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New Mexico Democrats on the carpet

There were serious problems with the New Mexico Democratic Party's caucus "Massive Super Tuesday turnout leaves New Mexico caucus results unknown" ( in print: "New Mexico's super confused day," Tribune, Feb. 6).

I am stunned that a much-higher voter turnout was not expected this year, because: There is a close race, this year New Mexico will actually have influence on the outcome, and many people are unhappy and want to express that at the polls.

Even if high turnout was not expected through some total lack of awareness, it is simply negligent incompetence to not have a backup plan to deal with turnout that is higher than expected. Ballots that cost pennies a page to make were in limited quantities. Some votes were likely lost or never placed because of the problems. People might be so annoyed as to not vote in the general election. Some say the general election is the Democrats' to lose. Well, it certainly appears that the New Mexico Democratic Party is off to a great start. . . .

The people who justifiably claim the current administration mismanaged the Iraq war and Hurricane Katrina relief efforts and gave political positions to incompetents — are they blind to the fact that managing the New Mexico Democratic caucus is trivial compared to those other tasks? Do they really find such incompetence and failure acceptable?

Personally, I will find it hard to vote for New Mexico politicians who blast others while they laud their own party's shocking failures and are unable or unwilling to acknowledge and fix the problems.

I suspect others may feel similarly and suggest the New Mexico Democratic Party take a serious look in the mirror. . . .

Scott Jones

Albuquerque

• • •

It's tough dealing with juvenile offenders

Re: the Feb. 4 Tribune article concerning the escape of eight juvenile offenders from New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department's reintegration centers "Escapes of juvenile offenders raises questions, ire in New Mexico" (in print: "Eight escapes in one year").

I want to emphasize that this particular population presents a tremendous challenge to both CYFD and my agency in the best of circumstances.

I know CYFD devotes much concern and discussion to each individual case and did not mean to characterize its attitude toward public safety as an "afterthought." At the same time, there is obvious room for improvement in how these decisions are ultimately made and certainly in the notification process once an escape transpires.

We consider ourselves to be partners with CYFD in generating more positive outcomes for incarcerated youth and have much respect for the juvenile justice professionals who make these difficult decisions.

CYFD has made tremendous strides in recent months under the leadership of CYFD Secretary Dorian Dodson, and we look forward to working with them in implementing the Juvenile Justice Commission's recent recommendations of "regionalization" and moving toward the nationally acclaimed Missouri Model for juvenile offenders.

Bill O'Neill

Executive director, N.M. Juvenile Patrol Board

Albuquerque

• • •

Here's what I told Dem fund-raisers

The departure of Democratic candidates Dennis Kucinich and John Edwards from the presidential race is a great disappointment to those of us who do not believe that the road to peace leads through Iraq's oil fields or that the path toward disarmament is through a new generation of nuclear weapons.

Like the threat to The Tribune's existence, those candidates' departure represents the disappearance of another thread of hope around those of us who are not wrapped in power and wealth.

Getting yet another campaign solicitation letter from the Democratic Party just made me snap. Despite the promises of the last election, the only end we see in Iraq is our ability to tolerate and pay for the carnage.

So I returned their letter with a few thoughts of my own: Until the Democratic Party gets closer to the ideals of people like Kucinich or Edwards, we will not be sending any more money. Thank you for your past service, Howard Dean. Now get off your chair and start something that is good for the American people. Get out of Iraq. Leave Iran alone, and stop wasting precious resources on fighting poor people whose resources we covet. Stop using our taxes to keep us in line or to enrich the rich and start using them for the common good. We need full-spectrum sustainability, not full-spectrum dominance a la the U.S. Air Force.

None of these problems will be dispelled by throwing more money at them. So the next time you get one of these send-money-and-expect-nothing-in-return letters, skip the check, and give a piece of your mind instead. If we don't speak out, warmongering leaders will simply proliferate. If we stop supporting them and favor those who actually work for democracy, we might be surprised at the change in leadership.

Ask people who they will vote for and why, now that the most progressive candidates have been benched. The only way to stop the misleading is to stop buying it and ask instead why we are not facing energy and security crises as thoughtful adults. Tell your favorite candidate that there is no security in the hands of this winner-take-all political system.

Go to your nearest K-Mart, Wal-Mart, Target or other megacorporation and ask where their products come from, what they are made of and why so little is made in the United States. Ask why we import so much from thousands of miles away, from nations with no labor or environmental protections. Ask about the chemical composition of their toys and what makes their clothing so cheap.

Invite someone to share a bite to eat and mull over how we can stop fear-based pre-emptive military operations and claim the moral high ground, using words in place of weapons. Ask neighbors in for a sustainabili-tea. Talk about what you each can do to draw attention to the way the people need to start living if they want to leave a livable legacy for great children and great grandchildren.

Take care of the air and your body by walking where you want to go, if it is close enough, and biking if it is not. Ask BikeABQ.org how if you are unsure of yourself. Contact Greenwheels if you can't afford a set. If you do not feel safe biking alone, invite a friend. There is safety in numbers. . . .

When too many people are on the wrong track, finding a way out of the congestion is confusing. However, when we practice living with conscience, succeeding with less and enjoying the journey, people will notice and join in. Frugal abundance comes from relationships, rather than from amassing possessions. . . .

If getting rich on other people's money is to be the American way, then Bush & Co. are right on. If reinventing the English language is the change you seek, than stick with the front-runners. They will continue to bring new meaning to the words "cleaning up" in New Orleans or Iraq.

But if change is what you seek, help serve some coffee — organic, fair trade — to the voters. . . . The Los Alamos Study Group, one good example, is having weekly breakfasts to discuss how we can end the reality of the nuclear nation and bring about a livable, sustainable future without erecting a police state. Join in the conversation if you can see yourself as part of this effort, at the Albuquerque Mennonite Church, 1300 Girard N.E., 7:25 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. every Wednesday. It's food for thought.

Dr. Seuss wrote the answer to the way our government has handled the poor and vulnerable in so many places: We can and we must do better than this. If you want a secure place in your own future instead of being swept aside in some disaster, get visible, get audible and get busy.

Astrid Webster

Albuquerque