A4 Friday, April 26, 2013
OPINION
Gov. Martinez on Time magazine’s Most Influential List
SANTA FE – New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez has been named to Time magazine’s list of the 100 most influential people in the world. That’s a big deal as far as I’m concerned. But it hasn’t seemed to mean much to others in the news business. Other than short reports saying it happened, the only opinion I have noticed was in Joe Monahan’s blog last Friday. Obviously I don’t get around to reading all blogs but I expected to see much more by four days after our governor’s honor. Most of you won’t be reading this for another four days so maybe the news business will have noticed by then. Obviously Time magazine isn’t the last word on who is important in this world but I saw part of an interview with the editor who put the list together. He said the staff working on the project tried to spread the recognition among as many new
EDITORIAL
JAY MILLER
INSIDE THE CAPITOL
people as possible each year. Obviously the president of the United States is going to be included every year but not most of the rest of the Top 100. Others chosen in the “Leaders” category were Joe Biden, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul and Chris Christie, the only other Governor chosen this year. The influential Christie has been picked before. Others in the “Leaders” category were Pope Francis, Xi Jinping of China and Kim Song Un of North Korea. The list wasn’t intended to be all good guys. It is people who influence the world. In the “Entrepreneurs” category
Elon Musk added to his Silicon Valley influence by successfully sending two rockets to the International Space Station. He didn’t launch them from New Mexico’s Spaceport America, by the way. Categories such as entertainment and sports change yearly. Time has been compiling its list of 100 for 10 years. Gov. Martinez likely won’t make the list next year. Although the brief tribute to her done by Karl Rove didn’t mention it, our governor surely was not chosen for what she has done since assuming office in 2011 but for her feat of winning office despite being Hispanic, female and a Republican in a Democratic state. Her feat can influence others to realize they can do the same. From what I can dig out, Martinez is the first New Mexican to be selected for the list in its 10year existence. Former Gov. Bill Richardson was selected to a list of the top 25 Hispanics in the
Roswell Daily Record
nation. We heard a lot about that. Had he been selected to the most influential in the world list, he would have flooded the place with news releases. So far, I haven’t seen anything from Gov. Martinez’s office. She should do it. Others in the leader category were Malala Yousafzai, the 15 year-old activist who survived a Taliban attack, and California Attorney General Kamala Harris, whom President Barack Obama boorishly called the prettiest attorney general in the nation. And then there was Wayne LaPierre of the National Rifle Association. Karl Rove, in his tribute to Gov. Martinez said maybe this award will help her be reelected next year. Yes, it will help. She is already at over 60 percent popularity among New Mexico likely voters. This will only add to that figure. The road won’t be entirely
smooth, however. Democrats will
contend that Martinez doesn’t
deserve the recognition because
her accomplishments are meager. But voters like her anyway. They like who she is and don’t worry
much about what she hasn’t
done or that she hasn’t been as bold as she promised.
Former Gov. Bill Richardson
seemed to have been too bold for
voters and he did too much. Vot-
ers seemed to worry that Lt. Gov. Diane Denish would follow in Richardson’s footsteps although she said she wouldn’t.
New Mexicans may be enjoying
sitting back, relaxing and saving
some money rather than experi-
encing constant action during the previous administration.
Taxpayers share some of the blame
Some believe that April 15 is the most dreaded day of the year. Americans do hate paying their income taxes. And refunds are cold comfort to those receiving them, knowing that the government is merely giving taxpayers back their own money.
Paying taxes might be a great deal less disheartening if it seemed as if government at all levels was a bit more satisfied with — dare we say appreciative of — what it is getting from its citizens. It’s bad enough to feel the pain. But the pain is magnified by the lecture about how it’s not enough. And frankly, it’s not enough to cover the government’s expenses — especially when governments squander that money in thousands of ways large and small. Taxpayers put a lot, about $2.7 trillion, into the national treasury. But government always seems to find a way to spend a trillion more.
A growing number of people are awakening to the harsh reality that the way we finance our government cannot continue indefinitely. Even the government has a limit on what it can borrow and we will eventually reach that limit. The national debt has grown dramatically because neither the government nor taxpayers have shown the necessary discipline. Taxpayers want their annual payment to the government to be as little as possible; but they show little willingness to do without the goodies governments can provide. There is always a consensus to cut another person’s program, and so nothing gets cut.
Encouraged by the taxpayers to keep spending, government does little to stay within its means. There’s been no real push for government to change its ways. Debt only hurts when you do without to pay it back. When the money runs out, the government just borrows more and nobody feels the pain.
The unseen wounds and warriors of war Post-publication note from Chuck: At the time I wrote the column below, news had not broken about the massive and devastating explosion at the fertilizer plant in West, Texas. Of course, all of my condolences and commendations about the victims and crisis care community in Boston I extend with profound correlations to my own heartbroken neighbors in Texas. One television news report estimated that 700 first responders were deployed immediately into action there. Let no one say the selfless and sacrificial American spirit isn’t alive and well! As with others across the
Doonesbury
CHUCK NORRIS
SYNDICATED COLUMNIST
nation, my wife, Gena, and I are so proud of the first responders and host of rescuers, medical personnel, law enforcement personnel, firemen, military members, crisis counselors and good Samaritans who immediately were called into action and undoubtedly saved lives,
limbs and souls because of their heroic ef forts. T ruly, America’s best shine brightest during our country’s most difficult and darkest moments. At the same time, Gena and I join the rest of the nation in offering our most heartfelt condolences and prayers for all the victims of the Boston Marathon bombings. We weep in particular with the families of 8-year-old Martin Richard, 29-year-old restaurant manager Krystle Campbell and a Chinese graduate student at Boston University, Lu Lingzi, all of whom were killed by the blasts. In the end, the criminal
thugs who are responsible for such heinous, despicable and cowardly acts win only if we allow their monstrous beings to intimidate us into fearful and recluse lifestyles, including not participating in public recreational and sports activities such as the Boston Marathon. We, too, pray for the families, relatives and friends of the victims, who we know will, in due time, rise up, find the courage to face tomorrow and build a better day for themselves and others — just like the parents of the 8-year-old
See NORRIS, Page A5
At some point, we will feel the pain. Government will cut spending and taxpayers will quit receiving the services to which they have become accustomed or taxpayers will pay more to the government. The American people must face up to this sooner or later. The guess is that they’ll wait until later.
The New Bern Sun Journal
DEAR DOCTOR K: I’m an avid biker. But could my biking lead to erectile dysfunction? DEAR READER: Biking is an excellent form of exercise. But occasionally, if men who bicycle many hours each week are not careful, it can lead to temporary erectile dysfunction. Your question caused me to review articles on this topic that have been published in medical journals. It appears that there are no studies large enough to give us a good idea of just how often bicyclists develop this condition. The risk appears to be highest for men who cycle more than three hours a week. I can’t find any published research study to support my speculation, but I’ll bet the risk is lower in using stationary bikes than in riding outdoors: The bumps in the road get transmitted through the bike seat. One recent study compared 142 men in a bicycle club to 83 men who did not ride bicycles and found no difference in the
rate of erectile dysfunction. This does not mean that frequent riding cannot cause sexual problems, but it probably means that it doesn’t happen very often. The reason avid bikers sometimes get erectile dysfunction (ED) is that the seat puts pressure on the perineum. That’s the area between the genitals and anus that contains the nerves and arteries that run into the penis. A narrow bicycle seat places pressure on the perineum, compressing crucial nerves and arteries. This pressure can harm nerves and temporarily hinder blood flow, causing tingling or numbness in the penis and, eventually, ED. Taking a few simple precautions when biking can help prevent sexual dysfunction: • Get a wide, well-padded bicycle seat to absorb the impact of the ride. A gel-filled seat is a good choice. Narrow seats place the most pressure on the perineum. • Position the seat so that it puts mini-
penis, stop riding for a week or two. These
ASK DR. K UNITED MEDIA SYNDICATE
mal pressure on the perineum. Make sure the seat is not so high that your legs are fully extended at the bottom of your pedal stroke. Don’t tilt the seat up. • Raise the handlebars so that you’re sitting relatively upright. This will shift the pressure to your buttocks. They can handle the pressure much better than your perineum can — they’re better cushioned. • For extra protection, consider wearing padded biking pants. If you feel tingling or numbness in your
are warning signs that your biking could
lead to erectile problems. Even if you don’t feel any warning symptoms, it’s a good
idea to change your position and take
breaks during long rides.
Perhaps the best advice is to make bik-
ing one part of a balanced fitness program. Alternate riding with walking, jogging or
swimming. Climb off your stationary bike and get on a treadmill, elliptical trainer or stair climber.
(Dr. Komaroff is a physician and profes-
sor at Harvard Medical School. To send
questions, go to AskDoctorK.com, or write:
Ask Doctor K, 10 Shattuck St., Second Floor, Boston, MA 02115.)