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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. March 2010
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Letters to the Editor
March 4, 2010
Re: "Let's face country's challenges with civility -- Solutions are attainable if we'll listen to each other, say Andrea Weinstein and Steve Gutow," Feb. 23 Viewpoints. This column suggests that the authors don't appreciate our experience. Perhaps they are not old enough. They call for civility. No one in public life has shown himself more civil than Obama. Weinstein and Gutow suggest that there are two sides to every story. In too many cases, that means one is right, and the other is wrong. If I say 2 plus 5 equals 9, and you say, no, 2 plus 5 equals 7, it is inappropriate to compromise and say that 2 plus 5 must equal 8. Weinstein and Gutow are reasonable and intelligent, but the side making most of the noise is not. They should be careful with their reasonableness. W. Alton Parish, Fort Worth
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Re: "Home lawsuit shifts again," Wednesday news story. Conservative Republicans have sung the praises of tort reform for years. Supported by millions of dollars from supporters like Bob Perry, even the Texas Supreme Court is entirely in the debt of tort reformers. The McDonald's hot-coffee lawsuit, although an anomaly that was corrected, cast a tort reform spell on otherwise reasonable people. Now a tiny light shines through in the case of Bob and Jane Cull. After 10 years, numerous hearings and challenges at every turn, they have finally prevailed to the tune of $58 million awarded by a jury in Fort Worth. But the fat lady has not sung yet. Billionaire Perry pledges to tie up the case for at least another decade. Should we support reform? Yes, for all the rest of us Bobs and Janes. Like that Fort Worth jury, we need to let justice prevail over wealth and political privilege. William Gaunt, Richardson
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The entry "Reform for the rest of us" has no entry tags.
Re: "Hatred's not new for IRS -- Plane attack was an extreme example of venom aimed at workers," Wednesday news story. People feel anger toward the IRS because the tax code is so big and keeps getting bigger; because it is incomprehensible and continues to become more convoluted; because it incorporates social engineering into what should be a simple tax-gathering process; because it is used by Congress to reward friends and contributors and punish enemies. Congress is the culprit. Congress makes the laws; the IRS merely tries to implement them. If the brainpower consumed to create this grotesque monstrosity that is our tax code -- and on finding ways to thwart it -- had been channeled into efforts to benefit mankind, we would have a cure for both cancer and the common cold. Jerry L. Allen, Plano
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The entry "Channel that anger at Congress" is tagged: Congress , IRS
I do not understand the big deal surrounding Dallas' new once-a-week trash pickup. I have had once-a-week pickup, with the addition of recycling pickup a few years ago, for more than 30 years here in Forney. We also have on-call bulk pickup. It works for us! Randy Lawhon, Forney
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The entry "Weekly pickup works in Forney" is tagged: Dallas
Have you driven down a street with trash carts and bags out in front? It is ugly. We have had our garbage picked up by the truck going down the paved alley for more than 55 years. Now the city wants us to put our garbage in front of the house, which will look bad and be unreasonable because I would have to move the cart more than half a block in the street. Apparently the people controlling garbage pickup are not interested in the look of the city. They want us to invite visitors to a city that has the appearance of slums. Those who are responsible should be fired and run out of the city; the sooner, the better. Jerry Waite, Dallas
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The entry "Trashing up the street" is tagged: Dallas
Re: "Hard times ahead for states," by Sanford G. Thatcher, Saturday Letters. Thatcher claims that conservatives and Republicans will have problems overcoming internal struggles to pass bipartisan legislation if they can regain control of Congress, which may result in many states becoming economic disasters such as California. He believes that Republicans have only one goal: to oppose whatever Democrats and President Barack Obama want to accomplish. Indeed. It appears that Democrats and the president are obsessed with the horrific legislation they are trying to dump on our nation, causing it to follow a destructive path economically. Conservatives and Republicans have been trying for the past year to stop them and offer alternative solutions. However, it must be pointed out that many independents have joined the ranks of opposing Obama and the Democrats. Any internecine struggling going on is with liberals and Democrats. Not to worry, with the upcoming November elections, many Democrats and liberals in Congress will be given opportunities to find employment elsewhere, so their struggling days will be over. Lou Mendez, Cedar Hill
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The entry "Democrats struggle with selves" is tagged: Democrats , Republicans
Let's see. The U.S. Postal Service is virtually broke, Freddie is back at the trough begging for more money, Social Security is almost broke, Amtrak is losing money, Medicare and Medicaid are in dire straits, etc. And we want the federal government to run our health care? Have we lost our minds? Terry Martin, McKinney
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The entry "Uncle Sam will ruin health care" is tagged: Health care , Health care reform
Re: "Strapped post office may end Saturday delivery -- Rate hike also weighed as mail volume falls, $7 billion loss projected," Wednesday news story. Mail delivery should be a government function, not a private-sector business. It is a service that those of us in business use on a daily basis, and we rely on it to communicate with clients when electronic delivery is not appropriate. I don't care about Saturday delivery, as that is usually junk mail, but this is one of the few cases where the government should step in and provide funding for reliable delivery. Elizabeth Ehrsam, Plano
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The entry "Mail service continues as a must" has no entry tags. March 3, 2010
To gain a majority, the GOP must pick up at least nine Senate seats. This would give the GOP a majority, but not the 60-vote super-majority. Gridlock will continue, as Democrats can give as good as they've gotten. Then the Republicans will change Senate rules by invoking the nuclear option to eliminate the need for 60 votes. Although all seats in the House are up for grabs, the likelihood of picking up almost 80 seats is uncertain. So agreement between the House and Senate is still unlikely. The only remaining option is for every Senate bill to passed through the reconciliation procedure. The GOP should be ashamed of: Dick Cheney's personal vendetta against the president (imagine a similar circumstance under George W. Bush); allowing the harsh, disrespectful and perhaps unpatriotic claims from the fringe without disowning them; and an animus against the president that might be based in racism. I am white, and I grew up in Mississippi. I've seen it and once lived it. While the GOP may have some gains, it is unlikely to result in significant change. We may be witnessing the end of democracy in America. Robert Maher, Plano
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The entry "Watch what you ask for" is tagged: Republicans
There is a lot of political rhetoric today about job creation. As a businessman for more than 50 years, I can tell you that there are only three reasons to hire a new employee: -- To start a new business. -- To replace an employee who leaves. -- To add a new employee because your business is growing, and you need more employees to handle the workload. The only way for the government to help create new jobs is to put more money into the hands of consumers to spend. This will create new business and new jobs. Ed Vanston, Dallas
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The entry "Three reasons to hire" is tagged: jobs
Re: "Get ready for big cuts, departments told -- Police and fire services aren't exempt; property tax hike batted around," Tuesday news story. I haven't had a raise in several years, and we've reduced our prices to stay competitive. We work more hours for the same pay and receive about the same benefits, and I'm one of the lucky ones. I have a good-paying job. If our market share continues to erode, we will all likely take across-the-board pay cuts to avoid laying anyone off. I propose that the city of Dallas consider at least $2 of pay cuts for every $1 of property tax increases. Then, I would gladly pay my share of the increase. The reason sales tax revenues are down is that Joe Taxpayer doesn't have as much money to spare as in years past, and certainly cannot sustain continued property tax increases to support services the city is unwilling to downsize in a down economy. To the leaders of our great city: Please operate our city services like we manage our private businesses. You can't keep raising prices; it simply isn't a sustainable business plan. Steve Meyer, Dallas
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The entry "Tie cuts to tax hikes" is tagged: Dallas , Taxes
Retiring Sen. Jim Bunning of Kentucky was right to block extending unemployment payments again to those whose benefits are expiring. But his rationale that the extension would violate the recently enacted pay-as-you-go rule in the Senate was off the mark. The right reason to cut off benefits is that they have always been intended to be temporary, not a complete bridge to the next job. They only provide a portion of working wages, usually for up to six months. I have spent a career in human resource management, and it has been my experience that too many people who become unemployed have learned to put off a serious job search until they are approaching the expiration of their unemployment checks. Six months has historically been more than enough time to find another job. Sure, people make the required employment inquiries to qualify for their state benefits, but they don't get serious until the last few months. However, in this economy, they needed to hit the ground running. The bad habit of government facilitating being unemployed is backfiring and must be stopped. We must support putting people to work, not to allowing them to be unemployed. Scott K. Latham, Carrollton
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The entry "Right plan, wrong reason" is tagged: Jim Bunning
Re: "1 man's move idles 2,000, cuts aid," Tuesday news story. Congress passes a pay-as-you-go bill, then turns around and submits an unemployment extension with no funding. I, too, have collected unemployment benefits. But once, just once, I would like to see members of Congress live up to what they say. Sen. Jim Bunning is right. Extend the benefits, but find the money elsewhere. Andrew Sheehy, Frisco
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The entry "Say 'pay as you go' and mean it" is tagged: Jim Bunning
Texas retired teachers have had no cost-of-living raise since 2001, and we are hurting while active teachers continue to get raises. Due to inflation over these nine years, retirees have seen a minimum 22 percent reduction in their spending power. I doubt any other group of professionals has endured such a penalty. Betty Bailey, Coppell
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The entry "Retired teachers are hurting" is tagged: Teachers Retirement System
In Texas, there no longer seems to be a two-party system, especially not in Collin County. There does seem to be two parts of the Republican Party, but neither expresses my views in any way. I am, in a sense, along with many others, being disenfranchised. I know I could write in a name, but that will not accomplish what is needed. So for another four years, I will probably be stuck with the same governor, member of Congress and others whom I have voted against before. Yes, I could vote on the Republican ticket, but Republicans do not offer the alternative I crave. Plus, I do not want to be solicited by tons of Republican advertisements and contribution requests when I do not support the agenda, so I don't want my voter card stamped that way. Where is the middle-of-the-road party? Where are the conservative Democrats? Where are some Republicans who are willing to work for the good of the country instead of their own agenda? Not on this ballot for sure. Annabelle Brown, McKinney
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The entry "Looking for the political middle" is tagged: Democrats , Republicans March 2, 2010
My job as an outside sales rep requires that I drive the streets of Dallas daily. I am utterly amazed at the condition of these streets. This should be an absolute embarrassment. I do not want to hear about budget cuts. I want to know where all the federal and state money is going. I want to hear that our license registration money is allocated for these streets. These roads are not going to fix themselves. With the ever-increasing traffic, we do not need cutbacks. This problem affects everyone, except those who are wealthy enough to fly to work in a helicopter. Even then, you have to drive these streets to get to the heliport. Where are our city officials and state Legislature when we need them? They must have run into one of our deeper potholes en route. No doubt they were coming to discuss how to make the Trinity River bottom like that of San Antonio's River Walk. Let me solve that problem. Just fill the potholes with water, and you have some instant water attractions. Jack Tittle, Mesquite
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The entry "Embarrassing potholes abound" is tagged: Trinity River Project
Re: "Get ready for big cuts, departments told -- Police and fire services aren't exempt; property tax hike batted around," Tuesday news story. That any city would consider a property tax increase -- or any other tax increase -- while the economy continues to falter is astounding. Have officials not made the connection? The "steep decline in sales tax revenues" means that there's been an equally steep decline in sales and services. Citizens have less money, not more. There are fewer wage-earners per household now. Family income is down. Hours have been curtailed. Self-employed people wait anxiously for the phone to ring. Folks on commission are hurting. Contract workers and casual laborers are idle. Investments aren't producing. Drivers think twice about using a toll road. How can a city presume to ask for more in taxes? Raising taxes in this climate does not produce more money. Raising taxes just forces everyday folks to shift money away from the pressing obligations they already have. The increased tax burden becomes an additional facet of the problem, not a solution.
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The entry "Tax hike? They're kidding" is tagged: Dallas , Taxes
Re: "Officers in crashes are often unbuckled -- Many in Texas cite need to get out of car quickly, control violent prisoners," Sunday news story. Police departments might want to try out the seat belts and shoulder harnesses used in military aircraft. Shoulder harness straps come over each shoulder and buckle into the seat belt mid-body at the seat belt release point. Seat belts are released, along with the shoulder harnesses, mid-body with one hand and with one rapid motion. The occupant is freed. Military aircraft seat belts and shoulder harnesses even work underwater. I know from experience. Rod Whalen, Tyler
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The entry "Seat belt solution for police" has no entry tags.
Normally, I don't get into the Winter Olympics, but I really did this year, watching every night. I even watched curling and ice dancing -- in front of other people. After the final ceremonies, I tried to determine why I had this newfound interest in an event that I had largely ignored over the years. I could come to only one conclusion -- it was the weather. It's hard to get jazzed up about the frigid Winter Olympics when you just finished washing your car in 70-plus-degree weather wearing jeans, a T-shirt and flip-flops. The transition is just too much. This year, however, it was different. Our weather on some days didn't look too much different than the weather at the Winter Olympics. The fantasy was complete! Harold Whittington, Garland
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If you voted in the primary elections, the election worker didn't offer you a Libertarian Party or Green Party ballot. Why? The Texas Election Code prohibits us from holding a primary if our gubernatorial candidate in the previous election cycle did not garner a large enough percentage of the vote. But in the minds of many voters, the primary process is what legitimizes a party. This is one of several ways that Democrats and Republicans rig the laws to keep us marginalized and to ensure that voters do not perceive that they have another choice. It seems that Democrats and Republicans are afraid to compete in a truly free marketplace of ideas. Lelon Ginn, treasurer, Denton County Libertarian Party, Denton
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Re: "Starbucks stuck in crossfire of gun-toting and gun-control groups -- Some protest chain's acceptance of those testing open-carry laws," Monday news story. The insecure, paranoid people who feel it necessary to parade around with their guns on display have more problems than they are aware of. Whenever possible, I will avoid places these people frequent. Normal people do not need deadly weapons on their person to feel confident and secure. Mary Grimaldo, Garland
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The entry "Gun-toters are different" is tagged: Guns
Re: "1 man's move idles 2,000, cuts aid," Tuesday news story. Democrats pounced on Republican Sen. Jim Bunning and his party for "obstructionist politics," and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood was quoted as saying, "I am keenly disappointed that political games are putting a stop to important construction projects." What the article does not make clear is that, after massive deficit spending, Democrats have resurrected pay-go, the rule that every spending bill in Congress must be matched by an off-setting cut or tax to pay for the spending. This rule was signed by President Barack Obama on Feb.12. This is the first spending bill to come before the Senate after pay-go was signed into law, and the Senate majority tried to have this spending exempted from its own rule. Bunning is trying to put a finger into the dyke to stem the flood of red ink, which the Senate majority cannot seem to do. Democrats term this "political games" and "obstructionist." Michael H. Sebastian, Dallas
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The entry "Why Bunning put the brakes on" is tagged: Democrats , Republicans March 1, 2010
Re: "All I want is the truth in our public political discourse," by Steve Blow, Sunday Metro column. Blow's column belongs on the front page, above the fold. If there is one thing this country really needs, it is for its politicians to speak with honesty. We, the public, should be reminded every day to demand that our elected officials and the people who speak for them are not to lie or tell only partial truths. If we do not demand the truth, we deserve to be considered as ignorant as our current representatives seem to think we are. The truth seems so little to ask. Donna Kinsey, Richardson
... and check it out One sentence in Steve Blow's Sunday column should be emblazoned on every computer: "If you can't confirm it, don't send it." The number of rumors, half-truths and outright lies being circulated over the Internet is alarming. How can intelligent people read such outlandish statements without questioning their accuracy? If these stories were printed in any legitimate publication, the authors would be facing hefty lawsuits. It is time to take Blow's advice and check out questionable stories on Snopes .com or FactCheck.org. Blindly propagating lies is just plain wrong. Sally Lee, Frisco
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The entry "On false rumors in e-mails: Demand the truth ..." has no entry tags.
Re: "Three sentenced in 'betrayal of our city' -- Ex-Mayor Pro Tem Hill gets 18 years -- Wife Farrington Hill gets nine years -- Lee, former planning official, gets 14 years -- Bribery, extortion plot involved $5 million in contracts, kickbacks," Saturday news story. U.S. District Judge Barbara Lynn has given the people of Dallas justice and the beginning of closure on a terrible time in our city's history. The headline, "betrayal of our city," says it all. Lynn has given us back our trust in the judicial process by holding those guilty accountable. Our current city officials should stand proud that the black eye on Dallas is being removed by a judge who is protecting our public interest. Wade Hill, Cedar Hill
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The entry "Yes, city was betrayed" is tagged: City Hall , Dallas
Re: "Tea Party logic hurts debate," by Charles Elliott, Friday Letters. He pretty well implied that the people who are in the Tea Party movement are uninformed and not very intelligent and that big government is really good for the American people and economy. Actually, the opposite is true. I don't believe people on the left are stupid, ignorant or even uninformed. They are simply purpose-driven and desire a socialist-type big government, where the government makes the decisions for Americans and controls our lives. I doubt if they really think out the consequences. More than ever, the majority of people are well-informed, with no thanks to the left-wing, mainstream media, and are very capable of making good decisions about the direction this great country should go in. David Ralston, Allen
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The entry "Tea Party beliefs" is tagged: Tea party February 28, 2010
I watched with awe as the Canadian Women's hockey team (and the crowd) sang their national anthem with feeling and energy on awards night, something I haven't seen with the USA's gold medal winners. I wondered how many of our children even know the words any more. Bill Holmes, Dallas
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The entry "Canadians sing with gusto" is tagged: Olympics
How about a summit on jobs? There are some 15 million out of work, and Washington is talking about health care. If people don't have jobs, more than likely they don't have health care. Now I don't need a summit to figure that out. Brent Faulk, Mesquite
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The entry "Priorities all wrong" is tagged: health care summit
Re: "A Made-for-TV Cure -- Can Dems, GOP agree on reform prescription?" Thursday Editorials. A line in this editorial that should have been in bold and all caps was: "But both parties owe it to Americans to show up with a willingness to compromise." Our government, both federal and state, has come to a standstill on all major issues. Voters are left with nothing more than talking points from politicians only concerned with re-election. Congress should engrave the following quote by Edmond Burke at every seat in both chambers: "All government -- indeed, every human benefit and enjoyment, every virtue and every prudent act -- is founded on compromise and barter." Michael Janicek, Dallas
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The entry "The importance of compromise" is tagged: health care summit
If you sell a product, such as an automobile, to U.S. consumers and cannot fix a major problem plaguing that unit, which, according to the company's U.S. president, it cannot guarantee will solve it, then you should not be in business here. As much as a car costs, it should have the same odds as playing a slot machine as to whether it works properly. Toyota cannot, and should not, gamble with people's lives just to be No. 1. Chuck Bloom, Plano
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The entry "Auto safety a must" is tagged: Toyota
Re: "Democrats' proposals aren't the norm -- No-kill shelters across state seen as part of being good conservators to animals," Thursday news story. For those thinking Kinky Friedman's idea to provide no-kill shelters throughout Texas is a fruitless endeavor, let me set you straight. Huts for Mutts in Hamilton is just such a shelter, and through our tireless volunteer work the past six years, we have lowered the euthanasia rate nearly 75 percent in Hamilton and Coryell counties. We encourage responsible pet ownership and offer free and low-cost spay-neuter events. We educate. The tax dollars saved by those communities run well into the $100,000 mark, so Friedman's idea is not only rooted in compassion but has great fiscal merit as well. Marion Stanford, Hamilton
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The entry "Kinky's no-kill shelters will work" is tagged: Kinky Friedman
Re: "35E crawls to dubious title -- 5 sections of Stemmons are among region's most congested," Thursday news story. The fact that Interstate 35E interchanges are ranked as the area's most congested should not come as a surprise. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison has been saying that under the surface there are huge problems brewing in Texas. I am amazed the Texas Department of Transportation representative would admit that there is no funding. Gov. Rick Perry has had 10 years to lead this state and provide for the future, and the TxDot team is under his appointees. What other bombshells are ticking away? James Clement, Dallas
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The entry "Congestion another time bomb?" is tagged: Rick Perry , traffic
Three Cheers is a weekly collection of upbeat letters that inspire readers to think and act positively. Share your own timely story or observation by sending it to "Three Cheers" at letters@dallasnews.com. 1 Recyclers go the extra mile -- To the guys who have the thankless job of collecting our recycling every week: I have seen you back your truck up to our driveway, when you noticed we had forgotten to put our bin by the curb. Not once have you done this, but every time we are late putting it out. You don't have to do it since, technically, our bin is not where it is supposed to be. But you do it anyway, even though I can't ever seem to catch you to say thanks. So, thank you, guys! Your conscientiousness to do your job well and your common courtesy has not gone unnoticed or unappreciated. Suzy Cox, Dallas
2 Appreciation for service -- It has always been my practice when seeing those in uniform to shake their hands and thank them for their service to our country. Recently, my wife and I were having dinner at a local restaurant in North Dallas. Seated near us were a soldier and his wife who appeared to be just finishing their meal. I went over and thanked him for his service. They both smiled and said thank you. During our brief conversation, his wife, with a tear in her eye, said that he was being deployed to Afghanistan. I asked how he felt about it. He hesitated a few seconds and said, "It's God's job to forgive Osama bin Laden - I'm going over there to help arrange the meeting." With that, I told them that I'd be honored to buy their dinner. Gary Russell, Richardson
3 A letter carrier's kindness -- Our neighborhood's most neighborly person doesn't even live here. He is Val Garcia, our letter carrier, and he cares for every family in remarkable ways. Last month, an elderly neighbor died, and Val worried that his widow would have trouble navigating her steep stairs to get the mail. Val told her to put a box on her front porch, and he would go up the stairs and place the mail in the box every day. Now she can look forward to getting the mail every day without worrying about falling. Three cheers for this random act of kindness. Nell Anne Hunt, Irving
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The entry "Three cheers" has no entry tags. February 27, 2010
Looks like a one-party effort Steve Anthony, Dallas
Pam Fong, Little Elm
Body language says it all Jeff Horton, Grand Prairie
Please, some mutual respect Wanda Ferguson, Dallas
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The entry "On the health care summit ... " has no entry tags.
I am appalled at Texans who are going to the polls without doing any research into the candidates they elect. Their intellectual laziness will affect us all. Look, for instance, at the mandatory teacher health plan that Gov. Rick Perry passed during his first year in office. It costs Texans billions per year and provides virtually no savings for teachers over individual insurance plans, even though we are a 500,000-person group. It's an oligopoly. Kay Bailey Hutchison has done good things. But what about when, in effect, she voted for no-bid contracts under H.R. 2892? And, we know about the big George W. Bush bailout. She's helped D.C. become the money-eating monster it is. Teresa Beck, Godley
What does 9/11 have to do with the Texas governor's race? How does Debra Medina drop in the polls after the Glenn Beck setup? Texans are foolish enough to believe that her answer to the 9/11 question wasn't quite what it seemed to be. To take an issue nearly 10 years in the past and use that to smear a candidate's personal stand when she offered no information that would lead anyone but the media in the direction it went is unbelievable. Wake up, Texans. Medina is the only candidate supporting the return of the Constitution. With laws like the Patriot Act, the Real ID Act and all of the executive orders passed during the last two years, we have lost our basic rights guaranteed us as citizens. She is the one candidate who supports a person's rights and is prepared to restore these rights set up in our Constitution and fought for by the Founding Fathers. This is America, and it is our constitutional duty to question all of the government's actions and to hold them in check when these activities begin to turn on Americans. Carey Burns, Palestine
Perry's 'strings' could lift schools Texas is 46th in the nation in public education. But Gov. Rick Perry will not accept education funds from Washington because "there are strings attached." But maybe those strings could help pull Texas schools up. Robert Sargent, Carrollton Recent articles in The Dallas Morning News discuss plans for cutbacks in various government agencies because of a forecast of a $19 billion shortfall in the state budget. The cutbacks would include already-lean areas such as education, public health, etc. Yet, in one of his ads for re-election, Rick Perry claims that, under his leadership, Texas has "billions in reserve." Is this more of the economics voodoo that we've heard in the past? Mike Barns, Irving Enough, enough already! I can no longer stand to listen to Rick Perry or Kay Bailey Hutchison radio ads. After their relentless assaults, I now change the station as soon as one airs. If we are to believe the content of these ads, we have to wonder why we ever voted for either of these two despicable people for any office. Their ads say both are horrible people who have cheated their constituents and have accomplished nothing in office. I am sure, though, as soon as one of them is eliminated, the losing candidate will throw total support behind the winning candidate. How can they suddenly support someone they savaged so viciously just the week before? I am disgusted with both of these two candidates and will never vote for either of them for any office. Ray Finfer, North Richland Hills Perry's misleading on secession I would like to ask Gov. Rick Perry how we Texans would pay for all the federal government provides if we were to secede. There would be no, Medicare, no Medicaid for the poor, no disaster relief, no unemployment benefits. There would be no money for roads, hospitals, no money for Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport or Love Field and the airlines, and no money for schools. If the Tea Party cry is "Tax Enough, Already," do people not see if Texas were able to secede, our taxes would have to be raised to pay for everything the federal government pays for. I honestly believe that this governor is playing politics and is not being honest with the people from Texas when he talks about secession. Marie Salomon, Carrollton Debra Medina has my vote in her race for governor. Whatever Glenn Beck and all other neo-conservatives may think of her, at least she is honest. She did not tell people only what they wanted to hear. She wasn't being politically correct. That is something truly lacking in American politics today. David Kneer, Carrollton
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The entry "On the GOP race for governor: Texans need to research vote" is tagged: Debra Medina , Kay Bailey Hutchison , Rick Perry
Re: "A bite-sized portion of immigration reform -- Clayton McCleskey says U.S. doesn't need to bite off more than it can chew," last Sunday Points. The biggest outrage is reserved for Daniel Griswold's claim that on average, every H-1B worker creates five jobs in the U.S. The deceit implicit in this Big Lie is that those five jobs are high-paying technical positions. Please, show some common sense There is nothing special about H-1B workers. The vast majority of them come here through huge foreign job shops simply to fill U.S. positions at low cost. They don't magically create companies while they are here any more than local workers do. Carl Dreher, Dallas
H-1B runaround I suggest Clayton McCleskey speak with some American-born high-tech workers who are employed by companies that sponsor H-1B visas for a number of their immigrant workers so that he can find a more balanced opinion. These companies are required to publish job openings for positions to give non-H-1B workers a chance at them. But it is no secret that companies already have an H-1B worker they want to place in that position. Then when a number of people do apply, they are all turned down on some false premise. There is no shortage of high-tech workers in this country; there is simply a shortage of honest companies actually looking to hire them. Lori Debetaz, Flower Mound
The cap-and-trade charade Re: "Obama's green bargain -- Last year, he was extolling renewables. Now, he's talking about nuclear plants. Kate Sheppard asks: What happened?" last Sunday Points. In this instance, legislators need only pass the president's cap-and-trade proposal and then President Barack Obama will presumably begin the process of developing more nuclear plants and new offshore drilling for oil and gas. The problem is that, at its core, cap-and-trade is no more than a hidden tax on consumers. Up front, the cap on certain emissions will increase the production cost for conventional energy, which will be passed on to us as we drive our cars and heat our homes. In turn, we are promised that we will eventually receive more energy from oil, natural gas and nuclear sources, thus creating new jobs and reducing dependence on foreign oil. The kicker is that it will take a very long time to get through the permitting, environmental studies and other government clearances before anything can get started. In fact, that long time very likely will be an eternity. Ron Wolf, Plano
Women get away with it Re: "Reading between the sheets -- What do adulterous women tell us about politics and ourselves? Lisa Belkin gains some insight," last Sunday Points. When a man does something despicable, he deserves to be punished. And, generally, he is. But when a woman is guilty of the same behavior, we feel sympathy for her instead. We ask, "What could have happened to that poor woman to make her do that?" Even when the women involved are Ph.D.s or NASA astronauts, we are content to let them off the hook with a slap on the wrist, or at worst, put them in a mental hospital. When O.J. went free, when the officers who beat Rodney King went free, there was an explosion of outrage. When Lisa Nowak got away with attempted murder and Lorena Bobbit was set free, hardly anyone noticed. And Belkin is puzzled over why a much younger woman would want to sleep with one of the most powerful men on earth. Surely she knows that having the dirt on a senator or a sports god is solid gold in the Girl World. It's not "complexity" that we're more ready to accept in a man, it's accountability. Gene Johnson, Dallas
Drop that hyphen I am of Irish decent and don't use "Irish American" because my family was born in America. We are Americans. The way the blacks in Africa are treated, I can't believe anyone would want to be associated with that kind of treatment, or be "proud" in any way. Just be a very proud American who happens to be black. And, as your equal, I'll be a proud American who happens to be white. We are in a different world now, in a different time, thank God, and we all need to group together as one to better our America. No more labels mean no more segregation. Debbie Clark, Plano
Breaking point ahead? Re: "Talking Points," last Sunday Points. The quotes from Tea Party activist Pam Stout and Austin airplane terrorist Joseph Stack had a surprising, chilling effect on me because they both had a similar tone: one that approves of violence to settle a grievance and blames the other party to justify their potential or actual violent acts. Stack obviously felt that flying his airplane into an IRS building was his only remaining choice. Stout and her allies seem to be reaching that point when she says "sometimes you are not given a choice." Ms. Stout and her fellow Tea Party activists have an alternative: fire their governor, representative, senator, etc., and do it regularly. If not, I fear that we're one Glenn Beck or Rush Limbaugh segment from today's Tea Party activist becoming tomorrow's domestic terrorist.
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The entry "On Points: Issues with immigration" is tagged: Illegal immigrant , Tea party
Of the opinion offered, the only part I could agree with was that the entire debate has become political rather than an attempt to seek factual, substantial information. In an attempt to help address that, allow me to offer this: Climate change can happen much more swiftly than most of us believe. Rather than thousands of years, dramatic shifts in climate can occur in a few years. Every Ice Age has been proceeded by a period of warming (accompanied by a rise in greenhouse gases) prior to an abrupt shift to a colder, drier climate. There is no consensus as to what can cause a shift from warm to cold, but there is considerable consensus that such vacillations have occurred with regularity for several hundred thousand years, and we are overdue for the next shift to cold. As a society, we should be considering how to deal with a radical shift in climate before it comes instead of waiting to see if it comes. If we start shifting to a colder, drier climate, feeding people is going to get awfully hard even here in the U.S. John Hitz, Plano
An automatic response It's interesting how the eloquent George Will can wax on about "global warming," yet never once uses the word "pollution." It must be like the inability of most Republicans to say the word "taxes" without saying "lower" first. David Armstrong, Poetry
Perry forgets Scout roots Gov. Rick Perry is an Eagle Scout. Boy Scouts teach Scouts to leave a place cleaner than when they found it. Apparently, Perry has forgotten the lessons he learned in Boy Scouts. He can begin to move back to the Scouting ideals by dropping the state's frivolous lawsuit again the Environmental Protection Agency over the EPA's CO2 emissions findings. Perry should be working on ways to improve Texas' air quality. He shouldn't be wasting Texas tax dollars on frivolous lawsuits that will leave Texas air dirtier than when he came into office. Richard Bach, Garland
Bad science, results Re: "I don't see a conspiracy," by Tina Sanchez, last Sunday Letters. She should remember that the fabrication of solar collectors and wind turbines creates toxic pollutants and are also energy-intensive. There are no magic bullets; we must rely on rational choices, based on best science and practice. Onerous regulations created from bad science and propaganda will raise the cost of energy for the consumer and the price of everything we make, ship or buy many times over. It will impact the poor most of all -- in jobs, in household expenses, in opportunity. Instead, we should focus our resources on cleaning the air and water from the real pollutants and recognize the bad policy created around greenhouse gases as so much hot air to be defeated for our common good. I support the state's efforts to defeat bad EPA policy. Dana Wenzel, Dallas
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The entry "On climate change: Facts often neglected" is tagged: climate change
This is the problem ... Thomas Allen, Lancaster ... and this is the solution Philip Masters, Dallas
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The entry "On DART ridership ... " has no entry tags.
I have just received another of the ongoing mailings between Texas House District 101 candidates Greg Noschese and Cindy Burkett. If you are on their mailing lists, you know exactly what I mean. It has now reached the level of comedy. Joe Haywood, Mesquite
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The entry "Election Letters: Latham for Texas House District 101" has no entry tags.
I have had the privilege to see the positive effect Angela Tucker has demonstrated in the Collin County judicial system. She is dedicated to giving her best to her clients and giving her best for her community. She is a godly woman, a wonderful wife and mother, and, when she is elected, Collin County will be the beneficiary of the best legal mind available to meet the needs and demands of Collin County. Karen Fowler, Plano
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The entry "Election Letters: Tucker for 219th District Court in Collin County" has no entry tags.
About four years ago, as a family law attorney, I was involved in an emergency case with a high risk of harm to a child in Rockwall County. At 4:45 on a Friday afternoon, the judge called Cathy Penn up from the district attorney's office to meet with me. Pamela Miley, Rockwall
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The entry "Election Letters: Penn for Rockwall County Justice of the Peace, Pcts. 2 and 3" has no entry tags.
State Rep. Burt Solomons has listened to the people of our community and brought home great results. I have known him for many years, and I can tell you that he still cares as passionately today about the rights of the people living in his district as he ever has. Barbara Russell, Denton
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I have known Jim Truitt since 1990, when Jim was elected mayor of Richland Hills. Since that time, Truitt has held leadership positions in many political, civic and charitable organizations. Elizabeth Sheppard, Richland Hills
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The entry "Election Letters: Truitt for Tarrant clerk" has no entry tags.
Chance Oliver represents the best of Denton County in the race for judge of Denton County Court at Law No. 1. Once elected as presiding judge of Denton County's only designated juvenile court, Oliver would devote his entire body and soul toward making our county strong, safe and productive. Bill Kula, Plano (Denton County)
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Charles & Carolyn Chesnutt, Frisco FOR KEITH GORE Keith Gore is seeking election to the 296th Judicial District Court, a court of general jurisdiction. When it is running at full capacity, this court hears criminal, family and civil law cases. Gore is the only qualified candidate in this race because of his vast knowledge and experience in all three of these areas. Gore is the only qualified candidate who will ensure that the taxpayers' dollars are effectively used by returning this court to its full operational capacity. Gore is a solid, deeply committed Republican. He represents the kind of political, economic and social thinking that is needed in our county. Gore is truly a well-grounded attorney whose commitment to justice is seasoned with a deep understanding of the law and a profound sense of fairness. Gore will restore humility and honor to this court and reinstate its statutorily mandated purpose. Rebecca Brewer, McKinney
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The entry "Election Letters: 296th Judicial District Court in Collin County" has no entry tags.
FOR WAYNE RICHARD Al Carnes, Plano
FOR MABRIE JACKSON Cara Mendelsohn, Plano
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The entry "Election Letters: Texas House District 66" has no entry tags.
FOR JERRY HOAGLAND Alan Johnson, Plano
FOR CHERYL WILLIAMS Steve Bonnette, San Antonio
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The entry "Election Letters: Collin County Commissioners Court, Precinct 2" has no entry tags.
FOR KATHY WARD Gerald Laura Wimpee, Plano FOR DUNCAN WEBB My wife, Ann, and I have known Duncan Webb for 27 years. Over the years, I have served on several committees with Webb, and I have observed his outstanding talents and leadership skills. Currently, I am a member of our Christ United Methodist Church's building committee, as we build a large new sanctuary at the corner of Coit and Parker Roads. Webb has done a magnificent job chairing this committee. His knowledge, talents and direction have meant so much to the success of this project. Jack Schulik, Plano
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The entry "Election Letters: Collin County Commissioners Court, Precinct 4" has no entry tags.
FOR KEITH SELF John Hancock, Allen Glenn Callison, Plano
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The entry "Election Letters: Collin County Judge" has no entry tags.
Re: "Migrants are best of both worlds," by Steve Blow, last Sunday Metro column. Jill Dorjee, Dallas
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The entry "System doesn't always work" is tagged: Dallas
What a wonderful tribute -- a new DISD school named for Ebby Halliday. Joan Patmore, Dallas
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The entry "Halliday honored with school" has no entry tags.
Joanne Smith, Dallas
A money-saving idea Mary Doster, Dallas
I prefer the alley for trash Jim Carrao, Dallas
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The entry "On Dallas trash pickup changes ... " is tagged: Dallas
Irving leadership has shamed Irving Hispanics again. In a school district where the student body is at least 67 percent Hispanic, our school board had to go all the way to Georgia to bring a person totally foreign to our culture, language and traditions, and to lead the education of our children. Ruben M. Carranza, Irving
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The entry "Leader doesn't meet needs" has no entry tags.
Five candidates for various positions lost my vote over the weekend:
I will vote for the one candidate who took time to walk my block, meet voters and discuss issues of concern to them. Neal Watts, Richardson
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The entry "My candidate selection process" has no entry tags.
Re: "Whale attacks, kills trainer at SeaWorld show -- Officials say animal had been involved in 2 previous deaths," Thursday news story. David Bennett, Anna
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The entry "Whale attack shouldn't surprise" has no entry tags. February 26, 2010
Re: "Deadly, yet still neglected -- Fighting high blood pressure needs to be priority, panel says," Tuesday news story. This story states that doctors should do more to help their patients live a healthy lifestyle by controlling their salt intake. Doctors shouldn't be taking all the blame. Restaurants and fast food chains should eliminate salt added to their foods. A salt shaker should be available for those who want to add salt to foods at restaurants and small packets put into bags at fast food takeouts. People with high blood pressure should at least have the option of salt or no salt. Anita Osborne, Wylie
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The entry "Holding the line on salt intake" has no entry tags.
Re: "Balancing on a Stool -- Start with these 3 legs to make state budget fit," Tuesday Editorials. This editorial says, "The state should close the loophole that gives businesses a discount for paying their (sales) taxes early or on time." In my 28 years in the retail auto parts business, I was forced to keep two sets of books: one for me and one for the state, and, like me, many small businesses don't have elaborate computer systems. I collected taxes a few dollars at a time, banked the money, sent the state one monthly check, was always subject to an audit, suffered high penalties if I was one day late, and for all my trouble and liability, the state was generous enough to give me $5 for every $1,000 I sent them. This editorial calls this a loophole. The merchant "discount" should be increased to at least 2 percent. Ron Cawthon, Duncanville
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The entry "Tax 'loophole' small potatoes" is tagged: Taxes
Re: "Governors share financial worries -- Health care, jobs top state leaders' concerns as budgets shrink," and, "Beck blames both parties for 'addiction' to big government -- Progressives tax and spend, he says, while Republicans just spend," Sunday news stories, and, "Obama's green bargain -- Last year, he was extolling renewables. Now, he's talking about nuclear plants. Kate Sheppard asks: What happened?" Sunday Points. The adjacent stories about the meetings of the National Governors Association and the Conservative Political Action Conference raise interesting questions. The jubilant mood of Republicans, buoyed by the energy of the Tea Party movement, leads them to believe they can take control of Congress again in November's elections. Hence the strategy of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (described in Points) "to oppose everything" proposed by the Obama administration and the congressional Democratic leadership in the meantime. The conservatives meeting in D.C. clearly represented many factions who agree on only one thing: opposing the Democrats. Once in power, will they have any ability at all to overcome their own internecine struggle to suggest any legislation that has a prayer of uniting their factions, let alone gaining bipartisan support? And if they can only agree on limiting the role of the federal government, the demand for services will then devolve to the states, whose governors are clearly already worried greatly about their state deficits. Will Republican electoral success at the national level simply bring more states to the level of crisis we now see in California? Sanford G. Thatcher, Frisco
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The entry "Hard times ahead for states?" is tagged: conservatism , conservative movement , Tea party
Re: "Taxes low here? Think again," by Carolyne C. Nielson, and, "Property tax is what we have," by Joseph Dingman, Wednesday Letters. Nielson believes an income tax would "lower taxes." She compares Texas taxes to California and Massachusetts, of all places. I have lived in places with a state income tax. The state government will just grow and spend, and property taxes will be just as high in the long run. But Dingman thinks the current system is working. Maybe for a senior with "frozen" property taxes. Texas needs a complete revamping of the property tax system. Appraisal districts are controlled by the taxing entities. Nowhere in the system is anyone elected to an office accountable to the public. At the very least, the chief appraiser of every county should be elected. Coy M. Prather, Montalba
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The entry "Revamp property tax system" is tagged: Taxes
In the recent Massachusetts primary that preceded the special election for the Senate seat of the late Edward Kennedy, many voters stayed home. Democrats were blasé; Republicans were not hopeful of gaining a seat long held by a Democrat. Voters were left to chose between a lackluster Democrat, who was a pale replacement to her predecessor and who assumed that people would vote for her simply because of the D after her name on the ballot, and a conservative independent Republican who defended waterboarding as justifiable, vilified the bank bailout orchestrated by his own party and was openly critical of a national health bill modeled after the one legislated in his own state, which he approved of and voted for as a state senator. Texans need to pay attention to the lessons of Massachusetts. We tend to stay home during the primaries, leaving the hard choices to party loyalists, the extremes of both sides of the aisle. Too many issues are facing us as a state and a nation to just leave it to a few insiders to decide. It is time for all of us to exercise our constitutional right to vote. If we don't, we may wake up next Wednesday wishing we had paid closer attention. Jacqui Mekias, Dallas
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The entry "Don't leave it to party insiders" has no entry tags.
Lately, voters residing in the South Dallas community have been bombarded with calls to vote for Terri Hodge. This is nonsense. Don't waste your vote by casting it for Terri Hodge. A vote for Eric Johnson in state House District 100 is a vote for fair, honest government -- something South Dallas has sorely lacked for many years. Voters should reject all appeals to vote for Terri Hodge, who has admitted that she betrayed the people by using her office for personal gain. Hodge herself has said people should not vote for her. If Hodge does get the most votes on Tuesday, she cannot serve. Instead, precinct chairs will select another person -- someone who has not even come forward to put his or her name on the ballot so that the voters can measure his or her credentials and judge his or her fitness for office. Regardless of whom that person might be, that is a continuation of the sort of under the table, backroom politics that have damaged the southern part of our city for too long. Johnson had the courage and the decency to put himself forward and run against Hodge. He is a qualified candidate who has played by the rules. He deserves the votes of everyone who wants to see District 100 prosper. He also deserves the votes of everyone who wants an end to corruption, secrecy and abuses of the democratic process. It's time for South Dallas voters to stand up and say that enough is enough. Hank Lawson, Dallas
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The entry "A vote for Hodge is a waste" is tagged: Terri Hodge February 25, 2010
Re: "Armey calls Obama 'shallow,' 'incompetent' -- In speech at meeting, party icon also says GOP has lost its way," last Friday news story. I am saddened but not surprised by Dick Armey's scathing critique of President Barack Obama at the recent Conservative Political Action Conference. Calling Obama "the most incompetent president perhaps in our lifetime" is a stretch. This description is arguably already taken by our most recent president, who is alive and well right here in Dallas. Armey described Obama as an "arrogant, self-righteous income-redistributor" and an "ideologue." If Armey would like to see someone who is truly a self-righteous ideologue, all he has to do is look into the nearest mirror. Glenn Johnson, Irving
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The entry "What an ideologue looks like" has no entry tags.
Joe Stack's cowardly and murderous atrocity was not a sign that our tax system is unfair or that our government is broken. Stack bought into the urban myth nonsense that the income tax is voluntary and/or illegal. The Supreme Court has ruled that both those ideas are egregiously false. The Supreme Court gets to decide these things, not half-educated nutballs on the Internet. People who try to apply that silliness go to prison. Stack was a failure of his own making. Praise for such malignant loons is irresponsible and immoral. Charles Norman, Dallas
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The entry "No praise for cowardly attack" has no entry tags.
I am a conservative. I believe that my taxes are too high, Congress -- both Republicans and Democrats -- spends way too much and government as a whole is far too intrusive. If that makes me a Tea Party conservative, so be it. I do not condone the manifesto or actions of Joseph Stack. He was a domestic terrorist. I do not appreciate attempts by the left, including the media, to associate Stack with any conservative movement, particularly the Tea Party movement. It is a shameful, crass way to sully those who disagree with them. Chip Holman, Coppell
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The entry "Tea Party label unfair" is tagged: Tea party
In the wake of pilot Joseph Stack's attack, onlookers expressed relief that it was not an incident of Islamist terrorism. If Stack's attack fits the four-pronged criteria of terrorism -- a criminal act against a civilian population with intent to cause fear, death, or injury, and as a means to influence government and/or politics -- but is dismissed empathetically as an act by one of our own, does this actually mean "being Muslim" is one of the understood, but unstated, criteria in the definition of terrorism? Will this characterization induce other Americans with personal grievances to lash out at the federal government? Will it continue to muddy the issue of terrorism as representative of the Islamic faith tradition, which obviously does not corner the market on politically motivated violence? Stack's attack will now undoubtedly serve as a litmus test for whether American media coverage and government verbiage will represent events through a politically and emotionally charged lens or via a precise and more objective account. Reem Elghonimi, board member, Council on American-Islamic Relations DFW, Garland
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The entry "Defining terrorism" has no entry tags.
Re: "Should it be called terrorism or criminal act? Authorities, Muslims, others weigh in on one side or the other," Sunday news story. It is a truly horrific thing when vengeful thinking sheds itself of all inhibitions and becomes vengeful action, taking and/or injuring lives and becoming tragic as in the Austin plane crash incident. Another tragedy lies in the statement of Nihad Awad, director of the Council on Islamic-American Relations: "The position of many individuals and institutions seems to be that no act of violence can be labeled 'terrorism' unless it is carried out by a Muslim." Why does Awad's response remind me of a child who comes to school with a fake cast because he saw how much attention his friend received for a legitimate injury? Self-victimization in light of true tragedy is infantile and narcissistic at best. Ryan Yaklin, Coppell
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The entry "Terror argument tragic" has no entry tags.
Re: "Glorifying Insanity -- Austin attack must not be confused with heroism," Saturday Editorials. Anyone who even slightly considers this terrorist a hero is of the same ilk as those who cheered the 9/11 attack. Terror is terror, whether committed by al-Qaeda members or U.S. citizens, and sadly all it accomplishes is more restrictions to our personal freedom. Those who use this act for political gain need to be censured before they foster more of these senseless acts. George W. Buffington, Farmers Branch
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The entry "Call it what it is: terror" has no entry tags.
Re: "Migrants are best of both worlds," by Steve Blow, Sunday Metro column. Ernesto broke the law when he entered the U.S. illegally. Ernesto breaks the law each day he remains here. Ernesto may be depriving legal residents of an income or livelihood. Ernesto is depriving U.S. citizens of their choice of who may live here. Ernesto is contributing to dissension among us on how to deal with illegal immigration. Ernesto should go home. Steve Blow should know better. John Pedersen, Carrollton
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The entry "Illegal migrant's damage trail" is tagged: Illegal immigrant , Steve Blow
I don't know what people mean when they say, "Government is too big," and I suspect that they don't know either. What they are expressing is a sense of frustration with the current state of politics and are lashing out indiscriminately. It seems to me that what they have in common is a history of inattention to public affairs, not much education and an intense intolerance for everyone who does not agree with them. Without their influence, we would likely be having an intelligent debate between Perry and Hutchinson. If the attitudes and opinions of the Tea Party group continue to spread, it will damage not just the GOP, but all of American politics and our ability to govern ourselves. We are more dependent on various levels of government than we have ever been before and for a wide variety of our needs. That is not likely to change. We have, no doubt, some obsolete functions and agencies, but large problems (globalism, defense, health matters, environmental concerns, etc.) will continue to require collective action of the sort that only an effective governing system can address. The know-nothing approach inhibits our ability to produce rational public policy. Charles Elliott, Commerce
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The entry "Tea Party logic hurts debate" is tagged: Kay Bailey Hutchison , Rick Perry , Tea party February 24, 2010
The Texas Supreme Court needs Judge Debra Lehrmann in Place 3. She has more than 22 years experience, almost more than twice any of her opponents. She is an exceptionally well-qualified jurist who has consistently served the people of Texas with fairness and integrity, and she is a proven conservative. She is currently the district judge of the 360th Judicial District in Fort Worth and the only candidate with family law and child protective services experience, which is needed on the court. She also has authored two legal treatises that are updated yearly. Kimberly Crawford Hand, Mabank
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The entry "Lehrmann for Supreme Court" has no entry tags.
Re: "Toyota struggles for answers -- In emotional hearing, U.S. exec says electronics may be faulty," Wednesday news story. Now that the snow is melting in D.C., Congress can go back to normal activities, such as ignoring the country's real priorities and returning to the practice of self-righteous grandstanding. This time, the "suits" have Toyota squarely in their sights, subpoena in hand and a level of rage comparable to a woman scorned. At least, this subject is more valid than steroids in baseball and tainted spinach; although the Chinese lead in children's toys were able to somehow get a pass from congressional wrath. Would Congress treat Toyota differently if it was populated by members of the United Auto Workers? No one can say. But I'd bet the rest of my meager retirement nest egg that there would have been a gentlemen's understanding rather than a crucifixion. Jim Janusz, Richardson
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The entry "Motive for grilling Toyota?" is tagged: Toyota
In less than a week, a short-term Medicare physician payment freeze will expire and a 21.2 percent cut to Medicare reimbursement rates will take effect. Most physician practices here and across the nation are small businesses. Those physicians who still care for Medicare patients will be faced with a severe financial strain. They will also have to choose whether or not they can still see Medicare patients. Medicare patients will have even greater difficulty finding a doctor. Congress must cease the short-term "fixes" and address the actual problem: the flawed sustainable growth rate formula. If Congress had fixed this problem in 2005, when physicians faced a cut of about 3.3 percent, the cost of permanent reform would have been $49 billion. Now, this year's projected 21.2 percent cut yields a $210 billion price tag for reform. Another short-term fix only slightly delays the inevitable problem and makes it extremely difficult for physicians to continue their care for seniors and military families. It's time to repeal the Medicare sustainable growth rate formula, replacing it with a system that ensures payments keep pace with rising costs associated with care for our patients. Stephen Ozanne, president, Dallas County Medical Society, Dallas
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The entry "Congress, fix Medicare payments" is tagged: Medicare
Re: "Social conservative in tough race -- GOP voters will help set panel's direction before key textbook decisions," Tuesday news story. This article has incomplete information that makes Thomas Ratliff look pretty good compared to Don McLeroy. The State Board of Education is duly elected. In January, they listened to constituents until late in the evening. They did what they were elected to do. The poorly written 1998 squishy history-challenged TEKS was made worse by the "professional educators," and the SBOE just made a few changes to make it not as bad. The changes that were made by the SBOE would allow teachers to give children real facts and reasons to believe that we are a country worth preserving. If we don't teach them history and that we are worth preserving, what will happen? Do we really want to do that to our children? Ratliff is a professional lobbyist accustomed to being beholden to the highest bidder and now the brazen teacher unions that refuse to allow parents the right to school choice are supporting him. Rita McCrary, Garland
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The entry "Teacher opposition sealed it" is tagged: State Board of Education
Re: "Balancing on a Stool -- Start with these 3 legs to make state budget fit," Tuesday Editorials. We appreciate the focus on spending the Rainy Day Fund and closing tax loopholes as a means of helping balance the budget. However, continuing to cut from state services that are already under-resourced will only take away from Texans at a time when they are already vulnerable due to the economy, without creating enough savings to fix the problem. Relying on cuts does nothing to stimulate our state economy and is a method that has already failed us. We have some of the worst outcomes for children and families in the country. We support looking at alternative means to balance the budget. Our services have already taken as much cutting as they can. Eileen Garcia, executive director, Texans Care for Children, Austin
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The entry "Cutting budget no solution" is tagged: budget cuts
Re: "Where to make services cuts," by Dennis Borel, Saturday Letters. A peer-reviewed cost-comparison study was updated in 2009 by Voice of the Retarded, a respected national advocacy organization. It shows that costs for all related services remain consistent whether services are provided in a single state facility or across multiple providers within a community model. The state schools provide vital care for individuals who are profoundly disabled, medically fragile or have severe behavioral complications that render them unsuitable or unlikely to benefit from community-based residences. The state system continues to require firm oversight and effective management, but those requirements are already in place. The schools, their residents and the families who want the facilities kept open do not deserve to be vilified or made into bargaining chips for budgetary advantage, especially not by persons or groups that purport to represent the disabled population. Mark Fitzpatrick, Dallas
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The entry "Purpose for state schools" has no entry tags. February 23, 2010
Re: "Choking warning labels urged for food -- Pediatricians group is recommending sweeping changes," Monday news story. Yes, choking is a serious risk for young children, but no little red sticker can take the place of proper parenting. Cut meats up, don't horse around and stay with young children while they're eating. No food can be made choke-proof, and government regulation won't change that. Be an attentive parent; don't make that the FDA's job. Now, I'm going to go enjoy a hot dog, while I still can. Cory Dunn, Dallas
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The entry "Choke warnings unnecessary" has no entry tags.
In response to Stephanie Mueller's piece and as a belated comment on a previous article concerning lost tax revenue due to freezing property tax rates for residents 65 and older, I figured out my tax burden. Though I'm close to retirement age, it's not an option I can consider for a number of reasons, including current income, estimated retirement income and losses in retirement funding. My tax burden is also a contributing factor. It was a whopping 38.7 percent of my income this year, and I did not include sales taxes, service taxes or taxes enumerated on my telephone bill. Perhaps an additional 1 percent would be a conservative estimate. There is definitely unfairness in tax burden distribution. The over-reliance on homeowner property taxes needs to be fixed. Forcing residents out of their homes because their incomes cannot sustain ever-increasing property taxes should not be an acceptable practice in tax revenue collection. Diana Byrd, Dallas
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The entry "My whopping tax burden" is tagged: Taxes
Texans are deluded in thinking that they live in a low-tax environment. The taxes are being paid but in a totally inequitable fashion. And we give seniors a discount simply for achieving a certain age. (Think Ross Perot.) Who makes up the difference? Many homeowners are paying more in property taxes than they are in federal income taxes. As a native Californian who came to Texas as an adult, I find this situation bizarre. Our neighbors, originally from "Taxachusetts," calculate that their local tax burden is 25 percent higher here. Let's abolish the property tax and replace it with an income tax, the only equitable form of taxation. When people make money, they pay tax; when they don't make money, they don't pay tax. Using property tax as the sole form of taxation for individuals is unfair. Perhaps we need a Tea Party revolution for the Texas property tax system. Carolyne C. Nielson, Dallas
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The entry "Taxes low here? Think again" is tagged: Taxes
Despite whether we like it, property taxes are the foundation of the financing system for local governments and schools in the U.S. No one likes taxes, but we need them unless we return to an agrarian economic system like we had in the 1700s. Property taxes do have a progressive nature, in that people take on the tax load they can afford. Would an income tax or a value-added tax be better? Perhaps, but that's not the system we have. It is up to the Legislature, elected by us, to change it. In Texas, properties are required by state law to be assessed at market. The assessment districts are professionally staffed and run. People have the legal right to protest their assessments, if necessary, via peer panels and, later, the courts. Anyone who silently accepts an above-market assessment causes his or her own complaint. Joseph Dingman, Dallas
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The entry "Property tax is what we have" is tagged: Taxes
Re: "Colleges prepare for 5% cuts," last Wednesday news story. Gov. Rick Perry has asked the Dallas County Community College District to cut its budget by $10 million. The current reduction plan means cutting back on multiple needs, including hiring part-time professors like me, despite the record enrollment. Richland College is currently 12 percent over last year's enrollment numbers, but many students will be turned away and professors will go without their usual classes. Since my primary income is teaching, I'm worried about how my family is going to eat come next fall. Good thing Perry refused federal money so he could posture for voters. Anthony Armstrong, Plano
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The entry "Community colleges' cuts deep" is tagged: college , Rick Perry
I am pleased to join The Dallas Morning News in supporting Thomas Ratliff for District 9 on the State Board of Education. He will bring a reasoned, non-biased voice to a board that has been far too ideological and politically biased. The recent board deliberations on social studies textbook content provide an excellent example. Ratliff's opponent and current board member Don McLeroy recently introduced amendment after amendment that distorted American history. His belief that the separation of church and state is a myth is a challenge to the First Amendment of our Constitution. The founders of our nation were very clear that the government should not dictate religion. Having served on the Richardson ISD school board for 15 years, I have worked with these issues frequently. Our schoolchildren deserve the most accurate and unbiased textbooks possible that do not promote a particular religion or political ideology. Ron Hughes, Plano
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The entry "Ratliff best for state school board" is tagged: State Board of Education
Steve Blow is correct that illegal migrants work hard and usually don't cause trouble, but he lost me when he told us this man has been here seven years and can't speak English. The immigrant doesn't care about America. He only wants to make money -- no problem there -- but he sends it home. We need these people, but we need them to come legally. We need people who will learn the language and will care about this country. Robert Lankford, Duncanville
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The entry "We need legal immigrants" is tagged: Illegal immigrant , immigration reform
Steve Blow's insight on this issue is clear as a wake-up whistle. I'm recommending it to the Mexican consulate, so they can enrich their arguments to find the most functional and constructive accommodation for these valuable people for the benefit of their own lives and everyone else of the U.S. who is involved. Leonardo Noriega, Carrollton
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The entry "Clear insight on immigration" is tagged: Illegal immigrant , immigration reform
Re: "Migrants are best of both worlds," by Steve Blow, Sunday Metro column. I fail to understand why illegal immigrants who exhibit dedication and determination in breaking our laws deserve the reward of legalization when it takes just as much dedication and determination to come here legally. Those who take the latter path demonstrate a higher moral character and are therefore much more welcome in America. Blow is not only selfish but also shameful in his belief that rewarding illegal immigration is what is best for his country. My country was not built with the labor of scofflaws, and it's unacceptable in my country to reward those who break the law to come here. Greg Andree, Dallas
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The entry "Don't reward scofflaws" is tagged: Illegal immigrant , immigration reform February 22, 2010
Re: "Deficit panel may stress toll to come -- Obama's commission will discuss unpopular solutions to crisis," Friday news story. James Reid, Dallas
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The entry "Debt doublespeak" has no entry tags.
Re: "Legitimate grievances," by Bret McCormick, Monday Letters. Joan Strop-Adams, Plano
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The entry "A frightening letter on terror" has no entry tags.
Every day in The Dallas Morning News, we are fed a steady diet of Rick Perry vs. Kay Bailey Hutchison vs. Debra Medina. Patricia Quested, Dallas
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The entry "Equal time for Democrats" has no entry tags.
Re: "Trains as part of the equation," by Dian and Don Malouf, Thursday Letters. Gregory Motte, Dallas
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The entry "Amtrak upgrade unrealistic" has no entry tags.
Re: "Losing power helped me plug in to simpler life -- Just think back to how people used to live, says Kathleen Krumnow," Saturday Viewpoints. Melissa Degenhart, Dallas
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The entry "I don't like being unplugged" has no entry tags.
Re: "Calls still urging votes for Hodge -- Disgraced incumbent has exited race, but Ragsdale says public needs choices," Saturday news story. Earl Daigle, Farmers Branch
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The entry "Don't vote for an admitted cheat" has no entry tags.
Flaws in climate story Stephen Boone, Garland
Decline in fact-based debate ... Betty G. Withers, Dallas
... proves to be widespread Mike McCurdy, Coppell
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The entry "On climate change ... " has no entry tags. February 21, 2010
Three Cheers is a weekly collection of upbeat letters that inspire readers to think and act positively. Share your own timely story or observation by sending it 1. Young black males and Black History Month James "Bird" Guess, president,
ECA, Irving
Sharon Martin, Watsonville, Calif.
3. Like pages out of a novel Mrs. Marty Walker, Dallas
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The entry "Three Cheers" has no entry tags. February 20, 2010
Re: "Why do so many young people feel so blue? We must halt this wave of depression and self-injury, says Viviana Cruz of Carrollton," last Sunday Student Voices column. Jennifer Ruesewald, Corinth
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The entry "What teens can do about depression" has no entry tags.
Bill Loubiere, Plano
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The entry "A primer for politicians" has no entry tags.
Re: "Texas sues EPA -- State attacks 'tainted' greenhouse gas data that may lead to new limits," Wednesday news story. Tina Sanchez, Dallas
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The entry "I don't see a conspiracy" has no entry tags.
Re: "Did game pay off for area?" by Michael Greenberg, Wednesday Letters. Tom Adams, Carrollton
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The entry "NBA game's impact" has no entry tags.
Re: "Bogus gear is seized -- Raid nets $200,000 worth of sports items, many substandard," Tuesday news story. Pat Justice, Flower Mound
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The entry "Safer after Fed bust?" has no entry tags.
Re: "Stimulus lifts Dallas-area transit plans -- Downtown-Oak Cliff streetcar, NTTA to get federal grants," Thursday news story. Thomas Goss, Flower Mound
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The entry "Dallas' federal gifts" has no entry tags. February 19, 2010
Re: "A Mystery in Denton -- Taxpayers deserve to know why Bataille quit at UNT," Thursday editorials. Fred H. Speno, Dallas
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The entry "We have right to know" has no entry tags.
Rage is understandable James Simpkins, Flower Mound IRS not to blame Ken Aten, Richardson
Legitimate grievances Bret McCormick, Fort Worth
Patriots must condemn attack Bob Stern, Dallas
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The entry "On the Austin IRS plane attack ..." has no entry tags.
Re: "Activists criticize search for new superintendent -- Hispanics are among top 6 candidates, trustees say in defending their process," Wednesday news story. Diane Ewing, Irving
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The entry "Quality bilingual ed in Irving" is tagged: Irving |