Immigrants
Re: the June 29 letter “Rapes, murders thanks to Biden border policy.”
The letter details four horrific rapes and murders perpetuated by men in this country illegally. Even one such crime is too many. Tragically, such brutality exists throughout the world. Significantly reducing such inhumanity, however, is not as simple as deporting all immigrants in this country illegally. A 2020 research article in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences compared crime rates of undocumented immigrants, legal immigrants and native-born US citizens in Texas. It concluded: “Undocumented immigrants have substantially lower crime rates than native-born citizens and legal immigrants across a range of felony offenses. Relative to undocumented immigrants, US-born citizens are over 2 times more likely to be arrested for violent crimes, 2.5 times more likely to be arrested for drug crimes, and over 4 times more likely to be arrested for property crimes.” Let’s not let a few horrible crimes promote anti-immigrant hatred. Almost all of us are descendants of immigrants.
Tom Feeney
Foothills
Who makes laws in the USA
I am absolutely amazed at the number of people that believe that the president or governor make all the laws and are responsible for everything they don’t like. The legislatures make the laws. The U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives make the laws for our country. In Arizona, the Republicans are in the majority and can pass any law they agree on. In Congress, the Republicans are in the majority of the House of Representatives, and that house makes all the laws concerning the spending of money. The governor or the president has veto power but that can be overcome by the legislative bodies. The governor or president can propose a law, but it must be passed by the legislative bodies. Blame your legislative representatives, not the governor or president if you do not like the laws.
Bette Bunker Richards
Midtown
State politics
Two Topics: 1. There have been recent letters addressing the impact of Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBM) on the high cost of pharmaceuticals. State Senator Eva Burch (Dem-District 9) proposed bills SB 1532/33 which would help to regulate the costs as controlled by the PBMs. Both bills were assigned to two Republican-controlled committees, where they both died without discussion. There are many reasons to vote in November so that the Republican stranglehold on Arizona politics ends ... this is just one example. 2. In the Federal District 6 Republican Primary race between Rep. Juan Ciscomani and Kathleen Winn: Winn has called Ciscomani a “bipartisan moderate” and vowed to align with the far-right Freedom Caucus. For those Independent voters who have selected the Republican primary ballot, I encourage you to vote for Winn so that come the General Election voting for an odious candidate will be rejected by most moderate/progressive voters ... similar to what happened to Lake, Masters and other far-right candidates in 2022.
Randy Garmon
North side
Legislature
There is really no sense in paying people to be in the Arizona Legislature if they are just going to put everything up to the people to vote on in each election. That’s what we elected them to do, govern. We can save a lot of money by disbanding it. You would think they could also come up with something to punish these people that transport undocumented aliens even if they are under 21. Or is it that they just don’t care?
Joseph Paradiso
East side
Take back the country
Americans, our Supreme Court has made decisions that are contrary to what at least 60% of the country thinks. They have allowed criminal action to go unpunished and delayed important decisions, giving cases outrageous delays. This is endangering our democracy. We the people are the only ones that can fix this. We must elect a Democratic House and Senate majority so that proper laws can be put into to the Constitution to protect all American rights. No one is above the law, no elected official, even the president.
Hal Brown
East side
One step from a lost democracy
How can the U.S. lose her democracy? Try this: Partisan Supreme Court supporting unconstitutional laws (check); Partisan House passing voter suppression laws (check); Partisan Senate approving appointees (close); a DOJ/judiciary suppressing opponents (just need presidential appointees); a President who pardons partisans for unlawful acts (one election away). History shows this worked for Hitler in Nazi Germany and continues to work for Putin in Russia. Don’t let 248 years of hard-fought democracy die. Look at the facts, reject Trump.
Brian O’Cain
Foothills
The Supreme Court is seen July 1 in Washington.
Really?!
I used to admire the Supreme Court, as being comprised of thoughtful, intelligent, and unbiased members. But not after the July 1, 2024, immunity ruling. This is an extremely unintelligent ruling. Saying that there is complete immunity for “official acts” without any definition of “Official Acts” is simply asking for trouble. A pardon is an official act, even if it is bought and paid for. Should a President leaving office solicit federal pardons for a fee? Could (should) President Biden declare in an official act that the former President, or any political opponent, is a threat to democracy and should be eliminated. Thus, calling in Seal Team 5 to eliminate the opponent would be legal with no court able to contradict the action. This ruling is simply a political decision, not a legal one.
Ronald Nowicki
Green Valley
Checks and balances
What has happened to the system of checks and balances intended to safeguard our form of government? In just a decade, a “rogue” (my view) president, combined with a majority party of sycophants in the House (and near-majority in the Senate), has tested the boundaries of our long-established government. When the Executive/Legislative branches of the government legally challenge the system, the Judicial branch is obligated to rule on those disagreements with no partiality or political bias. That tenet came into question after the then-GOP Senate refused to confirm a justice nominated by Obama, and later confirmed three of their Trump-nominated justices instead, thus creating a sizeable imbalance in conservative/liberal justices on the Supreme Court. Those judges have arguably not been able to set aside their personal inclinations for the betterment of America.
After nearly 250 years of governance we must not allow the GOP to undermine our system. Vote accordingly in 2024.
Gary Simons
Oro Valley
Ukraine
As a 72-year-old citizen of not only the United States, but a member of our global community, I believe that if Trump wins another seat as our president, Ukraine will be demolished and one step closer for Putin to gain more power to reestablish the USSR as a global threat.
I’m generally a fiscally responsible Democrat that votes across party lines, depending on the candidate and issues. But this possibility could affect not only my children but my 11 grandchildren.
Frances Carino
West side
Why I support re-electing Ciscomani
Our border has been in chaos for months now. Millions of undocumented immigrants have fled into our country, bringing more fentanyl and crime to our communities. These open border policies are harming families in Arizona. We must hold the Biden administration accountable for the crisis we face today and his failed policies. Congressman Juan Ciscomani has fought hard in Congress to help secure our border and keep out those who compromise our national security.
Juan Ciscomani has fought to protect Americans by supporting laws that help strengthen our border security by strengthening the vetting process, ensuring Border Patrol agents get the resources they need to do their jobs well and ending the catastrophe that is catch and release. Protecting American citizens from criminal undocumented immigrants and national security threats is essential, and I am glad we can count on Congressman Ciscomani to always protect Southern Arizona.
Joseph Lacayo
West side
Do a deep dive
Is I-11 the optimal solution? Widening the I-10 would reduce fatalities. Reducing and enforcing the speed limit would do the same. Maybe a dedicated commercial lane?
Analysis of fatalities should include rates per 100,000 miles traveled, the types and number of vehicles involved, age ranges, weather conditions, road types, date/time, cause of accidents and many other variables. Anything less would be a shallow analysis of the driving environment.
Ninety percent of fatal vehicle accidents are caused by impairment (intoxicants, stimulants and fatigue), speeding, aggressive driving and distracted driving. So, maybe fix the driver before fixing the road.
James Abels
Midtown
Media covered for Biden, fawns over Harris
The same liberal mainstream news media that for years covered up and refused to report on Joe Biden’s physical and mental decline, until after the debate, is now fawning over Kamala Harris like she is a newfound goddess. They are doing the same for her as they did for Joe, that is, covering up like it never happened her dismal tenure as a Vice President. The mass exit of White House staffers from her office that claimed a hostile work environment, the allegations of indecisiveness and meanness. All being swept under the rug now like it never happened. And, now it is being portrayed that if you oppose Harris, you are somehow a racist and a sexist. Typical Democrat identity politics playbook. The same White House handlers who were in charge of making Biden’s decisions are thrilled to continue on with doing the same for Harris. It really is remarkable now seeing the enthusiasm for Harris that was nonexistent a week ago. As for Joe, Joe who?
Shaki Johnson
East side
The stand-in
As Joe Biden has announced he will not run again, it appears Kamala Harris will be the Democratic Party candidate. In her first speech, she noted that under President Biden, and her of course, the legacy of accomplishments in the past three years is unmatched in modern history. Unfortunately, those unmatched accomplishments and policies has been negative and devastating for our country, whether it be the border, inflation, crime, education, energy policy to name a few. During this three-year term, Harris has been an absolute failure and has not even tried to complete the tasks assigned to her. Kindly, she is incompetent. Sadly, most left-wing Democrats, with their absolute hatred and disdain for the Republican Party and Trump, would vote for a baboon instead. And this is what most will do in November. The shame is those votes will further the degradation of our country, ensuring that our grandchildren will have a far less secure and comfortable life than we have experienced.
Loyal M. Johnson Jr.
Oro Valley
Joe dropping out
And just like that, the oldest person in the race is a 78-year-old sleepy felonious lying fart factory, wandering around his run-down golf course at Mar-A-Lardo, looking for Hannibal Lecter.
Terry Louck
East side
Presidential running mate
Just a wishful maybe whimsical thought. An all-female ticket will not win for Democrats. Just my opinion. Kamala Harris- Gretchen Whitmer. Now, how about Kamala Harris-Liz Cheney. That ticket could get the Republican and Democratic vote. And it is a ticket of women of principle and the Vice president to Joe Biden. The president who put country before self. That is what Liz Cheney did; country before party; country before her political self. That ticket could in four years if it won, have two women stalwarts of their party oppose each other in 2028. No one would lose, no matter who won! America’s presidents should be a cut above us ordinary folks.
Frank Montez
East side
Aged juvenile delinquent
The “AZTRUMPARTY,” formerly the AZGOP, continues to support the aged juvenile delinquent and schoolyard bully and convicted felon, Donald Trump, who is awaiting sentencing that could result in incarceration. Evidently, this is the very best candidate the TNC (Trump National Committee), formerly the RNC, could come up with. Could you think of someone ... anyone ... better?
To believe in the life of love
To walk in the way of honor
To serve in the light of truth
Phil “Bulldog” Bentley
Retired USAF A10 pilot and True Ripon Republican
Foothills
Democratic primary voters
I’m so glad to see that all of you voters who went out and voted for the incumbent Joe Biden in the Primaries! You are such defenders of “our” Democracy!
Aren’t you so glad that your votes were dumped and a new candidate was chosen for you!
All Hail Kamala! The candidate that you really wanted. (Wink, wink)
I’m so proud of the Democratic Party’s protection of your voting rights. Republicans want to restrict voting rights.
When losing, change the rules, and the rest of you get on board!
When losing in the lead up to the 2020 election, your party changed the rules in swing states, harvesting ballots, changing ballot verification rules, stuffing unmanned drop boxes, etc. Anything to retain or regain power.
When you say you won, go after your opponents with your “Justice” Department.
I’m wondering how many of my fellow opinion writers voted for the presumptive nominee Harris?
An opposing view!
Richard Barnes
East side
10 Commandments in schools
Perhaps it’s only me, but I do wonder why Christian Nationalists are fighting to put The 10 Commandments in each school instead of The Sermon on the Mount, or the Beatitudes, or The Golden Rule. After all, The 10 Commandments were brought down from Mt. Sinai by Moses, who was not a Christian. Could it be that The Sermon on the Mount, the Beatitudes, and The Golden Rule are too woke? Just curious.
Cynthia Schiesel
East side
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