Letters: Texas Workforce, Immigrants, Emergency Rooms, Traffic, NFL, Racism, Jason Witten

This should be a no-brainerRe: "A Workforce Problem -- Texas must grow talent here, as well as import it," Tuesday Editorials.An excellent editorial on the need for increasing the Texas workforce, whether through birthrate or migrants, domestic and international. You missed the opportunity to mention the 226,000 Texas DACA people who are being threatened with deportation. The Dallas Morning News has reported that they contributed $259 million in state and local taxes. It is also well-known that they hold pretty good jobs for the most part.It would seem a no-brainer to simply settle the issue and retain them. But these days no one is confusing the government of being well-endowed when it comes to brains.Gary Tutt, McKinneyCan U.S. afford needy immigrants?The future of the United States and the world will be driven by technology and jobs requiring college degrees or highly skilled workers in various trades. Today 48 percent of our population of 340 million people are on a government subsidy while the government debt of $21 trillion continues to grow and is expected to be $30 trillion in 10 years. The United States has an estimated 12 million immigrants living here illegally. While horrible conditions are present in many countries south of our border and in the Middle East and Africa, many of the immigrants from these countries are undereducated and will overwhelm our ability to support them. Sanctuary cities and those people who believe we must accept all immigrants need to be asked at what price and who will pay.Ronald E. Larsen, FairviewDon't trample on ER patientsRe: "Cost vs. Care -- Blue Cross: Don't blow the budget at the ER," April 30 Editorials.Consumers Union respectfully disagrees with your take on the new policy adopted by Blue Cross of Texas, which requires some HMO customers to pay the full cost of an emergency room visit if it is later determined the visit was not an emergency. This will make the already stressful, confusing and costly emergency situation even worse for consumers.Availability of after-hours alternatives to hospital ERs is spotty and out-of-network bills are far more likely in emergency situations. As your editorial notes, free-standing ERs account for 70 percent of all out-of-network emergency bills in Texas. Clearly, Texans already mistake these facilities for in-network urgent care centers. This policy will only exacerbate these surprise bills.Moreover, research has shown discharge diagnoses to be a poor indicator of whether seeking emergency care was actually appropriate. While there may be some inappropriate reliance on ERs, this policy could prevent consumers from seeking the help they do need during an emergency to prevent a huge bill. The occasional instances ERs are misused do not warrant trampling on the "prudent layperson standard" under federal and state law -- and health insurance contracts --and the medical risks posed by demanding that their patients self-diagnose.Betty Imholz, San FranciscoDirector, Special Projects, Consumers UnionCollege men should know this alreadyRe: "School responds to criticism of program -- Says group does not treat masculinity as a 'mental health issue,'" Monday Metro & State story.I am quizzical about the efficacy of the MasculinUT program to "reduce masculine violence and sexual assault" by "increasing the acceptance of gender diversity" and "promoting healthy relationship with an emphasis on consent." Isn't this what parents should do to turn rowdy boys into gentlemen? Does it now require the oversight of the UT Mental Health and Counseling Center to teach young college men that women should be respected and that gender diversity is a personal matter that should draw no animosity? If so, we have grossly degraded as a society since I was in college.Dolan McKnight, RichardsonCan Dallas traffic be any worse?Re: "Cars are ruining our cities -- Traffic reduces mobility, degrades public space and has serious health costs, say Justin Gillis and Hal Harvey," April 30 Viewpoints.I completely agree with this column. I am a retired middle-class Dallas resident and have been weighing the pros and cons of living out the rest of my life in this city. And while I love the mild climate, low cost-of living and taxes, great medical care options, shopping and wonderful diversity here, I am increasingly unhappy about trying to navigate the crowded streets. I feel like I take my life in my hands whenever I try to drive around town or take public transportation. The noise and pollution have increased so much over the years as well. And I keep wondering: How much worse it will get ?Tina Sanchez, Pleasant GroveThe LJ legend started in high schoolRe: "LJ rose from local legend to icon -- And 30 years on, his status in Dallas hoops hierarchy is unchanged," by Kevin Sherrington, Sunday SportsDay column.Some 33 years ago I attended a UIL regional high school basketball coaching clinic in Dallas. Skyline High School coach J.D. Mayo was one of the speakers and he brought five of his players with him for on-the-court demonstrations. One of the players was an extremely well-built and very mature looking ninth grader named Larry Johnson.Coach Mayo had LJ do a few individual drills and those in attendance were amazed at the size, strength and athleticism exhibited by this soon-to-be high school sophomore. I remember Coach Mayo referring to Larry as "Mr. Johnson." Little did we know then what we know now, but Coach Mayo gave us an early hint.Jeff Foster, CarrolltonTrump: It's not the how, it's the whatRe: "NFL's hand-wringing has always been about race -- Recording of meeting exposes owners' cluelessness, says Connie Schultz," April 28 Viewpoints.Connie Schultz piles on with her comments regarding the NFL and race. Since the Barack Obama presidency, the race-game is as constant as water through a fire hose. Since there must be a hate gene common to members of the media unified in the destroy Trump campaign, change will be difficult.Color does not define a culture. How we dress, act, eat and celebrate does. Here's a dictionary definition: "the attitudes and behavior characteristic of a particular social group."No doubt we all have experienced respecting someone we didn't like. Should that someone be our president, you need to respect him even if you hate him. Pay attention to what he accomplishes, not how. If it's good for the country, support him. James F. Van Gilder, RockwallThere is life after footballI am very happy for Jason Witten; walking away from football on his own terms. He's leaving not because he's hurt or had less playing time but because there is a life for him, and his family, after football. He's a good, decent family man and if there was a Kurt Warner Award, he'd be first in line to receive it.I worked with Bob Hayes when I was in Clint Murchison's real estate development company and felt sorry for Hayes. Once he left football, he seemed to feel that he had lost everything of personal value.Donald McElfresh, Dallas/Lake HighlandsThe Jason Witten rhymeThere was a tight end name of Witten Who ESPN had become quite smitten Offering him a large financial gain and Monday mornings without any pain That is why Jason is splittin'.Tim Rischer, Richardson  Continue reading...