Guest Editorials

EDITORIAL - The foreign policy establishment was understandably enraged when President Trump announced his intentions to withdraw U.S. military forces from Syria. Both late last year and just recently, President Trump expressed a determination to exit the Syrian Civil War. That determination reflected his "America-first" campaign promise to stop the endless wars and senseless foreign adventurism of the Bush, Clinton, and Obama Administrations.

Of course, an "America-first" foreign policy is the antithesis of the globalist foreign policy of the ruling class. The globalists seek to use the U.S. military power to act as a world policeman in advancing their objective of forging a sovereignty-dissolving one-world government.

EDITORIAL - The ongoing attacks by the political establishment on President Donald Trump –which began even before he was elected – are without parallel in history. The savagery, frenzy, and outright hysteria displayed by the President’s enemies within the Democrat Party, the media, and the various power centers of the globalist elites have no prior precedent.

This President has been spied on, lied about, made the subject of phony foreign dossiers, insulted, ridiculed, scorned, mocked and threatened. We have witnessed Hollyweird celebrities advocate for blowing up the White House, demand the President be beaten, jailed or even assassinated, and his children tortured and sexually abused.

EDITORIAL - The tragic surge of mass shootings across America is neither the result of presidential rhetoric nor the result of lax gun laws. The Columbine massacre occurred on Bill Clinton’s watch when the assault gun ban was in effect. Sandy Hook happened during the Obama Presidency.

No, the continuing explosion in violence in America—which includes the daily killing of innocents in large, Democrat-run cities like Chicago – is a consequence of the progressive abandonment of religious values and moral principles that are leading to societal collapse on a level not seen since the fall of the Roman Empire. These values and principles, rooted in Biblical law and Christianity for more than 2000 years, dictated a respect for the dignity of human life which has all but disintegrated throughout the Western World over the last half-century.

EDITORIAL -  I was disappointed after reading the Madera County Grand Jury (MCGJ) Final Report  (1819-04) - The City of Madera: Veiled Transparency 2018-2019 published on June 28, 2019.  First, let me state that the task of the MCGJ is an ominous one and the job, especially in this case, was a major undertaking. I certainly appreciate the time, volunteerism and hard work members dedicated to this endeavor.   I have known some of these individuals since childhood and I appreciate them as dedicated citizens and good, honest neighbors. Therefore, it is with regret that I find myself criticizing the final report.     

Let me be clear, the City of Madera’s interim leadership apparently delaying and/or stone-walling the MCGJ on requested documents is not acceptable.    Nor does it shine a positive light on the City that it does not have an established, written Code of Ethics for Council Members, Commissioners, and Management staff.  Finally,  it appears that in the past the City has been inconsistent in applying its own guidelines concerning conflicts of interests and elected officials engaging in commerce with the City.