Letters – Mega Centers, McKinney ISD, Dak Prescott, Term Limits, Global Fund

Try a different officeRe: "'Mega centers' remain gridlocked — License-renewal waits as long as ever despite added funding, staffing," Wednesday news story.Four little words: "Get in line, online." I walked in to the Fort Worth mega center and was told the wait time would be "hours," so I left. I went to the website and found the way to get in line online. I couldn't get into the center that day for an appointment, but found the nearby Hurst Department of Motor Vehicles office and it gave me an appointment within two hours. I showed up, went right in and was in and out within 20 minutes. About 20 people in line outside and probably 50 inside with little movement while I was there. I believe the many smaller offices are the best opportunity to avoid long lines. It worked for me.Robert Braker, ArlingtonStaff driver's license officesInstead of wringing your hands, how about a solution? I first got my license in 1954. It took about an hour including the written and road tests. Texas' population has grown a mite since then. At a friend's suggestion, although I live in North Dallas, I went to Waxahachie to get renewed. It took about two hours excluding drive time. Staff as efficient and courteous as can be. Only half the processing stations were staffed. And therein lies the problem. Instead of wasting money on troops to the border, put the money where it will count. I'd rather there be adequate staffing for driver's license offices. These workers are an important front line against persons with fake credentials who want a license or ID card for purposes inimical to public safety. I'd rather they not be served by some slapdash or overworked employee. Put the money where it'll do some real good.Lawrence Fischman, Dallas/Preston HollowPutting sports above educationRe: "Big stadiums, bigger bucks in name deals — Prosper, other districts net millions through sponsorship agreements," Sunday news story.We are paying high taxes to a school district that places a $60 million stadium above the education of our students. Our grade from the state for McKinney is a big, fat B. We don't even have the smarts to try to get additional funds for naming rights to our new stadium. But that's OK because any extra funding is going to come from the homeowners. It's the fault of those who vote these people in, year after year, as though longevity in office is an indicator of one's ability to run the school district. And it is the fault of those who did not vote against the stadium. If a move to McKinney is on your radar and you have school-age children, you had better think twice.Pat Johnson, McKinneyWhat $40 million can buyDak Prescott wants $40 million play football next year, an amount that is just short of half the combined salaries of our 535 representatives and senators in the U.S. Congress. It's about equal to the average annual salaries of more than 702 Dallas ISD teachers or more than 727 Dallas police officers and to the combined cost of acquiring the land and building the Empire State Building in Manhattan in the 1930s. Prescott's demand may be in the ballpark as regards Congress.David Snodgrass, Highland Park _Reconsider term limitsFor those wishing we had term limits, we already do. It's called an election.Think incumbents are immortal? Ask Eric Cantor, Claire McCaskill, Dean Heller or John Culberson. If you have enough votes to pass a term-limit law, you have enough votes to remove someone from office. The thing is most people who support term limits don't want their representative removed. They want to remove that idiot who keeps getting elected by the majority of other voters. Most of the time that person isn't even their representative.If you live in Texas and the reason you want term limits is because of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi or Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, be quiet. They don't represent you so your opinion on them doesn't matter. If their voters think they are doing a good job and they want to keep them, that is their right and none of your business.If you want limits because you live in Texas and can't stand Sen. Ted Cruz, that's OK. Run against him or find someone who will and vote for that person. If enough people agree with you, Cruz's term will be limited. If not, be quiet. It is called democracy and we have elections to remove politicians._Cheney Glenn Coker, Carrollton _Support the Global FundRe: "Alliance targets HIV epidemic -- Declines in infections have slowed, and that is fueling new efforts," Sunday news story, and "Step up to fight TB," by Martin White, Aug. 18 Letters.I wholeheartedly agree that a world without AIDS is possible. I also agree with White's letter on the eradication of drug-resistant TB. We are at a pivotal point in the battle against these diseases not only in Dallas by making us a fast-track city by signing the commitment to the Paris Declaration but also through U.S. support of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.The Global Fund has saved 27 million lives since it was founded in 2002. The U.S. has always played a leading role. It's vital for our support to continue to bring the world closer to an end of AIDS, TB and malaria.In June, the House passed its appropriations bill for 2020, including $1.56 billion for the Global Fund. It puts us on the path of maintaining our one-third commitment to the replenishment of the fund. With that said, the Senate must at least match this amount and the president must agree.I appeal to readers of The News to contact their House representative as well as Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz to urge them to support bipartisan resolutions in the House and Senate affirming the U.S. commitment to leadership in the Global Fund._Julie Waller, North Dallas _David Snodgrass, Highland ParkReconsider term limitsFor those wishing we had term limits, we already do. It's called an election. Think incumbents are immortal? Ask Eric Cantor, Claire McCaskill, Dean Heller or John Culberson. If you have enough votes to pass a term limit law, you have enough votes to remove someone from office. Thing is most people who support term limits don't want their representative removed. They want to remove that idiot who keeps getting elected by the majority of other voters. Most of the time that person isn't even their representative. If you live in Texas and the reason you want term limits is because of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi or Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, be quiet. They don't represent you so your opinion on them doesn't matter. If their voters think they are doing a good job and they want to keep them, that is their right and none of your business. If you want limits because you live in Texas and can't stand Sen. Ted Cruz, that's OK. Run against him or find someone who will and vote for that person. If enough people agree with you, Cruz's term will be limited. If not, be quiet. It is called democracy and we have elections to remove politicians.Cheney Glenn Coker, CarrolltonSupport the Global FundRe: "Alliance targets HIV epidemic — Declines in infections have slowed, and that is fueling new efforts," Sunday news story, and "Step up to fight TB," by Martin White, Aug. 18 Letters.I wholeheartedly agree that a world without AIDS is possible. I also agree with White's letter on the eradication of drug-resistant TB. We are at a pivotal point in the battle against these diseases not only in Dallas by making us a Fast-Track City by signing the commitment to the Paris Declaration but also through U.S. support of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.The Global Fund has saved 27 million lives since it was founded in 2002. The U.S. has always played a leading role. It's vital for our support to continue to bring the world closer to an end of AIDS, TB and malaria.In June, the House passed its appropriations bill for 2020, including $1.56 billion for the Global Fund. It puts us on the path of maintaining our one-third commitment to the replenishment of the fund. With that said, the Senate must at least match this amount and the president must agree.I appeal to readers of The News to contact their House representative as well as Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz to urge them to support bipartisan resolutions in the House and Senate affirming the U.S. commitment to leadership in the Global Fund.Julie Waller, North Dallas  Continue reading...