Letters are posted as we receive them during the week, and before they are printed in the paper, so check back frequently to see new letters. If you'd like to send a letter to the editor, use this postmarks submission form, or email your letter directly to [email protected]. Thanks for your patience.

Dear Editor,
    In response to Republicans wanting voter photo IDs.
    If the GOP in Texas and other states want voter photo IDs so badly, then why doesn't the party push for state photo IDs instead of making it an issue of curbing voter fraud?
    Certainly, states should have the right to request that every legal citizen has a photo ID for identification purposes. The state also has the right to request some sort of photo ID for noncitizens visiting or working here legally via passports and/or other legal visiting documents with a photo.
    However, to tie the reason for requiring photo IDs to curbing voter fraud is in itself a fraudulent action, and also a lie. The percentage of actual voter fraud due to individuals falsely voting is almost nil. Most cases of voter fraud occur with voting machine integrity issues and with those people in charge of managing the voting system, and processing votes who initiate an illegal action, especially with regard to mail-in voting.
    So, if the GOP wants to require photo IDs it should do so in an intelligent and reality-based manner and not make it an issue of voter fraud.

Dear Editor,
    The letter regarding KUT [“Postmarks,” July 16] does not take in to account the regents (kings) of UT who decide such matters for the kingdom of UT. Peasant or serf students are there to work the fields of academia, not to question the kings’ council. Yes, KUT is now a commercial station, despite its nonprofit “educational” FCC license, as listeners can tell by the nonstop announcements (aka commercials). Remember: “The business of America is business.” (Who said that?)

Dear Editor,
    I was in Austin for the West Virginia vs. Texas football game. I was born and raised in the state of West Virginia and graduated from WVU. I was only in Austin for a very short time but I am very impressed with its beauty. My wife and I are planning a trip there in the future so we can take in more of your wonderful city and also see more of the great state of Texas. While in town, we picked up your Oct. 5 issue. I would like to comment on the article “Hornucopia” written by Michael Corcoran. In it, he mentions that both schools' bands should duel to the theme from Deliverance, which is considered a documentary in West Virginia. I would like to know where Mr. Corcoran got his information from. It would be interesting for me to know, because I thought the novel and the movie were set in Georgia. I understand that there are many stereotypes concerning West Virginia which are incorrect. That being said, I did not expect to see this reference in The Austin Chronicle. West Virginians should be treated with dignity and respect, just as they do the great people who live in Texas. Thank you for your time and we will be in Austin again.

Dear Editor,
    Using quotes (mostly) from The New York Times (one from 2009, four from 2011, and 12 from 2012), Michael Ventura establishes that at great cost, “not much” was gained strategically during America’s most notable two wars in the past decade; that to continue or repeat this course in the future is insane (whoever would do so “should have his head examined,” said Defense Secretary Robert Gates), and he concludes “nobody’s driving the bus” ["Letters at 3am,” Oct. 5].
    In other words, incompetence (which was never punished) caused the failure to prevent 9/11 and has been the status quo ever since.
    It would seem at some point the possibility, however unpleasant or remote, that this has all been intentionally perpetrated would be worth consideration.
    If that were so, what might be the motive and goal? Exactly what has happened: imminent economic collapse and severely compromised armed services. It does appear at this juncture that the U.S. may not have the wherewithal to counter an invasion of its borders by marauding foreign armies. History has proven time and again that a nation’s enemies are wont to take advantage of such situations.
    Persuasion of our legislators seems no longer to be pertinent, if most have been bought, blackmailed, or threatened.
    What are the primary enemies of the U.S. (and all sovereign countries)? The U.N. and monopolist-globalist international banks.

Dear Editor,
    I would be very interested in hearing Troy Walters explain to the volunteers why Animal Services hasn't even asked the city to look into passing some sort of spay/neuter ordinance?
    The boards of directors at Emancipet, the Austin Humane Society, Animal Trustees of Austin, the Texas Federation of Animal Society, Shadow Cats along with the Austin Neighborhoods Council and the Capital Area Progressive Democrats have all passed resolutions asking the city to consider a spay/neuter ordinance. More than 15,000 East Austin and Travis County residents have signed a petition of support for a spay/neuter ordinance. With all that happening, the only two people the city has listened to have been Ellen Jefferson, who told me she was selling out her support for a spay/neuter ordinance for Ryan Clinton's support, and of course Ryan Clinton, who doesn't work directly with animals or rescue.
    I'd very much like to know why we continue on with policies that strain the budget, staff, and volunteers? Why we support policies that force us to adopt out animals to the homeless and mentally ill? Why we won't do the heavy lifting to accomplish the right thing?
    What is the city afraid of?

Dear Editor,
    Many thanks to Amy Smith and the Chronicle for exposing the proposed Jeremiah Venture spray irrigation of sewage on the Barton Springs recharge zone and the city legal's last-minute push to convince City Council to allow the scheme to go forward [“Then There's This: Aquifer Angst,” News, Sept. 28].
    With or without the city, Save Our Springs Alliance will challenge the permit request in formal evidentiary hearings before the state Texas Commission on Environmental Quality regulators and, if necessary, in the courts. But the city should be leading this fight, not bailing out just before the November hearing.
    City experts have mapped over 100 caves, sinkholes, and recharge features on the site, and that's with only limited opportunity to survey the site. Those same experts have traced recharge flowing from the area to Barton Springs in only a few days. City taxpayers have paid for this science – we need to use it to protect Barton Springs and the state's most vulnerable drinking water aquifer.
    There is a reason that no such sewage treatment systems currently exist on the Edwards Aquifer recharge zone: it can't be done safely or in compliance with state rules and statutes.
    It's hard to imagine a more clear-cut case where City Council should ignore the insider developer lobbyists and do the right thing for Barton Springs.

Dear Editor,
    Here is something to add to your report about the judge's ruling against the city of Austin's attempt to "ban" protesters [“Judge: City of Austin Policy Violates Free Speech,” Newsdesk blog, Sept. 27]. I was also "banned" earlier, not for protesting, but because Austin's mayor doesn't like how I choose to pronounce my own name. Huh? Type my name, Ronnie Reeferseed, into any search engine to read about how Mayor Leffingwell is exposed to be a sadly confused, so-called "public servant" who needs to review his oath of office, to put it mildly. Denial of anyone's constitutional rights is not among his duties. After seven months, I was let back in, but still am only allowed to address those criminals 25 percent of the time during "Citizens Communication" segments. Somebody please give me the name of a good lawyer to sue these tyrants!

Dear Editor,
    Texans, please spread the word that no photo ID or voter registration card is necessary to vote in the Nov. 6 election. To find out what qualifies to verify your identity for voting, how to register, early and Election Day voting locations, and more, go to www.traviscountyclerk.org and select the “Elections” tab. Note: You can change your voting address online now. Please spread the word to groups or individuals who have a hard time attaining a photo ID.
    Acceptable ID includes: 1) driver's license or personal identification card issued to you by the Texas Department of Public Safety; you may also bring a similar document issued to you by an agency of another state, even if the license or card has expired; 2) form of identification that contains your photograph and establishes your identity; 3) birth certificate or other document confirming birth that is admissible in a court of law and establishes the person’s identity; 4) U.S. citizenship papers; 5) U.S. passport; 5) official mail addressed to you by a governmental entity; or 6) a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows your name and address.
    Important voting dates to note on your calendar: Early voting is from Oct. 22-Nov. 2 and Election Day is Tue., Nov 6.

Dear Editor,
    Re: “Letters at 3am” [Oct. 5]: Thank God for Michael Ventura. The actor Samuel L. Jackson is coming out with an ad campaign with the theme "Wake the F__k Up!" His effort is to stimulate support for Obama. Sadly, what we really need is a nationwide campaign called "America, Wake the F__k Up.” The banking/weapons/oil/drug cartel owns both Obama and Romney and most of the current senators. Wake up and stop being hypnotized by the current hoopla over the presidential race. It's a mind-control shell game. It's not the important issue. We sit mesmerized by the debates like they are football games. It's time to wake up. If you still believe that our troops are in Iraq and Afghanistan to get rid of evil bad guys and spread freedom and democracy, then you probably also believe that World Trade Center building No. 7 collapsed perfectly into its own footprint in a few seconds due to a few scattered "office fires" – and you probably believe in Santa Claus, the tooth fairy, and whatever else you "heard on TV.” Wake up, look around, do some research, learn all you can, and teach what you learn. Become a true patriot. Security at the cost of liberty is no life worth living. It means becoming domesticated livestock. I applaud this article. Mr. Ventura is a modern-day hero. I applaud the Chronicle for printing his work. Please continue to do so.