Compromise
Compromise is at the heart of American Democracy. If the founders in 1787 had not agreed to compromise their fervently held beliefs, there would be no United States of America. For one shining moment last week I thought that compromise would once again preserve the union. Unfortunately, this does not seem to be the case.
The ouster of Kevin McCarthy because he had the temerity to compromise with Democrats is a bad sign. All it would have taken was for a handful of centrist Democrats to vote “present”. Their votes could have come about with a compromise deal. But McCarthy refused to dicker with Democrats. And the Democrats refused to dicker with McCarthy.
The first thing the new acting speaker did was kick Pelosi out of her privileged hideaway. This seems to confirm that there will be no compromises in the House. There appears to be no hope for our American experiment.
Steven Brown
Midtown
A section of border wall stands July 14, 2021, near La Grulla, Texas.
Undecided on Prop 413
Tucson City Councilmembers are really smart people. They can evaluate city issues like no other. One thing they seem to struggle with is the problem of homelessness in our city. While the homeless struggle living on the street, the city gives the green light to big developers. The bottom line with developers is a bigger balance sheet. Solving homelessness comes down to affordable housing and a livable wage. We bulldoze old school buildings and welcome the rich real estate folks to build unaffordable housing. I get it, low income housing is not profitable. Meanwhile the homeless live out their lives in fields, washes, cars, and parks. Mental health and sickness runs rampant among their ranks. I'm all for people earning a living wage. Councilmembers have needs. Yet, none are homeless. Councilmembers eat well and live within four walls. I'm not persuaded about Prop 413. Show me more housing for the least of thee and I'll get back to you. Homeless people die and most are very smart people.
Bobby Burns
Midtown
Bread and circuses
President Joe Biden is not very entertaining with his monotone voice. But Donald Trump huffs and puffs and exaggerates and creates a circus for his easily impressed mob so that they would buy a used car from him.
Have you heard? Trump recently said Biden is going to start World War Two, which already happened last century. He also said his opponent for president in 2024 is Obama. Trump has apparently blabbed secrets about our nuclear submarines to a foreign national and put our sailors at risk. Trump has spoken of executing General Mark Milley, the former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, because he did his job and was not subservient enough to suit Mr. Bone Spurs Trump.
Trump is an OLD, vicious, addlebrained blabbermouth who is an authoritarian threat to our democracy. But you-all support whomever. It is still a free country — unless Trump returns as president.
Ronald Pelech
Midtown
Do Israelis deserve our unrestricted support?
I was disappointed by President Biden's support of the Israelis after the attack by Hamas. What other option to the Palestinians have? They have been mistreated and scorned by the Israelis ever since the 1967 war by restricting their lifestyles, limiting their water, and establishing settlements (against international outrage) on land owned by the Palestinians.
I think it is about time to show support for the Palestinians. The Israelis have brought this war onto their own heads, and although I sympathize with those on both sides who are affected by the attacks, I find it hard to sympathize with the Israeli government.
Jack Evert
Oro Valley
We must end military aid to Israel
John F. Kennedy said, "Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable."
The US and Israeli governments have made peaceful change in the occupied territories impossible. Palestinians have marched, called for boycotts, and pleaded for international witnesses to go and see the terrible conditions in which they are forced to live. Their efforts have been met with violence and repression at every turn.
The Gaza Strip has been described as an open-air prison in which two million people, nearly half of them children, are denied basic human rights, access to medical care, clean drinking water and economic security.
There is no justification for kidnapping, killing or maiming civilians by either Israel or Hamas. But the only way out of this humanitarian disaster is to end the occupation. The US must do its part and cease the $3 billion in military aid given to Israel every year.
Alice Zillah
Midtown
Sympathy for the Israelis will be short lived
My prediction is that the same old reaction will occur. The support for Israel will fade quickly as soon as CNN has the opportunity to show the deaths of people in Gaza. Even as we learn about the atrocities committed there are demonstrators in American cities against the Jewish people. We will be told that the butchers who entered Israel were not representative of the country and most of you will agree and condemn Israel for their response. The same scenario has been repeated over and over for decades. The U.N. in particular condemns Israel every time they respond to a missile attack or incursion. Already there are calls for cease fire. This time I am convinced Israel won’t stop until Gaza is conquered at which time peace can be attained after the leaders are removed.
Jack Walters
Northeast side
Biden ignores the elephant in the room, Iran
President Biden has given televised speeches about the Hamas attacks on Israel. He has not mentioned the elephant in the room, Iran. It is a well established fact that Iran has supplied rockets, money and training to Hamas. There is no way that Hamas could have conducted this sophisticated and complex attack without weeks or months of training somewhere. The Wall Street Journal reported that several high ranking members of Hamas and Hezbollah recently met with Iran's Revolutionary Guard in Beirut and gave the "green light" to proceed with the attack. I think the intent by Iran was to derail ongoing peace negotiations between Israel and Saudi Arabia. Despite all this, what we have heard from the Biden administration is that there is "no smoking gun" or direct evidence showing Iran's involvement. Iran's leaders praised the attack on Israel. It seems to me that President Biden is pathetically bending over backwards not to implicate Iran in this horrendous attack as doing so would jeopardize his pursuit of another nuclear deal.
Tom Galloway
North side
Prop 413: Money won't buy you love or performance
To avoid hiring career politicians and to assure that the increased expense of greater mayor/council compensation delivers significant return on those taxpayer investments I am writing to suggest that all vote no on this action until the proposition defines tangible performance metrics, quarterly publication of actual results to goals, and ties at least 50% of the increased compensation to the achievement of defined metrics. For example, metrics should include human capital development, reduced unemployment and related expenses, increased discretionary personal income (average income less average cost of living), tax rate decreases. Published performance metrics tied to compensation/personal consequences and rewards, measurement, analysis and corrective actions are proven tactics utilized to support productive continuous improvement culture.
Terry Finefrock
Foothills
Border wall
We definitely need a comprehensive/workable immigration policy, and I don't think our Congress has the mental capacity to come up with one. A border wall is not a solution but could be a needed stopgap measure. Biden may have "flipped" on the need for a border wall, but at least he wasn't fool enough to say and think people would believe that Mexico would pay for it.
Michael Garmarnik
East side
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