OPINION

We just received notices in our neighborhood that trash cans have to be set out at the front curb instead of the alley. First, we have to haul the darn things around the block -- none of our fencing was built to admit those monster bins. Then we have to find a new space to stash them. This will make our neighborhood look like a ghetto. Also, our many elderly citizens won't be able to haul those bins around.

Dallas spends money on high-profile items, but they don't spend money on the everyday things.

I attended the debates for Republican candidates in Denton County. It was interesting and illuminating.

County Court at Law No. 1, the juvenile court, is a specialty court hearing juvenile cases. One would expect a sitting judge to be at least board-certified in juvenile law, meaning one is an expert in this area.

Only one candidate holds this certification. She is Kim McCary, who has been a municipal judge for a long time.

And to seal the deal, the first question asked was: "Do you think it is important for a judge to have trial experience as a lawyer and why?" Kim McCary gave a good answer to this question, and the other three candidates droned on about their own trial experience, which didn't answer the question.

So, if you can't pay that much attention in a debate, how do I know you'll pay better attention on the bench? I was already voting for McCary, but this really cemented my resolution.

Decisions are made by those who show up, so show up and vote.

As a Rockwall citizen for almost 30 years, I have seen many changes in our county.

One change is the rate at which our taxes are increasing. It is important to vote in a county judge who is willing to use discernment in keeping our taxes low, uses good judgment and cares about the concerns of the citizens. The best candidate is Ken Jones.

Some of you may remember that I ran against John Roach Jr. when he first sought election to the 296th Judicial District Court. He won, I lost.

In the beginning, I did not want to like him as a judge. I wanted validation that I would have made the better judge. I learned, however, that Roach brought a style to the bench that was his own.

Roach is a serious and thoughtful judge who shows a great deal of concern for the well-being of children. I have not always agreed with his rulings; he has ruled against my client on numerous occasions. However, I have never felt he did so for any reason other than an honest desire to do what is best for the family.

I am an attorney who handles many divorce and custody cases, I know how important it is to the parents and children to have judges who are as thoughtful in their decisions as Roach.

Just as I campaigned four years ago that Roach should not be elected because of his father, I now urge the voters of Collin County to judge the son on his own record, and not that of his father, when deciding how to vote in the upcoming election. We need good judges in Collin County, and Judge Roach is one of them already.

Re: "EPA to boost ethanol usage -- Revised fuel standard 'unlocks the door' for producers of biofuel," Thursday news story.

The U.S. produces about 100 million barrels of ethanol a year, and, since it takes about seven barrels of oil to produce eight barrels of ethanol, the U.S. is wasting many of those barrels of oil each year on ethanol.

We need to cease production of ethanol in the U.S. and eliminate the tariff on ethanol from Brazil, where ethanol is produced more efficiently from sugar cane. We are not talking about a paltry sum.

The Obama administration's call for more ethanol is as disastrous as it will be detrimental to the environment and will result in greater costs to the public for oil, gasoline, diesel and food.

Land sakes, what's happening to our funny pages? The comics section in the family newspaper has served as the last bastion for preservation of American family values and suitable reading for the kids.

Now we find a lead character in "Judge Parker" openly shacking up with her new-found boyfriend. What would Mary Worth say?

What a shame. Another one bites the dust in the City Hall corruption scandal, with Terri Hodge's resignation.

She wasn't fighting for her constituents. She was busy planning the remodel of her home instead with her illegal cash flow.

Then, when queried by the media, political leaders such as Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson have the audacity to say that Hodge was a good representative.

Dallas County District Attorney Craig Watkins was bold enough to back Hodge opponent Eric Johnson from the beginning.

It's time more leaders stepped up to the plate to condemn Hodge's actions instead of being mum on the subject.

Re: "We Recommend -- Miller for State Board of Education's District 12," Wednesday Editorials.

Why is the State Board of Education opposed to students learning to make decisions when presented with two opposing views? The board has decided that the theory of evolution should be taught as science in Texas schools. It is not science. Math and chemistry are sciences. They can be proved.

The creation of the universe and all living things -- humans, animals,birds and fish -- cannot be proved either. So this should put it on the same footing as the evolution theory in the classroom for discussion.

The Dallas Morning News recommended Geraldine Miller for the State Board of Education's District 12 for her stand on not allowing weaknesses in the evolution theory to be presented. Both The News and Miller need to reconsider their position.

Re: "Composer-pianist Hamlisch will be DSO pops conductor," Wednesday GuideDaily.

It is refreshing to know that Marvin Hamlisch is coming to bring dance on stage with DSO, and real B'way voices for his Pops, a refreshing step up from the idolization of microphone-dependent wannabes in our society.

But for the classical series: Helmuth Rilling is among the greats -- but, DSO board, is this the best allocation of resources, asking him to bring his Messiah to a metroplex with more excellent -- and authentic -- Messiahs than you can shake a stick at?

He could offer so much more. Jaap van Zweden has certainly played a more varied repertory at the Concertgebouw than he's offering us here, to an orchestra and public that have been deprived of John Adams, Béla Bartók, Lutoslawsky, Martinu, Poulenc, Schoenberg and Messiaen, to name a few.

We have a Dallas Arts District and an AT&T Performing Arts Center -- until we decide to pull them together -- as the great architecture of the beginning of a century, but much too much concentration on the Top 50 18th and 19th centuries in orchestral music.

And we expect to attract a younger audience? Oh, dear.

This week the Texas Department of Transportation and the North Texas Tollway Authority have been reminded that soggy dirt slides downhill. Imagine that. I can hardly wait to drive on a toll road built atop a Trinity River levee.

Re: "Group names endangered sites -- Drive-in, San Jacinto Battleground on list of threatened locations," Friday news story.

As a young child in Houston, I took occasional family trips to drive-in movies. We kept the car windows open while the movie aired, and mosquitoes tried to eat up everyone.

And during many of my visits to the Brazos Drive-In near Granbury in the mid-1970s to watch Blazing Saddles and other shoot-'em-up westerns, I discovered that many people drove to the theater in their pickup trucks and sat on folding chairs in the back of the truck. These trucks also often had a large ice chest filled with cans of Lone Star.

In the more violent movies, when a gun battle would begin on the screen, many "cowboys" in their pickups would pull out pistols, shotguns, and/or rifles and fire at the screen.

I witnessed this several times at the Brazos Drive-In, where no one was injured.

Watching the Today Show interview with Michelle Obama recently, I saw the First Lady gush about how her husband was usually at home by 6:30 p.m. for dinner.

She also talked about how they were able to make the children's games and events. Good for them.

But isn't her husband supposed to be running the country? My husband runs a company. In today's economy, he works constantly. His children rarely see him. But we all understand his responsibility to his employees and stockholders, especially right now. Where is the presidents sense of urgency and work ethic? I hope President Barack Obama enjoys the Super Bowl this weekend -- my husband will be working.

What to do when accelerator sticks
I don't understand why drivers of cars with accelerator problems aren't being told about shifting their transmission into neutral when they experience their cars accelerating out of control.
I have experienced my accelerator getting stuck in the past and have found that by shifting the transmission into neutral, I am able to use my brake and pull over to the side of the street or highway. This may not prevent an accident, but at least you will be able to prevent a high-speed accident.

I blame scare tactics, unions
I didn't think it would take the government very long to try to halt Toyota or Honda sales. I'd be willing to bet the Transportation Department got its marching orders from the White House.
These two car companies still make the most reliable vehicles in the world, and I will continue to buy from them. Hopefully, President Barack Obama's scare tactics will fail once more. His support of the unions is disgusting.
Why do you suppose so many products we use are made overseas? The unions have priced themselves right out of the market.

I'll buy Toyota again
It's obvious there is a problem with some Toyota models. It's also obvious that some folks and companies, irritated with or envious of Toyota's success for so many years, are all over this problem, pointing fingers and saying See? See? I have been a Toyota loyalist for more than 30 years.
My family has owned a dozen different Toyota models, accumulating an estimated 1.2 million miles. I would buy any of the Toyota models on the recall list before I would touch anything from GM. This is based on my own experience with GM vehicles as well as that of friends and co-workers.
Toyota will get through this trying period and return to its first-place position again. And no, I don't work for the company or any of the dealers. I've just had great luck with their products.

Toyota ignored an obvious problem
Toyota has been ignoring the problem for months, and with a high-profile disastrous 911 call from a police officer with his wife, child, and relative in the Lexus with him, Toyota now finds it the right time to ask for a recall.
How dare they ignore the obvious? Does Japan just not get it or are American lives more dispensable than Japanese lives? We, as Americans, know what the rest of the world thinks of us, regardless of how low President Barack Obama can bow.

Remember Audi was cleared
Re: "Official adds to Toyota owner angst -- Transportation chief clarifies 'don't drive it' remark, says he meant only to urge fast repairs," Thursday news story.
The irony is that the government bailed out, and now owns a part of, GM. My 2009 Chevy has been in the shop for nine unscheduled trips to two different dealerships, and they are still unable to fix the problem. The first dealership eventually told me to take it somewhere else.
I would rather take a chance on a possible unintended acceleration that required one trip to the dealership to fix than the nine wasted trips I have endured.
Before we rush to judgment on Toyota, let's remember the media's hatchet job on Audi for the same problem back in the '80s, in which Audi was later exonerated.

I'm tired of 'lemon' testimonials
Re: "But I like its quality products," by Linda Jensen, Tuesday Letters.
I've about had it with the stories about past American lemons. Yes, we all know that in the past, American cars were built with dubious quality.
I'm tired of hearing the tales that always start with, "Back in 1976, I owned a T-Bird that was nothing but trouble."
Do you really want to hear my story about the Honda Accord I had that needed an engine rebuild at 26,000 miles? Or my four-wheel drive Subaru that needed a new transfer case, because I had the gall to drive it on a dirt road? How about my Ford Mustang that had a quarter-million faultless miles on it when I traded for a new one? I'll bet you don't.
The fact of the matter is that, right now in 2010, American cars are the equal of Japanese products in quality and reliability. I don't say this off the cuff. Just check J.D. Power and Associates for their latest polling results.
For all the rest of the Japanese car-buying Americans out there, as much as you console yourselves that most of these cars are built in the U.S., the profits are going back to Japan. That's not helping America too much, is it?

Pro-life -- or not?
Re: Talking Points, last Sunday Points.
Some people who decry government intervention on most levels seem perfectly comfortable allowing the government's presence in the most private and personal area of reproduction.
South Carolina Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer's comment helps clarify how those people justify the seemingly conflicting roles. Be pro-life before a birth, then allow the child to be denied sustenance to maintain life afterward.
Let them eat cake, perhaps? No, not even that; nothing at all is the key to control.

Roeder as hero
Thank you for pointing out Scott Roeder's defense claim for killing abortionist George Tiller.
Suffice to say, Roeder has saved the lives of many children.

Irresponsible mothers ...
Re: "Sterilizing the poor -- A mother of nine on welfare is sparking a debate over reproductive rights, says Constantino Diaz-Duran," last Sunday Points.
When a person's actions infringe upon the rights of another, the offender forfeits some of his own rights as punishment.
For example, someone convicted of molesting a child loses the right to work in an environment that involves children. Someone who continues to have children who can only be supported by welfare forces taxpayers to provide for her irresponsibility.
As a result, the woman either forfeits her right for further children, more welfare or her right to welfare.

... need to have limits
I don't believe in sterilization without consent.
I do believe in rules that limit the number of children you can have while accepting welfare or government money. Those parents are taking our tax money. We have the right to set limits. That is being reasonable, not showing disdain for women's rights.
As for the mother stating, "I'm trying to teach [my children] the right way to be," you cannot tell children "the right way to be." Children learn by example, and she is not setting the correct example by depending on government welfare while continuing to birth children, no matter if it's by one daddy or nine.
All you have to do is go into welfare-dependent neighborhoods and see the second, third and sometimes earlier generations of welfare participants.
That is why hard-working taxpayers who do not depend on the government are angry.

... and we have rights, too
Professor Linda Fentiman implies that it is unacceptable to believe the poor do not have the same reproductive rights as others. However, it is perfectly acceptable to believe the poor do not have the same reproductive responsibilities as others.
Tessa Savicki does not mind infringing upon my rights to the monetary fruits of my labor by appropriating them as taxes to pay for her children, and Fentiman supports this. Apparently their concern for the rights of individuals does not extend to me.

Re: "Craving green guilt -- Steven Asma analyzes environmentalism as the new religion," last Sunday Points.
Environmentalism stems from simple math. The earth does not have an infinite supply of natural materials that we can endlessly extract, use for a short time, then bury or burn without running out and without dire consequences.
Asma seems to feel that, while environmentalists' concerns are valid, let's not get all fundamentalist and have a come-to-Jesus meeting about solving the problem.
Also, let's stop dropping the big guilt trip on us. I don't agree with making small transitional changes, because we just don't have the time. We are adding over 70 million people to this planet every year. Developing countries want, and are now capable of buying, the lifestyle we take for granted.
If we do not fully embrace sustainability practices soon, the Earth will pass tipping points this century that will result in widespread suffering and extinctions. Environmentalism is not some New Testament judgment day religious belief. Rather, it is based on obvious mathematical certainties.
Environmentalism may have the feel of a religion, but religion does not deal in provable facts. Environmentalism does.

We need one Republican
Cannot one Republican demonstrate compassion for fellow Americans who need a helping hand -- and work to pass health care reform instead of putting the party politics of obstruction first?
This is a humanitarian need at present and should not be looked at through the lens of partisanship.

Think small changes
Health care reform, where reform is truly needed, can be accomplished with much smaller changes.
For example, to make it easier to pay for health care, let all health care costs, including insurance premiums, be tax-deductible, regardless of whether one itemizes deductions, and with no minimum percent of income threshold.
Let the deduction be available no matter whose health care costs the taxpayer pays. I am sure that many people would rather help those in need than pay taxes.

Let states decide on tort reform
I'm suspicious of all these liberal Republicans and their Tea Party buddies. Ask them about a compromise on health care and they immediately start talking about national tort reform.
We already passed tort reform in Texas to reduce the number of health care dollars that are wasted on frivolous law suits. But these bleeding hearts won't let the other states decide for themselves if they want the same solution.
I guess they think that the only good decisions are the ones made in Washington, D.C.

Don't discount Medina
Re: "Vision Quest Unfulfilled -- GOP front-runners still need to make case," Saturday Editorials.
The Dallas Morning News is quick to dismiss Debra Medina's position of eliminating property taxes, instead raising revenue from a higher sales tax, as an undue burden on the poor.
Why is it that we never truly own our property, anyway? Even if you have paid off your home, if you cannot pay your property taxes, you will lose it. Who is less likely to be able to afford an increase in property taxes -- a wealthy person or a poor person?
Property taxes are imposed, while a sales tax is voluntary -- you decide if you want to buy a product or service. Who typically consumes more, an affluent person or a poor person? The affluent would still pay more in taxes.
If landlords didn't have to build the cost of property taxes into their rent, they could lower the price. Others would follow suit to stay competitive. This would free up more money for discretionary spending. Who usually rents rather than owns?
The biggest risk I see is defeat from the other career politicians who would oppose more guaranteed revenue and loss of power over the people. Let's not be so quick to count Medina out.

Candidates should care
I have previously campaigned for both Kay Bailey Hutchinson and Rick Perry, but now I wouldn't vote for either one.
Most of what I've heard is Perry and Hutchison lambasting each other. I'm not registering much concern for voters' issues from either of them.
We the people are weary of candidates criticizing each other so they can get or keep their "in" on the Hill without really caring what happens to the rest of us. Where's the candidate who loves America enough to stump for the return of public respect and dignity in our land?

U.S. issues more important
I have always been a strong supporter of Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, and I still am, but I cannot understand why she would give up a seat in the Senate to run for governor. The issues on the national level are much more important than the ones here in Texas.
Furthermore, Gov. Rick Perry has done an outstanding job as governor of our state. Our economy is the envy of the rest of the Union. All Hutchison is doing is dividing the Republican Party and forcing the governor to use valuable financial resources that should be used instead to defeat the Democratic nominee in November.

Let's work together
An innovative process for resolving disputes and solving problems is being used in our country and worldwide. It's called collaborative law. In this process, problems are placed in the center of the table, and parties attack the problem instead of attacking each other.
In the current race for governor, wouldn't it be refreshing if the candidates would put the problems facing their fellow Texans (the budget deficit, unemployment, education, transportation, water resources, etc.) in the center of the table and attack problems, rather than continually attacking each other. Collaborative problem-solving inevitably leads to creative solutions.

Auditor should check fund
Perry's official Web site for his Texas Enterprise Fund omits any mention of the amounts distributed but does claim 54,000 jobs created since 2003. Texans for Public Justice charges that more than a third of these jobs are still just pledges.
An aide to state Auditor John Keel advised The Dallas Morning News that the fund has not been audited and suggested doing so would "depend on legislative interest." If Keel waits for marching orders from Joe Strauss and David Dewhurst, Keel isn't doing his job.
The state auditor is supposed to focus on the highest risk areas and perform ongoing risk assessments. The Legislative Audit Committee approves the auditor's annual audit plan but doesn't create it. Common sense suggests the fund is high-risk, based on the $363 million distributed to date, likelihood of conflicts of interest in awarding money, and chances of failure to create and maintain jobs.
Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson's call for an "independent" audit of the enterprise fund reflects her ignorance of government operations. Keel is technically not independent, but there is no need to hire an outside CPA firm that would actually be independent. Texas can't afford to have crony capitalists like Rick Perry holding public office.