Author Archives: merilee

Workers’ comp is healthy but not helping the state’s economy

Posted on November 7, 2017 by merilee

A worker came to work drunk and dropped a 2,000 pound chunk of marble on his foot. He was employed by a small family business. His employers found out he was entitled to workers’ comp benefits just as if he … Continue reading →

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The gun behind the counter

Posted on November 7, 2017 by merilee

At a Circle K convenience store, the clerk shot the suspected armed robber. We expect to read the opposite story. Convenience stores can be dangerous places, especially for the people who work in them. This happened a few weeks ago … Continue reading →

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People want to know what’s in their food

Posted on September 23, 2017 by merilee

There’s a recent trend in food advertising, have you noticed? It is not about what is in the food; it’s about what’s not in the food. Much TV food advertising emphasizes what the product is “free” of. No antibiotics, artificial … Continue reading →

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Dental care charity is not enough

Posted on September 23, 2017 by merilee

If you need dental care and live far from the nearest dentist or can’t afford the cost, you might plan a trip to Albuquerque on September 22-23. That weekend will be the occasion of the sixth annual Mission of Mercy, … Continue reading →

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No excuse for that voting commission

Posted on September 23, 2017 by merilee

Thank goodness, New Mexico’s Secretary of State, Maggie Toulouse Oliver, has refused to send New Mexico voter data to the president’s so-called Election Integrity Commission. There is no excuse for this commission. Evidence, including the resumes of its members, supports … Continue reading →

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Democrats are still Democrats — not quite organized

Posted on September 23, 2017 by merilee

What does it mean to be a Democrat in New Mexico? That may be a more pressing question than usual because New Mexico has open positions for several major offices in the 2018 election: governor, two of our three seats … Continue reading →

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I have to inspect WHAT?

Posted on July 15, 2017 by merilee

An insurance agent called me to ask about a letter one of her business clients had received from my former employer, the Workers’ Compensation Administration. The client was upset and confused. The letter was about safety inspections. I recognized the … Continue reading →

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Don’t trust any politician with too much power

Posted on July 15, 2017 by merilee

We New Mexicans don’t trust our politicians. That is built in to our history and the structure of our government. Some years ago I started wondering why we elect not just a governor but several independent statewide officials: attorney general, … Continue reading →

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When we’re broke, what should we cut?

Posted on July 15, 2017 by merilee

New Mexico Secretary of Agriculture Jeff Witte, on a TV interview show recently, mentioned the state’s veterinary diagnostic laboratory. He was particularly proud that it is located adjacent to important facilities of the state Department of Health so that there … Continue reading →

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For the inconvenient elderly: let them die

Posted on July 15, 2017 by merilee

The way to save Medicare, some TV pundit said recently, is to cut Medicaid. Lots of people will die before they reach Medicare age. It was said only about half in jest. If low-income people can’t afford health care, some … Continue reading →

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