Ordered liberty, a federalist “concept” and an old legal term, is a dangerous one in the hands of ambitious authoritarians. It embraces the belief that freedoms can be limited by the need of order in society. According to an independent news source, it is dangerous “because it enables right-wing forces that are in power to determine what order means and what freedoms should be limited.”
This is a favorite thing with the right wing. Put some words together and then decide for everyone what all the nouns mean. These are authoritarian rules and thinking.
In this created world of authority, a pregnant woman could have a miscarriage and be charged with murder. Religious freedom would apply only to Christians and people of Muslim faith, for instance, would have to be registered and surveilled, one writer says.
This definition of liberty would mean control and growing violence in this country. Isn’t it time for politicians and now, the Supreme Court — Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, Amy Coney Barrett, installed by a gazillion dollars of dark money — to get out of our bedrooms, family discussions, doctor visits?
Watch out. Clarence Thomas, who didn’t say a word for years, is now quite vocal. His wife has been busy leading and collaborating with the right wing in unethical and conflict-of-interest ways.
Shirley Rickett
Alamo
Addressing
unemployment
The Monitor’s July 25 edition shows us how little the politicians think of us here in the Valley! After the 34th congressional seat was given to the Republicans by default and the gaggle of politicians here for a photo op, our workers were laid off or fired! Eight percent unemployment is not a good sign here in the Valley while the rest of the state is enjoying 3.2%.
I say by default; just a minor amount of voters turned out to vote for that seat.
This is my opinion of why the voters stayed home: The Republicans ran millions of dollars of ads everywhere to give the people the idea that Mrs. Mayra Flores was the only person on the ballot. She also constantly said that Biden was destroying jobs in the oil industry, but that is a blatant lie.
The Monitor reported that the fact is the oil industry cannot get enough people to work in the oilfields because the jobs are not permanent. The oil industry is very cylindrical, just as the housing industry and others are. The Monitor reported that wages start at $24 and up in the oil patch, which is good but not great due to the working conditions and also living conditions in the oil patch.
I have talked to a lot of men who worked in the oilfields and they tell me they will not go back because of the isolation and being away from their families, even though the money is good.
Why not use the people coming into our country for these jobs instead of busing them to D.C.? Two problems solved.
Bill Williams
Palmview
Will ‘Big Lie’
happen here?
Will the “Big Lie” happen here in Texas’ elections this coming November?
Donald Trump and the Texas Republican Party platform deny the 2020 election results for President Biden, so will the accusations of stolen elections happen in Texas if Beto O’Rourke and other Democrats win? Will the Republican triumvirate (Greg Abbott, Dan Patrick, Ken Paxton) stay on their thrones even when rightfully and legally voted out? We’ll have to wait to see, won’t we?
Diane Teter
Edinburg
