Hey government, live within means

Re: “Greater density is Dallas’ way forward — Enact policies to encourage the true American dream in our neighborhoods,” by Patrick Kennedy, Wednesday Opinion.

There is an unbroken record of negative social outcomes in correlation with increasing population density. Infamous cases like Cabrini-Green in Chicago (where the disastrous results of the genius urban designers led to — literally — blowing up the entire multibillion dollar project) apparently do not even give pause to those bent on destroying single-family home neighborhoods.

This is nothing more than the next chapter in the unending effort by the government to grasp ever more of the assets of citizens. Rather than pushing housing density as a way to collect more taxes, how about just living with the billions in taxes already collected? Living within your means — what a concept!

Bernard White, Dallas

Gates right on philanthropy

Re: “Gates can send check to U.S.” by Ted Gold, Wednesday Letters.

Gold takes umbrage with Bill Gates challenging world governments to increase taxation on the super wealthy at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. As opposed to taxing the wealthy, Gold suggests Gates donate to the U.S. Treasury.

He justifies his remarks by noting The Dallas Morning News story regarding the philanthropy of 36 wealthy Texan “do-gooders” volunteering to donate $767 million in 2023 to Texas institutions.

In 2023, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation made a budgeted global donation of $8.3 billion, mainly focused on health care and poverty alleviation. By my math, a single $8.3 billion donation is about 90% higher than what 36 Texans donated. It appears Bill Gates has the philanthropy equation figured out.

Melinda Stitzinger, Memphis, Tenn.

Giving, taxes not mutually exclusive

Giving and taxes aren’t mutually exclusive. This letter implies that two things can’t be done at once — that Bill Gates should voluntarily give instead of asking to be taxed more. Gates is among the world’s top donors, having given some $50 billion of his wealth away since 1994. His stated goal is to give away his entire wealth by the time he dies. The charitable foundation he leads with his ex-wife, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, has a $70 billion endowment, which it has used to address some of the world’s most difficult challenges in the areas of poverty, disease and inequity.

At the same time, Bill Gates is indeed calling on governments to tax the super wealthy, inheriting such thinking from his father, William Gates Sr. — a very public supporter of the estate tax, which applies to only 2% of taxpayers. Says Gates Sr., “Most of the things that have generated the enormous advances in our economy are things that started on some campus or in some laboratory,” he told USA Today. “And most of those are because the government financed it.”

The world’s wealthiest 1% — who hold 45%-plus of the world’s wealth — can afford to give and to be taxed.

Lori Block, Lewisville

More traffic lights needed

Re: “Residents push for traffic light — This month’s fatal crash just the latest on busy stretch, they say,” Wednesday Metro & Business story.

I frequently drive on East Mockingbird Lane between Abrams Road and West Lawther Drive (at White Rock Lake). The situation described in this story is timely, but understated. Entering from the westbound ramp from any side street can be precarious. I make an effort to drive at the speed limit of 40 mph, Nevertheless, drivers shoot past me like I was standing still.

Unfortunately, that location is not the only problem. Speed-limit enforcement in Dallas seems to be nonexistent, doubtless because of an understaffed police department and insufficient penalties. I was gratified to see a traffic signal installed recently at the Greentree Lane intersection just east of the bridge over the SoPac Trail, but that is not enough. Another traffic light at Dalewood Lane would go a long way to mitigating the problem. There must be a way to cut the red tape/bureaucratic nonsense to having one installed.

Bob Reagan, East Dallas/Greenland Hills

Who are the hypocrites?

Re: “Thank you, Paxton,” by Donald Jones, Tuesday Letters.

In his letter, Jones said the Democrats were hypocritical, saying they were concerned about children getting killed crossing the border, but not concerned about abortions. Mr. Jones, do you think Republicans are hypocritical by not having some kind of gun control while so many children are being murdered just going to school? Or, children dying in the foster care system in Texas because our governor would rather be sued and pay fines than fix the system? Talk about a bunch of hypocrites!

Audrey Pincu, Dallas

Patriotic Abbott

Kudos and unlimited thanks to Gov. Greg Abbott for his patriotism and bravery in supporting all of our Texas citizens by his efforts to make our border safe for us. It is shameful that those in the Biden administration ignore the dangers posed to us and the rest of our country, even ignoring Democrat sanctuary cities that are constantly asking for help.

Diana Heald, Richardson

Fact-checkers go where money is

Re: “Fact-checking is one-sided,” by Burt E. Ballentine, Monday Letters.

This letter bemoaning the fact that fact-checkers tend to land on Republicans more than Democrats was a curious viewpoint. The writer complained that there was no balance since the GOP was taking it on the chin more often.

If you want to know why fact-checkers flock to that group, you need to look no further than a quote from the famous bank robber, the late Willie Sutton. When the authorities asked him why he kept robbing banks, he replied, “Because that’s where the money is.” Fact-checkers use the same logic.

Ted Felinski, Lewisville

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