OPINION

Re: "2 who pinched officer say complaint political -- Mayor, mayor pro tem also say gas drilling votes aren't a conflict," Sunday news story.

What happened in the town of Flower Mound, where Jody Smith and Jean Levenick pinched someone's rear, depicts the double standard involving sexual harassment.

If two men had done what these two women did, they would have had to resign in the midst of a scandal and their political futures would have been destroyed. Instead, these two women laugh it off as a practical joke as, in their opinion, no one got hurt, and it was all in good fun.

Re: "Town itching to ditch two P's," by Steve Blow, Sunday Metro column.

I applaud Pilot Point for what it stands for -- its history seems to be right up there with the best. Also, its school recently had the honor of becoming state football champions.

Assuming changing the name of their town to something totally different is out of the question, how about considering the following: Pilot Point becomes Pilotpoint, then the high school becomes the PHS Bearcats. It would hard to laugh at that, even when the team doesn't take the championship, and it would also look pretty sharp on letter jackets.

As for a slogan: When you consider what Pilot Point has accomplished in history and, more recently, in sports, they could now say with pride and paint on their water tower, "The Pilotpoint Bearcats Pacesetters."

Apparently neither Congress nor the White House gets the message that we are all sick and tired of the constant bickering and partisanship.

As President Barack Obama visited with the Republicans in Baltimore, all we heard was more of the same. We did this, you did that, it didn't happen on my watch or you guys just don't understand. I think I speak for the majority of Americans when I say, I don't care who did what.

This country is in deep trouble and can only be put on the right track by us working together and stopping the blame game. If Washington can't understand that, then let's clean house this November and every November until they can understand.

We the people are not dumb, nor are we ignorant of what is going on in Washington, D.C., Austin, or the cities of Texas. What we want to know is where the candidates are on the issues facing us. What are their plans to resolve the problems we face, and how are their plans better than their opponents'?

Where do the candidates stand on issues such as mass transit, road repair, health care, taxes, eminent domain, job creation, welfare issues, public safety, to name a few?

When we, the public, need jobs, food on the table, clothes to wear and transportation to get to jobs, we don't need to hear about a mud-wrestling match.

We want answers to real problems that daily affect us all. Heck, if you do stick to the issues, you just might like it.

Re: "U.S. moves to protect Arab allies against Iran missiles -- Batteries in 4 nations, at sea intended partly to calm Israel, others," Sunday news story.

While it is appropriate for the U.S. to want to protect major sources of petroleum, I find it interesting that there is no arm-twisting of these governments to recognize that Israel is, in fact, in their neighborhood and to withdraw their support for radical Islamist organizations.

Shouldn't we ask the Saudis to stop funding Wahabi schools in the U.S. in return for our military protection? I see a double standard.

Re: "Migrants return as a burden -- U.S. economy sends many home where situation is more dire," Tuesday news story.

From the description of living conditions in Mexico, it would seem that the country is in need of a Marshall Plan similar to what we did in Europe and Asia after World War II.

Surely, there are potential leaders there who could establish a worthwhile government and build a going nation, if they could have some assistance in overcoming their present Third World system.

Re: "Scraps for Texas -- State mustn't sit idly in high-speed rail race," Sunday Editorials.

According to Government Accountability Office reports, the cost for building high-speed rail in other countries averages $51 million per mile. The "gift" to Florida was $1.25 billion, and the rail line between Tampa and Orlando is 84 miles. That's over $3 billion short.

Also, nothing in this "gift" covers annual operating expenses. Since a report quoted by the Congressional Research Service points out that fares are unlikely to cover operating costs, where exactly is the additional money going to come from? We all know the answer. It will come from taxpayers: permanent taxes for a permanent subsidy.

Add to all that the vast cost difference between rail and road, and rather than lambasting our Texas leaders for "sitting idly by" or for being "asleep at the switch," we should heartily thank them for refusing another gift that keeps on giving. Sometimes doing nothing is the best course of action.

Re: "Pioneer still talks of peace -- Mover in civil rights struggle in Dallas to mark anniversary of N.C. lunch counter sit-ins," Monday news story.

The Rev. James Lawson is right when he says, "Violence is the No. 1 enemy of the human race." But violence and its parent, evil, must be opposed, and the U.S. is best-equipped for the job.

Also, I am saddened that Lawson found it necessary to look outside the Christian religion to find principles of nonviolent resistance with which to fight racism in America. Yeshua, or Jesus, who is the Messiah only of those who surrender their lives to him, teaches better principles and methods than were used by Mohandas Gandhi.

We find those teachings in the Old Testament. God gave them to the Jewish people, who also know a thing or two about being persecuted because of their race.

I'd like to thank Lawson for his service to the African-American community. I only wish there was less resentment toward America and her ideals by some African-Americans today. Then, I believe, the wounds of segregation would heal completely, and our great nation would have one less thorn in its side.

Now that some of the initial panic/fear about the underwear bomber has died down, I'd like to draw your attention to a great editorial in today's Washington Post about the threat of a biological attack:

THREE THOUSAND people were killed in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. More than 300,000 could be dead within one week after a modest attack with biological weapons.

For most people, the thought of such an attack is an unthinkable horror. For al-Qaeda, it is a lingering dream and one that it is working diligently to achieve. Two recently released reports indicate the United States has been aware of this threat for years yet remains "woefully" unprepared.

It's an important reminder that while attacks on airplanes are dramatic and scary (as someone who spends a lot of time in airplanes, I am especially sensitive to the idea of getting blown out of the sky), there are bigger threats.

While I am all for beefed up security, I have to admit I am in the camp of skeptics who think there may be better ways to spend our money.

What do you think? Do we focus too much on threats against aviation? How do you think we should be spending all the money that's going to new screening technologies?

Every week, we poll the members of the editorial board on a timely and divisive topic. This week, that topic is the latest poll numbers out of the Republican primary for governor, which show Perry (44 percent) and Medina (16 percent) gaining ground, while Hutchison (29 percent) loses some. So our question this week is:

What do you make of the latest poll numbers in the GOP race for governor?

Here are their responses:

1. Hodge -- This editorial is linked to this developing story. Terri Hodges' admission today to lying in connection with the City Hall corruption case is the latest, sad news for southern Dallas in regard to the "pay to play" culture their representatives engage in. But the Hodge plea deal and decision to not seek re-election is ALSO excellent news for Hodges southern Dallas district, where residents deserve new leadership -- as opposed to "do-nothin'" leadership. And Eric Johnson can provide just that. We draw from our recommendation of Johnson, published last week. We note that if Johnson does not win in the primary (there is no opponent in the fall), precinct chairs will select a Hodge replacement in Austin. We urge voters to make this decision -- not let it be decided by smoky back-room politics.

2. We make recommendations in the Republican primary for congressional district 24 and in the Republican primary for Texas Senate, District 2.

Interesting question posed by Pam James, a Dallas-based freelance writer, blogger and educator. Her main point:

If Michael Jackson had survived his propofol overdose, would anyone - outside of his children and closest friends - have cared?

I venture to guess a resounding NO. In fact, I suspect the second the media converged upon his rented mansion for the scoop on final details; the world would have likely torn what was left of his darkened reputation asunder - once more. Alas, it took his passing to raise him to a kingly throne again. If he'd survived, this iconic diety-like figure of music magic would have made headlines again, but they'd have read much like former ones post courtroom theatrics. "Michael Jackson Overdoses on Propofol in His Rented Mansion!" "Michael Jackson's Children Witnessed Their Father Near Death from Overdose in his home!" "Can Michael Jackson Care for His Children?" Then there's the upcoming 'comeback' tour. AEG and his money people would have been hard-pressed to finish plans for his tour - at least in time to garnish the financial payola they longed for. Thus later headlines might have read something like this: "Michael Jackson's O2 Comeback Axed - AEG sues to Recover Costs."

I tend to get overly excited when I see Dallas show up in the foreign press. Three years ago the German paper Die Welt am Sonntag ran a travel feature on Texas that I kept tacked to my wall until it withered away and had to be pitched.

So, in need of a new addition to my shrine to Texas, I perked up when I noticed a feature in Sunday's Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung about Big D.

Under a big photo of downtown at dusk, the headline reads: "In the middle of the crises, Dallas is living big and wants to now become an art-metropolis."

The paper writes of Dallas: "Nothing can shake this city ..."

But my excitement quickly withered as I kept reading. The article is full of factual errors and clichés.

Writer Lars Jensen calls Dallas "breathtakingly ugly," and he mocks the city's slogan: "Live Large. Think Big," saying Big D was built on the motto "Think cheap, built fast."

The piece explains to readers that the most direct way from D/FW Airport (which Jensen calls "absurdly" big) to downtown is to take the President George Bush Highway. But, you have to have an electronic computer chip on your car, he writes, or else you get fined $25 per mile that you drive.

Those of us who write about transportation are poring over the DMN voters guide to compare the governor candidates' positions on the subject.

Of particular interest is what they say about high-speed rail. I see lip service at best. (I'm listing candidates without regard to party, figuring you readers know. Tell me if I'm wrong.)

Excerpting from the VG:

Q. Should the state invest in high-speed inter-city rail? Would you want to ask voters whether to set up a high-speed rail fund similar to California's?

Hutchison: Mobility within the "Texas Triangle" formed by Houston, Dallas-Ft. Worth, and San Antonio is a huge challenge in the future. Soon, 75 percent of the population of Texas will live in this region, with 50 percent living on the I-35 corridor alone. I will work with state legislators to TRULY fund the Rail Relocation and Improvement Fund, which was created by the voters in 2005 but has yet to receive state appropriations. The area within the "Texas Triangle" is ideal for a system of high-speed and commuter rail. Using existing rights of way, and where possible existing rail infrastructure and existing facilities, should be the priority - and protection of private property rights must be a paramount consideration. This is a longterm strategy, but one that could help reduce highway congestion in the future.

Perry: Rail is just one component in our efforts to continue building a strong transportation infrastructure in Texas. I am supportive of efforts to establish rail in Texas, but it would be premature to ask voters to set up a fund for high-speed rail before we even know whether it would work. The California fund was authorized at $9.95 billion in general obligation bonding - it would be irresponsible to ask Texas voters to fund such a project before determining its feasibility. We need to first determine if High Speed Rail is feasible and then take responsible steps for financing. Due diligence must be done and we must remain fiscally responsible.

White: It is an exciting concept and one which I think deserves study. However, I want to focus my immediate attention on streamlining and decentralizing TxDOT and make sure our current transportation system is adequately funded.

OK, OK, if you must know, here's what Debra Medina said:

You didn't ask, but I'll tell you: I'm not gay. You didn't ask, but I'll tell you: I'm not conservative. You didn't ask, but I'll tell you: I'm not Muslim. Not a single one of these statements has anything to do with the job of a soldier, sailor, Marine or airperson. In fact, the basis for the command structure of the U.S. military is to take the individuality out of the soldier specifically because there is no place for it in the military machine. That's why everyone gets a buzz cut. That's why everyone wears the same uniform. No one asks whether you have a preference for a blue helmet or green. Likewise, when you go into the military, no one asks you what your favorite sexual position is, or whether you prefer sex with farm animals.

It's not anyone's business, and when you go into the military, you keep your business to yourself. When a commander issues an order, the only thing that matters is that the command is obeyed. Why? Because the functioning of the entire military unit depends on it. The ability to carry out the mission depends on it. Yes, it's dehumanizing and mean, but it doesn't work any other way. And when you accept duty in the all-volunteer military, you accept the strictures that go along with it.

Somehow, the military got sidetracked. People started holding prayer meetings and deciding that they were doing God's work. Our post-9/11 mission in Afghanistan became a crusade. Contractors started putting biblical inscriptions on gunsights. Well before that, the issue of gays came up, and the solution was "don't ask, don't tell." And now that's being revised because it's been abused.

I propose a new policy: Shut up and do your job. Shut up and keep your religion, your sexual proclivities and your political inclinations to yourself. Stop trying to individualize your military service. In the military, you don't represent yourself. You represent your country.

One of the major things lost in the national discussion of jobs is the incredible uncertainty that the Obama administration has created by trying to do so many things at once, and more important, not closing the deal the initiatives.
Businesses create jobs when they have a level of certainty about costs and the demand for products. The latter feasts on consumer confidence which is pretty low right now, and the former is shaped by a variety of factors, including tax policy.

Now if you're a business tell me the following right now:
* What will be your costs per employee based on cap-and-trade legislation? Answer: Heck, if I know.
* What will be your costs per employee for the administration's health care reform? Answer: Heck, if I know.
* What will be the cost per employee and impact of financial reform on consumer credit and other credit?
Answer: Heck, if I know.

Now imagine what your response would be if you had no idea whether your car payment will be $200 a month or $750 a month, or whether your mortgage will be $750 a month or $3,000 a month. Unless you have unlimited cash -- which I presume you don't - then the logical response would be to not buy a car or home, or cut your discretionary spending to the bare minimum. Why? because, they is no certainty.

In his town hall in New Hampshire yesterday, President Obama hinted that he might be willing to split out the green energy jobs stuff from cap-and-trade legislation. He also seems willing to take the same approach with health care reform. But on the subject of bank regulatory reform, the president's last minute introduction of measures to curb risky activities seems to be complicating an already complicated and delicate process. I support the principle of reining in risky bank activities, but when is this president going to cross a few initiatives off his list so the private sector will know the new rules on healthcare, banking, energy etc.?

Want to create jobs? Give businesses a roadmap that they can read, understand and follow. And do it sooner, not later.