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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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March 9, 2010
Re: "Foster on his way out, but trouble isn't," by Jacquielynn Floyd, Friday Metro column. Dallas County Judge Jim Foster had two big flaws. He was inexperienced, and he opposed Commissioner John Wiley Price on issues, such as the investigation of the constables. The intelligent, charismatic Price has long given valuable service to Dallas County, but he is also reputed to be a bully, and it is said that power corrupts. Perhaps Price himself should have voted for Foster in order to save Dallas County and his own soul from the corrupting force of absolute power. In the runoff for county judge, I am voting for Larry Duncan. He is experienced but so underfunded I'm sure he is not being bought for any commissioner or constable. I hope he has the courage of Jim Foster. Willa Kulhavy, Garland
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The entry "Foster's courage, flaws" is tagged: Jim Foster
Re: "Gun-toters are different," by Mary Grimaldo, Wednesday Letters. Maybe Grimaldo has never been robbed at gunpoint. If she thinks people like me who have been robbed are just insecure, paranoid people who feel it necessary to carry a gun and have more problems than they are aware of, she must be living in another world. As Thomas Jefferson once said, "An unarmed person may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed person." Had someone had a gun at McDonald's in 1984, when 21 people were shot and killed in San Ysidro, Calif., maybe some lives would have been saved. I'll be spending more time at Starbucks. Beverly Joan Correu, Fairview
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The entry "Thank goodness for gun-toters" is tagged: Guns
Dallas really shouldn't have a zoo, regardless of who's running it -- the public or private sector. Four gorilla escapes in 11 years -- while all the rest of the zoos in the world had a combined total of 12 escapes for the same period. Couple that with the recent fiasco involving whether we should ship our last elephant off to Mexico or increase the size of our elephant habitat, and I'm not convinced that the zoo has the ability or resources to commit to the stewardship needed to properly care for the animals. If it's good enough to drive to Tarrant County to watch the Cowboys and Rangers play, it ought to be good enough to drive to Tarrant County to see one of the most comprehensive collections of animals housed in one of the finest zoo facilities in the world -- the Fort Worth Zoo. Gary Noe, Dallas
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The entry "Why do we need a zoo?" is tagged: Dallas
I read this report with distress, both that dogs are being abandoned -- there's far too much of this in our communities -- and for the police statement that we do not have any laws against dumping. Texas Penal Code Section 42.092 (b) (4) makes it a Class A misdemeanor to abandon a non-livestock animal. Punishment for a misdemeanor includes a fine of $4,000, one year in jail or both. While most citizens would never abandon their pets, we need to educate people, especially our children, on responsible pet ownership to stop this. But, in the meantime, we need to enforce the laws that are on our books against those who abuse our four-legged companions. John Pellegrini, Mineola
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We actually looked forward to the once-a-week trash pickup on the front curb. We had more recyclables than trash and had to go out back to unlock the gate and haul the trash can to the alley once or twice a week. However, we were surprised when, on our first pickup day, the recyclables had been picked up but not the trash. We called the hotline number on our flier and were told the trash would be picked up within 24 hours. It was picked up a week later. We also found out that the trash would not be picked up if the recycling and trash bins were too close together or there was an obstacle above the trash bin that would not allow the truck's hydraulic arms to raise to 15 feet (it was under a big tree) because the workers will not get out of the truck to move the bins. The irony is that we never had any problems like this when the bins were in the alley. Jon Pitt, Dallas
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The entry "Trash pickup woes" is tagged: Dallas
As anyone who has dealt with Child Protective Services knows, the program is sadly underfunded and consequently understaffed. The lack of federal and state funding for Child Protective Services puts children in immediate danger. Insufficient funding makes it difficult to hire, retain and train staff. Many caseworkers have a much heavier case load than is recommended by the Child Welfare League. Children often slip through the cracks, not because of a lack of concern but because of impossible amounts of work for caseworkers. It is time for the public to get involved. We have a responsibility to protect the most vulnerable members of our society. We all need to become involved in supporting increased funding for Child Protective Services. Not only will this allow the Department of Family and Protective Services to hire and equip staff members to care for children, but it will also provide more preventive programs to stop child abuse before it happens. Danyelle Graves, Rowlett
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Re: "Stray dog ends mother, kids' stay with Interfaith Housing program," Sunday Problem Solver. Though I realize the Interfaith Housing group has a business to run, I am appalled that they would turn an act of kindness and compassion on the part of Stephanie Jones as the reason to evict her. For a woman of so little means to have a heart for an abandoned, and hungry, stray dog is a wonderful thing. The Interfaith group should have encouraged her to call the animal shelter, or should have done so themselves, to arrange to have the dog taken into their custody. That would have been the responsible and Christian thing to do for both the woman and the dog -- both of whom are God's creatures. Elaine Munch, Dallas
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Ever want to do more than just write an occassional letter or leave anonymous comments on a blog? For students: 1. Write a little about yourself, including your hobbies and activities. How would others describe you? Why should we choose you to be part of this diverse panel? For teachers: 1. Write a little about yourself: How long have you been a teacher? Where do you teach? What subjects do you teach? Why should we choose you to be part of this diverse panel? Deadline: Noon, Friday, April 9 Some FAQs ...
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The entry "Raise Your Voice beyond letters, beyond blogs" has no entry tags. March 8, 2010
We and our readers treasure the letters that remind us that there are things about life in North Texas worth savoring. You know, the kind of letters that point to events and people who are making a positive change in the lives of others. The ones that trumpet simple acts that have profound meaning. That tell positive stories our readers haven't heard before. That's why we publish Three Cheers, a collection of positive letters that offer more reason for hope than despair. This feature runs on Mondays and includes the three best examples of letters that inspire readers to think and act positively. Consider this your invitation to share your own timely, positive letter. Send it to "Three Cheers" at letters@dallasnews.com. And maybe you'll see it spotlighted on Monday ...
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Re: "What's next for Texas?" Sunday Letters. There was no positive letter about Perry in the section. That notwithstanding, the electorate will have continued solid leadership in Austin by keeping Perry in office. Jim Hairston, Dallas
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The entry "What's next? Perry" is tagged: Rick Perry
No one is obliged or even authorized to offer the public a candidate or list of candidates of which they approve, so there should never be a ballot line that says "none of the above." Candidates are on the ballot because they got off their stumps and filed for office. If you don't like who filed, go down and file yourself. Don't bellyache because you failed at what is totally your responsibility. Here's a salute to all candidates, even those I detest, who bothered to file and run for office. They ran a campaign and risked public rejection and criticism in order to be a part of our wonderful, if flawed, political system. Don W. Smith, Denton
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When people are thinking about making a kitty part of their families, please consider adopting a shelter cat rather than buying one from a breeder. There are none more deserving of love and care than those who have been abandoned. April Silber, McKinney
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Rosenblum says that "with millions of unauthorized immigrants and businesses invested in existing labor markets, there are simply too many factors working against E-Verify for it to succeed without moving more employers and workers into the legal system." Is he suggesting that we "move" these employers and workers by legalizing the currently illegal? If so, this is the wrong attitude to take. We need an effective screening and verification tool, but having one is not dependent on reforming or changing other parts of our immigration system. Employment eligibility screening is a function of enforcement, and it's perfectly reasonable and practical to change enforcement methods without changing our laws concerning who can legally work in our nation. Let's not change laws to fit poor current conditions. Let's use our laws to improve our conditions. Dale L. Jones, Prosper
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The entry "Change only what's broken" is tagged: Illegal immigrant
If Gov. Rick Perry and these other non-patriots do not want the federal government's tax burden, they should take action. Perry should get corporations and small businesses in Texas to get out of their contracts. This would make the case against the federal government stronger. This would be great for me, as I am in the moving industry. We would have all of our trucks full -- on the way out of Texas. Richard L. Owen, The Colony
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The entry "Mover for secession" is tagged: Rick Perry
Re: "Trashing up the street," by Jerry Waite, Friday Letters. Around the corner from where I live, there are several streets where million-dollar-plus homes have the Gleneagles Country Club's golf course as their back yards, requiring the occupants to place their garbage by the front curb for pickup. Come on up and live with your contemporaries, where curbside garbage is a badge of affluence. Ed Matza, Plano
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The entry "Garbage in front prestigious" is tagged: Dallas
Re: "Solutions are up to us," by Richard C. Daubenspeck, Saturday Letters, and, "Church ends silence on welcoming gays -- Royal Lane Baptist changes Web site, risks losing affiliation with convention," Saturday news story. Daubenspeck's so-called solutions were no solution at all. How does taking your child out of public school improve public schools, which affect our lives in far more ways than educating our own children? Turning off a TV station or radio station that broadcasts propaganda may spare you but does nothing to prevent the spread of incorrect and damaging information. We have a broader duty. It includes both "walking the walk" and "talking the talk." You must act -- and not only in your own interest. But you must exercise your opportunities to speak. The Metro article describing the Royal Lane Baptist Church's -- specifically, Bruce Lowe's -- conclusions, and the actions that ensued are an eloquent and important demonstration. Betty G. Withers, Dallas
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Re: "Some want to toss out garbage pickup changes -- Residents of Peninsula say taking it to the curb just isn't going to cut it," Friday news story. Before I was laid off by the city of Dallas in September, I was a safety officer. The Dallas Morning News article piqued my interest because one of my primary duties was to go out and investigate accidents, injuries and collisions between Dallas sanitation trucks and private property. As a Dallas taxpayer and homeowner, I was always appalled at the hundreds of thousands of dollars the sanitation department spends each year -- and hides in its budget -- on damage to fences, private property, gas meters, downed telephone poles and wires, and electric meters pulled off homes by large sanitation trucks and, many times, the resulting injury to employees. This is all because citizens insist that we continue to pick up garbage in alleys that where never designed for 8-foot-wide trucks, which need more clearance to pick up and dump large garbage pails. If the city really wants to save about a quarter-million dollars a year, when you factor in workers' compensation claims, I'm sure ending alley pickup of garbage would be a great place to start in this next budget cycle. Irby Foster, Dallas
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The entry "Alley trash pickup costly" is tagged: Dallas
I want to commend the North Texas Tollway Authority's customer service team. They are terrific. I say this based on the last two times I received a violation notice in the mail. Both times it happened, and we were really at fault. But we had a plausible explanation for our errors. Because I called and explained the situation, the extremely helpful telephone support staff not only eliminated about $1,200 in administrative fees, but they were also able to redirect the fines to the person who actually should have paid the fees. This collects fees for the authority and straightens out an issue in its accounting systems. Based on what I read in this paper, my experience is unique, but I encourage everyone to ignore the negative news stories, and, if you get a violation notice, call the friendly operators at NTTA. Jennifer Coleman Stribling, Dallas
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The entry "Good experience with NTTA" is tagged: NTTA
Now that the Irving school board has made a decision on a sole final candidate for IISD superintendent, I make this suggestion. Offer a contract with set performance benchmarks. At this point, the IISD cannot accept incremental achievement; we need drastic changes to provide a quality education for all our children so that, at a minimum, we achieve recognized status as a school district. IISD has a few schools that have reached recognized status, but not nearly enough, not to mention exemplary and blue ribbon. Dana Bedden, the finalist for the job, achieved small gains in his limited time in the Richmond County School District. This is not acceptable or fair to the students and taxpayers of Irving. School board president Jerry Christian said the Bedden would have to learn quickly about the Hispanic population. That sounds like on-the-job training at the expense of the students. Andrew Goldsmith, Irving
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The entry "Hold Bedden accountable" is tagged: Irving
Why can't our so-called expert educators understand when the best time in a child's life is to educate and train them to be good students? You know when, and so do I. Apparently, one has to get a master's degree or doctorate to learn how to forget at what point in life a child is the most trainable. Pre-school is when the training should start. All the way through elementary school, children should be required to stay with their grade-level peers. A 6-year-old will not have emotional scars from being retained to be able to attain grade level. Retaining a 16-year-old might leave emotional and social scars that will ruin the child's life or at least damage that life. Retain a 6- or 7-year-old child, and they are just relieved to not have to face struggling with new learning material. Of course the parents have a lot to do with how a child faces being retained. That can also be taught in elementary school. Teaching children in elementary school that there are punishments for not learning and rewards for learning will stay with them all of their lives. So why don't our "expert" educators tout that method? I guess we really do hire the wrong people to lead our schools. Ed Carol, Kaufman
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I was optimistic and open-minded regarding the new One Day Trash/Recycling program until Thursday, when I put out my trash and recycling bins. After I got up at 5 a.m. to put them out, the sanitation department came by around 10 a.m. to pick up the trash. All my neighbors had carefully put their new rolling trash cans on the sidewalk for easy pickup, but, to everyone's shock, we all came home to trash cans in the middle of the street or lying on their sides. How disappointing and "trashy" it looked. Not to mention that the recycling trucks never came on Thursday, but we all watched in horror as the regular sanitation trucks picked up the recycling bins and emptied them into the regular trash truck. If you would like to encourage citizens to participate in the One Day Trash/Recycling Program, don't mix the trash and recycle material, and please put the bins back on the sidewalk. Thank you. Nancy Wilson, Dallas
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The entry "Trash program got a bad start" is tagged: Dallas
Re: "Foster on his way out, but trouble isn't," by Jacquielynn Floyd, Friday Metro column. The commissioners should not have had to hire Danny Defenbaugh. The majority of the commissioners acted, and, even though they cannot prosecute, they can make it difficult for the constables through budget cuts, etc. If this has to be done, the employees are the ones who will get hurt. I hope that Foster will put as much of his time as he can from now until the end of the year, when his term will end, trying to bring this to a conclusion. In the meantime, I hope that the public will let Watkins know they are not happy with how he is handling this situation. People will not forget when he comes up for re-election himself. Midge Douglas-Buttolph, Red Oak
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The entry "I hope Watkins will listen" is tagged: Dallas County Constables , Jim Foster
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.
These remarkable folks take care of the wounded in battle, move them to a place of safety and then to a facility to allow for medical attention. For the past three years, my husband has been a squadron commander. Doing that job seemed to me much like being in labor for childbirth -- it is a dramatic, huge undertaking: at once exhilarating and painful, but the pain serves a purpose, and it is the only way to get the job done. Retiring from the Air Force Reserve also parallels childbirth: Ultimate separation is inevitable, and afterward, life will never be the same. Like most reservists, my husband's military service was in addition to a full-time career. During all my time as an Air Force wife, no one has ever asked me what I think. But this is what I think: As he prepares to add a parenthetical "Ret." to his name and rank, my husband is no longer an active reservist, but he is still a patriot. And he remains the commander of my heart. Lucinda Kilmer, Coppell
The new SLANT 45 program (Service Learning Adventures in North Texas) allows kids to help those who are less fortunate -- and still enjoy themselves. Elementary school-age children have been entertained and taught culture as they visit retirement homes and are involved in homeless shelter activities as well. Including children at an early age encourages them to perform similar actions in the future. In addition to the fun activities SLANT includes, it contains a large football influence as well. Former Dallas Cowboys star Daryl Johnston leads the program, and hopefully he will include a large number of youth, who are expected to acquire 45,000 hours of community service. This program, sponsored by the North Texas Super Bowl XLV Host Committee, will also appeal to adults wanting their kids to participate and allow kids to enjoy themselves even more as they offer their time and efforts to the North Texas community. Sarah Stites, from Dallas, The Hockaday School, Form II (10th grade)
3 Letter carrier is special -- We have had the same letter carrier for many years and found out recently that he would be transferred to another area. His name is Richard Brown. He came to our door the other day to give us a hug and say goodbye. We told him to stop by any time, so we wouldn't lose track of him. I've told him many times how caring a person he is. Lots of times, he would bring the mail up to the door. All of our neighbors have grown to love this good man, and we shall miss him. Stella and Lew Sherer, Plano
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The entry "Three cheers" is tagged: Three cheers March 6, 2010
Re: "Why Bunning put the brakes on," by Michael H. Sebastian, Wednesday Letters. It's why the Bush administration started off with a trillon-dollar surplus. In 2002, the Bush administration overturned the Pay-Go provisions so they could start their six-year spree of unfunded spending. President Barack Obama, as Sebastian rightly mentioned, signed another Pay-Go bill earlier this year. What Sebastian neglected to mention is that Bunning and every one of his fellow Republican senators voted against it. For the Republicans now to uphold the provisions of the Pay-Go bill to simply suit their own political agenda is totally disingenuous. But then, that's the Republicans for you. Victor Elam, Dallas
He had no problem voting for spending bills that weren't paid for as long as Republicans were the ones spending money we didn't have. He voted for the George W. Bush tax cuts in 2001 and again in 2003. He voted to fund two wars without raising any taxes or even including the costs in the budget. He voted for the Medicare prescription drug benefit and has voted for other bills to extend unemployment benefits -- all without any cost offsets. As for the Pay-Go rule Democrats were finally able to enact over Republican objections -- Bunning voted against it. Now he would have us believe that he's the pillar of fiscal responsibility; that he alone stands between the Democratic Party and financial ruin. Based on his voting record and the poisonous political environment in Washington, his actions clearly had more to do with the Republican "just vote no" strategy than any sudden conversion to fiscal sanity. The fact that he would choose to block a bill that was so important to the lives of so many people only underscores his true motive and the disdain that the Republican Party has for the most vulnerable among us. Jean Combs, Lewisville Sen. Jim Bunning's playing games with the unemployed is a shame. Some Republicans have even said that the unemployed don't want to find work. Who would rather try to live on an unemployment check than have a job? What's next, soup kitchens like they had during the Great Depression? Bunning and the other members of his party squandered the surplus left by Bill Clinton; now they are blaming a president who has been in office barely over a year. Ken Aten, Richardson Bashing Sen Jim Bunning to me was not the story. The story was the bill, and we are out of money. Why is extending unemployment compensation, more highway construction, Medicare payments to doctors, satellite TV for rural folks in one bill? Why does Congress put all this together? I think it is to hide the pork and special pay-offs to special interests. If the Senate cannot find $10 billion in pork to eliminate to fund this and instead resorts to borrowing $10 billion, they are sorry stewards of the American pocketbook. But we already knew that. Roy Underwood, Dallas
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The entry "On Jim Bunning: History behind Pay-Go" is tagged: Congress , Jim Bunning
The general consensus was that Bill White had a better chance of beating Rick Perry in the general election than of beating Kay Bailey Hutchison. I have been wondering: How many Democrats voted in the Republican primary to make it easier for White to win the governorship? I was a Republican before moving to Texas. White has my vote come November. Since Perry has been governor so long, I feel justified in laying our dismal educational system directly at his doorstep. His idea that our highways are his personal property to sell as he sees fit, to raise money for highways and who knows how many other expenditures, ranks right up there as well. Don Hopper, Flint
Haven't you heard: "If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got"? The voters of Texas had a chance to put someone on the ballot who would be good for Texas, but they chose to vote for the "safe," conservative candidate instead of the iconic Kinky Friedman who had some great ideas for the position of agriculture commissioner. And Rick Perry? Again? Really? Cynthia Herschkowitsch, Carrollton
Here we go again: a politician going back on his or her word. As sure as I sit here at this keyboard, I know that Kay Bailey Hutchison is not going to resign her seat in the U.S. Senate, even though she was soundly defeated for the Republican gubernatorial nomination by Rick Perry. They should pass a law that before you can throw your hat in the ring for an elected office, you have to resign your present elected office. This would include local races like school board, city, county, state or federal offices. As we all know, Hutchison said that she would resign her seat in the Senate to run against Perry for governor of Texas. Just to be clear, I don't want it to seem like I'm picking on a Republican, I'm sure that some Democrats have done the same thing, only with more class. Charles F. Jeske, Carrollton
After all the bad-mouthing and horrible things that Kay Bailey Hutchison said about Rick Perry, she's now asking people to support him in the general election. These politicians must think the electorate is as stupid as they are hypocritical. Tom Froehlich, Dallas Kay Bailey Hutchison felt the wrath of the voters in Texas primarily because of her association with Congress. This was no fluke -- those up for re-election on both sides of the aisle should fear the voter wrath come November. Scott Steenson, Dallas Watching Hutchison After watching Kay Bailey Hutchison concede on news and reading The Dallas Morning News coverage after the election, it looked to me like she got egg on her face and didn't know whether to cry or wind her watch. Melvin Adams, Garland
McKenzie states that what we don't know is where Bill White falls in his party's educational divide. What we do know is that Rick Perry is no friend to teachers or retired teachers. He vetoed legislation passed unanimously by both houses of the Texas Legislature that would have allowed a retired educator to sit on the Teacher Retirement System board. He espouses vouchers and charter schools that would take money from public schools. White is a better friend. Betty Haynes, Sunnyvale
After watching the recent primary ads and hoopla in the governor's race, I've come to the conclusion that we should just declare Rick Perry the czar -- or president for life -- of Texas. It would obviously save money for the large-cap corporations, money that could be better spent on national races. Perry's leadership should serve us well in the future years, if we ever secede from the union -- or not. Duff Stammer, Carrollton
Despite his affiliation with the Democratic Party, Bill White appears to be reasonably centrist, with measured tones and logical thinking. After all, I don't think anyone can be mayor in Houston as long as he was by being a Berkeley, Calif.-style leftist. As long as he doesn't veer too far to the left, he's got my vote for governor of Texas Jonathan L. Gal, Rockwall
How about these mandates? Gov. Rick Perry campaigned against "one size fits all" Washington mandates and in favor of local control. So, he must support Chicago's law banning handguns over the heavy-handed rule of Washington-based activist judges. After all, if Texans know what's best for Texans, Chicagoans must know what's best for Chicagoans. He must be against Washington's grab of authority over marriage, a power not granted to the federal government in the Constitution. He must want to see the Defense of Marriage Act repealed. Or, maybe mandates from Washington are OK for ideas he's in favor of. Lewis Waber, Dallas
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The entry "On the gubernatorial primary results: Did Democrats cross over?" is tagged: Bill White , governor , Kay Bailey Hutchison , Rick Perry , Texas
Re: "How's electricity deregulation working? Opinions all over the grid from industry, consumer advocates, public officials," last Sunday Business. The last time I had to select a new provider, I went to the trouble of going online and selecting the lowest rate per kilowatt-hour available at the time. I wound up with a minimum two-year contract calling for 13.6442 cents per kwh plus 1.3558 extra for transmission distribution and base charges, plus a $275 charge if I elected to change providers before the expiration of the contract. All that adds up to 15 cents per kwh. The legislation that requires an electrical provider that needs some additional power to have to pay a wholesale price based on the least efficient and the most expensive power plant in the Texas grid system is absurd and non-competitive. Why do my relatives who live in the Lubbock area, which is not in the Texas grid system, only pay a total wrap rate of 9.2 cents per kwh? There are a lot of questions about why the residents of a large part of Texas have to pay more for electricity than they paid before deregulation and the establishment of the Texas electrical grid control system. Frank Sinclair, Irving
Competition lowers prices It is the wholesale generators in the Texas market -- not consumers, as was the case in the old regulated market -- who assume the investment risk of building new power plants. Competition has attracted $48 billion in new investment in efficient, diverse and clean new electric generation in Texas that has reduced emissions and, more important, driven prices down for consumers. Another $28 billion is planned. The article's assertion that some generators "such as coal or nuclear power" made a "big profit" when natural gas prices rose in 2008 ignores the fact that wind, solar, coal, lignite and nuclear plants are far more expensive to build than natural gas plants. In only 5 percent of the wholesale market are generators paid based on the operating costs of the type of power plant producing the next increment of electricity -- in Texas, that's often natural gas. This system allows non-gas generators to recover some of the higher costs to build their plants and encourages future fuel diversity -- as correctly noted by Public Utility Commission Chairman Barry Smitherman. Marianne Carroll, executive director, Texas Competitive Power Advocates, Austin
Drawbacks to rate-shopping To get the lowest price on electricity, I must shop the Power to Choose Web site, then agree and sign a contract for a set price and time. Since most of the electricity pricing is tied to the producers' raw fuels to make the electricity, if the market price falls, I can't capitalize on that until my contract expires. And maybe then, the price has risen. Advertising tells me that "you can lock in your price." Wrong. Just this last year, my provider raised my price, even though we had a contract. There's a loophole that allows them to renege on the contract, but I don't have that same option when the price goes down. Deregulation does not serve the consumer in Texas. Also, I must regularly check the prices, so that I can make wise choices when the time comes. I have a life, and I don't want to spend it shopping for electricity. Jimmie Loyd, Tyler
Deregulation is bad for all businesses. What has caused all of our woes in the banking industry is deregulation. Texas had a better banking system before it was deregulated. The same is true with utilities. You do not know whom to call, and all you get is poor service. There is not a decrease in pricing. The only people who like deregulation are the people at the top, who make all the money. James P. Christon, Dallas Deregulation in Texas has been a total disaster for the homeowner. Residential rates have skyrocketed, thanks to the natural gas pricing provisions passed by the Texas Legislature. Texas has gone from having some of the lowest electricity rates in the U.S. to having some of the highest since deregulation was implemented. It has not been a good deal for many commercial users in the deregulated areas. Many of our customers actively look for locations in regulated areas, e.g. Austin and San Antonio, because the electricity rates in the municipally owned power company-served areas and rural electric co-op served areas are significantly lower. I work with many intelligent people, but less than a quarter of them have any understanding of their options for choosing a different retail electric provider to save money. Until the confusion is eliminated, the average homeowner will never realize the savings touted by all the believers. Greg Brock, Dallas
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The entry "On electricity deregulation: It hiked my bills" is tagged: Deregulation , electricity , Public Utility Commission
Solving Texas' problems Aurora Jacinto, Grand Prairie
Billy J. Smith, Grand Prairie
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Frisco's stake in the arts center Bob Baggett, board president, Arts of Collin County Commission, Plano We can stop shopping in Frisco Of course, Frisco politicians are free to renege on their previous commitment to help fund the contemplated Collin County arts hall, even though their own citizens would have been major beneficiaries of the facility. It's unthinkable to expect politicians to keep their word about anything. At the same time, Plano and Allen citizens have no commitment to continue to patronize the myriad Frisco stores, restaurants and other businesses we have poured our own money into. We can instead patronize the businesses in our own cities whose taxes are already pledged to support the hall. Marty Daneman, Plano
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The entry "On the Arts of Collin County ..." is tagged: Allen , Frisco , Plano
Pitts, Kirk and the race card Paul Louk, Wylie
Two can play at name-calling Charles Wagner, Carrollton
Don't fear the new order Donna Partee, Rockwall
Pitts is out of touch Bob and Lu Ann Brigman, Plano
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The entry "On Leonard Pitts' column about the Tea Party ..." is tagged: Tea party March 5, 2010
Re: "How much longer? Recovering 8.4 million lost jobs is years away, experts say," Thursday news story. John P. Phillips, Dallas
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Re: "Kirk not a bit amused by talk of secession -- Comparing it to 'Jim Crow,' trade official asks how state would replace U.S. funds," Thursday news story. James Reid, Carrollton
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The entry "Secession would pay for itself" has no entry tags.
Garl Boyd Latham, Irving
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The entry "Rail must be part of transit plan" has no entry tags.
Re: "Looking for the political middle," by Annabelle Brown, Thursday Letters. Richard C. Daubenspeck, Dallas
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The entry "Solutions are up to us" has no entry tags.
Re: "Fire destroys hangouts but not Greenville spirit -- Blaze that tore through four bars, restaurants won't ruin neighborhood's annual St. Patrick's party, organizers say," Wednesday news story. Gordon Hale, Grand Prairie
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The entry "More Lower Greenville parking" is tagged: Dallas , Lower Greenville
Re: "Get ready for big cuts, departments told -- Police and fire services aren't exempt; property tax hike batted around," Tuesday news story. Dormand Long, Dallas
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The entry "Best practices, not budget cuts" has no entry tags.
Re: "Taxing Injustice -- IRS shouldn't get cut of exoneree payments," Feb. 24 Editorials. U.S. Rep. Sam Johnson, District 3, Plano
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The entry "Bipartisan exonoree tax relief" has no entry tags. 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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The entry "Be careful with civility" has no entry tags.
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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The entry "Snow put me in Olympics mood" has no entry tags.
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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The entry "Just two choices of primaries" has no entry tags.
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: "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
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. 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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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