We’d be in worse trouble if the folks misusing our governments were sharper.
Today’s good news included: the County’s failed to appear in court to prosecute Derrick Pacheco on the unconstitutional trespass charge they’d tossed him in jail for meaning, “Case dismissed;” a court slowing Measles Kennedy’s campaign to revive dead diseases; and our allies, having been given the finger by Donald Trump and appalled by his and Netanyahu’s war, declined to risk ships and lives escorting oil tankers through the strait closed because of Trump’s arrogance.
Less good is Mr. Trump’s continued pressure to pass the Save the Republicans Act. I thoroughly agree with him that making it hard for the average person to register to vote is his party’s main hope for the midterms. In his place, I might be equally obsessed with avoiding accountability for (or at least public airing of) my misconduct. What’s scary is, the bill isn’t dead yet.
The County ignored our well-established Constitutional right to talk to our local government. That means speaking up during public input. Of course, abusing that right can cause you to lose it; but depriving someone of a constitutional right requires some due process. The county gave Derrick Pacheco none. They “trespassed him” with a legally-insufficient letter. They tossed him in jail when he showed up anyway. Monday, he went to court for a hearing, as ordered. No county official showed. No one tried to defend the obvious stupidity. No one was even courteous enough to advise Derrick he needn’t go. I see no excuse for such behavior. I’ve courteously requested the County government tell me if it cam explain any of this.
Vaccinations, and insistence on those, put measles in the morgue for terrible diseases with smallpox. But Trump’s goofy HHS Secretary of Health has undermined folks’ confidence, and tried to order public health actions that would further harm public health. Fortunately, a Court just got in his way.
This Iran war might be a good idea for Israel, but sure isn’t for us.
First, the U.S. has a host of real problems, including rebuilding its industrial base and dealing with climate craziness. For too long, we have distracted ourselves too much by trying to run other countries instead of getting ours right. Mr. Trump even said so, until he realized how good it felt to blow Latin American boats out of the water.
We could spend these billions constructively, to do us good. But, even focusing just on Iran, this war is misguided, not just illegal. Iran’s regime was unpopular, but Trump just revived Iranian patriotism. Iran’s Supreme Leader thought his hard-line son shouldn’t succeed him, because Iran should have no hereditary monarchy, but the U.S. left Iran no choice. Our attacks, while they might free Israel from one threat, will likely make Iran and its people worse off than they are now. Further, we’ve destroyed a lot, but aren’t seeing the quick total surrender we needed. We’re likely in this for a while, unless Trump just declares victory. Having mocked European leaders and spurned their counsel, Trump demands they help bail him out – while he insults their war dead from helping us in Afghanistan. He even seems surprised by Iran’s obvious responses.
If we see that continuing war and insane gas prices endanger Trump’s desperate hopes for the mid-term elections, I’m pretty sure the mullahs can see that too. And they’ve got plenty of drones.
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[The above column appeared Sunday, 22 March 2026, in the Las Cruces Sun-News and on the newspaper's website and on KRWG’s website (under Local Viewpoints). A shortened and sharpened radio commentary version of this Sunday column will air during the week on KRWG (90.1 FM) and on KTAL-LP (101.5 FM / http://www.lccommunityradio.org/). ]
[Let me make clear that this column expresses my opinions. I try to keep it as fair and as factually accurate as possible, but these are my opinions. When folks thank me for “the article” I try to note that it’s a column. However, I try to be as fair as I can to folks accused by others (or me) of incompetence or misconduct. I invite comment and ask questions; and on numerous occasions I have written a rough draft of a column, then changed it significantly or abandoned it based on a frank, civil conversation with folks whom I had been prepared to criticize. Thanks for reading this.]
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