To the editor: Thanks for Andy Behlen’s excellent piece titled “Producers, Looters and Parasites.” I had just purchased a copy of “Atlas Shrugged,” another of Rand’s remarkable works; my daughter on a visit saw it and said, “No dad, I read it a long time ago.” The over-arching theme Rand made in so many of her books is that oppressive political systems like those under which she lived in the Soviet Uniion are corrupted and evil means to incapable of producing human equality or high standards of living. Behlen tells us about a recent example of how government policy, taken to an extreme in Sri Lanka, casues human death.

To the editor: I just have a question as to why the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) intends to spend upwards of $200 million dollars to build a new bypass around the Bluff for 18 wheeler vehicles when they are redoing the intersection of Hwy. 71 and Hwy.

Once June arrives, it’s time to look forward to the summer heat, but not before we rejoice in the beauty of God’s creation one last time, for the bounty of spring’s new life: trees in full leaf now, mockingbirds singing their constantly shifting mimicry of joyous songs, doves cooing overhead, wasps busy catching spiders and encasing them in their mud nests with their eggs; wood ducks and blue birds hatching babies in their boxes scattered around the property.

America’s most famous boxer, Muhammad Ali, first got into the sport because of the frustration over having his new red bike stolen off the porch of his childhood home. He channeled his anger into something amazing.

I’m a fan of Ayn Rand’s novels, especially “The Fountainhead.” I disagree with many points of her philosophy, which is known as Objectivism. But one thing that has always stayed with me is her analysis of social class.

To the editor: Through a recent church letter, I have learned that plans have been in the making for awhile now, and proceedings have started, if not already implemented, to restructure some of the oldest, most established religions/churches as diverse, equitable and inclusive, (DEI.) Plans are to allow homosexual marriages, officiated by their clergy, and to also now accept these beliefs into their religions. The clergy themselves may even be LGBQTIA+.

On a hot autumn day a young boy named Jose was helping his father plow. Suddenly the mule jumped sideways and Jose heard the flutter of wings. He knew the mule was startled by something. “Whoa” he called out. When Jose stopped he could see that his donkey had stepped into a Bob White nest (or Quail)* The Momma Bird had been stepped on and was dead. The eggs in the nest however were all OK. There were 15 wee little eggs.

Politicians love to ask, “Are you better off NOW than you were four years ago?” As a consultant I ask the same question. Is your ranch carrying more cattle than it was two years ago and are your cattle healthier? How are you now compared to four, five or ten years ago? Is your ranch paying for itself, or do you still need an extra job to support the land and cattle?