READER FEEDBACK

JOB LOSSES CONTINUE

“Our daughter lost her job two weeks ago, and more to come. They can talk all they want of oil jobs coming back, but there are still people losing their jobs.”

— Comment on Collin Eaton’s story about last week’s drop in oil prices, falling below $45 a barrel

DEREGULATION RISKS

“Energy regulations under the Obama administration didn’t ‘kill’ energy jobs. A supply/demand imbalance, driven largely by falling global demand and a glut of oil from record production by energy companies fracking in shale formations like Eagle Ford in Texas and the Bakken in North Dakota, did. Easing regulations might be welcomed by the energy industry, but it won’t be the lifeboat Trump thinks it will. What easing regulations will do is contribute to the continuation of global climate change ... and that is something that can’t be undone later. Climate change isn’t a problem that we can kick like a can down the road. Whatever harm we do now is likely to take generations to reverse.”

— Comment on James Osborne’s story about President Donald Trump’s promised energy revolution

THE CALIFORNIA PATH

“The good governor likes to say that California is the poster child for all that can go wrong in Texas. Really? The gross domestic product of California is a trillion dollars larger than Texas. California is about to launch their own single-payer healed insurance plan that will almost balance the budget deficit by itself.”

— Comment on Lydia DePillis’ piece on businesses losing control of the agenda in the Texas Legislature

WELLS FARGO’S SINS

“Wells Fargo needs to be shut down for all the dirty things they have been doing.” — Comment on New York Times story about new allegations against Wells Fargo, accusing the bank of changing mortgage terms on its customers without their knowledge or without bankruptcy court approval when these customers were sorting out their finances in bankruptcy court

GROCERY MEAT GRINDER

“Believe that this aggressive expansion by Aldi will mark its downfall, especially in the Houston market. It’s already saturated by Kroger, Walmart and H-E-B. Not too much left for Aldi unless they can undercut their competitors.” — Comment on Katherine Blunt’s story about Aldi’s expansion plans

FREE TRADE AND TEXAS

“Most Texans voted for Donnie. Hope you all enjoy how he’s going to drive the state’s economy into the dumpster.” — Comment on Lydia DePillis’ piece about Texas businesses lining up to defend the North America Free Trade Agreement against President Donald Trump’s proposals