Mesquite Lion
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Welcome to the Citizen's forum. These writings are from you, the citizen.
I encourage you to write about anything that you want to share with the
community. Be it good, bad, or ugly.
But remember, Opinions and commentary are to strive for accuracy. No lies
or slander will be tolerated. Difference of opinions and points-of-view are to be
expected. Forums are open to all. Please respect opposing views and ideas.
I encourage you to write about anything that you want to share with the
community. Be it good, bad, or ugly.
But remember, Opinions and commentary are to strive for accuracy. No lies
or slander will be tolerated. Difference of opinions and points-of-view are to be
expected. Forums are open to all. Please respect opposing views and ideas.
Citizen's forum
December 6, 2010
Mr. Tarpley is good with numbers but are numbers everything? I don't think the goal
is to "recoup" the money invested by the tax payers and other investors. The goal
should be to provide a valuable service to the citizens of our city. Bringing light rail to
Mesquite will bring some tax dollars but that is not everything. Being able to get to
places around the Dallas Metroplex will be something that is invaluable for the
working people of Mesquite.
Not every family in Mesquite is a 2 or 3 car family. No, they can't afford the insurance
for their kids to use the car to get to a part time job or a trade school in some other
part of the Metroplex. It would be different if we had enough jobs in Mesquite for the
workforce that lives in Mesquite but we don't. Let us bring light rail to Mesquite so
that all the citizens of Mesquite can have a greater access to the Dallas Metroplex.
Our city is handicapped without light rail. When the city made the side walks
wheelchair accessible did they do it with the goal to recoup the cost from those who
most benefited from this valuable improvement? Okay, okay I know it was probably
an unfunded Federal mandate. Probably only the really hard hearted people thought it
was a waste of money or it would take a hundred years to recoup the money spent.
I would venture to say the people who won't need to use light rail will be the ones who
will be looking for reasons to keep it out of Mesquite. That is unless they value the
Golden Rule which is to treat people the way they want to be treated. Just imagine if
you couldn't afford a car put you could afford a ticket on the light rail and someone
said "Well, too bad so sad we still aren't gonna get light rail cuz we won't recoup the
money for it for a hundred years!" Is that the way you would want to be treated. I
would venture to say...."Not!!!"
Ron Ward
Caring. Mesquite. Resident.
Mr. Tarpley is good with numbers but are numbers everything? I don't think the goal
is to "recoup" the money invested by the tax payers and other investors. The goal
should be to provide a valuable service to the citizens of our city. Bringing light rail to
Mesquite will bring some tax dollars but that is not everything. Being able to get to
places around the Dallas Metroplex will be something that is invaluable for the
working people of Mesquite.
Not every family in Mesquite is a 2 or 3 car family. No, they can't afford the insurance
for their kids to use the car to get to a part time job or a trade school in some other
part of the Metroplex. It would be different if we had enough jobs in Mesquite for the
workforce that lives in Mesquite but we don't. Let us bring light rail to Mesquite so
that all the citizens of Mesquite can have a greater access to the Dallas Metroplex.
Our city is handicapped without light rail. When the city made the side walks
wheelchair accessible did they do it with the goal to recoup the cost from those who
most benefited from this valuable improvement? Okay, okay I know it was probably
an unfunded Federal mandate. Probably only the really hard hearted people thought it
was a waste of money or it would take a hundred years to recoup the money spent.
I would venture to say the people who won't need to use light rail will be the ones who
will be looking for reasons to keep it out of Mesquite. That is unless they value the
Golden Rule which is to treat people the way they want to be treated. Just imagine if
you couldn't afford a car put you could afford a ticket on the light rail and someone
said "Well, too bad so sad we still aren't gonna get light rail cuz we won't recoup the
money for it for a hundred years!" Is that the way you would want to be treated. I
would venture to say...."Not!!!"
Ron Ward
Caring. Mesquite. Resident.
December 8, 2010
Dear Mesquite Neighbors,
Its clear that the Light Rail issue has some passionate views and contentions on both
sides of that issue. Just as there are some strong views on the possible alcohol
referendum this coming May. We just went through two elections this year that were
very rough and divisive for our city. I want to urge and encourage us to not let future
matters divide us to that extent.
Its funny, just the other night I posted something on Facebook about concerns I have
with alcohol being sold in our neighborhood convenience stores around our lower
income, crime filled areas. I had a couple of postings right back from a couple of
good Mesquite citizens who greatly disagreed with me. My first inclination was to be
just a tad sarcastic and intense with my response--because I feel so strongly about
the danger of this matter. But I quickly realized--that both of these two people are
folks I have worked closely with on other matters important to Mesquite in the
past--and they were two people who have truly sacrificed and made a difference for
our city. And as a Christian, I am called to always be kind and loving--even when I
disagree.
I pray that whether it be Light Rail, Alcohol Sales, or other issues that will come
up--that all of us can remember our common thread that binds us together as God's
people, as Americans, and as citizens of a great city! Its ok that we do not all agree
or see eye to eye--but we need to remember constantly, those things in which bring
us together and where we can find common ground.
During the 1860 Presidential campaign, Abraham Lincoln and Senator Stephen
Douglas had a hard fought campaign against one another. But both loved this country
deeply and saw a greater cause then themselves--this is one thing in which they
found common ground--as all of us can. On Inauguration day--March 4, 1861--as
President Lincoln walked up to the podium to give his inaugural speech, he realized
he needed a place to sit his hat. Not seeing where he could put it, Lincoln then heard
a voice behind him--Senator Douglas--who gently said to his once opponent and now
his President--"I'll hold it for you."
Richard Nixon campaigned on a very important theme in 1968, with the country torn
apart by war and civil unrest--his theme was simply "Bring Us Together." It was a
good theme then and its a good one today!
John Kennedy said it best when he said: "For in the final analysis, our most basic
common link, is that we all inhabit this small planet, we all breathe the same air, we
all cherish our children's futures, and we are all mortal."
Remember September 11, 2001 when members of Congress--Democrats and
Republicans--stood arm in arm on the Capital Steps and sang God Bless America? I
get chills thinking about it. We need to have such an attitude of unity in Mesquite,
Texas!
Let us be praying for unity. Let us reach out to one another. Let us love and serve one
another. Let us disagree when we need to, but let us do it in an agreeable, Christ-like
way. And let us come together and roll up our sleeves and rebuild and make our
Mesquite better! Our children and grandchildren will be blessed by our common
purpose and unity!
I leave you all with the words of the apostle Paul:
"If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone" (Romans 12:18).
God bless you all.
Bruce Archer
Dear Mesquite Neighbors,
Its clear that the Light Rail issue has some passionate views and contentions on both
sides of that issue. Just as there are some strong views on the possible alcohol
referendum this coming May. We just went through two elections this year that were
very rough and divisive for our city. I want to urge and encourage us to not let future
matters divide us to that extent.
Its funny, just the other night I posted something on Facebook about concerns I have
with alcohol being sold in our neighborhood convenience stores around our lower
income, crime filled areas. I had a couple of postings right back from a couple of
good Mesquite citizens who greatly disagreed with me. My first inclination was to be
just a tad sarcastic and intense with my response--because I feel so strongly about
the danger of this matter. But I quickly realized--that both of these two people are
folks I have worked closely with on other matters important to Mesquite in the
past--and they were two people who have truly sacrificed and made a difference for
our city. And as a Christian, I am called to always be kind and loving--even when I
disagree.
I pray that whether it be Light Rail, Alcohol Sales, or other issues that will come
up--that all of us can remember our common thread that binds us together as God's
people, as Americans, and as citizens of a great city! Its ok that we do not all agree
or see eye to eye--but we need to remember constantly, those things in which bring
us together and where we can find common ground.
During the 1860 Presidential campaign, Abraham Lincoln and Senator Stephen
Douglas had a hard fought campaign against one another. But both loved this country
deeply and saw a greater cause then themselves--this is one thing in which they
found common ground--as all of us can. On Inauguration day--March 4, 1861--as
President Lincoln walked up to the podium to give his inaugural speech, he realized
he needed a place to sit his hat. Not seeing where he could put it, Lincoln then heard
a voice behind him--Senator Douglas--who gently said to his once opponent and now
his President--"I'll hold it for you."
Richard Nixon campaigned on a very important theme in 1968, with the country torn
apart by war and civil unrest--his theme was simply "Bring Us Together." It was a
good theme then and its a good one today!
John Kennedy said it best when he said: "For in the final analysis, our most basic
common link, is that we all inhabit this small planet, we all breathe the same air, we
all cherish our children's futures, and we are all mortal."
Remember September 11, 2001 when members of Congress--Democrats and
Republicans--stood arm in arm on the Capital Steps and sang God Bless America? I
get chills thinking about it. We need to have such an attitude of unity in Mesquite,
Texas!
Let us be praying for unity. Let us reach out to one another. Let us love and serve one
another. Let us disagree when we need to, but let us do it in an agreeable, Christ-like
way. And let us come together and roll up our sleeves and rebuild and make our
Mesquite better! Our children and grandchildren will be blessed by our common
purpose and unity!
I leave you all with the words of the apostle Paul:
"If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone" (Romans 12:18).
God bless you all.
Bruce Archer
December 11, 2010
Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson,
I understand that your position on extending unemployment benefits is that it would
add $45 billion to the deficit.
The Dallas Morning News recently reported among other things that:
“Unemployment benefits help drive the economy because the jobless tend to spend
every dollar they get, pumping cash into businesses. A cutoff of aid for millions of
people unemployed for more than six months could squeeze a fragile economy,
analysts say. Among the consequences they envision over the next year:”, and that:
“The Congressional Budget Office says every $1 spent on unemployment benefits
generates up to $1.90 in economic growth. The program is the most effective
government policy for generating growth among 11 options the CBO has analyzed.”
The whole article is at:
Cutting off jobless aid would hurt economy, experts say | News for Dallas, Texas |
Dallas Morning News | Dallas Business News
This does not square with your other position that a $940 billion cost of extending the
Bush Tax cuts (including cuts for millionaires and billionaires) is necessary to spur
investment.
Without people earning money to spend, the economy will collapse. Jobs are created
in the private sector when consumers are lined up at the door and there is not
enough help to service them. Hubert Humphrey once said that he "preferred the oats,
before they went through the horse". Trickle down economics has never worked, and
there is no point in attempting to do it again hoping for a different outcome.
Even if all the Bush Tax cuts were allowed to expire, we would only go back to the tax
level we were at before the Bush Administration pushed for the last round of tax cuts.
This would save $940 billion dollars to apply against the deficit, and the people who
are currently working and paying taxes would be able to pay the additional taxes
required without much difficulty.
Then investing $45 billion of taxpayer money into the economy in the form of
extended unemployment benefits would generate an $85,5 billion return to the U.S.
Government coffers according to the Congressional Budget Office, and we would
have an additional $895 billion to use to balance the budget, use some on
infrastructure projects, high speed rail, etc., that will put our nation back to work and
drive a strong and sustainable economy without substantially adding to the debt.
It’s time for you and others to wake up and properly represent the middle class
citizens who are the only reason you still hold office.
Trusting this is sufficient,
Tom Berry
Former Democratic Nominee for Congress
Texas 5th District
Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson,
I understand that your position on extending unemployment benefits is that it would
add $45 billion to the deficit.
The Dallas Morning News recently reported among other things that:
“Unemployment benefits help drive the economy because the jobless tend to spend
every dollar they get, pumping cash into businesses. A cutoff of aid for millions of
people unemployed for more than six months could squeeze a fragile economy,
analysts say. Among the consequences they envision over the next year:”, and that:
“The Congressional Budget Office says every $1 spent on unemployment benefits
generates up to $1.90 in economic growth. The program is the most effective
government policy for generating growth among 11 options the CBO has analyzed.”
The whole article is at:
Cutting off jobless aid would hurt economy, experts say | News for Dallas, Texas |
Dallas Morning News | Dallas Business News
This does not square with your other position that a $940 billion cost of extending the
Bush Tax cuts (including cuts for millionaires and billionaires) is necessary to spur
investment.
Without people earning money to spend, the economy will collapse. Jobs are created
in the private sector when consumers are lined up at the door and there is not
enough help to service them. Hubert Humphrey once said that he "preferred the oats,
before they went through the horse". Trickle down economics has never worked, and
there is no point in attempting to do it again hoping for a different outcome.
Even if all the Bush Tax cuts were allowed to expire, we would only go back to the tax
level we were at before the Bush Administration pushed for the last round of tax cuts.
This would save $940 billion dollars to apply against the deficit, and the people who
are currently working and paying taxes would be able to pay the additional taxes
required without much difficulty.
Then investing $45 billion of taxpayer money into the economy in the form of
extended unemployment benefits would generate an $85,5 billion return to the U.S.
Government coffers according to the Congressional Budget Office, and we would
have an additional $895 billion to use to balance the budget, use some on
infrastructure projects, high speed rail, etc., that will put our nation back to work and
drive a strong and sustainable economy without substantially adding to the debt.
It’s time for you and others to wake up and properly represent the middle class
citizens who are the only reason you still hold office.
Trusting this is sufficient,
Tom Berry
Former Democratic Nominee for Congress
Texas 5th District
December 11, 2010
Dear Friend,
Each year the Mesquite Clothes Closet gives away clothing items to hundreds of
school children and needy families across our city. Each year the demand increases
and so does the need for donations from citizens such as you and I.
There are children in our city that greatly depend on your support in order to have
what is needed to survive these cold winter months. And my friend, I can personally
speak from experience. I was the child of a single mother who, in the early years of
my childhood, worked two jobs to support three children with no governmental
assistance, no child support and with very little funds. I knew how cold the winters
were. I knew how it felt to wear the same outfit several times a week. I knew how it
felt to, at times, do without. But, I also knew that there were establishments like the
Mesquite Clothes Closet who cared, who gave and who provided for so many. If it
were not for citizens who gave and who cared, those winters could have been even
colder.
I implore you to step out, help make a difference in the lives of children in the city you
love. If it takes a village, it takes you and I to do our part.
**This Friday (December 17th), the Mesquite Council of PTA's is hosting a fundraiser
at Chick-Fil-A here in Mesquite at 1600 N. Town East Blvd. A significant portion of the
proceeds that day, whether you order food for a party or regular take-out, will go to
the Clothes Closet. Simply make sure to tell them that you want your receipt to be put
in to the box for the Clothes Closet. If you need to keep your receipt, have them print
out an extra receipt. The fundraiser will be going on all day, from 6:30am until they
close at 10:00pm! So stop by for breakfast, lunch and dinner if you can. Each
purchase goes a long way to help a family in need.**
I pray that each of you enjoys the blessings that we have been afforded. Never forget
the reason for the season, the spirit of the holiday and that there are those who need
us to help bless them. I hope to see you having your receipt dropped in the box on
Friday!
Yours truly,
Robert E. Drennan
Dear Friend,
Each year the Mesquite Clothes Closet gives away clothing items to hundreds of
school children and needy families across our city. Each year the demand increases
and so does the need for donations from citizens such as you and I.
There are children in our city that greatly depend on your support in order to have
what is needed to survive these cold winter months. And my friend, I can personally
speak from experience. I was the child of a single mother who, in the early years of
my childhood, worked two jobs to support three children with no governmental
assistance, no child support and with very little funds. I knew how cold the winters
were. I knew how it felt to wear the same outfit several times a week. I knew how it
felt to, at times, do without. But, I also knew that there were establishments like the
Mesquite Clothes Closet who cared, who gave and who provided for so many. If it
were not for citizens who gave and who cared, those winters could have been even
colder.
I implore you to step out, help make a difference in the lives of children in the city you
love. If it takes a village, it takes you and I to do our part.
**This Friday (December 17th), the Mesquite Council of PTA's is hosting a fundraiser
at Chick-Fil-A here in Mesquite at 1600 N. Town East Blvd. A significant portion of the
proceeds that day, whether you order food for a party or regular take-out, will go to
the Clothes Closet. Simply make sure to tell them that you want your receipt to be put
in to the box for the Clothes Closet. If you need to keep your receipt, have them print
out an extra receipt. The fundraiser will be going on all day, from 6:30am until they
close at 10:00pm! So stop by for breakfast, lunch and dinner if you can. Each
purchase goes a long way to help a family in need.**
I pray that each of you enjoys the blessings that we have been afforded. Never forget
the reason for the season, the spirit of the holiday and that there are those who need
us to help bless them. I hope to see you having your receipt dropped in the box on
Friday!
Yours truly,
Robert E. Drennan
January 25. 2011
This Tuesday, the Republican Party revealed its plans for the future of the State
of Texas, and it is devastating. Public Education will lose 25% of its state
funding. College grants will be cut by half. Medicare will be reduced by 30%.
These are all numbers, but its how these numbers play out that will hammer
hard working families here in Mesquite, Balch Springs, and Sunnyvale.
First, Education. These cuts will force local school districts to make massive
personnel cuts. Lynn Moak, a non-partisan education consultant, estimates
that 100,000 public school educators and employees will be fired this year as a
result of these slashing cuts. And Ray Perryman, noted Texas economist, says
that any job loss will have a 2.5 multiplier. Thats right, a quarter of a million jobs
lost with one slashing cut of the Republican Party’s knife.
As school districts reel from these cuts, the result will be fired teachers and
closed schools. Houston schools are contemplating closing 66 neighborhood
schools, and ending their magnet school program. Thats right, 66 schools
closed in Houston alone.
With the Medicaid cuts, hospitals and doctors are already pushing for better
rates from their health insurance partners. The result, as the Dallas Morning
News reported today, will be that the insurance companies will significantly
increase costs on the rest of us to make up the difference. And for every dollar
we cut from our Medicaid budget, $2.50 of your own tax money will be sent to
other states, like New York and California. So when we cut $5 billion from our
state Medicaid budget, we are sending $12.5 billion of our own tax dollars to
other states. And wiping out health care for hard working Texas families.
College grants will take a huge hit, eliminating at least half of all grants, and
maybe more. At least 60,000 college kids in Texas will be knocked out of
school as a result this year alone. But it gets worse.
The budget also proposes cutting four junior college districts completely.
Community colleges like Eastfield here in Mesquite have increasingly picked
up the job of readying our young adults for the working world. In the new
Texas, working hard, getting good grades, and playing by the rules will no
longer be enough. You’ll have to be born rich.
Interestingly, a few areas of the budget ACTUALLY INCREASED. While 10,000
state employees in departments like border security and children’s protective
services will lose their jobs, Governor Perry’s staff will actually increase. His
enterprise fund will also stay the same. No cuts there.
And finally, as mentioned above, border security funding will be reduced by
30%. Border Security is a priority. Its completely dishonest to campaign on
securing the border, and yet at their first opportunity, strip border security
while at the same time increase the Governor’s staff.
In times of hardship, everyone must sacrifice. But when you eat your seed
grain, their will not be a fall harvest.
Robert Miklos
This Tuesday, the Republican Party revealed its plans for the future of the State
of Texas, and it is devastating. Public Education will lose 25% of its state
funding. College grants will be cut by half. Medicare will be reduced by 30%.
These are all numbers, but its how these numbers play out that will hammer
hard working families here in Mesquite, Balch Springs, and Sunnyvale.
First, Education. These cuts will force local school districts to make massive
personnel cuts. Lynn Moak, a non-partisan education consultant, estimates
that 100,000 public school educators and employees will be fired this year as a
result of these slashing cuts. And Ray Perryman, noted Texas economist, says
that any job loss will have a 2.5 multiplier. Thats right, a quarter of a million jobs
lost with one slashing cut of the Republican Party’s knife.
As school districts reel from these cuts, the result will be fired teachers and
closed schools. Houston schools are contemplating closing 66 neighborhood
schools, and ending their magnet school program. Thats right, 66 schools
closed in Houston alone.
With the Medicaid cuts, hospitals and doctors are already pushing for better
rates from their health insurance partners. The result, as the Dallas Morning
News reported today, will be that the insurance companies will significantly
increase costs on the rest of us to make up the difference. And for every dollar
we cut from our Medicaid budget, $2.50 of your own tax money will be sent to
other states, like New York and California. So when we cut $5 billion from our
state Medicaid budget, we are sending $12.5 billion of our own tax dollars to
other states. And wiping out health care for hard working Texas families.
College grants will take a huge hit, eliminating at least half of all grants, and
maybe more. At least 60,000 college kids in Texas will be knocked out of
school as a result this year alone. But it gets worse.
The budget also proposes cutting four junior college districts completely.
Community colleges like Eastfield here in Mesquite have increasingly picked
up the job of readying our young adults for the working world. In the new
Texas, working hard, getting good grades, and playing by the rules will no
longer be enough. You’ll have to be born rich.
Interestingly, a few areas of the budget ACTUALLY INCREASED. While 10,000
state employees in departments like border security and children’s protective
services will lose their jobs, Governor Perry’s staff will actually increase. His
enterprise fund will also stay the same. No cuts there.
And finally, as mentioned above, border security funding will be reduced by
30%. Border Security is a priority. Its completely dishonest to campaign on
securing the border, and yet at their first opportunity, strip border security
while at the same time increase the Governor’s staff.
In times of hardship, everyone must sacrifice. But when you eat your seed
grain, their will not be a fall harvest.
Robert Miklos