Letters to the Editor — HPV vaccine, cancer, education, Texas driver's license system, Gov. Bill Weld, Republicans - The Dallas Morning News

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Vaccine information disputed

Re: Parents skip HPV vaccine — Rate for Dallas County adolescents far behind other Texas cities, nation," Wednesday news story.

It is difficult to find accurate information regarding vaccines. Everyone seems to be an expert, and the press is becoming less trusted. Therefore it is disheartening to see a science writer craft such a misleading article. The author also wrote something concerning the history and science of vaccines but has now discredited that authority and research by misrepresenting facts and quoting medical professionals to support the claim.

The HPV vaccine protects against many strains of HPV that lead to various cancers. It does not protect against all strains. It does not prevent cancer. It is not a cure to cancer as the doctor implied in their quote. A person can still become infected with HPV that leads to cancer. A person can still become infected with HPV that does not lead to cancer. A person can still develop cervical, anal and oral cancer as HPV is not the only cause of those cancers.

It’s an egregious misrepresentation to claim that the HPV vaccine prevents cancer and to imply that it is a cure to cancer. Parents will continue to be vaccine hesitant as long as facts are misconstrued in an attempt to convince them to vaccinate their children.

Jessica Hall, Rockwall

Cancer doesn’t hate

Re: The Baylor Scott & White ad on Page 12A, Nov. 6.

The personification of cancer by giving it the ability to hate is very inappropriate. Cancer doesn’t have emotions. Encouraging informed, positive patient attitudes and feelings is more beneficial. Is hate the new buzz word?

The current heavy, expensive advertising by many local large health care systems indicates fierce competition. Unlike in other businesses, competition does not lower the cost of health care.

Martha Durst, Richardson

Waiting forever on DPS

Re: “Driver’s license system may shorten wait times — Program would allow appointments up to six months in advance,” Tuesday Metro & Business story.

Let me get this straight. The “new” driver’s license system meant to shorten wait times will allow people to reserve times up to six months in advance. It will take the Texas Department of Public Safety about six months before the system is revised and this is being done because slots fill up quickly in the current “day of” system currently forcing people to stand in long lines for hours.

In other words, they’ve altered the system to make sure the slots fill up even earlier while making absolutely no mention of alternative means of conducting business, opening more centers, or adding adequate staff to meet the needs of the people of Texas. We should all be lucky enough to not have jobs where such wrong-headed solutions are embraced, funded and trumpeted.

James Paglia, Lantana

Keep DPS doors open later

Regarding the never-ending wait issues at the Texas Department of Public Safety, I have a simple solution. Since our short-sighted Legislature has not appropriated enough funds to keep the number of DPS offices in sync with the population growth and building additional DPS offices would be prohibitively expensive, why don’t we just use that $200 million that the Legislature funded in September and hire even more than the 500 employees recently added. Then open up all DPS offices until midnight. Yes, run two shifts of employees using the same offices. If that doesn’t keep the lines down, open up on Saturday.

If Starbucks, Macy’s and Tom Thumb have figured out that in order to service your customers, you have to be open when they want to see you, then the government can do the same when their “customers,” i.e., citizens, are required to see them. For a state that touts how great businesses are, we certainly have not learned anything from their presence here.

Hans Voorn, Frisco

Weld is GOP answer

In 2016, all the “talking heads” predicted that Hillary Clinton would defeat Donald Trump. They were wrong. In 2019, all the “talking heads” predict that Donald Trump will be the Republican presidential nominee. Again, they are wrong.

Although ignored by the media, Gov. Bill Weld will upset Trump in the Iowa Republican caucus on Feb. 3, 2020. Weld is a fiscal conservative and two-term Republican governor of Massachusetts. He served in the Justice Department under Ronald Reagan. Weld has impeccable Republican credentials, while Trump is a “Republican in name only.”

Given the motley crew of Democratic contenders, Weld will be elected president on Nov. 3, 2020. At this late hour, it seems unlikely that the Democrats will find a white knight.

Pete Peterson, Boise, Idaho

Teach 3 R’s, civics, history

Re: “Teach the three R’s," by Julian C. McVay Jr., Wednesday Letters.

Agree totally. Teach the three R’s. This doesn’t require more money. Our money is spent on too many other things. Teach reading, writing and arithmetic. Any money left, use it for civics and history first. Many young people today can’t fill out a job application, write a letter or change a flat tire. Come on, folks. Look at what the spending by the left has done.

William Kuban, Terrell

Contrary to Jesus’ teachings

Re: “Republicans wouldn’t dare,” by Cecil Larry Pool, Saturday Letters.

First, Mr. Pool, let me simply say, “Amen.” You have expressed a heartfelt concern of my own better than I have been able to. I have long pondered the disconnect between those calling themselves Christians and their allegiance to a person and ideology so contrary to the teachings of Jesus. In fact, the designation of “Christian right” seems itself an oxymoron. I’m not sure if there has ever been a more “left” person to walk this earth than Jesus.

Paul G. Hill, Garland

Republicans lost courage

Thank you, Cecil Larry Pool, for your letter regarding Republican members of Congress. It is absolutely amazing to me that any American could support Donald Trump. His tweets alone make a mockery of American values, and yet our Republican members of Congress continue to allow this behavior to go unchecked. I long for the Grand Old Party I remember from the Nixon era when they stood up to illegal behavior in the White House and did something to stop it. Courage and honor seem lost in this generation of Republicans who seem to tolerate any behavior Trump displays.

Linda Pich, Denton

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