Trump must earn our respect first
About all you need to know about President Trump is that when asked on a morning news show about the Navy SEAL who lost his life in the recent Yemen raid, he chose to blame the previous administration for ordering the operation. Really, Trump? Who actually gave the “go” to launch the raid Jan. 28? Former President Barack Obama?
No, that would be you. Our nation’s history has long held that the occupant of the Oval Office is ultimately responsible for making decisions that put our men and women in harm’s way . ... Something about the title “commander in chief ” led me to that conclusion. It’s no wonder that the father of the fallen service member, Bill Owens, chose not to meet with you at Dover Air Force Base. You have to earn respect, Trump. ... Your comments about this raid demonstrate that you have no idea of the meaning of the word.
Al Comolli, Millbrae
Award track record
Regarding “Stick with Trump” (Letters, Feb. 28): Hollywood does not consider itself qualified to run the country. It is qualified to voice an opinion, as we all are. In over 75 years, the Oscar was given to the wrong picture exactly once! That’s a pretty good track record. President Trump has failed in so many ways already.
Judy Lichterman, Mill Valley
Immigration crackdown
Our national security will not be strengthened by targeting law-abiding immigrants living in the country illegally, and it’s difficult to understand why we’d push due process and the proper function of our justice system aside and spend billions in taxpayer dollars on this draconian crackdown.
Mary Frank, Oakland
Improved health care
Last week, many elected officials held town halls on the Affordable Care Act (ACA), including Congressman Mike Thompson (Fifth Congressional District), who is against the repeal of the ACA. We support his stand. ACA made health insurance accessible to millions more people across the U.S. and has expanded access to Medicare in California. It ensures that people with pre-existing conditions can get coverage and children can stay on their parents’ insurance until age 26. A 2017 study by the Urban Institute predicts that repealing the ACA could result in the uninsured rate in California doubling or even tripling. Not only would there be dramatic loss of coverage with repeal, but it is estimated that over 140,000 California jobs could be lost, according to the Economic Policy Institute. As a member of Benicia Indivisible for Justice, I stand with over 100 others in my community who will do all we can to fight against the repeal of the ACA.
Jenny Ocon, Benicia
Use private money
In anticipation of the March 15 deadline to raise the debt ceiling, Congress, which abhors the already-spent $20 trillion debt, will be asked to choose between adding to the amount or refusing to do so, which will put it at odds with our new president and his proposed program to expand the military. In order to satisfy those who want no more spending, how about raising wages and putting in place a national program to replace our infrastructure? Private money could be raised from our billionaire class, which has, despite high taxes, managed to amass more money than at any other time in the history of the U.S.
Barbara Krings, Sacramento
No compromise here
Those who insist Sen. Dianne Feinstein take a more aggressive and forceful position against the President Trump dictatorship are hardly suggesting a one-party system, so let’s refrain from making false accusations based on specious logic. Rather, many see the need for a third party — one that actually listens to its constituents and places their needs and best interests above business as usual. As for the call for compromise, compromise is only possible when both parties are willing to participate.
The Republican Party spent the past eight years doing nothing but obstructing compromise, with any efforts at achieving it met with the ire and wrath of the the Tea Party movement that hijacked the entire party. We now have a megalomaniac, soon to be in control of all three branches of government, who considers the slightest perceived disagreement or insult as treasonous, and who metes out his own form of retaliatory justice in response. With an autocrat whose sole stated purpose is to “deconstruct” the government, our Constitution, our democracy and institute a corporate oligopoly in its place, there is no room for compromise. Trump, by his words and his actions, has made that abundantly clear.
Francesca Wander, San Francisco