Jeffrey Paul              Author

     To the Editor, Daily Lobo:

     Congratulations to Bob Frank, the Provost at Kent State University, on being selected as the next UNM president. It’s no surprise to me that he was selected; after all, he’s a UNM alumnus.

     As qualified as he may be, his selection was not ensured by those qualifications, but by his alumnus status. I take nothing away from those qualifications and hope he has a long and successful presidency.

     It just seems that this community places more value on being connected to the community, rather than being the best candidate.

     Anyone remember UNM basketball coach, McKay? His dad just happened to be an ex-Lobo player and the coach failed miserably.

     Rocky Long is another selection based on his being an ex-Lobo quarterback. If you take a reality check, you Lobo fans will see he also failed. He had a losing record at UNM.

   The Journal’s front page on Jan. 4 shows Frank showing off his UNM class ring. That ring is so much more valuable than his résumé.

     University of New Mexico Daily Lobo     January 10, 2012

    
     To the Editor:

     I was truly impressed with Rabbi Kruger's article "Play Isn't Just for Recess" in your recent issue. I can't begin to tell you how many times in my over 30 years as a Recreation Therapist, I've had to answer the question "what does a recreation therapist do?"

      The true value of play is in its inherent ability to assist in the physical, emotional, social and cognitive development of the individual. As the individual grows, so does the community. By providing opportunities for play, we allow for individual growth. As the individual members of our community are strengthened socially, emotionally and intellectually, our community grows concurrently. 

     Play, at all levels, helps prepare our youth for the intricacies of social interaction, good judgment, tolerance, self control, and understanding. Rabbi Kruger talks about the development of moral strength. It's my belief that when you nurture the cognitive, social, emotional and physical self of the child, you inherently nurture their moral strength at the same time. 

     Another often overlooked benefit of childhood play is the opportunity it presents as a means to include everyone. Youth are an important force for creating inclusive communities (one where all kids play together, regardless of ability or disability, socio-economic status, religion, or ethnic makeup). Through schools, community groups, and activities in neighborhoods, young people have opportunities to welcome each other into everyday life. 

     As parents we usually understand that our kids need time to play. But it is vitally important that we, as adults find time to play. As Mr. Rogers once said, "Play is at the heart of our ability to learn, to cope, and to become whatever is is we want to be."

     New Mexico Jewish Link     January, 2012

    
     To the Editor: 

     WIth the recent video showing the malicious and unnecessary attack by two APD officers on a suspect who had been brought to the ground, I have to wonder if it isn’t time for Ray Schultz to step down as APD chief.

     I acknowledge that Chief Schultz is a good man, concerned for our community and trying to turn an obvious police culture of “shoot and ask questions later” mentality around. With all that said, the past year or two has shown that his attempts have failed.

     While we sit here and wait to see how extensive the U.S. Justice Department’s investigation is going to be, Schultz needs to let the buck stop with him. Police shootings, police beatings, police public social media contempt for human life — we can’t afford to wait and see what happens next. Do the right thing chief; step down.

     Albuquerque Journal     November 29, 2011

    
     To the Editor:

      PETER BLAIN’S letter “Everyone Has a Right To Live espouses the idea that an unborn fetus is a child and has the same right to life as all of us. Without arguing that specific point, I’d like Mr. Blain and other pro-life advocates to take a minute and realize that pro-choice advocates are not pro abortion. Those of us who view abortion as a women’s choice are certainly not advocating abortion as birth control. There are many circumstances where abortion may be a woman’s best option, such as rape, incest, severe medical situations, etc. That is when the choice must be the woman’s.

     I am bothered by the frequent, and often violent, opposition to Planned Parenthood. If those who want to stop funding of that organization gave it a little balanced thought, they might see that the funding is used by Planned Parenthood for exactly that: they counsel women on pregnancy prevention. I have one question for the anti-abortion advocates picketing Planned Parenthood: How many of you are on the waiting lists at adoption agencies? If you really want to do something that will reduce the rate of abortions in this country, offer to adopt one of those unborn children after their birth.

     Albuquerque Journal      November 15, 2011

     To the Editor:

     A recent letter to the editor claims that the invasion of Iraq is paying dividends today. His insinuation that the invasion planted the seeds that lead to the overthrows in Libya, Tunisia, and Egypt is poppycock.

     The only seeds that were planted by the invasion of Iraq were the seeds of deception, lies, despair and national bankruptcy.

     Ask the families of the 100,000 Iraqis and 5,000 GIs killed how well those seeds grew. Ask the tens of thou   sands of our sons, daughters, parents, siblings and friends who were wounded and are still suffering from devastating injuries and mental health issues. Ask Colin Powell — after his phony U.N. performance — how well the seeds grew for him, as his reputation wilted like a seed without water.

     No, the Iraq invasion didn’t plant seeds, it contaminated the soil.

         Albuquerque Journal     November 6, 2011

     To the Editor:   

     I like Obama's plan to tax millionaires at the same rate as middle-class Americans. Unfortunately Republican Rep. Paul Ryan’s response included the unsupported view that raising taxes on the wealthy will punish job creators.

     If I hear that term “job creator” used one more time for millionaires, I think I’ll vomit. The jobs they are creating are in Pakistan, India, Thailand, China.

     If the old Reagan theory of trickle-down economics really worked, our job market here at home would be flourishing. It doesn’t work because corporations aren’t adding to the job market here at home, they’re lining their own pockets.

        Albuquerque Journal    October 4, 2011



    
     To the Editor, Journal Business Outlook

     Today's "Judge for Yourself" article by Judge Alan Malott rekindled the ongoing debate over limiting jury awards in medical malpractice cases.  Without deliberating whether or not jury awards should be capped (and I don't think they should be) I have a solution that just might work: 

     1) All medical and consumer damage suits are submitted to a 3-judge review panel to determine if the suits are frivolous/nuisance suits. The panel would be made up of three retired judges appointed by the State Supreme Court.  The panel would not rule on the suit itself, only on whether there is a reasonable presentation that damages might have occurred.

     2) If the panel determines that the suit should go forward, the attorneys pursue the appropriate course of action.

     3) If the panel determines that the lawsuit is a frivolous or a "nuisance" suit, the case does not go forward to the court and the attorney or law firm that brought the suit pays a fine of 5% of the value of the suit. Example: a frivolous suit of $650,000 results in an attorney fine of $32,500. A suit for $6 million brings a fine of $300,000. 

     At first look one might say the attorneys shouldn't be penalized for doing their job. But isn't part of their job to realistically and pragmatically counsel their clients on what is a reasonable and just course of action?

     Albuquerque Journal Business Outlook   May 23, 2011

     To the Editor, Business Outlook:

      Judge Alan Malott diligently and clearly outlined the recent US Supreme Court ruling striking down a $14 million verdict for a wrongly convicted John Thompson.  Once again the US Supreme Court ruled along ideological party lines in this 5-4 decision.  In reading Malott's examination of the facts, it's clear to me that the original case was rightfully decided in favor of Mr. Thompson and against the District Attorneys office that withheld evidence in his case that would have exonerated him.  For the US Supreme Court to overturn the original court's decision in this case once again confirms that the right-leaning judges are more interested in stopping large jury awards than they are in seeing justice served.


     Albuquerque Journal business Outlook    May 9, 2011

     To the Editor:

     Having worked at the VA Medical Center for 30 years, I was most interested in the 4-day investigative report on the alleged medical misconduct on Ward 4D.  First, let me say that the report was well done in terms of thoroughly outlining the issues. Having worked closely with the staff on 4D, and knowing Dr. Diletta Renier-Berg personally, I can say that I always had confidence in the ward's ability and efforts to treat all the veteran patients humanely, sympathetically and with great compassion.

     The personal story of Cluster Gouch and his family was heartbreaking, and I have nothing but admiration and respect for every military veteran -- as I am a veteran as well. However, it saddens me to see this story used in a way that, I beleive, was sensationalized.  There was absolutely no reason to run this story as a four day series. Each day repeated most of the information from the previous articles. The entire story could have been run over two days.

     This leads to the question, why repeat itself and run for four days? The Journal has moved away from its news format over the past two years and has taken on the "investigative journalism" approach. This four part series is a good example of trying to sensationalize a story to sell papers rather than informing the public.  And shouldn't informing the public in a non-sensational, clear and concise way be part of the newspaper's mission?

     As the Journal hoped for, I looked forward each day to the next part of the series and the new information it contained. Unfortunatley, new information was limited and most of the lengthy articles just repeated the prior day's information.  The story was informative and of public interest. It would have benn better received had it been presented in a news format rather than an investigative format better suite to "Entetainment Tonight" or the National Enquirer.

     Albuquerque Journal     May 2, 2010

*****Side note: I have spoken to many others and most agree that it was overplayed and could have been done in two parts.

     To the Editor:

     So the Tea Baggers are against government spending on health care and social programs.  Perhaps at their next protest gethering they would be willing to sign a form waiving all future Social Security and Medicare benefits? After all, their signs say "it's not a right if someone else has to pay".  They may be "talking the talk" but they need to "walk the walk".

     University of New Mexico Daily Lobo     April 20, 2010