Why American politics are corrupt
Re: the Feb. 13 column “Sanders and Trump soar by defying logic and history.”
Poor Charles Krauthammer. He seems unable to get over his dismay at the wrong-headedness of the American electorate who are enamored with candidates that lash out at the corrupt political system. His explanation: it’s all about Obama. He should have fixed things by now.
If he got over his fixation on Obama, he might have found the source of the malaise in the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision, or in Bush Junior’s unleashing of chaos in the Middle East, or the Clinton-era repeal of Glass-Steagall , which began the slow motion destruction of the economy, or Reagan’s explosion of the federal budget deficit, or Nixon’s abrogation of the Bretton Woods currency exchange system. Explanations abound. History is complicated, but the stench is undeniable.
Steve Hahn
Downtown
Immigrants should try to become Americans
Re: the Feb. 13 letter “Immigrants work, support their families.”
I ran across the letter about “dehumanization” of immigrants. That’s quite a statement to make in the land of the free.
Having been a legal immigrant many years ago myself, I must say that I have never experienced inhumane or, as the writer suggests, “dehumanizing” behavior toward me. An illegal immigrant may be frowned upon as their status is against the law. No doubt many work hard but many get government handouts, and remember, we are the government. I raised my children the American way — choose your destiny, stick to it and be proud of your heritage. They all succeeded.
Consider this: If you don’t want to speak the language of your new country and don’t wish to adjust to its customs, it may be harder for you to be recognized as one of them. This makes common sense and has nothing to do with inhumanity.
Liane Fossland
East side
A big market in the wrong place
Re: the Feb. 15 article “Neighbors opposing height of Fry’s store.”
We are original homeowners of 38 years in the subdivision and street directly on the north perimeter of this newly proposed development. This is not simply about a decrease in property values, hundreds of cars coming and going all day and night, and some outrage about the impact to our everyday lives.
Many of us feel this opens the door to developers to scrape the desert and bulldoze closer and closer to Saguaro National Park. We have empty supermarkets here within a 2-mile radius. It is foolish to build the biggest supermarket in Pima County on only 17 acres.
Representatives for the developer focus on those who accept this total disregard for the Houghton East Neighborhood Plan and Plan Tucson requirements. This is our home.
Vicki Senter Sheley
East side
Young should take responsibility and vote
Re: the Feb. 11 Sarah Garrecht Gassen column “Clinton’s tact with young women voters needs fresh approach.”
I read your opinion piece about Hillary Clinton where you say she has become “The Man.” I’m 68 and don’t know many young women. I am glad to see young men and women getting invested in politics. I think it is great that Bernie Sanders is exciting the democratic youth. Donald Trump’s excitation of the Republican base is frightening to me.
But to me, your statement that it doesn’t matter that Hillary Clinton speaks from experience is unfortunate. I think that Hillary Clinton is probably the most qualified candidate who has ever run for president. I’m impressed that she has laid out thoughtful and detailed plans with workable implementation.
I will embrace young people and say it is your time. You don’t have to know or recognize what old women have done for women’s rights so far.
The future is yours and I hope that young people accept their right and responsibility of casting their vote.
Barbara Moore
East side
Another failure for the mental health system
Re: the Feb. 16 article “New mental health goals place strain on agencies.”
We react with horror every time we experience another mass shooting and predictably we lament the failures of the mental health system. Your article describes another horror we have been avoiding for years: the total refusal of our society to fund and support basic public mental health services.
Mental health workers often work for low wages in dangerous conditions trying to help the most damaged and neglected members of our society. When a corporation such as Cenpatico has the ability to decide that “agencies who don’t bill for at least 75 percent of that funding allocation won’t get paid at all for the month,” these workers and these clients are the ones who suffer. In the bigger picture we all suffer from the failure to fund and support a reasonable, efficient public mental health system.
Anne Gooden
Midtown
Obama headline stated the obvious
Your Feb. 16 headline on Obama’s possible choice for Antonin Scalia’s replacement was hilarious: “Obama could lean to the left on court nominee.” What a shock. I suggest you follow up with an equally startling story with the headline “Pope could possibly be Catholic.”
Jim Reinertson
SaddleBrooke
