Richard Beaudoin
Editor:
As the Christmas season winds down and the legislative season opens, I wonder if you would mind submitting my wish list to Santa hoping that the upcoming legislature may listen to him as they do not listen to us.
1. Do away with the well-intentioned but practically destructive, Open Container Law. What our representatives failed to see when crafting the law was the fact that it would not curb drinking and driving it would simply mandate that the drinking and driving violator would throw their trash out onto our roadways, creating a lifter and safety problem. It has been obvious to those of us with common sense and eyes, for many years, this is a counterproductive law. Santa please awake them from their arrogant stupor and have them do a common sense retraction for the good of New Mexico.
2. While the miracle of Christmas is upon them in the form of common sense, how about pressing our good fortune and have them try the elimination of the biannual time change. Try it for about five years and see what New Mexicans think?
3. While we have a common sense initiative and some thinking happening, let’s really challenge them by having them consider what may happen if we eliminated the Gross Receipts Tax.
Oh my. There is evidence, from other neighbors, that economic expansion and growth may take place in the sector of the economy that has to work for a living and purchase goods and services to help balance their lives. There is also evidence that the revenues to the state will increase. We know it is a more complicated formula for growth, the monies may go around three or four times before the state takes its cut, but when you think about it, it grows a little with every turn.
4. And Santa while your on a roll, and our legislature is engrossed in the spirit of helping ordinary New Mexicans with common sense thinking, could you please have them perform a basic constitutional duty and protect our vote. The technology exists, is simple to execute, and just requires the will to lead. Have the confidence in us, trust that if you put forth your position clearly and honestly to New Mexicans we will support you and work toward those objectives with you. You really do not have to cheat and obfuscate to win. You just have to put your ideas forth and work hard like the rest of us to achieve those goals. Public service is a noble endeavor, but only if it is for the enrichment of the community.
Santa knows, and the sad part is, that the coal he has been leaving in our legislative stocking all these years is being given to those who do not even consider that when they have enough of it, they can generate power, in the form of a coal fired plant.
What do you say Santa? How about a post Christmas intervention for the good of the “never listened to” New Mexicans?
Richard Beaudoin
Española