Letters to the Editor -Women’s health care, Elon Musk, immigration, caregivers
When will legislators listen?
Re: “Texas nearly worst in women’s health care — Few providers, 27% uninsured and strict abortion laws to blame,” July 19 news story.
As a child when John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, my pen pal in New Zealand wrote me one last scathing letter blaming all of us in Texas for his murder. I cried in my mom’s arms out of hurt and shame after being taught all my life to be a proud Texan.
The findings of the Commonwealth Fund Study leave me once again feeling that sense of shame at being a Texan. Women are so poorly regarded by our state legislators that their policies leave this state at 49th out of 50 in women’s health care.
The draconian abortion laws are leading to OB-GYNs to not want to practice in Texas or future OB-GYNs to not even want to be educated here, further endangering future health care for women.
It is not safe to be female, much less pregnant, in this state. This is not what the vast majority of Texas citizens want, but we are being ignored in Austin.
What on earth will it take for our legislators to hear us and actually represent us?
Judy Mynett Ward, Richardson
A stronger term
Re: “Texas Mothers Need Our Help — Maternal mortality rates remain embarrassingly high; here’s a way to bring together moms, providers,” July 22 editorial.
This editorial’s subhead states that “Maternal mortality rates remain embarrassingly high.” Embarrassing? How about shamefully? Or in Texas’ case, perhaps more accurately “shamelessly.”
Lynn Adams, Garland
A little excess both ways
Re: “We’re With Musk On This One — The polarizing businessman is right about California’s school notification law regarding transgender kids,” July 19 editorial.
While my sympathies lean the other way, I can’t bring myself to entirely disagree with the editorial on Elon Musk and the California law on parental notification.
As the dustup over the Sherman High School production of Oklahoma! demonstrated, even some places in Texas have become more tolerant of young people who diverge from conventional gender roles. And the California law explicitly prohibiting schools from having policies to notify parents of such divergence seems excessive, to say the least.
But the reality is that not all parents, schools and communities are equally supportive and accepting of children whose efforts to sort out their identity depart from traditional gender behavior. Some children who believe their parents won’t accept them may be trying to explore alternatives in a safe and supportive space at school. Such situations are not appropriately resolved by a law which mandates a particular outcome.
But Musk’s “horrified reaction” to rip two major businesses and all the involved families and children out of California and dump them in Texas because he disapproves of one law, I believe, is fairly characterized as “the reflex of an eccentric with a penchant for drama.”
Merle R. Walker, Athens
Start with enforcing the laws
Re: “We need immigration solutions, not divisive rhetoric — Speeches like Abbott’s last week are part of the problem,” by JR Forasteros, Monday Opinion.
There has been a massive surge of unauthorized immigrants in the last three years. In 2023, 3.2 million encounters with unauthorized immigrants were recorded at our borders. During the Trump administration, that number was about 1.4 million encounters. These latest numbers have overwhelmed the system and reduced the safety and security of U.S. citizens.
There is no need to change the immigration laws. The solution is to enforce them.
Most of the asylum cases will be denied. They would need to be deported. Regardless of the rhetoric, most Americans want the laws to be enforced and for unauthorized immigrants to be deported. Those who comply with our laws are welcomed.
Jack Chandler Myers, Dallas
A complex issue affecting many
Re: “We Must Care For The Caregivers — Group home workers and the disabled Texans they look after deserve better,” July 17 editorial.
Thank you to the editorial board for bringing this important issue to light. It’s not just the group homes. It’s anywhere a disabled person lives, including in their own homes.
Solving this problem needs systemic solutions. It’s not as simple as giving them raises. We need to look at how these caregivers get paid. Sometimes it’s the patient and the costs can drain their resources and savings. Sometimes it’s Medicaid.
Unless they have family members in this situation, many leaders and politicians don’t think this issue affects them. Guess what? The longer we live, the greater the chances of us getting a disability and needing a caregiver.
Hence, this is an issue that truly does affect everyone. Plus, the older population is booming. Are you listening, Austin?
Meryl K. Evans, Plano
More letters?
I’m a longtime subscriber to The Dallas Morning News and I find that reading our local paper is a significant way of staying informed, most importantly in light of what the results of the 2016 presidential election were.
My favorite section of The News, hands-down, is the section containing the opinions and letters.
Would you, the editors, consider expanding the letters page so that an open debate can take place on the merits and liabilities of the two candidates contending for the highest office in our land this November?
Scott J. Hesselbacher, Garland
We welcome your thoughts in a letter to the editor. See the guidelines and submit your letter here. If you have problems with the form, you can submit via email at [email protected]
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