Truth shall set us free

Re: “What is Paxton afraid of?” by Susan Richmond, Saturday Letters.

This letter by Richmond states that “an innocent man would want to have his day in court” and goes on to say that Ken Paxton has resisted going under oath during the whistleblower trial.

She is correct, and the fact that we are all continuing to watch this sad spectacle play out demonstrates how far we are from having a person of character in this elected position.

Well said, Susan. I also love the reference to John 8:31-32. The truth shall set us free.

Clarke Pich, Southlake

Blame Congress, not immigrants

Re: “Help immigrants, don’t vilify them — This country needs immigrants, and it serves no purpose to make them feel unwelcome,” by Frank R. Lloyd, Sunday Opinion.

Thank you for publishing this opinion piece about immigrants. I am a second-generation American by birth. My grandparents came here from Belgium.

My mom’s parents became vegetable farmers just outside San Antonio and had only daughters who all worked in the fields. My mom drove vegetables to the market in their truck. My dad’s parents started a general store in San Antonio that later became a major lumber and hardware store, and had all boys. Four of their boys fought in World War II. Those boys all went on to run their own businesses, and their kids and grandkids have also contributed to the success of Texas and this country. The girls all went on to be successful also, as did their children and grandchildren.

Considering my family’s history, it was no surprise to me that the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office recently released a budget projection with a note that said, “We estimate that, from 2023 to 2034, GDP will be greater by about $7 trillion and revenues will be greater by about $1 trillion than they would have been otherwise.” By revenue, it means the money paid to the U.S. government in the form of taxes. The reason? Immigrant numbers were higher than originally projected.

That’s the secret to the success of the U.S. since its creation: Immigrants tend to confer more benefits to our country than they take. They start businesses, create jobs for others, fight for our country, pay their taxes and enrich our society culturally.

That doesn’t mean we don’t have a problem at the border. It’s a problem that Congress has failed to address for decades. Our elected officials have failed to enact legislation that would provide for an adequate number of visas for those entering legally, quick and fair amnesty hearings and humane treatment of those awaiting an amnesty determination.

The recently proposed bipartisan legislation on immigration in Congress could have been a start. But once again, the House failed to even consider it. I’ll remember that when I vote this year. And I hope we all remember that we are all immigrants or descendants of immigrants.

Arnold Grothues, Arlington

Capitol hides Lee’s portrait

On a recent visit to the Texas Capitol, I was looking forward to seeing civil rights icon Opal Lee’s portrait hanging in the Senate Chamber. It was unveiled about a year ago.

The Legislature was not in session and the public was free to walk around, but the left and right side of the chamber was roped off. Lee’s portrait is on the left side at least 40 feet away. You wouldn’t know it was there if you weren’t looking for it.

I asked a Senate page if I could go see it. He said, “no” but he would be glad to take my phone and take a picture of it for me which he did.

It’s sad to know most people touring the Capitol will miss seeing Lee’s portrait.

Mark Schnyder, Arlington

Broken barriers everywhere

“Congenial” is not a word that comes to mind when I think of drivers in or through Dallas. The amount of damage to the impact-absorbing barriers at on and off ramps is beyond imagination. And that comes at the cost of the taxpayer living in this city. The taxpayers’ dollars cover the costs of the repeated repairs or replacement of those broken barriers. The taxpayer paid for its installation in the first place.

Imagine what it will be like if the law holds the driver and his insurance responsible for the repair costs. That, too, will affect the accounts of taxpayers living in this city. Just recently, the increase of auto insurance rates in Texas was a news article.

Could the city or the Texas Department of Transportation take more responsibility against this soft crime?

Nicolaas Geldenhuys, Dallas

Fix Dallas transit first

Let’s be honest. We live in a state that doesn’t care much about the environment. Southwest Airlines has 12 direct flights to Houston plus there are 24 additional flights to Houston originating out of Dallas Fort Worth International Airport. We can get to Houston fast.

All the while, if you live near South Oak Cliff High School and don’t have your own car, it takes you two hours or more using our present public-transit system to get to a job interview in the Plano Legacy area.

Might we consider improving our ability to move all of our citizens around and within our own city before we start spending billions of dollars on opaque high-speed rail schemes to rifle a select few from Dallas to Houston?

Jon Altschuler, Highland Park

Is history repeating itself?

There are harsh similarities between the 1920s and the 2020s, and who says history does not repeat itself? Both decades suffered from the geopolitical manifestation of dramatic communicative paradigm shifts. Both decades were filled with the rise of dictatorships. In the 1920s, the emergence of the radio allowed the propagandizing of people who could not read. In the 2020s, the internet allowed the propagandizing of people who cannot think for themselves.

Bob Gillard, Plano

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