Who’s driving the bus here?
Re: “As Texans pull for pot, Abbott says no — Bipartisan majorities favor allowing medical use, but GOP still against recreational,” Wednesday Metro & Business story.
When one looks at the numbers across all political parties, it’s very clear Texans are ready to move forward on medical and/or recreational marijuana use. This story says 83% of registered voters approve of marijuana for medical use, while 60% approve of recreational use. Yet Gov. Greg Abbott weighs in with a firm “no” to legalizing marijuana in Texas.
With these numbers presented by The Dallas Morning News, I am wondering exactly who Abbott works for? Apparently, it’s not the citizens of Texas, who overwhelmingly support legalization. Gov. Abbott, the people have spoken. Perhaps it’s time you listen.
Robert Warren, Highland Village
Teachers are not alone
I have been watching the discussion in the letters to the editor of The Dallas Morning News relative to teacher retirement increase. The argument goes something like this: Teachers have worked hard and are not able to live on their retirement because there is no cost-of-living mechanism in place to keep up with inflation.
I am an 86-year-old retiree who also worked hard and lives on a fixed income. When I retired in 2000, I took my retirement, which did not have an option for an inflation adjusted payment. I knew that going into my job, so I accepted it. Now after 22 years of inflation, the buying power of my retirement is worth only 60 cents on the dollar (per the Bureau of Labor Statistics). This current inflation surge will be particularly harmful to my retirement.
As I understand from the numerous letters The News has published, teachers want me to pay more tax to the state so that the state can, in turn, pay them more retirement income. This does not seem a very equitable proposition. Maybe we all have to play the hand that life has dealt us.
Robert Hudson Crawford, Richardson
Underscoring inequalities
I read with interest that many homeowners are in the process of appealing their recent appraisals. One would think that when the majority of homeowners receives an appraisal that is in error, there would be a process for re-appraisal without burdening the homeowners.
While I am one of the homeowners who has the ability and resources to appeal, there are a good deal more who can’t. So, once again, those who can afford it the least will end up paying the most.
Barbara Mackoy, Cedar Hill
Too partisan? Really?
Re: “We Recommend — Hernandez in the Democratic runoff for Texas House District 70,” May 13 Editorials.
I find it ironic that The Dallas Morning News recommends Cassandra Garcia Hernandez, a candidate with zero legislative experience, over Mihaela Plesa, seasoned legislative aide, because somehow Plesa’s work in the Legislature disqualifies her as overly partisan? Need I remind you that every Texas House representative in Collin County is a highly partisan Republican, and these races are, in fact, partisan?
Collin County Democrats have been unrepresented for too long. We need a House representative who will fight for and represent us, not chase some mythical Dallas Morning News notion of nonpartisanship. Plesa is the candidate who will fight for her district and has the experience to to be effective on Day One. I was proud to vote for her in the primary and will do so again in the runoff.
Jeffrey Quiggle, Plano
A better fit
Re: “For apparel, a rare fit,” by Maria Halkias, May 15 Business story.
Amazing: American women designing and manufacturing clothing for American women. For many years, I worked in retail clothing for men. Often we would have women buying men’s shirts and garments because they fit better and were more comfortable. Women wanted sleeves that extended beyond the wrist, shirt tails that could be tucked in, collars designed for necks, not plunging necklines, and a tailor who could modify the shirts to a woman’s figure.
Men’s clothing tends to stay the same size, no matter who manufactures it. Women’s clothing is a nightmare.
Donald N. Wright, Garland
Not in the Constitution
I would like to point out to our contextualist friends on the Supreme Court, Justices Clarence Thomas and Amy Coney Barrett: You were not mentioned in the Constitution, either.
Bridget Lynch, St. Petersburg, Fla.
Two different worlds
Re: “Democrats’ path ends in record losses — Party and Biden, like Grover Cleveland in 1894, remain stubborn and stuck,” by Salena Zito, Saturday Opinion.
Zito’s opinion piece is an excellent example of confirmation bias in action, but also a great illustration of the fact that the two halves of our population appear to live in different universes.
Ernie Stokely, Far North Dallas
Your AC is safe from electric cars
Re: “What about recharging cars?” by Howard W. Block, Wednesday Letters.
Once more, I read a letter bemoaning the potential threat to Texas’ electrical grid posed by millions of electrical vehicles recharging. This is a misplaced anxiety on several counts. First, the millions of new electric vehicles in Texas will not arrive overnight. Like the millions of new Texans our governor has bragged about attracting, they will arrive gradually, and the grid will accommodate them the way it has accommodated new residents.
Second, most charging is done overnight, when electric utilities welcome higher demand. Third, people who own electric vehicles often also put solar panels on their roofs. I am one of those. The Texas grid gets a little free electricity from me each year because I often produce more than I use.
Fourth, electric vehicles, more efficient than internal combustion engines, reduce air pollution, particularly pollution near where people live and work. Imagine breathing the cleaner air after millions of ICEs are replaced by EVs! You’re welcome.
Christine A Guldi, Dallas
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