A random thought sometimes produces a different view of life; or at least about what’s happening in the news these days:



Putting the “Hammer” Down

Tom DeLay once said that he would run a vigorous campaign and he would win reelection. So what happened?

He saw the writing on the jail wall and decided to save the money he had raised for his reelection campaign to pay for his legal defense. The way his former aides have been singing like a canary and going down like ducks in a shooting gallery, he’s going to need all the money he can get just to stay out of the ole hoosegow.

Couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy!



Weather, Weather, Everywhere!

Have you ever really paid close attention to the local newscasts? Maybe it’s just me, but they are mostly a dismal assortment of local, mostly shallow news items; each an attempt to make us really believe that it is real news. And on some days, it’s news that has already appeared in the local daily gazette. Whatever happened to originality?

For sure, you have your stories of the almost daily robbery (in which they make sure to tell us that “the suspect was a Hispanic” even though no identity confirmation has been made) or vehicle accident; but after that mostly what you get is at least 3 weather reports, even though nothing is happening weather wise, infomercials on their upcoming programs that they try to pass off as news, and the same diet of TTU sports. In short, aside from the Fox affiliate, they are all basically the same.

So it won’t surprise you to know that KLBK, the CBS affiliate, is owned and operated by Nexstar Broadcasting Group, Inc, and that KAMC, the ABC affiliate, has a “local service agreement” with Nexstar. They share some of the same management personnel; including the same news director. (Now you know why you see the same video on both stations; although they pretend to be competing against each other).

Actually the broadcast media is something that is still regulated by the Federal Communications Commission and should be closely looked at. After all, they broadcast over the public airwaves and generally are charged with serving the public interest; that’s why they have to file for license renewal every few years; giving viewers an opportunity to comment on how well they are serving the public.

Maybe we’ll

just have to take a closer look at the state of local media in a future column?



Don’t Call Me; I’ll Call You!

And speaking of local media; how about that AJ? Last week, I received an email from an AJ reporter; asking me to call him to comment on a certain story. Being the old fashioned kind of person that I am, I called him back a couple of hours later, left my name and number on his voice mail, and asked him to call me back. Well… no call back, nada, zilch. This was a Wednesday, his story did not run until Sunday so I know he had enough time to return my call.

My question is why would he send me an email to begin with and then not even bother to return my call? Of course it could be that he finally read what I wrote about him a few weeks back, or maybe he’s just an irresponsible reporter; who knows?



Roundup Days

Back in the days of deportation, when all people who were of Mexican descent or who even looked Mexican were rounded up and sent to Mexico, there never seemed to be an attempt to hide the real reason for the “mass roundup of Mexicans” that numbered close to half a million. Problem is, not very many people actually know the history.

According to an article sent in by a reader which appeared in USA Today, “A survey of the nine American history textbooks most commonly used in middle schools and high schools found that four don't mention the deportations at all. Only one devotes more than half a page to the topic”. It is rather sad that textbooks that are being used to teach our children do not include an important part of historical events that had a significant influence on future generations.

The roundups took place in the Depression Era and the main concern of white politicians who were running the country; (some things never change), was that there were no jobs available for whites. Here’s a telling excerpt from the article:

The slogan has gone out over the city (Los Angeles) and is being adhered to — 'Employ no Mexican while a white man is unemployed”, wrote George Clements, manager of the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce's agriculture department, in a memo to his boss Arthur Arnoll. He said the Mexicans' legal status was

not a factor: "It is a question of pigment, not a question of citizenship or right."

This leads me to conclude that sometimes, history does repeat itself.



The Rich Get Richer

Remember the committee formed by Governor Rick Perry, chaired by former Texas Comptroller John Sharp, and charged with coming up with a new property tax system to fund Texas public education? Well here’s proof that if the plan they have come up with is adopted, the rich will get richer.

According to the plan, the largest property tax cuts would apparently be tied to household incomes. Households earning more than $146,804 get a 3.3% tax cut. Those making between $104,865 and $146,804 would see a 2.8% tax cut. And on the opposite end of the earnings scale, households earning less than $14, 042 would see a whopping 1.4% cut and those between $14,042 and $23, 872 a 0.9% tax cut.

So the tax payer at the top end would see a tax cut of $4,844 while the one on the low end, would see a savings of $196.58.

Proving once again, that the rich get richer…



To Vote or Not To Vote?

When deciding whether to vote or not, and who you will vote for in the upcoming mayor’s race, just keep at least one thing in mind. Most elections, and especially in this city, are decided not only by the people who take time to vote, but sometimes more so by the people who don’t. As you debate whether to vote or not, ask yourself a few questions.

Do you live in a neighborhood where roads are well maintained? Do you live in an area where you feel safe at night? Do you live in an area where city property, such as street lights, and city right of way is well maintained? Do you live in an area where city codes and ordinances are equally applied? Do you feel like your interests are being considered fairly and equally at city hall?

After seeing Mayor Pro Tem Tom Martin in action for the past couple of years at least, do you actually believe that he cares about the part of the city that you live in and is concerned with the things you believe in?



And finally from a person who uses Christianity to justify all the wrong he does, here’s DeLay referring to Barney Frank, an openly gay Congressman from Massachusetts:

“I don’t agree with homosexuality, but I still — I am commanded to love Barney Frank.” — Rep. Tom DeLay (R-TX)



I guess he’ll really be tested when he gets to prison?

Email: acruztsc@aol.com