Published: May 18, 2009 07:23 am      

5/17/09 Letters to the Editor

Administration living up to its promise



Dear Editor:



“Socialism refers to a broad set of economic theories of social organizations advocating collective ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods, and a society characterized by equality for all individuals, with an egalitarian method of compensation.” — Wikipedia

This new administration in Washington, D.C., has certainly lived up to its promise, socialism in the U.S.

In addition to taking over the auto and banking industries, their next targets are public education and our health care system.

The secretary of education has suggested that school districts should move teachers from high performing schools to those of lesser performance to improve the latter.

But doesn’t that mean that the high performing schools would then have lower performance?

Under this logic the overall performance of the two schools might level out, but the net result would be lower performance overall.

Is this the “fairness” that the new administration talks about? What if the teachers don’t want to move? Will the government force them to move? If so, how?

I suspect some teachers will quit the profession before they will teach where the federal government tells them.

I know personally several former public school teachers who quit because of the threat of violence by students and the hostile environment in the inner-city schools.

The socialist confuses equal opportunity with equality.

Human beings are not equal in their abilities, nor are they equal in the ambitions or desires.

It is pure foolishness to assume that everyone on the planet wants to go to college or is capable of performing at the college level.

Government regulations will not change the climate in our inner-city schools, just waste a lot of taxpayer money and put an unnecessary burden on school administrators.

This left-wing administration is determined to implement as many socialist policies as it can, undermining the basic foundations of our nation.

When the state accepts federal funds, there are always strings attached that takes us closer to a socialist society.

We should resist the tactics of this administration with all our might.

Write your congressman and tell him how you feel about the federal government taking over local schools.

Of course, in Johnson County, you have to deal with liberal Congressman Chet Edwards, who is right in step with the president and his liberal administration.

It isn’t likely that Chet will listen to the conservative voices within his district because he is joined at the hip with the likes of Sheila Jackson Leigh, Eddie Bernice Johnson and other liberal Democrat congressmen from Texas.

That means if you want proper representation in Congress, you need to get out to vote next year and kick old Chet out of office.

I thought we might get lucky when Chet was on the short list for vice president, but they had a stupid contest, and Joe Biden won.

This administration was even so stupid as to propose that injured and disabled veterans pay for their treatment themselves through private health insurance, disavowing the government’s responsibility to care for wounded combat veterans.

This was quickly dismissed when veterans organizations got wind of the proposal and protested vehemently.

Liberals in this country are riding high on the coattails of Barack Hussein Obama, but the fight for what is right in this country is far from over.

Personally, I’d rather be right, and in the minority, than wrong in the majority.



Harry C. Kennemer Jr.

Burleson







Thanks for exercising your right to vote



Dear Editor:



I wanted to take a moment to thank all the people who came out to vote during the recent school board election. Whether you voted for me or not, our community, Constitution and democracy benefits and flourishes when you get involved in the electoral process.

Thank you for taking the time to consider the arguments advanced by each candidate and, to those of you who voted for me, I wanted to express my deep appreciation and gratitude for finding my positions worthy of your support.

I also want to say thank you to Tolin Navarette and Wendell Dempsey for helping ensure that this election remained focused on the issues and not on personalities.

From my point of view this was a good, clean election with no distractions. All elections should be this way.

Some are disappointed with the election results. I’m not. It turned out the way it did because ultimately more voters showed up expressing support for Wendell than for Tolin, DeWayne or me. And that’s how elections are won and lost.

There are strong opinions in both camps of the two top vote-getters. I would suggest with all sincerity that Cleburne’s voters give Wendell the chance he earned to serve the school district before anyone disparages him or his supporters.

As Ronald Reagan said, “Let’s disagree without being disagreeable.”

I haven’t always followed Reagan’s advice in expressing my political opinions in the past but with my first foray into elective politics behind me, it sure sounds like a lot better advice now than it did before.

Finally, a big thank you goes to all the election workers, paid and volunteer, without whom not a single election would ever take place.

You hold an honored place in our democracy and in the hearts of all voters.



Matt Snider

Cleburne





Prom night a great success



Dear Editor:



I would like to thank the following people for helping make our prom, “The Music of the Night,” a great success.

I appreciate your kindness to our students.

Thanks to John and Robin Fort, Jackie Stacey, Sherri Bell, Fran Rader, Pat McHargue, Jeff Cotton, Junior Pride officers and parents, Cleburne High teachers and principals, Paula Allen and Janice Hinman, Amber White, Little Ben’s, Bennetts, Patrick’s, David Beans, Blake Dagley, Rick McConnoll, Susie and Julie Morrison, Keith Scarbrough, Chad Ryan (Phantom), Kimberly Sikes (donations), Lowell Smith Jr., Grandview Bank, Keith Steward, DDS PC, Jeff Dugger Motor Company, Dugger Electric, Chesapeake, Jay M. Wilson PC, Sikes and Associates PC, Joy McHargue CPCU, ChFC, Bob’s Auto Supply, Dick Turner, Childress Engineers, United Cooperative Services, Dr. Gerald and Robin Kiel, First Financial Bank, Rosser Funeral Home, M. Michael Glover DDS, Friou Floral and Gifts, Conover Law Firm, Mary Hicks and all food donations.



Salley Maxey

Prom coordinator





Disturbed that so few voted



Dear Editor:



I was disappointed that less than 10 percent of the Cleburne population voted in the election on May 9.

We had an important issue on the ballot about expanding alcohol sells in our town, and less than 10 percent took the time to vote.

I am disturbed that 1,665 people have just decided that alcohol will be more available in my town.

As a citizen of the United States, you have a responsibility to vote.

Many Americans throughout history have fought and some died in war to protect you freedom to vote. Freedom has responsibilities.

I believe if you did not vote than you do not have the right to complain.



Amy Simons

Cleburne





Out of sync



Dear Editor:



Am I completely out of date, out of step, out of marbles, or just out of snuff, mad and frustrated with all of the changes being reported?

It is too early to throw my hands up and yell “calf rope,” but I am worried about what the new boys in the capitol are doing to our country.

There are some changes needed but not reinterpreting or ignoring the Constitution and Bill of Rights.

Wherever common sense has gone, let’s find it, and soon.

I’m afraid, also, of things that may be going on without much if any publicity, including Islamic immigration on top of massive amnesty approval by Democrats and Republicans as well as carbon tax bill.

It’s true that the Republicans messed up “big time” in several ways.

That is spilled milk, but what is being spilled now on the barn floor is being served without straining out the dirt and manure.

Clear observations have me believing that the “milk cow” is going dry, and her “golden goose” predecessor has already molted. No change in sight.

How can Congress keep giving money away when the coffers are empty even if they expect it back April 15?

That’s called Monopoly money, a game change.

Why don’t we just endorse the next check and send it back?

This might be called pushing a hot check.

Unions have run the car companies like the Florida Cubans have run our U.S.-Cuba relations, with self interests.

Considering the friendly treatment given to so many rogue nations in the world, why not to Cuba, right at our door step?

Change is needed. Government is truly a failed business, so what can we expect as it takes over banks and car companies?

Our military specialty groups were trained by being waterboarded and given other forms of ill treatment that might come their way if captured, yet our newly installed think that these same interrogation methods are too strenuous, unkind and unsportmanlike to use on those who would kill us at the drop of a hat.

Our personnel who followed orders by using these methods are now on the Obama hit list.

We can’t carry a “big stick” but must witness an apologetic, bowing Obama amuse Islamic leaders. Are these changes beneficial?

Free speech rights are possibly becoming questionable for conservatives and Christians and only acceptable for liberal speakers.

Conservative and Christian advocates were classified as suspected terrorists by Homeland Security’s Napolitano. Regretable changes.

We once had patriotic entertainers like Jimmy Stewart, Lee Marvin, Ronald Reagan, Anita Bryant and Bob Hope.

Now we have the depraved Sean Penn, Jane Fonda, George Clooney, Madonna and Michael Moore with their moral corruptness, vulgarity and denouncement of America.

The fruits and nuts of the U.S. demand more than just representation in the military, Congress and the Supreme Court.

Personally, I don’t see the values of fruits and nuts running the U.S.

Congress should change and take time to read fully, and intelligently consider the text of all proposals with a bipartisan and nationalist spirit.

We saw change as a golden-tongued Chicago fellow promised his way into the prime office of the land, even though his birth and educational records had been declared unavailable to public view.

By what right can these be hidden?

The slickest con man around was ushered in by “believers,” even those his citizenship was, and is still, in question.

His associates, before his ascendence, caused him to be declared a government security risk.

How, then, did that change?

The majority of his cabinet members have very questionable past records, yet were accepted.

He was so slick in hiding his tracks that even Bill Clinton applauded his versatility.

These changes in procedure needed questioning, not gullible acceptance.



Monte Swatzell

Cleburne



Thanks for your vote



Dear Editor:



To the citizens of Cleburne I say thank you for coming out to vote, and thank you to all who voted in Single Member District 2. I appreciate the words of encouragement and support. I am looking forward to serving on the city council and representing the voters of Cleburne.



Gayle White

Cleburne