A political stunt
Re: “A talking point,” by Mike Tlanda, Wednesday Letters.
I had to read Tlanda’s several times to try to understand his absurd conclusion that Republicans are at fault for not funding TSA because Democrats wanted numerous changes to ICE policies.
When Democrats threatened to not fund TSA, the first thing Republicans did was explain the stupidity of this because ICE is already funded through 2029. Not paying TSA agents is punishing the wrong department for not agreeing to Democrat’s ICE demands. They had already agreed to this funding, but reneging was their only leverage, so too bad TSA and airline passengers!
Republicans have already agreed to body cameras and a host of other demands protecting illegal immigrants. Unmasking is a non-starter. ICE is not the police. If you get a speeding ticket, no mob is going to help you burn down an officer’s house.
We’ve all seen the violence and property destruction targeted at ICE agents. If these maniacs can identify and track down an agent, he, his family and property are in very real danger. Democrats encourage protesters to confront ICE agents.
Opinion
This is a political stunt that Democrats believe the party in power will be blamed for. They may be right, but Republicans aren’t the reason.
Chris Hill, Allen
Dream big
Re: “DART Needs to Succeed at Home First — Leaders should focus on understanding travel patterns in North Texas,” Friday editorial.
Here’s an unique idea. How about both? Why can’t DART take care of its current issues and also take advantage of expanding to McKinney?
Now, I agree the current needs are paramount. But, there seems to be an excitement about expanding rail service to McKinney on land DART already controls. Let’s do both. Dream big.
Warren L. Patterson, Cedar Hill
Get rid of TEA
Re: “School leadership exodus — North Texas is seeing a rash of superintendents leave their positions,” Tuesday news story.
This story left out one very important factor of why there is a mass school exodus by superintendents, teachers, paraprofessionals, aides and volunteers: the Texas Education Agency — the biggest issue of all.
TEA has made it so that those working in the school districts are limited in every way — no ability to discipline a student who slaps a teacher, spits in a teacher’s face, calls a teacher every name in the book, etc.
Yet, they are still required to hold court and teach “to the tests” for scores and greater funding, when teaching to the tests does not tell you anything at all about students or their capability.
The piles of paperwork are done during teachers’ lunch hour. Phone calls to parents make no difference. They’re too busy working and will seldom show up at school when requested. They don’t want to mess with their kids, but they don’t want teachers to either.
When a superintendent has to pull rank over their entire staff, it’s because of the TEA. Most high schools are finding out that Texas high school students can’t read or sign their name because a Chromebook talks and writes for them.
Pay the school districts personnel decent salaries, and fund schools the way they should be. Get rid of TEA.
Judy Webster, Plano
The smell of napalm
President Donald Trump loves the smell of napalm in the morning. As long as he’s not too close to the action. He was caught flat-footed in the Vietnam War, so others like me had to take his place.
No hero here; I got lucky and was assigned a desk job instead of fighting in the jungle. My good fortune was short-lived when our compound was attacked during the Tet Offensive on my birthday.
Why are we putting our soldiers at risk? They will not like the smell of napalm in the morning.
Les Fowler, Rockwall
The right to vote
It took the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to stop America from openly rigging its own elections. And yet, somehow, President Donald Trump treats that landmark law like an expired coupon.
For more than a century, states suppressed Black voters with poll taxes, literacy tests and intimidation. The Voting Rights Act dismantled many of those barriers to the ballot — or so it seemed.
Now, Trump treats that hard-won progress like a detour he can plough through with a golf cart. Protections once fought for are under renewed pressure from legal loopholes and political maneuvering.
His Department of Justice has demanded millions of voter records, including partial Social Security numbers and birth dates. When a government demands sensitive voter data, tightens access through restrictive laws and leans on courts to discard legitimate ballots, it is not protecting democracy — it is narrowing it.
If history teaches anything, it is that the right to vote must be constantly guarded against manipulations. And the GOP is intent on burning the rules to keep its grip on power.
Alan T. Kelly, Kildare, Ireland
Coach hails from Garland
Re: “Georgia Tech hires Troy’s Cross ,” Saturday SportsDay College Briefs.
Hey, Dallas Morning News sports editors. Thank you so much for the great short item on the new head coach at Georgia Tech, Scott Cross, and his career numbers at his previous head coaching stops — Troy University and the University of Texas at Arlington.
It was nice to know that Georgia Tech is getting a winning coach who also focuses on the student athlete as well. However, how about just a little mention of Cross being Garland’s own and a local product who graduated from North Garland High School?
David King, Richardson
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