By Mike Barnett

You’ve all seen the commercials. The heartbreaking image of a pitiful puppy or kitten fills the screen. A sorrowful song plays in the background. Statistics of animal abuse are narrated by a compassionate voice.  Your eyes tear up and your checkbook opens. And the cash registers at the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) go Ka-ching Ka-ching.

The implication of the HSUS commercials is that monthly donation emotionally wrenched from your pocketbook is going to provide funds for pet shelters. You would be mostly wrong.

By Gene Hall

I sometimes think politics is like a football game. Winning becomes a goal in and of itself. The good of the nation or even a reasonable political outcome comes in way second to pounding the other guy into submission.

I otherwise have trouble understanding why more than a century of political tradition and compromise are so carelessly tossed away. It seems very clear that both sides in this current debate believe they can have 100 percent of their way. My first grade teacher, Mrs. Flurry, explained very patiently to me why this was not possible. Later, she explained it more “forcefully.”  In this manner, I learned to play well with others, one of the most important of life’s lessons.

By Mike Barnett

Our sympathy and admiration go out to the people of West, whose strength and courage have held this rural community together in a time of tragedy.

Lives of first responders—men and women who selflessly run toward danger so others can live—have been lost and we mourn their passing, recognizing that these volunteers commit their time, resources and yes, their well-being, to keep their friends, families and communities safe.

Their selfless actions are no surprise to residents of small town Texas. And neither is the outpouring of fellow Texans who have graciously donated their resources. Texans help Texans.