Oppose natural gas curbs.
Re: “Phelan committee to probe natural gas freeze — House speaker asks group to determine whether Biden had authority to freeze permits,” March 26 Metro & Business story.
America’s role as a global energy leader is essential to maintaining global energy security and supporting our allies. A recent freeze on new and pending liquefied natural gas permits to countries with non-free trade agreements puts it at risk.
Texas leaders are considering what impact the pause could have, as discussed in this story. Here are some things to consider.
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the United States stepped in to support its allies and became the largest supplier of LNG to Europe. Looking ahead, Europe will likely need US LNG for decades as Russian gas is phased out.
Beyond Europe, the landscape is not trending toward stability, and we cannot risk further undermining global energy security.
For those concerned about the impact here at home, even as we have reached record levels of LNG exports in recent years, the US enjoys some of the lowest residential natural gas prices in the world. They enjoy.
Texas leaders should oppose the moratorium and advocate for its reversal to help strengthen America’s energy future.
Rob Jennings, Washington, DC;
Vice President, Natural Gas Markets at the American Petroleum Institute
DEI initiatives are important.
Re: “States aim to expand protections as courts strike down federal protections – A weakened Voting Rights Act emboldens Dem lawmakers across US,” and “Correcting the racial bias of the registry – Kidney transplants “Thousands of Blacks Stopped from Caring,” Tuesday’s news stories.
These two stories in Tuesday’s paper, seemingly unrelated, are perfect examples of how important the need for diversity, equity and inclusion is.
On page 2A, a story talks about legislators in several states pursuing state voting rights laws. “We need to protect the rights of voters,” says Representative Emma Greenman of Minnesota.
Directly opposite on page 3A is a story about how black people were denied kidney transplants based on a formula that calculated different outcomes for whites and blacks. was
DEI’s initiatives are important in bringing disparities like these to light and encouraging the study of these disparities. In one instance, citizens of color are being denied their rights and in another, they are being denied basic health care. The need for DEI initiatives and laws has never been greater.
Ron Romer, North Dallas
Strengthen the protest by voting.
Re: “‘People power’ — UTA students protest diversity ban, immigration law, speech restrictions,” Thursday’s metro and business story.
Seraphine Paxson, a student at the University of Texas at Arlington, is almost right. Protesting is an effective way to make your voice heard on a college campus, but an even more important way is to be heard. Register to vote and then vote.
College students can protest all they want, but your vote matters even more. Although November seems months away, it’s never too early to plan to check voting information. There is a deadline and specific steps you will need to follow, including that you must register 30 days before Election Day.
Don’t make the mistake of thinking you can do it all online, because you can’t, at least not in Texas. You can pre-register to vote in Texas if you are at least 17 years and 10 months old and will turn 18 by Election Day.
The website VoteTexas.gov has all the information on what to do. The details are there to make your voices heard. Be active on campus and make your voices heard. And please take the next step by participating in local, state and federal elections.
Perry Brackett, Lewisville
GOP immigration views
Re: “Republicans Can Save Our Workforce,” by Dan Hooper, Wednesday Opinion, and “Trump: ‘Bloodbath’ at the Border Destroying America,” Wednesday News Story.
Wednesday’s edition of your paper featured two stories strongly opposing Republican views on immigration.
On page 14A, Hopper argues persuasively that we need immigrants to “fill out our workforce.” He points out that, “There are only 8 workers available for every 10 open jobs in Texas.” He cited a Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas study showing how immigrants — both legal and undocumented — have helped grow our state and the U.S. economy.
Conversely, on page 2, there’s a report about Donald Trump’s campaign claims that highlight their lies — a “bloodbath” at the border that was “destroying the country.”
Hooper concludes his column with the hope that if Republicans control the White House and Congress in 2025, they will enact “Reagan-style” immigration reform. I’d like to think it’s possible, but given the state of the Republican Party today, I believe it’s pure fantasy.
Bill Mena, North Dallas
AI lacks understanding.
Re: “Human Intelligence Beats Artificial Intelligence – One Thing AI Will Never Replace: The Spirit of the Artist,” Craig Detweiler, March 31 opinion.
Detweiler’s comparison of artificial intelligence to human intelligence was insightful and important. AI’s ability to use existing published works to compose new presentations of this information is impressive. However, there is no evidence that it understands the meaning of its content. Understanding the meaning of any form of research is a hallmark of human intelligence.
Since all biological life is built around the element carbon, one of the mysteries of the development of human consciousness is how did carbon know it was carbon? I would suggest that there is reason to believe that there is more to existence than just the physical aspects.
Jim Wade, Dallas
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