Science and ethics

Politics isn’t the answer

Regarding “Carbon removal idea picks up steam” (Front page, Saturday) and “Oil execs: City must plug into clean energy” (Business, Saturday): These two articles in today’s paper point out that if humans are capable of changing the earth’s weather it will be through technology. Passing laws that outlaw the combustion engine, stop oil/gas production, rebuild all our building, etc. is wrong thinking and will not solve the problem. The solution to climate change will not be found in government passing laws. Climate change is a technology problem not a political problem. Walter M. Caskey, Rosenberg

Religion and abortion

Regarding “Clinical view of abortion” (Letters, Saturday): There is no way to address the abortion issue clinically when so many religious, moral, ethical, and emotional issues are involved. There are good people on both sides of this discussion. They will never come to the same decision, and many will never be persuaded to change their mind.

But here is what the rabbi’s op-ed (“The Jewish position on abortion debate” Outlook, Thursday) pointed out that this letter writer missed. There are bodies of religious law that address abortion, both Catholic and Jewish. They are decidedly different. In a country where there is freedom of religion, those of us who are religious should be free to follow our religious law without the intrusion of the state.

And this is the very reason why many religious people are pro-choice, which is definitely not the same as pro-abortion. Debbie Angel, Friendswood

Vaccines and measles

Regarding “Don’t let measles kill your kid — or anyone’s” (Opinion, Saturday): Texas taxpayers insist on driver’s licenses to use public roads. There is no valid ethical reason why public education should not also be restricted to those who can use it safely. Moreover, vaccine-preventable diseases suck money from the public coffers: the treatment for a child in Oregon with a preventable case of tetanus cost over $800,000. Tracking the contacts of measles-infected children in Texas has run to hundreds of thousands of dollars as well.

Parents of young infants are now afraid to have their children leave the house, which restricts their own freedoms.

I hope Texans choose vaccines and not anti-science propaganda. Alma Moon Novotny, Houston

Real estate agents

Re “Options for Housing“(Letters, Saturday): The existence of the multiple listing services (MLS) is not the problem and is likely beneficial. The problem is that it’s basically a cartel where all the agents fix the price for their service.

It seems that an easy solution would be for every agent who wants access to the MLS pay an annual fee which I’m guessing is how it works now. But the key is for the buyer and seller not to be bound by a “joint” fee agreement between the agents. That is, both the buyer and seller hire their own agents and negotiate their own fees, respectively. Then there would be actual price competition between agents. Douglas Venverloh, Houston

Eyes, ears of the people

Regarding “Vendor linked to bribery scandal returns” (Front page, Sunday): Thanks to staff writers Zach Despart and Mike Morris for bringing to light the shady practices going on in Commissioners Court, which has control of millions of taxpayer dollars. It seems corruption is back to usual business.

If not for this article most people like me would not know this is going on. Chris Greene, Houston

Making a statement

Regarding “March for Maleah draws thousands to downtown Houston” (Chron.com, Sunday): It’s wonderful that the community has come together for this little girl. Amanda Myers, posted via Facebook