Home of Today's Common Sense

Published Brownsville Herald April 25, 2011

Over the years I have been critical of the Port of Brownsville. We are now coming up on the 75th anniversary of the port and I can finally see the evidence of change for the better.
This started with an invitation to attend the 75th anniversary celebration at the port on May 13 from Commissioner Martin Arambula.
The Port of Brownsville has collected taxes even though it supports the whole region, while nearby Port Isabel, a much smaller operation, has been able to operate at no cost to the community, as have many other very large facilities such as the Port of New York, which will not have to tax its owners, New York and New Jersey, even to replace the World Trade Center.
I recently stated that a port business entity should not be a taxing authority and drain on the constituency. To my surprise Mr. Arambula responded in part:
“The BND tax rate is $0.048 per $100 of assessed valuation. We have lowered the rate every single year for the past 16 years. The goal is to completely eliminate it.”
I must applaud this kind of thinking! Things may really be improving! More »

Published Brownsville Herald April 11, 2011

In the press we are watching a human story of votes changed because one leadership wants more government programs of largess benefiting certain congressional districts to be included.
This is part of the reality of daily political life and after an indoctrination of some weeks it seems normal. The idea of sticking to one’s ideals becomes weaker and weaker, not just in Congress but at the state level and even in local councils and boards.
At this time in America there is a substantial movement toward a large socialized government that provides all of the people’s needs, allowing no private ownership of companies and ruled by an elite cadre of experts. At the other extreme is a movement toward a “new world order,” a world government ruled by another bunch of elite experts — or are they really the same goals?
In the middle are those who believe in capitalism, private ownership of property and businesses with the opportunity to pursue success and happiness as was described in the Declaration of Independence.
Neither the declaration nor the Constitution guarantees it, but only the opportunity to make choices that might bring great success or abysmal failure. We can even define success as we see fit. More »