Tucson Speaks Out: May 11 letters of the day

Re: the May 6 letter “Biden’s contempt for the U.S. Supreme Court.”

The 1971 Powell Memorandum encouraged capitalists to use their money and influence to establish organizations such as American Legislative Exchange Council, The Federalist Society and “Freedom Centers” at universities to advance unfettered capitalism, discredit democratic government and protect profits from taxation. Six members of the Supreme Court are disciples.

Their Citizens United decision gave corporations human rights while they are taking away women’s rights by overturning Roe. Corporations vs people. We are at further risk if they nullify EMTALA.

They struck down Biden’s student loan mitigation. Students, encouraged to go to college, are now so burdened by debt they cannot begin successful adult lives. If banks can be bailed out, why not students?

Oil billionaires want no regulations that prohibit polluting or mitigate climate change. The six are considering overturning EPA regulations that protect our health and the planet.

And now they may give businessman Trump immunity from laws, guided by the Heritage Foundation’s autocratic Project 2025. Not protecting We the People from corporate overreach deserves contempt.

Dee Maitland

Marana

Elections

Wow, do I wish our national choices for public servants were as satisfying as our recent local selection. The four finalists for Ward 6 City Council seat were outstanding and they were derived from an even bigger pool of interested and qualified applicants. Thanks to the City’s Mayor and Council for conducting a transparent and timely process for filling Steve Kozachik’s vacated spot! Congratulations to Karin Uhlich, who has served us well in the past and comes back to the job with great ideas and proven civility.

Mary DeCamp

Downtown

Reject jungle primaries and ranked choice

A “Make Elections Fair” petition is circulating in Arizona. It deceptively claims to be about “open primaries.” Arizona has open primaries. Any independent or unaffiliated voter can vote in any primary election (except the Presidential Preference) by requesting a Democrat or Republican ballot.

This petition actually is about getting an initiative on the ballot to force jungle primaries and ranked choice voting on Arizona voters! This election method has been tried elsewhere and almost universally rejected by voters.

Jungle primaries require everyone from any party (or no party) to run on a single ballot. Top vote-getters (who could all be from one party) go to the general election, where voters must rank them in order of preference. These ballots are fed into computers with algorithms not specified in the initiative. They go through multiple rounds of processing until some winner is achieved by elimination. The results are reported, with no way to audit, verify, or confirm the results. What could possibly go wrong?

Sherrylyn Young

Northeast side

Time to take a step back

There was a time when us “baby boomers” had our moment. We contributed to the economy with our work ethic taught to us by our parents from “The Greatest Generation,” along with our morals. I no longer believe in the American two-party system. Both Democrats and Republicans are bought and paid for by special interests, leading to an America I no longer recognize.

Biden and Trump have gone past their “expiration date.” I will be writing in Dr. Cornel West for president this coming November. I just can’t hold my nose and pick the better of the worst anymore. My vote will be a vote of conscience for America.

Boomers, it’s time for us to let a younger generation lead us. We’ve made enough of a mess of America; it’s time for us to sit on the porch, enjoy our sunset years, and let a younger generation lead us.

Alexander Maldonado

Midtown

Mexico elections

Re: the May 8 article “The Siren Songs of Mexico.”

The opinion piece by Omar Vidal describing Mexico’s upcoming elections was a beautifully written essay on the false promises and faces that the people must endure during election cycles. He calls it Siren Calls of Mexico and, like Mexico, siren calls inundate the United States’ electorate. He bemoans the short memories of the voters that allow themselves to be taken in. Their election is soon — June 2 — but ours still has six months for us to see through the siren calls of the politicians and sort out where we want our country to be after November. I will be educating myself on every candidate on my ballot. That is the duty of every citizen.

Carol Foster

Northwest side

Tennis singles state champions from Tucson

Well-deserved congratulations to Vikram Narendran (Rincon University) and Austin Cohen (Catalina Foothills) for their singles victories in their respective divisions in the recently concluded high school state championship. These young men have worked hard over the years to build their games to a high level and certainly understand the hard work, discipline and commitment it takes to develop excellence in one’s chosen athletic field. State championships are special achievements and will reside prominently in the winner’s accomplishments for a long, long time. Great stuff, guys!

And to Coach Clancy and the U of A men’s team who play Columbia on Saturday in the NCAA Sweet 16 — GO CATS!!

Evan Phillips

Northeast side

UA faculty senate chair failure

The University of Arizona is home to one of the largest populations of Jewish students in the country — 3,500 of its undergraduate students are Jewish, almost 10% of the total. Recently, a Jewish on-campus fraternity house was vandalized by antisemitic graffiti. Clear and obvious for all to see. But the UA Faculty Senate Chair, Leila Hudson, who is Palestinian, refused to submit a formal resolution condemning antisemitism. Not because of any actions by the Jewish students. But because she objects to the way that pro-Palestinian protesters, in violation of the university’s curfew, were treated. No wonder that some question the Faculty Senate Chair’s leadership or lack thereof. And that reflects poorly on the Faculty Senate as a whole.

Roger Taft

Northeast side