Four-letter football; respect starts at the top; not a fair tax; no Purple Hearts

Four-letter football

Let’s see if I have this right.

The Kansas City Chiefs fined one of their players $11,025 because he was caught on TV last week giving an “obscene gesture” to an opposing player.

This is the same week that Tom Brady was seen using a certain four-letter word three consecutive times. But wait, we were treated to instant replays of Brady’s tantrum — and of course, no fine.

Weekly, we are subjected to the networks focusing on the tirades of players, coaches and staff, and as often as not on instant replay. This is not accidental. It has become a conscious part of the game.

At any time, the networks pick and choose what to air. With a keystroke they could eliminate this garbage. They must believe that potty-mouthed adults add to their ratings. As for the players and coaches, they know every move is being broadcast.

To each of you: Well done, great example.

Don’t blame our kids for the language they use. They’re only repeating what they see and hear from watching the family football game.

— William S. Taylor,

Colleyville

Respect starts at top

Al Sharpton is calling for a march on Washington, D.C., next week to protest the “broken grand jury system” in the U.S.

I submit to you that what is broken in the U.S. is the lack of respect for law and order by some people.

Successful respect for law and order demands that people do whatever is right when encountering any event.

Respect for law and order starts at the top. We have witnessed a president, who is charged in our Constitution to carry out our laws, completely disregard any law he does not agree with. In some cases, he legislates new law with executive orders.

It just takes a matter of time for this disrespect for the law to permeate our society. That is what is happening today. If he can do it, others can do it!

— David H. Pace, Fort Worth

Not a fair tax

In his Sunday letter, Glenn Terrell is just the latest to propose the mislabeled “Fair Tax,” a national consumption tax to replace the income tax and achieve Grover Norquist’s dream of abolishing the IRS once and for all.

The fly in the ointment is that this tax isn’t fair at all. While I applaud the “prebate” to protect low-income people, it does nothing to protect the middle class that currently carries a disproportionate burden in funding necessary government functions. And it leaves transactions such as services and stock sales totally untouched.

Because this unfair tax scheme exempts business-to-business transactions of every sort, all anyone with means needs do is incorporate and live on borrowed money. Their untaxed income allows the wealthy to accrue an ever-growing pool of collateral with which to finance such a scheme, and to pass it from generation to generation, totally untaxed.

The Fair Tax is nothing more than a sop to the wealthy and to their minions in the financial and corporate legal sectors, neither of which produce a single item of value to our society.

Whenever someone feels compelled to use the word “fair” in the title of anything, rest assured that it is anything but.

— Mark Greene, Fort Worth

No Purple Hearts

I was taken aback by Congress adding Purple Hearts for the victims of the Fort Hood shooting.

While these unfortunate soldiers may have suffered greatly, awarding an unearned Purple Heart is not a way to help them out.

Military awards and decorations are sacred ground for all military personnel. I would never consider accepting an award I had not earned.

Obviously members of Congress who have never served do not appreciate that fact.

If Congress wants to help, give them cash but not unearned Purple Hearts.

— Robert M. Dorcy, Fort Worth

This story was originally published December 10, 2014 at 5:52 PM with the headline "Four-letter football; respect starts at the top; not a fair tax; no Purple Hearts."