Ah, what a wonderful thing the Walmart Supercenter will be, reflecting our culture, history and art there along Interstate 25. Right? It will be bigger, grander, less user-friendly than any building in Santa Fe. Hooray! Tourists will flock to it.

Doesn't reflect Santa Fe, you say? Too bad. It reflects the mind-set of America: greed, capitalism, schlock, a dumbing down of taste and good sense.

Don't like it? Go next door to the automobile agency sprawled out over 33 acres. Thousands of cars. Get a deal. Congratulations, Santa Fe. You've let those tourists know exactly where we stand. The south entrance to Santa Fe will soon be as cheap as any in America.


Deceptive pricing

Walmart is a company that has experienced numerous court challenges by women, floor cleaners and unions. Most recently the New York Times reported that Walmart was opposing the sections of the proposed national health legislation that would require them to provide adequate health care programs for their workers. Walmart does not pay full taxes in New Mexico.

Even a monkey would be smart enough to know that their low prices are an illusion. At a time when the state is cutting budgets and reducing educational and other services to the poor and the general public, they are sending our potential tax income out of the state Socially responsible businesses help our community while they help themselves. When will Walmart start practicing these policies and stop insulting our intelligence?


Dangerous crossing

Thankfully, no one suffered severe injuries in the Nov. 1 collision between the tourist train and an SUV on Rabbit Road. This train crossing is minimally marked with a disc having a small reflector.

If one is traveling west on Rabbit Road into the late afternoon sun, the red light is almost imperceptible up close, and invisible at a distance. Hopefully, this accident will serve as an alert to the need for immediate improved signage and the consideration of a gate at this growingly popular rail crossing.


Cut school budget

I'm a parent with two children in Santa Fe Public Schools, and it's fine with me if the state cuts spending on education.

The school budget is bloated by union rules that make it impossible to run schools efficiently or provide decent education. Teachers get three months off in the summer, so they should get their pay slashed by 25 percent. The giant pensions and incredible benefits should be stopped. I speak for many parents when I say feel free to slash education spending.


Outlaw distractions

The U.S. Transportation Department reports that 5,870 people were killed and 515,000 were injured last year in crashes involving driver distraction, often involving mobile devices or cell phones. Recently, New York, which already forbade talking on cell phones while driving, added an additional law with fines of up to $150 outlawing the use of mobile devices for reading, typing and sending text messages while driving.

While New York isn't always the perfect role model, on this they got it right. Shouldn't New Mexico get it right, too?