About This Blog
This blog was the first in the nation created by an editorial board to give readers a behind-the-scenes view of the discussion that goes into crafting the newspaper’s daily editorials. It includes updates on the work of the editorial staff and debates on general news issues. We welcome and read all letters from readers. Letters are selected for publication based on their clarity and brevity. They also are chosen to represent a diverse set of views on as many issues as possible. February 2010
Recent Posts
Categories
dallasnews.com
blogs |
February 6, 2010
We just received notices in our neighborhood that trash cans have to be set out at the front curb instead of the alley. First, we have to haul the darn things around the block -- none of our fencing was built to admit those monster bins. Then we have to find a new space to stash them. This will make our neighborhood look like a ghetto. Also, our many elderly citizens won't be able to haul those bins around. Dallas spends money on high-profile items, but they don't spend money on the everyday things. Norman Howden, Dallas
Comments (5) Leave comment
| TrackBack (0)
| E-mail entry
The entry "About those trash rules" is tagged: Dallas
I attended the debates for Republican candidates in Denton County. It was interesting and illuminating. County Court at Law No. 1, the juvenile court, is a specialty court hearing juvenile cases. One would expect a sitting judge to be at least board-certified in juvenile law, meaning one is an expert in this area. Only one candidate holds this certification. She is Kim McCary, who has been a municipal judge for a long time. And to seal the deal, the first question asked was: "Do you think it is important for a judge to have trial experience as a lawyer and why?" Kim McCary gave a good answer to this question, and the other three candidates droned on about their own trial experience, which didn't answer the question. So, if you can't pay that much attention in a debate, how do I know you'll pay better attention on the bench? I was already voting for McCary, but this really cemented my resolution. Decisions are made by those who show up, so show up and vote. Mark Currier, Denton
Comments (1) Leave comment
| TrackBack (0)
| E-mail entry
The entry "Denton County race" has no entry tags.
As a Rockwall citizen for almost 30 years, I have seen many changes in our county. One change is the rate at which our taxes are increasing. It is important to vote in a county judge who is willing to use discernment in keeping our taxes low, uses good judgment and cares about the concerns of the citizens. The best candidate is Ken Jones. JoAnn Efeney, Rockwall
Comments (0) Leave comment
| TrackBack (0)
| E-mail entry
The entry "Ken Jones for county judge" is tagged: Rockwall County
Some of you may remember that I ran against John Roach Jr. when he first sought election to the 296th Judicial District Court. He won, I lost. In the beginning, I did not want to like him as a judge. I wanted validation that I would have made the better judge. I learned, however, that Roach brought a style to the bench that was his own. Roach is a serious and thoughtful judge who shows a great deal of concern for the well-being of children. I have not always agreed with his rulings; he has ruled against my client on numerous occasions. However, I have never felt he did so for any reason other than an honest desire to do what is best for the family. I am an attorney who handles many divorce and custody cases, I know how important it is to the parents and children to have judges who are as thoughtful in their decisions as Roach. Just as I campaigned four years ago that Roach should not be elected because of his father, I now urge the voters of Collin County to judge the son on his own record, and not that of his father, when deciding how to vote in the upcoming election. We need good judges in Collin County, and Judge Roach is one of them already. Sharon Easley, Plano
Comments (3) Leave comment
| TrackBack (0)
| E-mail entry
The entry "A judge we should keep" is tagged: Collin County
Re: "EPA to boost ethanol usage -- Revised fuel standard 'unlocks the door' for producers of biofuel," Thursday news story. The U.S. produces about 100 million barrels of ethanol a year, and, since it takes about seven barrels of oil to produce eight barrels of ethanol, the U.S. is wasting many of those barrels of oil each year on ethanol. We need to cease production of ethanol in the U.S. and eliminate the tariff on ethanol from Brazil, where ethanol is produced more efficiently from sugar cane. We are not talking about a paltry sum. The Obama administration's call for more ethanol is as disastrous as it will be detrimental to the environment and will result in greater costs to the public for oil, gasoline, diesel and food. Herb Robertson, Dallas
Comments (23) Leave comment
| TrackBack (0)
| E-mail entry
The entry "We're wasting money on ethanol" is tagged: ethanol
Land sakes, what's happening to our funny pages? The comics section in the family newspaper has served as the last bastion for preservation of American family values and suitable reading for the kids. Now we find a lead character in "Judge Parker" openly shacking up with her new-found boyfriend. What would Mary Worth say? Roy H. Kinslow, Dallas
Comments (13) Leave comment
| TrackBack (0)
| E-mail entry
The entry "Scandal in the funnies" has no entry tags.
What a shame. Another one bites the dust in the City Hall corruption scandal, with Terri Hodge's resignation. She wasn't fighting for her constituents. She was busy planning the remodel of her home instead with her illegal cash flow. Then, when queried by the media, political leaders such as Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson have the audacity to say that Hodge was a good representative. Dallas County District Attorney Craig Watkins was bold enough to back Hodge opponent Eric Johnson from the beginning. It's time more leaders stepped up to the plate to condemn Hodge's actions instead of being mum on the subject. Raymond Crawford, Dallas
Comments (2) Leave comment
| TrackBack (0)
| E-mail entry
The entry "Leaders should condemn Hodge" is tagged: Craig Watkins , Terri Hodge
Re: "We Recommend -- Miller for State Board of Education's District 12," Wednesday Editorials. Why is the State Board of Education opposed to students learning to make decisions when presented with two opposing views? The board has decided that the theory of evolution should be taught as science in Texas schools. It is not science. Math and chemistry are sciences. They can be proved. The creation of the universe and all living things -- humans, animals,birds and fish -- cannot be proved either. So this should put it on the same footing as the evolution theory in the classroom for discussion. The Dallas Morning News recommended Geraldine Miller for the State Board of Education's District 12 for her stand on not allowing weaknesses in the evolution theory to be presented. Both The News and Miller need to reconsider their position. Charles Luedeker, Garland
Comments (115) Leave comment
| TrackBack (0)
| E-mail entry
The entry "Reconsider evolution position" is tagged: State Board of Education
Re: "Composer-pianist Hamlisch will be DSO pops conductor," Wednesday GuideDaily. It is refreshing to know that Marvin Hamlisch is coming to bring dance on stage with DSO, and real B'way voices for his Pops, a refreshing step up from the idolization of microphone-dependent wannabes in our society. But for the classical series: Helmuth Rilling is among the greats -- but, DSO board, is this the best allocation of resources, asking him to bring his Messiah to a metroplex with more excellent -- and authentic -- Messiahs than you can shake a stick at? He could offer so much more. Jaap van Zweden has certainly played a more varied repertory at the Concertgebouw than he's offering us here, to an orchestra and public that have been deprived of John Adams, Béla Bartók, Lutoslawsky, Martinu, Poulenc, Schoenberg and Messiaen, to name a few. We have a Dallas Arts District and an AT&T Performing Arts Center -- until we decide to pull them together -- as the great architecture of the beginning of a century, but much too much concentration on the Top 50 18th and 19th centuries in orchestral music. And we expect to attract a younger audience? Oh, dear. Grover Wilkins, music director, Orchestra of New Spain, Dallas
Comments (0) Leave comment
| TrackBack (0)
| E-mail entry
The entry "Let's broaden DSO selections" has no entry tags.
This week the Texas Department of Transportation and the North Texas Tollway Authority have been reminded that soggy dirt slides downhill. Imagine that. I can hardly wait to drive on a toll road built atop a Trinity River levee. Richard Schumacher, Dallas
Comments (2) Leave comment
| TrackBack (0)
| E-mail entry
The entry "Slip sliding away" is tagged: NTTA , txdot
Re: "Group names endangered sites -- Drive-in, San Jacinto Battleground on list of threatened locations," Friday news story. As a young child in Houston, I took occasional family trips to drive-in movies. We kept the car windows open while the movie aired, and mosquitoes tried to eat up everyone. And during many of my visits to the Brazos Drive-In near Granbury in the mid-1970s to watch Blazing Saddles and other shoot-'em-up westerns, I discovered that many people drove to the theater in their pickup trucks and sat on folding chairs in the back of the truck. These trucks also often had a large ice chest filled with cans of Lone Star. In the more violent movies, when a gun battle would begin on the screen, many "cowboys" in their pickups would pull out pistols, shotguns, and/or rifles and fire at the screen. I witnessed this several times at the Brazos Drive-In, where no one was injured. David Bennett, Anna
Comments (6) Leave comment
| TrackBack (0)
| E-mail entry
The entry "Speaking of my drive-in days" has no entry tags.
Watching the Today Show interview with Michelle Obama recently, I saw the First Lady gush about how her husband was usually at home by 6:30 p.m. for dinner. She also talked about how they were able to make the children's games and events. Good for them. But isn't her husband supposed to be running the country? My husband runs a company. In today's economy, he works constantly. His children rarely see him. But we all understand his responsibility to his employees and stockholders, especially right now. Where is the presidents sense of urgency and work ethic? I hope President Barack Obama enjoys the Super Bowl this weekend -- my husband will be working. Joan McGeachy, Dallas
Comments (22) Leave comment
| TrackBack (0)
| E-mail entry
The entry "Obama's down time" is tagged: Michelle Obama
What to do when accelerator sticks Frank Varner, Mesquite
I blame scare tactics, unions Karen Barth, Princeton
I'll buy Toyota again Mike Campbell, Garland
Toyota ignored an obvious problem Cindy Barnett, Flower Mound
Remember Audi was cleared Roy Jenkins, Sachse
I'm tired of 'lemon' testimonials Lance Pinkerton, Allen
Comments (17) Leave comment
| TrackBack (0)
| E-mail entry
The entry "On Toyota recall ..." has no entry tags.
Pro-life -- or not? Judith E. Hedges, Arlington
Roeder as hero Dale Strimple, Plano
Irresponsible mothers ... Payden McBee, Rockwall
... need to have limits JoAnn Jackson, Dallas
... and we have rights, too Mark Perez, Frisco
Comments (13) Leave comment
| TrackBack (0)
| E-mail entry
The entry "On issues of life ... " has no entry tags.
Re: "Craving green guilt -- Steven Asma analyzes environmentalism as the new religion," last Sunday Points. Greg Hawk, Denton
Comments (10) Leave comment
| TrackBack (0)
| E-mail entry
The entry "Science can't be a religion" has no entry tags.
We need one Republican AliceAnne Ebinger, Allen
Think small changes Gary Samuelson, Denton
Let states decide on tort reform Don Unger, Irving
Comments (8) Leave comment
| TrackBack (0)
| E-mail entry
The entry "On health care ... " has no entry tags.
Don't discount Medina Kasi Pollock, Dallas
Candidates should care Willa Avery, Arlington
U.S. issues more important David Reagan, Allen
Let's work together Lawrence R. Maxwell Jr., Dallas
Auditor should check fund Brian Dungan, Richardson
Comments (4) Leave comment
| TrackBack (0)
| E-mail entry
The entry "On the governor's race ... " has no entry tags. |