Polk County Enterprise (Livingston, Tex.), Vol. 116, No. 94, Ed. 1 Thursday, November 26, 1998 Page: 4 of 36
This newspaper is part of the collection entitled: Polk County Newspapers and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the Livingston Municipal Library.
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EDITORIAL
j PAGE 4A
THE POLK COUNTY ENTERPRISE
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1996
Letters to the editor
A quick history lesson
To the editor:
whites), nuclear proliferation, the
banning of free women's clinics,
the censorship of "immoral" books
A quick history lesson for all the boycotting of Halloween, and an
liberal-bashers who keep writing to end to teaching science and sex cdu-
the newspaper. cation in the public schools.
* OK, I have a book on the subject An example of how conservatives
fight here in front of me, so Fm and liberals differ in ideology is in
pretty much going to go word-for- crime control. Conservatives bc-
Word and tell you what it says: lieve in the deterrent effect of pun-
Today’s liberals believe govern- ishment. And liberals believe
ment has a responsibility as an prevention,
economic regulator in the public in- ^ MafXt ^ founder of com.
terest, (breaking up monopolies, munijm> wgs a libeniI> but Stalin>
treaung minimum wages, rcgula- the ruler of the Soviet Union, was a
Iron of utilities, etc.) to protect its conservative
citizens (immunizations, creation of Socialists arc liberals, but Na-
p strong military, etc.). And to as- oonal Socialists (Nazis) are conser-
$ist those in the most need (WIC, vauves. So you can't say some lib-
Medicare, Social Security and edu- ^ principle ^ “Hiller-esque." Ad-
cation)- . olph Hitler was a conservative.
However, they are strongly op- , .. , . „ ,
posed to government intrusion into our
bur private lives. Things like cen- thcm * *c cf5n'
torship, laws forbidding religious SOTattvesof that time were loyal to
beliefs, the suppression of dissent, ****bu.1 som~.were mo^e
and inability to have a say in our------ s,—- -7- 7—- —-7-
government are particularly irksome ***
lo liberals (who joined the Hellfire Club his
: Conservatives, on the other hand, J* yearf“L London!i* foUowed by
feel there is too much federal intru- ^cr^on’wbo ^
sion in the economy. For example, ***. lln^or for^hehuxithe
they oppose laws forbidding child wnUn« of “* mo* llbcral docu‘
Jabor, minimum wages, food mcnt evef ^nuen by any govem-
safety, billing controls on utilities, “(L*0 umc> tbe
car safety reflations and the FDA. ““I^conservauve w
. However, they welcome govern- P«^ly George Washington, who
jment support to further their social wrote 8 h00* on manners-
Agenda. Which in recent years has . .
included the war in Vietnam, segro- t|r,c J7‘ce
■gation (keeping separate water foun- Koute 1 vox 186-a
tains and schools for blacks and lv n8s‘on
eral than others. The most liberal
Thankful for music maker
'4 >
To the editor:
like to say that they have no idea
the power they have to help people.
uSJSKittnS
;l want to direct my "thanks" toward . . sud^y tbcyJ“1c
'dot even realize it. There is a to worid 0 little lightt*....
u. mac » a y you can turn on the radio
;uniqueness 10 this couple as they along. But they will not
'^nv^ho mdfv'drTnni lib* rtmcm*5cr Y001 name next time
.many who really do not feel like . * . with .. u
•linging. Many who tat new. ewita
'even sung before. L . 7 . I
Oh. many will criticize the loc* J** “ »£ • Thu conple ta
lion ihcy sing a.. The, migh. call <“ W*iwho “"!»
6 in have on their minds. Some are m
lit ungodly, even when the night
, ■ 1. , . a nasty divorce, child custody
[Grace!" 4 < .toTIS ** l*01^ '"“‘"‘I'W
well to remember that Jesus Walked Inessa »lace....
many miles to reach people in -Lighu. music and sound effects
many walks of life... to touch their T® mcaporated to make them
hearts. The "budding" was not the besi^.can ^
reason for the worship, yet the rcla- unn<^ICC<** couple \W)ik their
magic to create a star for a few
moments....
tionship.
The moods are somber as the
pight begins, some scoff and laugh
and make fun, some ridicule and
shout snide remarks, some just
fudely raise their eyebrows and oc-
casionally the "critic" will be im-
No, this is not the traditional
"Thanksgiving letter to the edi-
tor"... but somehow I fell it needed
to be said.
So next time you see the sign
pressed and actually smile. Yet the s?nJ**bere» Karaoke here to-
■ music maker " and his wife never "|*ht - ™ybc 5™
flinch or avoid the challenge but lbesc have a wonderful gift
face it with a smile and a kind 10 °fbcr^"- *c P**.
esteem. The gift of leaving prob-
Picking a song from the karaoke ,cms behind a Y00, *
Ik* is a challenge for those who ** » * Jjj
cannot sing well, a "memory" for 10 wanl. ‘^c’.11 ls
those who like the "oldies" and just "kW™*** ^ "W™ y«>to
routine for those seasoned sing- havc; . , ... , ,
ers ...Look beyond their music and
■ You hear many voices in the wi“ “
night. Some ace good eoough lo tc J00'
in Nashville and some are jus. Mhhtt* I maynot
■sing il in die shower" voh»... but “2000 I™? bl“ ym ^7
■his couple perform magic and even w*!™*"1 Th«e an so oumy of
ihc worn, voice can b«ome dans- «* *l»»PPrec«»e your erra effon,
formed into sur quality. and we joat wanted lo tell you in a
Little button here, and adjustment sPcc‘al way-
there, and even a soft accompani-
ment in the background to get the
linger back on track can be noticed
if one is really listening. But it is
not done for self glory, yet instead
for the self-esteem of others. The
first time they approach the stage is
With fear, or maybe with a group
and hide in the shadows afraid of
Bobbie McLean
Route 9 Box 1622
Livingston
Pray for us
To the editor:
Let us give thanks unto the Lad
ridicule and rejection. Then gradu- for He is good,
ally the caterpillar becomes a but- V we seek his face and humble
terfly and takes flight on its own. ourselves he would heal our land,
the music transforms the sadness Our land needs healing. Jesus <fd
into a smile, the loneliness into not give us a spirit of fear but of
friendships and singing partners.... power, but America is powerless.
Yes, the "music maker" is paid And of love and sound mind. My
most of the time, but I have seen hope lies in Jesus and there is hope
them work for free to get exposure, for America when we seek His fax
The pay is modest considering the and bumble ourselves,
junount of equipment and music ii- Everybody, please pray this
brary ... the hours of preparation Thanksgiving and give thanks,
and hauling equipment from loca- Stand together. America is great
ion to location. One might won- Don't let it die.
(ler, is it worth it?
Well, in this time of Thanksgiv- Julia N. Henry
<ng I would like to take the time to P.O. Box 293
say, "IT IS WORTH fT - I would Shepherd
State Capital Highlights
Bullock, Perry aim for smooth transition
By ED STERLING
Texas Press Association
AUSTIN - Lt Gov. Bob Bul-
lock last week presented Lt Gov.
- elect Rick Perry with the Senate
gavel he had wielded since he
took office in January 1991.
The symbolic transfer of author-
ity shows the men are aiming for
a smooth transition. Bullock
leaves office in January.
Out-going Agriculture Commis-
sioner Perry, a Republican, will
take over as lieutenant governor
when the Legislature convenes on
Jan. 12. He will preside over the
31-seat Senate with a one-seat
(16-15) GOP majority.
Bullock, who plans on working
for an Austin public relations and
consulting firm, said he is hopeful
that party politics won’t come
into play with Perry at the helm.
Perry, who soon will name
committees and pick chairmen,
said Democrats and Republicans
will share leadership roles in the
Senate. Perry also said he will
continue to seek advice from Bul-
lock after he leaves office.
Insurance benchmark
rates cut
Insurance Commissioner Elton
Bomer has cut homeowners insur-
ance benchmark rates by a state-
wide average of 6 percent.
Benchmark rates vary among
Texas’ 23 rating territories, but
the largest reductions occurred in
the southern half of the state.
New benchmark rates for rate-
regulated companies, which set
their own rates within a 30-
percent range above or below the
benchmark, will take effect Feb.
1.
Bomer cited reduced claims
compared to premiums as one
reason for the benchmark rate
reduction.
“Our violent weather patterns
appear to have simmered down,
and that’s helped lower home-
owners benchmark rates,” Bomer
said. “We can be thankful that we
have dodged hurricanes for the
past decade and other cata-
strophic windstorms in recent
years."
However, Lloyds companies
and reciprocal exchanges, which
account for about 80 percent of
the homeowners market, write at
unregulated rates and are unaf-
fected by benchmark.
Judicial appointments
bill filed
Sen. Robert Duncan, R-
Lubbock, filed legislation last
week proposing a constitutional
amendment to have the governor
appoint appellate judges.
Under Duncan’s plan, the gov-
emo- would appoint supreme
court, court of criminal appeals
and courts of appeals judges to
six-year terms.
Appointees would have to be
confirmed by the Senate. Those
seeking a second six-year term
would be subject to a yes-or-no,
non-partisan vote.
Duncan said he filed the pro-
posal because “Texans are tired
of the perception that big money
and politics have too much influ-
ence over the judicial system.
In the 1997 legislative session,
Gov. George W. Bush opposed a
similar measure, arguing that vot-
ers should be able to decide who
their judges will be.
Other pre-filed bills
of interest
Like Sen. Duncan, many other
CAPITOL
COMMENT
U.S. SENATOR
KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON
ra i*.
TEXANS WEIGH IN ON
BUDGET SURPLUS
TT n my unscientific poll, two-thirds of Texans believe that any surplus in the
I federal budget should be used to both reduce the national debt and lower
A taxes.
My annual questionnaire, which your newspaper published late last
summer, asked Texans their opinion on the budget surplus. The question was:
The federal government will have a budget surplus this year.
Do you believe these funds should be used to cut taxes? Yes_No_
To reduce the national debt? Yes_No_
To increase government spending? Yes_No_
Of those who responded, 66 percent said use the surplus to pay down the
debt, but lower the tax rate as well. Only 9 percent of you want to see increased
government spending.
Here are some of your comments on this question:
From Dallas: “We finally have a good mix of government spending and
a healthy economy. We have a duty and an opportunity to pay our debt. Let’s
do it.’’
From Manvel: “What’s wrong with the federal government having a
budget surplus for a change? Why does that money burn a hole in Congress’
pockets? Is there something wrong with saving it and letting it earn a little
interest? Why does it just have to be spent this instant?”
From Tulia: “For pete’s sake pay off that huge debt. We are paying more
and more taxes every year just for debt service. We’d have a lot more money
to spend on things like the miliuiy and college loans if we weren’t paying
interest on that debt. No tax reductions until we are no longer a debtor
country.”
From Brookston: “If there is a surplus in my budget, I pay off bills. If the
federal government would follow the same household practices, there wouldn’t
be a debt.”
From Comfort: “Cut taxes. Cut taxes. Cut taxes.”
From Del Rio: “We are living on borrowed time. At some point we won’t
be able to pay off the debt. Better to pay it now, while it won’t cause pain.”
From Waxahachie: “Congress should dedicate a specific amount of
money each year to paying off the debt before anything else is budgeted. We
can’t say we have a surplus until we have paid what we owe.”
From Winters: “Lower my taxes. 1 can’t tell you how hard it is for my
family to live on what I earn after the government takes its bite out of my
paycheck.”
From Houston: ‘Tax cuts do not cost anything. It is the people’s money.
The federal government is not entitled to a certain amount.”
From Fort Stockton: “Why should we have to wait for a tax cut? And why
do we continue to give away billions of dollars every year to foreign countries
who are only our friend as long as they get the handouts? Let the world wait
for a couple of years and use that surplus to pay off the debt and to leave a little
more money in MY pocket.”
From Midlothian: “I won’t believe we have a surplus until my tax bill
goes down."
From Austin: “Put me down for a tax cut. The economy is slowing and
could use a little grease. Last time I looked, this was part of your agenda. Can
I have some of my money back, please, to take care of my own family?”
From my perspective, there are only two responsible ways for Congress
to handle the government’s new-found budget surplus: tax reduction and debt
reduction. The federal tax burden is the highest it’s been in our nation’s
history.
But the $5 trillion debt government has run up over the past 30 years will
cripple our children and grandchildren’s chances of ever achieving the
American dream. To keep the faith with future generations, we must begin to
whittle away at that debt
The only responsible course for Congress is to work on reducing both of
these burdens, for the sake of today’s American families, and the families of
the future.
Texas lawmakers filed legislation
early in hopes of amending cur-
rent laws. Here arc a few:
• Rep. G£. “Buddy” West, R-
Odcssa, wants to require personal
finance education as a condition
for high school graduation.
• Rep. John Longoria, D-San
Antonio, wants public school stu-
dents to receive instruction in
"basic values of the United
States.”
• Sen. Tom Haywood, R-
Wichita Falls, wants to establish
a tax credit for companies that
establish and operate a day-care
center for children of employees
or purchase child-care services for
employees.
• Rep. Norma Chavez, D-El
Paso, wants to enact a hotel-
motel room tax exemption fa
those involved in the production
of a motion picture, television
program or musical or video re-
cording.
Other Highlights
• Career criminal Kenneth Al-
len McDuff, 52, was put to death
by lethal injection Nov. 17, after
exhausting appeals fa a delay of
execution. McDuff was believed
to be the nation’s only con-
demned inmate ever paroled and
then returned to death row fa
another murder.
• The American Civil Liberties
Union is backing the Ethical Cul-
tural Fellowship, an Austin group
that is suing the state to have its
religious tax exemption rein-
stated. The group does not believe
in a supreme being, which dis-
qualifies it from receiving the tax
exemption under Texas law.
• Gov. Bush last week ap-
pointed Thomas Clowe of Waco
as head of the Lottery Commis-
sion, Clowe, currently a senior
vice president of Southern Union
Gas Co., replaces John Hill of
Houston, who resigned.
Do you have an opinion?
The Polk County Enterprise encourages readers to submit letters ex-
pressing their views and opinions.
The letters will be published in the Enterprise's "Letters to the editor"
column on Thursday a Sunday.
The letters may be written on any subject or issue of general interest.
Letters must be accompanied by a name and mailing address and will be
subject to editing fa grammar, punctuation, spelling and length.
Letters must include a telephone number for verification. We will not
publish the telephone number.
Readers should keep their letters brief and to the point. Each letter
should contain no more than 650 wads. Letters exceeding that length will
be subject to editing or withheld from publication.
Letters will also be subject lo editing for libelous statements and
commercialism.
This column is not meant as a forum for political candidates, although
we welcome comments from the public concerning campaign issues.
During election campaigns, we will not allow reference to specific local
candidates.
Letters may be submitted in person; mailed to "Letters to the edita,"
Polk County Enterprise, P.O. Box 1276, Livingston, TX 77351; sent to
the Enterprise by fax to (409) 327-7156 or sent e-mail to
<polknews@ livingston.net>.
Deadline fa letters is 5 p.m. Tuesday fa Thursday’s qewqpaper and 5
p.m. Friday for Sunday's newspaper.
HIGHWAY
All roads lead to one or
another of MDA’s 230 clinics
helping people affected
by neuromuscular diseases.
Muscular Dystrophy Association
1-800-572-1717
POLK COUNTY
ENTERPRISE
ALVIN HOLLEY, PUBLISHER
Telephone Number 3274357
(USPS 437-340)
WEBSITE: wwwJivingitDn.net/polknewi E-MAIL: pdknews@livingston.net
Entered as Second-Class Matter at the Post Office at Livingston,
Texas 77351 under the Act of Congress of March 3,1987.
EDITORIALDEPARTMENT
Barbara White,Editor
Van Thomas, Sports Editor
Greg Peak, Area News Editor
Alicia Singleton, Living Section Editor
Emily Banks, Reporter
Gordon LeBarron, Photographer
PRODUCTIONDEPARTMENT
Cameras/Pbtemaking
Don Holeman, Paul Holley
Pressroom Personnel
Adrian Dunn, Beamon Goodwin, Willis Woods
Malilroom / Circulation
Lee Torres, Lourdes Celedon
Dorothy Wilson, Composition Supervisor
Jennifer Kingsbury, Stephanie Seek, Joan Alexander
ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT
UndaHolley,AdManager
Sandra Jackson, Kay Loy Cuevas, Kelly Rood
Linda Jacobs, Classified Manager
Patty Hankerd
PRINTING DEPARTMENT
Jennifer Birdwell, Supervisor
Deborah Bartlett
BOOKKEEPING DEPARTMENT
Georgia Bailey, Manager
Bobara Wilson, Laura Bright, Lisa Singleton,
SUBSCRIPTION RATES - $20.00 pa year tax included, in county,
$22.00pa year, out of county, $24.00pa year out of state. Published semi-
weekly, Sunday and Thursday at 100 Calhoun in Livingston, Texas by the
Polk County Publishing Co.
Any erroneous reflection upon the character, standing a reputation of
any person, firm or corporation which may appear in this newspaper will
be gladly corrected upon being brought to the attention of the publisha.
Opinions expressed in columns are those of the writer and not necessar-
ily those of this newspaper.
Opinions expressed in editorial are those of foe Enterprise.
POSTMASTER: Postage Paid At Livingston, Tx. Please Send Address
Changes To P.O. Box 1276, Livingston, Texas 77351.
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White, Barbara. Polk County Enterprise (Livingston, Tex.), Vol. 116, No. 94, Ed. 1 Thursday, November 26, 1998, newspaper, November 26, 1998; Livingston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth820963/m1/4/?q=Homecoming+queen+1966+North+Texas+State+University: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Livingston Municipal Library.