Start from scratch on health care

Thanks to the Trib for its insightful March 9 editorial regarding Washington’s latest shenanigans concerning health care reform legislation [“Sleight of hand”]. It’s no secret this bill is already flawed enough without tacking on additional controversial measures that are completely unrelated to health care, such as student loans. To then shove it through Congress with only a simple majority is not only wrong, it is outrageous.

Clearly, our health care system needs reforming, but what is currently on the table is not the answer. We must advocate for informed, sound and practical solutions.

I strongly encourage U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn and U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards to do all they can to scrap this bill. Our leaders in Washington need to start from scratch and design a health care bill that will truly bring about much-needed reform.

Carole Mann

Waco

Second Amendment debate

I’d like to respond to Bloomberg News writer Ann Woolner’s March 11 column, “Going a little crazy with the Second Amendment.” In reference to her comment that Georgia lawmakers are pushing a bill “that would welcome handguns into bars and houses of worship, onto college campuses and state playgrounds,” Woolner seems to forget there have been recent gun attacks at two college campuses. It would seem that a law-abiding, licensed gun owner might have prevented these tragedies, or at least lessened their impact.

Referring to her comment that Maryland “requires people to show ‘good and substantial reason’ to get permits to carry guns,” does she think that criminals buy their guns legally? Does she think that every law-abiding, licensed gun owner is going to get angry and start shooting innocent people? Does she think if law-abiding citizens were all unarmed, the criminals would just stop committing crimes, or stop killing, or even give up their guns?

Does she think at all? I just hope that one of these “nonthinking” anti-gun activists doesn’t charge me or one of the law-abiding, licensed gun owners with murder after saving her from a gun-toting criminal.

Bobby Custer

Waco

Standardize national testing

The National Governers Association has resolved to standardize nationwide the instruction and testing of knowledge in English and mathematics. Well, it’s about time. Right now, we have many different state standards. That is very unfair to the students who move each year and face different textbooks, expectations for learning in each year of school and evaluation of progress in subjects.

Texas and Alaska have chosen not to participate. The students in these two states then will be at a disadvantage with the other 48 states. While Texas and Alaska may develop goals and testing programs, these states will be out of step with the rest of the country. Texas should be a part of this effort to help our country reach important educational goals for worldwide competition in the coming years.

Anita L. White

Hewitt

Anti-Baylor sentiments in Big 12

Does it seem to anyone else that suddenly we’re getting a strong anti-Baylor attitude from the rest of the Big 12?

Last year, a Longhorn Radio announcer called Baylor basketball head coach Scott Drew “the most overrated, unorganized coach in the Big 12.” Then Baylor beat UT by a combined 37 points in three games.

A UT basketball player acted like he had been personally insulted because Baylor had the audacity to humiliate him on TV.

And then an Oklahoma Sooner fan resorted to name-calling in the Brittney Grinner incident by writing a letter to the Trib calling Baylor Lady Bears head coach Kim Mulkey “Sulky Mulkey.”

Face it, Big 12: David has woken up to Goliath. And it hurts, doesn’t it?

Bob Gatlin

Waco

License plate renewal fiasco

If you have ever tried to renew your driver’s license in Waco, you know it’s not easy — especially if you’re permanently handicapped, as I am. It’s a discriminating, humiliating process.

I recently received paperwork in the mail to renew the handicapped license plates on my van. I have had handicapped license plates for many years. My husband went downtown to take care of this for me since I have to use a scooter for mobility. He took the letter from the Department of Transportation, proof of current insurance and a check. But when he got there, he was told he can’t get them without paperwork proving that I am permanently disabled. Why was this needed on a renewal? Nowhere in the TXDOT letter does it say that we must present this paperwork.

Now he’ll have to take off work again and make another trip downtown. How many more obstacles can they throw in our way?

Susan E. Alexander

Waco

Demolish Sanger Avenue School

I was talking with my sweet, 88-year-old mother-in-law about the current state of the Sanger Avenue School, and she thinks it is a dangerous eyesore and should have been demolished following its devastating fire. She was a Sanger Silk Sock Sissy, and her aunt, Miss Nina Glass, was Sanger Avenue’s principal.

Now, I ask you, if someone with those connections to the school thinks it should come down, then why in the world would LaNelle McNamara work so hard to keep that seedy, unsafe structure in place?

Kate Elliott

Waco