Letters: U.S. Women's Soccer Team, Drug Prices, Federal Reserve System, Red-light Cameras

Celebrate every successTo those who have criticized the U.S. women's soccer team for celebrating its goals after scoring nine on their way to 13, I ask if they think Michael Phelps and his teammates should have stopped celebrating his sixth gold medal on the way to eight in the 2008 Olympics?Sanford G. Thatcher, FriscoThis was front-page newsRe: "Trump is lowering prescription drug prices — Price transparency, generic approvals and savings for seniors are among benefits," by Fred Schuster, Wednesday Viewpoints.While I was reading The Dallas Morning News, I found an article on page 12A, the Viewpoints page, that should have been on the front page. It details how President Donald Trump has been working to make prescription drugs more affordable. Fortunately, I am able to afford the expensive prescriptions I need, but so many seniors are faced with the horrendous choice of food or medicine. The progress already made and the plans for the future are so important that this article should have been front page news. Please do not bury "real" news that affects so many people. It may have been on the Viewpoints page but it is factual, not an opinion.Jacquelin Wissman, FriscoHealth care progress madeAt a time of dueling proposals from politicians that would seize complete control by the government of medical care in the U.S., it is a great relief to see the progress now being made in dismantling the government structures and procedures that drive prescription and other medical costs up. Disclosure of drug prices and the mysterious practices of the "middlemen" like Prescription Benefit Managers (PBMs) that negotiate and pocket discount are two key examples. We need to break the pattern of the growth of government driving up costs then using that as a excuse for more oppressive government action. Whenever politicians seek power to do more, we should ask what they can stop doing that would improve the affordability of medical care. Richard E. Ralston, Newport Beach, Calif., executive director, Americans for Free Choice in MedicineFed is not usurping anythingRe: "The fed is quietly usurping authority — No public institution, particularly one with significant power to influence economy, should be above public scrutiny," by Alexander William Salter, June 8 Viewpoints.Contrary to Salter's op-ed, the Federal Reserve System, the nation's central bank, can hardly be accused of "quietly usurping authority." It also does not follow, in Salter's view, that the Fed enjoys "increasing power and lack of oversight." In fact, the chairman of the Fed and all seven members of the board of governors are nominated by the president and approved by the Senate. With citizens electing the president as well as senators, it's difficult to accept that citizens are not in charge, ultimately, of the Federal Reserve. Clearly, the board's power comes from the people. It can hardly "usurp authority."J. Herbert Burkman, Dallas/Devonshire'What a load of cow patties'Salter's piece may qualify as an opinion, but it contains so many one-sided, misleading statements that it reads like propaganda. His "bottom line" is that increasing power and lack of oversight represent a usurpation of authority at the expense of the citizenry. There is no clue to what or whose authority is being usurped, what oversight is missing, what actions constitute the usurpation, or what expense the citizens have suffered. But these reality gaps do not prevent him from leaping to the parapets shouting "no public institution is above public scrutiny," "the Fed must submit itself to the rule of law" and "ordinary citizens must block the Fed from becoming a law unto themselves." He ends his rant with, "It is a matter of self-governance itself." What a load of cow patties. This sounds more like a Russian robot media post than a Texas Tech business professor. The Fed is meeting its goals of low inflation, low unemployment and steady GDP growth and needs no interference from the citizens. I am saddened The Dallas Morning News would publish this empty, rabble rousing piece.Randy Ray Irving, DentonRed-light message is clearRe: "Red-light cameras off, but is that it? Some N. Texas cities won't make you pay off tickets, but others will," June 6 news story.Oh, the hypocrisy! Less than two months after blasting Dallas District Attorney John Creuzot as "reckless and irresponsible" for announcing prosecution policy reforms in Dallas, Gov. Greg Abbott signs into law a ban on red-light cameras in the state of Texas. Abbott posed the question to Creuzot, "What kind of message does that send?"I would like to say to Abbott that this new law is "reckless and irresponsible" and would pose the same question to him and all who voted to pass it, "What kind of message does that send?"Paul Zuefeldt, Argyle  Continue reading...