Samoan football players
Now that the Polynesian pipeline has been reestablished for the University of Arizona football team, I sincerely hope that the announcers and news reporters take the time to learn the correct pronunciation of the player’s Samoan names. As a returned Peace Corps volunteer who served in Samoa, I cringe every time I hear a beautiful, lyrical Samoan name mangled. Faafetai lava (thank you very much).
Laura Steele
Northwest side
I’ll pass
Re: the Aug. 21 letter “Potentially heartwarming.”
The author of this letter urges Democrats to change parties. I’m not always on board with the Democrats. But, what are the options: one of the third parties which cannot garner enough votes to govern, or the party of Trumpism? I think that for most of us, Trumpism equates with national suicide. I’ll pass on that Hemlock.
Michael Price
Midtown
What do the Republicans have to offer
As part of the Inflation Reduction Act, the government will now be able to negotiate drug prices. Nikki Haley has called this “communism.” How much money does big pharma lobbyists give to Republican candidates to oppose this policy? Another part of the IRA, brings much needed funds to states to repair failing infrastructure. Republicans voted against this, but are quick to take credit for the money coming to their districts. Exactly what do they have to offer the average American? How about restricting voting rights, banning books, defending the gun lobby, and making it harder for women to get the health care they need. We need to take a hard look at the slate of Republican candidates for President. Is this really what we want for the country?
Mary Zimmerman
SaddleBrooke
Illegal immigration
If the current administration really believes COVID-19 is still a threat to the health of Americans, why does Biden allow the on-going invasion of immigrants illegally crossing our southern border? Why doesn’t he utilize Title 42, which worked well under President Trump, or does he really believe our border is “closed”? Biden took an oath of office to defend this country and our constitution but has done nothing to prove he meant it. He and Secretary Mayorkas should be impeached for dereliction of duty. The billions of tax dollars this administration is spending on this crisis should go toward the welfare of Americans, in particular, our veterans. There is a process in place available for immigrants to use when applying for entry/citizenship to this country. If it’s too cumbersome and needs updating, then let’s fix it, but in the meantime, allowing those who try to enter illegally is just plain nuts!
Lindsey Smith
Northwest side
Hunter Biden is the problem?
The only reason Hunter Biden is in the spotlight is that conservative media brings his name up day after day — as a distraction! He is not even in Joe Biden’s administration.
Narcissist? Puts his own sense of self importance over everything? The writer has him confused with Donald Trump — the man who IS running for office. A recognized sociopath ... he is who the citizens need to be worried about. Voters, reconsider your focus!
Emily Morrison
Midtown
Calling the kettle black
Re: the Sept. 24 letter “Tom Horne: One scary dude.”
I couldn’t agree more with the letter writer. I wonder how many Arizona voters are aware of the FBI investigation into Horne a little over ten years ago for alleged campaign finance violations when he was running for AG? This investigation also resulted in Horne being charged in a hit and run accident, leaving the scene of a parking garage collision to hide his extramarital affair. As witnessed by FBI agents following Horne, he and his mistress were meeting up at her apartment complex when the accident occurred. Horne left no note and left the scene, then refused to talk with the Phoenix PD.
What a guy — the same guy so worried about “inappropriate sexual stuff” in classrooms affecting student learning.
Really?
Deb Klumpp
Oro Valley
TUSD bond request
Reading through the mailshot, it seems that this bond issue will result in the payment of an astonishing $312 million interest over the 20 years. If we compare this to the interest on e.g Borrowing $24 million per year from your friendly local credit unions at 5% APR on Jan. 1st of each year to cover that years spending, a total of $24 Million in interest over the 20 years.
There MUST be a middle ground here (say 5 year terms) that does not result in such wasteful financing arrangements.
David Mills
West side
Judicial overstepping
Re: the Oct. 2 article “Judge rejects bid to block gender-affirming surgery deal.”
The article said “Rebuffing Arizona’s Republican legislative leaders, a federal judge has signed an order to permanently require the state to pay for gender-affirming surgery for its own and university employees and retirees.” I suppose this judge has failed to read the Constitution of the United States, as compared to the one in his pocket. There are three components in government and the judicial branch interprets the laws approved by the legislative branch and signed by the executive branch. In this case, the judge simply declared that he alone, without any help, can make changes to laws. Perhaps we should allow legislative branch to decide which laws they will obey — oh wait, kinda like Biden and enforcement of immigration laws. The time has come to begin prosecuting public officials for overstepping the limits of their oath of office, perhaps time in prison would help this judge to understand his position.
Loran Hancock
Northwest side
Enough is enough
The southern border is a totally uncontrolled disaster! If anyone claims that the border is under control, they are myopic, misinformed, or just plain stupid. Although the President and the border czar refuse to visit, Elon Musk did and was horrified with what he saw. Basically, the Administration refuses to enforce current immigration laws to the detriment of the entire country. If we want to increase legal immigration numbers to meet needs of this country, write laws addressing the needs, but make all entry legal. Regarding the present border crisis, the President, or as he may be experiencing cognitive dysfunction, his ultra-liberal puppet masters, should be charged with incompetence, or even treason for intentional failure to enforce the laws of the United States. With each passing day, it is becoming increasingly evident that this illegal migration is having devastating negative effects on the entire nation.
Loyal M. Johnson Jr.
Oro Valley
Not my fault
“The House of Representatives shall choose their speaker and other officers and have the sole power of impeachment.” This sentence from Article I Section 2 is all the Constitution says regarding the office. With the development of a two party system one or other of the parties has historically held a majority in the House and chosen the Speaker. In January of this year the speakership was lent to Kevin McCarthy by his Republican conference after he bartered away much of its power. A bad bargain because it allowed his fractious conference to declare the seat vacant in October. Now McCarthy and some of his allies including our Rep. Juan Ciscomani are saying he was ousted by the Democrats, though it was he alone who could not hold the seat because he couldn’t please all of his Republican majority when he needed them. He changed House rules to get the job and the changes were used against him, making him an ineffectual Speaker then taking back his gavel. Alas!
Frank Bergen
North side
A brief history
If our judiciary and legislators would review the history of the founding of our country and read our Constitution, they would find that a basic building block was freedom of and from religion. Abortion, LGBTQ and gender identity are issues of religious conservatives, and their beliefs should not be imposed on the general public by the courts or legislatures.
Also to be found, in the Second Amendment of our Constitution, the unabridged right to bear arms. But the judiciary and legislators should note the term “well regulated”, the definition of which seems to have escaped too many of our public servants.
Vocal minorities should not be running our country.
Todd Ackerman
Foothills
Rock, on Tucson!
Props to the hard-rocking nonagenarian sitting in the front row at Geoff Tate’s Big Rock Show Hits, which blasted into the Rialto Theater on October 3rd. The ex-Queensryche lead singer paused mid-show to inquire as to which audience members wanted to hear “the really old stuff” — from the early 80’s. Having received an enthusiastic response from his diehard heavy metal fans, Tate proceeded to take a poll of his audience — seeking to determine which crowd member has been rocking the longest. Hands down winner was the 95 year-old-dude seated front and center:) The audience gave a well-deserved ovation, and Tate honored the fellow with a bow. So metal!
Christopher Rodarte
Midtown
Asylum seekers coordinate, manage, clean, build, fix and troubleshoot nearly all aspects of the La Casa de la Misericordia y de Todos las Naciones in Nogales, Sonora.
Migrants in Nogales
Re: the Oct. 2 article “Migrants find shelter in Nogales.”
Kudos to Jose Ignacio Castaneda Perez for his excellent article in about the migrants being housed in Nogales, Sonora! He has written a true human-interest story that’s a thousand times more compelling than reading statistics about how many migrants are from which countries, how long they’ve been waiting to be admitted to the U.S., etc. Instead, we get an intimate look at daily life at La Casa de la Misericordia y de Todas las Naciones. These people have created such a close community that individuals are actually sad when they leave to start a new life in an unknown land. Children attend daily classes while adults are taught trade skills. Social events such as weddings have been held there. Names and life stories of certain families are included. Thanks to the Star for printing this excellent piece!
Aston Bloom
East side
Opinions about unions
Re: the Oct. 1 article “The renaissance of union logic and democracy in the workplace.”
Brent Harold extols the virtues of labor unions, but even he admits that union membership has dropped precipitously, especially in the private sector, where in the 1960s it comprised a third of the workforce till today it is only 6%. The reasons for this are readily apparent. Unions cost jobs, as they restrict the number of workers in a company to drive up the remaining workers’ wages. Thus, UAW membership peaked at 1.5 million in 1979 but has since decreased to 400,000. The last time the UAW went on strike, it bankrupted both GM and Ford. Workers shun unions because they know that their dues go to support the union bosses and Democrats. Public unions, on the other hand, have increased their membership so that they now control many local and state governments, and they have bankrupted entire cities, such as Detroit and San Bernardino. Unions make a joke of democracy with their control of many city and state governments. So much for unions.
David Pearse
Foothills
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Congress needs to act
Re: the Aug. 22 article “Idea for heading off fiscal crisis.”
The recent editorial by George Will highlighted Congress’ inability to address both Social Security and Medicare. The legislature and executive branch have punted the ball from one administration to another. The only way additional reforms can be implemented is to have an independent commission solve the problem. It’s obvious no elected official has the courage to take a stand for fear of losing an election.
Charles Schultz
Northeast side
