Letters to the editor

Editor:

There were a number of issues passed into law by the 80th legislature directly affecting East Texas. Friends of the Neches River and Save Texas Parks were involved in the following issues.

The future of the Texas State Railroad State Park was decided by a bill transferring this recreational historic train between Rusk and Palestine to a Rail Authority created from these cities. This authority has contracted with a private company, American Heritage Railways, to operate the railroad starting around September 1, 2007.

While we supported state funding for Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to continue running the train, this other option will ensure the operation of the train for the moment; its economic impact remaining in our area. Also of value to our economy is $12,000,000 the legislature appropriated to the Rail Authority for capital improvements to the tracks and assets of the park. This will also find a positive way into our economic development. We hope for the best in the operation of this historic treasure. It is a done deal; we must move on.

The omnibus water bill (SB 3) was passed in the fading minutes of the House with the parks bill (HB 12) as pone in the balance. The proponents of the water bill may wish to retract the much debated designated reservoir sites item as it has stirred the animosity of property rights advocates across the state. With the readdition of Fastrill reservoir as a site in the bill, past victories of our Friends of the Neches River are remembered.

It was June 12, 2006, when the U S Fish andWildlife Serv Director Dale Hall signed the proposal for the Neches River National Wildlife Refuge to be created in the same location as the proposed reservoir. Land has since been deeded to and accepted by the Service. ArulingfortheUS Fish and Wildlife in a law suit brought by Dallas and the State would protect this irreplaceable bottom land wildlife habitat for generations to come. The pressure on the Legislature to produce a water bill kept a better bill from being legislated.

The crowning moment for us this legislative session came with the passage of the parks funding bill. We, Save Texas Parks, started making contacts months before the session began. Before the elections last fall were decided, contacts were being made to ensure more and proper funding of our state parks system.

We worked with George Bristol of Texas Conservation Coalition as the lead and with other park support groups to have the legislature pass a bill that appropriates funding to Texas Parks and Wildlife so pride could be restored in our state parks.

The Legislature came through. A partial summary of the funding is park operations was almost doubled to $32 million; capital improvements and equipment were increased; matching grants for parks in cities and counties were raised to its highest level; funds were designated for land acquisitation.

Over $182 million of new and needed funds were allocated for our park system. With a state budget of $152 billion and a surplus of $2 billion, the funding of our parks is justifiable with a return to the state through increased tourism and park utilization. Besides, "our parks are a gift from the people, to the people." We must start laying the ground work for this trend to be continued with the 81st Legislature.

Our democratic process is a large part of what makes America great, and Texas is the best of that greatness.

Michael Banks, DDS Friends of the Neches River Save Texas Parks

To The Editor:

Today I would like to break down and define the term Cut and Run as used by the elephant party pertaining to bringing our troops home. I always thought this country was run by and subject to majority rule.

Example 1: For the past 3 years 66% of the American people have wanted to end this war, but the remaining 33% want to continue this blood-letting as long as it is not their sons or daughters.

Now to Cut and Run: Example II - in 1952, Eisenhower told the American public, "If you vote for me, I will stop the war," and Americans responded with votes for him, and I'll be danged, he brought the troops home. Hmmm, is that Cut and Run? I believe so, since we have no peace treaty ending that war and we presently have over 40,000 officers and men patrolling that border. Hmmm.

Example III: In the 70s the elephant party candidate Richard Nixon said, "If you elect me, I will end this war and we will have peace with honor. Americans responded again with votes and guess what? By golly, in a period of 20 months, the enemy had overrun the country and our 58,873 soldiers dead, 44,000 wounded, and at the present time 3,300 MIA. Wow, was that Cut and Run! Hmmm.

Example IV: In the 1990s Bush 41 told the American people he would rid Kuwait and Iraq of the dictator Hussein, so the people said to go ahead and by all accounts, Mr. Bush 41 massed up more than 5,000,000 troops and spent more than 3 billion dollars and went to war, and he jumped right over to Kuwait and without much resistance from the evil Hussein, he cleared Kuwait and set off for Baghdad. Guess what happened somewhere along the way? Approximately 30 miles from Baghdad, he had a change of heart and he stopped the army and said, "Mission accomplished and we're going home." Now he says that he didn't have the authority to take Baghdad. Well, if that was the case, where did he get authorization to occupy over 1/2 of that country before pulling out? Hmmm, I wonder, would that be classified Cut and Run? I leave it to you to make that decision.

Example V: The elephant party would have you believe that if we set a timetable to withdraw, then we are giving the enemy hope that they can wait us out. Poppycock! If we indeed set a timetable and make the Iraqi government realize that if they don't want their throats cut and their country taken over, then they had better get off their butts and learn the training that over 3,400 men and women have died for to give them. We Americans send our soldiers to boot camp for 12 weeks, then we send them to AIT (Advanced Individual Training), and then we give them 14 days at home before we send them to Iraq. Now during training our troops, most are trained by sergeants, 1st and 2nd lieutenants, and one company commander, in most cases with no higher rank than captain. Then they are sent across the world to defend American principles. The point I am trying to make is we have been training Iraqi troops with our best generals and the best equipment in the world to prepare them to defend their country. Is 5 years not enough?? I think the American people think so.

Being Chairman of the Henderson County Democratic Party, I am proud of our lawmakers who have tried to stop this war. I would add one caveat to this: Move our fighting forces to Afghanistan which is where the real terrorists that attacked us on 9/11 are located. Try to make Cut and Run out of this.

Now Bush 43 has stated to the country and to the world that he alone is the decider. Well, he better check his "decider gauge" because 66% of Americans disagree. By the way, myself and 5 brothers and 2 nephews and 1 niece and 1 grandson spent approximately 70 years on active duty and reserve and national guard time. Along the way we received 2 Purple Hearts fighting America's wars from Korea to Vietnam to Iraq. I think I know a Cut and Run when I see it. Nuff said.

Ray Smith Murchison