Arizona Capitol Times Your Inside Source for Arizona Government, Politics and Business

I don't understand how people who profess to represent me just decide to kick me in the teeth and watch me bleed? Sending a request to the President asking to waive the requirement for States to maintain eligibility for public health benefits is doing just that to me, and others like me.

The Obama administration is contemplating major reductions in the Defense Department budget to help cut into the huge deficits incurred by the president and his Washington cronies. They plan on reducing our conventional military forces, and increase special operations units to combat the terrorist threats around the world.

What do you buy for the person who has everything? If that person is an adult with a job and a car, I say buy nothing. Instead, find a kid who could use a Christmas gift. It doesn’t have to be your kid. There’s no shortage of kids in need.

Growing up I was taught that here in the United States the government was basically designed to be the voice of its people, as well as do the bidding of its people. What happened to the old saying, “For the People, by the People”? Isn’t that what our revolutionary fathers fought and died for?

Differences of opinion, beliefs and convictions are encouraged to be shared and discussed in a civil society. In higher education, these differences are allegedly encouraged in all venues, from the classroom to the governing board room. Yet conservative viewpoints are not welcomed in the Maricopa County Community Colleges and there are a series of events, including our recent election, that illustrate efforts to silence anything but a liberal perspective.

Regarding the controversy over enforcing Arizona law on immigration, the roots of this problem began in 1990 with passage of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which permits American agro-corporations to export billions of dollars of taxpayer-subsidized corn to Mexico at one-third the price that small Mexican farmers charge.

I heard John Huppenthal on the news recently and, as a teacher, I am afraid by what I heard. I am afraid for my job and my students.

Great. The party that turned us into the largest debtor nation in the world via 20 years of status-quo deficit spending and adamantly preached the deregulation that nearly led to our complete economic collapse has regained some political power and is going to help us achieve financial responsibility.

Over and over, the people of Arizona have demonstrated that they want medical marijuana. Unfortunately, privately-funded FDA approved cannabis research is hampered by a government monopoly over the marijuana supply, held by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Additional FDA approved research with marijuana must take place.

When a person is sued, it’s a given that they should be able to hire legal representation. When you’re an elected sheriff and the ACLU sues you, that need is even more imperative. However, an Oct. 15 article by Arizona Capitol Times reporter Jeremy Duda might give readers the impression that I don’t have that right.