Tucsonan Sarah Smallhouse with boxes of some of the petitions gathered to put a measure on the November ballot to eliminate partisan primary elections.
Ballot Measure 140
A friend who is a registered Democrat (I am an Independent), said he received an Arizona Democratic Party mailer encouraging him to vote no on the open primaries Ballot Measure 140. I can understand the Arizona Democratic Party wanting to protect their secondary position in Arizona’s two-party political system, but what are individual registered Democrats getting from the Republican-controlled Legislature? Since 1991, Republicans have controlled both houses of the Legislature. What have the Republican legislators done for Democratic voters? Have individual Democrats benefited from constant reductions in public school/university funding? Have they benefited from the budget-busting school voucher program rammed through by the Republicans? Have they benefited from state agency cutbacks due to the income flat tax reduction for high income earners? On and on and on … If you Democratic Party voters want your party to remain as also-rans in the Legislature, vote no on 140. If you want a change to Arizona politics, vote yes on 140.
People are also reading…
Randy Garmon
North side
Dear undecided voters…
This year’s election may be the most important election we’ve faced in our 250+ year history. It is a referendum on which party offers the best solutions for issues facing our country. It seems only one party has solutions, while the other has concepts of concepts. The complaint party wants mass deportation to “solve” the migrant issue, to increase the amount of tax relief given to the richest Americans and corporations while implementing draconian tariffs to prevent small businesses, and the lower/middle class from meeting daily financial challenges of just getting by. Our economy is already digging itself out of inflation (now just 3%) with positive news on job creation, lowered interest rates, and a continuing strong stock market.
Now, what are the solutions for climate change (one party’s “hoax”), sensible gun control and healthcare, infrastructure improvements, bolstering NATO and our allies, installing a well-functioning government that will not lead to authoritative control? In 2024, vote for responsible governorship.
Gary Simons
Oro Valley
Democracy and values
As an octogenarian living in a retirement community, during my daily walks I see numerous Trump signs. I am saddened and ashamed that my generation, whose parents struggled through the Depression, fought and died for our freedom, and provided us with one of the most economically prosperous times in American history would support someone who does not exhibit even one of the values our parents instilled in us.
Aside from Trump’s constant lies, he is a misogynistic, racist, hate-filled bully.
Among the foundations of America are individualism and self-determination — as a means to work together toward a common good for all Americans, not as a reason to attack anyone not like “us.” I am asking you to please think about how we were raised and the ideals our country was founded on. Not only reject Trump’s vision of a doomed, divided America, but vote for a future that embraces the true American dream of inclusion and opportunity for all.
Jerry Fay
SaddleBrooke
Jaw-dropping misinformation
The jaw-dropping misinformation professed in a recent letter demands clarification. 1. There’s no comprehensive record of the political affiliation of staff of PBS & NPR.
2. The Az Daily Star actively solicits conservative viewpoints in its letters section. The fact that liberal points of view outnumber conservatives is simply a reflection of our community’s leanings.
3. The non-partisan Committee for Responsible Budget’s analysis of the economic plans of the candidates has Trump’s plan adding $7.5 trillion to our debt, coming in at more than twice that of Harris’s $3.5 trillion.
4. A Liberal Arts education has zip to do with progressives. It’s simply a rounded study of literature, languages, philosophy, history, math, and science.
5. The successful Dominion lawsuit settlement against Fox revealed the contradictions in their “news” not being driven by “journalistic integrity but rather by viewers expectations” i.e. fake news.
Constance Lauth
Northwest side
Who to believe?
As we approach the election, the biggest question is simple: Are the people that are running and selling their vision actually telling the truth? Every time I hear one candidate talk about another candidate, the first conclusion is that they are distorting the truth to make themselves look better. Then, I consider what I know about each candidate and whether or not the distortions have any validity.
Kamala Harris has been in office for the last three years and has worked closely with Joe Biden implementing many of the problems that Kamala says she is going to fix. Since Joe Biden took office, prices have jumped 20% due to the inflation caused by the policies of the Biden/Harris administration. Now, Kamala promises to stop the spread of the damage and reverse every problem, but she has no experience with these goals. Kamala tells us what she imagines will be the Trump objectives and promises nothing similar to what she has already done, so, who to believe?
Loran Hancock
Northwest side
Democratic candidate Harris
The Party needs more than 1 billion dollars (with a B) to try to buy a personal connection with their candidate.
Leaders are not bought and paid for by elites and the upper strata rich people. Soros and the rest of the globalist elites who meet in Davos each year to plot what the peasant sheep must do to benefit themselves.
Harris is a plastic candidate who can’t operate off of her own thought processes spontaneously. Without a teleprompter she is thoughtless or mindless.
A candidate without a single cast primary vote, chosen by party elites & shadow powers (Pelosi, Schumer, Obama, Clinton).
Tell me I’m wrong.
Richard Barnes
East side
Trump lies again
Trump’s lies about FEMA not responding to the Florida disaster and that FEMA will take your property if you apply for aid is causing people not to seek the help they desperately need and have paid for thru their taxes.
The story that the Democrats have “controlled” the weather to have the hurricanes hit red states is unbelievable and has not been debunked by the former President. No one controls the weather; any high school science student can tell you that. This is completely unconscionable. Why does he do it? How can you want this pathetic person running the country?
Don Ries
Southeast side
Theatrical masculinity
The Trump campaign courts young men, regularly appearing on hypermasculine podcasts with Joe Rogan, Logan Paul and others. Trump even made a masculine spectacle out of the Republican National Convention, with a former professional wrestler tearing off his shirt.
However, as president, Trump did nothing for young men other than role-modeling misogyny and vulgarity. Harris has pledged to build 3 million new homes, provide subsidies for first-time buyers and child tax credits for families, along with attacking price-gouging businesses. Harris will also strengthen unions, while Trump endeavors to block unionization. Trump vows to repeal Obamacare, leaving millions of young men without healthcare.
Further, Trump wants to be a dictator, which would be especially emasculating for young men. Your freedom to speak out against your government? Gone. Don’t plan on forced military service? Too bad. Don’t care for bully cops brutalizing young men? It’s the way of dictatorships. Don’t be voiceless and scared. Be a man: Dump Trump.
Brian Robles
West side
There goes the neighborhood
I just returned from a month in Europe where people are terrified at the idea of another Trump term and found new Trump signs in SaddleBrooke. This tells me all I need to know about these people. They haven’t read Project 2025, and if they have, democracy means nothing to them. They really don’t care about those grandchildren they are always talking about since destroying the environment is fine with them for that all-important cheap gasoline. They are willing to follow a convicted felon who tried to overthrow the government on January 6th and have no problem with this. When you land at the airport after a time away from your country, it’s always good to be home. I only hope I can say that a month from now.
Mary Zimmerman
SaddleBrooke
I’m showing my age
I must truly be showing my age by the way I procured my degree. I spent time in the Army and then with my police career. I only began studying for my degree while in my 60s. I had a full-time job and went to college at night studying in my off time. I was proud to accomplish a degree but didn’t once consider the fact that I paid as I went and upon my graduation was all but debt free. I never pondered whether the government or anyone should pick up my tab, after all it was for me and I alone made the decision to spend the time and effort. Am I old because I believe students should pick up the cost of their education? I think not. I do believe that we have become a society where a so-called free lunch is the norm and where paying for something purely on your own is old-fashioned.
Philip Reinecker
East side
The Obama mystique
Last night I watched the former President cast a spell. His soaring speech reminded me of what we’ve lost. Soaring oratory was once again there, the beauty of his simplicity of words was on view. He hit all the right notes. No doubt Mr. Trump was tuned in, can’t imagine he’d miss this. President Obama has long been able to get to Mr. Trump’s ego like no one else, it’s a beautiful thing to witness.
Kamala Harris has that ability to reach the crowd, more so than any other current politicians. It’s a pleasure to observe her getting her points heard, watching the Governor of Pennsylvania, Josh Shapiro has some of that “it” too.
Binky Luckhurst Woodward
Foothills
Character matters
Dear Editor,
Have we, as Americans, lost our character? I remember growing up my parents said calling someone a bad name was not an acceptable behavior. Remember, “If you can’t say anything nice don’t say anything at all”? One of our current presidential candidates has either forgotten that rule or was never taught it. He uses such words as “dummy, stupid, degenerates, crooked, idiot” and so on. This shows such immaturity for someone who wishes to seek the highest office in the land. I will not vote for someone who shows such immaturity. Character does matter! I will, however, vote for someone who lifts people up rather than putting them down. Now that’s the American character we should encourage!
Scott A. Nemeth
Foothills
Remember Jan. 6
There is only one issue this election and that is Jan 6. I watched in horror and anger and disbelief as the rioters smashed the windows and doors of our Capitol and beat the police, looking to hang Mike Pence. I screamed at the TV for someone to do something! I felt totally helpless. Another person watched the riot on TV, not with horror, but with pleasure. He did not attempt to stop the rioters, even though he, and only he, had the power to call them off. Instead, he encouraged them to kill his Vice President Mike Pence.
No other issue rises to this level. Americans are divided on many issues, immigration, abortion, taxes… and we will resume these arguments again, but this year is different. Trump is no Republican, Trump is no American.
Before you vote, please take a minute to remember how you felt on January 6th.
David Jacobs
West side
