Tucson Speaks Out: July 17

A message to non-MAGA Republicans

This administration is an embarrassment to the basic principles that were the foundation of Party platforms since the end of the LBJ Great Society Programs. After LBJ, the Federal Government became too big. Reagan tried to shrink it but had only limited success without strong legislative support. Trump, on the other hand, is enlarging the Federal Government. The DOGE efforts led to The Bog Beautiful Bill, which didn’t reduce the budget. It simply moved the money away from social services that support citizen needs into expanding Homeland Security, hiring thousands of ICE agents, renovating the White House, adding tributes to his ego, and, of course, starting a war with Iran. It’s time to tell upcoming Republican candidates that support for the MAGA policies is wrong. Show some guts, try not to be intimidated by DJT and his team’s money, and support policies that benefit ALL citizens, even those people called Democrats.

Alfred Oakland

Oro Valley

The wannabe king

Sheldon Metz’s op/ed perfectly expresses the frustration I have with our country’s leadership, or lack thereof; 250 years ago, citizens opted to set up a democratic republic, moving away from a repressive monarchy. Now the current White House resident is doing his best to turn back the clock, trying to get fitted for that jeweled crown he craves. Without a doubt, he is the worst person ever to occupy that office, not even close! To pardon 1,500 traitors who attacked Congress with malice is unconscionable. And to attempt to reward them for their seditious behavior is beyond the pale! When will his followers wake up and see what he is doing to our country? All Americans should benefit from living in this country, not just his family, sycophants and billionaire donors. Change needs to happen! Let’s start with the midterms.

Milo Borich

Northwest side

ACC — we deserve better

Conserving electricity is a good thing, so it would stand that electrical energy efficiency standards are also a good thing. Likewise, decarbonizing our electrical grid through the promotion of solar energy in Arizona is also a good thing. Yet, the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) doesn’t see it that way and recently voted to repeal energy efficiency standards and renewable energy standards. The Commission Chairman, Nike Myers, offered a tone-deaf, tortured defense of the repeal of energy standards, saying, “… low-income folks are the ones that can’t really afford much of this anyway,” suggesting that the efficiency gains come only with expensive appliances poor folks can afford. Factually causal speech might be excusable in some circles, but from an Arizona Corporation Commissioner, especially the Chairman, it’s inexcusable. Pay attention to the ACC candidates this November. Arizonans can do better.

Sheldon Clark

Vail

Evil incarnate

While it is daily and widely acknowledged both locally, nationally and all over the world that Trump and his followers are evil incarnate among us, must he be mentioned in a recent letter about commercials for politics? What started out as somewhat of a reasonable viewpoint from the writer about slanted political commercials turned into a slam against "anti-Trumpers" and "blind voters". Does one not think that Trumpers are blind voters? Does he have to be everywhere in our lives?

Another frequent contributor to the LTE proclaims that somehow conservative letter writers are being kept out of the LTE section. I would venture to guess it's because they can no longer write any reasonable defense of Trump and his followers.

Jean Getek

Foothills

Pickleball at Udall

Instead of asking pickleball players to pay a fee, we should pay them; they are worth their weight in gold. I do not play pickleball due to vision problems, but I do walk in the park most evenings. There might be soccer players, softball teams or people at the dog park, but the pickleball courts are always jammed day and night with their wholesome presence. They make me feel safe. Prior to the conversion of the tennis courts to pickleball, there were hardly ever any tennis players. Now it's fun to walk by the pickleball courts and see Tucsonans getting exercise, camaraderie and fresh air. Don't change that.

Cindy Hansen

Foothills

Debate the message, not the messenger

Graham Platner’s embarrassing exit from Maine’s Senate race dominates news cycles with endless discussion of ‘what’s next?’ often implying that his policy ideas exited along with him. Pundits and experts alike seem lost in the weeds of speculation on what constitutes a populist, a democratic socialist or a progressive. Countless broadcast hours probe the sordid details of Platner’s past and hunt for a new, Platner-like candidate — without the baggage.

Shouldn’t the focus be on his ideas instead? After all, none of them were new. Universal healthcare, inequality, Congressional ethics, climate, the environment, and immigration reform have long been the drivers of political debate, and that will continue. Platner was an exceptionally gifted communicator who showed up at just the right time, but he didn’t own those issues; his disgrace and downfall mustn’t deflect Democrat and Independent focus from building a platform based on goals to help all Americans and then choosing the next messenger to carry it forward.

Elizabeth Zinn Ervin

Foothills

Time for voters to have voices heard

The Prop. 425 Arguments Portal is open July 6 to Aug. 5. Submit your statement via the Pima County Ballot Measure Argument Portal.

Every election cycle brings yet another proposition with local government bidding for more taxpayer dollars. These measures are too often deceptively marketed as “no new taxes.” In reality, they continue prior tax increases, as with Proposition 419 (RTA), or enable future tax and rate hikes, as Prop 425 would do by permanently raising the expenditure base by over $600 million.

The county’s Frequently Asked Questions are extremely biased, favoring approval while downplaying risks and the permanent impact. Adding to this, the arguments portal opens months before the November election — well before many voters are even aware of the proposition —which favors the County rather than genuine, broad community input. Balanced facts are missing.

When voter apathy prevails, government goes ungoverned, and consent-free governance takes hold. Get involved. Submit your argument before the deadline and ensure your voice is part of the public record.

JL Wittenbraker

Midtown