Letters to the Editor — Dallas glitches, electric vehicles, school prayer, guns

Pay system was old but worked

Re: “Glitch leaves some workers without pay — ‘People are very angry’ over errors caused by new system,” Saturday Metro & Business story.

To start, let me say that my payroll situation is nowhere near as serious as our court-appointed attorneys currently missing more than a month’s pay. My case involves only supplemental income to my Social Security benefits. However, I’ve seen nothing reported about our elections clerks.

The Dallas County Elections Department also implemented a new payroll system and, although I can only speak for myself, I remain unpaid for the training I received mid-April, the setup and nine days of early election service in April and May and election day itself.

Although someone apparently decided that the old system was inefficient, in previous years compensation was always received when it was expected. It seems that, for both payroll operations, the adage “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” got lost along the way.

Michael F. Blashka, Richardson

Texas favoring ‘Big Oil’

Re: “Tax lands on electric vehicles — With little fanfare, governor signs new levy into law, which is expected to add $38 million to highway fund,” Tuesday Metro & Business story.

‘Big Oil’ wins again. The Texas Legislature passed a law requiring owners of new electric vehicles to pay a $400 registration fee and a $200 annual renewal fee. The law is supposedly to offset tax revenue lost from the 20-cent-per-gallon gasoline tax. According to the story, the average Texan pays $130 in gas taxes per year. I estimate my own gas taxes at about $80 per year. Thus, I will have to pay $400 the first year plus $120 more per year than I pay in gas taxes if I buy an electric car.

This is another example of the Texas Legislature favoring Big Oil over the consumer. They are trying to discourage people from buying electric cars and to continue driving polluting gas guzzlers. Texas has a government of the people, by Big Oil, for Big Oil.

Bill Jewell, East Dallas

Slippery religious slope is ahead

The Supreme Court’s 1962 decision to ban public school-sponsored prayer did not reach my fifth grade classroom in Central Texas that same year.

In one memorable history lesson, my teacher drew a map of North America on the chalkboard. With circles and arrows, she explained how Europeans “discovered” the new world. The Vikings got here first, but because their motives were based on greed and plunder, God sent them to Nova Scotia. Too cold.

Later, Columbus’ similar motives prompted God to send him to the Caribbean. Too hot. Finally, she explained, God saw to it that the English Pilgrims seeking religious freedom landed in temperate Massachusetts. Just right.

I said to myself, “She’s a loony!” I was correct.

Religious parents raise their children according to their personal beliefs. They are usually touchy about outsiders pushing their divergent religious dogma on their kids. So why on God’s gray earth are so many American Christians eager to invite people they know nothing about to impose their religious beliefs on their kids? That’s precisely where we are heading when we mandate that public schools must display the Ten Commandments in every classroom. That slope is very slippery.

Andy Shaw, Dallas

Guns don’t make us safer

A good friend sent me a six-minute video of a talk by Fareed Zakaria titled, “America Might as Well be on Another Planet.” As you might guess, the talk was about gun violence.

Zakaria compared what other countries, primarily Great Britain and Australia, have done in response to mass shootings and suicides — gun buybacks and restrictions. His arguments are well-reasoned and graciously presented.

If the U.S. continues to do nothing but offer thoughts and prayers, blame mental illness and refuse to restrict weapons that no civilized society should have in circulation, pro-life extended life in the womb will be thwarted when children are blown away at school, church and malls, not to mention the other innocent victims and survivors’ trauma. Does hyper-individualism trump (pun intended) compassion, care, community and the lives of our children?

If, as some gun owners say, “A fully armed society is a polite society,” and with more guns than people in the U.S., why then do I feel less safe than anytime during my 77 years?

Larry Brown, Dallas/Preston Hollow

How to curb gun violence

Nationwide, our police officers are getting hurt and murdered by gun violence and their lives are in danger more than ever before. Their families, especially their kids, are victims as well.

The only solution to protect police officers is for President Joe Biden to sign two executive orders: ban all semi-automatic rifles and allow families of injured and murdered police officers to sue gun manufacturers.

Blair Cyres, Plano

Allow public referendums

Every state except Delaware requires voter approval of constitutional amendments, and the Texas Constitution has been amended a total of 517 times. Aside from this limited form of referendum, Texas is one of only 18 states that does not permit any other form of initiative, referendum or recall.

Well, it’s time for the 518th amendment that would allow public referendums on issues in which our elected officials insist on legislating in opposition to voter desires. Despite overwhelming voter opinions regarding gun regulations, reproductive rights, gender issues, religion in schools, school vouchers, grid security and a host of other key issues of paramount importance, our governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and legislators continue to pass laws and govern in service not of Texas citizens but moneyed interests that support their campaigns.

I think it’s time we rein in this unbridled power and take back our state. Put it on the ballot!

Ken Smith, Plano

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