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Fossil fuels have
improved humans’ lives
The anti-fossil fuel article by UCLA student Anna Novoselov (“Climate change stakes are enormous for Generation Z,” Page A6, Aug. 4) gives us the same tired doom and gloom of global extinction that’s been threatened, but unrealized for decades.
The display type, “A Livable Planet,” is ironic because it has been fossil fuels that have made our planet “livable.” Eighty percent of all our energy comes from fossil fuels and it is what has made it possible for the human race to flourish.
People all over the world depend on cost-efficient, accessible, dependable fossil fuels for heating, cooking, medical care, transportation and just surviving.
Jay Todesco
Concord
Numbers give fuller
picture of Trump years
In her letter of Aug. 11 (“Biden’s wins pale compared to Trump’s,” Page A6) Beth Elliot paints a rosy picture of Donald Trump’s presidency. However, she is talking about Trump’s first three years before the pandemic or war in Ukraine. Most of what she attributes to Trump, the strong economy, markets up, inflation under control, gas prices being low, border crossings down, crime lower, happened under Barack Obama. Obama, Trump and Biden have all aggressively confronted China.
Trump’s numbers, like most presidents, show some good and some not-so-good. Under Trump, the economy lost 2.9 million jobs. The number of people lacking health insurance rose by 3 million. The federal debt held by the public went up, from $14.4 trillion to $27 trillion. Illegal immigration increased. Apprehensions at the Southwest border rose 14.7% compared with 2016. Coal production declined 26.5%, and coal-mining jobs dropped by 16.7%. Manufacturing was down and the murder rate rose to the highest level since 1997.
Frank Grygus
San Ramon
Trump accomplishments
aren’t so pretty
Re: “Biden’s wins pale compared to Trump’s,” Page A6, Aug. 11:
It seems that Beth Elliot believes Donald Trump single-handedly enabled a strong economy, kept inflation at bay, lowered gas prices, was a whiz at international relations, and was the grand negotiator in the Middle East. I challenge Elliot to cite one policy enacted by Trump that brought about this Utopian vision.
It is outlandishly naïve to hold Joe Biden responsible for a shaky global economy and supply chain failures brought about by a pandemic, which Trump downplayed for almost a year. Likewise, to hold Biden responsible for inflation and high gas prices largely due to the war in Ukraine is utter nonsense.
Trump’s accomplishments: Convincing 46% of the population that he is not a criminal. Inciting an insurrection that breached the doors of the Capitol. Bringing about a political divide in this country like no one before him.
Michael Meneghetti
Pleasant Hill
Grassroots support
got bill through Senate
Those hoping to preserve a livable world for ourselves, our children and our grandchildren can find much to celebrate in the climate provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act recently passed in the U.S. Senate. The bill, now awaiting passage in the House, contains a huge investment – $369 billion – in low-carbon technologies and is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 40% below 2005 levels by 2030.
With these policies in place, the United States will embark on a transformational journey to wean ourselves off the fossil fuels driving climate change, and in the process remove air pollution that sickens millions of Americans and inflicts billions of dollars in damage to our economy.
This breakthrough on climate legislation was made possible by grassroots support that was lacking in previous “inside the Beltway” efforts. Citizens’ Climate Lobby generated more than 200,000 letters and phone calls to members of Congress.
Abe Mazliach
Fremont
Thiessen can’t run
from the truth forever
Re. “How FBI blundered in going after Trump,” Page A7, Aug. 11:
I have to admit I’m beginning to enjoy reading Marc Thiessen because when I do, I hear Ronald Reagan saying, “There you go again.”
Dear Thiessen writes the search on Donald Trump’s files completely vitiates the credibility of the Justice Department. And to prove it Thiessen spends the first two-thirds of his column attacking the Clintons.
Then, when Thiessen finally begins to discuss Trump he states, “Muller cleared Trump of engaging in a criminal conspiracy with Russia.” That ain’t so. First William Barr leaked the report to put his biased spin on it (there’s a discredited Justice Department for you), and the report actually said that there’s so much malfeasance going on here it’s up to Congress to proceed. And we all know how that went. Once again the fearless Republican Congress kowtowed to a lie.
Thiessen can only run from the truth for so long.
Campbell Hunter
Walnut Creek
Source: www.mercurynews.com