Why are your property taxes so high? That’s the price of Texas being so ‘pro-business’

The price of ‘business-friendly’

Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley, a Republican, has endorsed Democrat Mike Collier for lieutenant governor. Not surprisingly, the incumbent, Dan Patrick, is whining like a bully punched in the nose.

The reason for high property taxes in Texas is that the Republican-led Legislature has failed to enact reasonable taxes on large businesses and corporations. Gov. Greg Abbott and Patrick have bragged that Texas is a low-tax, pro-business state. But we see the consequences of the resulting inequality, as Texas is near the bottom in health care access, education, crime and environmental quality.

- Dale Stevens, Plantersville

Wrong face on the news

Is there such a dearth of important news that a feel-good tale about a welder deserved front-page coverage Sept. 13? (“North Texas woman, 19, has found a career she loves — welding”) Get your priorities in order.

- Lee Rogers, Fort Worth

Pay attention to the border

News outlets labeled Texas, Florida and Arizona busing or flying immigrants to high-profile parts of the U.S. as a stunt or using people as pawns. But it worked. Guess what the media are finally reporting on? Record crossings at the border.

The White House press secretary was forced to address the issue. Fox News has a reporter at the border showing daily footage of it happening. Vice President Kamala Harris told Chuck Todd that “the border is secure,” with no blowback from the “Meet the Press” host.

It took what the media viewed as a negative story about Republicans to report the truth. Govs. Greg Abbott and Ron DeSantis did what it took to shine the light on the Biden administration’s ineptness.

- Randy Weeks, Roanoke

This is Texas’ welcoming way

Immigrants and asylum seekers are being spoken of as born criminals, liars, thieves, rapists, drug dealers, immoral traducers of women and children, spies and foreign agents. They supposedly won’t assimilate, won’t make good citizens, refuse to learn English and take jobs from Americans.

This has been said about Jews, Catholics, Buddhists, Hindus, Germans, Italians, Spaniards, Irish, Chinese, Japanese — you name it. People who say those things are ill informed, at best.

To those immigrants and asylum seekers, I say: Bienvenidos a Texas. Willkommen. Howdy, y’all. Glad to have ya.

- Paul R. Schattman, Arlington

Misleading people for politics

When you do something the wrong way to achieve a political goal, you tarnish your character. Putting immigrants (regardless of legal status) who do not speak English on a plane or a bus to an unknown destination using false or misleading information is just wrong.

Govs. Greg Abbott and Ron DeSantis have been using poor, traumatized immigrants for political theater. Surely, as people of faith, can’t we can address border problems without resorting to cruelty?

- Frederick Gregory, Arlington

Learn lessons of past wars

There was an excellent analytical essay in the Sept. 18 Star-Telegram on the Vietnam and Afghanistan wars. (26A, “Vietnam and Afghanistan — America’s 2 longest wars”) I will quote the brilliant editorialist Paul Fussell: “Superpowers cannot effectively fight guerrilla wars.” If you doubt that, just ask the British Empire, the Russians, the Americans. Thousands of our brave soldiers (and countless civilians) died in these conflicts, and in the end, little was accomplished.

Let us pray that our current and future leaders have learned the lesson.

- Owen Daniel, Fort Worth