Take Volkswagen off the streets
Volkswagen should (be forced to, if they don’t do it on their own) buy back each and every one of the illegal diesel vehicles they illegally sold at a very liberal prorated basis. Volkswagen can repair and resell them or crush them. Owners who chose to, could keep their vehicles, but Volkswagen would still pay for all necessary repairs and pay those owners a reasonable amount of money to make up for the reduced efficiency.
Willy Cunha, Templeton
Shame on you
Regarding “City Hall ignores honor for Mirkarimi” (Sept. 23): Mayor Ed Lee should be ashamed of himself for ignoring this important achievement of Sheriff Mirkarimi with the Five Keys Charter School program in the county jails. This prestigious National award deserves recognition by him, including the fact that it comes with a $100,000 cash prize for the department. His continuing refusal to even speak to Sheriff Mirkarimi is an embarrassment for our city.
Jeff Fleckenstein, San Francisco
Changing city
Kudos to the writer of “Our surreal city” (Letters, Sept. 23). As a born and bred San Franciscan, I couldn’t have said it better myself. I am bemused as to why all these people come here and the first thing they do is change everything. My hope is to still be here when they all get bored and find somewhere else to invade. I think that’s how they roll. It won’t be too soon for those of us who know and love the real San Francisco.
Kristine Lee, San Francisco
Religion ignorance
Regarding “Religion double standard” (Letters, Sept. 23): Why would one vote against a Muslim running for high office? On theological grounds? (Seriously, how many Americans have investigated the history and beliefs of Islam?) On grounds of U.S. national security? (There are 1.6 billion Muslims worldwide; how many are terrorists? Accurate numbers please.) Why would someone avoid voting for an evangelical Christian?
On theological grounds, or scientific? If the candidate in question rejected science in favor of biblical interpretation, if the candidate rejected the findings of 97 percent of the world’s climate scientists on the dangers of climate change, if the candidate rejected the scientific theory of evolution in favor of the theory of creationism, I could not vote for that person.
If the candidate believed that God loves the United States best of all the countries in the world, has endowed us with a special mission to patrol the globe, invited or not, and has chosen us to lead the battle at Armageddon, I could not vote for that person. The rest of the world will laugh at what was once the greatest country in the world, the beacon of liberty and opportunity, shrinking from accepted science to take refuge in ignorance.
Martha Toppin, Oakland
Ignoring parks
Of course our parks are falling apart. Why should our elected officials spend public money on trees, which as we all know don’t vote, when they can spend money on on a bloated bureaucracy and nonprofit employees, all of whom can be counted upon to vote for them in the next election? What’s more important: saving our parks or keeping politicians in office? You don’t have to answer; they’ve decided for you.
Julian Standen, San Francisco
Respect the pope
Some members of Congress showed a great lack of respect for Pope Francis by not always applauding with others because they were not in agreement with the spoken words. This was not a request for votes, and the hardliners acted as if there was a request for compromise with the opposition. Is it any wonder that very little gets done in Congress? Grow up and understand situations as presented. As a Jewish man, I am offended by this lack of understanding for a humble man asking for peace who has come to be loved and respected by people of many faiths.
Alvin Gross, San Francisco
Leap of faith
“Scientists at Stanford debunk lull in warming” (Sept. 18) was very interesting. A gaggle of scientists are trying to show that there wasn’t any lull in global warming. Their only example was of variations in sea temperature measured from buoys and ships. My money is on the temperatures measured from the ocean buoys which presumably had calibrated thermometers before and after. Sea temperatures aboard ship are measured in the engine room, which is hot, and taken for the ship’s own purpose and not to prove or disprove global warming. Also, it would be more believable if you backtested these computer programs with hundreds of variables. Say, pick 1940 and compute what the temperature would be in 1990 then compare this with the actual situation. Furthermore, it would help if they could explain what causes the trade winds to reverse directions and the sea temperature variations. When you consider how inaccurate nextday forecasts are, it seems like a leap of faith to consider forecasts 50 or more years out.
Richard Vohs, Albany
Deal with GOP
Here’s a question for Bernie Sanders, Hillary Rodham Clinton and the other progressive and semi-progressive Democratic presidential candidates: How, exactly, will you deliver on your promises with a Republican-controlled Congress blocking your every initiative? Unless you have a viable answer to that, your policies and visions for the future will be meaningless. It took President Obama six years to acknowledge the power of Republican opposition and devise at least a series of partial workarounds to bypass Congress entirely. How will you deal more quickly and effectively with the same problem?
Ben Bayol, San Francisco
Great coverage
Like many moderate Democrats, I’ve often been critical of Debra J. Saunders, but her work on the current presidential campaign has been excellent. Saunders’ analysis of the Trump phenomenon, the pros and cons of the various other Republican contenders, the silly government shutdown strategy, and critiques of Hillary Rodham Clinton, have all been insightful and spot on.
Gary Cavalli, Los Altos
Justification
Religions are at their worst when their adherents feel justified in forcing their one true belief on others, even at the cost of destroying their victims culture. By declaring Junipero Serra a saint, Pope Francis has told the world that this kind of behavior is not only justified, but admirable and worthy of emulation.
Bob Roden, Berkeley