Letters to the Editor — Texas lawmakers, anti-Trump letters, climate change, redistricting

Disappointed in Texas

Re: “Don’t put politics ahead of protecting children — Dear lawmakers: Using flood safety as a bargaining chip is the wrong move,” by John McCaa, Sunday Opinion.

Thank you, John, for expressing exactly how I feel. I am so disappointed in our Texas government that I could scream. Putting the desire for their power ahead of protecting their constituents is disgusting.

Then I read about our attorney general with his lawsuit-happy self spending more money hiring outside attorneys to sue people than California, New York and Pennsylvania combined.

I think our lawmakers’ time and our money could be better spent taking care of our citizens instead of building up their own egos.

Becky Paterik, Dallas/Lake Highlands

Why so down on Trump?

This letter is not regarding any specific subject, but rather the slant of the letters in general, especially over the past several months. One would think that President Donald Trump hasn’t done much to improve on the disaster that was the Biden administration, based on the continuing negative thoughts from your readers.

So, to these misguided souls I offer a newsflash: Trump’s policies have reduced our inflation, ditto our gas prices. He has basically shut down illegal immigration. He’s eliminated our greatest nuclear threat with the Iran mission, and I believe our reputation on the world stage is strong again due to his leadership.

In short he has repaired all the major messes caused by the previous leader, and America is far better for it.

So please save the Jan. 6 whining, and keep in mind that one who can’t acknowledge his own side’s failures and opponent’s successes has no credibility at all.

Bruce Davidson, Carrollton

What’s killing us

Re: “Heat landing more children in ERs — Study: Hospitalizations for heat-related illnesses soar 170% from ’12 to ’23,” Sunday news story.

With our eighth grandchild just months away, I’m terrified about the world we’re leaving them and the future they will face. Human-induced climate change is not a hoax. It is not a political position or a natural variation in the temperature. It is physics.

We’re simply producing too much greenhouse gas-burning fossil fuels. Every hour of every day, the Earth is bathed by 173,000 terawatts of solar energy, more than the entire planet uses in a whole year. This energy source is going to last billions of years.

The infrastructure to support fossil fuels didn’t arise overnight, and the infrastructure to fully harness the sun’s energy won’t either. But it’s time for an all-hands-on-deck effort to achieve the conversion in an efficient and affordable way.

It’s time to stop spending trillions of dollars on fuel sources that are literally killing us.

Paul Sokal, Dallas/Forest Hills

Remapping a stark snapshot

Re: “Some stats to ponder,” by Mark Nelson, Wednesday Letters.

While Nelson’s letter certainly gave us information to seriously consider, I would like to add:

Fear of losing unbridled power to act with impunity is the catalyst to what’s now going on in the Texas Legislature. Redistricting — or gerrymandering — offers a stark snapshot of where our “people-be-damned” political system stands today.

One side of the aisle is driven by greed, asking, “What’s in it for me and those like me?” The other is guided by need, asking instead, “How can I use what I have to help those who are not like me?”

Jess Wade, Fairview

Lawmakers have done enough

Seriously? A bill is on the agenda of the Texas special session to outlaw abortion medication. Dan Patrick, what is your thought process?

These “Christian” lawmakers haven’t already done enough? Victims of rape and incest have to carry a fetus to term. How can you possibly justify saddling a baby to a 17-year-old or younger and any woman who didn’t consent to sexual relations?

You want them to have the child but offer no help to feed, clothe and house the child, especially when you have a guy in the White House who just twisted arms to pass Medicaid cuts.

At the same time, you you don’t offer any help to a woman who has to carry a fetus to term even if the fetus has died in the womb or to protect a woman’s health.

Perhaps a better use of the special session time would be to propose a bill to improve the state’s weather warning system and pass it. I am guessing any available funds would have been eaten up by the school vouchers that were never put to our right to vote.

Dan Schimek, Arlington

Use rainy day fund for alerts

The special session of the Texas Legislature is scheduled to consider the flooding in Texas, with an emphasis on improving the speed and distribution of warnings for an impending flash flood.

One consideration will be to determine how to pay for any improvements of these alert systems without transfers from other budgeted state activities or by raising taxes.

I do not know if it is possible, but I believe funding should be by using the state’s rainy day fund, which is expected to reach $27.1 billion by the end of fiscal year 2025.

After all, the Guadalupe River flash flooding did create large, unexpected economic losses for Texas, and since the fund was named for what created the flooding that took so many lives, why not use it?

Lash Hansborough, Denton

Sounds like they do

Re: “So long, Paramount+,” by Maridale Morgan, Thursday Letters.

This writer canceled a Paramount+ subscription and stated, “A corporation or institution that does not defend free speech and freedom of the press does not need my money.”

Stephen Colbert’s Late Show was reportedly losing an estimated $40 million to $50 million a year. With all due respect, they absolutely do need your money.

Bruce Southerland, Sherman