For Fort Worth seniors, some of what Social Security giveth, Medicare taketh away

Medicare costs are heading up

Seniors, did you really expect to keep all of that 5.9% the Social Security cost-of-living benefits increase that will begin in January? For several months, that’s been in the news. But now we learn that Medicare payments will be higher in the coming year, averaging about $22 or more for most of us. That will just about eat up your 5.9% raise, maybe more.

Easy come, easy go.

- Cecelia Gilbreath, Fort Worth

Enough water is a big concern

I read Sunday’s front-page feature, “Paving the Prairie,” about housing demands and the amount of available open land in Fort Worth. A major problem we face in Texas is lack of water. We need research on the population’s effects on our water supply. Texans need reliable water sources for the future, not just open land.

There are signs of growing pains for the Trinity Aquifer as well as our open pasture lands. I live in Parker County, and there are more than 600 applications a year for new water wells. We have housing additions popping up all over Weatherford (along with traffic jams).

Demand will increase, and without reliable water sources for the future, we will see tumbleweeds rolling over a Texas ghost town.

- H.P. Ard Jr., Weatherford

The many positives of fracking

Fracking has been beneficial in America’s effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and natural gas will continue to be a better alternative to other fossil fuels.

Fracking has created jobs. And natural gas obtained by fracking is cheaper than other forms, further helping the American economy. The introduction of natural gas from fracking to replace burning coal has reduced America’s greenhouse gas emissions.

Even though fracking has been seen as an environmentally harmful practice, it is our best alternative to balance being economically and environmentally friendly until we find an affordable way of implementing renewable energy as our main source.

- Peter Mayes, Denton

We need to know more about pot

A letter to the editor published Sunday (4C) promoted the legalization of marijuana for recreational use. But there is substantial concern among some health care providers about it. The International Academy on the Science and Impact of Cannabis, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization of doctors, lists 15 potential health risks of using marijuana.

We frequently see public service announcements about the dangers of smoking, yet that is the primary way this drug is ingested. There is also concern about the accuracy of labels on cannabis products. A recent Journal of the American Medical Association study of 75 edible products purchased from three dispensaries in California and Washington found just 17% of labels were accurate in reporting levels of THC, cannabis’ psychoactive ingredient.

Concerns such as these must be addressed before any consideration of legalization.

- David Roll, Colleyville

The police need more, not less

Defunding the police is a horrible solution to our national policing problems.

As the son of a Fort Worth police officer, I have seen the amount of training the department does to prepare officers for dangerous situations. But more could be done. Funding should cover training for helping those with mental disorders, children in danger and those who don’t speak English. Taking money away isn’t the answer.

- Brian Moss, Bedford

This story was originally published November 18, 2021 at 5:00 AM with the headline "For Fort Worth seniors, some of what Social Security giveth, Medicare taketh away."