Planet’s priority

The brief exchange about the climate crisis in the vice presidential debate focused on the complex issues of hurricanes and forest fires. A simpler and more dramatic example that rarely makes the news is the shrinking of Arctic sea ice. Satellite data from last month shows that, compared to September 1979, the Arctic ice cap now covers less than half of the surface area as before and has only one quarter of the volume of its ice remaining.

There is not any explanation besides humaninduced climate change. We need dramatic action to fight this crisis. A good and realistic first step is for the next Congress to pass a bipartisan carbon fee and dividend bill. This would encourage the free market to provide renewable sources of energy while sending a dividend to everyone. The cost of renewables is dropping, so this is prudent for the economy and will provide a large number of jobs. Please vote for the candidates who will make this a top priority.

They flunked the lesson

The Chronicle has endorsed Jenny Lam and Mark Sanchez for reelection to the San Francisco Board of Education. They both voted to remove, and later to cover up, the murals at George Washington High School. These actions showed their inherent inability to recognize historic works of art and an unwillingness to stand up to a handful of knownothings. As purported educators, they should have seized the opportunity to use this issue as a teaching moment about the First Amendment for their students. Lam and Sanchez embarrassed our city before the country and should never be allowed to serve in public office.

Rein debaters in

It beats me why speakers in the debates continue speaking, regardless of the time set by the moderator. Are we still able to listen to them when the moderator is saying, “thank you, thank you, thank you?”

By then we are phased out, distracted and wondering how long this will go on, no longer able to concentrate on their crucial point. Yet on and on they go, heedless of the rules, unaware how arrogance overrides their brilliant argument. I hope Vice President Mike Pence reviews his performance.

No on Prop. 16

Here’s the language that would be repealed if Proposition 16 passes: “The state shall not discriminate against, or grant, preferential treatment to any individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin in the operation of public employment, or public contracting.”

Prop. 16 is not really about “diversity.” Prop. 16 is about discrimination. Vote No on Prop. 16.

Fly as metaphor

It is funny to see the high stakes of the leadership of the free world and know that it is still subject to nature and our humanity. The fly on his head doesn’t mean Vice President Mike Pence is trash or rotting.

Rather, Pence ignoring the fly is emblematic of this administration. Everyone watching at home saw the fly. We all know it is there and he can’t ignore it out of existence. This holds for so many truths that the Trump administration has asked the American people to ignore. Here in California, we are restricting our time outside because of smoke from some of the biggest fires we have ever experienced due to climate change, and President Trump came out here and said, “It’ll start getting cooler, just watch.”

We can all see the fly.