Letters to the editor: Oct. 9, 2022

Austin American-Statesman
·4 min read
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Last week we asked readers, "Who do you think won the debate between Gov. Greg Abbott and Beto O'Rourke, and why? And did what they have to say change how you intend to vote?" Here are some of your responses:

In agreeing to just one debate,

Abbott shows he fears O'Rourke

If Gov. Abbott had any confidence in his ability to govern he wouldn't have just one debate, on a football night, without a live audience.

Gov. Abbott is trying to protect his single-digit lead by implementing the aforementioned in what can only be deemed as an act of cowardice. The governor fears Beto O'Rourke and his message.

John Nugent, Georgetown

No winner in this debate, but there

was a loser, and it was the audience

My opinions about the Abbott-O’Rourke debate:

  • Broadcast “debates” are not debates. Nothing is really analyzed, but rather, each candidate spouts the typical party rhetoric.

  • In this “debate,” the first speaker got the microphone and talked beyond the time limit or until he couldn’t hear himself over the rantings of his opponent. A couple of times the response was not even on topic.

  • Time to answer and reply was reasonably allocated but still fell short. In my opinion, the moderator should have a switch that actually turns off the microphone when the speaker’s time has expired.

  • I do think O’Rourke did a slightly better job of stating real live demonstrable facts whereas Abbott never came close to reality.

  • I do not think either candidate won. I think the moderator/sponsor came out the loser. Well no, the listener came out the loser.

John P. Graff, Austin

Readers also wrote about other topics. Here are some of their letters.

Abbott's ads are edited and misleading,

so why is this allowed to continue?

I have been watching the political ads and am very surprised that some candidates are lying or telling half-truths and no one is doing anything about it.

Greg Abbott is using words that Beto O'Rourke used, but because of the editing he is leaving out some of the context of what O'Rourke said.

If Abbott is so afraid of what O'Rourke says maybe he should not be using just part of the sentence. What is he hiding?

I am surprised that this is allowed to continue. I want to know exactly what was said on either side so that I can make an informed decision.

No wonder people are elected who shouldn't have been. They are lying to me and the public.

Margie Dean, Hutto

Talk to your teenagers about the

perils of driving under the influence

The last week of October is Red Ribbon Week, a time when students are reminded of the dangers of drug and alcohol use.

The Travis County Attorney’s Underage Drinking Prevention Program conducts presentations to schools in Travis, Hays and Williamson counties. The UDPP will partner with several area schools to commemorate Red Ribbon Week.

Under the watchful and caring eyes of parents, teachers, friends and others who interact with youth, we can expand Red Ribbon Week awareness every day.

In the U.S., the top three causes of teen death are accidents, homicide and suicide, which are all problems linked in some way to substance abuse.

Letting your teens know you disapprove of alcohol/drug use makes them less likely to use these substances. Talk to your teens about the dangers of driving under the influence. This may help save the lives of teenagers from the consequences of substance use.

Sarah Martinez, Travis County Attorney’s Underage Drinking Prevention Program Director, Austin

Question of the week

President Joe Biden announced Thursday that he is pardoning people with federal convictions for simple possession of marijuana. The vast majority of convictions occur at the state level, and the president is urging governors to likewise pardon those offenders. Our question this week: Should Gov. Greg Abbott pardon people with state convictions for possession of marijuana?

How to submit a letter to the editor

Send letters of no more than 150 words by noon Thursday by using our online form at https://bit.ly/3Crmkcf or send an email to letters@statesman.com. We welcome your letters on all topics. Include your name and city of residence; we do not publish anonymous letters.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Austin American-Statesman Letters to the Editor: Oct. 9, 2022