A snowball’s chance
Re: “Jasmine Crockett announces run for U.S. Senate seat held by John Cornyn,” online story.
Jasmine Crockett must be delusional. Or, she is suffering from a monstrous case of hubris. In response to those of us who desperately want her to stay in the House where she is sorely needed, she said: “I understand. But what we need is for me to have a bigger voice.”
Does she know how long it has been since a Democrat won a statewide race in Texas? She’s got a snowball’s chance in Hades. After she loses, she won’t have a voice at all in Congress, and we’ll all lose.
Fred Moss, Dallas
Pension promise broken
Re: “Mayor: We must keep our pension promise — Approval this week of a funding plan would help stabilize system,” by Eric L. Johnson, Monday Opinion.
Opinion
Johnson’s opinion piece suggesting that his current plan for the Dallas Police and Fire Pension System is a “promise kept” is disingenuous at best. As a Fire Department retiree, I can testify that the city has failed miserably to keep its promise.
Johnson makes no mention of a promise to retirees, literally a contract with us, for a cost of living adjustment, of which we have seen no sign since 2017. Think, if you will, about what inflation has done since then.
In addition, he conveniently fails to mention that the issue is currently in the courts, waiting for a judgment. He’s hoping to hurry along a council vote, for fear the court will rule in our favor.
And for those who don’t know, in most cases, retirees do not receive Social Security benefits but rely on the pension we were promised. And don’t talk to us about what will happen in 30 years when, of course, we’ll all be dead.
Susan Drake, Carrollton
Real leader takes blame
As a retired teacher and veteran, I am dismayed by the way our current leaders point fingers, avoid questions and try to portray themselves as righteous or not responsible when decisions are questionable.
During World War II, Gen. Dwight Eisenhower, who could see that D-Day might become a colossal failure, wrote a note to the press taking full responsibility. For many years, I showed a copy of it to my history classes to help them understand the weight he bore alone, and the kind of man he was. Luckily for all of us, he never had to release it, but it testified to his magnanimous spirit and sense of honor.
A real leader does not make excuses, but shoulders the blame and soldiers on.
Our current leadership shows a very different attitude. They respond angrily to anyone who questions them by refusing to answer, insisting decisions were made by subordinates, threatening elected officials, using schoolyard bully tactics and name calling.
There is a word for this kind of talk and behavior: pusillanimous, which means small spirited. The opposite of magnanimous and honorable.
Peter Lutken, Dallas
Is U.S. fit for world contests?
Given the mottos of the Olympics (“Faster, Higher, Stronger — Together”) and of the World Cup (FIFA promotes “For the Game. For the World.”) and given the America First policies, should the United States be allowed to host these events?
Policies restricting immigration and international cooperation undermine inclusivity necessary for athletes, fans and workers. America may have the infrastructure to accommodate the world, but does it have the ethos to welcome them?
Curtis Smith, Dallas
Get serious about DWI
Re: “Man charged in crash out on bond in 2 cases — Records show he faced charges in Travis County involving drugs, weapon,” Monday news story.
When will this state get serious about reining in drunken drivers?
Drunken drivers willingly become potential murderers every time they get behind the wheel when impaired. Until we take this seriously, this kind of senseless, preventable and violent tragedy will keep occurring over and over, and will never stop.
Getting serious means, among other things: 1. Every arrest for DWI gets prosecuted. A blood alcohol content equal to or in excess of the legal limit is an automatic conviction. 2. Each conviction requires the same number of years in prison, without parole. The first conviction means one year in prison. The second conviction means two years in prison, and so on.
3. Any DWI incident that results in injury to another person requires the vehicle to be confiscated and the implementation of rule No. 2 times five. The first time a drunken driver injures someone it’s five years in prison. The second time is 10 years.
4. Any DWI incident that results in the death of another is an automatic 20-year sentence in prison, without parole.
The current system is effectively catch and release.
Olan Knight, Murphy
Not all have cellphones
I am sick and tired of websites and other facilities that do not have an option for conducting business without a cellphone. I have never owned a cellphone and do not want a cellphone. This has nothing to do with being tech savvy (which I am) or simply being old-fashioned. I have two landlines at my home, where I reside 90% of the time.
While most websites and businesses do have enough sense to offer one or more alternatives to sending codes and other information to a cellphone, I have had to argue and/or stop doing business with those which are clueless.
Besides those people not owning a cellphone, the ones who do could have lost their phone or had it stolen — or maybe it just isn’t working at the moment.
To all businesses, please always offer an option to send out information via email to a computer or by speech to a phone. Then, you should have everyone covered.
Dave Johnson, Arlington