Leonard Pitts Jr. continues his campaigns of hatred, but at least it’s funny
Scribner not making the grade
When I was young, I was paid for my grades: 50 cents for a B, a dollar for an A. Report cards with straight A’s earned a bonus. It taught me the value of a dollar, the importance of hard work and that mediocrity doesn’t pay.
Fort Worth Independent School District Superintendent Kent Scribner’s “performance” bonus last week is alarming. (Sept. 9, Star-Telegram.com, “Fort Worth ISD school board extends superintendent’s contract, approves $25,000 bonus”) Scribner earns $330,000 a year, with an annual bonus “at the discretion of the board.” But the district has an overall grade of C from the Texas Education Agency. Just a third of third-graders read on grade level. Just 32% of high school seniors test “college-ready” in reading and math.
Scribner should have to get his grades up to a B average before he gets a bonus.
- Lyndsay Cooper, Fort Worth
Let us heal our division
Politics is a great divider. I’m a very senior citizen, and I’ve never seen a presidential election separate not just friendships but relatives as well. Blame President Donald Trump or not, but it’s happening to all of us.
Why can’t we all be civil and have our debates but still remain friends and love each other? It breaks my heart to know this is taking place.
God bless us all, but maybe he’ll help find a way to heal this very open wound.
- Dale Allen, Hurst
Leonard Pitts Jr. is full of hate
Leonard Pitts Jr.’s deep hatred of our president is well known, but he must have worn out his thesaurus Sunday. (5B, “Trump’s many lies no longer shock us”) He even resorted to creating his own cute phrase: “shambolic catastrophe.”
I hope readers recognize Pitts’ hate for all conservatives and the perpetual vindictiveness and enmity in his writing. I feel sorry for any person who harbors such hatred. But, bring on the next one. The comedy must continue.
- Winston Barney, Fort Worth
Fossil fuels are not the future
Richard Greene doesn’t seem to know that climate change is real and happening now and that there is no debate about it among climate scientists and most world leaders. (Sept. 6, 5B, “How Biden’s energy, immigration policies would be especially harmful for Texans”) He wants to protect the oil and gas industry but not protect future generations from the devastating effects of climate change.
More new jobs have been created in the wind and solar industries in the past three years than in the oil and gas industries. Renewable energy is now cost competitive to natural gas for generating electricity.
A planned and orderly transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy over the next 30 years would maintain Texas’ jobs and economy while protecting us from the worst consequences of climate change.
- Charles R. Foreman, Arlington
Police shouldn’t be political tools
Gov. Greg Abbott, Texas House Speaker Dennis Bonnen and other elected officials are hypocrites. They are using law enforcement as a political tool to get votes and working to terrify voters about “defunding the police.” One size doesn’t fit all for COVID-19, according to Abbott. How is a locality’s budget different?
Abbott used state overreach to stop local bans on gas drilling in an attempt to assist his campaign fundraising. Law enforcement has become harder for officers as more tasks have been dumped on them. Let local voters and leaders decide how their tax dollars are spent and how to support their officers.
- Eric Pratt, Fort Worth