Letters: Changing lives | Challenger’s message | Taxpayer funding | China angered | Abortion rights | Reflecting values
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Teachers gear up
to change more lives
Re. “It’s a normal-ish return to school,” Page A1, Aug. 5:
When I see teachers Erica Guerrero and Molly Lin-Utzig preparing their classrooms for the new school year and then photos of professional athletes on the pages of the sports section on any given day, I ask myself who of all these people are the most important and critical to our society. And who should be truly deserving of high salaries?
Erica has a vacuum cleaner next to her. Do our athletes have a broom or blower nearby to clear off any debris that might be found on the court or playing field before a game starts? And I ask our readers if all the teachers and athletes were removed from this Earth, what would be the impact on our society. Thank you, all teachers.
Gary Fong
San Ramon
Assembly challenger
deserves to be heard
Re. “Lee disappoints in Assembly but still best option,” Page A6, Aug. 5:
Bob Brunton deserves to be heard. He is a solution-oriented candidate.
He, for instance, wants more people to own their own abode. He wants renters to have the possibility to own. He is also incensed about the building of tiny homes close to the freeways and calls that disrespectful to human beings. He also wants to fight crime but believes in giving people a second chance such as by working at places like Pride Industries in order to learn new skills.
So let us look at what he wants to do instead of his party affiliation.
Marianne Haas
Berkeley
Call it what it is:
taxpayer funding
I continually hear organizations say they need more government funding to accomplish their mission. It would be more accurate to call it what it is: taxpayer funding.
It is misleading to call it government funding; it is not as if the government has its own money. Some people think government funding doesn’t cost them anything. It does. It might help some people to be more hesitant and judicious with government spending. Imagine what the world would be like if every government spending proposal was identified as taxpayer funding. Then one can have the perspective: Do I want my taxes to go to this project?
As they say, money does not grow on trees.
Douglas Abbott
Union City
This is not a good
time to anger China
I am very concerned about China being so upset that Nancy Pelosi went to Taiwan. They’re threatening us, and that’s very concerning to me.
Our military is depleted. People aren’t signing up because they remember that military personnel were fired for not getting vaccinated during the height of COVID. And now our military is politicized because of this woke movement. They care more about skin color and White privilege instead of training to fight our enemies. We’re way too weak to take on China, and China knows it.
We need to bring back a strong military like we had in the past that is only concerned about defending this great country of ours.
Cathy Ledbetter
Newark
Vote for abortion
rights in November
I’ve always lived in blue states and have never had to worry about having access to an abortion. But with many states banning abortion, I feel more inspired than ever to fight for reproductive rights.
We must not back down and let Republican politicians strip our rights. We can’t let this country get even more behind. We must protect abortion in every community.
This election in California is so important with Republicans fighting for a nationwide abortion ban. This election would codify Roe into law if Democrats are able to secure a victory. California must remain a haven state.
My community is pretty supportive of abortion, and I know that if I ever needed to get an abortion, I could. But that is not the case for everyone. This November everyone in California should vote to codify Roe into law. We must ensure the right to choose.
Franny Willardson
Pleasanton
Democratic Party
reflects our values
“The Democratic Party does not represent our common values,” says Lester Price in his Letter to the Editor (“Voters should abandon Democratic Party,” Page A6, Aug. 5).
Preserving Social Security; expanding affordable health care; addressing climate change to protect our children’s future; making taxes fairer; and allowing safe, legal abortion are our common values. The Democratic Party is the one that works to uphold them.
Karen Lee Cohen
Walnut Creek