/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/dmn/PLY64GML35KWS5ENA5GUCHRCCE.jpg)
On consumers’ shoulders
Re: “Texas gets a power scare — On mild April day, unexpected demand triggers emergency,” Wednesday news story.
I don’t know a lot about the Texas electricity system, but I do understand that the power companies’ recommendation to reduce consumption during extreme temperature periods to avoid a collapse of the system means that the burden is put on the consumers, not the suppliers.
To suggest we take off for the ballpark or amusement park in 100-degree (or 80-degree in April) heat is an insult to the public’s intelligence and to their pockets.
Deregulation gave Texas the buyer-beware system of having to review multiple plans and renew contracts every one to two years or be victims of the suppliers’ putting customers on a variable rate plan of the company’s choosing.
Clean air, water and electricity are fundamental public needs. The public deserves reliable, consistent access to these resources.
Martha Durst, Richardson
Just a pretty spring day
An idyllic April day with West Texas temperatures in the 50s and mid-80s in the rest of the state. All is well, until — EMERGENCY! An expected cold front did not arrive quite as soon as the forecasters thought, and the front did not produce quite as much cooling as they expected.
That, like, never happens, right?
And with that blip in the weather pattern, the proud Lone Star State finds itself again on the edge of a crisis.
Welcome to 21st century, Texas. Years of Gov. Greg Abbott’s leadership, the Public Utility Commission he appointed and the humorously named Electric Reliability Council they supervise appear to have created another brand of New Normal.
Have a great summer!
Andy Shaw, Dallas/North Lake Highlands
Tragedy and embarrassment
Why is Texas not joining the electric grid that the other states belong to? We lost 212 lives and $22 billion in February.
Considering all of the work and time Texas leaders are spending on what to do now, it looks like we’re digging a deep hole deeper.
We had another scare a couple of days ago when our heat went up. Will we just wait and spend money until we have another incident?
It was a tragedy and embarrassment for Texas.
Sarah Bradford, Plano
Teachers’ retirement pay
Re: “Give kids hope for future: Help their teachers,” by Scott Burns, April 11 Business column.
Burns lays out another terrific piece about the Teacher Retirement System of Texas and its careless performance. Burns lists practices that would improve TRS fund growth with much less expense. I hope TRS executive director Brian Guthrie studies this piece.
Guthrie recently requested permission to hire an additional 25 investment officers for TRS. This follows an effort to move TRS headquarters to a bright and shiny (expensive) new building in Austin, a move that miserably failed after public school employees (retired and active) learned of the expensive plan and revolted in anger.
Guthrie, my personal investments are outperforming TRS returns, and Burns understands why. Do you?
John Black, Far North Dallas
Trade-offs
Re: “ ‘How much fraud is OK?’, — Dems still struggling for effective counterargument to GOP claims,” Monday news story.
Sen. Bryan Hughes’ question is just a rhetorical trick, one that both sides of the aisle love to deploy in support of their positions and struggle to address when in opposition.
It may not be easy to answer such absolutist arguments in practice, but it should be. In real life, we accept some bad results because 100% security necessitates infringement of freedoms. Even those making these arguments don’t believe in 100% accuracy.
We accept a large number of deaths from alcohol rather than going back to Prohibition. We accept a large number of auto fatalities rather than imposing more stringent safety provisions. So, in theory, why not accept some level of voter fraud (too small to affect the election results) rather than making it too hard for many to vote?
That sort of absolutist argument is, unfortunately, popular and effective. It’s easier than the hard work of deciding where to draw the line. That’s our fault as citizens. If we did a better job admitting there are trade-offs and paying attention to nuanced balancing arguments rather than just bumper sticker slogans and sound bites, maybe we would get better government decisions, by both parties. Better, not perfect.
Bob Probasco, Dallas
Saving Dallas’ charm
Re: “You can feel the history” — At its centennial, Dallas’ venerable Majestic Theatre inspires reverence from musicians and audiences,” Sunday Arts and Life.
Can you hear my “Bravo!” and heartfelt applause? “In a city notorious for swinging the wrecking ball first and asking questions later,” writes Thor Christensen, the Majestic Theatre was not torn down. It continues to give Dallas some charm and class.
Will Dallas continue to get it when it comes to architectural preservation?
Brenda Thayer, Plano
No mandate for radical change
Re: “Manchin tops at art of the deal,” by Dave Lieber, Sunday Metro column.
“President Joe Biden’s entire agenda is in trouble” because Sen. Joe Manchin won’t support killing the filibuster? C’mon, man!
Didn’t Biden campaign as a centrist, precisely not as a Sen. Bernie Sanders liberal socialist? Does Biden now have a mandate for transforming America along Sanders’ path? No, Biden won 81 million to 74 million, primarily because of COVID-19 and personality contrast, not because of a better policy vision. That’s no mandate for radical change.
Most Americans don’t support open borders, blowout “social infrastructure” spending, killing the filibuster, partisan packing of the Supreme Court, or packing the Senate with new states. Is it really any surprise that Manchin is a wheeler-dealer when our political system selects for them?
Kudos to Manchin and Arizona Sen. Krysten Sinema (like John McCain, Jeff Flake and Mitt Romney in the past) if they are able to put conscience above party pressure.
Straight party-line votes are a red flag to a flawed system. Divided government is best; the House and the Senate tend to flip two years after single-party control.
Jeff Hahn, Lewisville
Click here to submit a letter to the editor. Be sure to include sources.
"degree" - Google News
April 17, 2021 at 02:04PM
https://ift.tt/3dstF1X
80-degree days and power warnings, teacher retirement, voting, Majestic Theatre, Manchin - The Dallas Morning News
"degree" - Google News
https://ift.tt/2zPqEHn
https://ift.tt/2WkjZfX
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "80-degree days and power warnings, teacher retirement, voting, Majestic Theatre, Manchin - The Dallas Morning News"
Post a Comment