A Broad View by Jerry Hogan: Some Observations of Concern

Submitted Letter to the Editor/Guest Column contributed by Jerry Hogan, a former Rockwall County Judge

ROCKWALL COUNTY, TX (June 28, 2022) – First the shortage was toilet paper. Then it was baby formula. Last week it was Tampons. And now the latest published shortage we are facing is “mustard”. It seems they cannot get the necessary number of mustard seeds to make the mustard we all want at our dinner table. Folks, the simple fact is that something is not going right and no one either understands the problem or does not have the knowledge and willpower to fix the problem!

The GOP just recently concluded their convention in Houston. One of their tasks was to develop the platform for the party in Texas. This platform is then to be used by the Republican candidates when they are campaigning as the items the candidate would support if elected.

Now I have been a card-carrying solid Republican from two years after I voted for John F. Kennedy for President. I try to support what I believe are solid issues that are presented by the party. But it is awfully hard for me to support some platform that: calls for the succession of Texas from the Union and continues to argue that the election of 2020 was stolen from the Republican candidate for President. Come on folks. Address the issues of today versus trying to go back and argue history.

And the President has proposed a stoppage of the federal gasoline tax for three months to give us some relief on the high price of gasoline. Come on man, we are smarter than that! If one goes to the gas station and puts 15 gallons of gas in their car at an average price of $5 per gallon, the total cost would be $75. With the 18 cent per gallon reduction proposed by the President, that $75 would be reduced by $2.70 to $72.30. That “savings” sure won’t buy much bread and milk at today’s prices!

Probably because of Uvalde, the Congress has passed a new gun law that many are disappointed in the content and the way it was passed. For example, the 80-page proposed law was delivered to the Senators at 6:30 in the evening and they voted on it at 7:30. Rand Paul is now saying he is going to introduce a bill called “The read the bill law”. He is proposing that for every 20 pages of a bill, one day will be allocated for the reading of the bill and no vote can be taken until all the “read” days have been exhausted. (Seeing how things work in Washington, his proposed bill won’t have a chance of passing!)

Understandably much attention is focused on safety in the schools. Have you thought about the theme you constantly see that says, “Pray for the schools”? That is very interesting since they will not let “Prayer in the Schools.” Some of the things we do, and allow to be done, are unbelievable. How did Prayer ever come out of the schools?

On the local level, the construction of the needed two new courtrooms in the Courthouse are being held until after the FY 2023 budget is completed. Plans for the construction of the new Administrative Building adjacent to the library and the new Courthouse are progressing with the signing of the Project Management contract scheduled for June 28. About 18-24 months will be needed to complete the building.

Dan Crenshaw, Congressman of Texas 02, and I are in total agreement (even though I don’t know him.) When I was in the Army, our focus was on preparing for war with the objective of winning. Everything was focused on that objective. Now, unfortunately, the services are being forced to go through “WOKE” training. A good example is what the Navy is now doing with a training film they have introduced to the fleet. “The Navy is training its members to create a “safe space” by using proper gender pronouns”. As Congressman Crenshaw, a former Navy Seal says, “For Gods sake stop this insanity.” What in the world has happened to the value system that we grew up with?

And currently in Washington, the great Jan 6 investigation goes on and on. Why no investigation of riots that happened in the Northwest last year where federal property plus private property was destroyed by uncontrolled mobs? Or closer to home, who is investigating the thousands of undocumented illegals crossing our Southern Border every day? When will Washington get serious about this security issue?

With the war in Ukraine continuing, the European Union is agreeing to allow that country to join the EU along with Sweden and Finland. Question, if they join the EU, and the common defense pact says all countries of the EU will support any other country that belongs to the EU, will the US be pulled into that war? They are saying it may take several years for the inclusion to happen, so we will see!

Remember, we are still the greatest country on earth…even if we do dumb things to ourselves. Keep the faith!!

Submitted Letter to the Editor/Guest Column contributed by Jerry Hogan, a former Rockwall County Judge. He can be reached at jerryhogan@sbcglobal.net or 214-394-4033.

Views expressed in Letters to the Editor are the opinion of sourced authors.