Letters — Iran, Texas Dream Act, Texans, politics, wildfires

Here’s some basic math (in Fantasy Land).  

The problem: “The Pentagon, sinking billions into Iran war, is quickly running short of cash” (The Washington Post, July 21, 2026) 

Here are the facts: 1. President Donald Trump started the war. 2. Trump has used his office to enrich himself and his family by $2.2 billion in his first year back as president. (The New York Times, June 30, 2026). 

Proposed solution: Tax him $2 billion as a down-payment for the war he started.  

You break it, you own it. 

Milton Cohen, Richardson 

Re: “Texas broke its word when it comes to the Texas Dream Act — We promised young immigrants in-state tuition. Then activists pulled an end-around,” by Byron Cook, Tuesday Opinion. 

Former state Rep. Byron Cook’s commentary offers a stark example of how Texas’ MAGA-infused leadership cuts off the state’s nose to spite its face. The Texas Dream Act, a 25-year-old bipartisan measure allowing all law-abiding state residents a college education at the same price, was not a financial giveaway but, instead, made tremendous economic sense for the state. (Read the column to see the numbers.) 

But the desire of Gov. Greg Abbott and the rest of our elected officials to cater to the hatred and bigotry of their base has destroyed this tool for transforming Texas-educated young people into the next generation of teachers, healthcare workers, engineers, entrepreneurs and other leaders that Texas so desperately needs.  

When will Texans acknowledge and act on our need for a government that works in the state’s interests and not to curry favor with their base and get reelected? 

Ann Ward Purcell, Dallas/Lake Highlands 

I was born a Texan and have remained a Texan for 80 years. “Texans keep their word.” That’s one of the many slogans of Texas that we lived and believed. That promise has been honored until now as the governor and his followers attempt to renege on this sacred promise.  

Texas was special because we believed in honor and duty. Evidently no longer. 

Philip Martin, Carrollton 

Re: “Facts Contradict Voucher Critics — Families that received awards are low-income or have kids with disabilities,” Monday editorial.  

And if you really believed vouchers would help stamp out ignorance, I have a pill that clears your thinking. Of course, it was a vote-getter for those who already can afford private school, but whine when money goes to public education for all. Those who have give to themselves. God bless Texas. 

Deborah Canterbury, Allen 

Re: “Judging deeds over words,” by Richard Romm, Monday Letters. 

Maybe the progressives Romm refers to should love our president, but as what was once was called a conservative, I don’t see much to love about him. 

In the face of large federal deficits and debt, he pushed tax cuts and started a costly war with little explanation of its goal and how it will end. 

He pardoned the hooligans who attacked the Capitol, and then he wants to reward them with fat payments. 

He promotes government meddling with private sector businesses; this is after an irresponsible business history that left many of his lenders and vendors out in the cold. 

He insults the pope. Rarely does he talk about following the tenets of a higher power. 

Maybe the progressives Romm thinks will call our president’s record “historic” are Kim Jong Un and Xi Jinping. Our president seems to like to pal around with them. This conservative thinks maybe he should move in with them. 

John Stettler, Dallas/Lochwood 

Romm says judge deeds, not words. He made his list — did he check it twice? Or did he just keep the nice and leave off the naughty?  

He skips the pardons for every Jan. 6 defendant, including ones convicted of assaulting police officers. He skips the 17 U.S. troops killed so far in the Iran war that he calls decisive statecraft.  

These are more dead than at the Kabul airport’s Abbey Gate, where 13 deaths became a permanent scandal for President Joe Biden. Same kind of loss. Nowhere near the same outrage.  

Funny how that works. A real accounting doesn’t let you pick which deeds count as evidence and which get quietly filed as costs not in dispute.  

Romm didn’t judge deeds. He shopped for them. 

Alfonso Cevola, Dallas/Lake Highlands 

Re: “Wildfire smoke darkens U.S. skies,” Friday news story. 

Ever increasing: respiratory damage due to poor air quality from wildfire smoke, unaffordable insurance premiums, multi-billion dollar losses from weather events, migration from poor countries nearer the equator to wealthier countries (like ours), intensified heat waves and droughts, rising sea levels, severe flooding, loss of species and habitat and continuing wars over oil. This is the future that we, our children and our grandchildren will face if we aren’t able to wean ourselves from polluting fossil fuels.  

The choice is ours. Do we continue to ignore the science and these effects or address them so our progeny will have a brighter future? 

Re: “Carrollton soldier killed — 19-year-old North Texan ID’d as one of two soldiers killed in Jordan,” Tuesday news story. 

Marion H. Brinson Jr., Imperial Beach, Calif. 

I’m sorry if you are a MAGA supporter. Looks like most of Sunday’s opinion pieces bashed the president, Ken Paxton or Trump appointees. Even our new ex- FBI writer jumped on the bandwagon.  

The last time I looked MAGA won the election, and it would be nice to have some balance. Please hire some journalists. And maybe a conservative journalist. 

You may not agree, but over half of your readership would welcome that. Media is dying for this reason. 

Frank Wagnon, Southlake