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Trump is building
a U.S. oligarchy
Laura Manweller of US News and World Report recently estimated the collective worth of Trump’s appointees is $358.9 billion — more than the GDP of 169 countries. They include Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy in unvetted roles of streamlining government through the made-up Department of Government Efficiency. Fox and 50% of America rolls with it as, “That’s Trump being Trump. He’s shaking up D.C.”
No, we are blithely watching billionaires migrate from running their companies and spending lavishly to being the loyal oligarchs running the country. You don’t see a Gates or Buffet among them … no one with philanthropic tendencies.
The oligarchs will cut taxes for the rich with crumbs trickling to the lower classes to temporarily appease them. They will tailor regulations to benefit their interests and steer large contracts their way.
The oligarchy is being built around the authoritarian. Enjoy the show. Spoiler … it has a horrible ending.
Barry Brynjulson
Pleasanton
Alameda County
should invest ethically
I’m Jewish, and I support Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson’s ethical investment resolution, scheduled for a vote Dec. 10. Carson’s plan would divest from military companies and polluters like Caterpillar, which profit from wars such as Israel’s destruction of Palestine.
The Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) says boycotting or divesting from Israel-connected companies — a policy sometimes called BDS — is antisemitic. I say that identifying Jews with a murderous ethno-state is the real Jew hatred.
When an Israeli soldier drove a Caterpillar armored bulldozer over American Rachel Corrie in 2003, while she was protecting Palestinian homes, thousands grieved. Millions grieve the Palestinians being crushed in Gaza today.
Alameda County should never have invested in Caterpillar. We can’t make the same mistake again. We shouldn’t profit from investments in Israel, militarism or environmental destruction. BDS is not antisemitic. It is just. I urge the Alameda Board of Supervisors to pass and implement an ethical investment policy.
David Spero
San Francisco
Richmond council
takes a humane stand
Kudos to the Richmond City Council for their thoughtful and compassionate consideration of the code enforcement proposal at the Dec. 3 council meeting.
It appears the code enforcement division has few tools at its disposal except imposing liens and assessments on properties and so, like the proverbial hammer looking for a nail, they have slapped these on dozens of homeowners without consideration of the underlying circumstances. City Council members astutely noted that some Richmond residents may not have the physical or financial means to address the alleged code violations, may not be able to read the English-only letters sent to them, or may be dealing with issues not of their making such as homeless people vandalizing their property, or cat colonies in their neighborhood.
The City Council deferred the code enforcement liens in the hope of implementing more effective ways to leverage the city’s resources to assist residents.
Elizabeth Dodge
Berkeley
Public funding is
best housing solution
Re: “It’s time for Democrats to get real about fixing housing crisis” (Page A9, Dec. 8).
For Democrats to get real about the housing crisis, we should be supporting public funding for housing for low-income folks.
Can Rigel Robinson name a place where building more housing led to lower rents or more housing for people with low incomes? In California? In the United States? Anywhere?
Margot Smith
Berkeley
American institutions
may not survive Trump
A month before Donald Trump officially takes office, there’s no reason to believe that America’s Constitution, system of checks and balances, or centuries-long aspirations to be the land of the free and the brave (including those courageous enough to speak out against all-powerful bullies and tyrants who pose a risk to their jobs, pocketbooks, families and reputations) will survive.
As the saying goes, “The president you elect, is the president you deserve.”
All voters and non-voters alike are responsible for whatever the next four years bring our way by virtue of our failure to respect, empathize with and find common ground with one another.
Linda Thorlakson
Castro Valley
Source: www.mercurynews.com