Tucson speaks up: Letters to the editor for the week of Sep. 24, 2021
- Updated
Our weekly round-up of letters published in the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: COVID-19 infection rates
UpdatedAmong lots of interesting data on the CDC website is a listing of state-by-state COVID-19 infection rates (cases per 1,000 people). Here are the top 10, ordered from the highest rate to the lowest: Tennessee, North Dakota, Florida, South Carolina, Arkansas, Mississippi, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Alabama, Louisiana. Can anyone identify a pattern?
Ralph Fregosi
Northeast side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: Gen Milley...
UpdatedI read in Sandra Katz' opinion that Gen Milley is a true patriot... In my opinion, he is a patriot as was Benedict Arnold who sold out the plans to West Point to the British during the Revolution, and he may well be in line for a Generalship in the Chinese Army as was Arnold into the British Army...
Joseph Carey
East side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letters to the Editor Sept. 24
Updated‘A’ Mountain not being neglected
Re: the Sept. 13 letter “‘A’ Mountain being neglected.”
A letter writer lamented about neglected buffelgrass on “A” Mountain. Since 2017 Arizona Native Plant Society volunteers have quietly spot-sprayed herbicide on the buffelgrass while carefully sparing the native plants on the “A” Mountain summit. After repeated sprays and a lot of dedicated effort almost all buffelgrass is now under control above the loop road with over 60 native species of native plants thriving in its place. Just last month the Arizona Native Plant Society did a fundraiser to finance the contract spraying of 37 acres of buffelgrass on the highly flammable south slope of “A” Mountain. This is only the modest beginning of bringing Tucson’s iconic mountain back to its natural splendor.
Let’s all do our part to bring “A” Mountain back to life rather than bemoan what we expect others to be doing.
John Scheuring,
Arizona Native Plant Society
Oro Valley
Let’s celebrate the Santa Cruz
As director of Arizona Land and Water Trust’s Desert Rivers Program, I spend my days pursuing opportunities that mutually support Southern Arizona’s river systems and agricultural producers. To me, World Rivers Day, this Sunday, Sept. 26, is a chance to step back from the details of my work and reflect more broadly on the waters that have sustained and inspired me over the years.
This year, World Rivers Day has me thinking about the Santa Cruz: about the wildlife I’ve encountered on the Anza trail, the afternoons I’ve spent under the shade of towering cottonwoods, and the heritage foods found throughout town that originated in this valley so many generations ago … because rivers aren’t just water that flows along a channel — they are the animals, plants, crops and cultures supported by that water. This Sunday, I encourage you to reflect on the ways in which the Santa Cruz sustains and inspires you and your family, and join me in celebrating our incredible desert river.
Bailey Kennett
Midtown
Immunity bubbles possible to create
Re: the Sept. 22 article “Poll: AZ’s unvaccinated likely cannot be budged.”
Even though our prospects for reaching herd immunity are dim, we can create our own type of local herd immunity. We do this by choosing to get vaccinated and then socializing and doing business with others who are vaccinated or competently observing COVID-19 mitigation measures. Then with two additional measures we can start to live longer and better.
To live longer, change how we use our limited ICU hospital beds. COVID-19 patients are currently given priority hospital admission at the expense of those needing non COVID-19 lifesaving treatments. Rather than privileging the voluntarily unvaccinated, first meet the critical needs of the non-COVID-19 patients.
To live better, provide the COVID-19 vaccinated with exclusive admission to restaurants, theatres and other venues where mask wearing and social distancing requirements are being ignored by the unvaccinated.
When the unvaccinated reach herd immunity through attrition and recovery from COVID-19 infections, we can then all enjoy a longer and better version of life.
Peter Dean
Sahuarita
Sinema nothing but a roadblock
Dear Sen. Kyrsten Sinema: Please knock it off! You’re standing in the way of President Biden’s agenda, first for meaningful voting rights and now for a big infrastructure bill. We can afford $3.5 trillion over 10 years. It’s a choice. This is a priority. Taxing the super-rich and corporations has huge support by Americans of both parties and will go a long way to fund this package. I knocked on doors for you because I thought you’d be an agent of change. Instead you’re nothing but a roadblock for progress. Please get out of the way.
Sally Reed
Northeast side
How to reverse climate change
After two decades of widespread and extreme drought, we are facing the reality of climate change. Recent headlines in the Star show the consequences: Colorado River projections more dire; Drought haves and have-nots share water; and Colorado River farmers were paid $38 million to save water by not planting. Utilities will charge more. We can do something now or pay more later!
Americans must pay the full price of the greenhouse gas pollution causing climate change. Carbon pricing does that. Sens. Mitt Romney and Lindsey Graham, about 75% of younger Republicans, and the Business Roundtable support carbon pricing. Economists say that putting a price on carbon is a more business-friendly way to decrease emissions than government regulations.
Bills in Congress do price carbon: HR 2307, HR 3039, S 685, and S 2085. Each pays a dividend to citizens from the fees paid for carbon production or importation. Tell Congress to put a price on carbon and begin to reverse climate change.
William Jones
East side
Climate change drives migration
Re: the Sept. 20 article “Climate change threatens Arizonans.”
Dr. Richard Carmona’s op-ed outlined impacts from climate change that affect Arizona: reduced Colorado River water, wildfires and heat. A letter writer asked how climate change is causing a different threat — undocumented immigration on Arizona’s border.
Consider that last November, two hurricanes touched down in Nicaragua and Honduras, making 2020 the fifth year of unusually heavy rainfall, leaving farms underwater. Rain increasingly comes in torrents, followed by periods of drought. In Guatemala, the government and aid agencies estimate half of all children are malnourished. Millions are looking for a safe place where they can feed their families, yet scientists expect ocean warming will fuel more intense hurricanes and longer droughts in the future.
This story of ancestral farms ruined by a punishing climate is being repeated around the world, from Sudan to Sicily and Louisiana, too. Carbon emissions have created this dangerous new climate, one that’s sending desperate people looking for refuge. Tell Congress we must slash carbon now.
Jane Conlin
Oro Valley
Letter: Don't Impeach Our Incompetent President
UpdatedOur president has gotten himself into a huge mess in only a few short months in office.
COVID: Former President Trump handed him two approved incredibly successful vaccines accelerated by Operation Warp Speed. He told us that he was the antidote to Trump's alleged mishandling of the virus. How’s that going?
Our southern border: Trump also handed him a semi-stable border situation where desperate hopeful immigrants understood the steps to come here before uprooting their miserable lives. Now there’s chaos and despair at Del Rio and elsewhere.
Afghanistan departure: Almost no one is defending this humiliating fiasco so I don’t need to add more.
I'm not a big fan of impeachment proceedings by either party of an incumbent president. When you sort through the diatribe, they're either "criminally Republican" or "criminally Democrat". Either way, it distracts from governance and weakens America.
I say, forty months to go until the election.
Jeffrey McConnell
West side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: Re: In pocket-phone age, why do we feel less connected?
UpdatedRe: the Sept. 22 article "In pocket-phone age, why do we feel less connected?."
What the article says is so true. It's not just nostalgia for geezers. It's really true that the effort needed for communications made them more deeply felt. Here ate a couple of other thoughts:
First, we weren't tied to the phone on the wall. In more-recent times -- when we weren't required to buy everything from the (only) telephone company -- you could get an extra long curly cord that let you walk around the room, or even around several rooms, dangling the cord behind you (which always got tangled up into a blob as you hung up the phone). And extension phones in other rooms... remember leaving one phone, picking up an extension in another room, then going back to hang up the first phone?
Second, folks who aren't familiar with the joy of receiving a paper letter might try it. There's something special about holding paper in your hand that the other person has created for you.
Jerry Peek
Midtown
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: Government has failed the United States
UpdatedSometimes 150 words is just not enough to cover all that's wrong with the current administration of our country. I know the decisions being made are not rational or in the best interest of the American people. Congress is in a state of disarray, our borders are wide open and we have no control of who is entering our country. The country is in a pandemic and it's out of control. A government is judged by the action it takes to protect it's people during these
hard times and and when you can describe this action as "to little to late" is a sure sign of failure. The future
seems to hold much of the same. We see out tax dollars used to provide aircraft to return immigrants back to their own countries and then were sending 64 million to Afghanistan that the republicans approve of? Nope,not enough words.
Thomas Fletcher
South side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: President Biden
UpdatedWhen asked if you are better off than 10 months ago, the answer is a resounding no! The Dunkirk of Afghanistan was a poorly planned and executed and Biden did not keep his word to American citizens residing there. The Administration will not enforce current immigration laws and the result is that hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants have been allowed to enter this country. Unfortunately, we will foot the bill for many years to come. Inflation is raging, hurting the poorest of us the most. Energy prices have risen steeply, particularly gasoline. The poorly conceived and rush to green energy has put our existing grid system in peril. And worst of all, Biden will not answer a question without permission of “they?” and Kamala Harris is ineffective and in witness protection. Even though he pledged to be the great uniter, are we actually better off? And what will happen to taxes?
Pudge Johnson
Oro Valley
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: Don't Change State Constitution
UpdatedWhen there are so many larger issues facing our workers, businesses, and communities, changing our state constitution to wipe right-to-work laws off the books is tremendously misguided. But that is exactly what the PRO Act would do. Among its sweeping changes to U.S. labor law, the PRO Act would nullify right-to-work laws here in Arizona. Arizona was founded over 100 years ago, and right-to-work protections were so important they are written into our state constitution. To simply erase these laws from existence takes away rights from workers and also completely disregards the will of who we are as a state. We should not be wasting time, money, and resources to effectively rewrite our state constitution when there are bigger fish to fry. Senators Mark Kelly and Kyrsten Sinema should oppose the PRO Act and help ensure Congress focuses on more pressing priorities.
Michelle Rill
Downtown
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: Haitian refugees
UpdatedWhen in the history of America have we ever shipped refugees from a catastrophic earthquake back to their country where their homes have been destroyed and there is no assurance they will have shelter, food or water available for them? In the same period we accept 200,000 Afghan refugees we turn away 15,000 Haitians? Why? The Haitians are our neighbors. Many have family members living in the Untied states for generations. What is going on here?
Bette Richards
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: The border
UpdatedIf security by the TSA is so important when we board an airplane, why should not security be just as important at our borders when someone wants to enter the United States?
Robert Lenhard
Northeast side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: McConnell and his GOP prefer Trump over democracy
UpdatedDuring Obam's Administration, Republicans were baptized "The Party of NO!" Over eight years, Barack Obama was blocked from appointing judges (including Merrick Garland as a Supreme Court Justice) for some unwritten rule made up in Mitch McConnell's corrupt, depraved mind. As a result, Obama's agenda was always received by a resounding McConnell-led Republican chorus of NO!
The diabolic "Leader" blocked American progress for over eight years. With Joe Biden in office, and no reason, simply the spite in his "heart," he has reinstated the "Party of NO" to its former status, believing this action will help make the small man a giant amongst the perverse - praising respect for his power.
He has puppeteer's control over all Republicans; how no one knows. It is believed that one-third of the GOP Senators disagree with McConnell but are afraid to say no to him. Why?
As citizens of a two-party system, realize McConnell has never been good for the country. Vote to get rid of those who blindly support him.
Sheldon Metz
Northeast side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: McConnell's plan will hurt every American, rich or poor
UpdatedThe Supreme Leader of the Senate, Mitch McConnell, has determined that he, personally, would like to effectively cost the US economy millions of jobs, wipe out trillions in household debt and send unemployment rates surging. He has ordered his SS (Senate Simpletons) troops to obey his orders or fear the wrath of the Turtle’s bite. He sneers in delight at the thought of blaming Democrats for this ill-conceived plan.
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen noted that McConnell’s terribly timed action would cause “irreparable harm” to the American economy. That means everyone, including those of you who have sworn allegiance to Donald Trump’s New Fascist Party. Unless you are a multi-millionaire or billionaire, you WILL be hurt. Even the wealthy will lose some of their assets.
Republicans do not care about people, only power.
Can any Republican supporter/reader defend this move?
Sh Metz
Northeast side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letters to the Editor Sept. 23
UpdatedMisery awaits returned Haitians
When in the history of America have we ever shipped refugees from a catastrophic earthquake back to their country where their homes have been destroyed and there is no assurance they will have shelter, food or water available for them? In the same period we accept 200,000 Afghan refugees we turn away 15,000 Haitians? Why? The Haitians are our neighbors. Many have family members living in the Untied States for generations. What is going on here?
Bette Richards
Northwest side
Hansen analogy rubs wrong way
Re: the Sept. 20 article “Loss to ‘Jacks causes more pity than pain.”
I have always enjoyed reading Greg Hansen’s column, however, his comparison of the UA coaching performance since 2015 “as the equivalent of an elementary school substitute teacher” was completely out of line.
I taught first-third grades in the Sunnyside School District for 35 years and have been subbing for about eight years since retirement. Elementary school teachers (and subs and teaching assistants) are some of the hardest working, most qualified people I know.
They do this job because they love the kids and seeing the progress they make. They certainly don’t become teachers for the big paycheck or, in Greg Hansen’s case, the respect.
Kathy Hotchkiss
Midtown
White House stumbles along
When asked if you are better off than 10 months ago, the answer is a resounding no! The Dunkirk of Afghanistan was a poorly planned and executed and Biden did not keep his word to American citizens residing there. The administration will not enforce current immigration laws, and the result is that hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants have been allowed to enter this country.
Unfortunately, we will foot the bill for many years to come. Inflation is raging, hurting the poorest of us the most. Energy prices have risen steeply, particularly gasoline. The poorly conceived rush to green energy has put our existing grid system in peril. Even though he pledged to be the great uniter, are we actually better off? And what will happen to taxes?
Pudge Johnson
Oro Valley
US government fails its people
Sometimes 150 words is just not enough to cover all that’s wrong with the current administration of our country. I know the decisions being made are not rational or in the best interest of the American people. Congress is in a state of disarray, I think our borders are wide open and we have no control of who is entering our country. The country is in a pandemic and it’s out of control.
A government is judged by the action it takes to protect its people during these hard times and and when you can describe this action as “too little too late” is a sure sign of failure. The future seems to hold much of the same. Nope, not enough words.
Thomas Fletcher
South side
Librarians know what you want
I have always loved libraries and have been visiting the Woods Library since it opened many years ago. Librarians are great resources and recently I learned of a new service our library offers called Personalized Reading Recommendations. You answer a few questions about books you’ve loved, books you didn’t and what kind of books you enjoy reading. Then you get recommendations from a real live librarian. I have read three of the recommended books and loved them all. What a great service. How wonderful to have dedicated public servants who are book lovers.
Kate Maguire Jensen
Northwest side
Don’t impeach our incompetent prez
Our president has gotten himself into a huge mess in only a few short months in office.
COVID: Former President Trump handed him two approved and incredibly successful vaccines accelerated by Operation Warp Speed. He told us that he was the antidote to Trump’s alleged mishandling of the virus. How’s that going?
Our southern border: Trump also handed him a semi-stable border situation where desperate hopeful immigrants understood the steps to come here before uprooting their miserable lives. Now there’s chaos and despair at Del Rio, Texas, and elsewhere.
Afghanistan departure: Almost no one is defending this humiliating fiasco so I don’t need to add more.
I’m not a big fan of impeachment proceedings by either party of an incumbent president. When you sort through the diatribe, they’re either “criminally Republican” or “criminally Democrat.” Either way, it distracts from governance and weakens America.
I say, 40 months to go until the election.
Jeffrey McConnell
West side
What motivated this sham audit?
What motivates Arizona Senate Republicans’ pursuance of an unnecessary, time-wasting sham audit of the 2020 election in Maricopa County, and why question the validity of the election in which they won their seats? Why has this sham audit, funded by “Big Lie” supporters, dragged on for months? What did they do during those months?
Read the “Report on the Partisan Review of the 2020 General Election in Maricopa County” found online at the Secretary of State’s site, azsos.gov. It has me extremely worried, angry and sad. To be clear the Arizona Senate Republicans have one goal: raise doubts in voters’ minds about the integrity of all elections to come. Arizona Senate Republicans do not believe in democracy or the right of all Arizonans to vote. Arizona Senate Republicans will do anything to stay in power. Anything. Remember that when their sham audit report is released and vote them all out in 2022.
Tina Whitley
Northeast side
Making things more personal
Re: the Sept. 22 article “In pocket-phone age, why do we feel less connected?”
What the article says is so true. It’s not just nostalgia for geezers. It’s really true that the effort needed for communications made them more deeply felt. Here are a couple of other thoughts:
First, we weren’t tied to the phone on the wall. In more recent times, when we weren’t required to buy everything from the (only) telephone company, you could get an extra long curly cord that let you walk around the room, or even around several rooms, dangling the cord behind you (which always got tangled up into a blob as you hung up the phone). And extension phones in other rooms, remember leaving one phone, picking up an extension in another room, then going back to hang up the first phone?
Second, folks who aren’t familiar with the joy of receiving a paper letter might try it. There’s something special about holding paper in your hand that the other person has created for you.
Jerry Peek
Midtown
Don’t change Ariz. Constitution
When there are so many larger issues facing our workers, businesses and communities, changing our state constitution to wipe right-to-work laws off the books is tremendously misguided. But that is exactly what the PRO Act would do. Among its sweeping changes to U.S. labor law, the PRO Act would nullify right-to-work laws here in Arizona.
Arizona was founded over 100 years ago, and right-to-work protections were so important they are written into our state constitution. To simply erase these laws from existence takes away rights from workers and also completely disregards the will of who we are as a state.
We should not be wasting time, money, and resources to effectively rewrite our state constitution when there are bigger fish to fry. Sens. Mark Kelly and Kyrsten Sinema should oppose the PRO Act and help ensure Congress focuses on more pressing priorities.
Michelle Rill
Downtown
Security demands are inconsistent
If security by the TSA is so important when we board an airplane, why should not security be just as important at our borders when someone wants to enter the United States?
Robert Lenhard
Northeast side
Letter: Big $Bills coming due in Texas
UpdatedBig $Bills coming due in Texas
As a direct result of the Texas anti-abortion laws, any number of unwanted and unloved children will be born and will need to be cared for into adult hood and perhaps beyond. Since it is a direct result of Texas statutes that a child is born, then Texas is morally, ethically and likely legally responsible for these human beings.
Pro-lifers must begin to understand that it isn't that a woman selfishly wants an abortion, it is more the case that the prospective mother cannot see how this fetus/this child will be able to live happily and healthily with what the mother can provide.
Vin Allen
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: Donald Trump
UpdatedDuring WWII America fought enemies thousands of miles and two oceans away, and the whole country joined together to fight them; suffering through mandates/shortages, i.e., blackouts in cities, rationing of food, gasoline, tires, etc. The country accepted the "mandates" even though they impacted on daily lives because they were patriotic.
Today America's enemies are not thousands of miles away, they are homegrown, i.e., Proud Boys, Oath Keepers, and others. They support the spoiled man who cannot accept losing the election.
Those groups were involved in the January 6 attempt to stop Congress from fulfilling its Constitutional obligation to certify the electoral college vote for the presidency. It is disgusting that GOP members of Congress continue to say January 6 was a "normal tourist tour day" when it is obvious that it was anything but that. They lie to please Trump, himself a pathological liar, completely ignoring their oath of office, and very un-American.
B Jerry Lujan
SaddleBrooke
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: A New Norm
UpdatedApparently we have a new norm in this country. If the Republicans lose an election, whether or not it has happened yet, it is a rigged election. If they win, however, I guess then it is fair. Really?
Norma Guest
East side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: The Sad Plight of the Haitian refugees
UpdatedWe are witnessing a humanitarian Crisis with the indigent Haitian Refugees-at our borders---They have suffered colossal calamities in the recent months--Here we are , rounding them up for deportation to their country which offers them absolutely no future. And yet, we have. allowed thousand of refugees in droves from the South American countries to cross our borders at will and house them at local hotels at tax payers expenses. Where is the Compassionate Immigration overhaul policies that we were promised?
Shiraz-Ali Peera
Foothills
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: We Must Keep Abortion Bans Out of Arizona
UpdatedThirteen hours is all that it took before Texas hospitals saw their first death by self-induced abortion. Thirteen hours after the bill banning abortions passed. When will state representatives realize that these so called "pro-life" decisions kill more people than they save?
These anti-abortion states don't actually care about saving "unborn lives."If they did, they would implement better sex education in schools and offer affordable birth control options. Instead, these states are directly attacking American democracy and putting bounties on desperate women. When asked about pregnancies from rape, Governor Abbott responded than he plans to "eliminate" all rape in the state of Texas. Are these the people we're meant to put our faith in to protect us? No. We must demand a country where Americans can count on getting the medical care they need in a republic that stands up for every individual's rights, not just the individuals without a uterus.
Sierra Blaser
East side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letters to the Editor Sept. 22
UpdatedLegislated money not getting spent
I can understand spending $1.5 trillion on rebuilding our roads, bridges, broadband, affordable housing, etc. for economic stimulus. I don’t understand legislating $3.5 trillion before the first $1.5 trillion is put to work. We should have some idea when money gets spent whether it does what it’s supposed to do.
I am amazed at the amount of money legislated to fight COVID-19 and rental relief that hasn’t been spent. If we cannot manage to spend the money legislated, we should not legislate it in the first place. Spending it is part of the management function! Money not spent has a way of getting lost and spent on other unintended programs. We should insist on government spending our money wisely.
Dave Locey
Foothills
Specific meaning of ‘war’ ignored
Words mean things. The failure of news channels and public conversation is that the term “war” isn’t defined. It’s casually used. Any military action is carelessly called a war, however “war”, as legally defined by the Constitution, requires the House of Representatives to pass legislation proposing an act of war. The Senate must approve this act and the president signs it. There have been 11 “real wars”. World War II was the last duly declared war. All other “wars” since have been acts of national defense against terror or supportive of one side in their civil wars under the auspices of NATO.
The “longest war,” constitutionally, was waged against Chief Cochise of the Chiricahua Apaches from 1861-1872, a sovereign Native nation. The U.S. government reneged on this treaty in 1876 instigating a resumption of hostilities with Geronimo for another 10 years.
Jay Van Orden
Northwest side
Big bills coming due in Texas
As a direct result of the Texas anti-abortion laws, any number of unwanted and unloved children will be born and will need to be cared for into adulthood and perhaps beyond. Since it is a direct result of Texas statutes that a child is born, then Texas is morally, ethically and likely legally responsible for these human beings.
Pro-lifers must begin to understand that it isn’t that a woman selfishly wants an abortion, it is more the case that the prospective mother cannot see how this fetus/this child will be able to live happily and healthily with what the mother can provide.
Vin Allen
Northwest side
Put Olson statue on a pedestal
My family and I arrived in Arizona in 2007 and almost immediately became UA Wildcat fans. One of my biggest regrets is not being able to see Coach Lute Olson actively coach the Wildcats at McKale Center.
It didn’t take long to learn the enormous impact Lute had on the UA and the entire Tucson region. When I found out that they were going to honor him with a statue at McKale I was very excited to lay my eyes on this statue memorializing his incredible accomplishments.
When I first saw the statue I was so disappointed! The statue itself is wonderful but its out-of-the-way location and ground-level appearance just doesn’t give this statue the right look. This statue should be up on a pedestal for us all to look up to Lute as we did in his storied life and the statue and pedestal should in the center of the courtyard leading into the McKale Center entrance. Let’s look up to Lute!
Albert Hanson
Northwest side
Domestic terror is biggest threat
During WWII America fought enemies thousands of miles and two oceans away, and the whole country joined together to fight them, suffering through mandates/shortages, i.e., blackouts in cities, rationing of food, gasoline, tires, etc. The country accepted the “mandates” even though they impacted on daily lives because they were patriotic.
Today America’s enemies are not thousands of miles away, they are homegrown, i.e., Proud Boys, Oath Keepers, and others. They support the spoiled man who cannot accept losing the election.
Those groups were involved in the Jan. 6 attempt to stop Congress from fulfilling its constitutional obligation to certify the electoral college vote for the presidency. It is disgusting that GOP members of Congress continue to say Jan. 6 was a “normal tourist tour day” when it is obvious that it was anything but that. They lie to please Trump, himself a pathological liar, completely ignoring their oath of office, and very un-American.
B Jerry Lujan
SaddleBrooke
If they lose, it’s ‘rigged’
Apparently we have a new norm in this country. If the Republicans lose an election, whether or not it has happened yet, it is a rigged election. If they win, however, I guess then it is fair. Really?
Norma Guest
East side
Abortion bans aren’t pro-life
Thirteen hours is all that it took before Texas hospitals saw their first death by self-induced abortion. Thirteen hours after the bill banning abortions passed. When will state representatives realize that these so called “pro-life” decisions kill more people than they save?
These anti-abortion states don’t actually care about saving “unborn lives.” If they did, they would implement better sex education in schools and offer affordable birth control options. Instead, these states are directly attacking American democracy and putting bounties on desperate women. When asked about pregnancies from rape, Gov. Greg Abbott responded than he plans to “eliminate” all rape in the state of Texas. Are these the people we’re meant to put our faith in to protect us? No. We must demand a country where Americans can count on getting the medical care they need in a republic that stands up for every individual’s rights, not just the individuals without a uterus.
Sierra Blaser
East side
Tucson’s roads are a disgrace
Throughout my time of having my license, I am starting to be more and more aware of the infrastructure that needs to be fixed. I’m sure a lot of you agree with me. For instance, I’m going to start on the huge pothole on Old Spanish Trail and Harrison. That one pothole is probably about 2 feet in diameter, That is not OK whatsoever. Next, I am going to shift my focus on a certain road. Houghton is by far one of the most torn-up roads I’ve been on; half of the road is normal, while the other half of the road is torn to shreds and filled with holes. It looks as though the city attempted to glue the two halves of the road together. My last example is Broadway. Over five years ago they tore up Broadway almost completely. And now five years later some of Broadway is still under construction. City of Tucson, please make these roads safer for all drivers.
Alex Cook
East side
Star is a go-to for local history
Re: the Sept. 20 article “’Walking encyclopedia’ a consummate historian.”
Along with the thought-provoking cartoons, columns and op-ed pieces the Star really shines with pieces such as the one by Jan Cleere on the amazing Tucson woman Yndia Smalley Moore. These pieces give so much to understanding the local history to the many of us who have found the Old Pueblo from elsewhere. Cheers!
Michael Judd
East side
Haitian refugees shown no mercy
We are witnessing a humanitarian crisis with the indigent Haitian refugees at our borders. They have suffered colossal calamities in the recent months.
Here we are, rounding them up for deportation to their country which offers them absolutely no future. And yet, we have allowed thousand of refugees in droves from the Latin American countries to cross our borders at will and house them at local hotels at taxpayers’ expenses. Where is the compassionate immigration overhaul policies that we were promised?
Shiraz-Ali Peera
Foothills
Letter: GOP and Death Panels
UpdatedI'm old enough to remember when the GOP was trying to scare everyone by saying Obama would have "Death Panels" if the Affordable Care Act passed.
Well, guess what? We now have the equivalent of "Death Panels" in Idaho, where the healthcare system has been so overwhelmed by Covid cases that care has had to be rationed.
Why did this happen? Because the GOP has made wearing masks and getting vaccinated a political issue.
So, thanks a lot GOP! We now have those Death Panels you wanted so much!
John Wheeler
Downtown
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: Re: Authoritarianism
UpdatedRe: the Sept. 19 letter "Authoritarianism sounding familiar."
I read the recent editorial concerning Authoritarianism and find myself in violent agreement. Although veiled, I assume that the real subject is Presidential Executive Authority.
If correct, then I feel must point out that there are checks by Congress and the Judicial on Presidential Executive Authority:
1. Congress can pass a law invalidating the Executive Order, and can pass it over the president’s veto.
2. The Supreme Court can declare the Executive Order unconstitutional.
Because politicians cater to the whims and desires of their supporters, our system has inherent faults. If you are fascinated by train wrecks, check out President Roosevelt’s Executive Order 9066. For details, I urge all to read “They Called Us Enemy” by George Takei.
I believe whether one supports the concept of Orders by Executive Authority depends almost entirely on whether your party affiliation is that of the President. The last president issued 220 such orders. Biden 61.
Michael Burdoo
West side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: Re: the Sept. 12 article “To curb abortions, support women at work, in their lives.”
UpdatedRe: the Sept. 12 article "To curb abortions, support women at work, in their lives."
As a firm believer that well-considered philosophy is vital in our troubled world, I find the glib pronouncement “the fetus and embryo are separate entities from the pregnant woman” lacks objective foundation. This dichotomous viewpoint, largely non-secular and regarded as given and absolute, is squarely at the root of the abortion conflict. It may be considered a “biological fact” that every living being is the terminus of one long chain of life transfer stemming from a common origin, revealing that other than that origin, strictly speaking, life does not begin but only ends. Defining pregnancy as two separate entities appears necessarily arbitrary in this context. Philosophical honesty demands that we concede that the human condition, particularly this distinctly female phenomenon that unifies and carries forward that condition, is not predefined. Just as all of humanity might be regarded as a unity, so might a pregnancy. To paraphrase a famous sentiment, we are condemned to choose. Shouldn’t we then, additionally, be free to do so?
Robert Gavlak
Midtown
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: Money
UpdatedI can understand spending 1.5 trillion on rebuilding our roads, bridges, broadband, affordable housing, etc for economic stimulus. I don't understand legislating 3.5 trillion before the first 1.5 trillion is put to work. We should have some idea when money gets spent whether it does what it's supposed to do. I am amazed at the amount of money legislated to fight covid 19 and rental relief that hasn't been spent. If we cannot manage to spend the money legislated, we should not legislate it in the first place. Spending it is part of the management function! Money not spent has a way of getting lost and spent on other unintended programs. We should insist on government spending our money wisely.
Dave Locey
Foothills
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letters to the Editor Sept. 21
UpdatedHospitals should
change policies
Re: the Sept. 13 letter "Thanks a lot, anti-vaxxers."
Thank you to the writer for his letter. Readers are pulling for him and his wife.
I, too, experienced waiting in emergency rooms on two different days, walking out after 18 hours and no response. The crowds there finally heard why we waited: no beds. Staff is overwhelmed, quitting, no technicians, no way to treat those coming in. “Sorry,” they said.
Why, by no choice of our own, are we, the injured and ill, going through this? You know. The numbers of unvaccinated COVID patients now demanding science’s attention to make them well.
Hospital policies must change to care for remaining personnel, and to practice medicine for those who need it and are socially responsible. It’s crisis standard of care time, not surge time. Those unvaccinated presenting COVID receive lowest care priority, except children and religious exemptions. Non-COVID patients needing ICU facilities get the beds. Those needing cardiac care, injury and illness care all come first, not last.
Nancy Jacques
Northeast side
Disappointing
UA football loss
No words to describe how disappointing it was for UA to lose to NAU. Inexcusable! We've been losing seasons since Dick Tomey was our coach. How do you expect to recruit quality players? How do you expect to keep fans? I hope someone comes up with answers soon!
Wanda Blades
Sahuarita
Need politically balanced districts
The Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission (IRC) is currently drawing maps for state and federal legislative districts. Creating districts that strongly favor one political party results in the election of extremists.
LD 11, where Republicans heavily outnumber Democrats, has repeatedly sent extremists to the Arizona Legislature. QAnon follower, Rep. Mark Finchem, is a Trump-endorsed promoter of the Big Lie and the “fraudit.” Recently resigned Rep. Bret Roberts promoted legislation to prevent private businesses from adopting COVID work-place safety requirements. Senator Vince Leach promotes public funding for private schools despite Arizonans' rejection of such programs. Leach also brags about passing a tax cut that heavily benefits the top 1% at the expense of the 99%.
Because LD 11 Republicans far outnumber Democrats, these legislators can be elected and reelected without having to consider the wishes of anyone but their far-right base. As a result, the voters of LD 11 are not being fairly represented. The IRC must avoid creating districts like LD 11.
Eileen Hollowell
Oro Valley
Authoritarianism
Re: the Sept. 19 letter "Authoritarianism sounding familiar."
I find myself in violent agreement. Although veiled, I assume that the real subject is presidential executive authority.
If correct, then I feel I must point out that there are checks by Congress and the Judiciary on presidential executive authority:
1. Congress can pass a law invalidating the executive order and can pass it over the president’s veto.
2. The Supreme Court can declare the executive order unconstitutional.
Because politicians cater to the whims and desires of their supporters, our system has inherent faults. If you are fascinated by train wrecks, check out President Roosevelt’s Executive Order 9066. For details, I urge all to read “They Called Us Enemy” by George Takei.
I believe whether one supports the concept of Orders by Executive Authority depends almost entirely on whether your party affiliation is that of the president. The last president issued 220 such orders, Biden 61.
Michael Burdoo
West side
Free to choose
Re: the Sept. 12 article "To curb abortions, support women at work, in their lives."
As a firm believer that well-considered philosophy is vital in our troubled world, I find the glib pronouncement “the fetus and embryo are separate entities from the pregnant woman” lacks objective foundation.
This dichotomous viewpoint, largely non-secular and regarded as given and absolute, is squarely at the root of the abortion conflict. It may be considered a “biological fact” that every living being is the terminus of one long chain of life transfer stemming from a common origin, revealing that other than that origin, strictly speaking, life does not begin but only ends.
Defining pregnancy as two separate entities appears necessarily arbitrary in this context. Philosophical honesty demands that we concede that the human condition, particularly this distinctly female phenomenon that unifies and carries forward that condition, is not predefined.
Just as all of humanity might be regarded as a unity, so might a pregnancy. To paraphrase a famous sentiment, we are condemned to choose. Shouldn’t we then, additionally, be free to do so?
Robert Gavlak
Midtown
How to get the win
Re: the Sept. 20 article "Loss to 'Jacks causes more pity than pain."
There’s no doubt about it, the defense is going to have to carry Arizona this year, and that means having a standard of allowing no more than 13 points a game to give our team a chance to win. We need defensive players with “giant chips” on their shoulders, playing over their heads and out of their minds. They need to bring it every game, with hard-nosed, hard-hitting Chuck Cecil, Byron Evans, Tedy Bruschi style all-out attacking on defense with rotations of players so that when one group is tired, the next comes in to “Give ’em Hell.”
The reality is that the “flexbone” needs to be built in as part of your offense and used situationally. Make the other team beat us. This year it has to be defense first and grind it out offense playing smart field position football. I’m not apathetic about Arizona football, 0-15 is old news, build a hard-hitting solid defense, the “W’s” will come.
Richard Harper
Northeast side
UA loss to NAU
There is a proverb in Japan that says, "on the rock for three years." A Buddhist monk came to Osaka from South Korea and sat on a rock in the lotus position for three years, so the story goes. It means that you have to give three years before you are in any position to judge or criticize.
One of my supervisors in Japan said that he did not want to hear my opinion until I had been "on the rock" for three years! So forget about NAU, forget about the shame, and forget about this season for that matter.
Let's be patient and realize that the magic does not happen overnight. We still have a lot of dues to pay to get where we want to go. If we can see three years of continuous improvement, that will have been better coaching than we have had in a while.
Robert Shatz
Foothills
GOP and death panels
I'm old enough to remember when the GOP was trying to scare everyone by saying Obama would have "death panels" if the Affordable Care Act passed.
Well, guess what? We now have the equivalent of "death panels" in Idaho, where the health care system has been so overwhelmed by COVID cases that care has had to be rationed.
Why did this happen? Because the GOP has made wearing masks and getting vaccinated a political issue.
So, thanks a lot, GOP. We now have those death panels you wanted so much.
John Wheeler
Downtown
Marijuana tax
Re: the Sept. 20 article "Tax revenue for pot in AZ over $115M."
I just read the article in the Star regarding where the tax money from marijuana sale goes and was shocked to learn that none of the money goes for public education in Arizona. No wonder our public school system is lacking!
Ken Wright
East side
Letter: Video games
UpdatedA recent writer resurrected the old belief that video games are responsible for violence in America. The entire world plays these games. 2019 Japan had 319 murders, 2020 Norway had 31. Chicaco on a bad weekend comes close to Norway. If the games are to blame why aren't these other countries effected.
Craig Miller
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: A Profile in Courage
UpdatedGeneral Mark A. Milley's actions were courageous.
I believe he exemplifies what a true hero is, he kept us safe regardless of the personal cost.
Susan Dabbs
East side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: Biden's COVID hypocrisy
UpdatedBiden wants mandatory vaccines for nearly every person in the United States, except Congress and their staffs, U.S. Postal workers, illegal aliens and Afghan refugees.
At the same time, American citizens are threatened with the loss of their jobs, income, and employment by being threatened with “vaccine” mandates, while COVID carrying undocumented are distributed into America to enable them to spread COVID!
Biden publicly stated that he would not mandate vaccines to the general population of America. Now he is doing the exact opposite. Biden is a liar. Furthermore, Biden and his “mandates” make absolutely no provision for natural COVID immunity, acquired by surviving COVID.
Chairman Joe Biden and the Democrats are more than happy to lock down America to needlessly continue this created crisis while killing people by preventing the use of safe therapeutics that would deprive the drug companies from their government enforced multi-billion dollar windfall.
Loren Charles
Marana
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: Rich People
UpdatedI used to say that I wished I could be a Republican because their bumper stickers were on much nicer cars. But it really is indicative that the Republicans represent people who tend to be better resourced than others. I look at the laws recently passed in Texas. They really only affect the poor. If wealthy women want or need an abortion, they will get one. So, once again, it is poor people that bear the burden of Republican legislation.
Chris Pinhey
Foothills
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: Constitution Week
UpdatedSeptember 17 - 23 is Constitution Week. In 1955, the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution petitioned Congress with a resolution, making this a week to observe the Constitution of the United States, as the foundation of the American form of government. It was signed into law by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on August 2, 1956.
2021 marks the 234th anniversary of the signing of the Constitution, and the 230th anniversary of the ratification of the first ten amendments known as the Bill of Rights. The Constitution is a living document that assures each citizen the freedoms Americans cherish and appreciate.
Take this week to read, know and understand this wonderful document that has withstood the tests of time. We, the people of the United States, have the responsibility to keep the Founding Fathers legacy alive by promoting the ideals they fought valiantly to give their descendants.
Debra Kielley
West side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: Response to "The great divide"
UpdatedThis letter should be put on the front page of every newspaper! It should be the lead story for every news program! We are all AMERICANS! It doesn't matter what is in front of the hyphen, it ends as American. We the people means all Americans. All the name calling, berating, and vocal assaulting does not change the fact this is a fellow American one is talking about. We the people have earned our respect! So if you are a politician, show some respect for the Americans that voted for you! If you are a news reporter, show the proper respect for the Americans you are interviewing! Our politicians and our media have lost their respect for their fellow Americans. Let us get back to 9/11/2001.Unite against the enemy, and show respect for your fellow Americans.
Larry Cory
West side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: Treatment Triage Is The Default Answer
UpdatedRe: 9/14 letter, Withholding treatment not the answer: Withholding treatment based on triage selection is reasonable when limited resources are available. With Covid, the limited resource is the number of people who can successfully operate ventilators without killing the patient. When there are two patients requiring an organ transplant and one organ available, do you think the patient who has not made changes to his lifestyle should receive the organ? Should two patients In a vehicle accident, where one patient wasn't wearing a seatbelt, is ejected from and rolled over by his vehicle and the other was wearing a seatbelt, sustained lesser life threatening injuries, be treated equally when treatment resources are limited? When you refuse Covid vaccination, you called the tune, now it's time to pay piper.
james abels
Midtown
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letters to the Editor Sept. 20
UpdatedPathway to unity is a simple one
One of the most troubling questions frequently asked throughout America today in all walks of life is, especially after observing the anniversary of 9/11, when will we as a nation set aside our individual differences and become once again people of prideful “unity?”
Not just in a universal sens,; but in personal relationships that challenge us from day to day. When? Hopefully when the “adults” in the room ensure that our public education systems at all levels preach and teach “unity.” That’s it!
One pathway for developing the foundation for the commitment to the inherent values of “unity” is offered to us by Robert Fulghum, author of “All I Really Need to Know, I Learned In Kindergarten.” A classic. Regardless of age or grade level, none of us are too old to learn. Just show up for class. Yes, it’s that simple!
Don Weaver
Midtown
Show respect to one another
Re: the Sept. 8 letter “The great divide.”
We are all Americans. It doesn’t matter what is in front of the hyphen, it ends as American. We the people means all Americans. All the name-calling, berating and vocal assaulting does not change the fact this is a fellow American one is talking about. We the people have earned our respect. So if you are a politician, show some respect for the Americans who voted for you. If you are a news reporter, show the proper respect for the Americans you are interviewing. Our politicians and our media have lost their respect for their fellow Americans. Let us get back to 9/11/2001. Unite against the enemy and show respect for your fellow Americans.
Larry Cory
West side
Make vax status a triage factor
Re: the Sept. 14 letter “Withholding treatment not the answer.”
Withholding treatment based on triage selection is reasonable when limited resources are available. With COVID, the limited resource is the number of people who can successfully operate ventilators without killing the patient. When there are two patients requiring an organ transplant and one organ available, do you think the patient who has not made changes to his lifestyle should receive the organ? Should two patients in a vehicle accident, where one patient hadn’t been wearing a seatbelt and is ejected from and rolled over by his vehicle and the other victim was wearing a seatbelt and sustained fewer life-threatening injuries, be treated equally when treatment resources are limited? When you refuse COVID vaccination, you called the tune. Now it’s time to pay the piper.
James Abels
Midtown
Give Constitution a read this week
Sept. 17-23 is Constitution Week. In 1955, the Daughters of the American Revolution petitioned Congress with a resolution, making this a week to observe the Constitution of the United States as the foundation of the American form of government. It was signed into law by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on Aug. 2, 1956.
This year marks the 234th anniversary of the signing of the Constitution, and the 230th anniversary of the ratification of the first 10 amendments known as the Bill of Rights. The Constitution is a living document that assures each citizen enjoys the freedoms Americans cherish and appreciate.
Take this week to read, know and understand this wonderful document that has withstood the tests of time. We, the people of the United States, have the responsibility to keep the Founding Fathers legacy alive by promoting the ideals they fought valiantly to give their descendants.
Debra Kielley
West side
Let’s do our part to stop bad bills
Thank you to all the readers who have written to point out the some of the bad bills that were recently passed at the end of the last Arizona legislative session. Three of these bills would greatly reduce taxes on the wealthiest thereby negating Prop. 208 as well as drastically reducing tax revenues for other necessities. Three others are aimed at, in the end, reducing the voting rolls.
In order to see what these bills do and when and where you can sign petitions to put these bills “on hold,” please go to linktr.ee/taggaz
These petitions simply put these bills on the 2022 ballot and let the people of Arizona decide. Please, time is of the essence.
Aaron Essif
Marana
Biden, Dems want crisis to continue
Biden wants mandatory vaccines for nearly every person in the United States, except Congress and their staffs, U.S. postal workers, undocumented immigrants and Afghan refugees.
At the same time, American citizens are threatened with the loss of their jobs, income, and employment by being threatened with “vaccine” mandates, while possibly COVID-carrying undocumented immigrants are distributed into America.
Biden publicly stated that he would not mandate vaccines to the general population of America. Now he is doing the exact opposite. Biden is a liar. Furthermore, Biden and his “mandates” make absolutely no provision for natural COVID immunity acquired by surviving COVID.
Chairman Joe Biden and the Democrats are more than happy to lock down America to needlessly continue this crisis.
Loren Charles
Marana
Abortion curbs hurt the poor
I used to say that I wished I could be a Republican because their bumper stickers were on much nicer cars. But it really is indicative that the Republicans represent people who tend to be better resourced than others. I look at the laws recently passed in Texas. They really only affect the poor. If wealthy women want or need an abortion, they will get one. So, once again, it is poor people that bear the burden of Republican legislation.
Chris Pinhey
Foothills
Working dogs were left behind
Here’s something else to be horrified about:
Working dogs belonging to military contractors were left behind in Afghanistan. Those intelligent, brave, loyal dogs, left!
But it you’re not a dog lover, think of the price of their training — thousands per dog.
Leaving planes, guns, etc. is stupid enough, but those dogs were/are live members of a team!
Kay Juhan
Foothills
Milley acted with courage
General Mark A. Milley’s actions were courageous.
I believe he exemplifies what a true hero is. He kept us safe regardless of the personal cost.
Susan Dabbs
East side
Enduring myth about video games
A recent writer resurrected the old belief that video games are responsible for violence in America. The entire world plays these games. 2019 Japan had 319 murders, 2020 Norway had 31. Chicago on a bad weekend comes close to Norway. If the games are to blame why aren’t these other countries affected?
Craig Miller
Northwest side
Letter: Anti-vaxers
UpdatedThose individuals refusing the FDA approved Covid vaccine who have never received a flu, pneumonia, or shingles shot are to be understood as valid objectors. On the other, those who have received these shots in the past and still refuse the Covid vaccine must have politics behind their determination. This seems to be a pathetic reason which jeopardizes not only their life but also that of others they may come into contact with. May I say to them "Get a life! Save a life! Get vaccinated!"
Duane Harpet
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: Get Vaccinated
UpdatedI am fed up with the anti-covid-vacers! I come from a culture as a retired Army officer where us vs me, unit first was the buzzword. The many heroes we honor, those who either gave all or risked all, did so because the culture of common worth led to their individual sacrafiices. They didn’t say, “Screw you. What if your under 12 year old can’t be vaccinated, I’ll do my own thing.” Those heroes put us before me- period! In my myopic opinion, every child who can’t get vaccinated and dies from COVID is “killed” by those who want to exercise their “individual freedom,”and refuse to be vaccinated. Their refusal is tantamount to their pointing a gun at these children and pulling the triger! So, get the shot, immulate those military heroes you hold high and put we the community before you, the self-centered idiot!
Norman Patten
Midtown
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: Are You Gullible?
UpdatedHuman beings are, and always have been gullible. And there are, and have always been, individuals who know how to exploit that gullibility.
Politicians are trained to take advantage of gullible voters at all levels, especially Republicans.
Over 60% of Republicans and Republican leaning independents believe the “Big Lie” that Trump won the 2020 election. The gullible Republican voters, supporting Republicans in Congress and conspiracy theorists still believe that the 2020 election was fraudulent and Trump won. What is even more ridiculous is that belief has been directly rebutted by proven facts and tossed by multiple state and federal courts (more than 50 times) which noted that there is ZERO evidence of any voter fraud.
In order to call oneself a “Republican” you must believe in “The Big Lie.”
Here is what is crazy. We have two major political parties in this country and one of them, and its leaders, sees itself unwilling or unable of directing the party in another direction.
Thomas Wilson
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: Authoritarianism
UpdatedThe Encyclopedia Britanica defines authoritarianism as the principal of blind submission to authority, as opposed to individual freedom of thought and action. In government, authoritarianism denotes any political system that concentrates power in the hands of a leader or small elite group that is not constitutionally responsible to the body of the people.
Authoritarian leaders often exercise power arbitrarily without regard to existing bodies of law. They value order and control over personal freedom. A government run by authoritarianism is usually headed by a dictator.
Does any of this sound like what we have been experiencing in the past year or so? The key difference is we, the people have the opportunity to rest control of our lives back from the political, social, and environmental elite. Remember this the next time you have any opportunity to vote.
Cal Rooker
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: global warming
UpdatedI totally agree with Thomas R Crawford's letter on this subject. I would like to add that it is not just the politicos air travel, it is everyone's air travel that is causing the very little publicized subject of the massive contribution the far overgrown airline industry makes to global warning and air pollution. Air travel is the single most inefficient way to move anything, period. The most efficient way is by rail, period. We citizens are now seeing the result of our government having given over the development of rail to private enterprise a century and a half ago. Having made that somewhat unforeseeable error, the least they could have done back in the 1950's would have been to work with railroads to develop a national high-speed rail system like those of other civilized nations. Instead, they have given, and continue to give their blessing mainly to the airlines to the detriment of all of us. So how about some statistics on the airlines' contribution to global warming?
Don Thompson
Marana
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: Texas War Against Women
UpdatedTexas Governor Abbott has decided that mask wearing is a personal choice and each person has a right to their own choices. Except, if you are a woman who is making the difficult decision on whether or not to terminate a pregnancy. Republicans who espouse less government intrusion in citizen's lives, apparently do not consider interfering in a woman's right to choose, a government intrusion. These lawmakers only want a birth to happen. No one has ever offered prenatal care, care for the child after birth, including schooling, getting enough to eat, or even if the household that the baby will come home to is safe. There are people who wring their hands worrying if Muslims will institute sharia law in the US. Well, don't look now. But Texas has already instituted its own version of sharia law. These actions are shameful and shows how many on the right will go so far as to use an embryo for political purposes.
Ilene Scannell
Northeast side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: Arizona Senators Must Support Build Back Better Budget Plan
UpdatedTo Whom It May Concern:
The climate crisis is imminent, and we must act now. Those words have been uttered by many climate activists, but right now the stakes and potential for meaningful change cannot be overstated. I am a college student and climate scientist-in-training, and I know it is absolutely critical that Congress passes the Build Back Better budget as is, with all its measures to cut air pollution, address Arizona’s water crisis, and provide much needed protection for public lands, intact.
I urge Arizona Senators Sinema and Kelly to not block or propose cuts to the budget plan, and to stand up for it in its current form. We in Tucson are living in the third fastest warming city in the country and in a state facing a megadrought and water allocation cuts. Now is not the time for our elected officials to get cold feet about bold climate legislation. Now is the time to Build Back Better.
Stella Heflin
Midtown
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letters to the Editor Sept. 19
UpdatedAZ Senators support build back better budget plan
The climate crisis is imminent, and we must act now. Those words have been uttered by many climate activists, but right now the stakes and potential for meaningful change cannot be overstated. I am a college student and climate scientist-in-training, and I know it is absolutely critical that Congress passes the Build Back Better budget as is, with all its measures to cut air pollution, address Arizona’s water crisis, and provide much needed protection for public lands, intact.
I urge Arizona Sens. Kyrsten Sinema and Mark Kelly to not block or propose cuts to the budget plan, and to stand up for it in its current form. We in Tucson are living in the third fastest-warming city in the country and in a state facing a mega-drought and water allocation cuts. Now is not the time for our elected officials to get cold feet about bold climate legislation. Now is the time to Build Back Better.
Stella Heflin
Midtown
Are you gullible?
Human beings are, and always have been, gullible. And there are, and have always been, individuals who know how to exploit that gullibility.
Politicians are trained to take advantage of gullible voters at all levels, especially Republicans.
Over 60% of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents believe the “Big Lie” that Trump won the 2020 election. The gullible Republican voters, supporting Republicans in Congress and conspiracy theorists still believe that the 2020 election was fraudulent and Trump won. What is even more ridiculous is that belief has been directly rebutted by proven facts and tossed by multiple state and federal courts (more than 50 times) that noted there is zero evidence of any voter fraud.
To call oneself a “Republican” you must believe in “The Big Lie.”
Here is what is crazy. We have two major political parties in this country and one of them, and its leaders, seems itself unwilling or unable to direct the party in another direction.
Thomas Wilson
Northwest side
Texas war against women
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has decided that mask wearing is a personal choice and each person has a right to their own choices. Except, if you are a woman who is making the difficult decision on whether or not to terminate a pregnancy.
Republicans who espouse less government intrusion in citizen’s lives apparently do not consider interfering in a woman’s right to choose a government intrusion. These lawmakers only want a birth to happen.
No one has ever offered prenatal care, care for the child after birth, including schooling, getting enough to eat, or even asking if the household that the baby will come home into is safe.
People wring their hands worrying if Muslims will try to institute sharia law in the U.S. Well, don’t look now. But Texas has already instituted its own version of sharia law. These actions are shameful and shows how many on the right will go so far as to use an embryo for political purposes.
Ilene Scannell
Northeast side
Authoritarianism sounding familiar
The Encyclopedia Britannica defines authoritarianism as the principal of blind submission to authority, as opposed to individual freedom of thought and action. In government, authoritarianism denotes any political system that concentrates power in the hands of a leader or small elite group that is not constitutionally responsible to the body of the people.
Authoritarian leaders often exercise power arbitrarily without regard to existing bodies of law. They value order and control over personal freedom. A government run by authoritarianism is usually headed by a dictator.
Does any of this sound like what we have been experiencing in the past year or so? The key difference is we, the people have the opportunity to rest control of our lives back from the political, social, and environmental elite. Remember this the next time you have any opportunity to vote.
Cal Rooker
Northwest side
Air travel and global warming
Re: the Sept. 15 letter “Global warming.”
I totally agree the letter on this subject. I would like to add that it is not just the politicos’ air travel, it is everyone’s air travel that is causing the very under-publicized subject of the massive contribution the far overgrown airline industry makes to global warning and air pollution.
Air travel is the single most inefficient way to move anything, period. The most efficient way is by rail, period.
We citizens are now seeing the result of our government having given over the development of rail to private enterprise a century and a half ago. Having made that somewhat unforeseeable error, the least they could have done back in the 1950s would have been to work with railroads to develop a national high-speed rail system like those of other civilized nations.
Instead, they have given, and continue to give their blessing mainly to the airlines to the detriment of all of us. So how about some statistics on the airlines’ contribution to global warming?
Don Thompson
Marana
Get vaccinated
I am fed up with the anti-COVID-vaxxers. I come from a culture as a retired Army officer where “us vs. me” and “unit first” were the buzzwords. The many heroes we honor, those who either gave all or risked all, did so because the culture of common worth led to their individual sacrifices.
They didn’t say, “Screw you. What if your under 12-year-old can’t be vaccinated, I’ll do my own thing.”
Those heroes put us before me, period. In my myopic opinion, every child who can’t get vaccinated and dies from COVID is “killed” by those who want to exercise their “individual freedom,” and refuse to be vaccinated. So, get the shot, emulate those military heroes you hold high and put we the community before you, the self-centered individual.
Norman Patten
Midtown
Anti-vaxxers
Those individuals refusing the FDA approved COVID vaccine who have never received a flu, pneumonia, or shingles shot are to be understood as valid objectors. On the other hand, those who have received these shots in the past and still refuse the COVID vaccine must have politics behind their determination. This seems to be a pathetic reason that jeopardizes not only their life but also the lives of others they may come into contact with. May I say to them “Get a life! Save a life! Get vaccinated!”
Duane Harpet
Northwest side
Letter: Re: the Sept. 24. article “A new way to submit letters and guest opinions”
UpdatedAs a former Californian and nearly lifelong Democrat, I am deeply saddened by the defeat of Larry Elder by Gov Newscom in the recall election. GOP candidate Larry Elder strikes me as a man of integrity, who brought to the table a well thought out agenda for addressing the sorry mess that permeates California, exacerbated by Newscom’s leadership. Unfortunately, as is virtually universal in today’ politics, the big money vested interests call the shots. Sad indeed.
John Newport, PhD
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: Human Use of Ivermectin
UpdatedRe: the Sept. 16 article "Banner handling cases of ivermectin poisoning."
After reading about the use of Ivermectin to treat Covid, I reflect back to growing up in Wyoming. Local ranchers used an array of veterinary medicines; antibiotics for infections, vaccines to prevent infection and anti-parasitics to deworm. Following misinformation from conservative commentators and podcasts many are now self treating with an “off the shelf” dewormer, now resulting in overloading ER’s and ICU’s. Ivermectin apparently is effective on cattle, horses, jackasses and “delusional” elephants . After discharge from treatment at least those users should be parasite free. But the rest of us, after an exasperating four years, see the continued side effects of the worst parasite to ever infect America . Please be considerate of your fellow human being as we are all on this small planet together. Educate , Vaccinate and Vote !!!
Jonathan Schultz
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: Kelly and Sinema Must Support the Freedom to Vote Act
UpdatedDemocratic senators just unveiled a new voting rights bill, the Freedom to Vote Act.
The bill was crafted in part by Senator Joe Manchin, who had earlier opposed the more ambitious For the People Act.
As a voting rights advocate who spent months this year trying to defeat the Arizona legislature’s attacks on our right to vote, I’ve seen firsthand why Senators Mark Kelly and Kyrsten Sinema must do everything they can to pass this bill.
The legislation would ban partisan gerrymandering, make Election Day a public holiday, enact automatic and same day voter registration, and more.
While a majority of the Senate supports the legislation, it’s unlikely that the Freedom to Vote Act will become law. That’s thanks to the filibuster, an outdated rule often used to stifle freedom.
But Democrats have the power to change the filibuster. And if Republicans don’t get on board with passing this bill, Senate Democrats have a moral obligation to bypass the filibuster. Our democracy depends on it.
Oscar De Los Santos, voting rights advocate at the Arizona Advocacy Network
Downtown
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: AFGANISTAN
UpdatedNEITHER FORGIVE NOR FORGET
U.S. President Joe Biden vowed to push on with a chaotic evacuations from
Afghanistan despite a suicide attack near Kabul's international airport that
killed scores of civilians and at least 13 American soldiers.
Pledging to go after the culprits, Biden said:
"" We will not forgive. We will not forget."
As a registered independent, and a veteran I will not forgive - I will not
forget the way Bien handled our departure from Afganistan
The deaths of 13 American soldiers, the betrayal of all those who helped
us for 20 years, the abandoning of our military weapons, the
lack of planning and foresight...such incompetence...shame on you Mr President, shame on America.
I will not forgive - I will not forget.
Thomas McGorray
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letters to the Editor Sept. 18
UpdatedVaccines protect the vulnerable
Re: the Sept. 12 article “Experts: Biden mandate legal.’
In this article, Howard Fischer quotes our governor calling the Biden mandates a “dictatorial” approach. I accept that as a verified statement and would like to remind the governor of some historical facts.
Early industrialists noticed that the market economy relies on a healthy workforce and healthy customers. Realizing that, governments created public health services with the power to enact laws. These are designed to protect the population, especially the weak, infirm, elderly and children.
Mandates to wear masks and submit to immunization precisely save the people, which COVID-19 affects the most. The arguments that these measures lead to autocracy are weak because autocratic governments do not care about the old, weak, and infirm. History offers enough samples.
One might argue that those who refuse to wear masks or get immunized unwittingly support a population selection favoring the young and healthy over the old, infirm and weak.
Uwe Manthei
Midtown
US betrayal is unforgivable
U.S. President Joe Biden vowed to push on with a chaotic evacuations from Afghanistan despite a suicide attack near Kabul’s international airport that killed scores of civilians and at least 13 American soldiers.
Pledging to go after the culprits, Biden said: “We will not forgive. We will not forget.”
As a registered independent, and a veteran I will not forgive, I will not forget the way Biden handled our departure from Afghanistan.
The deaths of 13 American soldiers, the betrayal of all those who helped us for 20 years, the abandoning of our military weapons, the lack of planning and foresight, such incompetence. Shame on you Mr. President, shame on America.
I will not forgive, I will not forget.
Thomas McGorray
Northwest side
Wildcat fan on his couch
Last Saturday night I went to the Arizona Stadium expecting to see a football game and I’m sure there was one taking place but there was so much stuff inserted at every possible juncture that it was impossible to get into any kind of flow and I can imagine that the players huddled on the sidelines were beginning to wonder why they were there.
There were many so media timeouts, acknowledgments of services rendered and recognitions of accomplishments, worthy though they might have been, it was more like a three-ring circus than a sporting event. I will continue being a Wildcat fan but in front of my TV where I have some element of control.
Stanley Curd
Midtown
Don’t repeat Kansas’ error
In the last legislative cycle, a slim Republican majority passed a flat tax that will cut revenues by an estimated $1.9 billion! Recall “the Kansas experiment” in which the 2012 Kansas Legislature, working from rosy job growth projections, passed a flat tax which by 2017 had nearly bankrupted that state.
The projected job growth did not materialize. Schools closed early — no money for staff. Roads and bridges crumbled — no money for maintenance. The Legislature had to vote to roll back the tax cut.
In an email exchange with Sen. Vince Leach, R-Tucson, I expressed concern about the effects of such a drastic cut. I can be as optimistic as the next person, but what if those projections are as disastrously off as they were in Kansas? It will take a challenging supermajority in our Legislature to overturn this tax bill. Find a place where you can sign the referenda to put this on hold until we can vote!
Margaret Nichols
Oro Valley
Taxpayer money out the window
So Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich just filed a frivolous lawsuit against the Biden administration over its recent COVID mandate which every respected legal expert says is clearly authorized under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. Brnovich has filed to intervene in other states’ “stolen election” suits. And Senate President Karen Fann is defending the “fraudit.”
There are many more examples of right-wing-based suits either brought or defended by our state Republican leadership. Does anyone know how much these suits are costing taxpayers? Is there any accountability at all? The Republican hypocrisy and ineptness in its use of taxpayer money is what keeps me maximizing my gifts to state tax credited charitable groups and public schools each year.
Gail Kamaras
East side
If only US was parasite-free ...
Re: the Sept. 16 article “Banner handling cases of ivermectin poisoning.”
After reading about the use of ivermectin to treat COVID, I reflect back to growing up in Wyoming. Local ranchers used an array of veterinary medicines; antibiotics for infections, vaccines to prevent infection and anti-parasitics to deworm. Following misinformation from conservative commentators and podcasts, many are now self-treating with an “off the shelf” dewormer, now resulting in overloaded ERs and ICUs.
Ivermectin apparently is effective on cattle, horses and “delusional” elephants. After discharge from treatment, at least those users should be parasite-free. But the rest of us, after an exasperating four years, see the continued side effects of the worst parasite to ever infect America. Please be considerate of your fellow human being as we are all on this small planet together. Educate, vaccinate and vote.
Jonathan Schultz
Northwest side
Big money wins again
As a former Californian and nearly lifelong Democrat, I am deeply saddened by the defeat of Larry Elder by Gov. Gavin Newsom in the recall election. GOP candidate Elder strikes me as a man of integrity, who brought to the table a well-thought-out agenda for addressing the sorry mess that permeates California, exacerbated by Newsom’s leadership. Unfortunately, as is virtually universal in today’s politics, the big-money vested interests call the shots. Sad, indeed.
John Newport
Northwest side
Voting rights need protection
Democratic senators just unveiled a new voting rights bill, the Freedom to Vote Act.
The bill was crafted in part by Sen. Joe Manchin, who had earlier opposed the more ambitious For the People Act.
As a voting rights advocate who spent months this year trying to defeat the Arizona Legislature’s attacks on our right to vote, I’ve seen firsthand why Sens. Mark Kelly and Kyrsten Sinema must do everything they can to pass this bill.
The legislation would ban partisan gerrymandering, make Election Day a public holiday, enact automatic and same-day voter registration, and more.
While a majority of the Senate supports the legislation, it’s unlikely that the Freedom to Vote Act will become law. That’s thanks to the filibuster, an outdated rule often used to stifle freedom.
But Democrats have the power to change the filibuster. And if Republicans don’t get on board with passing this bill, Senate Democrats have a moral obligation to bypass the filibuster. Our democracy depends on it.
Oscar De Los Santos
Downtown
Letter: What went wrong in Afghanistan
UpdatedIn a nutshell, US policy in Afghanistan was not reflective of Afghan history, culture, and geography Primary objectives were a strong central government and the end of the opium and cannabis trades. Afghanistan has never had strong central government and doesn't want it. Every attempt to institute it in the last 20 years was met with civil war. The Afghan climate is essentially high desert, so there are no cash crops that can grow there besides opium and cannabis. Afghanistan is a tribal country, with thirteen recognized ethnic groups, the largest of which comprises only 48% of the population, so tribal ethnic conflict is the source of the traditional annual fighting season, a feature found in no other country in the world. Any uniformed foreign force is automatically everyone's enemy, so no invasion of Afghanistan has been successful since Alexander the Great. The mistake was sending in Americans in uniform.
David Vernon
East side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: Voting rights
UpdatedWhatever your thoughts are on voting, I would like you to consider a couple of things. As an individual who has had the privilege of working at multiple voting locations I believe I can speak with some firsthand knowledge.
The voting process is really quite simple, you go to the polls, show your ID, sign the voting rolls, you are given a and you vote your conscience. Should there be some concern regarding your voting eligibility (usually someone who hasn't returned their mail-in ballot) you will be given a provisional ballot to again vote your conscience. Never in my years of work in the polls have I ever seen anyone turned away because of who or what they are. Should you have transportation issues I know the various parties have people who will drive you to the polls.
People died to give us the right to vote, is it that hard to carve out one hour of your time once or possibly twice a year to exercise that right.
Kevin Acorn
East side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: Violence in the Streets
UpdatedRemember in the 1990s when many people were concerned that violent video games would lead young players to become violent in real life? Video designers (and sellers), along with "expert" psychologists and sociologists assured us that was not the case.
Over the past 30 years it is apparent that our country is becoming incredibly violent with road rage killings, school shootings and even armed insurrections becoming common place. Are we SURE raising our youth on violent video games is not having an effect?
Bruce Hilpert
North side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: Milley is a true patriot
UpdatedUS Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley deserves the Congressional Medal of Honor. His overwhelming concern about the mental instability of President Trump prompted him to take steps to save the world from a nuclear holocaust. Predictably, he has been criticized by some Republicans who recommend that he should be fired. Unpredictably, retired US Army Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman who testified at Trump's impeachment hearing that Trump asked the Ukrainian president to get dirt on Joe Biden, also recommended that Milley resign.
I greatly admire Vindman for all that he's done for the country. He even put his own career on the line when he testified at Trump's impeachment hearing. However, sometimes the rigidity of military-mindedness is counterproductive or even dangerous. Milley did not go through channels. He put country over self to save the world from a madman. For Milley, protecting the country from a seriously deranged man trumped protocol.
How about the Nobel Peace Prize along with the Congressional Medal of Honor?
Sandra Katz
Foothills
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: Responsible Women
UpdatedWhen is a woman being irresponsible? Is a Catholic woman with 10 children being irresponsible? If she decides to abort her 11th fetus is she being irresponsible? Should the doctors and others who help her be punished? Is the priest who refuses to give her permission to use birth control or have an abortion being responsible? Is the church who made the policies and trained the priest being responsible? I remember when you couldn't even buy contraceptives in some states dominated by The Church.
I am not only pro-choice, I am pro-abortion, for two reasons. 1. A despirate woman will abort with or without help. Women have died trying to self-abort. Women need access to safe assistance, without traveling to find it.
2. The world is over populated. Before Covid people were still dying of starvation. Mistakes happen. Abortion needs to be available. Abortion is the only birth control. Everything else is conception control.
Eleanor Soler
East side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
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