Recently, the United States has tightened security on its southern border. More Border Patrol agents have been assigned to the border, along with hundreds of National Guard troops. Fences cover some parts of the border, and new electronic equipment and cameras have been installed.
But what is the result of the border crackdown? In terms of keeping undocumented immigrants out of the United States, it's not very effective. The immigrants keep coming, and will do so as long as there are jobs to be had in this country.
But it has been a real financial boon for one group -- the smugglers. That's right. The biggest effect of the border crackdown has been to help the criminals who profit from smuggling people into this country. These smugglers charge around $1500 for each person they help to enter the U.S., and their business has never been better.
A Mexican-government funded research institution, El Colegio de la Frontera Norte, has been conducting surveys about the border crossings for years. They interviewed those who had been caught by Border Patrol and kicked out, and those who had been successful but returned to Mexico. Their survey was analyzed by the Associated Press.
The AP learned that while the illegal immigrants keep coming, the number who hire a smuggler to get them across has increased as border security increased. Here are the percentages of those who hired a smuggler:
2000..........16%
2003..........20%
2005..........47%
The money we are spending to stop illegal immigration is not keeping people from entering our country illegally. But it has increased the business of smugglers by threefold. Surely, this is not the desired result!
The fact remains that as long as there are jobs for the immigrants in this country, they will keep coming. If we really want to stem the flow of undocumented workers, we must crack down on the employers -- not the border.
Until then, we are just fattening the wallets of the smugglers.
Sunday, December 31, 2006
Saturday, December 30, 2006
Is Texas Going Democratic ?
Are the political winds in Texas blowing back toward the Democrats? If a new poll is correct, that is exactly what is happening.
An Austin Democratic poll says that when 1053 Texans were asked which party cares more about "people like me", 46% said Democrats and 35% said Republicans. I know some of you are saying that's what you would expect from a Democratic poll, but just two years ago this same poll showed Republicans leading when the same question was asked.
Even more significant is the fact that more people are now identifying themselves as Democrats. Here is what the poll showed on the question of party identity for 2004, 2005 and 2006:
PARTY..2004......2005.......2006
Dem......33.9%.....37.2%.....45.1%
Rep.......54.7%.....49.2%.....42.6%
Ind........10.2%.....10.5%.....06.4%
Pollster Jeff Montgomery pointed out that this was a poll of adults, and not specifically a poll of voters. He says, "Clearly, Texas is still a Republican state. But this is the first time people have even shown much interest in calling themselves Democrats."
Cal Jillson, SMU political science professor, was more pointed in his observations on the poll. He says, "There is an attitude change nationally that is affecting Texas. People are increasingly concerned with the results they see from the Republican majority. In Austin, those numbers are playing themselves out in the hanging of Tom Craddick. Republicans have begun to panic that the unease in the public is going to be taken out of their hide."
Texas was a bit slow in joining the new political shift, but it is starting to happen. Too bad it couldn't have happened before last November's elections. I suspect that some of Texas' slowness to join the national shift is because many in the state view Bush as a Texan.
It looks like amid his nearly total incompetence, Bush has been able to accomplish one thing. It took him six years, but he is well on his way to destroying the Republican party -- even in Texas.
An Austin Democratic poll says that when 1053 Texans were asked which party cares more about "people like me", 46% said Democrats and 35% said Republicans. I know some of you are saying that's what you would expect from a Democratic poll, but just two years ago this same poll showed Republicans leading when the same question was asked.
Even more significant is the fact that more people are now identifying themselves as Democrats. Here is what the poll showed on the question of party identity for 2004, 2005 and 2006:
PARTY..2004......2005.......2006
Dem......33.9%.....37.2%.....45.1%
Rep.......54.7%.....49.2%.....42.6%
Ind........10.2%.....10.5%.....06.4%
Pollster Jeff Montgomery pointed out that this was a poll of adults, and not specifically a poll of voters. He says, "Clearly, Texas is still a Republican state. But this is the first time people have even shown much interest in calling themselves Democrats."
Cal Jillson, SMU political science professor, was more pointed in his observations on the poll. He says, "There is an attitude change nationally that is affecting Texas. People are increasingly concerned with the results they see from the Republican majority. In Austin, those numbers are playing themselves out in the hanging of Tom Craddick. Republicans have begun to panic that the unease in the public is going to be taken out of their hide."
Texas was a bit slow in joining the new political shift, but it is starting to happen. Too bad it couldn't have happened before last November's elections. I suspect that some of Texas' slowness to join the national shift is because many in the state view Bush as a Texan.
It looks like amid his nearly total incompetence, Bush has been able to accomplish one thing. It took him six years, but he is well on his way to destroying the Republican party -- even in Texas.
Saddam's Execution Changes Nothing
Saddam Hussein is dead. He was executed yesterday by the current puppet government in Iraq. I am not sorry to see him go. He was a criminal responsible for the deaths of many innocent people.
Bush called the execution a "milestone" in history. If so, then it was a small milestone. The Saddam era was already over. It ended the day he was pulled from his hiding place, a hole in the ground, by U.S. troops. That is why his execution will change nothing in Iraq.
The current civil war in Iraq was not about Saddam. It is about who gets to control Iraq once we leave. The current government will not exercise control over Iraq after our soldiers leave. They cannot even control the country with our help.
Control will fall to one of two groups -- the Shiites [backed by Iran] or the Sunnis [backed by Saudi Arabia]. For a short time after the fall of Saddam's government, it was us against the insurgents. But that time has long passed.
It is now a civil war between the Sunnis and the Shiites, with our soldiers in the middle and hated by both sides. The only thing our troops are accomplishing is to prolong the civil war.
It is time to bring our troops home -- immediately.
Bush called the execution a "milestone" in history. If so, then it was a small milestone. The Saddam era was already over. It ended the day he was pulled from his hiding place, a hole in the ground, by U.S. troops. That is why his execution will change nothing in Iraq.
The current civil war in Iraq was not about Saddam. It is about who gets to control Iraq once we leave. The current government will not exercise control over Iraq after our soldiers leave. They cannot even control the country with our help.
Control will fall to one of two groups -- the Shiites [backed by Iran] or the Sunnis [backed by Saudi Arabia]. For a short time after the fall of Saddam's government, it was us against the insurgents. But that time has long passed.
It is now a civil war between the Sunnis and the Shiites, with our soldiers in the middle and hated by both sides. The only thing our troops are accomplishing is to prolong the civil war.
It is time to bring our troops home -- immediately.
Friday, December 29, 2006
Looks Like Perry Didn't Fix School Funding
In the last legislative session, Rick Perry shoved through a new school funding plan. He claimed that the plan would not only fix the hated "Robin Hood" school financing [where richer school districts give up a share of their revenue to help poorer districts], but would also significantly reduce property taxes.
We learned right away that there would be no real property tax savings for citizens of Texas. When the local taxing entities learned they could not raise the tax rate, they simply raised the appraisal value of taxable property. The result was that Texans saw no property tax relief.
Now, it looks like the almost universally hated "Robin Hood" school financing plan is alive and well also. Although Perry's plan was not supposed to do away with "Robin Hood" altogether, it was supposed to make huge cuts in the amount of money the richer districts have to return to the state. Now it looks like even that is not going to happen. There are some cuts, but they are not nearly as large as promised by the governor.
There are four school districts in Tarrant county that have been having to pay out money for poorer districts. Here's what their savings are going to look like:
* Northwest ISD payments will be 3.1% less than last year.
* Carroll ISD will be 7.8% less than last year.
* Grapevine-Colleyville ISD will be 10% less than last year.
* HEB ISD is the only district that will see a drop of a significant percentage. Their payment will be 79% less than last year. But HEB's payments were never anywhere near as large as those of the other school districts. They've always been much nearer the break-even point.
So it looks like the governor's much-touted plan is a failure on all counts. He has not solved school financing, and he has not cut taxes. All he's done is piss off a lot of smokers and businessmen by imposing new taxes -- but the problems he was supposed to solve are still there.
We learned right away that there would be no real property tax savings for citizens of Texas. When the local taxing entities learned they could not raise the tax rate, they simply raised the appraisal value of taxable property. The result was that Texans saw no property tax relief.
Now, it looks like the almost universally hated "Robin Hood" school financing plan is alive and well also. Although Perry's plan was not supposed to do away with "Robin Hood" altogether, it was supposed to make huge cuts in the amount of money the richer districts have to return to the state. Now it looks like even that is not going to happen. There are some cuts, but they are not nearly as large as promised by the governor.
There are four school districts in Tarrant county that have been having to pay out money for poorer districts. Here's what their savings are going to look like:
* Northwest ISD payments will be 3.1% less than last year.
* Carroll ISD will be 7.8% less than last year.
* Grapevine-Colleyville ISD will be 10% less than last year.
* HEB ISD is the only district that will see a drop of a significant percentage. Their payment will be 79% less than last year. But HEB's payments were never anywhere near as large as those of the other school districts. They've always been much nearer the break-even point.
So it looks like the governor's much-touted plan is a failure on all counts. He has not solved school financing, and he has not cut taxes. All he's done is piss off a lot of smokers and businessmen by imposing new taxes -- but the problems he was supposed to solve are still there.
Sheehan Arrested Near Bush's "Ranch"
Cindy Sheehan is still being a thorn in Bush's side. Thursday she and four others were arrested for "obstructing a highway passageway" by Texas Department of Public Safety officers.
They had laid down in the road near Bush's "ranch" and refused to move when asked by the officers. They blocked the road for 20 minutes, causing a traffic backup. Bush's evil alter-ego [Cheney] was caught in the backup.
Sheehan told the Waco newspaper that they were protesting the idea that Bush was fixing to send even more troops to die in the Iraq war. Of course, she is right. That is exactly what Bush is going to do -- increase the troop level in Iraq.
Bush claims that he is still trying to determine the future course in Iraq, but he's lying. You don't need a crystal ball to know that he'll be increasing the troop levels. It's the only thing his personality will allow him to do.
He cannot just stay the course and do nothing. The members of his own party would not allow that to happen. So he has only three choices -- withdraw, ask Syria and Iran to help, or increase troop levels.
His own ego will not allow him to do the right thing and withdraw. That would be tantamount to admitting that he was wrong, and he's never been able to do that.
He also can't ask Syria and Iran for help -- that would also be admitting that he's been wrong. So he's left with only one course of action that his personality will allow him to take -- increase the troop levels in the forlorn hope that it will help.
But it won't help. The only thing it will do is provide more American targets for both sides in the Iraqi civil war. Bush has gotten our soldiers into a real mess, and his inability to admit he screwed up will get a lot more of them killed.
Nothing will change until he is booted from office. It's time to start the impeachment proceedings.
They had laid down in the road near Bush's "ranch" and refused to move when asked by the officers. They blocked the road for 20 minutes, causing a traffic backup. Bush's evil alter-ego [Cheney] was caught in the backup.
Sheehan told the Waco newspaper that they were protesting the idea that Bush was fixing to send even more troops to die in the Iraq war. Of course, she is right. That is exactly what Bush is going to do -- increase the troop level in Iraq.
Bush claims that he is still trying to determine the future course in Iraq, but he's lying. You don't need a crystal ball to know that he'll be increasing the troop levels. It's the only thing his personality will allow him to do.
He cannot just stay the course and do nothing. The members of his own party would not allow that to happen. So he has only three choices -- withdraw, ask Syria and Iran to help, or increase troop levels.
His own ego will not allow him to do the right thing and withdraw. That would be tantamount to admitting that he was wrong, and he's never been able to do that.
He also can't ask Syria and Iran for help -- that would also be admitting that he's been wrong. So he's left with only one course of action that his personality will allow him to take -- increase the troop levels in the forlorn hope that it will help.
But it won't help. The only thing it will do is provide more American targets for both sides in the Iraqi civil war. Bush has gotten our soldiers into a real mess, and his inability to admit he screwed up will get a lot more of them killed.
Nothing will change until he is booted from office. It's time to start the impeachment proceedings.
Thursday, December 28, 2006
Euless Denies Religious Freedom To Resident
Normally, you read only good things about city government in Euless [Texas] on this blog, but I'm afraid they have dropped the ball on this one. A federal lawsuit has been filed against the city for denying religious freedom to some of it's citizens.
Jose Merced, a Santeria priest since 1979 and president of Templo Yoruba Omo Orisha Texas, has filed the lawsuit claiming that city officials will not allow the religious sacrifice of chickens and sometimes goats. Merced says the sacrifices are neccessary in the Santeria religion to initiate new members, consecrate sacred shells and conduct healing rituals. He says the animals are killed humanely and the meat is eaten.
Euless police have stopped Merced from conducting the sacrifices without a city permit. Yet, when he has tried to get a permit from the city it is always denied.
Merced wrote in an affidavit to the lawsuit, "We do not want to break the law, and yet we are entitled to practice our religion. Santeria cannot continue to function, much less exist, without animal sacrifice."
I believe the city is wrong on this issue. The Supreme Court decided in a Florida case in 1993 that animal sacrifice is a form of religious worship that is protected by the United States Constitution. Merced and other followers of Santeria have the right to practice their religion without interference from city officials, even though the rituals may involve the sacrificing of animals.
According to Merced, the rituals are performed indoors and people outside would not be able to see or hear them. The city should just give Merced his permit and ask him to keep the rituals low-key so neighbors are not disturbed. In light of the 1993 Supreme Court decision, it would just be a waste of time and taxpayers' money to try and fight the religion in court.
Jose Merced, a Santeria priest since 1979 and president of Templo Yoruba Omo Orisha Texas, has filed the lawsuit claiming that city officials will not allow the religious sacrifice of chickens and sometimes goats. Merced says the sacrifices are neccessary in the Santeria religion to initiate new members, consecrate sacred shells and conduct healing rituals. He says the animals are killed humanely and the meat is eaten.
Euless police have stopped Merced from conducting the sacrifices without a city permit. Yet, when he has tried to get a permit from the city it is always denied.
Merced wrote in an affidavit to the lawsuit, "We do not want to break the law, and yet we are entitled to practice our religion. Santeria cannot continue to function, much less exist, without animal sacrifice."
I believe the city is wrong on this issue. The Supreme Court decided in a Florida case in 1993 that animal sacrifice is a form of religious worship that is protected by the United States Constitution. Merced and other followers of Santeria have the right to practice their religion without interference from city officials, even though the rituals may involve the sacrificing of animals.
According to Merced, the rituals are performed indoors and people outside would not be able to see or hear them. The city should just give Merced his permit and ask him to keep the rituals low-key so neighbors are not disturbed. In light of the 1993 Supreme Court decision, it would just be a waste of time and taxpayers' money to try and fight the religion in court.
State Pays 31 Cents To Collect 25 Cents In Tolls
The Texas Department of Transportation [TxDOT] looks silly again today, but considering their actions over the last couple of years, they're probably used to that now.
Last month, they started collecting tolls on the new toll road just north of the DFW metroplex -- Texas 121. The new toll road does not have collection booths. If you don't have a toll tag, the system just takes a picture of your license plate and then mails you a bill. I guess this might work out for people who drive a good distance, but what about those who drive only a short distance on the toll road?
Recently, 72-year old Don Ferguson received his bill from TxDOT for using the toll road -- it was a bill for 25 cents. The problem with this is that it cost the state 30.8 cents to mail the bill, and Mr. Ferguson is not the only person this has happened to. Several people have complained of receiving a 25 cent bill in a metered envelope costing 30.8 cents to mail, including TxDOT spokesman Mark Ball. When these people pay their fee, the state of Texas will have lost nearly 6 cents on each transaction.
Just think, what if most drivers on Texas 121 go only a short distance? Could the state actually lose more in postage than it collects in fees? Even worse, is this the level of competence we can expect on other toll roads being planned?
Last month, they started collecting tolls on the new toll road just north of the DFW metroplex -- Texas 121. The new toll road does not have collection booths. If you don't have a toll tag, the system just takes a picture of your license plate and then mails you a bill. I guess this might work out for people who drive a good distance, but what about those who drive only a short distance on the toll road?
Recently, 72-year old Don Ferguson received his bill from TxDOT for using the toll road -- it was a bill for 25 cents. The problem with this is that it cost the state 30.8 cents to mail the bill, and Mr. Ferguson is not the only person this has happened to. Several people have complained of receiving a 25 cent bill in a metered envelope costing 30.8 cents to mail, including TxDOT spokesman Mark Ball. When these people pay their fee, the state of Texas will have lost nearly 6 cents on each transaction.
Just think, what if most drivers on Texas 121 go only a short distance? Could the state actually lose more in postage than it collects in fees? Even worse, is this the level of competence we can expect on other toll roads being planned?
Does Israel Really Want Peace With Palestinians ?
I have to wonder if Israel really wants peace with the Palestinian people. Israel tries to present itself as the innocent party in the Mideast conflict, even as it is making plans to violate international law.
Israel announced recently that it will be building a new settlement on the West Bank. The approximately 30 houses to be built in the Jordan Valley will be resided in by former Gaza Strip settlers.
This is not only a violation of international law -- it is also a violation of the 2003 Roadmap for Peace. In fact, this violation is so egregious that even the Bush administration sees it as wrong and destined to provoke the Palestinians.
United States State Department spokesman Gonzo Gallegos said, "The establishment of a new settlement or the expansion of an existing settlement would violate Israel's obligations under the roadmap. The U.S. calls on Israel to meet it's roadmap obligations and avoid taking steps that could be viewed as predetermining the outcome of final-status negotiations [with the Palestinians]."
The European Union has also expressed it's "deep concerns" with the Israeli announcement.
Israel has also said it might release millions of dollars collected in taxes for the Palestinians. Why have they been keeping this money in the first place? This is not their money -- it belongs to the Palestinians, and the Israelis had no right to withhold it.
If Israel wants the world to view them as the innocent party in the Mideast conflict, then they must stop breaking the rules themselves. They cannot accuse the Palestinians of failing to live up to their obligations, if they are unwilling to live up to their own obligations.
Israel announced recently that it will be building a new settlement on the West Bank. The approximately 30 houses to be built in the Jordan Valley will be resided in by former Gaza Strip settlers.
This is not only a violation of international law -- it is also a violation of the 2003 Roadmap for Peace. In fact, this violation is so egregious that even the Bush administration sees it as wrong and destined to provoke the Palestinians.
United States State Department spokesman Gonzo Gallegos said, "The establishment of a new settlement or the expansion of an existing settlement would violate Israel's obligations under the roadmap. The U.S. calls on Israel to meet it's roadmap obligations and avoid taking steps that could be viewed as predetermining the outcome of final-status negotiations [with the Palestinians]."
The European Union has also expressed it's "deep concerns" with the Israeli announcement.
Israel has also said it might release millions of dollars collected in taxes for the Palestinians. Why have they been keeping this money in the first place? This is not their money -- it belongs to the Palestinians, and the Israelis had no right to withhold it.
If Israel wants the world to view them as the innocent party in the Mideast conflict, then they must stop breaking the rules themselves. They cannot accuse the Palestinians of failing to live up to their obligations, if they are unwilling to live up to their own obligations.
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Cowboys Seem To Be Headed Downhill
A couple of weeks ago, I had such high hopes for the Dallas Cowboys. After installing Tony Romo at quarterback, they began to play better and were climbing that mountain to playoff success. But in the last three weeks, they've been sliding back downhill.
Three games ago, the Cowboys had their heads handed to them by the New Orleans Saints. Last week, they were barely able to beat the Atlanta Falcons [a team that is going nowhere this year]. Then, on Christmas day, the Philadelphia Eagles gave them a sound thrashing. The score in the Eagles game was only 23-7, but the game was not as close as the score might indicate. The Eagles controlled the game from start to finish.
I had hoped that the beating the Cowboys took from the Saints was an anomaly, but after the last couple of weeks I can no longer think that. This is simply not as good a team as I had thought it was -- how very depressing.
The Cowboys will still be in the playoffs -- mostly due to the poor play of some other teams. But I seriously doubt they will go very far in the playoffs [although I hope I'm wrong]. The offense is hit-and-miss at best, and the defense just doesn't seem to know what to do with a playoff-caliber team.
I'm not yet ready to hit the panic button, but my hand is hovering over it! If they don't improve their play quickly, we're just a couple of weeks away from talking about next year's draft.
Three games ago, the Cowboys had their heads handed to them by the New Orleans Saints. Last week, they were barely able to beat the Atlanta Falcons [a team that is going nowhere this year]. Then, on Christmas day, the Philadelphia Eagles gave them a sound thrashing. The score in the Eagles game was only 23-7, but the game was not as close as the score might indicate. The Eagles controlled the game from start to finish.
I had hoped that the beating the Cowboys took from the Saints was an anomaly, but after the last couple of weeks I can no longer think that. This is simply not as good a team as I had thought it was -- how very depressing.
The Cowboys will still be in the playoffs -- mostly due to the poor play of some other teams. But I seriously doubt they will go very far in the playoffs [although I hope I'm wrong]. The offense is hit-and-miss at best, and the defense just doesn't seem to know what to do with a playoff-caliber team.
I'm not yet ready to hit the panic button, but my hand is hovering over it! If they don't improve their play quickly, we're just a couple of weeks away from talking about next year's draft.
Small-Businesses In Favor Of Raising Minimum Wage
The Republicans main argument for refusing to raise the minimum wage in the United States has been that it would hurt small businesses. I never thought this was a valid argument, and now it looks like most small businesses agree.
Discover Financial Services LLC recently conducted a survey of small businesses, including those businesses with five or fewer employees. They found that 70% of small businesses approve of raising the minimum wage, and say it will have no effect on their labor costs.
Democrats promised during the last election campaign season that they would raise the minimum wage if elected. Since voters gave them control of both the House and the Senate, it is time for them to make good on their promise. Raising the minimum wage should be their first order of business when the new Congress convenes in January.
Polls have shown that a huge majority of people in this country favor raising the minimum wage. Now that small businesses are also on board with a raise to $7.25 an hour, that leaves only a few die-hard right-wing Republicans opposing it.
Personally, I would like to see it raised even higher than $7.25 an hour, but I'll take what I can get. It's a lot better than $5.15 an hour.
Discover Financial Services LLC recently conducted a survey of small businesses, including those businesses with five or fewer employees. They found that 70% of small businesses approve of raising the minimum wage, and say it will have no effect on their labor costs.
Democrats promised during the last election campaign season that they would raise the minimum wage if elected. Since voters gave them control of both the House and the Senate, it is time for them to make good on their promise. Raising the minimum wage should be their first order of business when the new Congress convenes in January.
Polls have shown that a huge majority of people in this country favor raising the minimum wage. Now that small businesses are also on board with a raise to $7.25 an hour, that leaves only a few die-hard right-wing Republicans opposing it.
Personally, I would like to see it raised even higher than $7.25 an hour, but I'll take what I can get. It's a lot better than $5.15 an hour.
Pipeline Rupture Dumps Oil Into The Gulf
It looks like the oil companies are trying to create an Exxon Valdez type disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, but in this part of the world we don't even need a ship to do it. That's because we have oil pipelines in the Gulf of Mexico.
Yesterday, the Houston-based Plains All American Pipeline experienced a rupture in their High Island Pipeline System, and dumped at least 21,000 gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico. The company is currently trying to limit the spill and suck the remaining oil out of the pipeline.
We are lucky this time. The tides seem to be carrying the oil away from shore, and maybe it can be cleaned up before it does too much damage [except to sea life in the area, of course]. This ought to give Texans and the residents of the other Gulf states cause to rethink Gulf drilling.
Congress has recently tryed to open more vast tracts of the Gulf to the oil companies for new drilling. It was the lame duck Republican Congress and they couldn't seem to tie their own shoes, but that doesn't mean the oil companies won't keep trying to get this done.
Do we really want more drilling in the Gulf of Mexico? I can assure you that any clean-up for an oil disaster will be born by the American people and not by the oil companies. Look at Exxon. They have still not paid a penny for the Alaskan clean-up, even though it happened years ago, and there's a court judgement ordering them to pay. Recently, they got the judgement cut in half, and it'll probably be years before we see any money from that half, if at all.
The oil companies don't care about the enviornment or the American people. The only thing they care about is getting into your pocketbook for more and more money to create ever bigger windfall profits for themselves.
So I ask again, do we really want more drilling and pipelines in the Gulf of Mexico? I say no, at least until the oil companies show they will be better stewards of the enviornment they are affecting [and Exxon pays what it owes].
Yesterday, the Houston-based Plains All American Pipeline experienced a rupture in their High Island Pipeline System, and dumped at least 21,000 gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico. The company is currently trying to limit the spill and suck the remaining oil out of the pipeline.
We are lucky this time. The tides seem to be carrying the oil away from shore, and maybe it can be cleaned up before it does too much damage [except to sea life in the area, of course]. This ought to give Texans and the residents of the other Gulf states cause to rethink Gulf drilling.
Congress has recently tryed to open more vast tracts of the Gulf to the oil companies for new drilling. It was the lame duck Republican Congress and they couldn't seem to tie their own shoes, but that doesn't mean the oil companies won't keep trying to get this done.
Do we really want more drilling in the Gulf of Mexico? I can assure you that any clean-up for an oil disaster will be born by the American people and not by the oil companies. Look at Exxon. They have still not paid a penny for the Alaskan clean-up, even though it happened years ago, and there's a court judgement ordering them to pay. Recently, they got the judgement cut in half, and it'll probably be years before we see any money from that half, if at all.
The oil companies don't care about the enviornment or the American people. The only thing they care about is getting into your pocketbook for more and more money to create ever bigger windfall profits for themselves.
So I ask again, do we really want more drilling and pipelines in the Gulf of Mexico? I say no, at least until the oil companies show they will be better stewards of the enviornment they are affecting [and Exxon pays what it owes].
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
Another Lawsuit For Farmers Branch
A couple of months ago, the city of Farmers Branch [just north of Dallas] passed some bigoted ordinances that were like a slap in the face to over 37% of its population -- Hispanics. The ordinances make it a crime for landlords to rent to undocumented immigrants, make English the official language of the city and directs it's police department to enforce federal immigration laws.
Of course, the bigoted ordinances totally ignore some realities about the state of Texas. Not only were Hispanics in Texas for hundreds of years before white settlers came, but many Hispanics fought with the rebels who won Texas' independence from Mexico. You just need to look at the names of many Texas counties and cities to see the large number of Hispanic heroes in the state.
Hispanics have always been a valuable part of the population, history and culture of Texas, and they always will be. The ethnic bigotry shown by the Farmers Branch city council cannot change that fact.
The ordinances are bigoted because while they are aimed at a specific portion of our population, they really do not address the one issue which could really have a dramatic effect on illegal immigration -- the employers who take advantage of undocumented workers so they won't have to pay a decent wage.
It won't matter how many ordinances are passed or fences are built, the illegal immigration will continue as long as there are jobs for them to fill. All these ordinances will accomplish is to make life harder for all Hispanics -- even those who are citizens and legal residents.
It also is going to cost the citizens of Farmers Branch thousands of dollars to defend the silly ordinances in court. There has already been one lawsuit filed by a real estate broker and Farmers Branch resident, saying the city council violated the state's open meetings law in passing the ordinances.
Last Friday, three apartment houses joined together and filed another lawsuit against the city. They are asking a federal court to declare the rental ordinance to be unconstitutional. They are also asking the court to stop the ordinance from going into effect on January 12th.
A petition has been submitted to the city council with 1400 signatures demanding a vote on repealing the ordinances. Only 726 signatures were needed for the election to be held -- probably next May.
The ACLU and several Hispanic organizations are also considering lawsuits. Some may consider this as "piling on". I say the more the merrier. The city has embarrassed themselves, the Metroplex and the entire state of Texas. They must either withdraw the ordinances or pay the price for their bigotry.
UPDATE -- Well, that didn't take long! Today, the ACLU and the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund have filed suit against the city of Farmers Branch. The plaintiffs are a couple of landlords, some Hispanic citizens, and some children who are U.S. citizens, but fear the ordinances will force them to seperate from their parents.
This makes three lawsuits and a repeal petition now. Looks like Farmers Branch bought themselves a lot of trouble with their bigoted ordinances.
Of course, the bigoted ordinances totally ignore some realities about the state of Texas. Not only were Hispanics in Texas for hundreds of years before white settlers came, but many Hispanics fought with the rebels who won Texas' independence from Mexico. You just need to look at the names of many Texas counties and cities to see the large number of Hispanic heroes in the state.
Hispanics have always been a valuable part of the population, history and culture of Texas, and they always will be. The ethnic bigotry shown by the Farmers Branch city council cannot change that fact.
The ordinances are bigoted because while they are aimed at a specific portion of our population, they really do not address the one issue which could really have a dramatic effect on illegal immigration -- the employers who take advantage of undocumented workers so they won't have to pay a decent wage.
It won't matter how many ordinances are passed or fences are built, the illegal immigration will continue as long as there are jobs for them to fill. All these ordinances will accomplish is to make life harder for all Hispanics -- even those who are citizens and legal residents.
It also is going to cost the citizens of Farmers Branch thousands of dollars to defend the silly ordinances in court. There has already been one lawsuit filed by a real estate broker and Farmers Branch resident, saying the city council violated the state's open meetings law in passing the ordinances.
Last Friday, three apartment houses joined together and filed another lawsuit against the city. They are asking a federal court to declare the rental ordinance to be unconstitutional. They are also asking the court to stop the ordinance from going into effect on January 12th.
A petition has been submitted to the city council with 1400 signatures demanding a vote on repealing the ordinances. Only 726 signatures were needed for the election to be held -- probably next May.
The ACLU and several Hispanic organizations are also considering lawsuits. Some may consider this as "piling on". I say the more the merrier. The city has embarrassed themselves, the Metroplex and the entire state of Texas. They must either withdraw the ordinances or pay the price for their bigotry.
UPDATE -- Well, that didn't take long! Today, the ACLU and the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund have filed suit against the city of Farmers Branch. The plaintiffs are a couple of landlords, some Hispanic citizens, and some children who are U.S. citizens, but fear the ordinances will force them to seperate from their parents.
This makes three lawsuits and a repeal petition now. Looks like Farmers Branch bought themselves a lot of trouble with their bigoted ordinances.
Monday, December 25, 2006
The "Godfather Of Soul" Dies
The legendary James Brown, the Godfather of Soul Music, died at 1:45am today in an Atlanta hospital. He had been admitted to the hospital suffering from pneumonia, but it is not known what caused his death.
Born in 1933, Brown went from reform school to being one of the world's most respected and honored entertainers. His songs included:
"Please, Please, Please" [1956-his first hit]
"Out of Sight"
"Sex Machine"
"I Got You (I Feel Good)"
"Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" [1965 Grammy winner]
"Say It Loud - I'm Black and I'm Proud"
"Living in America" [1987 Grammy winner]
The great James Brown also won a Grammy in 1992 for lifetime achievement, and was one of the initial inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
I grew up with his music and loved it, and to this day I refuse to say his name without preceding it with another word such as "legendary" or "great". I will miss him, but his music will always live with me. Rest in peace JB, you've earned it.
Happy Holidays !
All of us here at jobsanger wish you a very happy solstice season, whatever your religion or lack thereof.
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