Polarization; H-E-B House seat; crossover vote; anchor babies; gun laws; Democratic race

Polarization

A ride down local streets will show signs for political candidates, each boasting that he or she is the most conservative person for the job.

Describing a candidate as a moderate has become a crushing criticism.

When did the word moderate become an insult?

Synonyms for moderate include balanced, careful, considerate, controlled, cool, deliberate, equable, judicious, measured.

Are these not desirable characteristics for those in decision-making positions?

Do Ronald Reagan admirers not know that his achievements came about through reaching common ground with those of differing viewpoints?

I worry that with the increasing polarization of both parties, America will continue to stagnate and become vulnerable because of the inability or unwillingness to work together to make life better for all citizens.

H-E-B House seat

I appreciate the fair and balanced article that Anna M. Tinsley wrote in Thursday’s paper (“Fight for state House seat reflects divide among Republicans”).

Thank you for pointing out that the Austin establishment has crosshairs on the back of state Rep. Jonathan Stickland.

Scott Fisher’s personal attacks on Stickland have proved to be the dirtiest campaign I have ever witnessed in Bedford, since moving here in 1972.

Hopefully, District 92 will send a message to Scott Fisher and Austin that we will not tolerate a smear campaign.

Crossover vote

A Feb. 7 column by Mark Bauer (“Should Democrats prank the GOP this year with crossover voting?”) decried “crossover” voting in primaries in order to nominate an opposing candidate that you think your party can then defeat in the general election.

According to Bauer, “Primaries are for the partisan supporters to select their nominees.”

There can be another reason for crossover voting.

Few if any Democrats run for local offices where I live (and in most of the state), and any running for state offices have been essentially noncompetitive for many years.

If voters want to have a say in who gets elected to local and state offices, they generally must vote in the Republican primary.

The Republican primary essentially is the general election in Texas, even for president these days.

Anchor babies

Like Loretta Jo Doty of Euless (Jan. 28 letter), I cannot understand why our representatives in Washington can’t get bills passed to try and amend birthright citizenship.

The United States can no longer afford to allow illegal immigrants, who are breaking our laws, to have their children born in America and be granted U.S. citizenship, if their parents aren’t legal Americans.

Gun laws

Despite a recent letter alleging that felons can buy any gun they want, the possession of a gun by a convicted felon is a federal felony.

Some might argue that federal prosecutors have long avoided prosecuting felons illegally possessing firearms.

Why? To advance the argument that current gun laws are not enough?

If the current gun laws are not being enforced against convicted felons, what is the logic of stronger laws?

Democratic race

It’s a virtual tie in the “Democratic socialist” debate.

It seems that about 50 percent of the Democratic Party doesn’t trust the Clintons. They’re the older Democrats who remember the former party.

Some will stay home in November. Some may switch and vote for whomever is on the Republican ticket.

I notice Hillary is using the socialist word now, as the other guy is proud of the socialists, since they’re the ones who put Barack Obama in the White House. He has been a disaster for America and his policies will be on the ballot, regardless of who’s on the ticket.

Americans will determine which way the country is going: more centralized government, or return to the policies that made America strong and free.

This story was originally published February 12, 2016 at 6:19 PM with the headline "Polarization; H-E-B House seat; crossover vote; anchor babies; gun laws; Democratic race."