Worth the cost; shut down the government; thank you, Frogs; the art of handwriting; speech on vehicles; stop the whining

Worth the cost

How sad that Mr. Cosby (see Dec. 6 letter “Outrageous bill”) has never known the peace, joy and love that can accompany bonding with a dog.

He may have owned a dog, but that’s not the same thing.

I am sure that knowing that Bentley was waiting for her was a big part of what kept Nina Pham on the road to recovery.

And that is worth way more than $27,000. It is priceless.

— Sally Fallis, Plano

Shut down government

I just watched the House of Representatives vote on the $1.1 trillion spending bill.

This bill contained a provision that allows banks and Wall Street to sell derivatives and the taxpayer is now on the obligated to back these worthless things up. This led to the collapse of our economy in 2007-2008 and it will happen again.

Republicans and Democrats voted for it 219-210.

Did we learn nothing?

It would have been better to shut the government down until they get it right.

Yes, shut the government down just before Christmas! Maybe they will get America’s attention!

This bill is as un-American as anything can possibly be.

— Helen L. Martin, Bedford

Thank you, Frogs

When adding up the accomplishments of the TCU Horned Frogs, remember to include this one: They have brought the community together.

— Roger Summers, Arlington

The art of handwriting

I may be old-fashioned, but I’m sad to learn that the teaching of cursive handwriting is being downplayed or eliminated in public schools.

The typical defense is that everybody will be using a keyboard. Well, even smartphones are not typically attached to a printer. We may not always have a keyboard within reach when we want to write a note to the mail carrier, jot down a grocery list or simply write something in a birthday or thank-you card.

I can also remember the almost obsolete art of handwriting a letter.

To me, hand printing is not the same. In fact, I never learned to print except in capital letters.

If this trend continues, the mail carrier won’t even be able to read postal addresses written in cursive.

— Ernest Wisian, Fort Worth

Speech on vehicles

Our constitution allows free speech.

If a bigot wants to display a Confederate flag on his or her license plate, he or she should certainly be allowed to pay the additional fee to the state for the privilege of doing so.

I may not agree with that opinion, but I will defend the right to voice it when displayed on personal property, such as their vehicle.

It doesn’t personally harm anyone and it would generate much-needed funds for TXDOT.

It makes more sense than paying about the same amount to register a utility trailer (that rarely leaves my shed) than to register my car that I drive every day.

— Bart Baker, Alvarado

Stop the whining

Last year when the NCAA announced the College Football Playoff, Dale Hansen of WFAA/Channel 8 and the sportswriters all said how great this was — that this would finally prove the No. 1 team.

No matter which team was selected, two teams were going to be upset.

Now after TCU misses out, all I read and hear is how bad it is. So let’s take another look.

TCU played three non-conference teams that had a record of 16-19. Baylor played three teams who were 12-23, and Ohio State played four teams that went 23-23.

Conference teams TCU and Baylor both played went 56-52, whereas Ohio State conference teams played went 63-46.

In the last game TCU played and beat a 2-10 Iowa State team 55-3, while Ohio State beat a top 10 team 59-0.

May I suggest to Mr. Hansen and all the other writers that they try some aged cheddar to go with their whine?

— Robert Ferrera,

Burleson

This story was originally published December 12, 2014 at 7:35 PM with the headline "Worth the cost; shut down the government; thank you, Frogs; the art of handwriting; speech on vehicles; stop the whining."