Do ‘invaders’ take care of your lawn or roof your house? Then you’re a Texas traitor
Profit from illegal immigration
Gov. Greg Abbott declared there’s an “invasion” at the southern border and directed state law enforcement to protect us. Wouldn’t that mean that any person or business that employs directly or indirectly any so-called “invader” is classified as a Texas traitor? That means your lawn care, construction company, roofer or house cleaner might be traitors, and so are all their clients.
Looks like Attorney General Ken Paxton will be busy rounding up all these traitors to take them to prison or deport them, along with the “invaders.”
- Gabrielle Gordon, unincorporated Tarrant County
Give police oversight a try
I fail to understand the Fort Worth City Council’s vote against a police community advisory board. (Nov. 13, 4C, “Council rejection of police board shows need for it”) I have served the city as a volunteer on the Civil Service Commission, two terms on the Human Relations Commission and on the original Ethics Commission, including as chairwoman. In my experience, volunteers in Fort Worth are really interested in the best way to govern for all who live here.
Why not give the recommended police advisory board a try?
- Mary Weathers, Fort Worth
Too much weight on tests
Texas should eliminate standardized testing. Students are required to pass standardized tests in courses such as math and English to graduate. One test should never determine the fate of any student. Some, like me, are capable of achieving straight A’s throughout most of their academic careers, but one standardized test can determine whether they pass or fail.
Nor should the SAT or ACT determine whom colleges accept. The only way that should be determined is a student’s performance throughout the school year.
- Colin Dubeau, Denton
It’s the teachers’ fault
A former teacher wrote a letter saying that people in Texas keep voting Republican because we are undereducated. I agree with her. The Democrats who run our schools and the teachers are not doing a very good job. Just think: A teacher telling people teachers are not doing a very good job. You can’t make that up and then blame it on Republicans.
- Gene Tignor, Emory
From their own mouths
Thankfully, Texas has finished this election cycle. In another month or so, we will begin all over again. I read and try to keep myself informed regarding politics. If the truth is known, most candidates lie.
I voted early. I thought I was well informed, until I discovered so many names on the ballot that I had never heard of. Before we begin the next cycle, could the Star-Telegram Editorial Board publish a list of everyone running statewide and the claims they’re making? That would be more beneficial to the voting public than the board’s recommendations.
In most presidential election cycles, I just skip the primary and vote in the general election. Of course, it irritates me to have the Electoral College more or less decide for me anyway, but I know that process will never change in my lifetime.
- Shirley Wiley, White Settlement
Gaming the price of housing
The Nov. 15 story “Why has cost of living in Dallas-Fort Worth increased?” (4A) barely skimmed the surface. In all but one of the 21 ZIP codes with the highest percentage of housing price increases, those increases were caused by investors buying more than half the housing inventory. They overbid for one house in the neighborhood, knowing that the others they own will benefit from the associated value increase. Prices go up unnaturally with any commodity for which the market can be manipulated.
It’s not as easy as supply and demand.
- David Jones, Arlington
No litmus test on council
Those of us who consistently vote in the area that has been gerrymandered into the new Fort Worth City Council District 11 have been puzzled by the voices proclaiming that we should be represented by a Latino candidate. We in Riverside, Oakhurst, Meadowbrook, Eastern Hills, Handley and other areas of east Fort Worth have always been proud of our diversity and have never used ethnic heritage, race or gender to determine our vote. We have tried to vote for the person we believe would best represent our interests.
The emphasis on demographics as we try to carve out a new district and get it on track is troublesome for those of us who have worked hard to see that all parts of our community are represented equally. We will be looking for a council representative who is knowledgeable about our concerns and part of our District 11 family.
- Wanda Conlin, Fort Worth