Submit your letter to the editor via this form. Read more Letters to the Editor.
Labor’s Mahan
backlash a letdown
I don’t know Matt Mahan and am not writing here to support his mayoral candidacy. But I do think he was right to call out the decision to give “hero pay” bonuses to highly paid top Santa Clara County officials (“Mayoral candidate target of backlash,” Page B1, Oct. 20).
There is no question that rank-and-file county workers deserved a bonus, but the top tier did not. They get paid quite handsomely. Too, I was disappointed to learn that at least one labor representative thinks Mahan’s remarks are “disrespectful to workers and their families.” Let’s be honest and stop playing political games. I expect more from labor spokespeople and the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors.
Pat Krackov
San Jose
Vaccine refusal show
more than selfishness
In Mr. Roadshow’s column Oct. 13 (“Much concern over San Jose officers refusing virus vaccine,” Page B1) he says, “It’s selfish not to get vaccinated, unless there’s a medical reason preventing it.”
With many police, airline pilots, major sports prima donnas, and even some medical workers refusing to get vaccinated, it’s so nice to finally see someone in the media not pussy-footing on the issue and telling it like it is, as we used to say.
I would add that not getting vaccinated is not just selfish, it’s irresponsible and anti-social.
Peter Ross
San Jose
Constitution’s ideals
don’t extend to women
The Constitution states that “all men are created equal,” but in reality, it only applies to some individuals. If you are not a wealthy, white male, you are probably not going to experience the perks of the Constitution.
The women in Texas are an example of inequality as they are being told they cannot abort after six weeks. If there were equality, we would have a say in a man’s body, but it would never happen because it would be invasive. So why force these women to have a child they may not be mentally or financially ready for? Because women are seen as second-class citizens and are disregarded. This is why we need the Equal Rights Amendment, to have true equality for women, and not a man’s definition of it.
If our male counterparts really saw us as equal, they would be supporting our choices, not making them.
Alexa Mateos
Gilroy
U.S. in no danger
of sliding into socialism
Like many Americans, Fred Gutmann (“Our democracy long under attack from left,” Letters to the Editor, Page A6, Oct. 20) confuses socialism with a welfare state.
America is not moving toward socialism. Can you imagine, for example, Google, Apple, Amazon, Microsoft and Facebook being taken over by the federal government? That’s socialism.
Instead, Democrats are seeking to expand the social safety net and provide some free basic services, such as early childhood education, with our tax money. That’s welfare. Some other wealthy countries are already there. The question is whether this is a good thing or not.
Greg Salerno
San Jose
Democracy’s future rests
on changing filibuster
The future of our democracy is very simple. If Democrats don’t change the filibuster, they can’t pass the Freedom to Vote Act. If they don’t pass the Freedom to Vote Act, Democrats will never be able to vote in a fair election again.
The Republicans have rigged the system so they will win. It’s called an autocracy. Donald Trump wins. They then can vote to allow Trump to remain in office forever, just like Vladimir Putin.
Thomas Sutton
San Jose
Source: www.mercurynews.com