OPINION

I've lived in Lake Highlands for more than 30 years and have followed all of the many changing rules regarding trash pickup. My alley has easy access for garbage pickup, but now I have to figure out a way to get it to the front.

Our garages have easy access in back for everyone on this alley, making it easy to get the garbage cans out on pickup day. My elderly neighbor across from me will not be able to manage the incline to get her can to the front, so I will help her. When did taxpaying homeowners lose our right to put out the trash in the back where it belongs?

I'm proud to support grassroots candidates like Cathy Penn. I have always found her to be a person of integrity and common sense. These attributes, in combination with her education and experience, make her uniquely qualified for the position of justice of the peace.

She would perform the duties of this position with clarity, conviction and adherence to the highest standards. Trust that she is more interested in doing what's right instead of "playing politics."

Read on for readers' letters about candidates in Collin County.

About a half a mile from the dog park near White Rock Lake, a police officer was giving two tickets to people who were out with their dogs. The dogs were being allowed to run free without a leash.

Why would someone so close to the dog park allow their dogs to run about without a leash when they could go just a short way and let their dogs run in over an acre of fenced-in turf?

And those prominently posted signs at the lake saying "Dogs Must be on a Leash," well, aren't they more of a suggestion? And if a dog chooses to not return home after being allowed to run free, it could find a nice open field to run about, chasing rabbits, searching for food, drinking puddle water and avoiding those pesky annual vaccinations at the vet's or taking those monthly heartworm pills.

The dog probably doesn't even like to get a shot. I know I don't.

And if the dog does run away, it just allows the humans the opportunity to get another dog and give it a home.

So pay those fines with pride and a bit of chin-up defiance, letting everyone know you are just showing your pioneer spirit when dogs could run free, loving the great outdoors.

And don't even get me started on those Bob Barker-Drew Carey types calling for spaying and neutering pets.

Remember, those excess kittens and pups from unplanned litters help keep our animal shelters in business.

Do we as voters in House District 105 need any evidence other than the fundraising of the three candidates to clearly see who the people's choice ought to be in this race?

I have long fought for single-member districts in Irving city elections for this reason: Elections should not be about who has the most money. Elections should be about who has the best ideas, is the most ferverent about the needs of the people whom he or she will represent while in office and who will serve the people honestly and with integrity.

In this race, it is clear that Kim Limberg is the people's candidate. She does not have a lot of money, but she cares the most and will serve our district with the most passion and sincerity.

In a choice between Linda Harper-Brown, Loretta Haldenwang and Kim Limberg, give me Limberg any day.

Re: "Video shows North Dallas mugging, theft of $90,000 ring," dallasnews.com.

Two years ago, I was robbed at gunpoint and the assailant took my jewelry and wallet. In retrospect, I could have avoided that incident if I would have practiced some simple habits: don't wear expensive (or expensive-looking) jewelry and don't flash large amounts of cash.

If you exceed the speed limit, expect to get a citation. If you eat foods high in fat, expect to gain weight. And if you wear a $90,000 diamond ring to the grocery store, expect that someone will commit violence to take it.

During the past decade, conservative Don McLeroy's leadership has influenced the Texas State Board of Education.

In January, Education Week issued its annual "Quality Counts" report. Texas received a perfect score of 100 for curriculum development. This recognition elevates the Texas SBOE to the top six curriculum developers among U. S. states.

For SBOE conservatives, this recognition has not come easily. In developing curriculum for every subject, they overcame the shrill opposition of education establishment leftists and lobbyists.

They rejected educators' demands to frighten children with myths of an environmental holocaust. They prevented censorship of discussion that challenges evolution theory. They rejected bad ideas: Reformed math, whole-language reading and Planned Parenthood's anything-goes sex education curriculum.

In U.S. history, they support teaching America's heritage rather than social manipulation of our kids' basic values.

A principled McLeroy has led the charge in these efforts. By contrast, his primary opponent lacks passion to fight against the left's culture war.

Rather, lobbyist Thomas Ratliff favors a go-along-to-get-along approach, even with educators who have political agendas that conflict with Texas' mainstream values.

Re: "Ups, downs of snow business -- Federal shutdown is costing you a cool $100 million a day," Thursday news story.

I worked for the federal government for 22 years in and near Washington, D.C. Nearly every time we had a "snow day" or two, someone would write an article saying that the government was losing millions of dollars.

The Office of Personnel Management should know better than to perpetuate this fiction. Except for a few items of relatively small impact, such as missed contract dates, late delivery penalties, and overtime or special pay for essential employees who work extra time to cover for colleagues who simply cannot get to work, federal employees make up all their work by working faster, coming in early, skipping breaks, shortening lunch periods, and staying late, all without additional pay.

Anyone who thinks otherwise should see for themselves by visiting a few of the thousands of federal offices, where dedicated people "work the job, not the clock."

... but I see some humor here

Productivity in Washington, D.C. Now there's an oxymoron if I've ever heard one.

Re: "Fundraising deal raises questions -- Chief defends his work for group, but former director knew of none," Feb. 6 news story.

Raymund Paredes, commissioner of Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, has done the Lord's work at one of the most difficult positions in Texas.

In addition to his work with the board, he is being fairly and legally compensated by a nonprofit group whose goal is to enroll more students in college and provide scholarships to students who show academic promise. The business community depends on the education community to prepare students to become productive members of society and enter the workforce.

To date, Paredes' work on these issues has been above reproach, and inferences to the contrary, direct or indirect, are inaccurate and mean-spirited.

Re: "Medicaid fees may be trimmed to help balance Texas budget," dallasnews.com.

Stephanie Goodman, a spokeswoman for the Health and Human Services Commission, said of her boss' plan: "It spreads the pain over a much broader area." This is the saddest statement on the priorities of this state.

What are the corporations and the big money men giving up? It should shame and embarrass every Texan to know that the land that was fought for at the Alamo has such little respect for its citizens.

Re: "Medicaid fees may be reduced -- $304 million in proposed cuts could undo progress, advocates for needy say," Thursday news story.

This story is a grim reminder to facility, front-line care staffer and patient alike that the combination of federal Medicare cuts made in 2009 -- and state Medicaid cuts now being considered -- will have a direct, negative impact on resident care and the local job base.

We believe that before we engage in discussions about cutting Texas seniors' key Medicaid-financed programs, we must absolutely look first at the fact facilities are already dealing with a state and federal funding environment that squeezes their collective ability to recruit and retain high-quality direct-care staff.

Ultimately, that affects ongoing quality improvement efforts and patient care itself. A full 80 to 85 percent of Texas' nursing home residents are dependent upon federal and state programs that have already been cut -- or are now being examined for cuts in Austin. This double whammy on facilities and their residents is a truly ominous policy development that merits enormous scrutiny from federal, state and local officeholder alike. The very livelihoods of our state's most vulnerable citizens are on the line.