Work for healthier lives
As we move past the election season and toward the end of this very unusual year, I am hopeful that in 2021 we might find our way out of the pandemic, especially with news that Pfizer and other U.S. pharmaceutical companies are closing in on a promising COVID-19 vaccine. Once our government officials take office in January, I hope they will work together across party lines to pursue policies that will improve the health of all Americans and foster the development of innovative treatments, not only for the coronavirus but also for underlying conditions like arthritis, diabetes, hypertension, asthma and cancer.
This is a particular concern in low-income populations and minority communities, where health disparities and higher rates of chronic disease have made the coronavirus even more dangerous. I was glad to hear Congressman Marc Veasey talk about this a bit during a virtual veterans event he hosted. This is a time when all Americans and those elected to represent us need to be united in our pursuit of prevention and cures to help our communities recover from this pandemic and live healthier lives.
Vicky Taylor, Dallas/Lake Highlands
We can sleep well
Re: “Big win didn’t materialize,” by Kay Wrobel, Tuesday Letters.
Oh, but it did. Honesty, decency, empathy, compassion and moral values were on the top of the ballot and resoundingly defeated corruption, lying, stealing and unparalleled incompetency by about 5 million popular votes and counting! That makes all of the citizens of this democratic republic and our allies around the world winners. We can all sleep well again!
Jerry Sklar, Grapevine
Provide proof
Wrobel wrote that she “believes that voter suppression was clearly a factor at every level in the presidential election.” My response is to ask for proof. Sadly, just because someone, no matter who that person is, says something is true does not make it true without proof.
President Donald Trump and his team of lawyers have not shown any proof for their baseless claims of voter suppression so far. The writer’s other comment that “the false narrative of the polling in [Joe] Biden’s favor played a huge role in Biden winning the election” makes no sense. Because the polling favored Hillary Clinton in 2016, did she win? Let’s all just try to use some logic here rather than bombastic rhetoric not based on actual facts.
Peggy Tucker, Richardson
Fair and square
Wrobel is correct that a big win and blue tidal wave that some polls had predicted did not materialize. Polls are only a representation of the opinions of people who participate in the polling process. Depending on who chooses to participate, the polls can be inaccurate. The polls I saw made these facts clear when they were reported. Polls do not influence elections, they are at best a guess of what might happen.
Unlike polling, voter suppression is a real threat to the outcome of elections. The more difficult it is to vote, the less people will be likely to vote. President Donald Trump himself did an outstanding job of sowing distrust in the U.S. Postal Service to undermine confidence in voting by mail. Some believe he could have actually hurt his own campaign by discouraging his supporters from voting by mail.
While there was no landslide victory, I consider the win a big one for democracy. The system worked. Record numbers of people turned out to vote, during a pandemic nonetheless. The winner is the candidate who has the most electoral votes. Fair and square!
Shawn Kaplan, Plano
A vote for common sense
Regarding the election, I voted for common sense, not nonsense.
Gerald Blase, Carrollton
Tax cut explains a lot
Re: “Much at stake as court weighs ‘Obamacare,’
Thank you for highlighting the problems that could occur if the Supreme Court rules against Obamacare. Many millions of people would be affected in a negative way. I wondered why the Republican Party would be promoting such a disastrous act against the average citizens of America. Then I read read your last point — a tax cut for the wealthy, which explains a lot about the bottom line of the Republican Party.
Michael J. Roberts, Garland
COVID-19 relief needed
The House Problem Solvers Caucus recently put forward a proposal for COVID-19 relief that the United States and the world desperately need. Unfortunately, that proposal didn’t gain traction. In this post-election period, the need for a COVID-19 relief package remains as urgent as ever. Housing, health and nutrition needs haven’t abated during the election period; in fact, they’ve grown more dire. The safety and security of millions hang in the balance.
The sentiment of the Problem Solvers Caucus remains relevant and urgent. I’m calling on the recently re-elected Rep. Van Taylor to keep showing leadership, as he has in the Problem Solvers Caucus, and speak to House leadership about a robust COVID-19 emergency package that includes $100 billion in rental assistance and at least $20 billion in global health and nutrition assistance. We need to pass COVID-19 relief now. People can’t wait any longer.
Bukekile Dube, McKinney
Big shoes to fill
Re: “Longtime ‘Jeopardy!’ host beloved by millions — 80-year-old revealed he had pancreatic cancer in March 2019,” Monday obituary.
Alex Trebek hosted Jeopardy for as long as I’ve been alive. It’ll be strange to live in a world where that is no longer the case. Whoever takes his place will have some very big shoes to fill.
Joel Megason, Lewisville