Dallas Morning News Column - September 4, 2004
Under what conditions would you support making State Highway 121 a tollroad?
Toll roads are just another burden to taxpayers. In lieu of the state or city governments using tax dollars to build infrastructure, we tax citizens every day by building toll roads. The institutions, and the accompanying overhead, we create to build and manage toll roads add costs on an ongoing basis. Has anyone ever heard of a toll road authority that has willed itself out of existence because the bonds have been paid off?
Mahesh Shetty
Dallas Morning News column - September 11, 2004
What is the lasting impact that Sept. 11 has had on your daily life?What immediate impacts have faded?
Terrorism, a word associated with distant lands and cultures has become part of our vocabulary. There is an increasing awareness that fanaticism has no borders.
Terrorist bombings in Chechnya, Sri Lanka, India, Bali, Madrid, or Israel resonate with us now that our nation has gone through a devastating tragedy. Poverty and exploitation has made animals out of human beings and made a mockery of the religious values that bind all true believers. I read a bumper sticker recently which said "God is too big for any one religion." It strikes me that sentiment is lost on most religious leaders particularly the Moslem elite.
But notwithstanding the tragedy this nation has come together as seldom before. Patriotism is not a figure of speech but a fact of our daily lives as Americans. There is no better way to express our love and gratitude for what this country has given to us.
The sacrifice of the 3000 heroes made this nation a vast extended family and we will forever be indebted to those souls.
Mahesh Shetty
Dallas Morning News column - October 23, 2004
How would President Bush's re-election benefit Collin County?
Mahesh ShettyRichardson finance executive, 45
President Bush's tax cuts and education reforms offer a compelling mix ofpolicies that should create a virtuous cycle of more consumption, moreproduction, more investment, more jobs and so on. It could also improve thequality of education statewide, alleviating the tremendous burden imposed onthe Collin County school system.
Dallas Morning News column - November 13, 2004
The Plano school board is said to be the best in the nation at using technology to better connect with its constituents. How do you think localgovernments -- school boards, city councils, etc. -- should use technologyand the Internet to serve you better?
Technology enhances the democratic process by enabling two-way communication. It can educate, inform and engage the community. Government should “push” information to keep citizens involved. It could be an IM “town hall” session, an e-newsletter, a webinar, a blog to record feedback or an internet-based secure voting system to improve participation in the election process.
Mahesh Shetty,
Richardson
Finance Executive, 45
Dallas Morning News column - November 27, 2004
Should holiday shoppers give any thought to where they shop? Does it matterwhich city gets the sales tax revenue?
No, they should not. Consumer preferences drive behavior and buying and they should not be influenced by parochial concerns. If everyone did that, tourism as an industry would evaporate. The city should create the infrastructure – let the market forces dictate the winners.
Mahesh Shetty,
Richardson
Finance Executive, 45
Dallas Morning News column - November 20, 2004
Who should be The Dallas Morning News Texan of the Year?
The 102 Texan kids who have died defending this country's citizens and its principles in a strange land and in the midst of so much hostility. It takes a special person to volunteer for the armed forces and it takes extraordinary courage to put your life on the line every day.
Mahesh Shetty,
Richardson
Finance Executive, 45
Dallas Morning News Column - November 25,2004
What's on Your Plate Today?We serve up more than turkey on Thanksgiving. It's a time for reflection,charity and conversation. It's a time when the things your family valuesmost are served as the main course.
Mahesh ShettyRichardson finance executive, 45
We gather together with family and friends during Thanksgiving to express our gratitude to God. The celebration transcends religious differences and reminds us of the one true essence that pervades all religions. It's also a time for reflection - time to reconnect with our inner selves and reset our moral compass. An occasion to reiterate the timeless values of love,fairness, integrity, community service and hard work that our parents inculcated in us and that we in turn seek to instill in our children. Each generation waxes nostalgic about "the good old days" and laments the ways and values of the next generation. I reject the pessimism because our children are a mirror image, albeit smarter, of ourselves - they observe and absorb our values. Thanksgiving is a time to rejoice in our success at bringing forth a generation which is going to take this society to heights we can only dream of.
Dallas Morning News Column - December 4, 2004
Should suburban city councils have all single-member districts, all at-largerepresentatives or a mix of both? (And why ...)
City residents should elect 2 representatives - one to represent the district and a mayor to represent the entire city. This ensures visibility to problems unique to different areas yet allows a strong leader to adopt a visionary approach to growth and policy matters. This model has worked well at the federal level for over 200 years.
Mahesh Shetty,
Richardson
Finance Executive, 45
Dallas Morning News Column - December 11, 2004
Looking back on this year, what was your community's greatest accomplishment?
Plano schools continue to receive accolades, and deservingly so, for the quality of education they provide to our children. In spite of budget constraints and the "Robin Hood" legislation the school district has maintained quality and by focusing on its core mission of education enhanced the lives of over 52,000 children.
Mahesh Shetty,
Richardson
Finance Executive, 45
Dallas Morning News Column - January 8, 2005
What do you think of having alleys? Are they a convenientway to hide clutter and beautify a community? Or are they eyesores thatattract crime and keep us from knowing our neighbors?
Alleys protect the privacy of the homeowner and hide the yard clutter. Fences and land ownership, is not new and can be traced back to our agrarian forefathers. Homeowners could meet in front of their garages as often as they meet at their mailboxes. Only true friends and good neighbors will be willing to expose their garages to each other!! It can promote true “community bonding”!!
Mahesh Shetty,
Richardson
Finance Executive, 45
Dallas Morning News Column - January 15, 2005
Sounding Off: Austin: Please Don't Forget ...
Question: Without using the words 'education,' 'school,' 'finance,' 'Robin' or 'Hood,' what is one thing you hope is not overlooked in the 79th Legislature?
Mahesh
Shetty
Richardson
finance executive, 45
Simplify corporate taxes. All profit dollars should be taxed equally. Subsidies and incentives to subsidize and/or protect industries should be an overt act of the Legislature and not built into the tax code. Simplicity would limit avoidance and raise tax revenues.
