Saving millions; cutting military; teach our history; rude FW welcome; I’m a socialist

How to save millions

The Legislature revels in announcing tax cuts but seems to overlook a huge spending issue.

Texas has 254 counties, each with a courthouse staffed by countless clerks, judges, etc.

These were created in the mid-1800s, for the most part when transportation and communications were difficult.

Also, there are more than 1,000 school districts, each with a superintendent and associated staff. Some of the school districts have one or two schools; some have dozens.

It’s time for a reconfiguration of these jurisdictions to more evenly distribute responsibilities, as well as millions of taxpayer dollars.

The governor should set up a commission to study the issue and make recommendations to the 2017 legislative session.

Texas residents are justly proud of being Texans. We should take the lead and demonstrate our ability to bring Texas into the 21st century.

— Rick Weintraub, Arlington

Cutting the military

We are cutting our armed forces while Russia’s Vladimir Putin is becoming more aggressive. Remember Pearl Harbor? We won’t get a second chance in the next conflict.

Putin senses the weakness and unpreparedness of our military and our president’s lack of backbone.

Look at Russia’s aggression in Ukraine and Putin’s appetite for more conquests. We had better become prepared and not reduce our defenses.

Citizens need to get involved and interact with their congressional representatives. Apathy can be fatal to our country.

— Tom Loughrey, Hudson Oaks

Teach our history

I happened to watch a group of people on a Long Island beach being asked why they were celebrating the Fourth of July.

One of the questions was: Who did we declare our independence from? Some of the answers: King Arthur, King Tut. What year was that? Answers: 1946, 1973, 1737.

As for the general who won the war for independence, some answers were: Patton, U.S. Grant and “I don’t know.” Who was the first president? Answers: Lincoln, Franklin. How many colonies were there? One answer was 20! Asked to name one of the original colonies, one beach-goer answered: “Oregon.”

Why are we not teaching our students how we became the United States of America? It is shocking and sad to see people so uninformed about our nation’s history.

— Karen Miles, Fort Worth

Rude FW welcome

I parked in front of the Blackstone Hotel to unload luggage and check in. Within five minutes a bicycle patrolman started writing a parking ticket.

I tried to explain that I was checking in from out of town, but with no success.

Of course you can appeal in person, but only Monday through Friday. A written appeal was also denied.

Welcome to Fort Worth!

— Fred Leith, Cordova, Tenn.

I’m a socialist

I can only conclude that Richard Greene believes that any law passed to benefit the poor and middle class is socialism. (See Sunday column, “Bernie Sanders exposes Hillary’s socialist views.”)

He would favor laws that benefit the rich and big business rather than the poor and middle class.

This has been Republican philosophy since the presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt when Social Security was enacted. It was also evident with the passage of Medicare, a minimum wage, a 40-hour work week, overtime pay. etc.

If this is socialism, count me in.

— Jack Vaughan, Arlington

This story was originally published July 9, 2015 at 5:47 PM with the headline "Saving millions; cutting military; teach our history; rude FW welcome; I’m a socialist."