Tucson Speaks Out: Sept. 26 letters of the day

Climate change is greatest threat to public health

While we endured the hottest summer ever recorded, with rising numbers of heat-related illnesses and deaths in Arizona, many medical societies and medical journals worldwide recognize climate change as the greatest threat to public health.

Air pollution from climate change-related wildfires and fossil fuel combustion is causing worsening of asthma and other chronic heart and lung diseases and increasing risks of heart attacks and strokes. Air pollution also causes increasing hypertension and diabetes in pregnant women and low birth weight.

Climate change also increases vector-borne infectious diseases, including West Nile Virus and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in the west and Dengue, Malaria, and Lyme Disease in other regions.

These are only a few of the many worsening health risks of climate change. While the most vulnerable, including the elderly, children, ethnic minorities, poorer communities, and those with underlying conditions, are at greatest risk, we are all subject to health threats from climate change.

Let’s work together to fight climate change and its worsening health risks threatening all Arizonans.

Mark Peterson, MD, Citizens’ Climate Lobby

Foothills

Gas prices

A response is needed to the letter writer who complained that President Biden is responsible for gas prices rising from $2 per gallon to $4. Presidents do not determine gas prices. Markets do. World markets. Supply and demand. Supply is less because of Russia’s war with Ukraine. And, Saudi Arabia’s production cut. Demand is higher because of an improving economy. Gas prices are not noticeably lower in other countries. Nice try!

Bill Boaz

SaddleBrooke

Republicans: Stand up to Putin

Re: the Sept. 15 Tucson.com article “Fact-checking claims about COVID’s ties to elections, Ukraine aid and more.”

After reading this story detailing the rise of misinformation surrounding the war in Ukraine, I feel compelled to tell my story:

I immigrated to America from Ukraine before the fall of the Soviet Union. Upon arriving, I found a home in the Republican Party because they valued protecting democracy, our allies, and standing up to bullies. Now, too many of them sympathize with the aggressor.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a grave and imminent threat to international peace. We must, as a country and a party, support Ukraine. As the party of Ronald Reagan, we must return to the roots of the GOP and stand up to Russia.

Republican representatives who do not support Ukraine, who claim to be religious people, should look at what their faith tells them. I can assure you, it does not say, “allow your friends to be killed by a force of evil.”

Paul Rabinovich

Southwest side

Wadsack freshman senator of the year

Re: the Sept. 11 letter “Wadsack recall report.”

I had to laugh after reading that Senator Wadsack had been chosen as Freshman Senator of the Year. Given the makeup of our Arizona Senate, this sounds a bit like being chosen Employee of the Month by the mafia dons. It sounds nice, but you have to wonder what they had to do to get it.

Steve Wampler

Foothills

Accidental fascism?

With the rise in fascism in America, it begs the question: Did this happen by accident? It absolutely did not. It was premeditated and planned. There have been a series of steps that have taken place. First, the existing truth must be destroyed, so that the new leader can become the sole source for truth and reality. This is accomplished with a team of confederates in the media (TV, radio, books, and speeches) that bend reality to favor fascism. It plays on peoples’ preexisting vices like fear, anger and division and then just amplifies them. It creates an angry crowd, ready for vengeance upon those that have been demonized by the leader. Second, the leader must portray himself as being omnipotent so as to be worshipped by his desperate followers. Third, the leader must lead the charge to save the nation from its so-called ruin. So he must be viewed as the ultimate patriot. The fact that 74 million voted for this deviant political system was no accident.

Steve Rasmussen

Foothills

Migrants released onto AZ streets

The border crisis has finally come firsthand to Arizona streets. Hundreds of foreign people released from Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) custody onto streets at Nogales and Cochise County. Maybe soon into Tucson. Thousands are now crossing illegally into Arizona, many from African countries. The news media says that CBP vets these people before releasing them. But that vetting is limited in scope. CBP can only check U.S. federal and state criminal and terrorism database systems, NOT any criminal or terrorism systems in foreign countries. That is what makes this situation dangerous and an emergency. All due to President Biden’s border policies and not securing the border. Texas has cracked down hard on border crossings and I think the flood has shifted to the Tucson Sector. There is NO border wall on 60 miles of border between the Tohono O’odham reservation and Mexico. Maybe now the Star’s Tim Steller will finally get critical of Biden’s border policies as they continually did with Trump! LOL.

Dorothy Monroe

Sierra Vista

Biden economics

Lately, the liberal media has been touting the amazing accomplishment of Biden Economics. However, if the lipstick is taken off this pig, it will reveal that there are very serious problems facing this nation, and the storm is only just beginning. Inflation is now forcing working families to spend an additional $400 per month. Fuel costs are far more expensive than required even though the nation has abundant reserves. Interest rates are so high that is difficult to build or buy a house or even rent anything. The border is still wide open, and New York State is now experiencing the real cost of only a modest number of illegal immigrants. Crime is rampant in many parts of the nation because criminals are not held accountable. Under no circumstance can any reasonable person concur that Biden Economics has been successful. Although many may say this is beating a dead horse, these are the real problems facing our citizens and demand to be addressed, not ignored.

Loyal M. Johnson Jr.

Oro Valley

Federal money for trees in Tucson

Oh boy, more shade trees in Tucson! Please say that some of the money will go to our water bills keeping the trees alive and happy. A water credit per tree ... great idea!

Nancy Reid

Northwest side

Southwest Gas bill

Last month, I received a bill from Southwest Gas for $2.79 ... seemed a tad low! This month, my bill included a balance forward of $20.69 and a late fee of $.31. Granted, I am able to scrape up the $.31, but if this occurred on every bill sent out last month?

I’ll be setting up my Go Fund Me account today.

Richard Aufmuth

Foothills

Politics, Biden, compound interest

In response to the letter about President Biden’s net worth and questioning his ability to accumulate $9 million (latest figure of their net worth made available) as a career politician and his wife, Dr. Biden as a teacher, I refer the letter writer to the statement by Albert Einstein who was famously quoted as saying “Compound interest is the 8th Wonder of the World. He who understands it, earns it … he who doesn’t …. pays it.” President and Dr. Biden invested well over their lifetimes.

Jennifer Aviles

Southeast side

Keep meritocracy in our schools

I believe that Children should be taught at home that hard work matters and effort is essential for success. Unfortunately, an increasing number of schools are undermining this message. More and more school districts have adopted an “equity-based grading” system. The message is that meeting classroom expectations is not only optional but unnecessary.

I was blessed with a family of seven children. I came from a poor family of seven and made a modest living. My children all worked hard, studied hard and obtained several scholarships. Through hard work they achieved: 1 BS in Math and a MS in Education,1 MIS degree, 1 ArchItecture degree and a BS IN Special Education, 1 BS IN Business. 1 BNS IN Microbiology and MS in Epidemiology, 1 MS in Speech Pathology and a PhD candidate.

I think we should depoliticize education and raise the bar for all our students!

Meritocracy can help to ensure that students who are the most talented and capable are rewarded for their hard work.

Tom McGorray

Northwest side