Tucson Speaks Out: April 25 letters of the day (2024)

Afghanistan withdrawal facts

This is for trumpers to cut out and affix to your refrigerator door to be read before you write another letter talking about Biden’s disaster in Afghanistan.

Trump not Biden negotiated directly with the Taliban terrorists and excluded the Afghan army.

Trump not Biden drew down U.S. forces from 13,000 to 2,500 making them vulnerable to attack.

Trump not Biden ordered the release of 5,000 Taliban fighters from prison, one of whom would become the new leader of Afghanistan.

Trump not Biden wanted to invite the Taliban leaders to Camp David on the anniversary of September 11th. Seriously.

Trump not Biden agreed to a May 1st exit from Afghanistan, then bragged that he didn’t need an exit strategy.

Trump not Biden refused to brief Biden’s incoming team on the situation in Afghanistan.

Trump not Biden shut down every airbase in Afghanistan but one, crippling the U.S.’s ability to extract assets safely.

These are the facts, not what Trump tells you!

Terry Louck

East side

First they came for abortion

My apologies to Martin Niemoller who changed how we think about our own vulnerabilities. Besides, plagiarism with attribution is a form of flattery. First they came for abortion because they said that there was no history of a right to an abortion before Roe v. Wade. Next they came for in vitro fertilization because they said that embryos are persons. Then they came for the prophylactic medication measures to prevent or terminate early pregnancy because abortion by any other name is still abortion. Then they came for the right to travel because they said abortion elsewhere is still a crime. Then they came for all other forms of contraception because contraception is abortion. Then they came for the “privacy” of reproductive consultation between a woman and her doctor because they said consultation between doctor and patient is not constitutionally protected privacy, nor is it freedom of speech and assembly. Then they put them both in prison because they said life begins at conception.

Gerald Farrington

SaddleBrooke

Blather

Re: the April 22 article “As the U of A goes, so goes Tucson.”

In what can only be explained as a vehicle to fill up space in a Monday edition, the Arizona Daily Star published a rambling diatribe by Craig J. Cantoni. The University of Arizona and the horrible place in which this guy chose to retire, Tucson, were his primary blast zones.

Two words among the many used by Mr. Cantoni jumped out at me: hubris and blather. Both were very well exemplified by this remarkable piece.

Special to the Star: Differing and critical points of view are a good thing to publish. But please, try harder when choosing.

Douglas Williams

Foothills

Hairspray actresses return to Tucson

Re: the April 18 article “UA alums come home for ‘Hairspray’.”

Star reporter Cathalena Burch in her preview of the popular musical “Hairspray” at the UA Centennial Hall saluted two featured actors, Sarah Hayes (2018) and Alyssa Jacqueline (2023) both very recent graduates of the UA Musical Theater Program.

Both actresses are touring nationally in the crowd pleasing show which has run for 30+ years. They are both enjoying a terrific early career success … following many other UA musical theater grads including Naphtali Yaakov Curry who played the role of Donkey in “Shrek” also at Centennial Hall earlier this season.

Curiously, the musical theater program at UA has been discontinued for reasons still unclear. Musical Theater (and jazz) are the only two truly pure American performing art forms. For whatever reason the UA decided to jettison their Musical Theater program … consequently those gifted, young, budding professionals who aspire to careers like Sarah and Alyssa now will migrate to other top drama departments at Yale, or Carnegie Mellon, NYU, North Carolina, Brown etc. to hone their skills.

Baird Thompson

Foothills

You vote for a person

Re: the April 22 letter “What I am voting for.”

When I read letters like this I lose hope for our country. The author claims he doesn’t care for Trump; he’s really not voting for Trump but for things that are important to him, like respect for police. Trump incited a violent insurrection — Capitol police were attacked and maimed. People died. Trump sat by watching, relishing the melee he orchestrated. Freedom of speech is important, yet books are being banned by Trump supporters. Also important — federal judges who respect the constitution — like Clarence Thomas, mega-bribe accepter and spouse of an insurrection supporter. Very important — he’s voting for the military and veterans, seemingly unbothered by Trump calling them “losers and suckers” — such respect for veterans! Trump has promised revenge on his “enemies” if elected and promised to dismantle our democracy. Trump tried to overthrow an election — this represents “more of what I am voting for”? Really? Make no mistake, your vote IS for a person, for his character and actions. I’m voting for decency and democracy.

Deb Klumpp

Oro Valley

Why has nothing been done about PBMs?

As an oncology nurse, I have seen firsthand the negative impact that health insurers and their Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) have on patients who are fighting for their lives. That includes arcane prior authorization policies, creating unnecessary delays and forcing patients to wait for months before being approved for their physician-prescribed treatments.

Lawmakers need to rein in these practices that restrict and delay access to care. That’s why I was grateful that a group of over three dozen state attorneys general — including Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes — sent a joint letter urging Congress to pass legislation to reform abusive PBM practices that threaten patients’ access.

Arizona lawmakers, including Senators Sinema and Kelly as well as Representative Schweikert, should heed the advice of Attorney General Mayes and push for PBM reform that reduces the barriers to care put up by insurers and PBMs.

Taelor Martin

Foothills

Insurance is not fair to Arizonans

My diabetes diagnosis has made me more aware of, and concerned about, the unfair practices put in place by insurers and Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs). Not only do broken PBM policies restrict access to vital medications and treatments, but they can also lead to higher out-of-pocket expenses at the pharmacy. It’s frankly disturbing that PBMs are able to profit off the backs of vulnerable patients so blatantly.

The chances of Congress passing PBM reform before the elections are slim to none, which is disappointing and frustrating given how many people this issue impacts. Patients shouldn’t have to wait another year to see some relief from the harmful PBM policies that force them to jump over hurdles in order to access the physician-prescribed treatments they need.

Arizona lawmakers should focus on reforming PBMs to reduce costs for patients and avoid other, riskier schemes like setting prescription prices, which could hinder innovation and prevent cures for diabetes and a range of other diseases from ever being discovered.

Jessie Higgins

Foothills

Biden’s trade policy is pure Trump

Re: the April 20 article “Biden’s trade policy is pure Trump — down to the blatant pandering.”

In her column Catherine Rampell rambles on about how damaging Trump’s trade policies were to the U.S. economy. She notes how Trump’s action hurt the U.S. economy and caused major job losses, as indeed they did. Then she goes on to bundle Biden’s tariffs on Chinese steel and aluminum with Trump’s world wide tariffs on the same.

Only toward the end of her writing does she mention that Biden’s tariff will only affect 2% of our imports since the U.S imports just that little bit of steel from China.

Hardly enough to have the same effect as Trump’s worldwide tariffs.

Most of our steel comes from Mexico. The 2% from China is insignificant.

A bit slanted?

P.S. Yes, announcing it at a meeting with the Steel Workers Union is pandering. So what else is new?

Hugo Wessels

Midtown

Poverty does not equal criminality

Re: the April 22 letter “OJ: An American tragedy.”

The writer of the letter may want to reconsider the tone of her argument. She states that O.J., raised in poverty (“ghetto Black”) by a single mother, was never “taught the accoutrements that are supposed to accompany wealth.” The implication is that people in poverty are morally deficient and prone to violence. But is it not true that all people regularly fail to act morally, that some fail in profoundly violent ways, and that the struggles of poor people are the result of a lack of money, not the lack of instruction from people from the advantaged classes? The tone of her letter is elitist. I suggest a rewrite, and in the next draft, I would leave out the word “accoutrements.”

Donald Reese

Southeast side

What I am voting for…

Re: the April 22 letter “What I am voting for.”

In response to the letter writer, I say this:

As a registered Democrat, and a moderate one, I WILL be voting for a person, President Biden.

I’m voting for common-sense legislation for immigration and borders; I’m voting for continued respect of law enforcement, and accountability among the ranks; I’m voting for freedom of speech and the right to practice ALL religions, not just my own; I’m voting for common-sense gun laws to check backgrounds and keep guns out of the hands of sick individuals and our schools; I’m voting for supporting our allies and not becoming a nationalist country; I’m voting for jobs to remain in America, and supporting those workers with livable wages; I’m voting for the military/veterans to be respected in all ways and not be called “losers;” I’m voting for human rights, women’s rights, and the rights of children to get a solid public school education; I’m voting for democracy, my country, and against the threat of a wannabe dictator.

Terri Hicks

Northwest side

Sorry it is true

Re: the April 22 article “As the U of A goes, so goes Tucson.”

Mr. Cantoni’s guest editorial confirms that our three sons who consciously chose ASU made the right decision. The increasing politicization of U of A’s admin and faculty detract from the educational objectives, and that hurts the whole metro area there.

Richard Stevens

Foothills

The real Donald

I’m less than a decade younger then “@realdonaldtrump”. When I first became aware of him in the 80s, I pegged him as a moron. Nothing that he has said or done since then has altered that assessment. What has surprised me, is, how much P. T. Barnum underestimated the average American in his famous quote. By my calculation, the growth rate of suckers has to exceed 1 per second.

Anyone who still thinks 45 is innocent fits that description and falls neatly into that category!

John Balsbaugh

Midtown

Poetry for a new policy

Re: the April 21 article “Pima County policy could end hundreds of jobs.”

Supervisors say

they’re trimming the fat

carrots and sticks

departments at bat

vanish the vacancies!

time to be wise

the sand falls slowly

from Heads as they rise

we watch workers walking

waving goodbye

lights on, gems shine

no time to reply

unfilled roles

who opens the door?

ghosts of ourselves

down on the floor

hire and train

again and again

turnstiles of turnover

when will it end?

that CBIZ study

around class and comp?

a pittance at best

money grab for the top

internal fairness

simply a ruse

market studies end

with the market excuse

food, bills and rent

morale gone in time

the true cost of giving

while losing your mind

employer of choice

no COLAs or raises

exhausted we ask

how many more phases?

they don’t see the wage gap

up there, up so high

looking for pennies

to pinch in the night

so keep pointing fingers

ignoring HR

servants will serve

but we’re human at heart

Elizabeth Langley, Pima County employee, 18 years

Northwest side

Thank you

Thank you to the person who found my credit card and turned it in at the McDonalds on Kolb and 22nd Street. I know Tucson has honest, caring people; it was wonderful to be reminded. You did not leave a name but your good deed will be passed on. Blessings and good fortune to you.

Carol Whittle

East side

Every accusation is a confession

For the last four years or so, we have been under a constant deluge from Republicans about how Democrats are rigging elections, fixing votes, and general all around cheating. These outcries are frequently attached to something about following the will of the people.

Republicans even blew a few million dollars to prove the 2020 election was rigged only to fall on their collective face.

More recently, Arizona republicans have floated a law to automatically give Arizona’s electoral votes to Trump before the primaries were even over. In the past few days, they proposed a retroactive change to the rules regarding judge retention after the people of Arizona started a push to remove two judges following a very unpopular ruling.

All this brings to mind a certain Shakespeare quote: “Methinks the lady doth protest too much.”

David Reynolds

East side

Cannot be friends with everyone

Re: the April 15 article “Questioning friendships with Trumpers.”

I profoundly agree with Mr. Shapiro’s column on friendships with Trumpers, as well as his opinion of Mr. Trump himself. My caution is to remember, as I taught my children, you cannot expect to be friends with everyone. We choose our friends, and they choose us, due to compatibility in many areas, including morals and ethics, common interests, way of thinking, and how we treat other people. Just because you aren’t friends with everyone, however, does not give you permission to be mean towards others. This includes uncivil behavior like shouting, name calling, gossiping, demeaning, stereotyping, etc. We are called to be kind to one another, to treat everyone with dignity and respect, regardless of whether they are our friends.

Choose your word and your friends wisely.

Nancy Smith

Midtown

Complaints going nowhere?

Re: the April 23 letter “No responsibility?”

I feel your pain on this. This is a Tucson ADOT website to file complaints. I don’t know if anyone, anywhere actually reads these complaints, but at least we’re doing OUR part when we file it. If they let their plate tags expire like that, just think what kind of insurance they have (I would guess NONE). I just submitted another one I saw this morning. Everyone check it out and make ADOT and Tucson PD responsible for these people! azdot.gov report vehicle violations … I can’t report the exact URL … but you can type that into google and find it!

Troy Curtis

East side