Letters to the Editor — Mass shootings, coffee pods, Texas grid, Brazilian protests

Don’t turn into numb to shootings

Last weekend we discovered about one other tragic mass taking pictures. This time no less than 11 individuals up to now have been killed and 10 extra injured at a dance studio in California. And then on Monday, seven individuals in Half Moon Bay have been killed in a mass taking pictures. The stunning truth is that this raises the variety of mass shootings to 39 in 2023 — and it’s nonetheless January. We should ask: Why is the authorities not enacting extra stringent — but affordable — gun legal guidelines?

Some argue that that is due to the affect of the National Rifle Association. Perhaps. But a part of the purpose could also be that the public has turn into desensitized by the fixed streaming of tales about violence.

As students in communication have documented, when uncovered to inordinate quantities of images and phrases detailing alarming occasions, the pure tendency is to assume these occasions are routine, regular — and anticipated. Hence, it might not be shocking that there’s much less of the sort of emotional response wanted to inspire residents to strain their leaders to undertake insurance policies to alleviate the drawback.

I worry that’s what we’re witnessing with current mass shootings and the media’s saturated protection, particularly with the repetitive news loops that happen on this day of 24/7 cable tv.

Richard A. Cherwitz, Austin

Coffee or leisure?

Re: “Coffee pods getting an undeserved bad rap — Other brewing methods are harder on the planet, experts say,” Sunday news story.

Science is great, however the story about coffee pods, coffee brewing and the setting left me perplexed. Why not research and quantify the carbon footprint generated by attendance at live shows or main sporting occasions? About 100,000 individuals can match into AT&T Stadium. Something has to get them there. Food and drink can be found.

Where are the research on the environmental impression of NASCAR races, which eat gallons of gas, produce exhaust, with no objective however to drive lots of miles in a circle? On monster truck jams, grime bike races, the Rose Bowl and Macy’s parades?

The record of potentialities for significant research is limitless. But somebody had to decide on coffee pods and brewing.

The story concludes with a suggestion about mindfulness: “… ask yourself if you actually want that cup of coffee and whether you’re going to drink all of it.” That is safer than asking somebody to surrender leisure to save the planet.

Cynthia Stock, Garland

Return to regulated utilities

Re: “PUC reforms won’t fix Texas power grid — Market redesigns increase costs to consumers and don’t address winterization,” by Zack Abnet, Monday Opinion.

I counsel that this writer and your complete editorial board learn Shorting the Grid by Meredith Angwin, subtitled, The Hidden Fragility of Our Electric Grid. She describes how closed conferences, arcane public sale guidelines and five-minute planning horizons will topple the reliability of our electrical grid.

The e-book reveals that our leaders have created a horribly tangled, bureaucratic mess that’s past understanding by most mortals. Time to ditch the inane complexities of Regional Transmission Organizations and return to regulated electrical utilities.

Tom L. Davis, Carrollton

A small worth to pay for energy

At first, I used to be puzzled as to Abnet’s level. He doesn’t like the grid proposal from the PUC, a plan referred to as the efficiency credit score mechanism, which can pay for having producing capability on standby — dispatchable — for us in the occasion of an emergency), however he didn’t provide any options.

He spoke of resiliency, sustainability and effectivity however by no means talked about reliability, which was the difficulty. On second studying, I discovered the key close to the finish, “wind and solar would be left by the wayside.”

Abnet’s drawback is that the repair designed by the PUC does handle the difficulty. We have invested an excessive amount of in wind and photo voltaic and wish to make investments extra in dispatchable (gasoline, coal) energy vegetation. The author appears to solely need to promote his agenda of spending extra on renewables, which frequently show nugatory in instances of disaster.

The PUC is exactly right to help a plan to assist us construct extra fossil gas vegetation when wanted. It will price us extra, however solely a couple of 2% improve in our utility payments — a small worth to keep away from one other February 2021.

Clifford Holliday, Colleyville

Violence in Brazil scary

I strongly condemn the anti-democratic violence seen in Brasília. The assault in opposition to all three branches of the Brazilian authorities, with some help from the Brazilian navy, is a daunting and alarming assault on world democracy. The worldwide neighborhood should stand in solidarity with Brazil’s democratically elected authorities and help its efforts to uphold and defend the rule of legislation.

Those accountable for this blatant try to undermine the will of the Brazilian individuals have to be held absolutely to account. Democracies worldwide should clearly and explicitly push again in opposition to anti-democratic efforts and embolden their commitments to freedom and justice.

Paul Bacon, Hallandale Beach, Fla.

In Brazil and in the U.S.

Fascinating the distinction in the United States and Brazil when the conservative right-wing events in each nations lead an revolt as a result of they misplaced their elections. In the United States, our conservatives have tried to stonewall the investigation into our revolt and have even allowed the chief of the revolt to run once more for the presidency.

In Brazil, the chief of the revolt, Jair Bolsonaro, has fled the nation and appears to be hiding in Florida.

Now dwelling in Florida, our former president has made overtures to pardon the insurrectionists ought to he ever win one other election. That noise you hear is simply historical past repeating itself.

Ralph Goins, Coppell

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