Author Archives: merilee

In May 2015, an Amtrak passenger train derailed outside Philadelphia, killing eight people and injuring more than 200.  The cause is still a mystery. The train was going too fast around a curve, but, according to recent news reports, federal … Continue reading →

“The Entrepreneurial Mindset” is the latest great program to land in New Mexico. It’s not just for people who want to start businesses.  It’s a way of thinking that enables any individual in any job to take personal responsibility for … Continue reading →

Almost everybody loves dogs, especially puppies. Some people make a lot of money from that love. Somebody invented a technique for raising huge sums of money: produce a tearjerker TV commercial showing sad-eyed emaciated dogs behind barbed wire. Then, instead … Continue reading →

            Civil society is a slippery slope. It’s a constant tug of war between total individual freedom and rules that enable us to live as a society. We have free speech, but we may not yell “Fire” in a crowded … Continue reading →

Note to readers:  Since this was written, the legislature ended without passing the ethics commission legislation. I used to joke that my late husband was the last honest man in the New Mexico legislature. He was not the last, though. … Continue reading →

In the back of the restaurant, out of sight of the patrons, an employee is trying to avoid sneezing on your dinner. He shouldn’t be there. He should be home in bed, but he can’t afford to stay home because … Continue reading →

Let’s humiliate the schools a little more, says the Public Education Department. That’s a great way to motivate and encourage students. While this is going on, there’s news of a bright spot. The humiliation: PED has released the “grades” of … Continue reading →

High school kids come around dropping leaflets at my door asking me to donate a bag full of food. This time of year, there are food drives everywhere. Sometimes I give, sometimes I don’t. It makes more sense to give … Continue reading →