Letters to the editor: Lend a hand to these family caregivers – Austin American-Statesman

Posted: November 15, 2021 at 11:24 pm

Austin American-Statesman

November is National Alzheimers Disease Awareness Month & National Family Caregivers Month.

As the Alzheimers Association Capital of Texas Board Chair, I recognize that caring for someone with the disease requires family caregivers to juggle competing priorities, including work and other family responsibilities.

While caring for our mom who suffered from dementia in her later years, our family was blessed with friends and family who were able to assist. This month, we are asking all Central Texas residents to reach out and lend a hand to support caregivers for people with Alzheimers. Run errands, help with a household chore, give caregivers a break by spending time with the person with dementia, and educate yourself about the disease the more you know, the easier it will be to help, visit https://www.alz.org/texascapital.

These small gestures can make a big difference and offer well-deserved support to those who give so much.

PatMiller,Alzheimers Association Capital of Texas Board Chair, Austin

Re: Nov. 9 commentary, "Democrats would be wise to confront their privilege."

David Brooks says Trump was necessary to smash the old GOP and to turn the party into a vanguard of anti-elite resistance. And he states that a lot of the reaction against Democrats is pushback against elite domination.

Unfortunately, Brooks is overlooking the true center of elite domination in this country.Its not the cultural, urban and information-age elites;rather, its the wealthiest 1/10 of one percent of the population who pull the strings in politics today.

They are unwilling to pay their fair share of taxes to support the infrastructure of this country, especially public schools and colleges, which are probably the most important element of providing equal opportunity to all the people of the United States.

When Trump smashed the old GOP he didnt smash the dominance of the 0.1 percent. The pushback against Democrats is just a sideshow to distract attention from the real problem.

Mike Wernicke, Austin

Re: Nov. 8 article, "The magic 1.5:Climatetalks key elusive goal."

Commitments to mitigate the climate emergency appear grossly inadequate. Consequences of high carbon dioxidelevels are extremely precarious and vicious cycles will accelerate the worsening of catastrophic weather events.

Without delay, we must decrease energy use, consumerismand waste. It is essential that industries build trains, including narrow-track light-rail lines, to all neighborhoods and towns, and light, bicycle technology-based 2-4-wheel electric vehicles. Agriculture and land management should be reformed, re-establishing forests, etc., and diets become mostly plant-based. Builders should exclusively use carbon-cured concrete and,as feasible, wood, bamboo and recycled materials should be used to build houses and light vehicles these materials sequester carbon.

Any greenhouse gas releases must be highly taxed. Public-private partnership enterprises must lead the dramatic restructuring of the economy. Governments should create money for climate-related projects and a universal basic income while severely restricting lending by financial institutions to decrease indebtedness and prevent inflation.

Heinz Aeschbach, Austin

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Letters to the editor: Lend a hand to these family caregivers - Austin American-Statesman

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