The Boerne Star (Boerne, Tex.), Vol. 92, No. 1, Ed. 1 Wednesday, January 3, 1996 Page: 4 of 32
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s
Thursday, January 4, 1996
The Boerne Star
: Page 4
IDIIOn Fl
J.P. Doodle
SIDEWALK SURVEY
Defining freedom of speech
This week...
See FREEDOM, Page 9
Guest Opinion
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
By
Leon
Colder. I’m
from Austin
and I like
the cold
Ken Anderson
Medicaid cuts could
affect all Texans
Fifty Years Ago
January 3, 1946
The old Insall homestead built in 1854 on the
Guadalupe River near Waring was completely
destroyed by fire. This old historical landmark was
92 years old.
Thursday, January 10, see Black Arrow Serial and
a feature at the Cascade Theatre.
Freedom of speech and the press.
The drafters of this country’s con-
stitution tacked it onto the original
document as part of the first of ten
amendments. Volumes have been
written about it. Nations have fought
over it. People have died to protect
it. But what is it?
A Rotary Club discussion this
week prompted friend and fellow
Rotarian Fausto Gutierrez to ask
me, “How often do you get people
who don’t understand freedom of
speech?”
The question followed his obvi-
ous expression of approval of the
German government’s recent deci-
sion to prohibit sexually explicit
material from the Compuserve net-
work, a part of the Internet.
“I’m glad the German govern-
ment can tell the difference between
pornography and free speech,” he
said.
Free speech, one of the corner-
stones of freedom, is often taunted,
often tested, but seldom understood.
“You’re infringing on my freedom
of speech,” one reader told me on
the phone a couple of weeks ago.
The statement was in response to
my refusal to print her letter to the
editor.
“No ma’am,” I said. “Actually,
I’m not.”
“You have to print my letter and
YA NEVER
ASK SOME FOLKS
FER THEIR
OPINION-LESS
YA HAVE ALL
DAY Y'HEAR IT !
Forty Years Ago
January 5, 1956
At the end of the hunting season, Boerne Locker
Plant listed 250 bucks, ten turkeys, four hogs and
one ocelot. The ocelot was killed by Ed Katzer.
Total rainfall for 1955 was 19.15 inches with the
most, 4.09 falling during August. This was an
increase over the 10.29 inches that fell in 1954 and a
drastic increase over the 2.41 inches that fell during
1953.
Men taking the Armed Forces Physical
Examination from Local Board No. 50 on January 9
from Kendall County are: Ben M. Walker, Jr., Alton
Pfeiffer and Harold R. Zoeller.
Thirty Years Ago
January 6f 1966
Secretary of the Interior Stewart L. Udal has
authorized the killing of golden eagles without per-
mit to seasonally protect domestic livestock in 32
West Texas counties. Kendall County is not included.
The coldest temperature experienced in Kendall
County during 1965 was 17 degrees on three differ-
ent dates: January 17, February 24 and March 4. the
first frost of the season was November 30; 24
degrees. The next was December 20 at 23 degrees.
OPEN: A lot of comfortable living area is in this 3
bedroom, 2 bath home now open for your inspection.
A terrazzo entry leads into the fully paneled family
room and kitchen. Priced right at $17,675, this home
can be bought for as little as $775 down with month-
ly payments approximately $115. Drive by 132
Roeder today!
STEWART
Like'em
| especially
the cold as
on 0 IS
not raining
Louisa Lurate
S Antoni
The Boerne Star
282 N. MAIN • (UPS 059-740)
RO. BOX 820
210-249-2441 • FAX 210-249-4807
THE BOERNE STAR (UPS 059-740) is published weekly for $20
per year in Kendall and adjoining counties, $28 elsewhere in
Texas and $36 per year outside of Texas by the Boerne Star, 282
N. Main, Boerne, Kendall County, TX. 78006. Second Class
postage paid at Boerne, TX. POSTMASTER: Send changes of
address to THE BOERNE STAR, P.O. Box 820. Boerne. Texas
78006-0820
J Warmer I
I like to
I wear shorts
i and sum-
(****
| Boerne
Do you like the
1 ov nr parmor
weather?
rixae
Star Archives..
By Trav Priddy
let me express my opinion or you’re
infringing on my freedom of
speech,” she retorted.
“No ma’am,” I repeated. “First of
all, freedom of speech as outlined in
the first amendment is unfortunately
not a guarantee, it’s an expressed
philosophy. Second, the freedom
expressed simply means that you
have the right to stand on a street
corner or in an open governmental
meeting and express your opinion so
long as you don’t slander someone,
and so long as you follow the rules
of order for a meeting.
“That same first amendment,” I
continued, “also expresses a philos-
ophy for freedom of the press which
means that any newspaper can
Colder. 1
was born
an raise
in the
north
Linda
Molterno
Boerne
accept or reject any content —
advertisement or story — at their
discretion or judgment without fear
of pressure or reprisal from groups
or individuals. A newspaper is a pri-
vately owned business. I chose not
to publish your letter because it was
written in poor taste and contained
information that was not true.”
After a moment of silence, the
lady replied, “You sound like you’re
reading that out of a book.”
“No,” I told her, “But it I did teach
it in a university classroom for five
years. That does help,” I laughed.
“So,” she huffed. “I suppose that
makes the press pretty powerful.”
“It does lay down a frame work
for an awesome power,” I said, “that
some could choose to abuse, but
then any type of freedom itself is an
awesome power that many citizens
abuse everyday.”
Citing a forty year-old quote from
retired newspaper owner Carmage
Walls, I added, “A newspaper is a
semi-public utility. It belongs to the
readers, and those of us who are
privileged to own stock in them are
but temporary custodians.
“That does put the responsibility
of making sound judgments square-
ly on the shoulders of those in
ble die in a foreign war in the
Balkans.
On neither a personal level nor a
political level can President Clinton
justify endangering American lives
in Bosnia.
Regards,
Steven Costello
Lake Jackson
I like the
wearner
because we
never get it
here.
Ryan
McGinnis
Boerne
Ry FA ROLE RA RASCH
American Association of Retired Persons
“Texas residents arejust a serious car accident or
illness away from needing the long-term care pro-
tection of Medicaid," said Robert W. Goodrich,
Chairman of the Texas State Legislative Committee
for AARP.
"Medicaid is for many American is the only pro.
tection against the high cost of long-term care,” said
Goodrich. “The $182 billion in cuts Congress has
proposed over the next seven years--about 30 per-
cent less than needed based on current health trends
| and inflation in 2002 alone--could mean millions of
Americans will lose their coverage," said Goodrich.
According to AARP calculations based on the
Senate Finance Committee's proposal to cut
Medicaid, Goodrich said Texas would lose $12.2
billion in federal Medicaid funds over the next seven
years, almost a 20 percent reduction compared to
estimated spending under the current program.
“In the year 2002 alone, Texas would lose $3.2
billion, or 27.8 percent in federal Medicaid spend-
ing," said Goodrich. "That's money that Texas will
have to replace, if we want to continue to care for
our most vulnerable citizens.
Without these federal dollars, Texas is left with
few options, according to Goodrich. Texas could
replace those lost federal dollars by using funds
. from other programs such as education, highway or
prison programs, or shifting the burden to local gov-
ernments which could result in increased property
taxes. Texas could also decide to reduce spending on
Medicaid by covering fewer people or dramatically
reducing the services provided and payments to
providers.
“Medicaid is not just for low-income families," .
Goodrich explained "Nearly two-thirds of all pro-
gram funds go to the elderly, disabled and blind, the
program also provides health care coverage to more
than 15 million children whose families are unable
to get private health insurance.”
The seriousness of these proposed cuts will be
felt across all generations,” Goodrich added. “Adult
children of aging parents will be in an especially
tough situation. If parents need nursing home care,
but cannot afford it--and Medicaid is not available-
will their children have the moneyto help out?"
Goodrich observed, “Most middle-class families
have a tough enough time making ends meet. With |
the cost of a nursing home averaging $37,000a -
year, how many will be able to help their parents?"
Americans of all ages should take these proposed
. cuts seriously, Goodrich added. Each and every one
of us should be calling our representatives in :
Washington to respectfully but firmly insist on
answers to tough questions concerning Medicaid
reductions, because these cuts will affect us all.”
AARP is the nation's leading organization for
people aged 50 and older. It serves their needs and
interests through legislative advocacy, research,
informative programs and community services pro-
vided by a network of local chapters and experi-
enced volunteers throughout the country.
Left out... Perhaps he could provide us with indeterminable, and the rules of
Dear editorcost/benefit analysis of the use of engagement are equivocal. Bosnia is
A recent’ letter to the editor in our dollars. 1 won’t hold my breath not worth the repeat of the pho-
another publication by for a response, tographs of dead soldiers on the
Congressman Lamar Smith as to the Bayard Breeding cover of TIME Magazine.
balanced budget problem was inter- Boerne . In his infamous loathing the mil-
: : 1 1 L 1.6 itary’ letter addressed to Colonel
esting in what deliberately left * • 7 T 1 1 1 cr:
out of his letter. Namely, the welfare No justification... Eugene Holmes, a decorated officer
and public tax dollar subsidies that Dear Editor, of the United States Army and sur-
he supports for his favorite special The February 21, 1991 issue of vivor of the Bataan Death March in
interests. TIME Magazine carried the story of 1942, Bill Clinton candidly admit-
Let us consider the subsidy to Lance Cpl. Thomas Jenkins, 21, and ted in December 1969 that he had
peanut farmers, sugar producers, the eleven other U.S. soldiers who were purposely, dodged the draft and
dairy industry, federally subsidized among the first Americans to die in avoided the, military service in
irrigation water costs and below fair ground fighting during the Gulf War. Vietnam in order to, protect myself
market value grazing permits for the Staring out from the photographs, from physical harm ”
corporate interests that contribute so the portraits of the fallen solders . Bill Clinton was not only unwill-
well to campaign coffers. underscored the real cost of the ing to serve his country when it
Let us not forget the federal wel- commitment of ground troops in called, but he actively participated in
fare for tobacco farmers and tobacco Kuwait. President George Bush, protests on foreign soil against the
companies that continue to market a however, made the correct decision U.S. military.
product that contributes to rising to invade Iraqi-occupied Kuwait in While it is true that many other
health costs borne in large part by the winter of 1991 because vital young men avoided service to their
the middle class. Let us not forget U.S. economic and security interests country in the Vietnam War, and for
that congress appropriated $200 were at stake. the most part the country has since
million of your money to build roads Desert Storm was unavoidable forgiven them, only Bill Clinton is
in your national forests for the ben- because the United States could not in the position of Commander-in-
efit of private lumber companies afford to allow a deranged madman Chief of the U.S. Armed Forces, and
that harvest your trees for their ben- to illegally confiscate the strategic thus should be held to a high stan-
efit. oil reserves which are so vital to the dard of accountability for his deci-
The treasury collected less than economy and national security inter- sion to send others on a dangerous
$50 million from timber sales, ests of the United States, mission which he himself was not
Apparently the fiscal conservative Unlike the crisis in the Persian willing to perform.
Mr. Smith thinks that this is sound Gulf, the U.S. has no vital security When you consider the character,
fiscal management. Indeed! In addi- interest in sending American troops bravery, and patriotism of the fine
tion taxpayers are now being asked to enforce a “peace keeping” mis- young men and women serving in
for $1.2 billion to clean up many of sion in Bosnia. our United States Armed Forces,
these abandoned logging roads. As unfortunate and horrifying as and the devotion and selflessness in
Brilliant! the protracted civil war in Bosnia which they serve to defend their
A recent report that I just read may be, Americans must not bear country, it is unconscionable that a
identifies 153 sources of fiscal year the burdens of rescuing the world. A man who eschewed military service
1995 federal business welfare total- Pax Americana cannot be reconciled in Vietnam, a conflict with similari-
ing $167.2 billion, or $1,388 per against the unacceptable price in ties to the current situation in
individual taxpayer. I am sure that American blood and bone. Bosnia, would now be willing to
most Boerne folks would enjoy hav- Even if American soldiers do not send U.S. soldiers to fight and possi-
ing this money! encounter any determined, orga-
I would greatly enjoy have Mr. nized resistance in Bosnia, our
Smith discuss this federal welfare in troops will undoubtedly be placed in
great detail in future articles. An harm’s way by snipers, land mines,
even better idea is a public forum and other potentially lethal dangers,
where Mr. Smith could provide us Reminiscent of the Vietnam War,
with specifics as to how he proposes the military mission in Bosnia is
to eliminate this type of welfare. ambiguous, the enemy is practically
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Aldridge, Leon & Priddy, Travis. The Boerne Star (Boerne, Tex.), Vol. 92, No. 1, Ed. 1 Wednesday, January 3, 1996, newspaper, January 3, 1996; Boerne, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1620054/m1/4/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Patrick Heath Public Library.