Elections on Tuesdays? That’s just dumb
Re: the April 20 “Voter-outreach effort working to get teachers to the polls.”
This article reported on groups that are encouraging teachers to go to the polls and vote for their future. Great idea for teachers as well as other workers. They hurry home after a full day at work, are just ready to relax a bit, kick back a bit, and...Oops, this is Tuesday election day! Too tired, too busy.
Elections on Tuesday? How dumb is that? Yes, I know our forefathers established Tuesday for good reason: they went to church on Sunday, traveled by horse on Monday, and arrived in time to vote on Tuesday.
But for polling a working population in the 21st century, Tuesday polling makes no sense, unless, of course, incumbents actually want to discourage workers from voting.
Let’s nag our elected representatives until they make it easier for working people to vote them out of office; change the polling to Saturday and/or Sunday to strengthen our democracy.
Stephen Uhl
Oro Valley
Peace Corps volunteers extend goodwill
On April 21, my daughter was sworn into the Peace Corps. She will begin her two years of service in Tanzania, Africa, as a health educator and provider. She went through a two-year rigorous acceptance period plus two months of in-country language and culture training.
It will be a monumental challenge in that in her assigned village no one will speak English. Along with her cohort of 50, she will become an integral part of her village, find out what needs to be done, and do it.
I am writing this because this program has been all but forgotten.
During this election cycle when there is so much talk about the lack of respect other countries have for the United States, we should honor our volunteers — from students in their 20s to post-retired (who can forget Ms. Lillian Carter, who served in India at age 68.)
Their only purpose is to extend a helping hand, through education, service and goodwill, from our country to theirs.
Chris Anagle
East side
Terrorism thrives in impoverished nations
With the recent terrorist attacks overseas, it’s no wonder that there is a growing fear that another terrorist attack could happen in the United States.
The combination of weak states, poverty and corruption leaves thousands of vulnerable citizens without hope. Terrorist groups thrive on the desperation of people.
When terrorist groups are able to provide basic necessities like food and shelter, it leaves these vulnerable people with little choice but to support these regimes.
Poverty is the greatest threat to U.S. security. If there were to be any change to U.S. foreign policy it should be to offer greater assistance in the development of impoverished countries. In helping these struggling countries, we can stabilize the lives of the poor through food aid.
I encourage everyone to reach out to your local members of Congress to say you support bills such as the Global Food Security Act, Food for Peace Reform Act, Reach Every Mother and Child Act, that are soon to be on the Senate and House floors.
Devon Chapman
Midtown
How to close bases, build a border wall
I think I have come up with a solution to two totally unrelated problems: too many military bases and that ugly wall between the U.S. and Mexico.
It’s so simple I don’t know why the top brass didn’t think of it. Close the unnecessary bases and take all the personnel, line them up along our border with Mexico, and have them hold hands. No more environmentally harmful wall, no military personnel without jobs!
Aston Bloom
East side
