Letters to the Editor – Luce, insurance, Fudd, religious liberty, socialists, DART

Tom Luce was a humble, innovative and committed civic leader.  His contributions will be lasting and already have had such a positive impact on so many. Tom was a friend and will be sorely missed.  

Walt Humann, University Park 

Re: “Beefing Up Texas Roofs,” Monday Editorials. 

I read the editorial about Gov. Greg Abbott’s proposal for grants to cover new roofs. This may be a start, but what about homeowners who have new roofs, no claims, excellent credit, and the premiums continue to rise 20% a year? 

The problem is that the insurance companies continue to lobby and receive authorized increases. My mortgage has increased more than $200 a month for the last two years, year over year, due to insurance and property taxes. This is ridiculous! I’ve been in my home for 19 years, owned other homes before this one and have never seen anything like what is happening now. It is frightening for the average homeowner.  

Perhaps a better solution to this problem would be for the Texas Legislature to disallow significant increases year, after year, after year, after year. Give us a break. Instead of spending $400 million of taxpayer money on grants for roofs, how about evening the playing field for everyone? Provide a grant to every homeowner that will help offset the huge escrow shortage that results from increases in property taxes and insurance. Earmark the money specifically for taxes and insurance purposes only.   

No, this is not a long-term solution; however, something must be done about this crisis.  

It is very sad that the American dream of home ownership is now becoming just a dream. 

Debbie Ewing, Fort Bend 

The Dallas Wings’ Azzi Fudd was just the fourth rookie to compete in the WNBA All-Star 3-point contest and the first to win. Steeled by her training, Fudd exhibited her picturesque and pure shooting form. Commentator Rebecca Lobo mentioned Fudd’s pure mechanics. 

In the 1990s, a poster showed the Cleveland Cavaliers’ Mark Price following through on a free throw. PERFECT was embossed on the poster. I thought about Price as Fudd drilled three after three. 

Marc D. Greenwood, Opelika, Alabama 

Re: “Religious liberty panel proposes changes,” Sunday Metro story. 

My Christian faith of over 50 years has changed me immensely. The maturing over that time has built a perspective that values humility, love and service to others. This growth requires me to listen to other perspectives, to look for light-touch methods to resolve issues and to balance outcomes to ensure all are treated fairly.  

This commission’s composition calls into question whether it can achieve this, since so many perspectives are left out. As a Christian, I am not aggrieved by other faiths’ receiving the same support and opportunities. I have rarely felt any bias, and if I did it was very minor.  

It feels as if this body’s efforts are to give greater voice to specific groups, not all. This is not healthy for anyone and will not benefit the target faith groups in the long run.  

My faith is attractive to others because of its principles, and it can stand on its own. It does not need to be propped up by political decrees. 

Erik Simonsen, McKinney 

Re: “In defense of Democratic socialism,” by Anice Greiner, Sunday Letters. 

I’m sure Mao Zedong, Vladimir Lenin and Fidel Castro used the same ideas to overthrow their respective governments and set up workers’ paradises. How did that work out for their people?  

I look at what people do, not what they say. Why did between 10 million and 20 million people enter this country illegally if things are so bad in this country? Why isn’t there a mass exodus of Americans from our country?  

Capitalism isn’t perfect, but history shows it beats any other economic system in improving the lives of the majority of people. 

Kye Kastrop, Midlothian 

I would like to clear something up for Greiner. Has she actually read the Democratic Socialists of America agenda? 

They want free everything for everyone, no police, no prisons, no border control, completely legal migration for anyone who wants to come to America, amnesty for all immigrants regardless of their status. 

They would eliminate the Electoral College, the president, the Supreme Court and the U.S. Senate. They would establish public ownership of the largest corporations. And that’s just some of their agenda. 

Tell me if I’m wrong, but that pretty much sounds like old-school communism to me.

Not on the watch of patriotic Americans. 

Rene W. Wimmer, McKinney 

Recent stories in The Dallas Morning News regarding DART prompted my curiosity. I live very close to the DART Silver Line. It is remarkable how few people ride it.  

It’s not scientific by any means, but the most people I’ve seen on any one train is five. Most trains with riders have only one or two, but it’s more common to see no riders.  

Curiosity drew me to the ridership statistics published in DART’s second quarter briefing. Daily ridership on the Silver Line at the end of the second quarter was 1,800 per day on weekdays. Based on the schedule of 30 trips per weekday, the average number of riders per trip was 60. Ridership for Saturdays was 1,200. There are 20 trips on Saturdays. Once again, the number of riders per trip was exactly 60. Coincidence? Exact same riders per trip on weekdays and Saturdays? 

The numbers don’t pass a sniff test. My observations don’t support them either. Is it possible DART might misrepresent ridership due to the high cost to build and operate the line? 

If this were to be investigated, it would make for very interesting reading, and if inaccuracies confirmed, it would expose how public resources are utilized and managed. The people need to know. 

Dewey Thoes, Far North Dallas