Abbott led the charge to ban abortion, but his CPS keeps failing needy Texas children

Greg Abbott lacks decency

I can’t vote for Greg Abbott. Under his eight-year administration as governor, Child Protective Services has failed the children it was established to protect, with children sleeping in agency offices, given wrong doses of medications and sexually abused.

More than 2,300 employees have left the agency this year, many because of the stress of being overworked and of following practices that leave children at risk. And while the agency is failing to perform its basic functions, Abbott wants to force CPS workers to harass families addressing their children’s gender dysphoria treatments.

For a state that has banned abortions to treat those under CPS care with such cruelty shows a lack of common human decency. What is more important to Texas than taking care of these children?

- Annabelle P. Corboy, Fort Worth

Made it easy to cast our vote

My husband and I voted early at the Como Community Center. We were greeted at the door by a young man who ushered us in. He directed us to two spots where workers were waiting for us. All our questions were promptly answered, and we were given our ballots. The workers stayed nearby, to be sure we were comfortable to proceed.

I cannot compliment these folks enough for their professionalism and kindnesses. When we finished, they showed us how to proceed out of the large facility to where we had parked.

It’s a shame these workers, whose sole purpose is to assist us in exercising a fundamental right in our country, should have to fear for their safety, life and limb. Thank you all.

- Carolyn Sawyer, Fort Worth

What about Democrats?

In a recent column, Leonard Pitts Jr. expressed his opinion that Republicans couldn’t win if they couldn’t cheat. (Oct. 23, 5C, “If Republicans couldn’t cheat, they couldn’t win”) Many Republicans feel the same way about Democrats — especially in view of many Democrats’ opposition to voter photo ID laws and to purging from voting rolls people who have died or moved away.

- Mike Jones, Fort Worth

This isn’t about party politics

The state of the economy is not to be blamed on Democrats or Republicans. It all started in 2020 with the worldwide COVID-19 shutdowns. This stopped supply lines, as producers reduced their outputs. When the economy was reopened, everyone wanted what they could not get. Supply versus demand drives up prices.

Once supply and demand are equal again, prices will stabilize. Until then, they will rise or fall based on demand, regardless of the political party in charge. It has been a lifetime since I had my economics classes, but I do not think there has been a major rewrite of how the economy functions.

- Gardner Gore, Fort Worth

Vote democracy, not party

Voting thoughtfully is more important now than ever. Knee-jerk, party-line voting without regard to a candidate’s record and demonstrated character (or lack thereof) is a fool’s errand. You could end up voting against yourself if that candidate has plans to upend policies and programs that you and your family care about and rely on.

If a candidate promises out loud to challenge or disregard the outcome of any election unless it’s a victory, he or she does not value your vote or mine and will work hard to ensure that our votes do not count in the future.

- Wendy Stoecker, Arlington