Published Letters & Op-Eds
by G.E. Nordell
Page One

on this page: Letters To The Editor, etc. from 2019 forward

Letters To The Editor, etc. 1965 to 2008 {on Page Two}
Letters To The Editor, etc. 2009 {lower half Page Three}
Letters To The Editor, etc. 2010 {upper half Page Three}
Letters To The Editor, etc. 2011 {lower half Page Four}
Letters To The Editor, etc. 2012 {upper half Page Four}
Letters To The Editor, etc. 2013-2015 {Page Five}
Letters To The Editor, etc. 2016-2018 {Page Six}

News Stories (from 2006 on) about G.E. Nordell

"The battle against ignorance and apathy and magical thinking is a full time job." — G.E. Nordell

Letters To The Editor, etc. 2023

Valencia County News-Bulletin Thursday 18 July 2024 Opinion Section [page 4] Rebutting a Republican        It is extremely difficult to rebut the recent letter from the chairman of the Republican Party of Valencia County since he states only beliefs and no facts.        So here is an overriding fact: “If the Republican Party had anything of value to offer the American voter, they would not need to lie and cheat and steal to win elections.”      G.E. NORDELL      Rio Communities, New Mexico

Valencia County News-Bulletin Thursday 25 April 2024 Opinion Section [page 4] Vote very carefully        The 2024 election cycle in the U.S.A. is critical for the survival of democracy and for the restoration of the U.S. Constitution. New Mexico is not a big factor since the population is less than 1% of the total and our 5 electoral votes are likewise less than 1% of the 535 total.        The population of Valencia County is less than 1% of the state total, and we are represented by Legislature Districts 7, 8, 49, & 69 and Senate Districts 29, 30, & 39. But the local, 'down ticket' elections really matter here.        The choice each election in the U.S.A. is binary: Not voting BLUE all the time or not voting at all is a surrender to the fascists and racists and the Republican Party.        Fascism, per political polymath Mark Green, is defined by “one-man rule, based on big lies, nationalist fervor, xenophobia, hatred of marginal groups, displays of militarism, incitement to violence, media manipulation, and persistent lawlessness.”        All of these activities are promoted in the recently re-published “Mandate For Leadership” book from The Heritage Foundation [est. 1973] and their “Project 2025” organization, an out-in-the-open scheme to steer the U.S.A. toward far-right autocracy (dictatorship).        Project 2025 encourages Republicans to: intentionally spread disinformation; overreach executive power; weaken checks and balances; dismantle all protections against unchecked corporate power; quash criticism or dissent; promote marginalizing and restricting hard-won rights protections of minorities, specifically LGBTQ+ people, immigrants, women, and people of color; eviscerate the many guardrails in place that aim to defend the endangered environment; end attempts to enhance equity & racial justice throughout the government and shut down agencies that track progress on this front; end efforts to tackle issues such as climate change, and politicize the research produced to back the project’s views on environmental policy, the evils of ‘transgenderism’, and women’s health; politicize independent institutions; initiate corruption of elections; and stoke violence in daily life and as populist protest.        Project 2025 has already caused legislative attempts to defund the Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Education, and the Department of Homeland Security. So far in 2024, 11 states have introduced or taken new action on bills to roll back child labor protections.        You do not want further destruction of your rights. Vote very carefully in the upcoming elections.      G.E. NORDELL      Rio Communities, New Mexico response to my Letter of April 25th above Valencia County News-Bulletin Thursday 6 June 2024 Opinion Section [page 4] Response to “Vote Very Carefully” letter        I agree with the premise that the 2024 election is critical for the survival of our democracy, but not for the reasons stated. While we only have five electoral votes, diminishing New Mexico’s importance is a mistake.        Valencia County is a bellwether county, which has determined presidential races until 2020. Currently, Republicans have overtaken Democrats in Valencia County and are still rising due to our current political climate.        I take issue with the information in the letter printed on April 25, 2024. The Republican Party does not engage in violence, nor does it engage in 'one-man rule'. Reading one book and determining an ideology from one source is irresponsible.        I have not read Project 2025, nor do we subscribe to methodologies set forth by the author and his claims of dictatorship. Last I checked, we have the U.S. Constitution with a Bill of Rights, which protects all Americans. The current administration seems to be lacking in that area and continues to try and divide us by creating separate groups needing separate protections. We are all adequately protected by the constitution since 1787 with only 27 Amendments.        So far the only ones who have sought to defund the police, FBI, etc., have been some Democrats in blue states with blue governors. In places where this has taken place, it has been a disaster with citizens going unprotected. Even here in our state the police have lost their indemnification, which has forced most to move to places where they can protect their families and their livelihood from financial ruin.        This does not include everyone, just those with a liberal mindset who have not yet been victimized when dialing 911 and not getting an immediate response. The author of the letter, “Vote Very Carefully,” would have you believe that this … publication is the battle cry of the Republican Party. Nothing could be further from the truth.        Vote your conscience on Election Day. Look at your city where the police are shorthanded, grocery stores are not full and gas prices are through the roof. Then ask yourself who caused the problems. It’s been three years since the previous president has been in office.      John R. Brenna Jr.      Chairman, Republican Party of Valencia County

Valencia County News-Bulletin Thursday 15 June 2023 Opinion Section [page 4] REPUBLICANS HAVE NO SOLUTIONS NOTE: My letter submission was censored; I had to remove several 'trigger words' in order to get it published. The text below is my original submission, with the censored words restored and showing in red.        The letter from citizen Donna Crawford of Tomé (VCNB September 31) is typical G.O.P. propaganda. She whines about electric vehicles, about how electrification 'will crush our freedoms', then gets all confused about fascism and socialism.        If the Republican Party had anything of value to offer the American voter, they would not need to lie and cheat and steal to win elections.        There is not one solution offered in that letter. Electric vehicles are a critical technical solution, but she describes them as a problem because Democrats are getting their job done. The planet passed Peak Oil several years back, so what is the G.O.P. solution for when we run out of fossil fuels? No G.O.P. solution exists.        Sen. Heinrich's 'electrification agenda' - another solution - is denied by whining about 'government interfering with every little phase of our lives'. Again, no G.O.P. solution offered here.        Republicans back their fascist agenda with millions of dark money dollars donated by corporations. Their most-visible fascist tactics include voter suppression (gerrymandering, election fraud), denial of reality (Fox, the faker of news), and disdain for human rights and oppression of minorities (anti-labor, anti-equality, anti-immigrant). This activity and much more are being perpatrated every day by national and local Republicans.        The United states reached the statistic that 95% of adults are vaccinated against or are survivors of COVID-19. In New Mexico, 73% of residents have at least one COVID-19 vaccination. But here in Valencia County only 50% of residents are vaccinated. Our local Republican Party instills fear by endangering Valencia County residents. How many of your relatives will die during the Fall Flu Season because their caregivers chose the wrong political party slash agenda ?        The Republican Party is fascist top to bottom, and anyone who votes for them is likewise a fascist. [The Republican Party has made] Valencia County ... a sinkhole of what doesn't work. Ask a farmer who just found out there will be no more crops for the year because the Rio Grande River is going dry. Empty buildings, vacant lots, tumbleweed vistas. Racist cops, [F]amilies of the poor and of the working poor going hungry, banned books & banned genders, poisoned environment, economic oppression. Thank a Republican.        The Democratic Party, and especially here in New Mexico, have solutions galore – for the long term and for the short term. Your vote counts.      G.E. NORDELL      Rio Communities, New Mexico the prior Letter that is referred to: Valencia County News-Bulletin Thursday 31 August 2023 Opinion Section [page 4] Out-of-Control Government        In December 2021, Biden executed an order which said it was America’s duty “to lead the world by setting a goal that 50 percent of all new passenger cars and light trucks sold in 2030 be zero-emission vehicles,” adopting the types of vehicles favored by climate zealots. In other words, forcing people to buy electric vehicles.        So, in keeping with the Democrat narrative, the Fourth of July headline in the Albuquerque Journal read, “Governor proposes clean car standards”. Her proposal would require 43 percent of the 2027 model cars and trucks sent to car dealerships to meet clean car standards; in other words electric vehicles (EVs).        The percentage would climb to 82 percent for 2032 vehicles (only nine years from now). Translation: our governor and Biden are forcing electric vehicles down everybody’s throats, whether or not you want one or can afford one.        Then, also in New Mexico, Democrat Sen. Martin Heinrich is decreeing an “electrification” agenda to get rid of gas stoves, furnaces, water heaters, and anything gas in our homes and businesses. The Democrats are hell-bent on “killing fossil fuels no matter what the cost” to ratepayers/taxpayers.        These examples are just the tip of the iceberg of what government laws, rules, and regulations have done to crush our freedoms. Government is interfering with every little phase of our lives.        What do the dictates above have in common? Fascism/totalitarianism/socialism; government taking charge of our businesses and private lives; dictating to the people what they can and cannot do. Sound familiar? Government is out of control.         The United States of America was founded on the principles of free market, private enterprise, capitalism, and individual freedom. We need to ask ourselves the question: Do we really want to turn our country into an unsuccessful socialist/fascist regime (we’re almost there) or keep our constitutional republic with all the desired freedoms it allows?      Donna Crawford      Tomé, New Mexico

Valencia County News-Bulletin Thursday 15 June 2023 Opinion Section [page 4] Belén’s reputation        The motto of the city of Belén, is “Defending 17th Century values for 300 years.”        Here is how that shows up:        • The only new construction in Belén on mostly-vacant Main Street in the last 10 years was Domino’s Pizza in 2018 and the expanded Circle-K in September 2021.        • A dozen businesses on Main Street in Belén have closed over the last several years, plus Buckland Pharmacy.        • A half-dozen vacant or unsafe buildings on Main Street in Belén were razed to the ground in the last several years.        • The permit for a Starbucks store has notoriously taken four years, while the expertise of Starbucks from building their 15,000 locations in the U.S.A. was no match for city of Belén intransigence.        • There is no Pride Parade scheduled for June; if such an event was held in Belén, the participants would probably have stones thrown at them by people along the curb.        • The population of Belén is shrinking; the number of school-age children in the area shrank so much that the Belen Consolidated Schools district permanently closed Jaramillo Elementary and temporarily moved Dennis Chavez Elementary.        • The annual downtown floods continue — not caused by climate change/global warming, but from inaction by Belén city government and by the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District.        New Mexico Magazine and the state tourism group should consider a cover story titled, “New Mexico Slow: The City of Belén – ‘Progress’ Moves Things Backward”        New Mexico Slow! — that says it all.      G.E. NORDELL, [local curmudgeon]      Rio Communities, New Mexico response to my Letter of June 15 above Valencia County News-Bulletin Thursday 22 June 2023 Opinion Section [page 4] Belén’s reputation        I applaud G.E. Nordell for his views in the June 15, 2023, issue. It’s spot on!        For those of us who have lived in Valencia County long enough to remember, Belén was once the place to come for almost anything needed. There was even a hospital, located on the east side of Main Street in the area of where the school’s administration building is now located.        On the other hand, about 10 miles north was the sleepy little village of Los Lunas. There wasn’t a lot there, except for the county courthouse, Los Lunas High School, Huning Mercantile, Simon Neustadt’s market and another grocery store, that I believe was Castillo’s, and a little burger place called The Dairy Bar, all located along Main Street between Los Lentes Road and the railroad crossing.        On the west side of the tracks is the Luna Mansion and across the street was a doctor’s office and some other haciendas of the old prominent families of the times. Just not much there. Like I said, a sleepy little village.        Now in contrast, there’s a world of difference between Los Lunas and Belén. Los Lunas is the place to come for anything you need, with many choices; and then there’s Belén, and it’s not sleepy, it’s comatose!        I have my opinions why this happened to Belén, and it doesn’t take a lot of imagination to figure it out. I’ll just leave [it] at that, and let it stew in the minds of those still around who were, and are, responsible for what became of, and continue[s] to be, Belén.      Gary Gibson      Rio Communities, New Mexico

Valencia County News-Bulletin Thursday 9 February 2023 Opinion Section [page 4] Zero tolerance        Rio Communities Planning and Zoning Commission is supposed to decide whether to recommend rezoning 300 acres of residential (planned development) land to heavy industrial (I-3). That land is owned by Cibola Land Holdings — a Yates petroleum empire company.        Simple solution: Set up an overlay zone on all industrial properties for the city for zero tolerance for pollution where any air or water pollution gets the business shut down for 30 days; second and further violations include a $5,000 fine; proof is evidence taken by city, county, state or federal officials on that property, regardless of source.        Then see who files for zone change. This also works for Belen and Valencia County, etc.      G.E. NORDELL      Rio Communities, New Mexico

Letters To The Editor, etc. 2022

Valencia County News-Bulletin Thursday 27 Oct 2022 Opinion Section [page 4] Dog and Pony Show        The mid-August dog-and-pony show by PlastikGas, of Dallas, has produced nothing; there is no there there. Six weeks after the photo op with Gov. Lujan Grisham, there is still no mention of New Mexico or Los Lunas on the PlastikGas website.        The temporary demonstration plant near the courthouse in Los Lunas has all but disappeared; there are no identifying signs. They even took the sign with the street number down from the fence, and the equipment that remains is covered with a tarp.        The in-place machinery has a capacity to process 100 pounds of plastic grocery bags into 15 gallons of high-quality usable fuels per day. What is their plan to gather such raw material?        The Los Lunas recycle yard has signs on the big bins for plastic that reject grocery bags – it’s [a] good location for a PlastikGas collection box. Same for Albertsons and Smith’s grocery stores. They haven’t had their used bag collection boxes out for a long time.        Would a PlastikGas collection box at those locations produce 100 pounds per day? Try also our three Walgreens stores and the Lowe’s grocery in Belen.        At minimum, PlastikGas needs to put a large steel collection container outside their gate, set up for drive-thru donation of bags and be prepared for the need of a second steel container as traffic increases.        “Proof-of-concept” will only take place when the plant is visible and in operation. Is a plant this size economically viable? Doesn’t matter. First demonstrate that the process and the technology actually work, then figure out how much to scale up in order to make “x” gallons per day produce a profit versus such-and-such price for fossil-fuel gasoline in USA.        Until that happens, what PlastikGas has brought us is a bunch of Texas oil men “green-washing” themselves.      G.E. NORDELL      Rio Communities, New Mexico

Albuquerque [NM] Journal Sunday 14 Aug 2022 Opinion Pages / Speak Up! Section [page C4]        Cool name for a VEGAN RESTAURANT: Saladarity! All employees belong to the union, of course. G.E.N.

Boston Globe 'Fast Forward' blog & newsletter Friday 22 April 2022 staff reporter Teresa M. Hanafin and 'Fast Forward' content are behind the paywall Finally, more of your epitaphs . . .      G.E. Nordell      Nobel Prize pending

Valencia County News-Bulletin Thursday 3 February 2022 Opinion Section [page 4] Freedom or disobedience      The letter from Charles Garcia on Jan. 13 attempts to make a case for disobeying the very necessary COVID health masking mandate.      I do not much mind that these anti-masker and anti-vaxxers tend to kill off themselves and their families, but I do mind that they are the major cause of infections and deaths among innocent strangers.      So here is some homework for Mr. Garcia, to see whether his position is about freedom or about disobedience per se. The assignment for Mr. Garcia and other anti-maskers for the next week is to drive on the left-hand side of the road.      G.E. NORDELL      Rio Communities, New Mexico

Letters To The Editor, etc. 2021

Valencia County News-Bulletin Thursday 8 July 2021 Opinion Section [page 4] Continue to wear a mask        I shall continue to wear my COVID mask when out and about. New Mexico has recorded 60 percent of the population as having received full vaccinations. But I do not trust that other 40 percent, and the probable higher percentage in Valencia County, on my visits to town.        Other than folks ordered by their doctor not to get the COVID-19 shots, anyone who does not yet have their shots completed is willfully being a jerk by not participating in making New Mexico safe against the COVID-19 epidemic.        C’mon guys: Albertsons is offering free COVID-19 vaccinations. You no longer have any valid excuse.      G.E. NORDELL      Rio Communities, New Mexico

Albuquerque [NM] Journal Sunday 7 Nov 2021 Opinion Pages / Speak Up! Section [page C4]        NICE HEADLINE on (the Oct. 30) front page: "Half of city voters back vans to catch speeders". The other half, who don't want speeders caught, are of course the speeders. G.E.N. Albuquerque [NM] Journal Thursday 10 June 2021 Opinion Page / Speak Up! Section [page A13]        I SHALL continue to wear my COVID mask when out and about. New Mexico has recorded 60% of the population as having received full vaccinations. But I do not trust that other 40% on my visits to town. Other than folks ordered by their doctor not to get the COVID-19 shots, anyone who does not yet have their shots completed is willfully being a jerk by not participating in making New Mexico safe against the COVID-19 epidemic. C'mon guys: Albertsons is offering free COVID-19 vaccinations. You no longer have any valid excuse. G.E.N. Albuquerque [NM] Journal Thursday 20 May 2021 Opinion Page / Speak Up! Section [page A11]        KK [SPEAKUP May 6] and others completely miss the mark concerning Mayor Keller; like or dislike him and/or his policies and/or his actions, the actual reason for the high crime rate in Albuquerque is the many, many criminals who live in that city and neighboring territory. G.E.N.

Letters To The Editor, etc. 2020

Valencia County News-Bulletin Thursday 26 Nov 2020 Opinion Section [page 4-A] Rebuttal to fossil fuel propaganda        The pro-pollution letter printed on Oct. 15 submitted by Donna Crawford of Los Lunas is just another pack of lies from the fossil fuel industry.        Her citations are all right-wing propaganda sources: the Rio Grande Foundation, partly funded by Koch family non-profits; Save On Energy, a Texas energy provider; the notoriously right-wing editorial board of the Albuquerque Journal; and Alex Epstein, a fossil fuels advocate.        Fossil fuels propagandists always say that banning fracking will drive costs higher, but never mention that fracking as it exists today is polluting the aquifers and creating medically dangerous air quality around Farmington and all over SE New Mexico. And none of these mining and fossil fuel robber barons are ever accountable for cleaning up their mess.        Siding with P.N.M. and blaming renewables for raising rates to New Mexico homeowners is just another such lie. P.N.M. Resources raised their per-share dividend around 3 percent this year, because they are making huge profits – which we, the people, have to pay for. The total payout this year will be ballpark $96 million (80 million shares times 30 cents/quarter times four quarters).        Recent news also makes Crawford’s letter superfluous: (A recent) article in the Journal about development at Santolina/West Mesa describes a plan to build 80 megawatts of solar capacity that will add about $1 billion to the New Mexico economy just for construction. Two companies have already signed paperwork for solar, and a third has signed for construction of backup battery storage.        And just last [month], the International Energy Agency announced, in its enormously influential annual report, that solar energy is now the ‘cheapest electricity in history’.        Polluters be damned. My motto in this area is “Zero tolerance for pollution in New Mexico.” There is no actual choice in the matter.      G.E. NORDELL      Rio Communities, New Mexico

Albuquerque [NM] Journal Thursday 26 November 2020 Opinion Page / Speak Up! Section [page A15]        PLEASE, PLEASE, please re-gerrymander New Mexico. My precinct in Rio Communities does NOT belong in CD-2, nor does any other precinct in Valencia County. G.E.N. This was submitted as Letter to Editor, got printed in Speak Up! instead. Albuquerque [NM] Journal Thursday 19 November 2020 Opinion Page / Speak Up! Section [page A11]        BRIAN EGOLF: Please, please, please re-gerrymander New Mexico. My precinct in Rio Communities does NOT belong in CD-2, nor does any other precinct in Valencia County. G.E.N.

Valencia County News-Bulletin Thursday 8 October 2020 Opinion Section [page 4-A] Bowling Alley Park?        Went over to Belen [recently] to The Grid Gallery on Becker Avenue. Got a free Biden/Harris bumper sticker and discussed King Arthur.        I was impressed by the huge hole in the sky from the absence of the old bowling alley. And the M-90 Doodlebug sure is real pretty.        Well, I am a very creative guy, so the following idea soon appeared:        The City of Belen should buy the vacant land, probably cheap in price since there is now nothing on it. Tear out the temporary asphalt and replace with grass. Then name it Bowling Alley Park and erect a gigantic bowling pin, sorta like the big pistachio nut down in Alamogordo, only at least 100-feet tall.        Then the city and the Chamber of Commerce can challenge the silly people who like to climb big boulders to come here and climb to the top — but no pitons!        The climbing permit would cost a dollar and include life insurance; no permit then the climber broke the law and cannot sue the city for any mishap.        Just think about it: T-shirts, postcards, an annual Bowling Pin Festival, Miss Pin-spotter! Belen could become as famous as Yosemite Park!      G.E. NORDELL      Rio Communities, New Mexico

Albuquerque [NM] Journal Thursday 8 October 2020 Opinion Page / Speak Up! Section [page A13]        A FRIEND of mine is sewing fabric face masks with a pacifier inside, for bikers and Republicans and others who whine about wearing a mask for safety during the COVID-19 epidemic. The whiners won't buy such a thing, but they make an interesting gift idea. G.E.N.

Valencia County News-Bulletin Thursday 18 June 2020 Opinion Section [page 4-A] Trump’s speech was lies        The letter from John Lopez (in the May 14 edition of the VCNB) shows why much of America is falling apart. He says that he is ‘angry and ashamed’ because House Speaker Nancy Pelosi tore up a copy of Donald Trump’s State of the Union speech.        First off, it was a copy, for god’s sakes. Second, the atrocious speech was full of abject lies and tearing it up was entirely appropriate.        But the third element here is that Lopez thinks that such an action is worthy of an almost 600 word complaint.        There are more important matters in the world. But do not expect to see a complaint in these pages from any Republican nor any fellow-traveling Independent about the [111,000] Americans that have been killed so far by the [COVID-19 pandemic] ...         Republicans and Independents bother with trivia while Americans are dying, including here in New Mexico and Valencia County. That truly shows you what they are made of.      G.E. NORDELL      Rio Communities, New Mexico

Valencia County News-Bulletin Thursday 16 April 2020 Opinion Section [page 4-A] Trash contract problems        The recent article about Rio Communities giving the waste pickup contract to Universal Waste Systems aptly covers the bases. What is left out is the problems that are likely to arise because the City Council is not doing their job.        The reason for cities choosing one contractor is that having three to four heavy garbage trucks drive around every day tears up the streets real bad; costly street repair is thus lessened by having just one company. Fine.        My problem with Rio Communities is that they still have not addressed the concerns of the many residents who transfer or recycle their waste themselves, as I do. (I’ve lived here 15 years and have never had trash pickup.)        If U.W.S. tries to deliver a trash can or other equipment to me, they will be repulsed; I will not allow such unneeded service, nor will I pay for it. If U.W.S. sends me a bill, there will be a lawsuit against the city and U.W.S. for fraud, since billing for services not rendered is a crime.        This is not a tax, because Rio Communities is contracting the service out rather than getting voters/residents to approve any such levy.        I, and others, have spoken at well-attended City Council meetings on the matter, the mayor and council said, “we’ll deal with that in the R.F.P.”, but that has not happened. Nor were any changes made to the city’s ordinance.        The missing element is being able to opt out for good reason: the city and/or vendor should have some paper or online method for residents to opt out: 1. The property is vacant and produces no waste; 2. Occupants take care of all trash by recycling or other means and need no such pickup service; 3. Occupants have very little trash and have made arrangements to 'piggy-back' using a neighbor’s trash can.        Such a form should include legalise, such as “I provide this information under penalty of perjury” (like on your tax forms) to prevent misuse of the exemption form.        It is likely going to take a few months to get the new trash pickup readied so there is time to fix the billing software too. If U.W.S. is foolish enough to send fraudulent bills for payment, the hundred or more victims of such fraud can gather and file a class action lawsuit. In that case, the plan will be to initiate a Facebook group so as to be in contact, to meet at the monthly free legal clinic at the courthouse on Morris Road in Los Lunas, and then to seek pro bono legal assistance.        I will not pay for services not rendered.      G.E. NORDELL      Rio Communities, New Mexico

Albuquerque [NM] Journal Thursday 20 February 2020 Opinion Page / Speak Up! Section [page A13]        THE INCOHERENT post by GS (SpeakUp Jan. 2) completely avoids facts. 1) Solar panels produce electricity, they produce no heat whatsoever; 2) wind turbines are involved in about 10% of wild bird deaths, the majority are killed by feral house cats; 3) the terrible recent loss of birds in America is caused by Monsanto and RoundUp and the other unregulated makers of poison. GEN the prior comment that is referred to: Thursday 2 January 2020 Opinion Page / Speak Up! Section [page A15]        RECENTLY, MANY people have been asking: "What is happening to all of the birds?" Could it be [that] many of them have been filleted by the wind turbines amd/or fried by the solar panels? GS

Letters To The Editor, etc. 2019

Albuquerque [NM] Journal Thursday 5 September 2019 Opinion Page / Speak Up! Section [page A15]        KC (SpeakUp Aug. 8) clearly does not understand that lies can be fact-checked. He blames Obama for the Democrats not enacting gun violence solutions and avoids the fact that Mitch McConnell swore an illegal oath – unconstitutional and thus an act of treason – to block all legislation and appointments proposed by Democrats. The 111th Congress was both parts Democratic; 112th & 113th had a GOP House, 114th & 115th were both parts GOP, and the current 116th has a GOP senate. Only a Blue Tsunami in 2020 will enable legislation to solve the worsening connected problems of racism, violence, and daily deaths of innocent Americans. GEN the prior comment that is referred to: Thursday 8 August 2019 Opinion Page / Speak Up! Section [page A15]        THE LEFT'S fake outrage over gun violence has gotten long in the tooth as has all their other nonsense. If they really wanted change, why didn't Obama's reign with Dem-controlled House and Senate make the changes? Obama's slogan was 'Hope & Change'. KC

Albuquerque [NM] Journal Wednesday 14 Aug 2019 Opinion Section / Talk of The Town [page A13] Meow Wolf buyback is true U.S. capitalism        Former S.E.C Chairman Arthur Levitt said some years ago that “The American economy is the eighth wonder of the world; the ninth is the economic ignorance of the American people.” Wednesday's article about Meow Wolf by Megan Bennett demonstrates that this is true today even at the Journal.        The USA has never had a capitalist economic structure, the stock market is a casino, and Wall Street banks are pirates (they want, they take); the 'experts' and uneducated masses are misled on the matter.        The principles of Paleo-Capitalism are very simple: entrepreneur asks for capital for some project, investors trade capital for stock shares; if the new business fails, investors lose all their stake; if the stock price falls, investors lose part of their stake; if the new business is a success, the entrepreneur pays his investors back by buying back those shares – in Meow Wolf's case this is a 100% return on investment.        The purchase of 'treasury shares' or stock buybacks is an important function of Paleo-Capitalism because it returns capital back into the market for use elsewhere. The current negative attitude toward buybacks prevents reinvestment in other new enterprises. The grossly-inflated stock market is designed so that bankers can churn the stocks and reap billions of unearned dollars (sometimes daily!) because there is nothing to stop them from doing so.        Since actual capital is hard to find, Wall Street bankers are happy to lend non-existent virtual dollars at usurious rates - again because there is nothing to stop them from doing so.        The people at Meow Wolf are excellent business folk and also qualify for that very rare title in America, 'capitalist'.      G.E. NORDELL      Rio Communities, New Mexico

Valencia County News-Bulletin Thursday 20 June 2019 Opinion Section [page 4-A] The Pro-life movement is based on lies        I am male, so the storm surrounding abortion, women’s rights, safe health care procedures, and pseudo-Xian pro-life people has not required me to have an opinion or speak to any of the issues.        There are plenty of issues that I am adamant about. That said, I am very pro-choice and demand equal rights for all, and, in fact, repeat my own philosophical statements whenever they seem to apply.        “I have the same rights that you do, the same rights that I afford you. We each have only the collective rights given to all,” and, “Rights only exist when they apply to everyone. When only some people are accorded a so-called ‘right’, then it is privilege and subjugation.”        But I decided that I need to speak up on the issue because I stumbled upon the so-called truth of the matter.        I am opposed to all religions, and the larger disease of magical thinking. But it turns out that the fundamentalist Xian claim that their non-existent godhead defines the life of a fetus from conception, or more recently, at the first heartbeat, is categorically not true.        The Judeo-Xian Bible clearly states that life begins when you take your first breath of air.        Genesis 2:7: “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and [the] man became a living soul.”        Job 33:4: “The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.”        Ezekiel 37:5-6: “Thus saith the Lord God unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live.”        I don’t have to believe any of this, nor do you. But when pseudo-Xians make claims based on the word of God, they had better be accurate when they do so. It is quite telling that after all these years of back-and-forth, I would stumble upon actual facts in the matter at this late date.        Other cited verses found in my research are just plain off the mark, and only a propagandist could twist the texts cited by the pro-life leaders, and re-quoted by their teeming mob of followers, into actually specifying the magic moment when life occurs.        So I am posting this factual ammunition for use by any pro-choice readers to fling in the face of these false pro-lifer misogynist hate-mongers – they won’t listen, of course, but the battle must be fought.        Another of my sayings that applies here is, “The use of force is proof of the absence of reason.”      G.E. NORDELL      Rio Communities, New Mexico

Albuquerque [NM] Journal Thursday 30 May 2019 Opinion Page / Speak Up! Section [page A15]        TO THE May 16 post by EC, the facts as presented are correct: Miss New Mexico, Bill Richardson, Martin Heinrich, and Tom Udall each moved to N.M. as adults; the posted conclusion is bogus, however; and you can bet that EC is Republican, because he fails to mention that both Steve Pearce and Susana Martinez are carpet-baggers from Texas. GEN the prior comment that is referred to: Thursday 16 May 2019 Opinion Page / Speak Up! Section [page A15]        MISS NEW Mexico has something in common with New Mexico Congressmen (Bill) Richardson, (Tom) Udall, and (Martin) Heinrich: All moved to New Mexico to win a contest [that] they could not win elsewhere. EC

Valencia County News-Bulletin Thursday 16 May 2019 Opinion Section [page 4-A] Time to take a stand        The racist pinheads who flew the Confederate/K.K.K. flag in the Fourth of July parade last year are still among us. There is still time to do something to prevent a recurrence this year or in future.        Very simple law: The public display of the Confederate/K.K.K. flag or any of its many variants is racist and a hate crime under local and federal law. There should be a sizeable fine for the first offense, some amount bigger than a speeding ticket.        But our local officials have neither the integrity nor the cojones to stand up against such fear-mongering.        As Nelson Mandela often said, if you are not taking action in opposition to inhumane policies and practices, then you are complicit in their existence.        July is fast approaching.      G.E. NORDELL      Rio Communities, New Mexico

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Letters To The Editor, etc. 1965 thru 2008 {on Page Two}

Letters To The Editor, etc. 2009 {lower half Page Three}
Letters To The Editor, etc. 2010 {upper half Page Three}
Letters To The Editor, etc. 2011 {lower half Page Four}
Letters To The Editor, etc. 2012 {upper half Page Four}
Letters To The Editor, etc. 2013-2015 {Page Five}
Letters To The Editor, etc. 2016-2018 {Page Six}

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