Texas GOP billionaire is just Clarence Thomas’ ‘friend’? Do they think we’re stupid? | Opinion
Thomas’ ethical transgression
Justice Clarence Thomas has given a pathetic explanation of why he failed to report 20 years of luxury travel provided by Dallas billionaire Harlan Crow. (April 8, 2A, “Thomas responds to report on trips paid for by friend”) Thomas is a lawyer trained in the interpretation of laws and regulations. He claims people, whom he has not identified, told him he did not have to reveal these extravagant gifts because Crow was a “personal friend.”
That was a self-serving, if not illegal, interpretation. Thomas should be removed from the Supreme Court.
Douglas Harman, Fort Worth
I don’t see whitewashing
After seeing Bud Kennedy’s articles in the paper for many years, I finally read one, because I know a former curator of the Texas Civil War Museum scheduled to close in December. (April 9, 1C, “Texas Civil War Museum set to close, tried to be fair but failed”) I pass the museum frequently and never once have I thought it was tainted as a whitewashed attraction that overlooked Black history and the horror of slavery. I look at it as a museum of the war, showing us items and information of an American event.
- Buddy Sample, Fort Worth
Who needs tax breaks most?
Lack of affordable housing is a big problem. Wages have not kept up with the cost of housing, especially for working-class Texans, and particularly those earning the minimum wage of $7.25 an hour. These workers pay more than 35% of their income for housing, sacrificing needs such as health care, food and child care. These families are at risk of ending up on the streets; many are living in their cars or with family.
Homeowners are given tax breaks to encourage home ownership. But these workers, who are essential to our society, also deserve a tax break. Some form of a renter’s tax credit would help these families.
- Richard Gerard Remm, Fort Worth
Tiny minority will pay a price
Gender-affirming care for adults and minors shouldn’t be banned. Therapy reviews a plethora of factors to confirm gender dysphoria. Puberty blockers give people extra time to consider decisions. They prevent severe distress, permanent body changes and the need for future surgeries. Receiving hormones requires informed consent and a documented history of gender dysphoria. Surgeries largely aren’t available until adulthood.
According to the journal Pediatrics, 51% of female-to-male trans youth have attempted suicide. According to Equality Texas, Republicans in Texas have introduced more than 70 bills targeting LGBTQ people this year alone.
Republicans around the country have made a concerted effort to target a tiny minority. My friends will end up paying the price.
- Brendan Schilling, Coppell
Not ‘choice’ with public money
I am concerned about Texas Senate Bill 8, the legislation to divert my tax dollars to fund private schools. (March 13, star-telegram.com, “Texas families would get $8K in tax dollars to send students to private school in ‘parental rights’ bill”) The state has enough trouble properly funding and monitoring one set of schools, let alone supporting two separate, parallel educational systems.
This could simply be a way to transfer public money to families sending their children to private schools. Those families made a choice based on their perception of the value of a private school and their finances. This transfer of wealth is unfair to me. For example, why should tax dollars be used to purchase school uniforms?
This is not about “choice.” The state is required to provide public education. I am not being provided a choice about whether to divert my tax dollars to support private schools.
- David Stone, Roanoke
‘Flimsy’ case against Trump?
Nicole Russell is dismissive of New York’s legal case against Donald Trump in her April 7 column, “Flimsy Trump charges are bad turning point for politics, justice.” (21A) The indictment includes 34 charges of falsifying business records with “intent to commit another crime and aid and conceal the commission thereof.” That is the lowest level felony in New York, but a felony nonetheless.
If the evidence supports a felony charge, can the charge be called flimsy? There has to be evidence to go to court, right?
Let the jury decide. That’s justice. It’s not Trump’s infidelity that’s at issue — it’s the campaign finance and document falsification crimes he allegedly committed covering it up. It seems he thought that if his affair came to light before the 2016 election, it would have been a turning point for him politically.
- Graham Donathan, Benbrook