Tucson Speaks out: Aug. 29 letters of the day

Everyone gripes about the weather but nobody seems to have found a solution other than stay inside which often is not a viable solution. Same with gas prices. Solutions are available, just not always palatable. Bigger vehicles demand more gas or diesel. Big vehicles seem to entice their drivers to go faster offering an innate challenge to other drivers. Driving is fun so there is a reward for making several trips rather the incorporating them into one. Driving fast and aggressively implies power and attitude etc.

Personally, I drive a hybrid, have for years. I get 60 miles per gallon using low test gas. It is my town car.

For a road trip I rent a car.

Cutting back on fracking and driving at least gives us a chance to leave our kids and theirs the possibility of breathable air and endurable climate. Ever see a goldfish short on air?

Susan VonKersburg

Foothills

The greatest clown show on earth

Re: the Aug. 26 letter "No longer two old guys."

I'm still laughing over this letter — many thanks to the letter writer! Possibly the funniest letter to ever appear in the Star. I, too, was gobsmacked seeing Hulk Hogan's pathetic, moronic display at the RNC, and marveled that such idiocy resonates with Republicans and represents them. Then, we had Mike Lindell in an absurd disguise infiltrating the DNC, where he argued with a twelve-year-old, spewing his voting conspiracy ridiculousness. The twelve-year-old made a complete fool out of the My Pillow Guy. There seems to be no ceiling for the Clown Show! Today's (Aug. 27) paper features a full-page ad for the Donald Trump table-top Christmas tree. Previously, it was the Donald Trump train, and before that, other silly, costly Trump trinkets marketed to MAGA consumers. Maybe Republicans are counting on their clown show to distract from their very serious intent to destroy and re-make our country according to their 2025 Manifesto.

Deb Klumpp

Oro Valley

Disinformation is destroying America

Disinformation is destroying our country. Disinformation is the deliberate spreading of lies disguised as truth. Some media outlets distort truth and facts to promote political agendas. It is wrong, it is dangerous, it is anti-democratic, and it is un-American.

The consequences of disinformation are dire. False claims and lies from the former President disgrace and dishonor America. Media outlets with an anti-democracy agenda are complicit in advancing Trump's false claims and lies:

• False claims led to the attack on our Capitol on January 6.
• False claims led to the Cyber Ninjas debacle in Arizona.
• False claims led to the fake electors’ scheme in Arizona and in 6 other states.
• False claims have destroyed peoples’ lives.
• False claims continue to incite death threats and attacks on our election workers.
• False claims continue to incite the “swatting” of leaders and officials who stand for truth and the law.

Promoting lies and disinformation does NOT make America great! They are destroying America.

Kathy Krucker

Midtown

Four years ago

A recent letter to the editor asked, "Are you better off today than you were four years ago?" promoting the Trump years. Four years ago we were in the middle of the COVID epidemic, many of us lost our jobs, children could not attend school, many businesses were closing down, the economy was on the verge of a depression, we all had to wear masks, and eventually over 1 million people lost their lives. We all feared for our own losses. Then President Trump at first denied it, then recommended antihistamines as it ravaged our society. President Biden turned it around with vaccine and cautious leadership. He has had to deal with inflation but so has every other country. So my answer is "yes" I am better off than four years ago.

Craig Wunderlich

West side

Biased report on Copper World Project

Two independent peer reviews on the recent economic report by Save the Scenic Santa Ritas on Hudbay's Copper World Project revealed significant flaws in its methodology, biased conclusions, and recommended that it be withdrawn from distribution. Reports like these cost tens of thousands of dollars and it is troubling to see SSSR irresponsibly wasting donor funds on an out-of-state, bush-league firm willing to write what is nothing more than a hit piece. Peddling flimsy reports does nothing to address the real economic and environmental challenges we face. 

I urge those who care about our environment to reconsider where their support is going. Instead of funding biased reports, donors to SSSR should consider instead giving to reputable organizations like the Arizona Trail Association, Tucson Cactus and Succulent Society, the Nature Conservancy — groups that make good use of donor funds and effectively protect our natural resources.

Dennis Fischer

Vail

Vote for America!

On August 26, the three-year anniversary of Abbey Gate, Joe Biden was relocating from a California chaise lounge to his more familiar one on Delaware’s Rehoboth Beach.

To an observer like myself, it doesn't seem like Biden has spent much of his presidency behind the Resolute desk. So, who’s running our country?

Who is it we've been told is “working around the clock” to free hostages in Gaza, orchestrated the invasion of 10 million undocumented, and seeks to replace our democratic values with a socialist tyranny?

This election is the choice between irredeemable devastation and salvation, between a veiled force that effortlessly flicked Biden off the ballot and former president Trump. But nothing about this election is democratic or fair.

Not one vote was cast for Harris, and most of the media and Big Tech are a propagandistic arm of the Democratic Party.

How about we pay tribute to the purity of ideals, courage, and sacrifice and make the right choice this election day: vote for America!

Scott R. Hammond

Downtown

Breath of fresh air

Re: the Aug. 27 article "Lawmakers choices key to quality of life."

“What a breath of fresh air!” That was my reaction reading the opinion piece by LD-17 candidate John McLean. Instead of MAGAnified doom-and-gloom, here was a candidate who actually cared about things that matter to me. He supports quality public education for all instead of “welfare-for-the-rich” school vouchers. He believes women have the right to choose their reproductive healthcare. He recognizes the need for affordable healthcare and housing, and a secure water future. Wow!

Compare that to LD-17 Republican candidate Vince Leach who in the past voted to short-change our public schools in order to expand school vouchers, restrict abortion even in cases of rape or incest, and erase water supply regulations for active water management areas.

Think what a game-changer it would be to have an LD-17 Senator who actually cares about issues that matter to voters, rather than donors. Think about this when you vote in the November election.

Thea Chalow

Oro Valley

Better leadership through diversity

I celebrate the nomination of Kamala Harris, not because she’s a Democrat but because our democracy is struggling partly from having too few women in leadership roles. Diversity-Equity-Inclusion is not just a WOKE theory but by every measure and my own experience, engaging a more diverse pool of participants, even those you disagree with, in decision making leads to better outcomes. Generalizing I find that men often rely upon zero-sum strategies (for you to win, I must lose), while women are often more accommodating in resolving contentious situations. Some take comfort in leadership by a single strong (white) male often because they exude such confidence, but I find humility to be the greater attribute. If we are to successfully address the complex issues of our modern society, we must promote more women into leadership roles. They can hardly do any worse than men have for the last few centuries.

Tim Helentjaris

Northwest side

Politics at the border

Dear Mr. Ciscomani,

In your campaign ads, we have seen and heard you speak out about the crisis at our Southern border. However, we also have read that you have spoken out against the bipartisan immigration bill that was painstakingly put together over months of negotiations. This was because the leader of your party, Donald Trump, instructed Congress to not pass this bill because it would remove the issue from the election, despite the fact that this bill had the backing of some of the most conservative members of your caucus. As Sen. James Lankford (R-OK) put it: “Politics won out over policy — no doubt on that.” You helped block a bill that could have corrected some — not all — of the problems we face with our immigration system. In doing so you put politics over policy. Your concern about the border is not really about the people there, but only a campaign backdrop to make political points.

John Lillie

Foothills

2024 election

On what date did it become acceptable to Americans for a felon to be elected President of the United States? Surely, this date must be one of the most significant dates in our history.

Robert Bishop

East side

Peddling junk

Why does the Star keep accepting ads from The Hamilton Collection peddling Trump Junk (Aug. 22 page A3 and Aug. 27 page A3)? Rhetorical question —obviously the Star needs the ad revenue. But why not show some character by rejecting ads from a company that peddles this junk and shares the proceeds with the convicted felon. The Aug. 22 ad is particularly egregious by using the words "A Patriotic Salute ... ". "Patriotic" to describe a convicted felon who has subverted Democracy and is trying to continue this subversion!

Sandy Salz

Oro Valley

TEP rules the ACC

In 2023 I invested in a solar roof array costing $12,000. I was pleased with the results and by spring I was producing more electricity that I used, selling the balance back to TEP. By May I was enjoying a “negative” electric bill, receiving a credit on my bill.

For my August bill, I produced 481 kWh of electricity and used only 305 kWh. Yet, due to surcharges, delivery charges assessments I owed TEP $34.24. To provide them with my electricity.

Arizona mandated electric utilities to produce renewable energy and TEP opted to do so by encouraging rooftop solar rather than build large solar arrays. Yet, due to our decades-long domination of the ACC by industry-friendly Republicans, the consumers suffer. We need to end this travesty by electing Democratic candidates to the ACC!

Bruce Hilpert

North side

Trump's dishonesty is disqualifying

In an interview with Dr. Phil, former president Donald Trump claims, "If Jesus came down and was the vote counter, I would win California ... If we had an honest vote counter, I would win California." Notably, in 2020 Trump lost the state by 5 million votes.

Historian Timothy Snyder, an expert on authoritarianism, explains that Trump inhabits the world of fiction naturally and very gracefully.

The Wikipedia entry, False or misleading statements by Donald Trump, uses over 35,000 words to detail Trump's deceit. How can Trump say that he loves America when he continually lies to its people?

In her book, The Origins of Totalitarianism, Hannah Arendt asserts: “The ideal subject of totalitarian rule is not the convinced Nazi or the convinced Communist, but people for whom the distinction between fact and fiction...no longer exist.”

Terry Hansen

Sierra Vista

“Bring in the clowns”

Clowns belong in the circus, not in the White House!

Gerry Maggiora

Foothills