Double standard
Re: “Voter Fraud Case Is a Travesty of Justice — The system worked, Crystal Mason’s provisional vote didn’t count, so prosecution should end,” Wednesday editorial.
I have been following the Crystal Mason case and the district attorney’s attempts to have her case reversed. It appalls that he is so determined to lock her up when in fact she was not aware of her illegibility and filed a provisional ballot in case she was not eligible. There was no deceit on her part.
Now lets look at Russ Casey. He was a sitting justice of the peace in Tarrant County who actually forged signatures on a petition to get on the ballot of the March 6 primary, the same election as Crystal Mason’s offense. Here is a sitting justice of the peace who knew the rules and actually forged signatures.
If there was ever an offender that should have gone to prison, it was him but he got a slap on the wrist and was sent on his way. Why is the district attorney so determined to prosecute Mason and let the other offense off so easy? I could play the race card or chalk it up to partisan politics. Make it make sense.
Ernest Taylor, Lancaster
Perversion of justice
You are right that the case of Crystal Mason is a travesty of justice. If justice was blind, it is Ken Paxton who should be in jail. But his friends in the Senate ensured he was not guilty of 16 charges, including bribery, obstruction of justice, conspiracy and abuse of the public’s trust.
In Texas, the perversion of justice will continue as long as voters continue to elect self-serving leaders and give them control of our state government.
Fernando Rojas, Mesquite
Voter fraud pretense
Re: “1.1 million names dropped since 2021, governor says — Abbott calls it success, credits it to anti-fraud legislation he signed,” Wednesday Metro & Business story.
Once again, our tax money is being spent on a solution in search of a problem. As Sarah Xiyi Chen of the Texas Civil Rights Project comments, Gov. Greg Abbott’s announcement isn’t transparent in having more than 1 million names stripped from the voting rolls. Chen comments that there is no evidence that his action is either legal or meets a need. Besides, it has been shown that there is almost no voter fraud to be found in Texas.
In addition, Attorney General Ken Paxton is “looking into” claims that some organizations are registering illegal voters outside driver’s license offices and also intimidating Latino candidates. He says there were third-hand reports by someone who “saw” a massive line of immigrants registering outside a driver’s license office. These reports have been deemed erroneous but he’s still pursuing it.
Texans need to feel free to vote without intimidation or surprises at the polls when told they are no longer on the rolls. The heavy footstep of power from our elected officials is growing more onerous every day.
Carol Stephenson, Mesquite
Kroger prices bear watching
Re: “Merger to be argued in court — Judge will decide whether to grant FTC injunction in Kroger-Albertsons deal,” Monday news story.
As your story points out, Kroger says it needs to merge to be competitive while the Federal Trade Commission says history shows less competition will raise prices. Which should we believe?
The answer is in recent history. Kroger has already implemented “surge pricing,” where prices change daily. For example, over the last two months, Kroger chocolate milk has fluctuated in price from June’s $3.89 a gallon to July’s $4.19, to August’s $3.99.
It appears even with competition, Kroger’s actions belie its argument. I believe the FTC. Surge pricing is price gouging.
Paul E. Schmidt, Dallas/Lakewood
Harris’ policy fits with law
Re: “Still Bad Ideas Despite Fancy Names — Policy proposals from both candidates could upend the economy,” Monday editorial.
This editorial alleges that Kamala Harris’ statements about price gouging from grocery companies appear to be “a scheme to cap prices.” I disagree. A ban on price gouging on groceries, as with any retail product, is well within the scope of the law.
Many states have price-gouging laws, including Texas. Attorney General Ken Paxton has sued gas stations, hotels and egg providers among others for price gouging especially after natural disasters. I doubt anyone would accuse him of wanting price controls.
Harris is not trying to have price controls or setting prices of any goods by advocating against price gouging. She is simply trying to protect consumers from companies that may be gouging prices. Whether grocers are price gouging is another question.
Brian Bowles, Dallas/southwest Oak Cliff
Multiple cultures good
Re: “What are our alternatives?” by Jack Carroll, Monday Letters.
Included in this letter are the words “Add to that the dramatic dilution of our American culture from the overwhelming flood of undocumented immigrants.” Dramatic dilution? How about enlightened enhancement?
Growing up in Dallas, I experienced only a white/Black culture, mostly white since segregation was still in place. It was lacking, which I discovered only after traveling in Europe a few short years after college.
For many following years, I visited some of the countries from which our documented and undocumented immigrants come and learned of the richness of the world outside our boundaries.
Our enormous population is significantly enhanced by this influx of people from all parts of the world. We are so much better for having them and the multiplicity of their cultures in our country.
Barbara Green Stone, Far North Dallas
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