Here are several views from a higher perspective by individuals expressing their wishes for the New Year that were published in The Dallas Morning News Opinions, December 31, 2013.
Listen and compromise
With the coming new year, and considering the very poor performance of our public officials in Congress, I would like to propose a couple of New Year’s resolutions for not only their consideration, but also for all public officials whether they are city, state or national.
First, instead of listening only to your base, seek out and listen to others within your district who are not your base. They may not be as vocal, but they are quite often more numerous. You should be listening to them, too, since you were elected, whether with or without their help, to represent all of the people in your district.
Second, do not be afraid of compromise. It is very rare that compromise means giving up your principles. It is instead a recognition that many intelligent people of goodwill who also have the interests of the nation, state or community in mind will disagree with you, so that the only way to get anything done is to find ways to compromise. Getting part of something is much better than getting nothing. I have yet to read of a great politician who was not also a master at finding a compromise.
Bill Robinson, Arlington
Try for the higher bar
My best wish for 2014 would be that the well-paid politicians we have hired to work for us in Washington and Austin would do their jobs as efficiently as the immigrants who collect my garbage.
John H Brown, Arlington
Give us fresh voices
In 2014, I would like the producers of all the Sunday morning TV “news” shows to make the following resolution, for the benefit of their audiences and this country:
Stop culling from and recycling the same stale group of guests and roundtable members. Allow fresh, unscripted voices and viewpoints to be heard for an enlightening change.
These shows need a shakeup — because we all need to get out of our comfort (misinformation) zones.
Ellen Mermelstein, Dallas/Lake Highlands
Contradictions in Texas
My New Year’s wish is that public officials would stop pushing their religious beliefs and so-called “morals” on the community. The state of Texas is almost an embarrassment when it comes to how justice is administered. Despite all our guns, overflowing prisons and frequent executions, we still have one of the highest crime rates in the country.
Drunk drivers who kill and rapists are given probation, and simple drug possession can put you in prison for years and ruin your life. People can be pulled over and strip-searched for no reason other than someone thinks they smell something. I really hope we have a serious dialogue about our laws and how justice is administered in this state, including decriminalizing drug possession.
Tina Sanchez, Dallas/Pleasant Grove
Shameful parents
I hope you will discuss in 2014 the issues about the way kids are raised. It hurts my heart to see and hear of parents giving their kids anything they want, whether they can afford it or not. This is hurting them, not helping them. Kids go through life believing they should have everything, and all they care about is themselves and spend, spend, spend. Nowadays, kids are taught that everyone is a winner, not the best one. How can they go to school, then get a job thinking they are so special? That isn’t the real world! How about teaching children the pleasure of helping others?
They need to be taught to take responsibility for themselves or suffer the consequences. A good example is the case of the rich kid who has been taught he can get away with anything and everything, and he has. That isn’t being kind to him. At 16, he’s been in trouble before; now he has killed four people due to drunk driving. He’s not even getting any jail time. It goes on and on. If I were his parents, I’d hang my head in shame.
Barbara A. Whitfield, Streetman