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By Dr. James “Jim” Kadlecek Tax Increment Financing (TIF). Tax Increment Development Districts (TIDD). What do these terms mean? Who cares? Answer: These are economic development “incentives” – essentially subsidies to private developers. Continue Reading
By Dr. James “Jim” Kadlecek “When all think alike, no one is thinking very much.” – old Czech proverb Disagreement is usually a healthy sign in a democracy. Our system of government works best when adversaries put forth their best arguments and votes are cast to make decisions. I know there are those who advocate for a consensus approach to public policymaking. But the reality is that, on many issues, there are two or more sides to the matter. Ultimately, our elected and appointed officials must cast their votes, and the majority decision prevails. Continue Reading
By Dr. James “Jim” Kadlecek “Mankind must put an end to war, or war will put an end to mankind.” – John F. Kennedy “The military don’t start wars. Politicians start wars.” – William Westmoreland “There was never a good war or a bad peace.” – Benjamin Franklin United States’ involvement in Iraq: Stupid. Tragic. Horrible. A monumental foreign policy mistake. Continue Reading
By Dr. James “Jim” Kadlecek “In this world of sin and sorrow there is always something to be thankful for; as for me, I rejoice that I am not a Republican.” – H.L. Mencken The opening quote intends no disrespect for my Republican friends (some of my best pals are R’s). Rather, it is intended to emphasize that these are tough times for the Grand Old Party. They have one of most unpopular presidents in American History. G.W. continues to stubbornly pursue policies that are not just out of step with public opinion, but that most serious students of world affairs believe are damaging to the United States and to the world. His cabinet members and advisers are fleeing the sinking ship of the administration in droves. Continue Reading
By Dr. James “Jim” Kadlecek “In a hierarchy every employee tends to rise to his level of incompetence.” – Laurence Peter “We are confronted with insurmountable opportunities.” – Pogo I have been watching, with admiration for the persistence of the reporter, this blog’s inquiries into university-foundation spending at New Mexico State University. Heath has raised some excellent questions about the interrelationship and appropriateness of foundation spending, as well as the question of donor identification. As he has correctly researched, these are issues at many schools around the country. On another matter relating to NMSU, Southern New Mexico Common Cause, for a couple years now, has been observing NMSU Board of Regents meetings. The volunteer organization has had several cordial exchanges with the regents regarding their propensity to hold lengthy, closed-door sessions prior to regular meetings; inadequate explanations about the reasons for such secret sessions and what was done behind closed doors; and the relative lack of opportunity for public input at their regular meetings. Continue Reading
By Dr. James “Jim” Kadlecek “The poverty of our century is unlike that of any other. It is not, as poverty was before, the result of natural scarcity, but of a set of priorities imposed upon the rest of the world by the rich.” – John Berger Before the reader jumps to the conclusion that this piece is yet another “liberal” lament on behalf of poor people, let me point out that none other than conservative economist Alan Greenspan has expressed concern over the growing gap between rich and poor. The former fed chairman testified publicly that “the income gap between the rich and the rest of the U.S. population has become so wide, and is growing so fast, that it might eventually threaten the stability of American capitalism itself.” While our economy has grown in recent years, the beneficiaries have been the top 20 percent of the population, and especially the top 1 percent. Data from the Congressional Budget Office indicates that this small group (the 1 percent) recently received 11.4 percent of national after-tax income compared to 7.5 percent five years earlier. By contrast, the middle fifth of the population saw its share of national after-tax income drop. Continue Reading
By Dr. James “Jim” Kadlecek “New Mexico? What part of Mexico is that?” – Unidentified corporate executive During my tenure as executive director of the Mesilla Valley Economic Development Alliance, I heard that question several times at business trade shows or when we contacted companies to try to get new and better jobs for our area. New Mexico wasn’t on the maps or corporate radar screens of many. No more. Bill Richardson has put us on the map. Continue Reading
By Dr. James “Jim” Kadlecek “….the fruits of the earth belong to us all, and the earth itself to nobody.” – Jean-Jacque Rousseau, the Social Contract We who choose to live in Doña Ana County in the year 2007 are paying for the sins of the past. We tend to use the word “forefathers” with a degree of respect. That’s appropriate, because it is from those who came before us that we inherit all the good things we enjoy. It is probably fortunate that we tend to remember the good and push the bad into the hazy area of the forgotten. But what about learning from past mistakes? Continue Reading
By Dr. James “Jim” Kadlecek “Home ownership is the cornerstone of a strong community.” – Rick Renzi Supply and demand. The market system. Capitalism. Entrepreneurs. Buying/Selling. Continue Reading
By Dr. James “Jim” Kadlecek “If all the year were playing holidays, to sport would be as tedious as to work.” – William Shakespeare So, Coach Reggie Theus is leaving New Mexico State to go to the Big Show for the Big Bucks. Who cares? Apparently, lots of people. The local Sun-News has given his departure front-page, banner headlines for several days. New Mexico and El Paso TV have covered it endlessly. Continue Reading
By Dr. James “Jim” Kadlecek “Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,With conquering limbs astride from land to land;Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall standA mighty woman with a torch, whose flameIs the imprisoned lightning, and her nameMother of Exiles. From her beacon-handGlows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes commandThe air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries sheWith silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me.I lift my lamp beside the golden door!” – The New Colossus by Emma Lazarus Can anyone fail to be inspired by those words inscribed on the Statue of Liberty? As we debate the issue of immigration, will we be reminded of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s words, “Remember, remember always, that all of us, and you and I especially, are descended from immigrants and revolutionaries?” Yet the loudest noise lately comes from radicals such as U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo of Colorado, who cries out that our nation is at peril because of immigration. He proposes a ban on immigration despite his own family roots, and displays an attitude which is at the very least selfish and stems from being a fear-mongering political opportunist. Continue Reading
By Dr. James “Jim” Kadlecek “The citizen can bring our political and governmental institutions back to life, make them responsive and accountable, and keep them honest. No one else can.” – John Gardner, founder of Common Cause Lately, there have been accusations flying back and forth about conflicts of interest involving public officials. Some say state Land Commissioner Pat Lyons has a conflict of interest because he accepted a campaign donation from a local developer and later gave that developer a state land contract on the East Mesa of Las Cruces. Some say city Councilor Gil Jones has a conflict of interest because his brother is married to the sister of the wife of a local developer who regularly seeks development approvals from the council. County Commissioner Bill McCamley has been accused of a conflict of interest because he voted on a development proposal brought forth by someone who donated to his campaign. Continue Reading
By Dr. James “Jim” Kadlecek “Whatever is going to happen is already happening.” – Sylvia Porter Most every Monday, I have lunch with a bunch of “used-to-bes.” This little, informal group is composed mostly of guys who used to be politicians, engineers, teachers, federal employees, businessmen, etc. We even have a psychologist or two, and we also have a younger “wanna-be” in the group. Some are retired, some are not. Both political parties are represented. Occasionally, our group is significantly improved by the attendance of a member of the opposite sex. Continue Reading
By Dr. James “Jim” Kadlecek “How small, of all that human hearts endure, that part that laws or Kings can cure.” – Samuel Coleridge The New Mexico Legislature – senators and representatives, Democrats and Republicans – have adjourned sine die. In other words, they are done with the people’s business for the year, unless our good governor should decide to call them back, as he has indicated he may. And what, pray tell, have they accomplished in their 60 days of hectic debate and discussion, social events and lobbyist luncheons, endless meetings and hearings, numerous communications with constituents, and hours actually studying the bills on which they are voting? This year, our elected representatives can certainly boast of having passed a number of bills into law and allocating significant dollars to state agencies and local governments, from a ban on cockfighting to medical marijuana to reform of regional housing authorities to literally hundreds of capital outlay and highway projects. There is a very long list of bills and projects. Continue Reading
By Dr. James “Jim” Kadlecek “Everything secret degenerates, even the administration of justice; nothing is safe that does not show how it can bear discussion, debate and publicity” – Lord Acton Those crazy, silly citizens! What gave them the idea that legislators should let them know how their tax money is being spent or what kind of deals are being made to get laws passed? After all, legislators were elected and should be trusted, right? Once again, it appears that the New Mexico Legislature will fail to pass meaningful legislation that would require that conference committees be open to the public. Conference committees are those joint House-Senate select groups that iron out differences between legislation passed in both bodies. Continue Reading