Dallas Cowboys, cities, languages, Meals on Wheels

Considering how many are annually taken in by the Jerry Jones farce, I am deeply concerned that President Barack Obama may get re-elected.

-- Jack Kelley, Southlake

Same old result

Jerry Jones said, "The facts are that I've spent 22 years doing this [owner, president and GM] exactly the same way." (See: "Jones doesn't plan to turn over his GM role," Wednesday) Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results is ...? What say you, Mr. Jones?

-- Tom Prosser, Arlington

Growing cities

Regarding the Jan. 1 Texas Tribune story, "San Antonio is setting the economic pace in Texas," the statement that San Antonio in the last decade has added more people within its city boundaries than any other major city in the state is incorrect.

U.S. census figures show that Fort Worth added more people within its city boundaries in the last 10 years than San Antonio or any other major city in Texas. Fort Worth added 206,512 people. San Antonio added 182,761.

If the reporter is not including Fort Worth in the "major city" category, then she must also conclude that Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Denver, Detroit, Miami, Seattle and Washington, D.C., are not major cities. Fort Worth's population is greater than that of any of those.

-- John R. Kent, Fort Worth

Keep Z Boaz open

City planner recommendations to close Z Boaz Golf Course after 81 years and leave Sycamore Creek open make no sense. Sycamore loses more money than Z Boaz and is less desirable for play because it is only nine holes. The argument that Sycamore is needed to serve central Fort Worth or the neighborhood is false. Golf courses are not relevant to a neighborhood because golfers drive to where they want to play.

Also, the idea that Sycamore is needed to encourage east-side redevelopment is baloney. Better streets, housing, crime control and tax abatements are more effective incentives. Improved management of fees and marketing is sorely needed to meet competition from private golf courses. Private golf courses often advertise and charge up to $18 less than the city charges for playing a round. The recent fee increase makes no sense with the economy in the tank. Golf fees need to be kept low to encourage play by average-income citizens.

Since Fort Worth is one of the fastest-growing urban areas in the nation, it makes no sense to close any existing city course. But if the City Council is hellbent on closing one, it should be Sycamore, not Z Boaz.

-- Charles J. Middleton, Fort Worth

Squandered victory

As Iraq deteriorates, because our president didn't secure a "status of forces" agreement to keep a residual force there after the war ended, it is pitiful to see the good intentions of the previous administration go for naught because of a current lack of leadership.

Congress' approval rating is in the tank because most of its members and the president are more concerned about re-election and their financial perks as career politicians than they are about the American people, and their lack of attention to foreign policy may seal our fate rather than problems with the economy.

Our nation's survival depends on its morality, small, efficient government, term limits for politicians and its citizens' self-reliance. It is also obvious that to be righteous and still be free, individuals can't believe in redistribution of wealth but rather in offering a hand up not just a handout to those in need!

I am speaking about the true American "exceptionalism." Why should we expect anything less from President Obama than to see him squander victory in Iraq and lose the peace for which almost 5,000 U.S. solders died?

-- Hugh T. Lefler Jr., Fort Worth

Multiple languages

It's amazing how Republicans bring up immigration when their poll numbers go down. They know American voters believe everything that is wrong with this country is due to illegal immigrants.

Rick Perry visits Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, whom I consider to be a racist, and then he is all about making English the official language. I consider this a slam to all Hispanics. Anything for a vote.

I considered voting Republican, but all the candidates are affiliated with the Tea Party, which I also consider to be a party of racism.

Even in Spain, signs are in Spanish and English, and I did not find one citizen opposed to it. They see this as being more educated in a world of many languages instead of a country full of prejudice

-- Manny Sanchez, Fort Worth

Meals on Wheels

Anyone who thinks Meals on Wheels just delivers hot meals to those who are homebound is mistaken.

The volunteers go way beyond that mission. They check up on their clients daily, provide heaters and air conditioning to those in need, arrange for simple repair tasks where possible and keep next of kin or neighbors aware of any problems.

They send special helpers periodically to make sure clients are aware of services they might need from other organizations, both governmental and charitable.

They are true angels of mercy. All that and more, and they deliver over a million meals a year just in Tarrant County. Priceless!

-- Jack Russell, North Richland Hills

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