Political ponderings
Look again at all Texans
Regarding “Women for Trump tour sees Texas resilience,” (A18, Sept. 24): At first glance, I was intrigued to read Mica Mosbacher’s opinion about Women for Trump witnessing Texans’ resilience during the group’s recent bus tour. She noted the creativity of two Texas businesses, a distillery and a burger restaurant, as evidence of the Texas spirit. By the end of her piece, I was disappointed that Mosbacher described such a tiny slice of Texas and Texans’ resilience. We’ve certainly seen resilience in Texas: our front-line workers in hospitals, grocery stores and classrooms. But, Mosbacher didn’t mention these heroes.
In describing Texas under her favored candidate, she didn’t mention our working poor — the 42 percent of Texas households who in early 2019 struggled to pay rent and were food insecure, despite one adult having a job. She didn’t remind us that the federal poverty level, which public assistance programs use to gauge eligibility, does not account for the 2.6 million working poor in Texas — the households with income above the poverty level but still unable to make ends meet. She also failed to mention that as of February 2019, 1.5 million Texas children live in poverty or that between 2016 and 2018, Texas tied for the second-highest jump in the rate of uninsured children among all 50 states.
I challenge Mosbacher and her tour bus group to look again, below the surface, in viewing the evidence of Texans’ resilience and strength.
Maxine Goodman, Houston
R.I.P. RBG
If only all dissenting opinions were delivered as Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg did — decent and designed to further dialogue about our shared destiny. Dissent need not descend into depravity, despair, namecalling, bullying or violence. Let’s strive to dissent with dignity.
Renita King, Katy
Let’s get ready to rumble
The first presidential debate will be like a boxing match between Mike Tyson and Sugar Ray Leonard. Picture the following scenario. In the red trunks, Donald Trump hits below the belt whenever possible. In the blue trunks, Joe Biden is an uneven debater, who sometimes inspires, rambles, gaffes or loses his cool. He must roll with the punches, attack when an opening appears and counter-punch like crazy. Referee, Chris Wallace, the third man in the ring, introduces the topics, asks questions and facilitates responses. He omitted certain key topics: health care, foreign policy, climate change and immigration — tilting the ring a little. He determines when a foul requires a warning or penalty. But will he? The combatants come out swinging. Are you ready? I don’t expect to see a knockout, but do expect the gloves to come off during a no holds barred barroom brawl. Great political theater. Hope you are watching.
Herb Krasner, Spicewood
In an editorial published Friday about the grand jury decisions in Louisville’s Breonna Taylor case, her boyfriend Kenneth Walker’s last name was misstated as Williams in two subsequent references. We regret the error.