If Elon Musk wants Americans to trust DOGE, he needs to prove he has experience | Opinion
Where’s proof?
Few would disagree that government should work more efficiently.
But not only Democrats are alarmed by Elon Musk’s chainsaw approach, which features neither review nor understanding of federal programs. We see chaos and crushed morale — hardly the path to efficiency.
Was there ever evidence that Musk is the best candidate for this task? Is he a money saver? Might a single mom of a thriving family (maybe an experienced federal worker herself) be a better candidate?
The mistaken firing and attempted rehiring of nuclear safety employees is one case in point. Careful research before making cuts might not look “efficient,” but how else can the Department of Government Efficiency prove its legitimacy and build public confidence?
- Holly A. Gardner, Dallas
Worked for us
I read the March 9 guest commentary “School choice will empower Texas parents, protect liberty” by state Sen. Phil King. When we learned that a friend was teaching in a Fort Worth private school, we followed with our children to ensure that our morals and beliefs would be valued. We cared enough that my wife returned to work, and our children thrived. Not every family can take on another job, but with state funding, more can be free to ensure that their family values are supported.
Texans are blessed with an economy that fully funds public schools and with the liberty to choose schools. Only the misinformed could say that school choice is diverting money from public schools while funding for those schools is being increased. Competition compels both to improve. And we’re doing this while decreasing property taxes.
- Daniel V. Lee, Aledo
Didn’t work for us
Private schools can reject students, lack public oversight and charge tuition far exceeding voucher amounts. As a single mom, I once applied to a private school for my child with a disability, but she was not accepted. Even if she had been, a voucher wouldn’t have covered the cost, which I could not afford. Yet vouchers may fund those who already can afford private schools.
The Texas Constitution requires that the state provide an effective system of free secular public schools. Tell your legislators to vote no on voucher bills and to adequately fund our public schools.
- Sue Anderson, Benbrook
Wider views
I attended the March 6 pro-voucher “Parent Empowerment Night” as a skeptic who was genuinely interested to hear proponents argue for school choice. (March 9, 1A, “Abbott visits Temple Christian School to stump for vouchers”) I’m concerned that their passion came from a place of fear regarding the different ideologies and perspectives found in public schools.
Cultivating a solid ideological foundation and sense of self requires being exposed to different beliefs and ideas. Students who are “protected” from ideas and experiences that challenge their understanding and sense of self cannot become resilient, introspective and adaptive individuals with a true confidence in their identity.
Education needs to fearlessly assist in making children resilient, not put blinders on them so they give up on understanding other perspectives.
- Susan Wright, Fort Worth
Supply reality
Though I agree with some of President Donald Trump’s attempts to bring manufacturing jobs back to the United States, his approach is a disaster. The international supply chain that the U.S. relies on was developed over more than 40 years and cannot be reconstructed in a few months, or even a few years. Manufacturing jobs were moved offshore by companies seeking higher profits, and that resulted in substantially lower prices for Americans.
Americans have bought into this supply chain system. Nobody will agree to pay more for just about any product even if it would result in more jobs in this country. Trump needs to incentivize companies to return jobs to the U.S. with strategic long-term tax policies, not tariffs that will cause higher prices and probably a recession.
- David C. Rondeau, Aledo
Editor’s note: An earlier version attributed the first letter to the wrong writer.
This story was originally published March 16, 2025 at 5:08 AM.