Who’s the fairest of them all?
In September, the Commonwealth Fund released its eighth comparative report on health care systems in 10 wealthy and comparable nations, the US among them. How did we do and why?
Category Analyses
Cloudburst, funding the Citizen, and communications between life forms
Readers of the Citizen have gifted us with a cloudburst of generosity, and we are grateful for the healing waters in this desert land. This process of social relationship is an act of communication, which has just been discovered to function through all life forms.
Appeal to T or C and Village leadership
The water and sewer systems are dying carcasses that are attracting vulture-like opportunists. Meanwhile, the people are paying ever-increasing water and sewer fees. Who is protecting us from the vultures? No one. The city needs to hire an engineer who can coordinate and communicate. No mumblers or wonks.
Stuff you need to know, September 17, 2024: As New Mexico shakes, state cancels dozens of planned wastewater injection sites
Republication of article by "Capital & Main" in New Mexico Political Report, September 12, 2024. Its topic is the wastewater produced in fracking for gas and oil operations in New Mexico: its toxicity, the earthquakes produced by its injection into the ground, and the proposal to reuse it.
Racehorses, slot machines and election campaigns
In New Mexico, horse racetracks have become centers of political power. This is a republication of a September 11 article by Noah Raess and Joshua Bowling in Searchlight New Mexico.
T or C owners will see their property taxes triple
The ballot measure for $3 million in general obligation bonds for water, sewer and roads passed two years ago. How many voters knew or cared that property taxes would double or triple to pay off that debt?
Water-hoarder Augustin Plains Ranch—corporatocracy vs. the people
It's sickening that Augustin Plains Ranch, owned by an Italian billionaire, has forced the people to pay for legal battle after legal battle to stave off a massive water grab.
What you need to know, 9/3/2024
We know the electoral college elects the President, but do we know how few votes it takes to change the electoral college composition? Here is a detailed breakdown of how so few people end up deciding the results of a democratic election, courtesy of The Guardian.
Wilson & Co. gives some reasons why the Cantrell Dam project will cost $8 million
Flood control for Williamsburg, the southeastern part of Truth or Consequences and the Sierra County Fairgrounds is going to be expensive. Liability is probably driving this project, but it’s not been explicitly stated.
T or C Commission gets real—mostly Mayor Hechler
A city commission meeting chock full of fact-based reporting, with critical-thinking on display and real talk and direction from Mayor Rolf Hechler.
Trash rates are going up. Will they be fair?
Polycart customers way overpay and commercial-dumpster and drive-in customers at the scale house way underpay. “Free” recycling is paid for, really, by the polycart customers.
Switcheroo: police department’s gross receipts tax revenue will pay off new police building debt
More wheeling and dealing behind closed doors by the T or C city commission concerning the purchase of the PNC Bank building for the police department. The purchase and purchase price was done in secret and a switch in how to pay for the building's renovation was too.