Community Forum: Announcement to withdraw candidacy

To the editor:
Most of you readers of the editorial page know I first announced I was going to run for mayor; after careful consideration I decided the position was too time consuming and it would take time away from my SAVE (Special Assistance for Veterans Endeavors).

After more thought I knew I could not let the incumbent run unopposed; consequently I filed my paperwork and became a candidate.

After filling out my paper work, I became aware of a glitch that I had pending from when I was a young man in 1978. Even though it has been 32 years ago, I made the decision I would not flaw the Harlingen political system with a problem that can be rectified with time. It will be rectified within a few months.

I will withdraw my candidacy until I have cleared up that old matter.

I cannot thank you enough for the confidence you have placed in me. I promise you that even though I am not in the field, I will be watching the goings-on like a hawk.

It is with great pride that I endorse with all my backing my fellow former Marine Gustavo Ruiz. Gus is coming in without blemish and with a young mind full of new ideas. Gus is a hometown young man with a degree in law. I could not be happier with any other candidate.

District One, look for us because we will be hitting the street soon. We will talk to every individual voter and ask for their vote.

I want to once again thank all of my friends and backers and let you know to look for me in the near future.

I like the idea of volunteering my time to help Harlingen grow to its full potential.
Fred Rendon Jr.,
Harlingen
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All sides of debate need unification
Editor:
Should access to affordable health care be a “basic human right,” afforded to all Americans regardless of cost or merit as Democrats believe; or should it be a “privilege” afforded by only those with the financial means via uninterrupted, profit-based market principles as Republicans believe?

Should the federal government bring forth legislation that will govern insurance companies and health care providers in an effort to bring all Americans “universal health care coverage”?

It is a simple argument that has been clouded and made complicated by those in power wishing to spin it to their advantage for political payoff in an election year.

Whether you are a Republican, Democrat, Independent or half-baked Libertarian like myself, certainly you fall into one of these categories when it comes to health care in America. You are either for the markets to decide who gets it at what price and under what rules or you are for the government’s right to intercede on your behalf because the rules of profitability leave millions of people uninsured and risking financial disaster due to lack of coverage.

All the political jargon that we listen to every day boils down to this simple truth, your truth, whatever it might be to you as I have outlined. There is no need for name-calling or virtual demonization by anyone on either side of this debate. You have a right as a citizen of this nation as does your elected representative to jump on board either side of this debate and take whatever action is necessary to bring about yours or their strong-held beliefs.

I believe the Democrats have the majority in both houses of Congress and the ball is in their court. Carry on, men of great courage, for it is not easy to please and displease simultaneously, but I know you will try.
Ramiro Ochoa,
Santa Rosa
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Allow Texas to itself on gay marriage ban
To the editor:
RE: 2009 divorce case in Dallas Wake up Texas! Ban on gay marriage?

What would be the obvious way to break the ban; by divorce. It still opens the door to possibility.

If we allow some judge in a judge’s position, who could be lesbian, to authorize/approve a divorce of a gay couple from a different state that approves of gay marriage, in a Texas court we may have just broke the marriage ban regardless of what a lawyer says.

I don’t think a judge has the right to overturn a ruling by 75 percent of a state’s voters. Tell attorney Schulte and Judge Callahan that the marriage ban by voters should hold jurisdiction, not some attorney or judge. If gays want a divorce go to a state (Iowa) that approves of their “marriage”; leave Texas to Texans.

One of the most famous religious readings in the Bible was just brought forward during Catholic masses, 3-4 October.

The Lord God said: “It is not good for man to be alone. I will make a suitable partner for him.” The Lord God took one of the man’s ribs and built and woman and brought her to the man who said, “This one, at last, is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh — this one shall be called woman.” (That is why a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife and the two become one flesh.) We were married 45 years, before she died.

“From the beginning of creation God made them male and female, (Go forth and multiply) therefore what God has joined together no human being must separate.” Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.

Nowhere does it say male begets male or female to female in a marriage.

(Beget: to father, sire, cause to exist).

So now some lawyer and judge can determine if Texas is a God-fearing (Lone Star) state or an atheist state. Are we close to becoming another Sodom or Gomorrah?

Tell Dallas attorney Peter Schulte and Judge Callahan that the marriage ban was approved by the Texas voters and not them and the voters should hold jurisdiction due to their vote and not some attorney or judge. Send the two gays along with the attorney and judge to Iowa.

God bless Texas.
Reginald F. Van Nurden,
Rio Hondo
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Create and keep jobs in the U.S.
To the editor:
President Obama is promoting a new $300 billion economic stimulus program.

When he took office in January 2009 he said the $787 billion stimulus program will CREATE 3.5 million jobs by the end of 2010 and unemployment will remain below 8.0 percent.

Unemployment is hovering around 10.0 percent, and the jobs promised by Obama might hit 1.5 million by the end of 2010, but during the last 13 months we lost 5 million jobs.

The stimulus saved the jobs of municipal workers, and provided additional unemployment benefits, but it has not provided jobs in the private sector. The money went to government agencies, colleges, non-profit organizations and entitlement programs. These programs will generate annual deficits of $1 trillion to $1.5 trillion for years to come. Our government has squandered our financial resources on failed economic programs, and the American work force continues to suffer.

The domestic priority should be creating millions of new jobs, and other domestic initiatives, including health care reform, should wait until the economy improves.

The Administration and Congress have to reduce the size of government; cut business taxes; and give U.S. companies incentives to operate in this country, and disincentives to move operations and jobs overseas.
Donald A. Moskowitz,
Londonderry, N.H.
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