A front-page article on March 16 that House Democrats want to tap the state surplus indicates that while Texas GOP leaders want to reduce property taxes by $15 billion with this surplus, the House Democrats disapprove. They want to direct the surplus money to boost funding for schools, salaries for teachers and pensions for retirees. They are suggesting a $1,340 funding increase per student on their basic allotment. This would provide teacher pay raises of $7,000 on average this fall, followed next year by an additional $3,000 bump.
Here is the rub. The state of Texas is in the enviable position of having surplus revenues.
These surplus revenues have been collected from all tax-paying Texans. The GOP leaders want to give a property tax break to all the folks who contributed to this surplus (this includes teachers and retirees), but the Democrat leaders wish to take these funds solely for the benefit of the schools, school teachers and retiree pensions.
We, the overworked and overtaxed Texans, have no more cheeks to turn. Let’s not be so greedy. Give us a break.
José C Coronado
Mission
Letter
assessed
Thanks to Ben Castillo, Trump haters now know the Donald is no longer a viable GOP presidential candidate (letters, March 24). The bad news is that a “worser” Ron DeSantis might be. De Guatemala a “guatepeor”?
Castillo says DeSantis is a fearless street fighter who will strike back and hit hard at anyone who dares to call him a “clown” or “a piece of you know what.” So, the message for Trump haters is clear: Beware and brace yourselves for some hurt feelings! Ouch!
Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s theory of stupidity, as we previously learned from Mr. Thomas Butler, tells us that we have more to fear from “stupid” people than from “evil” people. A perfect example of this theory is when angry people were dangerously manipulated into attacking the capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, by smarter and more “evil” people.
So, where does Mr. Castillo believe DeSantis stands on this? Among the crazies who go on the attack when others disparage them with words or simply disagree with them? Or is he another “evil genius” who relishes the idea of manipulating stupid people?
Castillo also mentioned that DeSantis has shown his warrior instinct by taking on “woke” corporations, “woke” soft-on-crime prosecutors and “woke” educational establishments. I have no idea what he means by this, but Nikki Haley, a declared GOP presidential candidate, also seems to dislike this “woke” stuff. She decried “wokeness” as a virus more dangerous than a pandemic! No, really — I’m not making this up!
Americans are divided on what “woke” means. A majority of them say it means to be informed, educated on and aware of social injustices. Some apply it as a general pejorative for anyone who is or appears to be politically left-leaning. Why? I have no idea. Is it because right-wingers believe people being informed and educated about social injustices is not a good thing? Is banning books their idea of a good thing? What next — book burning?
Italo J. Zarate
Brownsville
LETTERS — Limit letters to 300 words; all letters are subject to editing. Mail: P.O. Box 3267, McAllen, TX78502-3267; Email: [email protected]
