More transit, not less
Subject: “DART considers budget cuts – Some hope spending shifts are a sign agency is listening amid rumors of revenue cuts,” Sunday Metro article.
The budget cuts for Dallas Area Rapid Transit are a step in the wrong direction. Dallas needs more public transit, not less.
One way to encourage and fund DART use is to ask employers to buy discounted or free tickets for their employees. Employer involvement can encourage employees to leave their cars at home – good for the environment and reducing congestion on the roads. Another option is to hire traffic cops to ensure public safety and check passengers’ tickets.
DART loses a lot of money because it doesn’t check whether passengers have paid their fare. For example, my husband and I take the DART train to the State Fair of Texas every year. Not once has anyone asked for our paid tickets. There are many free riders who ride the trains every day. No wonder DART doesn’t make a profit.
My advice is to ask New York City how it can successfully run its trains and buses in a city much larger than Dallas. It can be done.
Sheryl Santos-Hatchett, Dallas/Mountain Creek
Spouse’s speech impressive
As a Jewish American concerned about the growing hatred against Jews at home and abroad, I was pleased and proud to hear Doug Emhoff, husband and Second Gentleman to Vice President Kamala Harris, speak at the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday. His continued fight to end hatred and anti-Semitism on behalf of the Biden-Harris administration is remarkable and admirable.
Needless to say, as a Democrat, I enjoyed and applauded his speech. But more importantly, as a nonpartisan rhetorician who has studied and taught political communication throughout his academic career, I thought his speech was excellent and would give it an A.
It convincingly proved that you don’t have to be an experienced public speaker to deliver an outstanding speech. Emhoff’s measured tone as he introduced his wife as a stepmother and presented the touching story of his blended family was genuine, tangible and authentic – the kind of thing we would expect from an ordinary citizen – any of us – rather than a seasoned politician.
Richard Cherwitz, Camas, Washington.
Trump denigrates the Medal of Honor
Just when I thought Donald Trump’s vulgarity and disregard for traditional values couldn’t get any worse, he dared to disparage the military credentials of Medal of Honor recipients, scornfully criticizing them for being “shot or dead.”
And then he had the audacity to award one of his biggest donors the Congressional Medal of Freedom and praise her highly.
For someone who allowed allegations of bone spurs to deter him from military service, it is unbelievable that Trump could denigrate those in uniform who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country to preserve our freedoms.
In less than 70 days, cast your vote with your patriotism. Our democracy is counting on you.
Nell Anne Hunt, Irving
Taxpayers should finance Harris’ plan
Subject: “A Team for Trump; Harris Outlines Policies – Populist Political Agenda Ruptures Economy,” news report, August 17.
The U.S. national debt is over $35 trillion and rising rapidly. President Joe Biden has said (rightly) that the Trump administration has increased the debt more than any other presidency. What he failed to mention, however, is that by the end of his term, his debt burden will exceed Trump’s. The interest on the debt alone now exceeds the defense budget and the Medicare budget.
Now Kamala Harris has announced her economic policies, which include eliminating medical bills for millions of Americans (courtesy of taxpayers), imposing price controls on food (history shows that such controls never work in the long run), and providing $25,000 grants to first-time home buyers (again, courtesy of taxpayers).
These are all obvious attempts to buy votes. The article said their plan was about cutting “red tape” and reducing the deficit. Much of the red tape that the Trump administration eliminated was immediately reinstated by Biden-Harris.
And as for her administration’s debt reduction, if she is elected, the Dallas Cowboys’ chances of winning the next ten Super Bowls would be better.
Ben Willis, Garland
Harris has no answers
Since the current administration is responsible for our outrageous inflation, their “machine” seems to have no idea how to solve the problem. I imagine a think tank sitting around a table and someone saying “price gouging.” Voters will swallow it. It will be so misunderstood, but everyone will collectively nod and vote.
Nobody wants price gouging. But this government’s energy policy contributes to it. Every step in animal feed production is affected by it. Production, packaging, transport – and this happens multiple times.
After you vote, prices at the grocery store won’t go down. Extortionate prices won’t help. It’s just another narrative the Democrats have invented to get your vote.
I demand real answers. Unfortunately, candidate Kamala Harris has no idea about inflation, the border, crime, foreign policy or what is fair for the majority.
Steve Massey, Plano
De Vinck’s letter is praised
Subject: “There is still time, but I think about death – I feel too young to take it seriously, but old enough to know better,” by Christopher de Vinck, August 17. Opinion.
Thank you, Christopher de Vinck, for sharing with us the letter you will leave to your children when you die. Thank you. Thank you.
Amy P. Jones, Dallas/Preston Hollow
Think about life
I really enjoyed de Vinck’s column on advancing age. I don’t think about death too often. I think about things I can do while I’m still alive. I’m 88 years old and I’ve just published my 12th book. A romance with a clown. I also wrote a children’s book together with my daughter, A horse for the heart.
I’m working on two more books that I hope to finish before I die. I started most of my novels when I was young. I got an agent and won a few contests, but gave up on traditional publishing. Then Amazon came along and I figured out how to self publish my stories. Not bad for an old chick!
Jo Anne Barnes, Fairview
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