SpeakUp!: Do APS students really need all that math?

Replying to (Oct. 4 letter, “Students shouldn’t have to learn all math”): “Have adults ever had to do a problem like 17/25 minus 4/23?” Answer YES. I use math — fractions, basic algebra, geometry — not infrequently to solve various problems. How do students know that “they’ll never need them” unless some fool gives them that misinformation? Math is both helpful and assists critical thinking. BG

The Journal publishing (a letter) from a retired APS math teacher asserting students shouldn’t have to learn (all) math is a perfect explanation of NM test scores. Pathetic. Apparently (the writer) Mr. Garratt was not thinking of future STEM careers when he was teaching. How sad. JNR

Sens. Heinrich and Lujan keep voting for aid to Ukraine. There’s been zero accountability for those billions of dollars while New Mexican taxpayers are here, with an open border, with elected officials more interested in political clout than the safety and welfare of their own constituents. How about NM FIRST? AN

I wouldn’t mind too much supporting the UKRAINE effort from a military perspective. But, we are depleting our ammo reserves, funding their government and paying salaries with the majority of the funds being sent. … JH

I can’t remember when an unfunded mandate ever ceased to end. They seem to live in perpetuity. Now where will the EV CHARGES within our “electric bill” be paid to? HH

If the forest service isn’t doing any controlled burns, I recommend everything south of Central from Tramway to Paseo del Volcan and south to Los Lunas get burnt. Get rid of the BLIGHT and the crime. ST

When illegal immigration comes up in conversation it is shameful to hear all the vitriol and outright racism directed to those HUMAN BEINGS who simply seek a better and safer life in America (by entering the country illegally). As more and more Americans reach retirement age, we will be crying for more workers to pay taxes and support the expanding retirement population. It matters not where they come from. SP

The shooting at the Española Oñate protest by a MAGA supporter was outside the sheriff‘s office, yet it took 10 to 15 minutes for deputies to respond. Hmm. … DR

I didn’t see MAGA hat on shooter at Oñate event. And he left in a TESLA? Dems killing two birds with one stone. … Demonize Trump & Elon Musk simultaneously. … CJ

Recently a couple of progressives wrote an opinion piece touting how marvelous the Inflation Reduction Act has been for us. BALDERDASH. Inflation is being handled by the Fed, not by Biden’s spending addiction. If it weren’t for subsidies the green energy drive would be kaput. And they want more. KJ

Nice job on landscaping those last four MEDIANS on North 2nd. JFE

GLS (SpeakUp!, Oct. 1) gave you the FANTASY definition of “extremist.” A more realistic definition might be: Farthest away, excessive, harsh, drastic. Either of two things that are as different or far as possible from each other. Seems more appropriate for a bunch of burn-it-down House Republicans. MY

The people at LA CUEVA high school remain among the most awesome and genuinely nice you’ll ever know. No amount of vandalism will ever change that. And I’m thinking parents or siblings of the vandals must know what happened. Do the right thing. SS

Do you think politicians could wait until after the BALLOON FIESTA to put up their tacky signs? JR

Through coercive mandates, the “bandwagon effect” — everybody wants an EV — and incentives, government is conspiring with EV companies to force people to buy EVs. Most people can’t afford or do not want an EV. Government should stop attempting to pick winners and losers, and let the FREE MARKET prevail. TMP

Good to see the Tiny Homes being used. So, how much is this service costing the taxpayers? Looks like it has become just another government freebie. And what of the privately owned CHARITABLE organizations doing the same? GT

The EV charging station mandates issued by the governor are just another example of the lunacy surrounding the CLIMATE SCARE. Government mandates never solve problems, they only create them. The business community needs to rise up in a way it never has before and shut this mandate down now. GH

Here’s a thought: MANDATE thermostats in all federal buildings to be set at 80 degrees in the summer and 65 degrees in the winter. Immediate effect and cost-free. Those in charge can lead by example. MV

I am not crying for the government employees who will be forloughed in event of a government SHUTDOWN. When this governor shut this state down and thousands lost their businesses and their job, the Albuquerque Journal did not cry about it. In fact, they praised her. AVP

Republicans are the party of chaos. If there isn’t a crisis, they’ll create one. If they are under fire for something they did or didn’t to, they’ll accuse Democrats for being at fault. That’s why I’m FINISHED supporting the Republican Party and its candidates. GEM

Just like Mayor Keller wants to build more low-income housing for the increasing homeless population, my suggestion for jail overcrowding is to build MORE JAILS. How hard is this stuff to figure out? CH

New Mexico is a beautiful multicultural state and Native Americans need to realize that Oñate is important to Hispanics. Statues are part of HISTORY and you can’t erase it. Learn from it instead. This does not condone what shooter Martinez did. … CG

I found one of the cartoons on the Journal’s editorial page (Sept. 29) very insulting. Saying a government shutdown will not stop President BIDEN from messing up the country. To the contrary, Biden has worked hard to improve the country and has mostly succeeded. … APW

So Cal Thomas blames Democrats for the government shutdown because they are the ones increasing the NATIONAL DEBT. But as Chris Christie noted in the recent Republican debate, under Trump the debt grew by over $7 billion, considerably more than it has under Biden. Did Trump just become a Democrat? ST

Members of Congress from both parties brag about being able to “work across the aisle.” Why then do we continue to have these stalemates over virtually every issue? It’s time we elect politicians who work on our behalf instead of playing this stupid and CHILDISH GAME. JJG

The governor does not like licensed CONCEALED CARRY. She would like to make it so hard to get a license you don’t bother, and if you do, you can’t use it anywhere. She did not focus attention on doing something as much as the wrong thing for the wrong reason. MO

Great article on HS student, Sinahi Oaxaca, and congratulations to this beautiful young lady. I’m tired of reading on the front page about crime, no-good criminals, and corrupt politicians. This was a breath of FRESH AIR. Again, congratulations Sinahi, and blessings to you on your journey. BD

Wake up, NM Legislature. Do your job and toughen up laws on lawbreakers. Six years for killing someone is an embarrassment for JUSTICE. Life in prison should be life in prison, not 35 years or less. Bring back the death penalty … it would be cheaper. JPB

So the Democrats want to spend millions to fix the problems they created. Problems like no bail, slap on the wrist for $500 shoplifting, everybody walks with Arnold (Tool), homeless get a pass for virtually everything — the list goes for pages. I suggest they call a SPECIAL SESSION. Fix it now. RDH

I am so tired of these right-wing conservatives trying to shove their beliefs regarding ABORTION down everyone’s throat under the auspice of preserving the life of a child. They have no right to dictate to others what their medical care should be or the number of children they should have. LM

I feel disappointed that not one respondent to Top of Mind about the MEDICAL SHORTAGE in N.M. mentioned the adverse laws affecting the medical profession or the deplorable education situation here. What doctor would want to start a medical practice in N.M. considering these conditions? KKW

It’s bad enough we are blamed for CLIMATE CHANGE by the current administration, now I have to hear (KRQE) meteorologist Grant Tosterud remark that our hot summer was “human caused.” As often as his science is wrong about the weather, now I have to listen to his politics? MC

Please stop. We have enough CANNABIS shops for a city twice our size. Just another blight on the city. DP

How can any folks who work support the outrageous demands of the auto workers union? How many of you would like a 40% pay raise and work fours days a week plus other demands? PRICES OF CARS will go up and CEO pay not go down. JS