Legislation sounds great
but then he “gives up the game”
Re: January 3 article “School bills aim to expand parental control.”
“Rep. Tom Oliverson, R-Cypress, has submitted House Bill 338, which establishes a rating system for books used in schools and restricts books labeled more mature from the lower grades,” the article reads.
Sounds ok, right? But then Oliverson gives out the game: “The most egregious thing about this is that some teachers think they know better than parents,” Oliverson said.
Right. If dad says that two plus two equals 37, what right does the teacher have to correct him?
Stephen Medlock, Austin
Use part of the state budget
surplus to expand our parks
The Texas legislature must decide what to do with the $27 billion surplus. I have a far-sighted and timely proposal.
I propose that Texas spend $10 billion surplus to expand our state park system, especially in the central and eastern parts of the state while there is still some land to buy.
As the population of Texas exceeds 30 million and continues to grow steadily, do a favor for the millions of Texans in the coming decades who will be looking for places to experience nature. Let’s save more for them.
Jim LeBuff, The Woodlands
Bag unloading delays threaten
tarnish Austin’s reputation
I returned from Europe on December 29th. It took almost two hours to get my luggage from baggage claim.
The fact that the airport is too small and the Southwest Airlines fiasco contributed little to this.
However, I have met several airline and airport employees and they know exactly what is wrong. Insufficient number of staff and insufficient equipment required to unload luggage from aircraft. This is an airport and airline management issue and is unacceptable.
Austin is considered a great place, but it will lose that reputation if we can’t unload the bags from the planes quickly.
Jack M. Wilhelm, Austin
January 6 rioters must pay the price
for their “un-American” choice
Your newspaper has been covering most of the nasty news coming from the political/administrative bodies in our country that gross liars are being elected to important positions that control our lives.
Those who rioted in our Capitol, completely consumed by the misleading statements of a disgraced leader, must pay the price for their un-American choice. All guilty must pay a fine, go to jail and lose their citizenship.
When ignorance takes hold of a small section of our society, Americans must stand firm and resist these misguided efforts.
Michael W. Henry Sr., Marble Falls
To inform about their policies, officials
must constantly visit the border
Re: January 5 article “Biden visit to border scheduled for next week.”
I generally supported President Biden and his policies. However, as a native of Texas and an advocate for immigrants heading to the United States across our border with Mexico, it is shocking that his upcoming visit will be his first.
A few years ago, I traveled to Brownsville and Matamoros with a church group and saw firsthand what the living conditions of immigrants were like, how local nonprofits were handling the situation, and how the court system handled their cases. A lot has changed in these three years, and it would be impossible for me to draw any conclusions about the current situation without making another trip.
This makes it even more important that Biden and other decision makers visit affected areas constantly to better inform their policies.
Mary Closmann Calais, Austin
Those “dramas” at the airport? They are
more inconvenience than real news
Here are just a few of my thoughts as we prepare to enter 2023. I watch the morning news and read the daily papers. I swear, 90% of them are about the life dramas of rich people.
Just one small example: airport delays seemed to take up most of the news lately. Passengers experiencing discomfort have access to a warm and clean space. They have clean tap water and a bathroom. They have access to decent food. Yes, it sucks to be stuck in an airport at Christmas, but that’s more of an inconvenience than real news.
No wonder most people live their lives unaware of the real world. Much of what is being foisted on us as “news” is drama for relatively wealthy people. Not cold hard facts.
Delvin Goss, Austin
The hypocrisy of politicians whose
actions are inconsistent with the profession of faith
Governor Abbott is a disgraceful example of a Christian and a member of the Catholic Church.
Busing immigrants to Vice President Harris’ house on a cold night on Christmas Eve was an atrocity and a violation of every principle of human dignity. He is fully in the race with other Republican governors to outdo each other and please his golden idol Trump.
Worse yet, is the silence of many of our church leaders, including our own bishop. What do our political and church leaders need to publicly condemn these acts of inhumanity?
Politicians who profess strong Christian and family values, but do not fulfill God’s highest commandments from Leviticus 19:18, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” are hypocritical.
Gilberto Martinez, Austin
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