As another Fourth of July rolls around we are faced, as we are every year, with a raft of questions and criticisms because we are not what some individuals or groups think we should be. Imagine that, a man-made political concept and it’s not perfect and does not make everyone happy!
The American Dream is still the great experiment; we just got started 240 years ago, and the Roman Empire (remember them?) lasted more than 500 years. The truth is that we have had some great natural advantages and, above all, that has given us essential breathing space so we could, and did, make some really serious mistakes and still manage to survive them.
We also had the advantage of two excellent foundations, the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States, on which to build.
These are unique bottoms-up documents and the great Mark Steyn used them to define America many years ago, (paraphrasing): the first words of the U.S. Constitution are We, The People. The first words of the European Constitution are We, the people who know better than you, the little people.
If it ever comes to the latter, the American Dream is gone. We Americans try to walk the impossibly fine line between what’s good for us collectively and what’s good for us individually, and that’s why the American Dream is worth believing in.
And what is the American Dream? How should I know. It’s your dream which really is the secret sauce; everyone gets to have their own. There is only one unbreakable rule: You have to believe in it and since it’s yours, that should be easy.
Happy Fourth of July. God bless America. I love it, warts and all.
Marty Richman, Hollister
Families thankful
The families of Emilio and Marcos Garcia want to express our sincere thank you to the Community Foundation for San Benito County, Martin Rajkovich Fund, Hollister Elks Lodge 1436 and The California-Hawaii Major Elks Project.
The Martin Rajkovich fund granted our family a trip to Disneyland for five nights. We had so much fun and made so many lasting memories. It took us away from our daily therapy visits and just let the kids be kids. Again thank you, thank you, thank you.
Our children were also chosen as theme children for the year through the California-Hawaii Major Elks Project. The children receive occupational therapy weekly from Pam Flagg, who works for the project. The California-Hawaii Major Elks Project included us in the convention in Anaheim last month. It was something our family had never seen before and we were amazed at the kindness of each and every one of the people in attendance. It was one of the best moments in our lives.
Again thank you, thank you, thank you. To the local Hollister Elks Lodge 1436 who presented Emilio with a go cart which he rides every day, and to Marcos a great stroller, and have been so supportive of our family, thank you, thank you, thank you.
Lastly to our community who have embraced our family with so much love and gratitude to these brothers who were born with neuromuscular disease, thank you.
You have no idea what it means to our family!!
Garcia and Postigo families, Hollister
Disappointed in poll on felons and guns
It is with disappointment that three panelists and readers said “yes”.
Whether you believe someone paid their debt to society, they actually haven’t. What about the victims and their families that have to deal with their pain, loss, fear and suffering every day from the felon’s actions? How are the victims being compensated and helped daily? Do they get to vote twice? They are the real victims, not the felons who made their own life choice to do what they did
It is the victims that are being forgotten, notthe felons, who seem to get everything handed to them.
Did the felon repay for his or her education while incarcerated? Did they repay for their room and board? Their cable television? Their free medical, vision and dental? Their public defender? No.
According to your reasoning, the felons have paid their debt. They haven’t paid for anything! While the felon received everything for free while incarcerated, decided when he or she was going to wake up and shower, were able to have someone shop for them to get their chips, candy and items to trade for “favors” while inside, the victims were outside dealing with being victimized, replacing stolen property and going to the needed medical treatments and therapy. They were the ones dealing with scared and confused children and siblings.
I would hope you would rethink that the felon has actually paid his or her debt. There is a consequence to everyone’s actions. To really repay their debt, they would need to make the final restitution payment, their reimbursements for all freebies while inside and to lose their right to vote.
Ricky Royce, Hollister
Tired of favoritism
The people are tired, tired of the favoritism within our city government. If you’re not a part of their circle then you are not welcome. That’s what it sure feels like. Favoritism to do what they choose to do regardless of what the people of the community want or have to say. We have public servants that don’t seem to care of how they do things; they have there own way and that seems to be the only way. The people and taxpayers seem to be the ones always losing out. I thought the city government is supposed to help and regulate the city. Not bring it down and shut out the people. It’s out of control, and we are losing way too much money.
Coming up here, they want to do an extended three-year agreement with Santa Cruz 911 dispatch. That cost us $790,000 a year. Of course they will approve it. This is something we should do ourselves. Also will they OK the two-year mayoral term to four years? We will see. And even though they lost measure P, they are going to try and put it back on the ballot like measure E. They will not give up until they get the money they want. That shows they don’t seem to care of what the people think. They will continue to push. The tourism at the county of chambers will ask for $100,000 dollars more. Are they ok with this? The Downtown association will be asking for more money as well? Our city is like a bank. That needs to stop. We are always in red.
We need to coordinate our city, every mistake the council makes, only increases our debt. Open your eyes and ears. Be ready, let your voice be heard. Stand up for what is right. We have to make sure the public servants do there job correctly and serve their community properly and honestly.
If i was in charge, we would be looking over every dollar spent, making money not losing money. Stop hiring out of town companies for our projects and start doing things ourselves and using local businesses. This is a strong message, we need to make cuts. Not cuts on jobs but cuts on all these contracts, projects, and over spending. We need to market our own city and make it known. I had a conversation with some business partners and they had no idea where Hollister, Ca was. That was sad for me, but I let them know proudly who we are and I would love to turn this city around for the better.
Keith Snow, Hollister
