By Dr. James “Jim” Kadlecek
I’ve been writing columns about public issues and politics for more than 25 years, and once in a while there are several things on which I want to comment, rather than just one topic. This also happens when I’ve been busy doing other things and the deadline to submit this column creeps up on me.
Such is the case today. So, here are a few random thoughts that I hope the reader will find of interest.
Oil and politics
A couple weeks ago, I wrote about oil and politics, and it got some thoughtful responses, both on Heath’s blog, and in several e-mails sent to me. It also got a response from congressional candidate Harry Teague. Harry said that even though he’s made a lot of money in the oil business, he is as mad as the rest of us about the high price of gas and would not be beholden to the oil industry if he gets elected. OK, Harry, I admit to being skeptical, but we will hold you to that promise should you win the election.
A couple people who commented on the same column attempted to be apologists for the oil industry and claimed that the high prices and the outrageous profits being posted by oil companies are the result of market forces, or that when adjusted for inflation, gas prices really aren’t too high.
Baloney! It doesn’t take a genius to see what’s happened. In Cheney-esque fashion, the oil companies have arranged to control the market and to set a price range, thereby generating huge profits. It is no accident that of the largest 10 companies in the world, six are multi-national oil corporations. Those six reported $134 billion in net profits. Their real profits are much higher.
Solutions: an excess profits tax on the companies, with price controls so they can’t pass it on to the consumer, or aggressive development of alternative energy.
An atrocious situation
The Doña Ana County Board of Commissioners heard a tragic presentation today from citizens concerned about the human rights violations going on just across our border in Lomas de Poleo. This little village sits right in the path of development for the bi-national city that some wealthy Mexican developers want to develop in partnership or collaboration with the El Paso-based Verde Group. The commission listened attentively as citizens, a priest, the bishop’s representative and others recited the list of horrors that have been inflicted upon the humble residents of this village (homes being torn down or burned, several deaths, their village fenced in with armed guards, etc).
The politically well-connected Mexican developers say they own the land, and the residents (who have lived there for more than 30 years) say they do. The issue is in the Mexican courts, but the developers are impatient and have been allegedly committing these atrocities to force the people off the land.
Our commissioners unanimously expressed outrage but failed to take any action, citing process as their excuse. They did agree to contact the governors of
No ethics reform, again
Finally, the state Legislature adjourned having dropped the ball again on ethics and open-meetings legislation. This failure should be a major issue in this fall’s campaign around the state. Those legislators who failed to support these very basic improvements in state government must be held accountable.
Kadlecek has lived in