Why the border is a mess, in just 3 letters: GOP

America’s immigration problem requires a cooperative solution.

Bipartisan answers are vital. Having Democrats work to solve the problem while Republicans engage in bomb-throwing gets us nowhere.

Columnist Phil Boas believes a failure to secure our southern border could lead to an infiltration of terrorists and precipitate another 9/11. Maybe he should send a letter to the Republicans in Congress to grow up and learn to cooperate and compromise.

Their intra-party squabbles distract from the hard work that needs to be done.

Bob Ellis, Phoenix

Vilify meat eaters, not farmers

The headline on Colorado River water use (“20 farming families use more Colorado river water than some states”) unjustifiably vilifies these families right up front.

They are clearly following the rules and have been, laudably, striving successfully for generations to supply the increasing demands of consumers like all of us.More revealingly, the headline might have said “Meat Eaters Gobble Up More Water than all of Phoenix” or “Vegetarians Helping Drain the Colorado River.”

Douglas Koppinger, Tucson

I'm eager for DBacks' next season

Hats off to the Arizona Diamondbacks! They surprised many when they first knocked over the Brewers, then the Dodgers and finally the Phillies to reach the World Series.

They didn’t surprise me.

As a season-ticket holder I have watched this mix of veterans and young guys play amazing baseball all summer. It’s been fun, and I can’t wait to see how they play next season.

Thanks, DBacks!

Mary Shreves, Phoenix

Who believes you now, Deion?

Remember when the sports and entertainment world went crazy for Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes? They opened with a win over last year’s runner-up TCU, and Coach Prime asked reporters if they believed him now.

The bandwagon was sure that Prime Time and his Heisman-bound QB son were going all the way to the national championship. But hype and reality are funny things. I haven’t heard Deion lately asking any sports reporters if they believe him now.

Before this weekend, the Buffs were 4-5 and 1-5 in the PAC-12. The combined record of the four teams they beat is 12-22. Their only PAC-12 win is against 1-7 ASU, who they beat by 3 points.

I haven’t seen star athletes from other sports or hip-hop artists on the Colorado sideline like I did earlier this season.

This is what happens when you allow yourself to preordain anybody in the sports world. No doubt Deion Sanders is the king of self-promotion, but that doesn’t mean you have to buy into it.

He may make something competitive out of the Buffaloes over time, but for now, reality has set in as Prime struggles to post enough wins to be bowl eligible.

Dan Peel, Scottsdale

Why would Israel cease fire?

OK, let’s say that you want Israel to cease fire, even after Hamas initiated this crises and committed the atrocities it did.

Let’s put that aside and ask this question:

How can you ask Israel to cease fire when Hamas is still holding and no doubt torturing the Israeli people and others they took hostage?

Ken Doerfler, Glendale

Time to end Trump's tax cuts

From managing our own household budget, we all know there are two components: income and expenses.

If Republicans are so maniacally concerned with balancing the national budget, why not reinstate some of the massive tax cuts to corporate profits, investment income and estate tax under the Trump administration, which disproportionately benefited the extremely wealthy?

After all, these tax cuts did contribute to raising the national debt $7.8 trillion, more than 33%, during his four years in office.

Barry Kasselman, Scottsdale

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Border is a mess, thanks to squabbling Republicans