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Articles by Barbara Hall
Letter: Cleaning Up
Juan Ciscomani’s signs don’t mention his party, and the Tucson Agenda reported that his political ads and Twitter feed don’t mention Trump or the fact that Trump endorsed him. He’s also attempting to present himself as bipartisan. In fact, his voting record is 100% for Trump initiatives. (His official congressional site and weekly newsletter still mention Trump regularly.) So, along with many Republicans, he’s trying to distance himself locally from Trump to get reelected.
Letter: How about therapy?
Trump won’t admit his personally selected crony botched the Reflecting Pool job. He blames imaginary vandals, and the Park Service, DC prosecutor, and Interior Secretary echo his lie. When the cases against the supposed vandals go to court, where facts and evidence matter, the DC prosecutor ends up admitting incompetence was the cause. Trump won’t admit his Iran war is a disaster for our reputation, economy, and weapons supply. His Cabinet and Republican Congress go along with his posturing.
Letter: The New Scare Word
Recent successes of DSA candidates in NYC primaries have right-wing publications, pundits, podcasters, and politicians (including Trump} clutching their pearls and warning of the imminent takeover of the Democratic party by “communists.” Three points: (1) Although campaign money is national these days, issues and therefore politics are still local. DSA candidates’ success in other places is open to question. 2) Under communism, the state controls and directs the means of production.
Letter: The Mugging of America
In one week: The NYT reported that Trump did 3600 stock trades worth up to $750 million in the first quarter, purchasing stock in companies that were about to get lucrative contracts from his government. Someone in the administration made $800 million on insider trading in oil. Fruit-flavored vapes were approved after Big Tobacco donated $5 million to Trump. The IRS “settled” Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit by establishing a $1.8 billion slush fund.
Letter: Pumping oil markets instead of oil
Numerous publications are following oil futures as the war with Iran proceeds. They’ve noted significant activity in the market just before Trump makes announcements about the status of negotiations or conflict – a sign of insider trading. These insiders have gotten hundreds of millions of dollars from their trades. Given that the most likely perpetrators of this illegal activity are members of the administration or their hangers-on, what is the probability that they’ll be investigated?
Letter: Empowerment Scholarship Account funding
A common comment about the AZ voucher program is that “money moves with the student”. This is only partially correct. If a student moves from the public system to a private school, the voucher allocation is based on the amount the state pays for a charter school student, which is higher than the rate for one in a regular public school. Vouchers for students from public schools in wealthy districts that don’t receive state aid are a new cost for the state.
Barbara Hall (1943–2026) of Glen Carbon, IL | Obituary
A life-long member of the United Methodist Church, Barbara Lee Hall, age 82, of Keystone Place at Magnolia Commons in Glen Carbon, IL, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, friend, and resident, joined the Church Triumphant on Monday, March 2, 2026, and was surrounded by her loved ones. Barb was undoubtedly met by her late husband, Joseph Hall, who has been waiting to be reunited with his wife.
Letter: How to make America poorer
Abandon diplomatic and soft power options. Discontinue foreign aid; withdraw from international institutions to ensure the US loses influence in global initiatives and events. Alienate trading partners with tariffs to reduce customer bases for US goods (soybeans, anyone?) and encourage formation of free-trade zones without US participation. Politicize the Fed to raise borrowing costs and undermine the dollar as the world’s reserve currency; help China supplant it with the yuan.
Letter: The Business of Outrage
A new feature on X (formerly Twitter) has revealed that many popular accounts with divisive partisan postings, purportedly from Americans, are coming from Asia, Africa, and eastern Europe. Foreign governments have used social media to spread disinformation (fake videos, news stories, and posts) to manipulate voters and influence U.S. elections. But the platforms incentivize another motive: money.
Letter: A joke?
One has to wonder where hate for America truly exists, when the President of the United States posts a video of himself dumping excrement on citizens from a plane named King Trump while wearing a crown and both the Vice President and Speaker of the House pass it off as a “joke.” An old saying: Many a true word is said in jest. Barbara Hall Midtown Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star. Video Player is loading.
Ann Wilson Announce Feature Length Documentary Film "IN MY VOICE," Directed By Barbara Hall
ANN WILSON ANNOUNCES DOCUMENTARY “IN MY VOICE” DIRECTED BY BARBARA HALL WATCH TEASER HERE Rock icon Ann Wilson, singer-songwriter and founder of Heart, will unveil her remarkable life story in the forthcoming feature documentary “IN MY VOICE”. Told in Ann’s own words, the film traces her extraordinary 75-year journey, from a nomadic childhood to the stages of the world’s biggest arenas, and into a bold new creative chapter.
Letter: Missing links
Ongoing analysis of the Texas disaster reveals the many “moving parts” involved in managing major events. NWS provides forecasts and estimates of the potential danger; an NWS coordinator deals with local authorities, who warn the population under threat and organize evacuations. FEMA positions search-and-rescue and medical crews nearby to quickly aid local operations after the event; other FEMA personnel on the ground provide survivors with information needed to obtain agency help.
Letter: It is a choice
“There are two ways of viewing the government's duty in matters affecting economic and social life.
Letter: Public show vs. private reality
Trump promised mass deportations of undocumented immigrants — “rough people ... from jails, prisons, mental institutions” — and staged dramatic displays, such as showing chained prisoners in El Salvador, calling them the “worst of the worst.” Yet in court, where facts matter, government lawyers made no such claims.
Letter: Re: Deduction Redux
Both opinion pieces neglect an important fact. Their high-tax state examples send more to the federal government than they receive back, and their frugal states receive more than they send. In 2023, for example, New Yorkers paid about $89 billion more to the federal government than they received back. California paid $78 billion more. We can, as suggested, let the states live within their means and not have the federal government "redistributing tax dollars . . .
Letter: An obvious lesson
Biden’s decline while in office has sparked widespread discussion, but the obvious lesson is rarely mentioned: the need to monitor the current president for signs of decline and his administration for potential coverup actions. Trump’s erratic behavior regarding tariffs, with officials and his staff apparently unaware of major policy shifts, is alarming.
Letter: Elon's new marketing firm
Musk relied heavily on government subsidies to build and expand his businesses. As head of DOGE, he’s pushed for contracts with multiple agencies. Now the government is actively promoting his products. The White House Tesla commercial and the Secretary of Commerce pitching the company’s stock were only the beginning. The State Department is encouraging foreign countries to invest in American businesses to "ease tariff negotiations," specifically mentioning Starlink.
Local opinion: The powerhouse behind America's greatest innovations
The following is the opinion and analysis of the writer: How many times have you used technology that didn’t exist years ago without a thought? Maybe today you turned on your desk light with its LED bulb, microwaved your coffee, read your email, used Google Maps to find a client meeting, checked your smartwatch, and looked up the weather report before heading to work. Maybe this year you got a COVID vaccine, drove a hybrid car, had a mammogram or a genetic test.
Letter: Support for Free Speech
Apparently some forms of free speech are more acceptable to this administration than others. The use of ‘Gulf of Mexico’ by the Associated Press requires retaliation from Trump and public scolding from multiple Republicans in Congress. But Russian propaganda is okayed for distribution, causing the State Department to shut down its office that dealt with misinformation and disinformation spread by Russia. Barbara Hall Midtown Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: Binary choices
Many letters by supporters of the current administration show a pattern of either/or thinking: either someone supports DOGE or they support waste and fraud; either someone supports RFK Jr or they support Big Pharma advertising; either someone supports current immigration tactics or they support open borders and keeping criminals in the country. How about a little nuance in considering our nation’s issues?
Letter: Lawless by choice
Every new administration has different priorities than the previous one. Normally, the President works with Congress to establish his funding priorities. Any necessary staff reductions are handled with procedures that protect the legal rights of staff members. Since Republications control Congress and the White House, the Trump administration could have worked with Congress to implement his policies in a normal budgeting process. Staff reductions could have been handled in regular fashion.
Letter: The goal
By now, the chaos and cluelessness of the DOGE ‘reorganization’ are apparent, and the list of cut programs is so full of errors that the touted savings are questionable. Since many of the programs are culture-war targets, however, the administration can distract the MAGA base from the fact that they are a small part of federal spending -- the Republican budget will also require reductions in major health-care programs and Social Security.
Letter: Selective hearing
Republican politicians who are limiting their town hall meetings to vetted groups of supporters should reread the Bill of Rights, Amendment 1, about the “right of the people . . . to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” Barbara Hall Midtown Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star. Video Player is loading. Current Time 0:00 Duration -:- Remaining Time --:- Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. End of dialog window.
Letter: Sequel to trickle down in production now
Regardless of policy changes in other areas, tax cuts for corporations and the rich are always on the Republican agenda. To make this palatable to the non-rich, "trickle-down theory" has been invoked since the Reagan presidency. Basic idea: giving more money to these folks will lead to major economic growth, more jobs and eventually higher wages. Although this may sound plausible, research shows that it doesn’t work.
Letter: ‘Fraud and Waste’ equals Smoke and Mirrors
Trump/DOGE have eliminated, incapacitated, or reduced funding for organizations that have successfully found and prosecuted fraud, i.e. independent inspectors general and the GAO. Trump appointees have directed enforcement agencies to deemphasize corruption and fraud cases. In addition, serious efforts to detect fraud need forensic accountants with detailed knowledge and experience, not software engineers. Conclusion: It’s not about fraud. Waste is a subjective judgment.
Letter: An observation . . .
Although Republicans are remaining mute or publicly supporting the current Musk/Trump actions, a number are privately scrambling to convince Trump to save programs that impact some of their constituents (think donors and re-election). Meanwhile, Democratic Attorneys General are suing and obtaining restraining orders and injunctions against the duo, citing harms arising from the laws being broken. Looks like the Republicans are the Who-You-Know Party and Democrats are the Rule-Of-Law Party.
Letter: "Authorized" hacking
Elon Musk and unidentified persons in his group obtained access to Treasury and USAID data bases that contain detailed information on the extensive financial transactions of the federal government -- tax records, Social Security payments, etc. Federal employees who resisted this intrusion were dismissed.
Letter: It’s back. . .
The Trump administration’s recent move to pause grant funding in federal agencies until the proposed projects are reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for compatibility with Trump’s agenda is straight out of the pages of Project 2025. Trump disavowed Project 2025 during his campaign when there was a backlash after its proposals became known.
Letter: Christmas gifts?
The recent kerfuffle caused by Musk’s and Trump’s objections to the bipartisan funding agreement resulted in House Republicans defeating the agreed-upon bill. The second bill, approved by the two objectors, was defeated. The final bill, which passed in the nick of time, had many of the elements of the original.
Letter: Mandate?? What mandate?
According to tracking by the Cook Political Report (as of Monday), Trump has less than 50% of the popular vote, and his percentage is expected to decrease further as counting continues in Western states. So . . . more than half of voters wanted someone else as president. Barbara Hall Midtown Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star. Video Player is loading. Current Time 0:00 Duration -:- Remaining Time --:- Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Letter: Who is Kamala Harris?
For those who would like information on Harris’ career and her political positions and accomplishments, please see the article in the Christian Science Monitor entitled “How would Kamala Harris govern? Her past career offers signals.” The website is csmonitor.com and the article appeared on September 25. There is no paywall. Barbara Hall Midtown Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star. Video Player is loading. Current Time 0:00 Duration 0:53 Remaining Time -0:53 Beginning of dialog window.
Memorial service for Elmer Vanderhoop
Elmer F. Vanderhoop, 78, of Wareham formerly of Martha’s Vineyard, died unexpectedly on Friday, September 13 at Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River. He was the father of Melissa Abram and Troy Vanderhoop. Visiting hours in the Chapman Funerals and Cremations, Edgartown Road in Oak Bluffs on Friday, September 20 from 5 to 7 pm. His funeral service will be held on Saturday, Sep. 21 in the funeral home at 11 am officiated by Rev.
Letter: Candidate selection
For those who have written of the “anti-democratic Democratic Party” because of President Biden’s replacement as the presumptive nominee, please read the procedures established by the party for the selection of candidates. Each party establishes its own process, and the details differ by party. Primaries and caucuses are part of the process, but the candidate decision is only finalized officially when delegates vote at the convention.
Letter: What have they done for Arizona?
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will provide $5.3B over 5 years for AZ roads, bridges, ports, airports, and public transportation, and ~$1B for high-speed broadband in rural areas. AZ can also compete for part of an additional $30B available for specific projects. The CHIPS Act has provided grants totaling $20B for semiconductor plants in AZ, which has led to an additional ~$50B in private investment from Intel and TSMC.
Letter: A New Space Race?
Republicans attached conditions preventing 'green’ initiatives to the ADOT renewal bill, referring to them as part of an ‘insane social agenda.’ The GOP is the only major conservative party in the democratic world with a climate-denialist agenda. The others recognize that humanity-driven climate change exists and the renewables industry is an economic engine for growing their economies.
Letter: Immigration Tutorial, Please
Many recent letters to the editor have expressed opinions on the border crisis. I, for one, have only a vague understanding of US laws regarding immigration and asylum, of the processes by which our laws are implemented, and of our international agreements and responsibilities regarding asylum and refugees. During the Trump administration, more than 90% of the proposals to handle the crisis were judged illegal by the courts.
Letter: Border Coverage
In response to a recent letter stating that the liberal media rarely covers the influx of migrants at the border: the New York Times and Washington Post have routinely covered the issue, along with its history, causes, and politics. Actions taken or proposed by the administration and Congress to address the situation are discussed in detail. Bipartisan negotiations to change the asylum and parole systems have been ongoing in the Senate.
Letter: The Devil’s in the Details
The cry of “politically motivated hit job” has become a routine, expected go-to for every politician accused of unethical or criminal behavior. So routine, in fact, it is often either totally disregarded as background noise or interpreted through partisan lenses. But the statement by itself could be either true or false.
Letter: Climate Change Bell(weather)?
As reported in The Washington Post on 3 September: Five large US property insurers (Allstate, American Family, Nationwide, Erie Insurance Group, and Berkshire Hathaway) have stopped writing coverage in certain areas or are excluding protections from various weather events in their policies, as well as raising premiums and deductibles. The reason? Losses due to extreme weather events. When discussing climate change, they say 'follow the science’. We can add ‘follow the money'.
Letter: Access to Health Care
Re: Medicaid expansion hurts mental health of needy, 7/26/23 For many years, increased access to health insurance has been the focus of attempts to improve health outcomes in the US. But health insurance is not health care. The referenced article points out that once affordability is addressed by insurance, access to providers can become an issue. The current system, by default, addresses this by increasing the load on providers and by extending access times.
Letter: Price of AZ Performances
Recent articles in the Star have pointed out the costs associated with the rise and fall of the container wall and the chaos of the Cyber Ninja ‘audit’. Both were poorly planned and ineffective, but catered to elements of the Republican base and raised the profiles of the politicians involved. Tim Seller’s opinion piece (6/25/23) outlined the “drag” show that is occurring in the legislature and noted the number of bills introduced by the majority and vetoed by the governor.
Letter: Trump "News"
The Wall Street Journal reported today (3/27/2023) that former President Trump is employing his usual tactics in countering potential legal charges: attacking prosecutors, delaying proceedings, and playing the role of victim. It's worth noting that none of these addresses the substance of the charges and the role that trials (not public opinion) play in determining guilt or innocence.
Trump "News" (Correction)
The Wall Street Journal reported today (3/27/2023) that former President Trump is employing his usual tactics in countering potential legal charges: attacking prosecutors, delaying proceedings, and playing the role of victim. It's worth noting that none of these addresses the substance of the charges and the role that trials (not public opinion) play in determining guilt or innocence.
Profits, anyone?
When increases in corporate taxes are discussed, counter arguments always assume that customer costs will go up and wage increases for workers will be delayed. Why is it that no one mentions that those two could be unaffected if profits were reduced? The hidden assumption in the usual discussion is that corporations (want to/need to/are entitled to) -- take your pick --maintain their profit margins. Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Something to Consider
Back in the day, I paid for most of my college education with money from minimum-wage summer jobs and work-study programs at the school. No debt. Sounds like "personal responsibility", "hard work", "determination" led to a degree, doesn't it? So why should taxpayers be on the hook for student debt now? Historically, the states and federal government have partially funded higher education, but the amount per student has been decreasing for decades, leading inevitably to increases in tuition.
Opinion | Three former mayors of Toronto on why the More Homes Built Faster Act disempowers municipalities — and needs a serious rethink before proceeding
As former mayors of Toronto, we support the idea of rules and regulations which create more affordable housing in Toronto and in other cities, and doing so in a timely manner. But Bill 23, the More Homes Built Faster Act, proposes to make changes which are a significant attack on municipal powers and finances, and it needs a serious rethink. First, it is improper to hold hearings on this legislation now, when councils are no longer in session.
Opinion | Three former mayors of Toronto on why the More Homes Built Faster Act disempowers municipalities — and needs a serious rethink before proceeding
As former mayors of Toronto, we support the idea of rules and regulations which create more affordable housing in Toronto and in other cities, and doing so in a timely manner. But Bill 23, the More Homes Built Faster Act, proposes to make changes which are a significant attack on municipal powers and finances, and it needs a serious rethink. First, it is improper to hold hearings on this legislation now, when councils are no longer in session.
Opinion | Three former mayors of Toronto on why the More Homes Built Faster Act disempowers municipalities — and needs a serious rethink before proceeding
As former mayors of Toronto, we support the idea of rules and regulations which create more affordable housing in Toronto and in other cities, and doing so in a timely manner. But Bill 23, the More Homes Built Faster Act, proposes to make changes which are a significant attack on municipal powers and finances, and it needs a serious rethink. First, it is improper to hold hearings on this legislation now, when councils are no longer in session.
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