Tucson Speaks Out: Jan. 22 letters of the day

Six years ago, MAGA Republicans in Congress passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act which benefited the wealthy and big corporations and raised taxes for hard-working Arizonans.

The self-described “fiscally responsible” party also increased our national debt when they pushed for that tax cut scam. Apparently, Republicans are only concerned about debt when money is given to programs that benefit the rest of us.

Since he’s been in office, Rep. Ciscomani has shown that he stands with those same harmful policies that favor the wealthy and large corporations.

One of his first votes in Congress was to protect wealthy and corporate tax cheats. Then he voted for higher profits for oil and gas companies while we had to deal with higher gas prices.

My best advice for Rep. Ciscomani is if you want to stay in office, stop scamming your district and stop voting for tax breaks that do not benefit the majority of your constituents.

Beth Smith

Oro Valley

Renewable energy/pumped storage is no scam

Re: the Jan. 10 letter “Pumped storage hydropower a scam.”

Perhaps, the Star opinion page motto should be changed to, “Diversity of thoughtlessness is a threat to democracy.”

This letter writer claims pumped hydro storage is backward, upside down, in short a scam. I doubt that northern European countries considered it a scam when they built major pumped hydro facilities to store the vast solar and wind capacity they implemented twenty years ago. This high latitude region has the highest per capita amount of installed clean, renewable solar and wind energy.

Because these sources are intermittent throughout the 24-hour cycle, storage is needed to balance power supply and demand day and night. Pumped storage was chosen over battery storage because of lower cost and resource intensiveness.

Gravity is free and if the 2-reservoir plus conveyance system is closed, there is almost no evaporative loss of water. Compared to fossil-fuel based power generation, renewable energy with pumped hydro storage uses almost zero of our precious water resources.

Robert Cook

Midtown

The world cannot live with war in Gaza

The war in Gaza has passed an incomprehensible milestone: one of every hundred Gazans has been killed. Worse, if possible: nearly half the dead are children. Meanwhile, half of all Gazans are on the brink of starvation, due to the military cutoff of resources and inadequate flow of aid permitted through checkpoints.

Nations have the right to defend their people. But no threat, no history, and no cause can justify inflicting this devastation on fellow humans. I keep thinking of the words of the organization Jewish Voice for Peace in their protests: “Not in our name.”

There must be immediate free flow of aid and protection of civilians. Humanitarian organizations working in Gaza appear united in insisting this requires a ceasefire. Ask Senators Kelly and Sinema, and Reps. Ciscomani and Grijalva, to do everything possible to use U.S. influence to demand the devastation end before time runs out.

Stephanie Davis

Northeast side

Trump trampling on the dead

Trump has an uncanny ability to reveal the worst moral character and yet to appeal to the conservative masses. He is a disgrace on God’s earth and an utter insult especially to all religious people. Now he is calumniating the dead once again, the former Senator John McCain (R, AZ). We can and sometimes should disagree with our opponents; there are often good reasons to object to political beliefs by the other side, but we must do so in a respectful manner. To ridicule and condemn an American hero (Vietnam War), to slander an outstanding statesman, a politician who worked all his life for the good of this country and earned accolades for this from both sides of the aisle, is nothing but shameful and a wake-up call even for the most hard-nosed Republicans to remember their own moral and ethical stance and not to let this wolf in sheepskin abduct our entire country for his personal greed and callousness. This is an evil and despicable man.

Albrecht Classen

Midtown

Diversity, equity, inclusion

Re: the Jan. 13 letter “DEI or die”

If the letter writer and his idol truly believe that what’s poisoning the country is diversity (involving people from a range of backgrounds and orientations), equity (treating people fairly), and inclusion (providing access or opportunity to all), then their disabilities go well beyond dyslexia. And if the letter writer had even a rudimentary understanding of these topics, perhaps he wouldn’t use a crass, insensitive “joke” to make his point.

Jim Christ

East side

City Manager’s resignation

Dear Editor,

Our City Manager Michael Ortega won my respect and admiration when I first watched him during the interview process for his job a decade or so ago. I agreed wholeheartedly with the Mayor and Council’s decision to hire him over the other candidates. He has proven a tremendous asset for our city, skillfully maneuvering us through challenging economic times. And while political elites can sometimes make lowly constituents like me feel like poo on their shoe, Mr. Ortega consistently welcomed my input on local matters under his jurisdiction. I want to publicly thank this tremendous public servant as he moves onto the next stage of his life. However he chooses to engage, I sincerely hope he’ll continue to call Tucson home. And that we’ll find a replacement for Mr. Ortega who shares similar levels of integrity, work ethic, humanity and respect he’s brought to the job. Thanks, Mike!

Mary DeCamp

Downtown

Republicans and economics

Once again Republicans are showing how ignorant they are about economics. How can one run a state or a country without funding, should be the question? In a previous AZ administration, the governor and Legislature cut taxes for the wealthy NOT the real people of AZ. And then they created a school voucher system which is totally unworkable, but spends money not in the budget. Now Governor Hobbs is trying to bring the state some monetary sanity yet the Republicans plan to block it, because it is a real plan, not some fairytale like trickle down. Of course they are simply following the idiots in D.C. who continue to live in la la land in economics. Someday, the people who vote will get rid of the candidates who won’t do anything except for the wealthy and they don’t need any more handouts. Democrats make real economic plans, Republicans live in fairytales.

Carl Olson

West side

Michigan national title

I had to laugh out loud when I read crybaby Howard Straus’ whining about Michigan’s national championship. Jim Harbaugh’s team ethic is what sustained Michigan: in his absence, Sherrone Moore and three other interim coaches led the way.

Sign-stealing is a baseball thing — did you hear any trash cans banging during Michigan games? There was no “sign-stealing” in the U-M games — no way to tell all eleven defenders “it’s a pass” seconds before the play.

Michigan had sound victories over Penn State, Ohio State, Iowa, and Alabama. The culmination was a convincing dominant victory over a talented unbeaten Washington crew. It was a total team effort, better rushing, better passing, better defense, and NO turnovers.

Straus joins a group led by a certain presidential candidate: POOR LOSERS!

GO BLUE!

James Torrey

West side

Tracking governing

No matter what your political affiliation is, it is incumbent on each of us to ask one simple question of those who are elected to govern, whether state or federal. That question is: what has the majority party accomplished since the last election? Who has this legislation benefited and who has been harmed? This inquiry is essential with an election forthcoming. Who is reporting on what has been accomplished or not?

Thomas Lindell, Professor emeritus, Molecular and Cellular Biology, U of AZ

Foothills

Past mass extermination

Re: the Jan. 13 letter “A mass extermination.”

Unfortunately the writer’s understanding of history is grossly misinformed. To say Gaza is “the second time in history we are experiencing the mass extermination of a people” is simply wrong.

I assume the “other time” is the Holocaust, but there were plenty more. The Armenians in 1915-16, 600,000 to 1.2 million killed. Pol Pot killed 1.5- 2 million Cambodians in the 1970s. In 1994, 800,000 Rwandans — three quarters of the ethnic Tutsi population.

The situation in Gaza is horrible. The Palestinian people have been abused for decades by right-wing Israelis and Arab states alike. The 23,000 deaths reported by Hamas are tragic. Still, it is not a mass extermination and it’s not a genocide. Using these terms and the baggage attached to them only serves to diminish the credibility of the argument.

Show me the railroad cars taking people to death camps. Show me the firing squads in front of open pits. Show me the ovens. Then we’ll talk.

Eric Schaffer

Northwest side

Has anyone noticed?

Has anyone noticed? … That, if Trump got his way and the judges agreed that a sitting president would be immune from conviction if he/she were to actually kill a political opponent, then President Biden would be immune from killing Trump … but Trump would not be immune from killing Biden?

Has anyone noticed? Biden is far too polite to point that out, but I’ll bet that he has noticed.

Has anyone noticed? … That when Trump pointed out his apparent belief that migrants coming to America are “vermin” that are “poisoning the blood of our country” … what he was saying is that four of his own children, being the children of migrant mothers, are at least 50% “vermin” that are “poisoning the blood of our country”? Has anyone noticed? … I’ll bet those four children have. And Melania. I’ll bet she’s noticed too.

Sue Thompson

SaddleBrooke

Gaza massacre

About 23,000 Palestinians have died and over 59,000 are injured in Gaza. Based on a variety of sources, one out of 100 people has been killed. More than 5,300 of the dead are women and 9,000 were children.

More than 10 children on average have lost one or both legs every day since October.

The U.S. has continually been supplying the IDF with military matériel while claiming to have urged Netanyahu to minimize civilian casualties. The latter predicted many more months of intensive fighting until Hamas’ defeat. Cooler heads believe that a massive retaliatory massacre will not achieve that objective as a movement cannot be bombed out of existence.

In my view, in the absence of a viable post-war plan that guarantees the Palestinians the right to freedom and self-determination, Hamas will grow into an even greater threat, with many of the one-legged survivors of the current calamity joining their cause.

Frederick Leinfest

Oro Valley

Bike riders again

Re: the Jan. 14 letter “Safety of bicycle riders.”

On Sunday I read the letter about bike riders taking up an entire single lane riding 2 and 3 across. I have written about this problem before. On Saturday, about 30 riders were 3 across on Silverbell Road slowing traffic to 25 miles an hour and creating a 10 car back up. No one could pass safely, so the cars just followed and fumed. This scenario repeated itself on Mission Road later the same afternoon. The situations certainly appears to be an act of defiance and arrogance. A single lane requires riders to ride in a single file. If this practice of taunting cars and trucks continues it will end in disaster for a motorist or riders. Motorists will lose patience and pass into oncoming traffic or hit the pack of riders. It’s some choice between a head on with an oncoming car or pushing bikers into a ditch. I don’t know what’s legal but I understand the physics of collisions. Ride as safely as possible!

Richard Bechtold

West side

UA hush money

Half a million dollars a year to keep your mouth shut and look the other way? Hey, I’ll do it for half that.

Give me a call.

Nicholas Bleser

Tubac

UA football

And the Lord said to Noah, take two of each kind. So he will — two linebackers, two defensive backs, two receivers, and more.

David Schaller

Midtown

Jedd Fisch and former coaches

Can’t blame Jedd for taking the UW offer. Leaving a toxic university environment plus doubling his salary. He did well for the UA and its fans. I wish him well and a large supply of umbrellas. Consider the UA administration and Board of Regents decisions on football coaches over the past 20 years. Prior to Jedd, all losers, that we, the fans and taxpayers, had to pay to leave, Mackovic, Rodriguez, Sumlin. Last good coach prior to Jedd was Dick Tomey. Seems clear that housecleaning is in order for both the university administration and ABOR. I have no confidence in their integrity nor their decision making for athletics or for finance. Perhaps, room for them in Seattle … or elsewhere.

Dennis Winsten

Northeast side

Careful when you pick your lawyers

(With apologies to Queen)

“Oh, I could destroy ya’,”

with Donald Trump’s law-yers!

They don’ do no research

but get paid for no work.

When dere’ under pressure

Dey’ just point dere’ fingers,

At dat” Red-Head who pays dem’,

Who lies through his dentures.

Dey’ commute from New Joisey

to Connecticut mansions,

And only know NY law

From the GW bridge speed signs.

But don’ worry if you hire dem’

Cuz’ dey’ promise to be true.

Unless dey’ get subpoenaed

N dey, jus’ flip on you!

Best of all, when it’s all dun’,

N’ u’ tink’ dat’ u’ won,

Da’ State’s gonna fine u’

Bout’ a half-a billion!

Michael Craig

West side

Abortion — Again

Re: the Jan. 15 letter “Abortion semantics.”

I read today (Jan. 15) a letter expressing one person’s view that abortion is an elective choice. I can appreciate it is the writer’s view. What I believe the writer misses completely is that it is “none of their damn business!” I believe abortion is an agonizing personal choice made between the mother, her doctor, and her God. While there may be input from her sperm donor, and others, it remains hers to decide and live with. Why do many (mostly male, but not exclusively) persons believe they need to make a decision for her? If it doesn’t accord with your beliefs, ask your own God for guidance. While many wanted to throw stones, Jesus did not pick up one and condemn. How will you answer if you are a stone thrower?

Spencer Elliott

Oro Valley

The real problem

Term limits are a simplistic solution based on the false idea that America has a politician problem.

We the people freely elect our representatives.

We the people freely reelect the same tired old politicians.

We the people elect people like Paul Gosar even after his own family says he is unfit for the job.

We the people chose to keep those that attempt to derail our government in power.

We the people are too lazy to check in on the hired help and then vote accordingly. If we even bother to vote at all.

All the hand wringing over things like term limits do nothing to address the root problem, which is we the people. America does not have a politician problem. America has a voter problem. Nothing will change until the voters of America step up and take responsibility for our votes.

David Reynolds

East side