Letters: Put children first; save Post Office; Medicaid funding | Fort Worth Star-Telegram

The story last Sunday regarding Team Fort Worth should be making my blood boil. (See, “Longtime youth sports and mentor program struggling,” Jan. 7)

Consistently, cities have put recreational facilities under a budget microscope, trying to squeeze a dime or two from the people who pay their already outrageous property taxes and have little left over. Fort Worth is a relatively wealthy town with one of the highest tax rates in Texas.

In this case we apparently, again, are unconcerned about the futures of our children. The spin from the city is protecting the interests of the citizenry with respect to some contract. What about the larger social contract?

What’s a few thousand bucks against the lives of our children? Haven’t we already paid for our community facilities and provided budget to staff them? What’s wrong with this picture? A municipality is not a business in the traditional sense. It is a vehicle of trust at the service of the citizenry.

Come on, guys. What about it, Madam Mayor?

— J. Lee Johnson, Fort Worth

Save Post Office

Tearing down the magnificent old Post Office building is unthinkable. Having been built in 1933, it is indeed old and should be preserved as such. We must protect our heritage. When you destroy a beautiful old building, you destroy part of your history.

The article which ran Jan. 3 should have included a photograph of the top of one of the columns with the longhorn heads, along with the photos of the beautiful interior.

Businessmen can be very short-sighted, seeing only the quick dollar today, not the future. Consider this: If it were not for the San Antonio Conservation Society, the Alamo would have been torn down in the early 1900’s to make more space for commerce. And the San Antonio River would have been rerouted around the city to make room for more commerce as well. Enough said.

Please value what is unique to Fort Worth. This wonderful old building would be a landmark and a city hall unlike any other. Whatever the cost, in the long run it would be worth it, and would pay off by contributing to what is special about our great city.

— Marcelle Houston Borgers, Fort Worth

Good DA candidate

George Mackey is a bright, energetic attorney who deserves the opportunity to be district attorney. He has experience in handling criminal cases and will bring focused, highly organized leadership to the office.

As a fiscal conservative, George will be a good steward of the funds provided to run this office. We can have confidence in his dedication to protect the citizens of Tarrant County. Vote for George Mackey for district attorney.

— Andrew F. Stasio, Arlington

Cowboys and diapers

Whoever came up with the bumper sticker that reads “Politicians and diapers need to be changed for the same reason,” might want to add “Dallas Cowboys coaches” to the wording. Because Jason Garrett, like other coaches in recent memory, can’t win the games that matter most.

— A.J. Chilson, Princeton

Medicaid funding

Your recent article on the effects of Gov. Rick Perry’s rejection of federal money for Medicaid was informative and interesting. It is also interesting that the GOP’s own Perryman Group from Waco estimates that over 10 years $100 billion in funding would result in $270 billion in economic growth. (See: “Medicaid gap leaves Texans with no coverage,” Jan. 1)

The reporter did not include the studies by Dr. Howard Brody of University of Texas Medical School Galveston, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, and Billy Hamilton, formerly of the Texas State Comptroller’s office, for Metropolitan Healthcare Ministries of South Texas. These studies conclude that between 8,500 and 9,000 Texans will die annually without Medicaid.

Perry spent millions calling a special legislative session to force through another anti-abortion bill. Perry and his cohorts care more about a potential life in the womb than they do about actual living people.

They made light of the April 1 announcement date, but it should more properly be called Perry’s April Fool’s Day Massacre.

— Warren M. Lynn, Fort Worth

Fed car insurance

Now that the federal government has all this experience in running the health care insurance business, perhaps next they will want to get into automobile insurance.

They could call it Obamacar.

— Jack P. Jones, Fort Worth

Letters

Letters should be no longer than 200 words and must have a full name, home street address, city of residence and both a home and daytime telephone number for verification.

Letters endorsing candidates in the March 4 primary elections should be no longer than 150 words and must be received by 5 p.m. Feb. 23.

Email (preferred; please do not send as an attachment): letters@star-telegram.com; Fax: 817-390-7688

Regular mail: Letters to the Editor/Elections, Box 1870, Fort Worth, TX 76101