Taxpayer Revolt Beginning Of End For Radicals
Taxpayer Revolt Beginning Of End For Radicals Texans from every corner of the unhappy state gathered in Austin on Sept. 22, 1871, for the “Taxpayers Convention,” the first mass protest against the Radical Republican regime. Even though military occupation has been replaced by civilian rule, the lives of most people had not improved but taken a dramatic turn for the worse. Under the heavy-handed Radicals, taxes went through the roof as basic rights continued to be systematically violated. When the call went out in August 1871 for a show of statewide dissatisfaction, 91 counties sent delegates to the watershed event called the “Taxpayers Convention.” While Democratic ex-Confederates made up the majority, several big-name Unionists were also in attendance. Among the dissident Republicans, who had broken ranks with the Radicals, were three ex-governors and a former U.S. Senator: James W. Throckmorton, A.J. Hamilton, E.M. Pease and Morgan Hamilton. To emphasize the political diversity of the coalition, the convention chose Pease as presiding officer. In his opening remarks, the chairman pulled no punches accusing the free-spending Davis administration of bleeding the treasury dry in a mere 17 months. At a time when the state could get by on $800,000 a year, the Radicals were picking Texans
The Ongoing Crusade For Toll Road Privatization
The Ongoing Crusade For Toll Road Privatization
The Alternative to Toll Roads: An Adequate and Unrestrained Gasoline Tax
Toll Roads are NOT cost-effective
A fuel tax, a.k.a. gasoline tax, is a sales tax imposed on the sale of fuel. The fuel tax in Texas is currently set at 20
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Grading The War On A Curve
Grading The War On A Curve I was among the minority of Americans the other night (Thursday, Sept. 13)
Letters To The Editor
Dear Editor, For four years, the Bush administration keeps on asking for more time, and a lot more money, to keep its failed war-of-choice going. It is always the same prediction, “in 12 to 18 months the Iraqis will be able to govern without us.” The truth is that we can not “win” this war. No “victory” is possible for us in Iraq, only continued shame. Yet, Senator John McCain has a point when he says that leaving Iraq in retreat would be a disaster. So, what is the way out of this mess that Bush and Cheney put us in? We should separate ourselves, our government, and our country, from the corrupt leaders who got us into this war through their deception and lies. We should prosecute these officials, who usurped our government, for being the war criminals that they are. Then we can leave Iraq in an orderly manner, with apologies for having confused Saddam Hussein with Osama bin Laden, and find redemption through bringing to justice the people who committed these war crimes in our name. DST Between the Spring Equinox, March 21, and the Autumn Equinox, Sept. 23, days are longer and nights shorter. It makes sense to shift the “extra” morning daylight to the afternoon with daylight saving time (DST). Now, after the equinox, there is no extra daylight. DST sets our clocks for a later sunrise and darker mornings than standard time. Children have to walk to school as the rising sun glares into the eyes of sleepy Yours truly, Bruce Joffe, Piedmont, CA Dear Editor, Yesterday, Sept.11, before the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, General Petraeus stated in response to the question by Republican Senator Warner from Virginia as to whether the military efforts in Iraq made America safer that he did not know. In this one definitive moment of truth the military commander on the ground in Iraq sent by the President to justify to the Congress and America continuing this war, did not know the crutial answer . The man believed to have the integrity to justify continuation of this Bush fabricated war could not answer the vital question. The integrity of his previous actions as part of the war in Iraq instantaneously vanished. The reality became obvious, General Petraeus had not previously been able to be truthful with his troops, the American people nor himself all along and about all aspects of the war. Never again should the Democrats be accused of demoralizing America
commuters. Extending DST to well past September is dangerous. In 2005, the Republican-controlled Congress extended DST until the first Sunday of November. Now we should change back to Standard Time.
Just Say
Just Say
Senate Passes Silly, Or Is It Foreboding, Resolution
Senate Passes Silly, Or Is It Foreboding, Resolution
MoveOn, an organization comprising over 3 million people, ran a full-page ad in the NY Times taking issue with a Bush-appointed official spinning misinformation for the administration. The criticism from MoveOn was not directed at the troops on the ground, and the military in general, who are suffering the effects of this administrations lies, corruption, and mismanagement. The criticism was directed at the man used by the White House to sell another chapter in their never-ending war for profit. General Petraeus was the focus, and Betrayus is how the ad labeled him.
While our children are injured and dying in the desert of a foreign country, and we pour billion after billion into a war for oil and empire, on Friday, Sept. 21, our senators wasted time passing a silly, and yet forebodingly dangerous, resolution objecting to that organization exercising its First Amendment right in criticizing government policies.
Where were all these “patriots” now calling foul on the Petraeus ad when Max Cleland and John Kerry – both former soldiers who actually fought on the battleground for their country – were smeared? Oh, that
Lucas Mangope: One of South Africa
Lucas Mangope: One of South Africa
Yet Another Reagan-Related Homicide
Yet Another Reagan-Related Homicide As Uncle Hugh used to say, “If you think hangin
So The Senate Is Now Against Freedom Of Speech?
So The Senate Is Now Against Freedom Of Speech? It is time for some our nation
Global Warming Lawsuit Nixed Against Automakers
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.
Four Cities Form Commission To Stop Trans Texas Corridor
TAYLOR, Texas
Iraq Cancels Blackwater License, Threatens Lawsuit
BAGHDAD, Iraq
Report Names Most Corrupt Members In Congress
WASHINGTON, D.C.
States See Clean Energy Boom: Report — Texas Ranked ‘Most Aggressive’
Texas Ranked ‘Most Aggressive’ WASHINGTON, D.C. A new report shows that the state renewable electricity standards (RES) are working wonders in the 25 states that have passed such policies. Overall, these RES policies are cutting pollution, saving money, creating jobs, and fueling a clean energy boom, said U.S. Public Interest Research Group’s Clean Energy Associate Sean Garren. America recently doubled electricity production from the wind and the sun in the last four years. In recent years, Texas created 2,000 megawatts of new renewable energy capacity, making it the “most aggressive” state in renewable energy development, according to U.S. PIRG’s “Reaping the Rewards.” The environmental benefits of new renewable energy development set by RES policies have:
Up In Alms Jury Deliberating On Holy Land Foundation Trial — Verdict Could Change Charity Standards
Verdict Could Change Charity Standards DALLAS, Texas A guilty verdict in a federal trial ending this week in Dallas may scare humanitarian aid organizations away from helping people in need in the most war-torn areas of the world, like the Middle East. This potential flight hinges upon the question: should the U.S. government stop the flow of charity if an employee or volunteer of an aid organization has links to a designated terrorist group at any stage of aid delivery? A 12-person jury is currently deliberating on the issue along with the fate of five defendants who worked for the Richardson-based Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development (HLF), which was the largest Muslim charity in the country at one time. The trial was expected to take at least three months in U.S. District Judge A. Joe Fish’s court. But the jury’s decision could come as early as this week after eight weeks of testimony. The United States government, though, seemed to take its sweet time in bringing HLF to court in the first place. The FBI started secretly monitoring its leaders’ activities in 1993. Then, three months after the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, President George W. Bush closed the non-partisan, non-profit organization by executive order. A 42-count indictment against HLF finally came down in July 2004. HLF is in essence accused of indirectly funding a designated terrorist organization via faith-based yet non-partisan grassroots committees in the occupied territories of Palestine (the West Bank and Gaza). While the U.S. government dropped allegations that HLF’s resources went to purchase weapons, federal prosecutors argue that HLF’s alms were intentionally redirected to support the families of terrorists. The defense contended, however, that such favoritism runs counter to the nature and structure of charity distribution in the Muslim world. Zakat (the Arabic word for charity) is one of the five holy sacraments of the Islamic faith in part because the religion’s founder, the Prophet Muhammad, was himself an orphan. Muslims place such a high standard on charity that they perform it without prejudice and pretension.
Charity distribution for Muslims, hence, comes in the form of independent “zakat committees.” The idea behind them is that they must operate in a non-partisan fashion, like impartial juries, to distribute aid; otherwise, they would lose credibility among people by taking sides with the latest political wind, according to the defense.
Through the course of its 12-year existence, HLF collected over $57 million for such people in need as those living in Turkey after a string of earthquakes, Bosnia/Serbia during their war, and Oklahoma City, Okla. after the bombing of a federal building.
The defense in its closing arguments said that HLF’s heads, CEO Shukri Abu Baker and president Ghassan Elashi, did everything in their power to keep their non-profit compliant under U.S. law. John Bryant, a former U.S. congressman who HLF hired as a lawyer, however, testified that even he was refused a “white list” of zakat committees from the federal government. HLF has said that the U.S. government froze $5 million of its assets when it closed its doors in 2001.
