We elected Texas Republicans to work for us, but they’re playing politics

Do what we told you to do, GOP

Congressional Republicans were elected and took an oath to uphold U.S. laws. Why aren’t they speaking out about the travesty at our border, telling taxpayers what’s really in the Democratic infrastructure and $3.5 trillion spending proposals or challenging future tax proposals that will cause more inflation and wreck our economy? Why? Because they are career politicians and love their club that keeps them insulated from what affects the average taxpaying citizen.

- Jim Nadeau, Colleyville

So this spending is bad now, huh?

In 2001, President Bill Clinton handed President George W. Bush a balanced budget. Since then, 12 years of Republican administrations and Congresses spent taxpayer money like there was no tomorrow. Much of it went to the so-called “war on terror” and obscene tax cuts for mega-corporations and the super-wealthy.

Now the GOP wants to label President Joe Biden’s spending plans, which are meant to help average Americans and which he at least has plans to pay for, reckless and full of earmarks. Huh?

- Owen Daniel, Fort Worth

What protestations really mean?

When Justice Samuel Alito says the Supreme Court is not a “dangerous cabal,” Justice Amy Coney Barrett says, “The court is not comprised of a bunch of partisan hacks” and Justice Clarence Thomas says justices don’t rule based on their “personal preferences,” I hear former Republican Senate candidate Christine O’Donnell declaring, “I am not a witch.”

During her 2010 campaign in Delaware, O’Donnell had said that she “dabbled” in witchcraft. Was Alito dabbling in constitutionality when he allowed Texas’ abortion ban to stand without a full briefing or oral arguments? Was Barrett just hanging around with partisan politicians when she spoke after being introduced by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell? Has Thomas never voted for his own preferences?

The Supreme Court’s recent rulings belie their protestations.

- Barbara Chiarello, Austin

Poor people need healthcare help

While many Americans don’t have to worry about the financial impact of going to the doctor, many living in poverty suffer from the devastating effects of a broken national health care system. Our government needs to provide health care for everyone, including the poor.

In my community, I see people struggle to even get an annual checkup. For single mothers, families living paycheck to paycheck and new immigrants, it costs too much. National health care should not be something we need to ask for. It is something humane that the government should provide.

- Rogelio Espinoza, Fort Worth

Coach making things harder for Cowboys

Mac Engel hit it on the head with his Oct. 4 column, “Cowboys are winning despite ‘McCarthyism.’” (1B) It was known that head coach Mike McCarthy, from his days with the Packers, makes some inexplicable decisions, but I didn’t know he did it every week.

It’s going to cost the Cowboys a game at some point. McCarthy is supposed to make decisions to help the Cowboys win, not make it harder.

- Randy Weeks, Roanoke