Letters — Extremism, IRS, church and state, liberal arts

Re: “Extremists Texas Will Not Accept – Democratic socialists’ views must be rejected,” Tuesday editorial.   

Nice work, editorial team! Texas Democrats should detour around the socialist/communist movements. My hope is those movements fizzle out, but I had the same hope for the GOP.  

I wondered if Texas politics had ever diverged like we see at the national level. My AI search landed on the political climate in Texas following the Civil War. Violence, election fraud, failed statewide trust and economic instability were the terms describing this era. Sounds kind of familiar.  

The 1876 Texas Constitution looked to harness extremism by splitting government power into multiple state offices. Interestingly, all these offices are held by the GOP today. So much for that fabulous feature.  

The Civil War triggered extremism in our history, but what has triggered the current polarization between the two political parties? My thought is party disagreements are normally whittling tinder, but the rise of social media charged disagreements with spark and fuel.  

I can’t expect politics to ever be perfectly cordial, but I’ll take respectful gridlock and a low tolerance for corruption over what’s going on today. Perhaps someday we can douse extremism by putting Texas before political parties. 

Devin Johnson, Bridgeport 

I agree with your editorial regarding Democratic Socialists not being acceptable to a majority of Texans. Also, I was not aware of Red Star faction of the Democratic Socialists of America, which is devoted to Marxist theory, and that is certainly not for America. 

However, to lump all Democratic Socialists as dangerous seems to turn a blind eye to the Democratic Socialism of the Scandinavian countries, which annually are named among the happiest in the world. 

The so-called Nordic model combines a free-market capitalist economy with strong, tax-funded social safety nets. Maybe that type of government is gaining popularity after our present administration has cut funding for healthcare, education, child food support and environmental regulations, along with other safety nets. 

Most polls show that a majority of taxpayers are for social services for the poor and middle class who need help and are concerned about the increasing wealth and income inequality, not only in America, but worldwide. 

It is important to distinguish between extremists and people who are concerned for all Americans. 

Gary L Homsey, Dallas 

Re: “Judge says Trump IRS lawsuit was filed for ‘improper purpose’,” Wednesday news story. 

Judge Kathleen Williams got it right.  Dismissing President Donald Trump’s lawsuit against the IRS was the proper legal outcome, given the court’s conclusion that the case was ill-conceived, highly improper, and wholly self-serving.  Referring the attorney who filed the lawsuit on the president’s behalf to the Florida Bar for possible disciplinary review was equally appropriate. 

The legal profession depends on attorneys exercising independent judgment and honoring their ethical obligations.  Those responsibilities do not disappear when the client is the president of the United States. 

I suspect Judge Williams’ decision has prompted more than a few lawyers representing Trump to reconsider their professional relationship with him.  If so, that would be a healthy development — for both the legal profession and the rule of law. 

Denny Freidenrich, Laguna Beach, Calif. 

Re: “Texas Got Religion Wrong in Schools – Public schools should teach multiple faiths, not elevate one tradition,” July 3 editorial. 

Three Cheers to the editorial board in recognizing the harm of omission in setting in motion through our social studies textbooks and upper-level textbooks the opposite of the meaning of separation of church and state.  

I remain saddened and, yes, angry that the Texas State Board of Education decided that only Christian interpretations of story and text were suitable. Texas is a significant part of this diverse world in which we live, and the more we learn about each other, the greater the chance through education we will be prepared to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow. 

Andrea Weinstein, Dallas/Preston Hollow 

The First Amendment establishes that people should be able to freely participate in the free marketplace of ideas. The university is and should remain a part of that domain. The constant intellectual churn of one body of truths clashing into another is a force that keeps a culture from stagnating.  

Our country does not need to have a centrally controlled board of governors determining what we should or should not learn, think or read. Universities, writers, artists, thought influencers, scientists and ordinary citizens who yield to any attempt to enforce an “official” point of view will be making a pact with the devil.  

Remember during the Soviet Union days when so many poor souls went to the gulags for non-state approved thinking? If the Second Amendment should not be tampered with in any way, then let’s have the same respect for the First Amendment. 

Scott Mashburn, Dallas/Merriman Park 

Re: “Value of degree isn’t just a paycheck – Liberal arts supports social mobility and STEM success,” by Daniel Davies, Monday Opinion 

I wholeheartedly agree with Davies, who argues that the value of a college degree isn’t just a paycheck. While I certainly support efforts to help non-college bound students succeed on different paths such as with vocational programs, an educated society is indeed important, including giving our citizens the skills to properly participate in our democratic institutions. 

I will go a step further and say it seems as if the MAGA contingent is actively promoting the false narrative that a college education is unimportant and doesn’t pay off. However, many studies, including the one cited by Davies, show that overall, a degree from a credible institution is well worth the expense, and it increases earnings significantly.  

I note that now with the advent of AI and the concerns about entry-level jobs, the new mantra is that applicants need critical thinking skills. We may well see a reversal of the finding that engineering students benefit financially more than liberal arts students.    

Mary Barnes, Dallas