A variety of viewpoints about the suitability of the Supreme Court

You can trust the justices’ education

An Oct. 4 letter writer is concerned that the five Catholic Supreme Court justices will let their religious background influence their jurisprudence. (9A) I think the obvious superiority of education delivered through private parochial schooling from kindergarten through college results in many people attending law school and then clerking for prestigious judges.

The record of scholarship among so many of these private institutions speaks for itself.

Where first lady could do more

While watching and reading about first lady Melania Trump’s visit to Africa, I cannot help but wonder: She is visiting schools, reading with children and feeding orphaned elephants. Instead, why doesn’t she visit the immigrant children living at our southern border in chain-link-fence cages and tents?

She wouldn’t have to travel all the way to Africa to visit children separated from their parents and families. We have them right here, compliments of her husband, President Donald Trump.

Feeling welcome at Mavericks games

We are grateful that the Trinity Railway Express again has special events trains waiting 20 minutes after Dallas Mavericks games. We would prefer to see security officers on the trains.

The TRE staff is so professional and friendly. We call the American Airlines Center our “sports home” because of the quality of personnel, cleanliness and the security.

The Mavericks staff is second to none.

Cheating their way to power

America doesn’t like cheaters. We are a nation based on fair play.

But Republicans have drawn congressional districts to dilute the voting strength of minorities. They have promoted voter ID laws to discourage voting. They denied President Barack Obama’s Supreme Court nominee, Merrick Garland, a hearing and ramrodded through Justice Brett Kavanaugh despite evidence of improper demeanor.

These are examples of winning at all costs.

In addition, their policies toward health care, the environment, women’s rights to a safe abortion, immigration and education are designed to give advantage to the few, not the many.

Throw out the cheaters and turn the country toward a progressive democracy.

Infection spread to Supreme Court

The process for confirmation of Justice Brett Kavanaugh puts the last nail in the coffin of the Supreme Court’s role as a final arbiter of justice and fairness in which Americans have confidence.

Sen. Lindsay Graham cynically pronounced the eulogy, saying, “Elections have consequences.” No, it didn’t begin with this sorry episode, nor with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s arrogant blocking of Judge Merrick Garland’s nomination, nor with the rejection of Judge Robert Bork.

Perhaps it began with the political parties’ uncompromising attachment to one side or another of social issues such as Roe vs. Wade or the Warren court’s decision on Brown vs. Board of Education.

Wherever it began, all pretense of an apolitical Supreme Court is gone. It is a mini-version of Congress, paralyzed by polarization.

For at least the next generation, we can expect more decisions restricting voting rights, favoring corporate profit over environmental safety, denying civil rights and limiting a woman’s right to choose.