Category Archives: Articles

Laws should never be unamendable

Unamendable: a law that cannot be changed, no matter how problematic it has become. Think about that. An “unamendable” provision of the New Mexico Constitution has finally been amended. This was the provision that required school board elections to be … Continue reading

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Solar and utility power still not quite in sync

The story went like this: you could install solar panels that would generate electricity on your roof. When the sun was shining, you’d generate enough to power your house and then your meter would run backwards and the power company … Continue reading

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We all pay the loan sharks for predatory lending

I am really tired of paying off loan sharks for other people’s debts. Aren’t you? You’re wondering what I’m talking about? The social cost of predatory lending. We’ve all heard about this, the payday loans and the car title loans, … Continue reading

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Services for the elderly in NM

If you are elderly or have a disability, an extensive network of services may be available to you. Depending on where you live and what you need, you might have access to home–delivered meals, home repair, transportation,  financial consulting, legal … Continue reading

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Forcing family farms to behave like businesses

Is a small family farm a business, a hobby, a living museum or something else? It’s increasingly clear we can’t have it both ways – – business and quaint tradition. The recent New Mexico Supreme Court decision on workers’ comp … Continue reading

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Talk to Congress about logrolling

The United States Senate, as you probably know, left Washington for a lengthy summer recess without passing an appropriation for research on the Zika virus. Though most senators agreed on the funding, Democrats disagreed with provisions unrelated to this issue, … Continue reading

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Early voting may require a long drive

The map of New Mexico is a vivid reminder of what starkly different worlds we New Mexicans live in – one tight clump in the center of the state and enormous open spaces dotted with small towns. The map, in … Continue reading

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The cultural challenge of gender identity

The kid was obviously talented.  He was athletic and graceful.  He could sing, dance, memorize lines, and occasionally did a cartwheel across the room for fun. We were in an amateur show produced by a local community organization.  Most cast … Continue reading

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Save bees: read pesticide labels

One day last summer I found a dead bee in my driveway.  A few weeks later I found another one.     Since this had not happened before, I wondered whether I was inadvertently responsible. It might have been the fertilizer-pesticide … Continue reading

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Turning the presidential campaign into a pie-throwing contest

Gary Johnson is saying something worth listening to. It’s about the conduct of the presidential election. New Mexico’s former governor is running for president again as the candidate of the Libertarian Party. He probably will be the only third-party candidate … Continue reading

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