Texas Rep. Roger Williams, you got it wrong: The US Constitution isn’t a business plan | Opinion

The government is not a business

In his support of Donald Trump in Waco last month, Rep. Roger Williams said, “We need a businessperson to run the business of America.” (April 2, 1C, “Texas Republicans’ continued support for Trump is ‘no-brainer.”) Whenever I hear we need a businessperson in charge of government, I cringe. The United States is not General Motors. Corporations never needed to manage a pandemic or a military, or to form alliances with foreign nations to support a country whose sovereign territory has been invaded by those who wish it to be theirs.

We need leaders who can govern. Some of them may be businesspeople, but it is not a qualifying credential.

- Bettye Parker, Trophy Club

Joe Biden is no Ronald Reagan

Democratic communications specialist Abhi Rahman’s April 5 guest commentary “Biden is poised to soar to victory like Ronald Reagan did in 1984” was great humor. (11A) Comparing President Joe Biden’s leadership to President Ronald Reagan’s is a story made for Disney.

Rahhman’s literary rendition is out of fantasy land. Biden’s so-called legislative successes have plunged the economy into inflation, and our standing on the world stage has never been weaker. Dangerous alliances of nuclear powers led by political despots imperil our future as a result of his feckless leadership.

No, Biden is no Reagan. He makes Jimmy Carter look like a genius.

- Kenneth M. “Ken” Sapp, Granbury

I’m using my brain now

Bud Kennedy is exactly right in his April 2 commentary “Texas Republicans’ continued support for Trump is ‘no-brainer.” In the past, I identified almost automatically as a moderate Republican, though I would often support the best candidate over the party favorite. Nevermore.

For the last decade or more, all the GOP has offered is criticism of the “opposition” rather than presenting a plan to address issues or help average Americans.

The only plan I have heard espoused by Republicans in Congress is to cut Social Security and Medicare benefits, ostensibly to reduce the deficit. But they had no such fear of deficit spending while Donald Trump was in office running up debt.

I intend to vote accordingly.

- Owen Daniel, Fort Worth

We need stronger minimums

When Donald Trump can once again run for president and potentially have access to all of America’s secrets, as well as command of our military and the executive branch, it is time to change the requirements for this job. The same is true for Rep. George Santos or any political candidate. (April 5, 1A, “Trump’s surrender creates NY spectacle”)

Police officers and other government officials must undergo comprehensive background checks and mental and physical examinations. So should politicians.

- Les Smith, Grapevine

Abortion pill block is fiction

In reference to Cynthia M. Allen’s April 4 commentary “Texas abortion pill case is about more than a conservative judge” (9A): If Republican men are smart enough to figure out how to order generic Viagra over the internet, don’t you think that Democratic women can order mifepristone?

After all, the competition is so fierce that men can get a free “prescription” and free shipping at a cost of pennies per pill. And because most drug manufacturing has been driven out of the United States by costs and uncertain regulations, any additional laws passed by Republicans will have little effect on worldwide production and availability of these drugs.

The components of the equation that Republicans are trying to eliminate in the abortion pill controversy are safety and doctor oversight. The United States already has some of the worst mortality statistics in the industrialized world for human reproduction.

With Republican assistance, they will only get worse.

- Larry Mason, Azle

Careless words from athlete

I am disappointed in the statement published April 3 from Jordan Hawkins, a University of Connecticut basketball player. (1B, “San Diego State to meet UConn in men’s tourney title game”) According to Associated Press writer John Marshall, Hawkins said after the team’s game against Miami: “We don’t stop. We keep putting our foot on their neck. We have a really tough team.”

That comment was disrespectful to the family of George Floyd, who died when a policeman put his knee on Floyd’s neck. I find it especially sad that a Black athlete spoke these words. I hope his coach noticed and addressed this incident.

- Virginia Jeane Jarman, Hurst