Letters to the editor - Thursday, December 21

Tax bill favors capital, not labor

I was a public school teacher in Washington and Oregon from 1963 to 1996, when I retired. During those 33 years my salary doubled several times. Since my retirement, salaries have not doubled once! Is it any wonder young people are leaving the profession in droves or not entering it at all?Since March 9, 2009, my financial investments have increased more than the total income I earned in my career. This is a classic Marxian phenomenon where capital reaps the reward of society’s gains at the expense of labor. This is why labor, especially with stagnant wages in the Rust Belt, voted for Trump. Contrary to Trump’s claims, the current tax bill under consideration favors capital, not labor. Will that make America great again?

Arland Lyons

Sahuarita

Hart’s bonus should go to students

Re: the Dec. 15 article “Ex-UA chief Hart gets extra $25K for hitting goals.”

Since former UA President Ann Weaver Hart is still receiving her $475,000 salary, I think it would be wonderful if she used this extra $25,000 she’s receiving for “hitting her goals” to offer a scholarship to a UA applicant. I have to say, though, that if I were making $475,000 a year, wouldn’t that be incentive enough to reach my goals?

Ginia Desmond

Downtown

Lights at TMC make for an easier stay

Tucson Medical Center has it’s entire campus decorated with beautiful lights and displays. It is stressful to be at the hospital, but this brings a smile to your face. It took time and huge effort to do this. Drive by, Tucson. It is well worth the time.

Susan Stockton

Northeast side

Thank you, Star, for archive access

Thank you so much for temporarily opening up the archives to subscribers (tucson.com/free-archives). I spent two hours reading them Saturday morning and I am not finished. My family came to Arizona in 1930, settling first in Marana and then in Tucson in 1938, so there is a considerable amount of content archived.One of the articles was written by Bonnie Henry, giving considerable history of my family, making me laugh when she mentioned a story about my Dad having chickens fly off the top of his truck when he went through the Stone Avenue underpass. Also stories from the social page about birthday parties that I attended as a child, naming those attending.

Darlene Wentz DePietro

Oro Valley

Drain the swamp? Start at the top!

I am more than outraged that the CDC was ordered to eliminate from their upcoming reports a list of specific words including (but not limited to) “fetus,” “transgender,” “diversity” and “science-based.” How is it possible for our nation’s primary health protection agency to execute its most basic responsibilities when its essential means of communication (i.e. language) is subject to a vocabulary litmus test based on an arbitrary and capricious standard?

Yes, I am more than outraged. I am petrified for the future of the freedoms our nation has fought long and hard to protect, the existence of open academic and scientific inquiry, and indeed, what the future holds for my grandchildren and their peers. The time to clean the swamp is now and it must start with the short sighted and ignominious commander in chief.

Joan Zatorski-Puca

Northeast side

The issue is domestic violence

As a survivor of domestic abuse, I recognize that domestic violence is a problem for each of us and all of us — regardless of age, gender, socio-economic status, political or religious view. What must we do to stop this culture of domestic violence?1) We must speak up when we see acts of domestic violence. 2) We must teach that the need to control others is the root of domestic violence. We must teach self-control. 3) We must stop the shame, guilt, and stigmatization of victims. 4) We must have empathy for victims and abusers. 5) We must shed the “knight in shining armor” and “hero” myths.

When we recognize that we can trust others, and we release the need for controlling others, we will be on our way to a happier, healthier Tucson.

Felicia Chew

Midtown

Less protesting, more acting for NFL players

The Athlonsports.com insert in Sunday’s Star has a brief, heartwarming story that could be the solution to the issue of NFL players’ nonparticipation in the national anthem and flag ceremony before games. The article explains how NBA star Russell Westbrook donates his time and money to provide educational support to underprivileged children in the Oklahoma City area. Westbrook is quoted: “I just feel I am so blessed to be in this position. I want to take time to help other people, especially children.”Meanwhile, the NFL players, whose average salary is $1.9 million a year, seem to do nothing but whine. If they are serious about bringing about improvement, they should stop complaining and man-up — do something useful, like follow Russell Westbrook’s outstanding example.

Until NFL players stop whining and start being constructive, their shallow protest will continue to alienate former fans, folks who continue to ignore the NFL by the millions.

Alan Kohl

Northwest side