The Eastern New Mexico News - Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities

One thing that has been demonstrated beyond any doubt by both the pandemic and the recent presidential election is that government has too much power over our lives. If government... — Updated 11/17/2020

I was wrong. I was sure Donald Trump would win easily, in spite of years of political and personal attacks from his various opponents. I knew there was “Anyone but Trump... — Updated 11/10/2020

With the election now behind us, you need to find a way to live with the neighbors who supported a different candidate than you did. The neighbor who had a sign in the yard... — Updated 11/3/2020

What do you expect to happen after Donald Trump’s election victory? I expect outrage, shock, and denial from the national mainstream media and others who pretended Joe Biden was... — Updated 10/27/2020

The continuing hysteria over COVID-19 reminds me of the website warning of the dangers of Dihydrogen Monoxide (DHMO). The website correctly points out that DHMO is found in all our... — Updated 10/20/2020

Do you ever feel like you’re stuck in an infinite presidential time loop? Every four years I watch it repeat, but no one else seems to notice. Like the movie Groundhog Day, where... — Updated 10/13/2020

Of all the political ideas I’m puzzled by — which is all of them — the ideas of White Supremacy and White Nationalism are among the most bizarre. To imagine you’re better... — Updated 10/6/2020

Few people understand the difference between tolerating a behavior and endorsing or approving of it. There are things I don’t approve of but don’t have the right to stop others... — Updated 9/29/2020

Stocking up on food and supplies before the worst part of the forced shutdowns could turn out to have been good practice for what may be coming after the presidential election.... — Updated 9/22/2020

I wish people were more consistent. Many people in this country say they are for smaller, or “limited” government. Most change their minds as soon as they think of something... — Updated 9/15/2020

Last week I was reminded how intensely I dislike bureaucracy. People who impose bureaucracy on the rest of us are as useful to society as plague-spreading fleas. You might believe b... — Updated 9/8/2020

If you go looking for trouble, you’ll probably find it. If you’ve seen any national news recently you’ve watched it happen. Kyle Rittenhouse, 17, intentionally went to... — Updated 9/1/2020

Quick, name something you really and truly believe even though you know it’s wrong. You can’t, can you? If you knew your belief was wrong, you’d change it. It’s the same for... — Updated 8/25/2020

There’s a lot of irresponsibility and selfishness in the world around us. We can choose to not be part of it. People who litter or dump their trash are childishly irresponsible.... — Updated 8/18/2020

Government actions have consequences. Some people were happy with the so-called stimulus checks they got from the federal government. Most of them are excited about the prospects... — Updated 8/11/2020

Humans are adaptable. More so than any creature other than, possibly, cockroaches. It’s our greatest strength. We have adapted to living almost everywhere on the planet and, soon,... — Updated 8/4/2020

On the personal front, there are new developments in the continuing saga of the Greatly Feared Virus Pandemic of 2020. Two family members caught COVID-19 several weeks ago. They... — Updated 7/28/2020

America is in crisis. Nearly everyone agrees on this point; they only disagree over what the crisis is. Fewer still agree over what caused the crisis they can’t agree on, so they... — Updated 7/14/2020

When a politician makes a mistake and makes a problem worse (or creates a problem out of thin air), they rarely change course. Instead, they double down. It’s hard for them to adm... — Updated 7/7/2020

You bear no guilt for things you had no part in. Don’t accept guilt you didn’t earn. I’m not going to blame you for things you have no control over, nor will I accept blame... — Updated 6/30/2020

Why is there so much anger in the world? People fight over statues; over differing opinions on gender, race, and policing. Over masks and whether to end the shutdown or keep... — Updated 6/23/2020

The world’s a bit crazy. Not as bad here as in other places, but we see the effects of those crazy paces even here. Pandemics, riots, gangs of trespassers setting up their own... — Updated 6/16/2020

There’s a correct way to protest injustice and there’s a wrong way. You may have recently noticed people in several big cities doing it the wrong way. Although, perhaps people... — Updated 6/9/2020

As the panic over coronavirus loses steam, and everyone who isn’t a political power junkie gets back to normal, remember the lessons you learned over the past few months. The... — Updated 6/2/2020