October 9, 2013

Ethically Challenged Tech Regent Steinmetz may challenge Neugebauer for seat in Republican primary

Vista Bank President and Texas Tech Regent John Steinmetz is considering a run for Congress that would put him up against fellow Republican U.S. Rep. Randy Neugebauer, who has held the Lubbock-anchored seat for a decade.

Steinmetz has been “encouraged by men and women throughout” District 19 to run for the seat in 2014, he said Tuesday, Oct. 8, and the 35-year-old former Lubbock County Republican Party chairman said he plans to make a decision in the next few weeks.

“I think it’s time for a change and the people who I talk with want someone to represent them with dignity, effectiveness and service to the people,” he said. “I have confidence I can do that.”

His comments were not an attack against Neugebauer, he said, though they come after Neugebauer drew headlines and was prompted to explain his recent terse exchange of words with a park ranger enforcing terms of the ongoing partial government shutdown at the national WWII Memorial Oct 2. in Washington, D.C.

More at http://lubbockonline.com/filed-online/2013-10-08/tech-regent-steinmetz-may-challenge-neugebauer-seat-republican-primary .

[font color=green]The reason why I put "Ethically Challenged" at the beginning of this thread is because of this story:[/font]

State records show several application errors for Tech regent
http://lubbockonline.com/local-news/2011-03-08/state-records-show-several-application-errors-tech-regent

October 8, 2013

Mark Cuban on witness stand for second day

Mark Cuban said Monday that he never consents to oral confidential agreements and that he bluntly told Mamma.com officials and their financial advisors that he would sell his stock in the company if Mamma.com conducted a private equity offering in 2004.

On the witness stand for the second day, Cuban restated his testimony from last week that he made no agreement to keep information provided to him confidential and that he never agreed to not sell his stock based on the information, which are key elements the government must prove to win its insider trading case against the Dallas Mavericks owner.

Cuban told jurors Monday that he had growing concerns about Mamma.com after he was contacted by an FBI agent in April 2004 informing him that the federal government was investigating the relationship between the Canadian Internet company and one of its board members and Iving Kott, a stock broker who later pleaded guilty to fraud charges.

The Dallas billionaire says he immediately confronted Mamma.com executives about the connection.

More at http://bizbeatblog.dallasnews.com/2013/10/mark-cuban-on-witness-stand-for-second-day.html/ .

October 8, 2013

All Four Republican Candidates For Lieutenant Governor Want To Repeal the 17th Amendment

Thursday evening at a forum in Clear Lake, all four Republican candidates for Lieutenant Governor stated their support for a repeal of the 17th amendment, which allows for direct election of US Senators rather than election by a state's legislature.

Let that sink in: the four Republicans vying for the #2 job in the state don't think Texas voters should select their own US Senators.

What happened at the Clear Lake Tea Party forum, why is it obvious that David Dewhurst and Dan Patrick support this, and how did this become the cool new trend for Tea Party-elected outsider candidates?

Some history on the 17th Amendment: it was formally adopted in May of 1913 after a campaign by progressive reformers such as William Jennings Bryan, and yes, Texas did ratify it along the way. At the time, US Senate elections were perceived to be "bought and sold" by corrupt legislators. Interestingly, one of the outcomes was a rise in influence of city-dwelling voters, as legislatures tended to gerrymander districts such that 1 rural voter had as much influence as 200 city voters. (And keep in mind, this was far before women and minorities had the right to vote, and before the US Supreme Court ruled in favor of one-person-one-vote.)

More at http://www.burntorangereport.com/diary/14188/all-four-republican-candidates-for-lieutenant-governor-want-to-repeal-the-17th-amendment .

October 7, 2013

On the Matter of Ethics

By Carol Morgan



It’s taken many years for me to appreciate the excellent graduate training I received at Texas Tech under Drs. Camille DeBell and Gerald Parr. At the time, I was frustrated with the amount of time devoted to counselor ethics, but over time, my frustration turned to gratitude.

There is a vast difference between ethics and morality. Morality is very clear; it defines the differences between good and evil. Think of Iago in Shakespeare’s Othello: his treachery, his lack of kindness and decency; all point to a man who lacked morality.

Ethics is cloudier, nebulous and less-defined. Think of Jean Anouilh’s play, Becket. King Henry demands that Becket become the Archbishop and Becket tearfully remarks: “My Lord, if I become Archbishop, I can no longer be your friend.” If you’ve read the play, you remember he accepted the King’s offer and in the process became his former friend’s deadly enemy because of his determination to preserve the rights of the church against the King’s power.

He recognized the predictable conflicts of friendship versus position.

So what’s the ethical lesson in Becket? It’s never good idea to mix business with pleasure or friendship.

Dual relationships and conflicts of interests are an important part of every professional code of ethics. That’s why therapists don’t date their clients, why doctors don’t treat members of their own family, and why an attorney doesn’t defend a member of his family in court. There are too many emotionally complicated ties bound up in those intimate relationships which prevent us from acting professionally and rationally.

That same principle should also apply to anyone in politics, service or employment to the City of Lubbock, the state of Texas or the nation. There will always come a time when they must ask themselves: “Am I acting in the best interest of the people I pledged to serve or am I serving my friend, my family, my colleague, or my business associates? Am I serving myself? ” The answer is always unclear.

I’m sure it’s overwhelming to be elected to political office. One day you’re the average Joe-Jane and overnight you’re showered with football tickets, invitations to galas and a chair at the head table in a skybox. People who wouldn’t give you the time of day, now refer to you as their “friend”. It’s a little bit like being the new kid in school. And just like the new kid, now that’s you’ve been adopted by the “cool kids”, you couldn’t possibly go back to hanging out with the nerds.

Some don’t see anything wrong with free football tickets and all the patronage-seeking-trappings that come with the new position. It’s a normal part of doing business, right? It’s always been that way, correct? This is the bottom line: A vice doesn’t magically become a virtue just because everyone agrees that it’s acceptable. Ethical service shouldn’t be driven by “group-think”.

Those pleasurable experiences at the football game, the gala, or the fishing trip, color our personal regard for the gift-givers in subconscious ways that we fail to realize. Especially when “everybody” does it.

This latest kerfuffle over city boards, city council, and the emotional, monetary, or authoratative perks associated with it, proves that we all need to listen to our intuition and our conscience and act above the noise and human distractions. Spending time in daily reflection or prayer or meditation is not a luxury; it’s required. What is the “thing” that drives us? What's our motivation? Why am I doing this? These are questions we must ask ourselves regularly. If we’re truthful with ourselves, the answer is never flattering.

All of us are motivated by ego, money or power, but it’s the degree to which we’re fueled by these human faults that determines whether we become Iago or Beckett.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Carol Morgan is a career counselor, writer, speaker, former Democratic candidate for the Texas House and the award-winning author of Of Tapestry, Time and Tears, a historical fiction about the 1947 Partition of India. Follow her on Twitter @CounselorCarol1, on Facebook: CarolMorgan1 and her writer’s blog at www.carolmorgan.org You can also contact her by email at: [email protected]

Source: http://lubbockonline.com/interact/blog-post/carol-morgan/2013-10-02/matter-ethics

Cross-posted in Good Reads forum.

October 7, 2013

On the Matter of Ethics

By Carol Morgan

It’s taken many years for me to appreciate the excellent graduate training I received at Texas Tech under Drs. Camille DeBell and Gerald Parr. At the time, I was frustrated with the amount of time devoted to counselor ethics, but over time, my frustration turned to gratitude.

There is a vast difference between ethics and morality. Morality is very clear; it defines the differences between good and evil. Think of Iago in Shakespeare’s Othello: his treachery, his lack of kindness and decency; all point to a man who lacked morality.

Ethics is cloudier, nebulous and less-defined. Think of Jean Anouilh’s play, Becket. King Henry demands that Becket become the Archbishop and Becket tearfully remarks: “My Lord, if I become Archbishop, I can no longer be your friend.” If you’ve read the play, you remember he accepted the King’s offer and in the process became his former friend’s deadly enemy because of his determination to preserve the rights of the church against the King’s power.

He recognized the predictable conflicts of friendship versus position.

So what’s the ethical lesson in Becket? It’s never good idea to mix business with pleasure or friendship.

Dual relationships and conflicts of interests are an important part of every professional code of ethics. That’s why therapists don’t date their clients, why doctors don’t treat members of their own family, and why an attorney doesn’t defend a member of his family in court. There are too many emotionally complicated ties bound up in those intimate relationships which prevent us from acting professionally and rationally.

That same principle should also apply to anyone in politics, service or employment to the City of Lubbock, the state of Texas or the nation. There will always come a time when they must ask themselves: “Am I acting in the best interest of the people I pledged to serve or am I serving my friend, my family, my colleague, or my business associates? Am I serving myself? ” The answer is always unclear.

I’m sure it’s overwhelming to be elected to political office. One day you’re the average Joe-Jane and overnight you’re showered with football tickets, invitations to galas and a chair at the head table in a skybox. People who wouldn’t give you the time of day, now refer to you as their “friend”. It’s a little bit like being the new kid in school. And just like the new kid, now that’s you’ve been adopted by the “cool kids”, you couldn’t possibly go back to hanging out with the nerds.

Some don’t see anything wrong with free football tickets and all the patronage-seeking-trappings that come with the new position. It’s a normal part of doing business, right? It’s always been that way, correct? This is the bottom line: A vice doesn’t magically become a virtue just because everyone agrees that it’s acceptable. Ethical service shouldn’t be driven by “group-think”.

Those pleasurable experiences at the football game, the gala, or the fishing trip, color our personal regard for the gift-givers in subconscious ways that we fail to realize. Especially when “everybody” does it.

This latest kerfuffle over city boards, city council, and the emotional, monetary, or authoratative perks associated with it, proves that we all need to listen to our intuition and our conscience and act above the noise and human distractions. Spending time in daily reflection or prayer or meditation is not a luxury; it’s required. What is the “thing” that drives us? What's our motivation? Why am I doing this? These are questions we must ask ourselves regularly. If we’re truthful with ourselves, the answer is never flattering.

All of us are motivated by ego, money or power, but it’s the degree to which we’re fueled by these human faults that determines whether we become Iago or Beckett.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Carol Morgan is a career counselor, writer, speaker, former Democratic candidate for the Texas House and the award-winning author of Of Tapestry, Time and Tears, a historical fiction about the 1947 Partition of India. Follow her on Twitter @CounselorCarol1, on Facebook: CarolMorgan1 and her writer’s blog at www.carolmorgan.org You can also contact her by email at: [email protected]

Source: http://lubbockonline.com/interact/blog-post/carol-morgan/2013-10-02/matter-ethics

Cross-posted in Texas Group.

October 7, 2013

Tea Party Cheers for More Pain and Suffering

By Dr. Brian Carr
President, Behavioral Health Associates, Lubbock, Texas, 1991-Present
Chairman, City of Lubbock Board of Health, 2013
Submitted on October 6, 2013 - 9:25am

It is truly disgusting to contemplate that the Extreme Right of the Republican Party is purposely seeking to inflict increasing amounts of pain and suffering on the American people as a means of politically defeating Democrats in Congress and the Senate.

Democracy Corps – a Democratic-leaning polling firm – released a study this week based on a series of focus groups they conducted with loyal Republican voters.

These Republican focus groups displayed the “us versus them” mentality that is destroying the party from within. They worry that minorities, immigrants, and welfare recipients now believe it is their “right” to claim [public] benefits. Tea Party participants, in particular, were very focused on those who claim “rights” in the form of government services, without taking responsibility for themselves.

And the Extreme Right of the Republican Party would offer that the shutdown is insignificant, since the federal government is a terrible burden that real Americans neither want nor need. The worsening public relations problem for these extremists is that the GOP’s shutdown is actually creating real harm to real people, and every tragic story is a reminder of their party’s indifference and the importance of government in caring for its people.

For those on the Extreme Right this shutdown is, according to Laura Ingram "A Dream For A Conservative" while serving up a nightmare for our communities. In their frenzied campaign these Tea Party activists have attacked Welfare recipients, food stamp recipients, the uninsured, foreclosed homeowners, the homeless, the poor, the unemployed, the working poor, the working class the middle class, Society Security, Medicare, teachers, firefighters, EMTs, police officers, railroad & airline workers, public service workers, women’s rights, all unions, contraception, voter’s rights, education, undocumented immigrants, gays, Muslims, all liberal groups, socialists, environmentalists, veterans, OWS, NAACP, AARP, ACLU, EPA, FDA, NPR, FCC, PBS, Planned Parenthood, Girl Scouts, green energy, Obamacare, Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton, science, Dr. Seuss, Big Bird, Sesame Street, Teletubbies, The Muppets, Sponge Bob and Mister Rogers.

---

This week our own Congressman Neugebauer put the cherry on top by demeaning a National Park Ranger who was the victim of his lack of vision for the country and blind devotion to the Tea Party. Even four days after the fact his Facebook page continues to draw 10-20 comments a minute that are very negative but, much as with Alfred P. Neuman he seems to think “What Me Worried”.

Each day more citizens are denied and the damage deepens. Needs are met by closed doors and voice mail. Each day children will increasingly suffer. Farmers are left with dwindling market support and our economy takes a hit.

With the vote to increase the debt ceiling approaching how much further will the Tea Party “double down” on a lost and radical cause? I hope only to see this farce continued so that our country remebers clearly what happens when you let fools and liars steer the ship.

TAGS:

LubbockOnline Blog
ACA
Angry old white doctor types
babies are hurting while fat cats slopper
circular firing squad
Lubbock
ObamaCare
Perry still looking for a drink
Tea Party looking for a cliff
Texas

Source: http://lubbockonline.com/interact/blog-post/dr-brian-carr/2013-10-06/tea-party-cheers-more-pain-and-suffering

[font color=green]This article was written in response to Dr. Donald R. May's (aka "Mr. Conservative) blog: "Obama Pushes for More Pain and Suffering" at http://lubbockonline.com/interact/blog-post/may/2013-10-06/obama-pushes-more-pain-and-suffering .[/font]

Cross-posted in Good Reads forum.

October 7, 2013

Tea Party Cheers for More Pain and Suffering

By Dr. Brian Carr
President, Behavioral Health Associates, Lubbock, Texas, 1991-Present
Chairman, City of Lubbock Board of Health, 2013
Submitted on October 6, 2013 - 9:25am

It is truly disgusting to contemplate that the Extreme Right of the Republican Party is purposely seeking to inflict increasing amounts of pain and suffering on the American people as a means of politically defeating Democrats in Congress and the Senate.

Democracy Corps – a Democratic-leaning polling firm – released a study this week based on a series of focus groups they conducted with loyal Republican voters.

These Republican focus groups displayed the “us versus them” mentality that is destroying the party from within. They worry that minorities, immigrants, and welfare recipients now believe it is their “right” to claim [public] benefits. Tea Party participants, in particular, were very focused on those who claim “rights” in the form of government services, without taking responsibility for themselves.

And the Extreme Right of the Republican Party would offer that the shutdown is insignificant, since the federal government is a terrible burden that real Americans neither want nor need. The worsening public relations problem for these extremists is that the GOP’s shutdown is actually creating real harm to real people, and every tragic story is a reminder of their party’s indifference and the importance of government in caring for its people.

For those on the Extreme Right this shutdown is, according to Laura Ingram "A Dream For A Conservative" while serving up a nightmare for our communities. In their frenzied campaign these Tea Party activists have attacked Welfare recipients, food stamp recipients, the uninsured, foreclosed homeowners, the homeless, the poor, the unemployed, the working poor, the working class the middle class, Society Security, Medicare, teachers, firefighters, EMTs, police officers, railroad & airline workers, public service workers, women’s rights, all unions, contraception, voter’s rights, education, undocumented immigrants, gays, Muslims, all liberal groups, socialists, environmentalists, veterans, OWS, NAACP, AARP, ACLU, EPA, FDA, NPR, FCC, PBS, Planned Parenthood, Girl Scouts, green energy, Obamacare, Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton, science, Dr. Seuss, Big Bird, Sesame Street, Teletubbies, The Muppets, Sponge Bob and Mister Rogers.

---

This week our own Congressman Neugebauer put the cherry on top by demeaning a National Park Ranger who was the victim of his lack of vision for the country and blind devotion to the Tea Party. Even four days after the fact his Facebook page continues to draw 10-20 comments a minute that are very negative but, much as with Alfred P. Neuman he seems to think “What Me Worried”.

Each day more citizens are denied and the damage deepens. Needs are met by closed doors and voice mail. Each day children will increasingly suffer. Farmers are left with dwindling market support and our economy takes a hit.

With the vote to increase the debt ceiling approaching how much further will the Tea Party “double down” on a lost and radical cause? I hope only to see this farce continued so that our country remebers clearly what happens when you let fools and liars steer the ship.

TAGS:

LubbockOnline Blog
ACA
Angry old white doctor types
babies are hurting while fat cats slopper
circular firing squad
Lubbock
ObamaCare
Perry still looking for a drink
Tea Party looking for a cliff
Texas

Source: http://lubbockonline.com/interact/blog-post/dr-brian-carr/2013-10-06/tea-party-cheers-more-pain-and-suffering

[font color=green]This article was written in response to Dr. Donald R. May's (aka "Mr. Conservative) blog: "Obama Pushes for More Pain and Suffering" at http://lubbockonline.com/interact/blog-post/may/2013-10-06/obama-pushes-more-pain-and-suffering .[/font]

Cross-posted in Texas Group.

October 7, 2013

Burnt Orange Report Endorses Wendy Davis for Governor of Texas

Burnt Orange Report unanimously and enthusiastically endorses Wendy Davis in the Democratic Primary for Governor, and urges our readership to not only vote for her but work hard to elect her in November 2014.

While usually we wait to endorse in primaries -- let alone general elections -- until close to the beginning of early voting, we are not waiting to endorse Davis, so that we can urge our readers to support her and openly advocate for her election.

Wendy Davis is the leader our state needs at a critical moment: when the promise of Texas looks as though it may become elusive for too many, and the costs of opportunity too high except for the lucky few.

While our economy is strong, those benefits are not felt by all working people in Texas. Too many Texans -- 28.8%, the highest in the nation -- lack health insurance, and access to affordable, quality healthcare. Our public schools lag most states in per-pupil spending, our graduation rates are low, our rates of air and water pollution are high.

More at http://www.burntorangereport.com/diary/14184/burnt-orange-report-endorses-wendy-davis-for-governor-of-texas .

[font color=green]Good news--I'm online! After experiencing warm weather in Brenham loading the moving van I arrived in Irving in the middle of a thunderstorm. Everything is unloaded and both the cat and I are sharing tight quarters, but it has the basics and free Wifi.[/font]

October 5, 2013

Court tosses $2 million award for Democrat Bell

A state appeals court has thrown out a $2 million award for former Democratic gubernatorial candidate Chris Bell, ruling that a national Republican organization did not violate state law with $1 million in donations to Gov. Rick Perry’s campaign in 2006.

Bell’s lawyer promised Friday to challenge the ruling, saying it will gut state election laws by allowing political donors to give large contributions without disclosing their names or the size of their donations.

The rest of the story is behind the paywall at http://www.statesman.com/news/news/court-tosses-2-million-award-for-democrat-bell/nbGMg/ .

October 5, 2013

Goin On Highatus

Hello Fellow DUers,

The long anticipated move from Brenham to Irving occurs tomorrow. I'll only have limited access to the Internet for the next few weeks while I stay at an extended stay hotel and finalize plans for an apartment. I’m looking forward to moving back to a more liberal area of the state after residing in this overwhelming “red” county that didn’t have a single Democrat in any of the local races. I’ve done my best to report the local news from the events at the Blue Bell creamery to the LaRouche crazies at the post office along with being an active participant in several other groups on DU.

However, rather than say goodbye I decided to declare that I’m on highatus during this transition. I’m looking forward to meeting a few of my fellow DUers when I’m in the Metroplex and on a few other road trips. So in order to leave an impression on everyone, I wanted to do what I do best--leave the gift of another catnip thread!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1018492524

I’ll resume posting on a more frequent basis once I secure my next residence, but I’ll also try to check in occasionally via cell phone. Take care, thank you for your support and friendship, and keep up the good fight!