A reader says her vote is priceless in reacting to the $5,000 offer to vote for the GOP in November.
Darron Cummings/AP
My vote is priceless
Having heard the president promise $5,000 to every U.S. adult if the GOP wins the midterms, I feel this is chump change. The GOP stands to keep the power to continue war, profit from being in power and avoid being held responsible for any crimes committed. Surely my vote is worth more than $5,000.
I stand to lose with higher gas and grocery prices as well as waking up to fear of what new conflict or enemy will be made of former allies. Also, there is the very real fear that it will become harder and harder to vote.
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The chance the money would actually be forthcoming as previously promised DOGE dividends and tariff refunds have yet to materialize.
The $5,000 would likely join other promises not kept such as no cuts to Medicaid, lower health care premiums, lower gas prices, etc.
My vote cannot be bought by anyone. As the old commercial says, my vote is priceless.
Phyllis Vaughn, Sherman
Who’s on the wrong side?
Re: “Patrick, HUD secretary make moral case for Paxton in Senate race,” Thursday news story.
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Republicans might want to think before claiming that the race between James Talarico and Ken Paxton is one of darkness versus light and good versus evil.
Because if that’s true, they’re certainly on the wrong side. It is Paxton who has been credibly accused of adultery, fraud and corrupting his own office. It is Paxton who was alleged to have engaged in securities fraud against members of his own church.
It is clear that Paxton is a bad person, but if Republicans want to go so far as to describe him as evil and being on the side of darkness, I’ll agree with that.
Show up for the forums
If you want the job, show up for the interview. Debates give voters a chance to hear where candidates stand and how they respond when challenged.
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Incumbent or challenger, no one should get a pass. If a candidate refuses to debate, hold it anyway. Put out an empty chair. That may be the clearest answer voters get.
Laurie Miller, North Dallas
A distorted view
Re: “An Unbalanced View of History — Teach conflicts and contributions of world religions,” Thursday editorial.
Thank you for the editorial calling out the new social studies standards set by the State Board of Education. Slanting the teaching of history to one view can give a distorted view and may lead to bias and bigotry later in life for students subjected to the teaching.
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The anti-Islamic slant promoted by the State Board is a reflection of the corrupt right-wing Christian nationalists running our state government.
As a former Republican, actions like this by the State Board of Education are the reason I abandoned the party 11 years ago.
Mark Johnson, North Dallas
Eroding democracy
The State Board of Education’s reconfiguration of what social studies students should be taught is yet another policy decision by our government (state and federal) to establish a national religion in violation of the U.S. Constitution.
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Christian nationalism has been on the rise since the 1980s — a fusion of Christian religious and cultural identity with right-wing politics and the current administration’s narrative of a “Christian Nation.”
This is fast eroding our democracy. Its intention is to inculcate hatred and contempt for not only other religions and the non-religious, but other cultures. And, it has been used to justify violence and oppression as occurred during the capitol riot in 2021 and the Muslim ban on entering the U.S., among others.
Brainwash them while they’re young.
A suggestion about the Bible
Re: “Biblical references,” by Susan E. Echols, Wednesday Letters.
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While I suppose biblical scholarship may enhance understanding of certain common expressions, perhaps we should require training in carpentry to understand “hit the nail on the head” or dentistry to understand “by the skin of your teeth” or, perhaps, geology to get “dumb as a bag of rocks.”
Not in public school
Echols says biblical references should be taught in schools or otherwise people won’t understand references like “good Samaritan,” “the writing on the wall” and “build an ark.”
I went to public school when the Bible wasn’t taught there or even discussed. I know about those vocabulary terms listed above. I didn’t need to learn them in public school.
Also, Echols is leaving out the Bible stories about rape, murder and incest. How about leaving the Bible where it should be — taught by parents or church outside of public school?
Let’s talk
Re: “Davis-promoted Oakhurst founder is facing fraud charges,” by Dave Lieber, Aug. 30 Business column.
Unless I missed it, I have not seen a response to the Watchdog’s column on Mark Davis. As a traditional business conservative who used to vote Republican, I listen to Davis’ radio show often to see what he is putting out. It’s alarming that he promoted a financial product adviser without doing due diligence.
I am often disappointed in Davis’ radio show as he supports many issues that he misrepresents and would criticize if they were Democrat originated.
I remember Rush Limbaugh once confessing that he said stuff that his audience expected. Perhaps Davis has lost his way as well and puts out stuff just to get ratings.
Mark, let’s talk about it.
Gerald Bunger, Sunnyvale