Letters to the Editor — Politicizing corporate America, horse racing, sensible driving

Customers lose when firms go partisan

Re: “Politicization of corporate America is dangerous — Shareholder risk comes from favoring one party over another,” by Chuck Flint, Wednesday Opinion.

This article factors out that supporting political events (and politicians) isn’t good for companies. The article repeatedly refers to the results of politicization on shareholder worth. It completely ignores the buyer.

I’m all for shareholders’ receiving cheap compensation for his or her contributions to an organization; nevertheless, if that firm doesn’t ship a product that advantages the buyer at an affordable value, shareholder worth is unimportant.

We see that companies have enormously inflated income for CEOs, shareholders, lobbyists and paying off their favourite legislators who then are managed by these companies somewhat than by a need to do what’s finest for his or her constituents.

The downside is larger than shareholders. Customers are critically overpaying. Congress is paralyzed. Congress won’t ever vote to throw the companies out in order that legislators can do their jobs in peace and prospects will pay honest costs, nevertheless it ought to.

Carol Stephenson, Mesquite

Abrogating civic duty

I’m sufficiently old to keep in mind when the quantity companies may contribute to political campaigns was restricted, and arranged religions for the most half stayed out of politics as a result of it was thought of too soiled.

The concept that the overwhelming objective of a enterprise is to maximize its revenue actually is simply one other method of proclaiming greed is sweet. The Supreme Court took the cap off political donations by companies with the outcome being Big Business has unacceptable affect in politics, governing and public coverage.

These adjustments have worsened financial inequality, produced a degree of disunity approaching the pre-Civil War Era, contributed to the frustration that future generations would not have a greater future or alternative than their dad and mom, and anger leading to growing violence.

The failure of capitalism and democracy to ship a broad prosperity and equality of alternative and rights, right here and overseas, has resulted in a flip to far-right politics internationally. The future for all is on the line. Corporations have ignored their civic tasks. Reform!

Jerry Frankel, Plano

Corporate irony

This opinion has so many ranges of irony it’s nearly humorous. Firstly, companies are already insanely political. The article encourages companies to dictate financial coverage with bipartisan donations, nevertheless it’s dangerous once they department out into supporting homosexual individuals?

Secondly, it betrays an ideology of “corporations can do whatever they want, so long as they don’t question our social agenda.” Some states have punished firms for straying from state ideology. I assume they by no means believed companies had been individuals in any case.

Third, neoliberalism says worth solely exists relative to the buyer. I assume that was all a ruse to justify privatization and deregulation, as a result of all of the sudden it’s tied to materials profit when shareholders need ESG (environmental, social, governance) commitments.

Finally, maybe the saddest half, Flint is so plugged in to the Beltway that he thinks individuals cease shopping for from firms en masse in the event that they solely donate to one celebration. Laughable. People don’t care, not that they’ve a lot of an choice. As the children say: Go contact grass.

Thomas Urech, Plano

Keep the horses protected

Re: “Safer Horse Racing Is a Winning Bet,” Monday Editorials.

As a longtime thoroughbred proprietor and breeder, I’m appalled at the stand that the Texas Racing Commission has taken concerning the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act.

This laws is lengthy overdue and can strengthen the sport and trade. Shame on them. Negotiate!

John R. Murrell, Dallas

Where do you belong?

Do you belong to a church, a constructing the place the devoted collect to worship God? Or do you belong to one thing else, the place individuals collect to worship politicians? Where greed trumps good deeds, the place some persons are declared enemies and the place hate, bigotry and separation are taught.

Does your group increase funds to assist the needy, or do they help politics? Would God approve of your actions? We all want to ask ourselves these questions.

Fred Wells, Dallas

The choice to drink, then drive

Re: “Relearn to Drive, Texans — Traffic fatalities are near record highs, and we’ve forgotten how to behave,” Tuesday Editorials.

First a disclaimer: I get pleasure from a cocktail or glass of wine as a lot as anybody who indulges, so this isn’t a sermon on the evils of the demon rum. Still, I used to be stunned there was no point out of the causal impact of driving underneath the affect on site visitors deaths on this editorial.

You write that we, as a neighborhood, have forgotten “how to behave with one another,” and this dangerous habits applies to airplanes, eating places and college buses. Hopefully intoxicants will not be a reason behind dangerous habits on faculty buses, however as for eating places and airplanes, it’s well-documented these outbursts we have now all seen in the media are sometimes, if not normally, brought on by intoxication.

Just drive on one in every of our tollways or North Central Expressway after 10 p.m. any night time, weekends particularly. The speeders, road-ragers and erratic drivers are out in power. You cited fatalities brought on by rushing and never carrying a seatbelt as “decisions made by people” that might have saved lives. Add to that, please, the choice to drink a half-dozen martinis earlier than getting behind the wheel.

Douglas T. Peck, Plano

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