No AC in schools, busted water mains: This isn’t why we pay our taxes, Fort Worth | Opinion

Tax dollars not working for us

The Aug. 15 edition of the Star-Telegram draws our attention to two dozen schools opened with inoperable air conditioners and more than 400 water main breaks in Fort Worth this year. (1A, “Two dozen FWISD schools have broken air conditioners”; 2A, “Fort Worth has had nearly 400 water main breaks in 2023”)

Sounds like our schools need better regular maintenance of critical equipment, and we need better attention to our infrastructure.

Is anyone paying attention? What are taxes for?

- Robert Turk, Fort Worth

Define what the GOP stands for

The indictments of Donald Trump are sad for America. However, it helps clarify this question: What is a MAGA Republican? If you support Trump, you support authoritarianism, extremism, racism, defiance toward law enforcement and political violence, and you reject fair and free elections.

- Leslie J. Smith, Grapevine

The public needs to see Trump trials

I am making a plea to all Americans: The trials of Donald Trump must be televised live from start to finish. Televising these events will remove any bias. Each of us will see and hear everything that is said, unfiltered and unedited.

Contact Chief Justice John Roberts and elected officials and demand that the trials be seen live.

We deserve to see them, and our democracy depends on it.

- J.W. Sullivan, Arlington

Yes, ship migrants out of Texas

I fully support Gov. Greg Abbott’s sending busloads of those entering illegally to large, liberal cities. That should give them some idea of what Texas is having to endure everyday on our border. One thing I would change: Send a few busloads to Dover, Delaware, and see how President Joe Biden likes that.

- Dale E. Peterson, Keller

Forced religion the enemy of freedom

Thank you for publishing Bud Kennedy’s Aug. 6 commentary on Christian nationalism. (1C, “2 churches lead way against Christian nationalism power grab”) I appreciate the churches taking a stand against such threats to our democracy.

This nation was not founded on Christianity. The English wanted to get away from forced religion. The far right must not win.

- Frances Gregory, Arlington

Christians deserve to lead government

Bud Kennedy’s commentary about Christian nationalism assumes there is something wrong with Christians promoting a Christian nation. The United States’ founding documents are full of the language of Judeo-Christian principles, and for more than 200 years, those were considered morally correct.

Now, leftists have decided to deviate from God’s word and deem themselves the authority of what is moral and acceptable.

You can expect those who follow traditional Christian principles to stand up for their beliefs and take on leadership roles in government. Christians have as much right to these roles as those with differing beliefs.

- Gena Himes, Fort Worth

Not the Texas I grew up proud of

I was disappointed to read that Texas leads the country in removing books from school libraries. (Aug. 7, 1A, “Over 100 books in Fort Worth school libraries challenged”) I was born in Texas, and the state has blessed me with many things: boots, America’s Team and great libraries where I learned to read a variety of books. Never was I taught to be afraid of any of them.

I’m concerned that my children won’t read books because there are so many distracting bells and whistles online. Let’s be a state of readers, not censors.

- Glenn Hutchinson, Fort Worth