Enforce speed limits ...
Re: “TxDOT tapping the brakes — Move comes after reports of drivers going 100 mph in Dallas,” Saturday Metro & Business story.
This story reports that the Texas Department of Transportation is lowering the speed limit on several roads in the Dallas area. While this is a worthy effort to increase safety on our roads, it is not going to have any effect without enforcement.
I have lived in the Dallas area since 1990, and I do not recall a single occasion where I have seen a Dallas police car involved in traffic monitoring, much less actual enforcement of speed limits. It seems to me that Dallas drivers think the number on the speed limit signs are the lower and not the upper limit.
I happen to believe two things: That driving above the speed limit results in more serious traffic accidents including traffic fatalities, and that any speed limits are not effective without enforcement.
As an elderly driver, my reaction times are not what they once were. It also appears to me that at the current speeds on all Dallas roadways, nobody has sufficient reaction time to adjust to an unexpected event.
I understand that the Dallas Police Department is severely understaffed. I suggest a separate division, with lower training requirements within the department that could be devoted just to enforcing traffic laws.
Tom Naylor, North Dallas
... Don’t just post them
I had to chuckle at this headline and story. In North Texas, the only thing people ignore more than their car’s turn signal are the posted speed limit signs. If you want to improve highway safety, enforce the existing speed limits.
Bobby Ess, McKinney
Pass this legislation
Re: “Prioritize relief for the middle class — As tax cuts expire in 2025, expanding the Child Tax Credit will deliver help,” by Colin Allred, Friday Opinion.
Abortion rates for 40 years have gone down more during Democratic presidential administrations that reflect the practices Allred wrote about in his opinion piece. He is following a long Democratic tradition of working for real middle-class tax relief and support.
We must pass legislation such as what Allred wrote about. Republicans should strongly support such legislation, unless being pro-life is not related to practices that support babies after they are born.
Bill R. Betzen, Dallas
Backing Allred
I’m voting for Colin Allred in November because I want a senator who will protect women’s reproductive rights. I’m voting for Allred because he will pass gun-safety legislation so parents won’t have to worry that their child’s entire classroom might be killed by a gunman with a semiautomatic rifle.
Allred will also strengthen our power grid, unlike Sen. Ted Cruz, who during the 2021 winter storm in Texas fled with his family to sunny Cancun while many Texans froze to death or died from lack of food or water.
But most importantly, I’m voting for Allred because he wants to preserve our 246-year-old democracy.
Sharon A. Austry, Fort Worth
Backing Cruz
As Texans prepare for crucial elections, we must rally behind strong conservative leadership. Sen. Ted Cruz embodies the values that Texans hold dear — defending the Constitution, protecting the unborn and promoting economic growth. He championed tax cuts that fueled job creation, fought to secure our border and stood firm against government overreach.
In contrast, candidates like Colin Allred support liberal policies that would harm our energy sector, increase taxes and weaken border security. Allred’s stances on gun control, immigration and higher taxes threaten the freedoms we cherish.
Cruz fights for Texas jobs, energy independence and the constitutional rights of every citizen. It’s time for voters to stand with leaders who prioritize smaller government and personal liberty. Texas deserves a senator who stands with us, not against us.
Diane Hill, Garland
Lessons promote Christianity
Re: “Curricula innovations to redefine learning — Access to materials, district flexibility and educational Bible stories will lay rich knowledge foundation,” by Donna Bahorich, Thursday Opinion.
I hope Bahorich is correct that public review of lesson plans under consideration by the state will ensure that they are “educational rather than religious in nature.” Many lessons require drastic revision, and others should be deleted.
In their current form, some are clearly intended to promote Christianity, not just cultural literacy, to Texas’ religiously diverse children. Lessons on Jesus’ parables, for example, would teach Jewish, Muslim, Sikh, Hindu, Buddhist and nonreligious kindergartners to look to Jesus for instruction on “right” behavior, a clear promotion of one religious viewpoint above others.
Another lesson even Christianizes the story of Goldilocks, implying that if she had just heeded Jesus’ teachings, she would have left those poor bears alone.
Literalistic presentations of Bible stories in others encourage students to take their religious claims at face value. Lessons give Christianity much more attention than other religions, ignoring some altogether.
This approach does not equip children to navigate a diverse world. Learning about religious literacy and religious sensitivity is important. Hopefully the producers of this curriculum will do so.
Mark Chancey, Dallas/Lake Highlands
Misinformed
Re: “No religion above others,” by Lori Block, Sept. 3 Letters.
Ms. Block appears to be woefully misinformed about our nation’s founders and founding. Just a cursory review shows the overwhelming and undeniable fact that they were predominately Christian and styled our nation’s institutions around Judeo-Christian principles and guidelines. Our founders were very vocal about their beliefs. To deny these well-known facts borders on misinformation or worse, historical revisionism.
Paul Kramer, Carrollton
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