Stickland’s office sign; ‘no’ to roundabouts

Stickland’s office sign

Rep. Jonathan Stickland has every right to be proud of being a “former fetus.”

His mother had the legal right to choose to give birth to a child who would be wanted, loved, cherished, given good pre- and post-natal medical care, provided for financially, educated and raised responsibly with strong positive values or not to give birth.

The result of her choice is Stickland who by all accounts is a wonderful husband and father, a reputable businessman, someone who supports his beliefs with action and is working to contribute to the future of our country. Stickland is an excellent example of what can happen when a woman has the legal right to choose when and under what circumstances to bring a child into our world.

I can only wish that the mothers of other politicians had been able to benefit from the same legal right to choose as did Mrs. Stickland.

— Barbara Rough, Bedford

Thanks to Rep. Charlie Geren for removing a “former fetus” name plaque from the wall outside Rep. Jonathan Strickland’s Capitol office. Geren seems to understand the role of an elected representative.

Strickland’s hostile taunt to Planned Parenthood supporters who were visiting the Capitol shows an incredible lack of judgment. Strickland was elected to represent thousands of people in his district, not all who agree with his single-minded vendetta against Planned Parenthood.

As an elected representative, Strickland owes the citizens who came to the Capitol to talk about women’s health issues, or any other issues, a courteous, respectful reception. If he cannot treat his fellow Texans with more civility he has no business serving in the Texas Legislature.

Perhaps a more fitting name plaque on Strickland’s door might have identified him as “Judgment-Impaired Former Fetus.”

— Debby Jennings, Fort Worth

‘No’ to roundabouts

Roundabouts were developed in the early 1900s to replace 4-way stop intersections and “speed up the traffic flow.”

The concept was developed because there was no such thing as an electric traffic light. The first electric traffic signals were manually operated to help prevent auto/trolley collisions. Traffic signals didn’t become widely used until the late 1940s.

As signal lights became more popular, many traffic circles were converted to 4-way, stoplight-controlled intersections to “speed up the traffic flow.” In the 1960s, “right turn on red after stop” further improved traffic flow.

For some inexplicable reason, traffic circles have once again become popular. But, to make a simple left turn, you must turn right, merge and then steer left making sure that you aren’t in a “right turn only” lane until you get to where you want to turn.

All the while you’ve got to vigilantly watch the cars entering from your right so you don’t get sideswiped. Pedestrians and roundabouts don’t mix.

Drivers are primarily concerned with circle navigation. There are no “Walk — Don’t Walk” lights. One slow-moving pedestrian can bring the whole roundabout to a screeching halt, hopefully with no collisions.

Roundabouts are a bad idea.

— Larry McGuire, Crowley

This story was originally published March 20, 2015 at 7:02 PM with the headline "Stickland’s office sign; ‘no’ to roundabouts."