Fund peacebuilding to save money, lives
As a former US Public Health Service physician, I worked for years in preventive health. One of its pleasures was seeing how it actually saved our government money while helping people live healthy, independent lives.
Then COVID happened. Services shut down. Rebuilding is taking years. When valuable programs running on momentum and trust are interrupted, even temporarily, the damage can last far longer.
Today, cuts to next year’s federal budget threaten another project that saves far more than it costs: international peacebuilding. These activities — like early warnings, alternatives to extremism, and safe elections — are associated with $16 saved for each $1 spent in some settings, versus wars that entangle U.S. dollars and lives.
People are also reading…
Ask Senators Sinema and Kelly, and Rep. Grijalva or Ciscomani or your representative to support these programs, which cost less than 0.02% of last year’s defense spending. Protect the Complex Crises Fund, Reconciliation Programs, and Atrocities Prevention, in order to protect us all.
Stephanie Davis
Northwest side
Start Fifita ...
... Even if Jayden De Laura is ready to go as UA quarterback against Washington on Saturday. De Laura has been so slow off the mark and totally inconsistent in the four games this year that in view of Fifita’s remarkable workmanlike entrance to the Stanford game, he now deserves wider opportunities. Granted, it was a limited sampling, and against a weak opponent, but considering the situation of trailing in the last quarter, and the fact that it was the first important snaps Fifita has taken in college, his managing his emotions to deliver a perfect performance is a demonstration of a winner.
Arizona is a huge underdog against Washington. Can Fifita continue to deliver? Why not find out?
John Schmidt
Southwest side
Ciscomani cannot be trusted
Earlier this year, congress reached a bipartisan budget agreement that averted a first-ever default. Now Republicans are refusing to hold up their end of the deal. Rep. Ciscomani doesn’t seem to mind breaking the promise he made to the American people. Instead of working on bills that honor the deal that was made with the President and Congress, Rep. Ciscomani is taking direction from the extremists who have taken over the Republican Party. This is not a way to govern! Kevin McCarthy has lost control of his party. The entire party, and now all of America is being held captive by Matt Gaetz and Marjorie Taylor Green. I don’t think Rep. Ciscomani can be trusted to stand up to them or stand up for Arizonans. He has proven he cannot be trusted.
Maggie Winchell
Foothills
The Pareto principle
The Pareto principle states that 80% of outcomes come from 20% of causes. In a group of 10, 80% of production is caused by two people. This is true of any group, Brownie Scouts, rocket engineers, government agencies, unions, etc.
Private enterprise takes care of this through the bottom line. Layoffs occur, departments disbanded or merged. Brownie troops don’t have much to lose. It is the government bureaucracies of federal, state, county, city, military, school districts, etc. where this principle costs society the most. Spend the current year’s budget or we will lose that funding for next year.
Baby Boomers are retiring by droves every year. Don’t replace them. The remaining group will do fine as the 80-20 rule resets. The next three years don’t replace any retired person, and you will have reduced the government payroll by 20%. Nobody gets laid off. Shuffle the deck.
The meaning of bureaucracy is “Rule by Desk.”
Edward LeGendre, Retired General Contractor
East side
Urban city parks
The COT Climate Action Report recommends urban infill as a climate change mitigation tool. It seems to me that more buildings, concrete, and asphalt will only increase the COT “Heat Island” effect on the local climate. It will help increase city revenues (taxes) and increase the pressure on existing water, sewer, and electrical infrastructure. It seems to me converting urban open areas into city parks planted with natural desert vegetation would be a more climate-friendly action. They could be used to demonstrate how low-water natural desert vegetation can be used to create aesthetically pleasing parks and yards.
Cal Rooker
Northwest side
Why we need more trees
Trees keep us cool with shade, act as mini swamp coolers, attract birds and have many other benefits.
Trees and vegetation (e.g., bushes, shrubs, and tall grasses) lower surface and air temperatures by providing shade and cooling through evaporation and transpiration, also called evapotranspiration.
Donald Plummer
Northwest side
Border priority
There are tens of millions of voters that are so concerned about our border situation that they are willing to abandon what’s left of our democracy to accomplish their mission. But it’s not just that they are willing to abandon our present political system; they are willing to accept fascism as the replacement. Fascism is what Trump has been selling, but fascism is an “easy sell” for a gifted propaganda artist like Trump, especially to an angry crowd.
Ironically the border is not our most pressing issue; the rise of fascist thinking is. Anyone who would accept fascism as a means to better secure our border, needs to better understand what our Founders had intended for this nation; it sure as heck wasn’t fascism.
Political scientist Barbara Walter has said that we are now an anocracy (between a democracy and an autocracy). This can be attributed to millions accepting fascism over democracy. We have a severe lack of knowledge in civics and political science, and it shows.
Steve Rasmussen
Foothills
Who’s Ciscomani working for?
We’re on the verge of a government shutdown because of the Republican-controlled House Appropriations Committee. After almost defaulting on our debt, Republicans now want to slash funding towards critical programs like Social Security, SNAP, Medicaid, and Medicare.
At the center of this drama is Representative Juan Ciscomani. I’m tired of him saying he’s working for his constituents when he is doing the complete opposite. Ciscomani is part of the absolute chaos in the House right now. He serves on the House Appropriations Committee, and he voted for these insane cuts that are being argued about right now and leading us to a government shutdown.
He voted to slash $32 billion from SNAP benefits. He voted to cut $183 million from the Social Security Administration. He voted to cut $798 million from Medicaid and Medicare. Voting to make cuts to essential programs that the constituents of AZ-06 depend on every day is not a good look for the Ciscomani. He’s definitely not working for us.
Tina Whitley
Northeast side
Don’t sleepwalk to Trump Presidency
We need to pay very close attention to what Trump is saying. Why is he being treated as a normal candidate? He wants to ban TV networks he doesn’t like. He has suggested locking up random Democrats and thinks Mark Milley should be executed for treason. He told “liberal” Jews on Rosh Hashanah pretty much if they aren’t with him, they are against him. Once again, we are told only he can fix America’s problems. This craziness is not normal, and we can’t let this man anywhere near the White House for a second term. Jan. 6 was a wake-up call. Recognize fascism when you hear it. Our democracy depends on it.
Mary Zimmerman
SaddleBrooke
Solar Power and the ACC
Re: the Aug. 26 article “Tucson Electric Power’s new solar customers to see lower credits.”
This was an excellent article regarding Tucson Electric Power’s new solar customers to see lower credits. In early October, the Arizona Commerce Commission will vote on a proposal to reduce the compensation to individuals and businesses that provide power into the grid from solar panels.
This is clearly in contrast to the commitment of our nation to the Paris Accord and a step backwards from efforts to move Arizona forward to a carbon-free environment.
Public opinion should impact those who represent us in the Arizona Commerce Commission. Perhaps raising rather than lowering the payment adjustment to those who help provide power into the grid would send a strong message to encourage more expanded use of solar panels.
John Hughes
Northeast side
Follow these steps to easily submit a letter to the editor or guest opinion to the Arizona Daily Star.
