Editorial cartoonist’s Trump train traveled a path different from reality

This train is way off the tracks

The May 9 editorial cartoon on Page 9A, showing a train labeled “Trump Economy 2019” is a gross mischaracterization. President Donald Trump inherited the economy from President Barack Obama, just as he inherited his wealth from his father.

Fight e-cigarettes together

Walk the halls of any secondary school in Fort Worth or the nation, and you’ll hear about electronic cigarettes. Manufacturers have marketed their candy-flavored, addictive product to youth successfully.

In 2018, e-cigarette use increased 78% among high school students nationally. As president of the Fort Worth Independent School District Board of Education and executive director of Fort Worth SPARC, I have heard concerns from countless parents, students, administrators and teachers about exposure to and potential use of these addictive, nicotine-containing products by our youth. A community-wide plan of action must be executed to protect today’s youth and future generations against e-cigarettes.

In Congress, the House Appropriations Committee has proposed increasing funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s tobacco-prevention work. Thank you to our own Rep. Kay Granger, who is the top Republican on the committee, for always working on behalf of the health of our youth.

Don’t be afraid. Let’s all work

Richard Greene’s Sunday column, “Bernie Sanders & Co. come to Fort Worth selling tyranny, socialism snake oil,” reads as seriously uninformed. (5B) It reeks of fear — of change, of the future, of that imaginary bogeyman socialism. It’s hard to understand such blind fear.

Honestly, we face serious challenges. Why are “scary” liberals, not conservatives, addressing pressing issues such as climate change, income inequality, health care, infrastructure and guns, to name a few? Many younger voters are tired of being the generation forced to pick up those cans that earlier generations kicked down the road. This senior citizen agrees.

It’s not about blame — it’s about action. Americans and Texans have guts. We don’t respond well to fear. Maybe voter-approved democratic socialism would work best for health care. A more capitalistic approach might work better for infrastructure, although we do hate tolls.

Let’s talk. Denial, ridicule, fear mongering, inaction and distraction never solve anything.

A true pillar of his community

Amon Carter Sr. was born and raised in Bowie, Texas. He was one of seven members in the first graduating class of Bowie High School. My grandmother, Minnie Lee Graves Slaughter, was also one of the seven.

Carter never forgot his classmates, and at Christmas time he sent them wonderful presents. He was most proud of his raising in Bowie, and he was a most gracious man.

Immigrants will take your money

If you think your property taxes were too high this year, just wait until the many would-be immigrants who are storming our border and attempting to break our immigration laws are enrolled in our schools.

Remember: School districts drive our taxes, and the middle-class and seniors are the hardest hit.

Assessments aren’t tax rates

An April 26 letter asked about property taxes being frozen for people over 65. The writer says her assessment goes up every year and asks, “Am I missing something?” Answer: yes. Taxes for those over 65 are frozen. With few exceptions, the assessment can go up every year, but this does not mean the taxes go up.