Hard Hitting Conservative Commentary by Gary M. Polland

Volume XXII Number 1 – September 19, 2023


Thoughts This Fortnight

REMEMBERING THE 9/11 ATTACKS 22 YEARS LATER

By Marc Cowart

As we mark the 22nd anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the memories of that tragic day remain etched in our collective consciousness. Most Americans past a certain age know exactly where they were when they heard the news of those weaponized planes striking the Twin Towers. It was a day when the world watched in shock and disbelief as the heart of America was pierced by acts of unspeakable violence. Two decades may have passed, but the wounds inflicted on that fateful Tuesday morning continue to shape our nation and the world.

In the immediate aftermath, our response as a nation was resolute. We united in grief, compassion, and determination. Firefighters, police officers, first responders, and ordinary citizens displayed extraordinary bravery, rushing to aid those in need and demonstrating the indomitable American spirit. The world stood with us in solidarity, recognizing that an attack on America was an attack on the values of freedom and democracy symbolized by the United States and to which many around the world aspire.

Two decades later, it is essential to remember not only the tragedy of that day but also the resilience and unity that emerged in its wake.The American people demonstrated their ability to come together in times of crisis, transcending political, ideological, and cultural divides. Acts of kindness, generosity, and solidarity defined our response to adversity. It is unfortunate that it took a national tragedy to unite a nation divided by petty political differences. It is even more regrettable that such unity was so short-lived and the return to vitriol so rapid.

The 22nd anniversary of 9/11 serves as a somber reminder of the enduring impact of that day on our nation. It is an opportunity to remember, to reflect, and to reaffirm our commitment to the values that made our nation great. Perhaps we can find a way to unite again, but this time let it be around the values we share as Americans and not around another national tragedy.


OBSERVATIONS FROM MY TRAVELS TO JAPAN AND
SOUTH KOREA AND A COMPARISON TO HOUSTON, TEXAS,
THE POTHOLE CAPITAL OF THE WORLD

By Gary M. Polland, Editor-in-Chief

Being able to travel around the world is a privilege and is also enlightening. Traveling throughout Japan and Korea recently, your editor had the opportunity to observe how those nations deal with infrastructure, mobility, crime, homelessness, and general quality of life. It was indeed an eye-opening experience.

On returning to Houston, we scanned the newspapers missed while away—with their headlines of corruption, crime, and crumbling infrastructure—and reviewed the contrasts between those countries and our hometown.

In South Korea (Seoul) and Japan (Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Himeji, and Osaka) no potholes were to be found, nor were street patches seen. What says it all when discussing potholes in Seoul is discovering that potholes are in fact illegal and fixed in 24 hours or less by law. Upon our return to Houston, the contrasts with regard to those ubiquitous road hazards were unavoidable. You better have good shock absorbers as the Houston streets have been neglected for years. It’s the reason we passed a new tax for infrastructure years ago, but inexplicably things are now worse than ever.

Where did the billion dollars diverted from this fund go?

It is a question worth asking, but one which will likely remain unanswered as the current administrations links from office at the end of this year.

Perhaps the next mayor will give this and the other issues plaguing this great city the attention they deserve. Of course, it all depends on who is elected in November.  It is for that reason we say that elections have consequences and the same reason voters should give attention to our 2023 Voter Guide that is coming soon.


WHERE HAVE OUR LEADERS AND HEROES GONE?

By Brian Ettinger

We now have no real leadership among our elected government officials, bureaucrats, and military leaders.  This is why term limits are necessary not only for our elected officials but also the government bureaucrats.

Suggested term limits for the House of Representatives should be 4 maximum years with 2 yr.terms for a total of 8 years.  Senators should serve 2 terms with a maximum total of 12 years in office. Bureaucrats as Federal Employees should have a total of 15 years of employment by any federal agency. These individuals are power-hungry, and that leads to corruption.  They have no understanding of the private economic sectors because they live off the government welfare compensation system.

Real leadership takes courage and making hard choices. As we see by just the phony deficit crisis they created, these leaders have a $31 plus trillion-dollar debt.  Real cuts are needed otherwise it will get larger and strap our future generations with such a financial burden that will affect their standard of living. So, it needs an immediate 10 percent cut across the entire federal government budget and for the next 5 years an additional 5 percent cut each year.

Also, D.O.D. needs to leave its budget and spending levels at pre-covid 2019 levels. D.O.D. has so much waste and fraud in the system in the way it does its contracting. These peacetime generals need to go first as they have too many of them. Second, we need to clean house above the level of major as the fighting forces are the real heroes. It is a high-tech military, so investing in more nuclear strategic weapons and more precise guided missiles to build up our Navy’s capacity makes sense. When a foreign country interferes with our aircraft or commercial shipping vessels in international waters, we blow them up. Stop being the Woke Military and show leadership as the big dog and bring the fight to the enemy when tested.  Realize China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea are not our friends so treat them that way.

Next, real leadership does not let other countries interfere with our currency, the dollar, and if they do then put economic sanctions on them. If this means China, then stop trading and manufacturing products over there. They depend on U.S. trade and economic support, so we need to take away their status as well as India’s developmental nation status as they are both now developed nations.  Also, China is still building more coal plants and needs to be held accountable for it.  Leadership is tough and not popular but needs to be done.

Our Education System needs to teach our students to read and write, math skills, computer science, and history.Get away from everything being about racism.  Our country has evolved and has gone through very bad times in the treatment of minorities, slavery, Native Americans, Mexican Americans, the taking of their land by wars, and immigration from Europe in the last century.  But through all these difficult times we evolved into a more diverse and acceptable society. 

Today with the lack of respect, increased crime, not being held accountable, lack of work ethics, and anon-secured border we need real leadership and accountability. We need leaders to have plans to address these issues but until we do these issues will get worse and affect all of us. Crime is a major problem and can be stopped when the criminals are not treated like victims, but criminals.  Give the law enforcement the tools to do their job and these criminals are locked up for stronger sentences. No bail laws need to be repealed and these District Attorneys need to enforce the laws.It is not a lack of laws but the leaders we elect who choose not to enforce them. This would be a good first step to start this process.


MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THE TEXAS YOUTH SUMMIT

Christian Collins’ Texas Youth Summitreturns to the Houston area again on September 29 at the Woodlands Marriott.

The all-star line-up of powerhouse guest speakers includes Donald Trump Jr., Charlie Kirk, Christian Collins -Texas Youth Summit Founder & Director, Congressman Wesley Hunt, Congressman Byron Donalds, Congressman Troy Nehls, Congressman Cory Mills, Kimberly Guilfoyle, Riley Gaines, Yeonmi Park, former Congresswoman Mayra Flores, Abby Johnson, Chad Robichaux, Savannah Hernandez, Michael Seifert, Lily Kate, State Sen. Brandon Creighton, State Rep. Steve Toth, Jessica Hart Steinmann, Charles Blain, Alexandra Mealer, Kenny Webster, Trent Talbot, Andy Roth, Greg Price, Kenneth Omoruyi, and more to be announced soon!

Admission for youths aged 12-26 will be admitted on a complimentary basis. Those 27 and older can get in for just $10. By using promo code “Patriot”.

A VIP reception is also available. Cost is $200 for youths and $350 for adults.

Register by clicking here.

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