitment to comprehensive safety procedures keep nuclear power plants, their employees and communities safe. Extensive environmental monitoring before and after nuclear plant construction ensures that nuclear energy is America’s largest source of clean-air, carbon-free electricity. In 2007, the World Association of Nuclear Operators declared that nuclear safety has never been better. A leader of the International Atomic Energy Agency says that “the safety record of the types of reactors on the market today is excellent.” more >>
Thomas Jefferson once said, “Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.” Unfortunately, in the U.S. Congress, the business of the day is too often left unfinished. Throughout 2008, progress in the Senate was hindered by partisanship and counterproductive procedural moves to stall legislation. As a result, during the brief working session this fall, the Senate had a lengthy to-do list. While we were able to successfully complete business on a few important measures, much remains for us to address in the next Congress. more >>
I usually stay out of conversations that have to do with the homosexual community. I have some friends who are gay and a family member as well. I will pause here so you can gasp. My closest friends know that my views on this matter have changed throughout the years from one extreme to the other. I have been through no religion, wild ones, calm ones and finally to one that found me and brought me to where I wanted to be spiritually. more >>
Let me first say how honored I am to serve the public as mayor of Victoria. In this role, I believe the mayor should offer leadership for issues that impact the community and the safety of its citizens. I am very proud of my excellent working relationships with our state senator, state representative, county judge and commissioners, sheriff’s office, VISD officials, University of Houston-Victoria, Victoria College and the Victoria Chamber of Commerce. I wish I could say the same thing about my relationship with our district attorney, Stephen B. Tyler. more >>
A recent guest column by Victoria lawyer Sandra McKenzie in the Advocate mischaracterized the federal loan guarantee program authorized by Title XVII of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Federal loan guarantees are a legitimate governmental tool to induce private investment to promote national policy objectives. Meeting the country’s electricity needs through low-carbon electricity generation is one such objective. The 2005 Energy Policy Act allows the federal government to guarantee loans to support a portion of the development of nuclear projects while carefully limiting taxpayer exposure. This recognizes the substantial value these clean energy projects provide to electricity consumers and to the general public, which will benefit from reduced greenhouse gas emissions. more >>
We are speaking to Victoria to defend ourselves. We’ve come to realize how easy it is to twist around and piece together a story that is not fully truthful. It saddens our hearts to hear others pass judgment even before the truth is heard. Accidents do happen, and we understand that there has to be someone to blame. more >>
This time last week, the biggest bailout in the history of the world seemed to be a fait accompli. Last weekend, the fed chairman and the secretary of the treasury had harsh words of doom and gloom for congressional leaders, with the rest of the administration parroting along, and by last Monday it seemed both parties were about to fall in line and vote our Republic away by socializing the banking industry through this bailout. Foolish business behavior was about to be rewarded, and propped up a little longer, the bubble blown a little bigger, and our coming depression made that much greater, but then something happened on the way to the House floor. more >>
Each year, millions of Americans climb aboard buses, expecting safe trips across their communities or states. The vast majority of these bus passengers arrive safe and sound at their destination. But this is not always the case because, whether because of mechanical malfunction or driver error, bus accidents do occur and many of them result in preventable tragedy. In the past three years, there has been a rash of deadly bus crashes. more >>
What is your definition of tax relief? To most people, it means that the amount of money they have to pay in taxes to the government will be reduced, but not here in Victoria. Last week, the Victoria City Council passed a tax bill that will increase the amount of tax revenue collected from taxpayers from $18.35 million in 2008 to $19.3 million in 2009, an increase of 5.167 percent. Yet, the majority of my colleagues proudly proclaimed that they had passed a tax bill which provided “tax relief” for Victorians. I voted against this so-called “tax relief” measure because it actually provides no tax relief and will, instead, force the average Victoria home or business owner to pay higher city property tax bills than they did last year. more >>
We have said before, “There are many unanswered questions.” The last few days have seen the demise of Lehman Brothers, Washington Mutual, Merrill Lynch, AIG, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac. Bear Stearns had a bail out by the federal government as did AIG (a private insurer now essentially owned by the federal government), the cost to the American taxpayer more than $200,000,000,000 — count the zeroes. Title XVII of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPACT 2005) authorized unlimited taxpayer-backed loan guarantees for 80 percent of the cost of building new nuclear power plants. This is high risk subsidy. Estimated cost of this “loan guarantee” is $84.2 billion to $163.1 billion. more >>
After years of neglecting their duties to uphold the immigration laws of the United States, the federal government has finally begun to enforce laws against illegal immigration. In the past year or so, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency has, for the first time, made a serious effort to discourage illegal immigration by cracking down on employers who hire illegal aliens, and by increasing the number of people who are deported. These actions by ICE enjoy broad support from the American public, which has long believed that unchecked illegal immigration is undermining their own interests. Every nation on earth limits on the number of people they allow to settle because immigration has a profound economic, social and cultural impact on those who live in the receiving country. more >>
One of the most gripping scenes in literature is in Victor Hugo’s classic, The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Quasimodo, observing the torture of the gypsy girl Esmeralda, leaves the confines of the Cathedral of Notre Dame, rescues her, returns to the cathedral and in full view of the crowd stands on the balcony holding her and shouts to all who hear, “Sanctuary, sanctuary!” With this action, Quasimodo invokes a medieval concept whereby churches provided a safe haven for all who were seeking protection from persecution and the dangers of the politics of revolutionary eras. more >>
As I walked through the phantasmagoric funhouse that Mexico City becomes on its national independence day, I dreamt I had found Mexican Mardi Gras. The music was deafening; the crowd in the central Zócalo was so smothering that asphyxiation seemed inevitable. My shirt dripped with beer and rain, and from amidst the bacchanalia rose the controversial Andrés Manuel López Obrador to a podium in front of the crowd. The masquerade continued. more >>
The University of Houston-Victoria was created in 1973 at a time when many upper divisions were established to offer junior, senior and graduate level programs to students in a regional area who might otherwise not have access. These upper-level institutions by a design were commuter schools with undergraduate enrollment limited to transfer students from the area community colleges (which were structured and funded to service a limited area). more >>
As someone who went through a hurricane, I can say with certainty that I will never do it again. My life is more valuable than that. Although I was not directly in harm’s way, the wind could have turned at any moment. I don’t know which is worse, the anticipation of what you might lose, or what might happen, or any of the “what if” questions. more >>
In response to the Sept. 10 letter to the editor, in the Cuero Record. Providing our citizens with a safe, high-quality and reliable water system is the responsibility of city leadership. more >>
Over the month of August, I was privileged to travel throughout Texas to hear directly from citizens about the issues that affect them and their families. Texans shared with me their concerns about rising gas prices and the need to keep taxes low so they have more money to pay their bills. First and foremost, we have a duty to protect Americans and to provide for those who fight to keep our homeland safe. The Senate is considering an expansive defense bill that strengthens our military by allocating resources for an additional 12,000 active duty troops for the Army and Marine Corps. This force expansion places us closer to our planned increase of 92,000 troops. The bill also gives members of the armed forces a well-deserved raise, effective Jan. 1, 2009. more >>
