Letters — Gerrymandering, Talarico, Musk, 14th Amendment

It’s pretty much a given that gerrymandering drives the real competition into primaries and results in more extreme candidates from both ends while the middle is ignored. Yet if the left is to be believed, none of this applies to the so-called mandated minority-majority districts. 

But the dynamic is exactly the same, and the recent Supreme Court decision isn’t the new “Jim Crow whatever.” It takes away no one’s vote. It stops no candidate from running. All it says is drawing lines based on race is wrong. Discrimination is still illegal, but it now requires proof outside mere “disparate impact.” Pretty simple one-man-one vote stuff, right there. 

This decision is a positive step against gerrymandering and towards competitive elections and helps make amends for the Supreme Court’s earlier mistake in permitting gerrymandering based on politics. I wish and hope they reverse that and do more to set a reasonable standard, but stopping the practice in any form is a good first step.  

The people in both the former minority districts, their surrounding neighbors and the rest of us will all be better for it. 

Eric Zepp, Plano 

Article after article, news report after news report, they all effectively allude to a consistent issue. Every American feels it. Our system is broken. 

Our next generation of leaders must have the courage to make meaningful change, for their (and our) children and their future grandchildren’s sake. One change I would love to see is a simple piece of legislation stipulating that no law may be passed on a party-line vote. 

If your legislation is so toxic and/or your negotiating skills are so poor that, as a legislator, you cannot find compromise in the form of a vote from at least one member of the opposing party, the legislation should fail. 

My mom worked as a teacher in Dallas ISD for 41 years and managed to get despondent adolescents to work together. 

We need to demand the same of our leaders. 

Collins Illich, Dallas 

Re: “Talarico’s path to victory is clearer — GOP may learn a lesson with Paxton,” by Ronell Smith, Thursday Opinion.  

Smith’s opinion piece sends a message of hope for those of us who are seeking some form of sanity in the political makeup of our great state. His analysis of the runoff between the Republican candidates for the Senate seat is spot-on. 

Democrat James Talarico’s calm and measured approach to Democratic ideals gives a pathway that moves from the existing Democrats’ divisive agenda to one more central to the disposition of the fair-minded electorate of our great state.  

One hopes that the marketplace of our worldview is built upon calm, clear-eyed attention to detail rather than party fealty. 

Larry Portman, Garland 

As you cover Elon Musk’s business ventures, please go beyond the gee-whiz stories about his vast fortune and tech exploits. Give readers the full story on the damage done by this right-wing billionaire. 

Any story about Musk ought to include what his reckless DOGE efforts have done to thousands of the world’s most unfortunate people. Remember his cruel boast: “We spent the weekend feeding USAID into the woodchipper.” 

USAID accounted for less than 1% of the federal budget, or about $105 per U.S. citizen per year. Musk’s woodchipper chewed up the lives of desperately poor people who will now see their children die of easily preventable diseases. 

All the money in the world, it seems, can’t buy this man a heart. 

Chris Tucker, Richardson 

It is time for all of us to reread the U.S. Constitution. In 1868, the 14th Amendment was passed. Section 4 is very clear: “the United States nor any state shall assume or pay any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States, or any claim for the loss or emancipation of any slave; but all such debts, obligations and claims shall be held illegal and void.” 

Does the president and his Department of Justice really think they cannot follow the U.S. Constitution? It is illegal for the U.S. government to pay the person who has committed an act of insurrection against the United States. No exceptions. 

Will the Supreme Court overturn the 14th Amendment? 

Ellen Taylor Seldin, Dallas 

As I write this on the afternoon of May 20, the Dow has just closed over 50,000. This is, of course, good news for every investor, be it an open account, 401K or whatever. 

Among those billionaires who made a profit today are the ones who fund so many of the far-left activists — No Kings, We are HAMAS, Defund the Police and on and on. 

Incongruity? Their long-term goals, if achieved, would plummet the stock market.  What are these investors thinking? 

Kenneth K. Ebmeier, Round Rock 

Re: “The Texas Runoff’s Alternate Universe — Nothing real in Senate, AG races to bottom,” May 12 editorial. 
 
The attacks on Republicans from each other are about the same level as those from late-night television hosts. What you call mudslinging and meanness, each side defends as political satire and free speech. 
 
Compare the post about Angela Paxton, which you say is indecent, to what Jimmy Kimmel said about Melania Trump. Either we are misreading the humor, or the network comedians are as nasty as the politicians. 

Ken Ashby, Dallas 

U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie and Stephen Colbert should develop a podcast based on those who speak against the president. Sen. John Cornyn can be their first guest. 

Carolyn Todd Mahon, Denison