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Commentary this week addressed Project 2025, Texas’ water needs and commercial discounts for military personnel and veterans, among other topics. Letters discussed political parties and candidates, allowing divergent viewpoints, the threat of post-election violence and other issues.
As always, we welcome your contributions to our public forum, and thank those who have shared theirs.
Publishing both sides
In the last two months I have seen the Opinion page tuned into a ping pong match. One day the Democrats are on the offense and get to serve a fast and furious criticism toward their opponent. Then, Republicans on the other hand scramble to keep the ball from landing between the lines to keep the Democrats from scoring points against them.
As the game goes on, back and forth, my mind wanders and loses track of the score. It seems the score does not really matter as long the game continues. The game becomes more important than the score. The focus is more on, did you see the fast serve that was unstoppable? Did you see the return when it appeared that the ball was about to strike inside the line and was picked up by the player in the last microsecond?
The game of politics is much the same way. It’s all about emotion. Emotion is what motivates us to vote and whom to vote for.
Emotion is is not a good guide for a wise choice. Are you voting to make America better or because you are overwhelmed with emotion and feel that you must vote for the feeling inside you that overrides your common sense?
Important topics that need to be dealt with and get kicked down the road by politicians are: 1) our national debt: $35 trillion — ignored. 2) Migration by nations: ignored. 3) Increase in crime nationwide: ignored. 4) Civil rights violations: ignored. 4) Rising food prices: ignored. 5) Skyrocketing annual property tax: ignored.
No politician has the desire to tackle these problems. Instead they focus on something that seems more important to them like climate change or the need to prepare just in case the moon gets any closer and hits us. How much money do we need to prepare?
We need to focus on today’s real problems, not an unfounded fantasy.
Rafael Madrigal
Pharr
Taking credit after the fact
When Sen. Ted Cruz attended the April 24 groundbreaking of our Valley International Airport’s new control tower, he forgot to mention that he had voted against the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that brought at least $4.5 million in grants to this project. When former Congresswoman Marya Flores announced windfall grants to the district she briefly represented in Congress, she forgot to mention that she voted against all the bills that brought infrastructure funds to the Valley.
Supporting the bills that supplied these grants? Congressmen Colin Allred and Vicente Gonzalez
If you get one of those flyers or mailers that vaguely tout the so-called “virtues” of Cruz or Flores while misrepresenting the positions of their opponents, remember who voted to provide funds for local improvements like storm drainage, park renovations, a better airport and a new animal shelter — Congressmen Gonzalez and Allred.
Dark money funds those incendiary flyers that falsely attack candidates on LGBTQ, citizenship and reproductive rights issues. The money is so dark that Cruz and Flores don’t even have to declare it in their financial reports and so plentiful that one group has more than $1 billion in cash to spend.
I hope our voters are not fooled by well-financed bogus claims but will vote for two who have “done something” to help our communities — Collin Allred for Senate and Vicente Gonzalez for the House of Representatives.
John Hand
Harlingen
Election deniers
The heinous crime that occurred on Jan. 21, 2021, at the national Capitol will go down in history as the worst nefarious crime in U.S. history. Not only did the mob, who have been categorized as true patriots, did extensive damage to the Capitol (an estimated $1.5 million) but also tortured policemen — physically and psychologically.
Still, many people are still in denial and adamant about this horrific event being only “legitimate political discourse,” even though the culprits had their day in court, they were found guilty and are now serving time in prison. It’s an on-going trial since the number charged is in the thousands. The Department of Justice should should be commended for the vast amount of time taken to seek justice.
This would not have happened if the president had accepted that he lost the election.
Millions of dollars have been spent for courts to conclude that there were no inconsistencies in the election, yet there are thousands of people who are still convinced that the election was stolen. How sad.
If, by chance, the election in November is disputed, will there be another massacre? Let’s hope not.
Pete Romero
McAllen
Promoting perversity
Some radical leftists who have neither been elected nor appointed, by Almighty God or by any normal human being, have declared themselves misinformation dictators in the daily rot of perversity against God’s children and their devoted parents through an ongoing media-horrific children’s sexuality hogwash. Their recurrent push stands on the false premise that abortion and body mutilation in transgenderism of children under 18 is their new way to undo God’s teachings that He created precious life in God’s image.
Good parents personally embrace raising, educating and protecting their young with fierce sacrifices to do their part in contributing to future generations inspired by good family values that will result in leadership excellence to society worldwide.
Parents have a God-given divine right to pursue every avenue for their children to thrive and grow in healthy family values, not in this present, self-declared world of secretive perverse sexual indoctrination.
“All that is necessary for evil to triumph is that good men do nothing.” — Edmund Burke (18th century Irish philosopher and statesman)
Imelda Coronado
McAllen
Addressing our homeless crisis
More than 650,000 Americans experienced homelessness on any given night in 2023 — a 12% increase since 2022. Chronic homelessness is also worsening, with more than 143,000 people homeless for at least a year in 2023 — an all-time high.
I’ve been the mayor of Aurora, Colorado, for five years. In my first term I went undercover and lived among people experiencing homelessness in Aurora and Denver for a week. I wanted to understand why Colorado’s homeless community was growing and how my city could best help.
The leading policy approach to homelessness, and the one that attracts the lion’s share of government funding, is Housing First. Essentially, it prioritizes placing individuals into permanent housing as quickly as possible without addressing other issues like untreated mental illness or drug addiction.
No one can doubt the sincerity of “Housing First” advocates. But its proponents have been seduced by an illusory “silver bullet.”
After spending time in encampments, I saw that solving homelessness won’t have a one-size-fits-all solution. Many individuals were battling addiction and had little chance of holding down a job. Others dealt with mental health challenges.
That’s why a broader approach is necessary.
In its worst iteration, Housing First is a no-strings-attached approach. Beneficiaries receive housing and don’t need to attend job training programs or agree to a sober lifestyle. It’s a well-intentioned approach, but it simply isn’t working.
Since 2019, California has spent $24 billion on homelessness programs, even mandating all state-funded programs to adopt the Housing First model. Yet chronic homelessness in the state keeps climbing.
Despite these failures, Housing First remains the priority for federal and state funding.
This preferential treatment stunts programs that address underlying causes of homelessness. One study showed that more than 60% of chronically homeless individuals reported drug or alcohol abuse. Yet there is hope.
Step Denver provides free housing, addiction recovery programs and peer recovery support for hundreds of men each year. The program includes career counseling, 12-step meetings and life skills classes. After leaving, 84% find a full-time job and 80% report sustained sobriety.
The Chapman Partnership in Miami creates an individualized housing stability plan for each client who seeks housing, providing workforce development programs, social services and long-term housing opportunities. They’ve achieved an 80% outplacement rate.
In Phoenix, the nonprofit St. Joseph the Worker provides transitional housing and financial literacy resources for clients who work full-time but are at risk of homelessness. Since the program began, around 250 clients have moved on to permanent independent housing.
Aurora is following suit and launching a Navigation Campus as early as next year. The center will provide mental health services, recovery programs, health care and workforce development. Emergency shelter will be available to anyone who needs it, but long-term private housing will be reserved for clients who seek employment and engage with a case manager. Aurora is taking action to invest in people and establish the infrastructure needed to have a lasting impact. I hope it can serve as a model for cities nationwide.
Mike Coffman
Mayor
Aurora, Colo.
Editorial attacked
The Sept. 18 editorial, “Noncitizen voting measure doesn’t solve any problem, not about election integrity,” by the New York Daily News, once again demonstrates the far left’s attempt to sway public opinion in favor of less stringent voting restrictions, even in the face of confirmed popularity of photo ID by a huge majority. Eight out of 10 Americans want a requirement for everyone to provide a photo ID prior to voting.
What has happened to “government of, by and for,” so eloquently included in Lincoln’s Gettysburg address? Why are Democrats so afraid of a photo ID?
The lame excuse that it causes more difficulty in voting is laughable! How do those without photo ID cash a check, make an airline reservation, see a doctor, be admitted to a hospital, apply for social benefits, and too many other times that they have to provide photo ID?
Just as with their total disregard for established law concerning illegal entry to our country, the Democrats want unbridled voting, without question as to the voter’s eligibility!
Voting is such an important responsibility, defending it’s strict adherence to established identification procedures is paramount. Tell me, tell the American public, what’s wrong with proving that you are eligible to vote! I’ll wait.
Sherwood Uhrmacher
Palmview
Trump said it
Ted Cruz once described Donald Trump as “a pathological liar.” J.D. Vance once described Trump as “a moral disaster.” Clinical psychiatrists have questioned his mental health. In recent weeks Trump has made the following statements:
“She wants the government to stop people from eating red meat. She wants to get rid of your cows. No more cows.” — Aug. 3.
“She has already let in 21 million people, and if she gets four more years in America our country will be obliterated.” — Aug. 17.
“Of the that these people have created, which is very little, every single job was taken, about 107%, was taken by illegal immigrants.” — Aug. 29.
“If Kamala wins she will take your cars, take your money, take your guns. She wants to confiscate all guns.” — Sept. 27.
“The transgender thing is incredible. Think of it. Your kid goes to school and comes home a few days later with an operation. The school decides what’s going to happen with your child.” — Sept. 3.
“We have thousands and thousands and thousands of terrorists coming into our country. We have millions of people pouring into our country from prisons and jails, from mental institutions and insane asylums and they are coming in and they are taking jobs.” — Sept. 18.
“Kamala should have closed the border years ago and we wouldn’t have hostile takeovers of Springfield, Ohio and Aurora, Colorado, where they’re actually going in with massive machine gun-type equipment that are (sic) beyond even military scope.” — Sept. 26.
“A vote for Kamala Harris means 40 or 50 million more illegal aliens will invade across our borders, stealing your money, stealing your jobs, stealing your life.” — Sept. 22.
Are these instances of his pathological lying or is he using this kind of rhetoric to rile his supporters, whom he calls “basement dwellers?” A more relevant question: How is this individual under consideration for the presidency?
Jeffrey Crafts
McAllen
Comments addressed
In his letter on Sept. 21, Jake Longoria tells us he’s not yet convinced Donald Trump was responsible for the attack on our Capitol. And Ben Castillo in his letter on Sept. 24 tells us Trump is his hero. The guy who got shot at and doesn’t hide from anybody is Ben’s hero. Yes, he is also the guy who calls our “real” heroes, those killed in wars and POW’s, “suckers and losers.”
Jake says Trump didn’t tell the mob to storm the Capitol. He says Trump told them to “march peacefully and patriotically to the Capitol and make your voices heard.” Perhaps the noise was so loud the mob didn’t hear that part. Or maybe they figured Trump was lying, again. You know, like he always does when he wants to protect his butt. Regardless, it wasn’t long before the “peaceful protest” turned into a major hurricane-force-like riot.
When asked to come to the Capitol to help “Stop the Steal,” the mob willingly came, armed and prepared for battle. What Trump wanted, they figured, was not going to be accomplished with a peaceful protest.
Are you kidding me? The task at hand required more drastic measures, like storming the Capitol, shooting Nancy Pelosi between the eyes and hanging Mike Pence. Unfortunately for Donald Trump, but fortunately for America, the attempted coup failed and democracy prevailed. Thank you, Jesus! No, not the orange one.
So to be fair, let’s side with Jake and give Trump the benefit of doubt. Let’s say Trump really believed the mob at his rally, the one peacefully chanting, “Stop the steal,” “Shoot Nancy Pelosi,” “Hang Mike Pence,” could really help his cause to stay in power. But why then, when the peaceful protest turned into a riot, did he seem to be OK with it? His family, his staff and others didn’t think it was OK. They pleaded with him to call off the mob, to call the National Guard, to do something! The Donald, enchanted with what was evolving in front of his eyes, wasn’t listening. And, regrettably, as president of the United States, as the protector of our Democracy, as the protector of our Constitution and our nation, Trump failed miserably.
When the riot ended, Trump didn’t even think about thanking the Capitol police for their bravery; for standing up against hundreds of waves of hoodlums wanting to do harm. No, instead, Trump thanked the rioters, praising them and telling them he loved them!
Good grief, man, isn’t this like an act of treason? Aren’t those who support treason treasonous, too?
What’s going on here? Are we devolving back into cavemen? Hoo-boy.
Italo J. Zarate
Brownsville
Editor’s note: We welcome your letters and commentary. Submissions must include the writer’s full name, address and daytime telephone number for verification. Letters of 200 words or fewer will be given preference. Submissions may be edited for length, grammar and clarity. Letters may be mailed to P.O Box 3267, McAllen, Texas 78502-3267, or emailed to [email protected].
