Tucson Speaks Out: March 7

Why war?

At the 2016 Republican National Convention, Donald Trump said, "We must abandon the failed policies of nation building and regime change". It appears he has had quite the change of heart. Once more, there is a disconnect between what he promises and what he delivers. I don't have to point out the chaos that accompanies his decision to invade Iran. No concrete plans for who will be Iran's leader after the war. No plans to evacuate Americans from Iran and several other Arab nations. Since the war started, we have not been given a definitive reason for the attack. Yet families across the country are sending their sons and daughters to a foreign war and praying for their safe return. Retaliation is now an unwelcome concern.

A decision was made, once again, without congressional approval. People will be held accountable. Now we wait. Only time will tell the outcomes of that decision to attack Iran. May God bless America again.

Sally Mayersohn

Northeast side

Which bathroom should I use?

Most of us will never face the problem of which bathroom — male or female — we should use; however, some who identify as “trans” face this problem on a regular basis. States like Kansas have very restrictive laws that force the use of the restroom associated with your sex as identified by your birth certificate. The consequences can be harsh — not only trying to use the correct restroom — but trying to correct documents that reflect your status – such as your driver's license — which are stored in an official database and open to official scrutiny, such as police. A relatively simple remedy, at least to using a restroom without confrontation, would be to simply label what are now male and female restrooms as simply “restroom” with the designation of “vacant” and “in use,” which are familiar to those who participate in public events, which would then be open to all sexes without a hassle.

Richard Rebl

East side

Tucson, take turns

Recent LTEs suggest Tucson limit new developments and people moving to Tucson. We don’t want to desecrate the desert with new development or give up our congested streets with new efficient roadways.

If you are retired, or able to work from home, the above makes perfect sense. Having worked all over the valley as a general contractor for over 50 years, I can say I am prejudiced.

If you moved here in the last 50 years, you may be living in a house I built, or one of the houses built by my fellow contractors. A solution: Tucson requires residents to take turns living in Tucson.

After seven years of residency, you will be required to move on and out of Tucson, leaving your home for the next person in line to live here. When all occupants in a house dies, this house can be condemned by the City, pay off the heirs, and turn the house into casita-group homes. We put our homeless in there.

Brilliant.

Ed LeGendre

East side

War without a plan is national folly

President Trump launched military strikes against Iran without consulting Congress and without explaining to the American people why the United States should enter yet another foreign war. That alone should alarm every citizen of a constitutional republic.

The Constitution places the power to declare war in Congress for a reason. The Founders feared exactly what we are witnessing: A single leader dragging the country into conflict on impulse.

War is not a press conference or campaign slogan. It requires a clear objective, planning, adequate personnel, equipment, logistics, and an exit strategy. When those elements are missing, history shows the result.

Vietnam. Afghanistan. Iraq. Each began with confident rhetoric and vague goals. Each devolved into long, costly conflicts measured in lost lives, trillions of dollars, and shattered credibility.

If Congress cannot summon the courage to reclaim its constitutional authority, then the United States is no longer deciding when to go to war. One man is.

Lawrence Mazin

SaddleBrooke

War Dept. vs. Defense Dept.

Well, I can't say I told you so, but "Our fearless Leader" and his mighty minions have actually turned the Defense Department into the War Department. I cannot imagine how happy defense contractors are. But wait a minute, won't they be required to change the acronym Defense contractor into War Contractor? Boy, does that make me feel safe, knowing that we are now supporting a War Department with our taxes. As our Secretary of War stated on Iran: "We didn't start this war, but under President Trump, we are finishing it." He emphasized, "No stupid rules of engagement, no nation-building quagmire" approach, declaring the mission as "peace through strength." I wonder how many war movies Hegseth watched to come up with those words? And all these years, I thought diplomacy was the answer to conflict and the term Defense Department stood for "defend our freedom." Apparently not, and we have our Supreme leader to thank for that. Just remember, he is the President of Peace.

Frank Flasch

Midtown

Colorado River

Thank you, Arizona Daily Star, for publishing "Can we learn before river runs dry?" by Rusty Childress, in the March 3 edition. Mr. Childress well describes our water crisis and the inaction by decision-makers to address the problem. As he notes, the decision-makers were not ignorant of the problem but did not actively address it, because "the incentives punished honesty."

The lack of facing the problem seems to be ongoing. It's time to face reality and, per Childress, "align growth with actual flow."

Dale Gehring

Midtown

Yes on 418 and 419

As a retired transportation engineer, it has been my honor to be a member of the Citizens Advisory Committee for RTA Next. I served five years with a committee of citizens from all walks of life who volunteered to work on this endeavor. Each member was passionate about their beliefs, making it difficult to put together a comprehensive plan. As with all citizen committees, a plan was developed, but no one left thinking they got everything they wanted. They did get a plan that represents the needs of the greater community. The estimate of revenues is conservative, unlike the first plan. The loss of revenues caused by the Great Recession and Covid pandemic could not have been predicted. Although the RTA Next plan is not perfect, I believe it is the best option. Considering the history of Tucson’s past tax initiatives, which is not stellar, the risk is too great that Tucson won't be successful going it alone, and the consequences could be extreme.

Ronald Hill

Northwest side

Being the world’s policeman

Beginning circa 1950, the U.S. started to act as if it were the arbiter of what was right and wrong internationally. We were involved in Iran in 1953 because we didn’t like their regime, so we ousted their democratically elected leader, Mossadegh. The Congo had just elected a new leader, Patrice Lumumba in 1960, who we didn’t like, so he was killed and replaced.

This toxic foreign policy should have ended decades ago, but it is rearing its head again with Trump’s attack on Iran. How did we assign ourselves as the world’s policeman again? Hubris? Standard authoritarian protocol? Trump’s mental state? Probably all three.

Years ago, our world policing had serious blowback, so we should have learned our lesson. Attacking Iran is a mistake.

S. Allen Rasmussen

Foothills

Our Ignorant-in-Chief

I lived in Paris during the Iran Hostage Crisis and was followed around town by Iranian men being obnoxious and belligerent to me. A couple years later, I gave birth to our first son while living in the Middle East, learning about the history, culture, politics, and lifestyle of that area and realizing how different their ideology and principles were from America's. Our President's attacking a country he doesn't understand, beginning a war, and doesn't know what he wants out of it, Pete Hegseth acting like a child playing with someone else's toys (with glee), and the whole coordination with Israel, who really is within shooting distance of Iran, putting American lives, in the Middle East, at home and around the world, in jeopardy is a tragedy. Shame on them all. Shame on our elected representatives for letting it happen in the first place. Retribution will now stalk us all.

Christie Cummins

Midtown