Opinion

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By Tony Farkas
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More and more anymore, phrases like “threat to our democracy” and “destruction of our democracy” are cropping up in the national discussion, be it in debate or social media or conversations with friends of opposing political beliefs.

It should go without saying that we’re not a democracy, but a republic, in which we elect others to represent us to our government. But democracy or republic, it’s my thought that ship already has sailed, and we’re just now waking up to that.

For instance, many school board in the country have embraced the fallacy that children are able to not only determine their gender but can demand that people address them with proper pronouns, and, with the blessing of elected board members, the parents don’t have to be informed.

Parents who confront these boards are either arrested or removed from board meetings, and many districts, including districts in Texas, have enacted policies allowing the removal of people that are deemed disruptive or threatening.

It’s been posited, and now proven, that the federal government has either through intimidation or cooperation censored dissenting viewpoints that have been posted on social media platforms. Additionally, people who have only said things during the Jan. 6 temper tantrum are facing investigation.

The convictions of people in what is being described as an insurrection (by a completely coopted media) have come in with extremely high sentences, seemingly the very definition of cruel and unusual punishment, since the rioters during the summer of discontent have yet to be charged or even investigated.

District attorneys in many states have decided not to prosecute minor crimes, police departments don’t respond or don’t investigate minor crimes, and California is trying to make it a crime for shopkeepers to defend against shoplifting.

Since our leaders have determined that we’re in a climate crisis, and that the U.S. is the only country that can fix it, oil drilling permits, which were issued by the government, were stopped by executive fiat. Also, any shipment of natural gas (in its liquefied form) by rail has been ended until the government can decide if it’s safe.

The latest example comes from my former state of residence, New Mexico. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed an executive order banning the carrying of guns in public, either openly or concealed, following a shooting death of an 11-year-old boy, citing a “health emergency.”

In signing the order, she said that constitutionally guaranteed rights, as well as her oath to protect the Constitution, are “not absolute.”

It’s not the first time things like that have been said. Biden flouted rights during the COVID crisis (and is warming up that concerto again); President Obama has said that if Congress doesn’t do what he wants, he has a phone and a pen. Republicans, too, have followed that path, since that execrable Patriot Act continues to rear its ugly head, put in place under the Bush administration in the aftermath of 9-11.

The actual threat to a democracy or a republic is unilaterally dismissing law; when a leader decides that rights no longer apply; that sworn oaths are only words and not binding; that a single person’s belief is more important than the will of the constituency. These are the things the Founding Fathers fought a war against.

What we have is a republic in name only, and to cover up that fact, monsters are created that require extraordinary powers be gifted to a few. If you hear the phrase “destroy our democracy,” think about when that actually happened.

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With September now here, the school year is in full swing, football stadiums will light up the Friday night sky, and hunters across the state are chomping at the bit to get back into the field. As I’m sure many of you are aware, this year’s dove season started on September 1 and will run until the end of October just in time for the duck and deer season. That being said, here’s a friendly reminder to all of my fellow sportsmen and women to purchase a hunting license if you haven’t already done so. You can pick one up at your local gun shop or sporting goods store as you’re loading up for the season, or even purchase one online through the Texas Parks & Wildlife Outdoor Annual App or on the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department’s website www.tpwd.texas.gov.

With that, here’s an update from your State Capitol…

Capitol Update

In my previous column, I provided an overview of Proposition 1 and Proposition 2, which are the first two of the 14 ballot propositions that voters will consider in the upcoming November election. This week’s column will feature an overview of the next two propositions – Proposition 2 and Proposition 3.

Proposition 3 amends the Constitution to ensure the Legislature cannot impose a wealth, or income, tax on individuals or families. Though the State of Texas already prides itself on not imposing an income tax, Section 1, Article VIII of the Constitution, authorizes the tax of both tangible and intangible property in unique cases. As a state that celebrates competition, even the possibility of a direct tax on an individual’s assets or property would serve as a disincentive to financial success. Proposition 3 helps ensure that the State of Texas and her people will continue to serve as a global beacon for economic growth and prosperity for future generations.

Proposition 4 offers an amendment that is long overdue to you and your family. It is the enabling legislation that will provide property owners with the largest property tax cut in our state’s history. In this proposition, a 20% cap or limit is imposed on non-homestead properties valued under $5 million for the next three years.  In addition, the existing homestead exemption ceiling of $40,000 will be increased to $100,000.

And, a “tax freeze” will be placed on the total amount of ad valorem tax that may be imposed on an elderly or disabled individual. Finally, the proposed amendment authorizes the legislature to require four-year terms for members of appraisal district boards in counties over 75,000 in population. Under current law, appraisal boards are composed of 9 appointed, voting members. Under the proposed legislation, appraisal district boards will now be composed of eight voting members – 5 appointed and 3 elected. This allows citizens to take comfort in knowing they have a voice in electing members responsible for issuing property tax values for their county. It is our goal to ensure all Texans feel a much-deserved sense of relief from skyrocketing property taxes. The Legislature has made a deliberate effort to ensure components of this bill allow Texans to see a noticeable decline in their taxes in 2024, as well as implement new accountability measures to help alleviate some of the tax burden on property owners across the state.

Reminders

The mobile office is on the road again and our District Director will look forward to seeing you on the following date, in the following locations: Sept. 6 at the San Augustine County Courthouse in San Augustine from 9-11 a.m; Sept. 13 at the Polk County Commissioner’s Courtroom in Livingston from 9-11 a.m., or the Tyler County Commissioner’s Courtroom in Woodville from 1:30-3:30 pm. Sept.20 at the Houston County Courthouse Annex in Crockett from 9-11 a.m., or the Trinity County Courthouse in Groveton from 1:30-3:30 p.m.

As always, please do not hesitate to contact my office if we can help you in any way. My district office may be reached at (936) 634-2762 and our Capitol office at (512) 463-0508. Additionally, I welcome you to follow along on my Official Facebook Page, where I will post regular updates on what’s happening in your State Capitol and share information that could be useful to you and your family: https://www.facebook.com/RepTrentAshby/.

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I’ll never get over what the COVID-19 pandemic did to the Ollie’s discount chain.

Pre-COVID, on my way to the restroom while shopping, I always sought out the coffee pot that announced sentiments to the effect of “We’ve had a pretty good year. Treat yourself to a free cup.”

Pandemic precautions made that simple pleasure go bye-bye.

I’m sure many of you share my pain. Others won’t.

Despite coffee’s long history and the omnipresence of Starbucks, there is no monolithic way of viewing the coffee experience.

Spiritual descendants of the old temperance movement take a stubborn pride in their “lips that touch brew … will get my stink-eye through and through” philosophy.

Even among drinkers, there exists an eye-opening variety of beliefs about frequency, purpose, composition, quantity and whether Juan Valdez could give Mrs. Olson the “richest, most aromatic” butt-whupping in a cage match.

My own immediate family demonstrates the spectrum of coffee attitudes. College junior Gideon has zero interest in sampling a cup of Joe. Early bird me? I savor a morning cup for the flavor and ritual more than for any stimulant effect. My bleary-eyed wife, on the other hand, simply must have a cup before leaving for work – or to surrender at the police station. (“I think I just murdered my snooze alarm. But it was self-defense!”)

What shall we say about purists like my mother who insist that anything except black coffee is an abomination? Does straight coffee truly dance upon their taste buds, or are they just too prideful to admit that sugar and creamer might deserve to exist? (“What modernist heresy will come next? Will people start bringing bananas right into their homes instead of climbing the trees to eat them?”)

Coffee should bring us together, but elements of class warfare or generational warfare are unavoidable. Folks who keep an economical 40-ounce canister in the cupboard (or grab the cheapest generic java that the convenience market dispenses) look askance at the elitists who spend a fortune every single day on conspicuous consumption of some froufrou gourmet concoction.

The notion is that the elitists are (a) making way too much money or (b) skimping on other things to finance their caffeine addiction. (“I could’ve sprung for a nicer funeral for Mom, but I couldn’t find a single casket with the Keurig seal of approval.”)

People disagree about whether to keep their coffee cravings private or shout them to the heavens. But it’s probably not a good idea to quote the ad slogan “If I don’t get American Ace Coffee, I’m going back to bed” on a job application – unless you plan to top it off by flooding social media with pictures of yourself sharing a bong with the HR director’s underage child.
Don’t let my babbling threaten your heartfelt beliefs but consider the Big Picture.

All the memes, T-shirts, posters and Garfield cartoons about coffee mania are amusing, but what if they’re giving aid and comfort to our adversaries?

Somewhere Chinese students are fasting for a week, performing 500 pushups and solving complex quadratic equations in their heads. Americans? We’re sending the message “I can’t remember which is my right house slipper and which is my left house slipper until I’ve had my first gallon.”

Oh, it’s been a pretty good 247 years. Treat yourself to a free naval base, President Xi Jinping.

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I recently experienced a moment in time that truly revealed and encapsulated the significance of what we do and why we do it. This revelation made such a big impact on me that I have to share it.

On Friday, August 25, I was proofreading the last of the pages for the Sunday paper when I received a call at 6:22 p.m. from my coworker Brian who was en route to Houston for Livingston’s football game against Houston Episopal. He’d learned that the Alabama-Coushatta Police Department had been summoned to escort a body from a Lufkin hospital to a Livingston funeral home. I told him I’d see what I could find out.

I immediately went to Facebook where I soon learned from reading my friend Herb’s post – a member of the tribe – that their Second Chief, Mikko Poliika Istaaya, Millie Ann Thompson Williams had succumbed to a long illness. I felt as if I’d been punched in the gut. Miss Millie had made history earlier this year when she was inaugurated second chief, the first woman to ever serve as a chief in the history of the tribe. I’d had the honor of being in her presence on more than one occasion, had heard her speak and had photographed her several times. She was a soft-spoken, stoic, beautiful woman who knew she was making history and fully appreciated the opportunity to share her knowledge with others.

I called Brian back at 6:39 p.m. to relay my findings, telling him that I’d do my best to get it covered. Our page designer Amanda and I discussed it and agreed that it was too late to get it in the Sunday paper as those pages had already been sent to the press. We agreed that I’d work it up and have it ready for the following Thursday’s paper. It had been a busy week and I was tired and ready to head home but I had a couple errands to run first. I also needed to get gas, having driven “on fumes” most of the day.

My conscience began niggling me, however. That woman deserved more. And so did the tribe. And so did our readers. I returned to Facebook to see if Herb had provided any updates and he had. He’d given an ETA of when the procession was expected to go through town. I looked at my watch and realized the timing would work out perfectly. I completed my errands, got gas and then parked in front of Alma’s Courthouse Whistle Stop Cafe where I would have a front-row seat to the procession as it rounded the corner in the main intersection downtown. I stood there on the sidewalk eyeing the red and blue flashing lights on the patrol cars in the distance as they came closer and closer. Although I missed getting a shot of the hearse carrying Miss Millie, I was able to get a photo of the deputies blocking traffic for the procession. It would have to suffice.

I headed back to the paper, quickly retrieving the digital files of my previous coverage of Miss Millie and cobbled together a story that reported her passing, told a little of her history and even included direct quotes made by her at a press conference earlier in the year. I then called our webmanager Jim to tell him that I was about to email a story and a couple of pictures to him, that it was breaking news and that I needed it posted on the website and the paper’s Facebook page immediately. I felt sad but good as I returned home, still tired but feeling that I’d done the right thing. I checked the website, it was there and I texted Jim a thank you for his efforts.

The following morning, Saturday, August 26, I arose, made my coffee, sat down at my laptop and went to easttexasnews.com. I pulled up the breaking story and saw that it had been viewed over 30,000 times. I rubbed my eyes, briefly wondering if I was losing my mind. I X’ed out of it, puttered around the kitchen a little bit and then went back and pulled it up again. I had read the number correctly and it was continuing to tick higher and higher as more people viewed the story.

The gravity of what had occurred was not lost on me. Although it would be another five days before we would put out a paper, we pivoted, using the tools and platforms at our disposal and reported breaking news in an extremely timely manner. And even more telling – over 30,000 people trusted us enough to go to our website and seek out the story.

The last time I looked, that story had been viewed by 43,657 people. With apologies to Mark Twain, I would opine that the reports of the death of community journalism have been greatly exaggerated.