Tucson Speaks Out: March 14 letters of the day

American problems

It’s hard for me to understand how one man, President Biden, could endanger this country. There are others in the background responsible for this but we can only suspect their involvement. The damage is done and we may never get back to the sovereign nation and security we always had. To secure the border now reminds me of the old saying “you closed the gate after the horses were gone.” The leaders of this country don’t know how to contain this mess. They may have turned the United States into the next third-world country, the migrants will take advantage of what they get and use up money that should be used to help Americans. The justice system isn’t going to control what lies ahead and now the migrants feel entitled to the best we have to offer for free. Other countries are watching and may consider this a time to test the United States and its resolve.

Thomas Fletcher

Southwest side

Be afraid; be very afraid

The impact of the Alabama Supreme Court’s decision that multi-celled embryos are “children” created in the image of god goes far beyond the impact on in-vitro fertilization. Chief Justice Parker is an avowed “dominionist,” a Christian philosophy that the United States should be administered according to biblical principles and mandates. Parker is a believer in the “Seven Mountains Mandate,” advocating that Christians must take over seven “mountains” of American culture: government, education, media, arts and entertainment, religion, family, and business.

Tellingly, Justice Parker’s decision referenced the Bible rather than the Constitution to justify his decision. That is because our Constitution does not include the word “god.” Our country must fully understand the efforts of this minority of Americans whose goal is to usurp our constitution and our government. They have already made great strides toward this goal.

Bruce Hilpert

North side

SCOTUS

My mother died in December 2021, during the last year of her life, she would ask, if Trump was in jail yet. I would explain that the wheels of justice turn slowly. Never in my life could I imagine that SCOTUS would throw sand in the works. The Roberts’ Court is an abomination to the Lord! That is not my hyperbolic opinion that’s right out of the Bible! “He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just, Both (sic) of them alike are abominations to the Lord.” (Proverbs 17:15) Conservatives on the Court have a lot to answer for, when they die!

John Balsbaugh

Midtown

Biden’s border visit to Brownsville

President Biden went to Brownsville, Texas, to promote the Senate’s Border legislation, which is so full of border enforcement holes that a truck could drive through them. Biden has only been to the border twice in three years as over 7 million have entered illegally on his watch. Texas is no longer the epicenter of illegal immigration because Governor Abbott has secured the border there with razor wire and shipping containers. Trump appeared in Eagle Pass with the head of the Border Patrol Union who said agents were “mad as hell and pissed off at Biden’s policies.” Liberal-run sanctuary cities are shielding migrants arrested for crimes by not cooperating with ICE. Georgia University student Laken Riley was murdered and seriously disfigured by “legally processed and released” from Border Patrol custody asylum seeker Venezuelan Jose Ibarra. He subsequently traveled to New York City and was arrested for child endangerment. ICE could have placed a detainer on him but, NYC is a sanctuary city. Laken would still be alive attending college.

Boris Slovek

Green Valley

Student loans

Re: the March 1 letter “Student loan forgiveness.”

My granddaughter asked me to co-sign for a student loan. When I received the form, she was borrowing $5,000. The interest was $6,200. If the government would cancel the interest, it would be much easier to repay the loan. They could do this for all loans, rather than cherry-picking a select few. Both sides of this debate would receive equal benefit.

Bert Stamper

Northwest side

Supreme political justice

Regarding Trump’s removal from the Colorado ballot, SCOTUS justices Sotomayor, Kagan and Jackson wrote on Monday: “would … create a chaotic state-by-state patchwork.” In my letter-to-the-editor on Feb. 8, I wrote: “Overturning Roe v Wade, their premise was that the Constitution didn’t address abortion which left the matter to be adjudicated by the individual states. In an about face, they are saying that despite the fact that the Constitution allows election procedural matters to be determined by the states, the states have to be reined in or chaos will ensue.” Pardon me while I declare: “I told you so!”

I don’t disagree with Sotomayor, Kagan, and Jackson. What bothers me is SCOTUS’s ability to flip flop the reasoning behind its decisions. When the reasoning switches based on the direction that the wind is blowing, they are no longer interpreting the law; they are being political hacks.

Rick Cohn

West side

Fair share

Re: the March 11 letter “’Fair share’.”

Actually, I think the writer is noticing the wrong people discussing fair share taxes. Most of us wonder why billionaires who would have to pay millions in taxes seems to feel they will be going broke with only 950 million dollars left. I mean, that could only pay for another 20 yachts and 100 more vacation homes.

Duane Harpet

Northwest side

Recipe for MAGA Soup

This new soup recipe is ready for the run up to November and was recently taste tested outside a Trump Rally.

Poll results are in:

59% said it had just the right amount of xenophobia, 41% said it needed more

80% said racism and antisemitism were almost perfect, 20% said it needed more

60% said it hit the mark with lies and deception, 40% said it needed more

The results are in! Soup is ready to hit the market. If you don’t want to make your own it will be sold in our tasteful carpetbagger gold cans and will cost $400 and be virtual. Order yours now!

Melvina Strijdonk

Oro Valley

Ability to pay

Re: the March 11 letter “’Fair share’.”

The current tax rates are based a progressive tax schedule. Progressive: as defined by Merriam-Webster 4b “increasing in rate as the base increases”. Not to be confused with Progressive Liberalism.

The Federal tax code is not based on a ‘fair share’ concept but on the ability to pay concept. The more a taxable entity earns or receives, the greater that entity’s ability to pay.

I would eliminate Federal ‘C’ Corp taxation and replace the individual tax rates from 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35% and 37% to 10%, 15%, 25%, 35% and 45% with roughly similar brackets. I would tax all income at the same rate with passive income taxed with a SS/MC premium similar to how self-employment income pays toward SS/MC. Tax territorial income only rather than global income. It’s too easy to ‘hide’ global income. Tax it when it comes in country.

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James Abels

Midtown

Was there a missing pillar?

Re: the March 12 article “UA AD focused on ‘five priorities’.”

In the story of the “five pillars” of the future athletic program proposed by the new athletic director, Desireé Reed-Francois, the emphasis on academics seemed missing. Of the 100s of UA student-athletics only a handful make a future living as a professional, with few of them completing their degree. The remaining student-athletes have been given a much treasured paid scholarship and should be accountable to complete their degree. I thought “academics” should be one of the “pillars”. Without Title 9 and women’s sports, there would be a paucity of “student-athletes”.

Jay Gandolfi

Northeast side

How stupid is stupid?

So a guy gets found guilty of defamation by a jury, to the tune of $5 million. Then he cannot keep his mouth shut and is saddled with another $83 million in damages. The guy is still running his mouth. Stupid has a new personification.

Some people think this guy is presidential material. Never mind the stupid part, what about the lack of self control? Perhaps he thinks his supporters will pay for all of his poor behavior and bad acts. Who will pay if he becomes our president and pulls his stunts in the name of the USA?

Jeff Rayner

SaddleBrooke

Juan Ciscomani

This is to the people in Arizona Congressional District 6 regarding Congressman Juan Ciscomani.

You are constantly whining about the Congressman’s voting record. Juan Ciscomani is a Republican. You knew that when you elected him to office. Why are you complaining when he votes the Republican line in most cases? Did you expect him to morph into a Democrat after he was elected?

You got what you voted for and you’re stuck with him until the next election.

Al Gordon

East side

Councilman Kozachik

Thank you Councilman Kozachik!

On behalf of the Tucson animal-welfare community, I would like to thank you for being a tireless advocate for animals during your tenure on the Tucson City Council. Your strong voice against greyhound racing helped to pass legislation that shuttered one of the worst greyhound racing tracks in the United States, the Tucson Greyhound Park.

I commend you for continuing to speak out against puppy mills, and for supporting legislation that would require pet shops to only sell rescue animals.

Thank you for all your efforts to support the Tucson Wildlife Center and its mission to rescue and rehabilitate sick, injured and orphaned wildlife before they are returned to the wild.

The vast animal-welfare community in Tucson can’t thank you enough for all your hard work and commitment to animal rights.

Carmine Cardamone

Midtown

Medicare vs. MAGA

If Trump wins in November, he plans to make Medicare Advantage plans the default program for everyone who is newly eligible. Medicare Advantage is privatized insurance; unlike traditional Medicare, it puts an insurance company between you and your health treatments. Traditional Medicare has no such “middleman”; the government pays for your healthcare.

Medicare Advantage plans put profits before people, regularly denying coverage for essential treatments and services, forcing patients to forgo the care they need and putting their health and lives at risk. Meanwhile, private insurance CEOs rake in the money, at the expense of seniors and those with disabilities.

Over 65 million Americans rely on Medicare for their health care, and over 400,000 people become newly eligible each year. Their health and lives are at stake in the November election.

Voters need to tell Trump: No privatization of Medicare!

Jon Benda

Midtown

Priming for violence?

Trump made a big deal out of the nurse killed by a migrant, but another tragedy occurred recently in Olivette, Missouri. A young man shot and killed his mother when she came in the back door of their house because he thought she was an intruder. Yes, he had been a victim of crime as many of us have been. One has to wonder, however if the priming of the masses with violent rhetoric from the Trumplican faction hasn’t created a level of dangerous paranoia. Many studies have shown that people can be primed to think along certain lines. This is the basis for much of marketing. So when the leader of the Republican party screams bloody murder from the pulpit, you have to consider the ramifications on the populace. The truth is that Trump only cares about Trump, so this is just alligator tears.

Dan Pendergrass

West side

We’ll miss Kozachik

Steve Kozachik has set a high bar for public service in a City Council office. He took care of constituents and went well beyond that with imaginative solutions to many of the big problems of our day. And he answered his phone, promptly. Fond farewell.

Ford Burkhart

Midtown

Biden played “I don’t remember” card

Many people have read that Federal Prosecutor Hur did not indict President Biden on classified documents charges because of cognitive reasons, as in not recalling being Vice President. But I think Biden played the cognitive “I don’t remember” game to the hilt with Hur, and it worked. Hur appeared before the House of Representatives where portions of his report were read. Biden had informed his book writer of finding classified “stuff” downstairs, but did not remember saying that when being interviewed by Hur. Biden said he did not remember finding classified materials in his home after his Vice Presidency, and did not remember how classified documents about Afghanistan got into his garage. These are classic “I don’t remember” statements made by criminal suspects. I believe Hur, a seasoned federal prosecutor, fell for Biden’s cognitive drama act hook line and sinker. A performance worthy of an Oscar. Biden either has serious cognitive issues making him unfit to be President or he repeatedly lied to Hur. Which is it?

Ivan Stanski

Marana