Government of the government by the government for the government

© 2013 Michael Swickard, Ph.D.  Nearly a hundred years ago Walter Lippmann wrote about the sickness of an over-governed society. Good thing he is not alive today. He would find more than a sickness with today’s society. It is reasonable to ask: when is too much government really too much?             Early in the life of our country Thomas Jefferson wrote, “The natural progress of things is for liberty to yield and government to gain ground.” Especially in the last one hundred years our government really gained ground on liberty. We certainly see the distorting influences of too much government in our lives.   Americans are heading toward a society of tyranny. Perhaps we not living in a completely totalitarian society, but it is easy to answer: are we Americans heading toward more liberty or more tyranny? 

            When government tells us how many ounces of soda we can purchase at any one time, this is tyranny. Further, people in business tell horror stories about government workers who operate with the force of a dictator.

     What should government be doing? Walter Lippmann wrote, “In a free society the state does not administer the affairs of men. It administers justice among men who conduct their own affairs.” The legitimate role of government in a free society is focused only on justice and the defense of our nation both externally and internally. Read column

Government of the government by the government for the government

Campaign contribution limits increase

New Mexico's campaign contribution limits have increased, allowing candidates to accept larger amounts from donors. 

State law requires adjusting the contribution caps for inflation after each general election. 

For the 2014 elections, the secretary of state's office says candidates for statewide office, such as governor, can accept contributions from individuals of $5,200 per election — a total of $10,400 for primary and general election campaigns. The previous limit was $5,000 per election. Individuals can contribute $2,400 per election — up from $2,300 — to candidates for the Legislature and other non-statewide offices. 

Political action committees can contribute $5,200 per election to a candidate, up from $5,000.

Campaign contribution limits increase

Venture capital in NM down

A shortage of money for investments in business startups is being felt in New Mexico. 

The New Mexico Venture Capital Association reports that venture capital investment in New Mexico companies dropped by a third in 2012 from 2011. 

According to the Albuquerque Journal, venture capital investments in New Mexico totaled just under $40 million in 2012. That was down from just over $60 million in 2011, and the 2012 investment total is the lowest level for New Mexico since the recession in 2009. 

Michael Schafer of New Mexico Community Capital says forcing startups to cope with less investment capital could slow their growth and potentially make them less viable.

Venture capital in NM down

Mayhill fire grows to 200 acres

A 200-acre wildfire burning 2 1/2 miles southwest of Mayhill, N.M., near Curtis Canyon has prompted evacuations. 

Fire officials asked residents in the immediate vicinity of the blaze to evacuate Wednesday night. Officials said 20 homes are in the path of the fire. 

The fire was moving in a south-southwesterly direction, away from the community of Mayhill.  Firefighters said they've been successful in keeping the fire from spreading south across Highway 130.  They are focusing their efforts on the northern flank. 

The fire was named the Curtis Fire. Officials said it sparked about 3:30 p.m.

Mayhill fire grows to 200 acres

Sandia Labs makes ricin decontaminate

New Mexico has a link to what could be keeping President Barack Obama safe from attacks. 

Sandia Labs developed a type of foam to decontaminate anthrax that federal buildings have been using for more than a decade. They said the foam used for anthrax can also decontaminate ricin.

 Sandia Labs said there is a chance the foam is being used now to clean up after a suspicious letter sent to Obama. That letter contained ricin, a poison found in castor oil plant seeds.

 Mark Tucker, the foam’s mastermind, said he developed the sudsy solution before the 2001 anthrax attacks. The decontamination foam cleaned up the federal buildings after the anthrax scare.

Sandia Labs makes ricin decontaminate

Senators to introduce bills to buffer Fort Bliss, WSMR

From the Alamogordo Daily News - SANTA FE -- Three U.S. senators from the Southwest will introduce a bill Wednesday afternoon in which vast land transfers would create buffer zones for White Sands Missile Range and Fort Bliss. To make the changes possible, the two military installations would strike an agreement with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management.
     "This bipartisan effort will help add critical safety, security and planning buffers to White Sands Missile Range and Fort Bliss, and it will play an integral role in accomplishing their national security missions," said Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M. Working with him on the bill are Sens. Tom Udall, D-N.M., and John Cornyn, R-Texas.
     Heinrich said the bill's intent was to ensure that the installations have the best circumstances for training and testing. The bill would transfer 5,100 acres from the BLM to the Army to provide what the senators said was a critical safety and security buffer to NASA's White Sands Test Facility and the Department of Defense's Aerospace Data Facility. Both are tenants of White Sands Missile Range.
     Another 2,050 acres in Fillmore Canyon would be transferred from the Army to the Bureau of Land Management to create a boundary that is more clearly identifiable to the public to prevent accidental trespass onto Fort Bliss.
     The final component of the bill would preclude the BLM from selling or exchanging 35,550 acres in order to prevent incompatible development for the Fort Bliss Dona Ana Range Complex and Training Areas that include some of the Army's premier large weapons system firing ranges and artillery firing boxes.
     The senators said this land would still be accessible to the public for recreation, grazing, transportation, and other existing uses. Read more

Senators to introduce bills to buffer Fort Bliss, WSMR

Rash of copper thefts hits Roswell

From KOB-TV.com - By: Amber LaVail, KOB Eyewitness News 4  - Copper thieves went ‘prime time’ in Roswell. They recently hit television towers and a private home. They left behind tens of thousands of dollars in damage.
     Two television towers were left without cooling systems. Chaves County Lt. Britt Snyder says, "There is a huge rash of copper thefts going on." Rubble is all that is left of the air conditioners at KOBR-TV. "Years ago they would try and break into your house, now it just seems like they are trying to steal the air conditioner," says Snyder.
     Chief Engineer Gary Babcock found the dismantled air conditioners and says, "Copper thieves are back. We see this every year whenever the prices go up a little bit." County Sheriffs say thieves took their time with the coolers and copper. Snyder says, "In the case of the tower sites they were dismantled in place vs. trying to take the entire unit. They actually took the time to try and disassemble them in place."
     Even though the repair costs of the KOBR-TV air conditioner will be over eleven thousand dollars, the thieves only made out with about a hundred bucks. According to Babcock, "We have called the sheriff out there. We have set up camera surveillance and so on like that so hopefully we catch somebody and put a stop to it."
     Snyder says, "We will also work with our recycling companies to help identify the individuals who are bringing these items in." No television service was lost due to the theft. But engineers say it was close. Read more

Rash of copper thefts hits Roswell

Finalists for NMSU president to host community forums

New Mexico State University has announced that all five finalists to become the school's new president will hold community forums starting next week.

 Former New Mexico Gov. Garrey Carruthers is scheduled to meet with the public Monday at the Corbett Center Auditorium. He will be followed by former Texas Tech President Guy Bailey the next day. 

David Ashley, former Las Vegas President University of Nevada-Las Vegas will hold his forum the following Thursday and Elsa Murano, Texas A&M President Emeritus, will meet with the community April 29. 

University of Colorado Denver Dean Daniel Howard has scheduled his forum May 1. Regents are expected to select the new president by early May.

Finalists for NMSU president to host community forums

APS signs deal for techbooks

Albuquerque Public Schools just signed a multimillion deal to bring digital techbooks to every school. 

To access techbooks, students need a device with Wi-Fi. Once teachers log on, it’s like a digital classroom, complete with videos, pictures and models catered to every lesson. 

Last year, APS was part of a pilot program with Discovery Education, a private company. In all, 30 schools took part. 

APS signed an $11 million contract to get the science techbook for all grades. All teaches will have access to the streaming content. The president of the teachers’ union said that techbooks are a great resource, but she wondered if APS has the money to buy more laptops, tablet and desktops so every student can log on. 

APS stands by the investment and said techbooks will save the district money in the long run.

APS signs deal for techbooks

NM corrections audit to be released

The first details of the New Mexico Department of Corrections' massive audit of inmate files are scheduled released at the end of April. 

Department spokeswoman Alex Tomlin said Monday that the first phase of the audit will be publicly be released later this month and will include information on inmates mistakenly released from September 2010 to September 2012. 

Last week, the New Mexico Department of Corrections said Dion Henderson, a man convicted in a 1994 double-murder case, was mistakenly released in February 2012. According to the department, state officials discovered the mistake last Monday. 

The mistake comes as prison officials comb through 25,000 inmate files going back to 2006 after a series of early releases were discovered.

NM corrections audit to be released