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Congress must slash
bloated military budget
The U.S. nuclear weapons and military budgets increased dramatically under Donald Trump and sickeningly, will increase again under Joe Biden. But this year’s check has not yet been signed by Congress.
Now is a great time to get on the horn to Sens. Alex Padilla and Dianne Feinstein and Rep. Mark DeSaulnier and ask them to take a leadership role in cutting these hugely bloated budgets. Why are they growing? The United States continues to push the envelope in promoting the development of new nuclear weapons, a pivotal one right here in the Bay Area at Livermore Lab – the W87-1 Warhead. The entire Bay Area sits in the Livermore Lab’s environmental impact zone for plutonium and other radioactive and hazardous materials releases from this research.
We don’t need these nuclear weapons, we don’t have money for these weapons, and we don’t want the cancer this research causes. Call and ask that the budgets be slashed.
Loulena Miles
Richmond
COVID policy erroneously
favors Baby Boomers
It’s understandable that COVID is a big deal to the most influential voting bloc in American history. They are the ones most affected by it. And once again, a myopic viewpoint from this generation should not be driving policy.
These are voters who loudly decried the Vietnam War when they were young, but then sent another generation to fight and die for 20 years after they were too old to serve, ultimately botching the end game in Iraq and Afghanistan in a one-two punch of incompetency.
According to the CDC, the majority of deaths of COVID, 94%, are in the age group 50 or older. Seventy-six percent of total deaths fall in the 65 and older range.
Stripping rights away from the younger generation so the older generation feels safer isn’t proper stewardship. Let us take our chances and reap the consequences, whatever comes.
Joseph Boertje
Walnut Creek
Breaking Facebook
addiction no easy task
In respect to the article “Maybe you can’t fix Facebook – but signing off is a breeze” on Page A7, Oct. 7, Leonard Pitts Jr. wrote an engaging article regarding the downfalls of Facebook and Instagram and discusses the idea of regulating them.
If regulations had been passed regarding posts on Facebook, it could’ve played an important role in the 2016 election where misinformation was spread about Hillary Clinton, which was briefly referenced by Pitts. However, regulations for Facebook will lead to an array of constant, unresolvable disagreements, because who will be the judge?
Pitts concluded with a reference to tobacco, making it easy to follow his ideas. However, the last sentences, “Maybe you can’t fix Facebook. But signing off is a breeze,” aren’t entirely true. Social media is an addiction, so signing off wouldn’t be a “breeze.” Rather it would be extremely difficult, just like quitting tobacco.
Bridgett Aguilar
Pleasanton
Letter betrays ignorance
of communism and CRT
I believe that Jay Todesco is sincere in his belief that Marxism is apparently everywhere in our schools and universities(“Activist parents are today’s true patriots,” Page A6, Oct. 8). He is reminiscent of those fervent anti-communists of the McCarthy era who saw communism in Robin Hood and the cartoons of Mickey Mouse. Sincerity, as one really great teacher once shared with me, is no proof of accuracy.
Todesco seems to suggest that those who might disagree with him politically must literally hate America, hate families, hate freedom, and hate all that’s good and decent in the world. This seem slightly extreme, or perhaps I am just blind to the truth when it comes in the form offered by Todesco.
Michael Steinberg
Berkeley
GOP doesn’t back up
talk of caring for kids
I would like to know how many children Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has adopted, or provided a financial and loving future for. This applies to all men and women who feel they can determine what another woman should do.
Government leaders, show us you mean it with your adopted children. If you feel that strongly, you should be taking unfortunate children into your own homes and providing for many others. Put your money where your mouth is and take responsibility for these children, or let women do what they have always done, although it had been illegal and deadly, probably affecting more than the original abortion.
Let us not forget abortion is a federal right.
Joan Martin
Danville
Biden economic plan
targets middle class
Economists have reported that since Joe Biden took office the average family is now paying an extra $175 per month due to the increase in gas, groceries and products. It’s expected to go much higher.
Then we see that in these budget packages, that the Democrats want to hire thousands of more IRS agents and monitor private bank accounts for transactions more than $600.
Sounds like the middle class are being targeted by Joe Biden and the Democrats despite them saying they’re only after the rich.
Greg Thibodeaux
Diablo