San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
Bring on competition for UPS, FedEx
Regarding “Boo to Amazon CEO” (Letters, Sept. 9): While I tend to be (mostly) pro union, and like most am often not a Jeff Bezos fan, I for one say bring on the new drivers. UPS and FedEx drivers, as a result of their unions, have become complacent and lazy. Boxes thrown over gates and fences, left near streets to be stolen, tossed in dirt and water, left in the rain, etc. are now the norms of everyday delivery. All while reported “left at front door” which is an outright lie! Complaints fall on union jobs deaf ears, nothing changes ever and drivers are protected by their union from having to actually perform their jobs properly and correctly. Not one box in the past three plus years has been delivered to us correctly and according to rules. But the drivers do not seem to care, and supervisors ignore complaints.
Maybe some competition might force UPS and FedEx workers to up their game and give a darn. I doubt it, but on this issue, I say bring on the competition. Throw a scare to UPS and FedEx. Service wake-up call!
Owen Rubin, Oakland
Focus on the present
Regarding “Hillary Clinton, Kavanaugh and the willful art of trolling” (Insight, Sept. 16): Here we are, nearly two years removed from the 2016 presidential election, and columnist Jonah Goldberg — like most of his GOP brethren — is again invoking the name of Hillary Clinton. With prospects for a Democratic takeover of the House increasing as the November midterm elections approach, Republicans are trying to deflect the focus of voters away from the divisive rhetoric and pro-corporation/anti-environment record of President Trump by discussing Clinton as well as former President Barack Obama.
As to actually parsing the record of Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh for his commitment to uphold Roe vs. Wade, there’s this: In a 2017 case involving a pregnant immigrant teenager in federal custody who sought to terminate her pregnancy, Kavanaugh dissented from a ruling in her favor, stating it’s not the role of government to provide “abortion on demand.” Any court watcher knows that phrase is used by those who seek to limit or overturn the Roe decision.
Fiona MacPherson, San Jose
Judge’s ruling revenge
The Republicans will confirm Judge Brett Kavanaugh, regardless of what guile, deceit or lies he declares. We all have a general idea of what he will rule when on the Supreme Court. The question that I have not seen discussed is what level of anger and revenge will be generated because of the likely rulings.
Gary Boos, Franklinton, N.C.
No end to partisanship
In a purely political move, Senate Republicans stonewalled and then torpedoed former President Barack Obama’s nominee for the Supreme Court, Judge Merrick Garland. Now, also in a purely political move, Senate Democrats are trying to torpedo President Trump’s nominee, Judge Brett Kavanaugh. The animosity between these two groups of senators has moved way beyond the tipping point. No wonder so many mourn the loss of Sen. John McCain, who was rightfully called the last of the great bipartisan senators. Both groups of our elected leaders have no desire to build bipartisan bridges. Instead, they seem to be content with crouching in their foxholes and firing away at each other with no end in sight. To quote one of Trump’s favorite tweeted words, “sad!”
Piers Lahey, Daly City
Chaotic administration
During World War II, someone in the U.S. military coined a cheeky word to capture the chaos of war. The word was snafu: situation normal, all (foul) ed up. So I offer a word to capture the chaos of President Trump’s administration. The word is snatu: situation normal, all trumped up. It could be a handy word these days.
Bob Ryan, San Francisco
Nation at crossroads
The United States is at a crossroads. The nation needs to survive if not flourish in a 21st century in which many of the world’s nations are catching up with, if not surpassing, the United States technologically and economically. In the meantime, we’re bogged down discussing sexual harassment accusations to the exclusion of all other issues. The other nations of the world, especially competing nations, are surely enjoying a good laugh.
Riley VanDyke, San Francisco
Find an alternative
Regarding “Brown’s carbon-free legacy requires financial sacrifices” (Insight, Sept. 16): If SB100 is just too expensive, what is Dan Walters’ plan to deal with climate change? Roll over and die?
Candice Wold, San Francisco