Shall we now put to rest the mantra "liberal media bias"? In September 2009, a young "Repunklikan," James O'Keefe, put together a video defaming ACORN, an organization whose main function is giving a voice to unheard minorities. For weeks this hokum was shouted from front pages of most newspapers, this one included.

Why is it that recently, when Mr. O'Keefe and some cohorts were arrested in New Orleans for attempting to tamper with telephones in the offices of a U.S. Senator, The New Mexican (and many other papers) relegated this actual story to Page 9! Liberal media bias, my como se llama.

Congress, get real

It's time for Congress to lead by example. I suggest that each member take a 10 percent pay cut. I mean in their personal income and in the number of support staff and other perks that come with the job. Working Americans don't get a free lunch or a ride to work. I would suggest that they increase their work hours to a minimum of 40 hours a week. This means actual work hours, when they are in their offices reading legislation and putting together productive ideas that will assist in bringing this nation back to its feet.

They need to get creative. There are sources of revenue other than individual income taxes. For example, they could increase taxes on cigarettes equivalent to the cost of the tobacco farmers' subsidies. Or a tax on high-fat, high-salt, high-sugar foods that are causing our nationwide epidemic of obesity and diabetes.

Transfer Caldera control

The Jan. 23 letter, "Caldera's well-managed," stated that the Valles Caldera Trust is "committed to protecting the environment." Last August, the trust unveiled a business model that included proposals for up to $143 million in commercial resort-style developments on the preserve, including luxury lodges, RV parks, roads, lounges and restaurants.

Until the Valles Caldera Trust is replaced with an experienced, professional public land-management agency that is free of a legislative mandate to operate the preserve as a profit-generating corporation, the danger of destructive development on this scenic treasure remains.

Additionally, this month's report endorsing the proposal of Sens. Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall to transfer management of the preserve to the National Park Service concluded that such management would be more fiscally efficient because it would consolidate preserve resources with those of neighboring Bandelier National Monument and would provide a needed economic boost to Northern New Mexico.


Dem for Kepler

"Coss on track," a Jan. 27 letter by Lynne Einleger, states that Mayor David Coss has "no anger issues, no vindictiveness, no personal agenda (as exhibited by one of the other candidates)." This was undoubtedly a cheap shot at Asenath Kepler and typical of the innuendo common in this campaign.

Anger issues? Half a million dollars for a creative tourism conference; a million-plus dollars for the 400th Anniversary; a convention center over a million dollars in the red; a million planning for the Northwest Quadrant; and at the last City Council meeting, a million dollars to renovate the cafeteria at College of Santa Fe. Isn't it about time somebody got angry?

A progressive Democrat — in 42 years never cast a Republican vote — I've got Kepler's bumper sticker on my car, next to Obama's and Udall's. I invite fellow progressives who care about capable government in Santa Fe to put competence and fiscal responsibility above party and endorse, contribute, vote for Kepler.


City crew kudos

Biking home in last Thursday's snowstorm was hard work on the trail next to the rail tracks. Just when I was going to give up and chance the main streets, there came a city worker in a little snowplow to clear the path. Sidewalks were also cleared along West Alameda. So, in the little-things-mean-a-lot department, a tip of the bike helmet to the city maintenance crew.